Cal-a-vie is  located on 200 private acres in Vista, CA and about 40 miles north of San Diego.  Readers of Conde Nast Traveler voted it the Number One Destination Spa for Programs and Settings and readers of Luxury Spa Finder voted it Best Boutique Spa, and Best for Cooking Classes, Cuisine, Fitness Program, Hiking, Weight Loss and Best for Going Solo. 

One of the reasons I like Cal-a-Vie (www.calavie.com) is that it is a smaller health spa retreat (25 rooms/30-35 guests) and offers wonderful healthy meals, cooking classes and nutrition.  One of my goals when visiting a destination spa is to arm myself with more ideas on eating healthy and finding fitness classes that I enjoy – a destination spa is a great opportunity to try something new with the intention of continuing it upon returning home.  I often travel solo to destination spas and a smaller one offers the option of really getting to know the staff and with a 5 to 1 staff to guest ratio, it doesn’t get much better than that.   

One of the other reasons I like Cal-a-Vie (www.calavie.com) is their Pilates program and the Pilates Apparatus Essentials that features Peak Pilates Equipment, including Reformers, Cadillacs, Chair and Barrel. One complimentary semi-private session is offered to full-week guests; all other guests may request a session for an additional charge.  And, the Fitness Pavillion is also unique in that it is decorated with 18th century European antiques.  Okay, more about that in another review (they also earned Best Interior Design from Luxury Spa Finder readers).  Two Pilates weeks are coming up and one is by renowned Pilates instructor and expert, Mary Winsor, set for April 13 – 20 and the other is with Kim Kilway, former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and professional dancer/choreographer, set for June 22 – 29.

Cal-a-Vie offers 3, 4 and 7-night spa vacation packages (http://www.spa-vacation-expert……lAVie.html) that include luxurius accommodations, fitness classes, hiking, spa treatments, classes & lectures on healthy and nutririont, gourmet (healthy) spa cuisine and they include workout clothes to use during your stay. 

I will be including more information in an upcoming review about the nutrition program offered at Cal-a-Vie, however in the meantime I thought I’d give you a sneak preview of one of their recipes.  Enjoy!

Green & White Asparagus Soup

Ingredients:

1 bunch green asparagus

1 bunch white asparagus

1 yellow onion – chopped

2 tablespoons pomace olive oil

1/4 cup unbleached flour

1/4 cup light coconut milk

3 cups chicken stock

Salt & white pepper to taste

1. Cut off the tips of the green asparagus and cut the stems into small pieces. Sauté half of the onion in the olive oil in a saucepan for 5 minutes or until tender. Add the green asparagus and stir to coat evenly. Stir in half of the flour and cook for several minutes, stirring constantly. 

2. Add half of the coconut milk and half of the chicken stock, or just enough stock to cover the asparagus. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat, stirring constantly. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. 

3. Process the mixture in a blender at high speed for 1 minute. Strain through a strainer or large china cap. Season with salt and white pepper. 

4. Repeat the entire process in a separate saucepan using the white asparagus and the remaining ingredients. Pour each soup into separate measuring cups. Pour carefully into opposite sides of soup bowls in a curvilinear pattern, taking care not to mix. 

Yields 12 servings