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These days there are so many distinctions amongst foodies. There are those of us who are macrobiotic, gluten-free, vegeterian, and an emerging trend is for foodies to go in the raw. I used to believe that to be a foodie you have to love food----all of it. Or at least be willing to try it. Raw food has always seemed to me to be, well, raw. Bland. Boring. Unoriginal. Good for a snack but far from good for a way of life.
However, I was turned on to several 'raw' restaurants in my neighborhood and have begun to realize that food in the raw can be exciting and enjoyable---while being far healthier than some of its counterparts.
According to raw foodies you can have all the yumminess of full flavored meals and more, just by making different food choices.
Eating raw food delivers on those promises by eliminating processed and cooked foods. Heating food above 116 degrees is believed to destroy the "life force" (aka enzymes) that aid digestion -- that means nutrients aren't absorbed and unprocessed toxins are left behind. By eating more fruits and veggies and ultimately making your diet fiber-rich helps to cleanse your body and eliminate waste.
Several companies and restaurants have arisen that are focused on the raw food lifestyle. One in particular out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pure Raw Cafe , specializes in raw food delivery. You can get any number of meals from them, hand packed in ice, with instructions on how to best eat the meals for consumption, freshness. Pure Raw's lasagna is featured above and I must say---although I love my meat filled Italian from Little Italy, this raw version looks pretty yummy.
So, I'm interested to know, do any of you live the raw foodie lifestyle?
- Posted Aug 22, 2007 by sarahisafoodie | 5 Comments | Share It
- Filed under: raw foodies
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Comments:
Rawness
By
aleeza on August 23, 2007 at 11:04:59 AM
I enjoy raw food and think it is great in the summer for a light meal. I wouldn't want it to be a lifestyle though and I personally believe that anyone who doesn't eat meat could never be a 'foodie.'
By
misterbelly on August 24, 2007 at 10:12:51 PM
I'm a little taken aback by your comment Aleeza. I don't think the definition of a 'foodie' necessarily entails eating meat. To me, the definition of a foodie is someone who enjoys food, be it raw, cooked, gluten free, etc. If you love food and appreciate the intricacies that are involved with creating a meal then you are most definitely a foodie. I think a true foodie is someone who is fearless, adventuresome and always willing to try new culinary experiences, whether at home or dining out.
By
aleeza on August 28, 2007 at 11:45:43 AM
Misterbelly, I appreciate your perspective but politely disagree. How can someone be fearless and adventuresome if they fear anything cooked or meat? Trying new culinary experiences means being open to things that you wouldn't typically imagine and giving them a shot. How can one expand their culinary horizons by being so limiting? Medical restrictions are understandable and I have nothing against vegetarians and raw eaters, I just happen to believe that they don't deserve the title of foodie.
Anthony Bourdain has a whole episode about this on No Reservations, you should watch it. He says it far more eloquently than I.
By
misterbelly on August 28, 2007 at 12:41:55 PM
I personally don’t think vegetarians/vegans ‘fear meat’ so much as respect the animals that give their lives by the tens of thousands (if not more) every day to put a meal on billions of people’s plates. I would venture so far as to say some vegetarian and vegan cuisine is more innovative and exciting than a large majority of meat laden dishes at other establishments. To construct a raw meal, such as the dishes served at Pure Food & Wine, definitely takes certain knowledge of food that a large majority of people probably don’t have in this world. Yet, with your definition they could never be considered ‘foodies.’
I’m not even sure the term ‘fooodie’ is one that should even be used. What is a 'foodie' anyway??? People who drop hundreds of dollars at restaurants call themselves ‘foodies’ because they are able to experience a higher caliber of cuisine that may or may not even be that exciting. Some of the best food I have had has been at hole in the wall establishments at locations that haven’t been touched by gentrification.
Being on top of the latest restaurant openings and the goings on of chefs does not necessarily mean you know anything about food. If I was a chef I would roll my eyes all day long at the type of people that consider themselves ‘foodies.’ Nine times out of ten they are pretentious people who think they have god’s gift for a palate and are armed with online blogs that they use to tear people to shreds.
As for Bourdain, I've read his comment about vegetarians. It has nothing to do with the definition of a 'foodie,' but more so a general statement about the self righteous, fanatical people in the world.
By
chknbone360 on August 28, 2007 at 12:42:21 PM
I have to say that I think anyone who would imply that a vegetarian doesn't eat meat because their afraid of it is hopelessly mislead. There are any number of reasons to not eat meat but I doubt highly that fear is a deciding factor for most folks.
To be exact the dictionary defines a foodie as "someone who has an ardent or refined interest in food." Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me that definition doesn't specify the need to gorge on trotters, fatback or chicken feat in order to qualify as a foodie.
With the vast array of cultures that make up our highly diversified society the idea that anyone would belittle someone's appreciation of food due to their decision not to eat pig snout is about as valid as saying that someone isn't a foodie unless they are gnawing on water buffalo testicles in an back alley in Hong Kong.