Off The Eaten Path

Ok, I'll admit it.  I was mostly interested in Off The Eaten Path because I thought the name was cute.  That said, I'm an avid snacker, love my munchies, and eat chips alongside my lunch, daily.  While healthy snacks aren't my priority, I consider it a bonus if I can add in some actual nutrients to my snack foods.

"Hello! We're Off The Eaten Path, a snack brand passionate about finding new paths in snacking, starting with super tasty snacks made with ingredients you can feel good about.  Join us for the journey!"

The offerings from Off The Eaten Path feature legumes and veggies, and are all non-GMO, gluten-free, etc.  The main product line is "Veggie Crisps", which are rice, peas, and black bean based, and available in several varieties (original salted, sea salt & black pepper, spicy jalapeño).  They also offer one style of veggie puff (cheesy cheddar per the industry standard!), and hummus crisps, plus a version of Veggie Crisps augmented with chickpeas.

Chickpea Veggie Crisps:
Rice, Chickpeas, Peas, Black Beans, & Purple Sweet Potato.

"Now proudly offered in commercially compostable packaging, our Chickpea Veggie Crisps are a deliciously crunchy snack made with real veggies. Packed with chickpeas, black beans, and purple sweet potatoes, our Chickpea Veggie Crisps are gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and bursting with flavor because we believe in great tasting snacks you can feel good about."

The product I tried was the Chickpea Veggie Crisps, found at Jamba Juice of all places.  For some reason, the bag really jumped out at me.  I mean, really, for chips, they were ... pretty?  I loved the vibrant colors from the purple potato, green peas, and black beans against the rice flour and chickpea base.

The chips were good, for a healthy chip.  They had a nice crunch, a lightness, and plenty of flavor.  Well seasoned with salt.  They weren't the kind of chips you want to eat alongside a sandwich, but rather, I think would work great with a dip of some kind, and they did pair decently with a seasonal salad I had with kale, roasted butternut squash, spiced pumpkin seeds, cherries, etc.

Not a product I'll seek out again, but I enjoyed them when I was wanting something healthier.

***.

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Rubicon Bakers

Cakes and cupcakes.  The items featured at many an office party.  Not my absolute favorite desserts, but my sweet tooth is always up for trying something, such as those from Rubicon Bakers.  Rubicon does not have a retail storefront of their own, but they sell wholesale to many grocery stores around town. 

"Bake a better world."

Rubicon Baker's slogan is one that is actually meaningful - they employ folks who need a second chance, many who are recovering from substance abuse issues.   They make primarily cakes and cupcakes.

My main impression of Rubicon has always been "eh".  Grocery store quality, if you know what I mean.

Cupcakes

Rubicon sells several styles of cupcakes to stores, including basic blank, naked cakes in all their base flavors (white, chocolate, carrot, red velvet, vegan chocolate), designed to be frosted by the stores.  They also of course sell fully retail ready, already iced (and filled), in varieties like Chocolate Cream, Carrot, Triple Lemon, Strawberries & Cream, Mint Chip, Red Velvet, and Vanilla.

Retail Ready.

The ones I had were the retail ready variety, boxed up as 4 full size cupcakes in each pack.

Vanilla.

First up, basic vanilla.  The vanilla cupcakes weren't very good.

They were kinda dry.  A very boring generic base, didn't taste "vanilla" just "plain sweet".  The icing also plain and boring, just sweet.   I give one point for cute sprinkles though.

Not worth a second bite really.

**.

Pumpkin Pie.

Luckily, the seasonal pumpkin pie cakes were much better.

Still not a very moist cake, but it was well spiced, classic "pumpkin pie" spices, but not overpowering.

The cream cheese icing was also much better than that on the vanilla, it was creamy, had a good tang.  

Overall, not amazing, but decent enough.  I wouldn't get another but finished one easily.

***.

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Elixiria Cafe

My diet isn't exactly one that nutritionists approve of.  My idea of a perfect breakfast involves french toast, bread pudding, waffles, donuts, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, and the like.  I eat far more than my share of desserts and ice cream.  So, it is safe to say, that juice bars and smoothie places are not normally near the top of my list of places to check out.

But sometimes, a healthy option jumps out at me over and over again, and I finally check it out.

" Elixiria promotes food and beverages that deliver essential nutrients that help fuel the mind, body and soul."

Elixiria is a small cafe located near my home and office, open only on weekdays, only during the day.  I've seen great reviews of Elixiria basically since the day they opened, but, as my office provides me breakfast and lunch during the week, with multiple cafes and many options, I just don't ever get a chance to visit the local businesses.  I really wish Elixiria was open on weekends!

Anyway, one day, I pushed myself a little extra in Body Pump class, and I walked out wanting healthy food.  I had a lovely salad for lunch at the office, but I wanted something more.  Really, I wanted dessert, but our office desserts that day weren't exciting: fancy jello, cookies, banana cake, and plain tart froyo.  Rather than make a beeline for the closest froyo shop (which is normally what happens when I'm not interested in our office desserts), I decided to use this opportunity to try out Elixiria, specifically because they have a selection of "Guilt Free Frosty Shakes" that everyone raves about, and I was feeling a bit more healthy than normal.

The space was welcoming, and the merchant quite friendly.  I placed my order through delivery.com when I was a few blocks away, but he didn't receive it until I walked in and mentioned the order.  He apologized numerous times, and quickly ensured it got prepared immediately.  When I visited subsequent times, the staff was again remarkably friendly.  It made me feel good just going there, if that makes any sense.

Side note: Stuck doing a lot of takeout and delivery these days? Want to try some free food and new pickup or delivery services?  Here are some codes for free money!

• Allset ($5 off) [ Pickup only ]
• Door Dash ($15 off, $5 each of your first 3 orders) [ Delivery or pickup ]
• Caviar ($20 off, $10 off your first 2 orders) [ Delivery or pickup ]
• Ritual ($6 off) [ Pickup only ]
• Delivery.com ($10 off) [ Delivery or pickup ]
• Grub Hub ($10 off) [ Delivery or pickup ]
• Seamless ($10 off) [ Delivery or pickup ]
• Nextdish: ($10 off your first order) [ Delivery only ]
• Uber Eats ($20 off - use code eats-lejw5 at checkout) [ Pickup or delivery ]

I didn't sample much of the menu, but it really did seem like a place where care was put into the food, and, they are trying very hard to offer healthy options.  If you are in the neighborhood, and are into healthier options, particularly juices and smoothies, I recommend it.

Setting

Elixiria is located on Beale St, just a block off Market.  The storefront is fairly easy to miss, no outside signage nor tables.

The Layout.

Inside is long and narrow, with a counter running the entire length of the store.  There is a register to order, and well decorated chalkboard menus on the wall.

An hot beverage station is off to the side, serving organic fair trade coffee, iced coffee, and espresso beverages and teas.  No decaf is available, because the processes for treating decaf coffee doesn't meet the owner's standards.  While I really did want decaf, I can respect that reasoning.

A few seats along a window counter complete the space.  It seems like most get their food to go, and bring back to nearby offices.

Drinks and Baked Goods.

The front cooler is filled with housemade cold pressed juices in an array of vibrant colors, greek yogurt, and packaged Nourish muffins (gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, no added-sugar, etc, which I've reviewed before).   On top is empanadas from local Nucha Empandas (including vegan options).

They also make acai bowls and young coconut parfaits to order.  Like I said, this is a health focused place.

Salad and Wrap Station.

To the left of the register is a salad prep area, a nicely laid out mise en place.  The menu includes several salads and wraps, including meat, seafood, vegetarian, and vegan options.

Hot Foods.

Beside that, the hot foods area, with lemon herb chicken, honey mustard salmon, brie stuffed almond meatballs, roasted potatoes, and daily farmer's market vegetables.

These items are all available as lunch entree plates, or the sides are offered a la carte.

Smoothie and Juice Station.

The smoothie and juice station is further back, with a huge juicer, and slew of ingredients for the extensive smoothie lineup.

The Drinks

The drink lineup is where I was most impressed by Elixiria, although reviews for their food are solid too.  The drink menu is broken into several categories: Organic Cold Pressed Juice Elixirs, Raw Superfood Smoothies, Rawking Nut Mik and Boba, Veggie Juices for Targeted Organ Cleanse, Guilt Free Frosty Shakes, and Organic Fair Trade Premium Coffee and Tea.

While the juices and cleanses aren't my style, the Rawking Nut Mik and Boba sounded fascinating (think, boba tea, but ... healthy?  The blueberry boba is made with cashew, pili nut, raw coconut blossom sugar, Himalayan salt, sunflower lecithin, blueberries, orange essential oils, and of course, tapioca pearls.  Isn't boba tea usually a random mix of powdered chemicals?  And of course, I wanted to try the Guilt Free Frosty Shakes, as they sounded the most like dessert.

Guilt Free Frosty Shakes

"Our cold-processed plant-based creamy concoctions taste "so bad for you"! But these RAW super food shakes don't go to your belly and buns unlike regular shakes full of denatured fats and sugar. ENJOY!"

I was of course drawn to the "shakes".  The shakes are all made from cashews and ice, with raw coconut blossom sugar as the sweetener.  Because these aren't standard milkshakes, don't expect flavors like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry exactly, but there are options for every mood.

The closest match to strawberry is probably the fruity "Amer - Asian Berry Perfection Shake", with strawberries and goji berries, plus vanilla and Himalyan salt.  Another fruity option is the "Sunshine Goddess", with papaya, lime, honey, and cinnamon, a combination I can't quite wrap my head around.  The chocolate option is the "Cocoa Paradise", with cocoa paste, vanilla powder, and Himalayan salt.  Even mint chocolate chip lovers can go for the "Last Samurai" with macha, cacoa nibs, peppermint essential oil, and vanilla powder.

Peruvian Mountain Shake. $7.25.

"Cashews, raw coconut blossom sugar, Himalayan salt, vanilla powder, maca powder and ice cubes."

I wasn't feeling in the mood for fruit, and it was too late in the day for caffeine, so I went pretty simple, with the vanilla option, the Peruvian Mountain Shake.

I really had no idea what to expect.  Even after a few sips, I still couldn't quite figure it out.  The taste was ... strange.  Was it the cashews?  The maca powder?  I'm really not sure.  I'm not accustomed to healthy drinks, and these were certainly not flavors that I am used to.  It was not bad, but, not particularly good either.

That said, the consistency was amazing.  Really thick, just like a milkshake, and perfectly blended.

When I got back to my office, I added some soy milk and some peppermint syrup, and I greatly enjoyed it that way, so, next time, I'd certainly opt for a flavor that had more, well, flavor.  The mint chocolate chip-esque drink certainly has my name on it, or perhaps even one of the fruity ones.

***.

Coffee

The coffee and espresso line up is also good, sourced from Bay Area based Mr. Espresso.  Standard espresso drinks, brewed medium roast, several choices for pour over drip, iced coffee, and even blended drinks.

Morning Condiment Station.

Condiments are self-serve, with assorted milks (almond included), half and half, and sugar (along with oatmeal toppings and sauces).  No artificial sweeteners.

Medium Roast Brewed Coffee, Small. $2.

One morning I swung by just to get coffee, easily ordering in advance online, so I literally just swung in and out.  I went for the simple brewed hot coffee, although I was tempted by the single original drip options.

The coffee was good.  Medium roast, bold, proper strength.  Not watered down, it didn't taste like it had been sitting around, etc.  Served nice and hot.

Quality coffee, properly brewed and stored, decent price at $2. ***+.

7 Bridges Iced Coffee. One Size. $3.

Iced coffee is available in one size only, 7 Bridges blend.

It was decent, a darker, stronger, more bitter roast than I generally prefer, but quality was evident.  Also bigger and more caffeinated than I normally drink, so, uh, gave me quite the zing.  I probably wouldn't get another, just because it isn't my preferred style of roast.

***.

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Modern Table Meals

A while ago, I was given samples of Modern Table Meals to try out.  These weren't necessarily high on my list of exciting items, as, well, they were meals, not baked goods, candies, sweets, breakfast items, snack foods ... you know, the stuff I normally review.

But, being a good blogger, I took the samples, and knew I'd get to them eventually.

Modern Table Meals makes a variety of gluten-free bean based pastas and meal kits.  The plain pasta is available in 3 varieties: confetti ( tri-colored penne and rotini made from green lentils, red lentils, and black beans), green lentil penne, and mixed lentil penne (green and red lentils).  Because the pasta is bean based, it is high protein, so you don't need to necessarily worry about adding in a protein to your pasta dishes.

In addition to the base pastas, they also make 6 different meal kits, which are what I tried out. 

I wasn't really a fan of any of the varieties of pasta or meal kits I have tried, but, friends I shared them with enjoyed them.  If you are gluten-free, or just caring about having lower carb, higher protein pasta options, check them out.

Meal Kits

Modern Table Meals makes 6 different styles of meal kit: Italian, Teriyaki, Mediterranean, Pesto, Southwest, and Homestyle Mac & Cheese. The meal kits all include pasta, dehydrated veggies, a sauce packet, and additional seasoning to sprinkle on top, and they are ready in 15 minutes, all you need to add is water and oil. They also have suggestions for additional ingredients to amp it up.

The meal kits:

• Teriyaki, with white bean and broccoli based noodles, carrots, bell peppers, teriyaki, and sesame 5-spice.
• Southwest, with red lentil rotini, black beans, corn, roasted tomato sauce, and chilli lime seasoning.
• Pesto, with green lentil penne, carrots, peas, pesto sauce, and citrus herb seasoning.
• Mediterranean, with green lentil rotini, leeks, bell peppers, garlic herb sauce, and citrus seasoning.
• Italian, with red lentil penne, bell peppers, carrots, roasted red pepper sauce, and parmesan herb seasoning.
• Homestyle mac and cheese, with green lentils, carrots, peas, and creamy white cheddar sauce.

We tried all of them, but I only have notes for a handful.

Mediterranean: Kit Contents.

The first kit we tried was the Mediterranean.  The Mediterranean kit, like all kits includes pasta (still in the bag), a sauce mix with dehydrated veggies, and a seasoning kit.

This variety featured green lentil rotini, garlic herb sauce mix with dehydrated veggies (spinach, garlic, shallots, chives, leeks, red bell pepper, and carrots), and additional citrus seasoning (salt, garlic, lemon peel, red bell pepper, onion, citric acid).

Preparation is pretty simple.  Step one?  Boil water, add pasta, cook for 8-9 minutes.  Standard pasta cooking instructions.  With all the bean pastas, we found that erring on the side of al dente is necessary, else, you wind up with mush.

Step 2: Make the sauce.

While the pasta is cooking, you make the sauce, simply mixing water and olive oil with the provided packet.

Step 3: Toss.

Next, drain the pasta, and mix in the sauce.  Let it set for 2 minutes, while you open the seasoning packet.

Step 4: Season.

Sprinkle the final seasoning on, or mix it in, or let your diners add it as they please.  And ... that is it.  

So, how was this?  Well, I didn't really like any of their pastas, and this was no different.  A bit of a strange texture, and, well, it tastes kinda like beans.  I'm also not a fan of the oil based sauce.  When I have pasta, I want a "real" sauce.  And the topping packet?  Way too acidic for me.

So, I didn't like it at all.  But, my father, a very picky eater, said, "it is okish".  And he took seconds.  Maybe he was just hungry and being polite?  My housemate, on the other hand, really liked it.  He took seconds.  He took thirds.  He even said, "I know there is just a little bit left and I'm so full, but I really like it!"  He praised the flavor.  I was stunned.

The meal kits are designed to be served hot, but, I really thought this one was better cold. As my mom put it, it is "glorified Suddenly Salad", if you've ever made those before ...

Italian: Sauce Mixed Up.

After the success (for some) of the Mediterranean, I made the Italian a few weeks later when friends came over for dinner. This one had red lentil penne, bell peppers, carrots, roasted red pepper sauce, and parmesan herb seasoning.

The process was the same: I boiled water for the pasta, mixed up the sauce packet with oil and water, and waited my 8-9 minutes.

Italian: Final Dish.

After the pasta was ready, I mixed in the sauce, and sprinkled in all the seasoning.  Perhaps I should have left it on the side for the guests to mix in as they pleased?  I also opted to serve this with fresh grated parmesan on the side.

Everyone was impressed with the texture of the pasta, commenting that it was like a hearty whole wheat pasta.    One reviewer was impressed that it wasn't too salty, a common problem with meal kit items.

Overall, everyone thought it would make a good base for a meal, but needed more to it.  One diner said they would add mushrooms for sure.  When I gave this person a bag of the plain lentil penne to experiment with at home, the response was immediately "I'm excited to try this!"

Teriyaki: Final Dish.

Next, we moved on to the teriyaki, with white bean and broccoli based noodles, carrots, bell peppers, teriyaki, and sesame 5-spice seasoning.

Again, the process for creating the meal was similar, although the cook time on these noodles was even shorter, only 5 minutes.  This is also the only kit that uses bean based noodles rather than lentil.

This one looked much better than the others, full of vibrant colors.  My fellow diners all mentioned that it had "nice visuals" and "lots of color".  They also appreciated the two types of noodles in here, but felt that the lentil penne had better texture.

Overall, this one was not a winner, as tasters had a hard time with the concept of the dish itself.  They just felt that teriyaki on pasta was weird.

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