S1E5: Real food daily
On a beautiful spring day in Pasadena, I wanted to get some brunch that was healthy and walking distance from my apartment. Real Food Daily was the first place to pop up as I searched for local restaurants and after perusing through the menu, I immediately wanted to discuss shooting an episode of Nutrihunt there. I walked in to place my order and asked to speak to a manager. Lo and behold, the owner of Real Food Daily, Adaline, was the one helping me!
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Adaline and her father have evolved Real Food Daily since they acquired it over four years ago.
Adaline was thrilled about the idea of shooting an episode at her restaurant! After ordering the vegan breakfast burrito - which is hella bomb! - we solidified a time to discuss details about the shoot. During our meeting, I was impressed with Adaline’s restaurant acumen, long history of being in the business, and how her and her father have evolved Real Food Daily since they acquired it over four years ago.
It was difficult to choose which entree was one of the healthiest, since most of them contain copious amounts of nutrients. I decided to highlight the Build Your Basic Bowl because of the many healthful options you have to create your own unique, delicious meal. For the most popular dish, the Real Food Salad was a clear frontrunner. I have had plenty of salads in my life, and the Real Food Salad is by far the best I have ever had. Adaline and her team sure know how to make salads filling and refreshing at the same time. I was absolutely blown away with how flavorful both entrees were, and you can see that through my genuine reactions in the episode.
In this episode, I chose to showcase the Sam Merrill Trail hike to Echo Mountain in Pasadena, however, there are plenty of other fun areas to check out that are close to Real Food Daily. The Rose Bowl, Descanso Gardens, Eaton Canyon Falls, Huntington Botanical Gardens, Old Town Pasadena, and Santa Anita Park are well within the Southern California definition of close by. However, if any avid hiker or fitness enthusiast is seeking a challenging activity, I encourage you to check out the hike highlighted in the episode, especially during sunset. Please do not do what we did, which was hike the trail midday with no cloud coverage in 90 degree weather! But due to filming and scheduling restraints, we had to roll with the punches and deal with the severe heat. Luckily, we brought plenty of water and healthy snacks to fuel us to the top!
Adaline and her family own and operate Real Food Daily at three locations: Pasadena, West Hollywood, and inside Terminal 4 at LAX. Along with providing healthy, plant-based food, Adaline and her family implemented more sustainable practices by using compostable containers and paper bags for takeout orders. During the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Adaline concocted new recipes at home to pass the time, which she now plans to add to the menu in the near future! Some might be skeptical about the flavor of vegan food, but that skepticism can easily be put to rest once you eat here. If you are near Pasadena, West Hollywood, or flying out of Terminal 4, be sure to support Adaline and her family as she supports your body with delicious and nutritious vegan food at Real Food Daily!
Scientific Resources for Real Food Daily
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