January 6, 2009 3:59 pm
A running joke amongst my friends is that if they ever need to find me at a party, they just look for the buffet. From Thanksgiving to New Years I enjoy eating more than any other time of the year. If there is a cocktail party uptown, downtown, or anywhere in between, I'm there. I never enjoy the getting ready part (fashion is for the birds), but I surely relish the food.
The bad news about the 20-pound turkey I carve for Thanksgiving and the bite size appetizers I gobble up during the first week of December is that it all sticks straight to my butt. I might as well staple it there instead of going through the process of savoring the flavors and digesting the meals. Inevitably, I gain about five pounds every year and manage to spend January and February dedicated to the gym and taking off my holiday hiney.
This year, I made an end-of-the-year resolution instead of a New Year's Resolution: I was going to party like a rock star but keep a rock star-like figure in the process. Here's how I did it:
1.Drink Water- Never underestimate the power of water. Eight glasses a day will keep you full, make your skin glow and also have you running to the bathroom quite frequently. I found that drinking water had me eating less and snacking less on all the holiday popcorn, cookies, and treats that were around the office.
2.Walk Everywhere- Last year I decided that I wouldn't run out of my office frantically grabbing my things and fighting with tourists over the only available taxi on Fifth Avenue. Instead, I was determined to walk either part or all of my way to the parties. It was a great way to get my metabolism and my heart rate going before indulging.
3.Eat Before You Go- The worst thing you can do is show up to a holiday party completely famished. You will end up overeating and regretting it. Minutes before attending a friend's Christmas gathering I prepared a quick tomato soup. It was a lot healthier than the array of fried appetizers that awaited me at the party.
4.Control Your Portions- Yes, I am one of those people who over-orders and needs to try half the things on the menu- just for variety. At all the parties during the holiday season I tasted Chinese chicken salad, tuna tartar, grilled octopus, filet mignon with green mangoes, pigs in a blanket and much more. Notice how I said TASTED. Taste is exactly what I did. I had a bite here and there, appreciated the textures and flavors but didn't finish each dish. It was sin without really sinning, and saved me many calories along the way.
5. Hold the Booze- Many of us forgo the delicious snacks and go straight to the bar. Wine, beer and cocktails can pack on calories in minutes. This year, I took a page out of Caroline's book and opted for seltzer water with a splash of Cranberry juice. The little extra vitamin C helps ward off the winter flu, too.
Keep these tips in mind and you'll be sure to keep the pounds off your behind!
Divya Gugnani
— Written by Divya Gugnani
0 Comments >
Tags : ---
January 2, 2009 1:17 pm
Heading home to my native Southern California for Christmas always gives me a healthy dose of sunshine as well as the chance to check out new restaurants in the City of Culinary Angels. When my childhood friend, Mary, asked me where I wanted to eat, I didn't hesitate to suggest Beso, a Nuevo Mexican collaboration spearheaded by renowned restaurateur Todd English and actress Eva Longoria Parker. We had heard mixed reviews, but I am a huge Todd English fan so we decided to give it a chance and form our own opinion.
Beso is located on the legendary Hollywood Boulevard. Although I'm a native Angeleno, I still grin every time my stilettos hit the Hollywood Walk of Fame--so much Tinseltown history! Hence, I was beaming when I approached the formidable doorman. His serious demeanor made me feel like I was back in New York, getting ready to hustle my way past the velvet rope. I'm easily over 6 feet tall in my Jil Sander heels, but I still had to look up at the giant while I assured him that I had a reservation before I inquired about parking in the loading zone where I had ditched my car. Definitely an ice breaker as we commiserated about being ripped off by valets and expensive parking tickets--a topic that all Angelenos can relate to.
Once inside, my jaw dropped at the massive size and beauty of the restaurant. I found Mary near the hostess counter, looking up at the ceiling, admiring the chandeliers. After exchanging hugs and compliments (I don't know how she walks in those 6 inch Dolce Gabbanas, but they made her legs look beyond fabulous), we were whisked to our table where we settled into our cushiony leather chairs and agreed that Beso gets an A plus for design. Mary pointed out the enormous branch infused floral arrangements and commented that she would incorporate something similar if she were to plan her wedding over. Her statement spoke volumes as her wedding was a perfectly executed affair to remember at the Biltmore Hotel complete with imported Russian and Persian performers. The two floor Beso is spacious, the dramatic open kitchen gives diners a peak as their dishes are artfully prepared, and by looking up to the second floor one can see the entrance to the red leather lounge that is connected to the restaurant, but run by promoters when not rented for private parties or being used by Todd and Eva.
We sipped our pinot grigio and studied the parchment paper menus. I ordered Eva's Tortilla Soup as an appetizer while Mary chose the Roasted Red and Yellow Beet Salad with goat cheese fundido and sherry walnut dressing. The presentation was impressive, my soup was in a large bowl with a smear of avocado leading from the edge of the bowl down into the food. The soup had a nice combination of spices, rich tomato and crunchy tortilla strips. Mary's salad was laid out beautifully, the beets were fresh and crisp and the goat cheese rich and decadent. For my entrée, I decided to play it safe and get a protein fix with the Grilled free-range Chicken that came with banana gnocchi. The chicken was perfect and the banana gnocchi was interesting. I had never consumed a banana in such a form. It had a sweetness to it that you wouldn't expect in a gnocchi. I ate a few pieces to offset the flavor of the chicken and spices. Mary had the 8 0z Petit Filet, which was properly cooked and accompanied with a diced tomato onion salsa with crispy pita chips mixed in. The crunch of the chips combined with the salsa and meat was an appropriate fit. Full from our meals and concerned about our excessive Christmas food consumption from the past few days, we made the unusual decision of skipping dessert. I've since learned that the desserts at Beso are amazing. Next time!
As Mary told me that she will come again and bring her husband, I glanced around the room to make some final conclusions about the vibe. Beso's decor is breathtaking, the food is fabulous and the crowd is very L.A. --an ethnic melting pot, young, hip and dressed casually. Unlike the suits in New York, the guys at Beso were in jeans, tight t-shirts to show off their toned bodies and tennis shoes. I laughed as I sipped my pinot and watched the animated guy with spiked hair at the next table. You never know, he might be on the big screen with Brad Pitt next month. As I once heard Bono point out during a U2 concert at Staples Center, "L.A. is the city where people make a living off of their dreams." The energy and pulsating music in Beso creates a positive atmosphere where all aspiring artists can feel at home. "Beso" translates to "kiss" in Spanish and after enjoying a delicious meal with my dearest friend, I happily blew a beso to the doorman on my way out to my car which was waiting for me safely in the loading zone.
Caroline Alexa McBride
Beso
6350 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, California
323.467.7991
— Written by Caroline Alexa McBride
0 Comments >
Tags : ---
Subscribe to our Feed >
Join Our Facebook Group >
Follow us on twitter >
View our Flickr Photostream >
