Best Kept Secret to Being A Dinner Superstar...

Whole Foods Boca Raton

Since I started working with my health coach (Amanda Dobler), I’ve been doing a lot more cooking. Pre-Amanda, I thought that every meal needed to be the best meal of my life & I was going out to eat a lot. Post Amanda, I’m lighter, I have the structure of my plate down to a science with a few go to meals, and I try to make things taste great with as few ingredients as possible. My waist is happy, my wallet is happy, and I’m happy!

I strive for easy clean up - ideally 1 pan, because I already have to cook you guys! So what’s the secret to saving time and making it easy. My go-to secret is to peruse the pre-packaged meat section of Whole Foods for the seasoned items. This is not the hot bar, it’s the section next to where they keep the meats. They usually have pre-seasoned steak, chicken, meatballs, burgers, etc. You don’t need to talk to a soul, just grab what ya need and get going. Yes you still need to cook it, but reheated meats really creep me out.

This week I looked like a champion whipping up gourmet meals with little to no effort & no more than 1 pan! Ok, ok… I’ll tell you what I made.

Easy Breezy Dinner: Lemon Herbed Chicken Over Rice

Ingredients:

• Pre-Packaged Lemon Herbed Chicken (Whole Foods)

• White Rice

• Chicken Broth (1/2 cup?)

Instructions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350. Grab an oven safe casserole dish (small to medium, I like this one). Put rice in the dish. Pour in chicken broth. Cut open the Chicken. Put it in the dish. Cook for roughly 40 mins. Take it out & eat it! That’s it. You’re done. If you want to get fancy make a side salad.

Give it a whirl & let me know what you think!

Palm Beach County Short List: Skin & Hair

Beauty: Skin & Hair

The people to see & places to go for your hair & skin needs in Boca Raton and beyond!

When I first moved from New York, I would say the toughest thing was figuring out who to go to for haircuts, facials & nails. While it might sound trivial, the search for a new team after working with some incredible people was exhausting. I’m talking botched haircuts, driving to Miami for coloring, a chemical peel that left a divot in my face…

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, because through a lot of Instagram & Google Reviews followed by trial & error after two years I finally found the best IMO. Here’s the quick cheatsheet if you are living in South Palm Beach County & don’t want to spend a fortune.

Skin:

• The Best Facial (location: Boca Raton)

  Boca Skin Company - Jordan Weiss: For a medical grade facial there is only one option Boca Skin Company. When I went to see Jordan for the first time, my skin was dry and dull. Now it’s glassy and super clear. I get the hydra-facial which they are not all created equal. She really gets in there & you leave a different person. They also offer more advanced services like Morphus8 and Microneedling. (Instagram: @skinbyjordan__ @bocaskincompany)

Hair:

• The Best for Hair Color (location: Boca Raton & Delray Beach)

  Peter’s Place - Color with Stella: If you need a gloss that is the perfect shade & easy, you’ll want to see Stella. In the Florida sun & with the harsh water, my hair turns a brassy orange which no one wants. All I can say is she gets it. Quickly chooses the right color & the gloss will last roughly 3-5 weeks. Bonus is she usually has appointments available same day since it is such an easy service.

  (cost: $ $50-$60 for a gloss)

  Shear Luck - Luxury Bronde with Nick: Nick is an incredible hair color artist who is so talented. He’s as entertaining as he good at finding the right way to get the color to reflect the light. Nick specializes in brunettes, but he does people of all shades. If you want a luxury, hair color - he’s your guy. This is higher maintenance, but does look incredible! He can also cut your hair & because he’s an artist who understands movement - these are great too. Instagram: @nickyshothair

  (cost: $$$ 400+ for a bronde)

• The Best for Hair Cuts: (location: Boca Raton)

  Peter’s Place - Elias: Relocated from Beverly Hills Elias is a hidden gem at Peter’s Place. He assessed my hair, advised on the right cut and I was on my way within an hour. He was no-nonsense and my blowout lasted for literally 5 days.

  (Cost: $$ under $150)

Hope this list becomes a time saver!

Life In East Boca: Where to Have... a casual Coffee, Brunch, Lunch

After a 10 year hiatus, I relocated from Gramercy Park to Boca Raton. I must say there are very few things I miss about New York, but cute coffee shops and weekend brunch definitely make it to the top of my miss list. After much trial and error over the course of two years, I’ve finally found my list of casual dining spots. In the hopes of saving another transplant or even local a few minutes, here’s my coffee, brunch, lunch hit list in Boca Raton that give off New York City or LA Vibes.

1. Long Story Short Coffee: East Boca (Palmetto)

   Yes you should totally support your local coffee dealer. This casual coffee spot reminds me of being in the East Village. Painted a Boca Raton shade of pink, with small plates & smoothies, it’s great place to check out.

   Highly recommend walking there if you live in East boca because the parking lot is packed in the morning. This is more of a weekend treat, than an every day fix. It is over $6 for a latte, but it' is still super cute and worth a visit.

2. Kixi Cafe: East Boca (Palmetto)

   This tiny restaurant is perfect for a weekend brunch. Sit inside at one of their cozy tables or outside in their garden. What’s great about their menu is that they cover off on the brunch essentials like an avocado toast, smoked salmon & eggs bennie, but seem to add their own flair to every item. For instance, my Dirty Chai had the Kixi logo sprinkled on the foam & my Salmon Platter was beautifully presented on a wooden log cheese platter. For those of you from New York, I was getting some serious Ruby’s vibes from this place. Highly recommend.

3. Tin Muffin Cafe: East Boca (Palmetto)

   I am certainly not the first person to write about the Tin Muffin, nor is this cafe under the radar in my view, but it is on my must see list because it’s just really freaking good. It is not convenient at all (no parking, no credit cards, hours are 11-4p) but it is certainly worth a visit. My go to order: herbal tea, chicken salad sandwich & if they have it zucchini bread with cream cheese (frosting?).

4. Living Green Cafe: East Boca (Glades)

   Some might think this place is also no secret, but it was very new to me & giving all the LA Erewhon vibes. While there are no celeb sightings to be seen, you could get that celeb bod. The food, as you would expect from the name, is pretty healthy. Order from the hot bar, get one of their toasted hot sandwich panini wraps, stop by for a desert - whatever you decide make sure you read the labels on the drinks (Last week I accidentally drank a CBD lemonade & I’ve never been so chill.) There is a location in East Boca and a larger location down in Pompano. Boca is purely a cafe where Pompano also has a healthy market attached.

5. Sadelle’s: East Boca (Camino Real - The Boca Raton)

   Major food group has come to Boca in a major way. Last year they announced a partnership with The Boca Raton, a gorgeous and historic property in East Boca. Sprawling with gardens, Spanish Architecture and set on Lake Boca the hotel is pretty swanky & does give off an old world glamour and charm. Sadelle’s (yes, it’s that one!) has a massive restaurant in the middle of the hotel. You must be a member or a guest of the hotel to visit, but dang they have the best bagels with lox and schmear. YUM!

Have you tried any of these places yet?