Jewels + Jill Elmore :: The Family Chef

Don't underestimate the Little Guy!

2010-04-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

Everyone is doing it... Right? I mean... It's all the rage; getting your kids to eat healthy food. People everywhere are talking about the way children eat and how it affects them. If you saw Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC last Friday you got a glimpse of just how poorly some kids are eating. Our First Lady is on a mission to fight childhood obesity with her Let's Move campaign. It's not a joke, people; this is serious stuff!

so.... What's the problem? My sister Jill, my best friend Louise

and I are all chefs. Kale, asparagus, quinoa, parsley, tomatoes, avocado, lentils, beans, spinach and peas are all a regular... Yes, REGULAR part of their everyday diet.

I have been talking, talking, talking (easy for me...) to parents who are having a lot of trouble getting their kids to eat healthy food. So many parents are frustrated and so many kids are not eating well.

So... What are Chef Mamma's and parents of healthy eaters doing differently? I think one of most valuable tips is that we present our food, all food, with confidence! We love our yummy greens and we honestly don't see any reason why our babies shouldn't either!

WE BELIEVE "KID'S FOOD" IS REAL FOOD. By adjusting the texture NOT omitting entire food groups!

* From the start, we put greens in everything; a big handful of parsley in scrambled eggs, spinach in a quesadilla, grated zucchini mixed into brown rice, chopped (really chopped) up broccoli in ground turkey or lamb, avocado and tomato in quinoa.

* We lightly season our food and moisten it with extra virgin olive oil, or add fresh ricotta cheese or sour cream and Greek yogurt to smooth out textures.

* Use sweet potato or yam to sweeten it up a bit!

Above all... Keep an open mind and don't let go of your preconceived ideas get in the way of giving your babies the amazing gift of a healthy fresh start!

2009-11-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gents,

We got a great response from the little disposable bowls we used to serve you samples at the Women's Conference. We mentioned that we would post the vendor here on the blog. The company is called JB Prince, out of NYC. The closest link to match the bowls you had is here: http://www.jbprince.com/table-service/mini-frosted-bowl-plastic.asp

The bowls that we used seem to no longer be available, but these are also pretty great!

Please remember to sign up for our blog and surf through the rest of our new website.

Thanks again!

Photos from the Women's Conference

2009-11-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of our special friends that helped us make this such a success and those familiar faces that just aren't seen enough. But when we do cross paths, its so wonderful to share a hug and call you, friend.

The recipes for the 3 salads will be posted soon! Stay tuned...

2009-10-30T19:13:00.001-07:00

Last weekend seemed like a whirlwind! Jewels and Jill were scurrying around being mothers, wives, and of course, chefs. Saturday check list was grocery shopping and Sunday was chopping A LOT of food into little pieces in preparation for the Women's Conference this past Monday.

Well, perhaps we should backtrack for a second and note that Jewels' body decided to play against her last week, which lead her into an emergency outpatient surgery. Therefore, thank goodness for family!! Jill really was a powerhouse over the weekend, leading much of it on her own, "... as my sister laid on the couch and just bossed me around."

All in good spirits, they were still chopping on Monday morning when I arrived. One of their 'smart ideas' is creating your checklist right on the stainless steel wall [Dry erase marker]. For Jewels, this is right along the wall of the stove. This gives her easy access while keeping things visually fresh in her mind.

We left early Monday afternoon. Destination: Long Beach Convention Center. We were all so impressed with what an amazing event this is. More to come...

~j.koehler

TWITTER

2009-10-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

Do you Twitter?

So do we!

CA Women's Conference - TOMORROW!

2009-10-25T17:02:00.001-07:00

We are so excited to be a part of this year's CA Women's Conference, hosted by Maria Shriver. Jill and I will be speaking tomorrow night at 7:35 p.m. if you will be attending.

A book signing will follow from 8-9:00 p.m. for us as well. We would love to see you there!

If you can't make it this year or you would like to learn more about this amazing event, please see the link below. Its a wonderful opportunity to hear some wonderful women speak on being an architect for change in our world.

http://www.californiawomen.org/

A special note from the conference:

We'll be webcasting LIVE from our site starting TUESDAY OCTOBER 27th at 8:00 AM PDT. Invite your friends, family, and co-workers and watch together!

Beginning on MONDAY, OCTOBER 26th, be sure to check out our new LIVE FROM THE CONFERENCEpage where you'll find all of our latest speaker interviews, video highlights, blogs and behind-the-scenes photos. We'll bring you all new Top Tips from A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION speakers and the happenings at NIGHT AT THE VILLAGE.

Jewels + Jill on Twitter

2009-10-08T21:31:00.001-07:00

We are now on Twitter!

An Indian Cuisine Weekend

2009-10-05T23:31:00.000-07:00

There’s something beautiful about being in a kitchen with Jewels and Jill. It might have something to do with the fact that they are both so darn pleasant, or that Jewels has a habit of saying, “that’s beautiful” whenever she tastes something to her liking. It’s partially because of the mouth-watering aromas that pour from every pot, making you glad you ate before arriving so you stand a (small) chance of resisting the urge to devour everything in sight. Mostly it’s just watching two experienced chefs in their element, perfectly in sync as only sisters who have worked together for years could be.

It was no exception this past Saturday in the kitchen with Jewels and Jill as they prepared a special dinner for two clients and eighteen of their closest friends.

The clients' request: Indian cuisine.

As they are famous for doing, Jewels and Jill took the theme and planned a menu giving traditional dishes their own fresh, healthy twist.

Jewels’ and Jill’s Menu:

Chicken Tikka Masala

Curtis Stone’s Lamb Curry

Yellow Curried Cauliflower

Papadums

Raita

Yellow Lentil Soup

Potato Samosas

Vegetable Birryani

Throughout a daylong swirl of preparations and cooking, the dishes evolved. A tomato chutney was scrapped as a dip and used as a flavor enhancer for a lentil dish..it was just the perfect balance. Jill substituted a tiny touch of cream for yogurt to smooth out the flavor of her Chicken Tikka Masala... they had yogart Raita. Jewels decided she would, in fact, add the veggies to the Lamb Curry....Curtis Stone's recipe used as an easy guide...(he is full of goodness) but she always works off the written word... toasting both the black and green cardamon pods to add depth.

At all times the girls stayed focused on how to get the best flavors with the healthiest possible preparation. You don’t always need that much butter...maybe just a little more spice!

End result...people who loved and felt loved...

~ S. McKaig

2009-04-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

New Book Release will be May 5th, 2009

The Family Chef

Here's a preview of the inside flaps.

With a sterling reputation and a string of A-list celebrity clients, private celebrity

chefs Jewels and Jill Elmore have created unforgettable food for such luminaries

a s Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta , and Kelly Preston.

Now it’s your turn.

Here, for the first time ever, Jewels and Jill reveal the secrets to their success both in business and at home with their own families. Included in The Family Chef are more than seventy-five stunning, savory, and satisfying home-cooked recipes, fully illustrated with easy-to-follow directions. The meals that have made some of the most famous people in the world take notice can now be enjoyed in your own home. But this book is not an exposé on the eating habits of the rich and famous—it is a book by two of America’s most accomplished private chefs, showing how you can capture the magic and beauty of the best fresh, healthy, nutritious cooking, and offer it to your whole family.

With a style that focuses on family as much as it does on nutrition and flavor, and a reputation you’ll have to taste to believe, Jewels and Jill prove that great home cooking is the foundation of your family’s health and happiness.

Jewels & Jill Elmore are sisters and acclaimed private-home chefs based in Santa Monica, California. As Family Chefs, they have spent most of their time cooking in the homes of Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, and Kelly Preston. They have also worked with Wolfgang Puck on events such as the Oscars and the Grammys. They are also head chefs for their own two hungry husbands and two baby boys.

Ann Marsh, a former staff writer with Forbes magazine and a columnist with the Los Angeles Times, has coauthored two other books. She is based out of Los Angeles.

Petrina Tinslay is an Australian photographer celebrated for her diverse portfolio. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Travel + Leisure, Martha Stewart Living, Food & Wine, and Gourmet and in more than forty worldwide cookbook titles.

Let's start cookin'!

2009-04-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

Let's start cookin'! We've got the main ingredients, the book is getting printed, the website is being built and special events are being scheduled. Now, all we have to do add the spice, Jewels and Jill!

....more coming soon. We are very excited!