Raw Soul, NYC: reppin’ RAW in Harlem!


GRUB 411:

  • RAW SOUL: 348 West 145th Street, (212) 491-5859
  • WEBSITE:  www.rawsoul.com
  • TYPE:  Raw Vegan
  • PRICE:  $$
  • QUICKVIEW:  A low-key, neighborhood restaurant, Raw Soul is filled with a sense of care & community. Delicious food with a side of Love!
  • SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

FULL REVIEW
After frequenting Pure Food & Wine, Bonobo’s and visiting Quintessence…there was only one more 100% raw vegan restaurant on the isle of Manhattan left: Raw Soul.
Nestled up in Harlem (145th Street btwn St. Nick & Edgecombe), Raw Soul is reppin’ raw vegan cuisine Uptown, baby!
A very casual environment, it’s set up like a cafe-style establishment.   Customers can either dine in or take out.  Judging by the friendly exchanges and the first-name basis customers…it’s definitely a community staple
Meet Eddy:

Eddy and his wife own Raw Soul.  He’s been a raw vegan for 10 years and he is nothing if not passionate about the lifestyle.  He is the main man behind the kitchen, but he also comes out front to greet customers and pontificate about the raw vegan life.
His philosophy: whether or not you’re raw vegan — his food tastes good!
And I agree with him —  Raw Soul SHINED!  Especially in the dessert category – this is definitely somewhere I am looking forward to re-visiting.
My only critique is that Raw Soul suffers from a common restaurant disorder: Menu Misnomering.  I’m a firm believer in clear communication and managing a diner’s expectation.  A few of the things could have been better-named!
Here’s a breakdown of our meal. (SO sorry, I wasn’t thinking — I forgot to snap photos of the menu, but you can find the basic menu here.  They have a board of Specials that they update regularly.)

  • BARBECUE BURGER: Burger made with walnuts, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, fresh cilantro, red bell pepper, topped with our home-made barbecue sauce, and sprouts, served on napa cabbage or flax bread. This burger was DELICIOUS!  I’m not even a fan of regular BBQ sauce (in my pre-raw vegan days)…and this burger delivered.  It was savory, full of flavor and MEATY.  The Flax Bread — even though it looked like a thin cracker — was actually quite bendy and easy to maneuver.  I appreciated how thin it was, since it allowed the flavors of the burger to shine through! SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥½ /

  • PLATTER:  your choice of 1 entree + 2 sides. I chose the Enchiladas + Jicama Fries + Jalapeno Poppers.  I’ll break it down piece by piece.
  • Jicama Fries with housemade “ketchup”: These were a recommendation by a fellow diner.  I must admit, I’m a huge fan of jicama — these fries were cleverly smothered in a sweet syrup (maybe agave nectar?) with seasoning.  I wasn’t expecting the sweetness, but it still tasty.  Perhaps just re-name the dish “Jicama Sweet Fries”. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥½ /

tastes WAY delish!

  • Jalapeno Poppers: Ladies & gentlemen — this is the holy grail of yumminess.  First off, I loves me some spicy spicy food.  The jalapenos were fresh so they had a delicious crunch and kick! They were surrounded by some nut meat and crusted!  I would eat these every day if I could! SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥ /

  • Enchiladas: Two flax tortillas stuffed with net meat and chile, topped with salsa and pine nut cheese, garnished with black olives. I really wanted to love this dish…especially because I love the enchiladas at Quintessence.  Again, I think this dish suffers from mis-naming.  ”Vegetable Crepe” would have been more accurate.  For starters, I would have loved the tortillas to actually have been made with corn or corn meal.  There was no guacamole, nor sour cream.  The stuffing was not flavored with any “Mexican” spices…but consisted largely of vegetables, capers and olives.  (another thing to note: I don’t think the olives & capers were certified RAW – those are really hard to source).  But regardless, the dish was hearty and filling…just not an enchilada. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥ /

  • BUTTERSCOTCH CHEESECAKE: Since they were out of their black & white cheesecake, we ordered this instead.  SO GLAD we did!  It was perfection. The crust tasted like it was made of walnuts & dates…light & crumbly.  YUM. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • Cookie Dough Ice Cream: If heaven had a dessert, it would surely be this ice cream.  It was hard, well-frozen and had a consistency that was just like ice cream…except it was 100% raw vegan!  The cookies had nuts (walnuts?)…and it was pure JOY to eat. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥ /

RAW Grub: Quintessence…quintessentially raw vegan!


GRUB 411:

  • QUINTESSENCE: 263 East 10th Street, btwn Avenue A & 1st Ave; 646.654.1823
  • Website: www.raw-q.com
  • TYPE:  raw vegan (yay!)
  • PRICE:  $$$
  • NOTES:  They accept Cash, Visa or Mastercard only.  (no Amex)
  • OVERVIEW:  Not so much a “restaurant” as much as it is a cafe, Quintessence had some really DELICIOUS savory, flavorful dishes.  Though it was only my first time trying, I loved 2 out of my 3 dishes.  Will definitely be back for more tastes!  They also seem to have a good offering of “ethnic” raw vegan dishes!
  • SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥¾ / ♥♥♥♥♥

FULL REVIEW:
For being such a culinary playground, NYC doesn’t have that many dedicated raw vegan restaurants.

Quintessence is not so much a restaurant as it is a CAFÉ.  There aren’t too many seats and it’s a very casual setting.  There were mixed reviews on Yelp, so I didn’t rush over there to try it…but this weekend (on my way over to High Vibe), I decided to treat myself to a very hearty lunch there.
Though I wasn’t thrilled with my app (I think it had more to do with my own bad decision-making), my entree and dessert were HEAVENLY.  So much so, that I wanted to order another entree from them TODAY and have it delivered (unfortunately for me, they refused to go the 4 blocks outside their delivery zone to make my raw vegan lunch dreams come true).
Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with how they created different textures for their dishes, all the while being 100% raw vegan.  Also, their flavors were out of this world — the Mexican seasoning for my entree was incredibly authentic and savory.  I couldn’t stop eating it!
They seemed to offer more ethnic raw vegan options too!  (Indian, Mexican & a dips platter)
I can’t wait to go back and try more items from the menu.  But will definitely take heed to order wisely!

  • SPINACH ONION RAVIOLI WITH PESTO SAUCE: a rich, creamy spinach, onion, walnut & pinenut pate folded in paper-thin turnip skins, topped with pesto sauce, finished with a sprinkle of fresh cracked black peppercorn. It’s my own fault for not reading this carefully, but I guess I was expecting…more.  The Pate was underwhelming – it didn’t have any unique flavor other than “pesto” flavor…which was a little redundant with the pesto sauce drizzled on top.  The turnip skins didn’t make for a good “shell”…overall it seemed like a “lazy” rendition of ravioli. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • FOFU RANCHEROS: two soft corn tortillas with fofu, “refried beans”, mole salsa, guacamole and sour crème. HOLY DELICIOUSNESS.  I hasten to say that this is one of the best raw vegan dishes I’ve had to date! (gasp!).  Quintessence created this magical thing called “FOFU” (“faux tofu”) by using cashew nut mylk + irish moss powder.  Irish Moss Powder is basically like a raw vegan version of gelatin, so the Fofu has this lovely creamy whipped egg-white consistency.

look! it’s FOFU!

  • The “refried beans” were magical…next time I go back, I’m going to ask them how they made this.  They were beautifully seasoned with Mexican spices, which contrasted nicely with the house-made guacamole (which was tangy and fresh).  The corn tortillas were a bit soggy, but that’s because they were topped off with all that GOODNESS, but who cares?!  Salad was a nice touch, and the dressing was delicious as well. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • CHIA SEED PUDDING: in Vanilla cashew mylk, topped with walnuts, vanilla cream and fresh seasonal berries. This dish is my ideal dessert all in one.  A) it’s raw vegan — WIN! B) it’s a fruit/cream dessert (I’m admittedly not a big chocolate fan, and one of the things you can eat while raw vegan is raw cacao desserts…which is not a selling point for me).  C)  it has Chia Seeds.

  • “Now WTF are Chia Seeds?  Chia as Chia Pet?”  Actually, YES!  Chia seeds hold several times their weight in water, and they also are an excellent source of Omega 3-fatty acids.  When soaked, the seeds become like little beads of tapioca pearls (incredible!), as well as take on a gelatinous texture.  This makes the most fabulous pudding consistency!!  This dessert inspired me so much, I went out and bought my own bag of Chia seeds so I could make this dish again at home!! :)  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

My Asian Hair Mane Man: Gary @ Mess Salon

CONFESSION:  I’m a beauty care racist.
OK, well maybe the “racist” phrase is a stretch…but I like to say that I have an “Asians Only” fly zone when it comes to my face & hair.  Meaning: you gotta be Asian to touch it.  (clearly, that’s not 100% the case, since the fabulous Keri Blair actually does my makeup for all my photo shoots)
But when it comes to hair, the Asian pre-requisite is a MUST.  I’ve gone out of my comfort zone many times and I’ve NEVER been able to find someone who understands the ethnic nuances of my locks. (believe me, I’ve tried!)
I used to make a Hair Pilgrimage all the way out to Bayside Queens to visit a Korean Salon out there called Hair Club IB. But when I had short hair & had to get frequent cuts, it became too cumbersome to haul ass over there.
My homegirl Helen has been going to a mysterious Chinese guy named “Gary”.  After hearing her rave about how amazing he was for years, I finally went to him and I’ve been devoted ever since.

Nestled in the heart of Chinatown (Mott & Hester), is Mess Salon.  They’ve recently undergone a heavy renovation to the salon, but the same hairstylists are there.

Admittedly, the clientele are predominantly Asian, but I do see several non-Asians in there for cuts & perms.
Now, meet Gary:
hi, Gary!
Doesn’t seem like there’s much to him, but don’t let the appearance fool you! Yes, his English is a little broken, but despite that, the most important thing is that he LISTENS TO YOU!!!!   He takes direction SO well — he does exactly what you ask him to do (which is such a relief — how many times have you been butchered by stylist who takes “creative license”?)
A few other things about him:

  • his cuts get better and better as they grow out
  • he’s honest (he dissuaded me from getting short bangs once, and I’m forever grateful)
  • he respects your hair goals and helps you reach them (I told him I wanted to grow out my hair and he suggested I go for a layered cut as opposed to an angular bob so that it would require less “trims” to maintain the shape)

Here’s my before:

and AFTER:


COST: $30!!!!  (can’t beat that!) + tip
They also offer a full range of Digital and Regular Perms.  (you know I’ll be hitting that up as SOON as my hair is long enough!!)
So if you’re like me and have an “Asians Only” Policy (or if you just want to try someone great, who is SO affordable)….go visit Gary @ Mess Salon.

MESS SALON
106 Mott Street
212.966.3866
www.messhairsalon.com

raw vegan superstore: High Vibe, NYC

even though NYC is a culinary playground, it’s oddly difficult to find “natural” health food stores…particularly for truly raw vegan supplies.

enter HIGH VIBE, NYC.

if you’re a raw vegan (or just a general health-seeker) living in NYC, High Vibe is a dream.  not only do they dedicate themselves to stocking all your raw vegan needs groceries like:

  • truly raw organic nuts & seeds
  • ready-to-eat raw vegan snacks
  • dehydrated, un-sulfured fruit
  • raw vegan desserts, cookies and macaroons

they also have a considerable library, sell spiralizers, vitamins & supplements, beauty supplies, and a very helpful, knowledgeable staff. 

definitely check it out if you’re in the NYC area!

High Vibe
138 East 3rd Street
New York, NY 10009-7618
(212) 777-6645

raw vegan dinner at Pure Food & Wine (June 2010 Menu)

i am determined to make Pure Food & Wine my regular haunt.  aside from the fact that it’s a raw vegan restaurant, there are also several other reasons why i’m completely smitten with this place:

  • SEASONAL MENU: gotta love the fact that their menu changes every month.  sure, there are tried & true items that tend to stay on there, but it gives you a reason to keep coming back for more
  • BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR AREA: who doesn’t love eating outdoors? strung with beautiful lights and perimetered by comfy, cushioned banquettes…it feels like you’re dining in a peaceful haven in the middle of the big city
  • THE SARMA FACTOR: not only does she come up with healthy, beautiful, delicious raw vegan culinary plates…she is so very warm and friendly.  she invokes a sense of community, evident by her cookbooks and her One Lucky Duck empire, and it’s contagious!

here’s a snapshot of our meal!


54 Irving Place (near 17th Street)
NY NY 10003
212.477.1010

GRUB: Pure Food & Wine = Pure Foodie Heaven


GRUB 411:

  • PURE FOOD & WINE, 54 Irving Place @ 18th Street, 212.477.1010
  • www.oneluckyduck.com, @purefoodandwine
  • TYPE:  Raw Vegan (yay!)
  • PRICE:  $$$
  • OVERVIEW:  Pure Food & Wine is truly a shining example of how exquisite raw vegan cuisine can be!  You don’t miss the HEAT (or the meat)! Food was flavorful, delicious, and hearty with attentive service, positive vibes and enchanting outdoor seating.
  • SEOULDIVA SAYS:   ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

FULL REVIEW:
Pure Food & Wine is a raw vegan restaurant…what does that mean?  They use only vegetables, no animal bi-products (dairy, butter, eggs), and they don’t heat any of their dishes over 118°F.
As you all know, I’ve recently decided to embark on a Raw Food lifestyle, not for weight loss or dietary reasons, but for health and overall mental clarity reasons.  Since making the transition, I feel like a different person. It’s as if I was sleep-walking through my life when I was eating cooked foods — always groggy, tired, sluggish, fog-headed and feeling bloated.  Now, it’s like I’m living my life fully awake.
I’ve been dying to try Pure Food & Wine for some time now, and I’m overjoyed that I’ve found a new fave restaurant haunt! Whether or not you are a raw foodist yourself, Pure offers decadent, rich flavors in their beautifully plated dishes. So much so, that you don’t miss any of the meat…OR the heat!
Sarma Melngailis (Pure Food & Wine’s owner) is like a posterchild for “modern raw foodists” — glowing skin, healthy, happy and inspiring.  Not only is Pure Food & Wine her baby, but she has her One Lucky Duck raw vegan empire, complete with a Take-Away Outpost around the corner from the restaurant that sells a variety of  raw vegan cookies, crackers and snacks! (follow her on Twitter @sarma)

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating.  I strongly recommend sitting outside, if possible — the ambience is so unbelievably charming, it’s a haven in the heart of the city.
Their kitchen is fascinating: no stoves, no ovens, no microwaves.  Just prep tables, food processors and dehydrators.  So interesting to see!
ALLERGY NOTE:  If you are allergic to nuts or coconuts, Pure may not be the place for you. Nearly all of their dishes use nuts or coconut meat to create that “hearty”/meaty texture.
Here are shots of their May menu:

Here’s a play by play of our meal!
APPETIZERS:

  • KING OYSTER MUSHROOM SCALLOPS in a Lemongrass Coconut Broth, mustard greens, micro wasabi. I saw “Lemongrass Coconut Broth” and came a-running.  One of the biggest things I think I’ll miss from my new raw food lifestyle is “ethnic” foods.  The “scallops” were actually mushroom stems.  The mustard greens gave a nice bitter balance to the dish, but the broth could have had a little more kick, IMO.  SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥♥ /

  • NORI ROLLS OF HOUSE-MADE KIMCHI and Dr. Cow Creamy Tree Nut Cheese, watercress, baby bok choy, hijiki seaweed, avocado, scallions. I had to fight my friend over who got to order this appetizer.  a) I wanted to see if their Kimchi skills were up to snuff (not bad, not bad), and b) I wanted to try another ethnic raw food iteration.  This was FABULOUS, bursting with flavor from the Kimchi (which some people still consider raw because it’s enzyme-rich from fermentation), and satisfying.  If I could eat this for lunch in a bento box, I would!  One thing to note for raw food purists: it was most likely served with Nama Shoyu soy sauce, which is a raw, organic, unheated soy sauce.  Regular soy sauce is not considered “raw” by purists since it’s boiled.  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ½ /

  • HAZELNUT CROSTINIS WITH CRIMINI MUSHROOMS and Caper Bearnaise, caraway sauerkraut, local apple cider reduction. We were so thrilled that Sarma treated us to a complimentary appetizer!!  (thanks, girl!)  The description didn’t mention that this dish had some sort of raw vegan “cheeze” or spread on it as well.  Regardless, it was divine! The apple cider reduction was heavenly tart & sweet, and the cheese was just like the real thing! The one thing – the hazelnut “crust” was very loose and crumbled easily, so if you get this, be sure to pick it up with your fork!  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • PORCINI RAVIOLI WITH TRUFFLE CREAM SAUCE, baby white asparagus, pickled ramp, parsley salad, porcini oil. We felt like saying, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Real Pasta!”  It was SO flavorful and decadent.  My friend even had to ask the waiter how they made the dish because she was hell-bent on re-creating it.  (btw, they used coconut meat for the “pasta”, along with coconut cream for the sauce).  It was divine and genius!  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • SWEET CORN AND CASHEW TAMALES with chili-spiced Portabella, salsa verde, cashew coconut sour cream, avocado, raw cacao  mole. Holy YUM.  The insides of the tamales were chunky and meaty…TOOTHSOME (in a good way).  The stuffing almost tasted a little curried to me (maybe with tumeric?).  It was unreal to think that everything was raw!  My fave was the salsa verde (I could have eaten an entire bowl of that stuff!!)  Overall, I was impressed with the dish, but the stuffing was curried/sweet, and I would have preferred a more savory filling (being such a “salt” person).  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • SPECIAL DESSERT Lemon Tart with fresh figs, almond “brittle” and peach ice cream. This was one of the special desserts that was offered…heaven.  The crust on the tart was deliciously hard and almost tasted like candy!  The lemon filling was deliciously tart and tangy…and doesn’t a fresh fig just look SEXY?   SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

  • STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE. Unfortunately, I didn’t snap a pic of the Dessert menu, but I think it also has some pistachios and some homemade ice cream too!  Heaven. It was light, refreshing and fluffy!  SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥♥♥♥ / ♥♥♥♥♥

GRUB: Apiary — it’s the Bees’ Knees!


OVERVIEW:

  • APIARY: 60 3rd Avenue @ 10th Street; (646) 861-2663; www.apiarynyc.com
  • TYPE: New American
  • PRICE:  $$$
  • QUICKVIEW: One of the best meals I’ve had in a LONG time.  Nothing groundbreaking as far as flavor profiling or unique combinations, but just fresh, savory, delicious food — simple & unabashed.
  • TIP: They have a great Prix Fixe deal on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays – 3 course meal for $35!
  • SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

FULL REVIEW:
Apiary has been on my “To Eat” List for quite some time. First, it was hyped up by NY Magazine, followed by my homeboys at Immaculate Infatuation giving it a stellar review — and for those two foodstars to align, it was enough of a co-sign for me!

The interior was cute — modern with touches of feather grey and whimsical bees scattered throughout the space.  But I was perplexed by the crowd.  While I was waiting for my friend at the bar, it seemed a little like Bingo night at the YMCA.  There was even a potential Blueblocker sighting.  HM.
Despite the questionable dining-mates, the food lived up to the hype.  Being “new American”, there was nothing rule-bending about the flavors or spices, but everything we ate was prepared exquisitely.  It doesn’t have to be fancy — it just has to TASTE GOOD.
The food was savory, yet light.  Each dish tasted FRESH and you could really taste each  ingredient for what it was — instead of having the ingredients taste like other things.  Food tasting like food.  What a concept.  :)
MENU:

Please see a plate-by-plate below.
PLATE BY PLATE:

  • “THE POLLENATOR” Strega, Muddled Citrus, Tarragon. This was everything I wanted in a cocktail.  It was refreshing, had the herby kick from the tarragon and it was fabulous. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • “THE SPRING FLINGAbsolut Citron, Rhubarb, Strawberry, Aperol, Mint. I would drink this with or without the Absolut!  Again, remarkably refreshing and not very sweet.  Unfortunately, a little more sour from the Rhubarb would have been welcome, but it was lovely nonetheless. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥ /

  • APIARY GREEN SALAD with fine herbs, shallots and red wine vinaigrette. Yes, a green salad is a green salad.  But this was a delicious one.  (though, I’m not sure that “chives” qualify as “fine herbs”)  Momma Park always says that the mark of a well-dressed salad: when you finish your plate, there should be NO dressing left on it.  This was a well-dressed salad. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥ /

  • SPECIAL APPETIZER: Peekeytoe Crab meat with spicy guac in a ___ Jus. I am kicking myself for not remembering the jus — I’m usually better at that.  ARGH!  Regardless, this was DELICIOUS.  The crabcake was not laden with breadcrumbs. The meat was light, fluffy, moist, but the cake still held its shape.  The jus was savory (maybe it was pomegranate?) and a shade on the too-salty side (but that was OK with me). The dollop of guac had this fantastic jalapeno kick.  I’d eat this 3x over. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥/

  • ROASTED ORGANIC CHICKEN mascarpone polenta, glazed carrots, peas, tarragon jus. I am not a big “chicken” person.  Sure, if it’s battered & deep fried, I’ll eat just about anything.  But I usually never voluntarily order it off a menu (in fact, I don’t think I EVER do).  My friend gave me a bit of this dish and it was spectacular.  The skin was deliciously crisp, the meat was juice/moist/tender…the polenta was creamy yet subtle.  It was very well-balanced.  Again, the “jus” was a little on the too-salty side, but it worked fine with the rest of the things on the plate. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥½/

  • HANGAR STEAK with roasted shallots, potato puree, and red wine jus. Knowing that I’m dangerously close to converting to a raw vegan diet, I figured I should go out in a blaze of glory — RED MEAT!  Again, the jus was a little salty (but I love salt, so it was no problem).  Maybe it was over-reduced??  It was a “meat & potatoes” meal in every sense.  Well-cooked and very traditional. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • ORZO “MAC” and CHEESE: Naming this a “MAC” and Cheese sets the expectations pretty high for the cheese sauce.  It was more of a creamy alfredo than a traditional mac ‘n cheese sauce — all cream, no sharp cheese flavor.  BUT, the Orzo was cooked impeccably: plump, and al dente.  Personally I coulda used a bit more of a kick. SEOULDIVA SAYS: ♥ /

  • VANILLA PANNA COTTA with raspberry coulis. Since I’m not a big fan of Chocolate (I’m missing that chocolate gene)…I LOVE a good panna cotta for dessert.  I got really excited by the vanilla beans on top…but when I dipped my spoon into it, it was a little…well…gelatinous.  I think they must have added some gelatin or SOMEthing to keep the hold of it, but normal panna cotta doesn’t normally have that gummy texture.  Texture aside, it was still light & refreshing. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥ /

  • RHUBARB TART with vanilla ice cream. I love rhubarb, and this tart was HEAVEN.  I loved that it was pure rhubarb (not with strawberry), so it was nice & tart.  The crust was flaky and crisp and it arrived perfectly warmed.  HEAVEN. SEOULDIVA SAYS:  ♥ /