Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive :: An Interview + Giveaway

November 13, 2009

Today is our lucky Friday for the “People” series. I am happy to interview one of the pioneers of the 90’s gourmet raw living cuisine movement and chef I admire, Brian James Lucas, who also is known as Chef BeLive.

Brian infuses his raw vegan recipes with a lot of heart and personal style, he is indeed a culinary artist. If you have ever read the title of one of his recipes, that alone is enough to send you into a hunger spell, just imagine tasting his creations.

Currently, Brian is working on opening a raw restaurant in the Los Angeles area, that will offer raw vegan cuisine sure to tantalize our taste buds. He is soon to be the author of his first raw recipe book, and you can find his Mom’s Stuffed Bells recipe, a recipe he recreated raw, featured in Carol Alt’s raw food book, The Raw 50.

Aside from planning the restaurant and book, Brian encourages, educates, and helps people maintain a healthy lifestyle through his work as a consultant, personal and private chef services, menu and product developer, and a teacher who teaches beginning, intermediate, and advance raw vegan food prep courses.

In this interview, Brian shares with us how he discovered raw food, who are his mentors, who has inspired him, his most difficult situation in his career as a chef, and more.

Enjoy the Interview…

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: When did you first discover raw food?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: I first discovered it in 1991 but I didn’t realize it until 1996. Previously, before 1991, for my whole life, I thought I was allergic to many vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds because at that point ever since I could remember, if I ate any melons, cucumbers, avocados, walnuts, almonds, bananas and some others in their raw form, my cheeks and throat puffed up in hives immediately. It felt as if I has itchy scales all over inside my mouth and down my throat.

In 1991, I was living off the grid in Humboldt County, Ca., ie. solar power and not hooked in to the regular system. My friends I was living with were organic farmers and I remember the day so vividly. One of them asked me, “Want to try my organic watermelon?” I had never heard this term, but immediately I said. “No Thanks!”. Watermelon was one of the worse ones when it came to allergic reactions. He said “Come on, it’s Organic.” and then proceeded to explain what organic was. I felt an overwhelming protective energy around me so I grabbed a piece and put in my mouth.

I had tasted in many years earlier and knew I liked it, so as soon as I bit in to it I was amazed because I wasn’t breaking out. I remember eating so much of that watermelon. Then I convinced one of my friends to drive me to the closest health food store, which was 1 hour drive one way. I bought every single fruit, vegetable, nut and seed in it’s raw organic form that I had basically never eaten and tried them. I cried because of how happy I was to discover that I could eat these. It’s also when I realized I was VERY sensitive and allergic to chemicals and/or pesticides. At that moment, I started my predominantly organic lifestyle and eating more raw fruits and vegetables. I had no idea about raw living food at that point. It wasn’t until 1996 in San Francisco, that I learned about raw living foods.

My kids mom Whitney had told me a little about Viktorus and Ann Wigmore and how she read their books in the 80’s and had worked with Evan when he first started Rejuvenative Foods in Santa Cruz but she didn’t really explain much about the whole concept. Then, when Juliano and Vitya opened their restaurant Raw Living Foods we would drive past it and Whitney would try to get me to go but I wouldn’t because I pictured oranges and apples on the table and thought I could do this at home. Finally a couple months later she convinced me to go in.

After my first meal I was hooked. I couldn’t believe that you could actually eat a gourmet meal and it be all raw. I remember walking out of the restaurant and turning down the sidewalk feeling like I was floating, full of energy. At that moment I became all raw vegan for almost 2 years. After, I experimented for 8 years eventually finding that a predominantly vegan, mostly raw lifestyle was best for me.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Has creating with food always been a big part of your life?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Well, in a sense because I always loved watching and eating both my grandma’s and moms food. I didn’t really know of my gift until many years later.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: When did you realize you wanted to become a raw vegan chef?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: The day I bought Juliano’s restaurant, and realized the creator bestowed me with a gift that I can barely explain.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: What one word would you use to describe yourself?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Blessed

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: What people or events have most influenced you as a chef and life in general?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Grateful Dead, Adoré Michelle Levitt, Zivu Lucas(my son), Inanna Lucas(my daughter) Whitney Mckinney, Juliano, Lou Corona, Jeremy Saffron. To explain this, my answer would be longer than the first question you asked so I will leave it at that.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: I intended to ask you “If you were to open a new restaurant, where would it be”, but I am aware that you plan to open a raw restaurant and that the desired location is Beverly Hills, California. Will this be your first restaurant venture and how are those plans coming along?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: I bought Juliano’s restaurant in San Francisco in 1998 and called my restaurant Organica: the Living Cuisine, it lasted a year. Juliano hadn’t been doing well when I took it over and it plain and simply was ahead of it’s time. As far as the new venture, I am creating it with Adoré, and our beautiful Kabbalist friends Baruch and Maya. We are scouting locations and meeting with potential investors now, and it is coming along wonderfully. I can’t talk about the name or details but I’ve already designed the menu and most of the kitchen. It’s so exciting!

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Are you also working on writing a raw recipe book?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: I currently have Orgasm of the Taste Buds which is a teaser version of my future first book. It has 30 recipes that will be a part of the 130+ recipes in the first book. My first book will most likely have a different title, still undecided. I have over 2000 recipes and can create 20 new ones a day with the proper ingredients, time and setting to make them. “Thank you Creator for the gifts you give us!”

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: When I’m logged onto Facebook, every now and then I get a delicious glimpse of a lovely raw dish or read mouth-watering titles of the raw recipes you made. Where do you find inspiration as a chef?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Once again, I give props to the Divine Creative Energy of the Universe that I tap in to, and I have a sophisticated palate to assist the channeling.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Do you have a signature recipe?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Nacho, Ranch & BBQ Kale Chips, Matzo Ball Soup, Spaghetti with Strawberry Marinara, Mock Chicken Nuggets, bunches of Exotic Pleasure Wraps, Lasagna, Pad Thai, Coconut Soup. I better stop here.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: You’re a culinary artist, but when you want to make something simple, quick, and delicious, what do you make?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Super food Green Smoothie

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: What was the most difficult situation you’ve had to handle so far in your career as a chef? What did you learn from the experience?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Making a bunch of food for an inner city youth, Obama event with limited funds and equipment. I managed it though and it turned out perfect. I learned to make sure the client has a budget and that it takes care of the other challenges.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Do you have any mentors?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Adoré & as far as raw goes… Lou Corona, Viktorus, Vitya, Juliano and Jeremy Saffron.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Any chefs that you particularly admire/respect?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Ito, Sarma, Rawsheed, Angelina, Jeffrey Elaina, Chad, Roxanne, Ani, Juliano, Matthew, Mehmet, Rachael and Gil.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Where and what was your most memorable raw meal?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: The one that sticks out in my mind right now is the meal I made for Adoré when she came home from tour with the Bellydance Superstars and New York. It was our anniversary and I recreated our first meal. The only reason it was more memorable than our first was because we had a dehydrator so I was able to warm up the Lasagna. The menu was Lasagna, Rainbow Salad with Creamy Italian Dressing with a Durian Coconut Drink that I call Our Fathers Milk. Truly memorable.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: What is your favorite part of being a raw chef?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Tantalizing peoples taste buds in the healthiest way possible.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: What would you be if you weren’t a chef?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: I am a musician, writer and producer too. I’m focusing on the chef part for a while.

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: What’s the one thing about you few people know?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: That I am actually a woman, JK! I am in touch with my feminine side though, Thank Goddess!

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Any words of advice or anything else you’d like to share?

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: “Stay True, See Through!”

Ingrid Weithers-Barati: Brian, thank you for all you do and for the wonderful recipes and inspiration you share.

Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive: Thank you dear, bless you in every way, shape and form.

Giveaway

For this giveaway, we are pleased to offer one [1] microplane zester. This is one kitchen tool I believe every ‘un’cook and cook, should have in their kitchen.

Answer this question and you will automatically be entered into the draw for the awesome kitchen tool.

At what point where you hooked on raw, or at least intrigued enough to try it?

One entry per person, please.

The drawing for this giveaway will take place Monday, November 30th. I will use my favorite random number picker to choose the winning participants. The winning participant will be contacted via email and an announcement will be posted in the comment section of this post.

Thank you, cheers, and best of luck to all who participate.

Look forward to upcoming posts of delicious recipe from Brian. Many thanks to Brian for his generosity and contribution.

* * * * * * * *

More about Chef Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive

Visit his website Be Live Light

Stay connected with Brian via ChefBeLive on Twitter and Brian Lucas on My Space

Join his Facebook page Be Live and Faceboo group Raw Living Cuisine “Orgasm of the Taste Buds”

Tweet This: Send Page to Twitter

-->

Comments

37 Comments so far

Zoe on November 13, 2009 Friday, 10:22 am
Another great interview, thanks for these!

I was hooked when I got Ani Phyo’s first book for my birthday two years ago and was suffering some major acne issues. Everything in the book sounded so delicious and healthy. It seemed like the natural way to go to heal myself from the inside out. Now I’m acne and med free! Yay raw :D
Raw.la - Raw Food in The News and Around The Web on November 13, 2009 Friday, 10:30 am
[…] Brian James Lucas aka Chef BeLive :: An Interview + Giveaway […]
Carole on November 13, 2009 Friday, 11:07 am
I became interested in raw foods, after meeting Paul Nison, author of “The Daylight Diet”, and The Raw Life Health Show….awesome…..
Emily on November 13, 2009 Friday, 11:17 am
I was hooked on raw when I no longer found I was hungry all the time. I used to follow a very healthy diet, but it included cooked foods and grains. I still felt like I could eat at any time of the day and I was never truly satisfied. Going raw got me in tune with my body. I found that live food was really giving me all the nutrients I needed, and cravings disappeared!
VeggieGirl on November 13, 2009 Friday, 1:30 pm
When I read promising research a few years ago supporting the notion of raw foods helping to ease Crohn’s Disease complications, I knew I HAD to give it a go. And it worked :)
Tiffany on November 13, 2009 Friday, 3:45 pm
I am now just hooked on raw after becoming very ill 2 years ago and going to the Mayo Clinic where I was unable to get help there - I knew something drastic had to change and have ended up here in my journey for health and peace - raw food. I am currently doing a cleanse and it is strictly raw food after that. I got hooked at Cousins IV here in Chicago, Illinois this summer - Chef Mehmet - thank you to him for my introduction to the rest of my life…
JodyLynn on November 13, 2009 Friday, 5:03 pm
I was participating in the Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Life 28-day Adventure Cleanse Tune-up. By the first week I was hooked! 6 months later, I feel the best I ever had in my entire life. Long live RAW!!! ;-)
Elena on November 13, 2009 Friday, 5:22 pm
I started going more raw after meeting a raw foodist, a recovering diabetic, almost two years ago. I saw the change in her body and decided that I should try and see if I would get better faster on raw (I was already vegan at the time). Amazingly my health began to improve faster within 30 days, and then gradually I was able to completely reverse hypo condition in my body.
angelina Elliott on November 13, 2009 Friday, 5:40 pm
I love you both so much! GREAT INTERVIEW!!!!! Fabulous! xoxoxox
Samantha Weinstein on November 13, 2009 Friday, 9:51 pm
I read a review in my college newspaper for a raw food restaurant called Bliss. I researched raw food, stumbled upon Sarma Melngailis, bought her first book, had my first official raw meal at Bliss and the rest is eye-opening, delicious history :)
Cheryl W on November 13, 2009 Friday, 11:09 pm
I was intrigued to try a raw diet when I saw an episode on the Dr. Oz show. I have been feeling so dragged down and heavy from the cooked over processed food and I just was craving raw foods so badly.
Nicole on November 14, 2009 Saturday, 8:47 am
Great interview Ingrid, thanks! Oh how I wish I was closer to LA to enjoy the Raw restaurants.

I read several articles online about people healing their thyroid disease with Raw food so I thought I would give it a try for my Hashimoto’s disease. I then read The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose and knew this was the lifestyle for me. 7 months later and I couldn’t be happier : )
Indigo on November 14, 2009 Saturday, 2:44 pm
I have been hooked on raw and gourmet due to facing “possible cancer” and lots of transfusions from only stress. I found the cleansings, fastings and soon were helping so many others that soon I found myself ignoring any people but my instinct in life no matter what manifested from the Government or others around me. I found myself living 100% off the trees and shed all, and every comfort of phones to cameras to anything I relied on in Hawaii. I lived on a cliff and watched the most beautiful sea creatures and ate purely off the trees daily and soon was prepping raw gourmet from my own grown veggies from the large farms I managed and soon the retreats were begging me to prep more raw Gourmet foods and I knew it meant life…..love and more life and love. I live for love and life so I am hooked on anything that connects me to true life and true love…
Indigo on November 14, 2009 Saturday, 2:53 pm
oopsie, made a mistake on email, and I forgot to add that after going raw on coconut water daily from the Island and fresh grown spirulina to many other veggies and fruit, I not only became healed medically…..but SOON I found myself training alongside the same pathway as the IRONMAN bike athletes. Soon they were asking for Workshops as they ate hot dogs and Snicker bars for their “carb training” foods. I have found that anyone with any imbalance in health or any areas can simple have 5 coconuts a day within 30 minutes of being picked and they can heal ANYTHING. “Mother’s Milk” is what they call coconuts and we climbed the trees and found they call it that for a reason….
bitt on November 14, 2009 Saturday, 5:55 pm
I was first intrigued with raw food when I heard about Organic Garden restaurant in Beverly, Mass. Before that I though raw foods were just cut up veggies. I went to the restaurant and eat some live lasagne. I remember feeling great afterwards and upon subsequent visits. Then when I remembered later on how I felt and decided to give raw a try.
Michal on November 14, 2009 Saturday, 7:06 pm
I became interestead in raw food after I read Natalia Rose’s books. I became infatuated with the raw foods lifestyle and quantam physics. Now its such a huge part of my life I can’t imagine it any other way.
Karmalily on November 15, 2009 Sunday, 7:59 am
There is a health food store rather close to where I grew up, and one day I noticed a raw section with a lot of premade meals. I decided to try one even though it was expensive and I new nothing about the raw foods lifestyle. After eating it, I felt amazing. This led me to find out more and start preparing raw foods on my own.
linda on November 15, 2009 Sunday, 12:50 pm
That was an interesting interview! how wonderful that he can create like that :)

I was hooked when I realized that you could eat warmed food! also when i made raw sushi with mashed avocado and garlic cream spread. it had so much flavor that i didn’t miss the cooked stuff for the first time.

blessings to all!
Ashley Pennington on November 15, 2009 Sunday, 3:24 pm
I first tried raw food at a vegan potluck with my friends, raw mushroom pate. I was not into it. but I tried again at a raw restaurant in st.augustine fl, called Present Moment Cafe, and I was hooked! I have not gone gourmet with my raw uncooking yet because I don’t have very much kitchen equipment (no dehydrator, blender, etc.) but I look forward to the day I can make my own flax crackers and more!
Patricia Proskurniak on November 15, 2009 Sunday, 4:25 pm
I was intrigued to try it after surfing the net and finding the “Raw For Thirty” website about the documentary. I was searching for information about diabetes as I had been diagnosed as diabetic. I’d been on Metformin for a bit over a year when I decided to go try it out. Didn’t have anything to lose and everything to gain. And have I ever. I’ve only been raw for 2 months and I feel great. I’ve noticed I heal faster. The tingly feelings in my feet and lower legs have disappeared. I am also losing weight at a healthy and steady rate. It’s all good.
Heather on November 15, 2009 Sunday, 5:12 pm
I was hooked when my daughter’s high school boyfriend emailed me from college in 2002 to tell me how he was on a raw food diet, had more energy than he ever could have imagined, and was “pooping like a goose!” Icky but also intriguing. I was not able to stay raw in 2002 but as more resources became available and I learned how to move beyond salads it became possible. So a big thanks to Ed (the now ex-boyfriend but all around fantastic person).
Allison Carr on November 18, 2009 Wednesday, 3:46 pm
I was hooked on raw foods when I started to REALLY eat bananas! Bananas are my favorite food now! I troll raw websites looking for delicious additions to sprinkle on bananas… my current fave is almond butter and cayenne pepper! Yum! That’s got a kick!
Nadia on November 21, 2009 Saturday, 11:09 pm
As soon as I found out what it was!
Serenity Channel on November 22, 2009 Sunday, 10:58 pm
Do you have any cooking shows on the internet? If so, I can run one of them by the staff, and if they like it we can run it on the serenity channel website.
sans on November 23, 2009 Monday, 8:22 am
I’ve been hooked on Raw for a long time. I love the energy it gives me, and fresh clean feeling in my mouth when I’m chewing freshly picked greens and weeds.
andra on November 24, 2009 Tuesday, 12:10 am
I became inspired to try raw foods when I read the testimonials of people who have walked a similar path to mine and have had amazing results. andra :)
Jody on November 25, 2009 Wednesday, 3:37 pm
When I first saw Simply Raw!
Tyra McMahon on November 25, 2009 Wednesday, 3:54 pm
My memories of loving raw food started long ago when I was a little girl. It was as simple as going out into my Aunties garden and picking a carrot right out of the ground and munching down on it. Also the fresh peas, oh how yummy those were. Then we’d all head in ole truck up to the mountain and pick wild blue berries. Heaven! It just came naturally.
Jane Kowalski on November 25, 2009 Wednesday, 7:31 pm
Two words–Zucchini Pasta!

That won me over and I’ve gone on to entice many a meat-eater with this little bit of scrumptiousness.

My husband, the devout Omnivore, tagged along to a raw “cooking” class, and once he tasted the Basil Walnut Pesto over Zucchini Noodles, even he was hooked. I shared the recipe with my daughter, now it’s a regular on her Hispanic husband’s plate. Army Son now plans meals around the raw noodles, and his mother-in-law is now interested.

Amazing what a humble veggie can do…
eve on November 25, 2009 Wednesday, 8:12 pm
Hooked on raw after reading Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes books.
Renee on November 26, 2009 Thursday, 3:05 am
I became hooked on raw after my infant son had become extremely ill and our Dr. had us do an “elimination diet”. Struggling for more answers or knowledge a friend sent me a recipe for chocolate mousse made without sugar, gluten, dairy, soy, etc. It was healthy, raw, incredibly delicious and I could hardly wait to learn more about this incredible way to treat the body, mind and spirit!
Now I have become an aspiring new Raw food chef and Brian is a true inspiration! Thank you, Brian!
Pam on November 26, 2009 Thursday, 6:58 am
Six years ago, my husband and I went to a seminar in Tenn and a guy that was 85 yrs young looked like 40, SO that’s when we started incorporating more raw into our diet!

Great giveaway and thank you!

Happy T-Day to ya!

Enjoy!
Cyndi on November 27, 2009 Friday, 3:33 pm
I enjoyed the interview and I am very encouraged by it! An “alternative” health doctor recommended I become a raw foodist after neurologists had recommended some serious pharmeceuticals to stop extreme pain in my head and ear due to (microwave)damage from my cell phone. I had extreme pain for 6 months and within 2 months on a raw food diet the pain was reduced by 70% and I had more energy (and a 15 pound weight loss).

Because of the holidays (and struggling with getting three young children on a healthier eating plan) I am struggling to stay raw right now (but my body is hating me for falling away). Interviews like this are such an encouragement and I look forward to picking up your cook book and visiting your restaurant when we are in California this January!
Cyndi on November 27, 2009 Friday, 3:37 pm
I forgot to mention - I have only been doing raw food since July of this year.

Cyndi
Rosie on November 28, 2009 Saturday, 8:16 am
A friend of mine introduced me to RAW. I thought I was eating healthy prior to my RAW food experience, but nothing prepared me for the wonderful things you can make. Its a labor of love at times but so worth it!
Kilucru on November 29, 2009 Sunday, 7:50 pm
I had known about it for about 20 years and had read Ann Wigmore and co, had taken a living food mini class but yet nothing would do. until I read Fit for Life and decided to give it a try… never went back to “normal life”.
Ingrid on December 1, 2009 Tuesday, 7:00 pm
Announcement

Thank you for your kind comments on Brian aka Chef BeLive’s interview and for taking the time to participate in this giveaway drawing for a Microplane Zester. Also, thank you for sharing your story when asked At what point where you hooked on raw, or at least intrigued enough to try it? I enjoyed reading each entry. Now it is time to announce the winner of this awesome kitchen tool.

I am please to announce that Ashley Pennington is the winner! Congratulations!!!

This is what Ashley wrote when asked, At what point where you hooked on raw, or at least intrigued enough to try it? :

I first tried raw food at a vegan potluck with my friends, raw mushroom pate. I was not into it. but I tried again at a raw restaurant in st.augustine fl, called Present Moment Cafe, and I was hooked! I have not gone gourmet with my raw uncooking yet because I don’t have very much kitchen equipment (no dehydrator, blender, etc.) but I look forward to the day I can make my own flax crackers and more!

Get The Raw Epicurean Report free monthly food news in your inbox

For Email Marketing you can trust

Receive the latest raw vegan recipes and related posts via email alerts | RSS subscription

Let's connect via Twitter

Join our fabulous community

Herb of the Month

Rose is the featured herb for February. We'll highlight its benefits, showcase it in raw vegan recipes, and at the end of the month a reader's name will be drawn from the comments, and our sponsor