Issuu

TABLEAU

JAN UA RY /F E B R UA RY 20 22 I SSUE

F R O M K I TC H E N TA B L E M A R K E T I N G

EAT + BE WELL MEET THE CHANGEMAKERS PALM SPRINGS NOW

THE FRESH START ISSUE

NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT FOOD, BEAUTY, WELLNESS + GROWTH Photo by Aline Espino

L E TTER FRO M T HE ED I TOR Welcome to a new year and a new issue of Tableau! I’m a big fan of fresh starts, and it’s not just a new year that offers those. We can have a fresh start every day, every hour, every minute…you get the idea. Knowing that fresh starts are truly unlimited feels abundant and exciting, and also takes the pressure off. So that no particular moment, decision, situation takes on more meaning than it should. Phew! This seems like a really good way to enter a new year, which will — as all years before — be filled with its own share of ups and downs. And, unlimited fresh starts! The issue celebrates the delicious energy of fresh starts and exciting endeavors — from our inspiring incredible coastal cover shot by Aline Espino to profiles of change-making entrepreneurs focused on wellness to the newest hot-spots for your next Palm Springs getaway. We’ve also included a heavy dose of self care ideas, from clean, healthy food to wonderful ways to move your body and classes to expand your mind while having fun, too. If you haven’t yet, please visit our website at tableauofficial.com. It’s beautiful, bold, so easy to navigate and full of wonderful stories for you to enjoy and share. Be sure to sign up for a free subscription so you’ll be the first to get our new issues and other updates. Wishing you the joy, wonder and freedom of unlimited fresh starts,

Carrie Freitas carrie@kitchentablepr.com  @tableauofficial  @tableauoc

[ CONTENTS ]

JAN/FEB 2022

The Contributors

Be Well

Take Note

Of Interest

To Order

Getaway

Do Good

To Do

Photos courtesy of Miramonte Indian Wells, Fermentation Farm, Shea Yeleen, and Rancho Relaxo

OUR C O NTRI BUTO RS Elisabeth Abrahamson OC native Elisabeth Abrahamson enjoys writing about her beloved hometown. When she’s not creating content, she spends her time traveling (Palm Springs is a local fave!), discovering the best new brunch spots with friends, and watching The Office with her fiancé, Doug.

Anissa Brown Anissa is a freelance writer based in Southern California. She recently completed grad school and has written journalistic pieces for various publications and companies such as Starbucks and Disney. She is also experienced in social media, marketing and consumer insights.

Sara Hall Sara has nearly 14 years of experience at several daily and weekly newspapers, including The Record Searchlight in Redding, The Daily Advocate in Greenville, Ohio, the Newport Beach Independent, and most recently at Stu News Newport and Stu News Laguna. Her work has included photography, writing, design and layout. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and pets.

Allison Hata Allison Hata is a freelance writer and editor based in Southern California. She lives and breathes OC, covering food, style, design and culture around town for over a decade. A former editor for Newport Beach Magazine, Allison is passionate about telling stories that capture the fascinating people and places that shape her community. Her work has appeared locally in Modern Luxury, Pelican Hill Magazine, Design OC and more.

Anita Lau Anita has been a food writer for almost 30 years, first in Asia, Australia and the Bay Area, before settling in Orange County, 15 years ago. Besides her blog, "diary of a Mad Hungry Woman", Anita was also an International Producer for Netflix's The Final Table, and has judged numerous cooking competitions, including Gordon Ramsay's, Hell's Kitchen. Locally, she has contributed to various publications, including Riviera, Laguna Beach and Orange Coast magazines. She is hugely passionate about giving back, and thoroughly enjoys volunteering, especially, involving underserved women and children.

Maisy Menzies Maisy Menzies is a recent UC Berkeley graduate and freelance writer based in Los Angeles. Maisy’s published writing ranges from local spotlights to news and opinion pieces to arts reviews and op-eds. She maintains an emphasis on empowering community voices through her work.

Amy Senk Amy is a CDM resident and a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. She has worked at the Kansas City Times, Kansas City Star, Contra Costa Times, Coast Kids and Coast Magazines, and is a regular contributor to StuNews Newport. A recent empty nester, she spends her free time with her husband and planning elaborate imaginary vacations.

TA B L E AU STA FF AKA The Kitchen Table Marketing Team Carrie Freitas, Editor-in-Chief + Publisher

Lauren Burgos Kristen Cagatao

Miki Akil

TA K E N OT E

By Allison Hata and Anissa Brown

Just for the Health of It If you’re ringing in the new year with a resolution to improve fitness or eat healthier, you’re not alone. But as some of the most common resolutions, they’re also among the easiest to break if you don’t make changes that become part of your daily lifestyle. Health is more than just a diet or detox, a philosophy embraced by nutritionist Julie Hefner. Through her Newport Beach-based company Nourish Nutrition and Health, Julie offers personalized health assessments as well as counseling sessions that offer customized meal plans, recipes, shopping lists and even guides for ordering at a restaurant. Turn eating well into your next adventure with other services like a pantry raid to purge those tempting snacks, a one-on-one grocery tour or cooking classes with up to five of your friends. nourishnutritionandhealth.com | IG: @nourish_nutrition

Photos courtesy of Nourish Nutrition and Health, Lea Jane’s Hot Chicken, and Newport Medical and Wellness

It’s Getting Hot in Here Dare to take your tastebuds on a spicy Southern adventure at Lea Jane’s Hot Chicken, new to SteelCraft Garden Grove. Opening its doors this winter at the outdoor urban eatery, Lea Jane’s serves up Nashville hot chicken with a major kick. There’s a hefty dose of spice thanks to hot sauce and cayenne in the coating, as well as a spicy sauce drizzled over the top. It’s all offered with four tantalizing heat levels: southern, medium, hot, and clucking hot. In addition to fried chicken, Lea Jane’s cooks up crispy pork rinds, fried chicken deviled eggs and more. With other locations in Colorado and Texas, this is the third storefront for the chicken joint that draws inspiration from its founder’s childhood memories of a family cross-country road trip. leajanes.com | IG: @leajaneshotchicken

Commit to be Fit Press pause on your Netflix binge and get ready to work your muscles — those aches and pains of aging (and lounging on the couch) are so 2021. Upgrade your exercise routine at Newport Medical and Wellness with a workout that not only gets you moving, but retrains your body to keep your spine healthy and straight. Developed by the center’s co-founder, physical therapist Rachna LaLonde, the LongSpine Method is integrated into group classes that teach students how to move with the proper mechanics. Each class serves a different purpose, running the gamut from therapeutic to rigorous. The equipment-free basic class helps strengthen muscles through mat work, while the hour-long release class incorporates foam rollers to improve joint range of motion. You can also learn to lift weights while sculpting and toning your body, or embark on a boot camp-style endeavor with cardio-pulmonary and plyometric exercises, resistance training and core stabilization. Classes are offered daily and can be purchased individually, in packages or with an unlimited pass. newportmedcenter.com IG: @newportmedicalwellness

Get a Glimpse of Heaven Who doesn’t love a little R&R these days? A Little Touch of Heaven might just send you to cloud nine. This trendy day spa in Newport Beach specializes in LED, oxygen and microderm facials, waxing, and skin and body treatments using a proprietary line of natural products. It’s a one-stop shop for beauty needs, be it acne, pigmentation and anti-aging or anti-stress. Massages that can make your muscles melt are a popular service, but every treatment is results-driven with your need for relaxation of paramount importance. Founder Crystal Surmanian and her team of estheticians make it their goal to give clients top-tier service and beautiful complexions, one face at a time. aliltouchofheaven.com | IG: @althskincare

Make Healing Your New Year’s Resolution Take the next step in your holistic healing journey at Magnolia Wellness in Costa Mesa. Known for curating personalized experiences for clients, the award-winning wellness center borrows from the principles of Chinese and functional medicine to help with fertility, gut health, relief from pregnancy discomforts, stress and anxiety, and more. The team comprises experts with talents ranging from acupuncture and herbalism to nutrition services and massage therapy. Too busy to come in-person? The company also offers virtual naturopathic and herbal consultations. Its online quiz is a fun way to kickstart your new wellness journey, offering insight about your healing type and how to live your best life through specific treatments, herbs and nutrition choices. magnoliawellness.com | IG: @magnoliawellness

Photos courtesy of A Little Touch of Heaven, Magnolia Wellness, Buddha Belly, and Lao Kune Do

Spice Up Your Life Once an intern at a restaurant, Akeem Wong is now living the dream. After launching a food truck and then parlaying it into a successful Los Angeles brick-and-mortar in 2017, Akeem brought his signature Southeast Asian fusion dishes down to Orange County. Now open, his second Buddha Belly location is feeding the crowds at SteelCraft Garden Grove. Guests are in store for a world of flavor with dishes like the spicy “Ka Prow” chicken, pad thai, banh mi, and more. | IG: @buddhabelly.oc

Balancing Act Tai chi can help center your mind, body and spirit, like meditation in motion. So take a deep breath, let last year’s worries stay in the past, and embark on a journey of healing and health this season at Lao Kune Do. The Costa Mesa martial arts studio helps people of all ages and abilities practice this graceful form of exercise that keeps the body in constant motion. With slow, focused movements, deep breathing and gentle stretching, tai chi offers the therapeutic benefits of stress relief, improved muscle strength and balance, and energy regulation. Sifu (“teacher”) Paul McIntyre, who studied under Lao Kune Do founder and grandmaster Richard Tsim, offers beginner and advanced classes in tai chi and kung fu, as well as private training and qigong meditation sessions. kungfutaichioc.com

TO ORD ER E AT YO UR WAY TO A H E A LT HI E R G UT By Anita Lau Fermentation Farm is an extension of a home business that outgrew its capacity. Owner Dr. Yasmine Mason, a chiropractor by trade, was seeing more and more people complaining about digestive issues at the practice she shares with her husband. It prompted her to make gut-healthy remedies for her patients, such as fermented yogurt, bone broth, kombucha and jun. Very quickly, Yasmine outgrew her kitchen; in 2014, she opened the current Fermentation Farm location on Victoria Street in Costa Mesa. The original single retail space has since grown, now comprising many kitchens, including one where fermenting classes are offered to the public.

Photos courtesy of Fermentation Farm

On weekends, find outstanding breakfast items such as the stunning shakshuka, taken up several notches with fermented harissa, black garlic sauce, tomato and pepper sauce, raw cheese, pasture eggs, squash blossoms, scallions, and served with ghee toast. Or, jammed French toast is a stunning presentation of the best in seasonality. This dish speaks for itself, as it’s as tasty as it is beautiful.

While its moniker is slightly misleading — it’s not a farm, but rather, a market and restaurant — the farm aspect is 100 percent legit when you take into consideration the fresh, organic, and responsibly sourced produce used to create these gut-healthy probiotic foods. The well-stocked space is brimming with myriad goodies such as fermented vegetables, including kimchi and krauts, bone broths, kombucha, and other healthful, ready-made items for home use. In February 2021, chef Amy Lebrun (formerly of Lido Bottle Works) joined the Fermentation Farm team. Her passion and drive are evident in not only her impressive menus, but also in the extensive variety you’ll find in the refrigerated section of the store. It is vital to be hungry when you visit Fermentation Farm, as the menu offers an array of delicious items you won’t want to miss. During the week, the possibilities are endless. Try the morning taco or brekkie sando, a breakfast sandwich with bacon, egg, curtido (Salvadorean slaw), scallions and bread toasted with ghee. Breakfast is served between 9 and 11 a.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Taco Tuesday at Fermentation Farm is unlike any other. Dishes like the sweet potato taco and squash blossom mulita are aesthetically beautiful and absolutely delectable. Of course, chef Amy uses the freshest produce available, so ingredients often shift with the seasons. And on Thursdays, a handful of farmers set up shop outside. Not only does Amy take full advantage of their proximity, but visitors have easy access to this bounty as well. No matter what day of the week you find yourself at Fermentation Farm, know that you’ll discover something on the menu worth trying. Sample the seasonal kombuchas on tap and then take a growler of your favorite home to enjoy, or select some items from the market and create your own gut-healthy meals at home. Taking care of your health means so much more than meeting just physical needs. What you put into your body helps promote your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Real, whole ingredients that nourish you from the inside out are essential, especially as we age, and Fermentation Farm makes it easy to practice that mindful eating. Start with something small, like adding kombucha or fermented yogurt to your daily routine. You’ll soon find that a healthy gut does actually mean an overall, healthier you. fermfarm.com | IG: @ferm.farm

If it’s lunch you’re craving, the kraut grilled cheese, using raw cheese, house-made kraut and sourdough, is a must. The roasted brassicas and red curry dish is heavenly — a fantastic vegetarian option filled with cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, Brussels sprouts and cabbage, bathed in chef Amy's fermented red curry. The curry sauce is available in the cold case and easy to add to your home recipes.

DO GOO D SETTING SAIL Sharing a love for sailing with people of all abilities By Sara Hall Anyone can enjoy being out on the water. With this belief top of mind, the leaders of a local organization have made it their mission to share their love of sailing with people of all abilities. Offering free outings on sailboats with adapted accessibility features, Newport Beach-based nonprofit California Inclusive Sailing helps people with cognitive or physical disabilities enjoy the freedom and empowerment of the sport.

Photo by Christian Buhl (Courtesy of California Inclusive Sailing)

“We harness the wind, soak in the sunshine, and lift our spirits,” says co-founder Christian Buhl. “That seems to be true every time we sail with somebody.” California Inclusive Sailing (CIS) customizes every sail according to each person’s abilities. Its services are available to people of all ages, with no prior sailing experience necessary. On their customized voyages, sailors can learn the ropes or sit back and enjoy the ride. With a dedicated volunteer team, CIS transfers sailors safely and comfortably onto a fleet of 16-foot RS Ventures for an enjoyable adventure around Newport Harbor. The adaptive boats have a unique side-byside bucket seat configuration, and each seat has its own vertical tiller that allows for joint steering. The connected tillers allow people of all abilities to take control, while being supported by another passenger in case they need a break or have limited arm strength. Including the sailor and CIS instructor, the boats can also accommodate a total of six people, so physical therapists, family members, and service dogs are invited along for the ride. Sailing encourages independence, boosts quality of life, and brings joy, Christian says. A lot of instincts on the boat transfer over to land-based activities, he notes — like coordination, communication, and awareness of your surroundings. It’s also personally transformative for CIS co-founder John Pascal “J.P.” van Houden, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than two decades ago at the age of 32. On the adapted sailboat, if his muscles start to stiffen or he becomes paralyzed, he won’t fall overboard. “It’s mentally therapeutic, for sure, and physically, [the therapeutic benefits] come naturally,” he says. “When I go sailing, it calms my whole body.” Because it utilizes the power of wind and there’s a team on board to help, sailing doesn’t require a lot of strength, he explains. Anybody can enjoy themselves out on a boat. “I haven’t met anybody who didn’t like sailing,” he says. “I feel freedom [on the water].” ___

Since 2014, the organization has sailed with hundreds of people from all over Southern California, connecting with individuals and other groups with similar missions. There are a lot of repeat sailors who want to come out again and again. The greatest reward for Christian and J.P. is seeing the joy in the eyes of participants who are facing a variety of challenges in life. “It’s magical when you have the ability and opportunity to help,” says J.P. J.P., who grew up in Holland and was an avid sailor and wind surfer, met Christian while snowboarding in Switzerland. Years later, they reconnected when they ended up living in Newport Beach. They realized that even here, with community resources and waterfront access, people with disabilities still had limited opportunities to sail. Working with members of the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club — including local pro Berkeley Green, who still supports CIS as an instructor — a team of volunteers launched California Inclusive Sailing. “The catalyst was our passion for sailing and to help people get out on the water,” Christian says. The nonprofit raises funds to purchase boats and then donates them to clubs in need of an inclusive sailing program. The first boat went to Life Sail, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that provides underserved youth with character-building programs through the art of sailing and seamanship. The second and third boats were given to yacht clubs in Richmond and Half Moon Bay. CIS currently sails with the fourth boat in Newport Beach. On Nov. 25, 2021, it received a pledge for a fifth boat, which will stay in Newport. The current boat will be donated to a different club; more than a dozen between LA and San Diego have expressed interest and have a volunteer group behind them. The goal is to give a boat to any club in need, Christian says. Eventually, they hope to see several of these adaptive sailboats cruising around Newport Harbor. “We want to really create a big inclusive sailing revolution down here,” Christian says. “We’re working on one boat at a time right now.”

___ With Southern California’s yearlong moderate weather, CIS can sail in any season.Newport Bay is an ideal setting, Christian says, calling it “Champagne sailing.” The average wind speed is 8 knots and there is a 5-knot speed limit, so it’s slow sailing, making it easy for those new to the sport to feel comfortable. The bay is also well protected from the stronger winds and bigger waves they face out in the ocean, but there is still plenty of room to sail. And if you ask J.P., he’ll be the first to tell you it’s never boring. Most trips stay in the bay, but if participants are feeling, they can sail out to the ocean adventurous (weather and time permitting). J.P. has ventured out into open water a few times himself. “I’m a daredevil in that sense,” he says. He was even part of the CIS crew that participated in the 2021 Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. The team completed the shorter competitive event to Dana Point in just over four hours. He definitely plans on racing again, he confirms. CIS sails out of A’maree’s boutique on Coast Highway. It’s hard to find a place that works, Christian notes, because ramps are often too wobbly or too short for people in wheelchairs. Low tide can also be tricky, but he’s bought a handheld, fold-up ramp to help. Currently, the team has to hand-transfer people from wheelchairs onto boats using a few different tools, including a transfer sling with six handles. They make it work, but J.P. explains it could be much easier with a mechanical lift. Getting a mechanical lift at a local, public dock has been a goal since they started the program, Christian says. This year, it’s finally coming true. A lift

is scheduled to be installed at Marina Park on the Balboa Peninsula sometime in 2022. Owned by the city of Newport Beach, Marina Park has a lot of sailing amenities, dock and dine restaurants, accessible features, plenty of parking, and a long, wide dock. Once installed, it will be the only public dock in California with a boat lift compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; currently, the only transfer lifts in the state are all on private docks. The adaptive hoist would support boating programs, like CIS, and be available to all boaters utilizing the harbor — thus expanding opportunities for the public to learn how to sail and providing equitable access in the harbor. “Newport Beach will be proud to be the first city in California to provide this opportunity for greater access to the water,” says Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon, who brought the idea of the lift at Marina Park forward to the city council. Kevin, who’s been on the CIS boat a few times with his son, says the organization has really made a difference for a lot of people. “[CIS] is a great program and really changes the lives for those with issues accessing the water.” The ADA transfer lift is a big local milestone for CIS, and one step closer toward its ultimate dream to see the program go nationwide or even international. “We’ve been pretty clear on what we want to do since day one,” Christian says. “The goal is to get more people out on the water.” To learn more about CIS, visit facebook. com/California-Inclusive-Sailing-NewportBeach-2148974655393071.

BE WELL When a cancer journey becomes an education in holistic, cannabis-based healthcare By Amy Senk Justine Amodeo was 26 years old, alone in New York City, and had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I was working as a magazine editor,” she says. “I had just left the New York Times and had started a job at Omni magazine when I was diagnosed, literally the first week of work.” She went through a traditional cancer treatment protocol — chemotherapy and surgery. It didn’t work. Two years later, the cancer was back. “I was told I had a 50 percent chance of surviving this time,” she says. “If I was going to die, I wanted to leave my mark on the world and write a novel. I applied to graduate schools on the ocean and in

Photos courtesy of Justine Amodeo

the forest. I had this romantic idea I would go there and breathe my last breaths into a book.” Her odyssey brought her to California, where she found doctors who specialized in Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as a husband, family, magazine editing job and, ultimately, a new career journey as a cannabis expert and caregiver at Laguna Beach’s Earth Alchemy Holistic Care. Like most odysseys, Justine’s path had twists and turns after following her dream to UC Irvine’s MFA program in the late 1980s. She continued her journalism career, editing, writing and wandering the globe to craft epic travel pieces. She married and had two children — something she’d been told would likely never happen for her.

Suzanne asked her to talk with another woman going through treatment for breast cancer about some of the steps she herself had taken. It led to more conversations with others, while still working full time as an editor.

But in 2010, cancer returned, this time an aggressive form of breast cancer detected by chance when she was seeking relief for whiplash after a wild press trip through India. “I decided to embrace everything,” she says. “I’m literally writing a book called ‘I Believe in Everything’ because of all the things I did. Besides going through radiation and chemotherapy, I was doing infrared saunas; I was doing coffee enemas; I was doing hyperbaric oxygen; I was on an alkaline diet; I was juicing. I took a leave of absence from my job. I was exercising every day. I went to a Russian cosmonaut up in L.A. who had some crazy machine that was supposed to cure cancer. I went to a faith healer. Anything that was out there.” She considered cannabis oil, but in 2010, it was very expensive and difficult to find in Southern California — not really an option then, she says. One of her friends, fellow Laguna Beach mom Suzanne DeCarion, had been doing extensive plant medicine and cannabis medicine research; in 2013, Suzanne launched a medical marijuana collective before cannabis was legal recreationally. Justine had already incorporated visualization and diet changes during and after her second cancer treatment, but this time, with Suzanne’s wisdom, she went even further in supplementing her healing with a cannabis oil protocol meant to help keep the cancer in remission. At the time, Justine was helping her with some writing and marketing. But over the years, she became more and more involved with cannabis medicine. One day,

Eventually, by August 2020 — 10 years cancer free — Justine became a part-time journalist and a fulltime Healer-certified cannabis advisor and cannabis caregiver, working with Suzanne at Earth Alchemy Holistic Care. Many of their clients are stage four cancer patients, but cannabis oil also can help those who have issues with insomnia, anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, autism spectrum disorders and more. She and Suzanne have worked with children, as well as beloved pets, and consult with doctors who often refer their own patients. The cannabis caregiving business is complicated, regulated by state and local laws that dictate how many plants they can grow, how they can distribute and be compensated for the oils they make and give to clients, and even how many clients they can have at any one time. Justine says they work with each person, studying their diagnosis to create strainspecific, dose-specific protocols. They dive deep with their research, and while they aren’t physicians, they are highly educated in the effects of cannabis, terpene profiles, and in creating the proper cannabis oil dosages. They also offer exercise and nutrition advice, meditation workshops and basic caregiving services.

Walking into a recreational marijuana dispensary and asking for products to help medical issues can be a crapshoot, Justine says. “They might have a basic idea of what a medical dose is, but as far as the strain they’re giving you, or what kind of cancer you have, they don’t really know — unless they are a dispensary specifically for critically ill patients. For example, there are different strains for a child with epilepsy or someone with a brain tumor than someone with estrogen-positive breast cancer or lung cancer. And then there are decisions about dosing, which we are constantly changing and following up on. We also have doctors we consult with, including medical cannabis doctors, when we have a complicated situation.” Many doctors are supportive, Justine says, and refer some of their patients as clients. “Some of them have seen miraculous things happen and they want to talk to us about what we did,” she says. “We work with cancer patients who are doctors, who are clergymen, who are teachers, who are very conservative, religious moms and dads who want to live and who are willing to do anything to make that happen.” Justine gets that — she lived it, over and over again. Today, Justine’s health is good; the day before we

spoke, she had a clean PET scan, which means she’s still cancer-free. We met at a North Laguna coffee shop beneath her new office, across from her yoga studio, over herbal tea. “Working as a magazine editor full-time for 30 years, I started to feel like, ‘What actual contribution am I making to the world? How am I helping people?’” she says. “I wasn’t personally feeling like this was my dharma, that this was what I was supposed to be doing.” If Earth Alchemy Holistic Care existed a decade ago, Justine says she could have had a “one-stop shop of information” as well as cannabis oils that she couldn’t access at the time. Ensuring that clients going through treatment today have these options for relief adds the purpose that was missing before from her life. “Every time we work with somebody who calls us and says, ‘I’m sleeping, I feel so much better, my tumor markers are going down, the experience with chemo was a breeze, my depression is gone, my pain is gone, my dog is having a miraculous recovery’ — that keeps us going.” earthalchemyholisticcare.com | IG: @earthalchemyholisticcare

OF I NTEREST EMPOWE R I N G WO M EN, FROM S EED TO S HE LF By Allison Hata

In the concrete jungle where dreams are made and broken, a bright-eyed entrepreneur carried a region’s future in the palm of her hand. Her purpose? To create living wage opportunities for women in Ghana by helping to sell their organic, natural shea butter. But as Rahama Wright walked the floor of a New York City conference hall in 2011 — holding a small sample container, unable to afford a display table to woo some of the world’s largest beauty ingredient manufacturers — she reached a tipping point. “Imagine a young woman, I think I was in my mid20s at the time, running around like, ‘Hey! Would you like to buy shea butter made in Africa?’” Rahama says. “And these super formal business executives and directors, probably sourcing for Fortune 500 companies, were just like, who is this person?” Rahama is the CEO and founder of Shea Yeleen. Launched in 2005, it then operated as a nonprofit supporting the financial empowerment of African women

Photos courtesy of Shea Yeleen

who harvest shea for commercial manufacturing. “There are an estimated 16 million African women who are part of the global shea butter supply chain, but for decades and decades, they've never been visible,” Rahama explains. “Why are these women so poor, yet they are supplying raw materials to incredibly large, multi-billion dollar industries?” Through Shea Yeleen, she invested heavily in the supply chain. She provided access to capital, helped women acquire equipment and built the infrastructure so they could not only harvest shea, but handcraft it into butter they could sell. Rahama supported everything from filing incorporation documents to technical assistance — but did nothing in terms of marketing.

believed a career in international affairs was in the cards, two years in Mali opened her eyes to the daily issues facing many of her community members. Watching women visit the health center, unable to afford basic medical services, sent her researching potential income-generating opportunities. She educated herself on the supply chains in Africa, where so much raw material like shea grows, but then leaves the continent for international manufacturing and distribution.

It was in that New York City conference hall, at a gathering hosted by the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, where Rahama had an “aha” moment that changed everything. “I was talking to a guy who was displaying his product and he says, ‘Hey, listen, no one is going to buy that. … No one trusts that African women will make as good quality. Most of the shea we bring to market is chemically processed in Europe and Asia,’” she recalls. At a time when conventional brands were concerned about shelf stability and aesthetic standards, the clean beauty movement was not yet on the radar. The natural, unrefined shea butter from Ghana is devoid of any chemicals and packed with vitamins A, E and F, but also varies in color depending on the type of shea nuts used, as well as the processing method. It posed a challenge for Rahama, who was trying to help the cooperatives find cosmetic industry buyers. “If you're creating a natural, organic product, it's impossible to make it cookie cutter, right? It's still quality. It's still pure and natural. All of that great stuff, but they're not looking for that. They just want something that essentially looks like Crisco,” she says. “If I was going to be able to help these women, … it was actually requiring a complete transformation of the way the market sees this product.”

“I was so certain that these women deserved a seat at the table when it came to the billions of dollars being made using their labor. No one can tell me I was wrong,” Rahama says. “Being able to see the disconnect is part of the reason why I created Shea Yeleen.” Another reason hits a little closer to home. Though Rahama grew up in upstate New York, her mother was born and raised in Ghana by a family who wanted to stop her education and marry her off young — just like so many others who now form shea butter cooperatives with Shea Yeleen. “My mom is those women,” she says. “I see the struggle that she had immigrating to a foreign country and trying to make a better life for herself and her children.” Like her mother, the women in Rahama’s Peace Corps community and those she now works with are real people, not just numbers in a spreadsheet. She has spent time in their homes, met their kids and developed a deep connection beyond a business transaction. One woman, Gladys, shared with Rahama that she experienced violence in her home stemming from the family’s financial struggles. But when she became a shea producer, the relationship with her partner was strengthened. He felt a great sense of pride in her work and relief in knowing her increased income could help with expenses. But most importantly, Gladys had an opportunity to create a better life for her daughter.

And with that, the idea for Shea Yeleen’s next phase as a social impact business was born, selling its own line of skin care products using shea butter produced by and purchased from women in Ghana. ___ To understand Rahama’s drive and passion for supporting women in Africa, you can draw a dotted line to her time in the Peace Corps. Though she once

“It's different when you see it firsthand, young girls in my community just having to stay home,” Rahama says. “And so the number one thing women in our cooperatives do when they have increased income is send both their kids to school.” ___ Since formally transitioning to a social enterprise model and launching Shea Yeleen as a product in 2012, Rahama has secured capital from venture funds, launched pop-ups in locations like Washington National Airport, and landed deals with the likes of Whole Foods and MGM Resorts. More recently, Shea Yeleen was invited to join Macy’s last year as part of the 15 Percent Pledge initiative. You can now find the company’s shea products online at macys.com, with tentative plans to launch in-store in early 2022. A brand-new $640,000 government grant will also keep Rahama busy over the next 18 months, with a project from the economic development office to build a beauty makerspace in D.C. Prior to COVID-19, Rahama had reached 14 communities in Ghana. She had approximately 800 women working across a completely redesigned supply chain in which Shea Yeleen purchases directly from Ghanaian producers at a fair price — five times the local minimum wage. She has also worked tirelessly to educate U.S. consumers about natural beauty care products and fair trade. “How can I get someone… to care about how that lotion and cream is made?” she recalls asking herself. “And wanting to find and support a brand that's ethically sourcing and developing living wage jobs.” It came down to two things: offering a quality shea product, whether that’s Shea Yeleen’s lip balm, body cream, body balm or soap, and bringing customers into the journey and process of making each item.

Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a photo or video on social media. But Rahama is incredibly proud of a program she launched pre-pandemic, which brings women from cooperatives to the United States for several weeks to observe business operations. They participate in everything from touring Whole Foods with buyers to supporting company pop-ups with live production demonstrations. The experience offers perspective for everyone involved. The women can see their work on the shelf and gain a fuller understanding of their direct impact on the industry. And for customers, it supports Rahama’s efforts to bring a real face to the shea products. “We're here for that customer who understands that in order to take care of yourself, you have to also think about caring for others,” she says. “… They're invested in our product because of the quality, but they also feel the connection to the work that we're doing.” Of all the accolades Rahama has earned in her career — and there have been plenty, including appointment to the inaugural Presidential Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa — it’s these trips for Ghanaian women that she considers irreplaceable successes. Because ultimately, she’s not trying to create shea producers forever. Instead, Rahama hopes to bolster a new wave of entrepreneurs, who take the skills learned from Shea Yeleen to create bigger and better opportunities. “We want them to be able to save their money, and invest in other income-generating activities,” she says, mentioning that Gladys eventually opened up a food cafe and employed her neighbor. “Those are the types of ripple effect benefits that we seek with our business model.” She offers a few words of advice for these aspiring entrepreneurs: cultivate real, authentic relationships, and don’t be afraid to invest in your own care. “Being an entrepreneur, especially an entrepreneur of color, especially a woman, there are so many ‘-isms’ that you have to overcome to even just get to the table or just get to a place where you're going to be taken seriously,” she says. “The amount of fortitude, persistence and resilience is heavy mentally. … Be incredibly mindful of your stress triggers when you're feeling burnt out. Take care of yourself. I certainly need to take this advice more!” sheayeleen.com | IG: @sheayeleen

GETAWAY

PALM SPRINGS By Elisabeth Abrahamson The greater Palm Springs area is a beautiful destination year-round, but there’s something magical about visiting in winter. Whether you’re looking to rest and refresh or get out and be active (hello, new year, new you!), Palm Springs has something for everyone.

Photos courtesy of Miramonte Indian Wells

SLEEP Miramonte Indian Wells, which recently underwent a $9 million renovation, is an excellent choice for a desert stay. With its Mediterranean style, the resort offers 215 guest rooms and villas surrounded by olive trees, citrus groves, and flower gardens. Guests can take a dip in one of three pools, as well as play bocce ball, experience a treatment at the spa, and lounge around the fire pits at night with a hot cup of cocoa (or a glass of wine!). miramonteresort.com | IG: @miramonteresort 45000 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells

“Alice in Wonderland meets Brigitte Bardot” is how founder Corey St. John describes the brand-new Fleur Noire Hôtel. He enlisted his longtime friend, designer Chris Pardo, to help guide the vision for the property. “We wanted to create more than just a place to rest your head,” says Corey. “We wanted to create an immersive experience.” Corey and Chris worked together to bring new and vibrant life to the old hotel, or “beige box” as they called it. With 21 rooms, the intimate property is an excellent choice for recharging after in the new year. Fleur’s Champagne bar, La Boisson, opens this month with dozens of rosé varieties, Champagne, wines, beer, and signature cocktails. fleurnoirehotel.com | IG: @fleur_noire_hotel 1555 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Photos courtesy of Miramonte Indian Wells, Fleur Noire Hôtel, Rancho Relaxo, and Mojave Flea

SHOP Desert travelers looking for a curated gift selection should pop into new boutique Rancho Relaxo in Rancho Mirage. “Rancho Relaxo is a celebration of beautiful items created by very talented artists, artisans, and craftspeople,” shop owner Stella Adena says. After having two kids and leaving a career in investment banking, Stella wanted a change. Growing up in Ohio, she fantasized about a life in California because she felt at home in the desert. “The desert is my home and I wanted to share that with the local community and amazing flow of travelers who pass through.” There’s something for everyone here: clothing for men and women, home decor, accessories, gift items, and so much more. “Rancho Relaxo is living your best life,” she says. And that’s exactly how you’ll feel in her boutique. ranchorelaxoca.com | IG: @ranchorelaxoca | 69930 Highway 111, Suite 116, Rancho Mirage In 2018, James Anthony Morelos opened Mojave Flea as a nomadic, pop-up marketplace in Palm Springs. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he decided to turn the pop-up into a brick-and-mortar store that would be open daily to support all the local makers’ goods. “We created a business model where the majority of the revenue goes directly to the makers and merchants,” James says. “It’s had a positive impact on their small businesses.” The Palm Springs location was such a success that James was able to open a second shop in Yucca Valley. The two shops carry handmade and sustainable brands from the low and high deserts. Shoppers will find everything from apothecary goods to home and apparel to a wine and beer shop (Palm Springs location only). shoptradingpost.com | IG: @mojaveflea | 383 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs and 55727 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley

SIP Step inside Bar Cecil and you might feel like you’re at a cafe in Europe. The bistro/bar has a similar feel to a “jewel box,” general manager Nate VanDeventer says. “English wallpaper, chartreuse velvet booths, and cerulean blue barstools,” are standout design touches that make Bar Cecil feel so luxe. And while we’re crushing on the bistro’s design, let’s not forget about the showstopping menus. If you’re a caviar fan, order it served with crème fraiche and a vodka shot. Other food options include tomahawk steak served with a house-made steak sauce, bucatini cacio e pepe, pan-seared halibut, and a cheeseburger. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a specialty cocktail like Herman’s Nectar, a bourbon and Aperol sipper with watermelon and fresh lemon. barcecil.com | IG: @barcecil | 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite H-104, Palm Springs

Photos courtesy of Bar Cecil and Boozehounds

EAT New on the block, Boozehounds is a must-eat restaurant. The dining spot offers pet-friendly dining — complete with a menu for dogs — innovative bites, and plenty of photo opps for IG-friendly diners. Go for dinner and start with a house-made cocktail paired with the oven-roasted, sweet chile crisp Brussels sprouts and burrata doused in a mushroom wasabi brood, roasted okra, basil, and topped with pepitas, chive oil, and served with focaccia. You can’t go wrong with the crudo (bluefin tuna with marcona almonds and fresh mint!), but if you’re looking for something heartier, go for the miso Chilean fish and chips or the double cheeseburger with fries. The menu for furry friends includes mains such as a chicken bowl, turkey jerky, and more. boozehoundsps.com IG: @boozehoundsps | 2080 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

DO Visitors looking to get fresh air and reconnect with nature can check out the Long Canyon Trailhead, which debuted last month. The gorgeous, but strenuous, trail takes hikers from the starting point at Long Canyon Road and Hacienda Avenue into Joshua Tree National Park. The 9-mile round-trip hike offers picturesque views of the natural flora and fauna of the park.

TO DO MAK E REALITY YOU R RES OLUTION How to turn your Netflix binge into an exciting new hobby By Maisy Menzies When cold weather sends a coastal chill across Southern California, it seems like there’s no place cozier than our couches with a remote in hand. And with so many binge-worthy reality and competition shows on TV — from “The Great British Bake Off” to “Blown Away” — you might be heading into 2022 with a burning desire to learn something new. Whether it’s learning a delicious skill or cultivating an artistic talent, nothing says the new year like a new hobby. But while it can be hard to find ways to turn these fleeting interests into real life passions, don’t let nerves stop you from breaking out of your comfort zone. To make it easier for you to fulfill your New Year’s resolution, here’s a guide to some of the best places to start your journey. These classes are perfect for those with no experience and will leave you with an impressive ability to fill 2022 with excitement, beauty, and maybe even some tasty treats.

Photo credit courtesy of Eatz and Sur La Table

Sur La Table Sure, you know how to make a simple pasta dish or scramble eggs for breakfast, but you’re ready to develop that basic ability into a tasty talent. Take an in-person class at one of Sur La Table’s OC locations and you’ll be making a gourmet meal like beef Wellington or lobster ravioli in no time. With experienced instructors, small class sizes and a fully stocked workstation, Sur La Table’s classes offer a personalized educational experience where you can ask questions and receive help in real-time. If you prefer to cook from the comfort of your home, Sur La Table also has virtual classes that provide the freedom to learn complicated recipes and culinary techniques at your own pace. Get the whole family involved in learning to make tamales or have a romantic date night learning to cook a delicious pan-roasted chicken. In-person classes start at $59, virtual classes start at $29 per household. surlatable.com | IG: @surlatable

Eatz If you want to learn one incredible dish that will blow your friends and family away at dinner parties, try a virtual class from Eatz. You can whip up meals like ravioli from scratch or learn to cook with tequila, all with guided instruction to help you through every step in the process. You’ll leave each class with a new recipe in your back pocket and the skills to replicate the dish the next time you want to impress your guests. The company’s virtual cooking courses can also help you turn that passion for good food into a professional skill. If making one dish just isn’t enough, Eatz offers a condensed culinary school course that teaches you all the building blocks to become a great chef. During the series of five classes, you’ll learn everything from how to use your knives to how to make sauces, soups and even pizzas from scratch. Virtual classes start at $35, culinary school series starts at $250. eatzla.com | IG: @eatzla

The Pastry School For those wanting to learn how to make gourmet-style baked goods, The Pastry School in Tustin offers the ambiance and environment of a prestigious culinary school with no experience required. You might arrive not knowing how to bake a simple cupcake, but when you leave, you’ll have all the tools and instructions needed to create some of the most complicated and delicious treats around. Lessons led by gifted chef instructors provide guidance on how to make complex desserts like vanilla strawberry macarons or French eclairs. And even better, the next time you want a gourmet treat, you’ll know how to make it at home. Three-hour single-day lessons start at $110. thepastryschool.org

Sugar by Sarah Nothing pairs with cold weather quite like a warm baked good fresh out of the oven. If you want to learn how to fill your home with the delicious scent of fresh croissants or a tasty pie this winter, Sugar by Sarah is a great place to start. The LA-based bakery offers virtual classes to create all the very best baked treats, from individualized pies to cookies to English muffins. Many of Sarah’s classes are open to all ages, perfect for partnering up with your little one to make buttery, flakey pastries that the whole family can enjoy. Sarah’s instruction makes it easy to follow along and get in-depth guidance on how to successfully execute recipes that can be difficult to tackle solo. Virtual classes start at $15. sugarbysarahla.com IG: @sugarbysarah

Photos courtesy of The Pastry School, Sugar by Sarah, Venice Glassworks, and Blushington

Venice Glassworks Glass blowing seems like a daunting skill to pick up, with dangerous elements like torches and open flames used to manipulate the shape of the glass into something incredibly beautiful. At Venice Glassworks, instructor Ernest Miranda wants to make it as easy as possible for people who have never touched tools to learn the ins and outs of this craft. Classes at Venice Glassworks in Venice Beach are available for all age groups, including young children with parental supervision. These intensive classes offer a comfortable, guided environment and you’ll leave with a beautiful glass piece to show for your time. Four-hour private lessons start at $300, with per-person prices decreasing with a larger group size. venice-glassworks.com

Blushington After almost two years of being cooped up at home, we all need a reason to get glammed up. Whether you are going to dinner or spending a night in, Blushington’s virtual makeup classes will provide you with the tools needed to produce the perfect look for any occasion. Take a one-on-one class to receive individualized tips and tricks on how to elevate your everyday makeup look to professional quality. You can also make it a party with a group classes or book a session for tweens and teens who want to explore makeup artistry. While it can be nerve-wracking to pick up a brush or eyeshadow, Blushington can teach you techniques to accentuate your individual beauty and make your at-home makeup routine pop with perfection. One-on-one classes start at $45, group classes start at $120 for 60 minutes and two guests. blushington.com | IG: @blushington

L AST LOO K

Artist: Leslie Allen Title: White Flask Dance Size: 60” x 60” Medium: Oil on Canvas kennedycontemporary.com | @kennedycontemporary Balancing her time between abstract oil painting and cello playing, Leslie Allen’s paintings reflect a keen understanding of the delicate balance between color and form. “White Flask Dance” is part of her Point-Counterpoint exhibition, with works created during the pandemic in 2020-2021. Allen describes this time as “the soulful days,” when her painting became directly influenced by her remote musical practice for the Marin Symphony Orchestra. Kennedy Contemporary will be celebrating the opening of PointCounterpoint with an artist reception from 5-7pm on January 13, accompanied by Bay Area cellist, Michael Fecskes, who will be playing music that inspired the paintings. The exhibition will run until February 21, and be available for viewing Tuesday - Friday (10am - 5pm) and Saturday - Sunday (11am - 3pm).