IN THE PRESS
Willow O’Brien and her partner, Theresa Keane, founded the plant-based Pixie Retreat after previous careers in fashion and music, respectively.
Pixie Retreat owners Theresa Keane and Willow O’Brien have been making vegan staples from scratch in Portland, Oregon.
“Pixie Retreat believes in keeping food healthy and sustainable and offers healthy fast food meals. The sustainable food establishment offers nourishing meals made from scratch with wholesome produce and ingredients.”
“Willow O’Brien and Theresa Keane of Pixie Retreat began a new program to give bowls to healthcare workers. They’ve also partnered with Honey Mama’s to give away kale salads and raw cocoa bars for those who might need a free meal.”
“We step through the curtain and find three workers preparing food in an extremely well-organized kitchen. It’s Thursday, one of the big assembly days for delivering to the two other Pixie Retreat outlets. Tacked up on the door of the walk-in dehydrator are long to-do lists for each day of the week.”
“Vegan, organic, and raw food rules at Theresa Keane and Willow O’Brien's Pixie Retreat (which has three locations).”
“It smells right now. It’s like I walked into the best—I was going to say any pizza restaurant—but no, the best pizza because you smell all the tomatoes, you smell all of these fresh things. It smells like you cooked a pizza in the oven, but somehow it’s raw! That’s amazing! It’s magical!”
“All vegan and mostly raw, Pixie Retreat is a low-key local favorite in Portland. People love the Spicy Millet and Bakn’ Cheez Burger Collard Wraps and custom-made guilt-free cakes, such as salted caramel. The space is small and simple, but the healthy dishes pack a delicious punch and leave diners feeling good—physically and spiritually.”
“Indulge in the popular Kale Salad with Mac Nut Cheez ($7), the Mock BLT ($9.50) or try something a little sweeter, like Ms. Goodbar (raw chocolate with sea salted almonds for $4) or the Li’l Puddin ($4). You’ll find plenty of yummy dishes to fill your tummy, but you won’t find dairy, gluten, refined sugar, soy or agave on the menu. Delicious and innovative nourishing creations that will have you coming back again and again.”
“To eat the ultimate Portland vegan meal, […] the Kale Salad with Mac Nut Cheeze from Pixie Retreat”
“Everything on their menu is soy-free, dairy-free, and free from refined sugar. Enjoy their puddings and chocolates, or give their decadent Oreo Mint Cookie Cake and Salted Caramel Cake a try. Pixie Retreat makes the raw diet a piece of cake.”
“A Portland favorite, Pixie Retreat features a delicious selection of healthy eats that are made with all-natural, organic ingredients and don't contain any gluten, soy, or refined sugars. If you're in the mood for a snack, we highly recommend the Onion Flax Crackers. But if something sweet is what you're after, definitely order one of their puddins with toppings like almond butter and blueberry purée. They have three area locations, but if prefer to enjoy all this yum from the comfort of your couch, go takeout.”
“A Portland native, Willow O’Brien was in the fashion business when she and her partner of 13 years, Virginia-born Theresa Keane, who previously worked in the music industry, decided to funnel their passion for organic, plant-based, raw food into Pixie Retreat […] “Neither one of us consider ourselves to be chefs,” says Keane, “we are merely ‘makers’ here as ambassadors and in service to our great mother earth Gaia and to help others to live their best life.”
“Skip dessert and migrate to Pixie Retreat down the street for partners' Theresa Keane and Willow O’Brien’s plant-based confections like “pixie crackle” made from raw chocolate and buckwheat crispies.”
“Pixie Retreat owners and visionaries Theresa Keane and Willow O’Brien have been on a lifelong journey to towards healthy living — from the inside out. At the Pixie Retreat RAW’r Laboratorie & Makery on the East Side, they craft all organic, raw, vegan, plant-based goodness free of GMOs, gluten, soy, pesticides and raw sugar””
“On their lifelong journey to feel and look their best, partners Theresa Keane and Willow O’Brien began spreading their knowledge and love for raw, plant-based food teaching classes, hosting dinners, and running a wholesale food business. With a desire to reach more people the couple opened Portland’s mostly raw Pixie Retreat restaurant in the Pearl District. Whether you’re craving something savory or sweet, you’re bound to find something delicious with their buildable bowls and puddings, salads, wraps, and more!”