We're looking for any excuse to eat more peaches, nectarines and plums this season and we've found just the recipe that'll let us binge on stone fruits in the best way possible.
Seasonally inspired FIG Restaurant in Santa Monica - known for its impeccable cocktails and in-the-know locals' happy hour - has mixed up its menu with a new Mediterranean vibe we can’t get enough of. At a recent dinner to try out their new wood-oven-centric eats, we were so focused on this sumac spice-dusted stone fruit salad we barely left room for dessert (the horror!).
This simple dish is all about sumac - a fiery yet sweet-smelling spice made from dried berries (which give sumac its rich red color). Its sour, citrus-like taste makes sumac a flavor staple in Mediterranean recipes, and enhances the sweetness of stone fruits like magic. Try Chef Yousef Ghalaini's dreamy recipe below or simply sprinkle a little sumac over a fresh peach and be on your way!
Phoebe Lapine is a Hashimoto’s advocate, gluten-free chef and author ofSIBO Made Simple: 90 Healing Recipes and Practical Strategies to Rebalance Your Gut for Good. As we've done time and again, we asked Lapine to join our The First 5 Steps series to address what she wished she'd known upon diagnosis with SIBO. Her book is a thorough guide, but we love her responses here...
A few years ago, I thought I knew everything there was to know about gut health. I had just publisheda bookabout overcoming my autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, applying the wisdom I'd attained from top gut health pro and functional medicine minds around the world.
I was eating all the fermented veggies, crushing chickpeas and other fibrous legumes, and guzzling kombucha. And yet, over time I was beginning to feel off after every meal. Have you been there?
My Digestion Is Off: What's the Mystery?
Having been through half a decade of digestive woes, at first I didn’t pay much attention to the bloating and constipation. I didn’t even worry that my habitual burping, and more than occasional tooting, was becoming a regular companion soundtrack to my nighttime Netflix binges.
Once I started to put the physical pieces together—the outward bloating with the inward distress—I decided to see a doctor for a full workup. The diagnosis I received wasSIBO: small intestine bacterial overgrowth.
I quickly fell down the internet rabbit hole, and what I discovered about SIBO changed my entire understanding of gut health.
Researchers have estimated that over 60 percent of IBS cases are actually being caused by SIBO. The issue is not necessarily the ratio between good, beneficial bacteria and bad, pathogenic bacteria (though that could be part of it too) rather, the location of the bacteria.
Though bacteria colonize all sections of our alimentary canal, the majority of it is found in the large intestine (also known as the colon). There, it assists in the final step of our digestive labyrinth and prepares waste matter for evacuation.
The small intestine, on the other hand, is where your food intermingles with digestive juices, nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream, and your body reaps the rewards of what you’ve just put in it.
The small intestine is not a place where bacteria have much of a function. In fact, as is the case with SIBO, their presence can cause a lot of harm.
There’s no one approach to treating SIBO, which is what often makes patients so confused.
I should know, since I was one of them. The roadmap is far from linear and streamlined. Rather, it involves many forks, detours, and steep uphill climbs that often lead you to exactly where you started.
That said, as has been my experience, the right toolkit and approach can help you avoid a lot of needless supplements, wasted time -- and misery.
THE FIRST 5 STEPS: HOW TO DEAL WITH SIBO
Understand the organisms you’re targeting. The main test for SIBO is a hydrogen-methane breath test. After drinking a synthetic sugar solution (bacterial fast food), you breathe into a series of tubes at various timed intervals. The lab then measures any rises in hydrogen or methane gas in your breath. The timing is what indicates whether they are in your small or large intestine, i.e. whether their presence is normal or an indication of SIBO.
Though there are some pro’s and con’s to getting tested—a debate I hash out in my book,SIBO Made Simple—the biggest benefit is that you know exactly what type of bacteria you’re dealing with, which can then lead you to the most effective treatment option.
Find your root cause. SIBO gets a bad rap for being a notoriously difficult, chronic condition. But often the main reason it returns is because you haven’t dealt with the physical defects, lifestyle issues, or nutrient deficiencies that caused your SIBO in the first place.
This type of overgrowth is not a disease in and of itself, it’s a sign that something has gone wrong in the body—often several things!
It might be that your small intestine’s street sweeper wave—called the Migrating Motor Complex—has malfunctioned. It might be that there’s a structural issue—a cyst, growth or tumor bearing down on your intestines. Or it could be that you’re missing a safeguard that neutralizes unwanted bacteria coming in through your nose and mouth every day—low stomach acid, a missing gallbladder, or weakened immune system. It’s important to go through a thorough checklist (like the one inSIBO Made Simple) and uncover what might be causing your digestive system to go off the rails.
Rehab HOW you’re eating, not just what you’re eating. Many people who first learn they have SIBO go immediately to a low FODMAP or similarly restrictive diet. These therapeutic approaches can be helpful for limiting symptoms. But they are not a treatment in and of themselves. More importantly, food choices likely did not cause your SIBO, so focusing solely on them will not necessarily improve your recovery odds.
Howyou eat, on the other hand, could have a lot to do with your digestive issues. Forgetting to chew your food, drop into parasympathetic mode before a meal, get your stomach acid churning—or simply eating too close to bedtime and snacking all day long. If you’re making these foundational mistakes, your digestive system is not going to be running on all cylinders, no matter what’s on your plate.
Your migrating motor complex only kicks in during a fasting state of 90 minutes or more, so simply leaving ample time between meals (instead of grazing all day long) can have a huge impact on SIBO recovery and prevention.
Heal leaky gut and food sensitivities. Bacteria are living organisms with their own cravings (creepy, I know). High numbers of bacteria in your small intestine basically means that there are other mouths at the table competing for your dinner.
If there’s not enough nourishment to be had, bacteria will turn to the next best thing: your intestinal lining. The result is an increased permeability, also known as leaky gut syndrome, where larger food particles (instead of just essential nutrients) seep into the bloodstream.
The downwind effect is often systemic inflammation, food sensitivities and autoimmunity. Though you can have leaky gut, food intolerances, and an autoimmune disease without SIBO, it is not unusual for these conditions to be a packaged deal.
While treating SIBO usually involves some sort of “kill phase”—an antibiotic or herbal antimicrobial to eradicate the overgrowth—healing the aftermath of SIBO means getting your inflammation under control and adding lots of 'ammo' for healing. In my book, we talk about the ingredients that add the most insult, and those that can be thought of as heroes for healing the gut lining, like fresh ginger, turmeric, cabbage juice, and bone broth.
Focus on stress management, particularly around food fear. One of the most common, but often overlooked, root causes of SIBO is simply…stress!
Stress not only reduces stomach acid, it also impairs small intestinal motility, meaning that migrating motor complex, responsible to cleaning up after a meal, will not be functioning as well. Of course, dealing with a chronic condition like SIBO can also cause more stress! That’s where certain alternative modalities can be so helpful to explore for healing. Hypnotherapy, bodywork, acupuncture, CBT or just regular talk therapy can have a positive halo effect on both SIBO and IBS (trust me, the data is compelling!).
This becomes even more important when food is in the picture. Since symptoms are often directly related to what you’re eating, it’s really easy to develop a fraught relationship with mealtime.
Food is one of the few things we can control as a patient. And many of us have been through years of symptoms that were so 'out of our control' that we can become fixated on food -- turning it into something that needs to be constantly questioned, instead of savored.
Remember that you cannot heal without nourishment and that food is not the enemy. Whenever possible, use positive affirmations so that when you sit down to a meal, you do so from a place of peace, not stress.
We absolutely love seeing artists in their natural habitats -- whether at the canvas, in the recording studio, or at the wheel. We asked beloved L.A. artisan, Lucy Michel to let us into her ceramics studio as part of our In The Studio series for a glimpse at how she works and what's inspiring her lately.
Lucy is perhaps best well-known for her Loop vases and speckled mugs, but, personally, we're obsessed with her elegant, yet practical ceramic snack bowls. Join along and get inspired as we visit Lucy in studio. Want more artisan inspo? Explore the full series here.
Name: Lucy Michel
My work in 3 words: Organic, Californian, Useful
My favorite current project is:Lighting -- coming soon.
coffee,tea, water or juice? All of the above. I’ve always been a multi-beverage person. I have coffee the second my eyes open, water all day long, kombucha, and peppermint tea in the evenings -- all in Lucy Michel mugs and cups, of course.
Latest inspirations: Vintage West Coast Pottery and Alice Waters
To get the creative juices flowing I…just start working. I’ve found, for my creative process, it helps me to just start. I treat ceramics like a practice. It’s very meditative for me, when I just start throwing, ideas will start to flow through me.
Daily necessity in the studio:Airpods, workwear, Osea Hand Cream, and some sort of salty snack in one of my snack bowls.
Soundtrack in the studio is usually… Music when throwing, Podcasts when trimming and glazing.
Current faves: Podcasts: Endless Honeymoon Podcast, The Deep Dive, Bitch Sesh, The Sarah Silverman Podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, and Smartless.
Tunes: Phoebe Bridgers, REM, Lil Nas X, and Joni Mitchell.
Other artists inspiring me right now:The painter Alec Egan, the floral company Pretend Plants and Flowers, and Multi Media artist Yassi Mazandi.
I was first inspired to become an artist when…I first discovered photography around the age of 12. I studied photography for years, even graduated from Parsons with a BFA in it. At this point, I’ve changed my medium to pottery, but I still love taking pictures. For my birthday this year my husband got me a new (old) 35mm camera so I can start taking pictures again.
When I’m not in the studio I am usually…Hanging with my husband and our almost 2 year old son, Levi.
Favorite objects/tools in the studio: I really love this company called Garrity Tools. The tools themselves are art.
Favorite art gallery / installation / museum lately?
Art Gallery: Blum & Poe Museum:LACMA / The MET Installation:Any of Richard Serra’s sculptural installations
Best way to order: Check out retailers like Midland and General Store here in L.A. I usually announce product drops on Instagram for all available pieces and some pieces are available for pre-order.
Michelin-starred chefJohn Fraser is recognized as one of the best vegetable-forward chefs in the world. Lucky for everyone in Los Angeles, this summer Fraser re-opened the very buzzy Ardor at The West Hollywood EDITION where we've spotted everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to just about every wellness-loving babe we know in the city.
The space is brimming with giant tropical plants, wood details, mood lighting and the kind of plant-based dishes we dream of. A definite date-night or girl's night out must.
Fraser's other restaurant ventures include The Terrace & Outdoor Gardens at The Times Square EDITION where menus are also plant-forward in a way we promise even your night-life loving, carnivorous crew will love and respect.
After another delicious dinner at Ardor recently, we asked Chef Fraser to join our In the Kitchen series. Here are all the planty, boozy, and condiment-rich remarks we expect from a chef like Fraser to inspire you in our your own kitchen and restaurant adventures...
In my kitchen you’ll find plenty of: Condiments. I have tons of hot sauce and mustard – they’re favorite ingredient. I probably have over 30 in my pantry. Because I taste things for a living, my palate needs things on the extreme side.
I have a love affair with mustard – it is such a diverse product and a blank canvas to work with, sometimes spicy and sometimes sweet.
Recipe staples always on hand: Kale. I try to put it in everything I make as it’s hearty, brings a ton nutritional benefits and has a conveniently long shelf life.
I also eat a ton of eggs for protein – I can have a soft scramble in the morning, hard scramble for lunch and a breakfast taco for dinner.
Ingredient that makes everything taste better: Olive oil – I have 5 or 6 types and pick up a new bottle every time I travel. A bottle of local olive oil tells a unique story of a destination.
Best food memory: Eating milk bread in Japan. I tried it on my first trip there and began to re-work it once it got home. I added tomatoes, and salt then used olive oil in butter. Our version is the Californiacation of milk bread.
Food philosophy in one sentence: Keep it simple and courageous.
Fave ingredient lately: At the moment, peppers. I did a lot of research into them for Iris, which draws upon my Greek heritage and deep admiration for Turkish cuisine.
The patio at Ardor
Midnight snack perfection: Microwave popcorn with olive oil and black pepper.
Food you love to eat with zero prep/additions: Peppers!
Most impressive dish: The cauliflower cacio e pepe at Ardor. We use raw cauliflower which brings an fantastic amount of texture to the dish. It feels complex but is so simple.
Healthiest habit in the kitchen:Keep washing your hands.
Fave condiments: Mustard, olive oil and hot sauce.
Best bargain tip: Head to the farmer’s market. You can control portion size and therefore reduce wastage.
Fave veggie + what you make with it: Asparagus is my favorite. Simply pan roast with olive oil, salt pepper and lemon zest.
Must-have munchies: Cool Ranch Doritos.
Craziest thing I buy at the market: House plants.
Favorite splurge: Ruinart Blancs de Blancs champagne.
Your idea of an ideal dinner setting… Sitting at a bar having snacks and bites (not a full meal). Start with a Manhattan, finish with a glass of calvados.
For last minute entertaining, I… Order out. I love Italian Ribalta in New York.
Signature cocktail: A perfect Manhattan with a twist.
Simple go-to recipe: An overly toasted English muffin with heaps of cream cheese, too much black pepper and Maldon salt, sliced avocado and olive oil.
EARLIER THIS Spring, I unboxed a small, neon glass disk, plugged it in, and — as it glowed — took a long, deep nap. I felt as though I was having mild detox symptoms. They subsided after a couple of hours, but according to the creators of the Somavedic, it’s not an uncommon reaction. Neither is improved sleep and an overall increase in energy.
I've had my Somavedic at home now for months and we're thrilled to finally bring our interview with the brand to our pages. We've been waiting for the restock on their Harmony model, a product designed for travel that I couldn't recommend more highly for all of you Tesla drivers out there! Read on for all the details...
Somavedic is a vibrational technology designed to create a coherent field to negate potentially harmful wavelengths in your home,especiallyEMFs.
We'll break down some of the science below, but if the term 'vibrational technology' sounds foreign to you, think of technologies like ultrasound, MRI, infrared light and radiofrequency therapies -- all examples of frequency devices already used in medical environments and beyond.
The Somavedic is designed to harmonize the wavelengths conducive to your health. It does this through the controlled release of energy from specifically-selected precious and semi-precious stones inside the glass unit.
Feeling a bit skeptical? Of course you are!We’re pretty certain that, although half our audience will be deeply intrigued, having some familiarity with keywords like ‘coherent fields’ and ‘vibrational medicine’, the other half will no doubt sit back with eyebrows slightly raised. We feel that -- and we're always here to break down the science behind devices like the Somavedic that seem to have arrived before their time...
https://youtu.be/pM11nmtNjXk
My Interview with Somavedic's CEO
In a day and age like this one, it is easy to become skeptical -- or just plain confused -- when it comes to wellness on the whole. Incredible scientific discoveries and technological advancements are happening all around us, and yet we must also defend ourselves from a constant barrage of marketing, odd ball products and fake news.
I had all this in mind when I interviewed Somavedic Technologies’ CEO, Juraj Kočar, whose own healing journey led him to the brand. Juraj broke down the science behind his tech, answered all our questions, and addressed my own personal experience below…
Suzanne Hall: Let’s start with a very basic description of the Somavedic. What does it do in a nutshell?
Somavedic is based on the controlled release of energy from precious and semi-precious stones and creates a 360-degree coherent field with a radius of 100 feet in all directions. It helps the body to better deal with EMFs, geopathic zones, etc. Using a Somavedic can:
+ Reduce Effects Of Mobile Phone Radiation
+ Provide Positive Effects On Cardiovascular And Nervous System
+ Improved Heart Rate Variability, Circulation And Internal Balance
SH: I received Somavedic’s Medic Green Ultra and shared it with my community on Instagram. I was surprised by how many were interested! We’re all slowly warming up to the idea that “frequency therapy” – and frequency dangers – are real. To what do you attribute this shift?
JK: I think that, in general, there’s more awareness around EMFs especially with the 5G rollout. Lots of people from the biohacking and health and wellness community are talking about that.
EMF or electromagnetic frequencies exist everywhere in the environment. In our homes, school and workplace. With the exponential implementation of connected devices and 5G it’s more important than ever to increase our awareness about this all penetrating technology.
TCM: 'Frequency therapy' might sound foreign to some, but we are already using many of these therapies in spas and doctor’s offices. Can you speak to that for some context and a bit of normalization?
JK: Ultrasound, MRI, infrared light and radiofrequency therapies are all examples of frequency devices already used in various environments.
There are also many frequency devices and therapies we can’t yet explain, but that work. The history of frequency therapy is actually quite in-depth and fascinating — we are basically re-discovering this knowledge again.Australian aborigines used didgeridoo as a sound or 'frequency' healing tool 40000 years go!
JK: Our founder, Ivan Rybjansky launched Somavedic Technologies in 2011. He had been suffering with some pretty serious health concerns and not satisfied with his doctor’s suggested route of prescription drugs.
Through his study of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, he was eventually able to heal himself.
Somavedic was born through a desire to create technology that would support a potent harmonic environment for more people in their everyday lives.
Various studies are showing that the coherent field created by a Somavedic positively affects our cells and improves cell regeneration, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure, while lowering free radicals.
This leads to a palpable improvement of our overall well-being affecting the quality of our sleep, energy levels, focus and productivity.
We’re co-headquartered in Prague where our glass corpuses are made in world-famous glass factories and San Francisco. Our devices have already been discovered by over 120,000+ people in more than 52 countries worldwide.
Check out this behind-the-scenes video showing how their
glass is made in world-famous glass factories in Prague:
TCM: When I turned on our Somavedic at home, two things happened: one, my husband almost instantly decided to take a nap and, two, I felt what seemed like light detoxification symptoms. Since i understand the science of detoxification pretty well, I was impressed! Can you explain?
JK: Yours and your husband’s reactions are quite common! Somavedic is creating a more coherent space (field), where the body has more energy to regenerate itself. For some, this might manifest as tiredness, headaches, etc. This is just temporary, but it’s a great sign that it started already working on and with your body.
Somavedic is not a magic pill for all our problems, but it’s a very powerful tool to keep our bodies and cells in a more coherent and natural environment, so the body can have more energy to focus on self-healing processes.
TCM: What should people expect to experience with the Somavedic at home?
JK: You can explore the science on Somavedicon our science page here.Some of the best studies include reports of improved cell regeneration, improved HRV (heart rate variability), sleep and mood.
The feedback we most often hearing about from our users include...
+ Improved sleep
+ More energy during the day
+ Fewer headaches (especially women)
+ Less brain fog
+ Feelings of calmness/peace
We know our technology is new to so many people, which is why we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee, so anybody can experience it and see for themselves if it’s working for them or not.
SH: The core of each Somavedic is made with crushed minerals and crystals. Can you talk to us about those stones and why they were chosen?
JK: Somavedic has whole minerals and gem stones inside. Stones used across the whole spectrum of products include: Ruby, Carnelian, Tourmaline, Agate, Pyrate, Rose quartz, Lepidolite, Magnetite, Sodalite, Tourmaline, Ruby, Hematite, Fluorite, Malachite and Jasper.
We choose stones for their different physical and psychological effects on our bodies and mind. Take ruby for example: The Ruby stone is an excellent aid to assist you with recharging your energy levels. It is very effective for encouraging vitality, sensuality and aiding intimate relationships. Its color is analogous of its energy, which may stimulate your mind to be more positive and self-assured.
3 Somavedic Models To Explore...
Somavedic Medic GreenTheir most popular product and most often recommend to those new to the technology. This is the unit we recommended trying at home to reduce the effects of EMF and generally improve the energy in your most important family spaces. Again, one Somavedic covers a radius of 100 feet in all directions. SHOP NOW.
Somavedic Medic Amber:The strongest unit available, specifically designed to address overwrought urban environments. Measurements performed at Pytloun Grand Hotel Imperial in Liberec on December 15, 2020 and January 18, 2021 with Somavedic Medic Amber devices, and on February 8, 2021 without Somavedic devices three weeks after their removal, showed that these devices increase air ionization. The average increase in air ionization is more than double the values measured without Somavedic devices.
These measurements were done by our Premium device Amber, that is designed for city centers, busy hospitals and doctors clinics and corporate environments. SHOP NOW | SEE THE STUDIES
Somavedic Harmony|The Harmony is a smaller model designed to be placed in cars, hotel rooms, or anyplace else you’d like to sustain the benefits received from Somavedic while traveling.
TCM Editor's Note: If you drive a Tesla or other vehicle with potentially high EMF radiation, this model is a great one to consider. SHOP NOW
Our Final Word on Somavedic:
For the skeptics: If you feel drawn to try it, Somavedic provides a two month period for you to try the experience for yourself and enjoy it -- or return the device for a full refund. Like many wellness technologies, the studies speak for themselves, but most of us need to experience it to believe it.
For the wellness lovers + EMF averse: We can personally say that our experience with the Somavedic was a palpable one. We recommend reading some of the provided science and trying one at home for reducing EMF and improving the energy in your home.
Have a yoga studio or other healing practice? I highly recommend getting the Somavedic for your professional space! Get 15% off with our exclusive offer for TCM readers here:
Taking care of littles requires more self-care, not less. While stress on our time and energy can keep self-love stuck at the bottom of the never-ending to-do list, it's intentional mamas like Sophie Jaffe that help us find our way in the everyday details...
In a mother’s perfect world, we would have time at least one to two times a week to make our way to our favorite yoga studio (or at least an empty bedroom with wifi) and check out for just an hour. But in reality, sometimes it's simply not possible—especially when you have littles running around your home. So what do you do? You make the time! You make it happen in whatever form that looks like even if it’s a quick little flow on your living room floor.
Give yourself what you need! Do what you need to refuel and give you the energy to DO IT ALL. Things can feel overwhelming and unmanageable as a mom, but a few moments of stretching and breathing can help us remember that everything is manageable. Remember: as long as your children are happy and safe, everything else is extra credit!
The 4 Best Yoga Poses For Busy Moms
There are several poses you can do when you’re strapped for time that can relieve any tension or stress and drop you back into your body. Best of all, you can do them from your couch! While your kiddos are at school, on a playdate or during a nap try all or one of these poses to restore your energy. For deeper relaxation, turn off any other distractions, stay in each pose for a little longer and set the energy in your space with music, candles and sage. Here are my favorite poses:
Supported Heart-Opener | This pose will increase flexibility in your spice, open up your heart center and ease digestion. A supported inversion like this is great for relieving headaches and nervous tension, balancing the hormonal system, and lengthens/tractions lower back.
How-to: From a seated position on a low couch or bed, slowly drop over the side until you’re able to support yourself with your arms and top of your head. Keep your legs bent or straighten them to deepen the pose. Hold for 10-15 breaths or however long you’d like—listen to your intuition.
Pigeon Pose | This pose is a beautiful hip-opener as it stretches both the hip rotators and hip flexors. It is also helpful in finding relief from back pain and releases built-up stress, trauma, fear and anxiety.
How-to: From a low lunge with the right leg forward, extend the left leg back with the top of your foot flat, and then bend the right leg, squaring your hips. Lengthen the spine and exhale, folding forward over the front of the leg with your arms, chest and head. Breathe for one minute to three minutes and repeat on the other side.
Butterfly Pose | Any type of forward fold helps to release any built-up tension and stress. Butterfly further opens you up, by stretching your upper inner thighs, where we tend to hold much of our energy.
How-to: From a seated position, bend your knees and place the bottoms of your feet together, so they’re touching. Start to slowly extend your heart towards your toes. Hands can be at prayer or at the sides of your feet. Hold for 10 to 15 breaths to truly reap the rewards of this opening pose.
Restorative Savasana | Enter a deep relaxation with the oh-so-yummy savasana! This pose works wonders for our brains and calms any anxious thoughts, while also giving us space to rest and surrender to the moment. Use pillows or a bolster to support any soreness, pain or tightness.
How-to: To move into this simple, but beautiful pose, lie flat on your back and face up to the sky. Let the arms rest on the earth, allowing the palms to face up or place them on your heart and belly. Inhale to open the heart and expand the chest, then exhale to rest back into the earth. Relax everything from your toes to your fingertips, and allow the tongue to fall away from the roof of the mouth. Take a deep breath in, and on each exhale, completely let go.
Remember parties? Last week, we shed our favorite sweatshirt - bike shorts combo and climbed into an ALTO for a winding trip into the canyon and one of our first official gatherings since spring of 2020.
To be specific, our last official working lunch was with Lauren Conrad, Hannah Skvarla and about 200 other incredible women for The Little Market's Intl' Women's Day lunch at The Fairmont in Santa Monica. Just a few days later, we were all working from home and rearranging every shoot and gathering we had planned.
Fast-forward to this safely-planned and outdoors-only dinner at the home ofMarshell's,Betsy Simon and we were feeling about as grateful to gather as most of you have been as you've gathered in gardens, newly-built outdoor dining areas and other al fresco nooks across the globe this summer.
To celebrate, and supply you with just one more excuse to do so yourselves, we're sharing this apple crostata recipe from the evening's chef, Olivia Muniak of La Cura.
This rustic little dessert is made with Apeel apples, a new clean tech that helps produce to last longer naturally, reducing waste and extending the life of our farmer's market hauls.
As part of her La Cura supper club series, Olivia also orchestrated the night's beautiful tablescapes complete with fruit and floral centerpieces by beloved Venice florist,Pigsty Studio and denim-colored throw by One Wednesday.
Guests, from our own EIC, Suzanne Hall to Cat Chen of Amber Studios and Tara Lehrer of How You Glow sipped on Flying Embers Guava Jalapeno hard seltzer cocktails and baking savants, Loria Stern (features here), Valerie Gordon of Valerie Confections (features here)and Alana Jonesmann all stayed for dessert (which says something, yes?).
Making a rustic apple dessert like this one helps to enhance that sense of intimacy and slowness for small gatherings that we have come to savor!
Sustainable Apple Thyme Crostata
with Creme Fraiche + Olive Oil
Ingredients
FOR THE CRUST
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar (or coconut sugar)
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
⅓ cup ice cold water, more as needed
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 egg, beaten
Raw sugar, for garnish
FOR THE FILLING
6 to 8 Apeel Honey Crisp (or other tart apples) peeled and cut into 16 slices each (about 6 cups total)
¼ cup sugar
1 lemon zested
5 leaves lemon verbena or stems of thyme
Method
Make the crust: Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and blend for 5 seconds. Add butter, pulsing, until mixture resembles small peas. Add ice water, vinegar and continue to pulse until mixture comes together in moist clumps; if mixture is too dry add a bit more water a tablespoon at a time. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour or freeze for up to a month.
Make the filling: In a small bowl add the sugar, grate the lemon zest and add the lemon verbena leaves into the mixture. Rub the mixture between your fingers to release the oils from leaves and zest. Set aside.
Heat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove dough from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a circle.
Arrange the apples evenly in the center of the dough, leaving a 4-inch border all around, sprinkle with the zested sugar mixture. Brush exposed dough border with beaten egg and fold edge in up over fruit, no need to be perfect, the look is rustic.
Brush the folded outer edge with beaten egg, and sprinkle with raw sugar. Cover exposed fruit with about 1 cup crumble. Bake crostata until crust is golden brown about 35-40 minutes.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, sprinkle of flaky sea salt and a drizzle of Brightland ‘Alive’ Olive Oil.
