Working out Guilty style

Yesterday was a very successful day for Provence Catering at The Wharton School. Great Food! Great Clients! Great Caterer!  Zero Waste!!!  What could be better?  

Of course, being around such a bountiful and beautiful buffet means we need to workout more. Thankfully, Guilty has a plan.

Guilty's going Green and it's long overdue. .

There is not enough Crown Royal Maple to dull the pain of working 140 days straight.

There is not enough Don Julio tequila in my shot glass to quench my thirst for fun.

Perhaps a change in my vacation plans is afoot. I am actively searching the web for opulent accommodations and cheap airfare.  That dicey combo is always a fantastic search criteria.  We have had enough of drudgery of winter. The recent cold snap has empowered us to fight back against the extreme weather with a Guilty vengeance. We considered several options like a 3 day trip to Vegas or a Manhattan getaway weekend that includes a shopping spree at Brooklyn's Smorgasburg.  That weekly open air market is a Guilty Pleasure sanctuary.

Both of options sounded good, but we need mountaintops.  Guilty and Thin Mint are planning a winter getaway to Snow Basin.  It's one of the Guilty's favorite hideouts, Removing yourself from the paralyzing process of work and skiing where the Eagles glide, is the key to my relaxational recovery. Skiing in Utah with a stopover in Colorado in late March is a Guilty Dream.

Guilty's going green and it's long overdue.

Dreaming of Festivus Dinner while making a Big Time Holiday Breakfast. Guilty Pleasure x 2 . .

My lofty station as the Patriarch of a remarkable family makes everyday special. Nothing is more rewarding than being a Dad and that's especially true on a Holiday morning.  Everyone sleeps in and Guilty has the house to himself.  I can do a lot of damage before 7 am with a skillet and a dream. My gourmet breakfast will feature Chevre/blackberry stuffed French toast, eggs over easy and spiral ham from the best Ham recipe in the world.  Check it out. Preparing breakfast for the Guilty Gang with our dog on the assist, is a great way to start any day.

I went to bed last evening looking forward to a very Guilty holiday. Great Cinema, Great food and Great company.  AWESOME!!!  After seeing American Hustle, we will be hosting friends and family for a scrumptious Festivus Dinner.  And for all of you keeping scoring, Junior Mint and the Shifster are in charge of board games.  There is always a Scrabble controversy brewing when generations compete.  Love it!
We've asked Shiffie to roll 'dem magic bones first and pass on the knowledge.  No grudges allowed.

This year's feast will be our best secular celebration ever. Some people are Merry once a year. Other people share joy everyday.  We like that second approach to life much better. No exceptions are allowed!  When you start showing up in the front row, you must celebrate Living Well everyday. It's the Guilty Dogma and it's more than just mere words.  Invest in your key relationships and marvel at the results.  Sharing a Primo moment is always a Game Changer.  But don't forget, receiving a Guiltorious present from the family is even better.

It's great to be Dad.

Dapper sheets. Luxury linens make nap time Guiltorious

Wrapping presents?  It's still not too late to add one more gift to that heaping pile. Everyone should be given new bed ware for the Holidays.  It's so important, this gift should mandated by the Guilty Tribunal. And why not?  It's a Guilty factoid that luxury linens make everyone happier. There is no greater Guilty Pleasure than slipping into those cool sheets after a festive night of full plates, second helpings and frosty libations.

It's been ages since the Guilty have set the pace.  2014 is our moment to lead, inspire and rejuvenate. GPC members must rise up and play it forward.  Seize the day and treat yourself to an amazing nap.  Leadership should always be well rested.  It all starts with those dapper sheets.

Living Well 24/7 in Malaysia is a Guilty Path

Interest in the Guilty Pleasures Club has never been higher and everyone in the commissary can feel the buzz. We are one humorous article away from stardom and our Guilty vision will not be denied.  The GPC has developed a loyal following that spans the globe and our readership increases everyday. There have been countless requests for online interviews and Podcasts.  And why not, our club members have great self-esteem, big time dreams and excellent taste. It's an awesome vibe to inspire so many overachievers. Guilty may trumpet the message, but the credit goes to our culinary team and event staff.  We have touched a very hot topic.  Living Well 24/7 is our Guilty Mission.

One of the first things you learn in a Guilty Neighborhood is that there are many benefits to having a bountiful pantry and then celebrating your full plate.  However, it's the sharing of your good fortune that really illuminates your Guilty Path to enlightenment. The beacons of light that you exchange along the journey become the jewels you cherish the most.

Nowhere is the passion for Guilty Pleasures more popular than in the island country of Malaysia. With it's British heritage, Malaysia is more of a regional empire than a country. Take a left at Singapore, cross the South China Sea and you have arrived in one of the worlds most incredible nations. Malaysia a booming economy, incredible cities, beautiful beaches, rain forests and lots of Guilty Pleasures Aficionado's looking to share their favorites with Guilty, Thin Mint and the gang. How great is that?


The food in Malaysia looks incredible and so fresh.  The open air markets capture your pallet and enrich your epicurean experience.  Planning our trip is a 2014 project.  We cannot wait spend weeks exploring Malaysia and savoring the many Guilty Pleasures in the Far East.  We love all adventures, but especially tropical adventures.  It looks like Guilty has found his beach.

Traveling globally and then dining locally makes for a wonderful trek.  We are so there!

Winter Chills and Hot Chocolate Dreams

Without much warning, winter has arrived in Philadelphia with a bad attitude.  BAM!! Breakout the Kashmir sweater and fur lined slippers because the bitter cold has made itself quite comfy in our daily forecast. As we mature nothing gets old quicker than the piercing cold weather. The nose runs, the legs ache, and the shivering persist. Nothing becomes more of a Guilty Pleasure than steaming hot cocoa in my favorite holiday mug... but don't forget the marshmallows!  Chef Ameerah makes our own.  There is no better way to combat the chattering teeth, numb toes, and frost bitten fingers than a comforting mug of Thin Mint's hot cocoa.  She is a hot beverage Aficionado who knows that hot loves hot.    

Why not go beyond the powder and packets this year.  Living Well in Winter means savoring homemade hot cocoa and marshmallows.  It's always an awe inspiring Guilty Pleasure moment.  

The weather turns, the ice cometh and the Lobster Corn Chowder soup boils....December has arrived in Guiltytown.

Soaring temperatures plummeted this weekend as a ginormous ice storm has engulfed the entire country.  It's definitely affected the weekend plans for many Hobbits and Hobbyists. From Dallas to Las Vegas to Portland to Boston to Middle Earth, members of the Guilty Pleasures are fighting back against the Shivers with a time-tested array of personalized remedies.  As you know, nothing warms your soul or lifts your spirits more than trip to the Guilty side of life.

Deep in my hard drive I have developed many positive protocols for Living Well(okay, so my hard drive is really my cranium.  Thankfully my grey matter is still dedicated to proposition that Living Well is the only way to live). I have an endless list of top secret pleasures to rely upon for attitude adjustment.  In this case, when the weather's nasty, I conquer the cold with an incredibly flavorful soup. Not Campbell's, Lipton or Progresso mind you, but a delicious homemade concoction that makes your toes toasty and your smile bright.  No soup does it better in early December than Chef Greg's famous Lobster and Corn Chowder.  The rich creamy broth is made with love and chocked full of fresh Maine Lobster.  It's the best cold fighter ever. Especially when you share it by the fireplace with Thin Mint.

Not matter what you have planned today, you must take the time to curl up on the couch with a steaming bowl of Guilty Goodness.  Make sure you use a very large bowl.  No wimpy cereal bowls please. Size definitely matters when it comes to keeping warm and staying Guilty. Please make sure you share your Guilty Goodness with the Thin Mint of your dreams.

The best Holiday Hairdo ever is today's Hump Day Hurrah.

Today's Hump Day Hurrah is an appreciation of Holiday Hairdos around the globe. While there are some spectacular choices in Hollywood, we found his Holiness to be in first place.  Nothing beats Pope Benedict's stylish crop of snow white hair for the Holidays.  The former Pope makes an excellent point with his index finger to enjoy the Holidays this year


In this rare instance, I am taking the Pontiff's advice. That's because I am possessed with the concept of Living Well and enjoying life's many Guilty Pleasures.  It's true. Rumor has it that the Papal College has me on their High-Caloric Watch List. Somehow I have avoided their considerable scrutiny so far.

It does not matter, as my Guilt as been long established and well-documented.  I am doomed. Doomed I tell you! Not in a damnation sort of way, but in a "What's wrong with having Plugra butter on everything?  Isn't extra flavor a good thing?"

I cannot go an hour without daydreaming about some decadent red coconut curry sauce or pining for an overflowing bowl of Banana's Foster with Herrell's Brown Butter Ice Cream. It might be the best ice cream on the planet. It leaves me speechless, but blissful.  

My legendary life is one constant quest for the Guiltorious goods that make us marvel in the moment like a finely aged-liqueur and a chocolate souffle. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and there is so much to savor with family and friends.  With my new Brandy sniffer in hand, a well-worn leather chair makes the perfect perch to watch the Cowboys stumble and fall.

I am doomed to marvel and explore. Doomed I tell you.

Breaking News....The Tri-Centennial Commission selects Elkins Park

Well-informed sources have learned that the Tri-Centennial Commission has designated Elkin's Park East as the nation's first No Chores Chill Zone.  Residents near High School Park, Elkins Park, Melrose Park, Jenkintown, Abington and Glenside are encouraged to lay down their To-Do lists, grab their appetites and seek nourishment in the downtown Renaissance of Elkins Park.  Busy lives need exceptional local vendors who care more about the relationship than the sale. Fresh from Provence, Gourmet to Go, is that type of quality local business with great prepared food for great times.  Go Green, Shop local.  Thanks for Living Well.  

Last sunrise in paradise...

While it's sad to leave such a beautiful place, we are excited to be returning home!

But before we go...one last sunrise:

Guilty is taking a break...

where the living is easy, ...

the sunrise's breathtaking, ...

and the pool and ocean become one and the same!

 Ahh paradise.

Guilty's Due....

Guilty...Guilty...GUILTYYYYYYYYYYYY... Those tropical winds are calling my name and I am so there.

Our trip to the Seaside Cottage at Round Hill is going to be a life defining moment in a truly legendary life.
Check out these photos of our vacation villa in Jamaica.  OMG

http://www.jamaicavillas.com/villa/seaside-cottage-at-round-hill/photos

Sweet 16 Tournament of Luxury Vacation Villas

Vacation time is coming up fast and Guilty could not be happier.  We fly out next week.  When it comes to a well-earned island retreat in the lap of luxury, it's all about the numbers.  Three and half acres on a mind blowing beach. Nine nights in a beautiful island paradise.  Twenty seven gourmet meals prepared by a private chef and countless memories just waiting to be forged.

Guilty searched long and hard to find just the perfect family getaway. My extensive quest for summertime bliss was a labor of love and a commitment to our never ending  high standards for the Guilty Pleasures Club.  Fortunately, there were numerous vacation options available with cool island breezes, tropical sunsets and family friendly summertime prices. From St. Croix to the Roatan Island in Honduras to Nicaragua and back again, we found a treasure chest of stunningly beautiful villas that met all of our lofty expectations.  It was an exhausting and successful journey in search of opulence, family adventure and fiscal sanity.

In fact, in the end, there were so many amazing choices for us to consider, that making a decision was really the hardest part.  Would we escape to a breathtaking beach in El Salvador or the spectacular Pacific Coast of Nicaragua?  Would our stay in paradise be on an isolated beach on Bonaire or perhaps a cliff side palace in St. Martin?  Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.  I drove Thin Mint crazy at first.  But then, like the visionary she is, my beautiful bride of almost 23 years, saw the light, 

We decided to put together a Sweet 16 Tournament of Vacation Villas to share with our luxury-minded legions. However, just whittling the list of vacation options down to only 16 finalists was a difficult task unto itself.  Let alone, choosing just one.  Of course, as always, Guilty and Thin Mint would not be denied.  Here are the 16 finalists for the first ever Luxury Villa Showdown.  Just like March Madness, our fiercely competitive tournament is destined to become an annual event with stunning upsets and big surprises. 

http://www.vrbo.com/347898#photos Ranked # 1.  Incredible waterfront property in Honduras. The Kissing bug epidemic in Central America and Mexico scared us off.

 

http://www.vrbo.com/252475#photos  Bequia property ranked # 2.  Just an amazing home.  Airfare was a little high for a family vacation.
 

http://www.vrbo.com/257646#photos

Ranked # 3. Jamaican 3.5 acre waterfront estate. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. Lot's of  Guiltorious Glee looming with an outdoor shower and a well-trained staff of five.The Villa is next to the world famous Round Hill resort. www.roundhill.com  This spectacular property is a winner on every level with too many perks to pass up. 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p296694#photos  Ranked # 4.  St. Martin villa on Dawn Beach.  An awesome property.  Love this house, but we have been to the island too many already.

http://www.vrbo.com/143126#photos  Very nice property in St. Croix.  Ranked # 5.  I love this Villa on the cliffs 

http://www.vrbo.com/175999#photos  Ranked
# 6  Incredible all-inclusive for 6 people in Nicaragua.  OMG  Same kissing bug concerns.

http://www.vrbo.com/218687#photos  Ranked # 7.  A fantastic property on Grenada.

http://www.vrbo.com/219216#photos  Fabulous for the money in Nicaragua.  Ranked # 8. 

http://www.vrbo.com/216040#photos Ranked # 9.  A very nice Jamaican property with staff. 

http://www.vrbo.com/40246#photos  Great waterfront property in Antiqua.  Ranked # 10   

http://www.vrbo.com/233134#photos Wonderful oceanfront property in El Salvador.  Very tropical and inexpensive.  Ranked # 11, 

http://www.vrbo.com/52036#photos  Ranked # 12.  Great waterfront property in Negril . 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p227082#photos  Bonaire property ranked # 13. On the beach in dive central

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p334879#photos  St. Thomas property on the cliffs above the water. ranked # 14. 

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p927563#photos  Ranked # 15 a St, Croix property.  Very nice. 

http://www.vrbo.com/271990#photos  A fantastic  treehouse in Nicaragua above the ocean.  Ranked # 16

Holiday Party season is fast approaching. Be prepared to party like it was 1999.

The fast-approaching Holiday season is the perfect time to look back as we move forward. Remember when our biggest concern was Y2K? Would our computers still work at midnight and would our everyday lives survive that dramatic leap into the Great Unknown, the 21st Century?

Yes and yes. We survived the changing of the computer clocks and turning the big 50. Mercy me, sweet 60 is now on the not-too-distant horizon. So much has changed in America and all of us now know how we fortunate we were to live in a pre-9/11 and pre-Katrina world.

We certainly knew how to throw a great Holiday Party in 1999. Stock options were the social currency, not Facebook and living well was not a lost art. Now is the perfect time for Main Street to take back our economy. Spend some money this Holiday season spoiling yourself and changing America's Partitude. The surest path to a robust economy begins when you support local businesses. The hospitality industry is a great place to start. Host a great party, hire a new employee and just watch our consumer confidence level soar.