TTS Presents: Raw Food Class Series In Japan

TTS Presents: Raw Food Class series In Japan

We finally did it. We started teaching raw food classes in our small town right here in Japan. Let me tell you, it was so much fun but it wasn't an easy feat to get our Japanese friends to join in. Why is that? you might wonder. Well Japan has a long standing culture and a way of doing things that go with tradition. In a small town like ours, when something steps outside the box it doesn't always appeal to the mass. Especially if you consider that most Japanese people don't like raw vegetables. Gasp! They go as far as cooking carrots before putting them in a salad, but fortunately you can still find a lot of what is considered to be raw food in their diet. For example pickles, nato (fermented soy beans), nori, miso, umeboshi plum, sea vegetables, nama shoyu and so on.

So, many Japanese people eat raw food (food with active enzymes) they just don't look at it that way, they describe it as pickled or fermented or dried. Unfortunately, it is sad to see their diet changing, when at the super market you can now find more tempura, fried pork, spaghetti and sandwiches. There is also an alarming amount of Mr. Donut, Mc Donald's and Starbucks unhealthily sprouting… yikes!

So where was I? Yes, the uncooking class. We got 8 brave people willing to succumb to the charms and magic of raw food. After describing a typical meal at our house they were too curious to pass up the opportunity.

Not that I want to blow my own horn but it was an Amazing uncooking class. I’ve done these classes before in other countries when I was a SAD chef but this experience was how can I put it…Zen, pure and uplifting because of the produce and the joy creating a gourmet meal with only a knife, cutting board and a blender.

Everyone enjoyed the food and was astonished at the results. Kids that never ate vegetables according to their mother were scoffing down vegetables. It was unbelievable. My wife and I accomplished what we set out to do, change people's minds about raw food from the idea that it is only carrots and celery sticks to the idea that you can actually live on raw food and have a gourmet time doing it. I am so glad that we got to inspire people to be healthier and to add more vegetables to their diet. I know that we didn't convert anyone to raw food but every little contribution to a healthier planet plasters a smile on our face.

I will let you guys know more about our next class as soon as I know the dates!!!

Sincerely yours,

Omid