My New Wednesday Ritual

So a while back I posted about the Los Angeles Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats" summer film series that they host in historic theaters on Broadway in Downtown L.A. Well..... two weeks ago I attended my first screening, and it have to say, buying the series package was a great idea and I can't recommend attending one of these nights enough! For the next month, I'll be attending these screenings, and probably eating beforehand at my new favorite restaurant!

Two Wednesdays ago I left work in Santa Monica, headed downtown, and on a whim, typed "macrobiotic" into my Yelp application. Up came Shojin which is a vegan, macrobiotic Japanese restaurant on the third floor of the Little Tokyo shopping center on Alameda. Seeing as how it was pretty close to the Los Angeles Theater, where I would be seeing "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" later, I drove over to Alameda and found a parking spot on the street. The meter was broken - bonus! (I later found out there is free parking in the shopping center lot, with validation). Anyway, I entered the mall, where I was decidedly out of place, and smiled all the way up the escalator to the 3rd floor where the huge, cheery flowers of the ceiling art glowed pinkly onto the facade of Shojin - also cheerful with its floral paintings on display. I was immediately greeted by the hostess, who later appeared to be the owner as well, and welcomed warmly. She asked if it was my first time and was very friendly. I was so happy just walking in there - as the walls were adorned with colorful paintings from a local artist and the menu depicted all sorts of yummy dishes I had only recently been introduced to (Thanks, Kind Diet!) and extolled the virtues of vegan, macrobiotic meals. I ended up ordering quite a lot, as I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I got the kukicha tea, a barbecued seitan/avocado sushi roll (half size), a vegetable soup and a really delicious ramen bowl, which ended up being huge! It had veggies and noodles and lots of broth, and I took home the leftovers, which were considerable. My food and tea was served by an adorable waitress who bowed to me whenever she placed a dish in front of me, and to whom I couldn't help but bow back! I wasn't sure which spoon I was suppose to use for what - I used the chop sticks for the seitan rolls, but that was really messy. The soup I had with a regular spoon, but I learned that the white ceramic spoon with the flat bottom is for ramen. It's a little awkward to fit in my mouth, but it worked, and my food was too good to notice. Anyway, I had to get in and out quickly so as not to miss the show, so I didn't get to try any of the delicious looking desserts. I'll report back after tomorrow!

Anyway, if you've never had a chance to visit the Los Angeles Theater on Broadway and 6th, you are missing out. This place is beyond gorgeous - it's so beautiful I would happily get married there. I realized then that that's why the venue opened up an hour before the movie started... just so people can wander around and admire the splendor of the interior. There are several levels of the theater itself, with a balcony and mezzanine. The bowels of the theater are where the bathrooms are (eww, gross, no pun intended) and these bathrooms are truly gems. I felt like a princess walking through the mirrored ante-chamber and could only imagine a bride with all her attendants getting ready for a wedding.

Once I get settled in my seat (which was nearly center - oh, the boons of sitting singly), I realized that the house was packed! Completely sold out. The director of the L.A. Conservancy spoke about the Conservancy's work and upcoming projects, mentioned the evening's sponsors, which included 213, my favorite nightlife company (I even saw Cedd Moses outside the theater when I checked in), and then introduced Matthew Weiner - the creator of Mad Men! What a thrill!

Matthew got up and spoke a bit about Mad Men, working with Robert Morse (Cooper on the show) and about the film and it's run on Broadway. Robert Morse and the film's other star - Michelle Lee - were both on hand that night, and indulged the audience with some stories of Broadway, making the film, and some singing and dancing! They were great.

Once the curtains finally parted and the lights went dim, I really had no idea what to expect. But let me tell you, "How To Succeed in Business..." is spectacular! I really don't care for most musicals, but this was smart, funny, romantic, and had choreography by Bob Fosse! I loved the '60s fashion, the storyline, the music, everything! Robert Morse was amazing - I really want to cue it up on Netflix just so I can watch it again. I really loved this movie. I believe it won a Tony, and I can only imagine seeing the original cast on New York's Broadway. I certainly came close that night on Broadway West.

The Wednesday following I did much of the same - that night the film was Hitchcock's "Strangers On a Train" and the venue was the Million Dollar Theater, at 3rd and Broadway. My dinner at Shojin ran a little long as I left work a little later, but it was amazing for a second time! It took me a while to find parking near the theater as it was later, but I made it just as the film was starting. I didn't get the chance to look around as much, but I'll get the opportunity for another showing later this month. Anyway, surprise, surprise, "Strangers" was fantastic as well! I never cease to be amazed by all the great films that have come before, and I wish I had more time to see them! What a creepy-comic film - great for this June gloomy weather we're having. The film was preceded this time by a cartoon from Warner Brothers about a bull dog who cares for a kitty cat - so funny! I missed the opening remarks, but I'm sure they were interesting, as well.

Anyway, have I sold you yet?? Get your tickets for The Last Remaining Seats already! They are mostly sold out, except for the last two. Here's the link: http://www.laconservancy.org/remaining/index.php4

Week 1: Saturday Breakfast

Okay, so I woke up really hungry and craving something sort of indulgent. Unfortunately I didn't really prepare anything in advance, so I cut some corners. I made myself a quick bowl of oatmeal while I attempted to create a modified waffle recipe. We had Bisquik, but I decided I didn't want to mess around with bleached white flour, so I followed the Biskquik baking instructions using organic unrefined flour, some almond milk, some orange marmalade and, mistaking it for olive oil, some white truffle oil! (Ooops). The truffle oil made it pretty savory, but the consistency of the waffles was tough and chewy, and I think I can definitely improve up this. It tasted okay, but it was too sweet of a meal overall, and I should have balanced it with more veggies and maybe some veggie bacon or something along the lines of protein. Anyway, it wasn't terrible, but it did remind me to stay on track while I was eating and drinking at a wedding later that afternoon.

Week 1: Friday Breakfast

Today was a sort of dismal breakfast - in a rush, and all I could grab was some toasted cinnamon raisin bread with orange marmalade. It tasted good, but not very filling or balanced. I also had some baby carrots in the car. Still, I've been on track so far this week; I think writing about my breakfast really helps me stay in tune to my eating habits. I've been eating vegan now for 6 days, and pretty healthy at that! (Not like a gummy bear-only diet).

I made a really excellent ginger tofu dish and a bok choy salad one night this week...check out the photos below. It took a while for the tofu to marinate and for the rice to cook, but overall, it was delicious! Really, I will make this again. I think the key to eating according to "the kind diet" is preparing in advance (so you don't have to wait an hour before your food is ready to eat) and taking the time to cook flavorful, interesting meals. If all I ate was rice and beans every night, I would hate eating! (Even though I love both rice and beans). Eating is supposed to be enjoyable, and I have to say, so far the times I've made one of Alicia Silverstone's recipes, I've been really happy with the results. (Check out her book The Kind Diet for the recipe). I'm ready for the weekend for some more food experimenting!

Bobs, Poodle Skirts, Acid Wash Jeans, and Peas

Today for lunch I brought some leftover brown rice and black beans, and a handful of English peas. Growing up, we grew peas on the vine in my backyard. I don't know if they were specifically "English" or not, but I always used to eat them pod and all. When I bit into one of these English pea pods that I brought, it was so tough and not at all chewable! So of course I googled the proper way to eat these. What I found, in addition to learning that the pods are best eaten when steamed, was delightful! Peas have an under-publicized pop history, according to Leah A. Zeldes of Dining Chicago. She writes:

They were mainly used dried until the 17th century, when green peas became all the rage in the French court as Françoise d’Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon, wrote in 1696: “This subject of peas continues to absorb all others, the anxiety to eat them, the pleasure of having eaten them and the desire to eat them again, are the three great matters which have been discussed by our princes for four days past. Some ladies, even after having supped at the Royal table and well supped too, returning to their own homes at the risk of suffering from indigestion, will again eat peas before going to bed. It is both a fashion and a madness.”

When was the last time a vegetable was all the rage! Too funny.

Week 1: Wednesday Breakfast

This morning I got up a little earlier and made the totally delicious oatmeal that I tested out on Sunday. It is SO filling, and SO sweet! I made it the same way I did Sunday, but I'm thinking I can start lessening my use of maple syrup as I don't normally use that anyway. (Are there health benefits to maple syrup?) I accidentally doused my bowl of steaming oats a bit too much with flaxseed oil, but I think I'll live. Flaxseed oil is apparently good to have daily, so since I don't think I had any yesterday or the day before, I should be nicely provided for! Here's what the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine says about flaxseed oil as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids:

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important in the normal functioning of all tissues of the body. Deficiencies are responsible for a host of symptoms and disorders including abnormalities in the liver and kidney, changes in the blood, reduced growth rates, decreased immune function, depression, and skin changes, including dryness and scaliness. Adequate intake of the essential fatty acids results in numerous health benefits. Prevention of atherosclerosis, reduced incidence of heart disease and stroke, and relief from the symptoms associated with ulcerative colitis, menstrual pain, and joint pain have also been documented.^{2,3, 4}

It is important for vegetarians to include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids on a daily basis. Alpha-linolenic acid, a common omega-3 fatty acid, is found in many vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fruits. The best source of alpha-linolenic acid is flaxseeds or flaxseed oil.

While supplements and added oils are not typically necessary in the vegetarian diet, good sources of omega-3 and omega-6 fats should be included daily. It is important to take these two fats in the proper ratio as well. Omega-6 fatty acids compete with omega-3 fatty acids for use in the body, and therefore excessive intake of omega-6 fatty acids can be a problem. The U.S. diet has become heavy in omega-6 fats and low in omega-3 fats, secondary to a reliance on processed foods and oils. It is necessary to balance this by eating a low-fat diet that is low in processed foods and with fat mainly coming from omega-3 fatty acids.

I used Spectrum's Organic Flaxseed Oil, and it added a barely perceptible nutty flavor, which was nice!

Week 1: Monday Breakfast

This morning I had a thick slice of bread from Julian Bakery (of San Diego) with a slather of almond butter and some orange marmalade on top. To add some veggies into the mix, I had a side of baby carrots. A little strange, but very satisfying and yummy!! I like to dip carrots in peanut butter usually anyway, so this was an easy stretch.

Guide to Buying Locally Grown, Seasonally Fresh Produce

Do you live in Southern California, and want to know what's on nature's menu for early May?

Here are two great sources, ready to tell you about this month's "specials":

The National Resource Defense Council has a page specifically devoted to helping you eat locally-grown, fresh produce. All you have to do is type in your State and the half-month you are interested in. For early May in Southern California, the NDRC suggests:

• Apricots
• Artichokes
• Asian Pears
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Basil
• Beets
• Black-eyed Peas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Cherries
• Collards
• Corn
• Cucumber
• Dates (Medjool)
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Grapefruit
• Green Beans
• Green Onion
• Green Peas
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Kumquats
• Lemons
• Lettuce
• Mushroom
• Mustard
• Navel Orange
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Onions
• Passion Fruit
• Peaches
• Plums
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Summer squash
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Valencia Oranges

L.A. Weekly's blog Squid Ink features a "What's In Season at Farmers' Markets" column, that gives great insight into particular featured varieties of your favorite local fruits & veggies. Right now there are so many treats available: ramps, morels, spinach, lettuce, stinging nettles, strawberries, English peas, celery, artichokes, fava beans, cherimoyas, onions, lemons... and lilacs and lavender, too! Stay up on the report by visiting the Farmers' Market Report here.

Alicia Silverstone Speaks About the Kind Diet

All I have to say about this is, I'm so excited and happy that there are people like Alicia in the world! I read Skinny Bitch a couple years ago, and finished Alicia's Kind Diet over the weekend, and her approach to veganism is so much more friendly, empowering and easy-going. Whereas Skinny Bitch is somewhat of a rant-expose, luring readers in with the promise of weight loss, and then completely getting in their faces about everything from sugar to beef, Alicia is so radiant with health and love that her lifestyle is naturally attractive, and I can't help but want to share it. So here you go...

Week 1: Sunday Breakfast

Today I made my first official breakfast on The Kind Diet, "Quick Date-Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal", taken from a recipe off Alicia Silverstone's vegan list. Technically, this was only Quick Apple-Cinnamon oatmeal as I didn't have any dates on hand. Now, I am a long-time lover of oatmeal, but this was particularly delicious and super easy to make. Usually I boil two cups water, add in a cup of oats, turn off the heat and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then I add in some cinnamon, and that's usually it. Since I've been staying away from milk lately, it hasn't had the douse of milk I used to add.

However, today's oatmeal was quicker and tastier, and Alicia-approved! Yay! I boiled some water in a saucepan, and meanwhile combined the following in a stainless steel mixing bowl:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (more like 1... I was at the bottle of the bottle)
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (I used a handful and broke them into pieces)
• 1/3 crisp apple, cut in cubes
• some ground up sea salt
• 3 shakes ground cinnamon
• a drizzle of flaxseed oil

Once I'd combined those, I got the pot of water, turned off the stove, and poured the water over the mixture so that the oats were just barely covered. I put a lid on the bowl, and let it sit for 2 minutes or so, and it was ready! It was sooo yummy and very filling. I have a nice warm feeling in my belly now, and I feel very relaxed.

The Kind Diet

I bought Alicia Silverstone's book The Kind Diet after discovering her great online community The Kind Life, and am totally on board. I've been "flirting" with going vegan for a few years now, but am ready to take the plunge for real. Today I'm starting 4 weeks of plant-only eating. The things that I usually succumb to are butter, cheese, chocolate, and bread. I'm going to simply seek out vegan alternatives instead of totally depriving myself, because that's not what this "diet" is about. It's about embracing all the wonderful gifts nature provides, celebrating life's blessings, being happy, taking care of myself and doing my part to make the world better for everyone and everything in it by making informed decisions.

After four weeks, I'll see where I'm at and throw myself a little party! I don't rely on too many processed foods, so hopefully the jump to full on "superhero" will be easy and gradual after that. I have no problem eating lots of whole grains and beans, but I need to try to eat more veggies than I already do, and keep fruits as occasional snacks rather than a big basis for my diet. What will be new for me is all the sea vegetables and exotic-sounding foods that are commonly used in eastern cuisine. I'm an adventurous eater, though, so this should be fun!

I plan to post what I eat for breakfast everyday with pictures so that I can 1) remind myself of my commitment daily, 2) start each day off on the right foot, 3) share that healthy, "kind" eating can be easy and delicious, and 4) track my progress! I hope this will be beneficial to others as well, since making small changes, even if only at breakfast, is a great way for us all to make a positive impact. I will of course use the same principles that inform my breakfast choices for the rest of my meals, but I don't want food to completely take over my blog!

HLife Interview of Annie Jubb

I just read a fascinating interview of Annie Jubb, founder of LifeFood Organic, on the Los Angeles-based blog HLife. HLife stands for "Holistic Health for Humanity" and it's mission is "To empower you to take control of your well-being by understanding and maintaining a lifestyle of optimum physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health."

This statement of purpose really resonates with me, especially because it very closely relates to the mission of The Wellness Community, the non-profit where I work. TWC's mission is "To ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community."

The interview, conducted by Sylvie and Maryl Celiz, co-founders of HLife, touched on many areas of health, and Jubb's anecdotal, poetic, frank way of speaking about the subject matter is so refreshing!

Here is one of my favorite passages:

SC: How important is lifestyle in health?

APJ: Very important. There were some studies of two islands in which populations lived to be very old. And what they found is that, basically, there are conditions of longevity that need to be met. One of them is laughter and community, that they recognize you for your contribution. The other is partnership with family. Also, dancing. Some sort of purpose, whatever it may be, even if it’s “I grow grains, that’s what I do and do it well,”. And a couple of other factors. The other thing in both of these two little islands is that the water was very highly alkaline. And that’s the basis of Secrets of an Alkaline Body, is that if we create a perfect pH balance – 80% alkaline, 20% acidic – you can live very long lives. Anything from pH 7 and above is alkaline and actually rinses the cells clean of acid. So, what is cancer. Cancer can only be met with two conditions: It has to be an extremely acidic environment – about 4 something – and there has to be an anaerobic environment as well, not much oxygen, the blood has to be very viscous, very slowly moving through the body, lots of artifacts, red blood cells that are really weird shapes (they should be really round and bright). But all of it is completely reversible. I’ve seen people with the worst blood and couple months or a year later, beautiful blood.

I love how how Jubb personifies on the cellular level - calling blood 'beautiful' and earlier in the interview, she calls cancer cells 'fat' and 'dopey'. She's got such a great perspective.

I am really encouraged and heartened to learn of such dialogues going on out there, especially right here in Los Angeles! From my quick perusal of HLife, I can already tell I'm going to be a loyal reader. Finding kindred spirits is always such a joy!

Raw Food Expert Annie Jubb

Annie Jubb's new store/cafe LifeFood Organic on Cahuenga will be featured in the Cook's Tour this Saturday in Malibu. (See previous post). Here, Annie introduces some of the ways she gets nutrients from her raw food diet. Everything sounds so amazing!

24th Annual Cook's Tour

So apparently my house is going to be part of the Cook's Tour, which is happening this Saturday, May 8th. The Cook's Tour is a progressive dinner benefit for the Malibu Methodist Nursery School's scholarship program. Tra di Noi will be serving food at our home. Here's the scoop, according to The Malibu Times:

The Malibu Cook's Tour is a long-standing tradition in the Malibu community and is limited to 300 passports. The tour begins at Malibu Methodist Nursery School, 30128 Morning View Drive. Passport tickets are $65 per person. Reservations can be obtained by calling 310.457.5144.

The official website from the school says there are 350 spaces, and it's a self-guided tour of "magnificent Malibu homes" featuring "a gourmet traveling tasting menu prepared by local prominent chefs."

The print version of the Times' article included vignettes of three of the four homes, along with photographs. The descriptions appear re-printed below. (Only the first house's photograph appeared in the online version).

"This home called 'Whitesands House' is one of four homes to be seen on the Malibu Cook's Tour May 8. Laurel Anderson of LifeFood Organic will serve her organic and raw food treats here." (photo above)

"The Tuscan style Villa Sancti di Bella Vista will be one of the four homes seen on the Malibu Cook's Tour on May 8. Tra di Noi will serve Italian treats at this home."

"The 14,000 square foot Villa Cascata (House of the Waterfall), situated on 20 acres of land, with view of Paradise Cove, Little Dume and beyond, will be catered by Chef David Price of Terra restaurant."

I hadn't heard of LifeFood Organic before today, but I am totally intrigued! I'll hopefully head out to Cahuenga soon, so I can try something at at the raw, organic, gluten-free new restaurant!

In Search of Wheat-Free, Organic Bread

Man, life must be hard for people with wheat allergies. I am not one of them, but I am trying to avoid wheat as an experiment to see if my skin clears up. (It always seems a bit inflamed). I am a devout Ralph's shopper because usually I can find most things I need. However, I'm beginning to really wish there were a Whole Foods in Malibu. PC Greens, which I've blogged about before, is great for hard-to-find health food, but their selection isn't very big and it's pretty expensive. These are the main grocery stores in Malibu: PC Greens, which is south (though technically east) of the pier; Ralphs, which is in the center across from the country mart; Vons, only a few years old, in the Point Dume center; and How's, further north by Zuma. There used to be Cook's, but that is now gone. Sometimes on my way home from work I'll stop by the Whole Foods in Santa Monica, where there are ALWAYS cute guys picking up dinner from the gigantic salad bar. That's where I discovered Rudi's Organic bread. To be honest, it was hard even at WF to find bread that didn't contain wheat. What gives? The documentary Food, Inc. stressed how prevalent corn is in America, but what about the preponderance of wheat? Most cereals, breads, and baked goods have it as one of the first ingredients. And now I'm on a mission to seek out tasty alternatives. I'll keep you posted! Let me know if anyone has any recommendations to try.

4 of My Favorite Community Blogs

Art

Ovation TV

Sample post: Shocking, but very telling post by Bettina Korek here. (Check out Bettina's own brainchild ForYourArt, as well).

Giving a Damn

GOOD

Great idea for transportation options here.

Healthy Living

Organice Your Life

Lonneke Engel's pet project. I love it! Models DO eat... here's a great recipe.

The Kind Life

The blog that inspired the book, THE KIND DIET, both by Alicia Silverstone

Watch this.

Craving Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is a great cookie place across the street from my office, and I totally have a hankering for one of their amazing oatmeal, coconut, pecan & chocolate chip confections... which does not exactly fall in the category of "healthy eating." I recently found a granola bar that sort of counts as a cookie, because it tastes so good! 18 Rabbits, which is based out of San Francisco, makes a really yummy oatmeal/cherry/chocolate bar called "Cheek Cherry Chocolate". I'm trying to stay away from refined sugars and wheat, and this bar is great for that. It is wheat-free and has natural sweeteners, but not agave (which I've recently been turned off from). And, it has oats, coconuts, pecans, chocolate AND almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cherries and cranberries... so it MORE than replaces the cookie I want! Most of the ingredient are organic, and it's made in the USA. So there you go - it's local (the get their butter, maple syrup, almonds, cranberries, pecans, cacao nibs, and cherries from local farms), it's organic, and they give 1% of bars made to children in need (they partner with the SF Food Bank and local schools). p.s. Mrs. Winston's (Santa Monica & Culver City) sells them.

Typical Lunch

Here's my "usual" order from Mrs. Winston's Juice Bar: 24 oz. smoothie (or sometimes juice) of all the greens and pineapple. "All the greens" is spinach, kale, celery, dandelion, and parsley. It's the prettiest green color, and tastes yummy! Especially refreshing and filling. I also usually get a salad from their amazing salad bar. Today's is lots of leafy greens, fenugreek sprouts, a quinoa salad on top, with avocados and strawberries! This may be dinner, as well.

Malibu Monkey Lemonade

Lately I've been on a lemonade kick, and by lemonade, I specifically mean the balsamic lemonade made from organic, local lemons by Matthew "Malibu Monkey" Gibbons. This lemonade is so fresh and zesty, I can't get enough! That being said, this lemonade is UNLIKE ANY OTHER you will ever find. First of all, it comes in a large 1 quart bottle, which in and of itself it worth mentioning; the bottom of the label reads: "1 QUART (SCREW THE METRIC SYSTEM. USA #1!)". The hilarity of the label (which is about 500 words long and spans the whole bottle) rivals the deliciousness of the taste, and made me a fan for life. It's only sold at Vital Zuman Organic Farm near Heathercliff on PCH and The Chocolate Box Cafe in the Lumber Yard. Pick up a few bottles - you will be funding an independent film project, as well as organic farming. Woot! Also available to order online via Malibu Monkey Lemonade.

Happy Easter

Yesterday I watched the movie FOOD, INC. with my family, and remembered why I am so picky about the foods I eat and the products I buy. It was a good reminder that, even though buying sustainable, organic, local, and ethical food (what the Chicks with Knives call "S.O.L.E." food) is often more expensive than choosing readily-available, factory-grown (manufactured) products, it is an important investment. It's one of the most important investments I can make - in my health, in the safety of people across the country, in the global economy, and in voicing my opinion about the society I want to live in... in the only way that really counts: purchasing power. Watching the documentary brought back all the horrific truths that I'd read about in Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation for a "Work, Consumption and Culture" seminar I took at Notre Dame. So many of the accounts in both the book and the film, also by Schlosser, made me sick to my stomach, and in fact, made my 11 and 12-year old brother and sister start to cry while we watched yesterday. It's more than about cows and chickens being treated inhumanely; it's about reclaiming the integrity of one of the most basic, and most emotionally wrought parts of being human - feeding ourselves. I highly recommend both as essential intake; you aren't an informed person these days if you don't know where your food comes from, and the fact that someone had to make a movie about the subject underlines just how far we've come from our agrarian roots. Though the problem with food in our country is so pervasive (hence the obesity epidemic), and there aren't as many affordable healthful options as there are fast-food chains, I think small changes can make a difference. Nevertheless, choosing an alternative to the standard American diet (often called the S.A.D. diet) is a daunting task; after all, many global corporations have spent billions of dollars making alternatives obsolete. Despite this opposition, many good people are working toward effecting positive changes in how we obtain food. (Michelle Obama, Jamie Oliver, Mia Lehrer and Associates, the people at Forage, the Fallen Fruit guys...). Sitting in church this morning for Easter at Our Lady of Malibu, I was inspired by a banner hanging near the altar. "Turn and be a new creation", it said.

Here's one example of how I'm continuing my shift toward a more fully SOLE diet: only eating the eggs my family gets from the 6 chickens who spend their days roaming the backyard amid the flowers and vegetable garden. These chickens are well-fed and cared for, sleeping safely in a coop my mother built, and tended to daily by my sister, who's named them thus meteorologically, according to their coloring: Sunshine, Sunrise, Sunset, Summer, Snowy & Starry. Here are my photos from the eggs I decorated today for Easter! (I used the traditional egg-coloring kit from PAAS, vinegar and water... don't the colors look amazing on the brown eggs?)

Chocolate Box Cafe

Three words that will change your [gastronomical] life: CHOCOLATE BOX CAFE. They opened a location in the Malibu Lumber Yard (no longer a lumber yard, but a micro outdoor high-end shopping center) a few months ago, and I have been back for repeated visits. Not only do they offer an assortment of beautifully presented truffles and nougats and dips and glazes - they also have tea sandwiches, salads, gelato, and the real kicker: violet-infused hot chocolate!!! There are several other essences you can add to your hot chocolate, including lavender, orange, oriental coffee, mint, cinnamon, earl gray (I think I'll try this one next!), bittersweet, ginger, green tea, chili pepper, jasmine, and caramel. Whoever thought of this concept is a genius and a saint.

Post-script: The Chocolate Box Cafe is hosting an Easter party this Saturday! I may have to stop by for a little pre-Easter goodness.