The Best Destination Dining For Raw

Live Organic Food Bar is Toronto's best restaurant catering to raw vegans. Full stop. We couldn't adore this special place any more than we already do. Live also includes some non-raw items, but if you're raw and living in or visiting Toronto, their raw menu will more than satisfy you! One thing you will notice upon walking in the door, the regulars at this place - the folks splayed out like it's their living room - all boast gloriously beaming skin.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant is warm, welcoming, and vibrant. Typically, there's an infectious laughter full of energy in Live's large open space.

My favorite dishes of all time: Tijuana Tostadas and The Fiesta Bowl. The ground walnut and cashew "sour cream" combo is unbelievable in both. We also live for the raw tacos and The Za Pizza. The tacos were bursting with flavor, and everything was super fresh. I really couldn't give their tacos a better rating, they are better than any taco (raw or not) I've made at home, and that's saying something!

The Green Kick juice was also great, fresh, and energizing.

Clean, Colourful and Casual...that's a description of both the food and the restaurant itself. Live is a pleasure to eat at whether you are grabbing a quick bite or out for a family meal. You can't imagine how delicious their raw pizza is, and you can't imagine how long it takes them to prepare it (happily not while you wait, but in advance in dehydration). The nachos are great for a shared appetizer, and the sushi is fantastic. The raw lasagna is great (noodles out of veggies and cheese out of nuts - yum!), as are any of their burger choices. They do offer some cooked items, and there is absolutely something for everyone on this menu, even if you are accustomed to steak and potatoes (then you really should eat here more often anyways). Order a smoothie or fresh juice...add a shot of E3 and learn what a natural high is about. Sample one of their raw, veagn desserts, but really, make sure to grab some of their kale chips from the take out area - these are unreal! Service is quick, but there can sometimes be a lineup, so call ahead if waiting isn't for yo

Live fills a a lovely little niche in Toronto... live organic artful and well crafted food that happens to be vegan with a focus on raw foods. It get's away from standard vegetarian fare (hummous, lentil/tofu burgers, rice bowls) and get's very creative, crafting "noodles" out of zucchini and "cheese" out of nuts. Proponents of raw diets say that by not cooking foods you prevent the loss of important enzymes and vital nutrients. Come to think of it I do always feel a bit "enlivened" after a meal there.

Toronto has a hip new raw spot in town that's quickly gathering atten

tion. The endeavor is by Jennifer Italiano and it is her "30-seat upscale sequel to her wildly original but tiny Annex café" In the summer they have a decent little nook of a patio out back with a neighbourhood backyardish feel. They have a whole list of fresh juices and smoothies as good or better than any in the city but you will pay for their delicious nutritiousness. Toss in a shot of E3 live for an added nutrient boost and whiz around the city all afternoon. Or follow up your meal with a decadent dessert. Raw desserts have this dense sweet (natural sweetners like agave syrup) thing about them, which I kinda have have to be in the mood for but the chocolate cake is awesome just about anytime.

Does the idea of eating food that's alive tickle your fancy? We're not talking Anthony Bourdain-style still-beating hearts. We're talking about the restaurants where Bourdain wouldn't be caught dead: LA's growing legions of raw eateries serving up an array of globally inspired uncooked and unprocessed meals. Enthusiasts proclaim the benefits of eating raw, insisting that the diet offers increased energy, improved complexion, better digestion, weight loss, and more. These Los Angeles raw food eateries should give you ample fodder for proving those assertions right or wrong.

Certified both organic and green, Culver City's Leaf Cuisine serves everything from sprouted chickpea hummus to hearty wraps-stuffed in green collard leaves rather than tortillas. Chef Rotondi also offers breakfasts and desserts.

Juliano Brotman is nothing if not passionate. The creator of Juliano's Raw, he was raised on a meat-heavy, Italian diet until going vegetarian in his early teens. Before long he was a vegan, and now the chef hasn't eaten cooked food in over ten years. His enormous menu includes elixirs, espressos, smoothies, salads, soups, pizzas, wraps, and even a raw, vegan take on the Bacon Western Double. Also on offer is a raw superstore full of videos, books, clothing, housewares, and more. Juliano's also recently opened a sister location in Walnut Creek.

Si Si Penaloza
		About the author:
		Si Si has cultivated strong ties with editors, producers and publishers at all major Canadian media outlets. She is a seasoned print, radio and broadcast specialist. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Bowdoin College in Maine, Si Si moved to Manhattan to study Film at New York University. Her strengths lie in contextualizing relevant content for a broad audience. She's driven to stay competitive and at the top of the market - commissioning exclusive features and launching bold initiatives.
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