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Posted by: Matthew
NewsOK
By Ron Stahl
Not long ago, a friend told me, “I was talking to a friend of mine in New York City, who told me she was coming to Oklahoma City to a cooking school at 105degrees. What’s that all about?”
What her New York friend was talking about is the 105degrees Academy at 105degrees, the vegan restaurant devoted to the concept of living cuisine.
Dara Prentice is co-owner and director of business and external affairs for the restaurant and academy.
“Raw cuisine or living cuisine is actually vegan cuisine, and that means that we don’t use any animal products at all,” she said. “So there’s no dairy or eggs or meat. We certainly make lots of different entrees and desserts and things that you would typically associate with incorporating dairy and butter and things like that, but all of our cheeses, ice creams, everything is made from a nut base. So our entire cuisine is comprised simply of fruits, vegetables, seeds, sprouted grains and legumes, and we put them together in very creative ways.”
While the concept may sound foreign, the tastes that emerge are quite exciting. The pasta dishes are flavorful and will challenge your ideas about gluten-free foods. The pasta noodles are actually thinly sliced vegetables, and the ricotta cheese is made from nuts and is quite delicious. No one should leave the restaurant without trying one of the fabulous desserts or a selection from the juice bar.
The concept comes from chef Matthew Kenney, co-owner and director of culinary arts and operations. Kenney was named one of Food and Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs and pioneered the technique of preparing fresh foods at temperatures no higher than 105 degrees.
His cookbooks are for sale in the restaurant’s gift shop, but it is the 105degrees Academy program and the opportunity to study his techniques that bring people from across America to study in Oklahoma City. Courses are geared toward chef certification in raw cuisine, but there also is a short course for people who want to learn how to prepare the foods in their own kitchen. The fundamentals course is four weeks and prepares students for the intensive 12-week certification program. 105degrees Academy is the first state-licensed raw food academy in America. The restaurant also was featured by Forbes as one of America’s best new restaurants.
Prentice said the term “raw food” may lead some to believe that the food is not cooked, but that is not quite the case. “When food is prepared at high heat, it begins losing nutrients and enzymes, and it’s just not as healthful to your body. And so, 105 degrees represents, for us, our optimal cooking temperature. We do heat things, so the word raw cuisine is kind of misleading. It’s not really raw, but it’s just not heated to piping hot levels, and it really allows the food to be much more full-flavored as well.”
As much as possible, the restaurant uses produce from local organic growers, and many of the sprouts are grown on the property. The food is prepared fresh daily, and the open kitchen allows the diner to watch the process.
The menu changes with the seasons. What you find on the summer menu may not be the same as the autumn menu, so Prentice says the menu is also a living product. The menu also reflects several influences. Asian elements share menu space with Italian and American cuisine. Other world cuisines also are represented.
Many who seek out 105degrees are either curious about the concept or in search of healthier alternatives. Some are “foodies” looking for a new culinary experience. Whatever the reason, Prentice said the restaurant is winning over skeptics.
“They are amazed by the flavor and the experience of the food. And, without fail, those who come a little skeptical about vegan cuisine or raw cuisine are always surprised at how full they are when they leave because I think they think, you know, if they don’t get to have that steak or burger that they are somehow going to be hungry. But when our meal is not centered around something of that nature and instead just really designed from the ground up as it is, then it is quite a filling and satisfying experience.”
105degrees is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and also includes a juice and wine bar. The restaurant and academy are in the Classen Curve development at 5820 N Classen Blvd.
http://newsok.com/article/3482986
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