Lunch Boxes and The Brakes Coffehouse and Provisions
About a month ago, Sustainability Man told me about this new vegan coffeeshop that would be opening. He invited me to a reception one night before they were officially open, but I didn't rally for the post kirtan gathering. Instead, I went to the website and, after reading more about The Brakes project, bought a membership.
http://www.thebrakesproject.org/index.php/brakes-coffeehouse-and-provisions/
I love the idea of The Brakes - all about educating and working to 'decarbonize' the way we live. The owner is an ecological engineer with a doctorate. I'm interested in learning more of the story that brought her to Lark Street.
When you walk in to The Brakes, you notice a cooler full of lunch boxes - so cool - all kinds, from Mario Brothers to Twilight. I had to ask about their purpose. The plan is that you call in your order, and your lunch will be all packed up in a lunch box, ready for you to pick up on your way to work (or delivery within walking distance at some point in the future) Remember elementary school? A cool lunch box (cuts down on packaging waste, and) makes your lunch so much better. It evokes a feeling of the good old days, even if there was some lunch box envy from the brown baggers...
Tom Freund put this song 'Happy Days Lunch Box' on his new record.
ALSO:
(Does this lunch include a life-changing letter, ala 'The Lunchbox'? If so, sign me up ASAP!)
Now for the menu: First, COOKIES! Then, after you have your dessert first, there are a few staple hot and cold sandwiches and some daily specials including soup of the day - looks good, sounds good
PERSONAL CAVEAT: after living through years of the Eggboy's crazy eating phases (oh, those awful morningstar soy sausages - blech), I'm turned off from food that pretends it's some other food, so the tofu tuna, tofu bacon, tofu beef, tofu cheese, are just not for me right now - I may reevaluate that in the future, because the food here really does look good.
My sandwich of choice is the Fancy Schmancy - PB&J on hearty multi grain bread with chocolate drizzle. Good stuff! Next up I'll try the portabello sandwich, and 'the Chili that warms your heart'. (I NEED some of that!)
When I was there on Sunday, there was some Dylan playing on the stereo (quintessential coffeehouse music!), people sitting on the couch reading, just a cool hangin' out vibe in the place. When I walked in last night, Sustainability Man was there in the flesh - having enjoyed the portabello, he declared it a victory. This is definitely a place to be a regular.