Health-Conscious Dining, Travel, and Fitness Tips (tm)

Health-Conscious Dining, Travel, and Fitness Tips

Century 21 Department Stores don't sell real estate, but they sell just about everything else. Located in the Wall Street area, it is another superstore for bargain hunters. Clothing and accessories for men, women and children at terrific prices. 22 Cortlandt Street. Tel 212-227-9092 for directions and store hours.

Foot Comfort for the Traveler

If you're a walker, at home or abroad, it's time to start thinking about your feet. stress is cumulative over the years, and properly fitted walking shoes are essential for your continued well-being. Once a foot problem occurs, such as a plantar fascitis, treatment is often long, arduous and costly. One of our contributors found this out recently, the hard way. In the course of her seeking relief, she was referred to the Eneslow Foot Comfort Center at 924 Broadway, New York City, tel: 212-477-2300, e-mail: eneslow@earthlink.com

Luis Altoro, well-trained, twelve years in the business and a store manager, spent an hour with her, carefully examining her foot, pointing out the weakness in the arch and muscles, and how the walking shoes she had been wearing, while very comfortable, did not "exercise" her foot, but instead, contributed further to its weakening. He made sense. The exercise sandals that he recommended and she bought to wear around the house and condition her foot have been extremely comfortable, as have the running shoes she uses for daily walks. You will not find a pleasanter, more helpful staff anywhere, including Gina and Simone at the counter. The shop carries many familiar brands: New Balance, Easy Spirit, Mephisto etc. But what is most important is fit and function and you'll find an understanding of that at Eneslow. You can make an appointment. Ask for Luis.

New York Custom Tailoring

Mr. Ned at 85 Fifth Avenue, 212-924-5042 is worth a visit if you'd like to get a custom-tailored suit (for men or women). His fabrics include Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, one of our favorites, and Scabal. Suits from $550-750.Select fabrics can be measured in your home or office. MC and Visa accepted.

Strand Bookstore

Strand Bookstore is the place to go if you love books- to buy or to browse. Everything from reviewers copies of best sellers at 50% off to rare and out-of-print books- by the tens of thousands in this landmark on Broadway and 12th Street. 828 Broadway. Tel:212-473-1452. Call to be placed on catalogue mail-order list, free of charge.

Chelsea Market

If you love food shopping, there's a new kid on the block in Manhattan, and well worth a visit. Chelsea Market, indoor shopping, 75 9th Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets), 212-463-9041.
In this market, you'll find a fabulous wine shop, The Chelsea Wine Vault. In the Wine Vault, you'll find New York's finest climate controlled storage for your wines, a knowledgable and enthusiastic general manager(ask for Nick Staskiewicz), wine tastings every Saturday from 2-5P.M. And, of course, a huge, superb selection of wines from all over the world, carefully selected from the finest vintners at competitive prices. For those who seek half-bottles, there is an excellent choice and Nick intends to expand it. Delivery is available. Tel 212-462-4244.
You'll also find Ruthie's Cheesecakes, including sugar free (excellent), sugar and fat-free (well, if you must), and rugelach like grandma used to make them. Amy's Breads, a great choice, is here too.
In Chelsea Market, you'll find everything from appetizers to fish and meats, vegetables and desserts. Give it a looksee and you're likely to return many times.

"Frozen Tea Infusion"

We recently came across a smooth and creamy, refeshing low calorie product, on Columbus Avenue between 85th and 86th. It is called Botanica and is a "frozen tea infusion." and we thought we'd bring it to your attention. It comes in various flavors. We tried Peach Serenity. They listed the ingredients and we'll do so, too. You can judge for yourself whether it fits your definition of a health-conscious treat. Ingredients as listed: Herbal infusion (filtered water, black tea leaves, extracts of chamomile, passion flower and dandelkion root), corn sweeteners, peach juice, corn maltodextrin, beet sugar, soy protein, pectin, vegetable gums, natural peach extract and other natural flavors, carrageenan and annatto seed extracts. We don't know if it will be your "cup of tea" but we enjoyed it greatly.
For more information on where it might be available near you, call WAP? INC at 718-646-1047 or fax 718-368-2279.

RAO's Homemade...

Not everyone can dine at RAO's Restaurant in New York's Harlem. It takes time, persistence and patience to get a reservation. But for a taste of Neapolitan purity of flavor, try RAO's Homemade Marinara Sauce or Roasted Peppers. The sauce is made without preservatives, has no cholesterol and is all natural. In a comparative tasting, it received the highest ratings from our tasting panel, a hand's down winner. A leading publication rated RAO'S sauce #1 over many well known pasta sauces- and NY Newsday's samplers raved about "the fresh tasting, well-seasoned sauce." Use with pasta, veal, shrimp, lobster or steak and you're in for a treat. Call 1-800-HOMEMADE to order or to inquire about where it's sold in your neck of the woods. They'll also offer you free recipes. In New York, we've seen it everywhere from Zabars to Macy's and D'Agostino.

Seigo

Looking for that special gift for that special man in your life? Visit SEIGO on Madison Avenue in Carnegie Hill. And gentlemen, there's no reason you can't purchase a few for yourself. At SEIGO, you will find exquisite ties (and bow-ties for the old fashioned guy), handcrafted in Japan from the finest kimono silk. The stunning colors and patterns will suit every taste, from the most conservative to far-out. At $80, they are well-priced. SEIGO is open seven days at 1248 Madison Avenue (90th Street), New York, NY 10128; Tel: (212)987-0191 E-mail: SEIGO-NY@worldnet.net.att. While you're at it, stop for a delicious cappuccino and a muffin at Petak's, one block south on Madison.

Healthy Gourmet Cuisine: Your Way to Success

Your Way to Success, 200 East 59th Street (between Second and Third Avenue), NY, NY 10022. Tel: (212) 224-0223; Fax: (212) 224-0231; www.healthygourmetfoods.com

Whether you are on Weight-Watchers, the Atkins diet, Dr. Stephen Gullo's 'Thin Tastes Better' method, or just "watching weight" your own way, this small shop, a stone's throw from Bloomingdale's and around the corner from the D & D Building (Decoration and Design), is sure to be up your alley. Four women opened the store, determined to expand on their own experience of celebrating good food while keeping their waist-line slim. They offer quality products from various sources that meet the needs of those pursuing low-carb, low-fat, fat-free, low-cholesterol, sugar-free, gluten-free or kosher diets. And for those who need prepared meals for dining at home, they offer beautifully prepared and tasty meals such as the low-fat Poached Salmon Bearnaise on a bed of ratatouille, or for Atkins devotees, Grilled Chicken Sate with pureed cauliflower and Parmesan. We discovered their vegetable soufflés, low calorie, low-fat, and stocked our freezer. They are delicious! As was their Gourmet Brownie. Half a brownie was most satisfying to an acknowledged choco-holic and only 85 calories.

We spoke to co-founder Gayle Klinger and found her knowledgeable and eager to impart her commitment to healthy-conscious dining. If there's a product you have discovered (as we did) and have difficulty finding on your supermarket shelves, let them know and they will order it for you. We'll have more to say about their prepared foods as we try more of them ourselves.