Foodie Finds: Sunflower Cafe, Fair Oak

Ok so there was a lot to live up to, I'd heard about this place in high school, every veggie/ granola head loves it, but I like Bacon so could Sunflower Cafe ever live up to the hype, and actually feed my appetite? This one surprised even me. 

Let me set the scene: We called ahead to place our order at 11:30 and waited, and called again, and again for 1/2 hour, then gave up...but I was more than just curious about this place at this point. 

We HAD to try it. So we drive down to this little "Nutburger" stand and wait in line for 30 minutes, to just place an order, and another 20 minutes to get our food. And then all of the little tables were tied up - what could everyone possibly be eating that would make it all worth this? The famous Nutburger!

Unlike most "alternative" burgers this one wasn't full of tofu, wheat fillers or gluten substitutes (eww), it was literally made of all vegetables. Lots of shredded carrot to give the burger it's structure, sunflowers, and other "nuts" hence it's name. There was a specific curry flavor that I really liked, a great sauce (this is the part that makes it vegetarian instead of vegan), oh and the pickles were a great addition for me as they give great crunch and add a bit of saltyness to the flavor. 

The biggest surprise to me was I wasn't missing meat, I wasn't crying for bacon? I know this sounds weird, but it's true, and a first for a omnivore that has an intense love of bacon. 

 I wasn't eating a bacon-like burger so it didn't make me despise if for what it wasn't - it was just a solidly good burger alternative. That I would no doubt try again soon.

 

Another nice treat was the Carob shake, it's made with a superhigh quality ice cream called Delfina

and then they add carob powder? I don't know why, or if it's healthy? But my friend told me to try it, I wouldn't be sorry, and I wasn't.  Unlike the almost normal nature of finding a hippy friendly burger alternative in Fair Oaks, their carob shake on the other hand was far from ordinary.  Sweet, creamy, almost savory? it's a bit hard to descibe if you've never eaten carob, it's very much like chocolate with a berry or almost salty flavor to me? 

Either way it was a taste experience, to be repeated for quality purposes of course!