Modern Ayurvedic Eats VOL 1 • 2021
In 2019 my best friend Kori and her family moved to Ashland, Oregon. I was sad to see them go but I know having a farm with animals was their dream so I am happy that they found a place they want to call home.
When Kori first told me about Ashland it sounded like a fairytale land. Since their move, I have visited them twice already. I have to say it does feel pretty magical! I didn’t have any trouble finding delicious and clean food everywhere I went. It seems that the whole town offers gluten-free, vegan, and organic options.
The lifestyle in South Oregon is very relaxed and laid back. You can see many farm animals on peoples’ properties and deer wandering around the open spaces. Kori has pairs of farm animals. Chickens, ducks, turkey, goats, and pigs are all part of Kori's family. Kori’s kids, Kaivalya and Bodhi, are always eager to show me the animals they have. I am intrigued with the knowledge both kids have about farm life and how to care for the animals. Kori's family also grows a lot of vegetables and herbs on their farm. It is always fun to cook together with them and knowing the ingredients came straight from their backyard made the foods extra special.
Kori and I are both really into eating clean and wholesome foods. When I was in Oregon, she was eager to share her favorite spots with me. I am always happy to try new restaurants, especially when they are healthy and organic! The first place Kori took me was a place called NW Raw Organic Juice Bar & Restaurant. Their slogan is "Always Organic, Always Gluten-Free, Always Plant-Based." Should I say more?! It has all the right magic words to my heart!
The restaurant has an outdoor feel to it. Decorated with wood planks and corks; it has a very natural vibe to it. Inside has a self-serve refrigerator that contains cold-press juices and vegan, raw cheesecake. Although I wanted to eat a piece of raw, vegan cheesecake for breakfast, I decided to take it to-go for later. I studied the menu and decided on a toast with guac, nut-based "meat", black beans, tomato, green onion, cilantro & cashew cream. Kori also ordered a toast with almond butter, berries, and raspberry chia jam. We shared the 2 toasts. The gluten-free bread was hearty, full of nuts and seeds. At first, I didn't think I was going to get full with just one slice of toast, but after realizing this toast is full of superfood ingredients, I know my body was going to be fueled with tons of nutrients for the day.
Both times that I visited Oregon were in the Fall. You can definitely see the colors and feel the seasons there. All the tree leaves turned into this golden and red color; it was so beautiful. Kori and I liked to take a stroll at Lithia Park in downtown Ashland. It really is a beautiful gem. Easy to wander paths next to a creek. We both like to order a hot chai so we can sip and enjoy walking through the gardens and trees in the park. I noticed that all the coffee shops in town offer chai tea. I have tasted at least 5 different chai teas during my visits to Ashland. One of the reasons that I love chai is all the ayurvedic herbs in them. Those herbs are great for digestion and circulation and it is really nice to have after a meal.
One of my favorite things to do was visiting the farmer's market. I was so excited to visit Ashland's Farmer's Market. I want to see if I would be able to find interesting foods and treats. Ashland's Farmer's Market did not disappoint! I saw many wild mushrooms available for sale and sure enough, I saw a sign that says "Pawpaw". The name drew me in so I had to check it out! So Pawpaw is a tropical fruit that is native and grows in North America. It looks like a small green mango on the outside and the flesh is pale to bright yellow and contains dark brown seeds. It has the flavor of mango-banana-citrus combined. I can imagine a very yummy, tropical smoothie made with Pawpaw.
I also came across a bakery stand called Bright Star Bakery. All the baked goods are gluten-free and grain-free! They have so many delicious cookies and baked goods that I didn't know which one to try. Finally, I decided on their Royal Cookie. This Royal cookie has some interesting ingredients that I can't really picture the taste in my head. Pistachio with cardamom and rosewater! According to the bakery, it is one of the most popular cookies. WOW! It was amazing! I liked it a lot! Cardamom, from the Ayurvedic perspective, helps to curb your sugar craving and it aids in digestion, but it can be strong for some people. The rosewater on the other hand helps reduce the pungent fragrance from the cardamom which made it really pleasant. I couldn't wait to go home and recreate this cookie in my own kitchen.
Another spot that I really enjoyed was Ashland's Co-op. It was huge and felt like a Whole Food's market but community oriented. They believed that fresh, healthy, organic food doesn't have to be expensive. They offer cooking classes and tips on how to save your grocery bill each time you shop. Where can you find a grocery store that will help you learn to shop on a budget and prepare flavorful meals that are super affordable? They also have an amazing deli and hot bar that offers delicious meals on the go. One of the soups that I absolutely love is their coconut curry red lentil soup. It was delicious and flavorful. I have now created my own version of that soup.
I look forward to my next visit to Ashland. I can't wait to explore more restaurants and enjoy the open space with my friends. I hope you will enjoy the recipes that I created from my adventure in Ashland.