Dec. 14, 2011 - Issue #843: New Year’s Eve Style
Raw, healthy eating
Never too early to start thinking about your New Year's resolution
» Sheniz and Ayaaz Kassam behind the counter at Noorish
By transitioning their lifestyles into a career opportunity, Sheniz Kassam and her brothers transformed the corner of 109 Street and 84 Avenue into a healthy-conscious space composed of a vegetarian eatery, an elixir smoothie bar, interactive teaching kitchen and a space for meditation and yoga. In early October, Noorish opened its doors.
"Raw food is becoming very popular on the West Coast," says Sheniz. "We know we're ahead of the curve in Edmonton, but at the same time we surveyed people on the streets and found that 92 percent of those asked said that this was a highly underserved market for healthy vegetarians."
Raw food may sound boring and tasteless, but there is a fine art to its preparation. A raw food diet is primarily considered unheated food or food cooked to a temperature less than 40 C to 46 C. Over this temperature it is believed that nutrients are lost and enzymes are destroyed.
It's time to check your perceptions of carrot and celery sticks at the door. "We want people to feel comfortable ordering something familiar like a burger or nachos," explains Sheniz. '"But you can't expect a cheesy gooey piece of pizza. You need to be open and adventurous to try a new palate with live cuisine. It's very gourmet and full of flavour—you probably won't miss the meat."
Robyn Unrau, trained at the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in California, journeyed to Edmonton from her raw food retreat in Fernie to help inspire and create the menu. Almost everything is made in-house from scratch and composed of living and powerfully delicious ingredients. Preparation takes time: the pizza alone takes 48 hours to make and includes a sprouting process that adds nutrients to the final dish.
"In our society, many people are overeating but are nutrient starved," explains Sheniz. "People are constantly eating so much cooked food there are so little nutrients left in their diets. A dish here may not look enormous, but it will leave your body feeling full because it is bursting with nutrients versus a meal that leaves you full from the bulk."
An easy way in with skeptics is through a sweet tooth. A display case filled with coconut key lime pie, cheesecake and brownies all look appetizing, but the price is slightly higher than your average dessert. "All the desserts are raw, the ingredients are pure and the taste is intense," explains Sheniz. "You won't be disappointed."
A meal at Noorish is designed to leave you feeling great and full of energy. "We're not trying to get everyone to go raw, we're just trying to expose people to something that is good for their body, but in a form that tastes good," explains Sheniz. "It's easier on the digestive system, you'll feel better, and the taste is incredible." Don't be afraid to Noorish your body—your taste buds will thank you.
Noorish Conscious Eatery
8440 - 109 St, 780.756.6880
More info about Noorish →
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