We just can't get enough and these look SO very yummy.
Coconut, Tumeric, Ginger, Berries? Doesn't get better than this.
This one is a little more involved... but ROSE COCONUT TURMERIC LASSI? Yes, puhleeeezz.
picture courtesy of mindbodygreen
See more recipes here!
Whitney is a long time Swan with a healthy practice both in and out of the studio. You've witnessed her work in hair color on the noggins of both Julia and Eleanor, among other Swans. She is a master with wild colors and has sent Eleanor through the rainbow (remember ?!). While being fantastic at crazy colors, she is super talented at sexy, natural color that is easy to upkeep and is very personalized (think Julia's beautiful surfy locks). We relate to how she approaches her clients. When you see Whitney for color she listens, ---really listens--- and then makes you look and feel amazing! Plus, Whitney has the most fun, chill vibe. We think you will love her :).
Lucky Swans, Whitney is making herself available to you house-call style. Got a few friends who need their color done? Have a hair party! Gather, relax and be comfortable in your own space.
Have questions? Just ask Whitney (WhitneyBlaineScott@gmail.com). We asked her a few Q and As of our own! Read on below!
First a snippet about Whitney's hair back ground:
Whitney's passion is creating beautiful, maintainable color, connecting with people, and cultivating a healthy self image for everyone she works with.
Her specialty is balayage, and natural looking color. Her background includes working at salons (formerly ION Studio, Woodley&Bunny, Suite Caroline, and currently Cutler), editorial work, and office and house calls for clients.
What are your three favorite things about coloring hair?
It can change the way people feel about themselves. its a craft that has been around for a very long time, and is still evolving. Its fun and mobile, so I can go anywhere and do it.
How has practicing Pilates changed your relationship to movement and your body?
Oh man, its been a tremendous help with paying attention to my alignment. I have been able to recover from minor injuries much quicker because of this, and have more confidence to train harder.
What's your favorite moment of the day?
Relaxing at the end of it!
One key to staying positive?
Stay active in challenging yourself everyday. I think rising to a challenge, no matter how big or small, and meeting that, raises confidence in what you can do if you choose to accept it.
Top three reads?
Usually something funny, something mindless, and articles.
Many people pamper themselves by getting their hair done. How do you pamper yourself?
Fitness classes are my biggest treat. That, and good food!
Is there anything else you want to share with the Swan community?
I'll be taking health coaching clients starting in October.
Ready to book? Contact her at WhitneyBlaineScott@gmail.com! Tell her a Swan sent you. ;)
Looking for a weekend getaway that won't drain your bank account but will rejuvenate your mind and spirit? Might we suggest a winter trip to Montauk. The ocean in winter is soothing, mysterious, and vast. Everything that the city in winter isn't.
Getting there.
Located on the eastern tip of Long Island, Montauk is just a hop, skip and a jump from the city on the LIRR! The trip is a little over 3 hours. The perfect amount of time to ease into non-city mode and do a little reading (or napping) on the way. A one-way ticket will run you between $20 and $30 depending on the time of day you travel.
Upon arrival
The LIRR will drop you off a little over a mile from the center of town. There are usually a few cab drivers waiting for passengers who need a lift into town. Don't forget to get your cab drivers card or phone number so you can call them when you need a ride back to the train station at the end of your trip. In city walking terms, 1 mile is practically nothing, but in the winter in Montauk, with your bags and the very cold breeze coming off the pond, walking is just not how you want to start off your mini vacation.
Royal Atlantic as viewed from the beach!
Pick a Place. Settle in.
Where you decide to shack-up while on your weekend jaunt greatly depends on the kind of vacation you want to have. In the summer, your hotel is a place to put your stuff and rest your head. In the winter, you can count on spending a bit more time indoors. My personal favorite winter hide away is the Royal Atlantic Beach Resort. The rooms are clean and spacious with comfortable beds and good heat. The absolute best part- $100 a night gets you a room directly on the beach. You can smell, hear and see the ocean all day!
Other options include the Oceanside Beach Resort (a bit farther from the center of town and not on the beach, but very close), Born Free Suites (kitchens in every room), and the Montauk Manor (for your upscale getaway needs: indoor pool, day spa and more).
Go explore
While just being able to walk on the beach, see the stars and read a book to the sound of the ocean (instead of the sound of traffic) is enough activity for me, there are plenty of other things to do on your weekend getaway. Bundle up for many a long walk on the beach. With months of light winter foot traffic, you can find some pretty stellar shells and other ocean treasures washed up during low tide. Or take a longer jaunt to the Montauk Point Lighthouse.
My most favorite thing to do on vacation is eat and luckily there are quite a few delicious options open all year around in the village of Montauk. Stop by O'Murphy's Pub for delicious bar food, good beer and great scenery. Anthony's Pancake and Waffle House is a Montauk staple perfect for a casual breakfast. For something a bit more classy, check out Harvest on Fort Pond. Shagwong is another Montauk institution know for delicious food! Hoping for a casual night, watching tv and snuggling to the sound of the waves? Grab a pizza at Pizza Village. All of these places are in walking distance of most local hotels!
Grab a drink before heading home!
Depending on the time of year, stop by the Montauk Brewing Co. tasting room on your way out of town. Open in early spring of every year, go taste a few local brews and take home a pint glass or two as a souvenir.
We LOVE our SWAN sign in Brooklyn! When we were beginning to move into our Brooklyn space, one of the first things we wanted to get was a great sign you could see from the street! We went to a bunch of stores around the city, dug through the internet, and then we found Metal and Lights on Etsy! Artist Chris Freeman, the owner of Metal and Lights, is based out of Alabama (yeah, we love the south too). He makes custom metal and light fixtures at a completely reasonable price.
We love how our Swan sign turned out. Take a stroll down Atlantic Ave and see for yourself! He was wonderful to work with and we recommend him to anyone!
Image courtesy of Metal and Lights
Image courtesy of Metal and Lights
Some really good friends of The Swan are having a baby ANY DAY NOW. So for their baby shower a couple weeks ago, I embarked on a very involved adventure in crepe cake making. It was a three day long process involving two dozen eggs, pounds of butter and more milk than I have seen ever go into a bowl. I based the recipe on this one.
I made dulce de leche pastry cream the first night. Have you ever done that? EEK. You basically make a really fancy vanilla not-quite-scrambled eggs concoction with cornstarch and then painstakingly put it through a very fine sieve.
The second night was relatively easy. I browned some butter and made crepe batter.
Day three I woke up sweating at 7am (on a Saturday) because I needed to make 40 crepes, cool them, layer them and assemble the whole shebang. I was a nervous wreck and may-or-may-not have yelled at my husband a few times. I brûléed the top and dusted the cakes with shimmering pink dust I found at NY Cake.
Results: AMAZING
Um. This might be the most delicious sounding healthy comfort food recipe we've seen in a while. Place one of these babies on top of a bed of garlicky kale? I'm out the door, running to the farmers market and I'll see ya later, skater.
We have sent many of you who travel to Charleston, SC to dine in a restaurant where Geoff Rhyne is the chef—be it FIG, The Ordinary or now Leon's. His food is thoughtful, creative and keep-eating-even-though-you-are-full delicious! Geoff just launched Red Clay Southern Style Hot Sauce! We decided to pick his brain about his inspirations as a southern chef and his spectacular new business venture with Red Clay. So get to know our talented, thoughtful and passionate friend. Then buy yourself a bottle (or ten) of Red Clay. Share it with your friends, put it on everything, and enjoy!
For you, what is the most satisfying part of being a chef?
Without question, the most satisfying part of being a chef is the relationships developed with the purveyors. I’ve always felt a connection with the land and ocean, and thus, I have a profound respect for those that are the caretakers of these areas. The ones I seek out understand the cyclical nature of each relationship while also producing incredible ingredients.
What made you take the leap to producing your own hot sauce?
When I opened The Ordinary as the Chef de Cuisine, I built a pantry of ingredients that would complement simply prepared seafood dishes. Originally, I was making 5 different hot sauces with different flavor profiles. The one that would eventually become Red Clay Hot Sauce was the Fresno chili based sauce that literally had customers of the restaurant stealing it off the tables at an alarming rate. Imagine going into a fine dining restaurant and stealing something—takes some serious fortitude and something that must provoke the thought “who cares if I get caught, I have to have this!” Eventually, a guest of the restaurant made the move to ask for my information. An entrepreneur himself, we began meeting over breakfast (with Red Clay on it of course), and the rest is rooted in history!
Your ingredients are specifically sourced- why?
For every Chef worth their weight in salt, it all starts with quality ingredients. As mentioned above, it is important for me to know who is behind the ingredient so I can be comfortable that they are stewards of the land. Currently, I’m working with a local farmer, Lowcountry Street Grocery, to utilize the seeds from my 1st processing for future plantings.
Separately, I’ve never understood the use of distilled vinegar in sauces. It’s a solid cleaning agent, and it can be used in some applications where it is flavored by spices (i.e. turmeric with Bread and Butter pickles). At the end of the day, a product is the sum of its parts, so I feel it necessary to source out the best ingredients possible.
What makes Red Clay southern?
Red Clay Hot Sauce is Southern in so many ways. The name itself refers to the red clay that covers the land of south Georgia. Specifically, it harkens back to the times that I spent in and around Ellaville, Georgia, but all the folks from that area identify with it—perfect example, the country duo Florida-Georgia Line currently has a #1 hit titled “Dirt” about this very red clay. It’s a part of the cultural fabric.
It’s also Southern in its ingredients. The South’s cuisine is really the only identifiable cuisine in our country, and two mainstays are hot sauce and bourbon. With the peppers being fermented in bourbon barrels, the sauce is a harmonious combination of southern flavors, thus “The Taste of the South.”
Last, it is produced with an eye towards tradition. As Southerners, we are tied to our past and have an appreciation for values that bind us to it. Working with our hands and a connection to the farmland are both staples of our region, and Red Cay Hot Sauce is produced the same way.
As a hot sauce expert and chef what is your favorite food to eat with hot sauce on it?
I literally use this as my seasoning along with salt. It’s a well-balanced heat, so I pour it on eggs and hashbrowns, grits, sandwiches, tacos, fried food, pizza, wings, and seafood. Literally, most everything but dessert!
If your hot sauce had a theme song what would it be?
Probably the aforementioned “Dirt.” Those guys nailed it. When I hear it, I think about growing up and traveling all around south Georgia. From the Flint River to my great grandparent’s 1300 acre farm, I can see the landscapes in my mind. From this, Red Clay Hot Sauce was born, so it’s a natural fit.
Where do you go for food inspiration?
To the source. I love walking the rows in a field or wading through the marsh of tidal creek. What grows together goes together, and for me, being in the elements is the best way to achieve mental clarity and creative inspiration.
Top five place to eat in NYC and Charleston? And when can we expect Red Clay on tables in NY?
NYC (and around):
Blue Hill at Stone Barns: I did a week long stagiere out there and loved it. Here, Dan Barber’s vision and intelligence is tangible. The meal was wonderful, and the place as a whole is inspirational.
Peasant: I loved the honest cooking of this place.
Soto: The technical precision of the man himself left me in awe.
Charleston:
Tomato Shed Café: The storefront outlet of a local farm, it’s the perfect place to wind down for a meal.
Leon’s: Incredible fried chicken brings them in and the vegetable and salad offerings keep folks coming back.
FIG/The Ordinary: As far as high end dining is concerned, these two places are the best in town.
Wild Olive: Solid, consistently delicious tucked away on John’s Island. A favorite amongst industry folks.
Bowens Island/Fish Net Café: The new Bowens is built upon the old cinder block foundation that survived the fire and is a bit flashier, but the views are breathtaking and the oysters are coming out of those very waters. The Fish Net is in an old gas station and is no frills—get the Jesus Crab!
Hopefully Red Clay Hot Sauce will be in NYC soon! If you have any specialty food stores or restaurants in mind, send your suggestions my way!
Living in this crazy, wonderful, non-stop city can take it's toll on body, mind and spirit. You might have used all of your vacation days already this summer, but luckily, NYC is ideally situated for a plethora of day trips and weekend-long jaunts.
Our client, friend and fellow adventurer, Kelly, often sends us information on hiking expeditions that are perfect for a day trip. This post on guestofaguest.com has eight great options to help you get into the woods. With information about trail difficulty, distance from the city and what you can look forward to on the trail, planning an out-of-city adventure has never been easier!
View from Breakneck Ridge at Hudson Highlands State Park
C.L.U.E. (color location ultimate experience), 2007 with photography by A.L. Steiner, Alex Escalante and Kevin Dohn
robbinschilds' for your dance education dose! Sonya Robbins and Layla Childs have been making work together as friends and collaborators since 2003. Their work combines not only movement and dance, but a beautiful and powerful investigation of how movement can inhabit visual art and video. They travel all over the world collaborating with artists to make site specific video and photography pieces that contain vibrant color, texture and sound, as well as their own fascinating and transformative selves. These works often make their way onto the stage to accompany live performance or into galleries to be shown as stand-alone visual art. Their work is magical, powerful, subtle and incredibly beautifully. Keep your eyes peeled for must see performances and showings by these two lovely ladies. Both Layla and Sonya are mothers who live in Brooklyn!
This is a video still from I came here on my own, 2012
C.L.U.E. 2007
Ever-inspiring Ryan Heffington choreographed Sia's most recent video Chandelier and WON the VMA for best choreography! Ryan not only performs and choreographs his own work, he also owns and runs a dance studio called the Sweat Spot. If you are ever in LA, go to Silverlake and take SWEATY SUNDAYS CLASS! (you will be SO happy we sent you his way!)
Fall and winter are coming and you may be in the market for a new pair of boots. Here are a few options that you might want to try. Boots can be great because they provide a lot of stability for your ankles and mid foot. I would suggest not getting a boot that allows your foot to swim around inside. I always check to make sure the metatarsal break is sturdy (because I know it will break in more with time) and that I can fit an orthotic or gel insert inside as well as a thick pair of socks. There's nothing worse than dropping money on boots at the end of the summer that end up being to small when the cold weather rolls around! Below are my personal opinions and preferences based upon my foot type!
frye: I love Frye boots and I have found that the lace up ones give great support. They have SO many styles, making it easy to find one appropriate for your specific foot. The leather and the construction of these shoes is great. For those with foot injuries or pain, you may need to go a size up and either put in your orthotic (I like super feet for most anything as they are easy to find and come in varying degrees of stability) or a Spenco for extra cushion. pro: tons of styles! last forever, versatile con: not a lot of cushion, can be $$$
doc marten: This has been a standby of mine for years. They go in and out of style but are luckily in style right now. Once you break these babies in they are the most comfortable shoes! They have "bouncing soles" that are full of air that contour to your feet. The varying lace-up height gives you great support. pro: comfortable, versatile, good for standing all day con: big and bulky, takes time to break them in
blundstone: These are a great alternative stylistically to a Doc Marten if Docs are not your thing but you still want a sturdy, functional work boot. You can easily fit an orthotic inside. pro: comfortable, sturdy, lasts a long time con: not the best ankle/heel support, takes time to break in
acne (pistol): These have been the fashion day/night transition boot of the past few years. I love these shoes. I can't wear them sadly because they have a heel. Acne makes lovely shoes with great leather and they actually give good support. Try one of their flatter models if you want to be better to your feet. pro: beautiful and timeless con: $$$, its a heel so I shouldn't be reviewing it...
merrell: These hiking boots have been recommended to me while recovering from foot surgery. I haven't found a pair that had the stability through the metatarsal break that I need so I never purchased a pair. Some people swear by these shoes so they may be worth a try. pro: weather resistant and good for active people con: you may not like the style
More foot explorations here!