• the best raw i’ve ever had

    10
    October 2nd, 2008quarrygirlflorida, more restaurants (not LA)

    i’m usually not a huge fan of raw food. i mean, i’d like to be—i understand how healthy, sustainable and wonderful it is…but it’s usually so expensive and something about it doesn’t taste quite right. juliano’s and leaf are great every once in awhile, but in my book they are just no substitute for “normal” food. that being said, i was a little skeptical before trying lifefood gourmet in miami, an all raw restaurant that on their website describes their meals as “culinary masterpieces.” but after eating there, i can tell you their description is an understatement. this was without a doubt some of the best food i’ve ever had, raw or otherwise, and i would eat it every day if i had the chance.

    lifefood sampler: an assembly of crazy nachos with garlic bread and nori sheets topped with various pates. $12

    lifefood sampler: an assembly of crazy nachos with garlic bread and nori sheets topped with various pates. $12

    we started our meal off with the lifefood sampler and it was freakin’ incredible! i don’t even know which bit of it was my favorite because it was all sooooo good. the crazy nachos were insane, so much better than the attempt at “chips,” usually made of flaxseed, that i’ve had at other raw restaurants. these tasted just like really tasty nachos. they were topped with salsa, guacamole and fake meat, pine nut cheese and brazil sour cream. perfection.

    the nori were great as well, topped with a delicious cheese-flavored pate. they were crispy, light and devoured in about 2 seconds.

    the sampler platter also came with 3 scrumptious little cucumber rolls that were filled with a creamy substance that reminded me of pesto. topped with fresh vegetables and a tasty sauce, these bite-sized rolls were both pretty to look at and delish.

    as entrees, we decided to go with the life gourmet burger and the lifefood burrito. lemme tell ya, these raw dishes give their cooked counterparts a run for their money…and they are phenomenally healthy!

    lifefood burrito: superfood life tortilla, mild spiced brazil nutmeat, pinenut "cheddar," guacamole, marinated portobello, lettuce and tomato. $10

    lifefood burrito: superfood life tortilla, mild spiced brazil nutmeat, pinenut "cheddar," guacamole, marinated portobello, lettuce and tomato. $10

    i was hesitant to order this burrito at first, because almost always raw “tortillas” are pretty pitiful. i was scared this may show up wrapped in lettuce or something. instead, it came in a delicious wrap with a slight sundried tomato flavor and a chewy texture. i was very pleased. the burrito’s innards were equally impressive—the “nutmeat” (haha) tasted like soyrizo, perfectly spiced with a juicy and substantial texture. the pinenut cheddar and guacamole were packed with flavor as well and added a rich taste to the light vegetables and spicy meat. the succulent mushroom was well-marinated—i love that this burrito came with a portobello AND fake meat. i felt totally spoiled.

    not to be outdone by the fab burrito, the life gourmet burger was even better.

    life gourmet burger: sprouted quinoa and flax dehydrated buns, walnut pumpkin seed, brazil nut, onion, celery, flax oil patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and mustard. $12

    life gourmet burger: sprouted quinoa and flax dehydrated buns, walnut pumpkin seed, brazil nut, onion, celery, flax oil patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and mustard. $12

    i can’t believe this thing was raw! how the hell do they make a bun that tastes so good without cooking it? magical! the bun was thick and spongey, soft and not dry. serious yum. the patty was even better and can only be described as luscious. one of the best vegan burgers out there happens to be raw. who’d have thought?

    both dishes showed up with a top-notch salad as well—fresh leafy greens slathered in a creamy pesto-flavored dressing. i absolutely loved it.

    overall, i really can’t speak highly enough of lifefood gourmet. it’s vegan, it’s raw, it’s amazingly healthy, and everything tastes delicious. plus, did you see those pictures? everything shows up at the table so beautifully presented. it’s all almost too pretty to eat. A+ all the way around. the menu is huge as well, i’m pretty disappointed my trip to miami wasn’t long enough to eat at lifefood gourmet several more times! fortunately, they have a recipe ebook online, so i am definitely gonna download it and try to learn some of their secrets.

    watch out though, the restaurant is a little hard to find because it’s located on top of another great vegan restaurant.

    there’s no sign or anything, so just make sure to go in this door and climb the stairs to find your raw vegany heaven.

    so i don’t know what you are waiting for. if you are in miami, go eat at lifefood gourmet asap…and if you are anywhere else, check out their recipes online. best raw food ever. 

    stay tuned…one more miami restaurant, then we are back to los angeles!

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9 responses to “the best raw i’ve ever had” RSS icon

  • If you’ve discovered raw food better than Juliano’s, I’m seriously impressed! Juliano’s food is delicious, but their prices are a complete turn-off and I haven’t returned for anything more than a shake since I first ate there. I hope I’ll make it to Miami someday to try the amazing restaurants you’ve reviewed.

  • Nice… all looks delicious!

    Leaf is really sub-par compared to the other raw places. It had been my first intro to raw food, leaving me to believe that all raw food cuisine was foul, tasted like dry kale with vinegar while being called “pizza” or “pad thai”, and served by snobs. Blossoming Lotus in Portland showed me the light in regards to what well-prepared and delicious raw food is all about. I’ll never eat at Leaf again having experienced how it’s done the right way.

    That said, I’ve really never had any desire to go to Miami, but all the great food you’re sharing with us is starting to change my mind!

  • After having several disgusting meals at Leaf (including one of their burritos which is indeed wrapped in a leaf) and making some totally tasteless raw recipes at home, I’d written off raw food. But this post gives me hope. Have you ever been to Cru in LA?

  • vegyogini – this place was WAY better than juliano’s! i don’t know how they do it!

    foodeater – you know, i wasn’t so sure i’d like miami, but it ended up being just great. and i’ve yet to tell you about the BEST restaurant.

    liz – ugh, i was so afraid they would put my burrito in a leaf. that would have been so lame. i haven’t tried cru yet….i will soon though!

  • This looks great- I found them online when I went High Raw 2 months ago and the next time I am in Miami I will check it out. I make some pretty great raw food at home thought I do admit to putting my walnut taco meat in a leaf. I also used it in a kick ass taco salad though.

  • great food and a secret door too? They do have everything.

  • I feel the same about raw food. I like lots of raw stuff and I try to eat more raw but “making raw food” sometimes just doesn’t taste right (although some of it might just be getting the ol’ taste buds adjusted).

    That food looks awesome though. I guess asking for a raw food restaurant in Vermont is like asking for no winter here, ain’t gonna happen.

  • The King Sovereign of all Raw Food comes from The Kwatamani Royal Family, a Rasta-like spiritual group who venture down into Miami now and again from their Central Florida commune. Whenever you go to a Ren-Fest, Fair or Expo down here and you see a major line up of people, you have probably come upon the Kwatamani Food booth. They always run out of food!! When I see them, I rush for a plate, hungry or not.

    The Kwatamani’s offer raw food cooking classes and I believe they may be responsible for the excellent Raw food we have here in South Florida.

    Check them out> http://www.livefoodsunchild.com/about_us/royalFamily.html

  • Wow that looks totally delicious. I will have to go to Florida to check it out. Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley is still my fave though.


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