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Month: January 2017

Serrano Margarita

Posted on by Admin General

Of all my “happy places” around the world the one I’ve visited the most this year is the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. Situated on the shore of the Sea of Cortez, where golden desert sands meet shimmering azure waters, once you have visited, you will long to return. The service and cuisine are exceptional and it seems the entire staff is on a quest to exceed its guests’ most grand expectations. It was there, my husband and I chose to spend a romantic weekend.

While the resort offers a range of first-class excursions, from chartering the resort’s yacht for a romantic dinner to cooking lessons on a local farm, it is the beach that lures me back. One of the few swimmable beaches in the entire region, it’s here I paddled with big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton, and took home the idea for my Turmeric Tonic recipe.

This stay will not be as active as my last visit, for sure. My husband and I are seeking a little down time, a bit of romance, and a chance to focus on one another without the distractions of our everyday life. We begin our day in the spa with a cardio workout that prepares us for the hard-to-resist culinary offerings, followed by a private yoga session with Devi. After a soothing sauna and refreshing shower we delight in a delicious lunch of guacamole, assorted ceviches, and house-made chips. We dine al fresco on the lawn, at the cliff’s edge overlooking the water, our bathing suits concealed under our clothes.

After lunch we take a leisurely walk to the beach where we nestle into one of the well-appointed cabanas. A staff member arrives with a bucket of ice filled with water bottles and a small spray bottle of water scented with the resort’s signature fragrance for refreshing face and body. The fan above us starts to move, creating a gentle, cool breeze. We swim, read, talk—and talk. It’s so nice to have this time together, uninterrupted and unhurried. We both fall into a trance, holding hands, as we gaze out to the sea.

Soon we are invited to order cocktails and refreshments, but we prefer to visit bartender Alfredo Ontiveros Flores at the beach bar. We like to watch his artful preparation of our favorite cocktail, the Serrano Margarita, and to chat with him about all things Palmilla. Inspired by and named for the chile pepper that is native to the region, Alfredo has developed a perfectly balanced cocktail. His secret? It’s called Tajín Clásico, a Mexican seasoning of chile, sea salt, and lime juice used to rim the glass and dust the garnish. I share my version of the cocktail below.

After our visit with Alfredo, the sun begins to set and it’s time for a short siesta in the cabana before we prepare for the events of the evening. 

Yield: Makes 1 cocktail

Gratitude Journal

Posted on by Admin General

As we wind down from the holiday season I can’t help but reflect on the many parties I’ve hosted and the one I didn’t host. For several years my husband and I invited guests to join us for a Thanksgiving gathering of family and friends that totaled about thirty-five. We invited guests to arrive in time for cocktails and dinner on Thanksgiving Day and stay with us through Sunday. We held this gathering at our home in the Hamptons where we have plenty of room and there’s still lots to do that time of year.

Upon arrival everyone was greeted with my homemade warm spiced apple cider (rum optional), an itinerary for the weekend and their room assignment. There were lots of activities planned and guests were invited to join us or choose from options they could enjoy on their own. Mornings included yoga, SoulCycle and, weather permitting, long beach walks that concluded with steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with homemade marshmallows. Lunches were often at local restaurants and planned around an afternoon movie or gallery exhibit. Friday night we’d all head to the local bowling alley where we’d break into teams for a few games and savor the simplicity of a hot pizza. Saturday night was always leftovers and bingo, and with this family reinventing leftovers was often a sport.  Of course the weekend kicked off with a Thanksgiving Day feast!

We haven’t hosted this gathering since my father passed away, and recently I found a copy of a note that I created for our guests at the last party. It inspired me to share it with you, and to consider bringing this party back.

I wrote this note, rolled it up and tied it with a silky orange ribbon.  It was left atop a leather bound journal that was wrapped in paper and kitchen twine and placed on every guest’s pillow, with a little chocolate. Inside the journal I included this quote:

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust

Dear Guests:

A few years ago I was encouraged to keep a “Gratitude Journal,” a diary of things for which I’m grateful. It is quite simple, really.  At the end of your day name at least five things you are thankful for and write them down.  It doesn’t have to be anything enormous it could simply be “my daughter hugged me when she came home from school,” “a friend called just to say hi,” “my husband told me how much he appreciates me,” or “I was able to carve out time to start that book I’ve been wanting to read.” Reflecting back on the day in this way helps me focus on all the wonderful, positive things in my life.

Advanced research at the Institute of HeartMath and elsewhere has provided evidence that gratitude is not simply a nice sentiment or feeling. Sustained feelings of gratitude have real benefits, including:

  • Biochemical changes – Favorable changes in the body’s biochemistry include improved hormonal balance and an increase in production of DHEA, the “anti-aging hormone.”
  • Increased positivity – Gratitude exercises, such as journaling, can bring about a greater level of positive feelings.
  • Boost to the immune system – The IgA antibody, which serves as the first line of defense against pathogens, increases in the body.
  • Emotional “compound interest” – The accumulated effect of sustained appreciation and gratitude is that these feelings are easier to recreate with continued practice. Experiencing an emotion reinforces the neural pathways of that particular emotion as it excites the brain, heart and nervous system.

Most Americans reflect upon feelings of appreciation on Thanksgiving so we felt it was the perfect day to start your journal. We ask that, between now and dinner time, you think of five things you are grateful for.  Simple things!  Share them with us at dinner and we hope you will be encouraged to start a “Gratitude Journal” and feel the delight of counting your blessings.

With Love, and much gratitude for allowing us to share this holiday with you,

– Annie, Michael, Kayla & Gigi

Teaching Gardens for Healthy Hearts

Posted on by Admin General

On Valentine’s Day I am chairing the American Heart Association’s Palm Beach Heart Ball, the longest, continuous Heart Ball in the nation. Last year, the Heart Ball campaign raised just over $71 million nation-wide, providing funding for life-saving research and prevention programs in our community and across the country. I’m particularly passionate about their Teaching Gardens initiative, which is the reason I agreed to chair this year’s gala.

American Heart Association Teaching Gardens have now been planted in more than 200 elementary schools across the country. These gardens become real-life learning laboratories for students. The Teaching Garden program recently started in Palm Beach County and, since it is an initiative focused on reversing the current childhood obesity trends that our nation is facing, I took a look at the program to see if it was a fit for the Michael and Annie Falk Foundation, one focus of which is improving the lives of children.

Garden-based nutrition intervention programs can promote increased fruit and vegetable intake among children, which is absolutely critical when you consider that French fries make up one-fourth of their vegetable intake. As I explored the gardens, I heard so many inspiring stories; they taught me that the gardens do far more than just address dietary issues. At one school I observed a little girl being led out of a classroom by what appeared to be her state-appointed companion, and they headed straight for the gardens. I saw the companion later in the day and asked what she thought about the gardens and she explained that her charge used to get agitated in class and they would have to leave so as not to disturb the other children. This, of course, would only frustrate the girl even more and throw her into a full-blown episode, one that would end her day at school. Now, when she has to leave a classroom she heads to the garden, takes a few deep breaths, rocks back and forth, and then goes right back to class.

Because I want more people to learn about the positive impact these gardens have on young children and our environment, I—along with my sister Dawn Scibilia—produced a 15-minute film called Teaching Gardens. We want people to see and hear first hand what a difference the gardens make and the positive effect the gardens are having, not only on the children, their families, the school, and the community, but also on the environment. The children realize they must attract pollinators to their gardens, and now they are bee and butterfly keepers and bird watchers—stewards of the environment, keeping our planet clean and nourished for future generations.

The American Heart Associations Teaching Gardens are funded by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other community-based organizations. To learn more about fundraising or school requirements for an American Heart Association Teaching Garden, please contact teachinggardens@heart.org.

Turmeric Wellness Shot

Posted on by Admin General

I have a lot of “happy places” around the world, but the newest one on my list and perhaps the resort I’m most obsessed with at the moment is the One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. It is situated at the edge of the Baja Peninsula, overlooking the most breathtaking turquoise waters, and the service and cuisine are unparalleled. It was there, on Global Wellness Day, that I found myself doing shots with big wave surfer Laird Hamilton. No, not the mind-numbing tequila kind! After a day of paddling with Laird and a killer XPT workout with his beautiful wife, Gabrielle Reece, we shared some delicious and healthful shots of turmeric.

Turmeric, a rhizome similar to ginger, has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, most often in its dried and powdered form. Recent studies show that one of this golden spice’s active ingredients, curcumin, is a powerful anti-inflammatory, making it the perfect remedy for everything from cranky knees to eczema. It’s an especially welcome elixir after a very active morning. Some physicians believe turmeric may help in detoxify carcinogens and that the benefits of consuming this golden powder may extend to mental health.

A sprinkle of black pepper can enhance the body’s absorption of curcumin by as much as 2000 percent, while consuming it with healthy fats (like those in coconuts) helps curcumin be absorbed directly by the bloodstream.

My friends at Pamilla shared their ingredient list and here’s my take on the wellness shot, one I’m going to enjoy on especially active days. 

Yield: Makes 8 (2-ounce) shots