House of Sun Raw Bar
Have you ever considered switching to a raw food diet? Some people are motivated by weight loss, others by the obvious health benefits and intense flavor of fresh, uncooked food. But what is a raw food diet? And what about the health benefits of raw food?
To help answer some of these questions, I met with award winning chef Adam Lewis at his raw food bar, House of The Sun, inside Natures Pantry in downtown Bellevue. But before we get to the interview, here's a brief history of what inspired Adam to become a vegan and adopt a raw food life style.
As a kid, and even into his mid-twenties, Adam ate anything he wanted--what he remembers was "mostly bread". But his knees started hurting and he wasn't happy with the way his life was going. He assumed his knee pain was do to "bad genes", but wondered if his poor diet could be the culprit. So, he resolved to make better food choices. He modified his diet to include more fresh fruits and vegetables. He combined this with an exercise program and at the same time, adopted a more positive outlook on life. These changes proved to be a powerful combination because soon his health, body and life significantly improved and, in his words, "my life really began to take off and I haven't looked back since."
Now that you know a bit about Adam, lets define raw food. Raw food is any food that has not been heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit Adam explains. This may include fish and meat, but many raw food eaters are vegetarian. Adam's dishes, for example, include collard wraps, raw tortes, sprouted granola, and even raw lasagna.
Adam also addressed the often asked question by non-vegetarians, "Can a vegetarian or vegan diet provide enough protein?". He talked about protein absorption and went on to provide some examples for illustration. Eating greens rich in amino acids not only makes it easier to digest food, these dark leafy vegetables are also a good source of protein, he explained. Nuts and seeds are likewise rich in amino acids and a good source of protein.
I asked him about the ingredients he uses in his raw food bar dishes and if they are organic and local. He estimated that 98% of the ingredients he uses are organic and most come from local farms including his own garden. Ideally he would like all his ingredients to be local and organic but he has to be practical. There are just some key ingredients that are not produced locally, such as coconuts and avocados, or the organic version isn't available.
Next, I decided to switch gears and ask Adam where the love and positive energy he puts into his food preparation comes from. He told me that it comes from respect; respect for the food's origin and the farmers who grow all the ingredients. He carefully considers all the effort that has gone into each ingredient and how the dish will end up on someone's plate and into their body after adding his creative preparation. He believes that entire process deserves a great deal of respect. As I listened to Adam describe this process, it was easy to understand how his passion comes through in his food.
I jokingly asked if raw food chefs ever get burned. I was surprised to hear that he did indeed get burned - once! The story is, at the end of a long tiring day, while making chocolate using a hot water bath, he accidentally poured hot water down his leg. Ouch!
Adam currently has five food preparation interns working for him at the House of the Sun Raw Bar. Interning with Adam is a quick and easy way to learn how to prepare gourmet raw food dishes from one of the best. So, if you are interested in learning how to create wonderful, healthy raw food, contact Adam directly at rawfoodseattle@yahoo.com and let him know. Or, the next time you're in Bellevue, stop by Nature's Pantry and say "hi" to Chef Adam.
Check out our latest video interview with Adam...
by Codi Ventura, Local Green Circle, May 24th, 2009; Photos by Silvia Wilson.
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