Sunday 28 January 2018

A Day Off from Cooking

Sometimes, its nice to have a break!
Although I cook for others, its nice for others to be able to spend time cooking for me.

I'm still in Jamaica on leave and due back to London shortly. 
The State of Emergency in Jamaica is a welcome relief for many and I will be venturing out to Dr's Cave Beach tomorrow if the weather holds up!

I've managed to accomplish quite a lot, even though it has been a working holiday.
You may have seen that I have updated my website www.angellawilliams.co.uk

I have even manged to update The Healed Project which I'm really looking forward to delivering and launching in February. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/angella-williams-942

We haven't quite started Crowd Funding for this yet, so hope to do more of this when I get back.

So my family decided to treat me to a delicious, meal and I have had to ensure I do plenty of walking otherwise you and I both know what will happen.

I've lots to do when I get back and literally will hit the ground running the day after I return.
More private cooking, private dining and team building activities. I've even launched a local networking event which will be running monthly.

I did this because its good to get out and meet new people and also to see what is going on in the local community and this will be at brand new Streatham Space Project, a new hub for creatives. Live shows, music a cafe, meeting space and more so really looking forward to Streatham Hill Ladies Who Latte.

So that's all for now and hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Monday 22 January 2018

How I lost weight as a Juicy Vegan

Then put it all back on again!

I've always been relatively active, health and weight conscious.  But when I hurt my knee doing Shaun T's Insanity, its been a struggle jogging frequently so now I tend to walk as much as I can with the occasional jog.  I went from walking around 60 minutes every morning, to increasing this to twice a day.  Both morning and evening, it works plus I get to clear my head and often take a notebook with me if any ideas pop up.

I'm currently in Jamaica walking every day; there's a hill that is so steep, I don't need to do any squats. I have increased this to four uphill walks which up and down totals to eight!

Being a Private Cook and being around food, means that I have to reflect a healthy lifestyle.  Given the food is so delicious here, I have to be careful.  For me personally, I cannot eat and not exercise. If I say my focus is on Caribbean Cuisine with European and Plant based fusions, then I need to reflect a healthy lifestyle.  How else would my clients book me for Private Dining? www.angellawilliams.co.uk

So, with the vegan lifestyle, I did this for 40 Days, lost 14lbs but then felt too skinny.  It's a balance and if I feel that I have eaten too much or over indulged I will juice for a few days. My aim is really to get a two pac - six pack for me would be too excessive.

I do think being around food, is important to reflect good health - why then would anyone want to eat from you otherwise? If I say I love people and love cooking for people then I need to practice what I preach and not what I eat. 



Sunday 21 January 2018

Jamaica - State of Emergency!

So, I’m still in Jamaica, which has been declared a State of Emergency and has been on lockdown since Thursday.  Supermarkets close at 7pm, Bars and petrol stations 9pm. Venturing out after 10pm without ID is liable to get you arrested by the Military who are armed and patrolling the now deserted streets.
Proud Jamaican’s welcome this given Montego Bay’s crime rate and senseless killings have escalated through gang warfare and lotto scamming contributing to 98% of the crime.
Overall, I’m safe and well, staying in my little cottage 15 minutes’ drive from Dr’s Cave Beach and happy that I managed to complete writing up of the six-week course for The Healed Project while sat in Starbucks overlooking the beach. So excited and looking forward to delivering the pilot in February.

Even so, Jamaica is still beautiful, there’s an ambiance of what I can only describe as sweet relief.  I ventured out this morning after upping my game to 10,000 steps covering 8,421 so will go back this evening before the sun goes down.  Someone once asked how come I cook so well and not fat?  I exercise, and as a Private Cook it’s important to portray good health, eating the way I want my clients to eat.
But I must say the food here is amazingly delicious – and I can really understand why high net worth individuals love Jamaica.  Food is locally sourced which means produce at the farmers market is and contributes to everything tasting so heavenly and homely.  Sometimes people just want to taste good quality food.  It doesn’t need to be gourmet every single day, but delicious, nutritious and healthy which is why I love what I do.  There’s just no better way than to love people other than through food, its like inviting people over for dinner, but private fine dining with a twist.
I will be doing more Team building activities in 2018 because I think every needs to learn a new still from time to time which is why I had to learn patchwork quilting – like baking which I find equally very soothing.

I’ll keep you updated with the Jamaican food trends as well as the lockdown but nothing to worry about.  If you are not a gang member it will not pertain to you. 






Friday 12 January 2018

Dear January, its been a while

For the New Year, I decided to start blogging on this platform again.

I must admit I'd neglected this blog as I didn't think I had time. I tried blogging on my website, but then deleted it and came back to this platform which for me, feels more natural and as my business has grown I feel more comfortable sharing here, so here it is, my personal blog, better late than never!

Well I don't know about you, but I guess like many 2017 was a challenging year?  I spent a few unexpected months back and forth to Jamaica and now here for the winter month of January researching the latest food trends and excited to see how 2018 unfolds.

During my time in Jamaica, I got to taste some of the most delicious food.  Mostly 90% of what I ate was freshly picked and the other 10% I must admit was chocolate or bordering on Rum Cream. I managed share a few of my stories on Instagram with a few snaps then following on with my trend of healthy eating; shared my 40 Days as a Juicy Vegan on LinkedIn basically raising awareness of the benefits of a Plant based eating.

I  also had the opportunity of following my life long passion which is to empower broken women to start a business and from this desire, The Healed Project Pilots February 2018.  The Project has Sponsorship packages available and has slots for Business Mentors.  If you would like to be involved click here to find out more justgiving.com/crowdfunding/angella-williams-942

So after a turbulent 2017, it is only fitting to begin the year researching the latest food trends, which finds me once again in Montego Bay Jamaica.

I've also updated my website so if you notice anything different or like the new look feel free to let me know www.angellawilliams.co.uk

Wishing you a wonderful and prosperous 2018