The best ways to detox—and retox

Hey it's Kat. For the first time ever, I'm laying off the booze. Sort of. But I'm also gearing up for a retox. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hi friends, happy new year! [Kat Odell]( here, one of Pursuits’ freelance writers focused on all things eating and drinking. Here at Bloomberg, and on [Instagram](, I chronicle my dining adventures near and far—like who in New York is serving a [Louis Vuitton-themed tasting menu](, or where to eat the [best omakase sushi in Tokyo](. In 2024, for the first time ever, I am laying off the booze. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going full Dry January, but I am taking it easy on wine and cocktails. Instead, I’m reaching for my favorite non-alcohol drinks, including anything from [NON](. The company’s wine-like expressions are legit the most elegant and sophisticated on the market, in my opinion. I also recommend singer Katy Perry’s apoptogenic beverage line De Soi. I love the new [raspberry-rooibos rosé](. A little detox is welcome coming out of the holidays. For myself and my husband Mike, the festive season meant overindulgence. Mike, who is a chef, kept making these incredible super soft and chewy cinnamon rolls (should you want to try a great version, I suggest [ordering these]( via acclaimed California restaurant Manresa). That’s on top of eating something like six panettones. The Italian Christmas breads have really taken off in the US over the last couple of years, and check out my [holiday gift guide]( for a great version to try. Salt & Straw ice cream Source: Salt & Straw We also ate through six pints of [Salt & Straw](’s holiday-flavored ice cream. Based out of Portland, Oregon, Salt & Straw is the best mail-order ice cream option if you’re not lucky enough to be near one of their [scoop shops](. They use the milkiest-tasting milk and create playful and inspired flavors. We made our annual vintage spirit-spiked white truffle eggnog (yes, fresh white truffles) and drank through some great wine including [Saxum Vineyard](’s James Berry Vineyard 2013 Rhône varietal blend. I’ve been on the waitlist for this California winery for more than a decade and recently got a small allocation. Some other great bottles we finished included [Lithography 2019 Cab](, and [Lokoya’s 2019 Cab](—lots of California wine for us recently. So, yes. Detox needed. And while I’m taking a break from over-indulgence, I start to get excited each January about all the restaurant openings slated for the year. In other words, gearing up for retox. - We have zero good restaurants where we live in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood. Which is why I was elated to hear that chef [Jean-Georges Vongerichten]( will be opening here this spring. He’ll be mashing up two of his hit Flatiron spots, Mexican flavored [abc cocina]( and plant-based [abcV]( into a new concept called abc kitchens which will be opening just a couple blocks from me. Woo! Simon Kim in Coqodaq’s construction site in July. Photographer: Gary He - My friend Simon Kim is about to introduce his follow-up act to [Cote Korean Steakhouse](: [Coqodaq]( is a Korean-American fried chicken spot that I am sure will be fantastic. - Chef Josh Pinsky and Chase Sinzer are opening a minimalist, counter-centered seafood spot right above their popular East Village wine bar [Claud](. - One of my favorite New York chefs, Ignacio Mattos is working on a wood-fired set menu spot called [Amado Grill]( in the dreamy downtown [Nine Orchard]( hotel. - But most important, and not just a boon for New York but a major opening for the world (and I am not exaggerating), is the imminent debut of [Sushi Sho](, the 10-seat omakase counter that is expanding from Honolulu and will soon open near New York’s Fifth Avenue and 41st Street. The chef, Keiji Nakazawa, is one of the most respected sushi masters in Japan. Sushi Sho will become one of the world’s most coveted sushi counters. I was lucky enough to attend a preview dinner there about two weeks ago and the meal was flawless. Me and Sushi Sho chef Keiji Nakazawa Source: Kat Odell/Bloomberg Detox your way into 2024 As part of my ongoing attempts to live better, I recently started seeing a functional medicine practitioner. I’ve taken a genetic test and done a spate of bloodwork to check for genetic pre-disposition to future maladies and for a full-body assessment to see if I am deficient in certain vitamins/minerals. Overall, results were good but say I have low Vitamin D and high cholesterol, but we are doing a deeper dive into that. Bloodwork was covered by insurance. And I’m always trying new products. I’ll fill you in on some of the ones I’ve been hearing about and testing. For years, I’ve been taking [liquid chlorophyll drops]( in my water as a way to detox and help oxygenate my blood. It’s also great for high-altitude destinations like Aspen, Colorado. Now, I can have my chlorella and eat it too with [these enriched udon noodles](. Chlorella is an algae rich in phytonutrients that also contains a large amount of chlorophyll. When I’m traveling, I’ve started to bring along [Autonomy’s Smart Creamer]( to make hotel coffee more bearable. It’s a new, almond-cashew-MCT oil-based creamer that’s laced with adaptogenic mushrooms including lion’s mane and chaga. It’s shelf-stable and comes in what looks like a squeezable toothpaste tube. Because the only thing worse than being stuck in a hotel room with bad coffee is not having your desired plant-based milk. Here’s what else is on my radar: - [Devoción Coffee]( Last month I tried this roaster’s limited edition [Chiquita orange gesha]( (a very expensive bean varietal prized for its complex flavor) release, which reminded me how great Devoción coffee can be. This particular brew that tasted of orange and spice is now sold out, but I’d suggest trying the watermelon and kiwi-tasting La Riviera Nitro instead. - [Breville Barista Touch Impress]( And speaking of coffee, plant-based milks are having a moment. And the newest high-tech, touch screen coffee machine from Breville has first-of-its-kind settings that you can adjust to froth alt-milks like almond and soy. During the winter I drink a cappuccino every morning, and this machine is my new go-to for a top-quality coffee in less than 60 seconds. - [Vitamix A3500 Gold Label Blender]( Mike and I use our Vitamix blender every single day. It’s the one piece of kitchen equipment neither of us can live without. Over the summer the brand released a chic new Ascent line. I am especially keen on the moss green color with gold accents, and I love that this one is compatible with a top that works like a food processor. It’s amazing for blending baby food! - [Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer]( This is my favorite new juicer! Why? Not only does it claim minimal counter space, but it’s a cinch to clean. It takes about 60 seconds to rinse out the four main parts. And the juice is produces is perfect. - [EllaOla]( I’ve been researching non-toxic baby skincare products for Gemma and this brand offers some of the cleanest out there. It’s really great, in particular the diaper and face cream. I am finally ready to travel! I haven’t left the U.S. for the last two years. Heck, I’ve barely left New York state. I used to be on the road 75% of the time, bouncing from Tokyo to Prague. I had a baby just over a year ago and have been terrified to board a plane with her. (No, I do not want to be that person with the crying baby.) But Gemma is growing up and I think she is ready to handle some international vibes. Time to do some research. [The Secret Perks of Investing in Travel, From Hotel Upgrades to Cruise Credits]( [My Favorite Hotels in 2023—and Why They Were Worth the Price]( [A $10,000 Members-Only Sushi Restaurant Is Coming to Miami]( [How to Island-Hop Around the Caribbean This Winter]( So you had some questions... We put out the call for questions weekly on [our Instagram account](. You ask, we answer. What is the absolute best omakase experience in NYC right now? Well, I’ll begin by saying that when Sushi Sho imminently debuts, it will be my top pick for New York. Beyond that I love [Icca]( for a slightly Italian inspired omakase. The ingredients that chef Kazushige Suzuki uses here are some of the best in the city. I am also a fan of [Sushi Noz]( for rare seafood, and [Yoshino](, whose omakase reminds me most of what I’ve tried at top counters in Japan. Sushi Noz How much do people usually spend on luxurious Michelin star restaurants? There’s really no fixed price. Besides, I believe that the landscape of Michelin dining is changing. These days you don’t need to travel to Paris and drop the equivalent of half your rent check on a dinner to have a luxurious and memorable meal. Just look to Singapore: There, even hawker stands are listed in the guide! Then there are examples of young cooks opening in more affordable neighborhoods, and the rent savings gets passed on to the customer. Last year I had a fantastic $75 omakase in Brooklyn at [Okonomi Market](, a fish shop by day and tiny tasting menu counter by night, cheffed by Daniel Lee. It’s not in the guide but should be. One of my top three favorite restaurants in New York is [Jua](. This incredible [Michelin-starred Korean tasting menu]( runs seven courses for $135 and incorporates ingredients like caviar and uni. It’s one of the best—and most delicious—deals in the city. Restaurateur Roni Mazumdar and chef Chintan Pandya, the team behind Dhamaka. Photographer: Gary He Another more-affordable option comes from the team behind hit Indian Bib Gourmand eatery [Dhamaka](. The new East Village Filipino spot [Naks]( offers a nine-course tasting menu for $135. My friend Mads Refslund (co-founder of Noma) just opened [Ilis](—a very cool and vibey wild ingredient-driven spot in an old Brooklyn warehouse. While the tasting menu there runs $295, you can order many of those same dishes à la carte at the bar.  Which is the best Indian restaurant in London? London is spoiled for choice with Indian restaurants. (Even though our Bloomberg colleague Bobby Ghosh has pointed out that the [Indian food scene in New York]( is now stronger than in the UK capital.) Dishes from Darjeeling Express Photographer: Ming Tang-Evans But you should start with [Darjeeling Express](, upstairs at Kingly Court. Chef-owner [Asma Khan](, who featured in the Netflix series [Chef’s Table](, is a force on the UK restaurant scene; her £65 ($83) menu at dinner features dishes like paneer korma in coconut gravy with a table full of sides. [Bibi]( offers superb, and refined takes on Indian food. And [Dishoom]( has multiple locations that evoke old-school Bombay cafes; the places are generally packed at lunch and dinner but if you go at breakfast you can have a bacon naan roll without waiting long. New for subscribers: Free article gifting. Bloomberg.com subscribers can now gift up to five free articles a month to anyone you want. Just look for the “Gift this article” button on stories. (Not a subscriber? Unlock limited access and [sign up here](.) Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. Want to sponsor this newsletter? [Get in touch here](. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Bloomberg Pursuits newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, [sign up here]( to get it in your inbox. [Unsubscribe]( [Bloomberg.com]( [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Ads Powered By Liveintent]( [Ad Choices](