Until visiting Stockholm in June, I was a raw food newbie. It was out of pure good luck that I was introduced to Micael Friberg's raw & organic food restaurant, Ecobaren. The Stockholm Tourism Board extended an invitation to experience Stockholm's historic art nouveau spa, Central Badet, and dine at Ecobaren on premise.
Located above the spa area, the vibe is upbeat, simple and sleek. My brother and I dined in our spa bathrobes along with other spa guests which felt utterly indulgent. Being of Italian decent, I am always up for food and new experiences. I wasn't sure if raw was a PC way of referring to rabbit food but I can assure it is not. Tasty, healthy, created with innovation and artfully plated, I discovered raw food is an art form with great attention given to sourcing, preparation and presentation.
Equally impressive is Michael Friberg's passion for his business and for helping others achieve better health. Attentive, friendly and very open to our many questions, Michael helped us select a veritable raw feast accompanied with flights of organic raw wines.
In reading the Swedish to English version of Ecobaren's website, the copy is fresh and inviting. I've modified the translation to read more smoothly. See below.
Ecobaren is the small water hole with the big heart, where the guiding principle is the awareness of human and planetary health, reflected in the carefully and lovingly designed menu. A unique and relaxing spa environment invites the body and mind to relax, while a variety of natural ingredients served in a well-taste experience. Carefully selected organic wines, champagne, cider and a wide variety of nutritious and refreshing drinks along with our snacks and meals allows you to fill yourself with organic food and life-giving raw food in an ecological feast.
What I also liked in particular was food education on the menu. For example, there is a legend identifying gluten-free and lactose free menu options. The menu also expressly states that no microwave, frying techniques or fryer or aluminum containers are used in the restaurant. Also, raw food is defined as a cooking technique where ingredients are prepared or cooked below 40-45 degrees Celsius. Lastly, I am a huge fan of Non GMO so to see that on a menu is a great plus.
Here's what we had for dinner:
Toast Skagen: shrimp with seaweed caviar with a bit of dill, lemon and horseradish. This was yummy and this type of shrimp salad with mayo is a favorite dish in Sweden, often served on top of a baked potato or with crackers and toast. Yummy!
Cracker & Cheese Selection: The most amazing crackers made with dehydrated seeds and cherries were presented to us. They were amazing!
Taco Wrap: By far this is one of the healthiest tacos I've had in a long time! Made with zucchini, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chili, coriander, sour cream with a side of salsa.
Lasagna: Raw food lasagne with zucchini,cashew cheese, tomato sauce and marinated chanterelles
Wines: Michael treated us to a flight of really wonderful wines. To be honest, we were having such good time chatting, drinking and eating that I neglected to write down details but the full drink list and menu items can be found on their website. If you wonder what the health benefits of imbibing in organic wine, here's an interesting article.
Banana Cream Pie: Oo la la! Oh my gosh, my brother and I absolutely loved this dessert made with a nutty chocolate base, date toffee, bananas and coconut cream.
What a treat!
You can find Ecobaren - Life Source on Facebook
For our interview with Michael Friberg, click here
For a favorite Ecobaren recipe, click here
For our coverage of Central Badet, click here
Located above the spa area, the vibe is upbeat, simple and sleek. My brother and I dined in our spa bathrobes along with other spa guests which felt utterly indulgent. Being of Italian decent, I am always up for food and new experiences. I wasn't sure if raw was a PC way of referring to rabbit food but I can assure it is not. Tasty, healthy, created with innovation and artfully plated, I discovered raw food is an art form with great attention given to sourcing, preparation and presentation.
Equally impressive is Michael Friberg's passion for his business and for helping others achieve better health. Attentive, friendly and very open to our many questions, Michael helped us select a veritable raw feast accompanied with flights of organic raw wines.
In reading the Swedish to English version of Ecobaren's website, the copy is fresh and inviting. I've modified the translation to read more smoothly. See below.
Ecobaren is the small water hole with the big heart, where the guiding principle is the awareness of human and planetary health, reflected in the carefully and lovingly designed menu. A unique and relaxing spa environment invites the body and mind to relax, while a variety of natural ingredients served in a well-taste experience. Carefully selected organic wines, champagne, cider and a wide variety of nutritious and refreshing drinks along with our snacks and meals allows you to fill yourself with organic food and life-giving raw food in an ecological feast.
What I also liked in particular was food education on the menu. For example, there is a legend identifying gluten-free and lactose free menu options. The menu also expressly states that no microwave, frying techniques or fryer or aluminum containers are used in the restaurant. Also, raw food is defined as a cooking technique where ingredients are prepared or cooked below 40-45 degrees Celsius. Lastly, I am a huge fan of Non GMO so to see that on a menu is a great plus.
Here's what we had for dinner:
Toast Skagen: shrimp with seaweed caviar with a bit of dill, lemon and horseradish. This was yummy and this type of shrimp salad with mayo is a favorite dish in Sweden, often served on top of a baked potato or with crackers and toast. Yummy!
Cracker & Cheese Selection: The most amazing crackers made with dehydrated seeds and cherries were presented to us. They were amazing!
Taco Wrap: By far this is one of the healthiest tacos I've had in a long time! Made with zucchini, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chili, coriander, sour cream with a side of salsa.
Lasagna: Raw food lasagne with zucchini,cashew cheese, tomato sauce and marinated chanterelles
Wines: Michael treated us to a flight of really wonderful wines. To be honest, we were having such good time chatting, drinking and eating that I neglected to write down details but the full drink list and menu items can be found on their website. If you wonder what the health benefits of imbibing in organic wine, here's an interesting article.
Banana Cream Pie: Oo la la! Oh my gosh, my brother and I absolutely loved this dessert made with a nutty chocolate base, date toffee, bananas and coconut cream.
What a treat!
You can find Ecobaren - Life Source on Facebook
For our interview with Michael Friberg, click here
For a favorite Ecobaren recipe, click here
For our coverage of Central Badet, click here
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