Nourishment and Community: Sebastopol‘s Soft Medicine serves up more than just food
After my first taste of Soft Medicine, I felt a noticeable shift. It wasn’t just the vibrant flavors or the satisfying fullness, but an overall sense of wellbeing. The cozy Sebastopol cafe, tea house, and yoga studio seamlessly blends organic wellness and a “food as medicine” philosophy woven into every dish and elixir.
A Holistic Approach to Deliciousness
While Sebastopol embraces its self-proclaimed Bohemian identity, co-owner Jonathan Pinkston recognizes the growing interest in nutritious food as a national trend, not just a “hippie town” craze.
“Superfoods equal superpowers,” says Pinkston, who’s also an Ayurvedic practitioner and acupuncturist. “More and more of us are paying attention to plant-based diets, whole grains, clean ingredients, and treating our bodies well.”
And Soft Medicine delivers on all fronts. It’s about nourshment, not just food.
But what’s even more remarkable is how delightful the food is. With a focus on local, organic ingredients, the cafe showcases dishes that taste as good as they make you feel. The
Flavor-Forward Wellness Bowls
My first foray was the brightly colored grain bowl, a compendium of rice, mung beans, veggies, and flavorful kraut. The pile of color seemed to hum with vibrancy.
For lovers of fermented delights, the chewy flavor of kimchii mingling with greens and a hint of spice is unmatched.
“Ayurvedic diets and natural wellness remedies have been used for thousands of years around the globe,” says Pinkston.
“We forget that for most of the world, it’s not an alternative ‘woo-woo’ thing, but much more normal than our Western medicine.”
Pinkston has a point. In many places, nutrient-rich, plant-based medicine is the norm, and
That’s the ethos Soft Medicine embodies.
“Part of our thing is that if you went and saw a naturopath who told you to eat this locally sourced, ideal diet, that’s what we serve,” says Pinkston. “We want to maintain and expand what’s been here in Sebastopol since the 60s – the openheartedness, the connectedness, the plant medicine phase.”
I can’t help but feel a surge of warmth at the open-hearted kitchen – a small but mighty operation questing for enhanced life through food.
Soul-Satisfying
The menu is curated, offering a mindfully curated range of dishes. Simple, yet satisfying.
A standout is the tacos – two corn tortillas bursting with avocado, the crunch of veggies, sprouts, vegan cheese, and kimchi, a flavor bomb.
And then there’s the Kitcharito, a hearty burrito overflowing with local rice, beans, and tangy kraut. The fermented flavors of the kerat nowadays right to the gut, promoting healthy digestion and overall wellbeing.
“The whole theme isGEM that if you went and saw naturopath and they told you, ‘This is what you should eat,'” notes
And
“People come in, and they just feel good,” observes Pinkston, who accredits the craft. It’s no longer about deprivation or bland, dreary dishes. The deliciousness itself is its own medicine.
My confidence tricked
Sustainably Sourced and Locally Loved
When Pinkston and his team opened up shop in 2022, their plan was clear
What types of community-building activities does Soft Medicine offer?
##💕 Nourishment and Community: Sebastopol’s Soft Medicine
**(Intro music)**
**Host:** Welcome back to Nourishing Conversations. Today, we’re taking a trip to Sebastopol to explore a place that’s more than just a cafe, tea house, or yoga studio. It’s Soft Medicine, a sanctuary dedicated to nourishing the body and soul. Joining us is one of the co-founders, Jonathan Pinkston. Jonathan, welcome to the show!
**Jonathan Pk:** Thanks so much for having me.
**Host:** So, tell us about Soft Medicine. What inspired you and your co-founders to create this unique space?
**Jonathan Pk:** Sebastopol has always had this vibrant energy, a focus on wellness and community. We wanted to create a space that reflected that, a haven where people could connect with themselves and each other through nourishing food, movement, and mindful practices. [[1](https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/soft-medicine-sanctuary-is-a-haven-for-those-seeking-mindfulness-in-sebasto/)]
**Host:** You mentioned nourishing food. That’s something that really stood out to me when I visited. The menu isn’t just delicious, it’s truly focused on whole ingredients and a “food as medicine” philosophy.
**Jonathan Pk:** Absolutely! As an Ayurvedic practitioner and acupuncturist, I truly believe that what we eat has a profound impact on our well-being. We source local, organic ingredients whenever possible and craft dishes that are both flavorful and nourishing. We want people to feel good from the inside out.
**Host:** And what about the community aspect?
**Jonathan Pk:** Community is at the heart of Soft Medicine. We host yoga classes, workshops, and events that bring people together. It’s a space to connect, share experiences, and support each other on our wellness journeys.
**Host:** It sounds like Soft Medicine is truly a special place. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our listeners?
**Jonathan Pk:** Come visit us! Experience the food, the environment, the sense of community. It’s more than a meal, it’s an experience.
**Host:** Wonderful! Thank you so much, Jonathan, for sharing your vision with us.
**(Outro music)**
**Host:** And that wraps up today’s Nourishing Conversations. We hope you enjoyed learning about Sebastopol’s Soft Medicine.