No it’s not what you think! (Or maybe it is). Last Wednesday I met up with Sean and Laura at Taloola Cafe for something a little different. Nude Food Night! Needless to say, as soon as the words “nude” and “food” come out of my mouth, I feel the need to delve into a way too detailed explanation.
Put simply, Nude Food is a local business that caters to live food. So now the question is “what is live food?” Well, it’s a way of eating that doesn’t involve cooking your food. That’s right…no cooking! Instead it’s prepared using only “minimal heat, preserving the nutrient content of the food and maintaining its enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients” (I got that off the Nude Food menu).
“Nude Food started in late summer of 2006,” explains Renee Trepanier, cook and owner of Nude Food. “It came about from a lot of experimentation in the kitchen and after a course I took in New York on nutrition where I gained exposure on raw food and that style of eating and preparing food.”
To make the most of the experience, Sean, Laura and I each picked something different on the menu. We started off with nachos which were homemade jalapeno corn chips served with a salsa, cheese (which isn’t really cheese but blended cashews) and a spicy walnut taco spread. It’s easy to forget that none of the ingredients have been cooked. Rather, Renee uses tools like a dehydrator to produce items like the corn chips and flatbreads.
After the spreads and breads, a few Nori rolls, and a burger made with nuts, seeds, garlic and red pepper, Renee treated us to dessert: a mango, orange and lemon tart in a coconut macaroon crust. Oh ya! I think that may have been the highlight of my night. A perfect summer evening treat.
The menu is filled with items that are familiar to people. Renee’s Living Lasagna is a new take on the pasta dish we all know. Layers of zucchini, spinach and tomatoes, with sun dried tomato and black olive pesto and a red pepper cheese sauce. Each dish had flavours that were familiar yet distinct. She also takes the time to source out local producers and tries to use local and in season ingredients when she can.
If you’re up for something new, then Nude Food Nights are for you. Nude Food Nights at Taloola Cafe happen every Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and features a live food menu of fresh juices, starters, entrees and desserts.
For more informaton on Nude Food or their events, classes or workshops visit their website.
