Pure Food and Wine is very expensive, but has a trendy atmosphere so can be a fun place for those who can afford it. But raw food purists should note that this restaurant does not use only all-raw ingredients. Recipes might have such non-raw elements as maple syrup and nutritional yeast.

Bonobo's is no longer in business, due to a dispute with the building owner. It's a shame, as it was an all-raw-vegan place and perfect for lunch.

Angelica Kitchen has one raw food combo plate (also called their picnic plate) that is good in a pinch. But this is not a place to go to for a wide variety of inventive raw vegan dishes.

Quintessence is wonderful. Their food is delicious and very inventive, like their raw vegan bagel and cream cheese dish and their chia seed pudding. I could go on and on about their menu! They're the oldest raw food restaurant in Manhattan, in fact. It's a small place, but fabulous.

As a raw foodie, I like using only ingredients that are really raw. And I always wish that other raw food chefs would do the same. But most of them cheat with things like nutritional yeast, "natural" flavorings (which are not natural at all, let alone raw), maple syrup (not at all raw), and other non-raw ingredients like Balsamic vinegar.

I figure that since such a miniscule percentage of the populace are raw foodies, we chefs ought to cater to the highest common denominator, because otherwise no one is making food for those who prefer to be 100 percent raw.

I would really prefer to see a raw vegan labeling law with enforcement. Because raw consumers don't know if rumors that so-called raw agave is not raw at all, and/or is doctored with corn syrup (ugh!), are true. Or if cashews can ever be really raw. Etc.

I just discovered a wonderful organic market in Boca today. It's called 4th Generation and is just south of Mizner Park on Federal Highway:

http://www.4thGenerationMarket.com

They even have locally-prepared organic raw food items, which are very hard to find!

I'm relocating to PBC from Sarasota (after living in NYC for a long time, where I was spoiled by having many raw vegan restaurants to choose from).

So far, the only places I know of in PBC with raw vegan items on their menu are Soma Cafe in Lake Worth (tasty and casual; raw menu items in a place that serves cooked carnivorous as well) and the wonderful Life Food Gourmet in Miami. I also know about Josh's beach market in Hollywood and Glaser Farms, and about the lunches and dinners at Hippocrates Institute.

Does anyone know of anything else that might be opening soon? There's a real need for cafes in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. I'm hoping some talented raw restaurateur will step up to the plate soon.

If you can let me know, I can blog about them here:

http://stuffrawfoodistslike.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Judy Pokras
vegwriter at gmail