Summer is the perfect time to enjoy organic fruits and vegetables with their vibrant colors and succulent tastes. Why not celebrate these seasonal ingredients by trying some locally-made raw food cuisine?

We are fortunate to have one of the luminaries of raw food right here in CoastViews territory. Elaina Love is an internationally recognized raw food chef, author of Elaina’s Pure Joy Kitchen (Books 1 and 2) as well as a forthcoming cookbook, and is one of the founding instructors of the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Fort Bragg, Calif.

She is also the co-owner – along with Dawn Calvert and Richard Cleveland – of Cafe Soulstice in San Mateo. The cafe is located in the Equinox Fitness Club, but is open to the general public. (There is also a “satellite” Cafe Soulstice in the Palo Alto Equinox.) Both locations are airy and filled with light. You can sit and eat, or take items which were made fresh that morning from the grab-and-go cases.

But, wait. What is raw food, anyway? A carrot? A salad? Is raw food always cold and uncooked?

Elaina Love defined it this way: “Raw food ingredients [at Cafe Soulstice] are fresh organic fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains, nuts, seeds, and ‘super food’ supplements like spirulina and cacao. The health benefits of raw are amazing: a strengthened immune system, more energy, a healthier, happier attitude!”

This is largely due to the fact that raw foods contain “live enzymes,” which aid in digesting food and absorbing essential nutrients into the bloodstream. The more live enzymes in your food, the more nutrients you receive. This helps your body to restore and maintain its good health and energy.

“As for cold and uncooked: I heat things up! I just don’t over-heat. Basically, foods and beverages that are raw should not be heated over 118 degrees Fahrenheit,” Love said, “because the live enzymes in the food would be destroyed by higher temperatures.”

In addition to the enzyme content, raw foods are largely alkaline, as opposed to acidic. This also promotes good health. Love continued: “Disease cannot live in an alkaline environment, so when you eat raw foods, you’re not creating an atmosphere for illness in your body. That’s a huge benefit!”

And Love should know. She adopted the raw food lifestyle approximately 10 years ago, because of persistent health problems that had her taking prescription drugs for allergies and systemic yeast. Unhappy with the conventional medicine route, Love happened upon a book about cleansing the body through a raw foods diet, and her life changed. For the better. The more she learned, the more she wanted to teach.
Love founded Pure Joy Planet in 2001, a company devoted to “bringing raw food gourmet bliss to the planet” in the form of classes, retreats, raw food training sessions, and lifestyle consultation. The Pure Joy Web site is chock-full of information, resources, food preparation products, and recipes for new raw food eaters, as well as seasoned raw foodists.

Cafe Soulstice followed, opening in 2007. And customers flock to both locations to delight their palates with Love’s mouth-watering fare.
“There are flavor combinations in raw foods to make them taste like cooked foods or comfort foods, if that’s what you like,” Love said. Raw food eaters and conventional eaters alike rave about Love’s guacamole burgers, tacos, crème pies, and choco maca malt shakes. The popular “sampler platter” is another favorite, with its delicious variety of sprouted grains, dips, spreads, and crackers. Summer soups include refreshing cool cucumber-spinach.

The raw foods at Cafe Soulstice are also vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and organic. “I understand that it’s hard for some people to grasp all of this, because it may seem unfamiliar,” Love said. “But I tell people: Just try it for 30 days, and see how you feel! Or, just one day! Come to the cafe, or try some recipes on the Web site. Start at home by relaxing on a Sunday with good raw foods.”

Love added: “This is not another ‘gimmicky’ diet. It’s more of an attitude change. Looking at things differently. Really taking an interest in what you eat and how it makes you feel. Can you improve the way you’re feeling? Do you want to have more energy? Just add fresh fruits and vegetables to your own diet. Try sprouted nuts and seeds. Get those enzymes working for you! You’ll wake up energized. Your whole day goes differently because you have all this new energy.”

If there are children in your life, Love said: “Teach them about good food choices. Plant a garden together. Experiment with making fresh fruit smoothies together. Smoothies don’t have to have ice cream to taste good!”

Love said: “This is my purpose. I educate people to show them healthier food choices for a more joyful way of living.
“And it’s easier than people think,” Love said. “All you really need is fresh food and a blender. Everyone has talent. If you can make your own orange juice in the morning, you can make your own raw foods!”

Cool Cucumber-Spinach Soup

1 cup water
1 cucumber, chopped
2 cups spinach
1?4 cup basil leaves

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 1?2 tablespoons lemon juice
1?2 green apple, chopped
1?2 teaspoon sea salt
1?2 teaspoon onion powder
1?2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 avocado
2 tablespoons fresh dill

Place all ingredients except the avocado and dill in a blender and process until smooth. Add the avocado and dill; blend again. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to one day.

On the net:

www.cafesoulstice.com
www.purejoyplanet.com