Meet Sanctuary Bistro and a Cookbook Giveaway!
Sanctuary Bistro Cookbook Giveaway!
Jennifer has graciously given us a copy of the newly released Sanctuary Bistro Cookbook. Scroll to the end of the post for instructions on entering to win the cookbook!
Tucked in a quiet little Berkeley neighborhood just blocks from the bay, Sanctuary Bistro is an oasis. Chef Barry Horton’s passion for exquisitely prepared, delicious plant based, gluten free food is embodied in every dish. Starting with a seasonal amuse-bouche, every dish that follows is exceptional in it’s flavor combinations and presentation.
Chef Barry’s approach is simple. He lets the fresh, organic ingredients speak for themselves. The dinner menu is French in style while the lunch menu is more simple, but every bit as flavorful. And, their Sunday brunch? With gluten-free pancakes and waffles, portobello Florentine, and a host of other wonderful choices, it is a favorite of ours.
The food at Sanctuary Bistro is extraordinary, but that is only part of the story. The true heart and soul of the restaurant goes way beyond what is on the menu. Jennifer Jones Horton, Chef Barry’s wife has created an amazing space that not only gives back to the surrounding community, it is a space based on compassion. A place for the Horton’s to help support and showcase other family businesses and causes.
Compassion and wanting to make the world a better place have always been what Jennifer desires. Together their mission is creating a loving place where people can enjoy a meal. They consider Sanctuary Bistro their home and welcome everyone, vegan and non-vegan alike.
Chef Barry and Jennifer met at the Stanford Inn in Mendocino. Jennifer was driving across the country and her car gave up when she reached the Inn. It was meant to be. She started by running the organic gardens, which she admired she really didn’t know much about and ended up being Jeff Stanford’s assistant.
Chef Barry was in the kitchen at The Ravens, Stanford Inn’s restaurant, which was vegetarian at the time. The two began dating. For Jennifer, eating vegan came from making healthier choices and her compassion for animals. Barry made the change overnight. He quietly removed cheese from the menu at The Ravens and no one seemed to notice. The Ravens is now a highly respected vegan restaurant that still uses many of the recipes that Chef Barry developed.
The two started dating and eventually got married. Wanting a larger community, they moved to San Francisco. Jennifer was teaching and Barry worked as a personal chef. They started Local Love catering, a plant based catering company.
In 2013, they decided that what they really wanted was a restaurant. But not just any restaurant, a place to develop a supportive community. They launched a kickstart campaign and surpassed their goal. A year later, Sanctuary Bistro opened.
Chef Barry and Jennifer work insanely hard. Running the restaurant and also making sure they and their two young children enjoy a family life outside of the restaurant takes a lot. I love that on Mother’s day, Jennifer’s daughter was following her around, hanging onto her apron strings.
It’s all about love. Clients are friends, stories are shared, and people are supported. They have done exactly what they set out to do…create a sanctuary that also happens to be an outstanding bistro.
Chef Barry and Jennifer kindly gave us permission to share one of their recipes from the cookbook with you. Their delicious raw “Rawlmond Joy’s” are so tasty and a great sweet treat to have on hand. For the recipe, click here: Rawlmond Joy’s.
Contest is now closed. Our winner is Alisa from Connecticut.
Contest is now closed. Our winner is Alisa from Connecticut!
Sanctuary Bistro has just released a wonderful cookbook featuring many of Chef Barry’s delicious recipes. If you can’t make it to Berkeley, CA, you can still enjoy his skills at creating delicious gluten free, vegan food. I love this cookbook and we are giving away a copy!
Can’t wait for the contest? You can order a copy of the cookbook here: Buy Sanctuary Bistro Cookbook
To enter, just leave a quick comment about why you like eating plant based food in the comment section of this post. Winner will be selected by random number generator and notified on Saturday, June 24! Contest closes at 10:00pm on Friday, June 23.
All Photos ©Susan Powers Photography, 2017
Debbie Ward wrote on June 22, 2017
I actually feel so much better when eating a plant based diet…been off track here and there because hubby wanted certain things to eat and I’d give in and start feeling sluggish… he passed away in April from a rare bile duct cancer that I’d never heard of…slowly but surely I’m getting back on track still attempting to adjust to my loss as we were together 35 yrs.
Victoria C wrote on June 22, 2017
My body, my skin, my mood all thank me when I eat plant based! I grew up & live in a “meat hungry” area, but I am happy to say I am slowly seeing a shift in awareness as to what we are really putting in our bodies.
Raluca wrote on June 22, 2017
I want to feel good about what I eat from every point of view I can think of – nutrition, health, compassion, environment, sustainability, and the only food that meets the criteria is plant based food.
Linda Baker wrote on June 22, 2017
I began eating a vegetarian diet about 30 years ago. I began because I thought that as a vegetarian, I would never have to worry about gaining weight again. Well, that turned out to be false, however, I stayed with the vegetarian lifestyle because I found my purpose in this world. To tread lightly and to not take a life to feed my own. I honor all living things and each plant and seed that bring us joy well beyond the dinner plate. To me being a vegetarian is at the deepest core of who I truly am. While this is not a lifestyle meant for everyone, it is the one for me.
Julie wrote on June 22, 2017
I can’t wait to take a day trip over to your restaurant, look at the menu and know anything I order will be good for me. The best part is I know my family will love it too.
Susan Connolly wrote on June 22, 2017
Helping our bodies. Helping the planet.
We’re being great examples to our children and love raising a vegan family.
Annette wrote on June 22, 2017
Eating a plant based menu is full of nutrition and it’s healthier for you. Based on an experience that I had I happen to be dating a man that eats meat and I gave in to the pressure (my fault), I noticed that my health and physical appearance had changed. I not only became anemic and over weight. With that said who would think “Anemic” right?! well I/you get more iron from eating spinach and green leafy vegetables than from meat, who would have thought. Godspeed trying to get back to my healthy self I’m already noticing the difference in how I feel and certainly I do want to mention eating with a humane perspective I feel I’m on the right track again. Having this cookbook would definitely be put to good use with my journey.
Thank You so much for the offer.
Carol Shannon wrote on June 22, 2017
Eat to live for Health and Love to Eat!! Creative plant based diet is a passion for myself and my family. We thrive on new ideas and recipes… greatly appreciate the opportunity to win a copy of your cook book! Thank you!!
Barbara Grace wrote on June 22, 2017
So many natural health coaches/doctors recommend eating a plant based menu. This cookbook seems like a good, and tasty! fit for the direction we are heading in our home.