The Quintessentials: Issue 5 Lansdowne | January 18, 2024January 18, 2024SEASONAL SAVVY: CHOOSING THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR FOR YOUR WEDDINGDid you get engaged over the holidays? Or maybe you’re planning a Valentine’s Day proposal? Either way – congratulations! You likely picked these dates to pop the question because they hold special meaning. Here at Lansdowne Resort, we know every season holds its own magic. So, as you consider a wedding date, consider the benefits that come with each.Wondrous WinterIf there was ever a season to host a statement wedding, winter is it! With fewer invitations floating around for nuptials (and other events), your big date can be the big standout on the calendar. It’s also an opportunity to bring on the bring on the fabulous fashion. (Can you say faux-fur wrap?) Another bonus? Better bevvys. Think: cozy hot toddies or a make-your-own cocoa bar. Dreaming of a winter wedding? We have your inspiration here and here.Splendorous SpringAs trees begin budding and flowers start blooming, the world bursts forth with new life to usher in this new chapter in your own lives. The days are filled with optimism and tempting temperatures, putting everyone is a joyous mood for celebrating. And Lansdowne Resort wears springtime well – see for yourself here, here, here and here. Sumptuous SummerLong, sunshiny days are a true gift to weddings. Couples have their choice of flowers and menus can showcase local, farm-to-table fare so newly harvested you can taste the fresh air in every bite. Even better than the days? Those summer nights! With twilight held at bay until late, there’s plenty of time for an evening ceremony followed by formal portraits and then a reception under the stars and twinkle lights. You can practically feel the sun on your skin here and here.Fabulous FallIf you love sweater weather and pumpkin spice everything, you understand the special feeling fall can bring. Turns out it’s the sweet spot for a lot of couples. According to The Knot, October was the most popular month for weddings in 2022 – by a long shot. Embrace the rich color palette of the season and check out awesome autumn I-dos here and here.When you’re ready to set a date, the Lansdowne Resort team of experienced Wedding Specialists is ready to collaborate. You can start the conversation here.PRO-FILE: GET TO KNOW AMANDA PEREZInstructors at the Lansdowne Golf Academy have helped countless players improve their performance on the links. But what drives these pros? We caught up with Amanda Perez for a Q&A session to share her story – as well as some valuable tips for every golfer.How long have you worked at Lansdowne Resort?“I have worked at Lansdowne for three years in Golf Operations and in the Resort.”Could you share some background/highlights on your golf pro career?“Some of the highlights of my pro golf career include teaching the game of golf. I had the pleasure of teaching a program called Ladies on the Links which taught ladies who were beginners the basics of golf. I have also been able to teach juniors – it is so fun to instruct the next generation of golfers.” How old were you when you started playing golf?“I was five years old when I started playing golf. I have been playing for about 18 years.”What is the single most important skill/behavior a golfer should learn/practice to improve their game?“I think the skill that oftentimes gets overlooked is the short game – specifically, putting. The putter is the club you use the most in the bag and I would argue it is practiced the least. Most people get to the course, and they spend 30 minutes on the driving range and less than 10 minutes on the putting green before a round. When warming up, players should spend a lot of time on the putting green to prep for a round. When someone is just practicing and not playing most days, they won’t even go on the putting green. I would encourage all golfers to at least spend 25 minutes on the putting green at the end of their practice sessions.” What is your best advice for golfers at every level?“For novice golfers, the best advice I can give is to have fun learning the game. Golf is not easy, and it will take a long time to feel comfortable swinging and being on a golf course, but enjoy all of it. There will be a lot of information but be open to learning and know the efforts you make in the beginning will pay off in the end.” “For intermediate golfers, a good piece of advice I could give would be to not try to fix everything too fast. Golf is a game that requires high levels of patience and improving your game can take time. Focus on about two areas at a time to really improve on. Oftentimes, if the brain is overloaded with things to improve on, or swing thoughts, it will cause the swing to be worse rather than better.”“For advanced golfers, by the time you get to this level it is easy to forget that there is always room to improve. At this stage, a lot of golfers feel like they don’t need to practice because they are playing so well on the course. The piece of advice I would give advanced golfers is to make the practice off the course meaningful. Go back to what was working and not working during the previous round and focus on that one area during the practice. Do not try to hit too many balls on the range. Really focus on each shot; quality of practice over quantity of shot hit. I would even suggest practicing different shots such as low-ball flight, bad lies, flop shots. Practicing these shots builds more skills that way the golfer is ready for any situation on the course.” We all know that even a seasoned player can get the yips. Do you have any tips for shaking them?“Golf is a game that is so hard to master, even the pros have bad rounds and they go through phases of having the ‘yips.’ I think the best way to combat them is to go back to the basics of golf. Sometimes when things aren’t going right golfers put too many thoughts in their heads and they are trying to dissect everything about their swing. I would encourage anyone who is going through the ‘yips’ to try half golf swings and just get comfortable over the golf ball again.” Of all of Lansdowne’s 45 holes of golf, which is your favorite and why?“My favorite is number 17 on RTJ II.I like this hole because it is picturesque and a hard hole, but not impossible. People get scared of hitting over water but I tend to embrace the challenge.” After a round at Lansdowne, what’s your favorite 19th hole on the resort and why?“I like to go over to the health club and get in the hot tub. It is super important after a round of golf to rejuvenate the muscles and get them ready for the next time on the course!” Are there any sweeping lessons about life or human behavior that golf has taught you?“Golf has taught me many lessons about life over the years but the two that stick out to me are honesty and humility. Golf will humble everyone at some point in their life by virtue of course difficulty, weather, injuries, etc. It is never wise to become arrogant about how you are playing because it can change quickly. Golf requires a respect from all players, even when they are at the pro level. Honesty and integrity are some of the first values that are taught as a new golfer. Players are responsible for being honest about their score when they are playing alone and with other people. There are many rules when playing golf and it is expected that all golfers adhere to those rules. Having integrity is something that is invaluable throughout life and golf teaches it very well.”TCM FOR YOUDating back over 3,000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on the movement of qi (pronounced chee) – defined as the energy or life force within and surrounding us. When the flow of qi is disrupted, we become unwell. To encourage its effective movement throughout the body, practitioners of TCM can tap into many treatments, including:AcupunctureThis natural healing method involves inserting fine needles through the skin’s surface to activate key acupoints that encourage the release of qi blockages. Acupuncture has been found to promote proper organ function, relieve pain and improve physical and emotional well-being.TuinaAlso known as acupressure, tuina (pronounced twee nah) utilizes Chinese therapeutic massage – rather than acupuncture needles – to stimulate the acupoints that encourage the free flow of qi through the body. Just as the practices of the two methods are somewhat similar, so are the healing benefits.CuppingWith this treatment, cups are applied to acupoints to create suction that draws the skin up and causes tiny blood vessels to break. While this initially sounds counterproductive to the promotion of good health, these minor breakages trigger the brain to increase blood circulation and lymphatic flow to heal the “injuries.” Cupping also releases built-up fluids, relieves muscle tension and promotes cell growth.More Healing ModalitiesWhat we put into our bodies can also improve the flow of qi. TCM not only prescribes what foods should be eaten when – a principle we follow at the resort with seasonal menus inspired by the Five Elements Framework – it also relies on various herbal therapies to enhance and restore health. You can put the practice of TCM to the test for yourself with wellness bodywork treatments, including acupuncture, cupping and tuina, in Spa Minérale – or expand your experience by booking a comprehensive resort spa package that includes generous credits for therapies and services. For the ultimate self-care journey, we recommend reserving one of our immersive wellness packages.COOK LIKE CHRIS: PHO INSPIRED CHICKEN SOUPWinter is, inarguably, soup season – when comforting broth and hearty ingredients come together to warm your body and soothe your soul. You’ve enjoyed Chef Chris Ferrier’s masterpieces at Lansdowne Resort. Now he’s sharing his recipe for a nourishing Asian-Inspired chicken soup that you can whip up in your own kitchen to combat winter’s chill.Pho Inspired Chicken SoupNourishing Asian-inspired chicken soup with a chicken broth simmered with lemongrass, green onion, garlic, and ginger, tender veggies are added, like mushrooms, carrots and Chinese cabbage or Bok choy and butternut squash. Optional to add rice noodles or steamed rice.Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 60 minutes Yield: 6 servingsIngredients2 tablespoons toasted or dark sesame oil, divided8 cups low sodium chicken broth1 tablespoon Thai chili paste or siracha¼ cup soy sauce1 tablespoon fish sauce1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighsFreshly ground salt and pepper6 cloves garlic, minced2 bunches of green onions, white and green parts divided2 large carrots, medium diced1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, medium diced2 cups sliced mushrooms1 tablespoon freshly minced or grated ginger2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and outer layers discarded, halved lengthwise6 cabbage or Bok choy ribs with leaves, coarsely choppedFor Serving½ cup fresh chopped cilantro¼ cup mint leaves, torn½ cup torn Thai basil or regular basilGreen onion (just the green part of the onion)1 Thai chili sliced, to garnish (can also sub jalapeno)Sesame seeds (white or black), for garnishLime wedges, for garnishingOptional for Serving8 ounces rice noodles or 2 cups cooked riceInstructionsAdd 1 tablespoon sesame oil to a large Dutch oven or large pot and place over medium high heat. Add in chicken thighs and generously season with salt and pepper. Brown chicken on both sides. You don’t need to cook the chicken all the way, just brown to a golden color for flavor purposes. Transfer chicken to plate and set aside.In the same pot, add the remaining ½ tablespoon sesame oil. Immediately add in minced garlic, white part only of the green onions and ginger. Sauté for 3-5 minutes, then slowly add in the chicken broth, Thai chili paste and soy sauce. Add the chicken thighs back to the pot and lay in two lemongrass stalks. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.After 20 minutes, use a slotted spoon to remove chicken from the pot and transfer to a cutting board. Once cool enough to handle, shred or chop the chicken. Before adding chicken back to the pot, remove the lemongrass stalks and discard. Add the Bok choy, mushrooms, butternut squash, carrots and fish sauce to the broth, simmer on medium heat for 10-12 minutes more.Option to add cooked noodles or rice to bowls.Pour soup into bowls, then garnish with a few cilantro, mint, Thai green basil, green scallions, Thai chili, sesame seeds and a fresh squeeze of lime.PUT SOME SPRING IN YOUR STEPWe know you’ve barely gotten used to writing 2024 instead of 2023, but springtime celebrations really aren’t so far off. Our culinary team is already hard at work planning unbelievable brunch experiences for Easter (where everyone’s favorite bunny will make an appearance!) and Mother’s Day (when you have the opportunity to pamper mom like the queen she is!). Quintessential Tip: These holiday events sell out quickly, so you’ll want to keep an eye on our website for announcements and make your reservations as early as possible.