Feel good, French style

I was just profiled by a website because apparently I am “living the dream.”  That seemed a little crazy to me because I don’t quite yet “have” everything I want.

But then I realized that you never get everything you want. The whole point of life is understanding that it’s not about what you want, it’s about what you already have.

Here’s my favorite quote from the article:

“Today, being successful to me means staying in the moment, enjoying my everyday life and being engaged in the world.”

Cheers to that!

For more advice, read here.

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

I neglected my blog last week, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t thinking of you.

Last Tuesday, I attended Vital Voices’ moving celebration of women leaders from around the world. The likes of Hillary Clinton, Diane von Furstenberg and Tina Brown took the Kennedy Center stage to honor visionary change-makers from around the world.

Fatema Akbari and her daughter started successful businesses in Afghanistan, where they are creating jobs for both women and men. Kah Walla (a graduate of Howard University) is revolutionizing politics, and the place of women, in Cameroun. Sunitha Krishnan is fighting against human trafficking in India (slavery is the third largest industry in the world, after narcotics and armament).

What does that mean to me, from the comfort of my Kennedy Center seat or my Manhattan apartment? Hillary Clinton said it best, “These women make us do a little more, dare a little more, and risk a little more.”

What seems a little daring or risky to you these days? For me, it’s seeing just how far I can get with the power of my own voice. If Hillary, Fatema, Kah and Sunitha are any indication, the sky is the limit.

It’s just a question of pushing past your comfort zone. What would happen if you became that magnificent woman with the roaring voice? Are you ready to take a chance?

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

Sofia Vergara

You may watch Sofia on the award-winning hit show Modern Family. Just like the show, Sofia Vergara is refreshing.

When I first met her, I was expecting a lot of Hollywood craziness, but what I got was a down to earth woman. She seems to have her priorities straight — family and loved ones come first.

Sofia is also, as we know, a gorgeous, sexy man magnet. I asked her to share a few tips.

Elisa: What makes a woman sexy? Is it physical or more about an attitude?

Sofia: Being attractive helps, but of course it has a lot to do with the confidence and attitude the woman has. If she feels sexy, people will see that.

Let’s say you wake up feeling blah. What’s your secret to getting back in the saddle?

Sofia: I love long, pampering showers. I exfoliate my skin, wash and super moisturize my hair, exfoliate my face, shave, etc. I can be there for hours!

What’s the best way to charm a man?

Sofia: Be yourself, be light, be funny, and of course, be sexy.

You’re a busy woman, juggling career, family, social life, travels. How do you stay sane?

Sofia: I try to delegate. There are things you can’t do and need others to help you finish. I have great people around me that help me keep it together.

I love that you enjoy food, yet you eat out and travel a lot. How do you maintain your figure? What do you tend to order when you’re out?

Sofia: I try to eat healthy during the week so that I can enjoy my weekends. I believe in doing everything in moderation. This year I stared working out with trainer Gunnar Peterson. It’s great because he pushes me to do more. When I travel on vacation I don’t work out, but I still try to eat healthy.

What differences do you notice between American women and Latin American women?

Sofia: We are a little bit more comfortable with our bodies and sexuality.

What are your 3 favorite places in New York?

La Esquina for Mexican, Cipriani Downtown and Balthazar, and Bergdorf’s for shopping!

Thanks Sofia!

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

Organic Avenue founder Denise Mari

After a long winter, are your pipes starting to feel a little rusty like mine?

I recently caught up with Denise Mari, founder of Organic Avenue, and asked her to share her detox tips. Organic Avenue is the NYC-based healthy lifestyle company famous for its LOVE* (Live. Organic. Vegan. Experience.), detox cleanses, and celebrity following (Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Silverstone and Russell Simmons are all fans).

Here is Denise’s advice on getting some of your own LOVE* going, whether you’re looking to detox, cleanse or simply add some powerful foods to your everyday diet.

Celebrities and fashionistas have flocked to Organic Avenue. What inspired you to create it 10 years ago?
DENISE MARI: I discovered that the more organic, plant-based, whole foods and juices I ate and drank, the healthier I became. I continued to study and practice the vegan and raw food diet, and then learned that adding an alkaline emphasis was a miraculous way of eating, living and being.

Why is the alkaline angle important?
Sugars create acidic conditions in the body, and acidic conditions cause breakdown. In combination with the cleansing aspects of vegan raw foods, adding alkalinity creates the most optimal situation for the human body. Acidic leads to disease, alkaline leads to health. Most food choices in the modern world, along with stress, are all acid contributors.

It’s fantastic that you demystify eating raw, organic and vegan by calling it LOVE*. How did you come up with that?
A boyfriend of mine suggested the use of LOVE* for Organic Avenue. I tweaked it a bit, but it’s stuck! And it keeps the focus of my day on its many meanings.

This time of year, everyone wants to detox. How can a cleanse help?
A cleanse is a great way to start. It allows a reboot. It gives a new sense of confidence and energy needed when undertaking new goals for a new year. Most people complain of not having enough energy. The biggest benefit of cleansing—once over any detox hump—is a sense of clarity of purpose and energy to fulfill and set goals.

It amazes me that some cleanse offerings out there are not good quality or even organic. What sets your products and juices apart?
We are committed to organic because we are committed to the environment. If we don’t clean up our environment, no matter what we do we are all going to continue to get sick. As Dr. Robert O. Young says, “If the fish is sick, do you treat the fish or change the water?” We must stick to organic—no pesticides/herbicides/synthetic fertilizers/GMOs—and promote clean farming if we want clean, healthy and happy bodies. Organic Avenue also chooses to bottle in glass and biodegradable vegetable plastic. There is always more we could do, and we are always looking to improve.

Even though I don’t eat raw or vegan all the time, I try to eat as much organic and plant foods as possible, and it feels great. Do you have to be a full-time raw eater to feel the LOVE*?
I think there are benefits to full-time raw eating. Listen to your body and proceed slowly. Sometimes a full raw-food and juice fast are best for the short-term, and other times for the long-term. I have experienced tremendous clarity, motivation, health benefits and energy when 100 percent raw, and have experienced more grounding and emotional comfort when adding some consciously cooked foods too. I personally practice a combination with an emphasis on and goal of being as whole-food focused as possible, cleansing regularly, and juicing daily.

If one wants to make a single change or addition to his or her diet, what brings the most bang for the buck?
Green juice every day. Start with one, and work your way up from there. The more greens you drink, the stronger and healthier you will become. It works every time.

What change to your eating has given you the most bang for your buck? We’d love to hear from you!

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I say what you need is a Lion – young French chef and entrepreneur Pierre Lion, that is.

Pierre is on a mission to bring gourmet French food to the masses, but you don’t have to be a whiz in the kitchen. On the contrary, since Pierre never formally trained as a chef, he is choc full of pragmatic cooking advice. And if that fails, you can always defrost the chic canapés he offers on Versailles Delivery, or call him in for catering if you live in New York.

Pierre was recently selected to represent New York in the Sears Top Chef challenge. I caught up with him in between competitions to snatch up a few of his Secrets.

- The Secret to Cooking if you’ve never tried before:

“Cooking does not have to be complicated. Remember that TV shows usually demonstrate the trickier things. Getting your creative juices flowing can be as easy as opening your fridge and chopping up some greens and veggies for a salad. Add a little cheese and be creative. Theodore Zeldin says, “Gastronomy is the art of using food to create happiness.”

- Secret Ingredient #1:

“Extra-virgin olive oil makes every recipe taste delicious. Use it to cook a steak for example, dress up plain pasta or drizzle olive oil on toasted bread with a little salt. That’s a perfect, healthy snack.”

- Secret Ingredient #2:

“Nutmeg. Use nutmeg just as you would salt and pepper to enhance the flavor of foods. Julia Child, for example, added a pinch of nutmeg to most of her recipes.”

- Secret Ingredient #3:

“Champagne vinegar. Balsamic can kill flavors, but Champagne vinegar is really nice in dressings, plus it sounds so chic (but you can get it from California)!”

- Secret to Being a Hostess with the Mostest:

“I wanted people to be able to keep a few delicious things in the freezer for unexpected guests, so chef Jacques Martignon and I developed a collection of savory and sweet items. We have everything from croissants and little choux à la crème (puff pastries) to crabcakes and French bread pizza.  With a bottle of champagne, you’re all set for unexpected visitors or a lazy night in.”

- Secret to saving your meal if you mess up a recipe:

“The secret is to turn it into something else. For example, an oven-baked gratin. Just cut up your failed “recipe,” add a few eggs whisked with crème fraiche or sour cream and bake, seasoning to taste.”

- One Secret to staying slim:

“Don’t cook when you’re ravenous. You’ll end up adding more to the recipe and won’t be patient enough to wait until it’s really done. Instead, whip up some dishes for the week on a week-end afternoon. And never shop for food when you’re really hungry. You’ll end up with enough to feed an army.”

- Secret to a Romantic Dinner:

“I recommend starting with seafood, like a plate of oysters. It’s erotic and a conversation starter. Then, a nice piece of meat and a side dish to share. Try to share all the dishes and always offer your date a few tastes. The dessert has to be chocolate. Soufflés are so sexy and you can pair it with a glass of champagne.”

- Secret to teaching your kids to cook and eat their veggies:

“Making crêpes together for a week-end lunch is so much fun. You can make the batter in the morning, and then do the crêpes when you’re ready to eat. Start with some savory ones, stuffed with veggies like leeks, endives or spinach (and a béchamel if you’re ambitious). For dessert, the kids can dress up their crêpes with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, jam, fresh fruit…the sky is the limit!”

- Second Secret to staying slim:

“Typically French ingredients are very flavorful but also healthy, since it’s not processed or industrialized. You just want to have a light touch. With crème fraiche, for example, a little goes a long way.”

Pierre and I both hail from Normandy, France’s cow country, so we share a love for crème fraiche and butter. I don’t skimp on the fat because it’s so satisfying and it keeps you full longer. I often spread my breads with crème fraiche instead of butter though – creamy taste with less calories.

Thanks to Pierre for his great tips. Be sure to cast your vote for Pierre on Sears Top Chef, every day until October 9.

Here’s to one Lion who’s certainly king of the kitchen!

Live épanoui*

Elisa

* in full bloom