Word of the Day

Normally I don't eat "raw". Just a lot of vegetables ... in cooked form most of the time.

Chinese Medicine doesn't do the raw food thing. Uncooked vegetables are considered cold in nature, which in turn cools the metabolism. In Chinese Medicine, you always need to guard your warmer Yang energy.

But for dinner tonight, I decided to give the raw menu a whirl. Polenta with a mushroom ragout seemed like a good option. Both are delicious.

When the plate arrived, there were a few extras - a salad, a slice of "pizza" and a couple of dark-brown felafel-sized pieces smothered in sauce over a bed of zucchini spaghetti (a creative bunch, those raw foodies).

My waiter came over to explain. The balls, she said with a smile, were "rawsage".

Yes, rawsage. Or is it spelled "rausage" for a truer metaphorical food experience? Not sure and she didn't volunteer. How does one define accuracy in a raw food world that tries to mimic many mainstream dishes using uncooked food.

For the record, they tasted fine. But I couldn't resist text messaging some friends about it. The comments came back sharp and quick:

"Oh dear ..."

"Wash it down with some raw sewage."

"Anything like snausages ... the dog version?"

"Mmmmm."

Sense the sarcasm from these dedicated meat eaters (of which I'm one)?

Raw foodies ... you've got an uphill battle. But don't fret; you're not alone.

It's tough being an acupuncturist, too.