Raw Spirit Fest AZ! :0D

 Amanda, myself and our friend Barbara just got back in from our trip to AZ this past Tuesday night (around 12am) and we finally settled in after an awesome adventure! So much neat stuff to share that there’s gonna be a sequel to this post! Here’s my scoop on our Spirit Fest AZ experience. :0)

 We rolled into beautiful Watson Park at around 8am and we were met with many smiling faces (you could tell already it was gonna be a good time). Our first thing to check out was my man AJ’s Chef Demo of his “Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake”. Yep, Raw Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, you gotta expect something unique and delicious from my chocolate alchemist friend! Where else, but in the world of raw foods, can you start your day off with something like that and not feel guilty about it??

AJ Wentworth un-cookin' up some awesome cheesecake!

 Immediately following AJ’s presentation was Chef Nadhirrah with a demo of Raw Food Storage. This was particularly fun for me because I’d always had a passion for living sustainably and living off your own homegrown eats, but after goin’ raw, canning foods went out the window. Nadhirrah shared not only different raw-friendly food storage techniques, but also some delicious recipes that can be made from these saved garden goods such as a Corn Salad, Taco Soup and a delicious dessert she calls Blond Ambition made with sesame seeds, tahini, almond butter and honey! She’s got a cool raw story and books at her website summerbear.org  Really awesome info, not only great for preserving your own garden harvest, but a great way to stock up different fruits and veggies while they’re in season (or on sale!).

The gang from Turtle Lake Refuge doin' some bicycle powered blendin'! www.turtlelakerefuge.org

 After filling up on tasty samples from the recipe demos we took a stroll around the vendors and exhibitors area to see what fun stuff we could find ..and we found a lot!  Food Not Bombs is a great organization who’s mission is to salvage usable food that would otherwise go to waste and redirect it to people in need. They we’re there spreading the word and sharing free plums by the handful, Rock on! Many of the vendors were givin’ out loads of free samples, from raw organic walnuts to Vitamineral Green on tap! I musta looked like a St. Patrick’s Day partier because I constantly had a cup of some green concoction in hand as Amanda, Barbara and I strolled about the event. Among the neat stuff being offered we’re eco-friendly re-usable bamboo cutlery (which Amanda couldn’t resist getting us each a set of), beautiful and whimsical artwork, handcrafted clothes, and even locally grown mesquite meal. Mesquite meal (often found in the raw world in the form of Peruvian Mesquite powder) is the pulverized fruit pod of the famous BBQ flavoring tree (the bark is for the BBQ the powdered fruit for freakin’ delicious raw desserts!). This stuff lends a caramel-like taste to smoothies and raw desserts and packs quite a bit of healthy goodness as well! It was really neat to be able to pick some up direct from the grower(the Arizona Mesquite Company)!

Check out this outrageous deep sea fish lamp created by David El Romo! www.davidelromo.com

 Back at the demo chef area (I mean c’mon where else are ya gonna find me? I know where the goodies are.) I caught Elaina Love‘s awesome demo of her Super Ninja Roll (gotta love that name!) which is a big ‘ol nori wrapped sammich of a sushi roll filled with fresh veggies and a nut and seed based pate with a spicy mustard sauce (*droool*). Elaina not only rocked out this dish, but also a salad dressing and her chocolate/maca bliss balls! Great stuff!

Elaina Love took a moment from running her awesome food stand to snap a photo with me :0)

 As if the recipes couldn’t get more fun and tasty, our friends’ Chrissy and Joel whipped up one of the most ridiculously good raw renditions of a cooked comfort food I’ve ever tasted. Their creation “Fiesta Mac” was so close in flavor to mac and cheese that my taste buds did a double take! Amazing stuff! The recipe for this wonderful concoction can be found in their ebook “Regenerative Eating”, along with many other cool recipes! Amanda and I had the pleasure of being introduced to Chrissy and Joel at the Spirit Fest in DC by Jody Allen and it was great getting a chance to hang with them again, super nice couple with a really intelligent and wholistic approach to health. We’re gearing up to make some of their freakin’ awesome Fiesta Mac this week!

Ram's dishing out some great information and some tasty poha!

 The coolness kept coming as later in the evening we got to hear a talk about the Indian approach to Raw Foodism from Ramalingham Govindaraj. He asserts that he is not a health or nutrition professional, but despite his modesty this man’s knowledge of raw food nutrition and the chemical composition of foods and their correlation to good health on a raw diet was immense! He shared a wealth of info and an amazing recipe demo of a sweet poha(poha is rice that has been heated to about 140 degrees F and squished flat). The poha, which comes bagged and can be found in Indian grocery stores, is soaked in water to soften and was then mixed with freshly grated coconut (oh yes!) and was sweetened with Jaggery(a healthier alternative to refined sugar, also available in Indian grocers). This concoction, although it wouldn’t pass raw purists approval, was amazingly tasty and satisfying! The following day Ram did another food demo where he made a spicy poha, again using the squished rice, but to this adding fresh squeezed oj, diced green onions and green chilis, a lil’ salt and loads of freshly grated coconut. So freakin’ tasty! Definetly check out ramsankar.com for a wealth of great info on the raw food diet, recipes and other topics such as yoga and meditation!

This lil' hand cranked coconut grinder is a common tool for raw foodies in India and is definetly on my Christmas list!

 Sunday, we were kinda racing about to get everything ready for my recipe demo, but we did have some more time to meander about the festival that morning and listen to some amazing info from Brian Clement and a panel of health gurus. After which Amanda got a chance to meet Brian, who really is a great example of what healthy eating and raw foods can do for you! At 61 he looks like a healthy person in their early forties. We were lookin’ at the pic of Brian and Amanda (who’s only in her late twenties) and they looked they could be a couple! *lol* I better watch  out!  :0)

Brian Clement and Amanda....should I be worried? :0)

Demo'ing my BBQ Portabella Burger and havin' fun with the crowd! :0D

I cranked out my BBQ Portobello Burger for the crowd (and a couple of hungry dogs who didn’t appreciate the sweet music of the vita-mix). I love sharing my recipes and info and had a great time talking with the crowd and answering questions. Then I turned the stage over to Laurel Anderson . Laurel Anderson has been rockin’ the raw scene on the west coast and her raw chili has even won out in a chili cook-off! Now if that doesn’t say somethin’ about her culinary skills I don’t know what could! She whipped up a chocolate cream pie filling that was so freakin’ good I had to later seek out her restaurant’s booth at the event and pick up a piece for Amanda and myself!

Big Daddy tossing together some delicious fruit salad! :0)

 Later that evening we watched a fruit salad recipe demo from Dr Bernardo Lapallo. Dr. Bernado “Big Daddy” Lappalo is a living testament of the power of healthy living . At 108 he’s articulate, funny and vibrant! Amanda, Barbara and myself were inspired and touched to hear him rockin’ out his presentation and telling it like it is! Check out his Book “Age less/Live more: Achieving Health and Vitality at Age 107 and Beyond” to learn more about his tips and techniques on ideal health!

I even ran into my friend Revvell Revati of Rawkin Raw Radio and Lets Talk Raw! I've done a couple talks with her on www.letstalkraw.com and it's always a blast! :0D

 There were many more presentations, some of which I didn’t get a chance to check out! But I had a blast and it was great meeting up with some friends from the West Side! Peace, love and rawness everyone! And rock on Raw Spirit Crew!! :0D