The Raw Food Gourmet: Going Raw for Total Well-Being

by Gabrielle Chavez, Victoria Boutenko (Foreword)

The raw food recipes in this book are so delicious they may change your life!

The phrase 'raw foods' conjures up images of food as punishment—think uncooked carrots and celery, with perhaps a spinach juice cocktail as a chaser. However, uncooked doesn’t have to mean unappetizing, as this combination cookbook and guide to the raw foods lifestyle shows. Gabrielle Chavez explains how to use the wide range of fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables, spices, and seasonings for delicious, healthful—and healing—dishes. Anytime entrees from Stuffed Portabellos with Mushroom Gravy to Thai Hazelnut Pesto are here, along with seasonal treats like Halloween Soup and basics such as Simple Sweet Bread, with ingredients expressed in both metric and American measurements. In addition to current information on raw foods’ nutritional value and success as an alternative for people with food allergies and disorders, The Raw Food Gourmet takes readers on Chavez’s personal journey as she discovers the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of this diet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Health

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2005

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book just looking for some new healthy recipes, but got so much more out of it. I enjoyed the author's personal stories about her decision to eat only raw food. Reading about her accomplishments on the back cover made her someone I'd love to get to know. Her final chapter about the spiritual aspects of gardening and eating fresh foods is beautiful.

That being said, I think eating raw food alone would be too difficult! Some of the recipes were very involved and took a couple of days of preparation. I do make my own sprouts for salads, but having to time them just right for other recipes sounds hard. For the first few chapters, I wasn't sure I was going to find any recipes I would actually use. However, then I got to the salads and dressings and found lots I want to try.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Chavez has really involved recipes if you want to go there, but she also has a lot (a lot) of really accessible recipes for a busy person. Her snacks are my favorite (kale crisps, comfort and joy, crunchies, etc.--- yum), and once I'm back into the swing of raw things, I will be using this book nonstop. In my humble opinion, a must-have for the raw library.

[Ernie A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently reading this one... Not that I would want to go full-blown raw, but this book reminds you of the importance of eating raw fruit/veggies. Try to have one serving/meal. Lots of good recipe ideas too.

[Lori Gertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I had the personal stamina to keep up a diet of raw food. Some of it sounds so wonderful, but then some of it just sounds like way too much work to prepare. I got some wonderful recipes for sauces and soups though. This is a great recipe book for raw foodies.

[Susanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the author very much and feel great reading her. Thanks to her I am very excited about starting raw foods. It is a concise, fun and gentle read.

[Enia · Rating 5 out of 5]

{{own-heart}}

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for anyone starting out in raw vegan. This book inspired me to go for it.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's for someone who has the full set of food processing equipments...