May 2007 Dear ,  “Life in Balance” at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
May is a great time of year to put your focus back into a balanced lifestyle.
With summer quickly approaching and a bountiful season in our midst it is important to keep your mind, body, and spirit balanced to allow greater appreciation of the beauty in life that surrounds us.
May Calendar
Guided Hikes
Enjoy hikes nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountain range and just two short miles from the Pacific Ocean, Sycamore’s 127 acres offer opportunities for exploring coastal terrain with amazing ocean vistas or reflective walks along oak line trails
Sunday Supper
Traditional English Roast or Pan Seared Salmon
Mind-Body Classes at our Healing Arts Institute
A complete schedule of Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Pilates, and other classes
Wine Festival Getaway Package
Paso Robles Wine Festival, May 18-20, Paso Robles
Bluesy Soul Dinner
Authentic Three-course Dinner, paired with Beer. Saturday, May 26 & Sunday, May 27.
Avila Beach Blues Festival
Los Lobos and Kenny Wayne Shephard, Sunday, May 27, Avila Beach
Resort Spotlight
Gardens of Avila Restaurant
 Reflecting a blend of tradition and innovation, Executive Chef David McWilliam’s philosophy is a belief in eco-friendly sustainable agriculture, and that food should be mindfully prepared, artfully served, as well as delicious. The Gardens Restaurant features natural meats, wild line-caught fish, free-range poultry, artisanal cheeses, the finest ingredients, and when ever possible, locally-sourced, organic and/or pesticide-free produce, and an excellent selection of Central Coast wines. Celebrate the “art of life” at the Gardens Restaurant. Chef McWilliam’s Recipe of the Month: Roasted Monkfish Wrapped in Pancetta
(with a Manila Clam and Beluga Lentil Ragout)
INGREDIENTS: 6 OZ. PORTION MONKFISH TAIL
2 OZ. PANCETTA (SLICED THINLY FROM YOUR BUTCHER)
2 TBS. COOKED BELUGA LENTILS
1 TBS. COOKED CARROTS (DICED SMALL)
1 TBS. COOKED CELERY (DICED SMALL)
1 TBS. COOKED LEEKS (DICED SMALL)
1 TBS. CORN (COOKED)
2 TBS. BUTTER (UNSALTED)
1 OZ. PERNOD
1 OZ. CHICKEN STOCK
1 TSP. MINCED THYME
6 OZ. MANILA CLAMS
JUICE OF ONE LEMON
METHOD:
WRAP MONKFISH WITH SLICED PANCETTA, PLACE IN LIGHTLY OILED PAN AND ROAST IN A 400 DEGREE OVEN. WHILE MONKFISH IS IN OVEN START THE RAGOUT. THIS STARTS WITH MELTING HALF OF THE BUTTER IN A HOT PAN. WHEN BUTTER STARTS TO BROWN, ADD THE VEGETBALES. SAUTE FOR ONE MINUTE. ADD THE LENTILS AND CLAMS. DE-GLAZE WITH THE PERNOD, WHITE WINE AND CHICKEN STOCK. REDUCE. ADD LEMON JUICE AND FINISH WITH THE REMAINING MELTED BUTTER. SLICE MONKFISH ON THE BIAS. SPOON RAGOUT INTO BOWL, AND PLACE MONKFISH IN THE CENTER OF BOWL/PLATE AND FINISH WITH CHOPPED THYME. Download it here.
Indulgence Package Returns! 
Three evenings in a Luxury Suite, with a private balcony hot tub
• Six Treatments ($540 Credit)
• $150 Certificate for our Gardens of Avila Restaurant
• Complimentary use of our legendary hillside sulfur mineral baths
• Access to ongoing Healing Arts classes, activities and guided hikes
Sunday-Thursday: $1329 ∙ Friday & Saturday: $1459 (Until June 14, 2007)
Sunday-Thursday: $1459 ∙ Friday & Saturday: $1589 (June 17-October 15)
Music We Love Sayamas Sacred Healing Waters Flowing water winds its way gently, not with force but following the path of least resistance. With patience and persistence, water penetrates the hardest stone. These soothing sounds of flowing water, blended harmoniously together with the breath of bamboo flutes, overtones of Chinese harp, tones of sound bowls and soft gongs, can softly penetrate our resistances, allowing us to gently, gently let go. Order it here at FindBliss.com
Balance Your Body with Movement and Relaxation at our Healing Arts Institute
 Conscious Colors Yoga ™: A meditative experience and metaphysical healing for your body’s internal energy centers– chakras. This signature class utilizes the energy medicine of color, sound and aroma therapies to uniquely restore your energy balance on all levels.
Our Healing Arts Classes are complimentary for hotel guests and only $15 for non-hotel guests. We are currently offering a Yoga Pass card which includes 10 classes for only $100 with a 15% discount to the Gardens of Avila Restaurant for breakfast or lunch as well as a Yoga Plus Pass Card with the same benefits of the Yoga Pass card plus a 1/2 hour soak in the Oasis Rock Spa after your class for $150.
Wellbeing Tip: Invite serenity into your workspace with fragrant rosemary. Snip a branch and keep it at your desk, when feeling a bit out of sorts, rub the leaves between your fingers to warm the scent and envelop yourself in relaxation.
 Great Find: White Apricot, Blending a Conscious Lifestyle with Fine Living Every once in a while, we learn of something that we believe will resonate with our clients and we are pleased to share a wonderful new electronic newsletter and website with you, called White Apricot (www.whiteapricot.com).
White Apricot speaks to the modern conscious consumer, offering valuable product and lifestyle information. It’s a quick, often fun, and informative read.
Click here to go to the website, where you can see the current issue, past issues, learn more about White Apricot. Make sure you take the Consciousness Quiz to find out just how conscious you are. It’s fun!
Quote of the Month: Our lives are not in the lap of the gods, but in the lap of our cooks. ~Lin Yutan
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