photography courtesy of The Juice Extractor Report

No, no, you lush. I mean with real, organic fruit and veggie juice, hand squeezed, blended, and poured from behind the new Juice Bar at The Bar Method in Inwood Village. Why we don’t have more juiceries in Dallas is beyond me, but thank goodness for Bar Method’s husband and wife team, Tom and Lisa Hennings, who realized we need a hot spot that doles out (get it? “dole?” like the banana?) pressed juices, smoothies, kombucha tea, and specialty concoctions like oat shakes, coconut water, and green lemonade. Tom’s own Dallas-made Groovin’ On Granola will also be in stock, along with other healthful, refueling, on-the-go snacks in the newly expanded space. Getting a sculpted rear end at The Bar Method was already delicious, but I can’t wait for The Juice Bar, which opens on April 2.

CHOCOLATE
Whether you’re into Albatross fudge with dark chocolate with dehydrated blue cheese and sea salt or raspberry ganache with crystallized violet lavender or traditional turtles, check out our favorite chocolate shops in Dallas, which await you with a delightful treat for every taste. photo: chocolate covered caramels from Nib Chocolates. (photography by Manny Rodriguez)

DATE NIGHT OUTFIT
There are shops we turn to for brunch attire and shops we love for polishing up for big meetings, but then there are these: the boutiques we can count on for extra special dates and swanky nights out with our girls. Click for a list of top ten shops we’ve deemed perfect-date worthy. For Her. For Him.

LINGERIE
Buying pretty underthings is half the fun of this holiday. Need an excuse to ditch the nude bra for a strappy pink one with lace trim? You’ve got it. Feeling guilty about spending the big bucks on designer undies only you can see? Don’t. It’s Valentine’s Day, and that’s what’s it’s here for. Click here. photo: Damaris “Naked bra” Trousseau, $176

JEWELRY
Skip James Avery. Go for the good stuff. Diamonds are a girls best friend, after all. Click here for eight of our favorite jewelry boutiques you can rely on for bling that’ll make your heart sing and wrist glitter. photo: Heather Moore Harriet Stone necklace from Ylang23. (photography courtesy of Ylang23)

EVENTS
Our top picks from events editor Liz Johnstone include I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Theatre Three, a musical about romance, jazzed up with song, dance, and comedy and the Valentine’s Double Feature at Lakewood Theater. The night begins with lives tunes from Ricki Derek and the Cupid Quartet (think Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole) and ends with a screening of Casablanca. Check out Liz’s full list of V Day events here.

WHERE TO SHOP FOR DATE NIGHT DUDS
FOR HER:

(photography by Matthew Shelley, style assistants: Jessica Acklen and Meagan Paparella)

(in photo) Yigal Azrouël maxi skirt and one-shoulder crepe top ($665 and $465, Forty Five Ten); Azzedine Alaia eyelet shell dress over slip ($3,275, Forty Five Ten); and Shirin Askara jewel-tone print dress ($375, Melanie Gayle)

Barneys New York: For delicious designer garb.
Chanel: For its famous ladylike chic look.
Demerara: For a bit of glitz and a lot of glam.
Diane von Furstenberg: For colorful dresses that fit like a glove.
Elements: For a little of everything, edited down.
Flirt Boutique: For affordable frocks.

(photography by Matthew Shelley, style assistants: Jessica Acklen and Meagan Paparella)

(in photo) Minimarket drape dress, $132; Minimarket sheer-legged romper, $310; and Abi Ferrin scoop back dress, $300, from Piermarini Boutique

Forty Five Ten: For exclusive designer pieces.
Hemline: For of-the-moment pieces that won’t break the bank.
Krimson & Klover: For flirty styles at affordable prices.
l.Bartlett: For the latest trends organized by colors.
Lela Rose: For Dallas-based design.
Lilli London: For sleek cocktail dresses.
Mal Malouf: For style that mimic the latest from designers.

(photography by Matthew Shelley, style assistants: Jessica Acklen and Meagan Paparella)

(in photo) Park blouse and Pleasure Doing Business bandage skirt ($192 and $135, l.Bartlett); French Connection pleated, belted dress ($198, l.Bartlett); and Parker floral maxi dress ($286; Melanie Gayle)

Melanie Gayle: For versatile dresses you can dress up or down.
Neiman Marcus: For a little of everything.
Piermarini Boutique: For under-the-radar design labels.
Scoop NYC: For a stylish look to turn heads.
Stanley Korshak: For personalized service to find the perfect piece.
Turtletique: For dresses you can rework into office apparel.

FOR HIM:
Barneys New York: For designer gear that’ll surely impress.
Cowboy Cool: For quality country-meets-rock-and-roll clothing and accessories.
Culwell & Son: For
Daniel Taylor Clothier: For preppy looks with an on-site tailor.
Demerara: For upscale brands that aim to show off.
Forty Five Ten:For stylish guys in the know.
J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier:For personalized service and customized shirts.
Ken’s Man Shop: For an expert staff and brand name sportswear.
Neiman Marcus: For finding everything in one stop.
Original Octane: For serious denim and European button downs.
Piermarini Boutique: For off-the-radar New York designers.
Pockets Menswear: For contemporary suiting and Italian accessories.
Sebastian’s Closet: For sharp suits, designer denim, and cool accessories.
Stanley Korshak: For contemporary styles and hands-on customer service.

WHERE TO SHOP FOR LINGERIE
Trousseau: For the best in the biz. Glamorous sets at every price point. See photos.
Intimacy: For respected, high-quality sets to fit and flatter. See photos.
Neiman Marcus: For designer underthings. See photos.
Anthropologie: For sweet sets under $100.
Dallas Pin Up: For vintage-inspired head turners.
H&M: For trendy on the cheap.
Lingerie Collection: For reliable sets and floor-length gowns.
Loretta’s Intimates: For customer service and every size imaginable.
Maddox Shop: For an expert staff and custom fit.
Soma Intimates: For everything from cozy loungewear to lacy sets.

Cathy Waterman "Love" necklace and Sydney Evan love ring from Ylang23, Tiffany bracelet, Naomi pearl earrings, and Montblanc watch from Bachendorf's (photography courtesy of retailers)

WHERE TO SHOP FOR JEWELRY

Cartier: For celeb favorite love bracelets.
Bachendorf’s: For world-renowned expertise and quality.
deBoulle Diamond: For a friendly staff to help you shop.
Eiseman Jewel: For exclusive collections of jewelry and custom-designed pieces.
Naomi Designs: For elegant pieces designed in-house.
Matthew Trent: For future family heirlooms in a dazzling array of colors.
Stanley Korshak: For an edited collection of designer jewelry.
SWAG: For on-trend jewelry you can expect to last.
Tiffany & Co.: For the famous turquoise box.
Urban Flower/Grange Hall: For exquisite (and often odd) designs no one else carries.
Ylang23: For the lastest and greatest from favorite jewelry designers.
William Noble: In-house designers can help you create your dream jewelery.

Brandied cherry, raspberry, strawberry balsamic, and hand-painted hearts from Chocolate Secrets. (photography by Manny Rodriguez)

On SideDish, you’ll find a list of Valentine’s Day dinner menus being served around the city. If you’re like me, however, and you don’t give a fig about foie gras (ew) or fancy salads (whatevs) because you only care about dessert, plan instead for the four-course chocolate and champagne spread at Chocolate Secrets. Champagne French macarons, raspberry mouse chocolate cups, rose profiteroles, and mini red velvet cupcakes will be served with Moet & Chandon for $98 per couple. I’m sure you’re worth it, and if you aren’t, a raspberry mousse chocolate cup surely is.

Dates include Friday, February 10 (7:30 pm to 11 pm); Saturday, February 11 (7:30 pm to 11 pm); Sunday, February 12 (1 pm to 4 pm); and Tuesday, February 14 (7:30 pm to 11 pm). Email
or call for reservations.

Check out more of our favorite chocolate shops.

photography courtesy of vendors

Unsurprisingly, a few recent Ask Raya questions have included a plea for health counseling. Like this question below:

“It’s the new year, and I’m already ready to break my resolution to get healthy and shed a couple pounds! I can’t afford a nutritionist, but I need help with meal planning. I thought you might know an expert that can help with some healthy meal pointers!” –Elisa

I immediately contacted Cooper Clinic. From the brain of resident dietician Cynthanne Duryea, RD, LD, to your plate, here is a list of delicious healthy meal and snack suggestions worth their weight in chocolate, er, gold.

Ditch the rumored “rules.” Instead, work with Cynthanne’s three important strategies:

1. Every meal should be PCF balanced. (That is, protein, carbohydrate, and fat.) Check your plate for fiber-rich carbs, heart healthy fats, and lean meats for protein.
2. Go for three meals and two snacks each day. Snacks offer another opportunity to fuel your body wisely. See examples of great snacks below.
3. Consider this question: Why do we eat? The answer is to fuel and nourish our bodies. Before you put something in your mouth ask yourself, “what can this food do for me?” Concentrate on purposeful eating.

Now, welcome to a day of eating in Cynthanne Duryea’s life. Below are some meal ideas that she frequently uses, as well as some go-to snack ideas that she finds to be remarkably satisfying and keeps her fueled throughout the day.

BREAKFAST

photography courtesy of vendors

Option 1:
-Uncle Sam Cereal (toasted whole-wheat flakes and Flaxseed- a 100% whole grain cereal)
-1 cup skim milk (used on cereal and to “cream” coffee)
-1 banana sliced on cereal
(Note: This fiber rich breakfast contains 15 grams of protein, giving real staying power throughout the morning.)

Option 2:
-Quaker Oats Old Fashioned rolled oats cooked with pears, apples, dried apricots and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
-½ cup of Vanilla Strained Low-Fat Greek yogurt, scooped on top of oatmeal
-½ ounce almonds (11 almonds to be exact!)

(Note: I prefer to batch cook this hot breakfast on the weekends, when I have more time. I start with 2.25 cups of dry rolled oats which will yield 3 heart-healthy portions of oatmeal. There are 3 grams of soluble fiber in each of the heart-healthy portions, which is an amount that can effectively lower LDL cholesterol, as part of a diet low in saturated fat. I add 1 apple (chopped), 1 pear (chopped) and about 9 apricots (cut into quarters) and about ¼ tsp. cinnamon to add a nice flavor to the cooked fruit and oats. The Vanilla Low-fat Greek strained yogurt I add lends about 11 grams of protein, giving a lot of bang for the 80-calorie buck. The almonds that top this delicious breakfast add heart healthy fat and a lot of satiety.)

MID-MORNING SNACK

photography courtesy of vendors

Option 1:
-Kashi TLC Bar- The Honey Almond Flax is a personal favorite!
(Note: What a tasty and convenient way to enjoy 4 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein, in a whole grain source that only has 140 calories.)

Option 2:
-Clementine
-Mozzarella String Cheese stick
(Note: The clementine is the perfect portable fruit: it is easy to carry to work and peels effortlessly, unlike a thick skinned orange. Combining it with the string cheese adds about 6 grams of protein to this snack, making it more complete. The flavor and texture combination of these two simple items is quite nice.)

LUNCH

photography courtesy of vendors

Option 1:
A lunch that I have at the office has to be quick and easy, as I typically work through my lunch. Therefore, I gravitate towards a healthier version frozen meal:
-Either a Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Kashi or an Amy’s Organic frozen meal
-Triscuit Crackers
-Piece of fruit
(Note: Many of the patients I see believe that the sodium content of these meals is extremely high. However, when I compare the sodium content of these above frozen meals to the sodium content of their usual sandwich ordered at their local sandwich shop, they are shocked to learn that a 6” sub sandwich is about double to triple the sodium content of any of these frozen meals, with just the bread, lunch meat and cheese….and any pickles or dressings would add much more sodium.)

Option 2:
If lunch is at home, I love to throw together a salad, using washed and trimmed baby spinach, the kind in the bag that is ready to go. Components that would go into the salad would be:
-2-3 ounces of left over turkey, pork tenderloin or extra lean ground beef (often leftovers from taco night!)
-1 Roma tomato, diced
-¼ avocado
-½ cup black beans
-bell pepper strips
-shredded carrots or whatever colorful vegetable I may have in the refrigerator to add nutrients and color to this salad.
-¼ cup shredded cheese – for a heart healthier choice I aim for a 2% milk-fat cheese or a shredded partially skimmed mozzarella
(Note: The salad is quick and easy because there is very little preparation needed. Also, I find that the avocado adds enough creaminess to the salad, I often do not even add a salad dressing.)

AFTERNOON SNACK

photography courtesy of vendors

Option 1:
-Chobani Greek Non-fat yogurt – I love the fruit varieties! The 14 grams of protein in an individual 6 ounce container really has staying power. I have found that purchasing them by the dozen at Sam’s Club is a smart economical way to buy them!
Option 2:
If I have a sweet tooth in the afternoon, I have two favorites that I alternate and enjoy with a glass of skim milk:
-Either a Corazonas Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Square (It’s pluses are its 5 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein and it contains plant sterols in a daily amount that can effectively reduce cholesterol….it does have 190 calories, which may be a little high in calories for some women though.)
-Or a Kashi TLC Soft-Baked Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip cookie
(Note: both of the above snack ideas are great whole grain sources, and they truly fulfill a sweet craving. By washing either one down with an 8 ounce glass of skim milk, you get an additional 8 grams of protein and 300 mg of calcium.)

DINNER

photography courtesy of vendors

Option 1:
Dinner often consists of
-A lean meat prepared in the crock pot cooked on low, while I am away from home during the day- examples would be pork tenderloin, lean center cut pork chops, or chicken pieces without skin….even flank steak can be prepared in the crock pot with a marinade, to make fajitas or to be used on top of a salad.
-Frozen vegetables are a constant “go-to” to assure that a colorful vegetable is included at this meal.
-Almost always there is a salad made with the washed and trimmed salad mixes that are “ready to go.” I dice up tomatoes and whatever raw vegetable I might have in the refrigerator. Olive oil based vinaigrettes are most commonly used for these.
-One fiber rich starch food completes the meal. Examples are brown rice; fresh corn; quinoa; a bean variation like pinto, black, or lima; a sweet potato or red skin new potato; or a piece of Ezekiel bread, which is especially good toasted.
-If my time and energy allow, I will cut up fruit and make a quick fruit salad. If I am more pressed for time, I will literally bring the fruit bowl to the table, and set out a piece of fruit for each family member, to encourage its consumption.

Option 2:
An easy dinner that feels “gourmet” is:
-I steam a white fish like tilapia in an old electric rice and vegetable steamer (I was given a Black and Decker electric steamer as a wedding gift 22 years ago….and it is still going strong. To steam 4 fillets takes only about 20 minutes)
-As the fish fillets are steaming, I heat slivered almonds in a non-stick skillet, until just lightly golden, to lend a slightly toasted flavor to the almonds. Then I remove the almonds from the pan and set aside.
-In the same non-stick skillet that I used for the slivered almonds, I heat 1.5 tbsp. olive oil. Then I add washed and trimmed baby spinach (about a 2 pound bag) adding small amounts at a time, until it wilts and decreases in volume, and I continue to add until it is all wilted and fits within the pan. Then I add sliced mushrooms and allow the spinach and mushrooms to sauté together until heated and the mushrooms become tender. I may splash just a bit of soy sauce to add some flavor to the sautéed spinach and mushrooms.
-After the fish is done, I plate the steamed fillets on the plate, and then I cover each fillet with the sautéed spinach and mushrooms, and then I sprinkle the toasted slivered almonds on top.
-Wild Rice is served with this meal as the starch component.
-Adding a yellow/orange vegetable such as steamed carrots or sliced yellow squash, adds nice color and more nutrients.
(Note: this meal feels gourmet somehow- although it is incredibly easy and simple. It is especially nice to have a glass of Pinot Grigio with it.)

photography courtesy of vendors

Beverages that are nice alternatives to just water:
Le Croix Carbonated Fruit flavored beverages- these give you the kick of a carbonated soda, but without sugar or artificial sweetener…just a nice clean fruit taste with bubbles.
Celestial de-caffeinated herbal teas- on cold winter days these are a great comfort beverage.
Adding 2 Tbsp. POM (pomegranate juice) to 12 ounces of ice water. In the summer, I often have this as a dinner beverage. The concentrated juice lends a lot of flavor to the water, in just a small amount.

Cynthanne has worked in the Cooper Clinic Nutrition Department since 1998 and specializes in preventive health, cardiovascular nutrition, weight management and women’s health. Personally committed to exercise and fitness, she especially enjoys helping others with wellness and sports nutrition. Cynthanne is the lead dietitian for recipe analysis, working with restaurants, food companies and individuals. She received a Bachelor of Science in food and nutrition from Texas Tech University and interned at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Contact her.

High heel chocolate mold with assorted truffles from CocoAndré Chocolatier (photography by Manny Rodriguez)

We’ve made it easy for your partner in crime. They can skip the Russell Stover heart-shaped boxes from Walgreen’s and go straight for the good stuff. It’s like comparing cubic zirconia to diamonds.

Here’s a guide to the best chocolate shops in Dallas. Think raspberry ganache with crystallized violet lavender. Yeah.

Gratuitous cuteness that has nothing to do with eating.

Here’s a list of places and menus for Easter day dining.

Obsessed with this Eve Garden Party dress for $495.

Fall 2011 fashion is officially everywhere, guys. We can’t avoid talking about it. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy the beautiful weather and prepare your wardrobe for the upcoming seasons. With that in mind, here’s another trunk show alert. The designer behind Foley + Corinna, Anna Corinna, will be at Elements on Thursday, April 21, with her spring AND fall 2011 collection, which you can pre-order. If that’s not enough excitement, there will be Bellinis and mini Sprinkles cupcakes, too. If you’re ready to pick up a few new beautiful spring things, there’s really no better way to do it than with the designer of them.

Is Maximo's Heat Margarita the best marg in Dallas?

Tell us here.

Halloween Cookies, $20

If you’re like me and start eating Halloween candy way before Halloween, then head to Stanley Korshak to nab a tasty treat that’s sure to spook your taste buds. These cute packages have chocolate-covered Oreos inside. Yummy! They’re kind of a splurge at $20, but they’d make a great gift. –Katherine Paullus

Razzle dazzle 'em with a slab of chocolate goodness.

I mean, look at it! This Razzle Dazzle bar is so stinkin’ precious I can’t unwrap it. The vintage inspired design, the rhinestones, the ribbon…darling! Get them now at Eatzi’s for $12. I’m not sure what I suggest you do with it afterward–I haven’t tasted it yet–but you definitely need one, right?