Valentines Day Classic Appreciation

Sunday, February 10th, 2013 | Our Best Advice | Comments Off

Our Best Advice shares great TIPS as suggestions on various topics. With decades of our renowned expertise ISA makes job referrals for those who have top excellent checkable references and expert experience in the domestic help field, with clients offering a variety of job opportunities working in household help luxury estates jobs.

TIP: romantic chocolate is still the goddess of sweet tributes, and classic for Valentines Day. As a holiday preceded by the Grammy Awards some of our VIP clients attend, we know that celebration and endorsement  gift giving is a standard part of both, and often delivered as specialty treats. Do check ingredients for toxic additives as studies continue to emerge warning of dangers in our food and drinks. Consider too that what we put on our skin (including hair products) is transdermal and absorbed into our blood stream (and groundwater and oceans..). For a Valentines Day Chocolate Appreciation theme try adding a romantic body butter like Chocomania to your range of gifts (I’ve not checked ingredients and we don’t get paid for endorsements, but Bodyshop was at the very beginning of spearheading new values in retail trends), or make your own from scratch, including soaps and other luscious things. Your homemade signature is always a classic touch.

For those who love food luxury caviar is another celebration classic. Be creative using it because it has unending pairing possibilities. An Omega3 rich source, it can be served with vanilla bean chocolate chip ice-cream, and a “red” salad. Salty and Sweet with Fat (for fuel) are traditional food combos, ideal for nutrition, protein, and energy delight with your romance. Contrary to myth that it’s bad for you we do need salt, which also  brightens sweet flavors.

At Petrossian WeHo restaurant, Chef Giselle Wellman is fired up cooking with (and without) caviar. They’re always friendly and ready to help with a variety of gifts and price range to choose from. An elegant gift with two crystal vodka flutes, blue-inlay mother-of-pearl spoons, plus the caviar of your choice, comes all wrapped in their signature blue box. Add your endearments with an IOU massage card. As a starter, watermelon squares with drizzled balsamic is perfect anytime for any event. If you don’t know caviar, try their terrific and well priced introductory classes with your lover (or give it as a gift), and you’ll soon be wild about it too.

 

Always classic, write a love song delivered in neo-vintage glam. Justin Timberlake is pairing with Tom Ford to create his special signature clothing line because there is always time for a Suit & Tie. He’s back with wonderful new retro glam that stands out from the rest, as we watched a sizzling-smooth Justin and JZ duo performe to a wildly cheering crowd (and a sold out performance in L.A. for Justin right after the awards). Smart of them to remind everyone how traditional elegant glamour brings back hot romance. At ISA we’ve had glamorous clients right from the beginning, over the years of Hollywood’s Golden Age (and we know that romance has never gone out of style). Beginning with ladies and gents with impeccable groomed manners. Do keep up with etiquette, makes life so much lovelier.

Everyone loves a great love fantasy as only David Bowie delivers with his elegant wife Iman. Lovers married 20+ years in an industry tuff for relationships, it was St. Laurent who famously declared: ‘my perfect woman is Iman’ (who’s beyond glam class).

I just played Bowie’s vintage Let me Sleep Beside You to inspire my mood. Bowie is a crooner poet, so here are  some of the remixed lyrics to launch yours. Remember these are copyrighted, so give credit to the artists if you decide to share them.

… ‘Baby, baby, brush the dust of youth from your shoulder… Let your hair hang down, wear the dress your mother wore .. Let me sleep beside you.. Lock away your childhood and throw away the key.. We shall drink the oldest wine and velvet skies will linger.. Child, you’re a woman now, your heart and soul are free .. I will hold a lighted lamp and we shall walk together… I will give you dreams and I’ll tell you things you’ll like to hear.. Let your hair hang down, wear the dress your mother wore..  let me sleep beside you .. let me sleep beside you..

Can’t wait for Bowie’s new album. For those who don’t have a Valentine here’s a universal TIP: be your own.  Must listening is the track from legendary Nina Simone, the ultimate in bringing her kaleidoscopic voice telling us ‘You Know How I Feel’ (my lyrics version remix here).

Set your passionate heart to an open Valentine call.

.. Birds flying high you know how I feel .. Sun in the sky you know how I feel .. Breeze driftin’ on by you know how I feel .. It’s a new dawn.. It’s a new day .. It’s a new life .. For me .. And I’m feeling good … Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know .. Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean .. Stars when you shine you know how I feel .. . Scent of the pine you know how I feel … Oh freedom is mine .. And I know how I feel …

It does not get better than Simone and Bowie! Add them for your lover’s playlist. 

So back to chocolate (always room for chocolate afterglow) if you crave more TIPS: add an original organic tea-chocolate experience from The TeaRoom. According to their choco-alchemists it’s a premium drink unlike any beverage or other chocolate drink on the market. It can be used in a variety of ways for a hot or cold experience, including added to smoothies, or whatever else your chocolate loving heart imagines. There’s a menu of suggestions with every tin (check out their other award winning gift selections).

A bit more love is always great. Giving thanks for our food is an international appreciation ritual. The drawing by Vivienne Flesher, captured it perfectly for Kimberly Nichols’ amusing story in The LA Times: ‘they met through an online dating service, but the sparks didn’t fly until their passion for food of all varieties became a shared pastime.’ Our local paper has some great TIPS so check them out weekly.

As to exploring foods and loving a well mannered experience, today fast foods (fast everything), is the same as saying chaos rules. You will get exactly that. Don’t fall for it, only  fools believe our precious lives are disposable. Savor yours, and share farm-to-table food and drink alchemy concoctions served all over town. Don’t forget to gift some volunteer work Valentines (or buy a couple of strangers some chile pepper red drinks). At Rivera we had some amazing things (and I’m still not sure what they were!) 

And if you still want more (there’s always room for more love), you can add a commissioned art work for your lover that expresses how fast you want to fly into their arms. See Renaud Marion’s new series “Air Drive”, which commemorates our love with fantasy hover cars. This ‘flying vintage’ (Space I say), harkens back to my love for SciFi. The flying car was a symbol of our eternal optimism that new adventures of discovery await at every turn. We’re a green-jet-fusion red-heartbeat away from flying cars carrying your Valentine Gifts to your love.

Call us to help you find a Chef dedicated to creating your most memorably custom Valentines Day Meal (or any event), an intimate dinner perfectly prepared especially for you. We have “best of the best” private Chefs ready to cook a delicious dining experience full of tempting tastes and exciting flavors. Beginning with whatever you fancy with your creative imagination, that ends with whatever satisfies your personal sweet tooth. Life is an aphrodisiac, so get high naturally on Love!

And we also want you to know, that we appreciate you. Have a great Valentines Day!

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Holiday Raw TIPS – Chefs

Sunday, November 25th, 2012 | Our Best Advice | Comments Off

Some brace for Cyber Monday and some of us dream of other adventures. Like using unexpected raw fruits with holiday meals that last from ThanksGiving until New Year (any excuse to celebrate), which I do spontaneously, like adding pineapple with pomegranate to the mix. ‘poms’ disappear around January, take advantage while they’re available (and also makes a great gift basket theme). Pomegranates have high sugar content so add them to other fruits~veggies for easing up on sweet juicing. Fresh is best but on the rush there are great Pom products (we don’t get paid for any endorsements and I make them freely without input).

A Vegan Raw Pineapple ripening tip reminded me of my Bali days. I’m sensitive to pineapple. To prevent unhappy tongues home-ripen the pineapple by doing the following (use more than one if making juice for a few people):

Poke holes into the stem end of the skin with a fork or grilling skewers (don’t use your good silver!), put the pineapple end in two inches of water standing in the direction of the sun for a few days. This accelerates a ripening process to loose the blue-green acid condition that turns yellow/orange and then yellow/brown (which is what you’re after). Juice the pulp, and save overnight in your refrigerator to deepen enzyme activity. Drink the juice first thing in the morn on an empty tummy (or add to your juice mixing for added antioxidant boost), a great way to get alkaline hydration. The pulp can be rubbed on your skin to help dissolve lodged oils to move out from your pores (further benefited by dry brushing your skin). You can apply the juice with some raw salt on the skin (or use the juice alone) to dissolve outer layers of dead tissue, exposing the soft layer underneath. A wonderful skin conditioner and great massage enhancer.

The story goes that European sailors (like Columbus) were first to find Indians in the Caribbean using pineapple in several remarkable applications. They brought those TIPS home for the ladies (or at least that’s how we tell it at ISA as some of Our Best Advice). Those (very) smart natives used the sweet meat to eat alone and combined with other foods, to tenderize foods (proteins are broken down by pineapple), the juice to soften skin and clean their wounds and remove body-hair (… does that mean no need to wax?), and this wonderful medicine cured an upset stomach. Pineapple bromelain is a known  digestive aid. Piña (meaning pineapple) is also the fiber turned into textile.

Several of our old school clients are owners of major fruit farming enterprises. They take juicing seriously to extend their own health and longevity protocols. Jack LaLanne and Bernard Jensen (among others) were their gurus, who advised many Hollywood actors to stay trim and fit. These clients are captains of industry leaders; successful people who express endless high energy output in continuous travel, work hard on philanthropic projects who are also equally passionate about work in multiple fields (and sitting on multiple Boards giving their time freely), without desire of any retirement. Our younger clients also undertake a Raw Foods Diet at least part of the year, if not completely. Some of them are renowned for extraordinary dedication to raw health.

My mother (who’s not into all raw) and only eats two meals daily (she skips lunch), is among those who’ll be taken holding a phone to her ear helping someone get a job, or quickly covering a client who’s frantic because their Chef became unexpectedly ill the day of an important event. She has unending energy! We provide clients with ‘best of the best’ Staffing Household Help for decades, with our famous expertise running multiple luxury homes and high profile criteria of unique estates. We love giving TIPS as part of our services. Please pass them along.

My father was big on juicing and we grew up tasting his experiments. If you don’t want to use it raw (but do),  you can grill pineapple (a great dessert base), or use it in pomegranate fusion bar drinks to boost alkaline to acid ratios. Add it into your RAW detox protocol as many Chefs love to include for our clients jobs with their ‘secret ingredients’ green drinks. Or try Pomegranate soup. A Mesopotamian dish made from pomegranate juice and seeds added with split peas, mint leaves, spices, and other fresh ingredients (as you prefer). A booster of hearty warmth for fall.

Pineapple and Pomegranates are among what I call golden fruits (worth their weight in gold they’re so good for you). One of my ‘keeping me healthy’ team members I trade TIPS with told me she tested vodkas, to see which would become alkaline and retain its alkalinity if she added her special alkaline water to the vodka. Only two survived the test (and as she put it, the rest was trash). Never argue with someone from a famous vodka producing country, just follow their lead. So if you’re looking for a bar specialty alkaline drink for vodka, add some alkaline water, with fresh pineapple pulp and some pomegranate seeds with a bit of juice, a splash of green tea to taste (optional, sweeten with a bit of agave), shake vigorously, and top with raw chocolate shavings on the foam – and voila!

For a great pineapple salsa I modify a recipe I found at  SAVEUR magazine with fresh seasonal pomegranate. Try it.

Salsa de Piña

INGREDIENTS (makes about 5 cups)

2 cups finely chopped fresh pineapple
½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
½ cup fresh lime juice, or fresh pomegranate juice with seeds sprinkled in (will turn pineapple pink)
1 tbsp. cane sugar (or substitute other sweeteners to taste)
2 tsp. celtic sea salt or kosher salt (and adjusted to taste)
4 fresh serrano chiles, stemmed and minced
1 small red onion, minced

INSTRUCTIONS

Place all ingredients in a large holiday bowl (preferably glass to show off the colorful array), and toss until evenly combined. Let sit at room temperature to meld flavors at least 30 minutes.

Put a little added virtual sun into your winter holidays – and gift everyone Eric Whitacre Virtual Choir to play with your J’bells, or other fav playlists. Eric is amazing. Seeing his video is inspirational, lets your Spirits soar, and don’t forget to sing, sing, sing!

If you have top references and experience working in the domestic help field, or you have a job offer requiring the best household help staffing call us or register here. Send others Our Best Advice! Enjoy our TIPS and send us yours.

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