Harmonious feelings

2nd story


On Borders of Cooking
Story of one party



Morning run along the streets, parks give me great joy and help keep my force during the day. Sunday morning – is empty time for cars on roads. Civilization sleep, only seldom runners crossing my way and hand up means greetings in my address. South River county my favorite place in New Jersey. Every time, when I say where I live, people repeat, O.k. – it’s close the New York city. Not nearby, but not yet far. Forty minutes from my house to Manhattan by car.

My running time – forty minute too. It gave me chance to come back to my mind and analyze last week events. The most important was meeting in office with our Europe partners. After three days of meeting and discussing our business problems, we decided spent time in party restaurant in Manhattan.

Michael said:
– Let’s go to European restaurant. When was the last time you enjoyed a nice leisurely meal?..

Michael was born from France, and his proper came to handy. My office colleagues and partners were pleasantly to hear it ones again, and we went to nearest restaurant at Greenwich Village.

After ten minutes we are sitting at the nice restaurant. It was wonderful place for party for six men really. All we were after forty, and only Daniel was for fifty may be. He was the older from us, and seat at the head of table.

– O.k. –  He said, – I declare our party open.   Do you know that one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight and a trim figure is to slow down and savor the food you eat?  As strange as this idea may seem, it works.  Just look at the French!  Their regular diet includes multiple course meals with creamy sauces, real butter, desserts, and wine.

– Wonderful speech,  – said John,  He was chief our company.

– I`m absolutely agree with Daniel – continued John, – On the flip side, consider American eating habits, which more often than not include skipping meals, having fast food on the run, or overindulging at an all-you-can-eat buffet.  One might think that staying on the go helps to burn calories, but what it actually does is to create stress, and stress is a big deterrent to maintaining a healthy weight.

His words were sincerely and all expressed him deep appreciation by applause.

Michael adds:
– Never fear, my dear friends, all is not lost, because any habit that is learned can be unlearned.  All you have to do is to slow down at mealtimes, begin to enjoy your food, take better care of yourself, and keep a trim healthy figure without too much fuss or drastic shift.
 
He continuing:
– But that will require some adjustments to your daily schedule.  For your first meal of the day, go for something healthy, even if it is just some fruit and/or nuts as you head off to work.  Studies show that starting your day with a healthy mix of protein and carbohydrate boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat throughout the day.  And if you have a mid-morning or afternoon snack, keep it light and nibble it a bit at a time if possible.  Stretching it out will make it feel like more in the end.

We absolutely confidence our friends from Europe and spent a nice party along the four hours. Jokes and amusing stories to fill our party time and we all wonderful spent time. Menu was by meat and cheese sorts. Wine, appetizer, meat, cheese were different by each of us, as possibility comparison with Europe cooking. We eating slower and chewing food well, that help us enjoy the different tastes on our plate and make us more aware when our bodies are full.

– Dear friends,  – said Daniel, – I`ll be very happy to suggest for all of us on desert Hot Chocolate. Chocolate is one of my favorite weaknesses or treats, depending on how you look at it, and I am not alone. If you not objection, I shortly explain about this one, – asked us Daniel.

– Don’t worry, do it , – said John.

Daniel starts:
– It has long has been heralded as an aphrodisiac and is said to raise the serotonin levels in the body, thereby helping to chase away the blues. Dark chocolate has recently been classified as an antioxidant, meaning that it reduces the free radicals in the body. That is certainly more than a mouthful to say of this gastric delight. But have you ever wondered how this pleasurable sweet came to be?.. 

Daniel continued:
– Dating back more than 2,000 years ago to the time of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans who occupied what is now Central America, chocolate was cherished even back then. The Mayans were the first to discover that they could make a frothy, slightly bitter, beverage from crushed cacao beans. This beverage was reserved for royalty, priests, and the highest levels of society. The Aztecs created a warm drink from the beans called chocolate, meaning "warm liquid," and they so valued cocoa beans that they used them as currency…

– Christopher Columbus was the first to bring cacao beans back from the New World, but it was not until the conquistador, Hernando Cortez, actually tasted chocolate in 1519 that the pleasures of chocolate were truly experienced by someone from the "civilized" western world. Cortez was the one to add sugar cane to the cocoa to soften the bitter taste. And upon his return to Spain, he re-introduced the modified chocolate beverage to the Spanish court… 

– The drink was such a hit that it led to the agricultural production of cocoa beans in Jamaica, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru. Spanish monks were even pressed into service to process the beans, and a new agricultural industry was born. The joys of chocolate spread throughout Europe, and the rest is history! Today chocolate is a highly popular treat for all and is served in numerous forms – ended Daniel.

We order Chocolate, and enjoying with hot chocolate beverage, remember story of its appearance.

John said at end of our party:
– So, my dear friends, the next time you indulge in a chocolaty treat, say a little thank you to the Aztecs and Mayans who discovered the first cacao beans and to Hernando Cortez who made it all possible. You might also want to add a thank you to the scientists who have found all kinds of wonderful benefits to enjoying a chocolate treat…

Nice time – Fall in New Jersey. I finishing my run across of my rout, and thought about evening party, my friends from Europe. So small need for life, when you can listen something pleasure and take attention on it during the next time.

I came in my house. Sun rays heating my rooms through the windows, and sunny bunnies reflected on the walls, pictures and mirrors. I`m not at once observe signal on my PC – one new message have been gone. It was from our friend Daniel.

He wrote:
– Hi Alex. At mealtimes, strive to eat a full, balanced meal that includes foods you like.  As your digestive system was designed to break down natural foods, choose foods that aren't loaded with preservatives and chemicals and that means stay away from prepared fast foods as much as possible.  Also, finally, don't forget to add some exercise to your daily routine.  It doesn't have to be something strenuous or lengthy.  Studies show that short bursts of activity throughout the day help to maintain an optimum weight… 

– Some little suggestions include taking a short walk after lunch, parking further out in the grocery store parking lot, walking to the corner store as opposed to driving, and opting to take the stairs as opposed to the elevator whenever you can.  Those extra steps here and there add up, Alex, to a trim healthy body and a healthier lifestyle...

– Best wishes for a good weekend and for long time ahead, – Daniel.
   
If you believe in miracles, to join in this story and sometimes come in your memory – you can receive answer on the best way of your life. Be sure, weak up early morning, running by yours rout and remind your good time at last time – you received answer with something pleasure news…

New Jersey \ 2004
© Shutoff \ 2009