grapes, wonderful grapes!

There is a wonderful vintage grape arbor out back, and the gleaming globes ripen this time of year, if the racoons don't get them, that is. They sometimes hoist themselves out on the arbor in the middle of the night and I leap out with a flashlight and wave them away to protect the fragile moss and lichen covered wood. They ripen around the time of my sister Taylor's birthday, which is today, so I had a big bowl for breakfast in your honor, sis! xox

Summer is a great time for a mono-meal breakfast. Just one fruit per meal. Melon is great for this, with a squeeze of lime, or a tumble of berries in a bowl. In this case, grapes, eating each one, out in the morning sun, under the vine, with appreciation, is a great meditation. I left behind only a pile of stems, like the racoons.

what to eat!

I love this topic! With over three decades of food activism, food education and gourmet cheffing under my belt (if I wore belts, that is) - I'm a passionate chef and lover of healthy food.

What is healthy food these days? A controversial subject. You can find advocates for every point on the compass these days. How to find your own path? I'll show you the key distinctions that can help you awaken your own food intuition.

I've learned from great teachers along the way, from Aveline and Michio Kushi and others in the early years of macrobiotics in the US, to new cuisine leaders in today's trends. I see the arising and emerging trends that we can benefit from...

What do we know for sure is here to stay?
* fresh farmers market foods - locally grown, sustainable and seasonal foods are thriving
* the return of food artisans - small scale, handmade speciality items are prized again
* homegrown and homemade - always the best, backyard gardens and edibles are on the rise
* super food nutrients - this arena has great new discoveries that deserve a place in our lives to help us thrive
* fresh fruits and vegetables - are being recognized for their whole, intrinsic qualities (skins too!)
* plant based diets and nutrients - are being more esteemed for their health protective qualities (real men eat plants too!)
* healthful diet and lifestyle - are proven sources for disease solution and prevention
* environmental awareness is essential now - to avoid harmful pesticides, chemical additives and the unknown chemical cocktails they produce in our bio-systems and bodies

What will I bring to you? The best of the best. Trends, tastes, inspired, intuitive cheffing - I'll show you how to use healthy foods in elegantly simple, delicious, streamlined ways.

Let's go!

Oh, and what does the beautiful orchid below have to do with food? One, it smells heavenly this time of year like vanilla perfume wafting through the summer air...

And, we eat with all our senses! This is one of the secrets of masterful, healthful eating. Enjoy this delicious, sensational Stanhopia!