A Pure Dinner
Hey guys!
Thanks for such an awesome response to Beam Green! I would love to have you NYC gals as guests, so please keep getting in touch if you’re interested!
I’m taking a break from a night of reading to recap my very fun dinner last night with Melissa and Liz — aka, the blogcelebrity Veggiegirl! Liz and I have corresponded and spoken before, but this was my first time meeting her in person, and it was great fun! She’s witty, sharp, sweet, and passionate about all things raw and vegan. The three of us went to Pure Food and Wine, where I got a simple dinner: a build-your-own salad with avocado and guacamole. (I know, I know, I am the world’s most boring woman. But I was in the mood!):
Variety came with the dessert selections, which ranged from Melissa’s gorgeous passion fruit tart:
To the complimentary strawberry shortcake (yum) for the table!
Here’s the three of us ladies outside (Me, Mel, and Liz):
Afterwards, Melissa and I went to 71 Irving for some tea and overdue girl talk. It was a really fun night, and a much needed interruption in a busy week.
I hope you’re all having wonderful Fridays. I’ll be back tomorrow with some recipe action, so stay tuned!
xo
Edited to add: I forgot to mention that Jacques Pepin blurbed one of the books I’m working on today. I don’t usually edit food/nutrition books — in fact, this is my only one — and I felt a little starstruck!
Testimonials
–Lyn D., MarylandBefore I started working with Gena, I wasn’t sure whether it would be worth it, since I knew what I “should” be doing. Her counseling, however, turned out to be a key factor in my success.
Not only does she have great advice when I am struggling, but her realistic approach helped me make major changes despite having no time and limited funds. Her recipes and ideas are for real people with lives beyond their diets, and they are great. Gena is down to earth and non-judgmental. She strikes a great balance between encouraging me to go a little father but to keep things in perspective and have fun with the process.
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FAQ
So where do you get your protein?Ah, the million dollar question. I know that my fellow raw foodists are uttering a collective sigh of frustration with me. But it’s inevitable, so here goes:
I get my protein from a wide array of vegetables, sea vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. The notion that we need to supplement our diet with large amounts of protein, especially in the form of animal products, is mistaken: our bodies are capable of assembling amino acids from all of the foods we eat and building the “complete proteins” that we’ve all been told we need to get in a single sitting.
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Recommendations
Juicer (average $50.00 - $500.00)If you’re like me, and juicing is a crucial part of your lifestyle, then the cost of a juicer will absolutely be worth it! It will buy itself back again and again and again. The juicer I recommend is the Breville Two-Speed Juice Fountain Plus. It’s the only juicer I’ve ever owned, and it has never let me down. I recommend you invest in a juicer that has at least this level of performance in order to juice leafy greens.
Some of you have asked me whether it’s wiser to buy a juicer or a Vitamix.
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Gena,
What a fun girls get-together. I love that Liz – she is so kind, not to mention hilarious. Your dinner salad looked perfect to me, and don’t even get me started on those desserts!
Glad you got in some girl time with Melissa, and congrats on the book blurb.
Hope you have a good weekend. I’m looking forward to some recipe action…as always.
She is totally hilarious! And wonderful
I love your simple dinner. And how much avocado you eat! It’s my favorite too. It looks like it was a wonderful night and I can’t wait for more recipes!
Sounds like a great evening. I have GOT to check that place out considering how much you all talk about it! Maybe dinner date sometime this summer?
Have a great weekend!
Sounds like it was a blast! You girls looks so very cute together
. Oh my goodness that dessert looks amaaazing! Hope you have a great weekend, Gena!
Uh, so THAT’s what the desserts look like?! Ok, sold. Hot damn. The boyf chose Adelina for our date Monday (what can I say, Italian’s his favorite and he’s predictable) but if he likes it then Pure is next on the list! And if not, boo on him, I’ll go with you.
Haha! I think we’d survive if we were forced to sup alone together, dear
Love you girls (and avocado, Pure Food & Wine, etcetera, haha). Period
Omigosh, I so want to come to NY and have girl talk and tea with you!!! I could care less about the food and desserts for once, and that is BEAUTIFUL.
what a fun dinner!! everything looks gorgeous!! so glad you met my lovely Veggie Girl! girl talk is THE BEST. and tea time!
I could not agree more!
The desserts look heavenly!
Fun! A little “Girl Time” is the best!
I don’t think you’re boring. I often order the same thing from the same restaurant. Hey, if it’s not broken, why fix it?
That strawberry shortcake looks to die for! How yummy
Gena!
I think we were there on the same night!! I was on the back patio Thursday night with some friends. Too funny. I as well ordered a salad from next door. It’s just not a meal without the avo:)
Enjoy your weekend.
Amazing! I wish I’d seen you! Well, we have our own dinner to look forward to
Sounds like a fun girls night!
I am going to Pure Tonight, I am thinking about those tortillas I love! 
Maybe a salad as well! Have a nice weekend, don’t work to hard!!
Hi Gena!
I have a ‘going raw’ question. Is it possible to initially gain weight on a raw food diet? I just ‘went raw’ about two days ago and have gained 1.5 pounds but am not sure if it’s water retention / too much avocado (.33 a fruit) and raw almond butter & almond milk or what?
Thanks!
A
Hi A,
It’s impossible for me to judge without knowing what you ate, what your history is, etc. It’s definitely possible, but I’d have to hear about what you ate and what you were eating before. Sorry not to be of more help — please email me about a possible consultation if you have detailed questions.
G/
Meeting blogstresses in person after following blogs for so long is so sweet. There have been a few run-ins and it’s especially funny when I am with my best friend Vanessa (she was in one of my recent videos last week). We hang out a lot together and people are always a little surprised to see us both together. The women I have met (yes- all women so far) that read my blog and vice versa have been amazing. It is fabulous to connect with people that share a passion that is so vital to our lives. I hope to be in New York in a couple weeks (for Vanessa’s US book launch)- will be sure to let you know if I make that happen.
Please do, Meghan! That would be so fun.
Gena,
Happy Weekend!
Such great fun you all had. Wowser what an amazing dessert selection. When I get back east I will definately have to head to Pure!
With Love,
Emily
Horray for meeting Liz! She is the best! =)
Those desserts! I really need to go there, I’ve been wanting to!
sounds like such a fun night! hooray for dinner with two truly amazing girls and i’m dying for some more pure food dessert in my life.
congrats on the book blurb- that’s AWESOME
have a wonderful weekend <3
OMG … LOVE THE MEET UP!!
Just want you to know that I’ve increased my raw food intake recently and honestly, I feel so so good inside out AND happy.
Thank you so much for introducing me to this wonderful world of raw eats – I owe you one Gena!!
Cecilia, that makes me SO happy.
What a fabulous girls time!!!!
I wish there were raw places to eat here like NY!!!!
That dinner sounds so exciting! And the desserts look mmm mm good. I just remembered that when I was learning how to spell someone told me to remember how to spell dessert. “Two s’s not one because who wants just one scoop of ice cream?”
Ah looks like you & Liz had lots of fun. Love blogger meet ups.
Awwh!
And I LOVE Jacques Peppin. Oh la la!
NY is definitely the place to meet other bloggers!
That place sounds fabulous. I love your salad.
what a great meetup
that dessert looks so exciting!