Raw: The Living Food Diet

If you want to learn more about uncooked vegan cuisine, then turn off the oven, unplug the microwave, and pop in this two-part DVD on raw food preparation. The first part is a 45-minute celebration of the power of raw food (vegetables and fruits only—no meat or dairy products) from diverse individuals, including a cancer survivor who credits a raw food diet with a health turnaround. The second part is a 50-minute food preparation crash course starring Matt Amsden, a chef who uses a blender and food dehydrator to whip up everything from appetizers to dessert (a 12-page recipe booklet is helpfully included, as Amsden's recipes require considerable preparation). The guiding concept here is that raw meals are healthier, since the body will absorb more nutrients that may have otherwise been cooked out of processed foods. Admittedly, that train of thought is open to serious debate—even among die-hard vegans—but serious kitchen wizards may well be drawn to this handsomely produced title that serves up considerable (pardon the pun) food for thought. Although the commitment to a raw food lifestyle is a major one, and is likely to test the willpower of even the most rabid of health conscious viewers, this should find a welcome audience. Recommended. Aud: P. (P. Hall)