5 Places to provide an introduction to raw food in ubud
When it comes to healing arts, health food and more conscious, eco-friendly ways of living, few places do it better than Ubud. And so it comes as no surprise that the destination is one of the best places in the world to dip your toes into the raw food scene. A trend that has gained huge momentum in recent years, the premise of raw foodism is essentially eating uncooked, unprocessed foods, mostly plant-based, in order to preserve the nutrients and enzymes destroyed by heating. With health-enhancing advantages such as alleviating headaches and allergies, boosting immunity, memory, and mental clarity, and amplifying energy and vitality, the movement is a visionary new approach to food. And, always one to embrace radical new ways of living, and eating, Ubud offers restaurants, courses and workshops all catering to the trend. Not to mention the Balinese abundance of tropical fruits and vegetables that make eating raw extra easy and appealing. Read on to discover what it means to leave the oven behind in Ubud.
Restaurants:
1. Alchemy
Source: Luke Condie
Established in 2011, Alchemy is Ubud’s raw-food trailblazer. Located in Penestanan, they serve only raw vegan food - and lots of it. The menu is vast and diverse, showcasing the best in nourishing raw organic meals and there’s also a juice bar and a salad bar where you can create your own customized dressing. Alchemy also has an organic farm and an academy offering raw vegan cooking courses and certifications.
2. Clear Cafe
Source: Clear Cafe Ubud
The ultra Instagrammable Clear Café boasts a menu overflowing with healthy choices - including raw food options like raw pizza, linguine, sushi, burritos and lasagne. Enter through the stunning spinning door and escape into a health foodie’s dream, complete with water features, spiral staircase and super friendly staff. The restaurant embraces local and ethical produce and multicultural flavours that range from the Middle East to Mexico. For unforgettable and nutritious plant-based dishes that look great, taste great and do great things for your body, head to Clear Café.
3. Little K
Source: Matthew Oldfield
Little k, also known as Garden Cafe, is part of the Yoga Barn and has some truly top-quality raw food options, as well as veggie and Ayurveda offerings. Following your Power Vinyasa flow, fuel up on living raw food delights in this idyllic garden oasis. The Juice Bar also offers health-boosting and detoxifying drinks including the local tonic known as jamu.
4. The seeds of life
Source: The Seeds Of Life
Another restaurant ideal for raw food aficionados and amateurs alike, at Seeds of Life you can enjoy vibrant living raw food in the form of dishes like Reishi mushroom & cordyceps extract powder brownies, papaya crepes, chia porridge, Korean hobak rolls and the restaurant’s signature ‘SOL bowl’. There’s also the Tonic bar with its huge menu of herbal tonics, teas, smoothies and creamers. The Seeds of Life has received rave reviews - and it deserves them all.
5. Sayuri Healing Food
Source: Sayuri Healing Food
Sayuri is not just a restaurant. As well as enjoying amazing raw food dishes, you can also enroll in raw-food training courses, as well as meet other like-minded foodies in a dynamic space that is always thrumming with life and energy. This health food hub is a cosy space with both indoor and outdoor dining space and serves mostly raw-living and plant-based, gluten-free dishes, prepared according to Ayurveda, Chinese and Macrobiotic principles. For inspiring food and equally inspiring networking opportunities, Sayuri is a great choice.
6. Moksa
Source: Moksa Ubud
To experience a true culinary journey, head to Moksa where you can see the exact place where all the components of your meal originated. Sit with a view of the permaculture gardens surrounding the restaurant and enjoy the knowledge that what you’re eating couldn’t be more local if it tried. Each dish is plant-based and only slightly heated, if at all, and the menu includes treats such as jackfruit tacos and the asam laksa noodles with barbecued seitan. With its chilled vibes and health food galore, you’ll struggle not to fall in love with Moksa.
Courses
If you’ve been won over by the raw food scene and think becoming a raw food chef might just be your calling, Ubud has you covered with courses that will teach you the principles you need to begin wowing people with your non-heated culinary creations. Learn the secrets behind raw food: what it is, why it’s so good for us, and how to prepare great-tasting, plant-based meals at home. Here are just two possible options:
Sayuri Healing Food Raw Chef Training
For those eager to learn more about raw food, Sayuri offers courses where you can create elaborately flavoured dishes, master techniques such as dehydration and cold smoking, deepen your spiritual connection to food and eating, enhance your understanding of the power of natural ingredients to heal, grow your awareness of medicinal food properties and superfoods, as well as learn the principles behind a conscious and eco-friendly business. They even offer Raw Chocolatier training.
Raw Food Bali aims to showcase the endless variety of dishes that qualify as raw food. It’s not just salads and smoothies, you know. Embark on a gastronomic journey that will change your approach to eating forever with a 3-day workshop that will teach you how to create delicious raw food dishes inspired by world cuisine and how to incorporate raw food principles into your daily life. With nutritional talks, demonstrations of gourmet raw dishes, and enough raw food to satisfy all your needs, this is an ideal course for those keen to take their passion for healthy eating to the next level.
