The Fresh Network Blog

Do you have your ticket for THE raw event of 2009?

We're talking, of course, about our Christmas party and it's less than three weeks away now. It takes place on the evening of Sunday, December 6 at Saf restaurant in London and you can read full details here. It promises fantastic food and fantastic company and as if those were not reasons enough to attend you can also look forward to discount shopping, music and dancing, and a goody bag packed with raw treats and worth over £30.

We're excited to announce that regular Get Fresh! columnists Karen Knowler, Elaine Bruce, Philip Weeks, Russell James and Dr Doug Graham (along with Professor Rozalind Graham and their delightful daughter Faychesca) have all accepted our invitation to be there on the night. We can also reveal that Radio 2 presenter and Imperfectly Natural Woman author Janey Lee Grace is looking forward to 2009's biggest raw food fiesta! That's not all, but it's all we're disclosing for now. We are delighted these people will be there to enjoy the evening with us, sign books and chat to guests.

Guests will be able to take advantage of our December Sale, featured only at this party. Everything in our online store will be included in this bargain bonanza, with most products on offer at a fantastic 20% discount! The shop will open at 5pm - an hour before the party starts - and you'll be able to leave your shopping with us while you enjoy the evening, so why not take this chance to stock up and make some BIG savings?

Want to bring your kids? No problem! Children of all ages are welcome, and there is no charge for children under 10, up to a maximum of two pint-sized guests per paying adult. But be sure to book your little ones a place when you purchase your ticket/s as they will need to be on the list. If you want to take advantage of this amazing deal please call us on +44 (0)845 833 7017 as it is not available on our website.

The party kicks off early to make it easier for those who live outside London to attend and leave in time for their last train, should they wish to. But for those of you who will be staying overnight, we have listed some hotel recommendations on the party page of our website. Here are our top tips:

The Hoxton is offering rooms at just £78 at the time of writing. This chic and trendy urban lodge is a 2-minute walk from the party venue.

If you're looking for the lowest-cost accommodation, check out the Travelodge. This no-frills chain has many hotels in London, and rooms in the Marylebone, Farringdon and King's Cross locations (all within easy reach of our party) can be had for as little as £30. The best deals on hotel rooms are only available if you book and pre-pay and the same goes for train travel - on many routes you will enjoy savings of up to 75% if you buy your ticket two or more weeks in advance. So with the party now under three weeks away, why not sort this out right now!

Full details of our party, including highlights from the night's menu, can be found here.

We do hope to you will join us for this truly first-class event!

Go here to book your ticket/s, or ring us on +44(0)845 833 7017.

Come to our Christmas party!

Just because you’re into all things eco and organic doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy a big night out and a good old knees-up as much as the next person. But if you choose to eat raw vegan, chances are you’re used to being left pretty disappointed on the food front, as you politely pass on the champagne, the steak and the crème brulée and push limp lettuce leaves around your plate.

But not on Sunday December 6! We are holding a party at London’s Saf restaurant, which is for our money not only the UK’s but also Europe’s top raw restaurant. This will be THE raw party of the year, folks! And there are still some tickets left, so read on to find out more...or just book your ticket now! Our early bird prices are still on offer - book by October 31 and you get 10% off the ticket price, and there are further savings if you buy more than one ticket.

Four reasons you will want to be at this party:

The food We tasted everything on Saf’s menu and hand-picked the delights to serve to you on this special night. Naturally, it was a tough job but we don’t cut corners when it comes to ensuring our customers are getting the very best! The food will be served as passed canapés, starting with savoury delicacies and moving to sweet treats as the night progresses. Among other things, we selected amazing raw sushi, Saf’s famous beetroot ravioli (pictured), an out-of-this-world cashew cheese with sage pesto and a pink peppercorn crust, and some raw cakes that have to be tried to be believed. There will also be a salad bar serving three gorgeous "to-live-for" salads. Food will be in abundance, and it’s all created by none other than Saf’s executive chef, the legendary Chad Sarno, and brilliant new head chef Anupam Som.

The people If you’ve attended previous Fresh Network events you’re sure to see familiar faces here! If you haven’t, you will find it the ideal place for meeting people who are on your wavelength, should you wish to. A hint: if you’re passionate about all things raw but don’t have any (or many) friends who share that passion, consider it a priority to be at this party! Ask anyone who lives an alternative lifestyle and has plenty of like-minded friends: it makes a huge difference to your quality of life. Many customers report that they have forged some of their best friendships at our events. Oh, and did we mention that a number of high-profile raw food experts will be there on the night to chat to guests and sign books? This will be your chance to meet some of the people you’ve read about online, or seen in the pages of Get Fresh! magazine.

The discount shopping There’s no need to wait for the January sales if you shop with us! We will be selling everything from our online store at extra-special prices at this party, with discounts ranging from 10% to 20%. Why not beat the crowds by arriving at 5pm for the hour of pre-party shopping? We’ll be operating a system whereby you can leave your shopping with us and collect it later. If you purchase any of our kitchen equipment (ideal as Christmas gifts, including to yourself!) we will mail them to you to save you lugging heavy boxes across London. With discounts like these you don’t have to do much shopping to make back the cost of your party ticket in savings!

The goody bag As our gift to you for attending you will receive a special surprise Christmas goody bag packed with raw treats: a selection of lovely things to eat and to read, along with discount vouchers from some of the top companies in the field. It wouldn’t be a surprise if we told you any more than that, but suffice it to say that Christmas will come early for you if you attend this party.

The agenda
5pm Doors open for shopping
6pm Party begins
7pm-9pm Enjoy the canapés and visit the salad bar
9pm-11pm Music and dancing
Midnight Doors close

From the night’s menu...

Welcome cocktail
Lavender & Ginger Lemonade

Savoury canapés
Beetroot Ravioli
Taco Mexicano
Vegetable Maki
And more...

Salad bar
Baby Gem Caesar Salad
Spinach, Tomato and Basil Salad
Thai Papaya Salad

Dessert canapés
Chocolate and Orange Marble Torte
Raspberry Geranium Cake
And more...

Tickets will not be available on the door and numbers are strictly limited so book early to avoid disappointment!

Ticket price includes:

• welcome cocktail and raw nibbles
• savoury and sweet canapés, in abundance
• as many visits as you want to the salad bar
• unlimited filtered water and herbal and green teas
• goody bag filled with gorgeous raw treats

We hope to see you on December 6. Remember - we're still offering early bird prices, but not for much longer, so why not book your ticket right now! On our website you will find masses of useful information including how to get to Saf, hotel suggestions and a mini raw guide to London for those who are planning to make a weekend of it.

We're back - with more exciting news!

We're sorry this blog hasn't exactly been a hive of activity over the last fortnight. That's because there has been so much activity going on behind the scenes. We can't go into too much detail right now as it has been a bit of a marathon and we all need an early night. But in brief, here are a few things you might be interested to know...

To the left is the cover of our much-anticipated ebook, which is just out - Raw: your biggest questions answered. This is the book we updated you on two weeks ago, it features the opinions of 12 leading raw food experts on a wide variety of topics, and you can now find out more about what's in it, and/or instantly download it and get your hands on 270 pages of the most valuable and fascinating health information ever published.

But this isn't the only publication we've brought out this week: we're also proud to bring you the Autumn issue of Get Fresh! magazine, now available in print or as an instantly downloadable emag.

Also newly launched this week is our affiliate programme. This is for those of you who have a raw business, website or blog and and would like to earn a potentially very nice source of passive income referring customers to us. It's as simple as signing up online and then putting a special link or banner (which we'll provide) on your website. This will automatically track traffic from your site to ours and pay you commission on any sales that result. Go here to read more about our affilate programme and/or to sign up.

Finally, we have been busy planning our Christmas party. It's on the evening of Sunday 6th December, it's at Saf, London's top raw restaurant, and it will be THE raw party of the year. Tickets are on sale as of today and numbers are limited so they are sure to sell out fast. Go here to read more about it and/or to snap up your ticket/s before it's too late. 

Announcing The Fresh Forum

YOUR chance to ask the world's top raw experts the questions YOU want the answers to

When you first discovered the raw movement, you probably assumed it would be a cosy, close-knit fraternity where everyone is in agreement with everyone else about what constitutes optimal nutrition. But you don't have to spend much time looking into it to be hit by how little consensus there is about what the ideal diet looks like.

Meanwhile, doctors and dieticians and other mainstream medical experts insist that the raw diet is a fad, that it is extreme, that it will leave you deficient in essential nutrients, and that we digest cooked foods better – in other words, there is a great deal of opposition to the notion that raw is best when it comes to nutrition. So having navigated your way through those conflicting opinions and arrived at something that really makes sense, it can be very disheartening to discover that within the raw arena there is so little consensus about what we should actually be eating. And we are not talking shades of difference here, but diametrically opposed views.

For example, consider these polarized opinions – just a small selection of the many points of contention:

"We are all biochemically different so there is no 'ideal' diet that suits everyone"

"There is an ideal diet for humans, just like there is for every other species"

"A raw diet alone isn't adequate these days – you can't be healthy without taking supplements"

"Supplements are completely unnecessary, absolutely inferior to living raw foods and in many cases detrimental to health"

"Raw juices are an essential part of a raw diet"

"Raw juices are not essential and it's always better to consume the whole food"

"Eat little to no fruit"

"Eat 80% or more fruit"

The Fresh Forum is a panel of the world's leading experts on raw food. The line-up includes Elaine Bruce, Dr Brian Clement, Dao Earl, Dr Doug Graham, Thomas Lodi MD, Paul Nison, Frederic Patenaude, Natalia Rose, Jasmine Scalesciani, Shazzie and Tonya Zavasta.

Please help us to help John Robbins and family

Author and campaigner John Robbins has motivated more people to go vegetarian or vegan than perhaps anyone else alive today. Thanks to his books (including Diet For A New America and The Food Revolution), millions have been encouraged to make kinder and more sustainable choices. John is the founder of EarthSave International and his son, Ocean, founded the organization Youth for Environmental Sanity.

Sadly, John and his wife Deo have recently been victims of a great injustice. Last month, they learned that they had lost their entire life savings as a result of the Bernard Madoff investment fraud, with very little chance they will recover any of it. Since the family was living off these savings, it has put them into a sudden and severe financial crisis.

To economize, they immediately rented out every extra room in their house and every spare space on their property. Still, it is not clear whether they will be able to keep up the mortgage payments on the home they share with Ocean, his wife Michelle, and their two special needs grandchildren. Both Michelle and Deo have taken on part time jobs, and Deo has also taken over the formerly paid-for day care for the children. John is writing a new book, but it could be many months before any income may come from that effort.

Last week, the US website Vegsource leapt into action and coordinated a campaign to raise funds for the family. They are accepting donations by cheque, which is great for the many in the US who want to do their bit to help. So if you are in the US, please hop on over to the Vegsource website and give whatever you can afford.

But it's not an ideal way to send funds from the UK, since the fees US banks charge to clear a foreign cheque are so high that they would wipe out smaller donations entirely.

That’s where we come in.

We are offering a credit card donation facility that you can use to efficiently get your money to this family no matter where in the world you live. We are also able to accept donations by cheque from those in the UK. Since The Fresh Network operates in both the UK and the US, we can process cheque donations in the UK and send the money on to the Robbins family in dollars.

It goes without saying that we won't be charging any fees for doing this. So this means that whether you donate £10, £100 or £1,000, 100% of your donation will reach the family. We have communicated with John about this, and we have arranged that we will be sending all the money we raise direct to him. 

We are also offering a special gift to everyone who donates £10 or more through us. Do this and you can pick any Get Fresh! e-magazine from our back catalogue of over 50 brilliant issues and we'll send it to you free of charge. Even if you live in the US you can donate through us and get your free magazine as long as you pay by credit card.  

There are three ways to donate via us:

• On our website 
• By calling us on +44 (0)845 833 7017
• By cheque

If you are sending a cheque, please make it payable to The Fresh Network Ltd and mail it to us at: The Fresh Network, Unit 4, Aylsham Business Estate, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6SZ. Please put the cheque in a second envelope that reads "John Robbins appeal" and underneath this write your name and email address, and the issue number of the e-magazine you would like to receive.

Whether you choose to donate online, by post or by phone, you will receive your free magazine as soon as your payment has been processed, and we will also send you a receipt acknowledging your donation.

If you have any questions, just give us a ring on +44 (0)845 833 7017.

You can read more about John’s life and work in our recent interview with him.

We hope you will give whatever you can afford. Together let’s show this extraordinary family our appreciation for all they have done, and carry them through this crisis so that they can continue focusing their energies on their pioneering work.

Raw reaches Selfridges - update

A fortnight ago we reported that top London store Selfridges has introduced a raw section in its famed food hall. We've now had the chance to check it out, and can bring you the full scoop on it. It is not just packaged goods, although there are a few of those, the loveliest being from the Raw Intent range. (Not Emma Goldie's famous chocolate cake, unfortunately, but cacao nibs, carob chips and a trail mix).

The main highlight, however, is a fresh food counter by brand new company Real Amazing Wonderfoods (which, not coincidentally, spells RAW). On offer the day we visited were: raw pumpkin and spinach flans, a tropical coleslaw, possibly the best raw hummus ever, chow chow salad, various other savouries and salads, and a variety of raw dessert items from Rainforest Creations, including a mango banana cake and a selection of cashew and date-based sweets. RAW is such a new company there is no website at this time. However, they tell us they will be opening at two other venues in London soon.

It's all happening in the UK capital. As if Selfridges wasn't enough excitement, a gorgeous new raw chocolate truffle has just launched in selected London health stores. We will be back to tell you more about that soon.

Raw reaches Selfridges

We have it on very good authority that top London department store Selfridges has introduced a raw section in its world-famous food hall. And we're not talking about the sushi counter - that's been there forever! This is not the first time Selfridges has been something of a raw pioneer - its juice bar has been serving up wheatgrass since the early noughties, back when only a handful of London locations (all the rest of them hard-core health emporia) were selling the green elixir. Now, it seems, health-conscious visitors to Oxford Street's swankiest store will be able to stock up on packaged raw goodies. We'll report back when we have more details of exactly what is on sale. With only a few health stores in London, and the UK as a whole, selling specialist raw foods it's great news that such a major retailer has wised up to this growing market. May many others follow in Selfridges' footsteps! Soon.

Manna cafe - Brighton's brand new raw spot

We're excited to report that a new raw cafe has opened its doors in Brighton. Manna offers a selection of juices, smoothies, kombucha and herbal teas and a deli counter guaranteed to have any raw food fan salivating within seconds. On the day we visited, food choices included nori wraps (we tried one with sprouts, avocado and spirulina - amazingly good), some innovative (and impeccable) salads, live "sandwiches", cakes, cookies and ice cream (Booja Booja's fabulous Vanilla M'Gorilla and Hunky Punky Chocolate were the choices of the day). Go here to view the menu.

Also on offer: "gem water" (as in Gematria-activated). Manna uses this purified, structured and energetically-optimized water in all its teas, food preparation and washing up. Go here to read more about it.  

Manna used to be a sandwich bar of the same name and as it's still very early days, much of the footfall is from locals expecting their chosen filling to come encased in bread of the dead variety. Although all food is raw, the cafe is not completely vegan - some of the sandwiches and wraps feature unpasteurised cheese, and this is helping to endear the baguette brigade to the novel fare on offer, in the process introducing unfired food to a whole new clientele.

The cafe features a small store in the front selling goods related to the raw lifestyle, and a surprisingly spacious and well-appointed seating area in the back. Those who want to enjoy Gem water at home can make use of the low-cost refill service on offer.

The owners of Manna - Kyle Vialli (previously known as Warren Vialli) and Andreas Demetriou of pioneering Brighton-based company Galaxy of Vitality - have a lot more than live food up their sleeves, with a program of talks and workshops currently under development and an upstairs holistic clinic about to open for business.

The BalancedYou Health Centre will offer a range of natural therapies including energy healing, massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, nutritional consultations, cleansing and detoxification advice and life coaching.

Manna is located a five-minute drive or cab ride from the centre of Brighton, on a side street just off the Lewes Road (A270). If you're in Brighton for the day, it is well worth the detour.

Manna, 24 Coombe Road, Brighton BN2 4EA. Tel: 01273 690540. Currently open from 10:30-18:30 Monday to Saturday with evening opening planned in the near future.

Daylesford Organic adds raw dishes to its menu

Daylesford Organic is one of the UK's leading suppliers of gourmet organic goods, with a cafe and farm shop in Gloucestershire, another in London, and its own swanky department in several leading stores including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Planet Organic.

It is nothing if not 'traditional' in the fare it offers, so I have not linked to the website as I assume that readers of this blog will not be interested in the sausages, breads, cheeses, marmalades and chutneys on sale, nor in the recipe section which reads like the menu of the Savoy Grill.

But to their credit, the choices at Daylesford's Gloucestershire cafe are not only coded to help diners easily identify dishes which are vegetarian, vegan and wheat free, but also to denote a series of all-raw options! When we saw a recent menu, the raw vegan choices included a Raw Beetroot, Ginger and Honey Soup, a Quinoa Tabbouleh with Flax Seed Crackers, a Thai Cabbage Salad, and a Seasonal Fruit Plate with Honey and Ginger Syrup and Quince Sorbet. We can't vouch for the quality of the food as we have yet to try it, but we hear it is well worth stopping off at if you are ever nearby.

Could this be the start of a trend towards all "good" restaurants (i.e. those that at least prepare their dishes from scratch using fresh ingredients) starting to offer a raw option or four? As exciting as it is to see the growth of all-raw restaurants, what will really change the world is healthy, sustainable choices moving beyond these narrow confines into mainstream establishments everywhere.

As someone who dines out a lot in "normal" restaurants, I for one will rejoice when it is possible to stay raw while enjoying something more exciting than an uninspired house salad. And when these choices are available not only to those of us who already know how brill raw food is, but to all the people who don't yet. Not so long ago it was difficult to get a vegetarian meal in many restaurants, but offering this option is now a must. How long will it be before it is no longer acceptable not to offer a raw choice?

The more people who approach restaurant owners letting them know there is a demand for delicious, pure, life-force filled food, the sooner that day will come. Why not get involved in Shazzie's Make Raw Food Mainstream campaign, which was set up to address this very issue - or start your own!

Daylesford Organic, Daylesford, Near Kingham, Gloucestershire GL56 0YG. Tel: 01608 731 700.

Global Juice Feast starts in just over 24 hours!

This Saturday, March 1, will see health seekers from around the world joining together in a powerful transformative practice that, for some, will last three months. The 92-day Global Juice Feast is the brainchild of husband and wife team David and Katrina Rainoshek.

Here is what they have to say about it on their website: "GET REALLY EXCITED for the First Annual Global Juice Feast 2008, the largest online gathering of people juicing ever! We want to create a diverse community of people from all cultural backgrounds, nationalities, religions, races, and political persuasions, united in one common, personal, yet global challenge: reclaiming our health and the health of the planet for ourselves.

This is the first time in human history that such a program of such massive personal and global potential has been available to so many, due to the fact that persons can cleanse to completion by Juice Feasting, and still maintain their daily lives at home with no interruptions financially or in their family life. The internet has made possible the dissemination of this valuable information. At JuiceFeasting.com we have made detailed instructions on all questions pertaining to Juice Feasting available at no cost, only the optional companion 92-Day Juice Feasting program requires a subscription.

This online community of persons doing the Global Juice Feast is available to all who register, again, at no cost to the public, making global support accessible to everyone. Welcome to the most accessible, significant program ever available to such a wide community of people."

So head to the Global Juice Feast site for details on how to sign up and enjoy the support and camaraderie of others around the world, and to the Juice Feasting site for all the information you need in order to get started. You can also go here to read a recent post from this site on the subject of juice feasting and be sure to check out the 'Juice Feasting Blogs Worldwide' section on the home page of the Global Juice Feast site.