Delicious and nutritious lunch - without cooking. The first raw vegan spot at Balaton awaits everyone with a bold choice of name and an animal product-free approach. When they say everyone they mean it: Az élet étterme is bound to be the Mecca of people suffering from diabetes, gluten- or lactose-intolerance, but it also wishes to infiltrate the lines of meat eaters. At least for a cake.
Az élet étterme/The Restaurant of Life in Siófok opened in the city centre, at the distance of a mere 2-minute walk from the Víztorony in July. In clear weather, you can enjoy the sight of the water tower from your table in front of the restaurant, while munching or sipping on vegan delicacies - the various smoothies and plant milks constitute are as fundamental here as the main courses or the quite delicious cakes.
The first raw vegan restaurant, a curiosity in Central Europe, opened in the 5th District of Budapest two years ago; since last year, you can also enjoy the delicacies (prepared from fresh fruits and vegetables, and various nuts and seeds) without cooking also in Buda. In the countryside, feasting on raw dishes that are free of products of animal origin but still resemble the flavours of traditional dishes was limited to Szombathely and Szeged until now. The opening of the raw vegan restaurant in Siófok was a brave move that filled a great gap thanks to owners Erika Kardos and János Fejes.
The Siófok branch of Az élet étterme is like a franchise joint, but very much unlike fast food chain joints. They share the name and the principles with several other restaurants, but Erika and János shape the menu and the place to their own (and to the guests') liking. Their friends had been sceptic whether the locals were willing to accept the new joint.
There aren't many regulars for the lunch menu yet, but the place attracts quite a number of returning guests. Erika explained that so far she has managed to lure less open people - ignorant of veganism, not to mention raw veganism - in with cakes mostly, but the place also plans to introduce bicycle delivery to nearby offices.
Of the main courses, you can easily tell that they are raw, but the cakes are different. The egg- and flour-free sweets of dried fruit basis could easily foul anyone; their chocolate versions (like teh double chocolate cake or the chili brownie) would satisfy the most avid sweets fans. All this is sugar-, gluten-, and lactose-free, so the game is on for most people with food allergies. On top of this, the raw preparation means that ingredients retain 100% of their vitamin content and nutrition value, so vegan cakes are highly recommended (not so guilty) pleasures.
The range of main courses (1200 HUF) and sweets (cookies: 150-200 HUF; cakes: 5-600 HUF) changes daily, so there is no fixed menu - as it is customary in any Restaurant of Life. Those who are less courages might want to choose a half-portion main course (700 HUF; prepared fresh every day), which counts as a full lunch if paired with a cake or a Gundel pancake (2 pcs for 600 HUF), without the feeling of being over-stuffed.
The main courses are usually served with linseed bread are always prepared of season-specific ingredients. This means that now winter squash will be in the focus, which makes for a great soup or Bolognese. Yes, Bolognese. The sauce is meat-free; it is comprised of tomato, vegetables and spices, while the pasta is replaced with squash strips. The other dishes that retain the traditional naming, like Székely cabbage or hamburgers, are prepared in a similar manner.
As for the drinks, perhaps the almond- and coconut milks are better known, but we fell in love with the nut and seed milks: you'd better try the walnut or the poppy seed milk! Erika also prepares home-made ginger syrup, and ginger (known for its heating qualities) makes a great tea variation, too, which is a popular immune boost in the autumn and the winter,
Erika started by eating healthy, light, meat-free food, and ended up opening a raw vegan restaurant. She believes that if eating raw vegan a couple of times a week and incorporating the related principles and ingredients into one's lifestyle make a huge progress towards health. In addition to Erika's advice, the books available at the shop can also be of help in this regard.
The adjective ‘insipid’ and the claim 'tastes like saw dust’ are completely out of place at Siófok's Restaurant of Life, and the place also disproved the common error that such food was not filling enough. Our daily chocolate does was also granted to us here, and in an additive- and preservative-free version at that.
