Once on a typical Moscow summer day (as always the weather wasn’t all that cool) I was making my way through stones and boards of the eternally renovated sidewalks of Tverskaya street. I was in a bad mood. There were clouds of dust around me. Drizzling grey rain with wind, noisy traffic jams and car fumes drove me to the edge of insanity. I wanted to run away. I needed some air and silence. And to drink. And to eat as well. Desperately clenching my teeth, I was jumping over hollows and pitfalls.  “Rock the cycle,” called on an insolent yellow sign on my right. “Yuck, I really hate cardio cycle!” I snarled mentally and felt as if lightening from my eyes would now saw through the tinted panoramic glass. I was scratching it with my eyes. Suddenly, I noticed «Holy Basil Cafe», a healthy food place. I immediately felt revived. I got inside. A usual cycle studio with a bar in the back of it. Just like in any other sport club. I decided to go and see the bar. There was glass, under which there were some fruit, coconut water and smooth color balls of healthy desserts marked as sugar-free.

“Will you feed me here?”

“With pleasure!”

I sat down.

“What do you have today?”

“This place is vegetarian with Bali taste. Try our bowls!”

A bowl is a multifunctional dish, which contains all your diet in one plate.

I read the menu. It isn’t big, but actually there is a lot to choose from. Three bowls (quinoa, wild rice/farro, rice noodles) with different vegetables and salad, nuts and superfoods, natural sauces and tofu. Optionally, you can have shrimps added. They also have soups, salads, toasts, tofu scramble, porridge, and coconut chia pudding. For those looking for protein there is a tuna steak. There’s also a huge variety of smoothies, vegan desserts, and hot drinks (Cappuccino with different types of milk, chicory, Matcha tea, masala tea, sea-buckthorn and herbal tea, etc). In short, the orthorexians give standing ovations.

That day I had a quinoa and a tofu bowl. It was very fresh and light. Then the soup of the day (it was a pureed soup with spinach/celery and coconut milk). Since then, I’ve visited to this place several times to have salads, coffee and sweets, and chia pudding. Everything’s always quick, tasty and healthy. No need to complain. I don’t have many photos, so you have to take my word. Or don’t believe me and go check. Anyway, you won’t be at a loss.