Live Island Café Serves It Raw
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

Huntington just got healthier. Thanks to the efforts of owner Chef Okima Wilcox-Hitt, the Live Island Café has opened just east of Huntington village, serving “live” food. As it sounds, live or “raw” food is food that is not “dead”- instead it retains the natural vitamins and enzymes fully intact because it has not been cooked or heated above 115 degrees. While it may sound strange, this fare, which is generally vegan, meaning it contains no animal products, packs a punch in terms of flavor and is nutrient-rich. According to the website, “All ingredients are organic and local wherever possible.”
“But does it taste good?” you ask.

“Yes!” says Bob DiBenedetto, director of local health/environmental organization HealthyPlanet. “This food tastes great and even a small portion feels quite filling. Better yet, it is healthy for both you and the planet. Plant-based foods have far less impact on the environment than animal foods, and can reduce one’s risk of everything from heart disease to cancer, diabetes and more.”

According to Wilcox-Hitt, business has been booming since opening day just a few weeks ago. Word is getting around quickly thanks to social networking sites and emails.

“This area was just waiting for a café like this. You used to have to go into the city for this type of cuisine,” she said. Food is prepared fresh daily, so she added, “I keep running out of food long before closing!”

Mental note – get there early…
The restaurant’s opening did not come easy, with a long wait of two years hashing out details over permit requirements, but it was well worth the wait.

“I had to keep explaining to the health department what a dehydrator was,” said Wilcox-Hitt.

She started her un-cooking career at the Raw Gourmet International School of Chicago, where she earned her raw food chef certification under international raw food Chef Mehmet Ak. She studied further at the “Living Foods Institute” in Atlanta, Ga. with world-renowned wellness expert Dr. Brenda Cobb. Wilcox-Hitt holds live food preparation and wellness classes at the new café on Sunday afternoons.

So what’s on the menu? Options change daily, but you may find raw pizza, “Toona” salad, non-dairy “cheese” cake (that is out of this world), S’getti, which is spirilized zucchini with pesto sauce, and a vast selection of juices and smoothies. Highly recommended is the sampler platter for $14 – the best, healthiest deal in town.

Live Island Café
201C East Main St.
Huntington
www.liveislandcafe.com
Cuisine: Organic vegetarian and vegan
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily
except Sunday/Monday.