Michele StuevenWellness author and herbalist to the stars Rainbeau Mars opened her Feng Shui Venice home on Monday for an evening of wellness and a plant-based five-course menu from internationally acclaimed vegan chef and Mar Vista resident Matthew Kenney. And it all kicked off with dessert — frozen strawberry guava with the essence of coconut and kaffir lime.
“A few small bites of dessert before you start the meal aids in digestion and absorption of vitamins and nutrients,” Mars told the intimate group after a cleansing sound bath that included Chinese medicine expert Dr. Mao Shing Ni, as well as actress and realtor Leslie Bega. “A little sweetness to start out will help digest the proteins before they start to ferment and cause digestive issues. Matthew has taken the herbs and plants gathered from my urban garden and transformed them into art for the body and mind. By combining the earth, the water, the fire and the air, we can reclaim the micronutrients from the colors out of the garden.”
Angel Gomez , left, and Matthew Kenney in the kitchen (Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for Lighthouse Studios)
Those colors included a seafoam green heart of palm ceviche with passion fruit, avocado, yuzu and shiso, delicata squash with dry miso and nori in a white sesame sauce, as well as roasted artichoke hearts with chermoula and red kale salad with plant-based blue cheese and quince paste. Beverages included a hypnotic blueberry and elderberry kombucha with a smoky touch of mezcal.
In addition to a healing meal from the Plant, Food + Wine owner, the evening featured aromatherapy, sound healing, yoga and reflexology in Mars’ backyard Ayurvedic earth bath buzzing with bees at the center of the garden. Words of wisdom were shared by Dr. Mao, on how to best manage the flow of energy for a peaceful life. The author of 18 books including Secrets of Longevity, he’s also the co-founder of Yo San University in West Los Angeles, holds two doctorates and is board-certified in anti-aging medicine.
Mars is currently developing Venice Beach, 90291, a show based on her local community and efforts to turn Venice back into a garden.
Rainbeau Mars, left, and Leslie Rae Bega in the Ayurvedic earth bath of her edible garden (Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for Lighthouse Studios)
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