TROORA Living Spring '23

Wolfgat, and it’s Celebrated chef, KOBUS VAN DER MERWE Are Making Massive Waves on the International Dining Scene A Star Is Born

A Collective Of WOMEN REDEFINING

The Way We See Travel Photography Bell Collective

Interior Designer

COURTNEY MCLEOD Creating Cohesive Expression With Color, Texture & Pattern Right Meets Left

Lucid Motors Luxury mobility company reimagining what a car can be.

Lucid Motors Luxury mobility company reimagining what a car can be.

vintage-inspired yet refined and modern colored glass collection that starts a revival of colored glass that is reminiscent of a past time

A carefully chosen selection of items for people that enjoy “the finer things in life.”

Founder

TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

CREATIVE

ART DEPARTMENT

Creative Director TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

Editor In Chief TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

Copy Editor AMANDA ORAHA

Editorial Design Director SHERDELLAH ANUNCIADO

Creative Art Director ANDRES MALDONADO

Proofreading CRISTINA DEPTULA

ART DEPARTMENT

Graphic Design Director SAMMY CAMPANER

Asset Creator MUHAMMAD ASIM

Photo Editor ALAA AL-SAEED

Photo Editor ZAIN AL-TAWEEL

Brand Strategy Graphic Designer JANINE AIGNER

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Global Brand Outreach KATIE LISTER

European Brand Outreach MANSOUR NDIAYE

OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT

Operations Director TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT

Executive Administrative Assistant RONA MAGLINES

Virtual Administrative Assistant INNAH MARIE ALMARENIA

MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Marketing Director KWESI DONTOH

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Social Media Director JUSTICE ANN CUENCA

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Finance Director RONA MAGLINES

WEB & SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT

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PRESS DEPARTMENT

Press & Public Relations BARBARA WICHMAN

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Legal CHINWE OHANELE

WRITING DEPARTMENT

Contributing Writer MICHAEL DAKS

Contributing Writer NIZIE LOKMAN

Contributing Writer JESSE ADUMA

Culinary Contributing Writer CARY WONG

Contributing Writer CRISTINA DEPTULA

Travel Contributing Writer FILIPA ARAÚJO

Fashion & Beauty Contributing Writer STELLA POLIZOIDOU

Beauty Contributing Writer NEHA SURADKAR

Contributing Writer GEORGE DIKE

Contributing Writer KEVIN JEFFREY JAMES

Contributing Writer MRUDAVI PUNEKAR

Contributing Writer HIRA TUFAIL

Contributing Writer ADEPEJU FARUQ

Contributing Writer ROBYN ALEXANDER

Contributing Writer VICKI SLEET

Contributing Writer GREG COX

Contributing Writer MANDY ALLEN

Contributing Writer TUDOR CARADOC-DAVIES

Contributing Writer ELSA YOUNG

Contributing Writer GRAHAM WOOD

Contributing Writer TARA SLOGGETT

Contributing Writer DANIELA KRATZ

STYLING DEPARTMENT

Styling Contributor SHELLEY STREET

PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

Contributing Photographer MICHAEL DAKS

Contributing Photographer GAELLE BELLER

Contributing Photographer WARREN HEATH

Contributing Photographer KWAME ACHEAMPONG

Contributing Photographer COURAGE MUEGBEYOGHO

Contributing Photographer GILBERT ASANTE

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TrooRa’s Sustainability Efforts

TrooRa is committed to building a sustainable business model promoting and protecting the environment. Our digital platform on troora.com offers a conscious approach, creating an immersive space.

With your help in building robust online support, TrooRa will print fewer magazines to ensure we remain a leader in the industry. However, when TrooRa produces print issues, we will uphold the highest quality in sustainable standards.

The magazine you are reading is:

printed on fully recycled paper;

printed with vegetable-based ink and biodegradable laminates;

printed in close proximity to our markets in an effort to reduce distribution emissions.

Notes

As TrooRa Founder, Creative Director, and Executive Editor, I am thrilled and honored to re-introduce our second publication. TrooRa Living is focused on diverse makers, home design, decor, culinary, art, and culture, highlighting and honing in on the best practices of the wellness industry from a global perspective.

TrooRa’s Living Spring ’23 Issue, on hiatus for a few years now, has been reborn. This spring issue showcases the stories of inspirational creatives passionate about their crafts.

You will enjoy the distinct methods of Interior Designer Courtney McLeod and the unique ways she compiles the utilization of a kaleidoscopic toolbox of texture, pattern, and color that creates singular and cohesive expressions of each of her client’s unique personalities and lifestyles. In Culinary, it may be a small restaurant with a small staff in a small seaside town on South Africa’s West Coast—but Wolfgat and its celebrated chef, Kobus van der Merwe, are making massive waves on the international dining scene.

Discover the Huka Lodge, start planning the holiday of your dreams! Elegant and calming, opulent yet grounded, the eighteen Junior Lodge Suites and single Lodge Suite are the ultimate romantic retreat for couples at Huka Lodge, while the four-bedroom Owner’s Cottage and the two-bedroom Alan Pye Cottage showcase unparalleled comfort and luxury, with multi-generational family holidays in mind. Artist Katarina Tifft carefully handcrafts her stunning art with tiny seashells making organic, textured patterns found in nature. We bring you a powerful article focused on mental wellness and a new innovative app that solves issues within the wine industry’s inventory. Enjoy delicious, healthy, fresh spring salad recipes from Daniella Kratz of Farmhouse Lab.

This Living issue celebrates the season with crisp spring colors inviting you to step out of your shell to begin edging into summer. We are proud to continue to increase our featured subjects’ brand awareness, exposure, and visibility through TrooRa Living Issues.

Never miss this or any TrooRa Magazine issues. Follow us online at troora.com and #prescribe to our print subscription offer, and keep up with our social media posts on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Ta Ta For Now et A+! TrooRa Magazine! Be Inspired!

TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM Editor-in-Chief

ANDRES MALDONADO Creative Art Director

SHERDELLAH ANUNCIADO Editorial Design Director AMANDA ORAHA Copy Editor

GRAHAM WOOD Bureaux Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

WARREN HEATH

MANDY ALLEN

ROBYN ALEXANDER Bureaux

TARA SLOGGETT Contributing Writer

DANIELLA KRATZ Contributing Writer TUDOR CARADOCDAVIS

Contributing Writer

VICKI SLEET

FILIPA ARAÚJO Travel

Armenian brandy made from Armenian white grapes and spring water

en.araratbrandy.com

A VESSEL COMPANY

TIMELESS AND UNIQUE VESSELS. MODERN MINIMALISTIC CERAMICS AND PAPER MACHÉ VESSELS HANDMADE TO FILL YOUR HOME.

172

Tifft’s Golden Ratio

A MIXED MEDIA ARTIST FROM FLORIDA IS MASTERING THE SHELL CRAFT, TURNING ORGANIC SEASHELLS INTO SENSATIONAL ART

Kwame’s Eye-Phone 178

KWAME ACHEAMPONG CAPTURES HIS IMAGES THROUGH THE LENS OF HIS IPHONE.

Living in AWE: Abundance, Wellness, Empowerment 206

INNOVATOR MARK CHASAN DESCRIBES AWE AS A STATE OF AMAZEMENT, WONDER, LOVE, REVERENCE, AND GRATITUDE FOR ALL WE HAVE THE FORTUNE TO EXPERIENCE.

swim and lounge wear sustainable and inclusive designed for fit, comfort, and versatility

boldswim.com

Plant-based designs bringing the outside in & celebrating the natural world

fableandbase.co.uk

Founder Francesca Baur

42

SECRETLY SEEKING SPRING

BY TARA SLOGGETT

Gather your friends and take a trip to a colorful wonderland.

52

COLOR CODED

BY ROBYN ALEXANDER

Ten of the best color-filled kitchens.

62

SENSUAL SIMPLICITY

BY GRAHAM WOOD

This classic Haussmannian apartment in the heart of old Paris was built for the owner’s art collection.

home design & decor

Secretly Seeking Spring

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WARREN HEATH

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY TARA SLOGGETT

Springtime 2023 holds a much bigger significance to all of us. So bring a smile to friends and family by celebrating together, using what you already have, bringing joy and hope in abundance. Start afresh and if you’re a lover of color and a little bit of a dreamer, get your whimsical on with our Springtime set up.

Spring is just around the corner, we can almost taste it; Gather your friends and take a trip to a colorful wonderland.

PREPARATION FOR PERFECTION

Ensure you have all the ingredients to guarantee a stress-free funfilled party then pack up your car and head into the great outdoors.

* Keep the bubbles and spirits nicely chilled in this retro style cooler.

SET THE SCENE

Create a beautiful Springtime celebration with ease. Go for easy to transport furniture and colorful accessories.

*A pair of trestle legs and a plank of wood makes the perfect instant table.

*Linen always looks stylish ironed or not, so remove the hard work and glam up your table.

*More the merrier. Armfuls of colorful wild flowers are perfect for filling recycled bottles and jars to scatter on your table.

*Never overlook what’s growing wild. Even weeds make the prettiest of decorations, like these trailing nasturtiums. Suspend the vine to create the prettiest feature wall.

* Keep your cool under a beautiful tasselled umbrella that has UVF50+ protection too.

* From white painted brickwork to a fabulous flower filled wall, find yourself a backdrop that is Insta-worthy and keep those memories alive forever.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

When it comes to feeding your guests, keep things simple so you can enjoy the celebrations too.

*A good G and T topped up with fresh fruits and herbs and a finishing touch of edible flowers will be greatly received by guests.

* Glam up your cheeseboard with finger-licking toppings of honey and walnuts, served on a bed of edible flowers and miniature veg.

*Take a plain cake and use the filling to decorate the outside for an ontrend naked cake. Top with mouthwatering berries and edible flowers for a beautiful centerpiece in a matter of minutes. If you’re feeling Easter vibes, add a few chocolate eggs too.

*If the little ones are joining, you’ll never go wrong with bowls of miniature chocolate eggs.

NB: if using the cake pic with yellow dress, the dried hydrangea is just for décor, all other flowers are edible.

*Add a nod to Easter with readymade decorations you can scatter throughout your table or create an Easter tree by hanging paper eggs from a branch.

*No fancy plates? No worries! Add a quirky touch by using vintage tennis rackets as serving platters.

DECORATIVE TOUCHES

There’s no need to spend a fortune. Use vintage pieces, dried flowers, and and paper decorations all reminiscent of welcoming in the warmer weather and sunnier days ahead.

*Upcycle vintage tennis rackets with pretty ribbon on the handles and dried hydrangeas and use as decorative touches to your table by simply leaning up against the the wall. When the party’s over, you can use as an everlasting floral artwork in your home.

SHOPPING CREDITS

Cooler box in Orchard Orange, The Fieldbar Co. www.fieldbar.co.za @ fieldbar.co

Llandudno retro tasselled umbrella, The Beach Bums @thebeachbums.cpt

Dried Hydrageas, Jane Valken janevalken.com @janevalken

Edible flowers, Freshly Delivered freshlydelivered.co.za @ freshlydeliveredcpt

Linen tablecloth, paper Easter egg decorations, green crockery, pink teacup, square seat pads, baskets, all H&M.

COLOR CODED

PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG COX, ELSA YOUNG, WARREN HEATH

WRITTEN BY ROBYN ALEXANDER

PRODUCED BY SVEN ALBERDING

Ten of the best color-filled kitchens

CUT THE MUSTARD

The restoration of a modernist suburban house took care to honour the primary palette used originally in the home via playful pops of color – such as the bright yellow tiles used for the kitchen splashback. This eye-catching element combines with stone countertops, a whitewashed arched brick ceiling and oak built-in shelf above the counter to make for a contemporary update that also gives a knowing nod to mid-century color palettes and design.

Tip

Adding loads of easy, sunny charm to the kitchen – as well as an authentic modernist feel – the 130x130mm square yellow tiles used for the splashback were sourced from Tile House (tilehouse.co.za).

From leafy greens to bold blues – plus peachy coral and even a luscious lilac – the lively shades used in these bright and breezy kitchens are sure to inspire a colorful makeover in your own home.

MY BLUE HEAVEN

Since it’s owned by an art dealer and collector, it feels very appropriate that the kitchen of an austerely lovely urban abode should feature a wall of built-in cupboards painted in a shade as close to Yves Klein blue as this one. The color offsets the cast concrete structure beautifully, and complements the mid-century furniture as well as the contemporary and tribal African art that the owner has been collecting for over 20 years.

Tip

The kitchen is open plan to the dining room, and leads out an open courtyard space. The vintage runner provides a touch of complementary color, as do the artworks, while the industrial lights date from the late 1930s and originally hung in an old German warehouse.

TRUE BLUE

Renowned for her penchant for bright colors, an interior designer took the use of bold shades – and combinations thereof – to the next level in her own family home. First off, she painted all the walls of the dining room, kitchen, and lounge in a vibrant forest green (inspired by the color of a ceramic beer mug she’d found in an antique store!) and then splashed dashing blue on the kitchen cabinetry. “Once I start, I can’t stop.” She smiles. “White just looks blah.”

Tip

The kitchen was all white before interior designer Sarah Ord (sarahord.com) put her color sense to work here. The walls are painted in Hunters Prairie (G4-C1-1) by Plascon (plascon.com), and the cupboards in Granite Falls (B4-C1-2), by the same manufacturer. Thea artwork of a seated lady viewed from behind is a Picasso print on chipboard, unearthed at Cape Town’s Milnerton Market (milnertonfleamarket.co.za).

POP HEART

“I didn’t want to feel like I was living in a small space with really small appliances,” says this homeowner, who accordingly designed his very compact kitchen (the entire apartment is just 68m2) to accommodate a full-sized, muchused cooker. To add character to the all-white small space, he then added smaller appliances, cookware, and artworks in a range of ultra-bright primary colors that really make this interior scheme sing for its supper.

Tip

The colorful cast-iron pots and measuring jug are all by Le Creuset (lecreuset.com), as is the stovetop kettle. The Coca Cola bottles on display in front of the poster artwork are collector’s pieces that speak to the homeowner’s work in the world of branding.

JUST PEACHY

This open-plan mountainside home is filled with natural light year round, so the bold decision to go with a pale coral shade for the kitchen walls, combined with plenty of dark, rich iroko wood, has paid off handsomely. The result is a warm and genuinely inviting space. The skylight window inserted above the open shelves means the play of light on the wall – and the items displayed on the shelves – changes throughout the day.

Tip

For a similar paint color, try Terracotta Teas or Lovely Papaya, both by Dulux (dulux.com). The kitchen joinery was custom-made by Kitch Inc (kitchinc.co.za), and the concrete countertops are by Stoneform Concrete Studios (stoneform.co.za).

IN THE NAVY

Featuring grandly proportioned rooms and a park-like garden, this house is also home to a tribe of six children –including pre-tween triplets. As a result, it’s essential that elegance be combined with family-friendly practicality, as seen in the kitchen, where fitted cabinetry was previously painted turquoise, and is now a much more sophisticated navy. The light oak counters were stained dark, too, and the result is a space that’s both savvy and smart.

Tip

Interior designer Simone Hirsch (simonekatherineinteriors. com) selected the paint color and contrasting patterned splashback wall tiles, as well as choosing Zimbabwean Black Stone countertops to add a further dimension of practicality to the prep areas.

PARTY CENTRAL

The all-white island and cabinetry in this family kitchen is designed to fade into the background, enabling one’s attention to be focused on the plethora of colorful artworks and objects on display. What’s more, by night, the lighting can be switched to a colorful “disco” mode, transforming it from domestic hub to a strobe- and color-filled party zone at the flick of a switch. “I love the notion that we are having a regular family dinner but have disco lights on too. It’s all about being playful,” says the homeowner.

Tip

A series of eye-catching photographic prints by homeowner Kirsten Goss’s (kirstengoss.com) husband, Clive Will (clivewill.com), as well as objects and artworks collected from artists, craftspeople, and markets across Africa, are showcased here and throughout the home.

OLIVE GARDEN

In a real old grande dame of a house, the ground floor kitchen leads out onto the garden and a covered patio, as well as an adjacent casual dining space and sitting area. The traditionalstyle fitted joinery is painted a beautiful deep green color reminiscent of park benches and leafy trees, and is smartly complemented by vintage light fixtures and patterned encaustic floor tiles that add to the room’s old-school appeal.

Tip

The cabinetry is painted in Garden Seat by Plascon (plascon.com), the cooker is by Bertazzoni (universal. bertazzoni.com), and the white glass light fitting is from Gilles de Moyencourt Haute-Antiques (instagram.com/ haute_antiques/).

The contemporary sculpture just seen through the doorway is by salvage artist Philippe Bousquet, and is made from old car parts. It was sourced at Southern Guild (southernguild.co.za).

PURPLE HAZE

In small city spaces, there’s often a tendency to eschew color in favor of neutrals, but the owner of this apartment has instead applied shades of green, cobalt blue, red, and even electric pink –among others – to the walls of his home.

Far from making it seem cramped, his graphic colorblocking tendencies bring individual rooms to life – and define them. The brilliant lilac kitchen walls, for example, create a sense of separation from the hallway leading directly into it, as well as the adjacent living room.

Tip

The homeowner describes his use of color in the kitchen as “completely instinctive” and designed to add a sense of drama. The countertops are made from cast concrete, and the carved wooden stools were made by an Afro-French artisan in Paris.

IN THE PINK

“I am naturally drawn to color,” says the interior designer and owner of this petite but perfectly formed family home. And from the bright blue and green ikat wallpaper in the guest cloakroom to the fuchsia pink seen here in the open-plan dining and kitchen space, joyfully vibrant shades meet the eye all over the house. Asked where her affinity for color comes from, she simply says, “Color makes me feel happy and brings interiors to life.”

Tip

Homeowner and interior designer Kim Stephen (kimstephen.com) decided on a chic monochrome “backdrop” in the open-plan kitchen and dining area of her home. Onto this, she layered subtle texture – as seen in the dining chairs, from Sika Design (sika-design. com) – and eye-catching color accents such as the bright pink rug from Gonsenhausers Fine Rugs (finerugs.co.za).

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Sensual Simplicity

PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG COX

WRITTEN BY GRAHAM WOOD STYLED BY SVEN ALBERDING

The study is to the right of the entrance. As well as an art collection, Frederic’s clients have a substantial collection of books, and the study functions as a library. The bench integrated with the desk, designed specifically for this space by Frederic, is lit from behind by a window onto the courtyard. Its purity and simplicity of form exemplifies Frederic’s approach: using materials like wood, stone, and leather in a celebration of textures, which he layers to create the “sensual simplicity”—a “soft touch, a smell, an expressive look, a classical reference…” The desk lamp is by Lampe Gras. A figural sculpture suspended in the corner is one of British artist Marilène Oliver’s “Dervishes.”

This classic Haussmannian apartment in the heart of old Paris was built as a low-profile frame for the owner’s art collection, yet it finds luxury in its simple, elegant, contemporary approach and rich textural aesthetic.

When architect Frederic Berthier first encountered this apartment, its classical character was completely obscured. It was in what he calls a “classical Parisian building”—a nineteenthcentury Haussmannian apartment building—in “the real old Paris,” the historical center of Saint-Germain-des-Prés among the galleries and bookshops and the famous cafes where everyone from Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir to Picasso, Ernest Hemmingway, and James Baldwin would hang out.

“The apartment had been decorated by an architect in the 80s,” says Frederic. “There were angles everywhere, very complicated volumes and corridors...” The design was the complete antithesis of its classical character. “I tried to bring it back,” he says. “My work was mainly to rebuild the rooms as they were before.”

A subtle division has been created between the living room and TV area with a long, low bookshelf. “A part of it is made with cedar,” says Frederic. “It smells very good; I really love it.” The circular table is by Christian Liaigre. The wooden floors recall classic Parisian materials, and a long, low ledge in Carrara marble is perfect for the display of art. The lounge suite is by Frederic Berthier Design. The sofa, coffee table, and wood-block side table are all by Christian Liaigre. The natural textures of the raw wood and sisal rug contrast with the sleek black of the other furniture.

Frederic says that he felt it was important when creating a sanctuary that shelters his clients from the information overload and rapid pace of change that characterize modern life, to create a connection with nature. He’s achieved that through the use of natural materials, but also by filling the terraces with plants. One of his favorite things about this apartment, he says, is that “you are in the centre of Paris, but you live with open windows and you see only green.”

He doesn’t, however, mean that he created a replica of a classical nineteenthcentury home. To begin with, the apartment didn’t have mouldings or any of the other decorative details of the era to preserve. Its character was in its proportions—“Big entrance, everything square or almost.”

“My idea was to create a very low-profile architecture,” says Frederic. “Very simple.” His clients collect art and books. “They are kind people,” he says. “I wanted to create a soft apartment for them.”

The apartment, he says, was also to “be a frame for the pieces of art.” He stripped out the previous architectural intervention until he had “an empty box.” The walls, like those of a gallery, are white, with the notable exception of the entrance hall, where they are clad in a very dark, glosssealed wood. This reversal of the “white box” is also in the service of art.

“The black entrance has been created like that for the Anish Kapoor artworks,” he explains. The luminosity of Kapoor’s acrylic “Space as an Object” sculptures, which look like rapidly rising bubbles trapped and frozen in time and space, are given their full expression in a dark setting. The dark walls make the boundaries or edges of the entrance hall hard to define. They seem to recede, creating a sense of an infinite space that allows the full drama of the void or absence at the centre of these remarkable artworks to find expression.

Although the kitchen is also used for the display of art (the layered resin work, “The Kiss” is by British artist Marilène Oliver), it is also a fully functional, practical space. The apartment’s celebration of natural materials, particularly Carrara marble, wood, and steel, continues in the kitchen, which also is, like the living areas, a white box layered with natural materials and a frame for the art. The kitchen is partially divided from the dining room by display shelves that wrap around the dining area and were designed specifically for the owners’ extensive collection of tableware. “It had to work well as a display, but also be convenient because they really use the kitchen,” says Frederic. The dining table is by Frederic Berthier Design. The Wishbone chairs are by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Son. The barstools in the kitchen are Philippe Starck for Emeco.

Architect Frederic Berthier says that, apart from stripping away a 1980s alteration to the apartment and restoring its classic Parisian character and proportions, he saw his task as creating an architectural “frame” for his clients’ art collection. The entrance hall of this apartment in Saint Germain des Pres in Paris, is designed specifically to display the owner’s series of acrylic Anish Kapoor “Space as an Object” sculptures. The walls are clad in a very dark, gloss-sealed wood, allowing the luminosity of the frozen, trapped air bubbles their maximum effect. Light is central to these works, and the darkened walls—the opposite of the “white cube” of the archetypal gallery—

allow the works their full expression. The fact that Kapoor’s work is concerned with the nature of space, and the manner in which objects (or absences) define the spaces around them, is given an advantageous setting in the entrance hall because the dark walls make the space in the entrance hall, its boundaries or edges, hard to define, or to seem to recede. In the entrance hall, the frame, contrary to what the word suggests, is almost without borders. (Kapoor is known for his fascination with black, and, interestingly, has the exclusive artistic rights to the world’s blackest pigment, a substance known as Vantablack.)

Before Frederic established his own architectural practice, he worked for a number of very prestigious architects, including a couple of years with Jean Nouvel—“architects all dressed in black”—and a longer spell with Philippe Starck. “I loved working for him. I learnt so many things. He’s really a smart guy. His level of detail is very high.”

Ultimately, however, Frederic found that for him “the essence of architecture is really ‘home.’ My main reference is more a shelter than a tower.” He explains, “This is where I found poetry … in simple things.” Although he found Starck’s ideas-driven approach to architecture impressive, and even touching at times, Frederic found materiality, simplicity, and sensuality more fundamentally important in the end than novelty.

“I see my work mostly in creating soft places, to protect people from [the world] outside,” he explains, clarifying that this refers to projects in cities where the information overload and pace of change erode peace of mind. “I try to create environments where you feel peaceful, with your family, friends or alone, where you can be yourself, disconnect from all that, and take a breath.”

The bedroom exemplifies the notion of “sensual simplicity” in its paredback, modern aesthetic and monochrome color scheme. Its use of simple but rich natural materials, however, belies its monastic appearance. The lamps and the side tables are all by Christian Liaigre. The piece of art on the wall is by Pavlos Dionyssopoulos.

And so it was with this apartment. Beginning with the base of a white box, he enriched it and humanised it with layers of natural (and classically Parisian) materials: the beautiful oak floors, abundant Carrara marble, and furniture that celebrates both nature and classicism in its simplicity and proportions. “I think we are really peaceful when we connect with nature,” says Frederic.

He also describes how his understated, neutral design celebrates nature. “There is really a lack of nature in Paris,” he says. “I try to [bring back] some nature with the materials I use.” The apartment’s white walls serve not just as a frame for art, but also as “a frame for all these amazing natural things.”

“Materials, as they are in nature, or almost, is the best for me,” says Frederic. The wooden floors, the marble in the kitchen and bathrooms, and the ingenious low ledge in the living room for the display of art are also a celebration of nature’s art. “It’s always impressive to know that on the earth you can find a perfectly white marble with just a perfect grey pattern on it or an almost black wood. I try to show these kinds of things in my projects.”

The greenery on the balcony, when you open the windows, adds to the serene atmosphere. “In this apartment, you are in the centre of Paris, but if you leave the windows open, you see only green,” Frederic observes. The white walls have another advantage.

“At the end of the day, when you have an orange sunset, all the white walls take this orange color,” says Frederic. “You can’t have this if your walls are too dark.”

But the design of this apartment is not just about looking. The “sensual simplicity” Frederic refers to differs from minimalism in its tactile qualities—its warmth, softness, texture. “I like to see, but touching things is also very important, even smelling them,” says Frederic. “For example, there is a low library which separates the living room from the TV area. A part of it is made with cedar. It smells very good; I really love it.”

Architect Frederic Berthier is influenced by a number of the prestigious architects and designers he’s worked for in the past, including Jean Nouvel and Philippe Starck, but has subsequently forged his own aesthetic that is more concerned with a characteristic that he calls “sensual simplicity,” and which involves a celebration of natural materials and a sparely elegant, stripped-down version of classicism.

The bathroom makes rich and abundant use of Carrara marble. While the material signals a certain opulence, the design is the perfect illustration of Frederic’s approach, which is more about expressing the natural characteristics of the materials than about sophisticated details. “I try to remove all the decorative parts of it and keep what is really essential,” he says. The end result is something that seems at once classical and modern. The taps are by Dornbracht. The wall light is by Christian Liaigre.

Frederic is responsible for the design of a significant number of the fittings and furniture pieces in this Saint-Germain apartment. In describing his approach once again he speaks of a crossover of minimalism and classicism. “I start with classical features and try to erase all that is inessential in those classical things,” he says. So, no elaborate detail or decoration—the classicism comes through in the materials and proportions.

His pared-down style is also a way of celebrating the materials. His furniture designs are mostly timber, perhaps including marble or leather. Although he spent years working for Philippe Starck, who remains one of his design idols, he says that aesthetically speaking, his own work is closer to the minimalism of the likes of John Pawson, Donald Judd, or Rothko. “There is no plastic in my projects, only natural things,” he says. “I love wood; it’s the perfect material.”

It’s through Frederic’s contemporary textural approach that this apartment turns simplicity to sophistication. There’s nothing ostentatious and opulent about it, and yet it provides both a calm atmosphere and a rich sensory experience. While the designs of the furniture are stripped of detail in their elegance, they nevertheless connect with the building through their classical proportions and their materials. “In the end, I think that we feel we are in a Parisian apartment,” says Frederic.

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Right Meets Left Interior Design

Courtney McLeod Says “Get Beyond the Beige!”

PHOTO CREDIT: COURTNEY MCLEOD

WRITTEN BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA

Get Beyond the Beige!

Interior designer Courtney McLeod says it’s time to “get beyond the beige.” Based in NYC, she showcases a variety of home and business interiors full of vibrant pinks, oranges, greens, blues, grays, browns, and yellows.

Her work suggests that people are moving away from simple and subdued looks toward bolder interiors.

In a November 2022 interview with Architectural Digest, McLeod says she’s “seeing an embrace of maximalism over minimalistic styles. Sofas drenched in color, pattern, trim, fringe, and pillows. Velvets continue to be a popular fabric choice, as well as bold prints.”

Some of the interiors she showcases on social media include balloons, huge floral arrangements, intricate paintings on living room walls, and touches of whimsy, such as bananas painted over an entire hallway near a child’s bedroom.

To McLeod, there isn’t one singular look that screams “good taste.” The ultimate luxury, as she says, is the ability to personalize your space.

HOW FINANCE PREPARED HER FOR FULL-BRAINED DESIGN

Courtney McLeod’s business handles a wide range of projects, from an interior decor refresh for a client’s apartment to a full-scale commercial project, working in consultation with architects to design a building from the ground up.

The name comes from her concept of combining right-brain aesthetic sense with left-brain analytical concerns for detail, analysis, and return on a client’s investment.

McLeod worked in finance for 15 years before becoming a

designer, earning a business degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and becoming a leading portfolio manager in real estate private equity. She brings the rigor and logic she learned from that into her current line of work. Also, having managed finances for real estate developers gave her a sense of how to speak their language and provide effective assistance with staging commercial properties for sale.

McLeod says that she’d have made the career transition into her true passion earlier if she’d known how well her background would prepare her for entrepreneurship. She also suggests that other aspiring designers learn the basics of business accounting before opening their studios.

Born and raised Creole in New Orleans, McLeod says her background has informed her taste, along with her extensive travels throughout Europe and Asia. Although she currently lives in Harlem, she says she’ll always be a Southerner at heart.

“Pattern and color are such powerful tools to create emotional moments in your home—don’t be afraid to use them.”

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

McLeod debuted on the Elle Decor A-List as someone who “does not fear a yellow wall or quake at the sight of an orange sofa.”

She received the Rising Star Award from Decoration and Design Building in 2022, was named an Emerging Designer To Watch by Luxe Magazine in 2019, and made the 1stdibs Top 50 Interior Designers List in 2022.

House Digest considers her one of the most inspiring Black interior designers to watch and encourages people to follow her on Instagram. NBC’s Open House NYC featured some of her interiors as part of a series on “homes that aren’t afraid to take chances.”

Also, one honor that makes McLeod extremely grateful is her recent election to the Board of Trustees of the New York School of Interior Design.

“I look forward to making the most of this opportunity to open doors in the industry for students and designers of color. A decade ago, an introductory course at this school was my first baby step into the industry and a new life. This is a true full-circle moment. I hope to make all those who have opened doors for me along the way proud.”

“We utilize a kaleidoscopic toolbox of texture, pattern, and color to create a singular and cohesive expression of each client’s unique personality and lifestyle.”

BOLD, BESPOKE INTERIORS

McLeod’s favorite clients are new homeowners and empty-nesters, people looking to move into a new phase of life. She loves to work with people in transition to create bespoke interiors that fit their lifestyles and reflect their personalities.

She explains, “We utilize a kaleidoscopic toolbox of texture, pattern, and color to create a singular and cohesive expression of each client’s unique personality and lifestyle.”

She encourages clients to get out there, take risks, and boldly express their personal styles.

McLeod says, “Pattern and color are such powerful tools to create emotional moments in your home— don’t be afraid to use them.”

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CARY WONG Chef Cristina Bowerman and Glass Hostaria

Food From The Soul

H ow Chef Debra VanTrece Transcends Multiple Boundaries

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MIA YAKEL & JOSH SWINNEY

WRITTEN BY: CARY WONG

Chef Debra VanTrece. That fact may be rather unexpected for those who have seen her lively appearances on various TV programs. It was, however, not the only transformation she had gone through in her life.

Chef Debra VanTrece

“I was a bit of an introvert—which comes as a complete surprise to those who know me now,” says

Born and raised in Kansas City, she worked as a model and a flight attendant. Eventually, she became a culinary student at Atlanta’s Art Institute, graduated as a valedictorian, and settled in the city. There, she started working as an executive chef for a catering company. During the 1996 Olympics, she cooked for the VIPs and opened her first restaurant, Edible Art.

Since then, she has started more ventures, including Twisted Soul, The Catering Company by VanTrece, Oreatha’s, and Serenidad—all as parts of the VanTrece Hospitality Group that she founded. She has also published The Twisted Soul Cookbook and was showcased at the James Beard House, among other honors. From a personal perspective, she also transitioned from being a daughter, a wife, a mother who came out as a lesbian, to coowning businesses with her wife, Lorraine Lane. Through all the changes, the pleasure of gathering individuals to enjoy great food has never changed. “I learned early on that food was something that brought people together, no matter what the occasion,” she says. “My family was not rich or poor, just somewhere in the middle. But we considered ourselves blessed because there was always good food on the table. Not necessarily expensive food–but good food.”

Since she was young, her family created magic on the dinner table from paltry ingredients. The biggest feast was on Thanksgiving when all her family gathered and shared their best dishes. That tradition continued even when she grew up and moved away from home, as she would spend hours on the phone with her mother to discuss their menus and recipes.

Fast forward to current times, Chef VanTrece is still working on menus and recipes—only now they are in the context of a restaurant group. For her, it is an exercise to balance her sensibility and creativity. She follows some basic rules, such as seasonality, ingredient combination, pricing, and considers the needs of those with special diets such as vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, the gluten-free, and others for an inclusive menu. After that, “comes the time for fun. This is when I really get to utilize all my knowledge from living, traveling, and reading to create something a little different but still familiar,” she says. “This is how I put a little of myself and my story in each dish.”

Having been trained in classical French cooking techniques, she could have focused on any cuisine. However, she decided to focus on the dishes at the heart of her upbringing. As she traveled to different places, she also realized that the soul of a country is defined by the soul of its cuisine. With that in mind, she wants to celebrate the food that tells those ageold stories.

“I understand my version of soul food was often going against tradition,” she says. “But I believe traditions were meant to be used as a foundation to build on. And as we evolve, so should our traditions.”

In the beginning, she received strong push-back and faced lots of obstacles, from the assumption that soul food was all that she could make to the idea that soul food or comfort food was simply unimpressive, not to mention the false narrative that soul food was deadly to one’s health. The negative sentiments surrounding comfort cuisine were irrational. In her opinion, it is more challenging technically to make less-heralded ingredients—like hog intestines—taste as good as

Serenidad Chef Deborah VanTreces Second Restaurant in Historic Cascade Heights Now Open

expensive ones. She takes pride in being innovative and creative with products that some consider castoffs. Nowadays, with the sustainability movement, more people are jumping onto the bandwagon. At the same time, more chefs are experimenting with soul foods of different cultures and accepting the diversity of good food in general.

Being a Black female chef and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, her experience in the kitchen was a unique one.

“Quite frankly, when I started this journey, I was simply a Black woman, not a lesbian Black woman,” she says. “I found out that my male counterparts were more concerned with what was between my legs instead of my culinary acumen.”

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Lamb Shank

PHOTO CREDIT: JOSH SWINNEY

It was a daily reality for her to deal with rampant sexual innuendos, inappropriate comments, and name-calling. As a Black woman, she was passed up for promotions, talked-down to, and ridiculed for wanting to do “that kind of food.” Once she came out as a lesbian, in addition to losing customers, she was subject to harassment that came in the form of gossip.

She was constantly told that she did not look like a lesbian. “I’m still trying to figure out what a lesbian is supposed to look like and how that plays into my ability to cook,” she says. “I can’t say that these experiences changed my view of the kitchen because I’ve never seen it from any other space... I can only share the perspective from my eyes.” In addition to dealing with the toxic environment in the kitchen, it is also difficult for minorities to access capital. It has always been and continues to be a problem. She does not believe that there is any easy fix. Though it could start with not just listening but truly hearing the cries for equitable opportunities within the system, and

PHOTO CREDIT: MIA YAKEL

PHOTO CREDIT: JOSH SWINNEY

Agua De Vida

asking what we can do to make things better. To Chef VanTrece, marginalized communities are called that for a reason, and it is our responsibility to help find solutions to these real-life issues. There need to be better resources and platforms for true engagement with financiers. Minorities themselves must take the initiative to learn how to establish relationships with banks and know when to cut ties if the relationships are no longer mutually-beneficial. She does think improvements are being made by many organizations to remove barriers, to educate, and to mentor. And even though things are moving in the right direction, there is still a long way to go.

Despite all the obstacles— with neither a roadmap showing her the way nor counselors steering her in the right direction— she does feel she has accomplished a lot. For that reason, she is committed to providing mentorship and helping the next generation.

As far as her business empire goes, the next step is to expand outside of the Atlanta area. The exact locations are yet to be decided, but the process has already begun. In addition, another cookbook is in the making.

When asked about her favorite cuisine, she says she simply loves good food and does not have a strong preference. However, when she feels down, her go-to is always the traditional African American soul food. “Like my mother would make,” she says.

@CHEFDEBORAHVANTRECE @TWISTEDSOULCOOKHOUSE @OREATHASATTHEPOINT @RESTAURANTSERENIDAD

WRITTEN BY: @DIGITALWONG

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A Star Is Born

It may be a small restaurant with a small staff in a small seaside town on South Africa’s West Coast—but Wolfgat and its celebrated chef, Kobus van der Merwe, are making massive waves on the international dining scene.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WARREN HEATH

WRITTEN BY ROBYN ALEXANDER

PRODUCED BY SVEN ALBERDING

FOOD BY WOLFGAT, PATERNOSTER

Every dish is meticulously considered and plated, including the first course on the menu, called ‘Strandveld Snacks’, which consists of, amongst other things, white mussels, buttermilk rusk crumbs, and a local green called soutslaai (salty salad). Each ingredient belongs naturally to this area—the same could, of course, be said of Wolfgat.

Early one April morning at the small beach town of Paternoster on the West Coast of South Africa, a chef leaves his restaurant to go ingredient hunting. He does not go to the market or the shops—he heads for the Atlantic. There’s a bite in the air and the morning light throws a million sun pennies on the water. It is the most perfect of autumn days. The chef leaves his shoes and socks on the beach, straps a fishing basket on his back, and wades into the rock pools. Soon, he finds what he’s looking for. He reaches down and plucks his harvest for the day: a big bunch of seaweed, klipkombers in the local Afrikaans tongue, meaning ‘rock blanket’. Then he’s done. His restaurant is a small one, after all, and this bushel will keep him supplied for up to a week. He subscribes to the forager’s code: He will take no more than he needs.

Though it is located by the sea, this is (clearly) not your average seafood joint. Every dish is meticulously considered and plated, including the first course on the menu, called ‘Strandveld Snacks’, which consists of, amongst other things, white mussels, buttermilk rusk crumbs, and a local green called soutslaai (salty salad). Each ingredient belongs naturally to this area—the same could, of course, be said of Wolfgat.

Humble in stature, ambitious by nature, located in a former fisherman’s cottage and seating only 24 diners, Kobus van der Merwe’s highly local, forage-forward menu at Wolfgat punches well above its weight.

The tide is low and the harvest is a good one—a bushel of klipkombers will keep Kobus supplied for up to a week. “It’s a wonderful resource,” he explains. “It’s free, it’s sustainable—as long as we don’t take too much—and it’s readily available.”

The menu at Wolfgat changes seasonally; for this autumnal menu, Kobus chose as his theme local comfort food. Here he is seen preparing smoked snoek (a revered South African fish) for the menu.

A small eatery, yes. But these days, since the restaurant Wolfgat and its softspoken chef Kobus van der Merwe were crowned ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Best off-map destination’ at the World Restaurant Awards in February, they have been pulled firmly onto the world stage and the radar of discerning food lovers across the globe. Food lovers are now booking months in advance for Wolfgat’s forage-forward, proudly West Coast tasting menu. For Kobus, much though he appreciates the recognition, the resulting attention has been slightly alarming. “We had no idea beforehand what a big deal it was,” he exclaims. “We were up against some really big names! I mean we’re kind of ‘barefoot in the kitchen here’. We don’t even have tablecloths. Our service is very casual.”

Casual and rustic Wolfgat may be, it is also ambitious and carefully considered. Located in one of the white fishing cottages traditional of this area, it seats a maximum of 24 guests at six tables. The walls are plastered white, as is the custom here. The roof is corrugated iron, the green wooden front door is beautifully (naturally) weathered. The kitchen is small, though well-fitted, the furniture a striking mix of wood and steel. Every detail testifies to the fact that Wolfgat is a product of its coastal location—a basket of seashells, a collection of small found animal skulls, and rows and rows of Kobus’ botanical infusions, the result of his forages and an integral part of the menu.

On clear days, guests dine outside on the covered ‘stoep’ (veranda), with a marvelous view over the ocean. A few steps down the slope can be found the original Wolfgat, a cavern believed to have been in use by local peoples thousands of years ago. (‘Wolfgat’ is translated as ‘wolf hole’ or ‘cave’.) At night and on colder days, Kobus and his small team move the tables inside. They light a fire in the fireplace and diners get to see the kitchen in action.

It is not the kind of action normally associated with award-winning kitchens. The atmosphere is not frenetic, but calm and focused; the pace is unhurried. It feels right for a restaurant so radically aligned to time and the seasons, and to the way nature operates. Meat (local venison and lamb) is on the menu only when in season— autumn and winter.

In summer, the focus shifts to sustainably sourced seafood. Even the local edible greens on the menu have a season, for which Kobus is happy to wait. He waxes lyrical about a plant called dune celery “which is not sprouting at the moment, but when it is I love to use it for its green and earthy taste.”

Enough, for now. Having plucked enough klipkombers to supply his kitchen for the next week, Kobus is satisfied with his harvest. He subscribes to the forager’s code—he will take no more than he needs.

On clear days, guests take their place at the simple but stylish mix of wooden and steel furniture on the verandah. A traditional rietdak (canopy of reeds) shields them from the sun; in the background, the picturesque village of Paternoster.

As for today’s menu, every one of its seven courses speaks to the unique character of this area—from the dune spinach served with the heritage Heerenbone purée and fat mussels to this morning’s foraged klipkombers, which will accompany the meat course. And then there is the seepampoen (‘sea pumpkin’), an indigenous plant which is to be served with the predessert and which Kobus has just realised they’ve run out of. No matter. One of his staff will make a quick run to his house just down the road, where the plant has all but taken over his garden. “It makes so much sense to use it,” says Kobus. “It’s free, it’s sustainable. I planted some there and it grows so easily.”

He thinks for a moment. “It thrives here because it belongs here.” Clearly, the same holds for Wolfgat.

Prepping the pre-dessert: amasi meringue (amasi being a local fermented milk) gets on very well with fresh prickly pear and seepampoen (“sea pumpkin”) from Kobus’ garden.

Every dish is meticulously considered and plated, including the first course on the menu, called ‘Strandveld Snacks’, which consists of (amongst other things) a taster of fresh Saldanha Bay oysters and wafer-thin quince.

A dish labeled simply ‘Piekelvis’ (pickled fish) may sound humble, but it is anything but—a local fish called Silvers reaches new heights thanks to the addition of wild garlic masala and sambals.

Simplicity is key here. Kobus works only with the best quality local ingredients, when in season, and prefers not to fuss when the produce is so good. A meat course consists only of seared springbok, seaweed, and springbok biltong.

The pre-dessert is, in keeping with the rest of the menu, very local and very forage-forward—amasi meringue (amasi being a local fermented milk) gets on very well with fresh prickly pear and seepampoen (“sea pumpkin”) from Kobus’ garden. Served with a special Wolfgat martini.

Time to get cooking. Award-winning chef Kobus van der Merwe goes to work on the day’s harvest, by steaming the morning’s pick of klipkombers (seaweed). He is very much in favor of making use of the local indigenous ingredients, even though some diners might be wary of what to expect. “When you cook the klipkombers correctly,” he explains, “it becomes soft and smooth like pasta.”

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Real Live Willy Wonka!

Chocolatier Philip Ashley Rix

WRITTEN BY: CARY WONG

It was one of those things that was probably so common that it did not stick out at the time, until he opened Phillip Ashley Chocolates. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Chef Phillip Ashley Rix was not only influenced by the city’s rich culture and diverse culinary scene, but he was also exposed to art, music, sports and of course food, thanks to his parents’ support. As a child, he loved hanging out with his grandmother Jean - despite taking him away from his friendswho was a great gardener as well as a skilled chef. He learned how to process what they grew, how to use the kitchen tools and create dishes with love.

Despite always having a sweet tooth, his culinary career only began after his education in chemistry and work in the marketing and sales field. And it literally came from a weird dream in 2007, in which he visited a Godiva chocolate store with his mom. “When I woke up, I knew

that I would make chocolate for the rest of my life,” he says.

Chef Rix started doing research and learned that comfort food - especially sweets - is fairly insulated from tough economic times, as people always want to soothe themselves and a great dessert or confection is often the chosen remedy. After teaching himself how to make chocolates and run a confectionery business, he started to experiment with different flavors and combinations.

Ingredients that do not appear to be a good match, like blue cheese and white chocolate, would often find themselves paired together in his work. These ideas often come from his keen sense of observation. “I am always looking, listening, smelling, and tasting, so I can learn and discover what is out there in the world that I can translate into chocolate,” he says. “The way different cultures eat and live often gives him the next vision.

He says his travels have played a major role in his works because the world is filled with nuance and traveling allows him to seek out and uncover inspiration through the food, art, and especially the people of a particular place or region.

For example, he created a collection called Taste of America, which consisted of 50-piece red- and white-striped limited-edition boxes of chocolates; each representing a state and its flavor. For example, there was the iconic Peaches and Cream for Georgia. Old Bay was made for Maryland. Virginia had PB&J while Iowa’s Sweet Corn Basil paid homage to the local maize production. That collection was but one of the many steps in his desire to be an encyclopedia of flavor - to understand food, beverage, ingredients, spices, herbs and oils. Knowing their growth, regional impact and all other aspects would allow him to tell expansive stories with chocolate.

It should be clear as he was granted the title “The Real-Life Willy Wonka ‘’ by Forbes, that his inspirations are not limited only from the culinary world. He also loves translating other sensory experiences into edible form. An example is his

partnership with Cadillac to create a collection for the brand’s first ultra-luxury electric car CELESTIQ; as well as chocolates for the launch events tied to the 2023 Lyriq and Escalade V-Series. They allow his imagination to run wild. He can imagine what a specific car of a luxury brand would taste like and create chocolates that are tailored specifically to that. The value he brings to the table led to these successful partnerships. And for Chef Rix, creating a balance between client expectations and his deliverables is key to building great relationships. He is currently working on numerous objectives at the same time, such as creating a seven course fine dining meal into a chocolate-and-wine-tasting series and playing with the idea of making a chocolate mix-tape that takes inspiration from different musical

genres and artists: what would a Prince song taste like? Or how complex would a chocolate born from a Kendrick Lamar verse be?

On top of those projects, he will go on an eightcity chocolate tasting tour this spring, write his first cookbook while developing new collections and refreshing the brand. To top them all off, he is also a proud new dad - how is that for a list of to-dos!

“I spent a lot of time looking at what the industry and other chocolatiers were doing and I decided I wanted to do the opposite,” he says. He is a relentless taste tester whose inspiration often comes from dreams yet is still trying to find that elusive ultimate creation. In addition to making magic happen in his own kitchen, he also competed on Food Network’s Chopped Sweets TV challenge. It was a nerve-

wracking experience as the results were unknown and the time pressure was constant. With so many ingredients, options and tools available, he confirmed his ability to be agile and nimble in a high-stress environment. He enjoyed the challenge and also learned a lot from it. On the business side, it is often challenging for Black owners to raise capital and get buyins during the early stages. He thinks that it is essential to have a clear vision of their businesses and not wait for the perfect moment to launch. “There’s never a perfect time other than now,” he says. “Just get started, you’re going to make mistakes and that’s okay. Learn from your mistakes, put the right people around you, and make sure that you’re really paying attention to the business side.”

In order to stand out, it is important to do the research, know the industry as well as the customer. With all that said, one has to be nimble enough to know when and how to pivot to enhance your business. “Set goals and then 10 or 20X them,” he says. “Most importantly, your product or service has to be impeccable.”

Speaking for himself, Chef Rix thinks that his past marketing and sales experience was the edge that helped him thrive early on. In his mind, it is imperative to spend the money on marketing. To be successful, this is one area that cannot be skimped on. All aspects of the business – whether it is production, creative, strategy or tactical - have to tell a cohesive story to the public to truly succeed in today’s competitive environment. He reminds us, however, the most important aspect for any business is to have a great product or service that people would want. It is the most crucial part of starting up a new business.

“At the end of the day, the product or service has to be great. And then it’s about finding the right people who can support it, sell it, and scale it. Before going to market, make sure that the product is excellent and it’s the best version at that time,” he says.

Phillip Ashley Chocolates is one-of-a-kind and could not be compared to any other product on the market.

“That’s been my whole goal: to create things that no one else would have thought of, that no one else would have dared to put into chocolate.”

@PHILLIPASHLEY @PHILLIPASHLEYCHOCOLATES

WRITTEN BY: @DIGITALWONG

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The American-Italian Dream

Chef Cristina Bowerman and Glass Hostaria

BY CARY WONG

Like the trademark shock of pink hair Chef Cristina Bowerman sports, her strong and bright personality is unmistakable. Born in a very small village called Cerignola in Apulia of Southern Italy, she studied foreign languages and attended law school. Her career started as an attorney in one of the most prestigious foreign firms, but after a few years, she decided to take a long trip to the United States. Through different circumstances and influenced by her Italian background, she was hired by Spectrum Foods in Southern California, a high-end restaurant management company with a strong focus on Italian food.

“They literally dragged me around all these restaurants and ask me questions like, ‘Is this really Italian? Is this good?’” she says. Then she moved on to work as a graphic designer for the next 10 years. That was when she started cooking more seriously. She hosted friends every weekend and realized that culinary art was what really stoked her passion.

So, she attended Le Cordon Bleu school in Austin, Texas, and planned to stage back home in Italy, then eventually return Stateside. However, things changed while she was in Rome. She started working at Convivio Troiani, became the head chef of two restaurants, and shortly thereafter, took over the reins of Glass Hostaria. Within a few years, in 2010, Glass Hostaria was awarded a Michelin star, the first one-starred restaurant in Italy without white tablecloth.

“I was totally in love with the idea that I could do anything I wanted,” she says. “Especially in Rome, because Rome [is] very much rigid in its tradition. Basically, you could take like 10, 15, 20 restaurants, put them all right next to each other, and they’re all the same. And still, nowadays, a lot of people come over to my restaurant, they say, ‘Finally, I can have something different!’”

One could see that her American experience has left a huge impression on her cooking. “America gives you strength to believe in yourself and the means to realize your dreams,” she says. “The American Dream is still very much alive… and I wish for all the people to experience such an amazing energizing power within yourself to say, ‘I am going to do it, I am going to actually get what I want to get.’”

In the European culinary world, food from the United States is often viewed negatively, but Chef Bowerman thinks differently. “You see that probably 70-75% of the restaurants here in Italy–for the new openings–have huge influences from American cuisine. Just think about hamburgers, for instance. Or now the trend of smoking and grilling.”

In addition, the vast geographical size of the US means that each region or state has its own approach. And that makes things tremendously exciting. Meanwhile, she did notice some incorrect stereotypes surrounding Italian food during her time in America. First, not all pasta is cooked al dente. Many pasta dishes, especially ones with legumes and lentils, tend to be slightly overcooked. These “rested pasta,” as they are called, are usually prepared in the morning and eaten at night. There are also more basic misconceptions like putting meatballs on pasta (no, they do not); and cooking chicken parmesan (no, it is not an authentic Italian dish). These all point to the fascinating differences between the two countries.

When Chef Bowerman is creating her menu, she tries to establish a connection with the guests, be that an ingredient, a recipe, or a flavor. At the core, she focuses on recreating the profile of Italian cuisine in various ways.

If she saw someone walking down a street anywhere in the world without knowing the dressmaker, she could still tell that it was made by an Italian. That is exactly how she thinks about Italian cuisine.

For example, one of her signature dishes is the gnocchetti made only with potato, flour, and a dash of saffron for color. They are served with a modern black garlic bagna cauda sauce. Different elements like sea urchin, squid-ink bread crumbs made with cauliflower, truffle, and semi-dried tomatoes are added. Finally, edamame is used as a final touch to produce the shape of fava beans.

“Honestly, it’s not really connected to an Italian tradition (or) an Italian dish,” she says.

“But at the same time, if you tasted it, you’d say, ‘Oh, this is Italian for sure.’”

To Chef Bowerman, if she can recreate an Italian profile, the guests may not remember the exact ingredients, but they will remember the feeling and flavor of the experience. And one of the biggest challenges is to walk the fine line between honoring tradition and breaking new ground. Time-honored methods should be protected (especially when it comes to Nonna’s recipes!), but one can always find inspiration from them. Case in point, her vitello tonnato dish features cubed, sous-vide veal and uses the traditional sauce in a foamed form so that it tastes more flavorful yet lighter on the palate.

When she’s building new dishes from her own ideas, she is quite flexible. Sometimes she bases the idea on an ingredient; other times, she has a flavor in mind and tries to work backward from that. Once she is happy with the taste, she will share it with the team and, finally, a lucky (or unlucky) guest.

The first client test is always an ugly dish because “sometimes, if you plated well and nice, and it’s beautiful to look at… you can be misled” into thinking it’s going to be an amazing course. She always let the testers know that they are the first ones to taste it. And if they do not like the dish, she will apologize and replace it. The process is still the same after 16 years at Glass Hostaria, and it still gives her the butterflies. “I go through the kitchen door, and I try to see what they do whenever they have the first bite. If they like it? Or they don’t? I’m still anxious, which is cool,” she says. Outside of the kitchen, Chef Bowerman’s main goal has always been to become a role model for all women who want to start a career–not

only in the culinary world but in general. She does a lot of volunteer work to give back to society. She has also been one of the founders and president (now in her second term) of Associazione Italiana Ambasciatori del Gusto, promoting the Italian art of food and wine. Her calendar is booked full for 2022. Bowie, a delivery concept she started, is looking for a physical location. Her restaurants in Smyrna, Turkey, and Xi’an, China are slated to reopen after the pandemic. She will also travel to Dubai for the Chef Manifesto Expo that is focused on eco-sustainability. In addition, she will speak on the United Nations’ goal of “Ending Hunger and Malnutrition by 2030.”

“And then other events here and there, but that’s pretty much it. I think that’s enough,” she says with a confident smile.

No... seriously, you’ll drink it and crave it, but don’t worry... we can send it to your home or office monthly, so you’re good!

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DISCOVER A COFFEE YOU WILL CRAVE

InVintory: Never Again Lose a Precious Bottle

Guided by a team of sommeliers, InVintory provides 3D inventory for your wine cellar

Jeff Daiter had planned to spend his retirement sipping wine and writing screenplays. However, he could never keep track of his wine collection or find his bottles.

One night, he wanted to find a special bottle he’d set aside for a friend, but it was not where he expected it to be. Pulling shelf after shelf out of his fridge, he finally saw a bottle topple off the side and crash onto the floor—the one he’d wanted.

Frustrated, he turned to his son, Josh, a software developer with a master’s degree in AI, and asked for help. Josh built a quick app over the weekend for his dad’s personal use, but his friends soon wanted access, and they realized they had a business on their hands.

Yule Schmidt, chief operating officer of InVintory, says that the whole team enjoys wine.

“We are all wine drinkers, yes! Jeff has lots of Napa Cab but these days tends more towards Brunello (Casanova di Neri is a favorite). Josh is an explorer but, of late, has been enjoying whites, like Loire Sauvignon Blanc. I’m very partial to white Burgundy and Barolo, although I have a few favorite producers

in my local wine region of Niagara.”

To Schmidt and others, the purpose of creating InVintory was to solve a problem, which is the only reason they believe anyone should start a business.

“If you’re a wine collector, you’ll have hundreds or thousands of bottles. You may not need an app for your Bentleys, but you’ll need one for your Bordeaux.”

PHOTO CREDIT: INVINTORY

WRITTEN BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA

INVESTMENT OR ENJOYMENT?

Many people find wine an attractive investment because the supply of any given wine bottled in any year is finite and constantly depleting, so prices will go up over time. It is also exempt from capital gains tax in the UK.

“And let’s not forget that it’s a collectible you can actually crack open and drink! Try that with your Basquiat,” says Schmidt.

Some might wonder how wine collectors decide what they want to drink versus what they want to keep as a resellable investment.

“Some see wine purely as a financial asset. Others see it as a conduit of history, place, and culture and a winemaker’s entire year’s effort and find seeing it only as an investment nearly sacrilegious. That said, a healthy number of people fall somewhere in the middle,” says Schmidt.

Buying and selling wines to realize a gain on occasion is a way to find wines you want to drink and to clear your cellar of wines that are valuable but perhaps no longer to your taste.

“The best way to avoid drinking your future sellable wines? Ensure you have enough other stuff on hand to keep your palate busy!”

THE APP’S THREE DISTINCTIVE ADVANTAGES

InVintory has three main distinct and attractive features. The first is the ability to create a 3D mockup of your cellar or fridge, assign bottles to specific slots, and then find them with the tap of a button. It is unlike anything else on the market now, and they are developing

an advanced version of this technology. Also, they pride themselves on their clean, sleek design that makes management easy. “No one wants to deal with a finicky or clunky app when they’re looking for the third bottle of the night during a dinner party.” They also have a team of admins and sommeliers who will import your collection for you from another app or spreadsheet to minimize the required onboarding effort.

Finally, InVintory’s underlying database of wines isn’t crowd-sourced. “We worked hard to build it from scratch, with beautiful label images, regional information, winemaker notes, and (for Prestige subscribers) market values from reliable third parties (WineSearcher and LivEx). Anytime a user submits a new wine, our team first reviews it and finds a perfect label image, perhaps by emailing the producer directly, before we add that wine to our database.”

REVELING IN SUCCESS

Schmidt revels in the many technologies that make the development and expansion of InVintory possible, including her home Wi-Fi extender for the team’s constant Zoom meetings. People like Jeff Daiter will never have to risk knocking a precious vintage to the floor while searching for the perfect bottle to complement a meal.

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Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites — An elemental travel experience in the Aran Islands, Ireland Nadúr fiáin an Atlantaigh

STAY AT HUKA LODGE

BY MADELIN TOMELTY

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BELL COLLECTIVE

BY FILIPA ARAÚJO

For when only the very best will do… 144

A Collective Of Women Redefining The Way We See Travel Photography

TRAVEL KINDLY

BY FILIPA ARAÚJO

The world’s first socially conscious hotel booking platform

Five Ultra-Luxurious Reasons to Stay at Huka Lodge

WRITTEN BY MADELIN TOMELTY

If you consider yourself a luxury hotel aficionado, then Huka Lodge needs no introduction. At 90 years old this retreat might be in its golden years, but this beautiful, timeless lodge continues to be favored among A-listers and coveted among aspiring travellers year in, year out, with no end date in sight. Today, international celebrities and luxury-seekers continue to flock to the quiet, pretty town of Taupo in New Zealand’s north island to experience the unparalleled sense of luxury, awe-inspiring service, and picturesque, breathtaking scenery this incredible property has grown a global reputation for.

In case your arm needs twisting (we doubt it), here’s five ultraluxurious reasons to stay in this riverside haven.

For when only the very best will do…

1. Absolute, no-onewill-know-you’re-there privacy

Remember when we said celebrities are particularly fond of Huka Lodge? This is one of the reasons why. Just 25 guest suites are available on a sprawling 17 acres of manicured grounds, and adding to all this sense of privacy and isolation is the absolute discretion of the staff at Huka Lodge—one of its hallmarks. It’s commonplace for the Lodge’s housekeepers to intuitively know the best time to slip in and service the guest rooms, disappearing before the guests even know they’ve been, or for guests to discover their favorite magazines or treats appear almost out of thin air, despite no mention to the staff. This is just a touch of the magic that happens at Huka Lodge.

2. A choice of 21 sublime dining locations, all on Lodge grounds

At Huka Lodge, not only does the menu change daily, but if your heart so desires, the dining location can, too. Executive Chef, Paul Froggatt, serves up cuisine made from some of New Zealand’s finest and freshest local, seasonal produce, that can be devoured in over 20 deliberately romantic private dining venues both indoors and outdoors throughout the property. Perhaps you fancy a table for two bathed in candlelight, beside the river and under the stars? Or in the wine cellar? Or at the jetty pavilion? Or beside one of the numerous outdoor fireplaces? You get the idea…

3. One-of-a-kind, intimate events

Huka Lodge began putting on special events in 1991, and they were such a hit that they have continued every year since, such as the Lodge’s iconic Big Red Dinner. In the chillier months of May to September, guests will find themed weekends, high profile guest chefs, celebrated winemakers, artists, musicians, and celebrity presenters. A series of Fireside Experiences (introduced last winter) involves pre-dinner drinks with local artisans, historians, and personalities, who share their life experience and specialist knowledge with the lucky guests. Intimate occasions of no more than 50 guests, Huka Lodge sure knows how to do exclusive.

4. Exclusive, unique experiences

Huka Lodge works closely with the best and most experienced guides and local operators to offer experiential packages exclusive to Huka Lodge guests. These packages immerse the guest fully into the heart of Taupo local life and offer cross-cultural exchanges. Catch a magnificent Rainbow Trout then watch as the Lodge Chef slices it into fresh sashimi for your lunch or explains how to smoke it; or discover The Art of the Maori Carver, a two-night package offering a unique and authentic cultural exchange between guests and Maori tribal members of the Ngati Tuwharetoa of Taupo.

For those who like to shop, Huka Lodge has relationships with global luxury brands the likes of Aston Martin, Louis Vuitton, Karen Walker, and Tiffany & Co. at its disposal. Let Huka Lodge organise a personal styling session at a Karen Walker boutique or Crane Brothers, or have a private viewing at leading art auction house Art + Object. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

5. Simply beautiful design with no expense spared and every detail considered

Internationally-recognised interior designer Virginia Fisher has created the lodge of our dreams. Elegant and calming, opulent yet grounded, the 18 Junior Lodge Suites and single Lodge Suite are the ultimate romantic retreat for couples, while the four-bedroom Owner’s Cottage and the two-bedroom Alan Pye Cottage showcase unparalleled comfort and luxury, with multi-generational family holidays in mind.

Meanwhile, through the doors of each accommodation, guests can wander a secret garden sanctuary of manicured landscape, juxtaposed against the raw, powerful beauty of the Waikato River and nearby Huka Falls. It’s the stuff of dreams.

Bell Collective

A Collective Of Women Redefining The Way We See Travel Photography

The Bell Collective comprises female (-identifying) photographers and creators. Founded by photographer Alina Rudya, this collective uses visual storytelling to redefine the woman traveler and challenge how we see female travel photography. They work on multiple projects and have collaborated with big names like Nikon and Mercedes-Benz. As an open collective, they work with women from all over the world, with different visions and backgrounds, who share a common goal: showcasing a variety of powerful perspectives of the world. Last year, the Bell Collective co-organized the Female Photo Days event in Berlin, Germany. An open invitation to female and non-binary photographers to empower creative female voices and create a space for emerging talent in the industry.

In 2019, they also released a book named “Bell Collective,” where we are invited to follow the path of 14 amazing women as they share life through their lens and allow us a sneak peek into their worlds. From big busy cities, between endless hot deserts and snowy white mountains, from intrepid road trips and wandering off the beaten path, we get to explore different corners of the world, with some powerful insights into travel and photography along the way. Inspired by the iconic Gertrude Bell, a famous British adventurer, archaeologist, travel writer, political officer, and a collective role model of the photographers, this book reminds us that we come from a legacy of powerful women pioneers that helped pave the way for our paths in an often male-dominated world.

PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF BELL COLLECTIVE WRITTEN BY: FILIPA ARAÚJO

Alina Rudya

Kolmanskopp, Namibia

CHALLENGING FEMALE STEREOTYPES

When Rudya founded the Bell Collective, she had a clear view of the future of the photography industry: “I created Bell Collective because I saw that women creators were misrepresented on social media. Women were seen as muses and models rather than adventurers, explorers, and artists. I wanted to create a collective of female photographers who show the world through their perspective and have a different angle on what traveling means.”

The idea is to use visual storytelling to challenge stereotypes about female travel and creative choices. In a male-dominated creative world, women often face issues regarding access to the industry and representation. Rudya explains the importance of having female representation in the industry: “Since the majority of photographers and creators in the journalistic, editorial, and commercial area are still men, we are often faced with the male gaze and lack of representation in advertisement, both in the creative teams & final product. Showcasing female creators and working with female & nonbinary teams on commercial projects helps to balance the scene & show different areas of interest, life, and expertise.”

The girls and women of tomorrow should get to experience a world free of imposed identities and stereotypes, and for Rudya, it is vital to showcase women who are strong, adventurous, fierce, and who challenge the idea of the fragile woman. “Role models are important for younger girls who are standing before a career choice, and seeing professional women who do not follow the established gender stereotypes will help to encourage the young generation to think out of the box, follow their true passion without a fear of being judged, and fix the imbalance in many professional fields.”

Bazalt

THE FACE BEHIND THE CONCEPT

Alina Rudya was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and currently lives in Berlin, Germany. She originally moved to Berlin to follow her passion for photography and ended up falling in love with the city, where she’s been living for 13 years.

She studied visual communication and photography at the Berlin University of Arts and the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her interest in photography was passed on from her father, a nuclear physicist with a fondness for the camera. She recalls when her father brought home a National Geographic magazine

Alina Rudya, professional photographer and founder of Bell Collective

from one of his trips to the US as the specific moment when her love for photography started. At the tender age of 9, young Rudya discovered the power of telling stories through visuals, and the camera became her vessel for storytelling. Growing up, Rudya struggled to find a community where she would fit. Moving to Berlin and discovering the art world allowed her to find this community of powerful

women who have helped her grow and elevate her art form. “I love meeting other women who have the same passions as me. Growing up, I rarely met people who were interested in the same things as I were—both men and women, but now finally, I have a great circle of amazing women who are inspiring me and others with their passion, dedication, and talent.”

Rudya has traveled all over the world and explored some breathtaking places, from the eclectic streets of Japan to the colorful mosques of Iran to the quiet mountains of Iceland, she’s been capturing movement and stillness and using her camera to tell the stories of our land, and the different people and cultures that walk it.

When asked to talk about her favorite trip so far, Rudya couldn’t name just one and reminisces about three of her most impactful adventures to date. She first takes us on a journey to the sandy stretches of Namibia, where she traveled a few years ago with a girlfriend and fellow photographer. Here she experienced the tranquility and stillness of untouched land under the harsh sun that burns your skin during the day and the magical dance of a starry night: “Driving for hours through the deserted landscape, visiting an abandoned mining town in the middle of the desert, sleeping in a tent under the Milky Way was truly unforgettable.”

On our next stop, she brings us to the Grand Canyon in the US, an emotionally charged place for Rudya, as visiting this incredible natural work of art brought back some memories. “The American West has a special place in my heart. My father visited Arizona in 1994 and promised we would go to the Grand Canyon one day. He passed away in 2006 without being able to make the trip, so going to the Grand Canyon was on my Bucket List. It was one of the most breathtaking and heartbreaking experiences in my life because of the unimaginable beauty and grandeur of the place combined with the bittersweet memory of my father being there and experiencing the same feelings.”

For the final stop, Rudya brings us to a very special place on a trip that was one of the most intense and deeply personal experiences for the photographer. This time, Rudya returned to her roots in Ukraine, to the now abandoned city where she holds memories of a painful past. She reflects on the impact this trip had on her: “Going back to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the ghost town of Pripyat, which my family and I were evacuated from after the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster of 1986. My photography book Prypyat mon Amour resulted from multiple trips to Prypyat with people like me who were evacuated from the area. It was a very personal and cathartic project.”

Kolmanskopp, Namibia

Kolmanskopp, Namibia

PRYPYAT MON AMOUR

The photography book Prypyat mon Amour, meaning Prypyat my love, is a collection of memories of a place that once held life, joy, and laugher, and where now only the shadows of these memories still live on. The photo series portrays a group of people who, like Rudya, were evacuated from the city of Prypyat after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Rudya portrays them in their old homes, workplaces, the places they used to go to enjoy a sunny afternoon, the places where they were once happy. The book also includes interviews and an essay reflecting on this journey of remembering after forced displacement.

For Rudya, it was important to focus on the impact on life and the celebration of memories instead of showcasing a ghost town. She speaks of the message behind the project, “I didn’t want to show another picture of an abandoned city. Many photographers showed that side of the story. By looking at the pictures of the abandoned buildings, we see ‘absence of people,’ thus forgetting about thousands of those who left and are now still living a seemingly normal life, but at the same time, their lives will never be absolutely normal, because they were all more or less, directly or indirectly, marked by this disaster. I wanted to show the emotions of these people, triggered by coming back to the town of their youth. “Prypyat is a town of my youth. And how can one forget his youth?” - says Viktor, a former nuclear physicist and a current painter.”

This project was particularly intense for the Ukrainian photographer, as it brought back a mix of memories and feelings regarding her past and the loss of her father. She opens up about how significant this project was for her own closure: “I was evacuated from Chernobyl as a kid, and my father worked at the station on the night of the Chernobyl disaster. It was a personal project for me, something I needed to do to close that chapter of my life. My father passed away when I was 21 from the consequences of the radiation exposure, which influenced me a lot and made me rethink this horrible part of my life, which I don’t even remember but which completely changed my destiny, and the destiny of hundreds of thousands of people.”

For Rudya, this project was a big undertaking and proved emotionally harder than what the photographer thought at first. Being back in a place that had such an impact in her life and the life of others was difficult and nostalgic. She reflects on some realizations from working with this group of people, “It was harder emotionally than I thought. It took me a while to work on each interview because every time I was reading the words of these people, mentally, I was going back, seeing these empty apartments, fragile remains of the past, thinking of all the beautiful moments they’ve had in the town and its surroundings. The whole project made me realize how beautiful and unique the city was, how young all the people were, and that the most beautiful and meaningful memories of their youth are connected to that place. They don’t have a place they can go back to commemorate their wedding anniversary other than a ruin in an abandoned city. They cannot visit their old school because it collapsed, they cannot be nostalgic without being tremendously sad for all the things which happened to them and even more for those which didn’t happen because their lives were interrupted by the disaster.”

A beautiful testament to life, resilience, and memories, Prypyat mon Amour is a photo book that promises to leave no one indifferent, and reminds us of our fragile life is, and the importance of cherishing every ordinary moment of our lives.

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

For the Bell Collective, 2023 is an exciting year filled with new projects on the horizon. Early this year, the collective began shaping into a production studio based in Berlin with many exciting projects in store. This production studio works with female and non-binary creators, producers, and visual storytellers to curate fresh and cutting-edge content. Rudya gives us a sneak-peak of this new venture, “The new website is coming up soon, and we are working on growing a bigger network of artists and creators from various backgrounds in the future. We are looking forward to developing our Bell Collective production studio and have the first projects of the year already in planning.”

They will also organize another edition of the Female Photo Days event in Berlin. Rudya tells us all about it, “This coming year, Bell Collective will be organizing another Female Photo Days event in Berlin, which I am really looking forward to. This event will have photography and videography workshops, as well as masterclasses from women to women. Last year’s event proved to be very inspiring, helpful, and encouraging for many aspiring photographers.”

As the future brightens for the Bell Collective, we are reminded of the importance of representation for girls. Initiatives like the Bell Collective show our daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends that women belong in all places. We are the explorers, the adventurers, and the never-ending curious minds, and the world is our classroom.

ukraine

Burning Man

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

— Warren Buffett

Travel Kindly

The world’s first socially conscious hotel booking platform that will allow

to give back this holiday season.

WRITTEN BY: FILIPA ARAÚJO

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: KIND TRAVELER

Sometimes, the most iconic destinations on every traveler’s bucket list have more to them than meets the eye if you’re willing to take a closer look. The reality of some of these idyllic places doesn’t always match the pictures we see on Instagram.

We don’t always consider the impact when we travel, the carbon footprint we might leave behind, or even the possibility of leaving a positive mark wherever we pass through. We interviewed Jessica Blotter, an entrepreneur with a vision of changing how we travel.

KIND TRAVELER

Jessica Blotter is the CEO & CoFounder of Kind Traveler, a speaker and journalist on sustainable and regenerative tourism, and serves on the Board of Directors for CREST (Center for Responsible Travel). During a vacation to Belize, a Caribbean paradise with crystal blue water and white sand beaches, Jessica and her partner Sean Lrejci were overwhelmed by what was happening behind the scenes. Extreme poverty, polluted waters, and a shocking amount of abandoned, sick dogs were the common sights, right behind the flashy resorts. Moved by a cause so close to their heart, it was impossible for Jessica and Sean to stay indifferent to this scenario. Instinctively they started feeding the street dogs. This simple action created a ripple effect, and other

you

Jessica Blotter & Sean Lrejci, Founders of Kind Traveler

travelers started to join their mission. When they returned home, they couldn’t shake the feeling that they had to do something about this.

“The feelings of helplessness turned to hope as we yearned for a way for our travel dollars to make a lasting, meaningful impact in the local community. The emotion and feelings that evolved from giving back stayed with us for a long time. We asked ourselves: ‘What if we could create a way for travelers to easily make a meaningful positive impact within the communities they visit and, in turn, be filled up with a greater sense of joy and purpose while traveling?’ and that’s how the idea for Kind Traveler was born. A hotel booking platform that allows travelers to give back while they’re traveling. Since then, the company has grown a lot and has been able to expand its impact. “We launched in 2016 with around 20 hotels in the U.S. and Mexico and have since

evolved the platform to include 140 hotel partners and 150+ charities in 22 countries. In 2022, after becoming a Blue Startups portfolio company, we launched Kind Traveler 2.0, a new webbased platform to optimize the user experience and create an API that will allow us to scale much more efficiently.”

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Kind Traveler is the world’s first socially conscious booking platform. When you book a hotel through Kind Traveler, you’re not just securing accommodation for your holidays, you are giving back to the community.

Six Senses Samui, Thailand

They have created a model based on the idea of “Give + Get,” empowering travelers to leave a positive impact on the neighborhoods and communities they visit.

Here’s how it works: Travelers donate a minimum of $10 to a local charity or another charity of choice, and, in return, they can unlock special rates and other perks from the partner hotels. One hundred percent of the donations go directly to the charity. Blotter explains the further impact besides the donations, “With every booking, travelers have an opportunity to learn about the measurable positive impact they will make and will receive an impact statement, sharing the impact of their donation. Additionally, with every booking, there is an option to plant trees with Arbor Day Foundation: one USD dollar plants one tree in U.S. forests affected by wildfires. Visitors to Kind Traveler can also learn about the Kind Factors of each Kind Hotel—how the hotel is advancing environmental sustainability, community impact, and individual wellness at a local level.” The platform even goes a step further and provides a list of local volunteering opportunities if you want to donate your time when traveling.

Kind Travel allows you to be an agent of change

and leave a positive mark in many different ways, from providing care to rescued animals in Switzerland to providing meals to families in need in the US to providing clean water filters to people with no access to clean water in Thailand, your donations could truly make a difference, and you, too, could be part of the solution. Kind Traveler connects with a large network of 150+ charitable organizations spread around the world, which are vetted by the company, and cover different areas of impact. “Each charity on Kind Traveler is aligned with at least one of the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development (Global Goals), which largely center around fighting poverty, increasing access to education, addressing inequality, creating sustainable cities, advancing climate action and efforts to preserve our oceans and wildlife,” says Blotter.

THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORLD

Blotter’s journey through the entrepreneurial world wasn’t your ordinary pathway. Starting as an earth science teacher at a charter school for underserved students, her passion for entrepreneurship only truly developed after she became an associate publisher for various lifestyle magazine startups. The road hasn’t always been easy, as with any new business venture, finding personal balance and passionate investors aligned with their mission takes patience.

North Coast Food Web, Oregon, USA

Na’atik Language and Cultural Institute, Mexico

Jessica Blotter, Co-founder of Kind Traveler

There have been many important moments that have marked Kind Traveler’s journey to success.

Blotter speaks of some of the biggest achievements of the team:

“In 2021, Kind Traveler was the winner of Newsweek’s Future of Travel Award for the startups/travel tech category and a finalist of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award for the social responsibility category. The awards have served as guideposts to our team, affirming that we are building a product that resonates with others and fills an important gap in the travel industry.” Their team also created the 2022 Global Impact Tourism Report, where they interviewed and collected data from various sources, such as hotels, charities, tourism boards, and survey respondents, and were able to find 10 trends in the travel industry right now. They hope that this report will provide important insights and serves as a tool to guide the travel industry towards sustainability and offer a set of solutions that will make you reinvent the concept of travel towards regenerative tourism, showing that it is possible to use travel as a way to build long-lasting benefits to destinations, communities, and nature. You can find the report available for free download on their website KindTraveler.com.

Blotter has a clear view of the path ahead: “The future of sustainable travel should revolve around both the industry and consumers making travel and lifestyle choices that drive positive impact and minimize

or eliminate negative impact. Travelers must become keenly aware of how their impacts can help or harm the planet and learn to vote with their dollar by supporting brands and lifestyle choices that create sustainable, regenerative, and equitable futures for all beings.”

So, if you are traveling during these holidays, consider traveling with kindness, knowing that just a few dollars have the potential to improve the community you’re visiting.

#TravelKindly

Photo by Sean Pavone in Unsplash

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TIFFT’S GOLDEN RATIO

BY CONTRIBUTOR NAME

A Mixed Media Artist From Florida Is Mastering The Shell Craft

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KWAME’S EYE-PHONE ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY

BY CRISTINA DEPTULA

Kwame Acheampong captures his images through the lens of his iPhone.

188

VEIGA’S BLAZING ART

BY GEORGE DIKE

Artist Hannah Veiga’s Passion For The Rare Art Form Of Pyrography

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REBUILDING CHICAGO

BY FILIPA ARAÚJO

An Innovative Project That is Redefining How We Look at Urban Spaces.

art & culture

Tifft’s Golden Ratio

A Mixed M edia Artist From Florida Is Mastering The Shell Craft, Turning Organic Seashells Into Sensational Art

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: @KIMBERLYSUITSLEWIS

WRITTEN BY: STELLA POLYZOIDOU

There are no rules to art, and there are no rules to selfexpression. In a world of rising consumption and mass production, Katarina Tifft has found the golden ratio to create something meaningful and sustainable.

Among the side effects of consumerism is the depletion of natural resources and pollution of the earth. This artist has adopted an eco-conscious lifestyle, practicing her art through organic materials and playing with the shells so naturally, like she was born for this.

From a young age, Tifft had an eye for the arts. “I was always creative and passionate about anything that intrigued my mind and soul,” she recalls. Before choosing the artistic road, she studied Civil Engineering, majoring in water management.

Katarina Tifft

While on a trip to South Africa with her husband, she started exploring her artistic side and experimenting with shells as a medium. In an attempt to create something with natural ingredients from home.

Before finally moving to Lakeland, Florida, Tifft had traveled worldwide, searching for new experiences. “Living in different parts of the world and being exposed to diverse cultural experiences made me the person I am today,” she adds.

While in Florida, Tifft contacted a salon owner who advertised local artists and agreed to display her artworks. After selling out all of her pieces there, she started promoting her work through social media, gaining many admirers.

What makes her art unique are the special ingredients, imagination, and creativity she puts into her work. For her, it’s a self-exploration, more like a self-discovery. “The more you create, the better you get to know yourself,” she declares. Each art piece is carefully handcrafted from tiny shells, making it one of a kind due to the organic, textured patterns found in nature. Bringing a shell to life and forming it into a piece of art can be a time-consuming process but for her is a way to relax and meditate. “Through this process, I can transform my imagination into something beautiful while learning, growing, and moving forward in life,” she notes.

During the creative process, she draws inspiration from everything around her, from the soft tones and natural textures to the clean lines and minimalism of coastal living. The spirit of the East Coast, where she lives now, with the sun, sand, and blue sea, plays a key role in the energy she puts into her business. Once she has a clear vision of what her clients are thinking, she starts the design process.

Often, she draws inspiration from other artists. From the living ones, she distinguishes Heather Knight, who is a Savannah, GAbased ceramic artist known for her handmade porcelain and stoneware work. One of her favorite artworks is the Lincoln in Dalivision, a lithograph created by Salvador Dalí. I like to visit the Dali Museum in St.Petersburg, Florida, and

notice this painting and the 3D illusion he created for hours, hoping to reach that masterpiece one day,” she highlights.

Since her artworks are also based on this 3D illusion, they could be great additions to a minimalistic house, hung on the wall without overpowering anything else. “Commissions are a perfect way to complement your home’s aesthetic with art that is a custom size and color palette,” she suggests.

“The more you create, the better you get to know yourself ”

Katarina Tifft

When asked what’s the meaning of her artwork, Tifft answered that she wishes to encourage others to be themselves through the beauty of art. “I want my art to make people stop for a moment, stare, take a step closer and evoke an urge to touch and feel the texture,” she says.

Like every artist wishing to leave his or her mark on the world, Tifft hopes her art pieces will pass down as heirlooms to future generations.

Unlike overproduction and fast fashion that overwhelm the modern world, her art is slow, ethically made, a craft to be admired by others.

Naturally perfect.

Kwame’s Eye-Phone Artistic Photography

Kwame Acheampong, born in Accra, Ghana, is a passionate photographer and artist who captures his images and communicates his artistry through the lens of his iPhone camera.

BY CRISTINA DEPTULA

Kwame Acheampong’s Instagram account blossoms with joy: p eople flexing, wading and diving into water, or enjoying fields of flowers . The sensibility is bright and playful: bold reds and oranges and yellows against the blues and greens of the natural scenes. Everyone looks strong and joyful, even the people in Covid masks.

Photography was originally a side project for Acheampong, a way to find images to accompany his poetry. He fell in love with uncovering and creating images, though it became a separate art form for him. He still captures images with only his iPhone 12 Pro Max, showing that one does not need vast amounts of camera equipment to create distinctive work.

LOCAL HUMAN AND NATURAL INSPIRATIONS

He says that “emotions, spontaneity, and nature” drive his use of color. Currently living by the sea, he incorporates water, boats, and the beach into a lot of his photos. His subjects look athletic and pose with sports and outdoor props: boxing gloves, boats, life preservers. Most of his photographs appear to be taken outside, except for a few where boys pose with pillows or blankets.

Asked to describe his style, he answered, “My photography is experimental and readily embodies an all-embracing artistic approach. It’s refreshing, with colors that draw the viewer’s attention to the concept being depicted and also aids in symbolism and its respective interpretation.”

He has an endless list of favorite photographers, “Notable among them are Mark Rothko, Yoan Capote, Berhanu Merikokeb, Serge Clottey, just to mention a few.” He finds natural inspiration in seeing their works and also takes artistic ideas from what he sees in the world around him.

“To be honest, I am inspired by existence. It sounds broad and vague but I am truly inspired by people, philosophy, poetry, colors and the mere works of other artists [in other media] such as paintings and sculptures,” he explains.

He also focuses on brotherhood and friendship, with many images of young and older boys playing and exploring together.

DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE

While much of his current work focuses on his hometown, he’s been featured on billboards around Ghana. His dream is to become globally recognized and take his photography out to the entire world.

When he’s not taking photos, he enjoys reading, especially about art and philosophy. He’s earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from one of Ghana’s premier colleges, the University of Ghana. Eventually, he would like to learn and experiment with other art forms such as painting and sculpture. Asked about his favorite color, Acheampong had a definite answer. “Blue, it’s the sky and sea, two motifs repetitive in my works. It’s personally a peaceful color too.”

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BlazingVeiga’sArt

Artist Hannah Veiga’s Passion For The Rare Art Form Of Pyrography

Pyrography is a distinguished yet intriguing art form that means “writing or drawing with fire.” Just like all creative styles, pyrography is the ability to transform something ordinary into a beautiful work of art. In pyrography, there’s no erasing; every pen stroke counts. Still, the process can be fun and therapeutic and carry deep meanings.

The primary medium in the ancient art of pyrography is heat. Pyrography’s early forms, dating back to the Middle Ages, were sometimes called “pokerwork.” They would take pokers or hot metal rods out of the fire pit and use them to burn incredible patterns, usually on leather or wood.

Pyrography is more than just burning wood. Anyone can do that in their fireplace. The art of wood-burning is only one form of pyrography and is done on specific types of wood. However, some other surfaces are used, including leather, paper, cotton fabric, and more.

Several modern-day artists have mastered this age-old art form. One such talent is Hannah Veiga, whose love for pyrography started from a place of uncertainty. As a versatile artiste, she struggled to identify with one true art form that spoke for her. But when she began pyrography in 2020, she knew she had finally found her calling.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNAH VEIGA

WRITTEN BY: GEORGE DIKE

HANNAH VEIGA STUDIO

Hannah is a multidisciplinary artist based in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Her wood-centered pyrography focuses on nature, flora, fauna, and nautical themes. According to Hannah, she had early struggles trying to find her place as an artist in the vast art world.

“My undergraduate studies in fine arts helped me explore new mediums that I never thought I would have the capacity or resources to experiment with; it was a vibrant five years of dabbling in sculpture, printmaking, performance art, picking up a plasma cutter for the first

time and one class had me drawing with my feet.”

Although she practiced various art forms, Hannah sought to master one her heart desired. By the end of 2020, she got her first slab of wood and a wood-burning kit and began her pyrography journey.

“Immediately, I felt drawn to create designs that would flow with the wood’s existing movement in the grain. I asked friends for some suggestions on things to burn into the wood, and my personal challenge was to incorporate all of these mismatched ideas into one cohesive design. “

So far, she has burned designs for trees, birds, dogs, cats, and several inventive ideas as desired by family, friends, and clients. The whole process has been an eye-opener for Hannah. She says the results from her early designs were way better than expected, making her fall in love with pyrography.

“The support I have received on this journey has kept me inspired and moving forward, and I’m so thrilled I can share the things that make my heart happy with you all. I hope these creations can also bring you joy, or at least some curiosity into the world of pyrography.”

To ensure she produces the best possible artwork, Hannah uses select wood. The type of wood used is important. You cannot just use any wood, as the choice of wood can greatly affect the outcome of the artwork. Also, some woods are easier to source than others.

The right wood should have the correct texture and grain. It should have tight pores and a smooth surface area. That is why Hannah is picky with her choice and completely excludes woods

such as Black Walnut.

Currently, a major challenge Hannah endures is dealing with international requests, as shipping rates are just as diverse as the people interested in her art. However, her art pieces are readily available for pick up for anyone within Halton and can be easily delivered across Canada.

Her philanthropic spirit is one of the many things that sets Hannah apart from the competition. With every pet portrait sale, Hannah donates $10 to MUTTS’ Initiatives, a group of volunteers dedicated to saving and rehoming dogs in danger of homelessness, abuse, and neglect.

“There are so many rescues, charities, and organizations that need help, but MUTTS’ Initiatives resonate with me the most. On top of that, they are based within GTA and other parts of Canada, and I couldn’t think of a better cause to partner with for my pet portraits. Having this donation be a part of my practice makes it all the more worthwhile and allows me to support in a way that is feasible for me.”

Hannah has undoubtedly inspired us to find our true passion and make a killing out of it. She reminds us that we can find true happiness and fulfillment in what makes us rare. And this is why we celebrate her philanthropic spirit and burning desire to burn beautiful art pieces.

cacophonous, fractal, visual, symphonies

Rebuilding Chicago

An Innovative Project That is Redefining How We Look at Urban Spaces and Reinforcing the Transformative Power of Art

WRITTEN BY: FILIPA ARAÚJO

Rebuild Foundation was founded in 2009 by artist and social innovator Theaster Gates. Founded with the intent to empower communities and support emerging artists, the Rebuild Foundation is a platform for art, cultural development, and neighborhood transformation. The foundation is part of a network of organizations created to uplift the South Side of Chicago. Their vision is based on using art and culture for progress and development.

The foundation empowers the community through different initiatives by providing free art programs, creating new cultural spaces, and developing affordable housing, studios, and work spaces for the community of South Side Chicago. They restore old historical buildings to create new community spaces, blowing life into old forgotten places and inspiring the potential within the community.

THE FACE BEHIND THE FOUNDATION

Theaster Gates is a potter by training and a social activist by vocation. Just like his pottery, Gates enjoys shaping things and the process of turning nothing into something beautiful. His works focus on sculpture, performance, and urban planning and preservation. An international award-winning artist and professor at the University of Chicago in the visual arts department, Gates is a visionary in redefining how we look at urban spaces that serve our communities. The way that Gates blends art & culture with social practice shows us that there are multiple perspectives we can use to look at community engagement and how we connect with art. There’s something quite poetic about reutilizing spaces that are damaged and forgotten by time in hopes of lifting areas that are often damaged and forgotten by society.

Theaster Gates, Founder of Rebuild Foundation

STONY ISLAND ARTS BANK

One of the first projects of the Rebuild Foundation was the Stony Islands Arts Bank. An abandoned old bank built in the early 1920s that was restored and repurposed to serve the community of South Side Chicago. A multi-purpose space for art and cultural events, it is used today by local artists and members of the community. It includes an archive collection with a vast variety of media, such as a collection of over 60,000 glass lantern slides covering art and architectural history throughout times and books and publications from the African American Publisher, Johnson Publishing Company, with copies dated since the 1940s. It also includes the personal vinyl collection of Frankie Knuckles, known as the godfather of house music, and the Edward J. Williams Collection, a selection of over 4,000 items of stereotypical images of Black people throughout history. They also host programs like the Arts Bank cinema, a free weekly cinema screening of African American films, and exhibitions from local artists. A place where art, culture, and community meet, promoting engagement between the three parts and allowing residents to access, expand and share their creativity, knowledge, and history.

Stony Island Arts Bank, Chicago

DORCHESTER ART AND HOUSING COLLABORATIVE (DAHC)

Another project of the foundation, in partnership with Brinshore Developers, architects Landon, Bone, Baker, and the Chicago Housing Authority, is based on the idea of creating a living space for locals. In hopes of responding to the continuous abandonment of the neighborhoods in South Side Chicago due to extreme poverty, the project comprised 32 housing units, including a shared space for theater and dance, aimed at

residents that receive low-income housing support in the area. On his website, Gates reflects on the importance of these types of interventions, “As a life practitioner, the possible interventions and engagements are endless. Rather than only intervening with these subjective, museum-based projects, I had to try to do something that had weight in concrete space; black space. While it remains one of the least discussed projects of my practice, DAHC is one of the most relevant and fulfilling for me.”

Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN LAB

Hoping to impact the fashion and design industry, the Experimental Design Lab project was built in 2021 from a partnership between Prada, the Rebuild Foundation, and Dorchester Industries, a design and manufacturing platform from Gates. The idea with the Experimental Design lab was to support emerging designers of color from Chicago and beyond by expanding their visibility, promoting mentorship and collaboration, as well as building a network of important connections that could potentially support and enhance the works of these artists. From a variety of areas, from fashion to dance, to product design, to culinary arts, the participants of the project were nominated based on their creative potential in their industries. This project is an 18-month fellowship where the participants receive financial and leadership support for their creations.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribute, Gates reinforced the need for projects such as the Experimental Design Lab, “For too long, there has been an evident pipeline and visibility barrier for designers of color working across the creative industries, and the Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab not only challenges the notion that Black talent is hard to identify but also serves as an inescapable answer to it. It is a tremendous honor to be able to celebrate, support, and amplify the work of these designers working to enrich our collective understanding of and interactions with design.”

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION

The Rebuild Foundation is currently working on its biggest project so far, the transformation of a former elementary school in Chicago into a new Arts Incubator space. A 40,000 square foot building set to open in 2023 that will include classrooms and co-working spaces and will offer different programs, MasterClasses, feature art exhibitions, and create a multi-purpose space that will allow people to learn new skills and crafts, learn about entrepreneurship and how to create a business.

To support the Rebuild Foundation, you can donate on their website: rebuild-foundation.org/donate and contribute toward initiatives that have a powerful impact on the community, culturally, socially, and economically.

Installation view of Retreat, The Black Artists Retreat, 2017

“Our mission is to demonstrate the impact of innovative, ambitious, and entrepreneurial cultural initiatives and is enriched by three core values: Black people matter, Black spaces matter, and Black objects matter.”

-THEASTER GATES

Artist Dameon Priestly focuses on times and events of social and cultural change

dameon.co.uk

PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL DAKS

Living in AWE: Abundance, Wellness, Empowerment

WRITTEN BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MARK CHASAN

Innovator Mark Chasan describes awe as a state of amazement, wonder, love, reverence, and gratitude for all we have the fortune to experience.

“So many people in society have forgotten, or become numb to, the miracle of life. Each breath, the interactions of our cells, this beautiful planet, and its complex ecosystems that give us life and sustain us are just a few of the amazing miracles we have been given,” he says.

His new book, Living in AWE - Abundance, Wellness, Empowerment, shares how people can improve their mental and physical health and how societies can adopt regenerative ecological and community-building practices.

“The root causes of all social dysfunction are fear and disconnection. To heal this social dysfunction, it is essential that we create a new paradigm based upon loving and connecting with each other and our planet.”

MARK CHASAN’S

INSPIRATIONS

Chasan brings a wide variety of experiences to the table that informs his writing. He considers himself a “systems visionary integrator.” He started his career as a professional musician and intuitive healer, which left him

feeling fulfilled but making little money. So he became a lawyer, at which he was successful, bought a home and a Mercedes, and traveled. However, he no longer felt fulfilled.

Then, in 1995, he launched the company Emusic, which sold digital music files online. The company went through some dark times and nearly closed.

Through that experience, Chasan drew upon the wisdom he’d learned from his lifetime of studying metaphysics, wellness, and manifestation. “It took me a while to clear all of my limiting belief systems and trust the universe and adapt rather than relying on force and will to get things done, though.”

One morning, when things seemed the most hopeless for Emusic and Chasan was out of money, his body started shaking violently while he lay in bed.

“At first, I thought I was having a nervous breakdown, but because of my Kundalini yoga training, I knew the shaking would cleanse and strengthen me.”

Chasan remembers that this experience dismantled his ego and the beliefs that limited him and healed his old traumas. “I experienced unconditional love and an overflowing heart and was transformed. I felt clear; my heart was open, full, and radiant. I was joyous and in a state of awe.”

Despite the dire predictions of his friends and family, Emusic eventually grew and went public, and Chasan made millions from the sale of stock. However, he later experienced major financial losses and life challenges. He had to learn to feel abundant without physical wealth and money, and develop a connection to nature, acceptance, and compassion.

Chasan now works with eco-social entrepreneurs and executives to achieve breakthroughs in their lives and businesses. He has also developed a health protocol that he has shared with hundreds of people and is advocating for and accelerating principles of regenerative economics devoted to helping people and the planet thrive.

ABUNDANCE, WELLNESS, AND EMPOWERMENT

Mark Chasan’s book Living in AWE focuses on abundance, wellness, and empowerment.

To Chasan, abundance is a state of mind that doesn’t depend on your financial status. It’s a state of mind where you’re content and happy in the moment, free to share your gifts with others, and grateful for all that you have. Wellness goes beyond not being sick or injured and involves being in a state of optimal physical, mental, and emotional health. This also includes our relationships with others and with nature.

Empowerment refers to having the ability, right, and confidence to take self-determined action that improves the quality of life for ourselves, others, and the planet. Individually and collectively, we can transform the world.

“The states of being Abundant, Well, and Empowered are critical to shifting from the Industrial Age of extraction, scarcity, greed, hoarding, fear, and Darwinistic competition to the Regenerative Age of love, connection, collaboration, respect, regenerability, and living systems innovation in support of human and planetary thriving.”

Chasan urges people who are making changes in their own lives and political and business leaders with the ability to make larger-scale changes to think in systemic, integrated, and holistic ways. To Chasan, some people are very good at maintaining a solid mindset, spiritually or otherwise, and advocating for positive thinking but hardly ever consider their impact on the environment or less-resourced communities. Others might be completely sold out for social or ecological justice but underemphasize the role of physical and mental wellness in making their work sustainable.

It will take longterm, concerted efforts towards Abundance, Wellness, and Empowerment, all at once, to effect lasting change.

WAYS TO MAKE CHANGE

“Right now, the U.N. has 17 separate goals for sustainable development. While we are making progress towards these goals, corruption and lack of accountability are getting in the way, and the level of investment is simply not enough for the scale of the challenges we face.”

In his book, he advocates for Core Regenerative Enterprises and Projects (CREPs) that meet established criteria for fixing ecological and societal problems and fostering a thriving society. Many of these CREPs will ultimately become profitable and sustainable businesses, although they will initially require a great amount of public and private investment.

Areas where Chasan would like to see CREPs focused are clean water and aqua technology, nutritious food and sustainable agriculture, renewable and affordable energy, biomaterials and bioscience, regenerative and resilient cities, environmental restoration, optimal human health and wellness, waste recycling, regenerative learning and training, and ethical finance and governance.

He believes that localization and decentralization of the global, fossil-fuel-burning supply chain is one of the most impactful places to start. That would involve fostering local agriculture and clean water, clean energy, renewable materials, and localized manufacturing. “One of the ways I make a difference is by growing food in my own yard. If I pluck an apple off my tree, it doesn’t have to be packaged and transported in ways that use up resources.”

Also, Chasan would love to see the world’s education systems be personalized, practical, and applied. “Let children out of the ‘kid jail’ classrooms. Inspire them, give them real skills that include collaboration, emotional intelligence, survival skills, growing food, the arts, wellness education, and connection to nature.”

He’d like to see children learn biology in the forest and farm, math and engineering in a computer science lab, and every other subject by engaging in the design and development of sustainable infrastructure.

PRACTICING WHAT HE PREACHES

When he isn’t busy saving the world, Chasan enjoys going out in nature. “I enjoy surfing, snorkeling, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and camping. I love playing and composing music, doing healing work on myself and others, and optimizing my health with yoga, weight training, martial arts, meditation, organic superfoods, fresh juices, vegetables, and low-glycemic fruits.”

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Colorful Taste & Healthy Living

Uses and benefits of our Flower Petal Salt

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FARMHOUSE LAB

WRITTEN BY DANIELA KRATZ

Farmhouse Lab, a brand for joyful, sustainable plantbased eating crafted by Daniela Kratz, encourages her to make food more often at home and to share it in community. With that, we want to help cultivate the plant-based revolution for the greater good.

Our Flower Petal Salt makes every dish instantly look beautiful while it adds flavor and functional properties of the flowers, the beet root powder and the salt we use.

It is the perfect addition to our Real Food Dressings that make healthy eating tasteful, playful and beautiful.

Farmhouse Lab Flower Petal Salt includes organic rose, marigold and cornflower petals, lavender buds, coarse celtic sea salt and beet root powder.

Sprinkle over salads, appetizers, soups, cheese-boards, etc and place in a ceramic salt dish on any table. Also a great hostess gift!

We recommend you read upon the claimed health benefits but here is a summary of the most commonly discussed benefits of the ingredients we blend together in our Flower Petal Salt:

Rose: Rose petals are mildly sedative, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory. They are a good supportive tonic for the heart. They can stimulate the liver and increase circulation.

Marigold: Supports skin healing, contains natural antiseptic/anti-inflammatory properties, comprises precursors to the production of antioxidant Vitamin A. It not only controls oxidative damage from free radicals that can affect delicate tissues, such as those of the eyes, but also defend against infections caused by viruses or bacteria.

Cornflower: People take cornflower tea to treat fever, constipation, water retention, and chest congestion. They also take it as a tonic, bitter, and liver and gallbladder stimulant. Women take it for menstrual disorders and infections.

Lavender: Lavender works as an anxiolytic (an anxiety reliever) and as a sedative, to increase relaxation and calm, and help bring about sleep. Lavender interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA to help quiet the brain and nervous system activity, reducing agitation, anger, aggression, and restlessness. Lavender functions as a pain reliever, or analgesic, has anti-bacterial capabilities and can reduce inflammation.

Beetroot powder: In addition to vitamins and minerals, beet root powder contains nitrates. Dietary nitrate helps improve vascular function, or healthy blood flow.

Beetroot provides a wide range of possible health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, improving digestion, and lowering the risk of diabetes.It may help fight inflammation, support brain health and may have some anti-cancer properties.

Celtic Sea Salt: Celtic salt is collected from sea shores around Brittany and dried in the sun and wind. It is gray and moist, loaded with minerals and is credited with health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and a calming effect on the nervous system. Enjoy a fresh, beautiful and delicious sprinkle.

Working Out at Home Effectively

Most effective workout exercises that can be carried out at home and how they impact you.

WRITTEN BY: JESSE ADUMA

Taking time out to exercise on any given day could prove stressful—daunting even—much more so during the holidays. At this time, we just want to sleep in longer than usual, relax all day, steering clear of anything that proves taxing. I mean, it is the holidays.

A huge reason for the apathy associated with exercising is that when the topic comes up, people immediately picture workout/strength training exercises used to build muscle, which is what is mostly displayed or portrayed in most fitness

magazines.

While this form of exercise may be specifically useful in building muscle, when it comes to burning fat or just getting in a daily dose of exercise, you don’t need a set of dumbbells. There are effective workouts that can be performed right in your home without even stepping foot in the gym! But before we get into that, here’s why you should keep on your exercise streak even while holidaying.

IMPORTANCE OF A STEADY WORKOUT SCHEDULE

Besides just thicker biceps, fuller pecs or abs, and a more trimmed, ripped, and streamlined physique, exercising also packs a vast number of health benefits to the human body. Exercising/working out can help with weight loss/regulation, muscle development, and even

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: LILIANA DREW, MENTATDGT, MART PRODUCTION, LUCAS ALBINO

greatly reduce risks or vulnerability to certain illnesses and diseases.

Furthermore, a regular workout plan allows for constant and steady growth. Rather than exercising just whenever you feel like it, constantly adhering to a specific regimen will help you reach your fitness goals much faster.

So while you may want to sit out the holidays, you may be undoing all the work you’ve put in thus far in acquiring your dream body. What’s more, retiring your exercise schedule during the holidays, which is a notorious time of festivity during which we tend to consume more than our regular share of food, could easily result in accelerated weight gain.

Some other benefits of regular exercise include better relaxation and sleep quality—you always rest better after exerting yourself—it raises energy levels, strengthens bones, muscles, and tissue, and helps burn any excess calories, avoiding the hoarding of fat in the body.

Regular exercise also helps boost your mood, brain health, and memory; it helps increase and maintain energy levels, leaving you less likely to be susceptible to depression and anxiety, as it also decreases feelings of stress. Furthermore, exercising increases your heart rate, promoting oxygenated blood flow to the brain. It also stimulates the production of hormones, enhancing brain cell growth, improving brain function, memory retention, and cognitive skills.

Health conditions such as obesity can be effectively deterred by regular adherence to a workout plan. Furthermore, regular exercise has been found to decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels, promoting a healthier heart. Consequently, it helps reduce the risk of or prevents several health conditions,

including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, several forms of cancer, hypertension, anxiety, depression, high cholesterol, etc. Other benefits of a regular workout schedule include helping your skin health, reducing pain, and it can also boost your sex and social life.

Now that you know why you need to exercise, you also need to know the difference between regular cardio exercises (endurance training) and strength training/workouts.

CARDIO TRAINING VS STRENGTH TRAINING

A major difference between the two is the intensity. While the exercises involved in strength training aim to build muscle by pushing the body to its limits, thereby expanding them, cardio exercises are more low-key.

Cardiovascular exercises tend to focus more on the building of stamina. As the name implies, these exercises deal primarily with the heart. They are usually designed to include a lot of movement to get your heart racing. A common example is running or jogging.

Cardio workouts pack a bunch of health benefits as they promote a healthier heart, serving to regulate your blood sugar levels, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes. Also, cardio exercises help boost endurance.

First, identifying your workout goal is key, as this would enable you to design a well-thought-out workout plan with a series of optimal workouts that would efficiently guarantee the best results.

Now that you understand the importance of exercising regularly and the difference between cardio exercises and strength

training or muscle-building exercises, here are a couple of exercises you can perform efficiently from the comfort of your home.

MOST EFFECTIVE WORKOUTS THAT REQUIRE NO EQUIPMENT

Some days you just can’t seem to get out of bed. Just the thought of getting up as early as 6 am to go to the gym can be weighty, dreadful even. Maybe your gym is closed for the holidays, and you just don’t have access to the necessary equipment. Well, guess what? You don’t really need them.

RUNNING/JOGGING

As a very popular cardiovascular exercise, running offers many benefits like helping to lower blood pressure and resting heart rate, lower cholesterol, improve blood sugar control, etc.

SQUATS

Squats are considered by many one of the best ways to strengthen your legs. Squats, as a workout exercise, take advantage of your body weight and the gravitational pull in order to deliver effective strain to your leg muscles. For beginners, 10 may be enough, but if you feel it’s too easy, you may increase that to 20 or 30 till your legs begin to feel rubbery.

PUSHUPS

Push-ups are as effective as they are popular, more so even. What makes push-ups such an effective workout is that you work out and build your back, your biceps/arms, and your chest all at once. You can strengthen your entire upper body just by performing one workout. Who wouldn’t love that? Plus, there are different variations from just basic pushups, e.g., crisscross, wide, narrow, clap push-ups, one-handed, etc. So you can

always adjust your spec for optimal results.

SIT UPS/CRUNCHES

What’s the best way to work out your core? Or maybe you fancy getting the “Hemsworth” 6 pack. Whatever the reason, crunches are your best bet, and yes, they can be effective even without weights. On average, 10 crunches a day will do your tummy a lot of good, but if you’re looking for a challenge, you can increase this figure.

JUMPING JACKS

Yet another cardio exercise, jumping jacks help work out your entire body and could be an amazing way to warm up your joints before beginning your workout regimen. It is performed by jumping to a position with legs spread, hands touching overhead, and then returning to a position with feet together and arms at the sides.

To wrap up, going on holiday doesn’t mean you should abandon your healthy habits. Since your body doesn’t take vacations, you’ll also have to put in constant work. Now no one is asking you to hit the gym on Christmas; sure, you might skip a day or two, but always try to make sure you get in at least three days of exercise every week.

Since your body doesn’t take vacations, you’ll also have to put in constant work.

Retiring your exercise schedule during the holidays could easily result in accelerated weight gain.

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What is good for the Earth is good for us.

Prevention, Not Treatment

We can’t ignore mental illness prevention in a COVID-19 world

WRITTEN BY STEPHEN CARBONE

espite the incremental easing of Victoria’s restrictions, it’s clear the journey towards COVID-normal is far slower than many people had hoped. Australians— particularly Victorians—have shown remarkable resilience, but many are suffering emotionally.

THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF COVID-19

During the early days of the pandemic, surveys showed a sharp increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression across Australia. These difficulties continued into mid-August. More than 40% of Australians aged 18 years and older feel high levels of anxiety, and around one in six report depressive symptoms.

To target this, federal and state governments have increased telephone, online and face-to-face mental health supports. While this is vital, more needs to be done to prevent people suffering severe mental health problems in the first place.

Over 40% of Australians aged 18 years and older feel high levels of anxiety, and around 1 in 6 report depressive symptoms.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

There’s good evidence we can prevent many cases of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. But Australia doesn’t have a mental health prevention plan or policy, and government funding for prevention is just 1% of the total mental health budget.

Read more: Women are drinking more during the pandemic, and it’s probably got a lot to do with their mental health

The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, the government’s key mental health blueprint, focuses on improving mental health-care services and suicide prevention, but not on preventing the mental health conditions that are a major risk factor for suicide.

WHAT ABOUT ILLNESS PREVENTION?

Last month the federal government released a consultation paper on its proposed National Preventive Health Strategy, setting out what the strategy will aim to achieve and how it might be done.

Read more: The government will spend $48 million to safeguard mental health. Extending JobKeeper would safeguard it even more

The document is exciting because it focuses on health promotion and illness prevention, acknowledging we can’t improve the health of the Australian community through health-care measures alone.

But unfortunately, the proposed strategy is fundamentally focused on physical health issues. In its 20 pages, the consultation paper only mentions mental health three times.

Government funding for prevention is just 1% of the total mental health budget. The National Preventive Health Strategy provides an opportunity to shed light on prevention measures for mental health conditions.

The same principles outlined in the strategy to prevent conditions such as diabetes also apply to preventing mental health conditions such as depression. To prevent either, we need to minimise risk factors and increase protective factors linked to the condition—before it occurs. But some adaptation would be needed for the plan to address both physical and mental health.

Read more: If Australia really wants to tackle mental health after coronavirus, we must take action on homelessness

WHAT PREVENTION MEASURES SHOULD BE ADDED?

A focus on physical activity, healthy eating, and non-smoking will help to promote good mental health as well as physical health.

Unemployment, a risk factor for a number of mental health conditions, is on the rise due to COVID-19.

To prevent mental health issues, we should focus on building people’s health literacy and self-care skills through public information campaigns and online learning programs. Supportive social environments can be encouraged by parenting programs and school and workplace mental health promotion initiatives.

Local communities could also be mobilised to take positive action on local issues that contribute to poor health and mental health through place-based strategies. Place-based strategies aim to tackle issues existing at a neighbourhood level, such as social isolation and poor housing.

Read more: Melbourne’s second lockdown will take a toll on mental health. We need to look out for the vulnerable.

Services could be reoriented towards prevention. Primary care professionals might provide advice on self-care and use social prescribing to address stress and enhance social supports. Social prescribing involves medical professionals linking patients to non-medical supports. For example, they may provide an “exercise prescription” or “art prescription”. Finally, appropriate public policy solutions, such as JobSeeker and JobKeeper, that tackle the social and economic determinants of ill-health are needed.

SOCIAL FACTORS MATTER TOO

Research also points to a strong link between mental health conditions and experience of childhood adversity, family violence, loneliness, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. Workplace stressors, financial stress, unemployment, and homelessness are also risk factors.

Many of these issues are on the increase because of COVID-19, so to safeguard mental health we need to tackle them and their impact. This will require the use of evidence-based preventive programs outlined above— many of which already exist but are not being implemented well or to sufficient scale. It will also require public policies to soften the economic blow and ease financial stress. Targeting these issues will not only help to prevent mental health conditions, but physical health conditions as well. Read more: Feeling hopeless? There are things you can do to create and maintain hope in a post-coronavirus world

While better access to mental health-care services is important, it can’t solve all the mental health challenges posed by COVID-19. We also need to strengthen the factors that buffer people against stress, and tackle the underlying factors that contribute to poor mental health.

Whether we create a National Preventive Mental Health Plan or embed mental health in the current National Preventive Health Strategy, one thing’s for sure—continuing to ignore the prevention of mental health conditions is not an option in a COVID-19 world.

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Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad

INGREDIENTS (4 PERSON):

• 1/2 lb herb salad

• 1/2 kabocha squash

• 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds

• 4 tbsp grated manchego

• 4 tbsp EVOO

• 6 tbsp FHL Green Pumpkin Real Food Dressing

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and dry the herb salad

2. Half a kabocha squash and remove seeds

3. Cut thin slices of one halve of the squash, assemble on a baking sheet and coat with EVOO, roast on 375F for about 25 mins or until golden brown

4. Assemble the herb salad on a platter or in a bowl

5. Layer with the roasted squash

6. Dress with our Green Pumpkin Dressing

7. Sprinkle with raw or roasted pumpkin seeds

8. Grate some manchego cheese over everything

Snap Pea & Radish Spring Salad

INGREDIENTS (4 PERSON):

• 2 heads of red butter lettuce

• 2 large radishes

• 1 English cucumber

• 10-15 snap peas

• 1 bunch of pea tendrils

• 6 tbsp FHL YUP! Please Real Food Dressing

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and dry the salad and the produce

2. Assemble the butter lettuce in a bowl

3. Trim the ends of the snap peas, crack them open, and fold them open

4. Slice the radishes and the cucumbers

5. Layer, snap peas, radishes, cucumbers onto the salad, top it with some pea tendrils

6. Dress with our YUP! Please Real Food Dressing

Flower Power Quinoa Bowl

INGREDIENTS (1 PERSON):

• 1 cup cooked white quinoa

• 1/2 avocado

• 1 bunch of raw spinach

• 1 carrot

• 1 pear

• 4 yellow and 4 red cocktail tomatoes

• 1 persimmon

• 2-3 tbsp FHL Sunny Avocado Real Food Dressing

• 1 tsp FHL Flower Petal Salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook the quinoa per instructions

2. Wash and dry the spinach and produce

3. Assemble the quinoa in one place in your bowl of choice

4. Cut the persimmon in pieces and set next to it

5. Halve the tomatoes and set next to the persimmons

6. Place the spinach next to the persimmons

7. Mandoline slice the pear thinly across the core and slice the carrot in the same thickness and set next to the spinach

8. Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and place next the the carrots

9. Dress with our Sunny Avocado Real Food Dressing

10. Sprinkle with our Flower Petal Salt

Radicchio Salad with Purple Daikon

INGREDIENTS (4 PERSON):

• 1 head radicchio salad

• 1 small head of red butter lettuce

• 2 purple daikon radishes

• 1 bunch of micro radishes

• 4 tbsp FHL Red Sunflower Real Food Dressing

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and dry the salad and produce

2. Assemble the radicchio and the butter lettuce in a salad bowl

3. Thinly slice the daikon radishes

4. Layer the sliced radishes and the micro radishes onto the salad

5. Dress with our Red Sunflower Dressing

Blood OrangeCantaloupe & Arugula Salad

INGREDIENTS (4 PERSON):

• 2 bunches of wild arugula salad

• Half cantaloupe melon

• 2 yellow squashes

• 2 blood oranges

• ½ block of feta, crumbled

• 2 tbsp hemp seeds

• 6 tbsp FHL Berry Olive Real Food Dressing

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and dry the salad and produce

2. Half the cantaloupe melon, take out the seeds and slice in thin wedges, about 10

3. Thinly slice the yellow squash lengthwise

4. Peel and slice the blood oranges

5. Place the arugula, melon, squash, and oranges in a bowl and lightly toss with your clean hands

6. Dress with our Berry Olive Real Food Dressing

7. Crumble the feta on top of the prepared salad

8. Sprinkle with the hemp seeds

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Krysalis Eltheria

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