feel food club

My November Top 6

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We are approaching the end of the year and only have 2 months left. I know I say this every time I write the Top 6 but it simply is crazy how time flies – and it is crazy how many Top 5 or Top 6 have already been uploaded on the blog! Because we do not even have full 60 days left of this year, we need to make the most out of those! These November Top 6 should help you do so! This restaurant, food, recipe, product, workout and inspiration aim to inspire you to make the most out of November and enjoy it! As usual, all of these tips and recommendations come from myself and my experiences, nothing here is sponsored. I am wishing you a wonderful, delicious and healthy November!

Restaurant of the Month – Iko Sushi

If you are looking for an incredibly delicious, non-expensive and super centrally located, healthy modern asian fusion restaurant, then IKO is perfect for you! Here you will find all different kinds of super tasty sushi rolls, rice bowls, salads, soups – all your asian heart is dreaming of! Plus it is amazing to reach with public transport, the staff is super friendly and the food is really affordable!

I myself have gotten to know this restaurant through a friend of mine. She always told me that this is super delicious and quick and she loves to go there! So I joined her and I was really not disappointed by what she has promised me. We went there by food from the Tram and Underground Station „Schottentor“ and it was a nice 10 minute walk. However, there are several other stations such as Stephansplatz (U1, U3 & 1A), Herrengasse (U3, 1A, 2A), Hoher Markt (1A, 3A) and Salztorbrücke (1, 2, 2A). You see – there are multiple ways to get there via public transport!

What I loved so much about this restaurant was that it had so many vegetarian and vegan options, and that these were super tasty and not boring at all! You could opt for vegan sushi, rice bowls, curry, salads, and so on. We went there for lunch and chose a Vegan Don, which is a rice bowl with stir fried veggies and tofu, and pure salad, which consisted of sweet potatoes, lotus root, greens, mung-beans and a pomelo-lime dressing. Both were packed with flavour and very filling! Plus it was super quick, which makes it an amazing lunch break restaurant!

If you go there for dinner, there are even more options to choose from – you can for example choose from 18 different rolls, numerous tapas, mains and sushi sets. And let me tell you, they all sound super mouth water! We were completely convinced from this restaurant and will definitely go there more often from now on! Also, the interior is super cool, a bit chic and definitely a place anyone feels comfortable in! The open kitchen also adds an authentic flair and the Japanese speaking chefs make you feel as if you were in Japan.

So, next time you are running errands in that area or want a nice dinner place to catch up with your friends, IKO is the perfect place to go. I can really only highly recommend it!

Food of the month – Apples

an apple a day keeps the doctor away! Probably every single one of us has heard this sentence hundreds of times – so it is no surprise that apples are healthy! But what actually makes them so healthy that you should eat one every day? This is a very good question that we‘ll answer here. Plus, we‘ll explore the best way of how to use apple in cooking!

Apples are one of the few foods that are grown worldwide. They originated in central Asia and there are – incredible – 7500 different types of apples!! Such a crazy number. From a nutritional point of view it can be said that apples are amazing! One medium sized apple contains about 100 calories, 25 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fibre as well as a decent amount of Vitamin C, K and potassium.

Due to its high carbohydrate content, the apple is great for quick energy! The fibre from the carbohydrates makes sure you feel full and stay full for long. So why should you eat one a day? Well, maybe because one apple contains about 14% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to improve your immune system and keep you healthy. However, our bodies can, unfortunately, not store Vitamin C, so we have to gain it from food everyday on the new.

Now we know why they are healthy but how should we best eat an apple? On the blog you can find several recipe including apple. For example the NO-BLENDING & EASY 1 BOWL HEALTHY APPLE PIE BAKED OATS, the WINTER SALAD WITH BAKED APPLE, PINK CHRISTMAS APPLE SAUCE – which is an all time favourite we make in bulk every year – BIRCHER MUESLI WITH HONEY POACHED APPLE, also a family love that is amazing for meal-prep, or make my cousin‘s favourite HEALTHY APPLE CRUMBLE CAKE!

In general apples are very versatile! They do not only taste amazing when biting into a fresh one, they are also super delicious when cooked or baked – in a cake or pure! Maybe surprisingly, apples actually taste great in combination with savoury food – for example chicken. You could try this combination in salads with fresh and crunchy apple or you could also make roasted chicken with apples. The sweetness from the apples and the savoury chicken work in great balance with each other! Apples also taste great in tabouleh or bowls. What also always is a good idea is an apple crumble or apple cake! However, my all time fav will always be the Christmas apple sauce – nothing beats this!

Recipe of the Month – Vegan (!!) Teriyaki-Lemon Shrimpz Stir-Fry Noodles with Bell Peppers

We all know these fall days where we just want to cuddle into a huge blanket, sit on the couch, watch some Netflix and batch in comfort with a bowl of comfort food right? Some carby, salty goodness that just warms one from the inside. And since the temperatures are dropping outside, it is high time to warm oneself from the inside. And there are few better ways to do so than with this Vegan Teriyaki Lemon Shrimpz Stir-Fry Noodles with Bell Pepper. The Lemony-Teriyaki sauce tastes so unique and is so addicting that you will want to have 3 more bowls of these noodles!

The name makes it sound like a super complicated, fancy dish but indeed it is the complete opposite! This asian inspired stir-fry is ready in few minutes and super delicious! It really only takes a bit of vegetable chopping, mixing a sauce, boiling noodles and frying shrimpz. Or if you want an even lazier version of it, then just pop the shrimpz into the oven for 20 minutes, turning them occasionally and there are even less dishes to clean!

In addition to the simplicity of this recipe, it needs to be said that it is pretty healthy too. Since we have a lot of veggies in here, we make sure that our body gets enough nutrients and fibre to keep us happy and healthy as well as full and satisfied. The noodles provide comforting carbs that give us energy, and they also come with some protein, which is important for several reasons, including muscle and bone health.

We not only loving making this as a comforting, quick dinner but actually also as an easy lunch! Since it does not take a lot of time to make this recipe, it also works great as such! In addition this stir-fry is really versatile as you can just make it a bit spicier or add a different protein or different vegetables if you like! Therefore, it is a family favorite and has already become a staple recipe at home!

Product of the month – Vegan Zeastar Crispy Lemon Shrimpz

Nothing beats some crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, delicious shrimps, right? Well it definitely is a dream tastewise but after having watched Seaspiracy you know that fish consumption definitely is not a dream from a sustainability perspective (Seaspiracy is a documentation about the fishing industry and its dramatic consequences). Fortunately, we do not need to destroy our oceans and environment in order to have that delicious shrimp flavour. How so? By opting for vegan fish alternatives like Vegan Zeastar!

It is crazy which consequences our fish consumption has on the planet. After having watched Seaspiracy my dad and I were really shocked. And more we questioned ourselves what the solution would be? Plant based fish alternatives – yes – but we have never tried those and certainly not have seen them at a supermarket. Until suddenly Vegan Zeastar popped up in the frozen food section of SPAR a few weeks ago. Once I saw this there was no way around trying it – so I gave it a shot!

How do they taste?

We all know those claims from plant based versions of animal products that claim that the product tastes exactly like the real deal. And we all know that this is not true in most of the cases. So I was a bit suspicious when I made the Shrimpz for the first time. Given that, it was twice as surprising that these Shrimpz really resemble the taste of real shrimps very, very well. It does not taste 100% identical but somewhere between 85% and 90% I would say! The only difference in my opinion is that the Vegan Zeastar Shrimpz have a slight Lemony taste and are a bit softer consistency wise.

How to prepare them: 3 different ways

Also preparation wise I was really convinced of these Shrimpz. They come already coated in breadcrumbs in the packaging, so you only need to heat them up. The package suggests that you deep fry them. I tried 3 different version of preparing them and they all turned out to taste equally delicious: deep frying (the Shrimpz are completely covered in oil – there is about 4-5cm of oil in the pan), semi-deep frying (where you use less oil – about 1cm) and oven baking (here I just drizzled the shrimps with oil and bake them at 225°C for 20 minutes, flipping them every 5 minutes). My preferred method definitely was oven baking because 1) it is the easiest way to make them with the least work, 2) it is the healthiest method since the least fat is used and 3) there is no food waste (when deep frying food, usually most oil is wasted). And really, there barely was any difference in taste. However, deep frying them definitely is the quickest way to prepare them.

How to enjoy them?

A great way to serve them is as an appetiser with a dipping sauce, like a vegan mayo. They would also taste amazing on top of a fresh salad or in a buddha bowl. Another way we love to serve them is with some soup – a curry soup or an asian inspired pumpkin soup for example. In the recipe that you‘ll find on my blog, they are accompanied by a teriyaki noodle stir-fry. This combination, in my mind, is unbeatable. As you can see – there are endless opportunities – just serve them as you would serve regular shrimps!

Workout of the month – 25 Minute Evening Yoga Ritual by Jessica Richburg

There are those workouts where 10 minutes feel like 25 and those where 25 minutes feel like 10. This evening yoga routine by Jessica Richburg definitely is one of the second kind. In this Video Jessica takes you through a relaxing, grounding, stretching Yoga session to wind down at the end of a long, exhausting day. It is perfect to relax your mind and body.

Yoga can can be tough. If not practiced regularly even 15 minute yoga videos can be very long. In this Video by Jessica Richburg you will definitely not have this feeling though! When I made this for the first time I was shocked by how quickly it went by and by how relaxed I was at the end of it! To be fair, I could have gone on listening and following her along for another 25 minutes.

The exercises in this video are none that require great strength or energy, they are really stretching and calming for the most part. Through the breath exercises, you calm your breath and your energy levels, which is perfect just before going to bed. The exercises are just long enough that you really feel a stretch but not too long, so you do not get bored by them. The long shavasana at the end also is perfect to round everything off and gain mental clarity at the end of the day.

I am not exaggerating when I say that this is my favourite evening yoga session that I have ever done. It by now has already almost become part of my evening routine and I can only highly recommend you trying it out! I would love to know how you like it!

Inspiration of the month – Netflix Explained (the mind)

Netflix and Inspiration may at first seem like a contradiction. When thinking of this streaming platform one automatically tends to think about all the classic series to entertain that one cannot stop watching. I though the same until I recently went onto Netflix and stumbled across this series, which was very new to me: Netflix Explained.

What is it about?

The format Netflix Explained aims to inform the watcher about a subject in an easy to understand way that still covers the subject in depth. There are several subjects that are covered with this format including money, corona virus, US elections and also the mind. For „the mind explained“ there are 5 different, 20-minute episodes on 5 different topics: Memory, Dreams, Anxiety, Mindfulness and Psychedelics. The information is backed up by scientific research and explained with animations and interviews. This way it is really easy to follow along, understand information and interesting to watch.

After watching the first episode we were so gripped that we continued watching the next ones. Not only is this series really well made production wise but also incredibly interesting regarding the information it conveys. I personally believe there are few topics as interesting as how our mind works.

how much does it cost?

Unfortunately you cannot only purchase this series but you have to pay a monthly subscription to Netflix in order to watch this. The plans go from 7.99€ to 17.99€ a month depending on how many devices can watch at the same time and the quality in which can be watched. But if you subscribe you have access to what seems like endless series and documentaries – and many different explained episodes!

If you are looking for an interesting, informative yet easy to watch series, the mind is an amazing option! I love it and will continue to watch it on different topics!

I really hope that these tips will help you have the most amazing November and get the most out of it! I am wishing you a lot of beautiful, cozy, healthy and happy days!

Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

My October Top 6

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After a little summer break we‘re back – just in time for the start of fall. A bunch of you told me that you missed the Top 6 series and really, I missed it too. So, let‘s continue with it and start the fall the best possible way! We again are covering my favorite restaurant, recipe, food, workout, inspiration and product for the month of October. Before we start, let me tell you: you can be very excited for what’s to come! As always: nothing here is sponsored or influenced in any way, those all are personal favorites that I genuinely enjoy!

Restaurant of the month – das Vivet

As a Viennese it seems a bit embarrassing to say that I had not known das Vivet until a few weeks ago. Apparently it is a very popular brunch, lunch & drinks restaurant/ bar for young people. Well, better late than never, we went there and it has become very clear why it is so popular!

The furniture is rather simple and cool, with a little vintage vibe. The bar probably is the star of the show interior wise – fully stocked and looking incredible! We though, had not come for drinks but for brunch. And you know, expectations were very high due to all the good reviews I have heard. And Das Vivet definitely did not disappoint.

We had pretty much ordered the entire menu – up and down and really enjoyed it! Avocado-Cottage Cheese Bread, Vegan Trio, Smoothie Bowls, Pancakes with Bacon, Egg & Maple Syrup and Sweet Pancakes. If you go there, the sweet pancakes are a must!! We actually enjoyed them so much that we reordered them a second time! All dishes were different from each other, yet tasted really good. And the bread!! It was heaven. If I am being honest, I would recommend anything but the Vegan Trio – it personally did not convince me. Other than that: I can only highly recommend trying it out! And I would love to know how you like it!

Food of the month – Tofu

  • orange tofu
  • peanut noodle stir fry

Tofu: the staple ingredient in any vegan‘s or vegetarian‘s kitchen! How could it not be? It is cheap, it is super versatile, you can pretty much find it at any supermarket and it is healthy! Wait – is it? Let us find out!

Without a doubt, tofu is one of the most popular plant-based sources of protein! How come? Not only its high protein content contributes to this, but also the fact that tofu is a ‚complete protein‘. This means that it contains all the essential amino acids, 9 to be exact, which our body cannot produce by itself and therefore has to absorb it through the food we eat. These amino acids are essential for us in order to really make use of the protein, repair tissue and absorb nutrients!

Moreover, tofu also comes along with several other nutritious stars! It also contains fibre, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, copper, and so on. It would take ages explaining how all of those are important to us, but it is good to know that tofu is a great source of them!

  • curry noodles
  • sushirrito

What is more, tofu also is way less harmful to the environment than most other meat sources. Compared to beef for example, which produces 50kgCo2e (the e stands for equivalents) per 100g of protein, tofu only produces 2kgCo2e. Keep in mind that this is the case for both products being produced at more or less the same place. And yes, maybe surprisingly to some, there is tofu that has been produced in Austria! Just check next time you go to the store!

So, all in all it definitely can be said that tofu indeed is a very healthy food, good for ourselves and good for the planet. If you now need some ideas for how to use it you can either scroll to the next point – the recipe of the month, or click on one of the following recipes: the best ever 15-minute veggie tofu peanut noodle stir-fry, 20 minute vegan peanut & greens spring sushirrito, super easy 20-minute sticky orange tofu, saucy green curry noodles with oven baked crispy sesame tofu,

Recipe of the month – Better than Takeout Crispy Sweet Chili Tofu

This recipe is called „Better than Takeout“ for a reason. This tofu recipes is better than any dish you could order. Plus, it really is not hard to make, meaning: there are no excuses not to make it!

What is so amazing about this recipe is that we have this crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside tofu that is packed with flavor. And although it has been tossed in a sauce after baking, it still is quite crispy. Yet, the sauce makes sure it actually tastes good and not like that plain tofu pulp in your mouth.

Even better so, the sweet chili sauce is not the average one you buy at the store. Not difficult to make, it is a healthier version of the regular one. What is more, it also tastes bettet because it is homemade. And you can also use the sauce in so many different ways, not only with tofu. Use it as a dressing, throw it into stir fries, use it as a dip. The options are endless (and all delicious), so you better make sure you never run out of this deliciousness!

Brand of the month – Franzlbauer

It feels a bit wrong to call this a brand, but I think you get the point. Franzlbauer is a farmer in lower Austria (a half an hour car drive from Vienna), growing the most amazing pumpkins! You feel as if you were in a Disney movie when you come here!

While a pumpkin farm may not seem like the most interesting thing ever, Franzlbauer really proves this wrong. It is located in a small village and to your left and to your right, there are fields (where you can even pick flowers yourself!)!

The farm-shop itself also is pretty cool! There is a exhibition of 400 different kinds of pumpkin (like whaaaat) in all different colors – orange, yellow, green, grey, white, … a real paradise! Then in the shop you can also buy plenty different pumpkins! From basic Hokkaido & Buttern Squash to acorn squash and Thai-pumpkin. A real paradise.

Maybe you do not find a pumpkin farm too exciting, however I think it is so amazing to take a ride and go there and see where your food is coming from. See the fields and the fresh produce and bear a reference to where your food actually is coming from and where it is grown. What is more, this is the perfect occasion to try something new, grab and cook a pumpkin you have never had before and cook something different! On top of that, the pumpkins there are way cheeper than in regular supermarkets – another bonus!

It may have been the first time I went to Franzlbauer but it for sure is not the last time. It was such a great experience and I can only recommend going there!

Workout of the month – Christa DiPaolo Full Body Kickboxing Workout

A sweat session that makes sure you are sore on your entire body afterwards and releases a hell lot of endorphins. Isn’t that exactly what you want from a workout? If it is, then this workout is PERFECT for you! Christa will make sure that you feel incredible after the workout!

After being semi-sick for several weeks, I really could not wait to go back to working out! And seriously, this was the best start. You know, there are some videos which make you love work out and some which make you hate it! This definitely is one of the first kind. Such an empowering, happy, powerful woman pushing you to your limits while having fun!

This boxing workout is a great mixture of cardio and strength in my opinion. You train your entire body, your abs, legs & arms while also jumping around a lot and improving your cardio. And all in a fun way – not a HIT-death kind of way!

So, if you really want to have some fun, there is no way around trying this workout!!

Inspiration of the month – Tuesdays with Morrie

This book – I don‘t even know how to describe it, I just love it! It js definitely not a regular book but one, that maybe will change your life. Or rather make you want to change your life! The full name of the book is „tuesdays with Morrie – an old man, a ypung man, and life‘s greatest lessons“ – and yes, the book does its title justice.

What you need to keep in mind when reading this book is that it actually is a true story, it had been written because of real events. That only makes it more touching.

So what is it about?

Basically, an old professor is diagnosed with an incurable illness. When one of his former students finds out about this, he comes visit him. And he continues to come every Tuesday. The two decide to view this weekly visit as a college class, going through one topic of life each week. The topics cover everything from regrers, feeling sorry for yourself, death, love, family, money, forgiveness, emotion and so on. All in all there are 14 topics covered.

What makes this book so special is not necessarily the topics but that it is genuinely told from an old man facing death and reflecting about his life. There are SO many great lessons you can take away from this book and it‘ll just let you see life from a different angle. It is pretty thin, about 170 pages, and therefore (unfortunately) a super quick read! I can only suggest you order or buy it right away and get ready to change your life!

So, here we are, in fall again! I hope that you will have an incredible month of October ahead of you and that you‘ll really enjoy the leaves turning orange, the beautiful light and the cozy days at home! And maybe, with one of these favorites, your month will get even better! Who knows?

If you try out any of those recommendations, I would love to hear how you like them!

Enjoy your fall,
Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

My July Top 6

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With the start of this month, we are also starting into the second half of the year. These monthly favorites always make me realize how crazily quick time flies. And these monthly top 6 are for sure going to bring you through July in the best possible way. Honestly, everything you need for summer. As usual, nothing here is sponsored, everything is based on personal experience and recommendations. I hope you‘ll enjoy everything and have the best summer ever!

Restaurant of the Month – Himmelblau

It really is a surprise that this restaurant has not been on the blog before, except for the brunch guide. This café, which is located in the 18th district of Vienna, is one of my favorites, if not my favorite café in town. Right in the middle of the Kutschkermarkt you can get heavenly coffee, breakfast, and cakes. And a weekly changing lunch menu.

Why is it so special and so good? Well, first up the location. Himmelblau probably is the café with the best location in Vienna. When you‘re sitting outside, you find yourself in the middle of colorful fruit and vegetable vendors, fishers and butchers and a lot of smiling and chatting people. The atmosphere is just incredibly relaxed and happy.  

Then the food: it may not be that instragrammable, fancy brunch but that is what makes it so loveable. It is hard to oversee how much love goes into every single dish prepared. The breakfast combos are versatile, delicious, and there for sure is something for everyone. You could get an avocado or also just a Semmel with Jam. The range is from traditional Austrian to international cuisine, but always with this grounded touch and lots of love.

What is more, everyone there is super friendly and super happy. If you have 5 extra wishes that also works perfectly fine. And waiting times are minimal. The food and drinks don‘t take long until they are on your table. The only disadvantage: Himmelblau does not take reservations on the weekend, so you probably have to wait for a table (which is no big deal to be honest, since you can have your first coffee while waiting )

Food of the Month – Tomatoes

In summer there is no other way but to choose tomatoes as the food of the month. Plus, tomatoes are my favorite fruit of them all (yes, I like them even more than avocados). When I was a kid I would ALWAYS snack on tomatoes. Yes, I would choose tomatoes over chocolate or gummy bears – that is how big my love for them is. Nowadays I still snack on tomatoes all the time, which definitely contributes to the fact that summer is my favorite season of them all.

Anyway, besides their incredibly delicious flavor and my addiction, why are tomatoes the food of the month. Tomatoes, being part of the nightshade family, have a super high water content. They are made up of 95% water. This on the one hand is very beneficial for us, because they are very hydrating, yet it is harmful for the environment because they need a lot of water to grow.

In terms of nutritional value, tomatoes are a super star. They contain a decent amount of fiber and are very low in carbohydrates. One regular sized tomato provides more than 25% of the recommend amount of vitamin C for a day. This makes it a great fruit for your immune system. Besides, it also contains potassium, Vitamin K1 and Folate. In addition, tomatoes have also been linked to several healthy benefits.

What is more, tomatoes are super easy to prepare and super tasty in any way. They are very delicious in any way of preparation. As a warm or cold soup, dried or pickled or as tomato sauce. Also in dishes like the Honey Roasted Tomato Caprese or the Eggplant Tomato Stew, or the Tomato White Wine Pasta.

Tomatoes are just unbeatable. Their flavor, their versatility and their nutritional value all together make it a well-deserved food of the month!

Recipe of the month – Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Asparagus & Pesto

Potatoes always are a good choice. But crispy potatoes are not just a good choice, they are an excellent choice. Crispy, salty and golden brown on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. Paired with tangy pesto and fresh asparagus and the combination is perfect. And it really is not difficult to make.

This recipe is one I personally really love. Making it is actually easy. All you need to do is boil the potatoes, dry them, smash, and bake them. In the meantime, you can prepare the herb dip if you want to. What also is great about this recipe is that you can easily prepare it beforehand and the just bake it whenever you want. This also makes it very suitable for when you have guests over!

Plus, the recipe is pretty nutrient dense. Both, potatoes, and herbs are very nutritious, making this a very balanced meal. You could just enjoy them as they are or have them as a side or with a salad and some avocado. Regardless of the way you‘ll eat them, I am sure you will love them.

Product of the month – Charity Special Feel Good Bowl

This product of the month is, contrary to the ones before, one, which I have a personal connection too. If you have read my previous Monthly Top 6 you know Elena‘s Buddha Bowls. It is a restaurant/ Buddha Bowl Bar in Vienna that focuses on creating high quality, delicious and healthy buddha bowls. Most ingredients are organic and everything is prepared in a healthy way, either steamed or pan-fried.

Together with Elena form Elena‘s Buddha Bowls, I have created this Feel Good Buddha Bowl. Why feel good? It is designed to make you feel good and make you do good. Feel good because all ingredients are very nutritious and amazing for your body, and feel good because it simply tastes reallyyyy good! And do good because this bowl also has a charity impact. 5% of every single sold bold is donated to the NGO Oxfam Germany to help fight world hunger.

The Feel Good Bowl is available for 1 Month, from June 28th until July 28th and costs 10€. It is prepared like a typical buddha bowl, so made up of a base, a dressing, a protein, add-ons, a sauce, and toppings. As a base we‘re using half spinach and half spelt rice. I know that spelt rice sounds very interesting and very healthy, but trust me – it is really, good. I promise you; it tastes good. I was really surprised myself. The add-ons are cherry tomatoes and broccolini as specials (those usually are not available), hummus, avocado, and edamame. All those taste really delicious!! Then as a sauce we have a tomato-peanut sauce and on top of this are some pomegranate seeds and crunchy onions. All together it tastes like summer in a bowl – just delicious.

This project really is one that means SO much to me, because it shows that we can make an impact together.

Workout of the month – ShapedbyIB Scorch

You need to know that I am currently writing this in my chair and I haven‘t quite walked for a few hours because my legs are so sore. Sore from yesterday‘s Shaped by IB Scorch. Maybe you know the Shaped by IB online workouts from previous monthly Top 6 and already felt like dying doing those. But scorch in real life is another level of intensity.

What is Shaped by IB and what is Scorch? Shaped by IB is a fitness studio in the heart of Vienna at the Danube canal and soon in Taborstraße. It was founded by three friends and claims to be the hardest workout in town. All workouts are a mix of cardio and strength parts and you will definitely sweat in every single class. You train in a dark room with super loud music and colorful disco lights. May sound a bit odd at first but the atmosphere is so energizing and motivating.

Scorch is one of their three trainings. It is a mix of boxing, strength training and cardio. After a warm-up, you start with 6 minutes of one of those aspects. During the last 30 seconds of each 6 minute interval, the read light is turned on. That means you now must go all in and give everything that is left.

So, let‘s say you start with the treadmill. For 6 minutes you will now do intervals on the treadmill and switch between sprinting and rather relaxing phases. Then you move on to the strength part, which is made up of several different exercises which you repeat as often as possible within those 6 minutes. After, you go to the boxing station and will box different combinations for 6 minutes straight. The last 30 seconds are freestyle boxing, which honestly is the best way to release any tension or stress that has been carried around for a while within you. When you are done, and everything already feels like gummy, then you repeat everything one more time.

I am not exaggerating when I say you‘ll be drenching in sweat afterwards but I also am not exaggerating when I say that you will feel incredible afterwards. All this pushing towards your limits and beyond makes you become a so much stronger person inside and out. If you want to leave your comfort zone and push yourself, you really NEED to go to a Scorch session.

One trial session costs 15€, then depending on which rate you chose it varies from 20-25€. Not cheap, but very well invested money for sure.

Inspiration of the month – Nate O’Brien

This month the inspiration is not a book, not a movie, and not a documentary. It is a youtuber. No, not one doing vlogs and pranks but one who really can inspire. I have found Nate O‘Brien a few months ago, when a friend recommended him to me. She said that he is a pretty cool youtuber. So I checked him out. And I really started to like his videos.

They are focused on how to improve your life (mostly from habits) and on economics. The main topics he is covering, are minimalism, stocks, habits from successful people, productivity, books and investments. What is so great about his videos, is that you can really learn and take away so much from every single one and implement it yourself.

The videos are around 10 minutes long and are uploaded pretty much weekly (although he took a little break last month). I personally enjoy his habit videos (e.g. millionaire habits or minimalist habits) because especially the learnings from those videos are some, which you can implement immediately. And therefore you can also see a difference in your daily life immediately.

I can only highly recommend checking out his youtube channel and watching one video. This only takes 10 minutes and may actually make a big change. Give it a shot and afterwards you can still decide whether you like it or not.

I genuinely hope that these Top 6 will help you make the most of July and enjoy it to its fullest. I would love to hear and/ or see what you think of those and how you like those Top 6. So, feel free to just comment here or on Instagram @uneptcuisiniere or send me a DM! Have an incredible summer!

Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisnière

My June Top 6

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Although it really does not feel like it, we are heading into (or are already in) the 6th month of the year. And the previous 5 months have been very very crazy. Nevertheless, and besides all the ups and downs, we have made it through anyway and are now more than ready for Summer! For long evenings, picnics in the park and drinks at a friends house. And obviously, we cannot start into the month without sone seriously good Top 5! 

As always, nothing of this is sponsored, all of these following are my personal recommendation, based on my experiences and my own opinion.

Restaurant of the month: NENI am Prater

This really is what I have been looking forward to for months. Ever since they first announced it (and I think that was November). And, oh my goodness, worth the wait – it did not disappoint. The new NENI am Prater is a must visit! 

Why? For several reasons. First of all, the view. Just like holy damn wow. You have a view above all of Vienna during the sunset. The intense yellow and orange sky just covers every single building and the entire Prater. Just insane. And you have this view from the interior and exterior, since there is glass all around.

Then the atmosphere; chill music, chatting all around, friendly waiters who are in a very good mood, the noises and smells from the open kitchen, the open bar, where you can watch the barkeepers making drinks. It feels like you‘re sitting in some restaurant in the middle of Tel Aviv. 

Well, and we cannot forget about the most important part: the food. This. Was. Delicious. The menu is similar to the NENI am Naschmarkt but still pretty different. At Prater it has more of the Balgan style cuisine, more of the sharing, the smaller meals, meals from the stone oven, and ALL sourdough bakery. There are plenty of dishes, no matter whether you want to go vegan, vegetarian, have some fish or enjoy some decent meat. It all was incredibly delicious. Plus, you can there now order the NENI organic Rosé there (which also tastes pretty amazing); from their own production. So worth a try!

If you go there (which you definitely should!) you simply NEED to try the popcorn falafel, the sourdough focaccia and the knafeh. There is no way you‘ll be going home without having tried this. 

All in all, what I can say is: amazing. The view, the atmosphere, the service. It all has such a friendly and home-like feeling. Definitely will be going there more often. And once you have visited it, you‘ll be doing so too!

Food of the month: Strawberries

Everyone‘s favourite (at least in ice cream) fruit is finally here. Finally we can find those delicious, juicy, sweet goodies from our local farmers either on the farmer‘s market or in the supermarket shelves. But why are strawberries actually this healthy?

First we‘ll have a teeny tiny history lesson; strawberries are fruits that originally had grown in woods. Even today you can find some very small ones there during June/ July. Strawberries have first been planted in gardens in the 14th Century in France by Charles V.. The ones we eat today have first been cultivated in the 18th century and are called „Garden Strawberries“.

Now, moving on to the health side of it; strawberries are incredibly nutritious foodsl They are loaded with Vitamin C, which is very beneficial for immune and skin health, Manganese, Vitamin B, which is important for tissue growth and cell function and potassium, which, for example, helps regulate blood pressure. But there also are many other nutrients such as iron, copper, magnesium, Vitamin K, E and B6. Plus, strawberries are also loaded with water and with fibre, both good for your digestive system.

All of these nutrients have shown to contribute to many health benefits, such as blood pressure lowering, inflammation decrease and improve overall heart health. Strawberries definitely are very delicious and nutritious fruits!

If you want to try some strawberry recipes, you can try the Strawberry and Chickpea Caprese, the Pesto Couscous with Feta and Strawberries, the Strawberry Chia Jam, or the Asparagus and Strawberry Salad.

Recipe of the month: Pesto

Pesto never disappoints. And this one, let me tell you, definitely does not disappoint!! Really, if you only try one recipe from the blog, try this one. With pasta that is al dente, and creamy burrata – holy cow, the best thing ever.

So why is this the recipe of the month? First of all, I feel like pesto is a real summer recipe. It reminds me of Italy (since it comes from Liguria) and Italy basically equals summer. And since it‘s June, the month in which summer officially starts, it kind of is like a perfect match.

And well, obviously, it is so damn delicious. I made that on a Sunday night when the whole family was here, and believe me. Not a single pasta and not a single drop of pesto was left. If this is not a confirmation that this pesto is tasty, then I don’t know what is. 

So all in all we can say; it is healthy, sooo tasty, summery, and damn easy to make. 

Product of the month: girlfriend collective

This activewear brand is not just any activewear brand but one with a mission. A mission to make the world a better place. The planet and nature is their number 1 priority, but that does not make their designs any worse or not as pretty as conventional activewear. Actually, the opposite is the case.

So what’s the crux with girlfriend collective? What makes them special? They produce activewear made from recycled materials. To be specific; from recycled plastic bottles and fishernets combined with other materials. They turn plastic bottles into a yard through washing, breaking apart and polymerization. And the result is incredible. When touching or wearing the leggings, you would never guessed that this before has been a water bottle or a fisher net.

I personally just believe that this makes this brand incredibly unique and incredibly cool. Plus, their activewear is super super comfortable. Soso soft, yet sweat absorbing, very well fitting and looking really good. The designs are rather simple, which I love because it makes them even more sustainable because they are not out of fashion after a year.

I have been working out (especially running) in girlfriend collective for almost a year now and and still super super happy. The cloths have not lost any quality, still look the same as on day one and are as comfy. If you live in Europe, you may need to check some european sports websites (I order on thesportsedit), so you do not need to pay taxes and customs when ordering.

Next time you want to get some new activewear, make sure to check this brand out before, you won‘t regret it!

Workout of the month: supercycle

There were a bunch of things I missed in the pst months of lockdown. Going out to restaurants, leaving Vienna, seeing a bunch of people, and so on… but there has been very little that I missed as much as supercycle.

For all those of you who do not know Supercycle yet, it is a fitness studio in Vienna with cycling classes. The cost is at 14€ for students (per class) and at 16€ regularly. Normally, you‘d sit in a dark room, only with disco lights, loud music, and the best instructors ever shouting at you. And the feeling is unreal. If you haven’t experienced it yourself, it is hard to describe. Such pure happiness combined with pure sweat. Definitely a lot of both.

Happily, they were able to open again, so I literally ran to get there. And just saying; So so so worth it. I went to the outdoor studio (which very very sadly) closes soon, and the view was amazing, the feeling out of the world, and the instructor (steph), well she just made every drop of sweat so worth it. 

Yes, you‘ll be feeling dead by the end of your class, you‘ll be sore for the next day and your legs will be shaking. Still, you will want to come back. So, give it a shot.

Inspiration of the month – the daily stoic:

Actually, this is not an inspiration of a month or for a month but an inspiration for a year. The daily stoic is a book with 366 pages with little stoic life lessons and meditation prompts, one for each day.

Usually, you‘d buy the book in December and start reading it on January first, since the pages are numbered after the days in the month (e.g Jan 1st, October 15th, …). But really, it is not necessary to buy it in December, you can get it and start at any time of the year. I myself got it in April and started it then. 

The book itself is divided into 3 categories, each spanning over a period of 4 months; the discipline of perception, the discipline of action and the discipline of will. And those again are split into 4 subcategories, 1 for each month. 
The cool thing about this is that you are focusing on one topic for a whole month, and then the next month a different one, but one that builds on the topic from last month. 

I myself kind of included it into my morning routine because I really enjoy having a little something to think about during the day or to live my day by.

The book itself can be ordered at most book shops, or there even is a download of an e-book version in the internet that is for free. 

I really, really hope that you‘ll be enjoying all of these things and that your June will be amazing!! Wishing you all the best,
Love,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière