Garden of Eden
EVE'S MARKET is a fresh food paradise.
WHAT: Eve's Market
CUISINE: Health food market and deli
WHEN: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
WHERE: 7700 Cohn St.
CARDS: Major
The new, adventurous love for organic food and vegetarian cuisine shares the
culinary spotlight with the spice revolution. People are getting more creative
with fresh herbs and spices while preparing meatless dishes that are low in
salt and fat. I remember when a spice rack could be installed on the inside of
my 12-inch kitchen cabinet door, and the only grocery stores that carried
organic veggies and fresh herbs were tiny shops run by people who looked like
they had emerged from the 1960s. Today, many spice racks require the entire
back side of the kitchen door, with an annex in the garden for fresh herbs and
freezer space to store them off-season. A good cook knows that using herbs and
spices like fresh cilantro, basil, peppers and lemongrass, ginger, saffron, and
marjoram, plus herbal vinegar and sesame oils, can enhance any vegetarian or
low-fat meal.
The traditional supermarket chains now carry everything from fresh
herbs and sun-dried tomatoes to tofu and exotic mushrooms. However, health food
stores like Eve's Market on tranquil Cohn Street transcend the shopping
experience because they offer a much wider variety of natural products, plus
personable service. At Eve's Market, the deli is far superior to any I've found
at any supermarket chain. The salad bar alone is worth a trip there. Although
small, it features such amenities as mixed organic greens, pinenuts (a pricey
item for a salad bar indeed), bell peppers in red, yellow and green, red onions
and beautiful organic veggies, plus top-of-the-line salad dressings. The
sandwiches, hot entrees (which are limited in number) and individually
apportioned salads are equally good, and the gourmet cheese selection is quite
impressive.
Although I normally patronize large supermarkets for the basics,
there's nothing quite like walking into Eve's Market for a shopping spree.
Because cooking is one of my passions, I enjoy browsing through their fresh
herbs and spices, and filling my basket with beautiful, organically grown
vegetables and flawless fruits like miniature satsumas as sweet as honey,
seedless grapes that taste like nectar and the tiniest cherry tomatoes known to
man. I've always believed that a shopping cart should be sort of like the Food
Guide Pyramid -- containing a multitude of grain foods, fresh veggies and
fruits, a moderate amount of dairy and protein foods, and only a few "sinful"
kid-friendly foods that are high in sugar and salt, earmarked for special
occasions. Of course, when I'm cooking for the holidays, it's a totally
different story -- one filled with excess.
Eve's is the modern counterpart of the old-fashioned neighborhood
store, run by people who, for the most part, understand food and care about
their customer's health. Owned by Linda Van Aman and Claudia Dumestre, Eve's
doesn't have to abide by the rules of a corporate franchise. Instead, the
owners of the 11-year-old store can pay attention to the needs of the people
who shop there.
The fresh produce section is always an inspiration, although not
all items are organic. So, too, with the dairy products. I am always intrigued
by the variety of such items as yogurt, humus and tofu. Be sure to sample the
spicy smoked tofu, which only needs warming. For those creative cooks who enjoy
adding pizazz to healthful meals, the oil, vinegar and seasoning sections are
particularly interesting. You'll also find a fine selection of natural grains
and organic beans, rice, nuts and legumes, plus an impressive snack section
that includes everything from specialty rice cakes to "designer" crackers and
healthy chips.
"We try to provide alternatives to the commercial brand products.
For instance, we'll try to do natural alternatives to cereals like corn
flakes," says Van Aman. "We offer a variety of soy products because soy is an
excellent source of protein, and we offer beverage alternatives to sodas and
dairy products, plus a very good selection of snack foods."
When browsing through the deli's menu, I recommend sampling such
sandwiches as the hot veggie melt with mushrooms, melted provolone, tomato and
bell pepper, the Linzie roll with sprouts, avocado, miso, onion and lettuce in
a tortilla, and the delicious spring special (my personal favorite) made with
garlic and spiced neufchatel cheese, sprouts, and thinly sliced cucumber. The
sandwiches are reasonably priced and are offered with a choice of several
breads, including 7-grain, pita and bagels. There are about 30 from which to
choose. The best salad I've sampled has been made with black beans blended with
shredded carrots, fresh corn and cilantro, and my vote as the best hot entree
goes to Eve's quesadilla, made with a whole wheat tortilla, a spicy salsa, red
onion and garlic cheddar. For those of you ordering take-out food, sandwiches
are prepared from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regardless of what you purchase at Eve's
Market, you can always count on walking out of there with a smile.
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