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Thursday 25 December 2014

Have You Tried Raw Bar Catering NYC?

By Stacey Burt


A healthy, balanced diet is often emphasized as part of a proper lifestyle. However, as city dwellers may be able to attest to, buying all the necessary items in such a diet is not the easiest (or cheapest) task in an urban context, and may also require extra time. Western consumers should take note that seafood and shellfish, served raw or cooked, are a significant source of nutrients and protein, and not only an alternative lifestyle choice for those who enjoying experimenting. It may be worth one;'s while to explore raw bar catering NYC.

Generally, seafood contains certain micro-nutrients which are hard to source elsewhere. These are the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which are required for nervous function and brain health. Then there are also minerals in the skeletal structure of the fish which are important in the human body. And, of course, as a source of high-value, dense protein, fish is difficult to match.

Raw bars serve the seafood in various forms, some of which may be familiar to the Western consumer, others not. As an example, there is the carpaccio style, which is a traditional Italian dish, usually made with uncooked red meat. Preparing it with a marine animal is therefore not so different to what the customer may be used to. On the other hand, sushi is the traditional Japanese seafood cuisine, although it has established a significant presence in other parts of the world.

In itself, the idea of eating meat raw might be difficult to process for some customers. Some consumers may not have any previous experience of raw dishes, or they may have been discouraged from eating them by fellow consumers who distribute incorrect information. They should be reassured by the fact that raw protein is not new in the traditional cuisine of some parts of the world, and that the preparation of such dishes does not pose a threat to their health.

Then there is also the fact that some raw bar establishments try to expand their menu with cooked dishes. These are still seafood-orientated, but they are cooked. Those who do not desire to experiment with raw options are then able to resort to their more accustomed fare.

The emphasis in the menu of a raw bar is on shellfish. Examples of these are prawns, oysters, clams and mussels, all of which are present in various species. This translates into a large diversity of possible offerings, and each bar may offer different species. The customary presentation is with a citrus condiment, such as lemon juice, or sometimes with alcohol. As a separate menu section, there is sushi, which already has an established presence in Western dining experience.

As to the cooked dishes, these might be more known to American patrons. Salmon is a staple favourite, and is sold cured, while clam chowder is a popular recipe on its own. Other dishes, such as steamed clams and poached shrimp, are not so far removed from Western cuisine either. Patrons who want to prepare these dishes at home may find that observing their preparation in the raw bar is an interesting lesson in their perfection.

Seafood remains a prime source of quality protein and other rarer, yet highly beneficial, nutrients. As urban dwellers try to maintain satisfactory health in a sometimes hostile, unwholesome environment, an occasional dose of clam or oyster may not be an untoward addition to a sometimes undesirable diet of processed foods and artificial vitamin supplements.




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