Soothing Cashew Date Shake

There are many reasons why I’m jealous of the folks who live in California: random celebrity sitings without their makeup, beautiful weather and beaches, great shopping, and, most of all, Cafe Gratitude. I see this place mentioned on blogs and Instagram and each consecutive picture is like a knife in my heart.

Cafe Gratitude, with several locations, none of which are anywhere closer to me in Maryland, is this lovely little cafe that serves vegan and raw foods that are good for the body, community, and soul, with groovy names like:

I AM ELATED
Enchilada in a live tortilla with a sprouted seed filling, topped with spicy mole, cashew sour cream and scallions.  Served with spicy Mexican coleslaw

Could you die? I mean, it’s like you went to sleep and woke up living in an Anthropologie store, complete with retro-chic toothpaste holders and indie-printed shams.

I’ve even been inspired to create my own menu for a similarly-themed restaurant. I shall call it Cafe Craptitude. Here’s a sampling:

I AM SHAMELESS
a bed of cool greens, topped with a scoop of our secret recipe chicken salad, garnished with queso dip and Captain Crunch berries

I AM CRANKY AND BLOATED
A base of house-made ripple cut potato chips, smothered with warm chocolate fondue and dusted with flaked coconut and candied peanuts. Biscoff served on the side, as requested.  Perfect size for sharing, but why?

I AM OH, DON’T EVEN GO THERE
A Funfetti cake milkshake, topped with cream cheese frosting, peanut butter cups, chocolate cookie crumbles, and caramel popcorn.  Served in a rhinestone-crusted feeding trough.

I AM MAKING UP FOR A FEW DIETARY TRANSGRESSIONS
Raw spinach on a plate. Deal with it.

I know the menu could still use a few tweaks, so for now, I’ll just look to the Cafe Gratitude cookbook for guidance. This Cashew Date Shake was one of my saner moments of recipe tweaking. It’s so darned perfect and spa-like – zen for the tummy and yoga for the spirit. And it’s probably best I stick with that.

Soothing Cashew Date Shake
(Adapted from I am Grateful: Recipes and Lifestyle of Cafe Gratititude)

1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon cashew butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, plus more for garnish
3 medjool dates, roughly chopped
5 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until all items are pureed. Garnish with more cinnamon, if desired. Serve immediately.

Serves 1.

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17 Responses to Soothing Cashew Date Shake

  1. Amanda says:

    You are hilarious! I would totally order off of your menu. I’m thinking the “I am Cranky & Bloated” to start.

    Cafe Gratitude was definitely one of my favorite things about living in SF. I loved their location in Healdsburg, where I’m pretty sure they grew nearly all of the produce themselves. Everything about eating there is fantastic.

  2. Cassie says:

    I love this and actually, there is one closer, one just opened May 1 in Kansas City. You can come and visit me and we will eat there every single day because I love it. It’s such an amazing restaurant concept!

    • Sally says:

      You are SO lucky! One of these days, after I win the lottery, I’m doing an eating tour of the US. I hope you’ll have a bed ready for me ;)

  3. Hahaha! I’ll admit to insane jealousy when seeing people post a picture or talk about that place too. I’ll gladly eat at your version of the restaurant though ;)

    • Sally says:

      Tell me about it! I feel like I’m missing out on some sort of out-of-body eating experience :( Which is why I have to eat my feelings with my own menu versions.

  4. I’ve never heard of this cafe, but I lived in California for four years! What a yummy sounding shake to dedicate to it, though! Thanks for sharing.

  5. This is exactly what I crave for dessert every night! Last night, I made a banana/peanut butter shake. I can’t wait to try your cashew and date shake to change up the flavors. What a treat!

  6. Haha I would SO order from this restaurant :) Yours, that is. Hilarious!

  7. Robin says:

    Love love love that combination.

  8. Brooke says:

    I found your website thanks to Tastespotting’s listing of the amazing-looking Birthday Cake cookie (which I MUST try) and then had to click Home to see the rest of your site. THIS is HYSTERICAL! I live near Cafe Gratitude here in LA and have just enough yogi friends that I get invited to birthday parties there every once in a while… It’s actually really delicious (and I’m not vegan, by any stretch of the imagination), but it’s so pretentious I dread going. :D
    But this smoothie looks yummy!
    And now I’ll be adding you to my blogroll!

  9. Sally, I just love making my own shakes and smoothies. This one in particular though is calling my name today. I need some zen! I have all of the ingredients on hand though.. Just will have to make my own cashew butter. :)

  10. Lauren says:

    Hi Sally, clicked on you through tastespotting and am glad I did! Your photography makes this drink look delicious! I’m wondering, what type of camera do you use?

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