I don’t write about Follow Your Heart restaurant in Canoga Park often enough, which is a cryin’ shame because their food is so darn good. I dig the old hippie vibe that infuses both the restaurant and the market (which share the same space) but I also like that their food has a lot more going on than just the stereotypical alfalfa sprouts & avocado sandwiches you’d expect from a hippie restaurant… though you bet they’ve got those too.
Lately I’ve been really feeling the breakfast / brunch vibe, so I’ve amassed a few visits worth of meals to share with you. Pull up a seat and join me, won’t you?
This big beauty is known as Bob’s Breakfast a.k.a. Huevos No Tenemos: “Two Organic Corn Tortillas Covered with Black Beans, Tofu, Sauteed in a Mild Salsa Verde, and Topped with Red Sauce and Feta Cheese (Optional). Served with Spanish Rice, Guacamole, Sour Cream and Grilled Bananas”. Ask for their vegan sour cream and/or even opt for the vegan cheese like I did and you’ve got yourself an honest to goodness vegan lovefest on a plate. No patchouli required.
Seriously though, this dish brings it. They give you huge portions of everything and it’s all delicious, from the simple Spanish rice to the perfectly grilled tofu… and who could ever forget how yummy beans are when they are lard-free? Ah, and then we’ve got the salsa verde which is indeed mild but full of flavor, and whatever that red sauce is all about I don’t know… but I do know I like it. A lot. And hello… grilled bananas? What’s not to love?
Here’s a close-up of your new BFF:
I’d love to eat this anytime of the day, not just breakfast, but I think it’s only available on their breakfast menu. Continuing along the morning food theme I’ve also had a few encounters with the vegan french toast at Follow Your Heart. Here’s the half order I had last weekend:
French Toast: “Thick Sliced Whole Wheat Bread Dipped in Our Own Special Non-Egg, Non-Dairy Batter. Topped with Pecans.” It came served with real maple syrup. I quite like this french toast but I’d say it’s obvious that it’s vegan. It’s more dry than real french toast made with eggs, but once I got my maple syrup and my vegan butter on there to work their magic, it was really quite delish. I like it but I’d also say this is not the dish to win someone over to veganism with, it tastes pretty wholesome… which I dig, but which isn’t what your typical Joe Schmo on the street is looking for in a french toast. Joe is likely to think this tastes too healthy.
On a previous visit I’d had one of their specials which also involved french toast, this time served with their white beans, more of those tasty grilled nanners, fresh strawberries and vegan sausage. I don’t like their sausage and I never have, it tastes like salty cardboard to me, but I’d forgotten to ask for something else instead. The french toast only looks kinda burned in the photo but it really wasn’t. It was still however, like the half order above, a bit too dry. I do like it though, they use some nice spices on there like cinnamon and maybe even some nutmeg… and slathering it on up with maple syrup makes it just right. All the flavors in this dish go well together even if they’re not foods you’d normally think to stick together on the same plate.
Here is one of my favorite dishes on their menu, the Two Bean Hash: “White and Black Beans, Vegetables, Wheatmeat and Spices, Pan Fried Crispy. Served with Two Vegetarian ‘Sausage’ Links, Guacamole and Sour Cream.” As before, ask for the vegan sour cream and you’re set. Like I mentioned above I’m not partial to their sausages so I requested the breakfast potatoes instead and my waitress was happy to oblige. I liked that they didn’t try to charge me extra for that substitution like some places would have attempted to get away with. I love this dish, everything gets all grilled up together in a pile, and they cook it till it gets a nice crispy consistency on the outside… a very tasty and protein packed meal that will fill you up and get you going. I’ve written about the two-bean hash before actually, but it’s just so good I figured you might not mind the reminder.
Last but not least, here’s a look at the Wok Stir Fry: “Fresh Vegetables and Organic Tofu, Stir Fried with Garlic, Ginger and Tamari. Served with Organic Brown Rice.” It’s not actually a breakfast item but is available on the regular all-day menu. It’s a simple and straightforward stir fry of vegetables and tofu, but they do simple well here, and both the rice and the ginger & tamari sauce were very nice. A good choice for when you want something healthy, filling and yummy.
One thing which doesn’t get talked about as much as the restaurant is the well-stocked market that is also under Follow Your Heart’s roof. It’s an all vegetarian market with a fresh, organic produce section- which is small but usually will have just about whatever you need to whip up a great meal. There’s a decent sized bulk bin section as well as an aisle for natural medicinals, herbs and body & beauty products. My favorite part of the market is the refrigerated section where they keep all the pre-packaged goodies, including many of the local delicacies such as Taste of Life’s mac & cheese, Cru’s chocolate truffle cake, California Vegan’s pad thai, Nature’s Express wraps and so on and so forth. In other words it’s an entire row of action packed vegetarian, vegan and raw food grab & go awesomeness.
They also stock Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows which are like my favorite sweet treat EVER. They carry the regular marshmallows, the toasted coconut and the amazing Smores (luscious marshmallow atop a graham cracker cookie enrobed in rich organic Belgian dark chocolate). Enrobed! Of course I had a smore, there’s no avoiding it’s sweet, mushy, sticky and crumbly sirens song. These are always the very first thing I look for when I walk into Follow Your Heart, and on the rare occasions that they’ve been out… I’ve left crushed. Thankfully they usually always have at least one variety, if not all of them.
In a nutshell, Follow Your Heart is a great place to go and spend some money. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, lunch or dinner, then fill up your fridge and pantry while satisfying your sweet tooth. I’ve never taken anyone there that didn’t like it, not even my dad who definitely isn’t into hippie-dippy shit (he loves their nutburger, go figure!). When you’re done pigging out I suggest walking off some of those calories with a brisk hike through Chatsworth park or a scramble up Stoney Point which is right nearby… the scenery up in those hills is spectacular.
I wish I lived nearby so I could EAT. Sounds like an awesome place. Looks delicious!!
i think i know what i’m doing next weekend…if i can talk the husband into it. lol. thanks for the great post, and beautiful pix…as usual!
We all know that Follow Your Heart is my one true love. I haven’t tried Bob’s Huevos No Tenemos, but I will next time I’m there! Their white beans and grilled bananas are my number 1 requested substitutes. You’re right about the sausage; I order white beans and grilled bananas instead! Although we’re not on the same page about the S’Mores (I don’t care for them, but I LOVE the coconut marshmallows), we are definitely on the same page about the store itself. There are very few places I’d rather be than FYH. :)
I love fyh mm!!! my bf took me there for Vday din and the whole place still smelled of delicious french toast! Next time I’ll def go for the breakfast! Sad thing, they were all sold out of Sweet & Sara reg vanilla marshmallows, another reason why I like to travel 30 min to fyh.
See, now all of that stuff looks great. Last time I was there, (maybe a month ago), I ordered the special which I just did not enjoy at all. I think it was the linguine with mock chicken and thai-marinara, which I admit sounds terrible anyway. Also, I had the spinach and potato soup which was even worse tasting. First time I haven’t enjoyed the food over there. I have to get over there for breakfast on my next visit.
I was there last month for Brunch and saw Dave of Madelines and his whole family doing brunch there so that’s a screaming endorsement in itself. I’m a big fan of the Tofuwich thingy. I have YET to go there w/o some sort of service problem. Forgetting juice order, forgetting order of a side, mixing up order, forgetting that we’re even there, etc, etc. Just keep that in mind that its part of the experience and it won’t get you down!
You’re right- that would definitely be my BFF! I would love all that food except the french toast…really great looking food. And that market beats every thing around here!
Thanks for all the awesome pictures!
This place fills a void. Meaning, they offer food for vegans and vegetarians in a sea of meat restaurants But I have to be honest and say that it pisses me off to see this place so busy and for it to look like it does. They really really need to clean up the place. What do they do with all the profits? Its a pet peeve of mine to see businesses that have been in business for decades ,full of customers and the establishment look like crap.
The food is ok, but the store is the star of the show. They really do have everything a vegan desires.
Sorry, I just had to vent.
And sorry, if I made anyone mad.
Bobs breakfast looks like a very hearty and delicious meal!
WOW. Now THIS is a post! But…Canoga Park? Agh!
I can’t believe I STILL haven’t been to Follow Your Heart!! I’m so lazy about having to drive ANYWHERE more than 10 minutes away. But seriously, I need to just take a Saturday and DO IT, because I really don’t do much else on the weekends besides watch Bravo marathons. And Follow Your Heart looks sooooooooooooooooooooo scrummy……