The Fresh Network Blog

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. 

UK's first all-raw cafe now open

The UK’s first all-raw eating establishment has just opened in Edinburgh. Red Sugar is a superfoods cafe, store and smoothie bar. The store stocks many hard-to-get-hold-of superfoods, whilst the smoothie bar promises “a choice of unique smoothies quite different to anywhere else.” The café boasts impressive green credentials. Everything possible is recycled or composted and all takeaway packaging is biodegradable.

We will be posting a review of this exciting new venue soon. In the meantime, for more information see the Red Sugar website or email owner Steve Monygomery.   

Red Sugar
21b Raeburn Place
Stockbridge
Edinburgh EH4 1HU
UK

Job opportunities at Saf restaurants in London and Munich

Saf Restaurant (it stands for Simple Authentic Food and is also Turkish for 'pure') is now hiring staff for its flagship restaurant in the heart of East London, due to be opening its doors by April.

Saf restaurants offer raw and vegan cuisine with a fine dining twist and the chain currently operates two restaurants in Istanbul and one in Munich. The eagerly-anticipated London restaurant will be the showcase; as well as an elegant dining area serving the very best in green gastronomy it will also feature private catering services, a culinary training centre, and an organic and biodynamic wine and cocktail bar. The company plans future openings in Geneva, Stockholm and Dubai.

The Saf chain is owned by The LifeCo; the executive chef is the world-renowned Chad Sarno.

The following is from the man himself:

We're honoured!

We've been nominated for two Vegan Environmental Awards : )

The awards are organized by Bristol-based hemp company Yaoh, and will be announced at this year's Bristol Vegan Fayre, to be held on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1. It is the biggest vegan event in the country and for the second year running will feature a 'Living Raw area'. Word has it that this area is shaping up to be even bigger this year, and as well as all the shopping opportunities there will also be a 'Raw Food Prep Class Zone' and 'Living Raw Talks Room'.

Back to the awards... There are eight categories and eight nominees in each category. We are up for awards in the 'Best Vegan Raw/Superfood Suppliers' and 'Best Vegan Publications' categories. How we missed out on 'Best Vegan Entertainers' we will never know ; )

We are up against tough competition as each and every individual and company nominated is doing brilliant work and truly making a difference. Here is what the organizers had to say about us:

"Fresh Network: The original raw website and community going back to the 90's, started by the wonderful Karen Knowler [*see note at end of this post] and now continued by Cary of Kiki fame and his team, with loads of products, equipment, superfoods, ideas and inspiration for all things living and raw. Publishes raw magazine Get Fresh 4 times a year and also organizes the Fresh Festival which usually has all the USA raw luminaries over for talks, demos and food prep classes."

"Get Fresh - Brilliant quarterly raw lifestyle magazine oozing with passion and a vibrancy that reflects the best of the worlds liveliest lifestyle - the Raw Food Vegan Lifestyle. Editor Sarah Best consistently lives up to her name as issue after issue breaks new ground in this rapidly developing journey of discovery into the most nutritious options available today. Backed by the Fresh Network, an oasis of wondrous living foods, superfoods and equipment."

If you think that we deserve to win in either or both of these categories please support us by voting now - and remember, you can vote once a month and it's not even cheating 'cos the organizers are encouraging people to do just that between now and the closing date of May 31.

* As some of you will know, The Fresh Network was in fact started by Susie Miller. Karen Knowler took over in the late 90s, building on what Susie achieved and taking the company to new heights.   

We wish you a merry Christmas!

We're busy enjoying tinsel, mistletoe, parties and nice, relaxing lie-ins. Which can mean only one thing: it's that time of year when we close our doors and put our feet up for a while. Although we won't be around until January 2 you can still order anything that takes your fancy, and we promise we'll have your chosen items winging their way to you just as soon as we return. So if Santa doesn't bring you what you wished for, why not take matters into your own hands and treat yourself!

And be sure to pop in and visit us here whenever you have a spare moment or simply want to escape from crowds, noise or certain relatives. We can't offer you gold, frankincense or myrrh but we can promise you gems of wisdom, inspiration and festive cheer. 

New raw food networking site - and it's beyond brill!

Have you heard about Give It To Me Raw? It's kind of like MySpace or Facebook, only raw style! It went online five days ago and I took the plunge and joined this morning, becoming member no 329. That's an amazing turn-out in such a short time; how big will it be by this time next year, I wonder?!! It also has a discussion forum, currently boasting five sections: general chat, recipes, introductions, super food and announcements and feedback. It really is the most all-singing, all-dancing raw networking site ever and it's sure to be a great way of meeting lovely people, both offline and online. Congratulations and THANKS to creator Dhrumil Purohit and the rest of the team! 

Our new online store!

After months of hard work behind the scenes our brand new online store went live this weekend and oooh, it really is the bee's knees :) Check it out! Not only is it easier to navigate and more lovely to look at than its predecessor; we have also added a veritable cornucopia of new products. There are exciting times ahead for our customers as we'll not only be continually expanding our range but also surprising and delighting you with special offers.

So what, exactly, is new? Well, at long last it is possible to subscribe to Get Fresh! magazine online at the discounted prices we brought in earlier in the year. Just go here to see the options for your part of the world. Our winter issue was out yesterday and we have already started receiving delighted feedback from readers about how utterly brill it is from cover to cover!

Other exciting new offerings include:

• Seven products from the top-quality LifeGive range of plant-based supplements formulated at the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida. Six here and the other one here.
• The entire Live Native range of raw beauty products, newly launched by an Isle of Skye based company with the highest standards in purity and quality. Seven gorgeous concoctions including special formulations for men, women and babies and one for 'Everybody Every Day'. Go here to read more about this exciting new range.
• Tonya Zavasta's 'Your Right To Be Beautiful' face cream With its gorgeous vanilla scent and whipped-cream-like texture this anti-aging moisturiser is a seriously luxurious treat. Available in the UK for the first time ever - read all about it here.
• Ani's Raw Food Kitchen Show Award-winning DVD by Ani Phyo, the celebrated chef and author of a book of the same name. Read more about the DVD here and the book here.
• And while you're at it why not browse our massively expanded range of books here. 
• Detox Your World's Raw White Almond Butter and Raw Hemp Seed Butter. Not only are they pure loveliness in a jar; at long last we Brits can get raw nut butters without the air miles!
• And many, many more exciting new products which you'll discover if you hang out in our new retail space a while, kick off your shoes and make yourself at home.

If there is any product we don't carry which you would like to see in our shop email us and we will take your request very seriously. There's a good chance it is already on the long list of products we'll be adding in coming months but there are sure to be fab things not yet on our rawdar. We are always delighted to receive your requests and ideas as to what else you'd like to be able to buy from us, so don't be shy - we'd love to hear from you!

New UK raw food delivery service

North-of-England-based company Purely Raw has launched the first UK-wide raw food home delivery service. The menu boasts four side dishes, two mains, a soup, a dessert and two sauces, and current offerings include Carrot Onion Bread, Kaliphoul Curry, Apple Crumble and Caramel Sauce. Minimum order is £24, with an additional £7 to £11 for post and packing.

The service was recently tried and reviewed by Debbie Took on her excellent Raw Food UK forum. Here is what she had to say:

Hi everyone

My first raw food delivery from purelyraw.com has arrived.

I must stress that I have no association with purelyraw.com. I just
thought you'd all like an honest account of what the food from the
UK's first raw food delivery service is like. I also fully support
Chris and Zoe's stance on ingredients. All their ingredients are
raw, and they are living proof that it is not necessary to use
cooked/heat-treated ingredients to make delicious raw dishes.

Well, here goes:

All the food comes wrapped with labels saying things like 'I Am
Worthy!'. OK, I'll agree with that!

Onion Pate
Well, that's easy. It's the best raw pate I've ever tasted, and
indeed one of the best pates I've EVER tasted. I can taste the
walnuts and oregano more than the onion, but it really is GORGEOUS,
and I wouldn't have it any other way.

'Pasta' Alfredo
Again, delicious! I'd hoped to have an opportunity to have just a
couple of reservations, so this didn't read like a 'Chris and Zoe'
fan club, but I can't fault the taste at all. You could give this to
any non-raw person and they'd love it. Aha - one thing: the
ingredients on the label don't state mushrooms. But there are
definitely mushrooms.

Apple Pie
The best raw dessert I've ever tasted.

Date Syrup
No - can't be dates. Must be toffee. Must be from M & S really...

Since going raw at the beginning of the year, I have had the good
fortune to have all sorts of raw cuisine, at raw events, restaurants
and functions.

I am STUNNED at the quality and pure deliciousness of this food.

Please, if you can possibly afford to spend £24 on an amazing
experience, do give Chris and Zoe a ring. It WILL be worth it.

Love

Debbie Took

Well I don't know about you, but on the basis of that review, I am sold! Funnily enough I'd been thinking I needed a treat after toiling day and night on the winter issue of Get Fresh! magazine (printing as I write – my apologies for the under-activity of this blog recently!) and I think I've found it :) Watch this space...

More details about the service can be found here. Alternatively, you can email them or ring them on 0844 770 3344, or +44 (0)1925 290 436 if you are overseas.

Alissa Cohen opening raw restaurant

Breaking news of the most exciting kind!

Alissa Cohen, the popular raw food teacher, teacher of teachers, TV personality and author is opening a restaurant in January 2008. The name? Grezzo (raw in Italian). The location? Boston's North End, also known as 'Little Italy'.

Like everything Alissa does it's sure to be fabulous.

So it's great news for all raw food fans living in or around Boston or within easy reach. And the news is even better for those interested in building a career in raw catering. Alissa is looking for an executive chef, as well as raw food chefs and waiting staff. She's actively recruiting now, so if any of the above posts sound of interest to you, she'd love to hear from you. Just send your resume to alissa@alissacohen.com.