Lauren Matison

My first post as a blogger for the Huffington Post!
Make sure to read the rest of the story for three delicious spring recipes by Laura Pensiero.

After months of slushy streets, heavy stews, and stubborn colds, I was feeling more than ready to talk about a fresh new season when I called up Laura Pensiero, nutritionist and author of the recently published Hudson Valley Mediterranean. She also happens to own the popular restaurants Gigi Trattoria and Gigi Market in New York’s Hudson Valley, and is the chef behind Just Salad. If anyone could offer advice on what to cook this spring, it would be Pensiero. In her book, she dishes on flavorful farm-sourced food and gives tips on how each recipe can be healthful and economical–while keeping our carbon footprint light.

HP: What comes to mind when you think of Spring?

Garden, peas, asparagus, new season, renewal.

HP: What should people look forward to cooking now that winter is over?

I’m so ready to give winter the boot and welcome in lighter fare: fava beans with a sharp cheese, shitake mushrooms, arugula and spinach from Sky Farm in Millerton, asparagus pesto with linguini. It will be nice to move away from root veggies and towards fresh green produce. I’m looking forward to open house entertaining season. One appetizer that’s delicious and super easy to make is sweet pea guacamole with crostini or pita chips. Or for a salad, I like to use a low fat pea-tarragon dressing.

Read the full story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-elyse-matison/what-to-eat-this-spring-a_b_495693.html

I interviewed Samantha Brown last week for offManhattan.com. With time to reflect, I’m not sure she has the best gig in the world. If she could fulfill what she says in her last answer, maybe.

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She bikes, she lives in Brooklyn, and her roller derby name is Green Eggs and Slam. In 2010, Samantha Brown will celebrate 10 years as a host on the Travel Channel. And no, she’s not leaving the best gig in the world anytime soon. (Trust us, we asked—twice.)

From home base in Park Slope, the star of Great Weekends spoke candidly with us on the phone about her time off camera, what’s planned for the big anniversary, and where we should head for our next weekend getaway near New York City.

oM: We recently started following you on Twitter. What is the most remote place you’ve ever Tweeted?

SB: I Tweeted in Vietnam, in Ha Long Bay. Beautiful place on the ocean populated by 3,000 people. There are these striking limestone cliffs, like something out of a movie, maybe Lord of the Rings. I was just waiting for the dragons to appear.

Read the rest of the story here.

My Alma Mater did a story on my work with offManhattan!

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Whether your ideal weekend getaway includes spending a few days shopping in Portland, Maine, or feasting on crab cakes in Baltimore, Md., trips like these typically require Manhattanites to fill up their car’s gas tank.

But what if they want to leave the car at home – or don’t even have a car?

That’s the basis behind the Web site, offManhattan.com (oM for short), started in 2007 by Lauren Matison ’06 and Vince Crossley.

“Since 75 percent of Manhattan doesn’t have a car, it seemed like the perfect city to start a green-themed travel mission,” said Matison, who uses the site to promote sustainable dining and public transportation.

Check out the rest: “Co-founder of offManhattan.com, Lauren Matison ’06, finds success with green travel blog”

Vince and I were stopped on the cobblestone streets to be interviewed for a website called Seductionmeals.com.

Here is our moment in the spotlight!

Check out offManhattan.com for its sleek new green look and let us know what you think. Thanks to all the oM supporters.

An interview I did atop Printemps in France this past fall finally surfaced (or at least I finally found it) on AuFeminin.com.

A few things may have gotten lost in translation (I am not yet 28!) but check out my musings on being eco-friendly: http://www.aufeminin.com/mag/societe/d4920.html

offManhattan.com now has a Twitter account. Follow us at twitter.com/offmanhattan to learn new ideas on where to get away next without a car!

This site is under construction. Come back soon or contact me for more information!