42Raw is the new healthy café-restaurant located inside the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts. The name, 42Raw refers to the type of cuisine served: Raw food only ever heated to below 42 degrees, the maximum temperature for cooking vegetables before the enzymes are broken down and some of the essential goodness is lost.

It is a brilliantly simple but inventive concept and one that I suspect will succeed tremendously with the yummy mummies and other health conscious Londoners. This new cult dining is introduced to the city by founder Jesper Rydahl who opened the original 42Raw in Copenhagen in 2009.

42 Raw manages to banish the rabbit food stereotype of raw fruit and vegetables, instead offering satisfying breakfasts, fresh and flavoursome salads, delicious tapas, Lasagne and noodle dishes. The café also makes wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables juices.

I dashed to 42Raw on my lunch break for a midday health kick and to speak the concept’s Founder, Jesper about his bright new idea. The weather in London was blissfully sunny, the ideal day for a light green meal. When I arrived at the outside seating area an artistic colourful salad and a wholesome dark green drink sat waiting for me on the wooden table. It soon became apparent that my salad was the Mango & Pumpkin seed Salad (£6) with courgette, avocado, mango, salty pumpkin seeds and mango-chilli dressing. It was light and refreshing with a thoughtful combination of flavours and textures: soft avocado, wafer thin courgette slices and extra crunchy seeds contrasting to create exciting and yummy mouthfuls. The fresh cubes of mango added an unexpected sweetness and there was a subtle spicy kick from the dressing. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, and finished feeling full but flat tummied!

For dessert I tried a slice of date cake, made without any dairy. It was incredibly dense and strongly flavoured, not quite light and sweet enough for me but nonetheless very interesting in texture and taste and a clever pudding alternative.

I think the 42Raw products would sell successfully in boutique independent shops, they would certainly appeal to women who want to cut calories without sacrificing flavour. But for now, the restaurant venue in central London is a lovely airy place to enjoy a healthy, tasty lunch in the summer breeze. You can indulge without feeling you have to justify it with a run later.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans but certainly intended for all foodies.

Visit the 42Raw website here for more information.