Well being as I have been living in Arizona since July of 2010 I would say I am still a relatively new-bee to the flowering bush, or should I say prickly pear cactus! As the year has progressed and I have gained more of my stamina and health back I have been able to venture farther from my front door. As I am sure many of you can relate to, when you have a flare that big large world outside your front door gets shrunk down to only what you can see, hear or experience from the comforts of your home where going from the bathroom to the bedroom are the biggest trips you take in a day.
So, this spring I opened my front door, said hello to the sun ready to explore. What I was most interested in exploring was of course food! I cook an awful lot at home, but we all know there are days and times when we would like to treat ourselves to a nice meal. If you are anything like me, depending on your level of comfort in your diet, there could be foods that you tolerate well and others that you don’t do as well with.
In selecting a place to dine, I found it was useful for me to do a little research before heading to the restaurants. So with opening my doors to the sunshine and my belly and mind to a good meal I thought of what would be my wish list of what I would like to find in a nice restaurant.
1. I would like a large selection of menu items primarily made with fresh (local would be fabulous!) vegetables.
2. I would like to be able to pick and choose from several dishes on the menu.
3. I would like to have a good selection of side dishes that I can add to a meal.
4. It would be really fantastic if it were organic!
5. Perhaps a nice staff that is welcoming and understanding when I ask for this or that on the side or doesn’t look at me strangely when I pull out my baggie of condiments to go with my meal.
6. And heck if they can throw in a nice indoor and outdoor seating option with a clean natural deodorized bathroom that gives me that as next to home comfy feeling, I’ll take it!
Well I found 1-6 100% and more at Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House. I found this place when I was researching on Happy Cow. I went to their website and put in North America, USA, Arizona and up came cities in Arizona and a whole bunch of restaurants. I had been heading out to a farmers market in the Phoenix area when I first found using this site to be helpful locally.
I had used it before for a trip to San Francisco in which Happy Cow saved me from being stranded with no wheatgrass! Oh the thought! This was before I had purchased the HealthyJuicer that I wrote about in another entry which allowed me to bring my wheatgrass wherever I go and juice freely. Anyway, whenever I go to a farmers market I am like a kid in a candy store, so ridiculously happy and giddy to be around all the ripe and fresh fruits and vegetables at the same time I just want everything that I see. So by the time I am done getting what I need, I am always famished! To refuel on the spot without having my veggies rot away in the car as I feed my belly I look for things that are close by.
Of course I could chomp on the veggies I have just stocked up on, which I do nibble on as I venture from one tent to the other, but I really focus on getting the best batch of veggies I can find for a week’s supply and being done. So lucky for me Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House is located in the plaza where I attend my Wednesday farmers market off of Country Club Road in Phoenix. Its delightful and the people like Wendy who seems to provide me with service every time I go are so warm and friendly amongst the busy work of her day.
The produce is fresh with herbs like cilantro, parsley or dill are used to flavor their dishes not just garnish them. Beautiful large leaves of kale or rainbow chard can be seen on people’s plates ready to be used as a delicious wrap to fill with the cabbage, carrots, nuts, avocado, lettuce and sprouts. Teas of which there are too many to count are presented on a separate menu where variety is not a problem though you may find choosing which one to taste first a challenge. The added bonus is that the restaurant is also a store where you can find dried herbs, crystals, incense and other herbal and natural remedies for you to enjoy.
If you are ever in the area and find yourself at the farmers market on Wednesdays, you can find me at Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House. Perhaps you will join me for some tea and yummies!
