Lydia's Kitchen opens in Petaluma

<p>Fans of all things vegan, raw, organic, gluten-free and generally non-toxic to your body are celebrating the opening of The Sunflower Center, serving Lydia's Lovin' Foods in Petaluma. It's a combination restaurant and gathering spot where you can have your vegan cheez cake and eat it too — possibly while watching a music workshop, yoga group, or checking out some wellness literature.</p><p>Housed in the ground floor of an office park, it's a bit of a head-scratcher of a location, but seems to have taken over the better part of a corporate cafeteria. It's the second brick-and-mortar location for Lydia's, which also has a cafe in Fairfax (31 Bolinas Rd., Fairfax) and frequently serves up their raw soups and vegan burgers at summer festivals.</p><p>Bright windows and fresh flowers, along with a family-friendly corner make it the perfect spot to try a vegan buckwheat mushroom crepe, “pizzaz” raw pizza with pesto or alkalizing green soup.</p><p>Best bets: Cashew “kreem”, banana and chocolate crepe; coconut almond hummus with blinis or pizza-esque pizzaz with marinated vegetables. First-timers to this cuisine may can dip a toe in with fresh ginger lemonade and Lydia's Famous Greek salad with walnut dressing.</p><p>The center also has take out and a small selection of refrigerated Lydia's Lovin' Foods salads and spreads.</p><p>Grand opening of the Cafe with live music, yoga and family fun happens from 8 am to 11 pm, Jan. 28, 2011.</p><p>We'll let you decide if you're ready to handle the Green Powerball, a dessert filled with srpouted almonds, dates, raisins and Green Power Powder.</p><p>Sunflower Center serving Lydia's Kitchen Organic Food; 1435 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 792-5300.</p><p>(Heather Irwin writes the <A HREF="http://www.biteclubeats.com/author/biteclub">Bite Club</A> blog for the Press Democrat.)</p>