I'm curious

[seawakim]

Being curious about all things food, I'm looking to sample raw cuisine. Has anyone had it? Is it good?

(other than the plentiful sushi venues) Are there any raw food restaurants in Seattle?

[mamster]

Well, you can get a plate of various salamis at Salumi.

There's no restaurant in town doing what Roxanne's in California or Quintessence in New York is doing. We have one serious vegan restaurant, Cafe Ambrosia. Their regular menu is all cooked; perhaps they could be persuaded to do a raw meal.

The reason you're not seeing these things pop up all over (besides the fact that it's a hard sell) is that it's extremely hard to make good raw food. By most accounts, Roxanne's is doing well in that department--although that may be because reviewers are going in with low expectations.

If I sound skeptical, I am--I hate the raw-foodists' fake science and the fact that they serve imitation cheese. On the other hand, if the food tastes good--and I'm sure some of it does--it's hard to argue with that. Besides, it's something new and weird, so sure, I hope we get some. It's going to take someone talented, dedicated, and nuts to make it happen.

[nightscotsman]

It's going to take someone talented, dedicated, and nuts to make it happen.

Someone as talented and dedicated as, say... Michael Jordon? Is this your way of coyly announcing a career change, mamster?

[tighe]

I like crudite as much as the next guy, especially with some good blue cheese dip, but raw food as a way of life just doesn't cut it for me.

Even cave men cooked their food and there's some stuff that is very nutritious but absolutely tastes like crap uncooked and other stuff that will make you sick (or worse) uncooked. I don't get it personally. Kind of like the whole macrobiotic thing. I mean, what are we supposed to eat here in the great PNW in the dead of winter?? There aren't even any good slugs available. The robins outside my office window seem to be really enjoying the juniper berries, so maybe I should give them a try.....

[mamster]

The robins outside my office window seem to be really enjoying the juniper berries, so maybe I should give them a try.....

Yeah, I hear robins are delicious.

[IslandMom]

Being curious about all things food, I'm looking to sample raw cuisine. Has anyone had it? Is it good?

(other than the plentiful sushi venues) Are there any raw food restaurants in Seattle?

Hi,

I've never been tempted to try this all raw cuisine business. Part of what really put me off is a statement I read in a write-up of the movement. The interviewee said that typically, people experience lots of ummm (sorry, no delicate way to put this) flatulence and diarrhea until their gastrointestinal track makes the necessary adjustment. Frankly, those two are just undesirable when one doesn't work at home, so I am not tempted at all to try it.

This brings to mind an anecdote - years ago, I had a neighbor who was into the organic, healthy eating thing. We had her family over for dinner one night - simple stuff - teriyaki chicken, steamed broccoli, steamed rice, etc. She just raved and raved about the broccoli, and her kids just gobbled it up. She asked me how i prepared it, and I told her that I peeled the stems and then steamed the broccoli till it turned bright green and was still crisp. That was it - no sauce, no nothing, just broccoli. She said, "Oh, wow, maybe I should steam my broccoli, too. The kids just hate raw broccoli". You know, with all its vitamins, her broccoli was doing nothing for her family because they weren't eating it.

Some things are just meant to be cooked! (BTW, I love raw fish)

[seawakim]

Some things are just meant to be cooked!  (BTW, I love raw fish)

You're right IslandMom. The BEST dishes I've ever tasted were always cooked (and slightly undercooked). However, I love unique salads and can only image that given the right creativity and skill, a good chef could prepare some very interesting dishes using raw ingredients. That is what sparked my interest in this cuisine.

I don't think it could be a way of life for me but I would love to try it simply because it's different and it's something else to add to my repertoire

[Coop]

We had a raw food restaurant here in Vancouver which received a lot of publicity because it served raw food and was owned and operated by very attractive young female triplets. I looked in once (more interested in the triplets than the food) and found the menu contained many blendered items. I ran, quickly acrooss the steet to a deli. Alas the cumly trio and thier blenders have packed up and left. Leaving a vacant room soon to be filled with a much needed candle store, or Starbucks.