Woman turns diet into successful career

December 1, 2005 (WLS) -- Karyn Calabrese has turned a personal health issue into a successful career as a unique restaurateur. She is a raw foodist and her Chicago restaurants were among the first of their kind in the country.

She's a restaurateur who operates with a kitchen that doesn't have a grill, oven, microwave unit or fire. For Karyn Calabrese none of the above is necessary because her restaurant -- Karyn's Fresh Corner -- serves only raw food.

"We don't fire any of our food. We dehydrate them, which gives you a sense of cooking," said Karyn Calabrese, restaurateur.

She is known as a raw foodist -- which means she has maintained a diet of raw food for a very long time.

"I had every allergy known to man. I was a mess -- terrible skin, so I became vegetarian first, then I became a vegan, then I met Dr. Ann Wigmore after reading her book. It was the next thing for me to move forward to becoming a raw foodist," said Karyn Calabrese.

Karyn Calabrese opened her first raw food restaurant in 1992 at Lincoln and Paullina. At the time, it was one of only two raw food restaurants in the country and the only one in Chicago.

"I just had this vision, an inspiration that I wanted to do it. Everybody thought that I was crazy and I hocked a ring and took out a loan. I opened it up. I never even worked in a restaurant before," said Karyn Calabrese.

For the past four-and-a-half years her cafe and restaurant have been located at 1901 North Halsted where she also conducts classes in holistic living. A former actress and model, Karyn Calabrese is a grandmother with two grandchildren.

"I'm 58 years old. I don't know what illness is. I have more energy then I know what to do with. I truly believe it is the life style I lead," said Karyn Calabrese.

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