Raw Food Sweets

Indulging in something sweet, rich and delicious for dessert does not have to mean disrupting your body’s rhythm with sugar, dairy and other additives. There are many delectable all raw desserts on the market which taste just as good and oftentimes better than their conventional over-cooked counterparts. After relishing in these delights, you don’t feel heavy and bloated or over-stimulated with sugar and artificial junk. They are great for satisfying a child’s sweet tooth and can even be eaten for breakfast! My favorite at the moment is Hail Merry’s Miracle raw, organic, vegan tarts. The Meyer Lemon is phenomenal and comes so close to being cheesecake without any of the suspect dairy. The crust is made with almond flour, and coconut butter is a major ingredient in the whole mix. It is really good!

The Chocolate tart is even better!  And you won’t even miss not having a standard milk chocolate cake or bar. Believe me, your whole life will change when you try this slice of heaven. No more fake chocolate loaded with sugar, milk and preservatives, ever again.

If you love(d) those little candy peanut butter cups from childhood and get sad when you think of never having them again. Not to worry. Here is the lovely Almond Butter-filled chocolate miracle tart! Goodbye Reese’s!

I love all the innovative raw food companies springing up out of everywhere these days. Most of them hail from Cali and these nut guru guys are no exception. They make the most amazing uncooked goodies. I always have a bag of Living Intentions, Rosemary Garlic Gone Nuts! on hand.

The company that makes these sweet little bars, Gopal's, is surprisingly, not based in California - the home of the raw foodies! Believe it or not, this good stuff hails from Texas! I can never choose between the Macadamia and the Almond Sprout Bars. 

But getting back tochocolate, I discovered this heavenly bar on one of my late night quests for something sweet, yet healthy. Oh, was I grateful to find Sacred Chocolate! Thank you David Wolfe and friends!

A few days Later, I ventured into raw chocolate again and, unfortunately, was not as lucky. This Righteously Raw Bar is great nutritionally, but didn't have the luscious texture I was aiming for, due to the gritty maca bits. Maca, by the way, is an Amazonian superfood that is supposed to do wonders as an aphrodisiac.

And for those of you who crave that luscious texture for your desserts, like I do. The Cashew Nut Butter from Green Goddess Foods in Lake Placid, NY, beats all the rest. You can add it to a raw fruit smoothie, spread it on top of the aforementioned grainy bar to delicious effect or just spoon it right out of the jar, like I've been doing lately...

Accra Dream

One of the most popular destinations in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, is the Labadi Beach Hotel. It boasts a gourmet restaurant, stunning views, 5-star service and a central location. As a jumping off point for your exploration of the wonders of Accra, Labadi Beach is unrivaled. After a late night and, perhaps, an early morning flight from Lagos, you will be comforted by the calming surrounds of the lobby.

Once you check into your well appointed room,

 complete with stunning views from the terrace,

feel free to take a dip in the magnificent pool,

or just lounge on the tranquil veranda.

If 5-star luxury is not your thing, try the quaint and homey Headlines Guest House in Labone for a change.

This humble abode boasts its own night club,

in town access,

and some of the best Ghanaian food around.

Once you find your spot, you can then venture out into Accra proper.

 Maybe grab some fruit and veggies,

or stop at a local cafe.

If you venture further downtown, northeast of the ocean,

You will find street sellers offering up their handmade camel-skin bags,

As well as shops like Global Mamas, whose sales of shea butters and batiks support indigenous craftswomen.

To round out the day, you might spend some time at Artists Alliance, a beautiful gallery hosting artists' work from all over the country.

The view from inside, alone, is astounding.

But the food, oh yes, the food...

is out of this world.

Lagosian Cuisine

Yes, you can find fresh local and organic produce in Lagos, Nigeria! And with this good stuff, you can prepare all the wonderful dishes that are native to the region. At the Life House on Victoria Island, there are monthly Souks where all kinds of delicacies are sold - like Ofada rice, for instance! During other times of the month, numerous road-side stands abound where all manner of fresh fruit and veggies can be found.

If you're not to keen on road-side produce and don't mind paying substantially more, a nice place to shop is L'epicerie, also in V.I. The shelves are well stocked with myriad choices, though not all local. The quality is consistent, however.

Here you can also get all the unique spices, seeds, grains and beans that go into Nigerian cuisine. Everything is artfully displayed in bins and you can buy in bulk. Ogbono, Egusi, you name it!

Perhaps, you don't feel like slaving over a hot stove in the Lagos heat or are lacking in the culinary skills department. Not to worry, the options for eating out in Lagos are many. To start, if you are new to Nigerian food, you might try the Sunday buffet at the Eko Hotel. Here you will find a variety of options; traditional, Chinese and what is known here as Continental cuisine.

Here you can pick and choose and create a medley of sorts, all on one plate. I put together a heady mix of Fish Stew, Ewedu Soup, Curry Salmon, Spinach Salad, Lentils, Rice, Potatoes and Fried Plantain. Whew, I know!

For a pure experience of Nigerian food, check out Bogobiri House, an outstanding restaurant, hotel, music venue, and art gallery in Ikoyi. Enjoy a delicious plate of Stewed Red Snapper with Couscous and Dodo (fried plantain).

If you're lucky, you'll get invited to one of the ubiquitious and grand Lagos parties, where food is served up in royal style. This amazing plate of Ofada Rice, Jollof Rice, Boiled Plantain, Moi Moi (a steamed bean cake), Efo (a spinach-like dish), Grilled Fish and Dodo, was actually made right on-site in traditional pots over an open fire!

Smoking pots of delectable food!

Eating outdoors has a way of making the food taste even better than it already does and this next event was no different. With a buffet of traditional soups and stews (including snail)!, different types of rice dishes and of course, Moi Moi and Dodo, even without the open fire, the food rocked!

Lagosians love to celebrate in grand form and the food rarely disappoints.

So, please do come hungry!

If you are not lucky enough to be a VIP at some gala event, again, not to worry. There is plenty of excellent food for the taking at B-Jays Restaurant and Bar just off the main road in Victoria Island. A tasty meal of Efo and Fish Stew can be made to your order.

At TerraKulture, you can even eat Fish Stew with Beans and Dodo before checking out a Seun Kuti live performance in their on-site theatre.

Whoever said that Lagos was not a food mecca, was clearly mistaken. This is a place you can eat and eat well! The food is exceptionally delicious, healthy and fresh if you know where to go. And now that you do, don't waste time. Come to Lagos and eat with me!