The first great thing about Jade Café – a raw, organic, vegan fusion restaurant near Sunset Junction in Silver Lake – is its relaxed, non-confrontational atmosphere. The small dining room beckons with dark wood furniture and warm red lighting; the staff is calm; and the menu offers no self-righteous mission statement.
For the uninitiated, raw food is purportedly outrageously nutritionally superior to its cooked counterpart. The theory (some say scientific fact) is that heating a food above 118 degrees substantially diminishes proteins and vitamins, concentrates pesticides, and, most critically, destroys enzymes that facilitate digestion and absorption. As partial proof, hardcore enthusiasts submit that humans are the only creatures on earth who cook their food, and they suffer the most diseases.
Happily, Jade Café celebrates “living food” but doesn’t shame you for every hamburger or even steamed veggie that’s passed your lips. Instead, renowned raw chef Lesa Carlson and operations manager Natally Raisin emphasize simply serving delicious meals.
Keep reading at lacitybeat.com
I'm suppose to be in the raw-guys-who-know-club and I didn't even know there was Jade Cafe! Good thing I get Google News Alerts for the keywords "raw food". Anyway, can't wait to try Jade out when I'm in L.A. next.
Jade Cafe
1521 Griffith Park Blvd (map)
Los Angeles, CA 90026
phone: 323-667-1551
New York Magazine has released their list of the top 101 restaurants in New York City. We congratulate Pure Food and Wine* for making this list and bringing raw food into the big leagues:
84: Pure Food and Wine
This high vegan establishment smells vaguely of pulped cabbage, and the wistful glossy pictures of happy ducks and smiling sheep induce annoying pangs of guilt in carnivores like myself. But chef Scott Winegard’s recipes— zucchini-and-yellow-tomato lasagna, trumpet-mushroom “calamari”—win two stars for innovation alone. Even more surprising, they’re generally delicious.
* Owner, Recipe Creator & Food Evangelist: Sarma Melngailis, Head Kitchen Chef: Scott Winegard and the entire Pure Food and Wine team.
We Like It Raw reader John Hamilton has sent us some nice photos of his recent trip to the Living Cuisine Raw Food Bar in Salt Lake City, Utah. The location def looks very intimate. Thanks John!
Living Cuisine Raw Food Bar
2148 S. Highland Dr
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
Hours: Mon-Sat. 11:30am-9:30pm.
Phone: 801.486.0332
www.omarsrawtopia.com
We've heard some pretty amazing stories about how people first got involved in the healing world of raw foods. The story of Omar Abou-Ismail and Living Cuisine Raw Food Bar (Salt Lake City, Utah) is right up there with the best of them.
Raw food and a New Life (via happynews.com)
You've seen it in movies—everyone has. That is, someone has an epiphany causing dream of a person or an occurrence or whatever it may be. They are positive the dream has larger implications, so they decide to follow it. Kevin Costner heard voices saying, "If you build it, they will come." He had a vision—a dream if you will—and although many in the film thought he was crazy, he did in fact build it. And they did indeed come.
The story of Omar Abou-Ismail is no different. Abou-Ismail was a geophysicist living in Hawaii and suffering from depression when he had a dream that would dramatically change his life forever.
In his dream, he met a woman with waist-long dreadlocks who offered him the book of life. Abou-Ismail was shocked to see the same woman from his dream the very next day while he was going about his normal routine. He was intrigued by her, and remembering his dream of her the night before, became curious about the meaning and reason of her existence in his life. He attempted to get close to her, but she however, kept her distance, avoiding his advances.
Abou-Ismail decided to approach her boyfriend and explained his dream to him. He felt certain that this woman had a message for him. The boyfriend smiled and invited him to their home for dinner so he could meet the dreadlocked woman.
Keep reading at happynews.com
We're a little late on this, but Matthew Kenney, celebrity chef formerly of Pure Food & Wine, has just unfolded his new company Organic Umbrella in Brooklyn, New York.
Here's a little note Matthew sent We Like It Raw today.
"The Plant in Dumbo is the heart of Organic Umbrella - it encompasses everything that we do, from conceptual planning to the actual production of our own line of foods. We are fortunate to be located in a beautiful loft space which not only serves the company's needs, but also offers our guests an inside view of our operations. A branch of Blue/Green is located there, and we will be starting classes and events, as well as dinners, in the very near future."
More from Organic Umbrella
We Like It Raw squad member Vinit Talsania was recently globe trotting through the UK on his way to India. While there Vinit sent us his review of UK's first raw food restaurant, Little Earth Cafe.
The best dishes where actually the ones we picked. The Tortilla wrap and sushi. The taste of the tortilla was very similar to Pure Food & Wines. Simple yet VERY tasty. The place is only a juice bar right now inside of the Tri-Yoga Center, but the owner said she is looking for a new place where they can have an actual restaurant. She initially got interested in raw food while staying with some raw chefs in Hawaii. She is not 100% raw food nor does she believe in being 100%. She is the one in the middle of the picture and her staff on both sides (see above). The vibe in the place really nice and definitely recommend visiting it if you are ever in London. My friend Viraj, who is from Long island, came along with me and loved it!
More photos from Little Earth Cafe here
My good friend Mamta, who on any given day is in 3 cities, is always hooking up We Like It Raw with the hottest tips. This one comes to us from Boulder, CO.
"I had the most beautiful raw and veggie meal last night at Karma Cuisine in Boulder, CO. Have you been there/heard of it? I got a copy of the menu to share with you. Everything is veggie, a few vegan options, and two raw entrees (both were absolutely delicious). They had one raw dessert option, which was also spectacular. Awesome vibe in the place -- dim lighting, candle-lit tables, it's a step up from veggie cafes/delis but not quite as classy as Pure Food and Wine. Two tables offer window seating where you take your shoes off, sit on plush mats, and enjoy a beautiful meal."
"Across the street was a place called Ideal Market -- a mom and pop version of Whole Foods -- awesome to see independent business owners. I bought a few all-natural Ayurvedic skin care products. Love Boulder!"
How awesome is that? Thanks Mamta!
Karma Cuisine
1911 Broadway
Boulder, Colorado 80302
303-440-9292
P.S. Mamta is not single, so please no emails. =)
Well not totally raw, but it is a start.
Via Rebecca Kale, Assistant Organizer of the Chicago Rawfood Meet-up Group.
I just got the Chicago Diner's newsletter the other day. The owners did a cleanse with Karyn's and were so impressed that they are now going to be offering a daily green smoothie and a raw plate. If this makes you happy (as it did me) it might be a good idea to send them an e-mail of support letting them know you'll be there! This would make another sorely needed option for raw dining.
I went yesterday and the waitress had no idea what I was talking about so it may be a few weeks before this materializes!
