A week of healing, hustle, house bands & a mother’s legacy
From Candida protocols to carbonara… this one’s for the moms, the markets, and the late-night bass lines.
From Candida protocols to carbonara… this one’s for the moms, the markets, and the late-night bass lines.
Hey friends,
You know those weeks where every hour feels like it belongs to someone else — but somehow, you still manage to pour love into the food, the work, the people? That was this one.
Between finishing my website (!!), crafting a healing meal plan, celebrating my kids’ musical magic, and squeezing in some spicy salmon belly at happy hour — I’m writing this from New York, full of gratitude and ready for whatever’s next.
Here’s a taste of what’s been going on in my world:
Uchiko, Entrepreneurs & The Great Check Dance
Before the chaos kicked in, I met up with a crew of smart, bold female founders for happy hour at Uchiko NYC. And yes — it still delivers. The sake toro nigiri (salmon belly) was buttery and borderline inappropriate in the best way.
But let’s talk about something I find quietly fascinating — splitting the check.
Everyone has their style: split it evenly? Venmo exact amounts? Itemize to the cent?
And the etiquette? Depends on the context.
🎓 According to classic etiquette (yes, I checked):
If you invited, you offer to treat.
In business, the person who extended the invite covers it.
In casual settings, even splits are easiest — unless someone clearly ordered way less.
And above all — communicate early and kindly. Avoid the awkward table silence!
But yesterday, I had a conversation with a woman I really respect — she’s elegant, clear, and unshakeable — and she said something that stuck with me:
“Money never doesn’t matter.”
Mic. Drop.
And it’s true.
How we handle the check says something. About our values, our awareness, our relationship with abundance and reciprocity. And honestly, how we make people feel at the table might be even more important than what we order.
So yes — food brings people together. But how we close the tab? That’s part of the hospitality, too.
Healing Through Food: The Candida Deep Dive
I spent a big part of this week helping a close friend who’s battling a persistent Candida infection. She’s heading to Ibiza soon, and I wanted to make sure she could keep healing — even when I’m not around to cook.
I created a personalized elimination plan, leaned on Harvard’s nutrition journals and my go-to holistic nutritionists, and filled her fridge with gut-soothing, immune-boosting, totally delicious food. The bone broth? Gold. The cheat-sheet packets? Color-coded and functional. Real tools. Real nourishment.
I’ve supported clients with everything from celiac to candida to cancer. Healing is personal — and food can be a powerful part of it.
💬 If you or someone you love is navigating a health challenge, reach out. I can help create a custom plan based on your doctor’s recommendations, with food that supports real healing.
Union Square Greenmarket: A Sanctuary at Risk
One of my first stops in NYC is always the Union Square Greenmarket — a place where the city’s food soul lives.
Spring at the market is magic:
🌿 Tender asparagus
🍄 Morels and ramps
🌱 Snap peas and sweet peas
🍓 The first juicy strawberries
🌼 Green garlic, mint, chives, rhubarb, and edible flowers
It’s not just where I shop. It’s where I remember why I cook.
Markets like this build community. They feed families, restaurants, and our sense of place. They matter. And right now, Union Square is in trouble. GrowNYC is facing a $2.3 million funding shortfall due to federal cuts.
🫶 Click here to support the Emergency Fund and help keep NYC’s most iconic market alive.
Family Milestones: Music, Movement & Motherhood
Proud mom moment: Adrian and his friend Christian just launched the Mater Brickell House Band — and guess who’s singing? Gabriella.
Hearing them practice late into the night, figuring things out, supporting each other — it cracked my heart wide open in the best way. These are the moments that remind you what all the long days are for.
And Gabriella? She’s picked up running — something I passed on to her. It’s not just cardio. It’s freedom. It’s strength. Watching her step into that makes me so proud.
A Mother’s Legacy (and Wrinkles. LOL.)
With Mother’s Day around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom. She built our lives around food, togetherness, and fierce love — and it showed. I hope I’m doing the same for my kids.
Moms carry a LOT. And the impact is real:
💗 Children with loving moms are 81% more likely to graduate high school
🧠 Motherhood can boost creativity, problem-solving, and resilience
💥 Moms are 3x more likely to become entrepreneurs
😍 Couples who co-parent report higher intimacy and connection
🔥 And yep — studies show postpartum women can experience stronger libido and long-term sexual satisfaction (especially with support!)
⏰ The average working mom clocks 98 hours a week — on top of a job
🧹 Women perform 16 billion hours of unpaid care work daily
Can you imagine? Sure, it pays in love. And fine lines. 😂
But being a mom also expands you. It teaches you to lead with your heart and stomach. To do hard things with grace. To love in ways you didn’t know you could.
To every mom reading this — I see you. Take five minutes for yourself this week. Or an hour. Or a whole meal you don’t share. You deserve it.
And Mom — I miss you. Thank you for everything you passed on to me. Especially the recipes.
📬 Bonus Recipe Drop: Carbonara & Salad
(Coming to your inbox Tomorrow!)
🍝 My dad’s midnight carbonara — the real-deal Votano version (with an extra Parm warning).
🥗 The crunchy avocado snap pea salad I’ve been making on repeat.
→ Click here to read the bonus recipe post.