I’ve literally been going to Pure Luck since the day they opened.  It’s in my favorite neck of the woods at Heliotrope and Melrose. I ride my bike over for dinner, maybe have a delicious pint, go to Orange 20 to get stuff for my bike, chat with friends at the Bicycle Kitchen then enjoy vegan ice cream over at Scoops.  I have at least 1,000 Pure Luck stories but I’ll just say I love it.  

It’s Saturday afternoon and we’re meeting several people for lunch.  Alix and I are very excited.

Justin, Hazel, Alicia, Baxter, Nicole, Nora, Alix

Luckily Pure Luck didn’t open to 1 p.m. this past Saturday so we were able to cruise over to Orange 20 first. 

Orange 20 (Jim C & TJ) and Pure Luck (Ben Ling) were both started by former Bicycle Kitchen cooks (mechanics). The Bicycle Kitchen is a very cool non profit across the street. If you need to learn how to fix your bike they’ll teach you.  

Keep your eyes peeled for cyclists.

Okay we finally made it inside.  Luckily we are the first guests and we have the large booth.  Jackfruit is one of the key elements that makes Pure Luck so special.  You definitely have to try it here.  This is the Torta: Sauteed jackfruit “carnitas” or grilled tofu, plus pinto beans, lettuce, tomato, onions, tomatillo salsa, sliced avocado and vegan mayo on a grilled rustic roll.  I got a side of sweet potato fries.  You can choose from their daily soups or a house or caesar salad.  If you want you can substitute pickle chips or potato pals as well.

Kristen’s Carnitas Wrap: Jackfruit “carnitas”, with avocado, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and César dressing, wrapped up in a flour tortilla.  If this is your first time, this is a safe bet. The rosemary french fries are yummy. They come with a crazy garlic sauce on the side.

They really have a fantastic selection of beers at Pure Luck and the prices are right. The Stone Smoked Porter is excellent.  And on the right is a small serving of Craftsmen.

Alix <3 Shawn

Hazel hanging out.

This is a still from Brainwashed Love.  We hang out at Pure Luck a lot. We even shot a scene from our movie here.

Oh and when my sister Amy came to town we celebrated her birthday at Pure Luck. And when it was Alicia’s birthday in February we came here as well.  You get the idea, it’s fun to hang out here. 

You have to head over to Scoops afterwards. Save room.  I got Almond Date & Caramel Oreo. Tai Kim, the owner of the Scoops is very cool and a fellow Calartian.  If you’re nice to him and give him advanced notice he’ll make you pretty much any flavor you could imagine. So far I have listed four super cool places to hang and they are all right next door to each other. Mini recap. Pure Luck, Orange 20, Scoops, Bicycle Kitchen.

Scoops have awesome vegan ice cream. They usually have four vegan ice cream flavors and a few sorbets, though the sorbets might have refined sugar.  Their vegan ice creams are made without refined sugar.  If you have any questions about ingredients just ask, they make all the ice cream fresh daily.  

Nicole was visiting from Connecticut, I love her narwhal tattoo.

Alix behind Orange 20.  I really love her bunny t-shirt :) my sister Amy bought it for her in NYC.

Here is the colorful parking lot behind Orange 20 and Pureluck.  Our Pure luck visit was a smashing success.

For more info on Pure Luck go here www.pureluckrestaurant.com