Ayurvedic needs to be a new word in your vocabulary, just like it’s a new word in mine. Ayurvedic (or Ayurveda) refers to the holistic way of eating by focusing on your body type and eating based on your body needs.
Ayurveda has been around for centuries and the benefits of applying this lifestyle not only aids with your diet, it also helps you become more mentally balanced.
Chef & Author Divya Alter thoroughly understands how beneficial this lifestyle is, and in her attempt to pass along her knowledge she and her husband opened up the city’s first Ayurvedic restaurant called Divya Kitchen, located in the Lower East Side.
At Divya’s Kitchen, patrons have the pleasure of learning more about the principles of Ayurveda by choosing from a variety of delectable dishes.
Sitting down with Divya, we were able to fully understand her experience with this practice and why it is important for others to be aware. “Food has the power of healing, we have been equipped with everything we need to survive. I have experience with how food can hurt us and how food can helps us. People should understand there is no good or bad food, how you prepare these foods will determined the affects.” Hearing Divya say that something clicked in my head and I instantly thought about that bowl of cheesy broccoli I had the night before.
Frantically looking through the menu, I couldn’t help but notice how straight to the point the dishes were. For some reason I was expecting the dishes to be filled with a bunch of ingredients I never heard of (starts jumping for joy), now I know I can make these dishes at home.
The evenings dinner started with the Jicama-Avocado Salad. I had no idea what a jicama was yet I was excited to try, because of course anything paired with avocado can’t be bad. The slight spiciness of the arugula combined with the crunchy feeling of the jicama blended perfectly together. This salad was very fresh and fulfilling with each ingredient working well of each other.
For the main I had the Vegetable Curry in Cashew Sauce with a side of Sautéed Leafy Greens and Paneer Protein. [to reflect the photo]. As the dish was coming out my mouth started to water with anticipation as the smell of the dish hit me first. The greens were cooked down perfectly, not too much where it lost it’s shrubbery yet enough to where it was very tasty. The curry sauce was not spicy nor was it overwhelming, just how I like it.
The softness of the green beans joined with the cauliflower evened perfectly with each other. This meal was amazing! What made it even better is that I forgot I wasn’t eating any meat.
Divya’s Kitchen is one of a kind, not only because it’s the only Ayurvedic restaurant in town, but also because of the authenticity and the love you can feel through the food.
Chef Divya understands that not everyone can afford cooking classes which is why she is releasing her very own cookbook What To Eat For How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen.
In this cookbook Divya explains everything about Ayurvedic dining and it’s benefits. What’s even better is that there are a bunch of recipes for you to try at home. Set to release April 4th, this would make an ideal gift for the vegetarian in your life.
If you’re ever in the Lower East Side, Divya’s Kitchen is a must. Trust us you will not regret it!