Exciting news! Two Estonian cookbooks have been nominated for the prestigious GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARDS 2011. The “Best in the World” winners will be announced at the awards event during the Paris Cookbook Fair in March 2012. And Marika Blossfeldt's book - ESSENTIAL NOURISHMENT, Recipes from my Estonian Farm - is one of the nominees!! Congratulations Marika!!
Chef Marika was also at the TASTE AWARDS: Jan 12, 2012 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood! For more information on the Paris Cookbook Fair go here: www.cookbookfair.com Sunday November 27, 2 - 4pm Book Signing Santa and many others came (sorry you missed the cookies) - but we still have these wonderful books available...
Essential Nourishment Visually stunning and potentially life-changing, Essential Nourishment is an integrated cookbook and nutrition guide fusing an appreciation for the sensual pleasures of natural foods with a sensible approach to nourishment. Essential Nourishment — once and for all — ends the confusion around food. It is your feel-good guide to living well, one delicious meal at a time, one nurturing action at a time. Who is the book for? ... Women and men looking for a sensible approach to nourishment that is flexible, feels natural and can be maintained for the rest of their lives – without strict rules or regulations – without sacrificing taste and pleasure.
Carrot Ginger Soup How is the book structured? ... Part one educates the reader on how food works in our bodies, covering topics such as blood sugar balance, the food mood connection, cravings, natural weight loss and choosing food purposefully.
Stuffed Pumpkin
What makes the book unique? ... Rather than focus on calories and grams of fat, Essential Nourishment presents the nourishing aspects of food from a holistic point of view and teaches the reader to harness food’s nurturing potential by choosing food with awareness and intention. At the same time Essential Nourishment is a beautifully designed everyday cooking guide. Each recipe is accompanied by a sensuous photograph - taken at Polli's farm in Estonia, an exquisitely photogenic and serene environment. What is the book's history? ... The first Estonian edition of Essential Nourishment was published in 2009 and quickly became a bestseller. The book landed 5th place in the weekly ranking of Estonia’s largest bookstore chain. Essential Nourishment was competing against Stieg Larsson’s „The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo“ and „The Girl who Played with Fire“ which came in second and third. 0.002 % of the population bought Essential Nourishment. That percentage applied to the population of the USA would equal 615,000 people.
Who is the author? ... Marika Blossfeldt is trained in the visual and performing arts. She was both a painter in the late 1970s in Berlin and a featured soloist in the New York dance scene in the 1980s and ‘90s. She also conceived and choreographed multimedia dance works and toured internationally in the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. On screen, she played the role of the bald bartender in the Hollywood movie Bright Lights, Big City. While in her late thirties, she purchased an old farm in her native Estonia – a dream come true – and transformed it into an international art and wellness center called POLLI TALU ARTS CENTER (www.pollitalu.org). Once the restoration of the farm complex was complete, Marika began to facilitate yoga, cooking and wellness retreats during the summer months. As a budding self-taught natural foods chef, she created her own herb and vegetable gardens and harvested the wild greens and berries growing on her land. To this day, she personally oversees the quality and tastiness of all meals served to her guests. After a decade of pampering visitors with delicious healthful food, Marika decided to formalize her culinary skills by completing a program of study with world-renowned nutrition specialists at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. The institute was a life-changing experience. Marika shifted her focus from making individual works of art to making life itself a work of art – by practicing a holistic lifestyle where body, mind and spirit are integrated and deeply cared for. As a holistic health coach (www.MarikaB.com), she now inspires other women to step into the limelight of their own lives, to make self-care a priority. Clients learn how natural foods, enjoyable physical activity, a sense of purpose, building community and creating a high-quality lifestyle will restore their vitality and boost enthusiasm for pursuing their dreams and passions. Marika is a certified kundalini yoga teacher and a professional member of the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association. She studied at Kundalini Yoga East in New York, where she also received her instructional training. The Estonian edition of Essential Nourishment, released in 2009, quickly became a best seller.
Reviews: Marika Blossfeldt’s thoughtful holistic approach to nutrition combined with her extensive knowledge of natural ingredients make for a pleasurable read. In her well-articulated book, she considers all aspects of food: eating, nutrition, spirituality, ritual and social connection. All facets are integrated in a common-sense approach that is broken down into simple, easy steps so even the most hesitant person can start bringing health-enhancing changes to everyday routines and LIVE BETTER. Her tables for cooking grains and legumes take the guesswork out of preparing these important foods from scratch. They are so clear and concise you will refer to them again and again. Blossfeldt’s warmth and joy shine through on every page and make me want to take a trip to her farm and arts center right away. Miriam Russell-Wadleigh, Executive Chef, Piacere Restaurant, San Carlos, CA
Marika successfully integrates two approaches to the subject of food — food as an essential part of a holistic lifestyle and food preparation as part of everyday living. In a clear and understandable way, she discusses many fundamental nutrition topics — such as the benefits of eating whole foods, the need for hydration, the acid/alkaline balance in the body and natural weight loss strategies. Besides being an excellent everyday cooking guide, Essential Nourishment is superbly educational. It belongs on every school’s reading list! I recommend it to all who hold life dear. Peeter Jalakas, Artist and Restaurant Owner, Tallinn, Estonia
In her book, Marika reminds us of a truth that we might not hear or consider anymore: Food is not the only thing that nourishes us. She reminds us that food plays a supportive role — it should foster good health and supply our body with essentials, offering nurturing and sensual pleasure. But she makes us aware that there are other human needs that food will not satisfy. I like that food for Marika is neither reward nor penalty, but simply sustenance — the way God meant it to be, simple and sufficient. There are many cookbooks, from healthful to decadent, but only a few adequately teach us to eat — to relate to food. Essential Nourishment is complete in its teaching, actually guiding the reader through a process of unlearning that leads back to simplicity and delight. Aigi Vahing, Journalist and Writer, Brooklyn, NY
Health food doesn't need to taste like health food. "Essential Nourishment: Recipes from my Estonian Farm" is a book of natural and health-driven recipes that will taste like anything but. Marika Blossfeldt uses life's expertise to encourage readers to choose their food well, use their diet to deal with diabetes, and embrace a more natural weight loss plan. For those who seek better health but hate health food, "Essential Nourishment" proves an excellent cookbook that is in full color and organized well to prepare for any ingredient, highly recommended. Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI
Holistic Health and Wellness has a new and gentle voice. Marika Blossfeldt shares her extensive knowledge on how to nourish the body and soul starting with the inside. Essential Nourishment delivers from the start, with a detailed look at how the foods around you affect your overall health and mood, from cravings, illness to balancing the body. She will teach her reader to get back to basics and I don't mean with ingredients but with a generous dose of love. After leading numerous groups on holistic retreats with success and results, Ms. Blossfeldt brings the Estonian countryside and spa into the kitchen with wholesome dishes like the curried red lentil and a chanterelle quiche that was truly exquisite and pure. We love the Yogi Tea recipe as well. If you are looking for a simple and delicious way to get your balance back, then look no further. Penelope Barcelo, Kepler's Bookstore, Menlo Park, CA
Peter Barrett for Chronogram Magazine, NY, August issue
Essential Nourishment is a book to cherish. Graced with gorgeous photos and abundant knowledge, it is more than a cookbook – it is a holistic lifestyle companion that informs as well as inspires. Marika Blossfeldt’s recipes are healthy, delicious and beautiful. Her approach to the art of eating will nourish the reader with her words and nourish the belly with naturally prepared goodness. Essential Nourishment encourages awareness of not only the foods we eat but of the “food-mood connection,” food energies and even discusses the importance of physical activity and relationships to support a lifestyle filled with conscious intention.
Ashley Ess for Bamboo Magazine, Conscious Family Living, Los Angeles CA
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(Delicious Nutrition). It’s a cookbook, but with substantial sections on nutrition and wellness that make it a practical guide for clean living and eating. In an age of countless fad diets and media hype, this is a calm, balanced alternative that is worth seeking out. Where Italian and Indian foods carry the weight of certain expectations, Blossfeldt’s food is simply food, made from the best seasonal ingredients available, without any particular regional accent besides the climate in which the produce is grown. As such, it offers a potent inspiration for anyone seeking to let the produce speak for itself, especially during our fecund summers.