By Thomas McCabe
 

Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe
294 Cabot Street,
Beverly, Ma  01915
(978) 922-0004 Open Tuesday through Thursday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday and Saturday 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 - 8:00 pmCuisine Type : Raw Foods
�
One of the oldest raw foods restaurants in the United States, Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe is well - known in the Boston, Masachusetts area and beyond for consistently serving delicious, top - rate raw foods at reasonable prices. Since 1999, this eatery has been owned and operated by a longtime chef and advocate of raw and natural foods. In addition to being an excellent raw foods restaurant, Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe also maintains an on - site raw foods “Megastore”, a prepared raw foods section and a comprehensive juice bar.
�
Staying true to raw foods principles and practices, Rawbert’s utilizes modern, high - quality food dehydrators for “cooking” foods at temperatures between 95 and 110 degrees. While Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe is widely - regarded as being one of the premier raw foods restaurants in New England, with every recipe being essentially raw, they also sometimes utilize (other) healthy cooking methods in the preparation of their gourmet natural and raw food dishes. Examples of this are their inclusion of bread, which is not baked on the premises, with some dishes and offering customers the option of having their soups heated. Rawbert’s is 100% vegetarian and vegan and all of the recipes here are wheat - free and gluten - free as well. This raw foods restaurant does truly amazing things with nuts, seeds and grains, creating edible works of art that are actually quite flavorful.
�
The extensive menu here features a range of raw garden - fresh salads, roll - ups and clubs that are always fresh and creatively - presented. These raw items include Hummus, Falafel, Thai Dumpling, Sprouts, Sea Vegetable and Avocado & Guacamole. Other outstanding salads at Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe include Harvest Salad, Spinach Salad and House Salad, all of which are available with their selection of all organic homemade dressings. Healthy, raw wraps are very popular at Rawbert’s and all wrap fillings are made only from 100% living or raw food ingredients. Just some of the other delicious raw food menu items available at Rawbert’s are their extraordinarily - tasty Lasagna, Nori Dumplings, organic pizzas, Organic Maki - Sushi, such as Macadamia - Avo Roll and California Roll and their delectable organic soups, including Soup du’ Jour (raw or heated) and their House Miso Soup. For hungry customers who are un - decided on what to order, Rawbert’s also offers an entree Sampler Plate.
�
Don’t forget to try some of the exquisite raw desserts that are served at Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe. Although they are made without flour, dairy products, sugar or artificial sweeteners, all of their desserts are very tasty and satisfying. Standout desserts include their Raw Brownies, cookies and Raw Coconut Rolls.

A large assortment of beverages are served at Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe. These include many types of organic teas and coffees, decaf teas and lots of organic juices and smoothies. For those seeking stronger beverages, this Boston, Massachusetts area raw foods restaurant serves a large selection of organic wines, sakes and beers.
�
A warm and relaxed atmosphere, which is accented by excellent service and a soothing decor is offered at this raw foods restaurant. Rawbert’s Organic Garden Cafe is wheelchair accessible and also features a children’s menu.
�
Estimated Cost Per Person : $15 - $20
 

by Ed Attanasio
Café Gratitude
 

With two cafes in San Francisco, one in Berkeley, one in San Rafael, and with their newest location in Healdsburg, Café Gratitude has gained a much-deserved reputation in the alternative culinary community for its inspiring environment and distinctive, flavorful organic cuisine.
 

This amazing place is not just about putting food and drink into your stomach and then paying the bill. It’s about the entire experience – nourishing the heart, mind and soul. They want you to leave there feeling better about every aspect of your life.
 

I must admit that I was skeptical when I went to Café Gratitude. I am a steak and chops kind of guy. But, I was really surprised when I found myself really liking it.
 

When you walk through the door, this sign greets you:
 

Welcome to Cafe Gratitude serving all organic, vegan and mostly live foods! Come play the Abounding River Game and experience an unfamiliar view of BEING ABUNDANCE!
 

Café Gratitude does not serve anything with a face, or anything that comes from something with a face. This includes eggs, honey, milk or cheese. It also serves live food, which means nothing is nuked or charred there. Most of the food is cold, room temperature or slightly undercooked to keep the cells within the food alive.
 

When I went to the Haight-Ashbury location yesterday for lunch, I was expecting a bunch of hippies chanting mantras and smelling of patchouli oil. Not even close. Café Gratitude is a great place, with wonderful food, a relaxed, totally laid back attitude and people who will make you feel at home almost immediately. We were only there for about two hours, but when we left, you would have thought we’d known each other all our lives. If felt the same pangs of guilt I feel when I leave a rocking party early. I really didn’t want to go!
 

One of the coolest things about the place is the way you order your food. Every item on the menu is an affirmation. For instance, the almond milk is called “I am Youthful.” When you order it by name, the wait staff replies, “You are Youthful.” At first, it seemed kind of strange, but after awhile I got into it. When the food came promptly, I was happy, because “I was Hungry.”
The menu at Café Gratitude is extensive, featuring a wide range of over 100 items, including soups, salads, appetizers, smoothies, teas, fresh juices, elixirs, shakes, organic sparkling and white wines, beer, sake and cider, organic coffee, organic ice cream, live pizzas and assorted desserts.
Some of the things we tried at Café Gratitude were:
 

The “I am Warm” Soup: A Faux Pho miso soup. This is a warm miso with spiralized vegetable noodles, shiitake mushrooms, scallions and sprouts in a big bowl ($9.00).
 

The “I am Thankful” Soup: This is Thai coconut curry soup with avocado, tomato, cucumbers and shiitake mushrooms ($7.00).
 

The “I am Fabulous” Live Pizza: A living, breathing pizza with lasagna-zucchini noodles layered with cashew ricotta cheese, fresh tomatoes, basil, pesto and marinara sauce ($12).
 

The “I am Festive” Taco Salad. A flavorful salad with shredded romaine lettuce tossed in a creamy dressing topped with crumbled walnut-seed taco filling, guacamole, salsa, nacho cheese and green sprouts topped with flax seeds ($12.00).
 

To complete the experience, we had the “I am Praising” dessert – a dish of Café Gratitude’s vanilla soft serve ice cream. It was less heavy than your standard ice cream, because, of course, it contained no dairy.
 

On the way out we picked up a copy of I Am Grateful, a book written by Café Gratitude’s co-founders Terces and Matthew Engelhart. It presents their view of life and their business philosophy. In the book, Terces also relates her own story of personal healing, sharing highlights of her recovery from food addiction while explaining the benefits of an organic lifestyle. The book’s incredible full-color photographs accompany easy-to-follow recipes for the café’s most popular items, making it easy for readers to prepare live foods at home.
 

Recipes include café favorites for satisfying smoothies such as the “I am Luscious” raw chocolate variety, as well as juices, soups, and appetizers. There’s also entrancing entrees like the “I am Elated” spicy rolled enchiladas and delicious desserts including the “I am Amazing” lemon meringue pie with macadamia nut crust.
 

Café Gratitude has five locations. To find the one nearest you, visit their Web site at: www.CafeGratitude.com. It’s an experience that will leave you feeling healthy, happy and qualify you as a member of the Grateful Fed.

By: Thomas McCabe

Grezzo Restaurant
69 Prince Street
Boston, Ma  02113
(857) 362-7288
Open for lunch Tuesday - Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Open for dinner at 5:00 pm Wednesday - Sunday
Cuisine Type : Raw Foods

Located in Boston’s North End, Grezzo Restaurant is a very popular raw foods restaurant that is known for consistently featuring fresh and creatively - presented organic raw vegan cuisine. This 28 - seat eatery offers a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere that is accentuated by candlelight. Referring to themselves as a vegan raw and living food restaurant, Grezzo regularly utilizes fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds as the basis for their delectable gourmet raw dishes. They do not use dairy, animal products or animal - derived products here, nor do they use honey, maple syrup, cooked vinegars, nutritional yeast, canned food or processed ingredients.

Befitting a true raw foods restaurant, Grezzo, which means “raw” in Italian, prepares and keeps all foods below 112 degrees farenheit. They only use fresh herbs, they do not use extracts or processed powders and they also use whole spices. Grezzo is widely - known for its use of highly - flavorful sauces, including several types of cheese sauces. In actuality, the cheese sauces at Grezzo are nut cream sauces, which do not contain any dairy products. Their sauces, like all of the other tasty dishes at Grezzo, are so delicious and creatively prepared and presented, that even carnivores and those unfamiliar with raw and living foods are often very impressed and become new - found fans of these healthier types of cuisine.

The lunch menu at Grezzo features soups such as Winter Melon Stew and Mushroom Tea and salads that include Sea Vegetable and Baby Arugula varieties. Some of the outstanding raw entrees from the lunch menu at Grezzo are BLTA Italian Bread Wrap, made with eggplant bacon, Greek Pizzeta, “Free - Range” Chicken - Less Salad, Kelp & Wild Mushroom Bistro Burger, Gnocchi Carbonara and Land and Sea, made with mushrooms, ricotta and kelp.

The dinner menu at Grezzo Restaurant offers a large selection of toothsome raw food delights. These include Spring Vegetable Maki, Pickled Asparagus Salad, Zucchini Cannelloni, Seaweed Salad and Vietnamese Coconut Soup. Among the other acclaimed raw dishes on Grezzo’s dinner menu are Wild Rice Jumbalaya, Native Tomato Ravioli and Star Anise Crusted Pappaya Steak. In addition to their regular menu items, Grezzo Restaurant also features nightly specials and periodic menu - changes, in order to capitalize upon the freshest ingredients available.

Be sure not to overlook the desserts at this Boston, Massachusetts raw foods restaurant. Each and every one of the exquisite desserts at Grezzo is an edible work of art, garnished with fruits, flowers, nuts and more. Just some of the incredible desserts offered here are Hemp Seed Brownie, Apple Pave and house - made gelato. A range of alcoholic and non - alcoholic drinks are served at Grezzo, as are a wide variety of vegan and biodynamic wines and sakes. Standout alcoholic drinks include Dirty Tomato Water Martini, Chai Mudslide, Lemon Drop Martini and Winter White Sangria. Some of the great non - alcoholic drinks at Grezzo are Kombucha, Green Drink, Chai Frappe and Juice of the Day.

Open seating is featured at Grezzo, but reservations are accepted. All menu items are also available for take - out service.

 Estimated Cost per person : $20

By Tracy Rose  

by Thomas J. Mccabe

Alchemy Cafe
203 New Britain Avenue
(next to Trinity College)
Hartford, Ct  06104
(860) 246-5700
Open Mon - Sat 10:30 am - 8:30 pm
Fridays until 10:30 pm
Sunday Organic Brunch  10:00 - 6:00 pm
Cuisine Type : Raw Foods

There are not very many raw foods restaurants in the Hartford, Connecticut area. Fortunately for local residents, there is one top - rate restaurant that serves a large selection of fresh and delicious raw foods. Alchemy Cafe is located next to Trinity College in the city’s southwest section. Open seven days per week, Alchemy Cafe is wildly popular with students and health - concious individuals throughout the local region. In addition to raw foods, this restaurant also serves vegetarian, vegan, organic, local and sustainable foods. Staying true to raw foods principles, Alchemy Cafe does not maintain or use a microwave oven, nor does it serve foods that contain refined sugars, irradiated spices or processed foods. All of the food served here is prepared fresh daily and their raw foods are both vegan and gluten - free. They also offer ongoing food support groups, food preparation classes, films, lectures and food delivery services.

The extensive menu at this Hartford, Connecticut raw foods restaurant offers many healthy and delicious choices, most of which are reasonably - priced. An array of raw platters are served at Alchemy Cafe. These platters are creatively - presented and feature a wide variety of raw ingredients. With various types of greens serving as a base for many of them, these platters include such items as Spring Roll wraps, Hummus, Flax crackers and an assortment of pates. Some of the delectable pates served here are Walnut Pate, a Mock - Salmon Pate, which is rolled in noori, much like a sushi wrap and Sunflower Seed Pate.

Some of the other healthy and delicious raw foods that are regularly available at Alchemy Cafe are their sumptuous raw lasagna, kale chips, marinated veggies, raw pizzas and assorted Sampler Platters. Salads are well - represented here, with Mediterranean Salad, Greek Salad, Spinach Salad, Lovers Salad and the Alchemist Salad available. Sandwiches and wraps are very popular at Alchemy Cafe. Among the standout varieties are Spicy Tofu Wrap, Portabella Burger, Avocado Wrap, Sunshine Burger, Tofu Salad Wrap and Waldorf Wrap. Some of the wonderful entrees served at this raw foods restaurant are the Alchemist Platter, with brown rice, black beans, yams and a side salad, Mexican Platter, Portabella Platter, Miso Platter, Nacho Platter and Tofu Platter. Flavorful and comforting soups are also regularly served at Alchemy Cafe. These include Soup du Jour and Soup and House Salad, with warm rice and seeds available at a small additional charge.

A range of 100% organic juices here include Pure Carrot, Carrot and Apple, Carrot, Beet, Kale & Ginger and Apple, Pear, Carrot and Celery. Organic juices with added fresh sprouts and greens named Ultimate Juices and live raw smoothies are available here, as are 100% organic smoothies, with names such as Berrylicious, Tantric Love, Got Green ? and Super Green. A nice selection of delectable raw desserts are offered at Alchemy Cafe, including a range of raw cakes and exquisite raw fudge. Coming in 2009, is the addition of raw ice cream to the creative menu here. In addition to their top - rate raw foods restaurant, Alchemy Cafe also operates a green - living co - op and offers a large selection of raw live healing foods. For high - quality, fresh and delicious raw foods in the Hartford, Connecticut area, Alchemy Cafe is highly recommended.

Estimated cost per person :  $ 15 - 20 and over

by Thomas J. Mccabe

Pure Food and Wine
54 Irving Place
(between 17th St & 18th St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 477-1010
Open daily from 5:30 pm until late
Cuisine Type : Raw Foods

Pure Food and Wine is widely regarded as being one of the leading raw foods restaurants in New York City. This is easily evidenced by the throngs of customers who regularly patronize this stylish eatery. Known for their creative use of organic and seasonal vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits, this award winning raw foods establishment offers a fun and energetic atmosphere and stunning decor, as well as a wide range of delectable raw foods and top - rate customer service. Three separate dining areas are featured here ; the main dining room, with its abundance of beautiful wood and candlelight, a private dining area and a spacious, attractive warm weather garden. An excellent date restaurant, Pure Food and Wine can sometimes be a bit loud, but the overall dining experience here is consistently wonderful.

The talented kitchen staff here, under the leadership of Executive Chef Neal Harden regularly produces an impressive selection of raw and live food dishes, inclding many mushroom and avocado dishes, that are a cut above those served at any other raw foods restaurant in the city. Standout menu items at Pure Food and Wine include Sea Vegetable Salad, Caesar Salad, with pine nuts, fresh parmesan and nori, Marinated Shiitake & Avocado Sushi Rolls, Lapsang Smoked Portabella Mushroom with Caper Potato Salad, Tomato Tostadas, White Corn Tamales, with Mole Sauce and Sour Cream, Braised Mushrooms with Mustard Greens and Mushroom and Kimchi Dumplings. Other great dishes here include their out - of - this - world Zucchini and Heirloom Mushroom Lasagna, which features a basil / pistachio pesto,  pignoli ricotta and sun - dried tomato sauce. Mushroom Burgers, Vegan Asparagus Sushi Rolls and a very popular Five - Course  Tasting Menu. In addition to the afore - mentioned items, Pure Food and Wine also offers several types of sumptuous desserts. The  decadently - delicious desserts here, such as Passion Fruit Mousse and Lemon Blueberry Plate are consistently exciting and satisfying, as are several varieties of sundaes, including their legendary Mint Sundae.

The bar at this New York City raw foods restaurant limits its offerings to organic wine and sake only, but features many high - quality  varieties. The bar is also a favorite see and be seen spot for local residents and tourists alike. Befitting a true raw foods restaurant, Pure Food and Wine does not use any burners or ovens in its kitchen, maintaining strict adherence to keeping all food preparation at a maximum of 118 degrees farenheit. Instead of using traditional stoves with burners, this New York City raw foods restaurant uses dehydrators in its kitchen. Even the exquisite pastries that are served here are prepared without the use of traditional baking methods.

Pure Food and Wine also operates another nearby raw foods establishment,which is named Pure Juice and Take  - Away, which specializes in take - out service of many raw foods items, but also offers a few tables for dine -in service. Both restaurants share the same kitchen, ensuring that the highest standards of quality and freshness are always observed. Among the standout menu items at Pure Juice and Take - Away are Lettuce Tortilla Wraps, which resemble mini tacos and Morel “Burgers”, made with hemp nuts, pistachio and carrots. Pure Food and Wine also maintains a web site named www.oneluckyduck.com, which sells a wide assortment of merchandise, including snacks, skin products, clothing items, cookbooks and household items. Pure Food and Wine restaurant is a wheelchair accessible restaurant.

Estimated cost per person : $50 and over