Healthy eating can be expensive if you’re on a tight budget, but it can be done with a little thought and creativity.  Here are some easy tips for eating healthy on a budget: Plan your meals. If you plan your meals, build a shopping list, and only buy what’s on the list, you’ll spend less on stuff you don’t need.  You can save even more if you take a look at what’s on sale at your grocery store and build your food plan around it. For example, this week, my grocery store is having a special on ground turkey, salad greens, grapefruit, pears, and whitefish—all items around which I can... Read More

Boulder is a great place to explore cuisine. We have the Kitchen on Pearl Street, a restaurant who values its locally grown, fresh and organic ingredients; The farmers market on Wednesdays and Saturdays; Fate Brewery whom changes their menu based on seasonal produce, you get the picture. This city is health epitomized. However, being a student and being healthy don’t seem to go hand in hand. I know that if I could eat at the Kitchen everyday I absolutely would, but who has that kind of money to spend? Definitely not working, starving, college students. Here are my secrets to eating healthy... Read More

While proper knowledge on which knives to buy is essential as there are so many choices in today’s society, knowledge of the food you are making whether it is at home or in the restaurant is easily of the utmost importance. A good portion of the list provided below is based on books I use at home and at work, and I have included a few suggestions by Chef Dylan Montanio and Jeremiah Gray; to make the list easier to follow I have broken it up into the following categories: Essential References- 4 books Alternative Cuisines- 2 books For The Advanced Cook- 3 books Others Worth Noting- 7 books The... Read More

As anyone can tell you, when you find something worth your time, whatever it may be, there will no doubt be a love-hate relationship you are confronted with constantly: growing pains, mental walls, frustration, anger, you name it—it has most likely been experienced by you or those around you. This is no different when it comes to the life of a chef. Being a chef requires that you fully submerse yourself in your career; it becomes just about every part of you, digging deep into your soul and sinking the hooks in, making a home inside your heart and mind. There are the days where you love every... Read More

Between work, practice, and competitions, some of which you have to travel for, all while taking care of family life at home, it can be difficult to find time for nutritious whole food meals when you’re always on the go. The easiest way to solve this issue is by doing some simple meal prepping, which is what we’re going to talk about today. After reading this you’ll walk away with a few easy strategies that will not only save you time in the kitchen, but your mind and body will thank you for providing it with the natural medicine of whole foods. By incorporating natural whole foods into... Read More

The end of March is already here, and somehow it felt like it went by even quicker than February.  Before we say goodbye to March and head towards the springtime in April, let’s take a look at some last minute events to squeeze in before the month is out.   The Five “Mother Sauces” Cooking Class on March 28th will teach what the bases is for all great sauces.  Hosted at the Food Lab from 6-9pm for $79 per person, this class is the perfect first step for learning how to make any classic sauce on your own.  The five mother sauces being taught are Bechamel, Espagnole, Hollandaise,... Read More

When people think of Boulder, they might bring up Pearl Street, CU, the Flatirons, or other main attractions. However, Boulder has so much more to offer. All one has to do, is dig a little. Visit this weekly blog each Monday for fun activities and events going on throughout Boulder County. Monday, January 25, 2016 Ballet isn’t just for the professionals or little kids taking on their first sport. For adult beginners, check out the ballet class at Reverence Academy of Dance at 11:30 a.m. In order to claim your spot and become the next Black Swan, call 303-661-0719. Address: 1370 Miners Dr. Suite... Read More

Every year for the Boulder Valley, Biz West recognizes forty professionals under the age of 40 whom they consider to be emerging stars and leaders in the city of Boulder. These young, hardworking individuals are celebrated for their professional successes in the Boulder community. One of these forty people is Kelly Elle Larisey yoga studio owner, Paleo nutritionist and bacon-lover. Kelly is recognized for a range of professional and creative endeavors centering on holistic health; from being managing owner at Boulder’s popular yoga studio, The Little Yoga Studio to life coaching and Paleo coaching,... Read More

It’s Taco Tuesday!  Okay, it’s Wednesday, but it was Tuesday when I made the tacos so it still counts.  And really, who doesn’t love tacos?  I could probably eat them every day, if my wife wouldn’t object.  The Boulder area has some fantastic taco places, from Cyclhops in Longmont to Illegal Pete’s locations on the Hill and Pearl. But I’m not going to sit here and tell you where to buy tacos.  I could go on for days, pages even!  No, better still I’m going to share with you my DIY taco smorgasbord made with mostly local ingredients pillaged (and paid... Read More