If you have been following our posts and maybe even my Facebook status updates, you’ll have noticed that I’m trying to learn more about “raw” foods.

It all started sometime back in January when something went very wrong with my body. I started getting extremely painful stomach aches in the upper abdomen – probably 4 attacks in over a period of one month – after eating certain kinds of foods. The stomach pains would last anywhere between 2 hours to 7 hours (<– that time landed me in the emergency room because I couldn’t take the pain anymore!). I finally drilled down my problems and it was associated with dairy. But how could this be? I grew up on milk and cheese – in fact, I had just spent my entire Christmas holiday indulging in cream soups, cheese and truffle pate. Why all of a sudden? My visit to the hospital rule out gall stones (via ultrasound) but my problems didn’t seem to be associated with lactose intolerance either because, well, I know, “TMI” – I didn’t get the runs either. So what was the problem??

I scheduled an appointment with a Gastroentrenologist and she said it must be my gall bladder failing me. WHAT? Again, WHY NOW? Apparently, a woman who has gone through pregnancy is highly susceptible to this happening and guess what, it’s happening to me. (there are SO many things I didn’t know about what happens to your body post pregnancy – but don’t get me started) She suggested that I take it out.

HELL to the NO! I think I was born with a gall bladder for a reason so I’d like to keep it. The gallbladder acts as a storage unit for bile to release into your small intestines to help you digest your food. When the gallbladder fails, there is a buildup of bile because there is no where to collect. I almost considered removing my gallbladder but I wanted to do research first so I could at least make an informed decision. I’m glad I did. After doing much research, I found information about how people who have had their gall bladders removed can be much more at risk of getting bowel cancer of some sort. So, at least I know now that dairy triggers my attacks – I can avoid dairy, but forever?

If no more dairy forever means no more pizza or lasagne, cheese paired with wine, cream soups or ice cream – then I might as well become a vegan. But wait, that means that I can’t eat meat – or sushi – or eggs benedict! Uh, a food whore’s dilemma…

Maybe there is another solution. You must realize that this is a HUGE problem for a food CRAZED person like me. Can I recover from this? Maybe. I turned on my Netflix and started watching food documentaries. I found Food Matters and was instantly inspired by what the message was. What struck me the most was the HEALING power of food in it’s most natural form and the use of vitamins as the cure all. Of course, vitamins won’t heal a torn ligament or anything (that’s what surgeons are for) but vitamins and raw foods can help you heal from the inside out….

Which is what brought me to do some investigation on the raw food choices in Chicago.

I made my first stop at Karyn’s Raw on Halsted in Lincoln Park – I was actually on my way to a cooked meal brunch, but like most diets, I was planning to start “tomorrow”.  I picked up $65 in food, including 2 giant kale salads priced at $12.99 each.  Yikes. this raw thing is gonna be expensive.  I had my brunch and went straight home and was looking forward to my raw dinner!

I ate raw for the next day and a half.  Upon opening my second salad (the first I enjoyed with my family) – I found that my salad was MOLDY already – despite the freshness date being 4 days later.  What the dealio? my $13 salad threw me off my “raw game”.

Karyn's Kale Salad - Moldy after one day of purchase.

Disappointed, I emailed Karyn’s and asked if there was any way I could come back another time to get another salad but until now, I have not hear back (two weeks later…)  Good bye Karyn’s. You’ve lost my business forever.

I spent the next day grueling over my sucky salad and my boss recommended that I try out Borrowed Earth Cafe.  She mentioned a guy she went to high school with, lost 75lbs eating there. WHAT? Ok, I had to check it out.  She also said the food was really good – she did the raw thing for a good 3 months to help her control her blood sugar (type 1 diabetic) and thought the food was great there.

I sent off a friendly email to the owners of Borrowed Earth and asked when might be a good time to drop in, eat and chat.  We agreed on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm.

I found my way to downtown Downers Grove and easily found parking in the downtown area. Surprisingly at 3pm, there were several tables occupied by raw food enthusiasts.  I was REALLY excited to discover a new way to eat! 

Danny

Kathy and Danny, with their dreadlocks, slim bodies and glowing skin – greeted me , the apologized for being busy.  I wasn’t bothered by it. I was afterall, there to mainly eat. (this is Danny making a juice that he DOESN’T server on the menu – he made that clear, LOL)

So many interesting choices I had never seen or tasted before!  I asked what was good and Danny recommended that I try the “burrito”

Burrito Loco - Guacamole, cashew "sour cream", spicy sunflower seed "beans", wrapped in a corn and flax seed tortilla.

"beans"

The dish was served with 3 of their signature salads and their super delicious and healthy dressings.  One salad was comprised mainly of kale, the second cabbage and the third, swiss chard.  Each of the salads had it’s own unique flavors and textures.

The “burrito” was also surprising – really good – it had the flavors you would expect from the traditional burrito (cumin, chili powder) and the sunflower was ground up but still with alot of texture.  Now I have to be honest, it was a little salty – but so is Mexican food, right?  I ate the whole thing anyway. and when I was done and full – I still craved more.  There is something really strange about eating raw – and I noticed this when I was eating Karyn’s take out the week before.  You get an incredible amount of energy and you crave MORE fresh raw food.

Then I saw something else on the menu that I just had to have -CHEESECAKE!  Remember what I said before? How my life just blows because I can’t have any dairy?  Well, given that Borrowed Earth Cafe is raw and vegan – I knew that this would not be an issue.

I’ll take a slice!…and I ate the whole thing.

Oh, before I forget, might I add that service here is fast.  The food is made fresh daily but prepared “ready to assemble”.  The wait isn’t very long at all – if it happens to be, just drink the amazing tasting energized water (water that has been treated to similate fast moving spring water) You will notice a delicious difference!

Chocolate "cheesecake"

Wow – that was some good cheesecake (but it better be too for $9 a slice!)  Made with coconut butter and raw chocolate, this “cheesecake” was probably better than a real cheesecake. there was a really nice smooth consistency to it and it wasn’t too sweet. Although it had the richness of a dairy cheesecake, it didn’t have the heaviness!  I did take a piece home to see if I could trick my husband into believing it was the “real thing” but he ended up getting stuck in a big snowstorm on his business trip in Minneapolis and ended up not eating the cake until two days later. He wasn’t fooled. Unfortunately.  I’ll try again next time.

If “raw” foods interest you, make sure you have money in the bank account.  It will cost you a pretty penny.  But worth every penny.  The movie Food Matters makes a good point. Why is it that American’s don’t think it’s necessary to put the BEST foods in our body? Why do we spend more money on material things than putting in the very best into ourselves?

Borrowed Earth Cafe is the ONLY end-to-end organic and raw restaurant in Chicago.  And I learned after borrowing a raw foods “cookbook” that making raw food is not only time consuming but extremely labor intensive.  Thing have to be soaked over night or dehydrated over low temperatures and marinated to get great flavors and textures.  My $40 meal was worth every penny. I can’t wait to go back!

Some of you may be wondering – “so, now what? How’s your gallbladder now”?  Truth is, I don’t know. I haven’t spent enough time healing my body inside out but I am committed to eating much more raw now than ever and hopefully I will be able to one day enjoy cheese fondue and pizza again. When I do, I’ll be sure to share the news with you all….

Vivian

Borrowed Earth Cafe

970 Warren Ave
Downers Grove, IL 60515

(630) 795-1729
www.borrowedearthcafe.com