Macrobiotic restaurant: Seed
![Macrobiotic eating, which originated in Japan, has been practiced in the United States for at least the last half century. Increasingly, diners today are encountering it as the result of a cluster of restaurant openings, including that of Seed Kitchen in Venice.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4b10ca0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x312+0+0/resize/586x312!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F00%2F20%2F352bd7585638b12db7614de95dee%2Fseed01-ki7rncnca.jpg)
Macrobiotic eating, which originated in Japan, has been practiced in the United States for at least the last half century. Increasingly, diners today are encountering it as the result of a cluster of restaurant openings, including that of Seed Kitchen in Venice. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Seed Kitchen](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/18bb6e9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/283x425+0+0/resize/283x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F18%2Ffe0f8624bb212f30bd0ca1b5626b%2Fla-fo-0422-seed02-ki7rmbnca.jpg)
The philosophy behind macrobiotic eating can be complex, but the new restaurants are making it approachable and fun. Seed Kitchen’s menu includes a Southwest-style bean and grain burger, as well as sweet potato fries. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Seed Kitchen](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8519a76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x390+0+0/resize/586x390!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0%2F44%2F38fa2f67bc07be041e00d48bafa1%2Fla-fo-0422-seed03-kht57nnca.jpg)
Here’s a closer look at that Southwest-style bean and grain burger, topped with guacamole. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Seed Kitchen](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91fe24f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x442+0+0/resize/586x442!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcb%2Faf%2Ff35406c3f24d0353381e8e6dd82a%2Fla-fo-0422-seed05-ki7rm1nc.jpg)
Seed Kitchen calls this dish the Mango Tango. The eggless egg roll is filled with seitan and cabbage. It’s topped with mango salsa. In the bed of the bowl: organic brown rice and broccoli. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
Advertisement
![Seed Kitchen](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d6ed79/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x391+0+0/resize/586x391!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F6f%2Fddb911d9fad7964e001f37ed011d%2Fla-fo-0422-seed06-ki7rpqnc.jpg)
At the new restaurants, macrobiotic baking (no refined sugar allowed) has become increasingly sophisticated. Seed Kitchen serves this walnut cookie. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Seed Kitchen](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5299a6e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/276x425+0+0/resize/276x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F18%2Fc57bba93cf42f543276a34143a65%2Fla-fo-0422-seed07-ki7rrknc.jpg)
The condiments on hand may come as a surprise. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Seed Kitchen](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e1cbf70/2147483647/strip/true/crop/270x425+0+0/resize/270x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F63%2F73%2F48df438de797eb7dac4cc02aa8f6%2Fla-fo-0422-seed08-ki7rqnnc.jpg)
Seed Kitchen’s married-couple owners, Sanae Suzuki and Eric Lechasseur, practice their welcoming smiles. The restaurant is at 1604 Pacific Ave., Venice. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)