Raw food gains traction with the help of the Swan Valley Cafe

Consumer theory suggests it takes around four to six weeks to develop a new habit, and even longer to introduce radically new ideas. Last year saw the raw food trend begin to extend beyond the peripheral vision of early adopters. The trend continues to gain momentum with a handful of raw food cafes opening up in Perth, little wonder if the offerings at the Swan Valley Café are anything to go by.



Swan Valley Café Chocolate and Beetroot cake © The Ponder Room

As a predominantly fish and vegetable eater, I’m usually given one or two options, so the menu at Swan Valley Café read like veggie nirvana. Surprisingly the carnivores at the table were also suitably impressed. We gang offour all chose something different which is quite rare, and I’d ponder another indication of the breadth of the dishes on offer.

I eventually ended up with the vegetable pattie which appeared like a deconstructed veggie burger, minus the bun.



Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room



Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room

The raw pasta dish was so large the waitress ended up offering a take-home pack.



Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room

And lastly was a veggie burger. 

Feeling righteous about our healthy choices we all opted for desserts: a rich beetroot chocolate cake (above); a raw berry cheesecake with a nut base; lemon polenta and a protein ball.


Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room

All quickly got passed around because we couldn’t believe how delicious they were. Two were served with almond cream, my first and definitely not my last time eating this.
 

The café also offers an enormous range of teas. A pot of organic green tea shared amongst the table was refreshing and more importantly, arrived in a pot that didn’t leak all over the table. We were also given pretty teacups, a hint at what the High Teas might be like.

Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room



Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room



Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room



Swan Valley Cafe © The Ponder Room



Swan Valley Cafe Raw foo selection © The Ponder Room

We arrived at 11am and left at 3.30pm pondering:

1. How a few hours in the Swan Valley can leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed and as if you’d been in Margaret River for a week.
2. Easy to see why the café was voted in the Top 10 Eateries: Vegan-friendly.
3. Knowing now that it can be done, why can’t all cafes use teapots that don’t flood the table?