Raw Food Cooking

Meet Bryan Au, Raw Chef

You became a vegetarian at the age of 12. When did you become interested in cooking?

Who would ever guess this is raw?

Yes, I became a vegetarian, but my mom was still cooking meat dishes, so we decided to have her teach me how to cook so I can cook my own separate vegetarian meals. The more vegetarian I was, the better I felt and healthier too. Then, at age 18, I became a 5-star vegetarian chef and cooked at many different yoga centers around the world, vegetarian restaurants, and at private catered events and I really enjoyed it a lot. I found that it allowed me to be really creative and that people loved my cooking! So I traveled around the world and learned all I could.

And, after you went raw, it was a natural progression to become a raw chef?

Yes, I learned all I could about raw, I trained with the best, read all I could and became an expert. Also, as a chef, it really put my creativity to the test and allowed me to be even more creative. To be able to invent recipes, entrees, and desserts that are 100 percent raw organic and yet look and taste cooked, baked or deep fried is amazingly challenging! But fun. I found it was a natural skill that I had.

And now I come up with totally new recipes and innovations that have never been created, done or even seen before like my raw Organic Mango Cheesecake recipe, my Spanish Lasagna, and Oraweos. I even invented the world's first and only vegan 100 percent raw organic Macaroni and Cheese! I also came up with a Steak and Mashed Potato Dinner, Sunburger and much more.

Raw Foods and Recipes

Tell us a little more about your recipes.

Have a gourmet raw meal in minutes

My recipes are gourmet and delightful and it looks like you spent hours in the kitchen. You will totally amaze everyone, but it will only take you minutes! I also invented the only raw organic baklava and many more amazing recipes you have to try.

When many people think of raw food, they picture a lifetime of boring salads-- is that accurate?

Well, salads are only boring if they are made that way! I know this amazing lady that makes salads that blow away anything and everything! She eats mostly salads and she actually got me back into salads. If you get really creative and make an amazing salad, it can be the most satisfying thing in the world.

But raw organic food is much more than salads. With my book Raw in Ten Minutes, you can see it can be anything and everything that is cooked, baked, or deep fried. If you use your creativity, you can make a raw organic recipe that looks and tastes cooked, but is much better on all levels possible. My book proves that, and many other raw chefs and people are creating amazing new recipes and products everyday. In fact, once you eat a raw organic dessert it will be very hard to go back to any other kind of dessert because it is so amazingly delicious.

What is your favorite raw recipe or dish?

Get the manicotti recipe in Bryan's book.

Wow, I actually love all of my recipes. They are all very different and unique... it depends on what mood you are in. I really do enjoy my mango cheesecake and eggplant manicotti, though, and no one else has my recipes or techniques. I also make a banana split with my special RAW Organic Vegan Ice Cream and that was heavenly!

Are fancy tools and appliances necessary for a raw lifestyle?

No, but they make it fun and more interesting. Like with any style of food, the better your kitchen equipment, the better the quality and ease of preparation. This is true for any cuisine.

But with raw you can also still make the most gorgeous food and recipes with pretty simple tools and appliances. For example, some recipes only require a knife, cutting board and peeler. Others do require a good blender. The Blendtec is the best one in the world, hands down.

Some raw recipes also require an Excalibur dehydrator, but none of the recipes in my book require a dehydrator. I did that on purpose to save time and to make it easy, but as you get more advanced you will want to use a dehydrator.

How can aspiring raw cooks learn the methods?

I demonstrate how to do this in my instructional DVDs that are available through my websites, Raw In Ten and Raw Organic Saving the Planet. People love my DVDs because they can learn and watch me make the recipes and see for themselves that it only takes a few minutes to make!

Conclusion

Is there anything you'd like to add?

It really does make a difference what you eat and buy. When it is raw, organic and eco, you will be rewarded with the best possible luxurious food, products, health and more. That is why I do all of this and promote this. I truly believe it will improve our planet and lives a lot. It is my passion and I have seen so many miracles, amazing stories and transformations. It is all about the bliss!

For More Information

Find out more about Bryan's book and television show and the raw lifestyle in our raw food diet interview with Bryan Au at LoveToKnow Diet. You can also visit Bryan's websites:

• Raw In Ten
• Raw Organic Saving the Planet