Picnics are the best. These open-air outings bring together all the things I love the most: family, friends, good food, and the great outdoors. Whether it’s at a park, on the beach, or in my own backyard, there’s nothing better than enjoying the scenery while eating and lounging on a blanket. I like to get [...]

Continue Reading →

A couple months ago I had one of the most wonderful and memorable dining experiences of my life. It was dinner at FareStart Restaurant in Seattle, and I enjoyed much more than a delicious 3-course meal. FareStart, a Seattle non-profit, is a culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. Since 1992 [...]

Continue Reading →

Julia Child once said, “Wine is meant to be with food — that’s the point of it!” I couldn’t agree more. To me, a glass of good wine without a good meal is a waste of a good wine. Great food and great wine together can be sublime. After all, Aristotle taught us centuries ago [...]

Continue Reading →

I’ve always been fascinated by opera. My interest in this beautiful art form started as a kid in Italy. We would take regular trips to visit my grandparents in the South and the first thing I would hear walking thorough their door was a magnificent aria from one of the many operas my grandpa loved. [...]

Continue Reading →

In March, we celebrated National Nutrition Month with a 21-day Culinary Countdown, sharing recipes and inviting people to make at least one homemade meal a day. We created an Eating Well Facebook Group to keep us inspired during the challenge and to share recipes, photos, and cooking tips (I loved seeing what everybody was cooking!) [...]

Continue Reading →

Volunteering is a great way to feel good while meeting like-minded people in your community, but it can be challenging to fit it in. Luckily, there are a variety of volunteering opportunities that match different skills, interests, and time availability right here at the UW. Whether you are a gardening guru or an arts enthusiast, [...]

Continue Reading →

For the final week of the March Culinary Countdown, we’re bringing you some recipes from Charlotte Furman, a registered dietician and the wellness and technology manager for the UW Medical Center’s Department of Food and Nutrition. First, we asked her a few questions about cooking and nutrition. What does “healthy eating” mean to you? To me, [...]

Continue Reading →

For the second week of the March Culinary Countdown, we asked UW Club’s Executive Chef Jon Maley to share some of his delicious recipes with us. We also asked him a few questions to keep us inspired throughout the rem­­aining 14 days of our homemade meals challenge. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How [...]

Continue Reading →

For the first week of the March Culinary Countdown, we looked into the benefits of cooking at home with dietitian Ben Atkinson, who manages Harborview Medical Center’s outpatient nutrition, informatics, and wellness programs in the Nutrition and Foodservices department. 1. Saves money Eating homemade foods is usually much cheaper than eating at a restaurant or [...]

Continue Reading →

A child’s birthday is a very special day. But for children who are living in poverty, birthdays may pass with little or no celebration due to a family’s limited financial resources. Even receiving one birthday present might be a luxury for many kids in our area. Last Thursday, The Whole U and the UW Combined [...]

Continue Reading →

The Dare to Do fitness challenge has come to an end, but The Whole U isn’t done challenging you. Since March is National Nutrition Month, we’re bringing you another healthy adventure: March Culinary Countdown, a three-week cook at home challenge. Starting March 6, I dare you to save money and eat healthier by making at [...]

Continue Reading →

I can’t remember the last time I celebrated Valentine’s Day outside of my dining room. An expensive dinner in an extremely crowded restaurant is just not the image that comes to my mind when I think of the ideal romantic date. What’s the perfect Valentine’s Day date for me? A nice dinner cooked with love [...]

Continue Reading →