Miss D.C USA 2011 Heather Swann attended D.C Inauguration

Heather Swann, Miss D.C USA 2011, was present at Mayor Vincent C. Gray's January Innauguration. Swann, who was recently featured on this blog has been making her trail along the D.C area, supporting several events. (Photo taken by D.C Professional Photographer, Miguel Jay)

Heather Swann, along with Rachel Demita of "Oh My Goff", do a quick pose before the camera before they head inside to partake in this watershed in D.C history. Photo taken by D.C Professional Photographer, Miguel Jay.

Newly Elected Vincent Gray, alongside Heather Swann and Miss Teen D.C USA 2011 Imani Bentham, have a genuine meet and greet. ( Photo taken by WUSA9 Rachel DeMita)

Heather Swann:Miss D.C USA 2011 With A Heart Of Gold

When Heather and I were juniors at College of Notre Dame of Maryland, we would eat dinner most evenings in the cafeteria.  Heather was unlike most of the girls at the college. She was always genuine. What I often noticed was Heather’s countenance towards the rest of her peers.

She consistently gave each person who encountered her  a  warm smile and accepting eyes.  It’s so rare to meet someone who is non-critical or non-judmental  towards anyone, really.  After  our junior year passed, Heather transferred to Howard University. We kept in contact off and on, but I always wondered if her nurturing spirit would ever become tainted.
 

Years passed and we recently re-connected at Potbelly’s in downtown Silver Spring. Her sense of style  had definitely flourished over the years, she wore autumn-esque colors that accentuated her warm personality from years past. 

After spending a few hours with her, I realized that she is the same amiable girl who I ate dinner with. But she is  definitely more extroverted, confident and graceful than ever before. 

Out of sheer curiosity, I asked her a few Q& A’s:
 
1.) What is your major?
        My  major is Health with a concentration in Physical Therapy at Howard University. 
 
2.)  What charities do you support and why?
          I’m a big fan of the “Boys and Girls Club”  because it allows children the  opportunity to stay active and it gives them a safe environment for them   to learn and to grow. I  hope to continue with this charity  in the immediate future. I’ve also fundraised for Children’s Miracle Network and volunteered at Central Union Mission in D.C.
 
3.) If you could change the world, what would you do?
      I truly believe that the most effective way to change the world would be to reach out and to motivate the youth. The youth are our future and we need to protect them and inspire them to be great.
 
4.) What do you like to do in your spare time?
  I am a self-professed foodie. I love the joyful experience that is eating! Ironically, my favorite dishes are always healthy, so it works. I am not a fan of sweets but I will try ANY cooked vegetable. Aside from food, I just enjoy being on the go.  I plan on making this year my busiest yet with volunteering and simply becoming a recognizable figure in the city. 
 
5.)  What are three things most people describe you as?
    Shy, sweet and caring. I always get tagged on facebook as “the innocent friend.”
 
6.) What has your past pageant experience been like?
 My past pageant experiences have been very rewarding for me.  I use every competition as an opportunity to build from. All that I ever ask of myself is that I use what I’ve learned and push myself to do better the next time.

I’ve always understood that you can’t and you won’t win them all but you do your best and come back for more.  If you really want something you don’t give up on it.

Before joining the Miss DC USA system, I was top 17 for Miss Maryland USA in 2009 and received the swimsuit award in Miss Maryland USA 2010. I also competed in the Miss DC America system.
 
7.) What do you plan to do after the Miss U.S.A competition?
 After the competition, I plan on traveling and putting my college degree to work. I also plan to continue with my volunteer work.   

     
After our small Q& A, I was amazed over how Heather answered each and every question with unscathing eloquence and grace. It was the most natural interview I’ve had in years.

Her confidence, sense of humor and warm personality were very inviting, and her overall transformation from a shy girl to a gracefull woman made me consider entering a  pageant too.
 
If there are any women between the ages of 14-26 years, who are interested in entering the Miss District of Columbia USA or Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2012 pageant, they should refer to the official website for details on how to apply. They can also fan the official  Facebook  Page .

It’s much more than a simple contest for beauty, it’s a life experience that can transform young women and award them the tools for success. I’ve seen it done.

Faso Foods:Fine chocolate tasting for cocktails,parties and home

As a young woman in her 20′s, i’ve perused several wine, cheese, and ethnic food tastings in the DMV area. After a couple of years, my taste buds matured into discerning between the process, seasonal changes and overal texture of certain gourmet foods.

Because of this experience, I was compelled to try Faso Food’s  Gourmet chocolate spread tasting held in Northern Bethesda. The spreads used came from Grashoff & Olly’s, a German  company that has long standing history of creating world class faire since 1872.

The company’s chocolate  schokoladencremes are mixed in small batches  and skillfully blended into the perfect consistency of dark, milk and white chocolate delicacies. The cream’s distinct flavors are: Sea Salt, Chili, Blood Orange and Coconut/Rum.

After trying six different Faso Food chocolate spreads, i’ve come to the following conclusions:

1.) Milk Chocolate Spread with Sicilian Blood Orange oil: I dabbed a smidge of this spread into warm croissant piece and was clearly surprised. I felt like I was biting into a young nectarine draped in smooth european chocolate, sans the overpowering afer taste. A little bit does go a long way. The texture was fine, never crumbled and had subtle aromas that hinted what I was suppose to expect.

2.)White Chocolate Spread Pure Bliss:  This tender blend had a harmonious texture that hinted at a sweet yet airy taste. I was overjoyed that this blend not only didn’t have taste numbing after taste but gave me a euphoric experience. Now I know what the clouds in the sky taste like. It tastes like this spread which is  a light, airy caress in my mouth.

3.)Milk Chocolate Spread With Ground Hazelnuts :The aroma emitted from this blend tantilized my nostrils into sheer ecstacy. It’s purely a fine chocolate spread that is heard to replicate, especially since it has a slight crunch that doesn’t deter from the chocolate tasting experience. This tasting was surreal since I have no idea how the spread’s creator’s got away with adding a fresh, nutty taste without the exaggeration. This is basically Nutella for adults with mature and sophisticated tastes, ofcourse.

4.)White Chocolate Spread With Roasted Macademia Nuts: On a personal note, this white chocolate spread is reminiscent of a type of luxe chocolate I used to nibble on as a young girl in the early 90′s. Though this spread was nostalgic for me , it still retained it’s refined nature through its slight macademia nut touch. If you are a huge fan of Macademia nuts, I highly recommend this spread.

5.) Milk Chocolate Spread With Natural Chili Oil: This is the spread that piqued everyone’s curiosity at the table. How does one blend enough chilli and chocolate to capture a well blended taste?  After trying this spread three times I came to the conclusion that they probably hired world-class scientists to achieve this task. It’s like a seductress in a bottle with  red zeal. This particular spread is catered for those who enjoy the spicey taste without dialing for 9-11 afterwards.  It has a snappy taste, like a burst of flavor ignition. Yet you can still taste the sweet tones of the chocolate hugging the chili flames.

6.) Dark Chocolate Spread Pure Bliss: This is the only spread that has a straight from the cocoa bean taste. I personally felt like I unearthed this particular product from an exotic location in West Africa. The essence tastes forbidden, woodsy without the traditional bitter after taste. A finishing touch to this blend were the subtle nutty notes that guide your taste buds along for a smooth ride.

Ofcourse, I cleansed my taste pallet in between tastes with fresh brewed coffee ( milk works well too) so I could fully experience each blend. If you want more information on these products or on holding your own  gourmet chocolate tastings, visit: http://www.fasofoods.com/

Faso Foods:Luxe food without the gourmet attitude

The D.C/ Maryland/ Virginia area is known for having high-end cuisine for novice and expert food lovers.  A majority of DMV-foodies think they know where to get the  best chocolate spreads, herbal teas, or organic nuts based on Zagat reviews or  know what is considerably “IN” with their own  culinary-taste crew.

  However, it’s generally the best kept secrets that are a quiet blip on the popularity radar.  One of the biggest well kept secrets that this blog has recently unearthed is headquartered  in the Rockville/ Northern Bethesda area– and it’s called Faso Foods.

Faso Foods is a burgeoning Maryland based food importer that sells exotic West African   raw ingredients  that is refinely processed by seasoned European culinary artists for selective tastes. Meaning, that it’s delectable for those who appreciate the art of fine dining versus for someone who can’t tell the difference between chocolate syrup and Nutella.

Ironically enough, the owners and distributors of this company lack the posh attitude that gives some gourmet distributors a bad rep. Faso Foods ( Faso means home in Malinke, a native language of part of Western Africa) is open into introducing their refined products for anyone interested in learning more about organic foods from developing regions such as West Africa.

The humanitarian base behind  this local company is that they help small African businesses export their fresh, organic products to American consumers. Generally in the U.S.A, most non-organic nuts, fruits and other essential dietary staples are grown in pesticide saturated farms.

If you Google the side effects of foods grown in pesticides, then you will truly know that it’s not the best thing to eat if you want to live passed 75. Fresh organic foods is the way to go and Faso Foods knows this, which is why they intermingled supporting growing businesses in Western African regions with giving consumers healthy and delicious finished products.

Faso Foods is also well known for their whole selling of Sita Brand Cashews and Macademia nuts nation-wide. Besides nuts, they also import culture through taste by distributing Moriba teas, fruit drinks; Nutfields chocolate coated  and dry roasted nuts; and Grashoff Chocolate spreads.

Faso’s gourmet African treats can be used for chocolate, tea and nut tastings for close social gatherings. For example, a great pairing with a wine or cheese tasting is having a Grashoff/ Olly brand chocolate spread tasting ( remember to use milk as a way to rinse your pallet) or have a tea tasting, after scarfing down a bag of biscotti’s with close girlfriends.

If you are interested more about the company or want to know how to hold your own luxe chocolate tasting at your home, please visit: http://www.fasofoods.com/ for more information.

Want a Lady Gaga Cake? Here’s how:

( Lady Gaga’s poker face in a cake. Personally Handcrafted by Maria from New York’s Sweet Addictions)

On my last trip to New York City, I met this lovely cake designer. She had a colorful array of cupcakes adorned with intricate designs. I was worried that the frosting would be repugnant to me since I am very ‘dessert picky’.

 I can’t even eat ice cream completely ( except Graeters Black Raspberry Chip, that’s the only brand of Ice cream I can even eat with a smile on my face).

Much to my surprise, I ate that cupcake completely and even asked Maria, the owner of New Yorks Sweet Addictions, for seconds, thirds and fourths.

Even my friend Dennis was asking Maria for more. Apparently, her secret for making addictive frosting is by adding a marshmellow base and by giving each customer courtesy and heart. 

( One of the Sleepy Sheep in cake-mode, hand-crafted by Maria from New York’s Sweet Addictions)

NY’s  Sweetest Addictions is a small, home-based company that is focused on creating scrumptious cakes and cupcakes for special occassions. 

 Everything Maria makes is from scratch and she is self-taught in several cake-culinary arts.

 The company is on a per order status, and will make anything ranging from Lady Gaga to the Sleepy Sheep. The company specializes in making high-end ( Like Ace of Cakes high-end) cakes for low-end prices.

If you have anymore questions or want to have your very own Lady Gaga cake, e-mail Maria at sweetaddictionsny@gmail.com .

Adult ADD:Foods to lessen the symptoms

There’s so much talk about children with ADD and over how to combat this disability but less talk over Adult ADD. Well children do grow up eventually and it’s not always easy to manage those symptoms. Ritalin can only go so far but remember, it’s a metaphetamin too.

Long-term usage of metaphetamines do lead to serious side effects such as strokes and heart attacks.

If you think you have this disability, please see a doctor but also remember that there are other ways to combat it ( instead of solely depending on drugs).

 For starters, go to an ADD meet up group as a way to get support for this turbulent disorder; try to exercise frequently as a way to lessen the symptoms; and finally, kick your old diet to the curb and infuse it with healthy goodies.

• Almonds
• Salmon or Tuna
• Drink more water
• Flaxseed oil
•  Leafy green vegetables
• Hard boiled eggs
• Kefir yogurt
• Avoid artificial colored foods
• Say goodbye to carbonated drinks
• Say sayonara to real  sugars and nutri-sweeteners

I, personally, am no doctor and this entry was created out of pure curiosity.  If you want to learn more about this disorder, refer to a doctor or perform your own Google search.

Ohio:Decadent treats in an unexpected place

For Christmas break I  traversed around  the state of Ohio and was awe-struck over a few things.  For starters, I didn’t know that  “A Christmas Story” was filmed in Cleveland Ohio and that they had a kitschy museum built inside the house.

Second, who knew that Ohio had delicious food that makes that state distinct amongst the rest.

Whenever some people think about the state of Ohio they think about inane criminal behavior, bed bugs, Lebron James and an ever faltering economy that worsens as the days loom onwards.

Well, I pride myself in having sui generis tastes so I guess Ohio tastes great to me.

 I was an ardent Cadbury Chocolates fan but after eating some Malley’s milk chocolate: I decided to break up with Cadbury. Apparently, Malley stores can only be found in Cleveland Ohio and that is such an inconvenience for me since I am a Maryland resident.

If you drive two hours away from Cleveland Ohio, you reach Columbus. And my oh my, you hit a region jam-packed with Graeters ice cream. I am not much of fan of ice cream, more like a hardcore enemy of it. Yet Graeters black raspberry chip lulled me to the light. I can’t stop eating it. Goodbye Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey!

Lastly, though this is more of a mid-western chain versus a restaurant distinct to Ohio, they do make impressive shakes. Steak and Shake has the best chocolate strawberry shake i’ve ever gulped. I love how the slight tart of the strawberry pieces fleshes well with the icy chocolate shake. It’s pure genuis really.

Please don’t let popular misconceptions over the state of Ohio fool you. There are some great things hidden in this industrial heavy state. Like piquant chocolate covered caramels or scrumptious burgers.