How I’ve nearly cured my seasonal allergies

We’re in peak allergy season, so I thought I’d share what I did this year to prepare for allergy season. Surprisingly, I ended up being so successful I’ve nearly cured my seasonal allergies! 

Last year during this time, I was living in Paris and had the worst seasonal allergies I’ve ever had in my life. As soon as I would lie down every night, I’d start wheezing and coughing so much that I couldn’t sleep. When the coughing and sleepless nights didn’t stop after a week, I went to the doctor, who prescribed me prednisone for a few days and gave me an inhaler to use daily for a while until everything calmed down. Then after that I had to keep an inhaler on me just in case I got an asthma attack. 

Around December of this year I knew I wanted to prepare for allergy season by getting my immune system in tip top shape. What I did seems to have helped immensely because my seasonal allergy symptoms are only 5% of what they were last year. They were tested when I was in Paris last week eating all the dairy and pasta, and I was fine!

My thinking around how to prep for allergy season centered around improving my immune system by (1) healing the lining of my gut and (2) doing everything possible to ensure I have a wide variety of thriving good gut bacteria. 

To heal the lining of my gut, I did 3 things (and am still doing these things):

1 - Incorporated high-quality (grass-fed/pastured) bone broth into my diet as many days a week as possible. I did this by drinking it, blending it with steamed veggies, and/or cooking my rice in it (you can use the ratio of 190g of rice cooked in 300 mL of bone broth). 

2 - I took a high-quality colostrum supplement every day, 2-3x a day. I have been using and had an amazing experience with ARMRA. I like doing the unflavored version because I can just empty the packet in my mouth. It tastes like powdered milk. The flavored versions taste pretty good, and I prefer the watermelon over the orange. 

3 - I took a high-quality L-glutamine supplement from Pure Encapsulations every day. 

To ensure I have a thriving population of good gut bacteria, I did 5 things (and am still doing these things):

1 - I incorporated organic white miso paste into my diet every day. I either spread it onto lentil cakes and topped it with avocado or mixed it with my oatmeal. If you’ve never had savory oats, this is going to blow your mind. Top it with a poached egg for extra credit. A teaspoon at a time does the trick.

2 - I took organic apple cider vinegar every day, at least once a day. I put one tablespoon diluted with one cup of water into a glass and chug that every morning before I eat or drink anything else. 

3 - After two months of doing the above, I started eating fat free Greek yogurt or fat free Biotiful kefir protein every day. Miraculously, I had zero negative reactions to these foods after doing the stuff above. I used to get the worst congestion from eating yogurt or kefir even once, but now I can have unlimited amounts of dairy every day and feel zero congestion symptoms. Kefir has more strains of good gut bacteria than yogurt does, so I prioritize kefir. 

4 - I eat at least 30g of fiber a day. I do this by having half an avocado and two 125-g packs of raspberries or blackberries a day. That helps me hit my fiber target easily when combined with the rest of my food.

5 - I eat a lot of plant variety, at least 30 unique per week. Every week I eat all of the following: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, peanut butter, asparagus, broccoli, broccolini, cauliflower, romanesco, asparagus, several varieties of mushrooms, broccoli sprouts, oats, rice, potatoes, parsley, dill, cilantro, tomato, chili peppers, bell pepper, carrots, matcha, coffee, miso paste, edamame, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, brazil nuts, and peas. I find it easy to fit all of this in by regularly cooking the following: (1) breakfast oats topped with tons of different fruit, nuts, and seeds; (2) fried rice mixed with tons of different veggies and herbs; and (3) roasting a huge tray of veggies every day and having it for dinner and then having leftovers for lunch. I also recently shared on Instagram a video showing how I store my nuts and seeds to make them very easily accessible to me. 

I also want to note that I RARELY eat processed foods like crackers, chips, candy, cookies, etc. Avoiding these foods is critical if you want to repair the lining of your gut because these foods often contain ingredients that impair the lining of the gut, undoing all your hard work from the other dietary changes. I didn’t add this to the list above because I had already been minimizing my intake of these foods. The worst culprit for harming the lining of your gut is having fructose in super high quantities in processed foods where that fructose isn’t paired with fiber. 

All of these changes have been truly miraculous for me. I no longer have a dairy intolerance and have barely any seasonal allergy symptoms other than the occasional need to blow my nose. My wheat intolerance is also a lot better than it used to be but not totally gone yet. I’ve found that eating bread from some places works for me while bread from other places does not. But in general, I can tolerate wheat a lot better. I used to take a few bites of wheat then start wheezing and get eczema on my elbows. Now, I sometimes react to wheat, and when I do I start wheezing but don’t get any eczema. 

I know everyone’s healing journey is different, but I wanted to share my experience so you know there is hope if you have horrible seasonal allergies or strong food intolerances. 

Try these things and let me know how it goes!

BTW – with the exception of the supplements (colostrum and L-glutamine) and yogurt/kefir, all of these dietary recommendations are of course woven into the Methodology nutrition program, especially our curated Reset experience. This experience ensures you get 200+ plants a week, 30+g a fiber a day, apple cider vinegar twice a day, and naturally probiotic foods like pickled veggies and miso. If you’re suffering from bad seasonal allergies or food intolerances right now, try doing an 8-week Reset to see how it heals your gut. If you do a Reset that’s 3 weeks or longer you’ll save 10%. 

Julie Nguyen

CEO & Co-Founder of Methodology

Menu Changes, Our Move Toward Zero Waste, and More

Happy belated Valentine’s Day! 

Resets Now Allow Two Meal Swaps

You may have seen that we recently announced that our Resets now allow up to two meal swaps per Reset. This will allow you to tailor your Resets to your tastes. 

If you missed the email announcement about this, the way you make swaps is by replying to our email that includes your Reset schedule for the week. This is an email that is sent over one week in advance of your Reset delivery date. Make sure you check your Spam folder if you haven’t noticed these emails from our team.

Menu Enhancements

I hope you guys have been enjoying the new menu items that have rolled out in the past few weeks, including more savory, high-protein breakfasts, something that’s been requested by many of you. Our savory breakfast Standard meals now have at least 30g of protein, something I’ve personally practiced for years as I’ve found it keeps me satisfied for 4+ hours until lunch, ensures I hit my daily protein minimums (I strength train and aim for 1g protein per pound of ideal body weight per day), and minimizes insulin spikes from my breakfasts. 

We’re also working on bringing down the sugar content in our breakfast oats and chia parfaits. It’s a tricky balance to get right. We want to make sure everything still tastes incredible while ensuring you aren’t eating any sugar beyond what’s optimally healthy. 

Keep in mind that any sugars added or naturally occurring in food, when eaten along with fiber and protein, don’t spike insulin and glucose as much, so in addition to considering how much sugar we eat in our meals, we also want to think about the context of the overall meal. This is why the sugars in berries are healthy to eat – they’re bundled with tons of fiber. Small amounts of sugars in balanced meals are completely different from eating something sweet on its own, such as having a cookie or soda. 

Our philosophy around sugars at Methodology is that desserts should be eaten as desserts after balanced meals and that any added sweeteners should be used sparingly only in balanced meals that are fiber-rich. And that there is no need to be 100% perfect with our eating because we want a “methodology” of eating that is sustainable for life. What we recommend our members aim for is 90-95% of their calories coming from unprocessed, nourishing, wholesome foods. 

Lastly, in the menu changes category, you may have noticed that we’ve been moving many of our proteins toward no longer being pre-sliced because this ensures the proteins are juicier when you eat them. Slicing proteins causes the juices to be released. By having you reheat then slice the proteins yourselves, you end up with a much juicier and tastier protein. This is especially critical for us to do with chicken breast, which is a very lean protein that easily becomes dry. 

How Being a Zero Waste Kitchen Benefits You

My other update I feel excited to share is that starting in December we moved toward being a Zero Food Waste kitchen. This has required improving the predictability of our food orders, improving the accuracy of our recipes, and being creative about how to use every last bit of food we receive. For example, we’ve been building out our in-house pickling program, which benefits you in two primary ways: (1) it allows us to include more probiotic, gut-health optimizing foods in your meals and (2) it ensures that every dollar spent on food can go toward the highest quality ingredients possible or toward a wider variety of ingredients, allowing us to elevate our meals further. 

As a reference point, the typical restaurant might waste anywhere from 4-10% of the food it buys. Right now, thanks to our move toward being a Zero Waste kitchen, our food waste at Methodology is below 0.8% nearly every week. Most restaurants that are Zero Waste donate excess food as compost to farms. We pride ourselves in achieving Zero Waste by doing what I just outlined above; it’s harder, but it’s also the more effective way to use such high-quality ingredients.

The 8-Week Transformation Tribe is Now Open to Everyone

We recently decided to open up our 8-week Transformation Tribe weight loss experience to anyone to buy without having to apply. I wanted to remove as much friction as possible from getting people into the Transformation Tribe after seeing how life-changing the results have been for so many of those who have done it so far. 

I created the Transformation Tribe to take everything that took me decades to learn about weight loss and pass that info onto you over a time period that’s long enough to form new habits, a new mindset, and a new identity. A one-week Reset, whether it’s from us or any other service, isn’t going to be able to do that. 

I actually named our business “Methodology” when I co-founded it because I’d always envisioned a service that was about so much more than just food. I didn’t want a name that just communicated food or yumminess. I intended for our service to include a full “methodology” for living the healthiest, most joyful possible lifestyle. Emphasis on the “joy” part because I don’t think we should have to sacrifice flavor, beauty, variety, creativity, or rest in order to optimize our nutrition. Our Transformation Tribe is a step in that direction because we layer education and social support on top of our science-backed Reset nutrition program, creating something that nourishes both your body and your mind.

The Transformation Tribe lessons cover what held me back for so long and what I’ve seen holds so many others back: being too strict with your diet in some ways and too loose in other ways, being responsive rather than proactive about your diet, not having enough super easy go-to healthy recipes you truly love eating, limiting beliefs about what’s possible, not having a clear vision of the life and body you want to build, and more. The education in the Transformation Tribe isn’t really about nutrition per se but about the psychology behind why we aren’t eating healthier even when we have access to healthier options. The Transformation Tribe is also where I share detailed info on exactly what I’m currently doing for my diet, workouts, and more.

But what I love most about the Transformation Tribe is that it’s given me a way to work hands on with Methodology members, which I don’t get to do as part of the regular Methodology Reset experience. I’ve been loving this. In the early days of Methodology, I used to know all our customers’ names and email with them directly. I missed having that interaction and feel happy getting to know the Tribe members so well. 

If you’d like to join our next Transformation Tribe, you can do it here. A new Transformation Tribe kicks off the first Monday of every month. You can do it as many times as you’d like, for as long as it takes to achieve your goal and cement those healthier habits for life. The experience is available as a digital-only experience or with Methodology meals.

Thank You For Your Support

I hope your 2024 is off to an incredible start. I’m personally feeling more optimistic than ever about Methodology and my personal health (in my next email I’ll share the latest I’ve been doing for my workouts, supplements, and more). 

Thank you for supporting our team and business. I feel grateful I get to wake up and do my dream job every day creating the healthiest, most joyful possible products possible for all of you.

My Holiday Routine

We’re moving into the holiday season, which means more social gatherings and parties.

Unlike last year (I was going through a brutal breakup), I want to look and feel my best when I catch up with my family this Christmas. I’ll be hopping to Orange County first to see my dad, then popping over to Austin to see my mom, sister, and nephews. Then I’ll spend New Year’s Eve in Salt Lake City with a few couples.

Here’s my plan to make sure I go into the new year feeling happy and healthy:

Get back to walking at least 1.5 hours a day. In a few weeks I move to a new location that has a gym in the building, so I’m going to double down on my incline treadmill walks and aim to get in an hour of walking a day at at least a 10% incline. I get super bored on these walks, so when I do an hour I usually split it up and do 30 minutes in the morning after my Sweat workout then 30 minutes after lunch or dinner. Incline walking is one of the most underestimated ways to burn fat and reduce cortisol, which helps me feel less hungry all day long. I currently haven’t had access to a treadmill for the past two weeks and I’m already feeling and seeing the difference in my body and how my clothes fit. The rest of my walking comes in the form of running errands.

Switch to decaf coffee + matcha in the mornings. My sleep has been erratic. I went to Copenhagen recently and since the coffee scene there is so good I was drinking coffee every day. None of the shops had decaf coffee, so I ordered regular coffee, which is unusual for me. I somehow kept doing that because I got used to the hit from coffee but have noticed I’ve been waking up at 4 AM every day. Sometimes I’m able to fall asleep again afterwards but sometimes I’m not. So I started getting back to drinking Methodology organic ceremonial matcha in the morning and am slowly sleeping in longer. Today I woke up at 5:15 AM instead. Getting enough sleep has a ton of benefits I won’t get into, but right now I specifically want to make sure I don’t overeat all day long, which I do more often after nights when I get fewer than 8 hours of sleep. BTW I track my sleep using 4 apps lol. I’m that obsessed. Someday I will probably launch a sleep product. Anyway, I use Shut Eye, Sleep Reset, Snore Lab, and the Oura Ring. They all have differences that I like.

Go back to eating dinner super early. When I’m alone my ideal time to eat dinner is 4 PM. Yes, I am aware this is earlier than toddlers eat dinner. When I’m with others obviously I have to compromise and eat at around 7:30 PM, but fortunately that isn’t most nights. I like eating dinner earlier because I’m really only hungry most days between 10 AM - 4 PM. Also, the earlier I eat, the less I eat, the earlier I fall asleep, and the longer I sleep.

Try on my party dresses in the mornings. I have always found it very motivating to try on my favorite dresses often to make sure they still fit well. Or if they don’t, then to check my progress over time until they do. Every morning that I do this, I feel more inspired to eat healthy all day.

Eat in alignment with Methodology for every non social meal. I’m currently coaching a Transformation Tribe weight loss group. Many of them had questions about what to do on Thanksgiving week. And over the holidays. What I told them is what I plan to do myself. I follow a very strict diet 95% of the time, so that when a truly special occasion does come, I can fully indulge and enjoy myself. When I’m in the states, I live on Methodology. And to be honest, in the past few years since becoming a nomad, every time I’ve needed to get in the best shape possible (for example, for my birthday every year), I have made sure to be home in the states for at least 2 months straight eating Methodology. It is literally impossible for me to find meals anywhere else that hit the right calorie, protein, fat, and fiber targets and still taste good. When I travel, this means I have to cook at home. Now I see why you guys keep asking us to publish a cookbook because my meals taste horrible in comparison to the ones our chefs make. Ugh.

Say “no” to things that don’t feel in alignment with my priorities. I felt a bit overwhelmed when I thought about my holiday schedule and travel coming up in the next two months, so I canceled two trips I had planned (the northern lights and German Christmas markets will have to wait until another year!). And I have a lot of party invitations where I plan to attend but not drink any alcohol. I’m not a big drinker and would rather not booze. I usually limit myself to 1 glass of wine per week on date night. I don’t plan to go over that just because I have holiday gatherings and birthday parties coming up.

And that about sums it up. Looking and feeling my best on special occasions just requires getting the basics right. Walking more. Sleeping more. Finding ways to feel inspired. Eating veggie- and protein-packed meals the other 360 days a year. Setting boundaries to protect my priorities.

Lastly, I want to call out that when you look at your diet holistically, it’s not the daily calories that matter but how you eat throughout the whole week and month overall. This is why it becomes more important to have your weekdays on lock during the holidays when you’ll be eating out more. If you want to set up a Reset to arrive the Monday after Thanksgiving, use this link. Or if you’re a California courier customer, make sure you set up an order that week that focuses on having plenty of lunch/dinner meals. It’ll be the easiest way to bring everything back into balance after an indulgent celebration.

Hope you all have the best Thanksgiving ever! If you’re someone who ordered from us, thank you so much for including us in your celebration. If you haven’t ordered, it isn’t too late. The deadline to be able to build your own box is this Sunday. Click here to order if you’re a California courier customer. Click here to order if you’re outside of California.

Wishing you a happy holiday season,

Julie

CEO & Co-founder of Methodology

Supplement Tips + Last Day for $1,500 Giveaway

I recently did an IG Live with Dr. Darshan Shah, CEO of Next Health, where I got to ask him questions about supplements that currently confuse me.

Here are my key takeaways:

1 - For sleep, avoid melatonin unless you’re using it to reset your circadian rhythm due to traveling across time zones. This is because prolonged usage of melatonin negatively impacts your sensitivity to melatonin. I’d asked about this because I noticed that melatonin isn’t sold over the counter in London, UK. 

2 - Avoid CBD and THC as well for sleep. Instead, try lifestyle changes like these first: (1) no caffeine after 12 PM, (2) early morning light exposure through an open window, (3) sleep in a room that’s 65-68F, and (4) finish dinner 3 hours before bedtime. 

3 - Hormone supplementation can be used for those on the low end of healthy. For example, DHEA and ashwagandha are validated to boost testosterone. I personally take ashwagandha after having my testosterone tested by Next Health. I’ve noticed increased energy and muscle definition since starting this. Hormone injections can be done by doctors at Next Health if supplements fail to get someone into the healthy range.

4 - Vetting supplements is important because many brands don’t actually contain what they claim. You can email any supplement brand and ask them for their third party certification. A few brands that Dr. Shah trusts include Pure Encapsulations and Thorne Research.

If you’d like to get tested for hormone health, food sensitivities, heavy metals, and more like I did at Next Health, you can use the promo code Methodology20 to get 20% off your first online purchase of most, but not all, services. 

Speaking of hormone health, it’s hormone health awareness month, so two more things:

1 - Today is the last day to enter our $1,500 Back to Balance giveaway that includes tons of innovative health products designed to balance your hormones, including a 4-Day Methodology Reset. Here’s the IG Post with details on how to enter. Good luck!

2 - Head to our Instagram page today where I’ll share what I think is the single best food for improving hormone balance.

Have a great weekend!

Julie

NYC Tips

Last week I went to NYC because the WSJ wanted to interview us on video for a feature they’re doing on the meal kit industry. This will be our first time getting coverage from the WSJ, so this feels very exciting for our team and me! I feel grateful my co-founder Stephen helped me prep so thoroughly for it. The interview lasted two hours and was very rigorous; it felt like an interrogation lol! The video is expected to be released around the end of August.

Though I’ve never lived in NYC other than during my 3-month analyst training in my early twenties, I’ve spent a decent amount of time in NYC and have a list of favorites I love to go back to whenever I’m in town. I do try several new spots on each visit as well. I will caveat that this list may feel very limited to a foodie who lives in NYC, so I welcome any suggestions for spots I’ve missed and should hit next time!

Without further ado, here are my NYC favorites:

BREAKFAST / BRUNCH

Russ & Daughters in the LES for bagels with lox. Sadly they were closed for renovations (until August 2023) on my most recent trip, but this is normally my first choice. Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company is also really good and has two locations. Modern Bread and Bagel was a new discovery on this trip for gluten free bagels and has a few locations!

For a French brunch in SOHO in one of the most Instagrammable spaces for brunch, check out La Mercerie that’s attached to my favorite home goods store in NYC, Roman and Williams Guild. I also love the French bistro brunch in the West Village at Buvette, a chain that also has a location in Paris.

NYC is one of the best places in the world to do a decadent American brunch, something that’s so beloved around the world that when it’s well done at restaurants outside of America there are lines around the black. A classic is Clinton Street Baking Company. Something touristy but fun is Beauty and Essex for Sunday brunch.

Joe’s Shanghai has always been my go-to for dim sum. Love their soup dumplings.

For a more quirky breakfast option, try Davelle, a Japanese cafe in the LES with Instagrammable toasts in several flavors. It’s walking distance from Supermoon Bakehouse so hitting them back-to-back would be ideal.

BAKERIES

I generally avoid wheat and dairy, so I haven’t tried many bakeries. Supermoon Bakehouse is a highly Instagrammable must visit. I’ve heard Librae is one of the best in Manhattan but didn’t get to try it.

ITALIAN

Since I need to avoid wheat and dairy, I don’t eat Italian often, but one of my faves is L’Artusi. For California cuisine with a touch of Italian on the menu as well, I love Upland. Both are great for date night.

COFFEE SHOPS

Maman is a chain of French-themed cozy cafes with pastries. Check out their largest location that’s most Instagrammable and a must visit.There is no wifi at Maman. 787 is the coffee shop chain I go to when I want to work from the coffee shop as they not only have free wifi but outlets everywhere to be very remote working friendly. Their baristas are also always very friendly and they serve pastries from local bakers, many that are gluten-free and vegan.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE

Khe-Yo for Laotian food is a must if you want something truly unique and tasty. My dad and I went there on our last trip to NYC and ordered their roasted pig head dish, which was phenomenal.

Fish Cheeks is my favorite for Thai because they’ll make things insanely spicy. This is also where Chrissy Teigen will get Thai food when she’s in town.

KOREAN

Korean food is to-die-for both in NYC and LA. Nami Nori and Mari are a must for Korean handrolls. It’s more fun to sit at the counter. Atomix or Jua for Korean fine dining if you can get a reservation. Cote is the best for Korean BBQ and the only Korean BBQ place in America with a Michelin star.

JAPANESE

Momofuku Noodle Bar is my preferred ramen spot, but I also like the ramen from Ippudo (there are several locations in NYC). Best ramen lists never include these, but I still love them lol! That being said, I haven’t had ramen in NYC in years, so I’m not sure if something better has popped up recently.

Souen for Japanese macrobiotic meals if you want something simple, affordable, easy, and healthy. It’s not exciting, but sometimes I just want to eat something neutral and clean.

Blue Ribbon Sushi for everyday non-omakase sushi and Shuko for a casual omakase in a lively environment (great for date nights). I also enjoyed the casual omakase at Sushi Blossoms. If you find yourself in Times Square, I enjoyed the casual omakase at Sushi by Bou Times Square. It’s a chain, but this location is fun. It’s in a basement and has a party vibe. I haven’t done any of the super high end omakase experiences in NYC, so I can’t make any reliable recommendations here, though my bestie Ramit Sethi loves Masa. Noda, Joji, Sushi Noz, Shion 69 Leonard Street, and The Den are also on my high-end omakase to try list.

LATE NIGHT FOOD

For late-night food open until 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays after a night out, my go-to is The Kati Roll Company (several locations). Or pizza from Artichoke Basille’s Pizza (several locations). Katz’s Delicatessen is open 24 hours on Saturdays and is a must-visit for any first timers to NYC.

HOTELS

For hotels, I adore the Crosby Street Hotel and Greenwich Hotel at the higher end. If you need a mid-budget hotel but still want a great location, Ludlow Hotel is super cool. Public Hotel is also a solid option in the same area.

SHOPPING

I prefer shopping in SOHO. You must hit Khaite as it’s currently their first and only boutique in the world, though Paris and South Korea locations are coming soon. Khaite is one of my favorite clothing brands for knitwear (think sweaters, bodysuits, and stretchy dresses and skirts), though they’re also famous for jeans.

Alaia is two doors down from Khaite and is another one of my favorite brands, particularly for knitwear. If I sound knitwear obsessed, it’s because I am. Know why? Two reasons. First, I don’t have to iron it, which is particularly helpful for me as I’m nomadic 50% of the year. Second, knitwear is comfy because it stretches, which makes it great for eating in lol.

Also in this area is Cult Gaia, which is my favorite brand for resort wear.

There’s a really popular men’s streetwear brand also in this area that always has a line. It’s fun to walk through. It’s called Aime Lore Dore.

BEAUTY

I discovered something entirely by accident in NYC: Russian manicures. I broke a single nail right before my WSJ interview and ran around to 5 nearby nail salons until I could find one that could fix my nail on the spot. It was a Russian manicure shop. She fixed my nail and wow the nail is perfectly shaped and smooth. These shops are pretty rare, but there’s a cluster of them not far from Times Square. You’ll have to book in advance. Make sure you look at what they look like inside when you check out reviews. A bunch are kind of janky looking lol.

For anyone traveling to NYC soon, I hope this list helps you have the best time ever! It truly is one of the best cities in the world for food and fashion.

Julie

What I’ve Been Up To

Here’s what I’ve been up to lately!

New Methodology Product Launches

We’ve just rolled out new versions of our 5-Day Reset after getting a bunch of feedback for new variations you’d love to see. There are now 4 versions: Meat + Seafood, Vegan, Meat + Vegan, and Seafood + Vegan. We’ll soon launch 4-Day Resets that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These Resets will be excellent for new moms or anyone else who prefers to eat three meals a day. Stay tuned!

New Podcast Episode

I appear as a guest on other podcasts regularly and feel grateful to share our story with new audiences. A new episode was just released this week on Stairway to CEO, hosted by Lee Greene. Lee is a successful entrepreneur herself and asked thought-provoking questions I’d never been asked before.

New Methodology Swag

I carry a water bottle with me everywhere to make sure I stay hydrated. I recently found a new favorite water bottle that I loved so much I had it Methodology branded. If you’re a subscriber, you can find it in our lifestyle section. What I love about this water bottle is it keeps drinks temperature controlled, is leakproof, is easy to carry thanks to its loop handle, and is super easy to clean because it has a wide mouth. 

New Teammates

We’ve been onboarding new teammates to level up our food and guest experience. We have a new Head of Culinary Innovation, Rachel Aronow, who previously cooked in fine dining kitchens such as Lazy Bear. We’ve also added several new wellness coaches to improve our response times on Mondays and to roll out phone and SMS support to all of our VIP members. If you’d like to purchase a VIP membership to get discounts on our service and other benefits, just reply to this email.

New Sleep Health Insight

I listened to a Huberman podcast episode where he interviewed Dr. Satchin Panda about intermittent fasting. A couple key takeaways: (1) for weight loss, when calories are kept the same, you don’t have to keep your eating window small to get the same results and can just eat within an 8-12 hour window and (2) the time of day when you eat affects your circadian rhythm, so try to eat at the same times every day and ideally have dinner several hours before you want to go to bed. I played around with the latter recommendation and noticed that when I finish dinner at 5 PM, I can easily fall asleep as early as 8 PM, and when I finish dinner at 10 PM, I can’t fall asleep until after midnight! Keep in mind I’m also not having caffeine after 12 PM. I’m someone who wakes up between 5:30 - 6 AM every day without an alarm clock no matter what time I go to bed, so it’s crucial for me to fall asleep early every night. I use the Oura ring to track my sleep and the DoFasting app to track my feeding and fasting windows.

I feel thankful for your support of our team and business. Thanks for following along with our journey via my Friday emails. I hope your weekend is filled with whatever it is you need most, whether it’s connection, rest, adventure, or something else! I personally feel very excited to be in London this weekend for one of my best friend’s weddings. 

Julie

My Learnings from the Health Optimization Summit

I recently attended the Health Optimization Summit in London. I rarely attend health conferences, but I’m a huge fan of a few of the speakers they had this year so I decided to go. I was pleasantly surprised to not only enjoy the talks but be able to interact with so many exhibitors of interesting products as well.

Here are some of my takeaways from the conference, from easiest and cheapest to most challenging and most expensive. 

Put your bare feet on the grass for 5 minutes a day. It immediately reduces inflammation. This is known as grounding. 

Reduce your electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure by turning your wifi off at night before you go to bed and keeping your phone on airplane mode when you don’t need to use it. Try this out and see if it improves your sleep, mood, and other aspects of your health. I was seated one night at dinner beside Nicolas Pineault, the author of “The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs: How to Fix Our Stupid Use of Technology,” who explained all of this to me, and I recommend reading his book if you’d like to learn more. 

Wear sunglasses less often unless you absolutely need them, such as when driving. Sunglasses keep your eyes from receiving information from the sun that helps you properly regulate your circadian rhythm, hormones, and sleep. It’s particularly important to get 20 minutes of direct sunlight (not through a window) exposure as early as possible in the morning, ideally around sunrise, and then again at sunset. The way I’ve been doing this in the mornings is opening my window very early in the morning, sitting right by it, setting a timer for 20 minutes, then doing my morning journaling and breathing exercises (more on this below). 

Wear blue light blocking glasses whenever you look at a screen all day, but if you can’t do that at least do it during the evening hours starting at around 8 PM. This will help you fall and stay asleep more easily. I have two pairs of FilterOptix blue light blocking glasses that I love. I have the clear lenses that I use during the daytime and the orange lenses that I use when read on my Kindle at night.

First thing every morning, get some cold exposure by taking a cold shower. This increases your dopamine production immediately and for hours afterward. Intentionally exposing yourself to stressors like this (exercise is another example) improves your health. I also enjoy the practice as a way to cultivate self-discipline. I do 1 minute and 35 seconds every morning before I work out. I take my normal hot shower after my workouts. I really enjoy the practice and if I had a backyard I would totally buy a cold plunge tub for it. 

Of all the things you can do for longevity, getting the basics right is more important than all of the supplements and hacks combined. The everyday basics include exercising, eating well (don’t eat too much; eat enough veggies, fiber, and protein), sleeping enough, sunlight exposure at sunrise and sunset, heat/cold exposure, walking 10k steps a day, and grounding. 

Speaking of walking 10k steps a day, I’m trying to be more disciplined about doing this. I used to have a walking desk at home in LA and hitting this target was never a problem. Now I have to build walking into my days by intentionally choosing errands to run that are a bit far away. For example, my coworking space is a 50 minute walk from my flat, my dry cleaner 15 minutes, my nail salon 15 minutes, my mailbox 12 minutes, etc. When I’m going to meet a friend for lunch, I always intentionally choose a location that’s at least a 30 minute walk away. 

Add a tablespoon of high-quality, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil to your lunch or dinner every day. The oleic acid in olive oil is excellent for improving longevity, gut health, and metabolism.

Have a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with the mother with your lunches and dinners. ACV is a naturally fermented food that improves gut health and having it with meals minimizes the glucose impact of the meal as well. 

Something trending is the idea that health starts in your mouth. Some things you might do are to stop using mouthwashes with alcohol and get your oral microbiome tested at a holistic or biological dentist. 

Look out for chemicals hidden in your laundry detergent, even those labeled as healthy, eco-friendly, or organic. Whatever you wash your clothes in is what you will breathe in all day long. I tried and loved this UK-based detergent Allavare that left my clothes clean and smelling incredible. I will be on the lookout for their US launch. 

Ben Greenfield is one of the most famous biohackers in the states. He was another speaker I really enjoyed hearing. Jetlag is something I really struggle with and his antidote for that at the moment is to take melatonin, a double dose of NAD, and creatine monohydrate. I’m definitely going to try this on my next trip!

Another one of the speakers I was most excited to see was Marisa Peer. I’ve read her book and because of it began, months ago, the practice of doing daily affirmations in the way that she advises. What makes her different is she emphasizes (1) how important it is that we be highly specific with our affirmations because our subconscious minds take everything we say literally and (2) how we must say our affirmations with complete conviction. This also means we need to watch out for negative things we say to ourselves all day long. Stop saying stuff like, “I’m so stressed, I’ve got chronic fatigue, I’m losing my shit,” or “I get allergies every spring, if I look at a cake I get fat, I’m an anxious person, I have social anxiety” because then your mind must act on this. Stop it! I’m very careful about the things I say to myself. As for my affirmations, first thing every morning and night while in bed I repeatedly say my affirmations aloud with conviction for 5 minutes. I find that my morning affirmations get me into the right mindset for the day and my evening affirmations help me come up with creative solutions while I sleep.

I purchased at the conference a  $350 Airofit device that helps you improve your lung strength and capacity for better workouts and overall wellness. It also tracks your progress over time. I’ve had weak lungs since I was a kid and get asthma and bronchitis easily. You can use this link to get 20% off your Airofit.

Consider replacing titanium fillings you may have with ceramic fillings. Dr. Dominik Nischwitz is a biological dentist in Germany who believes that metal fillings can contribute to auto-immune health issues over time. There are similar doctors in the states who can replace fillings for you. 

Look into Quicksilver Scientific if you suspect you have mercury levels affecting your health. They can help with the testing and detox.

If you can afford it, I tried out the Samina bed that all the top biohackers swear by because it gives you the health benefits of grounding while you sleep and also reduces back pain and improves sleep quality. It was definitely the comfiest bed I’ve ever tried (the previous position was held by the Four Seasons beds). The bed is about $10k. 

Phew, that’s a lot! I hope you’ve found at least one thing helpful here that can assist you on your path to optimizing your health. I feel grateful to have the time and resources to be able to focus on constantly improving all aspects of my health, and it’s a pleasure for me to share my journey with all of you.

Julie

My favorite restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bars in Paris right now

I’ve been flooded with requests for tips on where to eat in Paris (I’ve been living full time in Paris since January 2023), so here’s my list of my current favorite restaurants and cafes in Paris right now. I’ll try to update this list regularly because I try new restaurants every week!

Remember that in August, about one third of places in Paris are closed for 2-4 weeks so call before you go anywhere that month. 

Best Ambiance Restaurants

To be clear, these are the “see and be seen” restaurants that you go to mostly for the ambiance and people, not for the food. Great for date nights if you want to dress up. The food is good but won’t blow your mind. For all of these places, you must have a reservation. 

Go to Mun (Japanese) or Langosteria (Italian seafood in Cheval Blanc hotel) for iconic Eiffel Tower views in an upscale environment. 

I also love La Plume Rive Droite (Japanese), Loulou (Italian by the Louvre), La Cour Jardin at Hotel Plaza Athenee, Rivie in the Hoxton Hotel, and Ralph’s for their gorgeous courtyards. 

Hotel de Crillon is great for a fancy treat yo’self breakfast. You can also book a massage at the hotel after you eat. It’ll give you access to the spa that also includes a gym and swimming pool. 

Booking an afternoon tea at Salon Proust at the Ritz Paris is also a quintessentially French experience. 

Laperouse is a quirky French restaurant great for an unusual date night. It used to be a brothel and has private rooms you can book.

Pink Mamma (Italian) is probably one of the most Instagrammed restaurants in Paris. 

I love Drouant for a traditional french brasserie fancy business lunch. I love their tableside preparation of beef tartare!

Best Foodie Restaurants

Bouche is very popular in the foodie community. It’s one of the restaurants where Parisian chefs eat. It has a hipster vibe. Book early as this is a very hard reservation to get Thursdays to Saturdays.

Early June has monthly rotating chefs from around the world. They don’t take reservations for groups smaller than four people, so plan to either get there just before or shortly after they open. If you come later than that you won’t be able to get a table. It’s literally packed every day.

Deux Restaurant is my favorite place to do brunch. It’s a fixed price multi-course menu that changes regularly but always includes these to die for pancakes with a hazelnut chocolate sauce. It’s very casual and great for families. 

Creme Restaurant is my favorite place to grab lunch (though dinner is awesome as well!) when I’m exploring the Montmartre area. The owners are a young couple who will make you feel at home. The menu changes every day.

Cafe les Deux Gares is my favorite French cafe because of the to-die-for food and killer wine list. It’s casual and cozy and when the weather is nice it’s amazing to eat outside. I introduced this place to my dear French friend who grew up in Paris and he continues to go here regularly now.

L’insolite is my favorite place to grab a delicious meal when I haven’t made a reservation anywhere. Hopefully you’ll be seated by the open kitchen and fireplace. Make sure you order the artichokes cooked with anchovy butter!

Gramme is my favorite for a creative brunch. They have several locations in Paris. Prepare to wait in line on weekends. 

Rouge Do is where I go when I want creative, more upscale Vietnamese food (you’ll love the charismatic Vietnamese owner and his entire family who cooks in the kitchen!) and Asian Soupe is where I go when I want the more traditional stuff. 

There is a very low key insanely adorable mom and son Japanese chef team that cooks delicious home-style Japanese comfort food at Zakuro.

Lebanese food in Paris is delicious and so far my fave is at Kubri.

For sushi, Blueberry Maki for a more casual dinner and Sushi B, Charbon, or Sushi Shunei for more upscale sushi.

I don’t do fine dining often because I find it makes me uncomfortably full. I’ve been to several 3 Michelin places I wouldn’t recommend because I found the vibe uptight and the food unmemorable. So far, my favorite fine dining experience has been at Maison.

Best Coffee Shops

Buddy Buddy is my favorite place to order a matcha blended with oat milk and peanut butter. It’s so pretty inside you feel like you’ve stepped into a beauty retail store. It’s a Belgian brand originally and this outpost opened recently. 

Clove Coffee Shop is one of my favorite places to grab coffee in Paris. The owners are always there and serve the best coffee in ceramics that they’ve handmade. It’s in Monmartre, which is a must visit neighborhood for any trip to Paris. It’s very close to the Wall of Love, a great tourist stop.

Petit Palais is a museum worth stopping by and it has an outdoor cafe that’ll give you quintessential Parisian vibes. Seats fill up during lunch so get there early.

Best Bakeries

Get to bakeries in Paris early on weekends because they will run out of their best items by noon.

Sain Boulangerie makes my favorite chocolate chip cookies not only in Paris but in the world! Their croissants are unusual because of the ancient grains they use, so they’re crunchier and a bit harder than other croissants. I actually love the texture. 

Mamiche has two locations in Paris and makes my favorite croissant in Paris. 

Boulangerie Utopie also makes incredible croissants and comes a close second for croissants for me. I also love their baguette sandwiches. It’s probably the bakery I find myself going to most often.

Cedric Grolet is a must visit for lunch if you have a sweet tooth! Ignore the bad reviews from haters who are jealous of his success. His desserts are by far the best I’ve had in Paris in terms of flavor, creativity, and presentation. Make a reservation several months in advance as it books out. You can also pre-order for pickup. There’s also a location in the gorgeous Meurice hotel. 

Pierre Herme is another famous bakery with several locations in Paris. They also have delicious croissants, but not all locations have croissants. This one does. It has the famous raspberry croissant that’s gone viral on the internet.

Best Bars / Nightlife

The bar at Hotel Particulier is a great place to grab a drink for a date night. It’s cozy, hidden, and romantic. The hotel is a bit hard to find as you have to walk through a gate then down a path in a very suburban neighborhood.

Silencio Club is my top pick if you want a wild late night out. Make sure you dress up and get there before midnight or you’ll have trouble getting past the doorman. 

The rooftop bar at Hotel National Des Arts et Metiers and poolside bar at Hotel Molitor are also very fun options. 

Best Food Markets

D’Aligre is the best farmers market in Paris where all my foodie friends shop if they’re going to throw a dinner party. You can grab a bite there as well. 

Check out La Grande Epicierie, the super luxurious grocery store at Bon Marche, if you’re in the area. You can eat there as well. They have a deli and a massive cheese, meat, and seafood section. The produce there is also gorgeous and includes rare varieties not easily found in other markets. 

Marches des Enfants Rouges is another market that has food stands as well.

Julie

Greece Travel Tips

Summer travel is here and I’ve been getting tons of requests for Greece travel tips since I’m fortunate enough to have spent months hopping around Athens and the Greek islands in the past few years. 

The Greek islands are my favorite place to be in the summertime in the Mediterranean because it’s much more affordable than Italy or the South of France, has breathtaking beaches, is very easy to hop around using ferries and a rental car, plus it’s extremely easy to eat dairy- and gluten-free, which is important for me so that I feel my best while traveling. 

Here are some of the places I recommend. 

Athens

A lot of people skip Athens and head straight for the Greek islands, which is totally understandable if you’re a beach person. But if you have to fly through Athens anyway and want to stay a day to check it out, here are a few of my favorite spots.

ERGON House Athens: my favorite hotel in Athens as far as the location, right by the best bars and restaurants and walking distance from the Acropolis. It has modern design and the rooftop restaurant has acropolis views and delicious food.

Shila Athens: my favorite chic boutique hotel in Athens with the dreamiest bedrooms and breakfast spread they bring to your room. The hotel is located about a 15 minute walk from the main tourist area but is close to a very trendy part of Athens that reminds me of the West Village in NYC. 

Winners vegan restaurant in the Nikki Hotel: one of the most delicious vegan restaurants I’ve ever been to, made with whole, homemade ingredients. The hotel owner, Alkis, is passionate about health and fitness as well as cooking and serves as the chef of the restaurant. You’ll definitely get to meet him if you dine there as he comes out and greets all of his restaurant guests.

Birdman: a Japanese pub known for beef nigiris and Instagrammable chicken sandwiches. Make sure you book a reservation or you won’t be able to get a seat in this tiny restaurant.

Nolan: a modern Asian fusion restaurant with beautiful upscale ambience that would be perfect for a date night.

Baba au Rum: a cool cocktail bar that even the locals love.

The Clumsies: a cocktail bar on one of the world’s best bars list that is also worth a visit.

Paros

Paros seems to be the preferred party island for people who want something more chill and less overpriced than Mykonos, especially during peak season in July and August when Mykonos prices are their highest. I think the ideal Greek island trip would kick off with 1-2 party days in Mykonos then transition to 1-2 more relaxing days in Paros. You’ll need to rent a car to get around the island. Book in advance at all of these restaurants. I’ve really only stayed at villas with groups in Paros so can’t recommend any hotels. Paros has an airport that you can fly to. 

Blue Oyster: our group’s favorite restaurant in Paros because of the beetroot risotto. We usually go two times in one week. 

Siparos: one of the best restaurants for seaside views. It’s slightly away from the main tourist area. 

Bebop: Peruvian rooftop restaurant that is perfect for sunset. 

Daverona: comforting home-style Greek restaurant in the heart of the main town.

Stilvi: one of the chicest restaurants in town

Kima: a delicious Greek restaurant with a gorgeous beach right in front of it

Ikaria

I visited Ikaria because it’s one of the five world’s Blue Zones, the regions of the world with the highest concentration of centenarians. The most popping time of year to hit Ikaria is August, when Ikaria has its annual famous panagiria parties that go until sunrise. I visited in June when the weather was still warm enough to swim and the island wasn’t crowded, so it was easy to book hotels and walk into restaurants. Most of the tourists you’ll bump into in August will be Greek people. Book all your restaurants in advance. Rent a car as it’s the only way to get around the island. Note that Ikaria has an airport you can fy to from Athens.

Erofili Beach Hotel: I stayed here for weeks because I loved its sea access and proximity to restaurants as well as the base of the mountain where at the top you’ll find most of the island’s nightlife. It’s very affordable and simple lodging. 

Toxotis Villas: the most upscale hotel on the island but be warned there are tons of stairs to walk through the property and it isn’t that close of a walk to anything. 

Mary Mary: my favorite Greek restaurant on the island that I probably ate at at least 10 times!

Karimalis winery and restaurant: this is a MUST visit to eat Greek longevity home style cooking. You can also sign up for cooking classes. 

Theoktistis: a monastery where you can get delicious Greek donuts. Definitely a tourist trap but still fun.

Navagio Cafe Bar: pop in for a Greek coffee or smoothie from the sweetest owner, Maria, and check out this village. This area at night is where all of the partying is on the island

Seychelles Beach: a gorgeous beach you’ll have to hike a bit to get to.

Stan Gialo: a delicious Greek restaurant with a Greek grandma cooking in the kitchen. The perfect meal after visiting Seychelles Beach.

Afianes Wines: a family-owned winery worth touring. Order the smoked eel salad for lunch after your tour. This winery is known for a sparkling wine that’s aged in the sea. 

Mykonos

I love daytime parties, which is why no summer feels complete to me without at least one quick trip to Mykonos. You MUST book everything in advance. When I did my 40th birthday party here in August, I booked everything in April and May. Note that Mykonos has an airport that you can fly directly into from many other places in Europe.

Kalua: my favorite place on the island to book a day bed for a beach day party

Noema: upscale place to grab a late dinner in town before going clubbing in town

The Town House: my favorite hotel in Mykonos town. They have a rooftop bar that’s lovely for sunset. 

Moni: the best night time club in Mykonos. You won’t be able to book a table unless your group has at least half women in it. 

Hippie Fish: great place for a chill beachside lunch outside of town

Alemagou: the best night is Friday. Book a late dinner table and a drinks table for afterward. 

Scorpios: the best day and night to go is Sunday.

Julie

My South of France Tips + Takeaways

I just returned from the dreamiest South of France food research trip. I started in Provence then ended my trip on the Cote d’Azure.

Spending a few weeks at a time in different regions of the world to fully immerse myself in the local culture and cuisine has been a dream of mine since my twenties. I feel grateful I get to do that now as part of my dream job in creating global, nourishing menus for all of you!

I’ve been focusing a lot of my travel during the past few years on the Mediterranean because Mediterranean dishes, along with Americana, are among the most popular on our menus. Plus, as you know, we’re huge believers in the Mediterranean lifestyle and diet, which is why we collaborated with Stanford University to validate the benefits of a Mediterranean diet and why I’ve spent weeks living in Ikaria, Greece, and Sardinia, Italy, two of the world’s Blue Zones that are located in the Mediterranean.

I'd describe Pronvencal cuisine as extremely comforting, hearty, and stew-and casserole-based. There’s ample potato and bread to accompany meals as the main sources of carbohydrates, and the primary vegetables used most often are zucchini, tomato, and eggplant. There's, of course, heavy use of both lavender and herbs de provence seasoning, which includes thyme, oregano, summer savory, and rosemary.

One of the tastiest things I had in Avignon was a duck casserole that reminds me of Shephard’s pie. At the bottom of the casserole dish was a wine-braised duck and vegetable stew. It was topped with mashed potatoes. There was no need to add any butter to the dish because the rich flavor of the duck seeped into the veggies and potatoes. This was served for dinner at a tiny and adorable bed and breakfast in Avignon called Bastide de Bellegarde. Funny enough, the owner is actually from the UK and works alongside a local French chef.

As far as fine dining in the region, one of my favorites is Restaurant Dan B. It has a modern minimalist decor that differs from the French country style seen at most other restaurants. Plus, it sits on top of a hill with a breathtaking view. I loved how the staff all wore matching jumpers and immediately Slacked Stephen requesting that we do this for our team uniforms haha! The meal included a flavor combo that I loved: asparagus and leeks. My favorite course was a mouthwateringly juicy guinea fowl served alongside fresh garlic and preserved lemon. This dish definitely gave me inspo as we design this year’s Thanksgiving menu.

Another hotel in Avignon that I loved was La Divine Comedie Suites. The decor was quirky and artsy, including giant animals in their living rooms. The main downside of this hotel is they don’t serve meals there besides breakfast. It’s not a deal breaker as it’s located in Avignon’s old town where all the best restaurants are. Note that it’s pretty hairy driving to this hotel and parking at it as the roads are very narrow. If you aren’t comfortable driving in narrow streets then park outside of the town and walk to the hotel.

Another thing to note is that a lot of restaurants in Provence are closed on both Saturday and Sunday, so make sure you look up the schedules of the restaurants you’re most excited to eat at before you create your itinerary. I learned this the hard way. Restaurant Pollen is supposed to be the best place to eat in Avignon right now and it’s closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so I wasn’t able to eat there because I was only in the area during the weekend.

In the St. Tropez area, I highly recommend checking out a stunning wellness hotel called Hotel Lily of the Valley located on the opposite side of the peninsula. The hotel has a full gym, workout classes, personal training, and extremely healthy cuisine with plenty of dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan options. It also has one of the best spas I’ve ever been to in my life with all the most cutting edge facial treatments plus sauna and steam rooms. The hotel is a 30-minute drive from the party area of Ramatuelle and a 45 minute drive from the touristy port of St. Tropez, but I didn’t find that to be a hindrance. You can also book lunch or dinner at the hotel even if you aren’t staying there.

Dinner at Hotel Lily of the Valley

St. Tropez beachside lunches are a must! I highly recommend Nikki Beach St. Tropez (book a day bed by the pool if you can), Bagatelle St. Tropez, and Shellona if you’re in the mood to party. Club 55 and Loulou have calmer vibes. Be sure to make reservations or you won’t get a table. These are all great places to dress to impress with your favorite resortwear.

I popped into Cannes for a few days during the film festival and stayed at The Carlton Cannes. The hotel was recently modeled this year. It’s gorgeous and has a massive gym. The only downside is the hotel is so big they won’t bring you an iron and ironing board but only have a steamer in your room. This wasn’t strong enough to get the wrinkles out of my linen clothes and evening dresses, so I had to have the hotel iron my clothes for me, which ended up being pricey.

If you’re thinking of doing Cannes for the film festival for the first time, make sure you hit up your network of friends in the movie and tv industries in advance of your trip and ask them to get you onto lists for the private parties. The only fun stuff to do during the film festival at night is attend the private parties. There’s only one club that’s open to the general public, and it won’t be a great experience because it only includes people who couldn’t figure out how to get into the private parties. As a last resort, one of my friends was able to meet people on Tinder who took him to film festival events, so that’s an option as well if you’re single lol! Whether or not you stay at the Carlton or the Majestic hotels, these are hotels you’ll want to pop into during the film festival just for the people watching because they’ll be packed with celebs and models getting ready for the red carpet. It’s so fun seeing women dressed like absolute queens! If you don’t mind staying a little further out from the festival, then try Eden Roc.

Cuisine in La Cote d'Azure is light and impeccably cooked everywhere you go. No overcooked fish or rubbery octopus here. The meals are largely seafood-based and often accompanied with very garlicky sauces like aioli and pistou (French pesto). There is an abundance of garlic, tomato, peppers, and citrus in most of the meals. One of the best things I had was a decadent Nicoise salad. It inspired me to level up our own Nicoise.

Here are 3 new meals our team is recipe testing right now based on my South of France learnings (there will, as usual, be vegan versions of each!):

Provencal Cognac + Pancetta Braised Grass-fed Beef Shin Stew with Ratatouille Batons, Garlic Fava Cauliflower Mash, Firebird Tomatoes, Herbs de Provence Roasted Almonds

Bouillabaisse Wild Cod, Fava Bean, and Cardoon Soup w/ Preserved Bergamot Pistou and Paprika Almonds

Seared Wild Halibut w/ Espelette Pepper + Garlic Rouille Aioli, Fava Ful Medames Stew, Broccolini, Cauliflower, Hazelnuts, Citrus Lav§ender Infused Olive Oil

We can't wait to get these new meals live on the menu for you and hear what you think. If there are any favorite dishes you’ve tried in the South of France that you’d love to see on our menu, let us know and we’ll see if we can add it.

Julie