The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » raw

Matteo Silverman’s GRACIOUS GOURMAND

joshuakatcher — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:21:34 +0000

Matteo Silverman's food is legendary in Brooklyn. After many successful years of hosting 4CV (Four Course Vegan), he has refined and mastered his technique and style. This was obvious last Friday when he unleashed a six-course Mexican-fusion menu - plus a customized Kanon Organic Vodka martini; Sastuma Tangerine & Thai Basil. The raw cashew-cheese Amuse Bouchce was both a visual delight in the pink root vegetable pocket, and a delicious starter that got everyone in the mood for more. The Cayuga Farms Black Bean Soup with Toasted Cumin and Citrus Sour Cream was rich, hearty, decadent, and perfect for the chilly weather. The Red Kuri Squash Crepinette with Pickled Beets and Oaxacan Mole was outstanding, complex, and thought-provoking - and how can you go wrong with chocolate for dessert combined with cinnamon and vanilla? This was the last GRACIOUS GOURMAND until 2011, so if you missed it, I'm sorry! In the time being, don;t forget to come every Sunday from 11am- 3pm to the Gracious Gourmand Waffle Brunch featuring Chef Ayinde Howell.

Swedish Chic & Lucky Duck

joshuakatcher — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:03:19 +0000

I visited the Eco Chic showcase at the Scandanavia House in Manhattan to get a sense of what's happening with sustainable fashion in Europe and beyond. There wasn't a ton of menswear, but there were some gems, and below I'll share the highlights. My favorite piece in the show was an organic, Japanese denim suit that had a hand-feel very similar to wool. It's nice to find non-wool suits, now that we know that wool production is one of largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions (for example, New Zealand's 40 million sheep constitute 90% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions). Julian Red, a sustainable Swedish clothing line, harnesses ecological textiles and fair labor, turning them into universally attractive garments. Over 60% of their entire collection is organic. Bergman's has the claim of being the first commercially available organic cotton in the world, beginning in 1986. With partners as big as Levi's, their have their fingers in many pies. Bergman's also developed the criteria for organic certification of cotton and textiles, which have been adopted globally. On a neighboring dress form was Zion, a street fashion label using organic cotton, fair labor, and water-based dyes free of heavy-metals. They also support a tree-planting initiative in Tanzania to reduce carbon.

• I was One Lucky Duck when I tried all these scrumptious snacks from the company of the same name. It's hard for me not to nosh all day long while working or running errands. It's helpful to have snacks that aren't going to kill you (either by taste or lack or nutrition). My two favorites are the rich, dark chocolate macaroons and the cheese-y 'quackers'. They are sophisticated, indulgent, and healthfully vegan, raw and locally made in NYC, like all their treats. One Luck Duck is has two locations in New York: the Chelsea Market, and Gramercy, but their treats can be purchased from anywhere on their website: www.oneluckyduck.com

VEGANIK: 10 VEGAN PRODUCTS TO TRY IN 2010 (PART 2)

joshuakatcher — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:56:47 +0000

(Part II: #6-#10) By contributor Nik Tyler Continuing on my epic quest to discover new (to me) products that I think you’ll dig as well; enjoy #6-10 vegan products to try in 2010!! (see 1 -5 HERE) . . . . 6. AMY'S I think Amy's Natural & Organic meals are groovy!! Everything they produce is vegetarian, and many are vegan. They're all organic, easy to heat and serve, and darn tasty to boot! Amy's vast array of vegan options range from breakfast steel-cut oats to tofu scramble to Asian noodle stir-fry to vegetable enchiladas to veggie burgers, pizza, chili, baked ziti and even chocolate cake (and that's just to name a few)!! My personal fave is Amy's vegan "Family Marinara" Sauce - which is a fantastic addition to noodles, quinoa, beans, sauteed veggies and just about anything else you can think of! You can find Amy's products at Whole Foods and several other health food stores. For more info, check out their website: http://amys.com/ 7. MAUK FAMILY FARMS I've been a fan of Mauk Family Farms products for a while now. This company makes some really delectable Flax Seed crackers (my favorite flavor is "Garlic Onion") as well as two other great products called "Wheat Free Crusts" (brown and golden flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, celery seed, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, parsley, sea salt & water) & "Breakfast Crusts" (pumpkin seeds, black/white sesame seed,golden flax seed, garlic, onion, dulse flakes & sea salt). They have no grain or gluten and are rich in Copper, Magnesium & essential fatty acids. These crusts are totally addictive and perfect on their own... or try one of my favorite combo's and spread on some creamy coconut oil and you'll be in total ecstasy!! You can buy Mauk Family Farms products at Whole Foods, perhaps your local Co Op or in their online store: https://maukfamilyfarms.com/mm5/merchant.mvc 8. ENJOY LIFE FOODS® cookies : click to enlarge" width="195" height="302" /> Searching for a food company that makes delicious snacks and is "sensitive" to the issue of food allergies? Enjoy Life Foods is that company; their mission is to create and sell cookies, trail mix, snack bars & baking products that are uber tasty, as well as free and clear of gluten, dairy, egg, casein, peanuts, tree-nuts, and soy... And that's exactly what they've done! My favorite products that they make are the "Happy Apple" & "No-Oats "Oatmeal"" cookies; They're moist, chewy, not-too-sweet, and just undeniably delicious! So now you know a company that makes treats that can be enjoyed by literally everyone, even those who need to be extra cautious due to food allergies. Be sure and check out their full product list and learn more about this cool company: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/ 9. 2 MOMS IN THE RAW Founded by Shari, a very cool, health-conscious mom of three, 2 Moms In The Raw is a fantastic company that produces a yummy array of organic, raw Granola ("Blueberry", "Cranberry", "Gojiberry" & "Raisin") and Sea Crackers ("Garden Herb", "Pesto" & "Tomato Basil"). The "Garden Herb" Sea Crackers are definitely my favorite; consisting of Flaxseed, Kombu (Sea Vegetable), Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sea Salt and Spices - they're light, crunchy, crisp and they taste like a fresh herb garden compressed into chip form! The "Tomato Basil" Sea Crackers are rad as well, made up of Flaxseeds, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Garlic, Kombu, Herbs & Sea Salt - they have a wonderful garlicky, sun-dried tomato bite! Both of these crackers are the perfect light-bite for kids and adults; enjoy them on their own or dip it! In addition to their delicious crackers, 2 Moms also sell raw Granola which rocks! Not your typical granola, a little more chunky, you can break it into little pieces and eat it like a breakfast bar. The two flavors I've tried, Blueberry & (Gluten-free) Gojiberry are free of refined sugars (substitute Agave) and instead are jam-packed with a ton of healthy ingredients (buckwheat, coconut, a plethora of seeds/nuts and more!!), all of which have been soaked & sprouted to perfection; chewy, crunchy, semi-sweet and utterly delicious, countless textures and flavors awaken your taste-buds and take em' on one helluva' wild joy-ride! You can purchase 2 Moms In The Raw products at Shari's wonderful site: http://2momsintheraw.com/ or look for them at your local health food store. 9. SUNPOWER NATURAL In addition to a full-blown gourmet vegan menu at their restaurant (located in Studio City, CA), Sun Power Natural has an awesome product line of raw cookies that I recently discovered at my local co op. The two flavors I've tried are "Cinnamon" (coconut, raisins, cinnamon & agave) & "Fruit Burst" (oranges, coconut, raisins, agave). These cookies are "chewy, gooey & delicious" and I definitely think Sun Power Natural has got it going on! In addition to tasting like heaven, these organic treats are raw, gluten-free & low glycemic. Look for SunPower food at your local co op and Whole Foods, or just click on this link (http://www.sunpowernatural.com/) and get some raw decadence in your life stat! ________ I hope you enjoyed my 10 vegan product picks! In addition to these yummy snacks, try and balance your diet and combat any acidic/sugar intake by consuming tons of alkalizing greens and lots of pH balanced water. Here's to your health!

VEGANIK: Infrared Saunas + The Tao Healing Arts Center Review

joshuakatcher — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:51:58 +0000

Vol. 8: I am Nik’s Toxins Running For The Hills!! by Nik Tyler In addition to strenuous exercise, another awesome and effective way to work up an extreme hot sweat is in an infrared sauna. I found a terrific one at The Tao Healing Arts Center (http://www.thaconline.com/), a hidden gem located on Main Street in Santa Monica. This very zen, healing sanctuary has been a fixture in Santa Monica for years and I would always pass it by with a curious eye. But a few weeks ago, I finally went inside and I am so happy I did! The 45 minute infrared sauna sessions are incredible on many levels; relaxing, quiet and peaceful, they forced me to take some time and just be still and contemplative. What's also really cool about the infrared sauna is that the heat waves effect the body directly without heating the air inside the sauna the way a regular sauna would. Because of this, it's much more comfortable to inhale and it's an awesome way to really kick those toxins to the curb! One other great perk to The Tao Healing center is that it is located right down the street from one of my favorite raw vegan restaurants, Euphoria Loves Rawvolution (http://www.rawvolution.com/). After my sauna session, you can usually find me there replenishing my body with a delicious raw kale salad and a big side of guac! So if you live in the Santa Monica area, do your body and mind a favor and check out The Tao Healing Arts Center. It's a very special institutions of well-being & peacefulness and such a great asset to the city. And, if you aren't from my neck of the woods, where ever you live, I highly suggest you give an infrared sauna a shot. Sweat out those nasty toxins and feel the clarity of being a clearer and cleaner being, both in mind, body and spirit!

Kale Chips

joshuakatcher — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:43:07 +0000

One of my new obsessions are Kale Chips! There's a few people I have to thank for introducing these into my life. Primarily my sister, Joelle, who makes some serious kale chips from scratch. Recently, my roommate Alyssa brought me boxes of "New York Naturals: Raw Vegan Kale Chips" from the Park Slope Coop. Holy crap. I was skeptical at first, but I swear they're better than potato chips. Plus, there is nothing bad about them. They're raw, so all the nutrients are intact and they are packed with iron, protein and other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Not in New York? No sweat. You can buy them on Etsy! They come in Spicy Miso, and my favorite, Vegan Cheese. Feeling adventurous and wanna' make some yourself? Check these recipes! Raw Food Kale Chips, Easy Raw Kale Chips

Raw Sweet-Pesto "Pasta"

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:58:54 +0000

The last recipe I did was a cooked, more traditional version of sweet pesto pasta - but for those of you who like it raw, I offer you my uncooked interpretation. Zucchini, squash (and even eggplant and carrots!) can be shredded into thin, linguine-like strips. If you suffer from gluten allergies, want to shrink your carb-footprint, or just want a lighter, healthier dish - check this cheap and easy (just like me!) recipe: WHAT YOU'LL NEED (serves 2):

1 med-large zucchini
1.5 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/2 ripe avocado
1/4 cup water
1 clove raw garlic
2 dried black mission figs
1 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1 Tbs nutritional yeast*
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning

DIRECTIONS:

Using a vegetable peeler, shred the zucchini very thinly (using almost no pressure).
In a blender, combine the basil, cashews, avocado, water, garlic, figs, vinegar, nutritional yeast, salt, and Italian seasoning. Save the black pepper for putting on top!
Pour the pesto over the shredded "pasta", mix, top with the pepper, and serve!

Q&A *Sometimes when I include Nutritional Yeast in a raw recipe, readers ask, "Is Nutritional Yeast actually raw?". The answer is no, it's not raw. However, you NEVER want to eat raw yeast! Nutritional Yeast it is a really valuable supplement with a rock-star nutritional profile. So if you're religiously raw - skip it. If not, it's crucial - and tastes like yummy, nutty, cheesy goodness! According to Sundance Natural Foods:

Raised On Molasses Nutritional yeast is grown on mineral enriched molasses and used as a food supplement. At the end of the growth period, the culture is pasteurized to kill the yeast. You never want to use a live yeast (i.e. baking yeast) as a food supplement because the live yeast continues to grow in the intestine and actually uses up the vitamin B in the body instead of replenishing the supply. (Brewer's yeast is nutritionally the same but as a by-product of the beer-brewing industry it has a characteristic bitter hops flavor.) It's Good For Ya' Nutritional yeast contains 18 amino acids (forming the complete protein) and 15 minerals. Being rich in the B-complex vitamins, it is vital in many ways and particularly good for stress reduction. The B-complex vitamins help make nutritional yeast such a valuable supplement, especially to the vegetarian. It is one of the rare vegetarian sources of B12. One element of yeast is the trace mineral chromium, also known as the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). This is necessary to regulate blood sugar and is important for diabetics and people with a tendency toward low blood sugar.

Judgmental: Veggie Conquest

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:26 +0000

When I was asked to be a judge for the first Veggie Conquest showdown in NYC on August 22nd, I had visions of myself as a TV judge like Judge Judy or Gordon Ramsey - handing out brash words of wisdom and catchy, yet condemning spitballs of criticism. "Don't feed me mushy pasta and tell me it's al dente," I may accuse. Or "If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!" There may also be moments where the audience believes I am going to rip someone a new one - but then after a dramatic pause I say, "This...is...the best dish here." O, to dream. And that is why you need to enter this competition. Because you know you can make the best dish there. I know it too. So do it. The SECRET INGREDIENT will be revealed a week before the competition! Meet the Judges for Challenge #1

Lifestyle expert, The Discerning Brute, Joshua Katcher
CIA-trained food stylist, Brian Preston-Campbell
Author and entrepreneur: Lunbox Bruch's Kathy Patalsky

On food competition shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef, the food is so often an obnoxious cliché. Foie Gras. Lamb. Caviar. Bacon. I mean bring a book, people. How many times can you showcase diseased liver, a cuteness-icon, fish periods, and the ass of an animal that's smarter than your dog before it gets boring? I am so excited that there is finally a vegan food competition! I hope you will all buy your tickets for August 22nd, and come join me in Chelsea for this landmark event as a chef or a taster. See you there!

Challenge #1 Amateur Cooking Competition Aug. 22, 2009 Chelsea, Manhattan

Buy tickets here

Raw Creamy Zucchini Pasta

TheDiscerningBrute — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:00:55 +0000

This raw, creamy pasta dish uses thinly-shredded squash and zucchini instead of grain-based pasta. It is amazingly delicious - and as a pasta-lover, I was happily surprised by how much I loved it! WHAT YOU'LL NEED (serves 4):

1 organic zucchini
1 organic yellow squash
2 large organic tomatoes
1 organic avocado
1/4 cup raw, organic cashews
1 Tbs Italian seasoning
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tbs Nutritional Yeast
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
pine nuts for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Using a vegetable peeler, shred the zucchini & squash very thinly (using almost no pressure).
In a blender, combine the avocado, tomato, and cashews. Add in the Italian seasoning, salt and Nutritional Yeast.
Pour the sauce mixture over the "pasta", top with olives and pine nuts, and serve at room temperature.