I’ve only been in the Windy City for a few hours, but I’m having a blast! Tonight, a group of early HLS arrivals headed to Raw, a raw and vegan café.
I wanted one of everything in the display cases!
Polly and Carole, the owners of Raw, put together an amazing array of raw goodies for us to sample. They were so welcoming and enthusiastic!
There was vegan sushi:
“Egg” salad with sprouted raw bread:
Raw lasagna with cashew cheese (my personal favorite):
Falafel with hummus:
Raw lemon squares:
Their version of the blogworld’s famous “overnight oats”:
Raw dark chocolate brownie, made with avocado mousse:
And raw hazelnut biscotti (okay I lied, these were my favorite!):
After all that sampling, I wasn’t too hungry, so Meghann and I decided to split a kale salad.
| Meghann and I |
It was phenomenal! I don’t usually like the taste of raw kale, but it’s so much better when expertly prepared.
I also ordered a green juice, though I forget just what was in it! It was tasty, but I felt a little nauseous an hour or so after finishing. Katy told me that wheatgrass can cause stomach issues, so I’m betting that was the culprit L
Vegan or not, everyone loved this meal. It was great to meet so many new bloggers as well- it seems that taking pictures of uncooked delicacies is an excellent way to bond :) Thank you so much to Diana for organizing the meal, and to Raw for hosting us!
After dinner, the group headed to the YumUniverse cocktail party. There was a little confusion getting there (how many bloggers does it take to get to a cocktail party?), but we made it eventually.
The party was held at the Chicago Urban Art Society, which was a really neat space.
There were multiple tables set up with vegan treats and organic drinks, but with my funky-feeling stomach, I stuck to water...in a jar, no less. Looks like the "in a jar" trend is catching on...
| Katy, Tina and me |
| Me and Gracie! |
Katy, Gracie, Tina and I were all pooped from the long day of traveling, so we headed back to the hotel pretty early. When my stomach finally felt better, I had a vegan macaroon from Valerie of Vegan by Valerie. There's always room for a chocolate nightcap J
Bed is calling my name…tomorrow will be a busy day! Happy Friday loves!
What do you think of raw food? Which of the dishes sounds the best to you?
Have you ever been to Chicago? Any must-sees?
21 comments:
Looks like a fun night!! Wish we could be there to meet you and hang out and eat delicious raw foods :) Everything sounds and look great!!! YUM
We do not handle wheatgrass either, it is really powerful!! It can be too much for some people because it is really good at cleaning the body out and getting rid of toxins. Has many great health benefits though!
I hope you feel better!
All looks so amazingly good! Sorry the wheatgrass messed with your tummy, not fun. Ah, raw favs? The sushi! No, the lasagna? The lemon treat! I want them all, to be honest. I love the idea of raw, but I think raw desserts call my name more than raw meals. Some eats are just amazing when cooked!
I would love to go to Chicago, my hubby wants to run a marathon there, and I'd just go for some healthy livin' summit fun!
I am dying of envy my friend..dying. I'll take one of everything, please.
I have visited that shop before, isn't it lovely?! I also wanted one of everything...I couldn't decide.. The lemon square was definetly my favorite. Basically better than any cooked lemon pie I've ever had. See you tomorrow!
I live in Chicago and I have tried the raw lemon squares from there and they are soo yummy! Raw is really expensive though, so I have only ever tried their samples and never actually bought anything there. I love that french market it's new and so cute.
Every kind of raw food I have ever tried I have really liked, but a lot of people I know are surprisingly not accepting of it and some are even against it.
Chicago is lots of fun and I could suggest a million places to go to. For cool, trendy shopping lincoln park, wickerpark, or somewhere around rush st. for more high end stuff. Michigan ave. for shopping at stores you are probably familiar with if you are from an urban area.
Be sure to go to Millennium Park and Navy Pier is also fun. There are fireworks at Navy Pier on Saturday night!
Have a great time in Chicago! :D
I've tried raw vegan food once...in sushi form! I liked it enough, but I wouldn't pay for it again. I think I still rather have hot grub. ;-p
Lucky you, being in Chicago!! Have tons of fun, dear!
I live in the chicago area and I love doing all of the touristy things when people come to town, so I would recommend that you go to the "Sears" Tower (the name has changed to the willis tours, but will always be the Sears Tower to me). I would also recommend doing some window shopping down michigan avenue, it is a bit expensive down there but fun to window shop and spend time with friends. I would also recommend Navy Peir and walking the lakefront. Hope you all are having an amazing time and I am so jealous and sad that I couldnt meet all of you!! :)
That dinner spread looks yum, but I've heard other people say that raw food can sometimes = stomach issues :/ sorry, and hope you're feeling all better tomorrow cause we are going to have some major eating, drinking, exploring, etc, etc-ing to do !! Can't wait, gotta go to sleep to wake up earlyyyyyy and fly out the chi!! :D
Night!
Ahhhhhhhhhh Im loving all the recaps on the HLS from Bloggers!!! I am so glad you are having such a great time ! ( how could u not ! ) U look beautiful btw!
My fave would def be that raw lasagna too, looks so good! I am so glad you posted tonight! I wish I was there! I hope we do meet one day! Hope you got rest and there is so much to see and do in chicago, enjoy the city to the fullest! love u! xoxo
Thanks for coming!! It was so nice meeting you :)
I love raw food - there's this cafe about 20 minutes outside the city I have been dying to try.
I live about 20 minutes outside of Chicago, and there are so many cool things to do in the city. There is a fro-yo shop near North Avenue called iCream Cafe wehre you make your own fro-yo. I've been dying to try it.
I am SO upset y'all are like 30 minutes away from me but I can't make it to the summit. It's killing me!!!! When do you go home?
All the raw food looks delicious! Wish I lived close enough to sample it all!
omg! vegan sushi?! DELICIOUS. i envy you hehe ;)
have a pleasant morning
love, becca
http://fromheretothereinpurple.blogspot.com
awww glad you're having such a great time at HLS! that place sounds amazing and they really hooked you guys up!
have fun girl :)
Can't wait to see everyone at the HLS tomorrow (I can't go to the cocktail portion tonight). I live a mere 90 minutes away from Chicago, so I've been there many a time. Lovee it. If you have time, you MUST check out the shopping on State Street and Michigan Ave!
I read about this one Tina's blog and can't believe I live in Chicago half the year and have not tried it. I have already mapquested directions from my building and plan on going once school starts. haha
Hope you have a great time!! Looking forward to reading about everything!
Im from Chicago!!! Must see, yes Oak Street & Michigan Ave. Gucci, LV, Prada, Barney's, you get the picture :)
SO GLAD you're having a ball and raw food scores..nice!
The pics of you and Gracie btw are stunning. You two need to go out on the town tonite and you will have more drinks sent your way than youll know what to do with :)
ah im so jealous!!! everything looks right up my alley.
i dont water in a glass jar too :)
I've never tried raw food, but I think there's a cafe near me with some raw dishes that I'm dying to try! That raw sushi looks really good.
Sorry about your tummy troubles. :( I hope you're feeling better now!
So fun meeting you this weekend! Thanks for sharing the Kale Salad with me!
I had nausea, cramps and stomach issues until 6am the next morning!! Oh man, I am definitely taking it easy next time I hit up a raw joint.
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