Frequently Asked Questions on Food

~click here for questions on Cafe Gratitude as a company~

“What are raw foods and what are their benefits?”

Raw foods, or living foods are those that have not been exposed to temperature above 105F (depending on how strict a person is, some raw foodists go up to 118F) therefore maintaining their enzymatic and nutritional properties.  Enzymes are responsible for every metabolic process that takes place in your body, from digestion to cell repair.  It is said that cooking destroys up to 100% of the enzymes in your food.  Since enzymes digest themselves, consuming foods that are rich in them leaves you more energy.  A well-balanced vegan raw diet contains the full complement of vitamins and minerals necessary for good nutrition while cooking destroys over 80% of a food's nutritive value.  There has been plenty of great research on the effects of live foods on the body, here are a few of them.

“Is Cafe Gratitude Gluten Free?”

We are completely gluten-free other than our bottled beer, Pinkus Hefen and our sprouted tortillas that we serve solely at our San Rafael location for their warm burritos and tacos.

“Is Cafe Gratitude Soy Free?”

We are soy free except for our desserts, which contain a small trace of soy lecithin for thickening purposes.  We have been experimenting with rice lecithin to thicken the desserts but found that it changed the flavor of the dish drastically (it meant to be in cooked dishes by its production) and has a very bitter taste.  Our Bakery Manager recommends adding more coconut butter or oil to thicken the dishes in our recipe books as a replacement to soy lecithin if there is an allergy.  It will separate a little but should still work.

“May I have a recipe?”

Cafe Gratitude is happy to spread what we've learned through our experiences, studies and connections to live food.  In the I am Grateful recipe book, we have published the majority of our recipes with full directions and suggestions of equipment, technique and insights.  We are not releasing any recipes and encourage everyone to purchase I am Grateful and Sweet Gratitude to support us in what we are providing as well as to ensure that you jump into live foods with a full palate of information on preparation, produce, as well as connections to our favorite companies and allies. 

“What are the ingredients to the dishes at the cafe?”

Each cafe has a list of ingredients for each dish it serves.  Ask your server to view it.

“What is the nutritional value of the dishes or Café Gratitude products?”

Nutritional information is not available at this time in that nearly all dishes that come to the tables first started out in a produce bin in our kitchen.  Nearly every ingredient in each of our meals is from scratch, right down to the dozen or so ingredients in our crackers, spreads, and cheeses.  At this time, we do not have this information readily available.  If you have any questions regarding ingredients, processes, nutritional information or the like, e-mails us at info@cafegratitude.com.

“What do you recommend in terms of juicer or juice press?”

At Café Gratitude, we use a commercial hydraulic juice press machine manufactured by GoodNature Products.   A wonderful juice press for home use that we recommend is the Norwalk juicer.  It yields a good amount of juice with little or no oxidation, and it produces juice with a higher mineral content than with a centrifugal juicer steel model.  For another type of juicer, we recommend a Green Star or Champion juicers.

"How do I use/soak Irish Moss?" 

Click here for the full directions on how to use Irish Moss

“How do I measure Irish Moss?”

Measurements in I am Grateful call for one ounce of pre-soaked Irish Moss.  After soaking, squeeze excess water out of a handful of the Irish moss and place it on a scale, adding and subtracting pieces until the weight is one ounce.

“Where do I find Irish Moss?”

We sell Irish Moss at each of our cafes as well as here through our online store.