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Several years ago when I had my PR firm, I was introduced to LongHouse Reserve (www.longhouse.org), a beautiful sculpture and art garden in East Hampton, New York. It is the home of textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen, and he has made it his legacy to turn the property and all of the incredible works on it, open and available to the public.
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The Perfect Zucchini and Sweet Corn Fritters
The Goods
1 ½ pounds of organic zucchini, grated
1 tsp. sea salt
2 ears of organic fresh corn, cut from the cob
¼ cup organic unbleached flour
¼ cup parmesan reggiano, grated
2 cloves garlic
2 large organic brown eggs, beaten
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
2 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil
Place grated zucchini in a colander over the sink. Add the tsp. of sea salt and gently toss to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes. Using a clean dish towel or cheesecloth, squeeze the remaining moisture from the zucchini completely.
In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, corn, flour, parmesan, garlic, egg and season with salt and pepper.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Scoop tblsp. of batter for each fritter, flattening with a spatula, and cook until the underside is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side, about 1-2 minutes longer.
Serve Immediately…
For a delicious topping, mix 2 tblsp. of soft goat cheese with ½ cup sour cream for a dollop of WOW!
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You are what you wear. At The Perfect Provenance, we are happy to share the stories behind our designers and partners so that you can be an informed consumer. Today, to celebrate Earth Day, we want to share the provenance of two of our fashion partners -- San Francisco based Amour Vert -- which literally means Green Love, and our own Smile More tee shirt partner -- Sonoma based Farm Fresh Clothing Company. Of course, as a West Coast girl living an East Coast life, I love that these two companies are from my hometown. Enjoy!
Amour Vert -- San Francisco, California
Born of an elevated global awareness and passion for quality, Amour Vert leads with their heads and hearts to create beautiful products, sustainable practices and supply chain integrity. They believe with our every fibre they are pioneering a considered and sustainable future, having planted almost 100,000 trees through the sales of their just-right tees. Manufactured in America and made from sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton and beech wood-derive modal, they are working towards their mission of every garment creating a cleaner world.
http://www.theperfectprovenance.com/collections/womens-tops/products/julita-tie-tee-by-amour-vert
Farm Fresh Clothing Company -- Smile More Smile Collection Tee Shirts
Our Smile Collection tee shirts for men, women and kids, are 100 percent organic and printed with eco-friendly, water-based inks for an extra soft finish. All tees are made in California from 100% Organic Cotton.
Family Centers is a private, non-profit organization offering education and human services to children, adults and families living in Lower Fairfield County. More than 200 professionals and 3,500 trained volunteers work together to provide a wide range of responsive, innovative programs.Family Centers of Greenwich provides vital services to families in our community and so for the month of March we invite our customers to donate to this organization.
Serendipity Magazine's Fashion Night Out will be held on March 2nd, 2017 -- it is a great night out for charity of shopping, drinks and delicious food. We invite you to join us for a great night out -- Lisa Lori will be walking in the Fashion Show and helping to raise money for our neighbor on Arch Street -- Family Centers of Greenwich. If you buy a ticket and give her name, a donation will be made for Family Centers of Greenwich.
Additionally, for the ENTIRE month of March, we will be inviting our clients to support Family Centers by making their own donation at checkout. To buy a ticket to Serendipity Magazine Fashion Night Out, please visit -- https://serendipitysocial.com/serendipity-fashion-night/
We thank you in advance for your support.
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I am thrilled to be participating in the upcoming Serendipity Fashion Night Out! event on March 2nd. I will be walking in the fashion show for our neighbor on Arch Street -- Family Centers of Greenwich which provides vital services to families in our community. Please mark my name when buying a ticket and Family Centers will receive a portion of ticket sales to benefit them. Additionally, for the ENTIRE month of March, we will be inviting our clients to support Family Centers at checkout. I hope I will see you at the event.
To buy tickets, https://serendipitysocial.com/serendipity-fashion-night/
Thank you in advance for your support. Lisa Lori
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Thank you to everyone who came out on November 18 and supported our Smile Greenwich. We raised $131,320 to help children around the world smile!
Co-Chairs for the event were Alisyn Camerota (CNN New Day Anchor) Trisha Dalton, myself & Dr. Stacy Zarakiotis -- Grammy winning artist Estelle performed for the crowd. Julia Merrill & Zack Lori, Founders of the Spreading Smiles Club at Greenwich High School spoke at the event and presented a check and surgery get well kits to the Magees. Student volunteers from Greenwich High School's Spreading Smiles helped throughout the event.
More than $130,000 was raised from a silent and live auction that included 4 families winning an opportunity to attend a medical mission to Bogota, Columbia with Operation Smile. Everyone who donated $240 or more received one of the Three Little Bears created by LIsa Lori & Kathy Van Zeeland. DJ Nick Dean from NYC kept everyone dancing late into the night, he donated his services for the evening. For more information or to donate at www.operationsmile.org/threelittlebears.
Operation Smile Co-Founders, Dr. Bill & Kathy Magee,
Special Guest Speakers
Greenwich, CT (November 1, 2016) – On Friday, November 18th, Smile Greenwich, an evening of Dessert, Drinks & Dancing, to benefit international children's charity, Operation Smile, will be held at the Belle Haven Club in Greenwich. The Co-Founders of Operation Smile, Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee will share their story of love, family and giving to those less fortunate. Grammy Winner, record producer, songwriter and award winning actress, Estelle, will perform. The evening will begin at 7:30 p.m., and include a silent and live auction and music by DJ Nick Dean.
Co-chairs for the evening include: CNN'S Alisyn Camerota (Westport resident), Trisha Dalton (Greenwich resident), Lisa Lori (Greenwich resident) and Dr. Stacy Zarakiotis (Greenwich resident). Smile Greenwich, marks the fifth time, Greenwich has hosted an evening of fundraising for the charity. The goal for the event is to raise awareness and funds for Operations Smile, a medical charity that provides free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities.
Lisa Lori, whose three sons were born with facial paralysis, and her husband Mat, know first hand how life changing surgery is for children suffering from facial anomalies. Lisa and Mat Lori hosted their first fundraising event for Operation Smile at their home in 2010. They were introduced to the medical charity by their children's surgeon, Dr. Ronald Zuker, who is a medical volunteer for Operation Smile.
“We want to celebrate the life-changing miracles that Operation Smile’s volunteer medical teams perform every day around the world,” said Lori who has raised more than $2 million dollars through events and corporate partnerships on behalf of Operation Smile. "We are thrilled, with the help of our friends and neighbors, to help continue to spread the love and hope that Operation Smile gives so many."
Local business, community leaders, and philanthropically-minded individuals have agreed to lend their support to ensure children around the world are given a new smile. Host Committee includes: Sara Allard, Flavia Barker, Wendy Block, Alyssa Bonomo, Arleen Armstrong, Michelle Huff Elliot, Rae Ann Herman, Margie Johnson, Cristina Kelleher, Cristin Marandino, Maria Merrill, Jessica Mindich, Kristy de la Sierra, Anne Sylvestor, Kathy Van Zeeland, Diane Viton and Susan Weis.
Corporate sponsors include: the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Moffly Media, and the Delamar Hotel. Individual tickets for Smile Greenwich start at $150 with numerous options for underwriting, auction donations and sponsorship. For tickets or sponsorship, please visit www.operationsmile.org/smilegreenwich or call Jessica Szramowski (757) 339-917.2
About Operation Smile
Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide through access to surgical care. Since 1982, Operation Smile has developed expertise in mobilizing volunteer medical teams to conduct surgical missions in resource-poor environments while adhering to the highest standards of care and safety. Operation Smile helps to fill the gap in providing access to safe, well-timed surgeries by partnering with hospitals, governments and ministries of health, training local medical personnel, and donating much-needed supplies and equipment to surgical sites around the world. Founded and based in Virginia, U.S., Operation Smile has extended its global reach to more than 60 countries through its network of credentialed surgeons, pediatricians, doctors, nurses, and student volunteers.
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Look, I love brownies. It's no secret. I actually announce it when I write on my personal blog or for the Huffington Post or if I give a speech. Why? Well, brownies are yummy for one, but you know that. But to me, brownies speak to the kid in each of us. It's not formal like cake or too sugary like candy. It is a classic American dessert made popular at the turn of the century by a woman named Fanny Farmer (who knew?) and there are so many varieties today, anyone can put their twist on it. Mara Ossorio made this delicious version of brownie pie that looks, well good enough to eat! I will be sharing some of my personal faves in the weeks to come but trust me, this one is a keeper.
And, in case you forget (it's my handle and I'm stickin with it), I am a mother, wife, writer, brownie eater and founder The Perfect Provenance #smilemore, Lisa Lori
The Perfect Brownie Pie
The Goods
1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
½ cup Organic Unbleached Flour
1/3 cup Dark Chocolate Cocoa
1/2 cup Organic Butter, softened
3 Large Organic Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/8 teaspoon Sea Salt
½ cup Dark Chocolate or Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels
½ cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)
1 cup Freshly Whipped Organic Cream (optional)
The Method
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Generously grease a 9 inch pie plate.
Combine Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla and Salt in a mixing bowl and beat at medium speed with and electric mixer. Beat in flour and cocoa. Stir in chocolate morsels and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake for 40 -50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. :et cool at least 30 minutes before slicing. Serve topped with a dollop of Fresh Whipped Cream.
#SureToMakeYouSmileMore
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On October 6th, we launched our new exhibit Rock 'N' Roll. We consider our store & cafe, a gallery for the senses and music is an integral part of our experience so Rock 'N' Roll was a natural choice for our second exhibit. We have an incredible array of gifts, albums, turntables, fashion, art, photography and more throughout the house. We invite you to stop in and visit.
Signed Lithograph -- Sting
Lisa Lori
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Most Americas know that San Francisco is beautiful, arguably America's most beautiful city. With its rolling vistas, beautiful architecture and charm, everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime. For me, the Bay Area is my home. My home, home. The place I grew up and remember from a sensory perspective. The smell of the summer, the jasmine, the dirt and the crispness of the air, childhood memories flood me every time I visit. For the past few summers, I have been migrating West with my family whenever possible so that they can enjoy and understand the vastness of the beauty there.
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Land's End on a foggy morning (every morning in SF is foggy!)
This past week, all of my sons have left for outdoor adventure camp with Overland Adventures -- Zack to Alaska and Luke and Del to the Sierras. I am missing them terribly but thrilled for what they are seeing and doing. While they are having fun, I am catching up with friends and family, and working. This past Sunday, I took a hike with friends on one of the best hiking trails in SF, Land's End is a beautiful walk up and down dirt paths along the Pacific Coast with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city. They are almost too good to be real.
This particular hiking trail has a huge pay off at the end, the legendary Cliff House sits out on a rock right at the edge of the land and on a clear day has beautiful views of the Pacific ocean. There are several restaurants and a museum to explore. Over Bloody Mary's and brunch, we talk about the beauty of the setting which is a familiar theme in Northern California. Most anywhere you travel there, people will always talk about their appreciation for the setting, the land and its history. Cliff House is an indelible part of San Francisco's history.
An image of the second Cliff House in 1896
Originally built in the mid 1800s, incredibly there have been three actual Cliff Houses, the first two both destroyed by separate fires. Visited and enjoyed by the wealthy classes of the 1800s and early 1900s only to be neglected and run down, burned to ground and rise up again and again. From local to national politicians, there have U.S. presidents who visited the Cliff House and enjoyed its splendor. The current Cliff House has been rebuilt to it previous glory and is a crown jewel in the Golden Gate Park system. Now an urban park in addition to the actual Cliff House, it is one of the city's most popular and yet, not commonly known attractions. I highly recommend a hike and a visit, be sure and make your reservation for lunch of dinner. Live music is available on many nights and it is a draw for both locals and tourists.
To Visit -- Cliff House, 1090 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco
(415) 386-3330-- www.cliffhouse.com
On the back of the menu for brunch, my friends read aloud this beautiful story and I just had to share it below. Have a great day.
#smilemore
Lisa
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, without a word, he picked up a very large empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, each about two inches in diameter. He then asked the class if the jar was full. They all agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the class again if the jar was full. They all agreed it was.
The professor picked up a bag of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled in between the pebbles. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous...yes.
The professor then produced a bottle of red wine from under the table and proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks being the important things - your family, your health, and your children - things that if everything else were lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else...the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first there would be no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.
The professor smiled, "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a good bottle of wine.''