 "Photo: Tina Russell")
Hidden in a mass strip of buildings on Morse Boulevard that comprise downtown Winter Park lies Café 118°, an alternative to the saturated fat, overcooked foods we eat on an everyday basis. Café 118° serves up raw, organic food that is 100 percent free of animal by-products like milk and eggs.
The name of the cafe is quite literal. As it states in its paper menu, all of the food is prepared at temperatures of less than 118 degrees to preserve the enzymes, minerals and vitamins found in foods’ raw state.
The cafe is quite small but well-decorated with marble-inspired tables and modern art that adorns the walls. As customers eat, mellow, instrumental music drifts from the speakers.
My friend Brenda Barker and I are greeted by a friendly server who seats us at our table.
She instantly remembers my friend and asks if I’ve ever eaten here before. When I say ‘no,’ she eagerly tells me about popular menu items like the vegetable pad Thai and shiitake mushroom lasagna.
I start off my lunch with the raspberry agave lemonade. The juice puts an interesting spin on the popular drink. The lemonade had the signature tangy taste that most lemonades have, but the raspberry added a sweet taste to the drink. I felt like I was drinking liquid candy, and it was delicious. Barker got the pineapple with celery and mint juice.
“This tastes like I’m walking through my grandmother’s garden,” Barker said.
The next part of our meal was the entree. I decided on the Crispy Vegetable Summer Rolls that had carrot, mango, and cabbage wrapped in collard green leaves with sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. The food looked like a piece of artwork with everything placed perfectly on the plate. I must admit, at first, I was scared to try raw food. I thought, ‘How can raw food taste good?’ and ‘I hate eating raw vegetables.’ I was pleasantly surprised I was wrong when I bit into the vegetable summer rolls. Bursts of flavor bombarded my mouth with every bite that I took. It had a fresh taste to it, and I felt like I was eating something that came from the earth, but in a good way.
My favorite part was the subtle spicy flavor that came from the radish. Barker had the spinach and beet ravioli. Inside the ravioli was macadamia meat wrapped in beet skins with ricotta cheese. I was surprised the macadamia meat had the same texture and taste as ricotta cheese. The beet skin complemented the macadamia meat nicely, and I didn’t feel like I was eating beets.
Barker and I polished off our meal with dessert. I ordered the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with Macaroon Crust, while she ordered the dairy-free coffee and walnut ice cream. The tart did not taste like a tart at all. In fact, I felt like I was biting into a cocoa bean with a hint of coconut. The tart did not taste like regular chocolate. However, the coffee and walnut ice cream was absolutely delectable. The ice cream was made from coconut meat and had the same creamy texture that ice cream has. In fact, it was creamier than ice cream. It was possibly some of the best ice cream I have ever had.
The menu states at Café 118° states: “We harness raw organic ingredients to satisfy your wellness. Our entrees not only offer food in its simplest, most natural state, but explode with nutrients and flavor which will charge your body, strengthen your immune system and leave you feeling invigorated, engaged and energized.”
I find this statement to be true, because when I left Café 118°, I felt energized, ready to tackle the tasks I had on my to-do list, and I remained full for the entire afternoon. The only downfall of this cafe is the price. My juice cost $5, my small entree cost $14, and my dessert cost $8. Because of the price, Café 118° isn’t an everyday eatery. It is a place to go to for an experience, to change the daily routine and try something new.
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