Clean eating, and thinking, at this delightful vegan hot spot
Tanya’s raw bar, a stone throw from the Fulham road, is not only the newest ‘clean eating’ brunch spot on the block, it’s also your own personal therapist. Mindfulness is the dominating factor here, in terms of both what you put in your mouth, and what you’re thinking whilst you do so.
Vegetated stone walls prompt you to count your blessings, even the basil lined counter top reminds you that, “everything is going to be alright” a refreshing change from the boozy, sugar laden, all day breakfasts, that seem to be swarming Soho. As far as Tanya’s concerned, health is here to stay!
By day, Tanya’s operates as a, ‘living food cafe’ meaning that the entire menu is gluten free, raw and of course, organic. Think, plenty of green juice, matcha lattes, raw breads and super-seeded granola bites.
A girlfriend and I, popped in for brunch this weekend. Tables full of young twenty-somethings glowed with the kind of radiance that must surely be thanks to Reformer Pilates, and clutched ‘liver cleansing’ shooters ( a mix of garlic and spices, not for the faint hearted! ).
We opted for the “Grawnola”; crunchy granola clusters with goji jam and almond milk, as well as the RawTella Untoast, a Tanya approved version of the Nutella classic.
Tanya herself, was spotted vibrantly overseeing the cafe as we tucked into our cold -pressed green juices. An expert in raw food, acid-alkaline digestion and a certified health coach, she’s a truly great representation of her brand.
Tanya’s justification of her raw lifestyle? “ How about eating all the pizza you like and not gaining weight, or drinking cocktails without ever experiencing a hangover” I’m sold.
Cocktails, are even a headlining feature, unheard of in your run of the mill health food havens! After 4pm, Tanya’s turns into a “Superfood’ cocktail bar, where cocktails are diffused with wonder ingredients; maca, cacao, goji and acai. Surely, a match made in holistic heaven! The namesake, “Totally Tanya” features, Gin, Lime, Mint, Raw Honey, Peppermint Bitters and Sparkling water. Meaning that getting slightly merry is, in my mind, practically a detox.
However, be warned. Tanya’s healthy glow doesn’t, unfortunately, come cheap. My RawTella Untoast set me back almost £9, and in all honesty the portion size didn’t exactly meet with my ‘hearty weekend brunch’ expectations, whilst my Chai Tea was a lavish £4.50.
But then again, perhaps that’s the price you pay for Tanya’s dewy aura. And, truthfully, I did discover a slight bounce in my step, walking down the Fulham road, and felt energetically ready to take on the day, well the Oxford Street shops that is!
If you’re in need of a health and mind detox, stop by the wonderful world of Tanya; 35 Ixworth Place, SW3 3QX.
The staff at Tanya’s Cafe were unhelpful and snotty. The meals we had weren’t stricly speaking raw, and were arrogantly overpriced (£5.50 for a side of onion bread; a mere slice). The coffee was stale and the staff’s idea of warm almond milk was to supply a glass of hot water in which to place the milk jug, which resulted in boiling watter spilling everywhere (includig on my person). They then had the gaul to add a 12.5% tip to the bill, which we had to pay. All in all a ghastly experience.