Photos by Asia Morris.

Rainbow Juices co-founders Dawna Base and Chrissy Cox are changing perceptions of what a plant-based diet can be through Under the Sun, Long Beachs first raw vegan food eatery. Whether you subscribe to a vegan, vegetarian, raw food or ravenously carnivorous lifestyle, the pairs creative take on preparing satisfyingly healthy meals for everyone has been the talk of the town since their soft opening in late April.

Take the Spicy Papaya Roll (pictured below) as an example. The papaya mimics the texture of fish meat, and also provides a subtly sweet and sometimes tangy flavor. To focus on both the flavor and texture may seem like a no-brainer to any chef, raw vegan or not, however, the pairs extensive experience trying out other raw vegan food restaurants has not always been up to par, ultimately giving them the confidence to try out their own culinary venture.

I can see a photo of a veggie roll and know that doesnt have any flavor, nothing in there is seasoned, but [for] some people thats enough for them, but thats not enough for me, said Base. Its not ever going to be enough for me for my food to just be decent.

Its also a little technical to try to make something we dont want to taste like meat, because its not meat, but we want people to have an experience of being fulfilled and full and like its not just a bunch of lettuce on a plate, Cox added.

The Celestial Rose smoothie.

From the bread, to the pates, to the kale chips, to the cheese everything is made inhouse and nothing is prepared over 118 degrees, in order to keep every nutrient possible within the food. Its a similar concept to their first business, serving cold-pressed, nutrient-rich juice, as opposed to using a more common and heat-producing method which doesnt retain as many nutrients within the produce-turned liquid. At Under the Sun, the food youre eating is still very much alive.

Everything takes a lot of time and care, Cox said. Its holding it to the highest standard. Its selfless and selfish, we want all the people around us to feel good and its nice to be around people that feel good.

The LBC Sandwich and the Tu-Nah Wrap.

Its certainly not inexpensive to maintain a raw food diet, especially if youre paying experts to prepare your meals every day. Ordering the LBC Sandwich and a Solstice supercharged smoothie will cost you about $25. However, obtaining the best quality, organic, local and regional ingredients, and not to mention, when everything is hand crafted to the enth degree onsite, like how Under the Sun does it, your meal ought not to be cheap. Comfortingly, its an investment in your health and well being, and a delicious one at that.

We have hard times that we have to live with a lot more stress [...] on our bodies that we dont even realize, Cox said. We need the most vital medicines to protect us and thats the super foods. And you get more nutrients in a smaller dose, you get some help with your cells and you get some energy and the flavor is there and all that vibrancy tells you how potent the food is.

In the near future, the two look forward to having Under the Sun be a place of education, where demos will be held, such as simple culturing and smoothie-making classes, said Cox. And as far as the empty shelves you see to your right when entering, those will soon be filled with health-minded products from local makers and business owners (those interested should contact the owners).

[...]I want people that arent vegan or vegetarian or raw foodist or whatever to still feel like they want to come here and eat the food, said Base. I dont want people to [think that] vegan food tastes basic. Thats not what were about. I want to get it out there that its another type of cuisine, its just Italian food, or theres Mexican food or theres raw food. Its another type of cuisine, and I want people to realize that they can try it and not have to be vegan.

Under the Sun is now open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00AM to 7:00PM. For more information on the grand opening celebration, set for May 28, visit the event page here.

Under the Sun is located at 244 East 3rd Street.

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Under the Sun Cafe Makes Raw Vegan Food Taste Good, and Not Just for Vegans - Long Beach Post