Sexy Times Two - The New Restaurant Moxie + Flashdance

My Review of Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails Restaurant and Flashdance The Musical.

A new hot restaurant at the Town Center just opened and the new season of The Artist Series is upon us!  They both couldn’t come soon enough as I was in desperate need of a girls night and quite determined to show our cousin, who just moved here from San Diego, that Jacksonville is a fun and trendy city.  In fact, Jacksonville is ranked as one of the hottest housing markets for 2014.

I digress…now back to the nitty-gritty.

   

Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails, located at 4972 Big Island Drive, Jacksonville, serves up southern comfort food with an upscale flair in a casual and rustic, yet modern atmosphere.  Committed to sustainable sourcing and working with local growers and artisan producers, Moxie reminds me of the local restaurants I would come across in my travels through Vermont, Sonoma, and Napa Valley, California.

Let’s start with the food – Here’s what we ate:

Kettle Corn (sweet bacon and spiced cashews) – Snacks

Cheddar Cheese Curds with Spicy Ranch Dip – Appetizers

Short Ribs (Dr. Pepper glaze, shaved veggies, mashed potatoes) – Live Fire

Seared Scallops (Cheese grits, lobster sauce, green onion salad) – Mains

Chicken-n-Waffles (Fried chicken, waffle pudding, pepper jelly) – Mains

Mac-n-Cheese – Sides

Brussels Sprouts (Hot bacon vinaigrette) – Sides

Peanut Butter Mousse Stack (Peanut Brittle, bruleed bananas) – Desserts

Apple Hand Pie + Salted Caramel Custard – Desserts

Warm-Baked Skillet Cookie – Desserts

S’mores Malt – Desserts

A special thank you to the fabulous four (Alicia, Melissa, Nina and Stacy) who held my hand through this tantalizing journey of post-Thanksgiving fabulousness!  …And a disclaimer that many bottles of wine were drunk (but I am unable to recall which ones, as it was a night of laughter and heavy pours.  They were red and delicious…that’s all).

The Kettle Corn snack was the perfect start to the meal – sweet, spicy and savory.  As I dumped the remaining crumbs into my mouth from the little white bag they were served in, I knew we might have to order more. 

On to the Cheddar Cheese Curds – good, but I have to be honest; nothing beats Black Sheep’s Poutine. 

Then we moved on to the main courses – the Short Ribs were cooked perfectly, melt in your mouth, as were the Scallops – tender and bright, with the perfect pairing of creamy cheese grits.  The obvious star, however, was the Chicken-n-Waffles.  

I never would have thought to order this dish, but it was highly recommended by our awesome (and very adorable) waiter.  It was the favorite of all five ladies – hands down! We all raved about this dish – from the perfect crispiness of the outer shell of the chicken to the moist and tender center.  Then, just when you think this dish can’t outdo itself, it does, with the waffle pudding, which must have been whipped potatoes with a maple syrup reduction…forkful of potatoes + perfectly done chicken + waffle = deliciousness!  It’s Harlem meets the deep South…if they had a love child.  If you don’t go to Moxie and order this dish your life will be empty and unfulfilled.  Okay, maybe that’s a little much, but just try it. 

Oh, I almost forgot our side dishes.  We had the Brussel Sprouts and Mac-n-Cheese, which were also quite good! Sorry, I was almost too busy writing my food porn about the Chicken-n-Waffles to recall the sides. 

Lastly, we had dessert – oh glorious dessert.  I’m not naming names, but cheers to pastry chef Sylvia Gould – everything was amazing…no seriously…crazy good (okay the Peanut Butter Mousse Stack maybe the best thing I have ever put in my mouth, but that’s the only hint you get)!

Some of my favorite things about this new kid on the block (yes, besides the food), is Moxie hosts a very large outdoor seating area, both upstairs and down.  The layout is quite unique and very cool. Obviously it’s in a great location - it’s where the beachy across the ditch folks can meet up with their Riverside friends, plus it’s right across the street from Ovinte – bonus.  The hostess and wait staff were all very friendly, inviting and accommodating. The restaurant even appears to be family friendly with their special kids menu.  Lastly, of course, Chef Tom Gray is just as charismatic and fun as usual, personally coming to greet our table and check on us.

Just a few things on the wish list – If a restaurant is going to have “+ cocktails” in the title, it should have a larger specialty cocktail selection, and a larger wine list would be nice as well. Moxie also needs a happy hour and brunch menu, but I have a feeling that may be in the works.

Overall, I am thrilled to see a local non-chain restaurant in the Town Center area.  I usually have to drive to San Marco, Riverside or Avondale to find this type of unique establishment.  I know I may get in trouble for saying this, but much to my dismay, Jacksonville is a chain town.  Most areas of Jacksonville have yet to find their unique personality, unlike the areas I mentioned above, and unfortunately it’s filled with strip malls and Darden type chains.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not a naysayer against chains all-together, they have their place in the world as well.  I like a lot of the fast-casual places that are popping up, and you can definitely find me at Seasons 52 every now and then.  What I am really trying to say is that I really hope Jacksonville gets it.  I hope they get Chef Tom’s vision.  The Town Center was crying out for a restaurant like this, and now we finally have it.  So give it a chance Jax…we all have to go through a few growing pains to be great.

Now let's talk Flashdance The Musical

I know I say this after every show, but Flashdance is my new favorite show! I don’t know if The Artist Series continues to outdo themselves with the season lineup every year, or if I appreciate the theater more and more after each performance.  

Exactly 30 years ago, the movie Flashdance adorned every TV set in America, and last night I had the pleasure of seeing this pop culture phenomenon live on stage!   

The story line focuses on Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night, with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer.  But we all know the heart and soul of this story is DANCE. This show has such a refreshing, eclectic mix of classic ballet, modern and urban (street) dance with hit songs like “What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” and “Gloria” being played by the live band.

I was most impressed by Jillian Mueller, the actress playing Alex.  This girl is a serious force to be reckoned with, being a triple threat with her phenomenal dancing, and just as likable singing and acting.  On stage, Alex sums up what dance means to her in one word – Passion.  I think this would also translate to Mueller’s real life, as it has to take not only passion, but also dedication, and perseverance to have that extreme high energy dancing on stage for two hours straight!  And just when you think this girl has got to be exhausted, she belts out “Let Go” in the second to last number of the show.  Wow!

Alongside Mueller, Flashdance has an all-around great cast!  I was really digging the background street dancers, who were all extremely talented.  I also want to give a shout out to Corey Mach, who played Alex’s boyfriend Nick Hurley (their love story was a sexy distraction from all the awesome dancing), and David Gordon, who played Jimmy, totally had a Bruno Mars thing going on.

Best scenes – opening Maniac number, and of course, the water scene closing out the first act – seriously, so cool! Someone please hand me a chair and a pitcher of water!

Flashdance premiered towards the tail-end of the feminist movement where woman proved to be just as good, or better than men in the workplace. Alex’s stubborn, take-no-crap-attitude was relatable, and made me glad that I was born after many of those women had already paved the way for their children, who would hopefully never have to deal with proving themselves from a sexist point-of-view, only proving their true intelligence and work ethic on a level playing field.  My name is Alex - I am woman, hear me roar!

Overall this show is a must see! It’s high energy, sexy, and very entertaining!

Shows run through Sunday, December 15, 2013 at the Times UnionCenter-Moran Theater.

Chef Tom Gray at Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails

Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails

Chicken n Waffles

Flashdance The Musical - Jillian Mueller

Flashdance The Musical - Cast

Flashdance The Musical - Jillian Mueller

Flashdance The Musical

Flashdance The Musical - Jillian Mueller

Flashdance The Musical 

Flashdance The Musical

My Video Review of Flashdance The Musical

Healthy Living (Part 2) - Finding Your True Yogi Within

Part one of my healthy living segment on Ms. Behave is dedicated to what we put in our bodies.  After all, diet makes up around 75% of what we see in the mirror each day, whether it’s weight, body shape and definition or that natural glowing skin and shiny hair. 

Now it’s time to address the other 25% and focus on fitness.  I'm inspired everyday to have confidence, work hard and achieve my fitness goals, by three amazing people who we are lucky enough to have residing in this hip, up-and-coming city.

In the course of the next several weeks, I will introduce three fitness gurus all residing in Jacksonville – Nicole, Linton and Tiffany.  In my three-part fitness series blog, you will get to know a different instructor each week through learning about my personal experiences with them, what motivates them personally, and what great advice they can pass on to those of us who are looking to start-up a solid fitness routine, or make improvements to the same monotonous workouts we do every week.  You will soon see even though they come from highly different backgrounds, and practice different techniques, their clients are achieving the same results due to their similar fitness ideals and goals.

Week 1:  Improve Overall Strength, Flexibility And Melt Away Stress

Poppy Blossom Photography

Nicole DeLoreto

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Age: 33

Occupation: Owner/Instructor, Yoga Mix (Neptune Beach)

Favorite Fitness Move: Natarajasana (dancer pose)

Favorite Word: Gratitude

Least Favorite Word: Hate

Practicing yoga on and off again for more than 15 years, besides continually working to improve my downward-facing dog, I have realized how important it is to connect spiritually with your yoga instructor.  It has to be the right fit, or it will just be another workout and you won’t gain all the amazing other benefits a good practice has to offer.  We yogi’s like to refer to this as the “gooey” feeling that takes over your mind, body and soul after a really great session on the mat.

Four years ago I was working 50+ hours a week, and completely stressed to the max.  I knew I needed to do something for my sanity and tense skinny-fat body.  I started practicing yoga again at the local gym, but it just didn’t feel right to me…when I could actually make it to class on time, that is.  I was yearning for a better yoga experience, so my husband recommended that I call his co-worker's wife who was a certified yoga instructor. As a bonus she could come to my house to practice with me! 

Thus began my friendship and spiritual journey with hands down, the best yogi with whom I have ever practiced.  Radiating her warmth to those around her, she is kind, encouraging and extremely gifted toward her practice.  She transformed me into a yoga-addict, toned and strengthened my entire body, giving me 100% more flexibility, and healing my knee injury that had bothered me since college.

After months of practicing private yoga sessions at home, I became pregnant with my first child.  This now gave us the opportunity of turning our vinyasa flow sessions into prenatal sessions.   Then, about a month after my daughter was born, we got right back into the swing of things.  We started our sessions with downward-facing dog, with my newborn daughter face up on my mat, and ending in savasina with her asleep in my instructors arms!   

Nicole DeLoreto, Jacksonville native, former ROAR cheerleader and devoted wife and mother of two, started practicing yoga to stay fit and flexible during the Jaguars ’07 and ’08 seasons.  She found the practice to be incredibly grounding, a great stress reliever, and immediately fell in love.  She had found her true calling and knew she had to share this wonderful gift with others.

With the encouragement of her mentor and yoga teacher, Alyson Foreacre (owner of Yoga Den, Mandarin), who leads by example, coaching her not only as a growing yogi, but also as a small business owner, Nicole was soon thereafter, conjuring up her ambitious, I can do anything spirit,  turned her dream of opening up her own yoga studio into a reality. 

In October 2011, Yoga Mix was born.  Located just three blocks from the ocean on Third Street in Neptune Beach, the boutique studio offers aspiring yogis a chance to roll out their mat seven-days-a-week.  Yoga Mix offers a variety of classes for all ability levels, including Heated Power Vinyasa Flow, Power-Hour, Yin, Restorative, Mixed-Level, and Prenatal.  This small community studio also offers yogis plenty of special practice sessions, workshops and classes. These include sessions set to the acoustic and vocal stylings of local artists, Acro-Yoga, Inversions, Arm Balances, SUP Yoga (Stand-Up Paddle Board).  Additionally, Yoga Mix offers once-a-week free Karma Yoga Class for anyone who has had cancer, at any stage in their diagnosis and treatment.

While every instructor at Yoga Mix is exceptionally talented, Nicole truly has a gift connecting with her students.  She is blessed to still teach six to seven classes a week at her studio, which gives those who have not experienced an amazing life-changing session with her, lots of opportunities to do so. When asked what motivates her as an instructor, Nicole whole-heartedly responded.  “I love the intimacy I get to share with each student.  During a yoga practice, an amazing connection begins to happen between mind, body, and breath.  I feel honored to be there while this takes place.  I love the eye contact, the physical touch, and the exchange of energy - It's pretty powerful,” quoted Nicole about her love of yoga and teaching.

Nicole's advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle is simple.  "It's not about driving yourself crazy by stepping on a scale every day - It's about how you feel!  If you feel good on the inside, you will feel good on the outside."  The point is, we know when our body and mind feel healthy.  That is what is important, and a big part of what practicing yoga teaches us.  It's also important to just be active everyday - get outside and go for a walk, you will feel better immediately.

When Nicole's not running a successful small business, practicing yoga, and being an overall Super-Mom to her best friend and husband, Derek, kids, Anabella (10), and Dominic (7), you will find Nicole running, paddle-boarding, tending to her garden, sipping red wine, and when she's lucky enough, hitting the slopes in Colorado. 

Nicole’s future plans include continuing to run Yoga Mix, traveling and practicing yoga in every continent on the globe.  

Natarajasana (dancer pose)
Brian Solano Photography

Camatkarasana (flipped dog)
Brian Solano Photography

Yoga Mix's Live and Unplugged Power Hour with Meredith Rae

Surfoga and Yoga Mix's SUP Yoga Workshop

Waves of Beauty - Will Walk For Water

Fashion week may have ended a couple months ago in New York City, but that hasn't stopped the enormously talented stylists who make up the Aveda Salon's population here in Jacksonville, FL.

This evening marked a first for Aura Salon's Waves of Beauty Fashion Show, benefitting the St. John's River Keeper.  Designedly, with the St. John's River as it's background, fashion enthusiasts from all walks of life sipped their cold drinks and mingled about River City Brewing Company waiting for the show to get underway.

Some of Jacksonville's greatest assets are the beautiful interwoven waterways through the heart of the city, making our home a boater's paradise.  Having grown up in a similar environment, Seattle, Wa., the St. Johns Riverkeeper organization speaks to my heart.

With representation from salons like Daniel James, Salon 2000, The Aveda Institute and of course, Aura Salon, participants were asked to create a collection that included clothing, hair and make-up, that would be scrutinized by a panel of judges that included two worldwide salon gurus, a nationally acclaimed runway stylist and Jacksonville's own Nikki Kimberton.  When the music started and the runway was immediately adorned with only fashion from recycled materials and hair and make-up stylings that matched that of the Big Apple.

...And the big winners are: Magnas for Best Use of Recycled Materials, Panache for Most Stand Out Model and Aura for Best Hair and Best Collection Overall!

Kudos to Aura Salon for hosting this hip, unique event, showcasing the creative talents of your salon family and other Aveda Salons around the area!

Me and my favorite stylist Jon-Michael Hall of Aura Salon

 The St. Johns Riverkeeper mission is to work on behalf of the community for clean and healthy waters in the St. Johns River, its tributaries and its wetlands, through citizen-based advocacy,  

There's Nothing Like A Good SPANK!

Fist off, I would like to thank the Artist Series for allowing me the opportunity of serving as part of their new Women's Brand Ambassador Program. It has been an amazing run of some of the most fabulous shows I have ever seen!

Just a quick recap the 2013 lineup:
Girls Night Out
Billy Elliot
You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up!
Rock Of Ages
SPANK! (Fifty Shades Parody)

Official show description:  SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is the hilarious new musical that brings the naughty fun of the best-selling book to life and will have your inner goddess laughing out loud! This new imagining of the characters comes to life with sharp-witted comedy, musical numbers, sexy striptease performances from the leading hunk, plus lots of surprises! Get there early for pre-show cocktails then stay to meet the cast and pose for a photo with Mr. Dangerous himself!**

It was just another average Tuesday night in April...or so I though.  As I was walking to Finn McCool's at the Landing in downtown Jacksonville to meet my new friend Devon before the show, I realized it had been quite a while since patronizing the Landing. (I seem to recall a very rowdy night back in '06 after the Florida/Georgia game I would rather forget).

I saw a nice looking man about my age walking in my same direction toward the Landing, so I stopped him and asked if he knew where Finn McCool's was.  Stating that this was his first day in Jacksonville ever, I welcomed him to the city and we engaged in pleasant small talk.  As he told me he had flown in from Denver and would be leaving for St. Augustine on Sunday, I suddenly realized that he looked a lot like the main character "Hugh Hanson" of the very play I would be seeing later that evening.  So I asked him if he was part of the SPANK! production....he stumbled on his words a bit, grinned ear to ear and said "Um, Nooooo." Completely mortified that I said the word spank to a total stranger, I bid him farewell and went on my way.

After a quick nosh and a few cocktails, we headed to the Florida Times-Union Center for the show.  I was delighted to see the lobby swarming with eager females, much like the Girls Night production.  Beer, wine and cocktails were readily available, along with tantalizing desserts and a less than shocking merchandise table complete with "Keep Calm and Spank Me" t-shirts and chocolate...well, chocolate that will have you inner goddess jumping for joy!

Once seated, the lights went out and the curtain was drawn...I knew it!  It was totally him, Drew Moerlein (Hugh Hanson aka Christian Grey) whom I had met earlier that evening....the little liar.  At this point he already had removed his shirt and was performing the steamiest moves on stage that would make any Chippendales dancer look like an amature.  Who cares if he lied to me, he was super hot.  Completely lost in my thoughts, I started cheering along with all the other women in the audience.  It did, however, make me feel better when I called Drew out at the "meet and greet" after the show later that night.

Similar to Rock of Ages, Spank! uses a more uncommon show technique of directly addressing the audience in their production, known as "breaking the fourth wall" barrier.  With three of the five shows using this production technique this season, it appears to becoming a trend, steering away from the more stiff traditional shows that are mainstream "Broadway." I applaud this technique, as I feel part of the show and emotionally closer to the characters.

The SPANK! production is a hilarious fictional glimpse into E.B. Janet's (aka E.L. James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey) thoughts as she writes her first novel.  Portrayed by actress Amanda Barker, the audience is whisked away into this 40-something, wife and mother's twisted world of billionaires, love and S&M.  As Janet furiously types away on her computer keyboard, the characters of Hugh Hanson (Christian Grey) and Tasha Woode (Anastasia Steele) come to life on stage in this slapstick, hysterical parody.  Beyond making a Sonicare toothbrush seem sensual, and a laugh-out-loud re-write to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's "Pure Imagination" and Enrique Iglesias' "Hero," the real highlight of the show was Barker's portrayal, which left me laughing all the way home and still smiling today.  Barker really lit up the stage with her comedic timing and awesome wit!  (Spoiler alert) Oh, and the "to me you are perfect" scene from "Love Actually" was perfection!

Cheers! to the entire cast and crew of SPANK!  This show is right on trend and exactly what this 30-something needed on another average Tuesday night!

Shows run through Saturday, April 13, so don't delay and get your tickets now - you'll love being SPANKed!

Purchase tickets here

Lisa + Drew aka Christian Grey (dreamy)

Lisa & Devon (my fellow blogger and awesome date)

Rock Of Ages - A Really Rad Show!

Not to age myself, but I was a little young to experience a Whitesnake or Guns and Roses concert, however, I would expect that opening night at Rock of Ages (the musical) was pretty close!

Rock of Ages (the musical) premiered at a club on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles in 2005.  After a short-stint Off-Broadway, the comedic, 80's classic rock musical landed on Broadway in 2009 and has been rockin' strong ever since.  In 2012,  the wildly popular Rock of Ages (the movie) was released, staring A-list actors like Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin, launching Rock of Ages popularity even further.

As luck would have it, the National Tour traveled right on over to our little river city and blew up the stage with their stellar performance opening night at the Florida Times-Union Theater.  With the help of finally being allowed to drink cocktails in the theater, the vocal, excited and fun-loving crowd drank in every minute of the performance.

To compare this show to the movie is performing an injustice.  After seeing Chicago both on stage and on the big screen, I just assumed Rock of Ages would play out the same way, being extremely similar - it's not.  The movie is much more complex, only basing a fragment of the storyline on the original musical and embellishing, twisting and putting the "Hollywood" spin on it.  Additionally, the soundtracks are mostly similar, with a few variations (see below):

Both Soundtracks:
We Built This City 
We're Not Gonna Take It
Just Like Paradise
Nothin' But A Good Time
Sister Christian
Heaven
More Than Words
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Wanted Dead Or Alive
I Want To Know What Love Is
Harden My Heart
Shadows Of The Night
Here I Go Again
Any Way You Want It
I Wanna Rock  Reprise
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Can't Fight This Feeling
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Don't Stop Believin' 

Only Rock of Ages (the Musical) Soundtrack:
Too Much Time On My Hands
Cum On Feel The Noize
To Be With You
The Final Countdown
High Enough
I Hate Myself For Loving You
Heat Of The Moment
Oh Sherrie
The Search Is Over

Only Rock of Ages (the Movie) Soundtrack:
Paradise City
Juke Box Hero
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Undercover Love
Rock You Like A Hurricane

To truly appreciate Rock of Ages (the musical), you have to take it for what it's worth - A light-hearted, vulgar, laugh-out-loud Broadway show with awesome actors, dancers and musicians transporting the audience to a dive-rock bar in the 80's, where the hair is big and dreams were even bigger!  In a word, Rock of Ages (the musical) is Really RAD!  I will definitely see this show again - maybe in Las Vegas next time, as the musical has landed a home at The Venetian Casino and Hotel beginning December 2012.

Kudos to The Artist Series for taking a chance with their 2012/2013 show line-up this year, as each show has kept up with the trend of pushing the usual boundaries of theater goers expectations.  I am sure next weeks show Spank (a Fifty Shades musical parody) will continue this theme and not be disappointing.

Health Living - Part 1

You Are What You Eat

Bikini season is here! (Yes Floridians, bikini season is March to October), unless you live in Miami, then it's year-round and you are just screwed!  So instead of the usual food-based blog, I decided to share some nuggets of wisdom with you from the years of extensive research I have done to live a more healthy lifestyle.

For those of you who know me, or have read my past blogs and seen my photo are probably thinking "Please! That Skinny B has probably never had to diet!"  To all you nay-sayers, my response is simply this - I work very hard to "maintain" my healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise, and when I gained 40 lbs. during my pregnancy and only birthed a 7 pound baby, I had to work my ass off (literally) for a year to get back down to a healthy weight.

Now that we have cleared that up.  I am happy to share:

1) Drink 8 oz. of water within 30 mins. of waking up - This will jump start your metabolism.

2) Eat an organic apple a day - To help with digestion. (Try a Jazz apple when they are in season - OMG amazing!)

3) You HAVE to eat fruits and vegetables to stay healthy - If you think you hate anything green, you must not have tried all the amazing, fresh offerings out there! Take a trip to Whole Foods and really explore the entire produce area, there are tons and tons of delicious, healthy varieties of everything!
Or try a local organics delivery service like Palmetto Organics - it's like Christmas every week and you can explore trying new recipes. Last resort - If you can't get over the texture of most fruits and veggies, try drinking it in a shake.

- Fruit Shake - Almond milk, mixed berries (blue, black, ras, straw) + 1/2 a banana + non-fat yogurt

- Veggie Shake (virgin Bloody Mary) - tomatoes, celery, carrots, kale, spinach, dash Worcestershire sauce, tabasco, garlic powder, salt.

- Green-Power Shake (Thanks Gina!) - BASE RECIPE: Banana, 2-3 big handfuls of spinach, 1/2 C of berries of your choice and filtered water for desired consistency

MIX IT UP (with any of the following alkalizing greens): 2-3 kale leaves (Kale is a top green - I highly recommend it), 2-3 chard leaves, 2-3 collard/mustard or turnip greens, 2-3 romaine lettuce leaves, 2-3 watercress leaves, bok choy leaves or beet greens

FUN TASTE VARIETIES (play with some of the following): 20 mint leaves, juice from a whole lime* (highly recommended to use this every time, as lime is a top antioxidant and keeps away the flu-virus), 1 C greek yogurt (w/2tbsp honey or agave nectar), 3/4 C almond or sunflower seed butter, 2 C chopped watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew.

4) Don't eat anything WHITE! White rice, potatoes, white bread (including bagels), white-flour pasta, these are all starches that are loaded with sugar and carbs and have zero nutritional value.  These foods make you gain weight and feel weighed down.  These are all processed, un-natural "filler" foods.  Add sugar and salt to this group as well, but I will address those in their own categories.

5) You CAN eat carbs - Whole wheat only please! The South Beach diet is total BS.  You need carbs for normal brain functions...trust me.  Eat whole wheat (do you really think "Bleached Processed Flour" sounds like something you should put in your body?)  Nope.

6) To quote the book Skinny Bitch "Sugar is the Devil" - sugar is extremely addicting!  You must stop!  And sugar substitute is horrible - Splenda, Equal, the Pink stuff - yuck! It has been linked to cancer.  If you MUST, try Agave Nectar or Stevia (at least they are all-natural).

7) Kick the Caffeine habit!  If you have to have coffee everyday to function, you are an addict.  It dehydrates you, messes with your brain functioning, bad, bad, bad baby! If you HAVE to a tiny bit of caffeine, try Green Tea - At least it has antioxidants as well.

8) Too much dairy = piling on the calories.  Cheese makes you fat. Period. Cow's milk is just gross - switch to almond milk (SILK Brand only, since it does not contain Carrageenan - it's so delicious to make your shake's with).  Here's a great tip - I substitute Fage' Non-fat Greek yogurt for sour cream, use it to make ranch dressing, etc.  It's so awesome!

9) Take your vitamins.  I love the Gummy Multi-Vits (All natural from Costco), seriously you don't have to put a gun to my head to eat two gummy bears a day.

10) Do not smoke. Do not do drugs. Drink in moderation (ok, a glass or two of red wine or beer a week is fine).  If you have to have two or more drinks per day, you could possibly have a problem or be European, in which case you should move.

11) Five small meals a day is awesome.  Example:  Water, Breakfast (shake and a whole wheat thin bagel with almond butter), Snack (apple, celery and homemade ranch dip), Lunch (salad, sandwich, soup (non-dairy), lots of veggies and protein), Snack (carrots and hummus), Dinner (anything ethnic like Thai, Indian, Mediterranean with lots of veggies, protein and brown rice), almonds before bed. Remember, eating so much you are uncomfortable is not good.

12) Protein is good, in moderation.  Red meat rots in your body...gross.  Try to stick with poultry, fish or plant proteins.  Tofu is delicious if prepared right - try using it with Indian or Thai curries.  Yummm! I also like pure whey protein isolate powder like Dymatize ISO 100 or Elite XT (Vitamin Shoppe, Town Center) to add to morning shakes or to almond milk for a quick snack ONLY on days I work out (protein shakes are not meant to be used as a substitution for a meal if you are trying to lose weight).

13) Sleep eight-hours a night.  For those of you that claim you can function on less, you are either an alien or lying.  To have a healthy immune system you need your rest!

14) Drink only water.  Everything else is the devil in disguise.  It is either loaded with sugar or cancer causing crap.  I admit it, I drank a real Coke the other day...yah, that's right, I cheated, but it was the first one in five years and I deserved it! Moderation...moderation.

15) Limit your packaged foods consumption.  It's nearly impossible to limit all packaged foods, but be aware of the crap you are putting in your body.  Try to buy products carried at stores like Whole Foods and Native Sun, even the Publix Greenwise Market Section that are all natural, organic, etc.  READ LABELS!

Ingredients to stay away from:  
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG, a flavor enhancer that has been linked to headaches, nausea, chest pains, etc.)
Trans Fats (unsaturated fat, which eating too much leads to coronary heart disease)
High Fructose Corn Syrup (Sweetener and preservative)
(Kudos to restaurants like Jason's Deli for eliminated all three from their offerings)
Artificial Colors (food dyes)
Artificial Flavors
Artificial Sweeteners (Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose or Equal, NutraSweet, Sweet'n Low and Splenda)
Benzoate Preservatives (BHT, BHA, TBHQ)
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Olestra
Shortening, Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Palm, Soybean and others)
Propyl Gallate (preservative used in foods and cosmetics)
Sodium Nitrate (found in packaged meats like hotdogs and lunch meats)
Carrageenan (red seaweed binder used in some Almond Milks like Almond Breeze and other dairy products)

Basically try to avoid un-natural, genetically modified ingredients in general. Most food manufacturers don't care about your health, they only care about making $$$!  In addition, the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S is a joke - just because they approve the use of an ingredient now, doesn't mean we won't find out in five years that it is linked to cancer and other deadly diseases.

For example:  Most food dyes are made from Petroleum (yes! Food dyes are made out of petro chemicals and coal tar).  The FDA admits that Red Dye #3 is a known carcinogen (a chemical that could cause cancer) and yet the FDA still approves its use in foods in the US! Red#3 and #40, Yellow #5 and #6 and Blue #1 and #2 are also bad news, which are linked to tumors, behavior problems in children, ADHD, autism, allergies and inflammatory diseases.

I am currently on a food strike from ALL Kraft and Nabisco products due to their latest complete inconsideration and lack of compassion for the general public, refusing to remove Yellow Dye #5 and 6 from their Kraft Macaroni and Cheese products.  This dye is purely used for ascetics and contains no nutritional value, and more important has been linked to asthma, allergies, hyper-activity in children and in some cases, cancer. This dye is not added to this product in Europe, along with many other artificial food dyes that are frowned upon in many European countries .  Sign the petition here to make Kraft and other food manufacturers aware that we aren't going to put up with their crap anymore!

16) You get a free meal! The Book Body For Life shows us how to change your eating habits for life, but also allowing yourself a break once a week.  If you are really wanting to shed some lbs. then I recommend one free-zone meal a week.  My free-zone meal is usually Saturday lunner during football season when I load up on beer, chicken wings, pizza, mac n' cheese....yeah free zone!!! Just don't make the mistake of making every other meal your "free-zone meal" and wondering why Lisa's (aka that Lying Bizzo's) diet tips aren't working.

17) Here is a list of "SUPER FOODS" you need to add to your diet today:
Apples (organic), Blueberries (organic), Strawberries (organic), Kiwi, Pomegranates, Oranges
Acai' & Gogi Berries (dried), Raw Cacao and Maca
Almonds & Walnuts
Beans & Lentils
Barley & Oats
Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wa)
Green Tea
Garlic
Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard (any green leafy vegetables - all organic)
Avocado, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Peppers (bell and hot - organic), Sweet Potatoes, Winter Squash (including pumpkins)
Low-Fat Yogurt
Wild Salmon (Sockeye is amazing during the summer months)
Turkey
Dark Chocolate (80-90% Cocoa)
Honey & Bee Pollen (add to shakes)
Flaxseed, Coconut & Olive Oil
Organic (Raw) Apple Cider Vinegar

Good luck and God speed!

The Salty Fig And Billy Elliot Esquire

My Review of The Salty Fig Restaurant and Billy Elliot the Musical. 

Prior to hitting the Jacksonville Broadway scene yet again, we headed to an early dinner at The Salty Fig (5 Points).  Standing at a towering 4’10”, my scrappy Mother-In-Law Melanie is by far the shortest date I have ever had (not including that horrible speed dating event I would just assume erase from my memory).

The Salty Fig, located at 901 King Street, Jacksonville, is a southern gastropub serving up seafood and other local and seasonal fusion favorites with Cajun and Creole influences.

Prior to The Salty Fig opening in December 2012, the two brothers, Jeff and John Stanford, ran The Salty Fig Food truck, a favorite among businessmen and women and locals alike.  This increasingly popular business model of testing out the market with first opening up a food truck is genius!  It gives locals an opportunity to try out the chefs’ new offerings, and begin buzzing about your concept with a low start-up cost to restaurateurs. 

We parked in the rear of the building and slipped in though the back, where immediately our mouths began to salivate.  We walked past the open kitchen to find the staff already hustling to prepare the Chefs’ latest seasonal creations.  I also took notice of the pantry full of fresh produce pickling in mason jars.  Right then I knew I was in for a treat!

The eclectic ambiance was light and airy with a very casual-comforting vibe without a hint of pretension.  Even the acoustic guitarist was the perfect accompaniment to our pre-dinner cocktails and light conversation.

What We Ate/Drank:

The Dark Moon - Catdaddy Moonshine, fresh lemon, agave, apple juice and ginger ale.

Spicy Watermelon Margarita – Tequila, Cointreau (Triple Sec), Fresh watermelon puree, Jalapeño infused simple syrup, fresh lime.

Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup

Plant City Strawberry Salad (Arugula Base)

Citrus Mahi-Mahi

Cochon de Lait (Pork)

After reading a review of The Salty Fig on Yelp that states “Eat here…no seriously…Eat here,” I had high expectations right out of the gate.  I am happy to report that those expectations were not only met, but exceeded!

I twisted Melanie’s arm into trying the Dark Moon (since I had to drive us to the show), and I settled on the Spicy Watermelon Margarita (ordered with Patron Silver and light on the Simple Syrup).  Both drinks were light and refreshing and absolutely amazing!  I could have had many more, but thought it wise to stop.  My favorite quote was from my Mother-In-Law this morning “Did I really drink Moonshine…whoa that drink must have been strong.” Yes it was, and yes you must order this on your next visit!

Any squash/potato/carrot soup is kinda my thing and this Sweet Potato soup is die for, with the perfect notes of ginger and peanuts to balance out the richness. The salad was also a homerun with the slightly bitter arugula, spicy-salty pecans and sweet-rich goat cheese.

Moving on to our main courses, even though my pulled-pork dish, topped off with a rich mushroom gravy and hollandaise sauce was extremely flavorful, I couldn’t help regretting not ordering Melanie’s Mahi-Mahi.  After noticing my envy, I was offered a bite of this perfectly cooked fish with a wonderful citrus-butter sauce with mangos.  So delicious!  Sorry – no room for dessert, but I hear the Tempura Brownie is a top notch!

Thank you Gentlemen for this wonderful addition to the restaurant scene in Jacksonville ~ This is my new favorite restaurant! Now only if I lived closer (sigh).

The Salty Fig is open for lunch and dinner seven-days-a-week, with plans for brunch service early this spring. 

Just a quick shout out to my sister Tina, who is not only one of my biggest fans, but also my biggest critic.  She asked that I include price points in my review from now on.  My total bill for the evening was $75 (including 2 drinks, soup, salad and 2-dinners).  Not bad eh!  (Drinks are about $8-$10, but mine was more with the upgrade to a higher end liquor).  Very good considering my martini at the Cheesecake Factory was $13 (seriously….seriously)?

On with the show! 

Opening night of Billy Elliot at the Times Union Center, downtown Jacksonville, was hustling and bustling with the cities finest!  Not knowing much about this production prior to attending, I didn’t quite know what to expect.  We hurried to our Orchestra seats and with the rise of the curtain were transported to Northern England in 1984, with the beginning of the Coal Miners Strike during the Margaret Thatcher reign. 

After accidentally stumbling upon a ballet class lead by a character favorite Mrs. Wilkinson, our young Billy Elliot begins to pursue his God-given amazing talent of dancing.  

Favorite line from the production: (Billy reading his name out-loud on the acceptance, or denial letter, from the National Ballet School in London) “Billy Elliot, is-a-queer”……(Long Pause)……(Dad) Oh! Esquire!  (The crowd roars with laughter).

Many have the misconception that Billy Elliot is a production that touches on other political references (ok, there is one cross-dressing number), but that is just a very small blip in this historically-accurate journey for an exceptionally gifted ballet dancer.  Not only was the storyline of this musical just wonderful, but it was also these innuendoes that poke fun at the misconceptions that make this show hilarious! 

I am of the opinion that the Billy Elliot character is one of the hardest characters for a young actor/dancer to play.  For nearly 2 ½ hours, Billy is moving around on stage like it’s nothing at all! This on-the-road production employs four Billy Elliot’s, all young-men ranging from 12-15 years old.  Last night, actor Ben Cook (North Carolina) dazzled the audience with his superb acting, ballet, tap dancing, gymnastics and singing (all with a British accent). This kid is unstoppable and will go far in his career!

Everything from the sets, to the lights, dancing, acting and music (symphony featuring traditional British instruments) had the entire house at its feet for a standing ovation! 

I highly recommend seeing this show – you won’t regret it!

February 26 – March 3, 2013 at the Times Union Center –Moran Theater

While I believe this show will appeal to conservatives, liberals, young and old, I will give my usual disclaimer that a select few may be put-off by the incessant working-classes choice of words.  Hey, it’s culture and to me, only intensified the emotions that surrounded this time in history. 

The Salty Fig

The Salty Fig Kitchen

Spicy Watermelon Margarita & The Dark Moon Drinks

Sweet Potato & Ginger Soup

Plant City Strawberry Salad

Cochon de Lait 

Citrus Mahi-Mahi

Billy Elliot

Actor Ben Cook as Billy Elliot

My Review of Billy Elliot for the Artist Series