Preston Hollow, TX March 2024

Is it Spring yet?

A note of gratitude

I feel like I just finished my premier issue and here I am .....wrapping up a second issue of a true passion project that has become my life, my world, and a new business venture that I felt, at many times, would never come to fruition.  I have been humbled and I have grown, but more importantly, I have learned and given myself the gift of connecting again, connecting with other entrepreneurs and businesses and people and really learning about what we all have to offer and bring to this community.  It has been the hardest thing I have ever done to get PHCL off the ground but it has also been the most rewarding, uplifting, and truly gratifying experience to connect us all and continue to learn and grow together.  I am grateful to all of my partners that are now my friends and I look forward to telling their stories and engaging a community of very special and talented individuals, families, and businesses in the months and years ahead.

March 2024

Bret McKinney | bret.mckinney@citylifestyle.com

Melissa Mullen | melissa.mullen@citylifestyle.com

Melissa Mullen, Bret McKinney

Gray Deuber, Bret McKinney, Tamytha Cameron

city scene

WHERE

business monthly

Retreat with Breathe Meditation and Wellness

Check out Breathe Meditation and Wellness and their offerings here in Dallas or get away on one of their fabulous retreats and discover the benefits with fellow travelers on a wellness retreat to recharge and reset.

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Luxury in Linens

Spring refresh your home with an updated bedroom, bathroom, or maybe even just new pillows for the sofa.  Loro Lino has everything you need to enhance your home with the finest linens and home offerings anywhere.......truly Luxury Linens for a Lifetime

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Spring Checklist at Back to Health Physical Medicine

Pain Relief, Hormone balancing, anti-aging strategies, nutrition support and more!  Whether you are recovering or just looking to feel better overall.  There are answers and solutions at Back to Health.  Book your consultation today and receive a complimentary red light rejuvenation session.

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ALL THINGS

SPRING

Local resources to spruce up you and your home

Slow down and relish your family and precious moments together by removing the stress of daily tasks. With a blend of warmth and military precision, TFC provides thoughtful, personalized support, creating a haven where families can focus on building lasting memories. Let TFC transform hectic days into opportunities for connection and joy, making space for your family to thrive. @thefamilyconcierge

Enhance your space with the beauty of nature and the earth within.  Pierre Verona manufactures and creates almost anything you can imagine for your home or business.  From the simplicity of a bowl or vessel to a custom sink or piece of furniture that is absolutely art and soul. @pierreveronaminerals

The most luxurious linens that are available on the market and designed to last a lifetime.  Loro Lino is more than just sheets and towels, they offer interior design services and create any custom designs in home and bedding you can think of at the highest level of quality and luxury anywhere in the world.  Owner Michelle Henderson has recently introduced a new offering with meticulous artisan, Elena Nunez to head the team of embroidery creating custom pillows to enhance any space with the ability to design and create any cushion you crave. @lorolinofinelinens

4. PROPER CATERING AND EVENTS

Whether you need to host a lunch or dinner party for 12 or a backyard spring celebration for 100.  Proper not only has you covered but will make your occasion more than a reason to celebrate by bringing exquisite service and artful culinary delight to your home and your guests. @propercatering

5. DAVID KIMMEL DESIGN

More than a resource to take anything to the next level...David Kimmel Design can concept and execute anything from floral installations to enhance your home to designing the most over-the-top event experience you can possibly need.  The creative possibilities that come with working with David and his team are sure to give any host a streamlined experience and execute all things at the highest visionary level. @davidkimmeldesign

Breathe FIND PEACE AT

EXPERIENCE DALLAS’ PREMIER MEDITATION AND WELLNESS STUDIO

Jenn Moulaison came to Dallas several years ago, hoping to leave behind the hustle and bustle of New York City. But she soon realized that it wasn’t just her environment that needed to change. After getting laid off from her high-powered job, she started attending meditation classes, where she met her future co-founder Chelsey Charbeneau. Although Jenn had used yoga and exercise to help alleviate the stress from her busy life, nothing had ever brought any lasting peace or calm until she tried meditation. Jenn was so astounded by the transformation she was seeing that she decided to take Chelsey’s 300-hour teacher course.

“Wellness and self care are not luxuries.....they are necessary and make us better people and a better society with a better understanding of ourselves and others”

Jenn soon saw the need for a studio that was solely devoted to meditation and wellness, and convinced Chelsey to join her in bringing the studio to life. “She said, ‘Just give me one year,’” Chelsey laughingly recalls, “and now here we are four years later.”

Chelsey had been in the wellness space for several years, opening the first meditation studio in Santa Monica, California in 2014, and moving to Dallas to open another studio. Since then, she developed and implemented a meditation curriculum for DISD, and her expertise earned her a web series as well as appearances on FOX, NBC, and WFAA.

Jenn knew that her background in financial operations and Chelsey’s extensive background in meditation would create an approachable and accessible meditation studio. They partnered with design firm Ten Plus Three to bring an intentionally luxurious, elevated feel to the studio. While they initially thought the majority of their clientele would come from fitness spaces like Pilates, they were pleasantly surprised to see many people coming on referral from their doctors and therapists.

Today, Breathe offers a wide variety of services, including breathwork, sound baths, crystal bed therapy, dry salt therapy, and so much more. They also provide several different trainings for those interested in increasing their knowledge, ranging from Meditation Teacher Certification to Sound Training Certification. If you’d like to learn more, visit them at breathemeditationandwellness.com, or give them a follow on Instagram at @breathemeditationandwellness

Founders Chesey

Charbaneau and Jennifer Moulaison

UnaVida Is Uptown’s New Oasis

Tucked away in Dallas' West Village, UnaVida is a brightly colored cantina-style restaurant boasting a menu resplendent with Mexican-inspired plates and libations. After taking in the flamingo-pink chairs and striped booths, the next thing that catches the eye is the ingredients. Cashew queso, tofu chorizo, and tri-color quinoa are just a few of the items customers can choose from. None of this is coincidentalUnaVida's menu was specifically designed to be accessible to anyone with dietary restrictions.

The creative force behind UnaVida's thoughtful and diverse bill of fare is none other than Matt McCallister, the acclaimed self-taught chef who has been instrumental in bringing about Dallas' recent culinary evolution. Matt's resume includes being nominated for the James Beard Award four times, and launching his own restaurant, FT33, which earned a Food & Wine Best New Chef nod. Matt is best known for his creativity and boldness, staying away from tired steakhouse fare and instead experimenting with seasonal vegetables and weekly menus using locally-sourced ingredients.

After Matt's last project came to an end, Michael Karns, CEO of Local Favorite Restaurants Group, reached out to him about a potential collaboration. The partnership came as a surprise to many - Local Favorite tends to focus on fast-casual concepts such as Twisted Root and Village

Burger Bar, whereas Matt's background lies in high-end dining experiences. But Matt was ready for a change of pace, and together they came up with UnaVida, an authentic, unpretentious neighborhood restaurant with an emphasis on clean, high-quality foods rather than the usual cheesy plates one might think of when they hear "Mexican food in Dallas."

When designing UnaVida's menu, Matt wanted the food to take center stage, in addition to being vegan and vegetarian friendly. "I'm more health-conscious than the typical chef," says Matt. As a result, UnaVida is unique in what it does and does not offer to those who come to its table. For example, no seed oils are used in the kitchen - extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil are used instead. Tallow also makes an appearance in the patatas bravas, tallow fried steak fries accompanied by salsa rojas, poblano cashew queso, jalapeño ranch, cinnamon pickled jalapeño, and cotija cheese. Proteins, like the grass-fed steak in the carne asada or the organic chicken in the Stacked Enchilada Verde, are always sustainably sourced. Whenever possible, UnaVida is also committed to sourcing local ingredients.

UnaVida's high standards are just as apparent in their drinks as they are in their food. Rather than simply pairing spirits and mixing drinks, UnaVida took it a step further and started the development of their cocktails in the kitchen, spending months to perfect bases that could then be used to layer and ensuring that the focus remained on the ingredients, not showmanship. The Chamboochi showcases honey simple syrup and lavender kombucha alongside gin, and the Island Time Shrub boasts a refreshing mix of mezcal, coconut water, and pineapple shrub. For those who aren't indulging in alcoholic beverages, aguas frescas like the Almond Horchata and the Hibiscus & Rose are available. Matt is especially fond of the 'The Whole' Meyer Lemonade, which - as the name implies - is a blend of simple syrup and a whole Meyer lemon, chosen for its floral profile.

Cozy and elevated but with a "cantina" feel

UnaVida is an authentic, unpretentious neighborhood restaurant focusing on clean, high-quality ingredients in all of its dishes for anyone to enjoy.

There’s no one right way to eat well, which is why UnaVida’s menu was specifically designed to be accessible to anyone with dietary restrictions. Whether you’re vegetarian, flexitarian, vegan, glutenfree, or anything in between, there’s something at UnaVida for you.

In addition to delicious mains and refreshing drinks, UnaVida also offers weekend brunch featuring Heartcake Benedict, Hotcakes Con Fruta, and Veggy Hash. Those who can't make it in time for brunch can choose from the Breakfast All Day menu. There's the Better Morning Bowl with tri-color quinoa, sweet potato, arugula, watermelon radish, chévre, hardboiled egg, avocado, pickled red onion, cilantro, ginger pepitas,  and cumin tahini, or the Chimichurri Breakfast Burrini, which includes a hot pressed burrito panini, cilantro rice, black beans, crispy yukons, chihuahua cheese, chimichurri vinaigrette, cashew crema, salsa verde, flour tortilla, and the option to add protein.

For the foodie who wants to bring some UnaVida magic home, The Market has crema de calabaza soup by the quart, dips like poblano queso and guacamole by the cup or pint, or proteins such as habanero lime shrimp, rainbow trout, or barbacoa brisket by the pound, to name a few.

As exciting as all of UnaVida's variety of gastronomical delights are, there's still more to come - like a crab tostada with Flaming Hot Cheeto powder and duck legs in confit accompanied by a Brussels sprout and jicama slaw.

No matter what you're eating these days, UnaVida has a little of something for everyone, so be sure to stop by 3699 McKinney Avenue #307 the next time you're in the West Village.

The restaurant is cozy yet open and full of energy from the food and decor to the courteous and welcoming staff

Bringing Joy

Back into the Kitchen

Chef Dennis Prescott Talks Falling in Love with Feeding People and the Connection Food Creates

Find the things that you love.

Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.”

Whether you know him from the Netflix hit Restaurants on the Edge or from his absolutely mouth-watering food photos as @ dennistheprescott on the ‘gram, this former-musician turned internationally-renowned Chef is an amazingly talented, thoughtful, and globe-trotting force to be reckoned with. When it comes to inspiration for creating experiences around food and your community, as well as creating travel bucket lists to some of the world’s most unique and delicious destinations off the beaten path, Chef ‘Dennis The Prescott’ is a culinary change maker whose feed you’ll want to feast on

Originally an aspiring musician, Canadian-born Dennis Prescott’s journey began while in university with a single invitation from another solo musician who asked him to tour with them around the US. This eventually took him to Nashville where they began making records and pursuing their musical dreams.

Yet, in the midst of all of this, Dennis was not taking care of himself — eating take out, dollar menus, etc, had become a way of life. A friend had a “come to Jesus” moment with him and stressed that he needed to start taking care of himself. Having no idea exactly what that meant or how to do so, the advice was simple: “You need to start eating better.”

The Start

“Go to the library and borrow some cookbooks,” his friend suggested. Dennis went to a nearby library and borrowed three books only to have his friend ask why he chose those in particular. Dennis remembers saying verbatim, “I don’t know? The guy on the cover looks kinda good looking, and I feel like I could probably pull these recipes off, and he seems really happy too!” As it turned out they were three books by Jamie Oliver; it’s just that he had no idea who Jamie Oliver was at the time.

Flash forward and Dennis’ first dinner-hosting experiment was made up of twenty people from the music studio, all sitting in camping chairs with beer koozies and makeshift tables in his apartment.

“I remember at the time this moment of, okay, the food is on the table, it’s a stressful thing, and then everybody tucks in and they take their first bite, and there’s a moment of hush that kind of came over everyone; it got really quiet just for a second, and then everyone started talking and getting into it and I fell in love with food right there at that moment.

What eventually followed were 13 episodes over nine months where the Restaurants on the Edge team traveled to and filmed restaurant revivals that included three in Canada, one in the continental US, one in Hawaii, and others outside of North America, including Hong Kong, Slovenia, Austria, Malta, St. Lucia and Finland.

CONTINUED >

“When you get off the beaten path a little bit, you learn the difference between vacation and travel.

Travel Recommendations for Foodies

“Slovenia borders Italy and Croatia, which is to say there are a lot of shared values in and around food; they have really great cheese, dairy, beef, pasta, but very few tourists, hardly any. So if you love Italy, that kind of specific travel and food experience, particularly Northern Italy, because you can see the Alps from where they are. It’s picture perfect, a beautiful place, and also where orange wine is from.”

Dennis also highly recommends Costa Rica, Hawaii and Finland.

“Most people love the idea of travel, but we tend to pick the same places when we travel, and there is nothing wrong with that, they are amazing for a reason, but when you get off the beaten path a little bit, you learn the difference between vacation and travel.”

Restaurants on the Edge is important and meaningful to Chef Prescott because it tells stories of hope and joy and redemption around the kitchen. Oftentimes the food space can be very stressful, but he believes that at the end of the day, people just want to spend time with other people that they love.

One of the most common fears Dennis hears from people cooking and/or grilling at home is, ‘where do I start? I don’t know how to get going, so I just don’t.’

Rather than overcomplicating it, Dennis recommends cooking the things that bring you joy — things that are on a restaurant menu you can’t NOT order because you’re so pumped that those dishes are on there.

“Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.”

ZONE BLUE

What’s the secret to a happy, healthy, and long life? Believe it or not, it’s actually quite simple: There are no secret ingredients, no sizable expenditures, and absolutely zero manufactured elements of any kind. Dive in with us as we share insights from our interview with the internationally renowned Blue Zones Founder, National Geographic Explorer, and award-winning journalist who is revolutionizing the way Americans make choices that can lead to living your best life.

For over twenty years, Dan Buettner has been fully committed to studying the health and longevity of Americans as well as influencing the proper and attainable health-centric environments our communities should embody. What started with identifying five “blue zones” around the world where people are both living longer as well as enjoying a higher quality of life in their elder years has now also evolved into proactively creating eco-systems where our communities engage in setting the standard for clean health.

Most of us are well aware of the “American way of life” we reside in, that being one of convenience in all shapes and forms. We excel in offering the most fast food options in any country. We rank at the top of the most cars per household. We embrace a sedentary at-home lifestyle. In short, we categorically live in a country where processed foods and ultra-convenience, unfortunately, translate to life-threatening health diseases and a lack of organic joy.

What is the best news of all? All of these characteristics are wildly easy to overcome with effortless, yet conscious pivots to making better decisions with our time, our food, and our focus. Ask yourself: Are you driving or walking? Are you connecting socially? Set your sights on avoiding the majority of processed foods and start eating a largely whole-food and plant-based diet that will (statistically) give you another 10-12 years on your life.

Buettner’s first cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen, is a fantastic resource featuring ingredients and cooking methods that can increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. The recipes also include lifestyle tips such as proper portion sizes and the best times to eat dinner. Plus, check out his additional seven books that dig deep into the exact foods you should eat to how your circle of friends and family can influence your quality of life.

Who do you hang out with? Happiness is contagious. “The Blue Zone approach is to go through your contact base and think of some friends whose recreation is pickleball, biking, or gardening. Who will care about you on a bad day and have a meaningful conversation? Identify one or two friends who are vegan or vegetarian and show you how and where to eat whole foods. Actively invite them out for lunch, and bring them into your social circle: this will have a bigger, long-term impact on your behavior than any new diet or exercise, and it costs you zero. Plus, there is a ton of data that shows it works, and it’s long-term.”

Every time you go out to eat, you will consume an extra 300 calories that are laden with more sodium, sugar, and oil than eating at home. “Get your hands on a plant-based cookbook, pick a dozen recipes, and cook those with your family on Sundays. If you make the effort to cook it with your family, you will gain the skills and learn to make some good and whole food plant-based recipes.”

Tap into Dan’s wisdom that is creating a new category of places that are not merely the legacy of a healthy culture, but more consciously created by enlightened individuals that are intent on supercharging healthier communities!

MARCH 2024

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

MARCH 3RD

LoveLab - Workshop for Couples

Breathe Meditation and Wellness | 2:00 PM

Join Life Coach Nikki Sheppard for a day of learning, reflection, and practical tools that will empower you and your partner to build a resilient and fulfilling relationship.  $199 per couple Reserve your spot at breathemeditationandwellness.com

MARCH 9TH

Samuel Lynne Galleries presents Brandon Boyd

Samuel Lynne Galleries - Flagship on Dragon | 5:00 PM

Brandon Boyd returns to Dallas for a very special evening to present this amazing exhibition.  The artist's works will be on view through March 31st at Samuel Lynne Galleries.  Email info@samuellynne.com to be placed on the waitlist for this sold out opening.

MARCH 23RD

Radiant Renewal Retreat

Dallas, TX | 9:00 AM

Step into a realm of self-discovery and empowerment at this immersive experience crafted for women seeking a profound journey of transformation with teacher and guide Jessica Stepnowski.  $375 per person reserve your spot and get more information at breathemeditationandwellness.com

Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub

This homemade sugar scrub is easy to make and leaves you with silky soft skin

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup of granulated sugar

• ½ cup of oil (almond oil or olive oil works best)

• ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil

• ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract

• 15 drops lavender essential oil

DIRECTIONS:

Sugar scrubs are amazing for getting rid of dead skin and exfoliating to reveal soft skin.

To make this Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub, mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight jar.

Our favorite medical aesthetic team is ready to ELEVATE your look.