LA West Elite Event at M.A.K.E

Vegan cheese may just be my new favorite thing. So I’m not vegan, nor am I vegetarian, but I AM… well, I guess you could call me a body builder (‘s girlfriend) because I generally follow the diet of one meaning high protein, no/​low-​carbs, moderate good fats, but NO DAIRY. None (except for pizza or cheeseburger cheat meals of course). This is probably the thing I miss most about my old lifestyle because CHEESE is quite possibly the best tasting most satisfying creation to ever exist on this earth for me. I have to be careful with a lot of vegan delicacies because they may be higher on the carb side but THIS vegan cheese was crafted with ALMONDS. *cue the choir of angels singing «hallellujah»
Other stand outs: Zucchini Lasagna. What witchcraftery conjured up THIS fabulous creation? I peeped the regular menu price and it IS a bit expensive for the portion size but I think I would shell out the cash for such an incredible dish. Hummus = love. Raw chocolate = sex.

Good times. Always like the Unilocal events, having the owner speak to us was a nice touch.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.
The optional question when I RSVPed to this event was, «Are you a vegetarian/​vegan?» What tha!!!
Yeah, my thoughts exactly!
I’ve been a Unilocaler for five years now and never went to an event or saw an option to go to a vegetarian/​vegan Unilocal event. It’s kinda unheard of. Since I became a pescatarian/​vegetarian last year, I have been very mindful in regards to which Unilocal events to RSVP to, especially the food ones. So I was super happy when I saw this.
I actually like small intimate events like this when I had to sit down with strangers and carry some good conversation with yummy food. Wait… HEALTHY yummy food. Loved it. Well, I loved everything: the private tour, meeting Matthew Kenney, all the food options (especially the raw lasagna and sorbet), and the lovely Unilocalers I met like (ahem. Edlin & Julie and my buddy James of course).
Thanks Brittany for thinking of us veggie people!)

I dont go to many elite events because I’m a vegetarian and there are usually no options for us… and what’s worst than watching every one else eat while your stomach grumble.
Thank you Brittany B for this event at M.A.K.E. and opening the eyes of this vegetarian.
I actually haven’t been exposed to the raw food phenomenon besides eating raw bell peppers and cucumbers at home. I didnt know raw food could be so delicious.
***
What our table had (different tables got different stuff to sample):
1. Zucchini Hummus. Muhumarah. Sesame Tabbouleh. Za’atar Crackers.
2. Wild Arugula. Fuyu Persimmon. Pistachio.
3. California Kale. Valencia Orange. Sun Dried Olives. Wild Dulse. Spiced Almonds.
4. Market Tomato Lasagna. Zucchini. Macadamia. Santa Barbara Pistachio. Basil.
5. Nori Roll. Jicama. Avocado. Shiitake. Pickled Daikon. Finger Lime. Ginger. Chipotle.
6. Chocolate Walnut Cake. Licorice Pear. Fennel. Sassafras.
We didnt get to try:
Wild Mushroom Taco. Mole. Almond Crema. Red Chili Avocado.
Flatbread. Hummus. Jewel Box Tomato. Fennel. Capers. Mint
Passionfruit. Honey. Melon Sorbet. White Chocolate. Berries. Lemon Balm.
***
I sat at a table with 3 meat lovers including my friend. I wonder how many vegetarians attended the event lol. My favorite items from the evening were the hummus spreads with the whole grain crackers and the Market Lasagna. Those two dishes were the most memorable for me. The white macadamia cheese sauce they used on couple of the dishes (I think on the salads and the lasagna) was so delicious. Surprisingly, the chocolate dessert cake at the end was the least liked item of the evening for our table. It was the only item that wasn’t finished.
The presentation of all the dishes were beautiful.
The staff did a great job serving everyone.
The school aspect of the restaurant was very cool and I loved the big, open, bright space that the students had to work at.
I almost didnt make it to this event and I’m glad I pulled through to experience M.A.K.E.

I was really excited to go to this elite event, and get to experience a gourmet raw meal. My husband has been a vegetarian from birth, but has never been overly excited by raw vegan menus. This was a great opportunity for both of us to see what it is all about. The evening started out on a high note with the chef/​owner Matthew Kenney, inviting us into his marvelous marble kitchen, to give us a brief introduction to his restaurant, food, and background. This was a very special and classy way to get started. We were then seated, offered organic wine, and treated to a wonderful sampling of their foods.
We were served family style, an assortment of dips, salads, and other tasty creations. Some items were just meant to taste, the portions being extremely small, and it was at times a tad awkward cutting some of the food into equitable little bits, but it did give us a nice sampling of what M.A.K.E does well. I particularly enjoyed the zucchini hummus and muhurmara served with crackers. It was very creamy, distinctive, and extremely flavorful. I would come back just to get a plate of this.
My second favorite item was the delicately built zuchhini/​tomato lasagna. The flavor was fantastic and the «ricotta» was delicious and deceptively realistic. We also really enjoyed the 2 fresh salad, one of them Kale and the other arugula, I think. We also enjoyed the desert, a small brownie like cake with homemade ice cream, and a sliver of fruit.
The service was cheerful, but understandably overwhelmed with our large group. I think it was hard for them to keep track of which table had been served which dish. Regrettably our table was served 2 orders of kale salad, but never got the tacos (which I understand were amazing), or the 2^nd desert. I would have asked about it, but never really had the chance to get a server’s attention. It was still a blast, and I will definitely return for my tacos, and use the 20% off coupon they so graciously provided is with!
The restaurant itself is very trendy looking, nice and open, and located on the 3^rd floor toward the back. I worry for its location, but hopefully people will make the effort to find it. It is worth the journey, and a very unique experience.
Thank you Brittany for setting up another great event, as well as your great company!

I normally prefer having meat in some part of my meal, but when I saw this event I decided it was the perfect opportunity to try vegan/​raw food. I’ve also heard good things about M.A.K.E. and wanted to see what the hype was all about.
My boyfriend and I arrived a bit late, but we made it just in time to sample the first course – Zucchini Hummus and Muhumara served with za’atar crackers. The entire dish was tasty. The hummus and muhumara were both creamy and delicious.
We had the opportunity to sample several other dishes, including Wild Arugula w/​persimmon (sweet and fresh) and pistachio; California Kale w/​oranges, olives, and spiced almonds; Wild Mushroom Tacos; Nori Roll; and Flatbread w/​hummus and tomatoes. On top of all the free food, we also each received 2 complimentary glasses of wine (Syrah or Chardonnay).
My favorite of the night was probably their signature dish, the Market Lasagna made with layers of fresh zucchini, tomatoes, and macademia. It tasted clean but also full of flavor, and I really liked how they were able to make the macademia so creamy and cheese-​like.
Dessert was a beautiful plate of passion fruit and melon sorbets – delicious! We left not long after sampling the sorbet, but we should’ve stayed for the second dessert (the pictures posted online look amazing) but I didn’t realize they were serving it.
Service was okay. The entire staff was friendly, but I guess with the event being full it was hectic for them and it seemed they lacked a bit of organization. There were times when our table ran short of a dish and times when we didn’t receive a dish we saw being served at other tables. However, once we asked a waiter or waitress about a specific dish, they immediately went to the kitchen to request that dish for us.
Even though we had a 2.5 hour dinner consisting of multiple dishes, everyone at my table did not get very full off of this. However, I can for once say that I enjoyed a delicious multi-​course meal without feeling guilty about it! I’ll definitely go back at some point and take advantage of the 20% coupon they gave each of us. Thanks Brittany B. for organizing this wonderful event!

Once upon a time I was a raw vegan. In fact, I ate only raw vegan foods for about 2 ½ years. During that time I researched the heck out of the raw foodist community, attended tons of raw food prep classes, and bought books by raw «celeb» chefs including Matthew Kenney. I was excited to hear that he opened a raw restaurant in Santa Monica and was SUPER STOKED to be invited to an Elite event at M.A.K.E.
It was a no-​brainer inviting Jin Y. as my +1 since she directed an awesome short documentary about raw veganism (shameless plug:
). Even though she is not raw vegan herself and I am now a regular «cooked foods» vegan, we still enjoy the fine art of creating dishes without going above 118 degrees. With wine glasses in hand, we got to sample the following:
Hummus and Muhumarah
The hummus is made with almonds and zucchini. The muhumarah is made of walnuts and red bell pepper (?). Super tasty!
We had two kinds of yummy salads:
— Wild Arugula with persimmon and pistachio.
— CA Kale with valencia orange, sun dried olives, wild dulse, and spiced almonds.
Zucchini Lasagna
I don’t mean to brag (actually, I totally do!) but I make a pretty awesome rawsagna. This place makes a pretty yummy one too. Probably one of the best raw lasagnas out of all the other raw restaurants I’ve been too! …but I’ll still say that the one I make is better ;D
Nori Roll with jicama, avocado, shiitake mushrooms, and pickled daikon.
OMG, using jicama for the «rice» is genius! Loved the flavors here.
Wild Mushroom Taco
Hands down, this was my favorite entrée! The flavors of the mushrooms, mole, almond crema and avocado is like Mmmmmmm!!! :)
To end the evening, we had the Chocolate Walnut Cake with licorice pear, fennel and sassafras. Delicious!
One extra perk, each of us got to walk away with a 20% off discount card for our next visit to M.A.K.E. which I will definitely use since raw food tends to be on the pricey side.
Awesome, awesome awesome event Brittany! The food was great and the staff was great. Not only was this a vegan-​friendly event but it also gave me an opportunity to meet other Unilocalers who eat similar or just like me :)
…which reminds me, I’m dedicating this review to my Unilocal buddy and fellow veggie Andrea V. who was out of town and couldn’t make this event. Andrea, you were extremely missed and we’ll figure out our veggie options at the next event together like we always do! :)
Thank you Brittany, Matthew Kenney, and the staff at M.A.K.E. for the healthy raw vegan eats :)

My best raw food restaurant experience to date!
M.A.K.E. gives «plant-​based cuisine» a whole new meaning. These «living foods» truly come to life with flavors and colors that reawaken the senses.
This event was one to remember as we were given a truly amazing in-​depth look (and taste) of this cutting edge menu and the thought behind it all. The highlight was definitely the event’s kick-​off with a kitchen tour by raw food chef/​author/​guru extraordinaire, Matthew Kenney.
I was so impressed by the menu items served and couldn’t believe how much thought and expertise was put into every single dish. My top 3 favorites:
— 1.) The TACOS were my favorite dish by far. Honestly, I could eat that dish every single day for the rest of my life. Seriously… this taco was better than anything I had tasted during my most recent trip to Mexico and that is saying A LOT.
The beef was not substituted by processed «mystery meat» like most vegan joints. The umami flavor of the mushroom paired with creamy avocado was decadent beyond words. The tortilla was moist — perfect — and every bite was delightful. A dish that is a crime to be missed!
2.) Best hummus ever? Possibly… Probably… YES!
The hummus appetizer was awesome. NOT AT ALL like the one you can order in most every restaurant these days. The flavors were rich and the zaaatar crackers were an amazing accompaniment — NOT just a vehicle for the delectable dip. I wish M.A.K.E. bagged these up and sold them at the market because they would be my snack daily. Filling and the perfect amount of chew with a sesame crunch!
— 3.) The raw lasagna tasted like lasagna but better and sans the «ready for a nap» feeling afterwards.
Everything about this dish was lovely — except cutting through it — but who cares! I was so impressed as I have heard and read numerous reviews of this dish. The rich, tomato-​ey goodness that you love about lasagna is apparent and done flawlessly, down to the exact flavor and texture of ricotta cheese. I am a fan!
I couldn’t be happier with the AMAZING food, great wine, and even better company that I was able to experience thanks to Brittany and the awesome work of Matthew Kenney and his staff! The thought of it is
me me want MORE!
This truly was a unique and educational event! Definitely one to remember as I left a RAW food restaurant with a FULL tummy (imagine that), feeling healthy, happy, and dying to try the rest of this season’s menu at M.A.K.E.
Unique, flavorful, and fresh are the 3 words I would use to describe M.A.K.E. and I will definitely be back for more.

play me while you read:
Whenever Marthie and I hang out, our days just tend to be a spontaneous adventure.
We say we are going to do one thing then a whole day goes by where we have done several things. One day we hung out to take a tour of Silverlake then it turned into a picnic and ended with a trip to the Magic Castle. See spontaneous with a couple wardrobe changes.
Well Tuesday night was no different. There I was at the end of the day with my feet up watching tv when I get a text from Marthie asking what I was up too? fast forward an hour later and there we were heading towards to Santa Monica for this L.A. West Event.
As we waited to sign in, I was immediately greeted with a warm embrace by Nicole A. The girl even complimented me on how I looked and coming from someone stunning as herself that made me feel special. Especially, since I didn’t know a single soul in the room besides Nicole A. and Marthie.
When we first got seated we were clustered up together at a table with stools. I wasn’t feeling the lack of elbow room and wanted to sit somewhere else. We decided to grab a seat at the long table to the far back and we started snapping away. Instagram upload after Instagram upload.
Marthie at one point said she was going to walk around and start to snap pictures. She thought since I was a socialable guy I could fend for myself. Well before she decided to walk off we noticed two people at the other end of our table. Best discovery ever! Edlin and Julie just clicked with the both of us and it seemed like the world got just a little bit smaller. In a good way. Odd, we hadn’t crossed paths before.
One of the highlights of the night was when Matt the manager came noticed that we didn’t get sushi plate like the rest of the table. Talk about attention to detail? Awesome.
Here is the run down of the foods
–Arugula and persimmon salad was darn tasty, especially with that sauce that was drawn underneath it.
–Mushroom tacos, I liked!
–The zucchini lasagna, a big fan! I loved the heirloom tomatoes that were used in it. I just couldn’t get enough of that cheese they used.
–The nori sushi was worth the wait and our dessert was delicious.
–Hummus on flat bread was also pretty good.
Would I be back to M.A.K.E.
I can’t see why not? They did give everyone a coupon of 20% for our next visit. The staff was on top of everything and even reassured our table when we didn’t receive the sushi the first time around that they would try to work something out. Great customer service.
Remember how I said whenever Marthie and I spend sometime together and it always leads to a spontaneous adventure? Well driving out of the parking garage and heading towards the fwy, she drops the line «I want Saffron and Rose!» I squealed and less than 20mins later we found ourselves in Westwood diving into our Persian Ice Cream.

This was my first LA West event and shame on Unilocal and their evil underhandedness for setting my future expectations so high. What is not to like about a free tasting service at a classy establishment with free wine and great people to share it with? All the above was achieved at Unilocal’s MAKE Event.
While I certainly enjoy certain uncooked products (guacamole, salsa, ants on a log), I am not one to patron raw eateries or even vegetarian oriented restaurants for that matter. This experience turned me into a BELIEVER. The hummus was simply amazing, the tacos blew my cabeza and the all vegan/​all raw «lasagna» was one of the best lasagnas I have ever had the pleasure of eating. And all this was RAW mind you!
So here’s my breakdown of the evening:
Unilocal Event: 5 stars
MAKE restaurant: 5 stars
Food: 5 stars
Drinks: 5 stars
People: 5 stars
Me feeling pretty classy when I left: 6 stars
Everyone needs to get up to the Market (3^rd level of Santa Monica Place) and try this place out! DO it!
Thanks Unilocal for the invite and for the meal. I love you.

**TURNED ME INTO A VEGAN FOR A NIGHT**
OK, you sexy vegans. You won me over for a night.
After a personal introduction to the master vegan chef, Matthew Kenney, in the next-​door kitchen facilities, we were then welcomed warmly by the staff to the restaurant.
Loved the modern décor and simplicity of it all.
WHAT WE HAD
=============
**HUMMUS**
Served with muhumarah, sesame tabbouleh and za’atar crackers. Oh yes, that red hummus was super delicious. I couldn’t STOP eating. Creamy, flavorful, and fresh.
**WILD ARUGULA**
The arugula was seriously fresh with the sliced persimmons and dotted pistachios. Loved the dressing. Perfect.
**KALE**
Served with orange, olives, dulse, and spiced almonds. I love kale, so I am biased. Loved the simplicity of this dish. The spiced almonds were killer with the extra KICK.
**LASAGNA**
With tomato, zucchini, macadamia, pistachio, and basil. Simply delicious without missing any meat. This was a definite runner-​up.
**TACOS** — MY FAVORITE! WINNER!
A wild mushroom taco with mole, almond crema and red chili avocado!!! SAY WHAT?! OMG, it was so good, I didn’t even want meat in it! :)
**DESSERT — CARROT**
I was hoping vegan cupcakes (hehe). We were served with what tasted and looked like carrot purée, consistency of baby food. Other tables received the chocolate cake.
=============
The dinner was also accompanied by wine (I had the Syrah) which was a nice elegant touch to the entire upscale vegan experience.
One of the best and favorite YEE’s I’ve attended thus far in the Westside.
Thank you once again, Brittany B!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND this restaurant and we will return with our much-​appreciated 20% discount cards!

this place is nuts.
no.
literally.
dishes are meant to stand on their own, and plant based, AND good?
awesomeballs.
big ups to Brittany for hipping us all to the place and defying the stereotype of the raw food.
we started with two types of hummus — which, i daresay were better than the usual, cooked hummus. other highlights, raw lasagna (without the guilt, all the taste). no fish sushi, (just as delicious, with chunks of avocado), raw kale, persimmon– all served in a family setting. we were lucky enough to have the owner there who lead us into the big kitchen/​culinary school– we watched Ian concoct the «cheeeses», and there is rumor of a future raw chocolate course as well.
drinks were plentiful, (red, white, and sparkling rose), and the waitstaff was more than helpful, answering any questions that came up.
i’m looking forward to bringing more skeptics to this joint. Thanks again B, you make it happen.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to Brittany and the staff at M.A.K.E.
I don’t venture out to true vegan restaurants very often (most of my friends are omnivorous) so an Elite event clearly focused on raw, vegan cuisine was a nice surprise. I had also never been to the Santa Monica Place shopping center (which is SO gorgeous!) so it was a night out in more ways than one.
The service was splendid — attentive staff, they knew the answers to all our questions, hooked me up with a bigger-​than-​usual glass of red wine (woo!), and they were just aware and conscientious about clearing plates, refilling water, etc. Great service.
Favorite items:
*DESSERT. The chocolate walnut cake… soooo good.
*Tomato/​zucchini lasagna — so fresh and yummy!
*Wild mushroom tacos — not traditional taco shells by any mean, but really filling and flavorful
*Arugula salad with persimmon (mmmmM~~~)
The rest were all solid, but I didn’t love the daikon-​instead-​of-​rice sushi and I thought the kale salad was just okay, Nothing worth sending back or anything like that, but the others were more stand-​out.
Would happily make my way back there to try more of their menu – kudos on an innovative concept. Here’s to hoping it does well in the similarly conscientious Santa Monica/​West LA world!

Another 5-​star Unilocal Event by Brittany B!
I am so impressed, I loved this event!
Located on the 3^rd floor of the Santa Monica Place, this restaurant was conveniently at a mall with ample parking. We walked up to The Market, which totally reminds me of the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco! Anyway, we were the only people in there, because we are «Elite,» after all.
We were seated at solid, light wood tables that are tastefully decorated with succulents in white vases, and served wine in beautiful glasses. Like many Unilocal events, our table had an array of fun Unilocal stuff, like « Unilocal Libs» napkins, Unilocal keychain/​bottle opener (yay! I needed a keychain), «Yelp Life» gloves (yessss!!! I finally snagged a pair), Unilocal mints, buttons, and a Unilocal pen that cracked me up: «Yelpers have the write stuff! Pen intended» LOL. We got to talking to our fellow Unilocalers/​table mates for a bit, who are, of course, awesome.
Brittany started off the event by welcoming us as a group, and then told us that the owner of the restaurant was there! What a cool surprise, he’s a big food celebrity!!! We made our way into the kitchen, where M.A.K.E. owner and cookbook author, Matthew Kenney, told us about how he got into raw cuisine, and more about his cooking school. Matthew was kind enough to take photos with some of us who asked! After, we made our way back to our tables for the best part, the FOOD!
I have one word to describe the food: exquisite. It’s not a word I use often, but it’s the best way to describe each of the dishes here. I have eaten at other raw food restaurants, and they sometimes add so many ingredients to so many dishes, that it is a mish-​mash of flavors, and everything ends up tasting the same. Each dish here was intentionally and masterfully created to make sure that flavors were able to shine through and compliment each other, in a way that made each dish unique. Fantastic attention to detail, and very innovative. On top of that, each dish was artfully presented on large, white dishes that really showcase the vibrant color that you get when you keep your food raw. Each course was like a modern art palette.
There were many elements that stood out to me:
I loved the thinly sliced persimmon in the salads, it added a nice touch of sweetness. I had a bite of the almond in the salad and thought the spice on it was amazing!
I thought it was really interesting how the arugula salad had both a savory paste and a sweet dressing. What a great idea! Why should salad just have one dressing, it’s not a rule!
I couldn’t get enough of the flatbread with dip, and the hummus appetizer.
The lasagna– OMG. I love raw food, but I also love warm, cooked food. The lasagna totally satisfied the part of me that loves warm, cooked food. It tasted like it was cooked, but just served at room temperature! Absolutely fantastic, best raw dish I’ve ever had, amazing.
The tacos– yum! A bit of smokey flavor on the mushrooms? Not overpowering. Very yummy.
Dessert– yaaayyyy dessert! Lemon sorbet was delicious, not a fan of the sorbet that was orange flavored! That was the only thing that I wasn’t into, here. The brownie was soooo good, and the ice cream (tasted like fennel?) was good on its own, but even better as a compliment to the brownie as one bite. Having it together gave the brownie extra moisture, and a complimentary spice flavor.
Also, I liked how it was served family-​style. I took an extra helping of the tacos that other people didn’t want, and a girl at my table took an extra helping of the orange-​colored sorbet that I didn’t want. It worked out really well.
My takeaway– Brittany B. is a rock star, Matthew Kenney is a genius, I love Unilocal,and I need to be eating more raw food like this! Maybe one of Matthew Kenney’s nine cookbooks can help me out; they had some of them displayed: «Everyday Raw Food Express» sounds like the first one I should start with.
My mom, who was my guest, had this to say about the event: «If they were trying to get people to come back to the restaurant, it worked. Everything here was amazing, and I definitely want to come back here and eat again, and I want to bring back my health-​conscious friends with me.»
As I was leaving, I noticed a Unilocal reusable grocery bag on the back of my chair. Awesome! I can definitely use that. Thank you, Brittany B. and Unilocal,for turning me on to a restaurant and cuisine that is so healthy, delicious, AND indulgent!

Thank you Brittany B for such a lovely and intimate event. My first LA West Elite event and it was AMAZING!
The staff at M.A.K.E. went above and beyond to make sure that we got to sample the nori roll since we were one of the tables that we left out of the initial serving. The general manager Matt never forgot about our table. He did an awesome job to make sure that we were taken care of!
The nori roll was by far my favorite dish of the night. They replaced the rice with grated jicama. How creative is that? Loved!!! Sooo delish. I wanted more!
Some other favs were the mushroom tacos, flatbread with hummus and the arugula salad. Great flavors and textures. I can’t believe everything we ate was raw!
Loved the Unilocal swag (I got gloves!), table settings and overall ambiance of the entire event. It was very intimate and my plus one Edlin R. and I got to enjoy a night of good food with very lovely dining companions. Shout outs to James S. and Marthie D. You made the night so fun!
I feel inspired to cook more. =)

Santa Monica place, I need to see you again soon. Specifically, I need to go upstairs to the market and eat at M.A.K.E. for more delicious plant based cuisine.
I really appreciate the diversity of food I get exposed to at Unilocal Elite events, thank you LA West Elite crew. I am a carnivore but I enjoyed raw food! Owner, chef and author Matthew Kenney was there and he invited us into the academy prep area where he teaches raw food classes to domestic and international students. He set the tone for a great event by describing his background and philosophy for the food he serves.
My wife is vegetarian… strictly no meat, not even chicken or seafood for about 10 years straight. She had a great time too and absolutely loved the food so we’ll come back for sure. Family style was fun and I met some chill, local people. Makes me want to visit Santa Monica more to explore, eat, and of course Unilocal.
Dinner started with one of the best humus dishes I’ve ever had (Muhumara, Sesame Tabouli, Za’atar Crackers)
Yummy pistachio and persimmon purée were the highlights of the arugala salad (Wild Arugala, Fuyu Persimmon, Pistachio)
Crunchy and flavorful almonds in the kale salad (California Kale, Blood Orange, Sun Dried Olives, Wild Dulse, Spice Almonds)
I also enjoyed the sushi style Nori Roll. (Jicama. Avocado. Shiitake. Pickled Daikon. Finger Lime. Ginger. Chipotle)
Wild Mushroom Tacos were colorful and equally appetizing (also included Mole, Almond Crema, Red Chili Avocado)
Signature dish Market Lasagna had the same flavors as a typical Italian lasagna! BUT, it was constructed with Zucchini, Macadamia (which looked like ricotta cheese!), Santa Barbara Pistachio, Basil.
Dessert was light and refreshing (Passionfruit. Honey. Melon Sorbet. White Chocolate. Berries. Lemon Balm.)

I have to admit, I’m not a vegetarian but I am a chicken-​tarian. So I was in search of some culinary inspiration considering my usual diet consists of 70 percent vegetables and the rest chicken or cottage cheese — I’m not accounting for beer or alcohol. Consequently, I was excited to go to M.A.K.E. The restaurant is located on the third floor of the mall at the Third Street Promenade in the «Market» area. M.A.K.E also functions as a culinary school for raw cooking.
At the event Unilocalers were presented with a variety of small dishes to share and my top three were:
1. The flat bread with the hearty paste it was topped with — A Unilocaler uploaded the pics with detailed descriptions if you want the name of the dish.
2. The zucchini lasagna with macadamia «cheese» = it was akin to ricotta’s consistency and taste.
3. the Arugula salad with pistachio paste and persimmon dressing. That was an amazing pairing.
The owner was also nice enough to show us around the kitchen and speak to us about his own food revolution.
Definitely came out of the event with some ideas for dressings and pastes. Now all I need to do is get a food processor.

As a vegan, I cannot thank Unilocal enough for hosting such a wonderful event!
It was a family-​style meal, which I love so that I can mingle with other Unilocalers.
I’m not a raw vegan (I love me some hot food) but I was so impressed with the flavor. Very tasty raw food! Not only did we enjoy a complimentary meal and wine, but we got to take a tour of the kitchen of the raw food academy and hear the owner, Matthew Kenney, speak about his culinary experience.
Then, there was a meal that lasted until 9 P. M!
We ate:
Muhumara, Sesame Tabouli, Za’atar Crackers. — delicious!
I’d love to learn how they make the crackers… possibly seeds and whole grains dehydrated? I loved the nutty flavor and the unique texture. The zucchini hummuses (is the plural of hummus hummi?) were different. I loved the regular one and the red pepper one had a sweet tang to it.
Wild Arugala, Fuyu Persimmon, Pistachio.
Wow. This stole the show for me, and I am not a fan of arugula at all. But the unique rich flavor of the persimmon with the salty pistachio cream was HEAVEN.
California Kale, Blood Orange, Sun Dried Olives, Wild Dulse, Spice Almonds.
I liked the citrus with the creamy dressing and the earthy flavor of the kale, but the arugula salad was a tough act to follow for me.
Wild Mushroom Tacos, Mole, Almond Crema, Red Chili Avocado.
These were delicious! I was a bit nervous about the raw mushroom being strong, but it really worked. It almost seemed a bit salty to me and I’m pretty sure there wasn’t any salt in it, but I could be wrong. I love avocado and mushrooms so this was a win.
Market Lasagna, Zucchini, Macadamia, Santa Barbara Pistachio, Basil. ***WINNER***
The lasagna was fabulous! I didn’t even notice the lack of pasta, and pasta is my favorite food. It was bursting with fresh flavors, and I adored the marinara sauce and the creamy nut cheese with it. Will come back for this alone!
Mini Chocolate Walnut Cake, Licorice Pear, Fennel, Sassafras.
This was decent. I am a chocolate addict and the cake tasted more like carob than cocoa to me. I did like the combination of the cake with the sassafras «ice cream.» The combinations of all of the flavors worked well together.
Not only was the food delicious, but I felt great after all of these healthful, whole food dishes.
I am so grateful to have a chance to taste the wares of an up-​and-​coming vegan restaurant in LA. I plan on coming back soon! Thank you Unilocal and Brittany!