Eating New York (Raw Food style)
New York New York. How easy it is to love you. If only walking through your streets and taking in all those sights we recognise so well from the TV screen wasn't enough, you being my sister's home makes this love unconditional.
To me best thing about New York is that there really is something for everyone. I could turn this statement into a very thick book, but I'll get to the point here... New York is a raw foodie playground! Are you surprised? Just take a look at what my sis Alissa Alekseeva and I have been eating on my recent visit...
Thanks to my virtual buddy and resource guru Robyn from Girl on Raw, we discovered Liquiteria in Manhattan...
Fully Loaded Nachos were insanely good. I am pretty sure even the meat eater wouldn't know the difference if they weren't told. The seasoned flax chips were 'fully loaded' with seed meat, sour cream and nacho cheese.
Pure Food and Wine was a stop for cheese crackers and desert with my oldest friend in the world! Beautiful Anya and I grew up together in Russia, since our parents have been friends forever. I got to meet her awesome husband Kevin too. Oh how I didn't want the night to end!
This one is a fancy plate of assorted cultured Dr. Cow Tree nut cheeses, rosemary crackers and mustard greens
To me best thing about New York is that there really is something for everyone. I could turn this statement into a very thick book, but I'll get to the point here... New York is a raw foodie playground! Are you surprised? Just take a look at what my sis Alissa Alekseeva and I have been eating on my recent visit...
Thanks to my virtual buddy and resource guru Robyn from Girl on Raw, we discovered Liquiteria in Manhattan...
I had a Skin Trip Juice with carrot, spinach, cucumber, parsley, aloe vera and liver kidney lymph detox. Alissa had an Immune Rocket Booster Juice with carrot, celery, beet, ginger, flax seed oil and immune system tonic
Lunch, thanks to my sister's Brooklyn bestie Ginger's recommendation was at Quintessence in Manhattan. I will fly back to New York any day just to eat their food again
We opted for the Lunch Combo option, as you get this delicious Apple cider made of freshly squized apple juice, date syrup and Christmassy spices
This is an appetizer Taco of crisp corn tortilla filled with mock refried beans, guacamole, cashew cheese, 'sour cream' and lettuce, erved with guajillo chili sauce. Totally divine. Totally recommend.
Here we are: Alissa, Ginger, Tanya (me)
And here is lunch... This one is Indian Delight of Mali Kofta over marinated veggies with almond curry sauce. Heaven. I must admit even though we all shared, this is the dish I would've been more than happy NOT sharing. The textures and flavours went together so well, I wish I tasted it more consciously to work out what all the ingredients were so I can attempt at recreating it at home.
Portabello Sandwich had marinated portabello mushroom, avocado, onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, chipotle cheese sauce and sprouted kamut bread. So simple, yet so incredible especially with that tangy 'secret' green dressing.
Now THIS one is Ravioli. The filling was made of basil "cheese" and wrapped in jicama. I was happy to finally taste jicama, as it is not available in UK and concluded that it reminds me most of Asian pears. This dish was topped with rich tomato Napolitana sauce and served with yellow squash pasta. The parmasan looking cheese is (and this is only my guess) was a combination of crumbled almonds, nutritional yeast and spices. Wow wow wow
Next Stop was a must to check out where my sister works. Thompson Hotel is absolutely stunning, every detail of its interior had New York written all over it. Eye candy.
Alissa even jumped behind the bar on her day off to make me her specialty 'Tanya friendy' cocktail she created...
The beautiful red one you see, she named 'The Rose', it had wild flower tea mix with agave, bio dinamic Pinot Noir and organic gin. The green cocktail is called Emperor Martini and has lemon juice, agave, cucumber, shiso [Japanese] mint and cucumber infused gin.
We were still waaaay too full from lunch, but I wasn't allowed to leave without trying my sister's favourite meal from Shang Restaurant by Susur Lee (at Thompson Hotel). This Singapore Slaw was a delicious tower of 18 ingredients including carrot, picked ginger, baby cilantro, jicama, cucumber, peanuts and edible flowers.
Rockin' Raw in Brooklyn was another experience to keep us going for an entire day...
And just take a look at this Lasagna! What a clever dish of flavour. It had layers upon layers of zucchini, mushrooms, marinara, nut cheese, herbs and spices
BBQ Eggplant Cream cheese wrap of breaded seasoned eggplant with 'bbq' sauce, cream cheese, greens, in sun-dried tomato wrap served with marinated plantains. The plantains were unbelievable, just like stringy melted cheese, but oh so much better.
I really don't know how we managed it, but we did fit in cocktails for desert. When I see something with peppermint on the menu, it may as well read 'Tanya Alekseeva'. I got a Peppermint Twist with cacao, peppermint, agave and coconut cream. Sis went for a Lavender Courtship with lavender infused water and vanilla.
This little cutie is a nut free cookie, that we ordered for desert as well. There was no way we could manage though and saved it for breakfast. Best decision ever! Breakfast never tasted as good as these raspberry, cacao and coconut flavours in one creamy chewy cookie. Mmmm
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| biking all over |
Sun in Bloom was very much a worthwhile destination on a pretty street in Brooklyn surrounded by boutique shops. It had a real fresh feel to it with alot of space and lots of light. I especially loved their bookcase with every Raw Food book that's been published.
Kombucha was so so good after the long bike ride to get here
This soup of the day was really something else. Romaine, parsley, cucumber, avocado, lemon and garlic. I am pretty sure that if I remembered my dreams, I'd know this is the soup I dream about
Sunny Couture Futomaki - an aphrodisiac blend of dehydrated vegetables, avocado, romaine, sesame ginger dressing wrapped in Nori. It did come with brown rice, as apparently we had to specify if we wanted Raw or simply Gluten Free. Will know for next time
Raw Star NYC was a really pleasant surprise in Brooklyn with the most relaxed atmosphere, had really nice decor and a super mouth watering Carribean raw menu
We started with a Green juice of celery, lettuce, parsley, lime and everything else green in season
Crackers and cheese were A-mazing! Simple crackers of pumpkin seeds and flax went so well with the cheese made of cashews, pineapple and red bell peppers. I can't believe I never made that combo before
Sea vegetable salad was very nourishing amd totally satisfying at the same time. There was nori, arame, wakame, hijiki, dulse, cabbage and red onion drizzled with a creamy mild spicy sauce. I loved that this was not your typical 'mock something' raw dish. Recommend!
Panacotta made of passion fruit, mango pulp, coconut meat and coconut butter accompanied by dark chocolate icecream with caramelised cacao nibs. I feel pretty confident adding this one to my Top 5 Deserts. Yep done!
Well I don`t know about you, but I am certainly salivating now that I put all the pics together. It is 11.11PM in Vilcabamba, Ecuador and I am about to go rummaging through my parents`pantry and fridge...