Healthy Chef Cafe

When my colleague first boasted about this place, i was a bit hesitant mainly because of the seemingly mundane name for a cafe and the fact that it is located in far away Avalon (near Palm Beach). But as i googled and read about Teresa Cutter the owner of the cafe (who has written 4 cookbooks) and the cafe's philosophy of creating a place where people "come and nourish their bodies with delicious food" where their passion is in promoting healthy eating, i was inspired.

Situated on the corner, it was easily spotted as our car zoomed by. It is only a petite cafe where patrons can chose to sit inside on cushioned sofas/wooden benches or outside to enjoy the sun.

They not only serve breakfast and lunch but a healthy selection of cakes and cookies and campos coffee.



The cafe is to be commended (unlike the majority of eateries in sydney) as it caters for the increasing number of people with dietary requirements e.g. wheat free, low carb, gluten free, organic, vegan, raw and detoxing.

All the items on the menu are low in saturated fat, sugar, salt and refined ingredients as they strive to serve ingredients as close to its natural state as possible to maxiumise nutrients.

So you can eat as much as you want and not feel guilty!!



The menu offered an array of healthy and tantalising options scribbled on the blackboard. I was tempted by the detoxing juice, stressbuster smoothie, bean & sweet corn nachos and the detox energy salad, which set me back at $51 for 2 people. Not particularly the cheapest lunch, but reasonable considering it is cafe styled food using high quality ingredients.


Detox juice - apple, organic spirilina, lemon, parsley and ginger


Stress buster smoothie - Blueberry, banana, soy milk and honey

I am the biggest nachos fan and shamefully admit I eat it at least once a fortnight. Hence I had high expectations of how nachos can be transformed into something healthy yet still yummilious.

The corn chips are organic with a generous portion of seeds on each one. The evil sour cream has been replaced by natural yogurt but retains the tangy creamy sour cream elements so you dont feel ripped off. Guacamole is thrown out the window and substituted with half an avocado. The beans are apparently slowly simmered with tomato, carrot, celery, smoked paprika and sweet corn. The beans maintained its bite and did not feel like mushy baby food. What is even better is that the dish is wheat free, gluten free, packed with protein and low GI, yet still tastes like the real thing.


Nachos



The detox salad was a generous mix of salad leaves, baby spinach, broccolini, avocado chunks and goji berry with handfuls of roasted walnuts, pumpkin seed and ground flax seed. Apple balsamic vinegar and olive oil is separately provided so you can add as much or as little as you want.

The broccolini looked so enticing lying on top of the salad covered in seeds. The broccolini was crunchy and super fresh. The avocado chunks added some creaminess to the otherwise plain spinach and salad leaves whilst the acidic apple balsamic vinegar makes you salivate and lure you in for more. The walnuts and seeds are also a much welcomed addition to add that extra crunch. Even better, this salad is full of omega 3, protein and antioxidants, is wheat free, gluten free, low carbs and low GI.


Detox salad



We specially ventured to Avalon to try it out and we were not disappointed. After a nourishing meal we strolled along Avalon beach enjoying the sun, what more could you ask for?


Healthy Chef Cafe
17 Avalon Parade
Avalon beach
Tel -02 9973 3233
http://www.teresacutter.com/healthy-chef-cafe/
(open 7 days for breakfast and lunch)