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Greetings from Shaya, the newly designated, temporary, assistant organizer. We will be having the October Potluck at my house in Long Beach. The address will be sent when you RSVP.

I assume that most of you know the drill - bring a raw vegan dish to share - and if it is extra good, make enough for leftovers for the assistant organizer ;) . As there are different degrees of rawdom, e.g., some don't use namu shoyu, or the great debate over whether there is truly such a thing as raw agave, etc., it would be helpful to list the ingredients and your name on a 3 x 5 card or something like that to place near your dish. In addition, you may want to print several copies of the recipe to share with others.

So as not to put an undue burden on the host, please bring your own serving dishes and utensils if possible. In fact, it would be great if everyone would bring their own place settings. I will provide these things as necessary so as not to inhibit you from attending.

Last, I would like to suggest that we try to make this a "zero waste" event. Zero Waste is the latest thing in sustainability. What this means is avoid using any disposables, e.g., plates, cups, silverware, napkins. It is so much nicer to eat from a real plate, etc. Knowing that the food will be so delicious, it is unlikely that we will have any food waste, but just in case there will be a compost bin available.

We may also be showing a documentary related to raw food. If you have access to any, please let me know. We will vote at the potluck to decide which one to show. Democracy in action!

Hello folks! The first one worked so we're at it again! Let's beat the heat to the beach! First we'll go for a really neato hike along the beach and stuff, then re-convene at a nearby park for a rawfood potluck.

The hike is very scenic and camera friendly around the PV bluffs with very good ocean views. It's around 5 miles with 400' gain. It's a mix of trails, urban hiking and beach sand. It's not overly strenuous but it is a decent outing with a couple of steep parts and a road crossing. There are also a couple spots with footing issues, so you should have some hiking experience. Bring a hat, water, sunscreen, etc. No dogs please as they are not allowed on the beach.

We will meet for the hike at 2:30 pm in front of the Coffee Cartel, 1820 South Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach. There is a large parking area behind the coffee shops, the parking meters are free on Sundays.

After the hike we will meet at Alta Vista Park around 5pm or so depending on our hiking/transit time. The park address is 715 Julia Avenue in Redondo Beach and can be located on your favorite mapping site. Enter from Prospect Ave. go west on Knob Hill Ave, then north on Julia Ave which takes you into the park. There should be enough parking in the lot. It might be a good idea to bring a map print out. Look for the kiddie playground near the tennis courts, we will meet at the picnic tables there. It might be good to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on as there are only three picnic tables.

If you are going to both the hike and PL, you may want to bring an ice chest or whatever for the food you bring. It will be sitting in your car for a couple hours while we are hiking. You may want to do some prep for salads etc. when we get to the park. After the hike we will go back to our cars and drive to the park where will have our potluck. Please keep the food raw and vegan.

When you RSVP, please indicate if you want to go on the hike only, potluck only, or both.

This should be fun, hope to see you there.

An update just to clarify some things. If you are going to both the hike and PL, you may want to bring an ice chest or whatever for the food you bring. It will be sitting in your car for a couple hours while we are hiking. You may want to do some prep for salads etc. when we get to the park. After the hike we will go back to our cars and drive to the park where will have our potluck. Keep in mind folks this is an experiment, so we'll see how things go, hopefully well enough.

Hello folks! First we'll go for a really neato hike along the beach, then reconvene at a nearby park for a rawfood potluck.

The hike is very scenic and camera friendly around the PV bluffs with very good ocean views. It's around 5 miles with 400' gain. It's a mix of trails, urban hiking and beach sand. It's not strenuous but there are a couple steep parts and a road crossing. There are a couple spots with footing issues, you should have some hiking experience. Bring a hat, water, sunscreen, etc. No dogs please, they are not allowed on the beach.

We will meet for the hike at 2:30 pm in front of the Coffee Cartel, 1820 South Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach. There is a large parking area behind the coffee shops, the parking meters are free on Sundays.

After the hike we will meet at Alta Vista Park between 4:30 and 5:00 pm depending on our hiking/transit time. The park address is 715 Julia Avenue in Redondo Beach and can be located on your favorite mapping site. Enter from Prospect Ave. go west on Knob Hill Ave, then north on Julia Ave which takes you into the park. There should be enough parking in the lot. It might be a good idea to bring a map print out. Look for the kiddie playground near the tennis courts, we will meet at the picnic tables there. It might be good to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on as there are only three picnic tables.

When you RSVP, please indicate if you want to go on the hike only, potluck only, or both.

This should be fun, hope to see you there.

We have been invited to hold our May potluck at Regen Co-op, which is a group of people living together. Their focus is vegetarian sustainable living. As one who lived in a co-op long ago (known as a commune at that time!), I'm especially interested in seeing a functioning group of people living their intention as "a sustainable and regenerative co-operative in our urban/suburban environment."

I'm thinking of this potluck as an extension of Earth Day. They use solar power, maintain a gray water system, edible landscaping and organic gardening. You can read all about them at www.regen.org

The available space at regen is limited to 20 visiting people. Please please be in integrity with this. If you are not absolutely certain that you will attend, do not RSVP "Yes." There will be a waiting list for this potluck. Should anyone change their "Yes" to "No," the first person on the Waiting List will automatically be moved into the open "Yes" space until they fill up again with 20. The exception is if someone RSVPed "Yes" with guests They will still be on the Waiting List, but they won't be moved up until the number of spaces for which they RSVPed open up.

You can learn more about Regen at their website: www.regen.org

Email me with any question!

Diana
Your friendly organizer

This is a fantastic opportunity to take a wonderful living foods class in Los Angeles from Elaina Love and Chaya-Rvyka, two Raw Food Master Chefs. Elaina

Elaina Love is a raw master chef who is doing a West Coast tour giving classes in Nuevo Mexican cuisine. She will accompanied by Chaya-Ryvka, pastry chef at Cafe Gratitude, who will be teaching Elegant Raw Food Desserts. (I've taken classes from both of them and highly recommend them ... not that you need my endorsement considering Elaina's standing in the raw community.)

The cost is $99 which includes a 4- to 5-hour class and a full meal and dessert. Yum. (This class is also offered in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.)

RSVP here, then register on Elaina's website: www. purejoyplanet.com

Prefer to pay by check? Call (562-493-8461) or email me (Diana).

Note: I need four assistants at this class (who will receive the class free).

Here is the menu for the class and also biographies of Elaina and Chaya-Ryvka:

Nuevo Mexican
with Chef Elaina Love

Corn Tortillas – These corn tortillas will quickly become a favorite in your house. Made from raw corn, hemp & flax seeds, they are dehydrated & can be stored for months in your refrigerator or freezer.

Enchilada Spirals- These very special enchiladas will be made using raw corn tortillas & wrapping them around a veggie taco filling like a spiral then topping them with enchilada sauce, pine nut sour cream & avocado slices. These are so flavorful, satisfying & unique.

Mexican-Spanish Rice –It tastes like the best Spanish rice you’ve ever eaten, only there’s no rice! Elaina will show you how to use vegetables and spices to recreate all the flavors & comfort of rice.

Taco Filling – Again, keeping with her low to no nut agenda, Elaina will demonstrate how to take root vegetables & turn them into the most flavorful, juicy, mouthwatering taco filling that can be eaten in a “taco”, on your salad, in your Enchilada Spirals or dehydrated into crunchy snacks or burgers.

Enchilada Sauce - A light & flavorful sauce that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Pine Nut Sour Cream-A light & fluffy version of sour cream with Irish moss, pine nuts & more flavors to make this a raw food staple.

Elegant Raw Desserts Class
with Chef Chaya-Ryvka

Inspired by the flavors of Elaina’s menu, we will be creating some classic desserts that will pair beautifully with her fresh take on Mexican or any meal you may choose.

Crème Caramel – Experience the sensuous elegance of this melt in your mouth heavenly flan treat while learning the secrets of successfully working with Irish moss.

Hazelnut/Cacao Ganache Truffles – These are real Cacao confections; we will be stepping into the world of a chocolate lovers dreams, I’m talking Willie Wonka goes Raw/Vegan.

White Chocolate-Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake – One of the most popular cheesecakes at Café Gratitude & a must have in anyone’s black book of raw desserts. As well as learning to create a truly heavenly cheesecake you will learn the art of swirling, which can turn any plain pie, cheesecake or frosting into a stunning work of art!

About the Chefs

Elaina Love is a professional Raw Food Chef, Instructor, Restaurant Consultant & Lifestyle Counselor whose unique style of creating the best raw food cuisine ever has her highly sought after. She travels worldwide to bring raw, living foods to Spas, Exotic Retreats, Festivals & Individuals. Elaina is the Owner & Director of PureJoyPlanet.com, which features certification courses, raw food recipe books, super foods and kitchen & health equipment. She is the co-owner & recipe developer for her new Café in the Bay Area, Café Soulstice, the author of Elaina's Pure Joy Kitchen recipe books & the creator of The Amazing Nut Milk Bag. She has 3 raw food DVD’s currently on the market. Elaina has been an Instructor at Living Light Culinary Arts Institute since 2000 where she teaches specialty classes on an ongoing basis.

Chaya-Ryvka has been a practicing Raw Food Chef for over 3 yrs. She spent 2 yrs apprenticing & working side by side as personal assistant with Master Raw Food Chef Elaina Love catering retreats, serving private catered events, teaching classes, running purejoyplanet.com, & opening a raw food café (Café Soulstice). She also apprenticed with cutting edge raw pastry chefs & creators of the desserts for Café Gratitude. Chaya is now apprenticing in the art of raw chocolate confections; she works in a newly opened raw chocolate company, Coracao Confections. Currently Chaya is expressing her live creativity as a raw pastry chef at Café Gratitude, catering private events, teaching group classes, creating specialty gourmet raw desserts, wedding cakes and providing private raw lifestyle/kitchen consultations.