February 7, 2006
Saturday Afternoon Raw
Are you looking to cleanse your battered insides once and for all after scarfing down three Primanti's-style sandwiches, a six-pack of Iron City beer, and two grande Starbucks coffees at that Super Bowl theme party this past weekend? If you'd rather not sign up for a high colonic or a session in the vibratory chair at Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's Sanitarium, head to downtown Washington's Java Green restaurant this Saturday, February 11 at 1 p.m. for this month's Northern Virginia Raw Food Meetup.
Organized by computer scientist Joseph Fleming, the Northern Virginia Raw Food Meetup Group is one of a several such groups in the D.C. area that promote a completely raw vegetarian fare as a healthier alternative to cooked foods. The group's monthly meetings coincide with the monthly United Raw Food Meetup Day, which falls on the second Saturday of every month and sees sister meetings in San Diego, Baltimore, and even Melbourne, Australia.
"We've been picking up momentum over the past few months," said Fleming, who became a raw foodist about six years ago when health problems led him to embrace a fruit-and-vegetable diet. "We get different people at each meeting. It's social and informal."
That is to say, you don't have to be a pre-existing raw foodist to drop by the meetup. Fleming, who eats an apple and a papaya for breakfast, will gladly tell you raw food neophytes and curious types anything you might like to know about the raw food lifestyle. And if you think you're a wiseguy who's found a loophole in this arguably clean and regimented program, you haven't. Although all-fruit smoothies are in bounds, alcohol is off limits because fermentation qualifies as a form of cooking. And tartares and sashimi are out because animal products don't make the cut. Sadly, neither does baked bread, of which Fleming admits to missing a good slice every now and then.
But if you think that the benefits of a raw food diet might outweigh the drawbacks, meet up with some raw foodists at the Meetup. Visit the group's Web site for more details, or simply stop by Java Green at 1020 19th Street NW this Saturday at 1 p.m. for your introduction to the world of raw.
Photo by flickr user yougrowgirl.
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I love Primanti's. What are the chances that they'd open a franchise here in DC?
I remember going to a panel discussion in college where one of these raw food characters presented. The thing is (as was pointed out by every biology, phys ed., and neuroscience professor in attendence), that the raw food diet is great for people who have very realy helth reasons, but very dangerous for many others.
First off, it's really hard to get enough calories to sustain an active lifestyle (if you're an athelete, forget it). Second, it's hard to get all the nutrients you need - I don't remember offhand, but there are a few things - which I know are related to nervous system function and development because I remember which professor talking about it, even if I forget exactly what she said - that are often lacking in such diets.
There's more.
I love Java Green, but really, DC needs an upscale raw vegetarian place, like Raw in San Francisco, to really bring the idea out from the fringes. I couldn't do raw (or Raw) all the time, but it does give the best buzz this side of a double cappuccino.
Aziz -- there's always a chance that Primanti's would open a location in D.C.; after all, they've opened two spots way outside of Pittsburgh in Fort Lauderdale. What's more, Chicago's Billy Goat Tavern decided to open their only extra-Windy City location right here in D.C. My own guess, though, is that the odds are low that Primanti's will bring their French fry-laden sandwiches to the District.
In the meantime, though, you can get Primanti's-style sandwiches at the Penn Ave Pour House.
Oh, Primanti's, how I miss you. I seriously doubt they're planning on expanding outside of Pittsburgh; they are a very yinzer-centric business. The Pour House's sandwiches are all right, but they certainly don't come anything close to the real deal.
What's sad is, the O may be closing it's store in Oakland unless they can find a buyer. It's really profitable, the owners are just sick of mopping up blood from gunshot victims.
Very cool coverage. Thanks!