(May 2008)

By Warren Rojas

Split-pea soup ($4.99) hits the spot. An egg salad sandwich ($6.59) carefully constructed of free-range eggs, soy mayonnaise, sea salt and green onions is ideal for lighter appetites, while the sprouted lentil burger ($7.64, with your choice of cheese) reveals a hearty burger smothered in a veritable garden of toppings (carrots, tomatoes, sprouts, lettuce, onions, cucumbers).

(October 2006)

By Warren Rojas

Operating out of the back of a neighborhood health food store, Kasha’s Kitchen turns out gourmet grub that’s as delicious as it is nutritious.

The tiny grill tucked into the rear of Kennedy’s Natural Foods in Falls Church stays busy throughout lunch and dinner by whipping up innovative soups, salads and sandwiches chock full of farm-fresh ingredients.

An exceptional egg salad on rye is loaded with free-range eggs, sweet peppers, shredded carrots and more (very satisfying). A daunting roast vegetable pita wrap—it’s basically an earthen football—is bulging with grilled eggplant, sliced mushrooms, cucumbers, fresh garlic, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, red peppers and a tangy homemade dressing. The vegetarian chicken salad substitutes minced soy protein for the main event, and polishes everything off with a refreshing mix of shredded carrots, sprouts and cucumbers. The only thing missing from a sprouted lentil burger is all the fat from a similarly sized meat monstrosity, because the flavor is all there. Need an all-natural sugar rush? Chow down on a selection of saucer-sized cookies including ginger molasses (subtle spice conjures memories of Christmases past), chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin (delivers plenty of fruit, brown sugar and whole grain goodness in every bite).