RBNcontest: Zwilling Canada Giveaway featuring Sorrento Double Wall Glass Collection!

Gooooood Morning World!  Super duper excited this morning!  We love contests around here - gives us a chance to interact with our audience, see who's watching and GIVE AWAY a beautiful prize pack!

 Zwilling Canada has been a staple in my house and kitchen for years - for those who aren't familiar, Zwilling is the powerhouse knives and kitchen wares that YOU will find worldwide.  Trusted, tested and longevity is their game.  Super honoured to be a Brand Ambassador for them, it gives me the opportunity to reach out, host great events and contests.

UP FOR GRABS: Full set of each Sorrento Double Glass Collection.  Keeps hot hot, and cold cool!  Espresso, Macchiato, Coffee, Dessert (Use these everyday!) & Tea.  ENTER NOW!

SORRENTO: Macchiato, espresso, coffee, dessert and tea sets!  WORTH $130

To enter:  Follow us on Instagram - @zwilling_ca & @thehealthybies.  Tag two friends in the comments about why you should win!  Winners will be announced Monday June 6th, 5 pm on blog and Instagram. 

For more details and just to peruse all the amazing lines click on zwilling.ca!

Here's some of the amazing stuff we've been doing:

HUGE FEATURES on FEEDFEED - Staub Collection (Also a partner)

And some lovely shots and recipes... check it out! 

***Contest open to Canadian residents only, excluding Quebec.

  Happy Monday and GOOD LUCK!

xoxo rbn

RBNevents: FREE event that you don't want to miss.

 Happy Wednesday folks!  

I don't always share events the evening before but I'm too excited not to share this one!  It fuses my love of cook books, community, chefs and The Hudson Bay!

Taste Canada is know for showcasing outstanding chefs and cookbooks every year..  

Thursday, May 26, 2016 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Featuring Derek Dammann & Chris Johns, authors of “True North”

WHERE:

Hudson’s Bay Queen Street
176 Yonge St., 7th floor

Thank you for your interest in this event.

Unfortunately, we’re all booked up. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

  

The highlights: The men behind the evening...

DEREK DAMMANN

Chef

Derek Dammann was born in Campbell River, B.C., the salmon capital of the world. After studying cooking in Nanaimo, chef Dammann worked in one of Canada’s great Italian restaurants, Zambri’s, in Victoria before making his way to the UK to work with world-renowned chef, Jamie Oliver. There, he helped develop the concept behind Fifteen, Oliver’s British cocktail bar and restaurant, and later, Dammann became the corporate chef of Sweet Candy, Oliver’s private production company. He subsequently returned to Canada and settled in Montreal, where he opened DNA, one of the most exciting nose-to-tail dining establishments in North America. He partnered with Jamie Oliver once again to open Maison Publique, a hugely popular and highly regarded gastro pub.

CHRIS JOHNS

Food writer

Chris Johns is one of Canada’s most respected food writers. He spent his early years in the Northwest Territories before moving south and eventually finding his way to Toronto. He has written extensively for en Route, The Globe and Mail, Wallpaper, Toronto Life and various international publications. His work has been translated into three languages and has appeared in the Best Food Writing compilation.


What does this all mean?  If you RSVP here http://www2.thebay.com/giftregistry/tastecanada/ then you have the opportunity to come with us tomorrow night! 

PLUS: Enter for the chance to WIN one of five great prizes:

An ALL-CLAD 10-piece stainless steel cookware set, valued at $850

Two tickets to the Taste Canada Awards night in November, valued at $200

Dinner for two at Derek Dammann and Jaimie Oliver’s restaurant, Maison Publique, in Montreal!

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?  Not at all!

Thanks to our amazing sponsors:

 

THANKS TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS:

Enjoy the night and make sure to follow us and all of the sponsors before you join us in the festivities!

rbn
xxox

Pure Leaf Tea + RBN = Fun and creative project!

Happy Victoria Day everyone!

So for those of you that know us - we drink a lot of tea here.  Yes yes we have our almost daily, one cup of coffee but we also give TEA a chance.  herbal, black, white all of the teas.  SO when Bite Me Creative had this opportunity to work with Pure Leaf Unsweetened Teas we jumped at the opportunity to make some delightful and creative spring tea combinations!  I was able to hone mine this weekend at some dinners and bbq's and these are the top three that made it:

  

Drink #1: Using the #unsweetened black tea, original.
 
💥 The perfect end to the wknd: | Ginger | @pureleaficedtea ‪#‎brewed‬ tea | A touch of 🌹 water | Vanilla bean |. A tad fragrant & sort or 💞 romantic. Creative projects are always the most fun. I suggest you grab some and make your ‪#‎combo‬.  Inspiration & mood was watching the sunset and reading a book.  Some quiet time after a busy and social weekend.  This was delicious! (No sugar added!)

 

Drink #2: Using #unsweetened greentea, iced tea. (Taken from IG).  Inspiration was cooling down after yoga.  This felt so refreshing and was exactly what I needed (and a big glass of water).

Pssss. What's better than an ‪#‎icedtea‬ on a hot ‪#‎spring‬ day? Nada. My spin: Lemongrass simple syrup (made with honey) | Fresh mint 🌿 | and Kiwi |. Boom.
Maybe you didn't know ⁉️:
@pureleaficedtea is brewed from real tea leaves picked at their freshest to deliver a genuine tea experience to their clients! 




Drink #3: Using the #unsweetened lemon brewed tea.  Inspo was facing work and emails on a holiday Monday.  Decided to add some locally made spirit from our friends at Dillons Diistillery!

🍇 Love ‪#‎dreaming‬ up ‪#‎combinations‬ for @pureleaficedtea. We jumped at the opportunity to work with @bitemecreative ~ dream team.

Blackberry, Ginger & Pear de Vie (@dillonsdistills) Lemon Iced Tea:
Purée 🍠 & blackberries. Add 1 oz. spirit. Lots of ice. Pretty glass. Garnish with edible flower and berry.
Pure leaf brewed tea's are the perfect beverage to go with lunch, work (seen here), dinner & long wknd cocktails! 

***This should be your go-to summer cocktail!  Not too sweet and so pretty!


 



Hope everyone had an amazing long weekend!  Don't forget to follow Pure Leaf and RBN on Instagram!

xooxox
 

Feed it Forward - How are WE dealing with food insecurities?

The amazing #FEEDITFORWARD team!

Last week I was approached by our dear friends at Gastropost Toronto to write and share what food insecurity means to me.  

I figure we should begin with the true meaning of Food Insecurity - according to Stats Canada:

 

• Food insecurity rates have remained relatively stable over time. Every year from 2007 to 2012, approximately 5% of Canadian children and 8% of Canadian adults lived in food insecure households. This means that they did not have access to a sufficient variety or quantity of food due to lack of money.

• The most recent statistics indicate that in 2011–2012, 8.3% of Canadian households experienced food insecurity.

• Nunavut had the highest rate of food insecurity (36.7%), over four times the Canadian average (8.3%) in 2011–2012. ce94c57ca63fb7a3967e28c7dab12b25bd0ff946cf0f417e69

• In 2011–2012, the rate of food insecurity was more than three times higher in households where government benefits were the main source of income (21.4%) compared with households with an alternate main source of income (6.1%).

1 in 6 Canadian children are affected by hunger.. Astonishing fact.  We must work harder to eliminate this stat.

As we can see, this is cause for concern.  How do we as a city, province and nation address this?  How are we relieving or refocusing on lowering these issues.  Good news is that there is a movement happening - Thanks to Maple Leaf Foods and Gastropost Toronto people are stepping up to get involved through community gardens, education, lunch programs, volunteering OR even nominating someone in their (your) community that is going above and beyond to assist in food insecurities.

All smiles - the mini humans are so inspiring and great to be around!

How is RBN helping - Well food and wellness has always been in our top considerations BUT as of last year I've been working with Real Food for Real Kids (RFRK) - which is a non for profit dedicated to bringing kids (some less fortunate) whole foods that are ethically sourced,  quality made, grown by local farmers, using only environmentally responsible vehicles and supply litter-less reusable lunch containers.   Oh and you get to spend afternoons learning and educating young minds about food and such.  Its such a joy and has become the favourite part of my week. 

What are some other great ways YOU can get involved?

1. Community gardens: Pitch in some volunteer hours to help seed, plants and teach the younger generations about how and why local food growth and sustainability is a prime issue.
2. Form a group in your neighbourhood or school, maybe you take turns doing a new activity bi-weekly to bring awareness and support.
3. Nominate someone YOU know that is already taking part in this great initiative - click HERE for details to #feeditforward pledge!
4. Look to schools and daycares to teach and get them involved, in my experience as a nutritionist - the more kids know, the more apt they are to learn, eat and explore food and our food culture!
5. Let RBN know your idea too - we're always looking for new ways to motivate and give back!

***

 “​This blog post was promoted by Gastropost + Maple Leaf Foods but the opinions are completely my own based on my experience.”

Please share this with anyone you think should be involved!

xoxo
rbn

RBNfeature: #WCW: Lesley Rubinoff, CNP (Montreal counterpart)

 Happy #WCW - Woman Crush Wednesdays people!

To recognize this fine day and all of the great women - We are going to add in some female highlights, features, guest blogs and more bi-monthly on Wednesdays! 

Our first female up is Lesley Rubinoff, CNP, NNCP.  We met last year over social media and are now in talks about how we can be each others Toronto & Montreal counterparts.  Leslie will also be guest writing to keep us in the loop all things French, health and food!

Today Lesley is sharing her top 3 essential oils, a bit about herself and as always a delightful smoothie (we love making new ones)!... take it away woman..

 #WCW number one: Lesley Rubinoff CNP. NNCP

As a certified Holistic Nutritionist and in practice for the past 5 years, my soul purpose in life is to change the lives of others, to educate, to inspire, to motivate and to be a leader in the dynamic field of wellness.  I believe everything I have gone through has put me where I am today, I am the reason others change their lives, because I am an example. I have the knowledge and the tools to enable others to take control of their lives. My journey into all of this started with me!

2015 was a really rough year for me, I went from high and thriving to the bottom of the barrel. It was at that lowest moment that a friend had reached out to me and introduced me to the power of essential oils. Even as a holistic practitioner, I wasn't sold on the idea of essential oils, I was skeptical. However, I started to use the oils and things for me started to change.  My mood enhanced, I was able to quiet my mind and shut it down so I could sleep, my hormones balanced, my blood sugars balanced, I was able to concentrate and focus and my body started to detoxify. I noticed the glow in my skin returned, I was sleeping better then I ever had, waking up rested and ready to conquer the world, my food cravings subsided and my metabolism seemed to ramp up. My body truly came into balance. Recently, I had a completely random severe allergic reaction; I used a combination of 3 oils, which acted as a powerful all-natural antihistamine. Automatically cooling down my body, reducing the inflammation and calming me down. I believe there is an essential oil that can benefit everyone. It is important to only use certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils CPTG.

My top 3 favorite essential oils

*All 3 of these oils server multipurpose, here are a few ideas.

Lavender

Calming – Reduces anxiety and stress, calms the mind, a few drops on the temples, bottom of the feet, neck and wrist or even directly on your pillow.

Insect bites - Put a drop of Lavender oil on a bee sting or insect bite to stop itching reduce swelling.

Nauseas or motion sickness -Alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness, place a drop of Lavender oil on end of tongue, behind the ears or around the navel.

Cuts – Put a drop of lavender oil on cut to stop bleeding, clean wound, and kill bacteria.

Lemon

Detoxifying- To every 4 oz of water add 1 drop of lemon oil for a natural body cleansing of your liver, kidneys, and digestive system.  Also helps boost metabolism.

Heart burn- Add three drops of lemon to water to help reduce heartburn and acid indigestion.

WE LOVE LEMON!

Disinfectant - Add Lemon oil to a spray bottle of water to clean tables, countertops, and other surfaces. Kills germs and bacteria.

Congestion - Can help clear congestion in the respiratory tract as it contains cooling, anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Add 2 -3 drops to your drinking water.

Peppermint

Headaches - Use one drop or peppermint oil and massage into each temple for instant headache relief

Mental alertness and Concentration- Put 2 drops in the palms of you hands and inhale, peppermint oil powerfully affects and improves mental clarity and raises energy levels.

 

Post work out- Use 1-2 drops of peppermint on the back of your neck to instantly cool down the body post work out. Runners can add a drop to each shoe to help keep your feet cool.

Digestion – 1 -2 drops under the tongue or applied topically to stomach can help ease digestion

Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie

(gf, vegan) 

Ingredients

• ½-1 frozen banana
• 1 cup non-dairy milk (almond or hemp)
• 1-2 handfuls of spinach
• 2 Tbsp. dried coconut flakes
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 Tbsp. cacao powder

* optional 1 scope favourite protein powder

Feel free to contact me regarding essential oils!   

**Special for RBN READERS, Lesley will offer free 10 minute consultations and enter anyone who contacts me in a draw for a free bottle of one of my 3 favourite oils!!!

As I always say, be happy , be healthy , be inspired. 

EMAIL:

lesleymr@gmail.com

___________________________________________________________________

Thanks Lesley and stay tuned darlings, have a great new recipe on the blog this week!  

xoxo

rbn  

RBNmedia: Daura Damm's ON THE MENU dinner at La Carnita..

Happy Tuesday friends!  For my followers that are gluten free or looking for a new gluten friendly beer... this is for you!

 Last week I was fortunate to have an invite to a wonderful dinner at La Carnita paired with Daura Damm.  What a great evening of peers, food and conversation with some wonderful friends...

Daura Damm is a beer that has been crafted to remove gluten and tailor to those with a gluten friendly lifestyle.  I've not had a beer in approximately 10 years and man was it perfectly paired with Executive Chef, Jon Hamilton's tasting menu - 100% gluten free (Mexican delights tend to be naturally gf, for those of you who just love great food) for us crazy gluten free eaters.

Our tastebuds were delightfully sparked with the first round of appetizers: 

Trio of Dips: Spicy bean dip (dreamy), guacamole & corn salsa!

Mexican Street Corn: Crema, queso anejo, arbol & Ancho chili powder = THE CORN KING.

 

Scorpion wings – Confit chicken, scorpion chili BBQ sauce, seeds of paradise & coconut crema! They certainly had a little "bite"!

"Daura Damm made it easy for me, pilsners are a great beer to pair with most of the food at La Carnita- they have a lot of diversity. It has a great drinkability with a light and refreshing taste that goes well with our food, the beer has touches of spiciness, but nothing extreme and I don’t have to be concerned about clashing flavour profiles with the beer and food. It also paired well with the meal overall because it’s the kind of beer you can have a couple of without it weighing you down, feeling like it’s a meal itself. La Carnita’s food can sometimes also pack some heat, so being able to have a couple of beers is a good thing." Jon Hamilton

People that know me or those of you who follow the blog - you understand how much of a taco aficionado I am (think I am?).. so when given a night to eat at one of my favorites haunt  La Carnita - John Street I obviously jumped at the chance.  

First up was their beef cheek taco:  Ancho braised beef, lime avocado, green cabbage, pickled jalapeno, queso anejo & Charred pepper hot sauce.  Perfectly paired with the Daura to ease the spice of the sauce...

Followed by copious rounds of insanely yummy things:

Tostada de Ceviche:  Albacore tuna, guacamole, coconut milk, habanero & tomato.   Not so surprisingly the beer paired super nicely even though ceviche is classically a more delicate dish.

Butter Chicken Mole: Lime cabbage, jalapenos relish (stealing this), Mexican crema & scallions. 

Cotija Taco: Lime avocado, cauliflower beans, pickled carrots, chipotle and queso anejo...proving vegetarian options can be just as exciting!

West Coast Rockfish Taco: Wild BC snapper, corn batter, tamarind balsamic & chipotle mayo.  Possibly the best fish taco I've ever had.  Ever.

 

"Often chefs look to pair bold flavors with bold beers, but when I’m pairing food that’s got some spicy kick and big bold flavors, I’m often looking for something clean, crisp and approachable. This isn’t only because it’s what I like to drink, it’s because I want a beer that’s not overwhelming. It has to taste great and have good flavor, but also clears the palate and make each bite of food just like the first one. For La Carnita, it is important that the beer and the food work together to enhance the overall dining experience. "  Executive Chef, Jon Hamilton

Tostada de Ceviche – Albacore tuna, perfect guacamole, coconut milk, habanero.  And of course beer.  

Vegetarian option that you can recreate at home: Cauliflower beans, lime and pickled carrots makes an amazing simple and perfect taco.

The best fish taco ever: Corn batter is the key to keeping this gluten free!

Krusty the Clown.  Literally the silliest and most fun ice cream happening in Toronto.

This was my absolute favourite - I'm a beef cheek fan and the balance was insane and perfect.  

I'm not always a sweet tooth kind of lady, but when your dessert consists of soft serve and palates (popsicles) by the only and only Sweet Jesus you try all of the stuff.  Another amazing brain child of Andrew Richmond - you actually utter "Sweeeeeet Jesus" whilst biting into a manic creation...

 *My images are not loading or formatting properly - hence inaccurate order..

A truly great night with friends and food, as a lady who lives gluten free this was a treat.  Thanks to Branding and Buzzing for the invite and the team at La Carnita..

**Daura Damm is available at select LCBO stores across Ontario.  Starting in April, Daura Damm will also be available at The Beer Store in select locations.
All photography in this post is by the amazing Jeffrey Chan courtesy of Daura Damm.



 

xoxo

RBN Interview: David Brooke of Skin Essence Organics (Natural Skincare)

Happy Freakin' New Year Everyone - I hope everyone had a joyful and safe holiday with friends and family.

We haven't done an interview in awhile and really wanted to re-instate that feature - WE love supporting brands and companies that align with our brand values.  My readers know how much I love natural skincare and this company has been one of my favorite's for years:  Skin Essence Organics.

 I was first introduced to SEO by a close friend and IHN Alum Stephanie, we were on a road trip to Ottawa for a week long skin-care co-op (coincidental!) with a group of us 4 – which meant sharing our beauty regimes!  Occular was my first love and slowly went through the line.  One of my favorite (there’s so many) things about Skin Essence is their dedication to pure, organic and beautiful products without the use of marketing schemes or #buzzwords.  Every product is derived solely from organic fruits, plants, flowers, oils and minerals – which if you’ve seen our social media accounts run right in-line with our MO of keeping things organic, natural and as related to its original state as possible. 

 

RBN: Let’s start easy – how long has SEO been around? What was your number one reason for launching it?

DB:

20 years – Long before it was trendy and WE had all the buzzwords; organic, holistic etc – The previous owner studied Naturopathy/Herbalism & was an esthetician: Would only use products on her clients that she felt safe using on her own. Fast track to 10 years and they had produced this amazing line of eco, safe, clean and organic skincare that everyone can use.  David himself bought has used for 14 years –  a firm believer in healthy skincare in conjunction with diet.  Possibly their most loyal client having it shipped all around the world to use – whilst modeling.  Bought company – tested and true and the rest they say is history.  Great message. Eco, GF, no GMO,

RBN: How many products are in your current line & what are the best sellers base women & men?

DB:

Because there are different lines and no filler products – they truly are all popular from anti-aging to acne to moisturizing/hydrating! Cleansers are a go-to and very popular as well as rose hip –adds that nice glow and super hydrating for your skin – an RBN reco.

RBN:  Has being a model and in fashion had an influence on you in regards to natural skincare, wellness & health?

DB:

Absolutely, being overseas and always in the makeup chair – you end up noticing what is going on your skin.  Products started to disagree (listen to your bod people), if it doesn’t  agree change it,  When you can’t read ingredients in food or skincare its time to make a swap! The sad truth is that many larger companies opt for profit margins (translation cheap ingredients + increased profits) and they don’t want to rely on natural products to produce.

RBN: What is your favourite and least favourite thing about owning your company?

Favourite: When I go to bed, knowing that I’m putting my energy into safer, cleaner products and promoting a healthier lifestyle – I just LOVE that. Close second: consumers feedback – respect, love, loyalty for SEO (the thought makes me tear up (real men are sensitive)!

Least Fav – Perfectionist : Micro managing at times is demanding and others – exhausting and worth it, so actually still one of my favourites.  Ha.  Oh and working with great people in the industry (obviously he’s talking about us).

RBN: What advice can you offer any of us getting into entrepreneur life and business?

DB:

Getting to know yourself and what makes you unique will bring successes, in turn use that.  If you use what others aren’t then the competition lessons - making you something unique and of great value (not financially).

Advice: biz – have to truly love it and believe it + success = LIFE gain as opposed to purely financial gain. TIP: You will never know all the answers which brings learning every day.

RBN:What is your fridge? What is your favourite skin food? Favourite comfort food?

Sounds similar to our breakfasts.

DB:

I eat uber healthy focusing on quality: Water purification system, endless fruits and veg, and I’m know for eating 2 soft boiled eggs every day? Red meat is minimal and always grass-fed, ethically raised and sourced properly.

DBtip: Organic lettuce and all things soft skinned; When you peel you’re able to reduce chemicals and such. Lots of fish too – I’m a Vancouver boy at heart so lots of wild salmon and rainbow trout (nom).

RBN:Can you tell us your go-to smoothie recipe – WE love new smoothies!

DB:

Organic raspberries, blueberries, coconut oil, avocado, pineapple, yogurt and some hemp hearts,  lets call it a BERRY GOOD SMOOTHIE!

**Typically breakfast: Oats GF obvi …coconut oil, frozen rasp, blue, bananas, 2-3 soft boiled eggs (we approve – balanced and simple)

RBN: Can you tell our readers your best winter skin survival advice – changing your skincare routine? Extra hydration?

DB:

1. Cleanser Fresh (no alcohol), Exfoliate/ facial masks x 2 week, Blend Neroli/Rosehip (beta carotene) which promotes a warm healthy glow.  BONUS: Ecream over top – acts as a sunscreen which we still need in the winter and offset redness!  YOU’RE welcome!

RBN: Any new announcements or products we should keep our eyes open for next year?

DB:

We’re launching a new Sunscreen using cocao butters, zinc and no water. We also recently passed our ECOCERT certification (huge accomplishment!) with flying colours!

RBN: How do you motivate clients to take care of their skin and follow a great skin regime?

DB:

We all have skin (largest organ btw) and we eat well to treat our bods well BUT we also need to use real,ingredients on our skin!  Always spend a little more for quality rather than quantitiy/bulk items.  Truthfully our products sell themselves!

BONUS: Use their online store and our code: RBNholiday for 20% your next order!  Whoa!

xoxrbn