Keep calm & eat on at this green haven
What makes a plantbased diet healthy?
Heard of a little corner shop or a hole-in-the-wall eatery that’s rumoured to sell the best burger, or the best sandwich, or the best kebab? Or another ‘little-known place’ that ‘launches a thousand ships’? UAE’s Hidden Gems, our new series, will feature one such place a week. In Episode 8, we make a stopover at SEVA Experience in Dubai to breathe light, eat a plant-based meal, and soak in nature.
It’s clear that following a plant-based diet is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. However, they’re not all created equal, experts said. It still comes down to making good choices. A healthy plant-based meal should consist of proper portions of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy protein, and healthy oils. (Source: www.health.harvard.edu)
Call it our good fortune, for we discovered this sanctuary behind Jumeirah Centre by sheer accident as we looked for a parking spot. A blink-and-you-miss location, SEVA Experience is an invitation to stop and smell the roses. But, don’t let this nondescript address fool you, for just one foot inside and you’ll forget it all; the sales targets, PPT deadlines, etc. We were sold with the very sight of the wicker swing at the entrance, the bougainvillea roof over our heads, and, yes, the cobbled pathway that led to SEVA Table, their plant-based café.
It was not quite mealtime, so we wandered to the yoga and meditation studio to take note of the sessions and classes (as they return after a brief closure due to Covid-19). The haven also houses a well-being treatment centre and a conscious shop. For the past six years, the place was known as Life ‘n One, yet it has stayed a hidden gem.
SEVA, when translated from Sanskrit, means selfless service, a trait you’d notice in the smiles and service of the staff members. With the winter breeze on our side, we chose to sit outdoors, on the mats and cushions spread out on the grass, as logs of wood made up
for the tables. Sharing is Caring — with mixed dips (Guacamole, Black Hummus, and Cashew Tzatziki) served with crudites and tortillas — was what we dug into foremost. A shoutout for the unusual hummus preparation, with black chickpeas
and activated charcoal.
Chef Kiki suggested we try the Mango Lassi, and the beverage prepared with coconut meat was an instant hit. “It is nature on a platter! You are having a plant-based meal, with no ingredients such as meat, milk, eggs, or honey,” shared Florence Njugana, supervisor of SEVA Table, as we took a bite of the Eggless Omelette. A gram-floured ‘omelette’ folded with spinach, chard, mushroom, cherry tomatoes, avocado, cashew cream cheese, etc — this one would put the humble egg to shame.
We stretched out our legs and calmed our nerves, to extend our time here, and would highly recommend you to plan a laidback visit. A suggestion, put the phone away (after you’re done capturing it all for the Insta fam) and, instead, play with their pet cats (the place is pet-friendly too), grab a book from the many shelves, hear the birds chirp, or simply collect your thoughts. We’d hit the pause button on our routines, and return for not just the food, but the ambience.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com