Kristi Frank is one of 16 people who were chosen from 250,000 applicants to be a contestant/contender on Donald Trump’s TV reality show The Apprentice. During the filming of the show, she lived in Manhattan’s Trump Tower with the other contestants for four weeks, until she was “fired.” (One contestant was “fired” every week, until only one was left, who became Donald Trump’s apprentice.)

A newlywed with supermodel looks, Kristi lives in Los Angeles and is a partner and co-owner of Juliano’s Raw restaurant in Santa Monica.

Judy Pokras, the editor and founder of Raw Foods News Magazine, interviewed Kristi on June 29, 2004. Kristi was upbeat and gracious.

Kristi, how did you become interested in the raw foods lifestyle, and how did you happen to become an investor in Juliano’s restaurant?

It’s kind of one and the same. I met Juliano-–we have a wonderful farmer’s market here in Santa Monica—I saw his book—he was catering for clients and celebrities. I had him deliver some meals to me. After my first one I called him. He had given me David Wolfe’s books, Eating for Beauty and Life Force. I said on the first day, “You need a restaurant! Do you want to do something?” He said, “No thank you, I’m doing a restaurant and I have an investor.” But the investor backed out and I came in, which was a good thing, because I have an engineering degree, and I helped him open Juliano’s Raw. My degree is in industrial engineering—systems and management. It basically oversees a system. It works perfectly to oversee construction, equipment purchasing, hiring, recipes, finance.

How did you decide to major in industrial engineering? Did you have any particular career path in mind?

My father’s an industrial engineer. My role model’s always been Lee Iacocca. I’d planned to work for Merrill Lynch and be an investment banker. My family’s an engineering family, and it’s typical for someone to get a business degree, but it’s atypical to get a degree in engineering with a business emphasis, so my degree is very valuable.

To what extent do you eat raw foods?

Usually I’ll go months on end being 80 to 90 percent raw, and then my body will kick in and I’ll eat some other things—some fish and eggs every once in a while. I listen to my body; I go back and forth between raw and mostly raw, but when I want to feel my best I eat raw. It’s interesting, because on the show I was 100 percent raw. It was incredible. It was very difficult—all I ate was apples and almonds. It gave me a ton of energy; the only problem was, I was losing way too much weight. Just before I left the show, Heidi [another contestant] said, “You look way too skinny.” I lost probably 10 pounds in the span of four weeks. And we were running around a lot too.

Did people on the show know about raw foods?

It was hard to talk about my restaurant because on the show you couldn’t promote your business. But everybody knew I was a vegan and I tried to explain the raw concept to them.

To Donald Trump too?

Not Donald Trump.

Were you able to ask the show to order you meals from any of the raw restaurants in New York City?

I was very lucky—they would shop for us and you could request some things, but you don’t get fed restaurant food—they would cater to your dietary needs as much as possible.

What was the first food you ate when you left the show and went back home?

I’m sure I went to the restaurant [Juliano’s Raw, also known as Raw] right away; there’s an amazing thing that happens when you go to a raw restaurant.

Have you tried to get your friends or relatives to eat raw food?

No. I’ve more than anything taught my friends and relatives the benefits of eating raw. I don’t push it on them, and I have opened their minds to the healthy lifestyle. Amy and Ereka from the show have come to Raw. They both loved it.

Do they live near the restaurant to make it easy for them to eat there often?

Ereka lives in New York and Amy’s from Texas. They both enjoyed the restaurant, but I don’t think they’ll be turning raw soon.

Is it difficult eating food that’s different from what your husband eats?

My husband and I make our own food. He will go vegetarian a lot of the time, but he’s a total meat eater. I think he’s blood type O. I don’t have a problem with the way he eats—his choice is his choice. Whenever we go out to eat, it’s easy to find things for both of us.

What do you think of the blood type diet?

I don’t believe in the blood type diet, but I do believe in different personalities and different type bodies. I don’t think there’s one diet that can satisfy everybody. I think raw teaches you to listen to your body. Some people can do amazingly on raw but I don’t think it should be mandated that everybody should go raw to be in perfect health.

What other businesses are you involved in?

I have 2 condos in Santa Monica that I rent out and own. I’m looking to get involved in some other businesses.

Has being on the show led to other opportunities for you?

Yes, it’s incredible. It’s opened up doors that were maybe harder to get into. It’s easy to talk about the show, and people love to meet you and want to know everything about Donald Trump.

Are you still in touch with anyone from the show?

Amy and Ereka came to my wedding. I’m still really close with everybody.

What advice would you have for people looking to open raw food restaurants?

Study a model that’s working extremely well. Raw food is very costly. The preparation and the time and labor is a model that’s really difficult to achieve. You have to study a model that’s really working. Pick a restaurant that’s been open over a year.

Are you available for consulting?

Yes, although my time is not free. That would take up all my time if I talked to everyone who asked.

Source: http://www.rawfoodsnewsmagazine.com/