Lifestylist® Food

The world lost a very special person today - Elizabeth Taylor. She always handled herself with grace and dignity, and was a wonderful role model for all of us who were fortunate enough to grow up watching her on the silver screen. As a board member of the USA Film Festival, I've learned never to form an opinion about someone until I meet them in person, and sadly Ms. Taylor is one that I would have given anything to meet but it wasn't meant to be.
Denise Vivaldo - who is one of my favorite writers as well as being my role model in the styling world just posted a story in the Huffington Post about her encounter with Ms. Taylor. It makes me love Denise and Ms. Taylor even more. The title of the story is Elizabeth Taylor: Good Manners Never Go Out of Style and I couldn't agree more.
This weekend I was working with photographer Lisa Stewart LifeStyling Savor Dallas- a special food and wine event that I enjoy attending every year. To make the shots Lifestylist® Designed, I take my own glasses, plates, and styling utensils and try to get at least 50 great food and wine shots in about a 2 hour time frame - and did I mention we do this while the event is going on and we have to work around 2,000 -3,000 attendees? It's quite a juggling act. What struck me the most about this year's event was the lack of courtesy shown to the chefs and wine makers by the attendees. The whole point of an event like this is to educate people about your food and your wines, and hopefully they will come to your restaurant or buy your wines after the event is over. You would have thought some of these people were trying to win a million dollars by snagging the most to eat and drink -we were literally getting pushed and stepped on when we were trying to set up our shots, and people were taking the food that I styled right off of the plate (my plate) before we got get it photographed. The wine makers didn't have a chance to tell about their wines, because someone else was already putting out their empty glass to be filled.
Good manners never go out of style, and I'm actually appreciating the manners that my parents drilled into me at an early age. I never want to be the one pushing for a glass of wine or a dime sized piece of cheese - I want to remain a Lifestylist® and savor every moment and experience that I get to indulge in. Thanks Denise for this wonderful memory I will now have of Ms. Taylor and the reminder to live our lives with the dignity that others have shown us.

Oak Cliff, Texas is a great place to be right now if you are a foodie. We've had some amazing restaurants open in our area recently - everything from BBQ to fine dining. My favorite of them all right now though is BEE - Best Enchiladas Ever.
Restaurateur Monica Greene - well known for her legendary Monica's aca y alla and Ciudad restaurants has decided to combine fast with fresh. At BEE you get to write down which main choices you want, then after it's assembled you tell the chefs what vegetables and extras you want on them. You can then "BEE Gone" with your creations, or enjoy them in the bright, sunny dining area or on the patio - this Lifestylist's favorite. favorite. The patio is pet friendly as well so it's a really fun place just to hang out. Check out our Lifestylist Designed Media video to get an idea of why we love to BEE there.
I rarely eat meat, but when I was LifeStyling a photo shoot at BEE recently I got to sample the brisket, and I am hooked! It was lean and moist, and the perfect compliment to my favorite sauce - the Chipotle Crema. You get your choice of one or two enchiladas, so now I just get one cheese and one brisket!
BEE was chosen by a lot of national publications during the Super Bowl this year as the place to be seen - stop by and see for yourself why .
They are located at: 202 W. Davis Street, Dallas, TX 75208 and they are open 11am - 10pm 7 days a week. Tell them The Lifestylist® sent you!

It's hard to believe that Savor Dallas is less than a week away! This will be the 7th year that I've attended and styled the shots for photography - each year seems to be better than the last. As a Lifestylist®, I appreciate the fact that Savor Dallas is all about Living your Life with Style, and eating well as you do it!
With over 200 chefs, mixologists and winemakers typically bringing goodies that always not only look good enough to eat, but to shoot as well. I have to get with their team, style the item on a pretty plate that I bring along or a beautiful glass, then hand them off to photographer Lisa Stewart of Lisa Stewart Photography. We only have a few hours on each day to accomplish this so I'm always amazed at what Lisa is able to get photographed.
Today I pulled some of my favorite shots and made a video with them -great memories and inspiration on what I want to accomplish this year. Which is your favorite?
For more information on this fantastic event, contact Jim and Vicki at: www.savordallas.com
Most of the photography on the site is shots that Lisa and I did as well, so enjoy!

It's a small world after all: verrines, a French concept that layers ingredients in a small glass or clear container has been seen in restaurants and high end parties, and now it is making it's way to suburbia.
Verrines are as pretty to see as they are to eat, and it's a great way to cut calories by making portions smaller but still appealing to the eyes and the palette. These bites can be sweet or savory, and can add a touch of elegance to any event.
Pier 1 Imports has a great assortment of mini cordials, dessert bowls and shot glasses complete with coordinating spoons that are perfect for making your own verrines at home.
If you don't want to make these yourself, Seasons 52 Fresh Grill calls these their Mini Indulgences, and it's hard to only sample one. Choices include Key Lime Pie, Old Fashioned Carrot Cake, and Mocha Macchiato - yum! I recently went there with the owners of The New American Home for a celebration dinner and we kept (and ate) the entire Indulgence presentation - now THAT was a celebration!
The verrine trend is here to stay, and we are looking forward to sharing some of our favorite recipes for these here.

Are you looking for new housing trends, photos from the New American Home,travel destinations, or decorating ideas? We know the place to go!
Check out The Official Lifestylist® Channel - a place where we are putting together videos and information that can help you find the answers you are looking for.
There are lots of new projects in in production - we would love to hear from you and know what you'd be interested in seeing. Next week we are off to Arizona to visit The Mosaic Cafe, Sabino Canyon and Old Scottsdale! We will also be getting some advice from Thermador on what are the best appliances for my cooking style.
Lifestylist® Designed homes are becoming something that consumers are asking for, and we will be sharing some of our latest designs soon as well. Visit our new channel often to stay in touch - we'll see you there!

Are you looking for something easy and memorable to do for the special person in your life on Valentine's Day?
These White Chocolate Citrus Truffles will be a gift to remember. I entered these in the State Fair of Texas this year and they were a huge hit.
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 Cup Heavy Cream
Zest of 1 Orange
Zest of 1 Lemon
2 lbs. White Chocolate
1 Tablespoon Shortening
Combine zests and heavy cream in a small saucepan - simmer until bubbles appear.
Remove from heat and let sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, warm up again until bubbles appear.
Melt 1 lb. white chocolate, strain cream mixture and add to chocolate. Stir gently and allow to cool to room temperature.
Once cooled, place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Roll ganache into 1 inch round balls, then put in freezer to set at least 2 hours.
Melt remaining white chocolate, and stir in shortening. Dip centers into chocolate, then garnish with orange zest.

Valentines Day is almost here! I love making gifts for my family, friends and clients, and this is the goodie they always ask for.
At the recent IBS Show in Orlando I had my granddaughter help me make up some cookies and candy that I brought to the NAHB staff and to my favorite clients - it was a huge success. That is one of the important parts of being a Lifestylist® to me - using my talents to bring joy to others.
I've been entering variations of this toffee in the State Fair of Texas for years and this is the version that everyone asks for.
The key to candy making is having a good thermometer, and when I invested in a digital one it made all of the difference in the world. As soon as the temperature gets up to around 250 degrees start watching very closely - it will get to the optimum temperature quickly and if it heats to even 5 degrees more than it should it will burn. Enjoy!
Texas Butter Pecan Toffee
Ingredients:
1 lb Texas pecans
1 lb butter + 2 tablespoons butter for pecans
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup light Karo syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb chocolate chips
Directions:
In a skillet, stir butter and pecans together - cook over a low heat until lightly toasted. Remove from heat.
In a medium saucepan combine the rest of the butter, sugar, water and Karo syrup. Stir until mixture comes to a boil, then continue to cook without stirring until mixture reaches a temperature of 290 degrees. Stir in half of the pecans to mixture and turn out onto a 12” x 18” baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips and spread after they melt - then sprinkle rest of pecans on top and allow to cool. Break into bite sized pieces.

This Lifestylist® got a lovely thank-you note the other day from a reader. I had recommended The Gaylord Texan as the place to stay during Super Bowl XLV, and they couldn't agree more! With North Texas having the coldest weather we've had in years, being in the wonderful atmosphere of The Gaylord Texan with all of it's attractions, shopping and dining under one roof is definitely the place to be.
We have had the wonderful opportunity to meet with John Imaizumi - Senior Vice President and General Manager. It is obvious from the moment that you meet him why his "Stars" (what the employees are considered) and guests love him so much. His honest compassion and love for this group shines through, and you can see his attention to detail everywhere you turn.
Even if you aren't staying at this hotel, it's the perfect place to just go spend the day during your Super Bowl XLV visit. The Gaylord Texan is the official hotel for The Dallas Cowboys and is close to the stadium and DFW airport. There is great shopping for those Texas themed items, and coffee shops for you to just sit and people watch from.
The Old Hickory Steakhouse is our favorite restaurant in North Texas, and not only is the food spectacular, the staff knows how to make everyone feel important as well.  Executive Chef Joanne Bondy prepares her signature dishes including her Habanero Cream Corn that I can't get enough of! They also have tableside service for their artisanal cheeses and desserts.
If you want to get some lighter fare and focus on a wine tasting, be sure and visit Old Hickory's upstairs wine bar and veranda. It features an Enomatic wine system, and you can get flights of wines that you have always wanted to try in as little as a one ounce pour.
Ready to kick up your heels? The Glass Cactus Nightclub that is also part of the Gaylord Texan is the place to be. It boasts 39,000 sq. ft. of indoor floor space and has 13,000 sq. ft. of outdoor decks overlooking Lake Grapevine. They'll be having a special "Big Game" viewing and After-Party on the 6th.
We'd love to hear about your experiences at the places we recommend - feel free to let us know at: answers@lifestylist.com
Make sure and let people know that The Lifestylist® sent you - we love sharing our favorite destinations.

There are thousands of show homes built every year, but Champion Homes discovered a way to really set themselves apart from the crowd while doing a wonderful thing.
At the recent International Builders Show in Orlando, their Genesis division unveiled "The Tyler" - a beautiful modular home that was built at Champion's manufacturing facility in Lake City, FL. The home showcased how beautiful accessible design can be. The kitchen and master bath had the necessary clear space radius, and the wider hallways allowed for wheelchair accessibility. the home was filled with lots of innovative products - I especially loved the storage options that were shown.
The home was part of the NextGen Experience and was in the outdoor village at the show. Now that the show is over, Champion is teaming up with the non-profit organization Rebuilding Together and will be delivering the home to a lot in Tampa where it will be reassembled. The home has been donated to Mr. Waldemar Alameda and his family. Mr. Waldemar served our country in multiple tours of Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, and was severely injured in an IED explosion.
The home is beautiful inside and out, and I love the exterior elevation. The trim and color accents give the home lots of character and allow it to fit into almost any neighborhood in any part of the country.
As the Lifestylist® for Champion Homes of Texas, I couldn't be more proud of Champion and their giving spirit, and I hope that this home serves as an example of what can be accomplished with factory built housing and a company that knows how to give back to the community.

After years of build up and waiting, Super XLV has come to North Texas! Even with this crazy weather we are seeing more people trying out our favorite places to eat, drink, and be social. I found another great article written by a NT Times writer about where to go, and I love that he mentioned Bolsa - one of my favorite spots right here in The Lifestylist's neighborhood - Oak Cliff.
Bolsa is one of our many restaurants that has focused on using as many ingredients as possible that are locally grown or produced. Everything is super fresh, and the wonderful staff and atmosphere make it a great place to hang out.
The cheese flight is wonderful and a perfect starting point. My favorite entree is the Jimmy's Pizza. It's on a paper thin flatbread and has just enough heat to make me happy.
Save room for dessert - we tried the peanut butter and jelly Panna Cotta was heaven, and drizzled with local honey. Other recent choices were  Chocolate Chunk Tart, Lemon Honey Cake and White Chocolate Rum Tart.
Prices are reasonable, and they have a great covered patio for warmer days that is pet friendly.

It is FREEZING here today -last night a "northerner" blew in bringing ice, snow and frigid temperatures to Texas. Fortunately I went shopping yesterday and stocked the shelves of things this Lifestylist® loves to cook.
Vegetable soup is so easy to make from scratch - all it takes is your favorite vegetables, some chicken or vegetable stock and my secret ingredient - a few cans of Ro-Tel. I just prep all of the vegetables, put them in my slow cooker, add the stock and Ro-Tel and let it cook for 2 - 3 hours. It couldn't be easier and healthier. I make enough to last a few days so I can be as lazy as I want to.