OM Appétit! 5.4.2014
Delicious detox for mind and body with a French twist
de·tox
ˈdētäks/
informal
noun
noun: detox; plural noun: detoxes
- a process or period of time in which one abstains from or rids the body of toxic or unhealthy substances; detoxification.
- An evening of delicious food, relaxing yet energizing yoga and incredible company at Suite ThreeOhSix !
Excuse me while my soul finishes digesting…. OK, there we go. Bonjour!
I don’t need a thermometer to confirm that I have a very high fever….spring fever, that is. It’s that time of year when all of us are stricken with this very contagious rise in body temperature and state of oftentimes nervous excitement. After months of hibernation, Mother Nature is back in action and so are we. Spring is one of the busiest times of year and also one of the happiest. However, it’s also a season of transition, which can be rough on both body and mind. Spring is the perfect time to “detox”. This doesn’t mean simply nursing a hangover on a Sunday morning or embarking on a company-wide week-long juice fast. Detox can be – and, in my (not so) humble opinion, should be something that happens gradually on a daily basis over a longer period of time. “Detox” is,in sum, getting rid of what the body doesn’t need and replenishing it with what it does. This means foods bien sûr, but also thoughts and actions. Our bodies and lives are in a constant state of motion. Detox exists because it’s OK to “intox” and let’s be honest, anyone living in 2014, particularly in an urban environment, is exposed to so many toxins – both physical and psychological – every day. Spring is a great time to not only acknowledge what it is we need to detox from, but also start the process of saying au revoir to toxic foods, thoughts and actions and saying bonjour to nourishing ingredients and happy thoughts. So voilà the theme of Sunday night’s OM APPETIT-themed soirée at Tribeca supperclub and academy Suite ThreeOhSix.
We detoxified body and mind with a twisty, flowy yoga class à la superstar yoga teacher, artist and incredible human being Jes Allen, then fed our bodies with an amazingly delicious and beautiful meal à la superstar Chef Daphne Cheng of Suite Threeohsix.
Daphne wowed us with la haute couture version of our favorite detoxifying ingredients and I talked about how to integrate them easily into our daily busy lives with a special “Green & Glam” ready-to-eat Spring Detox 2014 collection. It was an evening of (French!) twists, delicious food and even more delicious company. Oh and did I mention exclusive “Green & Glam” gift bags starring some of my favorite products. Here’s a glimpse at our menu and yogattitude adjustments to ring in Spring!
Vive la végolution !
La Haute Couture Spring Detox dinner by Chef Daphne Cheng
MENU
smoked carrot bisque + cilantro creme + lavender dukkah + spiced grapeseed oil
kale salad + chia granola + cabernet raisins + harissa vinaigrette
red quinoa + asparagus + berbere + popped wild rice + pickled radish
mung bean pasta + ponzu + petite pois + snow peas
fruit punch ice cream + lemon whipped cream + honeysuckle + apple blossoms
chocolate chip hemp cookies
+ Ready-to-eat Green & Glam collection by Detox Designer Rebecca Leffler
YOGA by Jes Allen
Le Green Carpet : eKO lite yoga mats by Manduka
(made from sustainable, biodegradable, non-Amazon harvested, natural tree rubber – so green & glam!)
Coconut Water by Harmless Harvest
COCONUT
Coconut water is a great way to hydrate the body and flush toxins out. It’s filled with electrolytes that boost cellular metabolism. Plus, coconut purifies the blood and coconut MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) helps to jump-start the metabolism and fat-burning, essential for detox time. I dream of living on a beach in Thailand and cracking open fresh coconuts every day. In the meantime, my favorite coconut water (and confessed obsession!) is Harmless Harvest! Warning: this stuff is coconaddictive!
Ready-to-eat collection: Add coconut water to smoothies or make your own almond milk by blending coconut water with soaked almonds then straining and adding sweetener of choice. Cook with coconut oil (it holds up under high temperatures and is a much healthier alternative to cooking with olive oil, save that for dressings!) or add coconut butter to chia pudding, smoothies or oatmeal.
Green juice
…from the greenest and glammest green juice in NYC, Juice Press!
BODY FIT formula: green apple, celery, arugula, fennel, lime, ginger.
DR EARTH formula: apple, kale, cucumber, celery, pineapple, swiss chard, lemon, dandelion, parsley, ginger.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT formula: green apple, kale, spinach. green mixture with apple.
OMG! MY FAVORITE JUICE! formula: celery, cucumber, pear, grapefruit, kale, and parsley juice.
Green juice is the ultimate detox food. It’s like an injection of vitamins directly into your bloodstream! When you drink juice – or simply “juice” it’s now a verb in NYC and one that should be part of your daily vocabulary! – vitamins, minerals, and enzymes rapidly enter the bloodstream. This gives your digestive organs a much-needed rest and allows your body to recharge and recalibrate while all of the nutrients give you energy, strengthen your immunity and make your skin glow. Chlorophyll oxygenates and purifies the blood and the particular juices we served at the dinner also include detox superstars like kale, apple, arugula, pineapple, parsley, celery, dandelion and so many more!
Make sure your juice is cold-pressed (think: Juice Press!) or freshly made at home for example in my personal favorite, the Breville Juice Fountain Plus.
APPLES (found in Love at First Sight, Dr. Earth and Body Fit): In French, the expression “tomber dans les pommes” means literally “to fall into the apples” or “to faint/pass out.” The origin of this expression is obviously Juice Press’ juice since it is just that good. Apples are packed with nutrients and their fiber aids digestion and detoxification. The soluble fiber pectin in apples works wonders on digestion and helps to detox heavy metals and food additives. Phlorizin, a flavonoid in apples, helps to stimulate bile production to help the liver get rid of toxins.
GREEN & GLAM DINNER, starring….
smoked carrot bisque + cilantro creme + (French!) lavender dukkah + Polyphenomenal spiced grapeseed oil
CILANTRO
Cilantro is one of the most popular herbs out there, and also the most unpopular! Ask anyone how they feel about cilantro and they’ll either scream “I LOVE it!” or roll their noses up and declare their hatred for it. Whatever cilantro camp you’re in, there’s no denying its amazing detox properties. Cilantro helps to rid the body of heavy metals and soothe chronic inflammation. It literally removes “or chelates” toxic metals from the nervous system and bodily tissues, the causes of so many problems ranging from hormonal imbalances to cancer to depression, thyroid problems, food allergies, parasites and other unpleasant symptoms of toxicity.
Ready-to-eat collection: Add cilantro to smoothies or soups, make a cilantro pesto with toasted pumpkin seeds, olive oil, garlic and lemon or add fresh herbs to … pretty much everything you eat (I do!) If you really don’t like it, parsley, basil and mint are also very detoxifying (and delicious!)
CARROTS contain antioxidants that support the liver and carotenoids that protect the body from oxidative damage.
POLYPHENOLS
Polyphenols are polyphenomenal! They aren’t just any old (or perhaps, more appropriately, any young?) antioxidant. Polyphenols have so many health-promoting properties and studies continue to prove that they reduce the risk of so many chronic illnesses. They are anti-inflammatory, promote heart health and are anti-aging powerhouses. Polyphenols are found in so many plant food, particularly those rich in red or purple hues. Think: blueberries, pomegranates, red grapes, sweet potatoes, black rice and turmeric. Polyphenols are delicious to eat, but they also work wonders on beauty and wellness from the outside IN. Grape-seed polyphenols are the most powerful anti-oxidant in the plant world and are amazing protectors for the skin. Caudalie’s Polyphenol C15 is a new combination of polyphenols from grape seeds and vitamin C that protects against free radicals, reduces wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness around the eyes and has SPF20 to protect your skin from that lovely Spring sunshine outside. Isn’t that just grape?
kale salad + chia granola + cabernet raisins + harissa vinaigrette
CHIA
Chia seeds may be tiny, but they pack a powerful detox punch. When added to a liquid, chia seeds can absorb up to 10 times their size in water so, when they pass through the digestive tract, they not only hydrate the colon and aid digestion, but act like a broom sweeping the intestines clean of toxins! Not to mention, they are packed with protein and omega3s to keep you full, hydrated and happy for hours! My favorite are from The Chia Co!
Ready-to-eat collection: Make chia pudding by mixing two tablespoons of chia seeds with 1 cup of almond milk and spices or superfoods of choice in a bowl. Stir, let sit until liquid is absorbed then leave overnight in the fridge or eat right away with some fresh fruit, granola or nuts. Check out my recipe for Green & Glam chia in the first issue of new très chic beauty and well being magazine… Beauty and Well Being!
http://beautyandwellbeing.com/well-being/recipe/green-glam-creme-de-chia/
red quinoa + asparagus + berbere + popped wild rice + pickled radish
RADISHES
Radishes are packed with potassium, which acts as a diuretic to balance the body against sodium and cleanses the kidneys. They’re also liver-friendly and help our favorite detox organ rid the body of harmful chemicals like nicotine, pain meds, insecticides and other potentially cancer-causing substances we’re exposed to every day. Radishes have been uses for centuries to stimulate bile production in the liver, which in turn carries toxins into the gallbladder and small intestine to get them out of your body. Au revoir, toxins!
mung bean pasta + ponzu + petite pois + snow peas
MUNG BEANS help to detox the liver, kidneys and internal organs. Mung beans are healing to the entire body and gentle on the digestive system. The fiber helps to flush toxins out of the body. Plus, these mung bean noodles from Explore Asian are packed with (SO much – 25 grams per serving of) protein to keep you strong and ready to take on Spring!
fruit punch ice cream + lemon whipped cream + honeysuckle + apple blossoms
LEMON
It’s no secret that lemon is one of the most liver-friendly foods out there. Starting off the morning with just a cup of hot water with lemon is one of the best ways to detox daily. This alkalinizing blend is a great way to stimulate the release of enzymes before a big (and delicious- get ready!) meal.
chocolate chip hemp cookies
HEMP
If you’re hempy and you know it, clap your hands!
I am SO happy I discovered Happy Hemp!
Cannabis you believe it? These seeds are almost too good to be true. These tasty, crunchy seeds are one of the best sources of plant-based protein around. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, omega-6 fatty acids and those elusive Omega-3 essential fatty acids. They also happen to vegan and gluten-free. Hemp makes our tummies happy by improving digestion, makes our dreams happy by helping us sleep better, makes our reflections in the mirror happy by making our skin glow, our hair shine and our nails strong and literally literally makes us happy – Omega-3s are a wonderful mood booster so eat up! Plus, Happy Hemp’s seeds are sustainable and natural and grown without any pesticides or herbicides – so green & glam!
PS These cookies were gluten-free, but definitely far from flavor-free thanks to Bob’s Red Mill’s incredible Gluten-free all-purpose baking flour blend! “Nothin’ says lovin’ like something gluten-free from the oven!” Eat that, Pillsbury Dough boy! (No seriously, eat that – it’s the best cookie ever made in history. True story.)
…And speaking of happiness, our plates were colored with “Happiness salad” and “Good mood” spices fresh from France! Les Fleurs d’épices de Hildegarde de Bingen are a mélange of dried flowers and spices that are not only gorgeous to look at on the plate (très green & glam!) but also add so much flavor to any dish! The very colorful “happiness salad” mixture is a touch of Provence with rosemary, lovage, thyme, tarragon, dill, oregano, basil, fennel, anise, marjoram, garlic, cumin, cornflower and calendula and the “good mood” mixture features sea salt, garlic, rose, oregano, basil, wild garlic, rosemary, thyme, marigold and cornflower. These flowery spices are the personal favorite of me aka Lafleur or The Flower in French! They literally transform any meal into a (delicious) work of art! Also crossing the Atlantic just for our dinner were essential cooking oils in crystal form the Cristaux d’Huiles Essentielles. These unique products are crystallized blue agave pulp steeped in top quality essential oils that you can use to sprinkle over food or cook with – just a pinch adds so much flavor and so many health benefits!
http://auxsourcesdubienvivre.com
Tulsi tea by Organic India
TULSI
Holy….basil! This stuff is so nutritious. Tulsi, aka “holy basil” is an Indian superfood used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Tulsi can be consumed in many forms, but since we don’t all live in the mountains of India, Organic India’s Tulsi teas are the next best thing. Tulsi helps to facilitate breathing, reduce stress, treat skin conditions. Balance metabolism, boost energy and mood, relieve cold/flu symptoms that are especially common during this transitional time of year, soothe a sore throat and it is great for cleansing the kidneys and aiding digestion. The Tulsi Cleanse tea is a mix of healing herbs including (my personal favorites!) turmeric and ginger, plus a few more Ayurvedic herbs I can’t pronounce, but work wonders on the immune system. All of these herbs combined with the tulsi help support the body’s healthy detoxification system by optimizing liver and kidney function.
And also starring… La Haute KALEture collection of The Numinous’ amazing sweatshirts – the official attire of material girls in a mystical world!
And speaking of Green Carpet couture … we were also flying by the seats of our totally fabulous pants (see: V-Keen’s colorful and creative fancypants yoga pants that I have seen gracing the legs of lovely ladies all over NYC for years and finally have started to decorate my own limbs). V-Keen isn’t just pants (and headbands like the ones in our très green & glam gift bags) – it’s a line of high vibrational clothing silkscreened with original hand drawn artwork by the original Victoria Keen. http://www.v-keen.com
…and headbands à la another Rebecca, namely Rebecca Michaels of Violet Love Headbands who is totally a-head of the curve when it comes to supercool designer headbands http://violetloveheadbands.com Violet Love headbands are like a party on your head – I love that the brand’s mission is all about enjoying yourself (mine too!)
I was totally green and glam from head to toe (sometimes both were in the same place. See: YOGA!) LOVE my green (& glam) shoes à la AHNU! These Sugarpine air mesh shoes hare cool and comfortable – and don’t be alarmed, they are totally sugar-free, though they are definitely some sweet kicks! All of their shoes are très perfect for the healthy lifestyle – pre or post (or during!) yoga, but also fitness, hiking or just getting oneself around a city like NYC! I’m head over heels in love with these ! http://www.ahnu.com