The sweet truth about your sweet tooth, according to Kelly Keough.

The whole problem with diets is that people often don't sustain them because cravings are so strong. Kelly Keough understands this. She now teaches classes and writes books on the subject. "I know what it's like to be obsessed with sugar, so what I do is I have people make what they crave, but prepare it alternatively. So they don't feel like they're going without, like they're being punished." I, being curious about foods and having a lifelong sweet tooth myself, (which I've been trying to cure for ages,) had to check out one of Kelly's classes. It made me think a lot about how we just accept common food falacies as truths, not trying hard enough to correct our diets.
So if you ate too much over thanksgiving, you might want to pause and think about what you've been putting into your body. Have you been fueling up on lots of greasy meat and dairy? Are your arteries feeling clogged and your nasal passages stuffed up? I recommend hanging out with Kelly a bit. When I told a friend of mine I was going to a 'raw cooking class,' he uttered, 'isn't that an oxymoron?' I guess I should call it a raw preparation class instead. Thing I like about Kelly, is it feels very balanced. Her regiment is not 100% raw, but it's very healthy. The point is, the food that she makes is scrumptious and yet you don't feel bloated after eating it. And it's not like you're being deprived. Her peanut butter cups are better than any sweets you can buy at the grocery market. They're prepared with Stevia and agave for sweeteners, while boasting carob and cacao to take care of our chocolate cravings. With coconut oil poured in along with vanilla, and organic chunky peanut butter, these little sweet treats pack a satisfying punch and are able to be stored in the freezer for long periods of time. I thought they tasted rich and wonderful, and if I had a steady supply of these I'd never shop for candy bars again in my life. It's been a few years since Kelly has, and I can see why.
Kelly is more than a chef. After explaining how she uses less agave than most vegan chefs, rounding it out with stevia and erithrytol so that there's less fructose, she asks us how we feel after tasting her treats. " How does your blood sugar level feel? How does your body feel? Do you feel like you've eaten anything bad?' One student excitedly responds, "My brain feels stimulated!"
When I asked her how she got into raw/ vegan preparation, she responded, "my angels told me to do it." I'm definitely am not one to shy away from spiritual phenomena , so I became even more intrigued. It turns out that she was brought up in a catering family in Western New York, and was used to preparing foods for thousands of people over the years, even working in the family business in her late teens. That brought her into working in craft services for film and television, and then being a studio teacher on the set of the Academy Award winning motion picture 'Cider House Rules,' which she described as a magical experience. She soon decided to go to graduate school, choosing to study film at AFI. The stresses of it combined with poor diet choices caused her to begin losing her hair. When she consulted famed naturopath Rhonda Lenair in the early nineties for sugar addiction, she was given a list of what she could and couldn't eat, and "I really got to know the list of what I could eat."
"What were the hardest foods to give up? I asked.
"Sugar! and Chocolate of course. So carob was my new best friend. But I didn't find that out until later." She gave us all a wealth of information about alternative sweeteners, a few of which I had not heard of before, like Erythritol, and ZSweet. I also didn't know that cinnamon is considered a 'heart spice,' increases metabolism, and is great for people who suffer diabetes. The whole purpose of her deserts is that there is no no boost in adrenals, or caffeine, which she considers a very important factor. And yet they taste out of this world.
Sweets aren't her only specialty however. Her class was basically woven between the preparation of 2 recipes, the peanut butter cups, and also a Mermaid Salad, which is a filling delicacy complete with sea vegetables, quinoa, spices, and avocado. She stressed the importance of eating Arame every day with soups and salads, especially for women. The Iodine, the B vitamins, the fact that it's a blood builder, filled with calcium, and considered a superfood convinced us all of it's healthfulness. She told us about how quinoa is used in Peru, how chickens and people alike grow strong and rugged due to the strong concentration of amino acids and proteins in it, and how popular it is finally becoming here in the United States.
The path to good health was not always easy for Kelly. As we were chowing down on her great food, she told us about a phone consultation she was having with her naturopath. At that point, she decided that 'not one more grain of sugar would pass my lips.' and she lived up to that. Friends began asking her if she got botox, if she'd had a facelift. She began to study foods at Erewhon grocery, learning from hard core vegans and raw foodists. She soon became a cooking consultant there. "Because I'm a self healer, I wanted to show other people that they could self heal too."
Soon, with a combination of her new diet and Chinese herbs, she found her hair growing in better than ever before, but, equally important, she didn't have to fight off the cravings as she did before. "I never thought I would be released from the prison of being obsessed with food and being worried about that." She's on a new mission now, to "encourage people to get back into their kitchen."
So check out her website, www.kellykeough.com. She has a wealth of information online, and also a television show, '"The Sweet Truth," which is on Veria, Dish/ Verizon. A cookbook, which shares the same name as her show, is also available on her website. If there are more people like Kelly out there that realize that healing begins with what you eat, maybe there's a chance to change the state of nutrition that many of us find ourselves in today, while still keeping up with the cravings of our sweet tooth, which is something that cannot be denied.

Bumper

Sticker idea:


Support the troops- get them adequate healthcare.

Funny new term.

When somebody is full of venom, tell them to "quit drinking the haterade."

Raw Drink Featurette: Mango Lassi at Cru

Who knew that you could make milk out of Sunflower seed? I've had the almond milk, the cashew milk, the soy, the hemp milk, etc. but last night was my first time trying anything with Sunflower seed milk. So after trying the Mango Lassi at Cru, sorry, but I'll never be able to ever drink it any other way again. Sweetened with Agave and spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, it was honestly one of the most satisfying raw drinks I've ever tasted. Right up there with Juliano's Chocolate shake. It was practically a meal in itself, really packing a punch of wholesome nutty protein. All of you people who think you can't get protein from plant based foods, think again. I felt like running a marathon after drinking this. Oh, and thanks Kyler, for the generous serving. And for being patient with my multitude of questions.
Cru is located at 1521 Griffith Park Blvd in Silverlake- it's practically on Sunset, just a few blocks east of where Santa Monica Blvd. connects. I was just trying to fuel up between watching a show at El Cid and happened to come across this gem. I plan to go back and sample the foodies. Will let you know when I do.

Jane's Addiction plays best concert ever at El Cid.

Whoever said 'Rock and roll is Dead' wasn't at El Cid last night. They must not have seen Eric Avery, (the band's 'secret sauce' according to Perry Farrell during his introduction of the wonderful bassist) thumping his heart out. They must not have seen Stephen Perkins beaming behind his drumset, (perhaps the happiest drummer in rock and roll history,) or Dave Navarro graciously grinding his kickass solos in our ears at scorching speed. And than there's Perry himself. How could you not get nostalgic? They did songs from all first three albums, every one a smash, every one a composition of perfection. How the hell did this miracle happen? How did this wonderful band finally decide to let bygones be bygones and settle down once again to produce some of the greatest rock music ever known to mankind? I don't know, but I want more.
From the eerie chanting bass lines of 'Whores' to the percussive chaos of 'Chip Away' the set was everything a fan could ever want and more. Perry's joshing between songs was provocatively entertaining, regaling us with stories of the past and the guy is hilarious. At one point he thanked the "troubador trooper' in the front who 'keeps slapping my hand every five seconds.' With Artaudish theatricality, Perry entertained us on a level that is extremely hard to top in the world of rock and roll. Epic Brechtian hard rock art is what it is. And Avery's intensity, amazing concentration, dedication to his instrument makes us all realize that there is no replacement worthy of him in this particular band, NO MATTER WHO IT IS.
At one point during the set, Perry quipped, "We LIVE to Please you." And then, "They think we're kidding!" What is so amazing about this band as that they have all survived the chaos of so many complications in life and lived to tell the story. They have come out the other side, and are now on top. I want to keep seeing them go up and up. I remember the last time they played with Eric in 91, being sad that I'd never get to see them. I did see them on their reunion tours, which were great. But Janes Addiction, with their 'secret sauce,' TAKES THE CAKE.


Set List:
whores
trip away
standing in the shower thinking
mountain song
ain't no right
no one's leaving
then she did
1%
stop
had a dad
ocean size
chip away

Bonaventure Brewing Company: A hidden downtown delight.

So I set out to find a Microbrew pub that brews their own beer, and it was harder to come by in the city of Angels than I would have reckoned. (Being that I'm from Northern California I thought it would be a cinch.) Speaking with Suzanne Melson, who is the Director of operations at the Bonaventure Brewing Company, I was trying to conjure up some kind of esoteric reason as to why they are one of very few restaurants in town that brews their own. The answer was simpler than I thought: "We've been in business for 10 years this December, and that was the original vision of the owners," she said. I'll just have to assume that it's more of a complicated process to brew your own beer than to get it somewhere else. But for crying out loud it's worth it! They have some of the best brews here North of San Francisco! And for those of you a bit south of here, in Long Beach, there is a sister company, Belmont Brewing company, which was founded by the same owners. There really is something to be said about Beer that is actually brewed where it is served. You can really taste the difference when a beverage has been freshly manufactured on sight and hasn't been shipped around in Kegs.

The selection of Microbrews, which is currently 4 beers, is small, but gives you no want of selection. Kim, the beautiful and personable bartender hooked me up with a taster set, which is basically all of the restaurant's microbrews and 1 "guest beer", which tonight was the Fat tire. Each glass is 5 ounces, and it's all for only 6 dollars! Yes, you read that right! This gave me a chance to actually compare their own beer with another. There was no comparison. First there's the Pale Ale, which one of the friendly waiters there, Michael, says actually reminds him of the Fat Tire. "It's my personal favorite," he pointedly interjected. In my opinion, it beat out the Fat tire so easily! The succulent amber orange color and the Cascade hops (which beer buffs tend to prefer) make this drink a special treat.
If you're up for something different, the Hefeweizen, which is 4.5% alcohol, has a hint of a banana aroma and is a bit on the exotic side. My personal favorite was the Strawberry Blonde, which tastes lighter than the Hef, but actually packs in 4.8% alcohol, so after a glass or two of the 23 ouncer, the beer goggles sneak up on you, so be careful.
Similar to a Central European Pilsner, the Bonaventure blonde ale, which boasts a copper tone and goes down easy, and has the same amount of alcohol as the Strawberry Blonde, is also a favorite amongst many whom I talked to .
Besides the brews, there is a wealth of fancy drinks to make you feel like you're on vacation. If you don't have the money or the time for a trip out to Hawaii, 'Gilligan's Island' will remind you of a tropical paradise- I'd tell you what's in it but I want you to go find out for yourself! And if you come at happy hour from 3:30 to 7 PM Monday through Friday, you can get munchies from as cheap as 1.99 to go along with it. Michael told me they get a large amount of investment bankers, and lawyers, etc. who come in here on a regular basis, being that it's so close to the financial center. Although it's a very upscale place, I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the prices were, and would venture to encourage even the most frugal to bring a hot date to this place.

For instance, I had the appetizer sampler, which runs 11.95, and it filled me up like a stuffed duck. The servings were hearty portions of Calamari, artichoke spinach dip, and Brushetta, and were obviously meant for more than one person, but don't worry, I handled it well. (Good thing I went to the gym today.) I'm going to have to go back and sample more of the food. I was there more for the beer this time, to be honest, but I'm looking forward to trying some of their scrumptious looking salads and soups. (Yeah, that was me rubbernecking, spying at what you were eating from across the room-sorry about that.)

Bonaventure's is not a place you hear tons about. I would say it's a bit of a secret locale, so pardon me for spilling the beans! First of all, there's a four story trek to get to the pub, but you're rewarded with an intimate interior, and a handsome outdoor patio with a gorgeous view of downtown. A mere 8 blocks from the Staples Center, you should check it out before the Laker game! It's situated in the heart of the business district, and draws many tourists. The fact that it's now opened until 1 A.M. is good for me, since I'm a bit of a night owl. Most of the people I encountered here were in town for the Auto show at the convention center. One young lady from Detroit whom I met told me it was her special L.A. spot, and she didn't want me to tell too many people about it. But I wouldn't feel right just keeping it to myself. I'll see you down there some time.

My description

I try to be an Omnologist, somebody who believes in bringing whatever passion lies within you, outside of you. To weave all of the disparaging and contradicting measures of humanity, the sticky and the sweet of what you love the most, and let them all blend into a mosaic that is ultimately you. He indulges his pen in poetry, song, and story. He indulges his body in martial arts, running, and rock and roll. He believes in raw foodism, but doesn't adhere to it completely, at least not yet. (This may be subject to change.) He plays guitar with his righty but swings the bat with his lefty. Ambidextrous and ambiguous, you are invited to join me on my mountainous journey!

Zevia: a sweet beverage that is easy on your sweet tooth.

Zevia is definitely my favorite beverage. It is a fairly new product on the health product market. What is beautiful about this particular beverage, is that although it packs a sugary punch for your sweet tooth, it isn't unhealthy in the way that your average cola on the market is. It is sweetened with Stevia, which is natural, not like many other "alternative" sugar products. In fact, it is known to enhance glucose tolerance, and is safe for those who suffer from Diabetes. I remember long ago trying Stevia and wondering why someone hasn't marketed it as a soda. I thought maybe some day I would! Well, the smart folks at Zevia have beaten me to the punch, and I must confess I'm somewhat addicted. If you're trying to wean yourself off of Coke or any other soda on the market that wears out your teeth, I strongly recommend this drink. It is a bit more expensive and harder to find, but you will definitely realize that it's worthwhile. I know that it is now carried at Whole Foods, and I get it at my favorite neighborhood produce market here in Los Angeles.
Right now, it comes in four flavors: Twist, which is a lemon lime hybrid and works good as a 7 up or Sprite substitute, Natural Orange for all you Fanta lovers, Natural Ginger Root Beer, which easily beats it's similarly titled rival, and Cola, which kicks Pepsi and Coke's behind any day. The Cola is also a natural stimulant containing Kola nut, which is from a tree in Western and Central Africa. So you can substitute it for your morning coffee if you're looking for that "kick." ( Actually, the cola also contains a bit of coffee.) Instead of using artificial flavorings for the Orange soda, the brilliant makers at Zevia use annatto, from the achiote tree for the coloring, so they could live up to their "all natural" moniker. Please give it a try, you WILL be converted.

88.1 kjaz

Songs I heard on Kjaz this morning that I liked:

rickety rickshaw man by eddy howard, maybe by the ink spots, it happened in sun valley by glen miller

Perkins works out with Banyan at the Mint

Stephen Perkins, likely the most joyful and incredible drummer in rock and roll world, played another great gig with his all star band "Banyan" at the Mint Wednesday, November 5th. Along with Mike Watt, whose bass lines solidly swing forth in a libidinous wave, keeping the backbone strongly layered while Perkins provides the Beat, and Willy Waldman, the jazzy trumpeter who was whooping, wailing, and jumping about in an energetic frenzy. Nels Cline, veteran guitar player, who has played with everybody from Sonic Youth to Willie Nelson to the Geraldine Fibbers and Wilco, provided a brilliant contrast of Jazzy fusiony psychadelia with his playing. There was a keyboardist whose name escapes me (if anyone knows please tell me.) Also, a wonderful female saxaphone player, whose name also escapes me!
Norton Wisdom is perhaps the only band "painter" in the world. He creates art on an easel as the band plays. The moment you start to become attached to one of his masterpieces, he brings a wet towel to it and starts another one! What a wonderful way to express art, in all of it's temporal glory. The visual art becomes one with the music, rising and dissolving, the way notes do. I want to keep watching Banyan play. It's a jam session that is so fun to watch, because you feel like you're in Perkin's living room with his buddies, as he's pounding away, with his barefoot on the kickdrum. Hopefully they'll play the Mint again soon!