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Multi-organic
Organic Bliss does a body, economy, and environment good
published April 16th 2008
Put away the energy drink. If you want a hefty — and healthy — jolt, I recommend the Blue Moon smoothie and one of the many salads from Organic Bliss. Delicious, fresh, and au naturale, Organic Bliss serves delicious food, with a side order of eco-friendliness and economic responsibility.
As the name implies, everything is organic. Yup, everything. No chemicals, yellow dye #5, MSG, etc., etc. All of the produce comes from family-owned farms, and the sizable coffee bar only uses locally roasted Drake's Coffee.
Organic Bliss is approaching its one year anniversary, and owners David Thomas and Nazih Yaghman have done themselves — and Toledo — proud, offering a wide, eclectic menu of sandwiches, salads, smoothies, pastries, sweets, and bottles of organic wine. And for vegetarians and vegans — who often have a tough time finding decent restaurant fare in this land of wings-n-burgers — it can't get much better than Organic Bliss. Not only do they offer eight different veggie-friendly wraps and sandwiches, but a good assortment of vegan desserts (the chocolate cake easily tops Ms. Crocker's).
Needing a boost after a tough day, I venture inside the spacious dining room, briefly admiring the shelves of freshly baked ready-to-go loaves of bread that greet you as you walk in. Looking at the menu on the wall is almost daunting — so many choices, how do you choose? While pondering, I admire the assortment of salads, hummus, and deviled eggs behind the refrigerated glass display case.
After a few minutes, I settle on the homemade chicken salad sandwich on multigrain bread ($7.95), smiling to myself as I think of Jack Nicholson ordering the same thing in "Five Easy Pieces" and the melee that ensues after. The raw juice and smoothie menu, however, makes it just as tough to choose a beverage, though I eventually go with the Blue Moon ($4.95) — blueberries, honey, banana, yogurt and ice.
When my server, the ever-smiling Notre Dame Academy junior Lauren Hurd, brings me my order, it's delivered with a side of garden lentil salad, which tastes sweet and tangy — the perfect vacation from the ordinary salad. The sandwich? Perfect. Just the right amount of mayo; nice, fresh tomato, and a leaf of crisp lettuce.
You can't leave Organic Bliss without grabbing one of their sweets on the way out. Having been a longtime fan of the vegan chocolate cake, and the chocolate chip cookies, I take Lauren's advice and order the chocolate-peanut butter bar ($.99), which I enjoy immensely until she good-naturally quips "They're addictive, but they're totally fattening." I glare at the bar, momentarily lost in revere about the 28-inch waist I sported in high school. Then I shove the rest in my mouth.
Organic Bliss is the perfect restaurant — a menu catering to both vegetarians and carnivores, a strong emphasis on environmental, economic, and personal health, and operated by nice, friendly folks. In this day and age, that truly is bliss.
Organic Bliss
3312 Secor Road
Hours: Mon. - Fri.: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sat.: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
419-724-4888
www.organicbliss.net
