Holiday Raw TIPS – Chefs

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

pomegranate juicing in Istanbul's farmers market

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.

pineapple (also called ananas) seen at its starting stage

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.

Serving Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills. Holmby Hills, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Hancock Park, Laurel Canyon, Los Feliz, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Melrose. Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills, Topanga Canyon, Torrance, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, San Mareno, Rancho Santa Fe, Palos Verdes, San Diego, Laguna, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ojai, Orange County, Ventura County, California, New York, East Coast, England, Europe, and  the greater United States…

Tags: Alkaline Diet Chef Jobs, Beverly Hills Jobs, Brentwood Jobs, Century City Jobs, Chef Jobs, CHEFS, Domestic Help, Eric Whitacre, estate staffing, events, Holiday Party Raw Recipes, Holiday Raw, Luxury Estates, Our Best Advice, Pacific Palisades Jobs, Raw Chef Foods, Raw Chef Jobs, Saveur Magazine, Seasonal Cuisine, TIPS, Vegan Chefs, Vegan Holiday Foods, Vegan Thanksgiving, Vegan Tips Holiday Foods, West Los Angeles Jobs

JOB DESCRIPTION – Top Jobs

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 | Our Best Advice | Comments Off

Corning Gorilla Wallpaper Image. Photo: courtesy of Corning Glass

June 8, 2011. Job Descriptions always have a gray area since there is no way to fully know what’s entailed until you’re on the job. For instance, we place Butlers who work full time in that job description, who suddenly find themselves doubling up as occasional Cooks, but it wasn’t in the initial Job Order. Or a PA or Estate Manager who provides an occasional meal, or prepares them when the Chef is off. Job Descriptions are diverse, they’re tailored to each client as they wish. TIP: be truly flexible and open, don’t just say you are.

We’re famous for anticipating ahead our clients needs. We recommend an Applicant interview the job to see if there is chemistry and fit between the Employer and Employee, regardless of whether all the details are known. Work that a candidate doesn’t normally do, but has the skills to preform, can be fun. You won’t know until it’s undertaken, and your approach or powers of negotiation of how things will be accomplished is key. An attitude of enthusiasm that begins every day, and needing to be tuff but also open and play-full. I’m amusingly reminded of Corning Gorilla tuff glass campaign (wallpaper of this adorable primate here). See our SITEMAP for great TIPS, and share Our Best Advice. Below are some great summer TIPS.

We placed an Estate Manager Top Job. The Employee had beyond expert skills and experience. However, the client felt uncomfortable during the trial period (which we provide for free). It turned out the employee’s overzealous enthusiasm to straighten everything out “wrong”, was undertaken on fast track. By attempting to immediately take over the scope of the work all at once, it also resulted in taking away the clients control over their own preferences. The person was let go. The Client simply didn’t wish to wait for the employee to figure them out. Employers want employees to anticipate their needs. The employee lost a job despite their top skills, expertise, top references, and having one of the best resumes in the country.

In this instance it wasn’t so bad because the candidate will find another job, their skills are unquestionably prime for Luxury Estate Jobs, and they learned their lesson.  Of course, it could also be said the client failed to communicate their needs to the employee to slow things down, and things were lost in translation. Communication requires conscious approach by at least one party, not just the ‘right words’ or intentions. Don’t expect the boss to have it, or their representatives, or the person who supervises your work. TIP – No matter how good you are at your work, practice deepening your communication skills as part of continuing learning education. Don’t take it for granted.

Combinations of multiple skills can overlap with staff to take over some of their tasks on days off. This is important when a client has several homes and travels between them. Like a PA who’s able to double up as a Nanny when nannies rest. TIP – Nobody can work straight through a trip, regardless of how committed they are to the job. We encourage clients to have enough people on hand for rotating rest periods. Mistakes happen when people are jet lagged, that could be dangerous for childcare safety. Things need to flow easily and expertly, not geered to scramble in chaos, as many homes are adducted to today. A graceful life is part of having our serenity, your home should run beautifully.

There are Houseman-Butler positions that may require animal care, such as dog walking and grooming as a specialty added skill of the job. We’ve often suggested to clients to be willing to pay for an employee to learn specialty skills, rather then replace a member of their staff they’re happy with. Recently we placed a housekeeper with a new client who had to take care of an extensive group of animals the clients adore. The housekeeper absolutely loves (loves!) animals. It turned out great for both parties, and ended a revolving door. You might be a Chef who doubles up as a Butler to serve the meals, but you don’t like to serve.  Have a kitchen assistant to help with duties of preparing and cleaning up.  The Chef leaves immediately after dinner, and the kitchen maid continues her work to finish up. She comes in later the following day.

lava flow - fire and water embrace

The art of staffing is an Art of expertise, not just about filling job descriptions. We’re proud to say that ISA staffing is famous for our expertise to make our clients home run not just smoothly, but optimally. JOBS are as unique as our clients. If you have top expert skills and experience with top references contact our domestic help agency to find your dream Job. Our clients pay Top Salaries for the best domestic help workers. We’re famous as the best household help agency in the field. If you’re an Employer whose home is not run like a five star hotel, we’re famous as the best help agency to see you get that. We have the longest history as experts in luxury estate staffing.

Speaking of History, although we’ve had luxury food as part of our gastronomic scene for centuries, it’s well known by Chefs that not everyone has the same idea of what is luxury food. Tastes and times change. Ancient Egyptians are credited with introducing the world to foie gras, but today few homes serve it, as meals have become oriented towards health and fitness. Yet many clients in the past loved it and insisted it be on the menu, believed that having fat in our diets was quite healthy. Romans cultivated oysters as early as 100BC, today they’re not promoted as a healthy food. Although caviar first appeared around 1590 in England, sturgeon has been part of the culinary scene in the Middle East and Eastern European diet since pre-historic times. Tastes change but some remain classics. Try some of the classics out and see. I recently viewed videos of someone who’s considered to be one of the top nutrition experts in the world. He works with doctors and clients internationally. It was puzzling to see how dried out his skin was and how wrinkled the face with premature aging. How people can be so disconnected by what they promote, from the results on themselves, is beyond me.

the wisdom of Natalie Portman

I love vegan raw food (but I’m not a vegan), which is being promoted as an ‘ancient diet’. This is a myth.  Man has always consumed animal protein. The Native American Indian’s invented Beef Jerky to take on long horse trips and plains Indians used it to survive weather conditions while moving from one location to another. Not a good idea to cultivate a diet so extreme it’s no longer flexible and adaptable to conditions at hand, mother nature likes freedom and variability. I own up to trying different diets to experiment, and love the flexibility to try all of them as my body changes. Recently, a young lady in her twenties I mentor decided to go on a high protein diet and give up her vegan way. Natalie Portman gave up being vegan once she was pregnant, though she’s passionate about it. Be flexible. Similarly, a TOP JOB must cater to work for the needs at hand. Take a TIP from ancient times as to what luxuries are preferred. Don’t become  too attached to trends and fashion, the old ways can still work.

Our Best Advice has been brought to you by www.ISAstaffing.com a specialty agency in the domestic help field. Visit often for other great ideas, and browse Domestic Staffing Services to see Job Descriptions.

Serving Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills. Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Hancock Park, Laurel Canyon, Los Feliz, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Melrose. Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills, Topanga Canyon, Torrance, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, San Mareno, Santa Barbara, Orange County, Ventura County, California, New York, &  the greater United States…

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