Raw Dish!

Breakfast- from a buffet: a whole lot of sliced Honeydew and Cantaloupe melon, a few sliced strawberries

Lunch- from a buffet: two large plates of fresh mixed fruit salad including, pineapple, honeydew, cantaloupe, strawberries & blueberries; a bowl of mesclun and baby arugula greens with cherry tomatoes and cucumbers

Dinner- from Quintessence: a bowl of Peter's Pot soup, Indian platter (hummus instead of Saag)

I was still at Mohonk Mountain House for breakfast and lunch.  Although the selection was limited I was glad to be able to fill up on what I needed.  They had an elaborate cooked food buffet and though there was no question that I would not be eating from it I still felt a little tug towards it.  Being around all that food and among so many people gorging and filling up on it, I was aware of feeling triggered in just wanting more, more, more, even though I had enough of everything I needed.

When I got back to New York early in the evening I felt like maybe I hadn't eaten enough calories and I was HUNGRY!  I called Raw Soul to check their hours but on Sunday they now close at 5:00 PM- just missed it.  I decided to make the trek to Quintessence and I was so glad to be there.  It was packed- 17 people when I arrived.  Two were just leaving so I got a table quickly.  Andre was my waiter and I think I got the best service I have ever received at Quintessence.

The best part was not feeling like an outsider, I was among a roomful of people enjoying the laidback environment and delicious raw cuisine.  Some mellow groovy music was playing and I had a wonderful "aahhhh, this feels good" feeling when I sat down.  This was in sharp contrast to the huge Mohonk Dinning hall filled with people eating from a huge cooked food buffet.  I have high tolerance for feeling different when it comes to the way I eat, but after three public meals with adequate but limited choices I was glad to be at Quintessence.  Don't misunderstand.  I enjoyed staying in that big old lodge and seeing what it was like, but at Quintessence I felt glad to not have to figure out what I could and couldn't eat or if I'd have enough.

I had one problem with my meal; the Saag was too spicy for me to eat.  It was probably because I use practically no seasonings on my food so when I go out to eat and get spiced up food, I feel very sensitive to it, particularly hot spices.  It all worked out fine and I enjoyed what I ate.