Karyn Calabrese has turned many a skeptic into a kale-craving believer. Her popular Lincoln Park restaurant, market and wellness center is a go-to whether you're a longtime enthusiast or just setting foot in the raw-foods door. Working with strictly vegan ingredients and almost no heat, Calabrese concocts similar, and in many cases, better versions of the same comfort foods and sweets you'd never want to live without.

A great place to taste, learn and stock up for the week, the market/cafe offers stacks of books, take-home dishes, a salad bar ($8 per pound or $13 all-you-can-eat) and a few small tables. We highly recommend the creamy taste explosion that is Karyn's raw lasagna; we don't know how she turns cashews and macadamias into the dreamiest ricotta ever, but one taste is all the proof you need. By the time you're sinking your fork into one of Karyn's rich, chocolatey, pie-type creations or tackling a "Dream Cream" vegan banana split, you'll want to pinch yourself to make sure that the "healthy" label isn't all just a wild fantasy.

On the gourmet end, Karyn's Bistro is an earth-toned, white-tablecloth oasis just a step through the market's side door. The menu changes weekly and spans the food spectrum, from artful raw takes on "burgers" and stuffed pizza to slightly dressier fare like basil-scented ravioli topped with macadamia whipped creme and sun-dried tomatoes. Entrees cost $11-$15; you can also score a plentiful Sunday brunch from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for $24. Although raw foodies avoid the hard stuff themselves, the restaurant is BYOB ($5 corkage).

Karyn's Fresh Corner also offers nutrition classes, free info nights, yoga, ballet, group detox programs and more to help get you educated and involved.

Centerstage Reviewer: Julia Steinberger