Paul Pitchford, author of "Healing
with Whole Foods", Endorsement
Alive! Therapy
March 12, 2008
Whenever I’m
in the north end of the City, I look forward to a meal at my
favorite eatery. Alive!, nestled in the Cow Hollow district
of San Francisco, is a small cozy café that is so mindfully
designed that I actually find a sense of solace and comfort
in its simple, feng shui enhanced décor. Outside, a heated
“Zen Garden” patio can accommodate larger groups
and is likewise an antidote to stress.
Once food is served,
my first thought is to stop and behold. The dish appears so
vital, so “alive” that I actually feel a therapeutic
uplift just from the visual spectacle of ultimate, fresh cuisine.
After appreciating
the colors, shapes and Qi life force imparted by the cook, tasting
the food brings me home…to an earthy domain of skillfully
blended flavors and textures. Primal sensations of vitality
arise in my mind as I savor each bite.
Premium ingredients at Alive!
-
Local, organic unrefined foods
-
Vegan, fresh foods with some cooked food options—essential
for some individuals
-
Pure alkaline healing water (no fluoride or
chloramine)—served for drinking and in all food preparation
-
Organic, biodynamic wines and sakes
-
Superb green, black, and white teas and other
unique herbal tea offerings
-
Delightful desserts with no refined sugars
-
Himalayan crystal salt
-
Freshly ground spices and herbs
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On-site produced sprouted foods
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Cold pressed virgin oils and probiotic-rich
raw ferments such as unpasteurized pickles.
-
Virtually all hand crafted ingredients, e.g.,
even the mustard and sesame butter are made on location
If you’re
a culinary aficionado like me with a passion for stellar standards
in freshly prepared food, you will undoubtedly appreciate the
Alive! experience. But even if you’re merely interested
in this level of cuisine, my suggestion is to eat this kind
of food periodically; even once a week will cleanse and purify
your system so that you experience first hand “food as
therapy for mind, body and soul.”
Paul Pitchford
Nutrition consultant, researcher, and author of "Healing
with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition"