Living Cuisine: The Art and Spirit of Raw Foods

This extensive volume provides a compendium of information on the chic raw foods movement. Underkoffler, a Maui-based restaurateur and workshop facilitator, devotes several hundred pages to descriptions of fruits, vegetables and the other essentials of a raw foods diet; the economic and social effects of eating raw foods; and the health benefits of adhering to such a diet. Many of the volume's recipes make the prospect of eating all raw foods quite appetizing. Indonesian vegetable Pad Thai in Coconut Sauce, Golden Butternut Soup with Provencal Pesto, Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms and Crumble Apple Strudel Bundt Cake are all dishes that even non-raw converts might savor. And the author offers little tips to help soften the strict rules of eating raw. For example, she explains,""A wonderful secret of raw foods preparation is to serve soup in a warmed bowl. It allows the flavors to bloom a little bit more and keeps the soup warm without having to heat the soup to unhealthful temperatures upon serving."" For readers who don't mind lukewarm bisque, or the significant effort that goes into preparing it, this book offers nice variety and valuable information.