As much as I love dining at Fresh restaurant, trying new-to-me vegan restaurants is one of my favourite things to do, especially if it is close by.
Enter The Naked Sprout – Burlington’s (mostly) organic, raw & cooked, vegan, and gluten-free restaurant. It’s a 15 minute drive from me, making it the closest vegan restaurant in my area. My friend Heather took me here for my birthday a few weeks ago and I was excited to try it out after listening to her (and many of you) rave about it. Heather and I met through my Glo Bars a couple years ago. She was a regular customer and visitor to my stand at the Farmer’s Market in Oakville. We stayed in touch through email and when I moved to Oakville (where she also lives) I suggested we meet up. It’s been a lovely friendship ever since.
Here’s what intrigues me about The Naked Sprout: they offer raw and cooked vegan meals, reflecting how the owners eat in their everyday lives. I enjoy raw food quite a bit, but I also love my cooked food and was happy to see this flexibility on their menu. Oddly enough, my first two meals here were raw. I guess I can thank the summer heat for dictating what I crave!
Some raw menu items include:
- kelp noodle salad
- zucchini pasta
- pizza
- rawsangna
Some cooked menu items include:
- BBQ burger
- soba noodle bowl
- protein power bowl
- pesto allergro
For an appetizer, we shared the Skinny Dip Platter made up of parsnip hemp thyme bread sticks, lemon dill pate, creamy garlic hummus, spiced olives, sun dried tomato tapenade. It was excellent and so flavourful. I need to figure out how to make those raw bread sticks stat.
For my main, I ordered the Big Green Earth Salad.
Inside this huge bowl: Mixed greens, massaged kale, lemon dill pate, red kidney beans, carrots,
tomatoes, shredded beets, avocado, tempeh. I got it without tempeh because I’m not a fan. The salad was great…filling and delicious!
The restaurant is quite spacious and they take reservations (bonus!), so I figured it would be a fun spot for a get together. I emailed the running group (the one I started to organize prior to my knee injury) to see if anyone wanted to join me and about 10 of us made it out. I was excited….and scared all at the same time! I always get extremely anxious before these types of things, but as always, I had a great time and everyone was super friendly. When will my anxiety ever learn?
A group shot: Natalie, Julie, Jennifer, Char, Ange, Vanessa, Rachel, Daniela, and Chelsea.
I started with the Green Scene juice made up of Cucumber, cilantro, kale, celery, romaine, lemon.
It looked green and it tasted green…just the way I like it!
For my entree, I ordered the taco salad. The base is a bed of mixed greens, with a huge scoop of guacamole in the middle, salsa fresco, sprinkled with sunflower taco meat all topped off with cashew sour cream. It comes with a salad dressing, but I didn’t find it necessary. It was flavourful and quite dense without being heavy.
Keep your eyes peeled for a Naked Sprout inspired taco salad recipe coming up!
A couple ladies enjoyed the raw tacos (heard they are great!)
and the Protein Power Bowl was a hit too.
For dessert, Vegan Cupcakes via Kind restaurant in Burlington were quite popular at our table!
This chocolate peppermint tastes just like Grasshopper pie. Yum.
and I heard the Chocolate Coconut was amazing too.
Thanks again to everyone for coming out!
The rest of the weekend was spent working on a to-do list: mountains of laundry, recipe testing, cleaning, and eating watermelon.
Lots and lots of watermelon.
I also went on a couple runs and enjoyed some evening walks with the hubby.
The weather was amazing on Sunday…sunny and 30C! Pinch me.
If you are in the area and would like to be put on the email list for future meet ups, let me know below. I’m also starting a running group that will meet on Sunday mornings in different places around the city. The first one kicks off next Sunday, so if you are up for it, let me know in the comments and I’ll add ya!
Eric and I also want to get into sailing. How does one go about sailing without a boat? If any of you might know how to get started sailing in Oakville or if you know anyone who is looking for help, we’d appreciate the tips.
Have a great start to your week!
Well, I have no idea about the sailing, sorry! :( Where I live you can rent canoes and kayaks though to go down the rivers… I need to do that sometime!
Anyways, all the food at The Naked Sprout looks amazing! I love finding great restaurants because as much as I love to cook, it’s so nice to just let someone else do the work sometimes! I want the Skinny Dip platter… for some reason the name cracks me up, but I really want that lemon dill pate! Also, I get bad anxiety and I always feel the same afterwards… what was I so nervous about!? It’s awful but I’m glad to see you overcame it, looks like you had a great weekend! xx
That’s a great point about renting canoes or kayaks…we’ve been meaning to do that! I assume we can rent them here too. :)
I love the Naked Sprout! Even if you dont like tempeh, you may want to see if you are converted by their delicious Tempeh Reuben! I want to go back for their Sunday brunch which looks spectacular. Let me know if you make a Sunday play-date. :)
As well, I have done raw tacos before and this is a great recipe if you need inspiration:
http://tastespace.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/raw-tacos/
I’m would love to be part of the meet ups and running groups! My boyfriend is also a big sailing nut and we’re in the area too. Drop us a line and we can connect! Can’t wait to try the Nake Sprout too – I’ve heard great things about it.
Awesome, will do & chat with you soon!
Reminds of of One Lucky Duck here in NYC! I love eating Raw (although I could never do it 100%.) I work with Carol Alt who is a big advocate of Raw Food (she’s written lots of books on this) and she always shares fabulous recipes with me and had gotten me to about 70 % raw diet
Lovely meet-up as always Ange! :) I can attest – the Big Green Earth Salad was divine. For any tempeh fans, I’m sure it will not disappoint! It was so great to meet the other ladies and I think we definitely need another one soon because I need to try that zucchini wrap! Your watermelon, by the way, looks so amazing! And ps.. is that the pink Practice Freely tank that I spot in the watermelon shot? Or the No Limits? ;)
I think it’s the same one as you have? I’m not sure of the name…got it for my bday :)
All of this food looks AMAZING! I am so jealous we don’t have any restaurants like this where I live! I will definitely be looking for that taco salad recipe, sounds yummy!!!!
That looks like a great place to eat! I miss out meet-up from Toronto, 2 years ago! :)
I know that was so much fun!! We have to do it again :) I cna’t believe it was 2 years ago now. Any plans to come this way this summer?
I wish! My hubby is on the middle of interviews for college positions so we could be anywhere by the end of July or in August. eek!
Please send him my best wishes! Im sure it will all work out for you.
That looks like a great restauarant and can’t wait for the taco salad recipe!
We’re renting a place in MI and some offered a boat with rentals. I would be so afraid I’d crash it. I hear they have classes and such for those wanting to learn. Might not be a bad thing even if it’s only for info purposes!
LOVE LOVE LOVE Naked Sprout! Twisted Tacos and the Zucchini Pasta are my fav!
Would love to be in the meet up group…i don’t think I’m a strong enough runner yet to join a running group tho :(
For sailing my boyfriend is really into it and has a small 2 man boat that he takes out. He is always looking to take people out and introduce them to the sport. He’s also a member at the Sailing Club and LOVES it! If you are really interested you can become members at many of the learn to sail programs.
p.s- I have one of Carol Alt’s books for Raw Foods— LOVE it!
Hey Laura, Thank you for all the great info! I will drop you a line soon!
Twisted Tacos are def. on my next to try list :)
Wow, The Naked Sprout sounds really great. The protein bowl looks so yummy, everything in it seems like it would go together perfectly…but the cupcakes looks mouthwatering! I think I may venture out there. I like how you did a restaurant review, I actually did my first one last night on a place called The Organic Oven!
I can’t wait until you figure out the raw breadstick recipe too! They look delicious and nutritious my favorite.
I’d love to do a meet up! Please add me to the list.. I have been dying to try the Naked Sprout.. had a sample at the Niagara Veg Fest a few weeks ago. Love KIND FOOD! The Red Velvet cupcake is made with beets and is delish.
Hubby and I walked along the lake on Sunday night and just sat and chatted for hours.. gotta love living by the lake!
Adding you now :) Thanks Karen.
Ah I wondered what the red velvet was made with..that’s such a great idea to use beets!
While I love living in Charleston, SC, I am quite jealous of all of the great restaurants that surround you!! I live in the ‘biscuit, bacon fat, cheese, bbq’ capital and it is so hard to eat out. Anymore, Kevin & I stay in and cook from all of the fresh produce from our garden/farmers market/ csa.
Your taco salad looks DIVINE! I look forward to the recipe!! :)
I can imagine that would be difficult. That’s great that you have a garden, market, and csa to use though…I’m sure you come up with some great meals (for much less money!)
Im a big fan of the Naked Sprout…have been going since they opened. I haven’t been in a while and really need to get there and try their brunch menu which looks amazing. Would love to be added to added to your list for future meet-ups/running groups. I live in Milton but work in Oakville so can probably make it out from time to time.
I’m a huge fan of Naked Sprout….and I live in the area. I would love to be added to your list for future meet-ups/running groups. Is anyone in the running group training for any races coming up?
Yes, I think there are :) I will add you!
I have a friend who built his sail boat when he first got into sailing. He recently sold the boat but when he had it he put many hours into sailing it. The boat was 29ft and made entirely of wood. I know Eric enjoys building so maybe you two can build a boat together.
My friend built his in a tiny apartment garage with his triplets while working as an RN so I KNOW you and Eric can do this at your place. If you are interested I am sure he would not mind giving you the details.
Here is a picture: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=229860446574&set=a.214070906574.134398.503746574&type=3&theater
Wow, that is quite the undertaking indeed!!
That link didn’t work for me unfortunately. I imagine it’s spectacular though.
Can I email you the picture?
sure! send to press[at]ohsheglows[dot]com
Ohh how I wish I lived on that side of the city!! (I’m in Clarington – at the far east end of the gta) The Naked Sprout looks fantastic!
Ahh – thanks for the shout out! Looks like you guys had a great time – sorry to have missed it but Tyler kept me busy :)
They offer sailing lessons for adults in Bronte right in the pier area. My sister actually did evening lessons a few summers ago and loved it. Keep me on the list and hopefully next time I can make the meet up :)
Here’s the link to the school: http://bhyc.on.ca/learn-to-sail/courses/adult/
Thanks Heather! I will check it out. :) Hope to see you this week!
I sent you an email about that :)
That minty green cupcake looks amazing!
How fun!! It sounds like an amazing restaurant! The presentation on the raw tacos is incredible! and those cupcakes look delicious! thanks for sharing!