Raw Food Restaurants Are Increasing in Number
Raw food restaurants have increased in number over the past 10 years, as more people seek healthier diets and lifestyles. Raw food restaurants serve no cooked foods. Instead, they serve an assortment of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains—including raw desserts, raw pizza, raw “lasagna” and more. Surprisingly, raw food tastes good—and best of all, it’s good for you.
Currently there are 95 raw food restaurants worldwide—however, this number also includes a handful of vegetarian restaurants that are partially raw (restaurants that serve both cooked and raw food selections).
Raw Food Restaurant Food Preparation
Raw food restaurants use several tools to prepare food for customers: a food processor, a high-powered blender, juicers, and variable-temperature dehydrators, among others. Absolutely no microwaves, ovens, or stoves are used. This is done to preserve the live enzymes presents in all raw food. Live enzymes are destroyed when food is cooked beyond 114 degrees Fahrenheit.
Raw Food Gourmet Chefs
The raw food trend has picked up steam in recent months, spawning “gourmet raw food chefs” and raw food cooking schools. Even classic chefs are visiting raw food restaurants to discover a cuisine that offers surprising diversity, flavor and texture.
Popular Raw Food Restaurants
Some of the more well-known raw food restaurants include Juliano’s Raw in Santa Monica, California. Juliano’s Raw was one of the first raw food restaurants to open its doors. Other well-known raw food restaurants include Pure Food & Wine in New York City, and Café Gratitude in San Francisco, California.
