DOUBLE ISSUE 06/07

ADDICTED TO

COLOURS+PERFORMANCETREASURETHE INVISIBLE BOXING CHAMPION

LEMARESCATHE QUEENS OF LONDON’S PUNKCHIC

ADDICTED TO

foodsecret

foodsecret

foodsecret.com

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CONTENTS

DOUBLE ISSUE 06/07

COLOURS + PERFORMANCE

COVERPhoto by Chiara Romagnoli

SECRET FOOD6 Colours10 Performance

SECRET SPORT14 Treasure

SECRET STYLE16 Lemaresca

Sergio Mottola, Founder of FOODSECRETOriginally from Milan, self-proclaimed entrepreneur Sergio Mottola holds an MSC in Finance

and Strategy and a BA in International Business. He began his career as an Account Executive

at Howden Insurance Brokers. Whilst with Howden, he worked for the Financial and Executive

Risks Division where he achieved an enviably impressive client retention rate of 100%. At the

same time as his career was developing, Mottola was busily nurturing his passion for food,

ultimately attending world renowned French culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu. Seeing an

amazing opportunity to combine his entrepreneurial skills with his passion for cooking and a

desire for a healthy lifestyle, Mottola decided to develop FOODSECRET.

Neil Armstrong, FOODSECRET ChefChef Neil Armstrong works with Sergio and the team at

FOODSECRET to ensure that the ingredients used find

their way from supplier to store shelf in a consistently

fresh, nutritious and delicious way. His background

as a trainer of chefs is invaluable in maintaining high

standards of skills, knowledge and attitude amongst

FOODSECRET staff.

Sanna Anderson, NutritionistSanna Anderson is a Nutritional Therapist trained at the

Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London, a leading

establishment in the field of nutrition education. Sanna

has a special interest in stress related health problems,

including digestive issues, chronic fatigue, anxiety and

sleep problems.

Kate Cook, NutritionistKate is the director and founder of The Nutrition Coach,

author and public speaker. Having appeared with Martine

McCutcheon on UKTV’s “The Truth About Beauty”, and

published a string of influential and critically acclaimed

books Kate has established herself as the UK’s premier

authority on personal reinvention in health.

ART DIRECTOR Giulia Maresca HEAD OF DESIGN Alfredo Violante Widmer

PUBLIC RELATIONSAlyn Horton

STYLE EDITORCecilia Maresca

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COLOURS

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AT FOODSECRET GREENGreens are one of the easier colours to fill your rainbow plate with. You could build your tailor-made salad on a base of spinach. Spinach’s claim to fame came mainly from Popeye and the alleged high iron content. Apart from being a useful vegetarian source of this important mineral, this tasty green leaf is also a winner when it comes to antioxidant vitamins such as vitamins E and C and carotenes.

BLUETop up your antioxidant quota with the tasty Acai and Orange drink. Acai are heralded by some as a superfood due to the apparently superior antioxidant levels. They contain anthocyanins, a group of anti-oxidants which may be able to keep your body healthy.

YELLOWSpicy Surf and Turf soup not only gives a great protein boost to keep your energy levels going well into the afternoon, but it also contains many elements of the rainbow diet. Its contribution to the yellow of the rainbow spectrum, the humble carrot, really exceeds itself when it comes to health-boosting nutrients. One carrot will supply enough beta-carotene to meet an adult’s daily vitamin A requirement. They can help support the immune system, help with respiratory infections, maintain skin integrity and are important for healthy eye function.

AT HOME I’m used to eating cereal for breakfast. How can I include some rainbow colours in my breakfast?Add a large handful of blueberries to a bowl of natural yoghurt, or just sprinkle some on your usual cereal. The darker the blue the higher the natural compounds and the benefits. These foods are high in anthocyanin – a powerful antioxidant that helps keep you and your body youthful and vibrant.

I don’t like oranges – how can I add some orange colour to my diet?The orange colour food is a clue that it is packed full of carotenes which are converted into vitamin A which is great for skin and eye health. Add some mango to a salad with roasted duck breast and spinach leaves, or grate a carrot into your Bolognese sauce to top up on these antioxidants.

How can I add more yellow into my foods?The spice turmeric which gives curries their vibrant yellow colour contains the active ingredient curcumin, which may help reduce inflammation in the body. Make a red lentil dahl with cauliflower, lentils and onions and add a generous helping of turmeric. Or snack on yellow pepper strips, dunked in some humous.

TOP 10 TIPSCOLOURS

1. Add some blueberries to your breakfast cereal bowl. Both frozen or fresh are fine – the antioxidant content is almost identical. Antioxidants are natural compounds that help balance the effects of a busy life-style.

2. Choose something from every spectrum of the rainbow when you next go shopping. Peppers, cherry tomatoes, courgettes, onions. You can roast them all on a large baking tray, add olive oil and herbs and spices and a pinch of turmeric for example. Cook for 35 minutes at 220 °C.

3. Look into getting an organic vegetable delivery to your home. This will inspire you to cook different vegetables and they will all be in season too! Maximum nutrients are derived from foods that haven’t travelled for miles and miles, and been stored for days.

4. Try a new food every week! Don’t just walk round the supermarket getting the same old basket of foods. Try a different supermarket to force you to change your routine. Go to a market where they specialise in cuisines from different countries to make yourself vary your diet.

5. Look up your local farmer’s market on-line – support these wonderful people who are passionate about food.

6. With all the wonderful choices at FOODSECRET don’t just go for your usual – experiment with different choices. Try the Pomegranate Salad for some strong rainbow colours, or the Humous and Grilled Vegetable sandwich for bright anti-oxidant rich colours.

7. Consider juicing – if you have tried juicing fruit in the past have a go with vegetables. FOODSECRET offers a range of freshly squeezed juices – be adventurous and try a different one every day!

8. Try a breakfast smoothie which could increase your intake of antioxidants by adding frozen summer berries and fruits. Add frozen summer berries, a banana, a handful of oats, a little yoghurt and rice milk (available in health food shops) and blend.

9. Invite friends round for dinner and give them a rainbow meal. Start with carrot soup and try a vegetarian main course (a coconut curry with turmeric would be a good choice). Round off with a sorbet of berries. Delicious!

10. Start your meal with a delicious raw vegetable salad – watercress, lightly steamed asparagus or purple sprouting broccoli. Add colour with tomatoes, carrots and peppers. Finish off with some sprouted seeds, rich in nutrients, proteins and enzymes.

SECRET FOOD

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FOOD HERO:

RAINBOW CHARDRainbow chard is a variety of Swiss Chard, a tall leafy green vegetable. Along with kale, mustard greens and spinach it’s often referred to as ‘greens’. It has wide green leaves with a thick crunchy stalk – in the rainbow variety the stalk can be red, white or gold, contrasting beautifully against the rich green leaf.

The rainbow chard is full of plant-based nutrients called flavonoids. One of the more interesting ones is syringic acid. It seems to have blood sugar balancing effects in the body by slowing down breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugars, therefore regulating the energy release and keeping you fuller for longer.

Rainbow chard is also an excellent source of all the well-known antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and beta carotene, so great for protecting your cells from the effects of our polluted environment.

FACTS:

THE RAINBOWHow does a rainbow happen?A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth’s atmosphere.

What really are the colours of the rainbow?Most people think the only colours of a rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, but a rainbow is actually made up of an entire continuum of colours—even colours the eye can’t see!

Every person sees their own “personal” rainbow. When you look at one, you are seeing the light bounced off of certain raindrops, but when the person standing next to you looks at the same rainbow, they may see the light reflecting off other raindrops from a completely different angle. In addition, everyone sees colors differently according to light and how their eyes interpret it.

Why are fruit and vegetables different colours?Plants are full of phytochemicals, plant chemicals that can have a beneficial effect on your wellbeing and health – and ultimately contribute to protecting you against ageing too fast. Each colour represents a different array of plant chemicals that have slightly different properties to help your health and wellbeing.

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SECRET RECIPEWHOLEGRAIN RISOTTO & SPRING VEGETABLESPreparation time: 60 minutes

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INGREDIENTSSERVES 4

30ml olive oil1 small onion, diced1 clove garlic, crushed1 stick celery, diced½ teaspoon harissa paste100g barley grains50g mixed grains of similar cooking time- puy lentils, spelt, camargue rice, buck wheat400ml vegetable stock50g parmesan cheese, grated½ bunch parsley, finely chopped 15g baby spinach leaves30g peas or soy beanssalt & pepper to taste

Garnish1 bunch new season asparagus, cooked, & sliced30g pea shoots30g mixed sprouting seeds15ml extra virgin olive oil1 lemon, cut into wedges

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STEP BY STEP 1. In a medium sized saucepan, cook the onion, garlic and celery gently in the olive oil and the harissa for 5 minutes until soft.

2. Stir in mixed grains and add the vegetable stock. The grains should be covered by a couple of centimetres of liquid. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 20-30 minutes or until cooked and tender. Top up the cooking liquid after 10-15 minutes if necessary, but the grains should swell and absorb almost all of the stock during cooking.

3. Stir through the parmesan cheese, parsley, spinach, peas and season with salt and pepper.

4. Top with asparagus, pea shoots and sprouting seeds. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately with a lemon wedge.

SECRET FOOD

10For your catering CALL US ON 020 7434 2596 OR VISIT WWW.FOODSECRET.COM

PERFORMANCE

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TOP 10 TIPSPERFORMANCE FOOD

1. Before you start a serious exercise drive – assess your general health. If you have any underlying problems get them sorted before you start. A Nutritional Therapist could help you define your health goals.

2. Don’t be scared. If you’re just starting or have had a long lay-off due to illness or injury, your mind is the most powerful obstacle to overcome. Take the plunge and you’ll be amazed how much you enjoy it.

3. The hardest 5 minutes is getting out the front door. Once you’ve committed to do something, there’s always the excuse that you’re too tired or it’s too cold, wet or windy to go out. Once you commit and close the door behind you, that’s 90% of the hard work done!

4. The weather is too bad to do anything. There’s no such thing as bad weather – only bad clothing. Whether you’re cycling, walking or jogging, wear the right gear and make it an enjoyable experience. If you’re cold, wet and miserable when you’re doing it, you’re unlikely to do it again.

5. Consistency. A little each day is better than a big splurge at the weekend. 30 min walking every day is far easier to fit into your life than trying to find 3.5 hours on Sunday. View it as part of your daily routine.

6. For optimal sports nutrition, you can view your dietary requirements in two categories: Food for fuel (carbohydrate) and food for repair and building (protein and fat) – you need both categories. Make sure you are eating good quality food in both categories.

7. Make sure you get adequate good quality carbohydrate – this tends to be the limiting factor in achieving optimum performance. The body hardly ever runs out of fat but will run out of carbohydrate supplies. Have lots of fruit and vegetables, brown rice, quinoa and porridge.

8. Timing. The role of pre-exercise snacks is to provide fuel during the work out. Eat your meal 3-4 hours before exercise. A smaller snack can be consumed 1–2 hours before.

9. Pre-exercise snack. Try fresh fruit, dried apricots, fruit smoothie, low fat cereal bars or carbohydrate replacement drinks. The role of the pre-exercise snack is to offer you easily digested accessible last-minute carbohydrate fuel.

10. Post exercise. You should get a mix of carbohydrates to replace stores but also adequate protein to help with repair. Try fruit smoothie with protein powder or a yoghurt-based smoothie.

AT FOODSECRET Our food is perfect for optimizing your sports performance. If you’re grabbing some breakfast after your morning workout, you’ll need a balanced combination of protein and carbohydrates. The protein will provide raw materials for building new muscle and the carbohydrate will replenish the energy stores, as well as speed up the uptake of protein by the muscles. Try the Soaked Orchard Fruit Granola Pot for a perfectly balanced breakfast.

Whatever your sport, you should always be looking for food that not only gives you a good balance of protein and carbohydrates, but you also need plenty of antioxidant vitamins and minerals. The more you exercise, the more ageing free radicals you’ll produce. The antioxidants will help mop them up and will also help reduce post exercise muscle soreness. The Mexican Chicken and Wild Rice Salad offers a great combination of lean protein from the chicken, carbs from the wild rice, and plenty of antioxidant nutrients from the vegetables.

Because FOODSECRET soups are freshly made and the broth added at the last minute, the vegetables will retain more of their important nutrients. Try the Italian Minestrone Soup if you need to load on carbs but also want a good balance of protein and vitamin rich vegetables.

AT HOME I know I should be eating more fruit and vegetables, but I don’t have time to shop regularly and if I buy in bulk they end up going off before I get to use them. Any ideas of what I should do?Nowadays you can get a whole variety of high quality frozen fruit and vegetables, so if you have a freezer, stock it up. Get some broccoli florets, frozen petit pois and spinach, and you can cook up lovely mixed greens to go with a piece of lean chicken breast for some healthy performance food.

I really like sweet things especially after training. Can you suggest something healthy? Make a lovely sorbet with natural yoghurt and frozen mango pieces by whizzing them up in a food processor. You can add some lime juice and zest for extra flavour. You’ll not only get your necessary post exercise protein from the natural yoghurt, but the mango is a great source of many antioxidants to protect your muscles from free radical damage.

I go training first thing in the morning. Should I eat something before my session?It’s useful to eat some carbohydrates before you train so that your body doesn’t have to dip into stored energy straight away as you start training. On the other hand, you don’t want to eat anything too heavy that would feel uncomfortable during the training. A piece of fruit or even better, a fruit smoothie, would be a perfect pre-exercise snack.

SECRET FOOD

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FOOD HERO:

PASTAPasta has traditionally been the perfect carb loading ingredient for any self-respecting athlete. It’s easy to prepare, and can be used in a variety of different ways. Choose wholegrain pasta for a great fibre and mineral profile as well. Pasta should always be cooked ‘al dente’, Italian for ‘to the tooth’. In other words, cook your pasta so that it’s still firm but not hard to bite. This way it also releases it’s energy more slowly, giving you steadier, longer lasting energy. If you suffer from bloating or digestive problems, go for some of the wheat free varieties, for example spelt pasta. Spelt is a wonderfully nutritious ancient grain with a lovely nutty taste. It’s high in manganese, a mineral that is important for healthy bone metabolism as well as improving your utilisation of fats and carbohydrates for energy.

FACTS:

PERFORMANCEAs the 2012 London Olympics are getting closer, we thought we’d answer your questions about the history of the Olympic Games.

What it the oldest female Olympic sport?Women first competed in 1900 Paris Olympics in lawn tennis and golf. Over time, women were able to participate in more events. The last event that hasn’t been open for women has been boxing, but this is also changing for London 2012.

What type food did the ancient Greek athletes eat?The athletes competing in the Olympic games in the ancient Greek were from the upper social circles, so could afford foods such as meat and fish for their protein intake. It looks like the need for protein for muscle building and carbohydrate for energy was already understood. An ancient diet tip for athletes recommended eating dried figs before the games to build stamina. This would make sense, as the figs will offer fast releasing energy ready to be used by the athlete.

Who has won the most Olympic gold medals?Past athletes have dominated the highest number of gold medals won by a single athlete, until the American swimmer Michael Phelps entered the scene. He has won altogether 16 Olympic medals, 14 of which were gold, during 2000-2008.

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SECRET RECIPEPOWER SMOOTHIEPreparation time5 minutes

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INGREDIENTSMakes about 500ML.

1 Ripe banana peeled50g Chopped frozen or fresh fruit200ml Low Fat Yoghurt200ml Orange Juice15g Oats, soaked10ml Maple Syrup or Honey

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STEP BY STEP Blend all ingredients together and enjoy immediately :)

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TIPS Bags of chopped mixed frozen fruit are available from most supermarkets and make perfect smoothie ingredients. I like to have a fruits of the forest and a mango blend available in my freezer.

I hate drinking freezing cold smoothie so if you are using frozen fruit then briefly microwave it first to warm through.

I find that bananas are good for cutting out the dreaded leg cramps that I can suffer on longer cycle rides.

SECRET FOOD

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TREASURETHE INVISIBLE BOXING CHAMPION

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SECRET SPORT

Ashley Treasure Theophane is the British boxing light welterweight champion. But nobody knows that.Having trained with some of the world’s greatest fighters in the toughest gyms from London to Brooklyn, Ashley has forged an enviable reputation for carving his own path in the sport, managing himself in the nascent years of his professional career, whilst fighting across the globe to build his impressive boxing credentials.

With much of his youth spent on the wrong side of the law, and heavily involved with the gangs and criminal underworld of inner-city London, the inevitable stretch in prison that followed proved a Damascan experience; bringing with it a change in perspective and motivation, and instilling a newfound inner-drive based on focus and discipline.

His release without conviction six months later gave Ashley a second chance; closing the door on his previous life and throwing himself into his natural talent for boxing, whilst equally furthering his education and raising awareness of the dangers of gun and knife crime for the under-privileged urban youth.He has never looked back.

With no money behind him and little support back in the UK, he set off to New York aged 22 to fight in the small halls across the world; training relentlessly, sparring with the very best, learning the art of winning and beginning the long road back to Wembley and his recent British title fight victory.

From the humblest of origins and the murkiest of backgrounds, it’s a rehabilitation that has not gone unnoticed in the boxing world and across the wider media.

For some he remains a mysterious and softly spoken ‘outsider’ who has let his talent do the talking, for others he offers the very best traits that any mentor or role model has to offer – having ‘been there, done that’ and with the battle scars, confidence and humility to prove it.

It’s a journey that has propelled Ashley Theophane into a genuine world title contender and the boxing elite; a fighter who understands and exemplifies the art, tactics and reading of the sport as much as the critical physical conditioning.Talent and determination have brought him this far and he now stands on the cusp of greatness – a giant step that he can, and will, take.

Watch this space. Because Ashley Theophane will soon be the name on everybody’s lips.

By Luke Manning

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LEMARESCATHE QUEENS OF LONDON’S PUNKCHICK

Brainchild of sister duo Giulia and Cecilia Maresca, LEMARESCA makes its debut with a fantastic accessory collection.

Inspired by the effortless glamour and informal edginess of a busy fashion editor going to a fashion week with that touch of sophistication of the uptown girl walking down the red carpet, Le Maresca Debut Collection revolves all around a modern lady’s vibrant and dynamic lifestyle.

Descending from a family of hat makers the sisters have spent their entire life in the fashion world (Giulia designed for Tod’s and Louboutin; Cecilia worked in fashion P.R. and writes for Italian Vogue). Inspired by the conviction that accessories are the key ingredients to empower a woman’s style, the Italian/Brazilian sisters have just launched the eponymous luxury accessories label.

Timeless, stylish, sexy with a dramatic head-turning edge, LEMARESCA first collection is an assortment of beautiful statement bags perfect for day to evening. Comprising of shoppers, totes, shoulder bags, evening clutches and extending into embellished leather cuffs, the line makes a complete lifestyle.

Presented in multiple sizes, the collection is made of soft calf leathers, fine printed pony skins, shimmering metallic snakeskins, coloured suede with refined chain and stud detailing all over. Some styles can also be customized with studded initials.

The colour palette comprise of elegant taupes, versatile nudes, dazzling metallics, hip animal prints and stylish blacks. All items are handcrafted and solely Made in Italy using high-quality leathers and premium artisanal sourced luxurious fabrics.

Keep a close eye on this sister duo as they are about to launch their e-commerce website and have an impressive line-up of private sales, events, collaborations and so on.

By Mary Wind

For more information visit lemaresca.com.

LEMARESCA debut collection can be purchased by phone (020 7819 9367) or email order

(sales@lemaresca.com), prices from £150-£1,200.

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SECRET STYLE

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59 Broadwick Street London, W1F9QQfoodsecret.com

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FOODSECRET IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK 2011

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Federico’s

PROTEIN40%

TOTAL CALORIES: 160

RATING:

CARBS5%

FIBRES13%

FAT (Saturated)20%

FAT (Unsaturated)63%

ADDICTED TO325 Spicy Prawn Noodle Salad