EVOO and More

Sunday, May 25, 2014

EVOO and blackberry balsamic dressing

One cannot fully enjoy the kitchen without engaging in the many wondrous uses of olive oil.  It’s as essential a tool in preparing foods, as a fork and spoon are to eat them with!  EVOO must be within easy reach to pour and drizzle into a pot, pan, or mixing bowl at any given moment.  Growing up in an Italian kitchen groomed my palate with the taste for olive oil; however, my culinary creative juices were further stirred upon recently discovering Beyond the Olive specialty EVOO store in Old Town Pasadena—consisting of a friendly knowledgeable staff, amazing local products, educational tasting and cooking classes, and live opera music!  (Okay…small clarification…live opera is not the norm.  Teacher, Chef Debbie, is married to an opera singer, and I was lucky enough to attend her cooking class in which her husband made an appearance and sang for us.  A night at the opera is not to be expected on a regular basis!)

Located at 10 N. Raymond, Beyond the Olive was founded in 2009 and specializes in more than 25 extra virgin olive oils, over 25 flavored olive oils, and more than 30 different balsamic vinegars, aged over 18 years.  Owners, Crystal and Chip Reibel, proudly carry olive oils only of the highest quality from homegrown companies in California they have direct relations with; thus, foregoing the unknown quality of mass-packaged and imported products, resulting in being distinguished as the best specialty EVOO boutique in the San Gabriel Valley.  Moreover, Beyond the Olive was nominated “One of the Top 10 Places in the World to buy Olive Oil” by the Olive Oil Times in September 2012.

Personally speaking, the true fun and feasting started when I first attended a Beyond the Olive cooking class.  What’s not to like about being served delicious foods prepared by local chefs’ Cherie Twohey and Chef Debbie?!?!  Both chefs brought their delightful personalities into the experience, which made learning the many uses of the store’s flavored EVOOS, and balsamic vinegars, entertaining, unique, and memorable; furthermore, inspiring me to bring new flavors into my own kitchen—balsamic fig vinegar over green beans and shallots, blackberry vinegar brushed over grilled fruit, smoked olive oil drizzled over black bean salads, quick and zesty romaine salads dressed-up with Meyer lemon olive oil—the tantalizing possibilities are endless!

My original recipe, to follow, is only one of many plates inspired by the medley of specialty EVOOS, and balsamic vinegars, Beyond the Olive has to offer. Once you’ve made your way into the boutique’s convenient tasting bar, the flavors and aromas will have you fancying fun and new dishes of your own, consequently, the only dilemma being pushing aside the ingredients in your pantry to make room for more bottles!  

Zesty Blackberry Spinach Salad (Serves 4)

3 tablespoons EVOO

1½ tablespoons BTO Blackberry balsamic vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

3 slices fresh ginger, finely chopped

1 teaspoon honey

½ teaspoon fresh lemon thyme, finely chopped

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons orange juice

1 (6 ounce) bag baby spinach, rinsed and dried

1 extra-large cucumber

4 medium-size steamed beets

1 large avocado

¼ cup chopped pecans

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the first eight ingredients, mixing in the orange juice last. Set dressing aside.

Chop the spinach, cucumber, beets, and avocado into bite-size pieces.  Place all the ingredients in a large salad bowl, adding the pecans and blackberry dressing.  Toss together gently and serve.

For extra recipe ideas visit BTO on their website beyondtheolive.com!

A Great Mentor

~Sunday, January 12, 2014

The New Year is upon us!—let’s roll up our sleeves and start accomplishing!!! 

My personal mission for 2014 is to motivate others to not only value education in their lives, but to take it one step further: realize the precious gift of being a mentor, and to pass that knowledge on to someone else.  Successful people surround themselves with a never-ending cycle of knowledge.  They are innovators; they search out others who believe in the same vision; they share their attributes; they move forward together—and voilá—success!  You hear the words, “Live and learn,” constantly; however, it takes a few years of living to learn what those words really mean.  My life has been surrounded by mentors, but I didn’t realize it until I lived long enough to have many ‘hmmm’ and ‘ahh’ moments of enlightenment.  That’s the beauty of mentoring—not only sharing what you know, but then reliving those ‘moments’ with others.

A mentor displays confidence and leadership without uttering a word.  You know one when you see one.  Most importantly, you don’t have to hold a high position to be a mentor.  Simply giving your time, and sharing something you’re good at can have a huge impact in someone’s life.  Mentors are usually great storytellers.  My father’s childhood stories about World War II both haunt me, and nourish me: His strength and endurance instill me with unwavering perseverance to live life without fear, or ‘what-if’ excuses.  (Both my sister and I acquired my father’s relentless determination, which has served us well in our lives to follow through with clear visions of what we stand for, and what we want in this world.) 

My career in the beauty and salon industry had mentorship qualities from day one.  It was a world of innovators, artists, teachers, team members, communicators—each one of us sharing an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.  There was no ego involved, only passion, which naturally led to great chemistry in both staff members, and stylists.  Best of all…did the customers like this atmosphere?—absolutely!—who wouldn’t want to be part of this dynamic high?  Later in my career, when I challenged myself as a business owner, I realized I had grown as a stylist, salon owner, and educator through being mentored.  Then, I found myself with the humble honor of sharing something I was good at with others; I set an example of how hard work, and refinement of your skills, can result in lifting your career to a higher level.  Not only did I provide education, I left a part of who I am with a younger generation of stylists to realize their own potential.  Even though I am no longer a salon owner, the heartfelt letters of gratitude from my mentees at my departure made me feel we were members of a winning team for life.

When your stars are lined up just right, you may be fortunate enough to have a great mentor in your life who is also a great friend.  Someone who shares the excitement of your achievements, yet still motivates you to reach a higher plain; and always asks that difficult question: “What’s next?”—that makes you push yourself and take inventory if there’s still room for improvement.  This friend will take you under their wing; nevertheless, is honest and true in their convictions—even if it stings a little!  The bottom line is a friend cares about you, and wholeheartedly wants you to reap the benefits of their knowledge.  This is the difference between simply teaching lessons out of a book, or lessons learned by living.  (My great friend, and great mentor of many years, knows who she is as she reads these words she inspirited within me today.  Life has taken you, my friend, to a further distance from each other in miles, but your wise teachings, and absolute friendship will be with me in every step, around every corner, and with each new goal I set out to accomplish.  The distance has only served to magnify our closeness.)

Coach, counselor, leader, guide—be that person in someone’s life who goes above and beyond the motions of a job; in return, you will realize your greatness—and more importantly, they will realize theirs.  

Holiday Greetings

~Sunday, December 8, 2013

Even though Frosty the Snowman greets you at the entrance, The Bear Essentials Gift Shoppe is anything but frosty!  A warmhearted, “Hello!” meets each customer as they enter this cheerful destination in Arcadia, which reflects the shop’s unique charm and spirit that is almost 19 years in the making.  As owners, Dennis and Susie Pink, graciously welcomed both me and my cookbook You Never Grow Old at the Dinner Table into their pleasing surroundings, I instantly had a, “Gotta blog about this!” moment.

My mom and I had the pleasure of meeting some of Bear Essentials frequent customers as we promoted my cookbook with biscotti tastings this weekend; but we also took advantage of our opportune chance to shop!—the main inspiration for today’s musings.  Basically, my mom and I took turns leaving our post, as we browsed the aisles searching out stocking stuffers (amongst personal items, such as the machine washable Dearfoam slippers, with indoor/outdoor soles, I’m currently sporting–with toasty toes!–lounging around the house).

Sports fans, garden lovers, tea addicts, I Love Lucy enthusiasts, John Wayne junkies, Betty Boop buffs, Baggallini devotees—Bear Essentials has something for everyone.  With grandchildren of their own, the Melissa and Doug nontoxic paint toys have been a trusted favorite for the owners, as well.  It’s also no coincidence this kindly house of gifts carries the largest selection of Willow Tree Angel sculptures west of the Mississippi!  These figurines represent qualities we treasure in friends and family; and artist Susan Lordi captures the elegance and simplicity that brings us closer to others through art, nature, and dance. The angelic display, gracing the shelves, pairs perfectly with the serene ambiance the shop already has to offer.

Therefore, if you’re looking for holiday cheer, an abundance of offerings, and service that satisfies, it’s not too late to treat yourself, and others, to the many delights that await you at The Bear Essentials Gift Shoppe.  Moreover, you can order a personalized gift basket ahead of time—let these long-standing pros of the arts and crafts world make your gift shopping experience a breeze this season.  (Talk about the perfect gift—to yourself!) 

Store Location and Hours:

320 East Huntington Drive

Arcadia, CA 91006

(626) 446-4995

Special holiday hours, beginning Monday, December 9^th: 

 Monday through Sunday:  8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Also enjoy 20% off select holiday items through December 24, 2013!

  

Festive and Friendly

~Monday, June 3, 2013

In recognition of another mother and daughter team, I would like to introduce my readers to Diana Dee’s Stationary & Fine Gifts.  On Saturday June 1, 2013, Jo Schmal and Diana Doi celebrated a grand re-opening at their new location, 2158 Huntington Drive, in beautiful San Marino, California.  This charming gift shop was founded in 1985 (at a previous location just a couple blocks west of the new spot), and has been offering their customers everything from wedding invitation printing services, to stylish Haul Couture, environmentally friendly, insulated totes.  Speaking of stylish, Diana Dee’s also carries a colorful selection of Vera Bradley accessories; and if you stop by this week you can enter your name in a drawing for a chance to win a Vera Bradley luggage bag!  (My name is already in the mix…I was also eyeing one of the Haul Couture totes for the Hollywood Bowl this summer!)

 

Enter to win!!!

The first time I walked into Diana Dee’s I was greeted by the friendly staff, and was immediately made to feel welcome.  Even though the owner, Diana Doi, was most likely frenzied with the thought of the “big move” to their new location, it never showed, and her friendly manner urged me all the more to present my Italian cookbook, You Never Grow Old at the Dinner Table, (a mother and daughter creation as well), in the hope it would soon become a new selection of the stores many personalized gifts.  Well, I’m delighted to share, my cookbook is now available for purchase at Diana Dee’s, and to start our relationship off on the right foot, I baked and delivered fresh “Biscotti” cookies today to contribute my part to the grand opening festivities of the week. 

So I hope you make your way in, have some “Biscotti,” and experience this unique, good old-fashioned shop for yourself.  (And I say ‘old-fashioned’ meant as good old-fashioned service!)  Twenty eight years in business says it all!

Last, but not least, I was ecstatic to discover a store that still carries greeting cards.  Father’s Day, graduations, weddings, and many more occasions are upon us, but fret not, Diana Dee’s has it covered—wrapping paper and all!

A Good Day

~Sunday, April 28, 2013

A good old-fashioned thank you card—what a welcome surprise.  I don’t think many people realize the impact it can make to send a simple thank you card in the mail.  As the recipient of not only one, but three cards recently!—I thought to myself, “Wow, these people actually took time out of their day to handwrite a personal note of appreciation for my business.”  I was already a satisfied customer for a job well done; but now I placed these companies on the highest pedestal possible and let everybody know it—and yes—that’s the idea!:  A satisfied customer means more satisfied customers.

When I first started a business 19 years ago I had the impression that other shops closed down because of lack of customers—wrong!:  The usual culprit was the lack of good business.  I was naive to this fact at the time because I started my career as a young teen at an establishment that practiced client service and satisfaction to the extreme.  (Who knew at 19 years old that it wasn’t the norm?) Another good example—ever hear of a store called Nordstroms? Their unswerving motto: The customer is always right, no questions asked.  

Hence, throughout my career as a hairstylist I have continued to provide good customer service to my clientele (many of whom I've known for twenty-plus years!); and now also follow through in practicing good business in my most recent endeavors in relation to my cookbook, You Never Grow Old at the Dinner Table.  After every book signing event the first thing I do is send a thank you card to the owner or the host of the event location.  When an owner has had a busy day of phone calls, problem solving; and has tried their best to answer every question imaginable thrown their way, how nice is it when they receive an unexpected token of thanks?  This one small act can erase everything else that has gone wrong in their day.  And trust me, they will always remember you and thoroughly enjoy a continued business relationship for years to come.

 You can just smell the toasted almonds!!  Yummm!

Speaking of events and book promoting, if you haven’t had the chance to sample my mom’s biscotti cookies (which has made believers out of people who thought they never liked biscotti), my mom and I will be recruiting more ‘believers’ at my next book signing event on Saturday May 4 at Savor the Flavor, 11 Kersting Court in Sierra Madre from 12:00 to 2:00.  (The nine dozen cookies my mom baked for our most recent event at Vroman’s Bookstore were devoured!!!—and closed the sale to boot!)

One last mention, my cookbook, You Never Grow Old at the Dinner Table, screams Mother’s Day gift—now only a couple weeks away on Sunday May 12!

A Friendly Universe

~Sunday, November 11, 2012

I have always considered myself a lucky person.  At forty-five years old, I’ve spent twenty-seven years of my life learning, practicing, teaching, perfecting, and most importantly, enjoying my profession as a hairstylist.  But it doesn’t stop there.  When many of my client friends voiced their support and interest in my desire to “one day” write a cookbook—consisting of the Italian food I grew up with which my mother prepared for her family every day of the week—I thought to myself, “ Well, thus far life has been kind to me—why stop now?” 

The most amazing part of this new venture to write a book is it began by me simply signing up for a class at my local community college.  Again I say, “I am a lucky person!”  Does everyone out there realize the opportunities waiting for them within their grasp?!  It is believed that Albert Einstein once wrote, “This is a friendly Universe; place an order with the catalogue of the Universe and then it is delivered to you.”  However, I also have never forgotten a famous quote by the great UCLA college basketball coach, John Wooden, “If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”  For me these two ideologies go hand in hand. 

‘A friendly Universe’ can be interpreted literally, or can simply be a state of mind. You can question it as a scientist would, or through the eyes of a philosopher.  Yes, it can be hard to think of our world as friendly when disaster, disease, and suffering fill our lives with despair; however, if you live your entire life in fear and never take a leap of faith you may never live your life!  The main reason I wrote my book was because I wanted to share with the world the love I have for my mother and my family.  It is the reason I have ALWAYS considered myself the luckiest person on earth. My intention in sharing my life experiences with others was to plant a seed that would hopefully grow and spread to others; spread to their children, spread to their grandchildren, and—why not?—spread throughout the Universe.  Anything is possible when you have good intentions, good work ethics, and strong beliefs.

I usually don’t go out of my way to seek happiness in others and in life; instead, happiness has always found me—waiting eagerly to embrace it with every grain of my existence.

With Work, Comes Play

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Work hard and play hard:  My lifelong motto.   

Towards the end of summer, one of my clients was remodeling her home and made the decision to order the tile needed for her project (that would be coming from Italy) in the beginning of August.   She sat in my chair, still in disbelief over what she encountered during the process, “They’re closed the month of August for vacation!” she proclaimed.  I chuckled a bit to myself and replied, “I should have warned you, that’s not uncommon in Italy.” 

Living in L. A., I can’t exactly take a month off, but I always make time for vacation.  This very moment I’m sipping a glass of wine and admiring the sun setting over the Santa Barbara harbor—simply sublime!   My view in the opposite direction is the birds circling the pier, palm trees swaying with the ocean breeze, and the hillsides of Montecito in the distance serving as a perfect backdrop.  At the start of my vacation last week, I experienced the tranquility of a boat ride along the shoreline of Lake Mead—exploring the bays and finding that perfect spot to turn off the engine of the boat to fully absorb the stillness of the water and the cliffs of red rocks surrounding me.  The simple beauty of nature was exactly what my mind, body, and soul were reaching out for after a year of hard work.

Taking a much needed vacation is like training for a marathon: The days of rest, between the scheduled long training runs, are equally as important in maintaining an injury-free body come race day.  This parallel is also my constant reminder not to make every-day of my life feel like a race!  Do your work and do it well; however take the time to admire your achievements and let the wondrous powers of nature breathe new life into another new adventure waiting within to be awoken.

A Good Start

~Saturday, August 04, 2012

To all the business owners out there, I am ringing my hand bell in the piazza, “ HEAR YE, HEAR YE,  the more education you provide your employees on professionalism and business etiquette, the more professional they will be (and act!), and become a huge asset to your company.”

I was fortunate enough to start my career in a hair salon that provided an apprenticeship program.  This program included education on hair styling, as well as business classes.  I attribute much of my confidence in taking on new ventures, and building a successful business, on the training and discipline I received as an apprentice:  It was an invaluable start to my career. The owner of the salon provided a means of education in his establishment (unique and visionary), producing a staff that raised their bar high, resulting in many satisfied clients. 

I was taught to see myself as a professional from day one, and never looked back.  By the time I finished my apprenticeship program I felt confident, highly skilled, and “ready for action.”  (I have to confess, I took a three month break in Italy—but I’ll tell that tale elsewhere.)  One of the biggest lessons learned in my personal outlook is the impact it had on my business. Because I felt confident, clients had confidence in me.  Positive energy is contagious, and can only attract more of the same.  There is a lot of laughter and fun working in a hair salon, which always makes for a great environment, but I never let myself forget it is my business, and to be a professional.