eating in the raw

sometimes God brings someone across the path of your life in a subtle way, and sometimes He simply drops them at your doorstep – literally. last year i found a flyer on my door advertising classes with a chef nearby, focusing on the preparation of whole foods in a natural and healthy way. obviously this caught my attention – exactly what i had been looking for, and only two miles from my house! (nothing is close to my house. we live in “the boonies” according to my brother.) i made the phone call and was introduced to chef mandy, and began to learn about this special kind of food preparation. essentially, nothing is heated above 105 degrees, so all the natural enzymes and nutrients are still living and usable by the body. this is also referred to as “raw” cooking. (how’s that for an oxymoron?) the nine-month certification i mentioned before involved private training under chef mandy.  i learned so much about how our bodies utilize the fuel we put in, and how to easily incorporate more raw food into my diet. but mainly i have been impressed at the elaborate creations that are possible. here are some examples of gourmet samplers we made together:

CHEESE: boursin in cup, nacho pepper popper, rosemary cracker with peppercorn chevré

PASTA: mushroom truffle fettucini, basil sausage cappellini, spinach ricotta cannelloni

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SWEETS: chocolate tart with cardamom cream, raspberry cheesecake, pumpkin pecan petit four

i’m also getting pretty good at plating and presentation. (i can drizzle like a pro, haha.) we don’t use animal products, clearly (they would require high temperatures), so the cheese and “meats” are usually nut-based. i have had so much fun learning traditional culinary techniques along with modern “raw” methods. you can see more photos of our fun in the kitchen here.

but when i say mandy is someone who divinely entered my life, i’m not talking about how my life has been changed by good food. our meeting came on the cusp of my immersion in all things healthy and healing for my mother, and mandy’s connections with nutritional experts, doctors, and clinics across the country had a significant impact on the decisions my mom made about her treatments and lifestyle. i know that it is more than coincidence that she would exist in oklahoma at all, much less mere minutes from my home. so thankful.

this month we began the new season’s schedule of classes – i say “we” because i now participate in the instruction(!) – and it’s one reason i’m glad summer is over. we offer adult and kids classes, as well as demonstrations and potlucks.  the real exciting part is that we are gearing up for a restaurant launch next year! look for 105° in okc soon…