Animal Writings

Last week I tried the soft-serve non-dairy ice cream at the Everlasting Life juice bar and cafe (technically it's the Source of Life Juice Bar & Deli inside the Everlasting Life health food store). Everlasting Life is owned and run by the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, which also owns and operates Soul Vegetarian restaurants in several cities across the United States.

Anyway, I had the carob flavor and it was sensational! The following week — and on the hottest, most sweltering day of the year — I tried their cashew and almond soft-serve. Out of this world! And I'm not even a huge ice cream fan, usually.

If you like ice cream even a little, you owe it to yourself to try Everlasting Life's soft-serve. If you doubt that non-dairy ice cream can compete with dairy ice-cream, flavor-wise, check it out. Bring a hearty hunger — they don't skimp on servings.

Now a little about Everlasting Life and Soul Veg (as it's known), at least the ones in DC. They're only a few blocks apart. Each serves down home food: macaroni and cheese, greens, potato salad, and so forth. The portions are humongous and filling. Soul Veg has a more extensive menu, and I hear the Sunday Brunch at their Maryland location is superb. The DC restaurants are nothing fancy — which can be a nice change of pace. The atmosphere could not be more relaxed or laid back; it's like hanging out at a friend's house. Or maybe a friend of a friend's place.

But to return to the main point: Vegan ice cream has arrived. From here, it will only get better. If you avoid dairy for ethical or health reasons, get yourself down to Everlasting Life for a real treat. If you are vegan and have a skeptical friend, bring him or her to Everlasting Life; they will be converted, at least about this part of the diet; it will be a fun, brain-freeze wake-up call.

Almost forgot! I understand that Sticky Fingers Bakery, also in DC, serves Temptation soft-serve, and if it's anything like what I've tasted the last two weeks, I have to slap myself on the forehead and ask myself, incredulously, what I've been waiting for. And I assume there are hundreds of places, then, across the country and the world, that serve luxurious, rich, tasty non-dairy soft-serve. Enjoy!

Labels: food, ice cream, non-dairy ice cream, restaurants