Do you feel that?! Mmhmm, Fall is in the air!

By now I’m sure you’ve gotten a peek at the first leaves turning from green to orange, yellow, or red. And maybe you’ve also started to feel a bit of that crisp morning air creeping in. Along with the season moving in, I have also been in a changing and transformative time in my life personally. This new journey has taken time, strength, and courage to navigate, and my summer was full of it all. And although this journey of finding myself as an individual, rather than a partner, will still take more time still, I am excited for the new beginnings and growth that is already transpiring within and around me.

With that said, I am returning to my roots. Back to the last name my father was born with and the one my mother still proudly shares with him today. The same me… just a new version. My name is Megan Michelle LaVigne. It is my pleasure to meet you again. 

(Drum roll please)... I can FINALLY SHARE one of the secrets I’ve been working on! Introducing my NEW series produced by Hour Detroit Media; My Metropolitan Kitchen. This has been over two years in the making, and although I can’t share every detail quite yet, you all are getting the first look into what may possibly be my dream turning into reality. 

In the later months of COVID-19, when shelves were still empty in the stores, and my own business wasn’t quite the same as before, I started finding my heart calling me to get into the community further and branch out of my solo entrepreneurship schedule. I knew that my goal was never to open my own restaurant or brick-and-mortar, but I wanted my focus to remain in the culinary field. One night, the idea came to me and continuously evolved as I lay in the darkness until every detail was bright with detail and color in my mind. The concept: a series where I visit local farms, purveyors, cheese mongers, mushroom growers, butchers, etc.… culinary artisans and producers who are all around us that we might not know about. During the visit, we learn about their story, inspiration, craft, offerings, and where we can support them and then I bring home ingredients to create a simple recipe to show you how to bring it from their concept to your kitchen. 

Hour Media soon after reached out to feature me in their Just a Minute, Detroit series. On the day of filming, I coyly yet confidently let them know I had my own series idea… and now I can officially say “and the rest was history”!

The first season has four episodes with the first airing the first week of November. To watch, follow @hourdetroitmagazine and subscribe to their email list to be the first to know! The full episodes will air on their website and YouTube. Thank you to everyone for your support on this project and I am SO excited to share this with you! See you in November!

Speaking of fresh ingredients, I could never leave you all hanging until November when it comes to local seasonal produce. So here you have it, a brief compilation of what fresh finds you should keep your eyes peeled for at the grocery store as September is coming to a close. Starting with apples (a fall favorite, love me some Honeycrisps!), arugula (already a match made in supermarket heaven), Asian pears, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, chard, chicories, chili peppers, collard greens, eggplant, green onion, kale, leeks, parsnip, pumpkin (HELLO), sweet potatoes, tomatillos, and winter squash just to name a few. Check out the full list linked here and with even more options to liven up your kitchen. 

So even though we have probably already gotten at least one pumpkin spice latte, we still have the last tastes of summer on the menu to close up the season before hitting the apple orchard in full force. So buckle up for a flavor combination that is sure to impress at your next brunch (or anytime) gathering. We start with one of my all-time favorite breakfasts, a classic easy eggs benedict topped off with a lemony, creamy hollandaise to pour over your perfectly poached egg. Now here is where you can get a little wild, enter the nest jumbo lump crab cakes. That’s right. The twist we’ve all been waiting for is the option to either add in or swap out the crab cake for the muffin or ham. So do with this information what you will, but absolutely DO NOT forget to make the creamed corn polenta on the side of those crab cakes as an entree.

Like I said earlier we are entering a season of change, however, something that is not so seasonal and will always be an ever-present aspect of my life that I would like to start sharing with you all more are my wellness practices that I find beneficial. Yes, taking care of yourself mind, body, and soul is something very near and dear to my heart (and MAJORLY these past few months). So I present to you a new (and recurring) section of the newsletter dedicated to exactly that. 

Body Detox: Next, is one of my go-to's, my Infrared Sauna Blanket by Higher Dose. I have been using this at home for 2+ years and absolutely love the benefits I receive. Some of these include clearer and brighter skin, an amazing night's sleep, burning 600+ calories per session, increased serotonin levels, etc. I highly recommend ordering the blanket insert to use with your blanket to skip the need for clothing, it's a game-changer! You can find this product here and use my code CULINARY75 for a nice discount! This code also works site-wide. (I also  just purchased the Red Light Face Mask, I'll give that review in the next newsletter!) 

Meditation: I have recently become very consistent in the practice of meditation. I choose guided meditations that match whatever might be coming up for me that day and allow it to help me work through those emotions. Some examples you can choose are Gratitude to Self, Deep Relaxation, Comfort and Peace, etc. 

There are many apps, YouTube videos, websites, and more that provide these, I am currently using the app Moonly.

Releasing & Manifesting: Finally, Friday brings us a full Supermoon, closing up September and urging us to make emotional declarations. This is a perfect time to release & shed any negative or restricting feelings and decide what you are welcoming into your life in this new season. What I love to do is write down a list of what I am letting go of as well as what I am opening the door to enter. Then, take your list outside and while facing the moon, set the paper on fire, release it into existence, and watch what unfolds for you. For more insights as to what to look out for in astrology this week check out the full reading here.

Reading: If you know me, you know that I am constantly caught in the pages of something good. So for this month’s recommendation, we have Lessons in Chemistry, I won’t give away too much but in case reading isn’t exactly your jam, the series previews Oct 15th on Apple+! 

That’s all for this month, thank you all for your support. All my love and see you in Autumn!

• Megan LaVigne