Restaurant/Social advice

[julesmoz]

On Sunday, a bunch of my friends from high school are going out to dinner. I haven't seen these guys in ages, and I really want to see them. But they specifically want to go somewhere that serves green chili (it's what we're known for in Albuquerque, and some of us have moved and miss eating it). The problem is, lots of the places that serve green chili (i.e. Mexican restaurants) don't have anything raw! What do you guys suggest?

[Dimond]

They don't even have a salad? Eat beforehand is the only thing I can think of if there isn't anything there to eat. Unless you feel comfortable bringing your own food. Maybe call ahead and speak to the chef or manager.

[DavidZaneMason]

Eat before you go. When your friends ask...say you are there to spend time with THEM.....and that you are not hungry. You don't need to answer any other questions.

My experience: I usually just bring a snack to restaurants. A couple of apples in my pocket....or a couple of avocadoes....or a couple of bananas. If anyone asks me....I tell them I'm on a special diet.....which is true.

-David Mason

[RawNut]

They must have lettuce, tomato, guacamole. The guac might be canned so I'd ask about it, if I were you. Carrots and celery for the wings? I'd think they'd have some kind of house salad, surely. You'd be eating something anyways. I'd eat before you go, like the others have said, or you could bring some fudge balls with you like Alissa does.

Craig

[Leiloshka]

Maybe you can have guacamole salad and take your own chips? But, I bet they'll have a taco salad. You can have them take off the cheese and put more avacado on it instead and they don't have to serve it in a taco shell. Ask about the salsa. If it's freshly made, you'll be fine.

If people ask why I'm eating "strange", I tell the real reason I'm not having the stuff they are. I eat raw foods because I found it makes me much healthier. Some will blow you off and some will ask more questions. Hey, it's a good dinner topic.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I'd call ahead, speak to a manager, and tell him/her the situation that you are going along with friends. You eat only fresh food, and do they have salads, fresh guacamole, carrots & celery, etc. If possible put in a special request ahead of time with the chef. Then your friends will be envious when you get your specially made plate of goods, lol.

[Amberly]

My Mexican restaurant staple is lettuce, tomatoe, avocado slices (I don't trust the guacamole) and lemon wedges to squeeze over it. It's fabulous!

[Spectatrix]

Definitely call ahead. Fresh guacamole (without sour cream in it, obviously) is good, as is fresh salsa.

[Cinnamon]

I second all the great advise you've been getting! Calling ahead to special order your meal and/or bringing something to eat with you.

I've found a local Mexican Restaurant that I go to once a month for a "girl's lunch out" and I have a basic green salad without dressing. Their salsa is raw and so is the quacamole so I am set with some lemon to squeeze over the top. Sometimes I bring my own carrot and celery sticks to eat with the salsa while everyone else eats the chips.

And enjoy the company you'll be with, that is most important!

[rachelmh]

If it's mexican, you can have the fajita veggies raw. Peppers, onions, mushrooms. I do this all the time, with loads of fresh salsa and guac. It's so filling and really yummy!

[chilove]

Mexican is one of the best options for raw! Be careful with the guac--some places put sour cream in it, and the salsa, many places used stewed tomotoes as a base. Pico de gallo is usually raw. I always ask for a plate of shredded lettuce topped with lots of avocado, tomatoes and cilantro, then I squeeze lime juice on top. It is very yummy!

Take care,


Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[julesmoz]

That's a great idea to do the fajita veggies raw. There's a place that I was afraid we were gonna go to that seriously doesn't have anything raw except for the tiny little iceburg garnish. No guac, no fajitas on the menu, no raw salsa. Healthful eating, let me tell you!

THANKFULLY, someone volunteered to host a BBQ, instead. Hopefully we'll do that . . .

Thanks for the support!

- Julesmoz

[spicyfull]

Great Ideas..................

[rawpriestess]

YEP, the BEST raw FOOD can be at a Mexican restaurant.

just follow the above advice, if it is a good restaurant, they will make everything fresh from scratch, if it is a chain, you'll have to check with the chef.

have fun, thats the most important part of meeting friends.