Staff

Editor:                                                                                                              Allen Lawrence
Program Design:                                                                                          Allen Lawrence
The authors and food reporters for DesertCitiesDining.com:          Allen Lawrence and Lisa Robyn Lawrence

About Allen Lawrence

Allen Lawrence is a physician for more than 40 years. Allen Lawrence practice lives and works in the Coachella Valley, Desert Hot Springs, California. Allen Lawrence has cooked since childhood. Allen loves to eat and enjoys good food. Dr. Lawrence has an M.D.degree from the University of California, Irvine, A Master?s in Nutrition, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Pacific Institute for Advanced Studies.

Allen Lawrence?s philosophy is that food is not only important for its nutrients but also for its taste, texture, smell and how it looks. "Food," he believes, "has through the ages been an important part of our Humanity. It has also been an important part of creating, binding and maintaining relationships with others. We ?break bread? with other to show that we can be friends, that we can communicate and that we can enjoy each other?s companionship. In our society much of our family, social and business life is based around meals, food and dining. We often think of a family sitting around the table eating together as a healthy family. When couples date or people get to know others, sharing a meal is important. What we eat and the types of food we eat are often an important part of the dating-meeting ritual. When we do business it is often around food and dining. When we celebrate and when we mourn, food is often an integral part of the process."

"We have dedicated our web site for the many things food, dining and celebration are to us. To the foods we eat and the establishments which serve them. Much more than just the nutrients, food is life."

About Lisa Robyn Lawrence

Lisa Robyn Lawrence is a wife, mother, meal planner, cook and nutritionist. Lisa Robyn Lawrence?s formal training includes a Master?s Degree in Nutrition and Ph.D. in Human Ecology. Dr. Lisa also designs and makes beautiful jewelry, and along with her husband and partner, Allen Lawrence, writes books on health, wellness and nutrition.

Lisa learned to cook at the age of 7 years old. She used to love the "magic" of making great fried eggs and fancy omelettes. Lisa took cooking classes in middle school and due to illness in the family it fell to Lisa to become responsible for preparing the dinner meals for her entire family starting when she was 11 years old.

"Cooking has always been an artistic expression, an exploration of flavors and taste for me. Over the years I have experimented with both simple and exotic recipes. Recipe have always just been a springboard for a new flavor adventure, I enjoy taking recipes and then adding my own twist to them, and especially changing ingredients to be more health conscious. I love the challenge of new tastes and textures and I especially enjoy foods that are both beautiful and healthy for me and my family."

"Great food and flavors have also always been a spiritual experience for me. "I always know when food is exceptionally good because I can?t stop saying ?mmmmmm? while eating it. I most appreciate foods that are both healthy and exceptionally tasty...for me that?s the very best...healthy food that is well plated and health conscious, this always leaves me ?mmmmmming.?I also love sharing what I cook and what I create with special people and having them enjoy what I have created. Life doesn?t get any better than that for me!"