My Coconut Chicken & Banana Waffles were featured on FOX 17 Nashville. Big, big thanks to Kelly Sutton for the mention. Bon appetite, y'all! ;)

XO,
Luisana

The California Table Grape Commission (CTGC) teamed up with the lovely and talented Chef Michelle Bernstein to host a Summer "Original Super Snack" Mixer and Luncheon at Michy's that featured a grape-based menu created by Chef Michy, and yours truly had the pleasure of attending. Chef Michy's three-course menu was designed all around the good ol' grape; it was especially refreshing given this summer's heat, and insanely flavorful given the arrival of grape season, which runs May through January. A huge thanks to the CTGC for having me and my fellow local bloggers, including my sister, The Fat Girl Inside. I'm inspired to create some grape recipes of my own. Please enjoy pictures from the luncheon below!

XO,
Luisana

The Fit Cook's "Win Some Wasa" Giveaway!

Great news! I'm excited to host my first ever Fit Cook giveaway. Starting today through Monday, May 14th, you'll have the chance to win a Wasa care package that includes Wasa Crispbreads and Flatbreads, a Wasa Pen and a Wasa drawstring tote! 

All you have to do is post your favorite way to enjoy Wasa Crispbreads or Flatbreads on my Facebook page -- photos are optional, but definitely encouraged! Next, get your friends and family to like your post. The contestant with the most likes will win.  Sweet or savory, anything goes! Contest ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 14th, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday May 16th! Only one entry per person, please! 

My favorite way to enjoy Wasa? Wasa's Rosemary Thin & Crispy Flatbread topped with thinly sliced Parmesan cheese and a light drizzle of agave. It makes a great appetizer, too!

Here's why Wasa is Fit Cook approved: they are baked with heart healthy ingredients and all-natural grains. They are also rich in fiber, so they are pretty filling, and can complement a meal or snack... what's not to love? 

Good luck, kids! And thanks for playing!

XO,
Luisana

  

Royally Mischievous in Curacao

Where I ate with my hands, painted Chichis and swam with barracudas, while lodging in a lush locale. (As published in Haute Living) 

A newly launched direct flight by Insel Air makes the southern Caribbean island of Curacao totally accessible to travelers flying out of Miami International Airport. We left on an early Friday afternoon flight, landing at Hato International Airport 45 minutes ahead of schedule. Our taxi driver, an elderly woman with an inviting grin, drove us through a few small towns on the way to the Hotel Kura Hulanda, where we dropped off our bags and began a weekend adventure that was anything but ordinary.

Why I Don't Post (or Count) Calories in my Recipes

Alright, kids, pay attention! If I had a section devoted to FAQs, there would only be one question on that list: "Why don't you post calories in your posts?" Sigh.

Mainly, I just don't have the time. "But calories are so important," you may say. And you're absolutely right, they are. Keeping a healthy weight depends a lot on the amount of calories you consume in a day. (And the amount you burn by being active!) My concern, however, is in the quality of my food, not the quantity. Staying within your goal of 1500 calories per day (just throwing a number out there), isn't considered winning if all you ate in the day was 15 100-calorie packs of mini Chips Ahoy cookies.

The Grind: if only they would have...

... hosted it outdoors. Sigh. For so many weeks I looked forward to this event. What could be more fun than spending a Saturday night with my mom, my sister (The Fat Girl Inside), and my friends while schkoffing the best burgers in South Florida and chugging Blue Moon? In theory, it was a pretty genius concept to have 30 local restaurants firing up their grills to serve hundreds of hungry foodies. It could have had the potential to blow Burger Bash out of the water... until someone decided to host this thing indoors. I won't get too deep into the details, as, in the end, no one said it better than The Miami New Times' Alex Rodriguez in his post "The Grind: Smoking Out Fine Burgers." Aside from sweating profusely, having to rub my itchy eyes with greasy fingers and being left with smelly clothes and hair, the beer was awesome, the burgers were delish and I was in great company. Here are some shots from the event... and here's to hoping for a big tent in the great outdoors next years. Because, heck yea, I am in! (Disclaimer: Serious, not so dainty, burger gobbling photos follow!)

The Fit Cook hits the 2012 South Beach Wine and Food Festival

Shots from a not-so-fit weekend.

If you read my post, "How I Found My Happy," you know how happy the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. This year I was given access to quite a few events, thanks to some good friends, a hint of luck, and my blog...aka my baby! Here are highlights from another amazing, food coma inducing weekend! Click "Read More" for pictures.. Enjoy!

XO,
Luisana