Date: Sunday January 24, 2010 – Santa Monica California

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Santa Monica CA – If living a healthier life is on the top of your New Year’s Resolution List for 2010 than the Perfect Protein Power Breakfast is for you! Quick and easy to prepare, this breakfast was created by top West Coast nutritionist Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D. to meet her own specific nutritional needs – including a genetic predisposition to be insulin resistant. With one in three Americans now insulin resistant or diabetic it’s time we re-think our approach to nutrition!

Why Choosing The Right Breakfast is Important

Notes Susan, “Beginning your day with a strong breakfast is important to maintaining a healthy metabolism. A protein-based breakfast not only jump-starts your metabolism for the day but also stabilizes blood sugars and appetite throughout the day.”

Many Americans choose a high carbohydrate breakfast such as cereal or oatmeal. These breakfast options can sharply increase insulin levels causing your blood sugars to crash within one and a half to two hours after eating leading to increased sweet cravings and hunger levels by mid-morning. Consuming a meal that is balanced with protein, healthy fat, and moderate amounts of carbohydrates results in a balanced blood sugar and moderate appetite levels.

For example, if you consume high carbohydrate meals on a regular basis that are not balanced with respect to protein and good fat, you may continually crave carbohydrates. Often you know what you are “supposed” to be eating, but the body continues to give you the signal to eat more carbohydrates.  This signal keeps perpetuating.  The more carbohydrates you consume, the more your energy levels fluctuate levels between high and low throughout the day. Consequently, you never truly feel like you are running on real energy.

Why This Breakfast Works (see below for complete nutritional breakdown)

Eating breakfast is a challenge for many, facing something sweet that doesn’t need to be cooked is often quicker to manage and more palatable. The following recipe hits the mark for healthy sweetness and contains approximately four ounces of protein.

Perfect Protein Power Breakfast

1/2 cup of 2% low fat organic cottage cheese

1/2 cup of low fat plain organic yogurt

3 tablespoons of part-skim ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds  

1 tablespoon of raw cashews or walnuts

1/2 cup of mixed berries (blueberries, blackberries and raspberries)

1/3 medium banana (on the greener side)

Sprinkling of Cinnamon

Beverage: Organic breakfast tea (black or green) with 2-3 tablespoons of organic 1% milk.

Nutritional Breakdown

400 calories

31 grams of protein

36 grams of carbohydrate

7.5 grams fiber

15 grams of fat

450 mg.of calcium

Besides an excellent serving of protein, the above recipe contains a moderate amount of healthy carbohydrates from the fruit, nuts and dairy products, and monounsaturated and omega 3 fats from the ground flax seeds and nuts. In addition one-third of the recommended needs for calcium are provided. Both the berries and the black tea contain powerful antioxidants known as flavonoids, which are known to lower inflammation in the body and help prevent cancer and heart disease. The recommended “less ripe” banana contains resistance starch which is now thought to play an important role in intestinal health. Lastly, but certainly not least, this recipe contains one-third of the recommended amount of daily fiber, also important for proper digestion and gut health. 

The Perfect Power Breakfast recipe is an original recipe and the intellectual property of Susan Dopart, M.S., R.D., please don’t copy and distribute this recipe without giving full credit including a link to Susan’s website www.susandopart.com. Susan B. Dopart is the author of the first smart, easy to understand, and complete nutrition roadmap, “A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian.” Find more healthy ideas and delicious recipes and to buy the book please visit Susan’s website: www.susandopart.com.

About Susan B. Dopart

Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., is a nutrition and fitness with more than fifteen years experience as a private practice consultant. Her new book, A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian, focuses on the latest research regarding how positively, powerfully and effectively the right way to eat affects your energy levels, insulin resistance, diabetes, cancer and other medical issues.

Susan, who is a much-sought expert on diabetes prevention and care, wrote the book after years of searching for the perfect guide to share with her patients and just couldn’t find one. Susan received her B.S. in Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics from UC Berkeley and her M.S. in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine from California State University, Hayward.

Susan has consulted for UCLA Medical Center and Extension, Sebastian International, and Procter & Gamble.  Her writing, recipes, and expertise have been shared in

publications and productions, including Best Life, Men’s Health, Diabetes Forecast, The SvelteGourmand.com, Doctor Radio and featured guest blogger at thekathleenshow.com.

#End#

For more information please go to www.susandopart.com. PDF’s of the book are available now for media inquiries. To request an interview or to have the PDF of the book sent to you, please contact Melissa Balmer at Idea Group at Tel. (562) 612-0197 or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com. Book ISBN:  978-0-615-30873-9.

Date: Saturday Jan 23, 2010 – Long Beach CA 

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Long Beach California – One of Long Beach’s most popular portrait photographers is hosting a fun way to create beautiful memories and help our local spay/neuter and humane education organization Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA). On Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Linnea Lenkus will host the “Rest in Show” dog portrait day and pet food fund-raiser at her local Signal Hill studio at 2699 E. 28^th Street in Signal Hill CA 90877 (right off the 405 freeway).

Sittings are free with the donation of $25.00 plus one 30+ lb. bag of pet food, which will go directly to FOLBA. You will also receive a free 5-by-7-inch portrait of your precious pooch! Portrait sessions are by appointment only and can be of your dog by itself or a charming portrait of the two of you together. Please make sure to call (562) 981-8900 in advance to reserve your place. The studio has ample parking for your convenience.

As a Long Beach resident, Lenkus is passionate about getting involved and giving back locally. She is also an avid pet lover, and decided to hold these fundraising events after reading that people are abandoning their pets because they simply can’t afford to feed them. She chose to donate the sittings and collect food for FOLBA because of the organization’s excellent reputation and philanthropic work within the community.

“I love photographing dogs, and it breaks my heart to hear about people abandoning their pets in this challenging economic climate.” Lenkus says.

To see examples of Linnea’s captivating dog portrait work please visit www.linnealenkus.com/blog/. To learn more about FOBLA please visit www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org.

About Linnea Lenkus

Fine art photographer Linnea Lenkus began her career in front of the camera as a fashion model in Europe, modeling for magazines such as Elle, Freundin and Vogue, but she quickly realized her passion was for the work behind the camera and the creativity and artistry of the photographic process.

In 1998, Linnea decided to transition from a successful career in commercial photography and focus instead on her personal passion for portraits. Her skills as a master of lighting technique and sophisticated composition have kept her work in demand, and a favorite of popular celebrities such as Dancing with the Stars champion Brooke Burke.

Linnea and her husband of seventeen years are the proud parents of three children, Dexter, Maxwell and Ava. Her work has been featured in ABC News, The Associated Press, Pregnancy & Newborn, Damsel Magazine, Forbes.com, Los Angeles Magazine, Long Beach Magazine, The Orange Country Register, The Press Telegram, The Grunion Gazette, The Signal Hill Tribune, The Pasadena Star and more. For more details, visit www.linnealenkus.com.

About Friends of Long Beach Animals

Long Beach-based FOLBA was incorporated as a nonprofit benefit corporation on January 12, 1990. Since that time, they have raised funds and awareness to serve the dire needs of unwanted and uncared-for pets of all kinds through a spaying and neutering service (SNIP), humane education, pet adoption, paying special-needs medical bills for shelter animals, and shelter assistance to help with the care and needs of animals. FOLBA raises money and awareness through a variety of community events and fund-raisers. For more information on their mission and services, please go to www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org.

#End#

Print-quality images are available for the press upon request. To arrange an interview with Linnea or for further press inquires, please contact Melissa Balmer at (562) 612-0197 or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com.

Tel. (562) 612-0197 Cell (562) 221-9672 email: balmer64@yahoo.com                                                                      

Date: Monday January 11, 2010 – Santa Monica California

Re: How to Save Your Life in 2010 – Step One – Cut Out Fake Sweeteners! Try This Delectable Real Chocolate Berry Mousse by Susan Dopart, M.S., R.D.!   

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Photo by Jefrrey M. Batchelor

Santa Monica CA – Is living a healthier life on the top of your New Year’s Resolution List? If so, top Nutrition and Fitness Expert Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., has the simple but powerful life saving answers for you in her new book, “A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian” available now on her website www.susandopart.com. With both diabetes and obesity reaching epidemic proportions in the United States it’s time we choose a new direction in the way we think about our health!

Over the next two months we’ll be sharing Susan’s top five steps to literally help save your life in 2010. To kick things off to a delicious start see below for Susan’s own easy “Chocolate Berry Mousse” recipe with only 270 calories, and total carbohydrates at only 30 grams. Creating an absolutely doable healthy lifestyle does not happen overnight: it evolves over time.  For the best results Susan recommends slowly adding one new healthy behavior at a time until you reach the goals you desire. Here is Susan’s step number one:

1. Cut Out the Fake Food including Sweeteners!

If a food has more than five ingredients you can usually put it in the fake food category.   The more ingredients a product has the more processed it is, especially if the ingredients are hard to pronounce!

Fake sweeteners are too good to be true and here’s why:

Drinking Diet Sodas Loaded with Fake Sweeteners Can Lead to Weight Gain!

Sharon Fowler, MPH, and her colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, collected data for eight years that was reported at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting in San Diego in 2005.  What they discovered? People who drank diet soda did not lose weight, but gained weight. 

Noted Fowler, “What didn’t surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity. What was surprising was that when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher.  There was a 41 percent increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day.”

Using Fake Sweeteners May Cause You to Actually Eat More

Researcher are theorizing that taking in large amounts of non-nutritive sweeteners over time conditions the body not to associate sweetness with calories, which can then disrupt the body’s ability to assess caloric intake accurately and lead to overeating.

A study done in February 2008 at Purdue University (published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience) fed rats both with yogurt sweetened with regular sugar and yogurt sweetened with saccharin. The rats that ate the saccharin-sweetened yogurt took in 20 percent more calories than the rats consuming yogurt sweetened with sugar, and gained body fat.

Fake Sweeteners Program Your Taste Buds to Crave Sweeter and Sweeter Tastes!

Fake sweeteners range is sweetness from half as sweet as sugar to 8,000 times sweeter, with the average being 200-300 times sweeter!

The new guidelines of the American Heart Association suggest limiting sugar intake to no more than 100 calories per day for woman and 150 calories for men. This translates to no more than 5-8 teaspoons of sugar per day.  On a label 1 teaspoon of sugar equals 4 grams of sugar so the label limit is 20-32 grams of sugar per day.

Try Small Amounts of What You Really Want!

Enjoying a small dessert with real ingredients (sweetened with cane sugar or honey – not high fructose corn syrup) can be part of a healthy balanced eating plan. Susan recommends 1/2 cup of ice-cream with all natural ingredients like Häagen-Dazs five™ and McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream of Santa Barbara which is deliciously satisfying in small amounts.

Also, dark or semi-sweet chocolate contains a substance known as flavonoids which have multiple health benefits.  Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants which can lower inflammation in the body which can lower disease risk!

Following is an easy dessert which contains dark chocolate and satisfies the chocolate/sweet cravings without breaking your health bank.

“Quick Chocolate Berry Mousse”

Ingredients:

1 cup good quality semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup water

1 tablespoon 100% can sugar

1/2 teaspoon espresso powder

3 egg whites (large to jumbo)

1/4 cup real whipping cream

4 tablespoons raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries as garnish

Servings: 4            Prep time: 10 minutes + refrigeration

Preparation:

Put chocolate chips in blender or small food processor. Bring water, sugar, and espresso powder to a simmer on the stove. Pour over chocolate chips and blend for 15 seconds. Pour in egg whites* and blend on medium to high speed for one minute.

*Heating the water ensures the eggs are safe to eat.

Pour into four ramekins and let chill for at least two hours in the refrigerator.

Whip cream and one 1 tablespoon on each ramekin, top each with 1 tablespoon of berries.

Nutrition Facts                          Per Serving

Calories                                      270

Protein                                       5 grams

Total Carbohydrates                    30 grams

Total Fat                                    17 grams

Fiber                                         3 grams

Sodium                                     53 mg.

The Quick Chocolate Berry Mousse recipe is an original recipe and the intellectual property of Susan Dopart, M.S., R.D., please don’t copy and distribute this recipe without giving full credit including a link to Susan’s website www.susandopart.com. Find more healthy and delicious recipes and ideas at www.susandopart.com. Both low-resolution and high-resolution photos of the Chocolate Berry Mousse are available for the press to use.

About Susan B. Dopart

Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., is a nutrition and fitness with more than fifteen years experience as a private practice consultant. Her new book, A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian, focuses on the latest research regarding how positively, powerfully and effectively the right way to eat affects your energy levels, insulin resistance, diabetes, cancer and other medical issues.

Susan, who is a much-sought expert on diabetes prevention and care, wrote the book after years of searching for the perfect guide to share with her patients and just couldn’t find one. Susan received her B.S. in Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics from UC Berkeley and her M.S. in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine from California State University, Hayward.

Susan has consulted for UCLA Medical Center and Extension, Sebastian International, and Procter & Gamble.  Her writing, recipes, and expertise have been shared in

publications and productions, including Best Life, Men’s Health, and Diabetes Forecast, The SvelteGourmand.com, and Doctor Radio.

#End#

For more information please go to www.susandopart.com. PDF’s of the book are available now for media inquiries. To request an interview or to have the PDF of the book sent to you, please contact Melissa Balmer at Idea Group at Tel. (562) 612-0197 or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com. Book ISBN:  978-0-615-30873-9.

Tel. (562) 612-0197 email: balmer64@yahoo.com                                                                     

Re: The Delicious Low Fat/High Protein Pumpkin Dessert Choice for Thanksgiving & the Holidays – Susan Dopart, M.S., R.D.’s Perfect Pumpkin Custard Recipe!

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Santa Monica CA – Top West Coast nutrition expert and critically acclaimed author Susan Dopart, M.S., R.D., has created “Perfect Pumpkin Custard” a delicious healthy alternative to pumpkin pie for those who want to reduce their calorie intact and need to avoid fat, carbohydrates, and sodium this Thanksgiving and Holiday Season. Perfect Pumpkin Custard is just one of the many fantastic recipes Susan Dopart and her husband and writing partner Jeffrey M. Batchelor created for her new book “A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian.” Here is the calorie/fat/protein/sodium comparison chart for pumpkin custard vs. pumpkin pie:

Perfect Pumpkin Custard                             Homemade Pumpkin Pie

103 calories                                                    320 calories                                                          

3 grams of fat                                                 14 grams of fat

5 grams of protein                                           7 grams of protein

14 grams of carbohydrate                                41 grams of carbohydrate

2.7 grams of fiber                                           4 grams of fiber

40 mg. of sodium                                           350 mg. of sodium

Perfect Pumpkin Custard has one-third of the calories of pumpkin pie, less than one-third of the fat, and is equal to only one slice of bread worth of carbohydrate versus three slices of bread for the pie.  With much less sodium content (40 versus 350 mg.) Perfect Pumpkin Custard is the ideal dessert for someone with diabetes, heart disease, in need of sodium restriction, calorie restriction or who just wants to incorporate healthier eating habits this Holiday Season.  Please see the end of the release for the recipe.

About Susan Dopart and “A Recipe for Life by The Doctor’s Dietitian”

With “A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian” Susan Dopart and Jeffrey Batchelor have created the first smart, easy to understand, concrete nutrition road map partnered with simple, delicious recipes designed to improve one’s health. The book is available now at www.susandopart.com for just $34.95.

A cutting edge nutrition guide, “A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian,” focuses on the latest research regarding how positively, powerfully and effectively the right way to eat affects your energy levels, insulin resistance, diabetes, cancer and other medical issues.

Susan B. Dopart, M.S., R.D., is a nutrition and fitness consultant in private practice for more than 15 years. She specializes in medical nutrition-related issues, including diabetes and endocrinology, heart disease, weight management, pregnancy, infertility, PCOS, and exercise nutrition. She received her B.S. in Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics from UC Berkeley and her M.S. in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine from California State University, Hayward. Susan has consulted for UCLA Medical Center and Extension, Sebastian International, and Procter & Gamble.  She has written for and contributed to multiple publications, including Best Life, Men’s Health, and Diabetes Forecast.

Perfect Pumpkin Custard Recipe courtesy of “A Recipe for Life by the Doctor’s Dietitian”

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

3 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

2 large eggs separated

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together canned pumpkin, yogurt and ricotta cheese until blended. Stir in honey and spices. Separate egg yolks from whites and stir egg yolks into pumpkin mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold into mixture. Pour into six ramekins and bake at 350 degrees 25-30 minutes until puffed and rounded. Serve immediately. Variation: May put a dollop of real whipped cream on each ramekin.

The Perfect Pumpkin Custard recipe is an original recipe and the intellectual property of Susan Dopart, M.S., R.D., please don’t copy and distribute this recipe without giving full credit. Find more healthy and delicious recipes and ideas at www.susandopart.com. Both low-resolution and high-resolution photos of the Perfect Pumpkin Custard are available for the press to use.

#End#

Press inquiries for Susan Dopart should be sent to Melissa Balmer at Idea Group at Tel. (562) 612-0197 or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com. Book ISBN:  978-0-615-30873-9.

Date: Monday August 2, 2009 – Seal Beach California

Re: Inspired by Julie & Julia? Learn to Cook This September with Chef Elizabeth Whitt at PREP Kitchen Essentials of Seal Beach
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Seal Beach, Calif. – Those now inspired to learn to cook (or to dust off their rusty culinary skills) by the sure-to-be-a-hit movie “Julie & Julia” are invited to join one of Orange County’s most popular culinary teachers Chef Elizabeth Whitt for her next series of “Learn to Cook” classes at PREP Kitchen Essentials in Seal Beach.

This three week hands-on series runs September 8th, 15th, and 22nd, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9pm and is designed for the beginner cook who wants to learn the basics as well as the seasoned cook wanting to refine his or her skills. The course is $225.00 and you can sign up online at www.prepkitchenessentials.com or by calling (562) 430-1217. The classes are taught in PREP’s spacious 800 square foot teaching kitchen where you’ll enjoy test-driving the best kitchen tools on the market.

Are you a budding Julie Powell? Would you like to cook your way through Julia Child’s “Mastering The Art of French Cooking?” Ever wanted to open any cookbook and be confident enough to make anything that caught your eye? What about when you do try a new recipe and it comes out all wrong – but you don’t quite know what to do differently to make it right? In our “Learn To Cook Series,” Chef Elizabeth Whitt teaches the theory and techniques behind the recipes so you can translate your knowledge to make any recipe successfully.

About Chef Elizabeth Whitt
An honors graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Elizabeth was awarded Le Grand Diplôme in Pastry and Cuisine in 1999. A student of international cuisine, she is known for sharing her extensive knowledge in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. Whitt worked as the Director of Le Cordon Bleu’s summer program, as well as perfecting her talents as a pastry and cuisine chef in Parisian hotels and restaurants. Returning to her home turf Elizabeth embarked upon a new career path of teaching culinary skills in Southern California. She is one of PREP’s most popular instructors and her classes frequently sell out. Elizabeth is currently writing a cookbook incorporating the fundamentals of elegant French cooking with the ease of the California lifestyle.

About PREP Kitchen Essentials
PREP Kitchen Essentials is a retail store and cooking school where you will find the finest cooking tools and kitchenwares with an emphasis on quality, longevity and eco-friendliness. PREP’s hands-on cooking classes are rated top in Southern California. PREP Kitchen Essentials is located at 12207 Seal Beach Blvd., in the Shops at Rossmoor, in Seal Beach CA. You can find out more at www.prepkitchenessentials.com or by calling (562) 430-1217.

#End#

For press inquires on PREP Kitchen Essentials please contact Melissa Balmer at (562) 612-0197 via Cell at (562) 221-9672 or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com.

From: Melissa Balmer – Public Relations for Prep Kitchen Essentials

Tel. (562) 612-0197 email: balmer64@yahoo.com

Date: Monday June 15, 2009 – Seal Beach California

Re: PREP Kitchen Essentials Hosts Delicious Gourmet “Hands On” Friday Night Summer Fun!
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Seal Beach, Calif. – Looking for something deliciously different for your Friday nights this summer? PREP Kitchen Essentials of Seal Beach has the answer with a Friday night line up of the best summer themed cooking classes you’ll find anywhere in Southern California. Taught in PREP’s gorgeous 800 square foot state of the art teaching kitchen, the alluring mix of classes are completely “hands on,” and taught by talented and seasoned professionals. All PREP classes focus on cooking-from-scratch with a seasonal focus and the freshest ingredients, nothing is every frozen, canned, or packaged.

The classes run from 6:30pm to 9pm and are limited to 16 students for the best learning experience. Each class covers a complete meal of summertime favorites and at the end of preparing everything you’ll enjoy your fabulous meal with some great new friends! Below is a complete class list for Friday night classes for June, July & August 2009. Classes are $75.00 per person unless otherwise noted. The classes fill up quickly so please make sure to rsvp in advance:

Friday June 12th “Clambake! With Chef Colleen Johnson”
Summer shack clambake with lobster, littleneck clams, chorizo, potatoes and corn, New England clam chowder, spicy sweet potato fries, and warm cornbread with honey butter.

Friday June 19 “Singles In The Kitchen: Flirting with Food” with Susie Millis Artichokes with cream cheese pate & shrimp, tomato bisque soup, arugula salad w/fennel, Maui onion, & figs, marinated flank steak w/fried leeks, herbed potatoes, Chess Pie w/rhubarb compote.

Friday June 26th “Girls Night Out!” with Kelli & Susie Johnson
Tomato crisp, vichyssoise, roasted corn salad, filet mignon Suzette,
banana split cake.

Friday July 10th “Summertime Dinner In The French Countryside”
with Chef Elizabeth Whitt Roasted red pepper, crispy prosciutto, feta and garlic crouton salad, Basque style grilled tuna, white beans, summer fruit crisp.

Friday July 17th “Steak Night” with Chef Rich Hail
Grilled rib eye with creamy Yukon potatoes, grilled skirt steak with tomatillos & salsa fresca, pepper crusted steak with glazed portobellos and wilted spinach,
coffee caramel creme brulee.

Friday July 24th “Fish on the Grill” with Chef Colleen Johnson
Grilled salmon with summer vegetables, grilled whole bass Saor, shrimp on the barbie, Nana's coleslaw, sage potato chips, Maine blueberry pie.

Friday July 31st “Summer Bistro and Wine Pairing” with Chef Elizabeth Whitt Chevre and peach Salad w/balsamic vinaigrette, flank steak with cherry tomato sauce, new potatoes with garlic & herbs, molten chocolate cake.

Friday August 7th “Mediterranean Grill” with Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Grilled bruschetta with ricotta and roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic and herb
grilled vegetables, mixed grilled chicken, pork and beef with tzaziki sauce,
couscous, zucchini cake with fresh mint ice cream.

Friday August 14th “Fresh Pastas, Summer Tomatoes & Artisan Cheeses”
with Chef Colleen Johnson
Godfather II linguine, spaghetti with oven-roasted tomatoes & caramelized fennel, mushroom ravioli w/pesto and aged gruyere, focaccia w/tomatoes & olives, bacon, lettuce, barata and tomato salad.

Friday August 21st “Grillin' and Thrillin'” with Chef Colleen Johnson
Asian marinated pork ribs, Chinese BBQ spareribs, Hoisin 5-Spice ribs,
Russian style potato salad, farmhouse cheese tart (sweet and savory).

Friday August 28th “Romantic Parisian Dinner” with Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Fig, blue cheese & prosciutto salad, grilled steak and chicken w/balsamic sauce,
herb and cheese polenta, summer fruit mascapone tart.

PREP Kitchen Essentials is located at 12207 Seal Beach Blvd. in “The Shops at Rossmoor” between Ann Taylor Loft and Peet’s Coffee. The store is open Monday thru Saturday 10am to 7pm (unless an evening class is going on), Sunday 10am to 5pm. You can reach them at (562) 430-1217 or fine out more online at www.prepkitchenessentials.com.

PREP Kitchen Essentials is a retail store and cooking school where you will find the finest cooking tools and kitchen wares with an emphasis on quality, longevity and eco-friendliness. PREP’s hands-on cooking classes, with a focus on cooking fresh from scratch, are rated top in Southern California.

*Menus may change depending on availability.

#End#

About our Chefs

Chef Colleen Johnson
Colleen has cook for everyone! Chef to queens and princes, dukes and duchesses, Hollywood and industry titans, Colleen Johnson began as an English teacher and ended up doing something she loves: cooking. French educated with a specialty in baking, Colleen's recipes and creations have been featured in many culinary publications including Gourmet, Martha Stewart Living, The Los Angeles Times, Chocolatier and Vogue. Colleen had the wonderful opportunity to work with Thomas Keller, and has appeared on various national television and radio programs. Colleen spends much of her time traveling the West Coast as restaurant consultant and dessert creator.

Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Elizabeth started cooking for family and friends at a very young age under the tutelage of her grandmother. By sixteen, Elizabeth was running the kitchen with her grandmother as her sous-chef. Traveling through Europe as a teen Elizabeth fell in love with the cultures and cooking of the countries she visited – France, Italy, Russia and Germany. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Elizabeth held several positions at the distinguished culinary institute including translator, chef’s assistant, and supervising the academy’s summer school program. Elizabeth loves exploring and learning the history of food and food culture and now splits her time between Paris and Belmont Shore.

Chef Rich Hail
Rich graduated with honors from The Art Institute of California – Orange County. He started his catering company Beach Cuisine in 1995, a complete off-site event production company based in Huntington Beach. He is passionate about the preparation of food and loves sharing his knowledge in an interactive classroom setting.

For press inquires on PREP Kitchen Essentials please contact Melissa Balmer at (562) 612-0197, or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com. Complimentary media passes are available, please call Melissa to arrange.

From: Melissa Balmer Public Relations for The Grand Event Venue, and Master Sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer. Tel. (562) 612-0197 email: balmer64@yahoo.com

Date: Friday May 29, 2009 – Long Beach California

Re: June Wine Classes with LA’s Only Master Sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer “Wine, Wisdom & Wit” at The Grand Long Beach Event Center
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LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA – Monday June 1st from 7:00-9:30pm Master Sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer will begin a June series of five wine classes titled "Wine, Wisdom & Wit" in collaboration with Long Beach’s The Grand Long Beach Event Center at 4101 E. Willow St. in Long Beach (entrance off Grand).

This fascinating series, hosted by LA’s only Master sommelier, is taught with beginners, amateurs, and connoisseurs in mind. Be forewarned that they are unique, educational, and fun; they will include guests from prestigious wine making regions, discussions on food pairings, history and, of course tips and instruction on improving your wine tasting abilities.

The five-week course is only $250.00 per person and “A Certificate of Completion” will be presented to those who complete the entire course. The classes include:

Monday – June 1st Sensory Evaluation France
Engage your senses to improve your wine tasting abilities while tasting the fragrant and delicious wines from France.

Monday – June 8th Tuscan Treasures
Explore the regions, wines and unique characteristics of the most popular Italian wine region.

Monday – June 15th Partying in Piedmont
My birthday and my favorite wine region!
Celebrate with me, learn about and taste these remarkable wines.

Monday – June 22nd Getting Riesling Right
Always a classic, often misunderstood.
Taste the greatest white wine grape in the world and discover the red wines of Germany.

Monday – June 29th Spain and her Wine Treasures
Taste and discuss the wines from this beautiful country, including sherry and Cava.

You must register in advance for the classes – to do so please go to www.winewisdomeandwit.com or email elizwine@hotmail.com.

About Elizabeth Schweitzer
Award winning Master Sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer is the eighth woman in the world to have achieved the lauded MS title (there are only fifteen women in the world who are Master Sommeliers). She is currently the only Master Sommelier in Los Angeles County, and the only female Master Sommelier in Southern California. Elizabeth teaches an array of fun and fascinating wine classes throughout the southland. The message she emphasizes is that wine is not be taken too seriously but rather included as an integral part of everyday life.

Elizabeth has been quoted in many print publications such as Oprah’s O Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine and Distinction. She was voted “Best Sommelier” in California by the California Restaurant Writers Association. Elizabeth brings unpretentious and contagious enthusiasm, passion, humor, and a vast array of knowledge to the hospitality and wine industries. Find out more at www.elizwine.com.

About “The Grand” Long Beach Event Center
A member of the Choura Venue Services family of event businesses, The Grand Long Beach Event Center is a boutique event venue for people with style, and one of Southern California's premiere destinations for corporate meetings, special events and weddings. For more information please go to: www.thegrand.net. The Grand is located at 4101 E. Willow St. 90815 in Long Beach Tel. (562) 426-0555.

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For press inquires on The Grand Long Beach Event Center, Choura Venue Services, or Master Sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer please contact Melissa Balmer at (562) 612-0197, via cell at (562) 221-9672, or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com.

Re: Long Beach Chamber California Visionaries Luncheon Series To Host Candidate
for Governor Meg Whitman

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Ryan Choura, one of the youngest members of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and CEO of Long Beach based Choura Venue Services, will be the keynote sponsor and introduce the distinguished guest speaker Meg Whitman, 2010 candidate for governor, at the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce's "California Visionaries Luncheon Series" on on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at the Hyatt in Downtown Long Beach at 11:30am. The luncheon registration begins at 11:00am and the luncheon begins promptly at 11:30am. For ticket information please call Sarah Nguyen at (562) 432-7830 or via email her at snguyen@lbchamber.com.

Whitman, 52, is one of the world's most respected business leaders. She led eBay from 1998 to 2008 helping the company grow from 30 employees and a little over $4 million in revenue to more than 15,000 employees, nearly $8 billion in revenue, and a network of 12 million users in California alone. Under Meg's leadership, eBay expanded globally and developed a culture and infrastructure that turned eBay into an unparalleled business success story.

"Our award-winning California Visionaries Luncheon Series attracts some of the top leaders to Long Beach each year to speak with our business community on important issues impacting our local economy," stated Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Chamber. "We are excited to host Meg Whitman because of her extensive experience as an entrepreneur and her commitment to public service," Gordon continued.

Prior to her tenure at eBay, Whitman distinguished herself in various leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, Bain & Company, Disney, Stride Rite Corporation, FTD, and Hasbro. Meg is only one of seven women to be consistently ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine.

Randy Gordon chose the young Long Beach executive Ryan Choura to introduce Whitman because, "Choura is the most dynamic young entrepreneur I've encountered here in the Southland, and he's a truly engaging and talented public speaker."

As head of Long Beach’s only full service event company, Ryan is working to transform the local event industry, championing a bold, fun, stylish vision to raise the bar and expectations on what Long Beach can offer. He is a committed advocate for putting Long Beach on the world map as a premiere business and tourism destination. Choura Venue Services has grown under Ryan’s leadership to now encompass eight service divisions, employing more than 225 local event professionals, participating in more than 8,000 events per year, and offering the ability to handle events from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

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About the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

The largest membership chamber of commerce in Los Angeles County, the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is the platform for business to provide leadership, education and advocacy so that the Long Beach area thrives in the 21st century, www.longbeachadvocacy.biz | www.lbchamber.com

Contact for Chamber of Commerce details is Shaun Lumachi (562) 843.0947 or on the web at www.chamberadvocacy.biz.

About Ryan Choura and Choura Venue Services

Choura Venue Services is the premiere full service event company based in Long Beach California, participating in events from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Ryan J. Choura, the fourth generation member of his family in the hospitality industry, the company has undergone dramatic transformation since he acquired it in 2005. The company is proud to be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Find out more at www.choura.us.

For press inquiries on Ryan Choura and Choura Venue Services please contact Melissa Balmer at (562) 612-0197 or via email at balmer64@yahoo.com.