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mbf
12-30-2005, 06:15 AM
I wanted to share my wonderful raw food dining experience ! We went into NYC last night for one of the most amazing dinners of my life.

We ate a Pure Food And Wine on Irving street in Manhattan. I'll start with how easy it was to get to and the atmosphere is just as described, casual elegant ! Now the food ! My husband and I (we have both been Raw since June) had checked out the website and were pretty sure what we were going to have but once there and looking at the gorgeous plates of food on others tables decided to go for the sampler meal! It was all chefs choice, we did tell them we both disliked olives.

First, we got a moosh goosh ( spelling? meal starter) that was pine nut goat cheese on walnut crackers topped with thin lovely slices of bosch pear ! Yum ! I am going to e-mail for the recipe today.
We then each got an appetizer.
I got the Cauliflower Samosas with banana tamarind sauce and my husband the sea veggie salad ! Yum Yum Yum !
Next we had soup, it was the Celeriac and Green Apple soup, first bite was a little odd but it delicous from then on ! I will try to make this at home !
Then we each got a sampler (1/2 portion) of 2 entree's.
We first got Corn epminanadas that had and amazing salsa and the spicy thai veggie wraps, that were my favorite so far ! Again,something I am going to attempt at home !
Our second round of entree included the Soft corn tortillas with spicy beans, avacado corn guacamole and tomatoe lime salsa !! and the favorite of the night the Zucchini and Green Zebra Tomatoe Lasagne ! I am speechless as how to describe how incredable this was ! We even got a piece to go !

We then had a lime sorbet as a pallet cleanser and onto our 2 full desserts !
This was a dissapoinment for my husband who dislikes pumpkin and chocolate ( we should have told them) because he got their pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream. He did eat and very much enjoy the ice cream, and I got the double chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream. Since he didn't want the pie I was forced :D to eat both ! again..words cannot do justice.

If the meal at the restaurant wasn't enough we walked around the corner to the Pure Juice and take-away ! It was lovley night, 51 degrees ( crazy for Dec in NY) and the rain had stopped ! My husband then got dessert of his choice and I got the Blue Grape drink, again this will be a regular at home ! and we picked up some organic body stuff and what I really wanted The Eat Raw Live Long shirt Sarma is wearing in the book !

We then drove and found where one of the Quintessence restaurants is located, that will be our pick for next month ! We drove thru Rockafellor Center on our way out of the city and saw the tree lit up. My first time this year.

It was an wonderful nite ! To be able to eat all Raw in a restaurant was such an uplifting experience ! I just couldn't believe it !

I have made it my mission to perfect the lasagna at home ! needless to say I highly suggest a visit to Pure Food And Wine or at least detour thru the city and get some take-out !

MBF

GS06
12-30-2005, 08:52 AM
MBF,

I bought the book "Raw Food, Real World" by Sarma and Matthew a few months ago and absolutely love it. So far I've made the Spicy Thai Vegetable wraps, the Lasagna and several of the nut milks and shakes. The recipes are clear and easy to follow. My husband who is not a raw foodists, loved the wraps, in fact he has requested this meal for his birthday. ;)
Today, I am making the Corn Tortillas.

I look forward to the time that I am able to make a trip to New York. I'm really interested in visiting the Pure Food and Wine restuarant as well. Thanks for the review !! :o

Punky
12-30-2005, 09:45 AM
Thanks so much for the review!
I have the book (and shirt too).
Sarma is also really personable in the email questions
I have asked in the past and super nice.
I drink the blue grape drink everyday; it's the only way
I could drink the E3 Live (before it made me gag).

I only wish I could go to the restaurant too; really far from Dallas
though!

ella
12-30-2005, 09:45 AM
sounds yummy! sounds like it was a huge hit!

punky! i have a ton of e3live in my freezer. what is the blue grape drink?

rawjojo
12-30-2005, 09:57 AM
Yes, please share what the blue grape drink is! Sounds Yummy!

AND MBF----- I am green with envy! How fortunate that you were able to eat such delicious and healthy food! Going there is going to be one of my goals for 2006!

heather
12-30-2005, 10:07 AM
i just received the book for christmas.....WOW! it has the most beautiful pictures. and the almond milk is divine! the secret ingredient??? lecethin!!

ReneeSC
12-30-2005, 10:08 AM
This is an awesome explanation, MBF!

My husband wants to take us back to NYC for a one day shopping fun trip this month. I'd LOVE to go to the raw food places with them! When we lived there, our favorite place to take the kids were cafes and the super-weird futeristic 'raunt for play. They also have a blue drink - but who knows what's in it.

Anyway, thank you for the referral! Yay! I can't WAIT!!

Punky
12-30-2005, 10:46 AM
i just received the book for christmas.....WOW! it has the most beautiful pictures. and the almond milk is divine! the secret ingredient??? lecethin!!

I loooovveeee the brazil nut milk; very silky and smooth!

Punky
12-30-2005, 10:48 AM
sounds yummy! sounds like it was a huge hit!

punky! i have a ton of e3live in my freezer. what is the blue grape drink?


oh it's so simple; just fresh grapefruit juice and E3 Live and sweetener.
I don't even use the sweetener.
All you taste is the grapefruit juice..no more gagging for me and I feel
so good and alert after drinking it.
I drink it every morning when I wake up; good coffee substitute.
Now if you don't care for grapefruit juice you might not like it; but
if you add sweetener it might take the tartness out of the grapefruit
juice some people don't care for.

ella
12-30-2005, 10:58 AM
thanks, miss! i'll try it out. i've had this e3live for a few months and have been wanting to start taking it again- this may be just the thing. :)

Halo Aglow
12-30-2005, 11:30 AM
I now always use lecithin in my nutmilks since getting their book. And I LOVE the Vanilla Brazil Nut Milk!!! Last night I was drinking it out of a wine glass, thinking I was oh so too cute. :p

MBF,

Your experience there sounds devine!!!! I wish I could visit. If I ever head that way I will definitely go. Do you have their book?

rawredbone
12-30-2005, 11:46 AM
MBF,

I bought the book "Raw Food, Real World" by Sarma and Matthew a few months ago and absolutely love it. So far I've made the Spicy Thai Vegetable wraps, the Lasagna and several of the nut milks and shakes. The recipes are clear and easy to follow. My husband who is not a raw foodists, loved the wraps, in fact he has requested this meal for his birthday. ;)
Today, I am making the Corn Tortillas.

I look forward to the time that I am able to make a trip to New York. I'm really interested in visiting the Pure Food and Wine restuarant as well. Thanks for the review !! :o


I checked out the book from my local Library to try some receipes before I buy the book. I have not gotten past the mylk shakes and the juices....oh my RAW they are so gggggggggood. The book is a must buy for anyone.

mbf
12-30-2005, 12:24 PM
Hi, i'm so glad you enjoyed my review ! Yes, I have the book. It is such a beautiful book ! We read it all way down in the car to the city ! and then on the way home reviewing the recipe and planning what we were going to make !

I met Sarma briefly last night she was on her way out and I

I just made the corn totillas, gaucamole and salsa for lunch ! I made the tortillas bery early this morning, they only take 4 hours in the dehydrator ! and the salsa and guacamole was really good too ! I did not make the spicy beans because we are running out the door ( and here I am on the computer :D ) and we I did not have time to wait for the seeds and sundried tomatoes to soak.

I can't wait to try the blue grape at home !

MBF

LisaDS88
12-30-2005, 12:39 PM
The restaurant sounds great! I can't wait to go to NY and eat there. I have the book too and love the recipes in it. According to some random NY newspaper websites, the owners Matthew and Sarma went through a bad breakup this summer. I'm really sorry to hear that, I was hoping the best for them. I hope the restaurant stays open and running still, and they are happy with their new paths in life.

lily
12-30-2005, 03:18 PM
omigod, my mouth is watering. I'm just gonna have to get on a plane and hop across the pond for a meal! Thanks for this inspirational posting.

lily -- in the UK, which is rather behind you guys on the raw restaurant front, though hopefully things will improve before too lohg.

twinee1
12-30-2005, 03:20 PM
I am listening to the Interview with Sarma as I type on bestdayever.com archives (subscription only unfortunely) She is so inspiring, a truely beautiful person. I live in Upstate NY...next trip to NY I am there to check it out.

Oh BTW Alissa is going to be on the Audio Interview next month at this site.

Universal
12-30-2005, 03:32 PM
Sounds excellent MBF!!

I'm planning on making a reservation to go there next week on tuesday, and i'm sure i'll have similar stories to tell. I could just imagine where your energy level must have been like in there eating such wonderful tasting raw food!


PEACE
Universal

mbf
12-30-2005, 03:49 PM
As far as Sarma and Matthew, she does refer to him as her former partner on her site oneluckyduck.com . It is sad, the book tells such a lovley story about them !

Universal, if you go next week make sure to get a reservation ! The place was packed with people waiting at the bar. They are only open from 5:30 -10:30 and there was very little turnover of tables, it took us over 2 hours !! to complete our meal. oh...can you bring me back a piece of take-out lasagna !!

MBF

Cinnamon
12-31-2005, 03:02 PM
Wonderful review! Thank you so much for the fabulous description of what must have been a very memorable meal. Wish I were closer for a dinner out there too.

I just ordered the book, can't wait to get it!

jaurequi
01-01-2006, 05:37 PM
To those of you consuming lecithin -- will you cite your source for raw lecithin. I would love to find some! I've never seen it raw. It was marvelous in recipes I used to prepare in the past (not raw obviously :)).

Thanks so much!

Best,

mbf
01-01-2006, 09:46 PM
I buy mine from a place called Nellies Natural in Medford PA. It's just over the NY border here. She has a great place with lot's of raw supplies. I am making a trip this week and will get details for you. I never knew it was hard to find !

MBF

Leslie_L
01-01-2006, 10:23 PM
I just did a search, along with this site that sells it.....http://www.herbalhut.com/detail.aspx?ID=5323 I discovered that it is derived from soy. So if you have a soy sensitivity or allergy as I do you might want to exercise care using this ingredient.

Leslie

Angelina
01-04-2006, 08:28 AM
I just made the BlueGrape, it looks nothing like in the book!!! The book has a nice bluish green color, my looks all murky!! I did cut the recipe in 1/2 (2 cups grapefruit juice, which was basically 1 1/2 grapefruits thrown in a blender) and 1tbs of E3 live, and a bit of honey. It tasted fine so I guess I shouldn't complain, just wondering if anyone elses looks weird?

also, I made the Vanilla brazil nut milk last night...omg..amazing, I made a double batch and froze some for ice cubes to thicken up some shakes....yummmy...can't wait to try the mac milk next. :p

JMD
01-04-2006, 09:09 AM
What a treat to have a romantic and full-filling night with the one you love!!

Thanks for sharing.....

:)JMD