By Ruth Tal Brown

Reviewed by Jessica Alleva


It was a warm summer's eve, on the anniversary of my first kiss. Angie and I wanted to go out and celebrate, so I could forget about the long-lost first-kiss-boy. We stepped into Juice for Life, after we'd chosen it from a list of Toronto vegetarian restaurants. The lights were low, the room was bustling, and a delicious aroma rested on the air. We sat at a quiet, two person, wooden table near the back. As the friendly waitress handed us the menus, we were shocked to see pages upon pages of juice selections-everything from "Lust for Life" to "First Kiss" (how appropriate). The meal selections were just as unique and bountiful, boasting health and great taste. We ordered. I drank a "Strawberry Fields" juice, and savored a vegan carrot cake. Never had I tasted such delicious, healthy and animal-friendly cuisine. We returned several times while I was in Toronto-for lunches, breakfasts and dinners! It went without saying, then, that I'd bought their much-acclaimed cookbook, entitled "Juice For Life-Modern Food and Luscious Juice."

The founder of Juice for Life, Ruth Tal Brown, began her now-successful business as a travelling juice bar, which later evolved into a permanent location at a former chicken slaughterhouse. Today, there are several JFL branches scattered throughout downtown Toronto, with famous diners such as Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz and Reese Witherspoon. The restaurant has won numerous awards for it's fab food, too; it was voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant four years in a row by Now Magazine, three years in a row by Eye Weekly, and two years in a row by Toronto Sun newspaper. For those of us who aren't able to make it to this metropolitan city, we turn to the aforementioned Juice for Life cookbook, which enables us to enjoy all the same great tastes of the restaurant's juices and meals at home.

Since I purchased this cookbook, each and every recipe I have tried has left empty plates and diners begging, craving for seconds, thirds - even fourths! Every recipe is out of the ordinary, with unique twists, delicious flavors, and surprisingly, numerous health benefits. Who knew healthy food could taste this good? This was one of the aims of Ruth Tal Brown - to make healthful, vegan food taste great. The book is divided into two sections: Luscious Juice and Modern Food. Each section offers tips and information on the recipes, cooking preparation and equipment, as well as details of various ingredients throughout the pages. Some of the recipes are a little time consuming, but the wait is well worth it. My favorite recipes include the Fez Pita (baked eggplant, roasted zucchini, sundried tomatoes and yummy hummus) and the Jerusalem Rice Bowl (basmati rice, tahini sauce, hummus and herbs). The Luscious Juice section is quite large, subdividing into categories like "Energy Elixirs and Vital Fluids," and "Super Power Shakes."

The book is completely vegan, save for a few recipes that contain honey. I definitely recommended it to anyone who craves an exciting meal, who wants to surprise the taste buds with an unforgettable dining experience, and leave their body nourished and healthful. Juice for Life, from that summer night a few years back, has found a permanent and essential home in my kitchen.

For more information, please visit www.juiceforlife.com .

Buy this book now!