It doesn’t take much enticement for me to jump on a plane and head to Melbourne.
The delicious food, abundant farmer’s markets, groovy cafes (did I say delicious food?), the innovative ideas and the interesting people all make me feel so alive.
Add to the mix, a gorgeous travel companion, a raw food function and interviews with two ‘authorities’ in the raw food industry and I nearly camped out at the airport in anticipation of the trip!
Wherever I travel, I naturally seek out the region’s best local produce and gourmet food. Of course, specifically I look for anything that fits the bill when it comes to sustainability and organics and is plant based, vegan and raw.
Needless to say, I was in my element in good ole ‘Melbs’ and wished our trip was twice as long. What were the highlights you ask? Well where do I start?
On the indulgence front there was Yong Green Food with its fresh, Asian twist on some of my all time favorite dishes. Their daikon and smoked tofu rolls were out of this world – needless to say we headed back there a second time – just to get another serve 🙂
Then there was Silo (a sustainable & 100% waste free cafe) with it’s raw fudgy bars and it’s strangely delicious edible weed salad.
Move the traveling feast one step further and our senses were taken on a spectacular ride at the ‘Raw House with Matthew Kenney’ dinner – elevating our experience to ‘exquisite new heights’. While the US has some impressive, high end raw food restaurants, in my opinion Australia is in desperate need of a refined, raw food experience that focuses on attention to detail and uses our abundant fresh produce in creative ways. Perhaps a restaurant of such substance is evolving in Melbourne?!? Raw in Melbourne… well It seems we’ll have to wait until 2014 to find out… (Hint: Keep an eye on Fitzroy, Melbourne)
During the pockets of time in between eating (yes, there were a few), we had the privilege of interviewing the renowned Matthew Kenney (star chef at the Raw House dinner) and Kemi Nekvapil, one of Australia’s most prominent raw food advocates.
Kemi, shared her refreshing approach to following a plant based diet and inspired us to put down the rule book when it it comes to finding our ‘groove’ with health and wellness. What a powerful, no holds barred kinda gal she is.
From raw beauty to deluxe raw food classes, check out her retreats and lifestyle workshops at: http://kemisrawkitchen.com.au After generously sharing her time and delightful cup of tea, we wondered if life could get any better…
And yet it did.
Our next interview was with US based Matthew Kenney – chef, multiple restaurant owner, author and creator of ‘the only classically structured Raw and Living Foods educational centre in the world’. Given his notoriety I was a little apprehensive about the interview however, it soon became apparent that despite his success, Matthew was an incredibly down to earth, present and humble man who’s passions revolved around the refinement of flavors, techniques and processes in raw and living food.
Combining local, organic produce with innovative techniques, Matthew’s culinary creations are not only exquisite in flavour but visually beautiful in composition.
Should you be visiting the US anytime soon, his latest living foods restaurant – White Lotus, Miami is due to open in early 2014.
It’s certainly on my list of things to do, especially after Matthew quietly mentioned post interview that the White Lotus ‘will be amazing’. Given what we’ve already seen and experienced of Matthew Kenney Cuisine, no doubt it will be. Perhaps it’s time we arranged a US Raw Food Culinary Tour with White Lotus as our first stop?