Taste the Rainbow

From the moment the waiter walked out of the kitchen doors with the plate in hand, dazzling with different colors and bright as a rainbow, I could not break my stare, I was too filled with anticipation for what he was bringing my way. When he placed my meal in front of me, the pinks, greens, oranges, and yellows were all glowing so bright they practically jumped off of the platter; I was baffled that the content was actually edible. And then one after the other the dishes kept coming, each of comparable beauty to the next, truly like edible art.

It was a brisk Santa Barbara morning, and after a day-turned-week of blowing off my New Year’s health kick resolution, my body and mind were in need of a revitalizing meal. Although my boyfriend and I arrived sharply at opening, Mesa Verde was already flooded with people and the steady flow of diners continued throughout the two hours we were there. Despite the influx of other diners, the waiter greeted us promptly at the door and continued to make us feel like the only two people there the whole time. We took advantage of the spacious outside dining area which was full of wooden tables, surrounded by illuminating green trees and flowers, and flooded with light on the Saturday morning.

Just one look at the vegetarian menu and I was pleasantly surprised by the endless delicious options. Drinks were the first of the big decisions to make, and after long contemplation we ended up with one Kali’s Chai to get our caffeine fix, and one Jupiter Smoothie. The mixture of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg in the chai drink tantalized my taste buds with the sweet yet light flavoring, but it was the addition of the almond milk and raw honey that truly stole my heart. After quickly sipping down the warm beverage, I immediately moved on to the smoothie made up of dates, cinnamon, bananas, and raw honey, which tricked me into thinking I was really treating myself to a milkshake and not a healthy blended beverage. We had barely broke ground at our brunch and our expectations were already blown away just by the drinks!

In a timely fashion, the waiter brought out the next order: Grilled Flatbread. Partnered with freshly made hummus, green olives, and olive oil to top, it was a match made in heaven. After we finished off the flatbread itself, we resorted to scooping the remnants of the hummus into our mouths with our spoons; it was simply too good to let one bite go to waste.

After basically licking the hummus plate clean, the waiter swiftly brought out the next two orders as if he could read the looks of excitement and anticipation in our eyes. I had eaten potato latkes before, but these were like nothing I had ever seen. The presentation was impossible to ignore, with the latkes stacked on top of each other, enclosing tempeh bacon, avocado, and pink lady apple in a sandwichlike form and served on a black stone slate—further solidifying the feeling of oneness with earth that the restaurant provokes. Following the first bite, it was no surprise that the taste was a perfect match for the unique presentation.

With one main dish down and one to go, we could not be more eager to delve in. Right on cue, our attentive waiter brought out the final item and the star of the show: the Macro Bowl. While tasting each of the dishes I thought I had landed on my favorite, however it wasn’t until after this bowl came out, shimmering with vibrant colors and wafting with delicious smells, that I knew it was about to take first place. The white beans and black rice were accompanied by an assortment of fresh bok choy, long carrots, onion, kabocha, and tempeh bacon, all grilled to perfection, garnished with a layer of green tahini and topped with bright fuchsia colored flower petals, to stick with the feel of nature that was intertwined in each of the dishes.

Many non-vegetarians like myself are hesitant to entertain the idea of strictly plant-based meals, however this one that I just indulged in could turn even the biggest of skeptics. The flavors were unwavering in richness and zest, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t just making it up in my head. Santa Barbara is in no way lacking in the brunch department, however with its fresh and hearty menu options, Mesa Verde offers a rare dining experience that is incomparable to the others in the area, making for a great weekend treat.

Mesa Verde 1919 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara mesaverderestaurant.com 805-963-4474

Written by Silas Fallstich

Photographed by Maizy Greenwald