Healthy Chinese Food: Steamed fish with wan yee, lily flowers and red dates

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Steamed fish with wan yee, lily flowers and red dates

 recipe by Hannah Chung (www.cookeatdream.blogspot.com)

This recipe uses 3 main traditional Chinese ingredients with unique health benefits. Eaten together with fish, they can replenish the blood and reduce cholesterol. Here is a quick breakdown of the ingredients:

Wan yee is a type of black fungus, full of vitamins and low in calories. It’s flavourless but great for absorbing other flavours and has a soft yet crunchy texture. Lily flowers can relieve coughs and has a slightly sweet, earthy taste. Red dates are jam packed with vitamins, iron and calcium, all of which nourish the blood. They’re sweet and have a complex flavour, which can overpower at times so use sparingly. All of these ingredients are available at local Asian stores where you will find them in the dried section.

Any white fish can be used for this recipe and it can be filleted too, but using a whole sea bass is more traditional and gives the dish extra flavour.

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients:

1 whole sea bass approx. 350g (cleaned and gutted)

1 thumb-sized piece of ginger (sliced)

small handful dried wan yee

8-10 dried lily flowers

3-4 dried red dates

1 spring onion cut into large pieces

1 teaspoon soy sauce

pinch of sugar

1/4 teaspoon cornflour

1 teaspoon oil (any flavourless oil)

Method:

Soak all the dried ingredients in the same bowl with warm water for around 15 minutes. Once soft, deseed the red dates and tie individual knots on the lily flowers, as this will create a better texture. Drain them and add the soy sauce, sugar, cornflour and oil. Place the fish on a plate ready for steaming and lay the ginger slices over and inside the fish. Add all the marinated ingredients on top and finish with the spring onion. You can steam the fish in a wok full of boiling water with a steamer stand or alternatively use a steamer. Once the water is at boiling point, steam the fish for 7-10 minutes, depending on the size. It’s ready once the meat has turned white and flaky. Splash a little extra soy sauce over the fish just before serving.

Rainbow tofu

This is an incredibly easy and colourful way to serve tofu. You can substitute the vegetables depending on what you have available.

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients:

2 blocks of silken tofu (sliced around 5cm thick)

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

bunch of green beans

1 carrot

2 spring onions (finely chopped)

1 clove garlic

1 red chilli

1 teaspoon Shaoxing rice wine (or dry sherry)

1 teaspoon oyster sauce

pinch sugar

1 teaspoon cornflour

handful of coriander

Method:

Pre-heat your oven to 180°C and dice all the vegetables into small pieces to roughly the same size. Fry the garlic, chilli and the white parts of the spring onions in a frying pan with a little oil. Add the carrots and fry for a few minutes before adding the rest of the vegetables. Add the Shaoxing wine and a tablespoon of water and cook for a further 5 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the cornflour with about 2 tablespoons of cold water with the oyster sauce and sugar. Pour this in the frying pan and stir until you get a silky sauce. Place the sliced tofu on a slightly greased baking tray and spoon the vegetables on top. Bake for around 10 minutes until the tofu is golden brown. Serve with the green parts of the spring onions and some freshly chopped coriander.

A tip on making the perfect rice

A general rule for the amount of rice to use is around a handful and a half of rice per person. Around 1 tea-mug-ful of rice will be enough for 2 people. Put your rice in a saucepan and wash the excess starch out of it. Get your hands right in rub the rice clean and then run it through water until the water runs clear. Drain the excess water but don’t bother using a colander here; just tilt most of the water out of the pan.

The ratio of water is always: 1 part rice to 2 parts water but if you’re not sure, use the finger test. The level of water over the rice should just come up to the first joint of your finger. Put the saucepan on a medium heat until it boils, then turn the heat right down and gently cook the rice with the lid on for about 10-15 minutes. Take the saucepan off the heat and then let it sit with the lid still on for a further10-15 minutes so that it steams. The result should be light, fluffy and slightly sticky rice.

 

 

 

If you only do one thing this week… body-brush

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The amazing benefits of Dry Brushing

Your skin is your largest and most important organ. Detoxification of the body is performed by a number of different organs, glands and transportation systems. The skin is responsible for one-quarter of your body’s detoxification. Dry Brushing helps detoxify the skin and the lymphatic system due to its external and internal massage. It stimulates the lymphatic system, liver and adrenals, helping clear out the build up of toxins.

8 Reasons to start Dry Brushing

1. It removes stubborn cellulite

2. Strengthens your immune system

3. Cleanses your lymphatic system

4. Removes your dead dull skin

5. Tightens your skin preventing premature ageing

6. Increases your cell renewal

7. Helps your digestion

8. Tones your muscles, creating a beautiful sleek physique

 

How to Dry Brush

It is very simple.

  • Use a soft dry brush made of natural fibres.
  • Brush your skin before a shower or bath on dry skin.
  • Brush from toe to head.
  • Use long strokes moving upwards towards the heart, as this helps the lymph fluid drain back towards the heart.
  • Use lighter pressure of brushing around sensitive areas.
  • Wash your brush with soap every few weeks.
  • Dry brush areas of cellulite twice a day for 5minutes until it dissolves

words by Madeleine Shaw (www.madeleineshaw.com)

 

Into Cycling? Try the new Real Ryder class

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Real Ryder Class

words by Gwyneth Harrison (http://modeleats.com)

 

After the success of the British cycling team at the Olympics getting on your bike seems to be the fitness choice du jour. It seems like everyone I know is embarking on some mind-blowingly long cycle ride for charity, or choosing to cycle into work. Even weekends now are opportunities for getting out of the city on a wholesome and healthy bike ride.

Basically bikes are in, so here is my confession – I hate cycling. Absolutely hate it, and this even extends to cycling for gym bunnies like me – spinning. I’ve just never got it, I love a class and I especially love a fast-paced, get the blood pumping and the sweat pouring class, so you would think spinning would do it for me. But apparently, my dislike of cycling runs deep.

So when I heard about the launch of Real Ryder classes at The Lomax Way gym in Victoria I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to give it a go. However, I was assured that Real Ryder was different from normal spinning and in the interests of trying something new I signed up for a class, albeit reluctantly.

I wasn’t exactly reassured when I arrived and realised that a Real Ryder studio looks, well just like a spinning studio; room full of bikes, instructor at the front, lights dimmed, fast-paced music on. So far, so spinning. But the difference with the Real Ryder class comes when you sit on the bike, because instead of the static spin bike this one moves. Yup, that’s right moves. Not as in you cycle out of the studio but from side to side. The idea being that this more accurately mimics riding a bike in the real world and that by moving the bike whilst spinning you engage your upper body and core as well as your legs, thereby providing a more intense and all-round workout.

It definitely takes some getting used to, and I was surprised by how hard it was to keep the bike veered off to one side whilst also pedaling furiously. My instructor assured me that lot’s of this was technique and I’d get used to it but even with my beginners bad form I could feel it working both my arms and my core. Your core is also worked when standing up out of the saddle in order to keep the bike from wobbling madly from side to side and this definitely added an extra dimension to the workout.

As well as this, the 45minute class involves a variety of different intervals, both time, moving the bike and resistance that get your heart pumping and provide a really thorough workout. I was so ready for the class to end, not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because I was exhausted. I definitely regretted my decision to run to the class!

In terms of a total-body, intense cardio workout the Real Ryder certainly delivers – it’s fast and furious and torch some serious calories (apx 680kcal per class) with the upper body element adding one third more of a burn than a normal spin class. Those are some impressive stats and I have to admit that despite it still involving, well, cycling, I really liked Real Ryder. In fact I’ve already been back to my second class! It’s a great, intense workout giving a fab and enjoyable way to burn those calories.

www.lomaxpt.com

 

 

Have a Hip and Healthy Movember

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Have a Hip and Healthy Movember

 words by Belinda Mann

Yes it’s that time of year again! We are into the second week of Movember, so no doubt you may have noticed some new facial hair sprouting on the upper lip of some of your male companions!

The attractiveness of such facial hair is always an interesting topic to debate with the girls, but all Tom Selleck crushes aside Movember was designed with bringing awareness to mens health in mind. It’s about 30 days of promoting mens health, specifically prostate and testicular cancer. And rather than donning pink ribbons, sporting a mustache is the chosen way to visibly promote their cause.

Just because us girls are facially hair challenged doesn’t mean we need to leave all the Movember fun up to the boys. At Hip and Healthy we’ve been sporting green mo’s from our green juices to show support. There is nothing better for men’s (or women’s) health than a green juice. Green juice therapy has been helpful in many health conditions, and of course is one of the best preventive measures you can take. Green juice is super high in minerals and vitamins and full of anti-oxidants which fight disease causing free radicals. Green juices are alkalising and help keep you ‘regular’ – all which help keep our bodies in a state of health.

So ‘Mo Sistas’ you can show your support for men’s health (and your own) in Movember by sporting a green mo. To help promote Movember in your office, and you can order fresh pressed green juices through which-detox.com to share amongst your colleagues. Or if you are feeling inspired to get super healthy before the silly season you can sign up for your own green juice detox diet.

Please send your green movember pictures to [email protected] or post them on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hip-and-Healthy/194936453887531

http://uk.movember.com

www.which-detox.com

 

The Active-Wear Edit: Top Designers do Sports Wear

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The Active-Wear Edit

With Olympic Fever reaching an all time high in one of the world’s fashion capitals this summer, it is only natural that trends have turned to stylish sportswear with a technical and functional edge. Sadie Macleod uncovers some of the most recent sport-inspired collections

 

Stella McCartney for adidas was one of the first to embrace this trend when she collaborated with adidas in 2004 to produce a luxurious collection of achingly-chic active-wear making her an obvious choice to design Team GB’s kit in this year’s olympics. This season’s collection pays homage to her unique style and wonderful simplicity with monochrome bodies, metallic jackets (that have subtle air vents) and bright yoga pants perfect for the summer. Her mission? To produce a selection of elegant clothes that active women can wear without having to sacrifice their style. Her first sports dedicated store opened in London’s this spring.

Another successful high-end collection that came from adidas Originals was their recent collaboration with the eclectic New York retailer Opening Ceremony (they also have spaces in L.A and Tokyo). The inspiration for this collection was the roots of the Olympics and by focusing on two events – swim and cycling – the range is made for the confident, fashion forward individual who also has a love of being active and staying fit. Playing with pretty prints, bright colours and tight fabrics, the collection’s nostalgic shapes nod to the 90’s, drawing on the unisex trend that was also prevalent at this time. The cycling onesie is on the top of our wish list this season.

Renowned for putting black back on the catwalk, Yohyi Yamamoto, has stayed true to his ethos for billowing fabrics, Victorian shapes and hint of gothic with his new Y3 collection. Check also comes into play, introducing a punk-rock angle to the clothes and although the rest of the pieces are monochromatic, the occasional flash of red or electric blue can be seen – especially in the menswear. His trainers are particularly stylish yet simple, Y3 will see you go from sport to street in no time.

 

Quite literally looking to the stars for his latest collection with Puma, hussein chalayan take’s outer wear to its most extreme definition by channeling space and astronaut elements into his designs. Using hi-tech fabrics that are both functional and chic, the clothes are a sophisticated take on daily sports wear. The extra-terrestrial theme is also evident in the footwear, which draws on NASA technicality and fabrics. Most evident is the sleek, streamlined jackets in earthy tones built with functional pockets and layering but I quickly fell in love with the two-toned men’s Fleece Guernsey – perfect for any outdoor trip where you may have to contend with winter weather.

Fighting Fit: get fit (and fabulous) with Total Boxer

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Fighting Fit

Samantha Whitaker tries a new boutique boxing gym that really packs a punch in the fitness arena

Boxers are renowned as being among the fittest athletes. But if I’m totally honest, I’ve always found the sport too aggressive to really enjoy watching – let alone try it myself. So Total Boxer’s slogan – ‘get fit, not hit’ – sounded like it might be a good compromise.

I’m not going to lie, though: when I entered the small, North London gym, populated with leather punch bags and posters of boxing greats, I felt a little intimidated. But then Matt Garcia, founder and CEO, came jogging down from his upstairs office with a huge smile on his face and a labrador at his heels, and my shoulders dropped an inch. ‘You’re bound to be a bit nervous but you shouldn’t be,’ he said. ‘Almost everyone that trains here hadn’t done any boxing previously.’

As Matt strapped up my hands, greeting people by name as they arrived, my shoulders dropped a little more. The class was small, half were women, and everyone smiled or said hi when they realised it was my first time. During the warm up – rope-skipping or shadowboxing (sparring with an imaginary opponent) – Matt taught me the basic boxing technique, leaving me to practice on my own but quickly correcting me when my technique slipped. Fitness & Skills is a circuit class and, after a quick stretch, we went straight into three-minute bursts of punching bags, shadowboxing or sit ups, to loud, pumping music. Matt pulled each of us out in turn for one-on-one pad work in the centre – but it wasn’t embarrassing, as everyone trained with steady, blinkered focus.

As a sport, boxing demands aerobic endurance, strength, power, speed, agility and flexibility. The Fitness & Skills class is open to everyone and develops real boxing skills alongside fitness training. Total Boxer also offers FightReady, a 90-minute advanced session, which is a bit more technical and includes touch-sparring. Then there’s BoxingYoga, a revolutionary new yoga workout that directly targets the areas needed by athletes in the fighting arts, as well as bespoke personal training programmes and Corporate Box, which brings the Fitness & Skills class to the workplace.

Matt is just as passionate about the business as he is about boxing. ‘There’s no more effective training for body and mind than boxing fitness,’ he says. ‘It has everything: it’s challenging, fun and incredibly fulfilling as real boxing skills take shape and develop.’ Matt’s personal training business and experience as an ABA boxing coach means that he has trained all levels, from absolute beginners to competition fighters, so establishing Total Boxer seemed like an obvious thing to do.

At the moment, the gym is hidden – tucked between a post office and Konk recording studios opposite Hornsey train station – but it won’t be for long. Matt’s already scouting for a bigger venue locally, but the plan is for two or three venues, and then a franchise. He’s also in talks with decision-makers at leading gyms who are keen to feature BoxingYoga on their timetables. But there’s no hurry: ‘I’ve been building and selling businesses since I was 22, so there’s no real pressure other than my ambition to deliver on quality,’ says Matt. ‘It needs to be communal and unintimidating. Real boxing training but without the ego. Financially, I’m not trying to hit numbers. I’d much rather it was a slow, organic process,’ he adds.

The size of the venue means that class sizes are small – around 10 people – and the class I did was sold out. Total Boxer has an online booking system, which makes it easy for members to schedule their classes and shows Matt how attendance is steadily growing. ‘Some people who train here are now getting involved in the business – helping me write newsletters and blog entries,’ he says. ‘In return, I let them train for free – but I almost had to fight for that as their love for the club is so much that they were prepared to do it for free.’

As we stretched at the end, I felt equally pumped up and chilled out. Our glowing faces and the steamed-up mirrors were testament to our exertion. ‘I treat every session as if it’s the last one,’ says Matt. ‘I make sure that it’s executed professionally, that people enjoy it and get a good work out. But that’s a very natural thing because I just enjoy it so much.’

To find out more, visit www.totalboxer.com.

 

If you do one thing this week… Do a mini detox

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If you do one thing this week… Do a mini detox

 

As Christmas draws ever nearer we tend to throw caution to wind as far as our diet is concerned. This not only increases our weight (over the Christmas period it is understood that 74% of woman put on half a stone), but it also overloads our body with toxins as many of the foods we are indulging in are processed, fatty, sugary and, as far as we are concerned, full of empty calories.

An overloaded liver (as this is where the toxins are expelled) is linked to cellulite, weight gain around the tummy area and bloating. So rid yourself of the toxins and support your liver by following our detox guidelines and you are looking at having your healthiest winter yet.

The Detox Rules…

Don’t Eat Anything Your Grandmother Wouldn’t Recognise
Always check the ingredients list – if there is something on there that you find hard to pronounce or doesn’t sound like a real food. These are especially prevalent in highly processed foods, which leads me to my next point…

Cut Out Processed Foods
They contain high levels of sugar and salt as well as all kinds of chemicals. They slow your metabolism down as your body has to work harder to digest them and they hardly contain any nutritional value. Get rid.

Eat Goods Fats
Good fats are vital for healthy heart, mind, body and hair. Eat lots of lovely oily fish and nuts and seeds to boost your intake of omegas. Also try adding an omega-filled oil to your meals. We love Neal’s Yards version as it tastes great in smoothies, on salads or even porridge.

Banish Stimulants
This includes coffee, tea, alcohol and sugar. If you smoke – now is the time to give up. All these things flood your body with horrible toxins that take a while to get rid of. In fact, when you cut out these things you will start to experience withdrawal symptoms such as head aches, low energy and sometimes even bloating. Work through it.

Up Your Exercise
Exercise boosts the lymphatic system, which helps the body rid itself of waste. It also releases feel good endorphins and you may even find wanting to adopt a healthier lifestyle when you exercise more.

Support with Supplements
Assist your mini detox with some supplements. We suggest taking a good multivitamin, vitamin C, and milk thistle tincture which all work to support the liver and keep illnesses at bay.

 

 

 

 

The DODO Diet Made Doable

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The DODO Diet Made Doable

words by Lorna Clansey

A boiled egg never tasted so good. It’s Tuesday and that means that today I am only eating 600 calories.

I was inspired to limit my calorie intake for one day per week when I saw Michael Moseley, the medical doctor and health journalist, on BBC’s Horizon programme a few months ago. He was investigating the health benefits of intermittent fasting and he discovered that alternate day fasting (one day eating normally and the next limiting intake to only 600 calories) had a huge impact both on his weight and his cholesterol and blood glucose levels. In the end, he felt that this one-day-on one-day-off approach was too restrictive to his life, so he stuck to eating normally for 5 days and then ‘fasting’ for 2, still with great results. Fast-living city workers are also now using this as a convenient way to manage their weight as it fits well with their lifestyle.

According to some nutritional therapists, intermittent fasting isn’t bad for us – probably more like our ancestors might have eaten. They do warn that it is important keep water intake high and not to use these low-cal days as an excuse to binge on the other days though! I know that I am of a healthy weight and that my blood chemical levels are in normal range, but I was interested to know if calorie-limiting could be beneficial to me if I only did it for one day every week.

Using the extremely helpful www.myfitnesspal.com I was able to calculate a menu for the day which might consist of a small bowl of porridge made with oats, oat milk and cinnamon for breakfast, a cup of miso soup, a stick of celery and a raw carrot for lunch and, for dinner, steamed broccoli with garlic, ginger, soy, lemon juice and sesame seeds and the (very welcome) hardboiled egg. Lots of herbal teas and 2 thin rice cakes with peanut butter complete the day. Oh, and 9 almonds. Calorie intake can be distributed differently throughout the day though depending on a persons lifestyles and needs. Although this doesn’t look like very much food, I’m only eating like this one day a week, so when my stomach starts to growl at around 9.30pm, I know that tomorrow I’m back to eating normally again.

So what are the benefits?

I’ve been surprised that I have lost a couple of pounds over the month that I have been doing this, despite having a few celebration days where I’ve eaten much more than normal. I also feel considerably more alert, energised and lighter on the day after the ‘fast’ and seem to get much more done. Another interesting side-effect has been that once a week I actually truly appreciate what I am putting in my mouth. I chew thoroughly and relish the flavour of things I wouldn’t normally view as special. Knowing that I can’t just snack later on or have another helping means that I am much more conscious when I am eating. It’s a good reminder of how we should eat all the time!

Any downsides?

The hardest  time of the ‘fast’ day is between 3 and 5pm but I’ve been surprised at how easy it has been overall and I haven’t felt unpleasantly hungry or weak. However, I made the decision to do the ‘fast’ when I was fighting a sore throat. This was not a good idea as I started to feel very faint at around 6pm and then only sugar would do. I’ve learnt my lesson and so will only do this when I feel well.

Will I keep it up? The answer is yes. I have plenty of feast in my life, so maybe it’s good to have a bit of famine as well.

A Hip and Healthy Guide to LA: Day 10 & 11 – the final

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A Ballerina Abroad: Day 10 & 11 of our Hip and Healthy Guide to LA

Day 10

6:40 am and I can hear my wake up call.. I did ask for it. After waking up typically no later than 7am for the last few days I felt I could have slept for hours. Trying to wake myself up I bounded out of bed, threw on my sports kit and hopped in the car to Brentwood. From 7:15-8:15 I did Bar Class at the Bar Method, this cleverly adapted exercise routine incorporating the ballet barre is brilliant for strengthening and elongating your muscles. Starting with weights we spent an hour focussing on lengthening the body – as a dancer being close to the bar is natural and I really enjoy this ballet infused workout. Celebrity clients such as Drew Barrymore and Zooey Deschanel are regulars and use this method of firming and defining muscle to maintain there famous physiques. An inspiring teacher, attractive studio, lots of positive energy and a serious workout. Finished and it’s only 8:15, what a great way to start the day.

I met with friends for an early breakfast at Le Pain, located right next to the Bar Method, where else would we go! Piping hot bowl of berry oatmeal a good catchup and back to the hotel to soak up some sun.

 

For lunch we went to the Farm Shop at the Brentwood Mart. This deli and restaurant serves delicious fresh food to have in or takeaway. We didn’t reserve a table (it was only lunch after all) so are bellies weren’t happy when we were told we had a 25 minute wait, but we sat it out and soon enough we had a table. The menu is quite sly as you almost never imagine your meal to be how it arrives. I ordered the Albacore tuna salad with aioli, black olive tapenade and a cabbage raisin and carrot slaw. This came as a delicious open faced sandwich on wholewheat bread with a side slaw. I also ordered a side dip which was delicious – the seedy crackers went down a treat too. This Farm-shop however rustic from the outside is very popular and serves great meals.

After lunch we whizzed up Wilshire to Rodeo Drive. One of the most famous streets in LA home to shops such as Ralph Lauren and Chanel. We walked up and down, went into many shops, but left empty handed. Going to Rodeo is more for the experience, than to actually invest in something as Beverly Hills is very expensive! Once satisfied we had teased ourselves enough in these gorgeous shops we headed back into Santa Monica.

My mum went back up into Beverly Hills to meet a friend and my friends bailed, so Dad and I had a date night! First we went to Cafe Gratitude, I ordered the ‘I am Fabulous’ raw vegan lasagne and a side of spicy kale chips. This place never ever fails, so good, an enjoyable meal and a buzzing atmosphere. I hit up the dessert bar to get an ‘I am bliss’ chocolate mousse cake, healthy? Oh yeah!

Then to the cinema to see Looper. The tomboy inside of me loved it. A fun evening, a delicious dinner and a great film.. Et voila!

Day 11

I over-slept this morning so I quickly shoved my trainers on, grabbed a handful of cashews and drove straight to Pilates. My final session before leaving for England, Lizzie (the instructor) pushed me hard, revisiting all the reps of arms and core we have done throughout the weeks. Going back home after trips to resolution therapy my muscles feel stronger longer and toned, putting me in the perfect place to continue with my ballet training.  I drove to Planet Raw in Santa Monica for breakfast. I had an icy berry bowl, with dehydrated raw granola, fresh fruit and kream (no that’s not a spelling mistake!) This was honestly too good to be true, every meal is tastier than the last from this gourmet raw restaurant, will have to visit once more before I leave. After a late breakfast we walked down to third street to do some last minute shopping. Third street is a must when visiting LA, all the best shops, amusing street performers and plenty of restaurants and cinemas- it’s the place to be.

 

At lunch time we drove up to Will Rogers State Park via Le Pain Quotidian to grab lunch to go. We walked all the way to the top of the Mountain to ‘Inspiration Point’ where you can see LA in all it’s glory: Palm trees, beaches, the city, mountains. We sat down on the bench and had a picnic, what an incredible place to eat lunch. No hikers around, Inspiration Point was all ours and we made the most of having it to ourselves. After catching some sun we headed back down the mountain and said goodbye to beautiful Will Rogers.

I went back to the hotel and sadly had to pack my suitcase, this took a while because as you know I have been doing quite a bit of shopping, oops! Hopefully it won’t be overweight…but who am I kidding it most definitely will.

For dinner I  drove down to the coast to Nobu in Malibu to meet friends. This restaurant used to be located in the Malibu Country Mart (great shops if you find yourself in the area) but has now newly opened right on the ocean, with swish new decor the place looks great. Packed full of people the restaurant is buzzing. We sat right next to the ocean, practically able to jump in, the view was mesmerising.
The food is outrageously good, I ordered the Black Miso Cod, such a good order so very yummy. We also ordered chicken teriyaki, lobster rolls and lots of sashimi for the table, all of which were delicious. It was such a lovely evening and lots of catching up with great food. After saying goodbye I drove back up the freeway to Santa Monica. Still fairly early and considering it was my last night in LA I decided a quick stop at the Real Food Daily wouldn’t do me any harm! I ordered a chocolate milkshake (made from their sugar free, dairy free ice cream and hemp milk) and a chocolate coconut square to share. The sweet gay guy at the till asked me if it was my time of the month with my extremely chocolatey order, but unfortunately I don’t have that excuse, I just really love my chocolate! What a great day. The perfect end  to a perfect trip.

A Hip and Healthy Guide to LA: Day 9

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A Ballerina Abroad: Day 9 of our Hip and Healthy Guide to LA

words by Saskia Gregson-Williams

This morning I woke up to the birds chirping and the sun streaming in through the blinds. Mum and I put on our gym kit and walked up the hill to the fitness centre, which consists of a treadmill, weights and cross trainer all outside and over-looking the pool. Working out at this time in the morning in the countryside is so peaceful and a complete joy.

After our gym session, we ordered breakfast to come to the room, so awaiting us was two bowls of delicious berry oatmeal and a pot of hot water and lemon. We enjoyed this outside on the patio in the morning sun. After breakfast we slipped our trainers on and trekked up the mountain to the San Ysidro Trail. This hike, up and down through the beautiful tracks of The Santa Ynez Mountain range and across the rivers is utterly mesmerising. With lots of “beware of the bear” signs, mountain deer and the verdant trees and flowers, it’s a walk with nature at it’s best. After our hike we settled back down by the pool, with magazines books and my iPad – I was set for the morning. At midday I ordered a simple club sandwich by the pool and continued to bathe in the hot sun. We had a two o’clock checkout, so I just about managed to eat my lunch, shower pack my bags and we were off on the highway. Such an idyllic location for a weekend break, I feel refreshed, serene and  ready to get back to LA. We were back in Santa Monica by four pm.


A film my Dad wrote the music for, ‘Here Comes the Boom’ was recently released in the states and I was itching to see it. I met friends at the Bridge cinema at 7pm and had a great night at the flicks. The bridge is located about 20 minutes away from Santa Monica but worth the drive for the comfy seating and big high quality screens, you can even order dinner while you watch. It was a hilarious movie! I loved it and thought Kevin James was utterly brilliant. A great cast and comedy.

After the movie we drove back via The Native Foods Cafe, this chain spread across LA is a fresh organic vegan cafe, with lots of options. Quick and easy, it’s no fuss, healthy and fast. I ordered the Crunchy Kale Salad with raw kale, shredded cabbage, apples and avocado tossed with a maple orange dressing and topped with currants, almonds and a creamy tahini drizzle. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries, crisped and  seasoned to perfection. I couldn’t resist their all-vegan sugar-free desert bar with options such as pumpkin pie, boogie banana bread, double choc chip brownies. In the end I chose their Peanut butter parfait, made with tofu, and topped with boogie banana bread crumbs and dark chocolate chips. I believe i’ve mentioned my love of peanut butter in an earlier post, so choosing this dessert comes as no surprise. The salad was nice, the fries were delicious, dessert was incredible! A healthy meal with a sugarless protein packed pudding. The best way to end an evening.

A Hip and Healthy Guide to LA: Day 8

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A Ballerina Abroad: Day 8 of our Hip and Healthy Guide to LA

words by Saskia Gregson-Williams

Day 8

Since I was little Santa Babara has always been our favourite weekend get-away spot. Only an one hour and 20 minutes from Santa Monica it’s easy to get to and yet, when you are there, you feel like worlds away from the hustle and bustle of LA. After grabbing a little something from the Oceana’s breakfast buffet, we packed our bags for the evening and hit the road by 10:30. With a beautiful costal drive we arrived at the San Ysidro Ranch by midday. Located in the exclusive enclave of Montecito  and the depths of the  Santa Ynez Mountains, the scenery is stunning with breathtaking views of the ocean and channel islands. The  individual cottages named after flowers grown at the ranch are surrounded by aromatic orange and lemon groves, vegetable gardens and lots of blossoming seasonal flowers. The cottages are beautifully appointed, with elegant yet comfortable furniture with a country feel. The staff are all eager to please and always very welcoming. The Ranch is also very animal friendly. When we lived here our Golden Retriever, Rudy, was a regular and knew his way around the colourful gardens very well. As you arrive and check in there are always warm cookies by the desk and a bowl of treats for your pet. Everything is thought off, they really leave no stone unturned.

We settled in to the Gardenia Cottage. All the cottages are beautiful and unique; but with all-day sun a jacuzzi, terrace, siting room and large en-suite bathroom this cottage is our favourite. A very nostalgic place for us all. Unpacked and changed we went down to the Stoneground Terrace restaurant for the famous San Ysidro Brunch served till two pm. A two-course brunch with mimosas and juices included. Having had breakfast we passed up the appetizer (sadly as they looked incredible) and dived straight into an entree. I ordered the pan seared Scottish salmon, drizzled with whole grain mustard sauce and balsamic onions on a bed of wilted baby spinach. This was fresh, light and packed with flavour. Mum ordered the SYR’s Huevos Rancheros, homemade corn tortillas with Blackbeans, egg and organic avocado. Normally this dish comes with chorizo and queso cheese, but being dairy free and semi-veggie she asked for it without and they were very happy to oblige. This dish was also delicious, two very good orders but at the ranch I don’t think you really can go wrong!

After an exquisite brunch on the terrace, we walked up the enchanting garden to the pool. We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging on the sun beds, relaxing, swimming and breathing in the fresh mountain air. Returning to the cottage we sunbathed some more on the cottages private sun loungers, showered then dressed for dinner. Walking down to dinner on the narrow stone paths the garden was illuminated by tea lights. Beautiful.

We again sat outside on the terrace; with lots of heaters the temperature was perfect. Although the menu only has one page, each dish is mouthwatering. In the end I chose the Butternut Squash soup to start, the chefs special. A heavenly bowl of goodness, I love the taste of squash, so this thick warm soup was the perfect choice. For my main I ordered the Halibut, it came with roasted rosemary new potatoes and a tomato sauce. Every mouthful had more flavour than the last, the potatoes were wonderfully seasoned and the halibut drizzled with lemon juice was cooked to perfection. As we ate our five-star meal, the chef made my Dad a bowl of broth and a side order of plain jasmine rice. He said it was the most delicious broth and rice he’d ever tasted. They really are very happy to help and assist you with any dietary requirements. So even a man recovering from stomach flu can enjoy a flavoursome bowl of broth!

We went back to the cottage and watched ‘Its Complicated’. One of my favourite films, set in Santa Babara (very fitting) with Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, it’s brilliant, hilarious and gives you a wonderful feel for the town. If you haven’t seen it, see it now!

The lights are off in the cottage, and the ranch is silent. Time for bed.

 

A Hip and Healthy Guide to LA: Days 6 & 7

Written by

A Ballerina Abroad: Days 6 & 7 of our Hip and Healthy Guide to LA

words by Saskia Gregson-Williams

Day 6

Today we decided to go try out breakfast at Cafe Gratitude. I’ve never had breakfast there before, so was very excited to try it out. I ordered the ‘I AM FREE’ chia seed porridge with lucuma, maca, hempseed milk ,goji berries and blueberries. One of my favourite ingredients to use when I cook at home are chia seeds. Knowing their wonderful nutritional value it was no surprise that this breakfast bowl jumped out at me. Forgetting it is a (for the most part) a raw food cafe I was expecting the porridge to be piping hot, so my face when i tasted the cold tapioca like chia pot was a sight to behold! This breakfast is definitely like marmite, love it or hate it… But try to love it because it’s just so darn good for you. I also ordered the ‘I am Grace’ smoothie with coconut milk, almond butter, vanilla bean and dates. There was nothing at all marmite like about this, heaven in a glass. Other breakfast options include the ‘I AM FANTASTIC’ a live cashew crepe with coconut yoghurt, pecans and fresh seasonal fruit. A choice for next time.

After breakfast we went back to my dads studio in Santa monica. My dads a film composer, which is why I initially moved to LA and the reason I revisit regularly. We listened to a few cues of music, and hung out at the studio until midday. We then headed over to Aveda on Montana to visit the lovely girls there and check out the wonderful natural products in store. This kooky looking salon from the outside is a great place to get a guaranteed good hair cut or blow dry before an evening out.

In the evening we had tickets and backstage passes to Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler at the Hollywood bowl. As we were meeting friends we thought it would be nice to have a picnic before, so off we went to get lots of bits and pieces! First to Wholefoods: Salty cashews and almonds, sweet potato and lime tortilla chips and lots of salsa. Then to Planet Raw. We ordered all four ‘sushi’ plates on the menu to go. My favourite is the Godzilla with avocado, kim chi, nut-cheeze, wild seaweed, mint, cilantro, pumpkin seed oil, coconut jerky and jalapeño. While we waited, to cool us down, we had ordered a creamy berry smoothie topped with crunchy nuts, goji berries, raisins and lots of yummy trimmings!

Back to the hotel to get ready to go to the Hollywood bowl. A car picked us up and took us into Hollywood around 4:30 with awful Friday traffic so it took around two hours. Once there our friends joined us and we tucked into the picnic nibbles and champagne outside the bowl.

The bowl has the capacity to sit just under 18,000 people, being the largest amphitheater in the US. Box seats up front and rows and rows of bleachers going back. First to perform was Mark Knopfler of Dire Straights. Knofler is an incredible guitarist and the band used to be very rock and roll but the music has a more Celtic vibe to it now. They were great, put everyone in a good mood and finished their gig with a loud encore. After resetting the stage, it was time for Bob Dylan. I was not as familiar with his music but I am aware he is a legend in the industry and has had a roller-coaster of a life. He played for an hour and a half and the crowd loved it. Luckily it was a nice evening to be outside, as normally blankets can be requires late at night

On the way back to drinks with the band at their hotel in Santa Monica we stopped back at Planet Raw to get a superfood chocolate shake with cashew cream and homemade house trail mix to top. How very rock and roll of us…

Day 7

After starting the day at Le Pain Quotidien we went back to the hotel to greet a very poorly father. After having been ill all through the night, he couldn’t so much as get out of bed. Off to Wholefoods we ventured to get some bits and pieces to help his stomach. Lots of coconut water (my favourite rehydrating beverage, with more potassium than a banana) some organic plain salted crackers, grapes, bananas and some sparkling lemon and lime water.

I then went to Venice to visit my old ballet teacher Yuri Grigoriev. I was only seven when I moved out to the US and had only been doing small dance classes in a village hall. When we found Yuri I was absolutely terrified by the classes, the style was so different (Russian) he only spoke a few words of English and I was dancing alongside girls double my age. A tad overwhelming! But I was determined and stuck with it. Yuri taught me how much I love to dance by discipline, correction and hard work. I loved it and from that age I knew it was for me. It’s so lovely to be able to come back now and visit the studio and watch Yuri teach, since I’ve left nothing’s really changed.

I was there until two-o’clock, ravenous I went to the Seed Kitchen on Pacific Avenue in Venice. I ordered a coconut water and a Caesar Salad with cashew parmesan, croutons and a pumpkin seed vinaigrette to go. Seed is located really near Venice Beach so a good place to walk to if your walking, rollerblading or sunbathing in that area. I took it all down to the beach to enjoy with some friends.

In the evening we went out to Hillstones in Santa Monica. A diverse menu, catering for the meat eater with delicious veggie options too. I ordered the Veggie Burger with a side order of the pearl barley salad. Truly delicious, the best American cuisine near third street. But it’s very busy which can have you waiting hours for a table so go early or book in advance.

We then walked a block down to the AMC 7 theatre on 3rd street to watch The Perks Of Being a Wallflower. Such a brilliant film, so well acted and absolutely hilarious. Was surprised by what a wide audience this film caters for, definitely not just a teen flick. After two hours of laughing, crying and being thoroughly entertained we walked up to the Real Food Daily a few blocks away for dessert. We took it to go as we wanted to get back to the hotel. We ordered rice milk hot chocolates a raw blueberry cheesecake and an oatmeal cookie. Thumbs up for all. The cookie was warm and gooey, an amazing dunker for the hot cacao and the blueberry cheesecake was lovely and creamy. Hard to believe these deserts were all sugar-free and vegan. What a great Saturday night.