Kick-starting that Autumn vibe - Part I

Today I woke up to rain, wind and cold. It's hard to believe that a couple of days ago it was warm enough for a night swim in the pool...! This summer was amazingly warm here in Portugal and a bit of coldness is very welcomed. 

It has been a while since I shared a recipe so in the next couple of days I'll share two with one main ingredient: a butternut squash.

So, start by cutting a butternut squash - the one I got had approximately 1kg - in quarters. Put it in a roasting tin and bake with no seasoning or fat in a pre-heated oven at 200ºC for 40 minutes or until soft. Let it cool to room temperature and set aside to use in the recipes. You can make this in advance and keep it in the fridge.

Butternut squash smoothie bowl (serves 1)

1/4 butternut squash, roasted
1 frozen banana
1 cup of freshly brewed tea (I used green jasmin)
1 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tsp of honey
1 tsp pumpkin spice (if you don't have it use a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
A pinch of salt

Blend all ingredients until smooth and pour it in a bowl. Serve with your favourite granola.

A few words about my favourite granola at the moment. It's a raw buckwheat granola that I learned to make with the guys at Matthew Kenney Culinary. It's made out of sprouted and dehydrated buckwheat, sweetened with date paste and seasoned with wonderful autumn flavours, like cinnamon, lemon and apple. It's not only delicious but also ver, very filling!

Raw cuisine adventure

After an excellent experience with Matthew Kenney Culinary in Venice, Los Angeles, last March, I decided to embark on a longer challenge and enrolled for their online Fundamentals of Raw Cuisine - Level 1. 

To be completely honest I wasn't expecting the course to be as challenging as it was! Raw food cuisine requires a tremendous amount of planning, preparation and patience.

This course covers the basics that any chef (raw, vegan or not) should know, starting with knife skills and care, to nutrition concepts, flavour balancing, recipe development and plating guidelines. It's obviously a hands on experience with just the right amount of theory and creativity. 

During one month, dedicated instructores give each student precious feedback, encouragement and freedom to acknowledge, experiment and create beautiful recipes and presenting them in the most beautiful, harmonious way. 

I'll leave you with some of those creations and a link to their website: https://matthewkenneycuisine.com

Maybe you get inspired as well and help us Craft the Future of Food!

Mexico: Sayulita

It was the beginning of September 2013, when this cover of Foam Symmetry magazine came out. I was completely fascinated and wanted to know who was that girl, and obviously where had she gotten that super cute swimming suit. Soon I found out that Lola, the girl, was from Sayulita, and that this small sleepy village on the west coast of Mexico, was a really cool surfing spot. I also found out that everything that Seea does is absolutely gorgeous.

Fast forward two and a half years, and here I am, for ten days of sun, warmth, surf and tacos! And my trip couldn't have started better. I was still on the plane and already making friends. Tawny, a sweet, friendly, soft spoken lady from Venice, California, was the best company I could have asked for, and her Mexican friend Paola, is one of the most easy going, funny and energetic persons to be around!

I stayed at the colourful Aurinko Bungalows, just a few steps from the beach. The bungalow had a small kitchen, dining and lounging area, with a hammock where I frequently napped. I signed in for surf classes with Lunazul and had the most patient instructor I've ever had, Carlos.

The days were so easy going. I would wake up and get a green juice from the lady with the juice cart next to cafe El Espresso, and headed straight to the beach to have a look at the sea. Chat with Carlos, or any other Lunazul instructor - they're all very friendly - about the best time to have the class. Sayulita is really small and everyone goes more or less to the same places, so it's not hard to find people spontaneously. I'd often bump into Tawny or Paola and had breakfast with them. Sayulita has a great organic food store where I would get my kombucha bottle refilled by mid morning (I was obviously hooked after the fermentation course). And speaking of food, is there a better thing to eat after a surfing session than a big, fat veggie burrito? I had quite a few at Burrito Revolution, and many tacos at Mary's and Barracuda. I also had a scrumptious shrimp burger at Alas Blancas, which also serves the biggest margaritas I've ever seen! I had one by the way. Afternoons were spent napping and swimming in the pool, to get away from the crowded main beach (it was Semana Santa, after all).

Sayulita is also a great place to shop for clothes, accessories and beautiful Huichol handicrafts. I was completely marvelled by one store in particular, Evoke The Spirit, and its gorgeous cow skulls, rugs and jewellery. Also worth a visit is Pachamama Sayulita, a family owned boutique, particularly known for their back pearl necklaces, and of course, my friend's Paola one, Ula Boutique.

The City of Angels

The first time I went to Los Angeles I only stayed for an afternoon. I visited The Getty Center and that was it. I then drove south to Newport and east to Joshua Tree Park, continuing my road trip in California before heading north to the State of Oregon. That was in 2014 during my around the world trip.

I knew I had to return to this vibrant city and explore it a bit more.  So, this time I went for four days: two days to attend the Essentials of Fermentation at Matthew Kenney Culinary (MKC), and two more to wander around. 

I stayed in airbnb in Santa Monica, and because MKC is in Abbot Kinney Blv, I mainly wandered between Santa Monica and Venice. Some of my friends gave me great tips around this area and I made it to almost all of them! I went to Cafe Gratitude, shopped at Moon Juice, went for an ice cream at Kippy's and for a quick snack at Gjelina. I was so lucky that my dear friend Tammy came to meet me for brunch at The Butcher's Daughter, and also had time to stroll around Abbot Kinney's eclectic stores and go to the Venice Canals. The Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Walk of Fame were my ventures on the last day. 

I know that there's still a lot to be explored in Los Angeles, so I guess I'll just have to come back!