"I feel like I know a lot of truth about food. I have seen a lot of testimonies of healing happening from eating right," Abou-Ismail said, noting the first thing he decided to do to help people was teach awareness classes at Wild Oats educating them about why they should eat raw food and how to prepare the food.

To further help people, he decided to open a raw food restaurant and use his talent of creating healthy-raw food recipes with only natural ingredients that people from all walks of life can enjoy.

"I am hoping to bring a new form of light — a healing light that allows people to see things in a simple way," Abou-Ismail said, adding his customers range from vegans to those who don't limit what kinds of food they eat.

Abou-Ismail said his food is unique because of the way he focuses on the nutritional factor of the menu.

"The people that work here are very loving, and we work to help people, to educate people, to make people aware," Abou-Ismail said. "We are here to do nothing but show complete acceptance with no judgment and complete love no matter who they are."

Corbin White, 29, is one of Abou-Ismail's regular customers. He first came to the Living Cuisine in August.

"The second I saw it, I just pulled in here and I knew it was for me because at the time I was vegan so I was thinking a little bit more about the way I ate," White said.

Abou-Ismail "asked me the first time I was here if I was raw, and I said, 'I am now,' " White said, noting he loves the taste of the food. "His food is absolutely world class. I just decided right then and there that there was no sense in ever destroying my food with heat again."

Since White began to eat only raw food his health has improved, he added.

"My health has been improving steadily," White said. "I am a lot stronger than I use to be. I feel my body more so it makes me want to exercise, and I have been rock climbing and snowboarding like crazy."

The Living Cuisine's menu includes familiar items such as pizza, pasta, kiwi pie and sushi.

Prices range from $5 to $16. The restaurant is at 2144 S. Highland Drive, suite 100, inside the Herbs for Health store.

---

E-mail: shannongoble@aol.com