NYC - Pure Food and Wine Pt 3: Dinner #1

~ First Course ~

We had reservations for Pure for both Friday and Saturday evenings as the aim of our excursion was to experience as much raw food as possible ..and Pure seemed like one of the best places to do that. All of the food was amazing but my favorite of the 1st course dishes we tried were the King Oyster Mushroom Scallops with Hijiki Seaweed served with chive creme fraiche, wilted watercress with a black garlic tomato sauce.
One of the mushroom scallops was actually quite tough, but despite that, it had a chewy texture that I have not experienced since being raw and left this feeling in me that I wanted to experience those more often. I still can't get the texture out of my mind, they were wonderful, tasted wonderful. This is one of the dishes that still stays with me & as soon as I get back to NY, I am coming to Pure and ordering these again. ..or maybe I will have to experiment with creating them here to satisfy my own craving. The recipe is in Sarma's new book - which, although only out a month, I read like a novel, cover to cover, before making the trip!

Next up: Tokyo Turnip Carpaccio with Marinated Provencal Truffle served with English Pea Cream dressing, baby celery and house made winter truffle oil

The sauce, truffle and truffle oil really make this. The flavor was wonderful!

I dont have a picture of the whole dish, which is too bad, because it was beautifully presented with raspberries lined up and pine nuts and vinaigrette. And it was delicious!
Salad of Mache, Summer Berries and Fennel with Truffle Framboise Vinaigrette topped with aged cashew cheese cured with dill and fennel pollens, toasted pignoli

Zucchini Fettuccine with Basil Crema and Red Pepper Bruschetta spicy pumpkin seeds, basil sprouts, Shyrian pumpkin seed oil

This was also delicious.. but I expected bruschetta to be served on some kind of bread.. and am very into raw breads right now, so other than not having bread under the bruschetta, it was great as were the rest of the dishes.

~ Second Course ~

Zucchini and Local Hothouse Tomato Lasagna basil pistachio pesto, sun-dried tomato sauce, pinoli ricotta
How could we go to NY & not try Pure's Lasagna!? It's the most popular dish on the menu and one which has remained on the menu since the start. & it was delicious, very simple. & I must say, after all the prepared foods we had been eating, it was a welcome sight to see those thick tomato slices! I was completely enjoying eating all this food, but my diet is so simple usually at home. We thoroughly enjoyed this - simple, delicious and I also realized something - Ambiance, which Pure has lots of, goes a long way!

Thai Coconut Noodles in Galangal Red Coconut Curry mung bean sprouts, heirloom carrot, saffron oil, thai basil
This dish, while still delicious, was perhaps my least favorite. But I have to admit I am a bit fussy here. I make a Red Thai Curry paste & sauce, which I love and is very flavourful and spicy. I found this kind of bland, not bad, nothing at Pure is bad.. but I expected more. There just wasnt the flavour I would expect from a red cconut curry sauce. Thats ok. just a preferance.

We were brought a tasting plate of the Sweet Pickled Beet and Rosemary Cashew Chevre Ravioli wilted spinach, grapes, saffron cream, green olive tapenade
I am so glad we got to experience this dish.. if I had known before hand I would have ordered it for sure - It was amazing!! Everything about it was really, really, really delicious!

~ Third Course ~

We were so full by this point we changed our dessert plan to ice cream, which for some reason we thought would be light, and the peach cobbler. I am not sure why I expected the ice cream t be just a small portion.. I was very surprised when they brought out this trio of ice cream treats!!
Trio of Dark Chocolate Coated Indian Spiced Ice Cream Treats chocolate covered cardamom coconut ice cream cone, pistachio gelato ice cream sandwich and chai tea creamsicle.

Nostalgic, Fun, Delicious, Beautifully presented. I was prepared to just have a bite..because I had already eaten too much. We had eaten so much even before getting to Pure that I wasn't even hungry to start with.. now I was bursting. Despite this we ate every bite of the desserts. Just too incredible to miss!!!

Warm Peach Cobbler maple soaked peaches with buckwheat streusel, vanilla cardamom ice cream, bourbon barrel aged maple syrup and a white chocolate tuile
So delicious! At first I felt the cardamom was a little strong in the ice cream - & I love cardamom.. but it blended so well with the maple and peach, that I disregarded that thought after about 2 seconds. Peaches are in season right now and delicious. We saw at least 3 raw peach cobblers this weekend. This one was the best!

Pure makes very beautiful food! & Delicious!! ..eating here is an absolute pleasure.
My deepest thanks to everyone involved in making, helping to create and assisting in any way to making this food available for us to enjoy. Thank you. Salud!
& to Tom for bringing me on this great business trip! : )

NYC - Pure Food and Wine Pt 1: The Kitchen Tour

Soo exciting to come to Pure Food and Wine for the 1st time! The one thing thats more exciting than that.. is getting to have a tour of the kitchen!!
This is the dining room empty.. it was just starting to fill up when we arrived. 5:45 Friday.. we had reservations for dinner a few hours later at 7:30.
I love the color, it's my favorite- a cherry red, almost pink - How could I not love this place!!??

Tara, the sous chef gave us a tour.. she was great. Showed me how they fire orders and the stations - it was great to see them at work. & a perfect time, it wasn't too busy yet. I really didn't want to inconvenience anyone, it was so nice of them to show me around!

Everyone here is amazing! This is Joey the bartender.. he was showing us around the kitchen also.
A peek into the dessert freezer - Mmm!! Their desserts are phenomenal - I think Jana is a genius! : )

Laura in the One Lucky Duck juice and takeaway, looking in from the kitchen.

The private room seats about 20.

It was quite dark, but this is also a view of the private room.

I had a peek into the large online and pastry kitchen. They are making incredible creations in here. Lots of dehydrators!

The dishwashing room..

Here is Laura and Tara..

In the kitchen they prep in the morning and daytime and then before dinner they clear it into prep stations to plate food.

Sometimes there are many of them in the kitchen - but they seem very organized! All of the food is prepared fresh each day. I hear left-overs are eaten by the staff after the restaurant has closed - that would be a definite perk to working here! Along with the fun.. they all seem like a big family, most have worked here for a long time.

A few dishes being plated: Nori Rolls..

Plate of Assorted Cultured Dr. Cow Tree Cheeses and Rosemary Crisps

A bowl of soup. Oh we covered almost the whole menu, but we didn't have the soup. Guess I'll have to come back. ; )

After having a great tour of the place we went back over to the juice bar and got Coconut water and I had a huge green juice. I asked Laura if I could have Garlic instead of the Ginger & Lemon.. and she asked if I would like some Jalapeno too.. It was like she knew me!!! Amazing. Yes, please.. and then she asked if it was ok to put in some pear to balance it out.. It was incredible!
& Huge!

Laura is a most creative Juice Goddess, a Juice Intuitive and Angel extraordinaire!!
Thank you - You are wonderful!

NYC - Pure Food and Wine Pt1: One Lucky Duck Juice and Takeaway

Here we are! We have just walked from 79th st and Amsterdam (west side) through Central Park and down to 17th st to the One Lucky Duck Juice and Takeaway. Long walk!!
We end up walking all around town and all the way back also and by the end of Day 1 I have blisters and cuts on my feet from the sandals which obviously were not meant for that kind of walking - although I thought they were.. and from 2 more pair of sandals/shoes I bought on the way which were slightly better, but with each leaving NYC battlemarks of one kind or another on my poor feet. But I didn't let that stop me however.. who can go to NY & not walk around and discover the city. It had been so long, many years since I have been here - and I was really enthused to see lots of the city.

I have lots of pictures..but mostly I am going to be posting all the amazing raw foods and experiences we had on our journey. More about the trip down here later.. but 1st and most importantly the place I was soo interested to come to: One Lucky Duck. We had decided that that was going to be our 1st stop in the city (we actually came across a couple other places, but by surprise on the way down here) but this was our 1st planned stop.

This is a peek into the kitchen, taken through the window on the street - it's right next door to the Takeaway. I was excited to see it - I love kitchens!! I found out later that this is mostly used as the wholesale and pastry kitchen. (better pic coming up later)

This is Dave. He's great - In fact, everyone at Pure Food & One Lucky Duck is great.. they are all like a big happy family there. It seems like it must be an incredible place to work, lucky ducks!! : )

Some pictures around the small takeaway store. There are 3-4 tables, it is very cozy and even though small it's very comfortable, they have great cushions, flowers, ambiance. It is a beautiful place to hang out at - If I lived in NY I would be frequenting this place often!!
& they have great superfoods.. and lots for all your raw food needs!

Note the chalk board in there - it lists the Green Market Add-ons - specials from Hawthorn Valley and Windfall Farms.. and their soup of the day. They have an amazing Market just down the street. We actually got to experience the market on Saturday and I will post pics from it later. It was great!!..and very extensive!

Lots of amazing desserts! We ordered Chocolate Ganache Tarts. They were so delicious!!

Bowls of beautiful packaged cookies and cinnamon buns and more to take away.

We ordered a Falafel with Tabhouli (with lemon tahini sauce & red pepper hot sauce) Mmm.. and 2 drinks - a Hot Pink: Beet, Pineapple, Pear, Ginger & a Thai Green: Greens, Pineapple, Cilantro, Lime. They were sooo good!

Just in from NY raw adventure, Wow, lots to tell ..bbs!

Hi, I'm back! : ) That was an amazing trip!! We took in so much in just 4 days and I can't wait to put up all my pics and share my adventure with you. I am just unpacking and getting settled back in here at home now. James has rented a couple Spanish films for me ..I am very into learning Spanish by watching films these days. So, I am going to kick back, take it easy.. go soak some nuts and seeds ; ) and be back here posting lots of pictures and stories of our NY raw adventure very very soon! Hasta Luego ..realmente, muy pronto! Besos y abrazos xo

Business Trip in NYC in 2 days!!

Yes, it's true.. I am going on a business trip to NYC for 4 days, this Thurs-Sunday. And the mission of this trip? To eat raw foods at all the best places! How awesome is that!! Very.

I have to say the place i am most excited about is Pure Food and Wine. I have both of Sarma's books and read them both like a novel. I love everything i have made from their books and am soo excited to go and try all their food! We have reservations for 2 nights and plan on a couple meals in the day probably at their One Lucky Duck juice bar and store. exciting! ..and also very exciting is that we are going to be able to check out their kitchen and see how all this incredible food is made. & I will be posting lots of pictures of the food, the kitchen, and everything!!

Next up is Quintessence. We are planning on going here for dinner on Thurs eve. But there are so many options, I have been reading the menu and there is so much that looks great! Maybe we can get an extra time in here.. but we have been busy scouting out everything raw in NYC and there's a lot to get into these 4 days!

Raw Soul is another place I am really excited to try!

I read about this place and about Lillian Butler and Eddie Robinson years ago, they went raw and were starting their business around the time I went raw ..and of course, I was on the internet looking up everything raw!!! & now I am really excited to go check their place out and eat at Raw Soul. I will take pics and post everything!!

I havent decided if I am taking my laptop or not. I may not as I have limited time and need internet connection, etc. So, if not, next Monday - expect lots of pictures and me taking you with me on my adventure!!
Next on my list is Caravan of Dreams which is organic but not completely raw. However they have the cooked and the Live dishes separated on their menu and they have a long list of each. They hold lots of various classes, have live music and it looks like a very interesting place.

Bonobo's is, of course, also on our list. I have been hearing about Bonobo's for years. & now I get to check it out - Yay! Although it sounds liek this place is a lot more casual- like ahuge salad bar, and when you order you can taste things first. I read a lot of reviews, sounds liek a system thats a bit hard to get used to but many who do quickly become regulars. Lots if young coconut things - like soup served in a coconut - Cool! & I read 3 reviews abotu how amazing their coconut chai drink is.. have to try that!

ok theres a few more in the city, High Vibe - the health and lifestyle store, Raw health Cafe, Free Foods NYC - which is only delivery.

On Sunday we have the day planned for Brooklyn, which has 2 raw restaurants which I am really excited to check out!! Rawstar opened a year ago and looks great.
& then theres Rockin Raw!

Saving one of the most exciting ones for last : )
It's "live-vegan-raw-organic-peruvian-new-orleanian-creole-cuisine-with-soul-from-williamsburg-brooklyn-to-you"

Peruvian-New Orleanian Creole!! How exciting is that!! Sounds like Very!
Be back soon with lots of pictures of what is bound to be a wonderful raw culinary adventure!!

My Trip to NB

Finally, I am getting around to posting lots of pics of my trip to NB.. these are all taken close to my hometown, Moncton.. and are of where I spent much time growing up.





We were driving through Albert County to see the new wind turbines they have put up..lots of them, and it was so foggy.. we drove in & then all of a sudden we were under these huge things.. They almost scared me.. it felt a bit overwhelming how big they are!
I know they are good.. but they seem kind of eerie to me.. esp when you see a whole bunch of them together.

We were watching this cute groundhog. : )

This is a really cool little beach.

I found lots of rocks that reminded me of my Dad for some reason. & after that, Mom & I were talking about him & we kept seeing all these ominous (in a good way) signs. I was quite sure he was there with us!! So many things but the biggest one was when the guys went & got the car and we laid on the grass -I had just done some yoga and Mom did some QiGong stuff.. and we mentioned how it seemed like he was here cause of the things that were happening & as soon as we laid down on the grass she reached out & picked up a 5 leaf clover - neither one of us had ever even seen one of those in our lives ever!! It gives me a great feeling thinking about it - All is good with the world. Dad was incredibly spiritual.. he believed and experienced lots of unseen realities which were pretty amazing. He used to be a hypnotist (amongst many things) when he was young, he could put up invisible barriers.. o lots of things, amazing things.. He was a real eccentric and a really amazing man. ok, I just needed to talk about him for awhile. I Love you Dad!! (of course he knows that! : )


Amazing terrain!




My son, Nick (one of the most amazing people ever also! )


..and for some raw content in here.. when we got home, Mom had Pizzas for us. She was amazing at keeping the raw foods coming. What a Mom.. she is my biggest inspiraton ever! xo