Preserving Summer Flavors

Summer calls for home made pickles, jams, and relishes, bursting with all the aroma from sun ripened produce. As a foodie I love it when I don’t run out of food and the views of a well filled pantry with home made delicious additions to the menu gives me a sense of comfort. Sounds familiar? Then the next recipe is one for you!

I love these pickled cherry tomatoes to any kind of cheeses, for Sandwiches and Wraps. Worth a try. Enjoy!
p.s. the recipe is from my mom’s cookbook “Die Vegetarische Kochschule” 🙂
Photo courtesy Klaus Maria Einwanger

Pickled Cherry Tomatoes

What to Buy for 1 glass (3l)
1 small piece fresh ginger
2 l water
2 tbsp salt
1/2 l white wine vinegar
300 g acacia honey
3 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1 kg cherry tomatoes
1 large glass with screw on lid or rubber lined lid, sterilized

How To Make It
Slice the ginger root with the skin. Bring to a boil water with vinegar, ginger, bay leaves honey and cinnamon.  Add the tomatoes and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
Place the tomatoes in the glass, pour the hot liquid over and close the lid.

Chef Gabi’s Tip
Let the flavors develop for at least a week or longer. Once the glass is opened place it in the fridge and consume within a week.
You can also distribute the same amount of pickled tomatoes into several smaller glasses if you require smaller quantities weekly.

Ramadan & the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting for everyone

I am admittedly a foodie at heart and by profession, being a chef. When food does take center stage of your life and work, it may sound weird talking about fasting in a food related blog. However, the appreciation of something grows with the absence of it, isn’t it? Taking a periodical break from food can be very, very rewarding in many ways: Physical, mental and spiritual.
With Ramadan starting soon, this is a golden opportunity also for non-Muslims to re-think food intake. I often tune in with the spirit of Ramadan and mindfulness, performing an inner cleanse with something we call “Intermittent Fasting” even though I am not following this for religious reasons.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

It is giving your digestive system a break from the (hard) digestive work.
During a fast your body has the chance to clear stored toxins, rejuvenate, lose extra body fat, and heal.

A fast can be performed in many ways:  A full day and a full night,  or just a full day (like in Ramadan, from sunrise until after sunset), you can fast a few full days in a row, or only a few more hours than you usually would not eat (like during the time you sleep). Whatever suits you better, it is worth giving fasting a try.
As it is always hard to break a routine, it will be difficult in the beginning, but after a few days you will adjust to the new pattern. What else is in there for you? And I can assure you your taste buds are super sensitive after they have “rested” for longer than usual. Eating the simplest foods will be a special treat. Having said that – how to break such an intermittent fast the best and healthiest way?

We will talk in more depth about this theme in our next free health talks series:

15th May 9.45 – 10.30 am at Talise Cafe Madinat Jumeirah
16th May 10.45 -11.30 am in Talise Cafe Jumeirah Beach Hotel
18th May 6 – 6.45 pm in Talise Fitness Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

xx Chef Gabi

p.s. Peonies from my garden at home in beautiful Bavaria 🙂

Health Talk Series at Talise Nutrition

Talise Nutrition offers a new series of health talks! Topic for the month of April is

DETOX

Even if your diet is good, a cleanse can restore your immune system and protect yourself against environmental toxins that pave the way for disease bearing bacteria, viruses and parasites.
According to many healing experts, detoxification through special cleansing programs may be the missing link to disease prevention, especially for immune-deficiency diseases like cancer, arthritis, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome and candida.
In the animal kingdom and in traditional cultures, routine fasting which allows the body time to clean itself out has been normal practice. Just think how many showers you take in a year to clean the outside of your body and then how many cleanses you do in a year to clean the inside of your body?

There are excellent cleanses that can be done with food ingredients – learn our top tips to detox building up to a purer, cleaner, leaner and radiant You.

The events are free for everyone and the talks take place in

Madinat Jumeirah Talise Café on Sunday 16^th April 9.45 – 10.30 am
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Talise Café on Tuesday 18^th April 10.45 – 11.30 am
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Talise Fitness on Wednesday 19^th April 6.00 – 6.45 pm

I  am looking forward to seeing you there!

Live healthy, feel good and look great – from the inside out.

Yours in wellness,

xx Gabi

 

Talise Mini Chefs!

At Talise Wellness we believe in the direct effect of lifestyle on human health and wellbeing. We do everything with the intention of making people healthier, fitter and more beautiful.

The food we eat makes up to 50% of our health and wellbeing. The human body builds its cells out of the food we take in – every day. How important is it to teach our kids whilst they are young and help them learn how much fun healthy lifestyle can be? This made us create our latest addition to our popular cooking classes.

Enjoy the Talise Flavors of Fun   

T A L I S E   M I N I  C H E F S

Talise Mini Chefs  cooking Workshops for 6-13 year olds

Including more raw and healthy food in your child’s diet means they get all the beneficial enzymes, vitamins and nutrients of raw living food, making digestion easier and keeping the all-important blood sugar levels stable, as well keeping the little ones healthy. They will be encouraged to smell, touch, cook and taste a wide range of recipes they make themselves. We believe that exposing kids to good eating habits and teaching them to make healthy food choices is essential – they will reap the benefits for the rest of their lives.

What will they Learn…

• how to make easy, healthy and delicious food
• what foods they need to eat to stay smart and strong
• the importance of incorporating healthy food into their little lives
• how to easily get their recommended 5 fruit and vegetables a day in one glass
• how to incorporate more raw/living food into their diets
• how to make healthy snacks and learn their nutritional benefits
• A range of cooking skills
• To try new tastes and textures
• How to avoid foods high in salt, saturated fat and sugar – all while learning how to make better choices.

RECIPES they WILL MAKE 

• How to make Green Juices and Smoothies that they will love
• How to make Raw Breakfasts that will keep their energies going all day
• Healthy Lunch Box meals
• Raw Dinner
• Soups
• Healthy Snack Recipes
• Nearly Raw Banana Bread
• Healthy ice pops and desserts

What is included in the Workshop

• Recipes
• 2 hours fun filled cooking workshop
• Structured nutritional  topics
• Minimum participants 10
• Location: Talise Café Madinat Jumeirah Resort Talise Café Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Price: AED150 

When: Every Tuesday, 10.00 am- 12.00 pm
Where: Talise Café Madinat Jumeirah (within Talise Fitness)
Our first class starts in April on Saturday 29th

To express interest in our fun filled workshop please contact me at gabriele.kurz@jumeirah.com

I am looking forward to seeing you and your little one(s) there soon!

Your ins wellness,

Gabi

 

 

New Health Culinary Masterclasses in March

Whether you are up for a spring clean from the inside out or looking for easy to replicate recipes for everyday healthy eating – our culinary masterclasses will delight your taste buds! We are passionate about healthy food and equally passionate about good taste. Finally we have got our own space to conduct our popular cooking classes here in Dubai: The Talise Cafes.

Please see the schedule for group classes below.

Health Food Master Classes  with Gabriele Kurz  

To Look good on the outside one must feel good on the inside
Our masterclasses are hands on cooking demos conducted by myself,  Gabriele Kurz (also known to many as “Chef Gabi”) sharing my most refined and beyond delicious recipes for a healthy lifestyle – you won’t miss anything. Practical cookery tips and nutritional background information to better understand that food is the most powerful tool to maintain or achieve good health, beauty, and wellbeing. Forget bland tasting diets and restrictions when you start cooking and eating with us. With our great tasting and easy to replicate recipes you will love healthy eating and cooking. 

What is included in the Class

• 5 hours cooking master class
• Recipes & Cooking Demo
• Health & nutrition talk
• Refreshments during the class
• Food Sampling
• Chef’s give away
• Minimum participants 10
• Location:
  Talise Café Madinat Jumeirah Resort

Price: AED 385 per person

To express interest in our master classes or book a seat please contact:

gabriele.kurz@jumeirah.com

Our March Schedule:

Spring Clean Menu (Raw & vegan)
In need for a spring detox and don’t want to compromise on Culinary delights? Great to entertain guests too
2 Tomato Agar Agar | Garden Greens | Basil Dressing
Carrot Fennel Essence | Zaathar Flax Crackers
Quinoa | Butternut | Avocado Citrus Salsa
Sweet Finish: Raw Mango Cocoa Slice

Event Date: Saturday 18^th March 9.30 am – 12 pm
Roots Vegetables – the ideal Brain Food My favorite light food selection for everyday Cooking with friends (vegan)
Caramelized Cumin Carrots | Cauliflower Hummus
Beetroot Essence | Asian perfumes
Almond Mylk poached Parsnips | Pea Avocado crème | Vanilla
Sweet Finish: Strawberry Lavender Agar Agar

Event Date: Friday 24^th March 9.30 am – 12 pm
My Bavarian Favorites with a twist
great to prepare & have guests (vegetarian)
Beetroot Tartar | Cauliflower Remoulade | Cumin Knäcke
Vegetable Essence | Bavarian Semolina Dumplings | Chives
Spinach Knödel | Tomato Ragout | Steamed Kale
Sweet Finish: My Apple Strudel

Event Date: Friday 31^st March 9.30 am – 12 pm

I am looking forward to seeing you there!

xx
Chef Gabi

Free Health & Nutrition Talk

On the occasion of our yearly Wellness Month here in Dubai and the celebration of 10 years Talise Spa Madinat Jumeirah we are offering an array of health and lifestyle activities!
Join us on 21st of February for a free

Health & Nutrition Talk

at Talise Cafe, Madinat Jumeirah.

Time: 10.30 am – 12.00 pm (updated timing)

Tasters included.

I am looking forward to seeing you all there.

To book your seat please call

Talise Spa: 04 366 6818
Talise Fitness: 04 366 6822
DNA Health Centre: 04 366 5111
Or email me at gabriele.kurz@jumeirah.com

Yours in wellness,

Gabi

 

 

Spring Cleanse

Did you ever experience how life changing a nutrition makeover can be?  Talise Nutrition offers a range of nutritional services.

Nutrition Services

• Nutrition Consultation
• Individual Meal Plans
• Cleanse & Glow Program

Workshops & Seminars

• Practical Health Culinary Cooking Classes for Adults
• Nutritional workshops & Health Talks

 

If you feel you need assistance and guidance to get back on track with healthy lifestyle contact me gabriele.kurz@jumeirah.com

Yours in wellness,

Gabi

 

Antioxidants & Arctic SuperFoods

With the Dubai weather getting slowly a bit chilly  – this is what we call the 22 degrees Celsius at night and is our actual “winter” – we start thinking of all the winter flavors. My favorite soup comes to my mind – red cabbage cappuccino. Sounds awkward, but please do try the recipe, it is so good! And the purple color is so unusual! The soup comes also with a benefit of low calorie count, great for a little pre Xmas weight loss. Did you know that this color is a sign of the presence of one highly sought after antioxidant? Antioxidants are highly beneficial to enhance the overall well-being, better ageing, health, beauty, and performance – all relates to the food we eat. So all that dark, purple and violet hues  in vegetables, fruits and berries should be part of our kitchen repertoire. The best antioxidative berries are blueberries.  The real  inside and out dark blueberries, the ones that leave your tongue dyed like a Chow Chow 🙂
These gems are unfortunately very seasonal when you want to get them fresh. Unless you have discovered already the powder form …. arctic berries powder. This is the new super food kid on the block. Below link leads you to the product information too. Expect my soon to be revealed new food menu in our Talise Cafes in Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai c o l o r f u l. There will be always something purple…

xx Chef Gabi

I hope you enjoy reading my latest interview on Bilberry Blog!

5 Minutes with the Dubai based Raw Food Chef Gabriele Kurz

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http://bilberry.ae/media/js/a8583c9d09ccbd10591d7a9b6020d003.js

Summer on your plate – what to cook with zucchini

Whoever has grown their own zucchini in the garden are familiar with the problem – there can be easily an oversupply of these low GI (glycemic index) and very versatile Mediterranean vegetable. And you find them aplenty now in the shops and organic markets. If you have made already too many ratatouilles in your life you may like to try these two of my favorite vegan and super light recipes. They are great when its hot outside and easy to digest food is all you crave: A soup made in literally 10 minutes and some no-flour veggie spaghetti that are done in an equal short time especially if you call a spiralizer your own (get it here when in Dubai). There is a youtube video about how to make the spaghetti too, thanks to the awesome collaboration with Dubai Holding Wellness. We filmed this sequence at Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai.

On another note: We are taking up our cooking classes here in Dubai very soon again. Stay tuned! I will be delighted to meet you in person and cook with you more healthy & delicious food.
In the meantime: Enjoy summer and stay healthy. xx Chef Gabi

ZUCCHINI SOUP
What to buy for 2 portions

300 g zucchini or rondini (round zucchini)
500 ml vegetable stock or water
Salt, pepper
4 sprigs fresh basil and ½ cup baby spinach
½ garlic clove
Topping:  1 tbsp walnuts or pistachios
¼ celery stick
¼ red bell pepper
½ tomato
1 tsp black cumin seeds
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Photo courtesy Barbara Lutterbeck, who shot this for one of my cookbooks

How to Make it
Steam the zucchini for 3-5 minutes. Blend with water or vegetable stock, basil leaves, spinach and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
Dice all the remaining vegetables and braise them in olive oil together with the crushed nuts and cumin seeds to serve on top of the soup.

Chef Gabi’s Tip
This smooth-textured low calorie soup has a delicious fresh taste, a chlorophyll and vitamin packed appetizer, lunch or dinner.
Green food nutrients support healthy blood and circulation. Iron, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B12, pyridoxine and protein are all vital for the formation and maintenance of adequate levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells. In addition, chlorophyll, vitamin K, and calcium are all involved in blood clot formation and breakdown.

Chlorophyll helps to gently cleanse the body, balance pH levels, promote good digestion and fight free radicals. Active enzymes help digestion, promote energy production and support metabolism. Antioxidants support the immune system, healthy aging and cardiovascular function.

The benefit of the regular intake of chlorophyll rich food is increased energy levels, improved digestion, enhanced mental acuity, and better looking hair, skin and nails.

ZUCCHINI SPAGHETTI
What to Buy for 2 portions
600 g zucchini
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 thyme sprig
salt and pepper to taste

Sauce:
1large red bell pepper
1 tomato
1 onion
½ Teaspoon arrowroot

How to Make it
Wash and clean the zucchini and slice it into spaghetti size strips using a mandolin slicer or vegetable spiral cutter.
In a large saucepan, heat one inch of water until it boils. Add in the garlic and the thyme with the zucchini.  Toss for max 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve with sauces or cheese to your liking.
For the sauce steam all ingredients, blend with a little bit of water and pass through a fine sieve. Liquidize the arrowroot in 2 tablespoons cold water and add to the sauce, boil for a minute to bind the liquid gently.  Season with salt and pepper.

Chef Gabi’s Tip
This is an amazing, surprising and truly worth trying recipe if you love dishes that require pasta– here is the low carb and quick to make alternative!

Another recipe using zucchini raw can be found here. Enjoy!

Summer & how to stay hydrated

Water is life.
Water is the  most abundant ‘chemical’ found in living organisms. Water is needed for all chemical reactions to take place. The human body is composed of around 60% water.  It assists in bolstering the cells, physical and brain performance,  and cleansing from the inside out, helps against headaches and constipation to name  a few of its many benefits.
When it is hot in summer and we lose a certain amount of water due to sweating – refilling becomes even more important. Drinking every hour one large glass of clear water is a rule of thumb you could follow. Flavoring your water with aromatic fresh herbs and flowers will definitely upgrade your drinking and hydration experience. Not only taste-wise, herbs have many health and well-being boosting benefits. They play a central role in my kitchen. A refreshing mix of such as rosemary can make your morning, whilst a composition of relaxing herbs and flowers would help you unwind after a busy day and support a deep sleep.

I am particularly proud of my collaboration with Dubai Holding Wellness on a series of Youtube clips about edible healthy lifestyle. See how some of our delicious Aromatic Herb Waters are made here. This video has been produced in Dubai and in summer (so I am very authentically sweating here while explaining how my herbal waters are made) at the stunning Resort Madinat Jumeirah, where you can see in the background the signature waterways and as well a glimpse of our flagship hotel Burj Al Arab, which is in the close vicinity. We also serve the waters in our Jumeirah Hotels. Try them when you visit!

Stay healthy and hydrated this summer – be it in Dubai or elsewhere! xx Chef Gabi