March 2008 welcomed the long-anticipated opening of raw food guru Alissa Cohen's new restaurant, Grezzo. The restaurant is located in Boston’s North End, an area of historic importance, and most recently home to Boston’s Little Italy.
Grezzo, which means “raw” in Italian, is cozy and warmly lit, with sensuously-rendered paintings of fruits and vegetables adorning the walls.
Hang on—vegetables, sensuous? Indeed, once you’ve experienced Grezzo’s fresh creations, you will come to understand the sexy appeal of a perfectly sliced watermelon radish.
Raw Food Basics
Raw food diets have been around for a long time, gaining increasing popularity in the 1970s, and receiving even greater acclaim in recent years. Raw foodists live on a diet of raw, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Why eat raw? Raw enthusiasts believe that when food is cooked, it loses the essential enzymes that give the body its optimal nourishment. Raw food diets have demonstrated the power to shed pounds quickly, cure diabetes, asthma, skin diseases, migraines, and even cancer.
Alissa’s Appeal
Live food guru Alissa Cohen’s book, Living on Live Food, has received accolades for providing simple, livable recipes. For those beginning a raw food diet, the book provides guidance for getting started, inspiration for making changes, and enough recipes to last the first year.
Ms. Cohen has been living on live food for more than 20 years, and her sunny, down-to-earth approach toward live/raw food is at least part of why so many people are flocking to Grezzo to see what the fuss is all about (not to mention her recent celebrity-chef status on the Tyra Banks Show and the Today Show!).
How to order at Grezzo
If you’re hesitant about trying raw food, have no fear—Grezzo’s charming and knowledgeable staff will expertly guide you through your meal. No question is too obtuse! If Grezzo’s staff are any indication, you’ll become a believer that raw food has the power to make you:
- Happier
- Smarter
- More energetic
- Fantastically gorgeous
- Able to leap an organic spinach patch in a single bound
What to order at Grezzo
If you’re looking for the full experience, consider ordering the Chef’s Tasting for $59. This will give you the freedom to choose freely from the menu. Here’s a sampling:
- Two soups: cold, of course, because raw food is never “cooked” above 112 degrees. During the first week in April, the chef debuted a sweet corn chowder made with pureed sweet corn, jicama, fresh avocado and a dash of cayenne. One of the best dishes on the menu.
- Two appetizers: selected from a choice of three. The Grezzo gnocchi, a house favorite, is not to be missed. Made with a flavorful nut paste, the gnocchi is garnished with fresh spring peas, sprouts, and a light “cream” sauce (not actually cream, since raw food is vegan, and uses no dairy products).
- Salad: The House Salad is exquisite, garnished with a house-made raw cheese (Alissa arrived at the table to describe the laborious 5-day-long process for making it), thinly sliced watermelon radishes, chewy croutons, and a Green Goddess dressing made of pureed avocados and cilantro.
- Entrée: “Land and Sea” was a fun surprise, made of hedgehog mushrooms (one if by land), lobster mushrooms, yellow oyster mushrooms (two if by sea) ricotta “cheese,” and kelp. It’s the perfect dish for mushroom connoisseurs, but consider opting for the vegetable lasagna instead.
- Dessert: It’s worth returning weekly just to get the rich brownie sundae, topped with house-made “gelato” (you won’t believe it’s not ice cream!), chocolate truffle sauce, and a brazil nut crumble. Absolute heaven, guilt-free!
If you’re fortunate, Alissa Cohen herself will attend to your table during your visit. She’s a warm, gracious, and humble host with plenty to brag about—visit her website to read some of her client’s testimonials and you’ll understand why she’s devoted her life to such a worthy endeavor. Grezzo is yet another beautiful expression of her life’s work, thus far.
- More about Alissa Cohen and raw food
- Visit Grezzo next time you're in Boston at 69 Prince St, Boston MA 02113.
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