So if you are anything like me, you have been a sceptic of this raw food diet craze. All I could think was, "how could a raw food diet satisfy my tastebuds? It just sounds so boring!" But while I've been turned off to the idea completely, in light of trying to get healthier, I thought perhaps I could at the very least give a local raw food restaurant, AmeRAWcan Bistro down on St. Helens in Tacoma, a try. So last night a vegetarian and health conscious friend accompanied me on my adventure...or dare I say experiment. My first impressions? The venue itself was really attractive and in an attractive location (near the Broadway theatre district). The menu also looked very attractive with all kinds of colorful renditions of American favorites: a burger, pizza, nachos, tacos, spaghetti, sandwiches, cheesecake, oh my! And...the plus? All gluten free! I was so excited!
We decided to try a plethera of things. First, the nachos. It is important to note that in the raw food diet, nothing is heated above 118 degrees F. This is to preserve their nutritional value. So things like bread and chips are usually various kinds of grains or nuts dehydrated together to form a really yummy crust. It may sound gross, but I learned last night how much more flavorful it is than shelf bread. So these nachos were made w dehydrated flax chips...oh man! I was in heaven. The chef covered these colorful nachos with incredible sauces...I didn't even notice there was no cheese on them, haha. My tastebuds exploded from all the flavor and kick.
Then there was the thai curry soup, which I only briefly sampled. Again...mouth watering. Next was the burger, which was vegan using seasoned walnut meal. May sound gross? Don't knock it until you try it. Yeah, it is nothing like a real burger, but it didn't matter. It was its own thing all together...and perfectly savory and delicious at that. Then came the pizza...which was my favorite part. My friend and I died of happiness with every crunchy bite. Whatever sauce the chef made to substitute cheese was one of the most amazing things I've ever tasted. And it was so vibrant, chalk full of nutritional and flavor packed veggies.
And finally...the banana chocolate pie. Oh man! I was in heaven! It was the perfect combination of sweet, tart and warm flavors. I didn't want it to end.
Now I feel inspired by my raw food experience at AmeRAWcan Bistro. Not only do I want to tell people about it and eat there again, but I also want to incorporate more raw foods into my own diet. I left feeling so energetic, and still feel energetic today! I am a huge fan! Please, before you knock it, try it! You don't just have to eat for nutrition! Nutritional food can still be appetizing! Check them out and download the menu @ http://amerawcanbistro.com. :)
