Raw and Non-Raw Restaurants

[Revvell]

Please put suggestions here about what one can do when going out with non-raw friends and family. Add anything that's worked for you.

For instance ~

Mexican restaurant ~ Side of salsa; side of quacamole. Bring your own "chip"... could bring carrot sticks or rounds; celery.

Asian ~ most all of them have a type of "Buddha's Feast" ~ stir-fried veggies. Ask for them raw (yep! They'll look at you funny) and bring your own dressing.

Italian ~ call ahead if you've got time. They usually have salad fixings and some oil and vinegar.

Indian ~ this one stymies me. As I recall, everything they have is cooked. Anyone?

Wedding Reception ~ Be prepared; eat ahead. If you know the bride, you can find out if there's anything you can/will eat. I went to a reception as a vendor on Saturday. They had "vendor meals" ~ turkey sandwich. Well, they also had fruit platter appetizers in the foyer. When everyone went into the dining room, I grabbed a plate of fruit.

Networking Meetings ~ these can be tough. Check with the organizer and see if they'll be having fruit for breakfast and a salad, w/out cheese or dead animals in it. When I held mine, I'd tell the restaurant to put the cheese and chicken on the side. If folks wanted them, they could add. At other than my own, there's often a side of fruit... I ask for whatever has not been touched because I usually wont eat any of the rest.

What else you got?

[DopeRawAbundance]

I would just bring a trail mix or salad or some'n in there... is this against restaraunt code or some'n? Certainly this idea has been entertained.

Just bring a lunchbox with your own food in it, we're all adults here.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416R380HVNL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[MysticTree]

In all cases or as many as is possible, ring ahead.

Say that one of the party is Raw Vegan and can they provide a simple selection of uncooked vegan foods. If they say yes, then that's sorted. If they say no, ask if that person may bring her own foods. If they say no then say I'm sorry, then we will have to take our custom to another Restaurant. If your party is a large one then you'd be amazed at how quickly they'll come round to the idea of being accommodating.

Also restaurants are more likely to be accommodating if you are choosing to eat out on one of their quiet nights. They rather have 6 diners even if one of them brings their own than have an empty restaurant.

Georgina

[VeGenesis]

I try to never go anywhere without an apple in my pocket. You would be surprised how many times this has saved me.

I also find the managers are very happy to make changes in their menus if they understand there is a "reason." "I am here with my friends but I am only allowed raw fruits and vegetables... Can your chief modify this dish for me?"

No one has ever asked me why I am "only allowed" raw Vegan food. If anyone ever does my plan is to move close to their ear and whisper only "VeGenesis." They won't dare ask!

One of the best garden salads I have had was a chief who made a dressing on the spot by squeezing tomatoes, garlic, and avocado through a large garlic press! It looked so good the lady at the next table asked the waiter if she could get what I was having because she couldn't find it on the menu! When the computerized bill arrived my plate was listed simply as "onion rings!"

My wife and I regularly eat at a chicken place in our mall that has a salad but allows me to bring my own dressing "and anything else you would like to add to it!"

When going out with friends, no restaurant has ever turned me down. In fact I once got a Pizza Hut Salad to go and took it to Sunburst Chicken I told the manager that we wanted to celebrate an anniversary with my friends, but I was only allowed raw food that I brought from Pizza Hut and that I would be happy to put it on one of their plates to rid our table of the Pizza Hut logo. He said, "that sounds like a good idea!" Talk to the manager - they are very accommodating.

[MysticTree]

I try to never go anywhere without an apple in my pocket. You would be surprised how many times this has saved me.

I also find the managers are very happy to make changes in their menus if they understand there is a "reason." "I am here with my friends but I am only allowed raw fruits and vegetables... Can your chief modify this dish for me?"

No one has ever asked me why I am "only allowed" raw Vegan food. If anyone ever does my plan is to move close to there ear and whisper only "VeGenesis." They won't dare ask!

One of the best garden salads I have had was a chief who made a dressing on the spot by squeezing tomatoes, garlic, and avocado through a large garlic press! It looked so good the lady at the next table asked the waiter if she could get what I was having because she couldn't find it on the menu! When the computerized bill arrived my plate was listed simply as "onion rings!"

This is my experience too. I know a lot of chefs and pretty much every one likes a challenge and a change from their routine dishes. It does work best when they aren't too busy and if you explain the reasoning and they create a wonderful Raw dish, I have found that it often makes its way into the Vegetarian section of the menu.

Georgina

[Raw Angel Mom]

Indian ~ this one stymies me. As I recall, everything they have is cooked. Anyone?

You can go with fruit, they sometime has salad, perhaps call ahead



What else you got?


Eat before going out, if you travel have raw snack. Bring your own dressing salad if you can. If in doubt, just fast and explain in advance to your co-worker that you are fasting but will join in. Then buy an appetizer for them to share, that way the restaurant is making money with you , the waiter is getting a tips and your friends are thrill to have a free appetizer, lol... Just order water and a piece of lemon.

[anniez]

I really like the Raw Revolution bars. They easily make a meal for me. They are easy to keep in my purse and have saved me more than a few times.

Annie

[rawrawks]

I would just bring a trail mix or salad or some'n in there... is this against restaraunt code or some'n? Certainly this idea has been entertained.

Just bring a lunchbox with your own food in it, we're all adults here.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416R380HVNL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

not me...hahaha

[rawrawks]

One of the best garden salads I have had was a chief who made a dressing on the spot by squeezing tomatoes, garlic, and avocado through a large garlic

I love it when the chief makes me a dressing!!! wwwwooooohooooooo
Always important to ask the chief for special concession. Life is so fun! I lvoe typos the best. I have had my most hillarious moments re-reading typos.

[NaiveJeanette]

Indian ~ this one stymies me. As I recall, everything they have is cooked. Anyone?


They have cucumber salad! That's about it tho...at least it's something :D

[Revvell]

They have cucumber salad! That's about it tho...at least it's something :D

With yogurt, yes? Wonder if we could just ask for the cukes? ;)

[NaiveJeanette]

With yogurt, yes? Wonder if we could just ask for the cukes? ;)

the kind I've seen is without yogurt. it's just spiced with a little cilantro and maybe some salt and pepper. but ya, just cukes probably woudn't be a prob :D

[Revvell]

the kind I've seen is without yogurt. it's just spiced with a little cilantro and maybe some salt and pepper. but ya, just cukes probably woudn't be a prob :D

I'm probably thinking Middle Eastern with the yogurt then.

O.k., what can we eat at Middle Eastern?

[Katie P]

I always prepare to get a salad. I may check to see if they can add uncooked veggies, or I just ask for like extra extra extra tomatoes......they make a good dressing & it's more filling than eating alot of letuce.

Breakfast is a tough one....BUT most places now have fruit. I went with my boyfriend to Cracker Barrell & knew I was probably gonna just eat bananas, & sure enough that's what I did. I try to see what toppings restaraunts have for like pancakes & see if I can get that fruit fresh.

[Clare]

I don't go out much but everywhere I've been has salads of some type. I just say a raw vegetable salad with anything you have that's raw - no croutons, cheese, etc, just vegetables. Then, in my purse I have a tub with dressing and a big chopped avocado in the dressing. I dump this on my plate right after it comes and at least I am satisfied, even if the salad is pathetic. Which it usually is.

[ReneeH]

Before I leave my house, I fix a Green Smoothie and drink it on the way! This way, I'm full when I get there and my body is satisfied.

[VeGenesis]

Wow! Being a VeGenesist has started opening doors! I got to a point that the waiter kept saying they had "No raw food!" I asked to talk to the chief and was actually led into the kitchen! I asked about ANY raw fruits or veggies, and the chief told me they did not sell anything that wasn't cooked!

But then he said he did have some cucumbers and some fresh pineapple. Spotting his blender I asked if I could use it to make a smoothy! He laughed and said, "My customers are teaching me to cook!" "Cook?" :) I washed the cucumber and chunked it and he peeled and chunked the pineapple.

Just a few seconds in his commercial blender and wam, bam, better than Siam, I had a nice smoothy that tasted like pineapple sherbet! The Chief tasted it and said he was going to make this for his wife and kids!

True to the Chief's word, they did not sell anything that wasn't cooked. When the bill came, mine said, "No Charge - Complements of the Chief!"

[hellicat]

Indian ~ this one stymies me. As I recall, everything they have is cooked. Anyone?

Indian restaurants usually don't have salads on the menu, but I've been to a few places where they'll serve a salad "garnish" alongside a tikka, kebob, or whatever so I know they have raw ingredients. I just ask for a bowl of salad on it's own.

The garnish is usually pretty poxy (just a lettuce leaf, few grated carrots, maybe a slice of cuke) but once I was pleasantly surprised when they brought out a salad bowl of mixed fresh veggies, with tomato, beetroot, and onion as well. The serving was small-ish but they only charged a couple of bucks for it.

[hellicat]

Asian ~ most all of them have a type of "Buddha's Feast" ~ stir-fried veggies. Ask for them raw (yep! They'll look at you funny) and bring your own dressing.

I might try this for my sister in law's birthday this weekend - we're going to a Malaysian restaurant.

But I'm imagining them serving chunks of broccoli and cauliflower with maybe a few token bean shoots and canned mushrooms. In my head it doesn't seem too appealing (I always like my broccoli and cauli shredded). Has anyone had a good "raw veggies" meal at an Asian restaurant? Also, what sort of dressing did you have?

[Green_Woman]

Before I leave my house, I fix a Green Smoothie and drink it on the way! This way, I'm full when I get there and my body is satisfied.

I too, have used GREEN SMOOTHIES to fill myself up before heading out to meet friends/family at non-raw places.

Right now, since I'm on my first week of the 100% "challenge", I'm just avoiding eating out in general and my friends/roommates are aware that I'm politely declining invitations for a few weeks until I get through the Cravings Stage! :D

I know myself... I've walked this road a few times before and in the beginning, it's just better if I stay away from Those Places. ;)

[MysticTree]

Just a few seconds in his commercial blender and wam, bam, better than Siam, I had a nice smoothy that tasted like pineapple sherbet! The Chief tasted it and said he was going to make this for his wife and kids!

True to the Chief's word, they did not sell anything that wasn't cooked. When the bill came, mine said, "No Charge - Complements of the Chief!"

I bet it will be on the menu next time you go :)
Georgina