Rawsome New Year's Celebration at Pure Food and Wine in NYC

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to share my amazing New Year's Eve experience with the

group. A couple of rawists--whom I met at a VegSoul retreat-- and I

decided to bring in the New Year at a raw food restaurant. Because

of the ambience and delectable raw food, we selected Pure Food and

Wine on 54 Irving Place in Manhattan. When I called Pure Food and

Wine, they only indicated that they were having a Midnight Toast.

Consequently, we were expecting a quiet, New Year's celebration

amidst the company of other raw foodists and raw food champions.

 

It was pretty much by reservation only, as the restaurant was packed

by the time we arrived at 9:00 pm. By 11:00 pm, a few tables

cleared, so we thought that by midnight, we would be amongst a small,

subdued crowd. Well, at 11:30, a DJ began to set up. At 11:45, the

music was pumping. At 11:50, an announcement was made, " We at Pure

Food and Wine want to bring in the New Year with a little dancing.

You are more than welcome to stay and join us. " At 11:55, more

patrons showed up. After we toasted the New Year, the management

shoved the tables aside, and the dancing began. We danced to the

sounds of Dancehall Reggae, Hip Hop, and Club music.

 

More patrons poured in, and the restaurant began offering free (Raw)

appetizers from the menu. (Okay, I wish I knew this part ahead of

time, before I spent $100 on the food. :-) Yes, the food at Pure

Food and Wine is delicious, healthy, and pricey -- but worth it.)

 

We stayed for several hours beyond Midnight. We left the restaurant

with a still, mostly packed dance floor.

 

Actually, our entire day was filled with surprises. We also had

a " last supper " of another kind/meaning at the Upper West Side

location of Quintessence raw food restaurant on Saturday, December

31. We had lunch there, and were surprised to find out that that

would be the last meal at that location. They were closing their

doors for good at 4:00 pm that day. However, as Elaine, indicated,

the East Village location will remain open.

 

My raw food friends also took me to a natural foods market called

Westerly. Westerly sells raw snacks from the Raw Bakery, Pure Food

and Wine, Quintessence, Lillian Butler, and others. They also have a

juice bar where they sell raw entrees made there. At the juice bar,

we met some other raw foodists who told us about a raw food support

group that meets at Pure Food and Wine every Monday at 6:30 pm. The

support group is not affiliated with the restaurant, but people

usually come early to eat. The support group hosts different

speakers and has a weekly topic of interest that is discussed during

the meeting.

 

At any rate, I share this story with you because I think it's great

for us to know what's going on in the Raw Food world. From time to

time, I take trips to NYC to savour the delights of different raw

food restaurants. I live in DC, so if anyone is interested in

joining me in the future, send me an email.

 

--Deirdre