Plant Chat: Ronald Russell, Sun Cafe
Ronald Russell is the owner and chef of the plant-based raw food restaurant SunCafe. His restaurant has won multiple awards including being named one of the top restaurants in Los Angeles by Open Table and BestOfRaw. Ron has been working with raw foods for 14 years and has developed an array of recipes based on traditional and original ideas. He holds weekly plant-based raw food cooking classes at SunCafe and has been featured on KABC News and the New York Times.
What inspired the creation of Sun Cafe? How long has it been in business?
SunCafe Organic started in May 2009. It was almost created by accident. We had a food line in Whole Foods which was growing so we were looking for a large commercial kitchen and found our previous location down the block from where we are now. On a busy street, we thought we should open a cafe and very quickly the cafe became more popular than the food line.
What trends have you observed over the years in your restaurant?
There is definitely a growth in the organic/healthy/plant-based food world. Dozens of new vegan restaurants have popped up since we started and I think people want a higher end cuisine/experience. A vegan avocado sandwich or stir fry just doesn’t cut it for anyone anymore.
Do you cater to primarily vegans, or just people looking for healthy delicious food?
We’ve done surveys and found more than half our customers are meat eaters. Some want to eat healthier, some want to avoid eating meat at every meal and many just like us as a unique cuisine.
Do you find that celebrities (which I know you get your fair share of) are more attracted to a plant-based diet, and why?
We do see many, many celebrities at SunCafe. I believe they have such pressure to look their best, to look younger and our raw, healthy plant based cuisine really helps people look their best.
What is your philosophy for healthy, delicious, plant-based eating?
To me the secret of good health is eating lots of leafy greens. I do 2 40 oz green smoothies a day and usually a big salad at some point. That’s my base, but I’m a total foodie. I love lots of variety and dishes bursting with flavor. I’ve been veg/vegan for more than 30 years. Once you make that decision, I think it’s very easy to stick to now days.
What 5 plant-based foods can you simply not live without?
Greens (kale, chard, spinach, parsley), bananas (I don’t like them by themselves but they’re great for making smoothies & desserts), quinoa, love soups, the great dish in the future I haven’t tried yet.