FIJI Water

Hot Meals, and Now Somewhere to Eat Them for School Kids in Fiji

FIJI Water — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:11:04 +0000

Schoolchildren in the province of Ra, Fiji have a new dining hall thanks to support from the FIJI Water Foundation and their local school committee. The $44,000 project was completed in mid-May 2012 at Bureivanua District School in the village of Bureivanua. The dining hall and kitchen were built to cater to the 90 students at the school. The photo above is the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the local priest, Laisenia Kaiwai, and honored guest Apisai Vularika, Assistant Provincial Administrator at the Ra Provincial Office.

Living at School to Get an Education

[caption id="attachment_20637" align="alignright" width="265" caption="View of the front of the new dining hall at the Bureivanua school."][/caption] Many of the students at Bureivanua, and in other rural schools in Fiji, live at school while attending classes because their home village is too far to travel each day. The school committee provides hot lunches to all students during the school week, the new building allows the children to have their lunch within the school vicinity under the supervision of teachers. At the opening ceremony Assistant Provincial Administrator Vularika was presented with a yaqona plant by the school committee and villagers, after which the village priest blessed the new building. Here's a slideshow of more photos from the ceremony.

Win A Signed Copy of the New Book by GILT Founders Wilson and Maybank

FIJI Water — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:54:00 +0000

GILT Groupe took the fashion, retail, and e-commerce world by storm when it started in 2007, rapidly growing into a multi-million dollar online shopping empire and household name. Now GILT Groupe's founders, Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Alexis Maybank have written a book about how they created the billion-dollar company, By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop. They answered our questions about their path to success below.

BONUS! Win a Signed Copy of the Book

Tell us in the comments section of this blog post your answer to the question below for a chance to win one of five signed copies of By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop. Open to U.S. residents only, see official rules for details. Contest ends Wednesday, May 16 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time. Post your answer in the comments below to enter: “If you started your own company, what would it be?”

GILT Q & A

Q: How did you come up with the idea for GILT? Alexandra and I drew inspiration from the New York sample sale, an exciting form of retail that drew throngs of fashion devotees to remote Manhattan showrooms to get the most coveted looks at unbelievable prices. We partnered with Kevin Ryan who had witnessed a similar model in Western Europe gain popularity. We knew there would be interest across the country in shopping for these designer items on our site. Q: At what point did you know you had a success on your hands? We knew we had struck a nerve with our shoppers when our goods sold so quickly in that first Zac Posen sale the day we launched in November 2007. Q: If there is one thing you wish you had known before starting GILT what is it? Pace yourself! I knew building startups was an all-encompassing effort; however when you are in the trenches of one it is hard to take the needed time out to make sure you don't hit a wall. It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. Q: What partnerships were important to the growth of your company? Our first major partnership was with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. This allowed us quickly to partner with hundreds of top designers. Also, a partnership with Vogue in which we sold items on our site directly from the magazine's pages showed people loved the combination of magazine style imagery and the ability to shop directly from these photos. Q: What were the biggest risks you took starting GILT? Partnering with a friend was personally risky - what might happen to our friendship if we didn't work well together? Also, we invested and doubled down in studios, styling and photography - this impacted our cost structure and would have hindered us if we didn't scale quickly. Q: What pointers would you give to someone starting an internet company? Now’s a great time to start! Q: What websites do you visit the most often? Pandora and of course GILT! Q: How do you learn about fashion and taste trends? Fashion shows, magazines and just observing the streets of NYC, LA, Paris and Milan. Q: What designers do you like now? Prabal Gurung and Zac Posen are favorites!

Win Your Dream Vacation to the Islands of Fiji

FIJI Water — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:47:37 +0000

FIJI Water, in conjunction with two incredible resorts in Fiji, Likuliku Lagoon and Malolo Island, and one incredible airline, Air Pacific, offer you a chance to win your dream vacation to the beautiful South Pacific islands of Fiji. The prize package includes two round-trip tickets on Air Pacific from Los Angeles, Calif., three nights accommodation for two at Malolo Island Resort, including non-motorized water sports and invitation to weekly Fijian Kava party and Meke (Fijian Dance) performance; and four nights accommodation for two at Likuliku Lagoon Resort, including all meals and more. For more details, please see the official rules on the sweepstakes entry site at www.FIJIWater.com/Fiji. Open to U.S. residents, 21 and older.

Australia’s Camp Quality Supper Clubs Coming Soon!

FIJI Water — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:31:51 +0000

Camp Quality is one of our favorite charities in Australia. Started in 1983, Camp Quality runs over 120 camps around the country where children living with cancer, and their families, can go to receive "fun therapy". In addition, Camp Quality runs programs that provide financial and emotional support to kids where they live and go to school. Today, Camp Quality reaches 1 in 3 children living with cancer in Australia and their aim is to meet 3 in 3, so every child living with cancer can face it with optimism and resilience. [caption id="attachment_20540" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Each guest is treated to a mult-course meal created by one of Australia's best chefs."][/caption]

Serious Food, Serious Fun

Each year, Camp Quality hosts their biggest fundraiser, the Supper Club, in their own words, "a unique fundraising experience bringing together fine wines, luxury dining, secret destinations and a gala ball with a generous serving of fun and excitement." FIJI Water is very proud to be the official water and a major sponsor of the Supper Club. Last year, the Supper Club raised $460,000 and this year Camp Quality is aiming to raise $1 million (the photo above is of Luke Jacobz attending last year's Supper Club). At top restaurants around Australia, Supper Club diners will be served a stunning dinner complete with French champagne from Champagne Taittinger and local wines from award-winning McWilliam’s, as well as water from FIJI Water. Each table of diners will then be chauffeured in style by Lexus to a secret ‘Masquerade Ball’ where all the Camp Quality Supper Club guests from across the city converge to party the night away with live entertainment, dancing and drinks. Sound like fun? Gather 11 friends and book a table! This year's schedule is below:

Supper Club Dates for 2012:

Adelaide & Brisbane – Thursday 3rd May 2012 Melbourne – Thursday 10th May 2012 Sydney – Thursday 17th May 2012 Perth & Canberra – Thursday 24th May 2012 Main website: www.mycampquality.org.au/supperclub

Facebook Fun

If you've not already Liked the Camp Quality page, please do, and better still, show your support for Supper Club by adding their special ‘Masquerade’ Giggle badge to your profile picture to help spread the word!

FIJI Water Shaved Ice Eases the Heat at Lacoste L!ve’s Coachella Pool Party

FIJI Water — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:13:07 +0000

FIJI Water joined Lacoste L!ve at their exclusive, truly insane pool party at Coachella April 14-15. Special guests spotted at the over-the-top soiree in the sun included Katy Perry, Lea Michele, Diane Kruger, Joshua Jackson, Lauren Conrad, Teresa Palmer, Cory Monteith, Gerard Butler, Florence Welch, Shenae Grimes, Lo Bosworth, Bijou Phillips, Eric Balfour, Monet Mazur, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lucas Haas, Bryan Greenberg, Jamie Chung, Simon Rex, Shannon Woodward, Mia Morreti, Mark Hunter..and more! It was the Coachella party to be at, as even the Los Angeles Times admits. Music was provided by DJ Elijah Wood (yes, that Elijah Wood -- who knew?), Radiohead’s Nigel Godrich and Brie Larson. Our FIJI Water shaved ices were an obvious hit at the desert party in Thermal, CA (right next to the Coachella festival) and helped the 800+ people at the party stay cool. FIJI Water was also on hand in liquid form to balance the effects of other concoctions imbibed at the all-weekend party. Photos are below. For even more, see Lacoste L!ve's Facebook page.

Need a FIJI Water? Tweet Why for a Chance to Get One

FIJI Water — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:50:38 +0000

Sometimes you really need a FIJI. This week, tell us why in a tweet with the hashtag #needaFIJI and we might give you one. We're giving away five coupons for a free bottle of FIJI Water all week long to the tweeters with the best reasons why they #needaFIJI.

If you want to read the official rules, they're here.

Aqua Amore

FIJI Water — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:35:43 +0000

Krystal Food & Wine

FIJI Water — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:35:15 +0000

Park Garage Group

FIJI Water — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:34:47 +0000

The Co-Operative

FIJI Water — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:33:32 +0000

FIJI Water at Canada’s JUNO Awards

FIJI Water — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:40:02 +0000

The best and brightest of Canada's musical talent were on hand last weekend at the 2012 JUNO Awards, presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'académie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement. Sixteen hundred of Canada's music elite gathered to toast the thirty-four JUNO winners at the gala dinner and awards ceremony, held at the Ottawa Convention Centre. The evening featured performances by a spectacular line up of 2012 JUNO nominees, as well as unforgettable tributes to some of the most influential names in Canadian music. The Sheepdogs were one of the big winners of the night, snagging two JUNO Awards for New Group of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund) and Rock Album of the Year (sponsored by Recording Artists’ Collecting Society – A Division of ACTRA). Other JUNO Award winners from the evening include: Arkells (Group of the Year); Feist (Adult Alternative Album of the Year, Music DVD of the Year); Hedley (Pop Album of the Year, sponsored by TD Bank Group); Drake (Rap Recording of the Year) and Melanie Fiona (R&B/Soul Recording of the Year). FIJI Water was a sponsor of the awards, and was proud to keep everyone (and their vocal chords) well-hydrated all evening long! Check out a slideshow of some of the artists at the awards, below or on our Flickr page.

FIJI Water Donates Bottled Water After Floods in Fiji

FIJI Water — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:25:04 +0000

FIJI Water donated bottled water in the aftermath of severe floods in Fiji in the past week. This is the second time this year that Fiji has been struck by severe floods. FIJI Water is donating a total of three shipping containers of bottled water. Since February of this year, FIJI Water has donated over $110,000 to private and government agencies for flood relief. Coincidentally, FIJI Water's global president, David Ricanati, was in Fiji during the flooding, announcing the appointment of our first local CEO of Natural Waters of Viti Limited, the Fiji arm of FIJI Water.

FIJI Water Appoints Local to Chief Executive Position in Fiji

FIJI Water — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:46:18 +0000

On March 31 FIJI Water global president David Ricanati officially announced the appointment of Rokoseru Nabalarua (pictured at left) as chief executive of Natural Waters of Viti Limited, the Fijian arm of FIJI Water. In his new role, Nabalarua will oversee all of FIJI Water's activities in Fiji and the Pacific. The appointment is a historic one for the company: Nabalarua is the first Fijian citizen to be CEO of Natural Waters of Viti. Hailing from Fiji's Kadavu province, Nabalarua is an engineer by training who was previously CEO of Pacific Energy and the Fiji Electricity Authority. He is married with five children. President Ricanati said Nabalarua's extensive experience in the Pacific would be a major benefit to the company. Watch a FijiTV clip of the announcement (WMV file).

A Night to Remember at SXSW 2012 With Perez Hilton, Dev, Timbaland and More

FIJI Water — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:08:14 +0000

It was one night to remember! Perez Hilton's One Night in Austin musical party at SXSW last Saturday night lived up to the hype. And if you don't believe us, check out some of the photos on our Facebook page. Clearly, a good time was had by all. Over a dozen musicians played at the event, including B.o.B., Dev, Timbaland, Kreayshawn, Dragonette, Cher Lloyd, Ed Sheeran, Kat Graham, Kimbra, Rosi Golan, Cris Cab and Miguel, raising $46,800 for VH1's Save the Music Foundation to keep music education in schools.

Custom Tees for the People

[caption id="attachment_20188" align="alignright" width="265" caption="A custom t-shirt recipient jumps for joy -- and a chance to win FIJI Water Delivery. "][/caption] The highlight for FIJI Water was our custom t-shirt station. We created four beautiful designs guests could use to create their own t-shirts with the help of our on-site screen printing pros. We knew it would be fun, but we had no idea how popular it would be: We went through 500 t-shirts! A big thanks to screen printers Hit+Run, who made each guest feel special. Those tees keep popping up on Twitter and Facebook, too, because we've got a little "TwitPic" contest going for the best photo of a custom tee from the One Night in Austin event. The contest ends Friday, with the winner (as selected by FIJI Water's judges) getting six months of FIJI Water Delivery free. After getting their shirt screen printed, many guests hung out to “graffiti” our wall. Whether a fun doodle or them professing their love for FIJI Water, our walls evolved as the 8-hour music party rolled on. We also got a surprise visit from Paul Qui, Top Chef winner, who came by and grabbed a FIJI and tee in between dancing his heart out to the music.

Can We Network? Yes We Can

[caption id="attachment_20193" align="alignleft" width="265" caption="The Can We Network bus ferried journalists, bloggers, and the occasional celeb around Austin all week."][/caption] The other big "event" of SXSW for FIJI Water was the Can We Network bus, which shepherded journalists and bloggers around Austin during the week. FIJI Water was there to keep everyone hydrated, including some fabulous musical passengers, like Timbaland and Mumford & Sons (two acts that aren't normally on the same bus, so to speak).

Q&A With Perez Hilton on Music, One Night in Austin, and the Real Reason He Got Healthy

FIJI Water — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:02:51 +0000

For the last five years, Perez Hilton's One Night in Austin musical party has been the event to go to at SxSW. This year, 100% of ticket sales go to support VH1's Save the Music Foundation. We asked Perez to tell us about his musical inspirations and his recent efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle. Why do you do musical showcases? Because music is my biggest passion in life and I love sharing good music. Have you always had a passion for music? When did you first realize that? Always. I think the moment I first realized it was when I was 6 years old at the Gloria Estefan concert and I somehow found myself on stage with her dancing the Conga. [caption id="attachment_20100" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Perez's One Night in Austin at SxSW will feature some of the biggest acts in concert."][/caption] What was the first album you ever purchased? Madonna's "Erotica" album. What was your first concert experience? See above! Ha. What’s your favorite part of SxSW? My party! Can you give us a sneak peak on what to expect this year? Expect great music - and lots of hugs! Which band, today, gives the best live performance? Madonna! What fueled your decision to live a healthier lifestyle? How do you maintain the lifestyle change with such a grueling schedule? [ANSWER CENSORED! But, in a nutshell, for "romantic" reasons. JK. Sort of. -- FIJI] To learn more and buy tickets, click here.

Perez Hilton’s Got One Night in Austin to Blow Your Mind

FIJI Water — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:55:15 +0000

Exciting news from FIJI Water and Perez Hilton! Are you going to SxSW this year? Perez Hilton, gossip columnist messiah and Internet powerhouse, is bringing back his highly-anticipated musical showcase “One Night in Austin” to SxSW Saturday, March 17 at Austin Music Hall. FIJI Water will be there keeping everyone hydrated all night long, and giving out free designer tees (more on the t-shirts below).

Buy Your Tickets to One Night in Austin Today

This year, for the first time ever, you can buy tickets guaranteeing admission to this amazing night! Click here to get yours -- 100% of proceeds go to VH1's Save the Music Foundation, which helps music programs stay in schools. If you are in Austin next week but don't have tix, be sure to follow @FIJIWater on Twitter. We'll be giving away tickets by Tweet from a secret location. Stay tuned.

One Night in Austin to Remember

Since its debut, Perez Hilton has taken “One Night In...” across the globe with events in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and London. Artists that have performed throughout the series have included: Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Courtney Love, Katy Perry, The Ting Tings, Estelle, Kanye West, Mika, Eric Hutchinson, and N.E.R.D., to name a few. “Music is the answer!” says Hilton. One Night in Austin "combines two things I am passionate about – music and inspiring youth. I can't wait!” Headliners for the event were specially curated by Perez Hilton and will reflect an array of talent crossing multiple musical genres showcasing breakout acts and the most recognized names in music. The complete schedule of performers will be announced exclusively on PerezHilton.com as he reveals one act daily in anticipation of the event.

Get Your T-Shirt On..And Win!

At the One Night in Austin party, FIJI Water will host a complimentary live screen printing bar where attendees can choose from one of four limited edition tee shirt designs. We'll also be running a twitpic contest for best photo-with-your-new-tee. Instructions on how to enter will be at the screen printing bar. The 2012 “One Night in Austin” event was made possible by these sponsors: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, SOUL by Ludacris, FIJI Water, VH1, X Factor, Asahi Beer, ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, and more.

Fashion Designer Lucian Matis on His Likes, Dislikes, and New Collection

FIJI Water — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:51:25 +0000

Romanian-born Lucian Matis grew up in his mothers tailor shop and began designing at a very early age. After moving to Canada in 1999, Matis gained national attention and a vast fan base through his participation on the first season of Slice Network's Project Runway Canada. In addition to many professional accolades, Matis may be one of the few leading fashion designers who went to art school in Transylvania (He studied fashion at Ryerson University in Toronto). Matis will present his Fall/Winter 2012 collection at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on Monday, March 12. Below, he talks to FIJI Water about his inspirations, who he designs for, and more. Q: What inspired you to become a designer? LUCIAN: What made me become a fashion designer are the mixes in different medias I get to work with. This incorporates drawing, painting, textiles, hair/make-up, photography...and the list can go on and on... Q: What was the inspiration for this season’s collection? LUCIAN: Linearity and the symmetry found in nature. [caption id="attachment_20141" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Lucian Matis working with a model. Photo: Peter Ngyuen, Model: Charlie, Sutherland Models"][/caption] Q: What kind of woman do you design for? LUCIAN: I design for a sophisticated woman that loves, and is intrigued by, fashion and wants to have fun while wearing it. Q: What is your favorite piece from this season’s collection? LUCIAN: I have a few, but I believe that the finale piece will be my favourite...not yet finished. Q: When you’re not wearing your own styles, whose do you turn to? LUCIAN: I wish I would have the time to design more clothes for myself! I tend to wear a lot of casual lines such as: Diesel, Karl Lagerfeld and D Squared ... I also find some amazing purchases in NYC and Japan as the fashions are a bit more adventurous. Q: You’ve had a number of illustrious milestones in your career. Which milestone are you most proud of and why? LUCIAN: Gracing the cover of any major fashion publication is always an honour for me and I have had that opportunity with many fantastic and prestigious publications. Q: How much time does it take to create a season’s collection? LUCIAN: Most collections take us around 2 months, but coming up with the concept is what takes longer. Q: What do you do to set your design apart from those of other designers? LUCIAN: I think what separates the Lucian Matis label from other fashion brands is the techniques we use as well as the fit. Q: How do you want people to feel when wearing your clothing? LUCIAN: I hope that they feel special and proud when wearing my clothes. Q: What is the future of fashion? What big milestones do your foresee for the next 10 years? LUCIAN: I am looking forward to expanding into other areas of design such as interior design, eyewear, also the idea of a fragrance really excites me. Q: What are your favorite and least favorite trends of the past few years? LUCIAN: One of my favourite trends by far is the bright colours on the SS12. Going through the stores and seeing all the bright tones makes me smile. As for trends I like least, I think the high cut bathing suits makes me wince. Q: In fashion, what does “good taste” mean to you? LUCIAN: Elegance and sophistication. Having your own style. When you wear the clothes and the clothes don't wear you. Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a fashion designer? LUCIAN: One piece of advice would be to make sure they are ready to work hard and never stop learning! To learn more about Lucian Matis, visit his website.

Win Tickets to Savor Dallas, Plus Gift Certificates to Abacus, Capital Grill and More

FIJI Water — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:35:47 +0000

Enter below to win tickets to Savor Dallas, March 30-31, plus $50 gift certificates to Abacus, Capital Grill, and Yao Fuzi! Enter below. Must be 21 or older and a resident of Texas to enter. See the official rules for details. Sweepstakes ends midnight Pacific Time March 23, 2012. [gravityform id=45 name=SavorDallas Sweepstakes]

Tahirah Jarrett on How She Got to Fashion Week and What She Saw There

FIJI Water — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:11:03 +0000

Tahirah Jarrett (center in photo) is one of three interns working with FIJI Water at New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 (February 9-16, 2012). There was a lot late nights and early mornings trying to hustle votes for FIJI Water's Facebook Internship Contest. The more my votes increased, the higher my level of ambition to win. Every day I would harass, stalk, and beg all my family and friends to vote for me. I was at work doing a fitting with a customer when I got the phone call from FIJI telling me I won with the most votes. I was beyond excited and all could think was “is this real?” I anxiously packed my bags and took the first flight out to NYC. It didn’t hit me that I was actually at New York Fashion Week until everyone took their seats and I heard the photographers scream “cross your legs” at the Helmut Lang show. After that my life went on fast forward. While Representing FIJI Water as a Brand Ambassador, I was able snap pictures and mingle with a few VIPs: Kate Lanphear, Nina Garcia, and Zoey Saldana to name a few. I even found the courage to ask Anna Wintour for a picture at the Alexander Wang show and surprisingly she said YES(!). [caption id="attachment_20024" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Intern Tahirah Jarrett with various fashion VIPs."][/caption] The most interesting show I would say I attended would be Theysken Theory’s. It was like he made the pieces in his collection tell a fairytale. A very chic modern girl stuck in the past with the determination to give the world her all. It was very vintage, very bold and very me. But on Valentine’s Day I fell in love with Oscar De La Renta. While the models stride elegantly with their pretty little smiles and girly garments down the runway, I definitely sensed the love in the air. His collection reminded me of a Princess tea party. It was full of different shades of blues and rose pink, accompanied by youthful prints and textures. Oscar De La Renta's show was truly a work of art. The highlight of my week would be when Oscar said yes to me being his valentine. Over all, my experience at Fashion Week as FIJI Water intern was amazing and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. As a newbie to the fashion world I came in with very little knowledge of who people were and how important they are. Thanks to FIJI I am leaving with a better vision of who I want to become in the fashion Industry. So in appreciation, again I would like to thank FIJI Water, all the family and friends for fast forwarding me to Fashion Week. I am truly grateful for the opportunity I have been given. A little advice for up and coming fashionistas: Do your research and come prepared because you never know what opportunity is going to be thrown your way! You can follow me on Twitter and on Facebook for more pictures and behind-the-scenes action from Fashion Week.

Stacey Levine Shares Her NY Fashion Week Highlights

FIJI Water — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:24:02 +0000

Stacey Levine (left in photo) is one of three interns working with FIJI Water at New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 (February 9-16, 2012).

I’ve always lived just outside the city, an outsider looking in on what seemed to be the most magical happening in the world -- New York Fashion Week. As a FIJI Water intern this February, I got to experience fashion's biggest event as an industry insider, and it has surpassed my every expectation.

Thanks to FIJI Water, I had the opportunity to go back of house with the models, stylists, designers, and celebrities, to see just how a runway show is put together. Back of house is always busy and hectic, and it was interesting to see the differences in how it’s set up and treated at every show. I loved being able to watch as the models were interviewed while getting their hair and makeup done, to take photos and videos behind-the-scenes, and to talk to other interns. Below are some of the highlights from each runway show I attended: Helmut Lang: As our first show, I thought nothing could top this. It was busy and exciting, and as we placed FIJI Water on all of the front-row chairs, I truly felt that working behind-the-scenes in fashion is where I belong. We had an amazing view of the show and even walked right by an interview with Michael and Nicole Colovos, the creative directors of Helmut Lang! [caption id="attachment_20038" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Stacey with fellow intern Tahirah Jarrett assisting a FIJI Water Brand Ambassador"][/caption] Prabal Gurung: This was one of my favorite collections that we saw, and I even got to be a seat-filler in the third row, which offered a great view. At this show, our job was to hand out FIJI Water to the guests as they arrived, so we had tons of celebrity sightings. Arianna Huffington, Brad Goreski, Joanna Coles, Anna Wintour, Zoe Saldana, and blogger The Man Repeller were among them, but my absolute favorite was my first time seeing Bill Cunningham in person! Alexander Wang: This was easily the most theatrical show; it was unbelievable and the venue was massive compared to the others! We watched Gisele Bundchen get interviewed and prepped backstage (she walked in the show), and also saw Grace Coddington, Nina Garcia, Bill Cunningham, Laura Linney, and a few other notable celebs. The most exciting part of Alexander Wang, though, was getting a photo with Anna Wintour! It was so surreal, and it’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget. Jeremy Laing: It was a really small show, so we were able to go backstage beforehand, as well as get seats during the show itself! DKNY: We didn’t get to watch the show, but we did see a ton of cool people, the DKNY Taxi, and I caught a glimpse of my favorite blogger, DKNY PR Girl! Theysken’s Theory: This show was absolutely amazing -- the collection was gorgeous, and we spotted Anna Wintour, The Man Repeller, Joanna Coles, Calvin Klein, and street photographer/blogger The Sartorialist. Donna Karan: We handed out FIJI Water outside the show, and saw Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, and Joanna Coles again. I finally got up the courage to speak to Bill Cunningham (I offered him a FIJI Water!), and Nina Garcia, who smiled and took a FIJI Water from me. I also got to meet and take a picture with DKNY PR Girl, which was really exciting, and I briefly met Steven Kolb, who tweeted at me afterwards! Oscar de la Renta: This show was absolutely breathtaking. I got to take a picture with Oscar himself, was a seat-filler for the show, and got to take home a swag bag with Oscar de la Renta perfume in it! And Chelsea Clinton was there! Marchesa: This was our last show, and it was a great note to end on. It was easily my favorite collection. Every dress was a work of art. We got to see all the garments up close behind-the-scenes and, while helping give FIJI Water to guests, we saw Rachel Zoe, Brad Goreski, Nina Garcia, Joanna Coles, Stacy Keibler, Petra Nemcova, Taylor Momsen, and Georgina Chapman! Overall, this was the most incredible and rewarding experience. FIJI Water treated us so well, and I was able to learn about the fashion industry while meeting some amazing people. I am so sad it’s over, and I really hope to get to attend NYFW again in the near future!

Marchesa Co-Founder Finds Inspiration in India

jrobbins — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:44:16 +0000

As co-founder of couture line Marchesa, Georgina Chapman knows a thing or two about good taste. Well-heeled celebs such as Halle Berry and Olivia Wilde clamor for her creations, and Sandra Bullock accepted her 2010 Best Actress award in a Marchesa design. But Chapman exemplifies good taste even off the runway: At her wedding, she asked all guests to donate to one of two charities – Robin Hood or Give2Asia – in lieu of gifts. Nothing could be more fashionable. Q: What inspired you to become a designer? A: Fashion. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I started as a costume designer and have always been incredibly inspired to create something completely new and unique. It is such a joy to be able to do what I love each and every day. Q: What kind of woman do you design for? A: I try to design dresses for any woman who enjoys glamour. Q: When you’re not wearing your own styles, whose do you turn to? A: I love shopping at vintage stores and supporting new, up-and-coming designers. Q: You've had a number of illustrious milestones in your career. Which milestone are you most proud of and why? A: My daughter India. She's the best gift life has ever given me. Q: How much time does it take to create a season's collection? A: It depends. Some pieces take months alone to create; others I drape up a few days before the show. Q: How do you want people to feel when wearing your clothing? A: Beautiful. I think at the end of the day, that’s the best reward as a designer, knowing that your customer feels great in what you created. Q: What is the future of fashion? What big milestones do your foresee for the next 10 years? A: I'm not sure what the next decade will bring, but I am grateful for everything we have accomplished so far. For more fashion news, follow Chapman on Twitter or Facebook.

Fashion Intern Lucy Angel Shares Her View From Backstage

FIJI Water — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:35:44 +0000

Lucy Angel (right in photo) is one of three interns working with FIJI Water at New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 (February 9-16, 2012). New York Fashion Week is everything that it’s made out to be. Maybe even more. The past few days have been some that I will never forget. The FIJI Water interns have been in the presence of some of fashion's elite, including designers Helmut Lang, Prabal Gurung, and Alexander Wang. We also rubbed shoulders with fashion blogger Bryan Boy and Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. We were fortunate enough to snag a picture with her right before the Alexander Wang show! [caption id="attachment_19967" align="alignright" width="200" caption="People dress to impress at New York Fashion Week"][/caption] Aside from the glitz and glamour on the runway, a very important part of New York Fashion Week is the street-style fashion that comes with it. As we passed Lincoln Center on our way to Alexander Wang, mobs of fashionable people stood outside. The crowd alternated between photographing the glitterati coming in and out of the shows -- and each other. Fashion Week really makes you put on your best clothes. Who knows? Bill Cunningham may be lingering around! My favorite part of being a FIJI Water intern thus far has definitely been the backstage access. We’ve been able to see the collections before they go down the runway, models (including the fabulous Gisele Bundchen) getting their hair and make-up done and practicing on the runway, and in general everything that goes on backstage. I don’t think anyone realizes how much time, effort, and planning goes into producing a show of only forty or so looks. Thank you so much, FIJI Water, for this unbelievable opportunity! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be at these big-name shows, let alone at age 19. We’re only a few shows in, so I’m excited for what the rest of the week has in store!

Agnyess Deyn Beckons You “Here”

jrobbins — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:50:42 +0000

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” Martin Buber could have been referring to the plot of The Luxury Collection's new short film when he wrote those immortal words. "Here," a 30-minute travelogue that highlights the posh amenities of three hotel locations, sees model/actress Agnyess Deyn journeying from the Equinox in Vermont to the Phoenician in Arizona to the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, all at the bequest of an unseen figure who delivers handwritten notes that detail her next step -- row across a lake, take falconing lessons, swim in a lake-sized pool. The tone of the film is languid, mysterious, mesmerizing. The concept of the film began as a dinner conversation between actor and jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia, actress Tilda Swinton, and her artist companion Sandro Kopp, all of who shared a passion for travel. That passion has now been translated to the screen, with director Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love) adding a retro touch to the opulent settings, making "Here" a visual exploration of sophisticated comfort, with a dash of Hitchcockian enigma. View the official website for a glimpse behind the scenes, then watch the short film and see if you can spot FIJI Water's cameo:

5 Fitness Training Tips for the New Year

jrobbins — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:34:44 +0000

It’s almost a month into 2012 and if you haven’t abandoned your New Year’s Resolutions, we have some tips to keep you motivated on achieving your physical goals – especially if you’re planning to take part in Chicago’s Hustle Up The Hancock. The annual event, held this year on Sunday, February 26, sees over 4,000 participants race up 94 stories to the top of one of Chicago’s most famous buildings. The event raises money for The Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. Certified Conditioning Specialist Dina Castillo shares her expertise on how to train for this or any other event you’ve set your goals on for 2012. [caption id="attachment_19810" align="alignright" width="201" caption="A runner in 2011's event hustles up the stairs of Chicago's Hancock Building."][/caption]

Be Realistic and Consistent. Know what it’s going to take to get what you want. Map out a plan of how and when you are going to achieve your goals, and ask a nutritionist or trainer whether or not the goals are realistic. Then create a timeline with the long-term goals and mini short-term goals in between so you can compare your progress to your expectations. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not seeing results right away: It can take a while before results start to kick in.
Become Educated. If you really want to change your health and body, arm yourself with the knowledge of how the body functions, the obstacles you’ll face, and how to overcome them. Personal trainers can be a great resource, but if you’re going it solo, read up on fitness news from experts on such sites as Active.com or Health.com. Joining an online community, such as those on LiveStrong.com, can both supplement your info and provide much needed motivation.
Less Cardio, More Lifting. Why? Because when you’re on the machine, you burn calories and then… that’s it. When you’re done on the machine, your body is done burning. When you lift weights and strength train, however, you are building muscle (not necessarily size) and increasing your metabolism, which means you’ll burn more calories throughout the day, even when you’re not on the machine! Research shows that 1 pound of muscle burns around 50 calories per day, depending on genetics and individual metabolism. 1 lb. muscle = 50 calories/day 10 lb. muscle = 500 calories/day x 7 days/week = 3,500 calories 3,500 calories = 1 lb. lost Keep your body working efficiently by adding lean muscle tissue and increasing the amount of resistance training in your fitness schedule.

Cleanse Your Body. Pollution from the air, pesticides on our foods – the list goes on. As much as we try to eat clean and take care of our body, it is impossible to prevent all toxins from entering our body. Yearly or even quarterly cleanses can help purge the body of toxins, clean out the cells, and nutritionally rebalance the body. After a recent nine-day cleanse, I experienced a 5-pound weight loss, a 3% decrease in body fat, and, as an added bonus, a 2% increase in lean muscle mass.
Announce Your Goals. It’s one thing to set goals. It’s an entirely other thing to let those goals be known. Join a group, make workout dates with friends, post your goals and progress on Facebook. Once you broadcast your goals for everyone to see, you’ll feel more obligated to follow through, not to mention the encouragement from friends to stay on track and not give up early.

About Dina Castillo: Dina Castillo is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. With over 10 years of experience in the fitness, corporate wellness, and sports industry, Castillo creates fitness programs that educate and provide results. She spent nine years assisting with the development of a small fitness business where she worked with clients such as Harpo Studios, Aon Insurance, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Throughout this time, she also developed a licensed fitness program that has been accredited by the American Council on Exercise as a continuing education program for other fitness professionals. Castillo’s philosophy is to combine the education, understanding, accountability, and motivation to achieve the results you are looking for. Training with Castillo os available at The Trump Spa Chicago, LA Fitness-Webster Place Chicago, and various other locations. Contact Dina directly for more info: dina@unicusfitness.com or 708-288-9182. photo credits: top, Jonathan Mathias; middle, Steph Tanner; bottom, Dina Castillo.

Win a Trip to Charleston Wine + Food Festival

FIJI Water — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:02:40 +0000

This sweepstakes has ended. FIJI Water is giving away a trip to the 2012 Charleston Wine + Food Festival taking place in Charleston, S.C., this March. To enter, fill out the form below. This sweepstakes ended 2/22/2012. Winners will be announced soon! The Charleston Wine + Food Festival, a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a celebration of excellence in food, wine, and Charleston’s renowned culture, all for the benefit of local charities. Recognized by Forbes Traveler as one of the nation's best food and wine festivals, Charleston Wine + Food is a do-not-miss Southern culinary event. Prize package includes:

Two-night, three-day hotel accommodations at the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront Hotel in Charleston, S.C.
Carriage ride tour of historic Charleston for four (4) people
Breakfast for two (2) at the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront Hotel.
Gift certificate redeemable for two (2) tickets to each of the following events at the 2012 Charleston Wine & Food Festival in Charleston, S.C.:
- Skirt! Magazine Presents Shop, Sip + Savor Event on Friday, March 2, 2012
- Pinot Envy Uncorked! on Saturday, March 3, 2012
- Sunday Culinary Village + The AAA Vacations/Azamara Club Cruises + Piggly Wiggly Taste of the South Grand Tasting Tents on Sunday, March 4, 2012

This sweepstakes is open to residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia only. See the official rules for complete sweepstakes details. Good luck, and don't forget to "like" Charleston Wine + Food on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at @ChsWineandFood. Sweepstakes ends February 21, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PT. [gravityform id=43 name=CharlestonWine & Food Sweepstakes]

Enter the Star for a Day Hollywood Getaway Sweepstakes

jrobbins — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:32:36 +0000

To celebrate FIJI Water's sponsorship of the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, we're giving one of our fans the chance to indulge in the glamour of Hollywood, complete with airfare, hotel, and enough perks to please a diva. Enter on our Facebook page, then tune into the Awards broadcast Sunday, January 29, 2012 on TNT and TBS. The prize package for the Star for a Day Hollywood Getaway Sweepstakes includes:

(2) weekend nights in a Wonderful King Guestroom at W Hollywood Hotel
(2) $500 air travel vouchers
A one-month trial membership to Equinox Fitness Clubs and a gift card to The Spa @ Equinox*
Dinner for 2 at Public Kitchen and Bar located in the historic Roosevelt Hotel
A complete hairstyling experience (including cut, color, and styling) created expressly for you by the exclusive Angus Mitchell Salon in Beverly Hills
A Notte by Marchesa dress (valued up to $1200)
One year of FIJI Water Delivery service

*Not valid at E Location in New York

Liverpool

FIJI Water — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:47:49 +0000

Palacio de Hierro

FIJI Water — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:47:02 +0000

City Market

FIJI Water — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:44:48 +0000

Comercial Mexicana

FIJI Water — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:42:42 +0000

New York Fashion Week Interns Announced

FIJI Water — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:59:29 +0000

We are proud to announce the winners of the February 2012 New York Fashion Week Internship Contest: Lucy Angel, Stacey Levine, and Tahirah Jarrett. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who voted. We asked Tahirah, Stacey, and Lucy to tell us a little about themselves and what their career goals are.

Lucy Angel

Lucy Angel is a Chicago native, fashion and vintage enthusiast and entrepreneur. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she is studying Textile and Apparel Design and Entrepreneurship. Lucy hopes to one day be completely emerged in the New York fashion scene, and being at New York Fashion Week is the first step.

Stacey Levine

Stacey Levine is studying Public Communication and Marketing at American University in Washington, DC. She is from New Rochelle, NY but longs to move to Manhattan so she can call herself a real New Yorker. Stacey absolutely loves all things social media and spends a lot of time reading fashion blogs and writing her own at strategyinstilettos.tumblr.com. Her dream is to find a career in fashion PR in New York City. She couldn't be more thrilled to finally fulfill her dream of experiencing New York Fashion Week!

Tahirah Jarrett

Tahirah Jarrett is a 20-year old Fashion Merchandising and Managment major from Clermont, Florida. Upon graduation she plans to pursue many ventures as an entrepreneur or what she calls an fashion-prenuer. In the summer of 2011 Tahirah had the opportunity to work alongside stylist Melanie Pace at Orlando's Fashion Week assisting backstage and dressing Stacey-Ann from season ten of Americas Next Top Model. With her experiences, she looks forward to fulfilling her dreams in the world of fashion.

FIJI Water Official Water of the Screen Actors Guild Awards®

FIJI Water — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:59 +0000

FIJI Water is proud to announce that we will be the official water of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, broadcast live Sunday, January 29, 2012 on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (PT). To celebrate, we've got a fabulous contest on our Facebook page. Read more about it below. FIJI will be served on the red carpet, featured on the dinner tables during the award show ceremony, and served at the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala hosted by People Magazine and EIF. Our sponsorship supports the SAG Foundation, see the official press release for more details. So if you plan to watch the show (and we hope you will) keep an eye out for our square bottle as we make our SAG Awards debut!

Facebook Sweepstakes and Exclusive Content

FIJI Water will be Tweeting and posting live from the SAG Awards, so don't forget to Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. In addition, to celebrate our first year as official water of the SAG Awards, we have a special "Star for a Day Hollywood Getaway Sweepstakes" up on our Facebook page. You could win a trip for two to Hollywood, CA, luxury stay at the W Hollywood Hotel, a cocktail dress from Marchesa, dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel, and much more. Enter on our Facebook page.

Follow @FIJIWater

Intern for FIJI Water Behind the Scenes at New York Fashion Week

FIJI Water — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:00:49 +0000

UPDATE: Our finalists' videos are now live on our Facebook page. Vote for your favorite now: click here. FIJI Water is inviting three fashion-forward individuals to join us at New York Fashion Week in New York City this February. To enter, please go to our Facebook page tab "NY Fashion Week Intern Contest." Our three FIJI Water interns will work behind the scenes at Fashion Week as FIJI Water brand ambassadors, rubbing shoulders with the glitteratti and soaking up more fashion experiences than you can shake a $10,000 handbag at. In past seasons, our interns have had opportunities to see and even help set up runway shows by top designers. All interns also receive a full year of FIJI Water Delivery. But it's not all glamour. This is a real internship with real duties and responsibilities, so only those who are serious, and seriously stylish, need apply. We're looking for energetic brand ambassadors who can stay professional during long days helping fulfill the demand for FIJI Water at some of the most important shows and events at New York Fashion Week. Think you've got what it takes? Enter now.

More Details on the Internship Contest

Please note that the winning interns must provide for their own transportation to, and accommodations in, New York City for the duration of the internship (February 9-16, 2012). If you are chosen as a finalist, you must show you have a place to stay in or around New York City during that time. Interns will be given a $250 stipend for the week to help defray costs, a Metrocard to get around town, and a year's supply of FIJI Water. All interns must be over 18 and a resident of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. See our official rules for the details.

The Application Process

[caption id="attachment_19458" align="alignright" width="231" caption="September 2011 Fashion Week interns Teghan, Gabriel, Kristie, and Marco."][/caption] The internship contest is divided into two rounds, with eight finalists from the first round advancing to round two. In the first round, each applicant gives their answer to the question "Choose an individual who you feel has the best expression of good taste, and explain why" in 300 characters or less. Of the eight finalists in round one, seven of the finalists are selected by FIJI Water judges, but one "wildcard" finalist will be determined by your votes on Facebook -- so be sure to tell your friends to vote for your entry. To vote, you must be a fan of FIJI Water on Facebook. In the second round, the eight finalists create a video response to a fashion question. (See last season's question and video responses.) In round two, all three winning entries will be selected by your votes on Facebook.

Making Your Entry Stand Out

Here's what we look for in determining the finalists: 1. Excellent writing skills. 2. Creativity. 3. Thoughtfulness. 4. Brevity. If your entry is longer than 200 characters, the Facebook app won't allow you to enter it. The finalists will be contacted by FIJI Water by December 23, 2011, at which point they must provide: 1. A resume. 2. Details on how they will get to New York for Fashion Week and where they will stay.

About the Voting Process on Facebook

In both round one and two, you can vote as many times as you like, but you can only vote once for each entry (including your own). Use your votes! Share the love! To vote, you must be a fan of FIJI Water on Facebook. If you are having problems entering or voting, please comment on our Facebook page or on this blog post and we will get back to you as soon as possible. GOOD LUCK!

Win a Trip to Las Vegas for You and Your Friends

FIJI Water — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:51:58 +0000

FIJI Water and the Venetian and Palazzo Resort Casinos want to send you and the friends of your choice to Las Vegas on us! To enter, go to our Facebook page. You get to choose the Facebook friends you want to have come with you: three friends on the "party" trip or one special someone on the "romantic" trip. The more friends who enter and decide to choose YOU to go with them, the better your chances are of making it to Las Vegas for an awesome trip with your friends!

Don't have a Facebook account? You can still enter: click here.

FIJI Water Explores London’s Underground Dining Experiences

FIJI Water — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:13:47 +0000

Supper clubs and pop-up restaurants are the newest trend in London’s foodie scene. These days, underground dining experiences can be found at postcodes all over the city on Fridays, Saturdays and even week-nights. There’s even a new cookbook, Supper Club, by “anti-restaurant” epicurean Ms. Marmite Lover. In the early days of supper clubs, talented home cooks would invite a bunch of strangers or semi-strangers “round to mine” for dinner via Facebook, Twitter or word of mouth. Now, the next generation of limited-time-only restaurants are all about a creative theme - collaborations between food and art, popping up in unusual venues - all dedicated to giving diners an experience to talk about. FIJI Water went behind the scenes with a few of its favourites:

Stolen

(www.stolen.it) [caption id="attachment_19433" align="alignright" width="186" caption="Stolen supper club isn't kidding around. "][/caption] The concept is simple: everything you eat and experience at the "Monday Chow" is contraband! Run by the intrepid Bonnie and Clyde, Stolen hosts supper clubs all over London; recent adventures include a take-over of a stunning arty town house in Notting Hill and sneaking into the Stables Market, Camden after hours. Each menu is inspired by a famous chef, for example, Jason Atherton at Pollen Street Social. It’s obvious that the Stolen team does its research. Rather than simply knicking recipes, they give diners a talk about the ”guest” chef’s background and signature dishes; almost like a home-made homage to the great cooks of the moment. The intimate feel and diverse crowd are the best bits about this supper club - check out www.stolen.it for future dates and mailing list.

Gingerline

(gingerline.co.uk/) [caption id="attachment_19436" align="alignleft" width="177" caption="The view from inside the Gingerline supper club."][/caption] Named after the new East London overground trainline, Gingerline’s pop-up dining extravaganzas can be found anywhere between Stratford and Richmond, Islington and Clapham. You don’t know the location until receiving a text an hour beforehand and then must follow the paint splatters from the nearest station to a secret location. The food is first class - last month the FIJI Water girls were treated to shared plates of tender poultry and more-ish pavlova. Each event lasts for a limited run of six or eight nights, almost like a show, and the production is equally theatrical. Most recently, at a blank canvas space in Forest Hill, Gingerline incorporated a puppet theatre and a labyrinth of reclaimed doors...slightly more tricky on the way out after sharing BYO wine around the ziz-zag dining table. We love the fact that Gingerline is a creative showcase for London - even the menu is a collectible piece of art. Currently showing is the alternative traditional Christmas special! Sign up for first notice online or via Facebook.

Shacklewell Nights

(www.shacklewellnights.com) Named after the arty East London studios in which it was born, Shacklewell Nights is one of the city’s original, and in our opinion, best pop-up restaurants. The dishes on each sumptuous but unfussy five course menu let the fresh, seasonal produce shine through. The brilliant Claire Robertson and her team pride themselves on top-notch service and the ability to deliver Michelin-standard food from the teeniest kitchen in unusual venues such as furniture workshops and disused office blocks. Coming up very soon is One Pig (15th December) - a collaboration with top chef Rosie Sykes of St John, and the launch of Matthew Herbert’s critically acclaimed album of the same name. As it seems, with everything that’s ‘hot’ at the moment...the venue is in Dalston. See www.shacklewellnights.com and keep an eye on Twitter @shacklewel1. For more supper clubs in your area check out www.londonfoodie.co.uk. Photo credits: top and bottom, Alice Pennefather, middle Stolen Facebook page.

FIJI Water Fan of the Month Contest

FIJI Water — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:05:18 +0000

FIJI Water fans: Did you know we host a contest every month on our Facebook page? The winner receives a year of FIJI Water Delivery, and has their photo on our Facebook profile for a month! To enter, go to the official FIJI Water Facebook page. The grand prize winner is chosen by our fans' votes each month. You can vote once a day for your entry, so let your friends know to vote early and vote often. In addition, we refresh the contest theme each month, so there's always a new challenge. Enter today!

The Perfect Gift for the Impossible Person to Shop For

FIJI Water — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:17:44 +0000

We're giving away a limited-edition signed copy of "The Impossible Collection of Fashion," the 100 most iconic dresses of the 20th century in 144 stunning pages. For the style-mavens on your list -- when it's too risky to buy them clothes! From the book's description on ASSOULINE's website:

From Poiret to Pucci, Doucet to Dior, Vionnet to Valentino, Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT), selects the 100 most iconic dresses of the twentieth century. This magnificent collection, while certainly subjective, is sure to receive gasps of pleasure as well as of surprise. Steele’s selection, hand-picked for this luxury volume presented in a linen clamshell case with a cutout metal plate, astounds in every regard.

This copy of the Impossible Collection was signed by Valerie at an exclusive event in Chicago, sponsored by FIJI Water, ASSOULINE and the Neapolitan Collection, one of the city's top fashion shopping destinations. To enter, go to our Facebook page. Happy Holidays!

What To Wear This Winter: Style Tips from INTERMIX

hwatterworth — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:35:33 +0000

Staying stylish when it’s 40 below can be a feat for even the most fashionable frost-fighters. At the recent opening of the first INTERMIX store north of the border – on Toronto's uber-fashionable Bloor Street – we cozied up to INTERMIX Co-Founder & CEO Khajak Keledjian to get the goods on looking hot through the coldest season. Q: INTERMIX has a great blog that mixes street style with promotional content and fun extras like recipes. How important is blogging to what you do? A: Social media channels are incredibly vital to receiving inspiration and information these days. We like to share our point of view, our discoveries and our muses with our customers this way. Our blog, Beyond Best Dressed, takes style one step further; our content focuses on a well-curated lifestyle and a perfectly edited closet. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="175" caption="add Belted Shawl Collar Puffer Coat / INTERMIX"][/caption] Q: Which lines or collections are doing particularly well this season? What is it about those lines that people want? A: We deliver of-the-moment styles our clients can’t find elsewhere. On average, 30% of our styles are made by top designers, just for us. We work with the best talent from labels including – but not limited to – Yigal Azrouel, Diane Von Furstenberg, ALC by Andrea Lieberman, rag & bone, J Brand, Hunting Season, Helmut Lang, Herve Leger, Yves Salomon, and Nili Lotan. Our teams collaborate to create pieces that speak directly to our clients and their lifestyles. Q: Do you think INTERMIX will be adding men’s style any time soon? A: Never say never…. But, our focus, and our success, is grounded in women’s fashion. Q: How can one keep warm without sacrificing style? A: A major facet of the INTERMIX brand DNA is the infusion of unexpected elements into our customers’ wardrobes. The key to showing off personal style is the visual interest that comes from playing one piece against another, the mix of textures, colors and silhouettes. To stay warm this winter and create signature looks: layer. Style looks with interesting textures, bold pops of color, and contrasting lines to create looks that easily transition from outside to inside, from day to evening. Q: What are some of your favorite outwear pieces being carried this season at INTERMIX? A: This season, we have strong outerwear styles from rag & bone, Chloe and Derek Lam, with impeccable details and unexpected accents. We also have amazing, warm, versatile jackets from SAM and Canada Goose. Q: What will INTERMIX be wearing to keep warm this winter? A: The versatility of a sleek leather jacket is paramount – it’s perfect for indoors and gives warmth under outerwear on a winter’s day. We’ve got great styles from Fendi, Jimmy Choo and rag & bone. Other covetable winter necessities include chic driving gloves – especially our exotic styles from Imoni – and lofty scarves from Missoni and Autumn Cashmere, among others. Are you an INTERMIX fan? What will you be wearing to stay warm this winter? Above: Outerwear from Rachel Zoe and Diane Von Furstenberg; all available at INTERMIX.

EDEKA (some stores)

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:50:13 +0000

Globus

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:49:39 +0000

Käfer Fine Foods Munich

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:49:10 +0000

Karstadt

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:48:49 +0000

Kaufhof

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:48:25 +0000

Drinks & More

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:47:57 +0000

Trink Gesundes

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:47:10 +0000

Wasserdepot

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:35:33 +0000

Germany

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:13:15 +0000

Stephanie Izard’s Spicy Goat Stew From Top Chefs All Stars Las Vegas

FIJI Water — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:55:58 +0000

Las Vegas may be known for its casinos and nightlife, but it’s also increasingly being recognized as an international culinary hub. Sin City’s gourmet cred was on full display last month at the FOOD & WINE Top Chefs All Stars Las Vegas, held at Aria at City Center. Top Chef winners and cheftestants joined a worldwide “who’s who” in the culinary world to cook up a storm for lucky attendees.

A Jam-Packed Culinary Weekend in Las Vegas

Chef attendees included Stephanie Izard, Top Chef Winner Season 4 and FOOD & WINE Best New Chef 2011; Hosea Rosenberg, Top Chef Winner Season 5; Yigit Pura, Top Chef Just Desserts Winner Season 1; Sam Talbot, Top Chef cheftestant; Angelo Sosa Top Chef cheftestant; and culinary masters Michael Mina, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Masa Takayama, Julian Serrano, Shawn McClain, and restaurateur Sirio Maccioni. The event kicked off with the First Course Cocktail Party hosted by FOOD & WINE’s Gail Simmons and Anthony Giglio. Chefs and guests mingled while enjoying champagne, passed hors d’oeuvres and JUSTIN and Landmark wines. The first day concluded with a FIJI Water-sponsored All Star Nightcap party at UNION restaurant located inside Aria. Top Chef Just Desserts winner, Yigit Pura, provided an array of tasty bites for the intimate party of 200 guests. DJ KrisCuts provided the sounds for the evening from the FIJI Water DJ booth. The highlight of the three-day festival was the All Star Tasting held poolside at the Aria pool. Nearly 500 foodies shared a decadent evening of culinary creations. Everyone stumbled away from three days of epicurean madness with a full belly and a hot-from-the-pot recipe from Stephanie Izard’s very successful Chicago restaurant, Girl and the Goat. Below find the recipe for the dish she presented: Spicy Goat Nut Stew.

Spicy Goat Nut Stew

makes 2 gallons

TdHIS IS JT TO ADD A BLANK LINE

Step 1: Stew Base

8 ounces onions, roughly chopped 1 quart canned tomatoes 1 ounces garlic, chopped 1/2 cup tamarind 2 tablespoons hot roasted pepper paste

Combine ingredients in a pot. simmer until the flavors are well combined and all the ingredients are softened.
Remove from stove and pulse in food processor until roughly chopped.

Step 2: The Stew

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 quart onion, small dice 1 ounce garlic, minced 1/2 cup red wine 1 quart tomatoes, med dice (roma or any other tomato) 8 ounces creamy peanut butter 5 pounds goat chorizo, browned 5 pounds braised smoked goat 1 pint goat braise 1 pint goat stock 2 teaspoons hot roasted pepper paste 1/2 cup coconut cream 2 tablespoons lime juice salt to taste

In a stock pot, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and sweat until translucent.
Deglaze with red wine.
Add tomatoes and cook until they start to break down, about 15 minutes.
Add peanut butter and mix thoroughly.
Add stew base from Step 1.
Add goat chorizo, braise smoked goat, goat braise and goat stock. Cook until flavors marry, about 2 hours.
Finish with pepper paste, coconut cream and lime juice.
Season with salt.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Root Vegetables, Decoded and Delicious

hwatterworth — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:31:07 +0000

Root vegetables are a underrated food group. With so many similar looking and sounding roots to choose from, it’s hard to know what’s what. With Thanksgiving swiftly approaching, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to sort a few things out among these ambiguous roots so common at Thanksgiving tables, and offer a simple recipe to create a delicious root medley to go alongside any feast.

Turnip vs. Parsnip

Turnips are white in color and comparable in shape to a beet, while a parsnip looks more like a carrot. Turnips are rather bitter, though their leaves make excellent side dishes as turnip greens. Raw, parsnips taste like a carrot (though they’re much higher in potassium, dietary fibers, and other vitamins) and are excellent in soup.

Butternut Squash vs. Spaghetti Squash

You’ll know it’s spaghetti squash when it forms little ribbons when it’s cooked. Use spaghetti squash as alternative to pasta if you’re on a gluten-free/low carb kick. Butternut squash is a bit sweeter and is best when it’s pureed or made into a soup.

Sweet Potato vs. Yam

Let’s say this one together: sweet potatoes are not yams. Sweet potatoes’ yellow flesh is much lighter than that of a yam; it actually resembles your average potato. Yams are dark orange, moist in texture with a dark skin. They make a fantastic mash and are often turned into yam fries, which are like french fries 2.0. Now that we’ve got it all sorted out, let’s peel, dice, and eat them all together with this fantastic recipe, courtesy of head chef Trevor Wilkinson of the swish Trevor Kitchen and Bar in Toronto.

Fall Root Hash Recipe

TdHIS IS JT TO ADD A BLANK LINE

1 small white turnip, peeled and diced 1 sweet potato, peeled and diced 1 parsnip, peeled, cored and diced 1 yukon gold potato, peeled and diced 1 butternut squash, peeled and diced (use only 1/2 the top portion)

In a cast iron pan (or a similar heavy bottomed skillet) individually pan-fry each root vegetable in canola oil and butter, adding salt and pepper to taste. Pan-fry until each vegetable is tender to touch or bite and caramel in colour.
Fold root vegetables together and move to a baking sheet (to be reheated later before serving).

Fiji Fashion Week Will Feature Designers From Around the Pacific and the World

FIJI Water — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:01:37 +0000

The fourth annual Fiji Fashion Week kicks off this November 11-14 at TappooCity shopping center and at the Sheraton Resort Fiji. One of the hottest fashion events in the south Pacific, Fiji Fashion Week will feature designer Jerrell Scott of Project Runway fame, Kookai (Australia), Zambesi (New Zealand), Mena (Samoa), and many others. Miss Universe Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs is also scheduled to attend. The day before the shows begin, Fiji Fashion Week will host a special Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon and Charity Auction at Central Cuisine Asian Restaurant. For more information, please see the Fiji Fashion Week website or their Facebook page.

Win Tickets to Flavor! Napa Valley and a Night at the Silverado Resort

FIJI Water — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:42:16 +0000

This sweepstakes has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered. Flavor! Napa Valley is a four-day festival of farm-to-table fine cuisine, world-class wines, and the fun that is had when these elements come together in America’s premier wine region. The inaugural celebration, being held November 17-20, 2011, offers a wide variety of incredible gastronomic events situated at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, and The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena. We are excited to be able to offer a special chance to our fans to win tickets to this fantastic event, plus a night at Silverado Resort and Spa. The prize package includes:

(2) Tickets to the Appellation Trail Grand Tasting November 18th, from 6:00-9:00pm Stroll through the Culinary Institute of America’s historic Greystone building in St. Helena, while tasting more than 120 wineries pouring everything from Albariño to Zinfandel and delectables from over 35 of Napa Valley’s terrific restaurants.
(2) Tickets to the Interactive Lunch with Michael Chiarello November 19th, from 11:30am-2:00pm Join award-winning chef and Napa Valley resident Michael Chiarello for an interactive lunch experience.
One-night stay on the night of November 18 at the host hotel, Silverado Resort and Spa
One year of FIJI Water Delivery service

Fill out the form below to enter the sweepstakes. To ensure your place at what is sure to be Napa Valley's newest culinary tradition, purchase tickets today. Prize does not include travel to Napa Valley or to specific events. For sweepstakes details, please see the official rules. [gravityform id=48 name=Luckyand FIJI Water Silverado Resort and Spa Sweepstakes]

In Time for Halloween: Free FIJI Water Pumpkin Stencils

FIJI Water — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:08:11 +0000

Back by popular demand, the FIJI Water pumpkin stencils! Last year, we had over 1000 downloads of our stencils, so we thought we better bring 'em back. Download these free stencils and bring a little FIJI to your Halloween.

How to Use the FIJI Pumpkin Stencils

To use the stencils, just click on the image below, which will open a PDF that you can print out. Cut out the parts of the stencil that say “Remove,” tape it to your pumpkin, and start carvin’. Be sure to share your Halloween creations with us on our Facebook page! [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="216" caption="The Hibiscus Stencil"][/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="738" caption="The Beach Stencil"][/caption]

Fiji Recycling Program Nets Over Five Tons of Plastic Bottles

FIJI Water — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:48:36 +0000

A major FIJI Water-bottle recycling program in Fiji involving more than 13,000 primary and secondary students has resulted in the collection of more than 5.2 tons of plastic bottles. “This is the equivalent of nearly a quarter of a million 500ml bottles that the students collected, helping to make a substantial contribution in preserving Fiji’s environment,” said Anna Morris, FIJI Water’s Director of Operations.

Recycling Poster Competition Brings Schools Needed Supplies

In addition to the bottle-collection program, FIJI Water also ran a related recycling poster competition for local schools and schoolchildren. Twenty-six students from schools in the Western Division won prizes for producing posters that depict the importance of recycling in an awards ceremony at the FIJI Water plant in Yaqara. The poster competition was divided into individual and group categories, with both primary and high school divisions. Winning students received prizes that included gift bags, stationery gift vouchers of $50, $100, or $200, 4 GB USB flash drives and Vodafone Nokia 2220 Slide mobile phones. Prizes were also awarded to the winning students’ schools, and included a desktop computer and printer package, 5000L water tanks, and library book packages worth $500. [caption id="attachment_18803" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Anjini Nishika of Natabua High School, overall winner in the recycling poster competition."][/caption] Ryan Autar, Project Supervisor responsible for the FIJI Water Recycling Programme and the poster competition, said that 28 schools and close to 500 students took part in intra-school competitions before 100 posters were selected for the final judging. In the First Recycling Programme Poster Competition, the winners were as follows (full names are not available for all winners): • First, second and third places for Lower Primary, Individual Poster, went to Vivian Evanson, Saiorse Breen, and Harry Price, all in Class Three, International School, Nadi. • First prize in the Individual Poster, Upper Primary, went to Aminiasi of Class 8 Lautoka Primary, with second and third going to Tavua Primary students Shayal Kumar of Class 6 and Ashutosh Kumar of Class 7, respectively. • Natabua High scooped up all three prizes for the Individual category in their division, with first and third places going to third formers Anjini Nishika and Sailosi M. respectively, and second to sixth former Kristal Shukla. • Natabua High (Asinate Ratu, Semesa Vasaroi and Chaya M, Form 5) also took first place for the Group Poster, with A D Patel High fifth formers (Poornam Sharma, Priya Devi, and Krishna Nandan) in second place, and seventh formers (Kranil, Shaneel, and Sheenal) taking third. • The Primary Group Poster category was won by Lautoka Primary School (Salote, Divisha, and Rashika, Class 8). Second prize went to Tavua Primary, (Jope D and Kreety C, Class 7), and Class Three of Nadi International School took third prize (Lewis Battison, Samuela Pepna, and Aryan Nand). “Receiving the best artwork from these schools has been a milestone for the first poster competition, and the recycling program,” said Autar.

Expert Advice: Fitting Yoga Into Your Life

hwatterworth — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:02:34 +0000

Been meaning to check out that yoga class, but just haven't gotten around to it? There's no better time to add yoga to your exercise schedule. If the multitude of health benefits such as core strengthening, flexibility, and stress-busting haven't convinced you, Moksha Yoga instructor Erin Moraghan answers some of the most common answers from yoga beginners. Q: I want to try yoga, but I'm not flexible. A: Let yoga stretch you out! Yoga helps establish flexibility, along with strength and stability. You do not need to be able to put your left big toe in your right ear to do yoga. In our culture of sitting, sitting, and more sitting, you can rest assured that, in a room full of yoga beginners, you’ll be one of many in the room feeling stiff and tight. The flexibility will come with time. Q: The fitness aspects of yoga seems cool, but what about all the chanting and praying? A: Yoga is not a religion. It's a physical practice designed to bring your body, mind, and spirit in harmony. Do a little research and ask your friends about classes they like to attend. Most yoga studios and fitness facilities offer classes that do not include chanting or music. Q: I’m not sure I can afford yoga. A: If cash is tight, there are a lot of options. Many studios offer “pay-what-you-can” or “karma” classes weekly, allowing students to make a nominal donation to local charities in exchange for a class. Many churches and community centers offer yoga at reduced rates, too. Q: Ok, so I'm ready to try yoga, what do I need to get started? A: You'll need to wear something comfy that you can move and sweat in. Think athletic tops and shorts/capris rather than cotton tees and track pants, especially if you're trying a hot yoga class. You’ll need a yoga mat, plenty of water, and a towel. Mats and towels can typically be rented at most studios. Q: Hot yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Power yoga -- how do I know where to start? A: Do your research and get online, checking out the studios in your area. Somewhere convenient to you is key. If you're looking for a more high-energy, athletic practice, you might like to try Ashtanga, Power yoga, or Bikram hot yoga. If you’re looking for something more low-key, try Restorative or Yin Yoga. There are endless options to choose from.

Mozzarella Pumpkin Korokke From Shiro Kuro

FIJI Water — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:30:26 +0000

Shiro Kuro is a Tokyo-style Japanese restaurant in West Hollywood, Calif that specializes in “otsumami,” small dishes that are meant to be accompanied with beer, wine or sake. They’ve also got their own take on the croquette, or “korokke” in Japanese.

While the traditional rustic korokke normally consists of simple mashed potato and some ground meat, the Shiro Kuro version is made with pumpkin and a little piece of mozzarella cheese as the filling. Naturally, we thought a pumpkin-based recipe was very apropos for October. It’s also very simple to make. Enjoy — and if you make this dish, be sure to share the results with us on our Facebook page, or below in the comments section.

Mozzarella Kabocha (Pumpkin) Korokke

TdHIS IS JT TO ADD A BLANK LINE

1/2 kabocha pumpkin, seeds removed
8 ounces mozzarella cheese diced
2 eggs, beaten
8 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon shichimi pepper
1 tablespoon salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs for coating

Peel the skin off of the kabocha. Cut the kabocha into cubes.
Put the kabocha in a pot and bring to a boil until the kabocha is cooked.
While the kabocha is still hot, mash it in a bowl. Add diced Mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasonings. Mix well.
Make small kabocha balls and dip each in the beaten eggs, then in the panko breadcrumbs.
Dust off excess panko, then deep fry at low-medium heat until the color turns golden. Be sure to use a non-stick pan.

FIJI Water at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: A Recap

FIJI Water — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:15:12 +0000

This September's Spring 2012 New York Fashion Week was our 11th season at Fashion Week, and third season as official water of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, so when we say it was our best yet, it means something. Highlights would have to include the Diane von Furstenberg show, with fashion icons Anna Wintour, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, and stylist Rachel Zoe all present; a wild and crazy Fashion's Night Out; Donna Karan's street-side catwalk which we caught on video (see below); and rapper Nicki Minaj accessorizing with a pink Bavarian pretzel necklace at the Prabal Gurung show, as pictured above. [caption id="attachment_18609" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Teghan, Gabriel, Kristie, and Marco: The Spring 2012 FIJI Water fashion interns."][/caption]

Our Fabulous Fashion Interns

But the best part of this season's Fashion Week may have been our FIJI Water fashion interns. Chosen for the first time by popular vote on Facebook, our interns "brought it." Teghan, Gabriel, Marco, and Kristie -- you guys rock. Thank you for being such hard-workers, and representing FIJI with a smile. On that note, we strongly encourage you to check out the interns' blog posts about their experiences at Fashion Week: Teghan's, Gabriel's, Marco's, and Kristie's are all up on our fashion blog. Now that we're old Fashion Week veterans it's fun to experience MBFW through fresh eyes again.

Live From Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Exclusive FIJI Video

Also for the first time this season, FIJI Water had our very own videographer, Sadiq Aleshinloye, at Lincoln Center to document Fashion Week from the FIJI perspective. Watch the recap of Donna Karan's street-side catwalk below, and see the other Fashion Week videos on our Fashion channel on Vimeo.

Designer Highlights

Our very own Paul Poux, who has been at every NYFW since 2006 (that's 11 seasons, but whose counting?), noticed a lot of salmon and coral colors on runways, "so we may see those in stores this spring and summer." He also noted the continuing creep of athletic-wear styling into dresses and other evening wear. But the highlight of the week for Poux was two spottings of Nicki Minaj, one at the Prabal Gurung show, and the other sitting next to Anna Wintour at Carolina Herrera. "It felt like a true fashion moment," said Poux. "I learned later that Anna had never met Ms. Minaj before, but you’d never guess it by the way they were chatting and laughing together." For more Fashion Week videos, check out the Fashion Week channel on our Vimeo page, and for Fashion Week photos galore, head to the FIJI Water Flickr page. See you in February!

Advice From Fashion Week Intern Teghan: Never Give Up

FIJI Water — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:43:56 +0000

Teghan Collins is one of four interns working with FIJI Water at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 (September 8-15, 2011). The first word that comes to mind when asked about all my experiences at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is "grateful." This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I cannot thank FIJI Water enough for the opportunity! Coming from Atlanta, I never thought in a million years I’d be anywhere near Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Sitting in the front row (as a seat filler, of course) at shows such as BCBG Max Azria and Monique Lhuillier were, until this week, only a daydream. Just being in the same room as some of my favorite celebrities and many of fashion’s elite is a very humbling experience. It fuels my ambitions and determination to one day become equally successful. At the beginning of the week, I got a taste of how celebs feel when the FIJI Water interns were styled by a personal shopper (probably one of the most awesome ways to shop). Thanks to FIJI Water and the lovely stylists at Topshop, we received two full outfits, including shoes and accessories for Fashion Week. #Winning! Noelle, our boss ("Hey, girl! Hey!"), had a great idea to let us have our own style this year. As long as we kept it chic and fashionable and incorporated FIJI Water's signature blue into the ensemble, Topshop was our playground! (Shoutout to my Topshop styling angel, Melanie.) I’ve met so many people and will never forget this internship. How many people can say they gave Kelly Cutrone a piece of gum, sat in the Vogue Italia editors’ seat, handed Susan Sarandon a FIJI Water, and was within ten feet of Mr. Valentino himself? I can, and I feel honored and blessed to be able to do so. If I could give one piece of advice to those trying to break down the fashion industry’s diamond-encrusted door, it would be: “NEVER, ever, ever give up!” If I did, I would have missed out on Betsey Johnson’ s cartwheel and split at the end of her show. Thank you, FIJI Water!

Kristie Dash Dishes on Life as a Fashion Week Intern

FIJI Water — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:11:04 +0000

Kristie Dash is one of four interns working with FIJI Water at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 (September 8-15, 2011). Last September, I remember standing in front of Lincoln Center, watching guests and workers coming in and out of the tents for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. They would hold up their passes and walk in, and I would think, “How did they get so lucky?” Well, somehow this is now my reality. As a FIJI Water intern, I'm acting as a brand ambassador for the week, so my main job is to be friendly, smiling, and enthusiastic as we pass out water to every guest who attends the show we are assigned to. It is not hard to do this because I genuinely am so excited to be here. There are two carts of water on either side of the main doors to the theaters, and we stand there as everyone goes through, asking each entrant, “FIJI Water?” Most of the time, people take one graciously. Sometimes they don’t, but we don’t take it personally. I am obsessed with all things pop-culture related, so I have obviously been having a great time spotting everyone from editors and designers to celebrities and socialites. Where we are passing out water is in a prime spot because we get to see every single person walk in. It is hard to list every notable person, but here are some good examples of the household names we've spotted at certain shows: DKNY: Brad Goreski, Shay Mitchell, Nina Garcia BCBG Max Azria: Beverly Mitchell Vivienne Tam: Matt Settle, Wendy Williams Monique Lhuillier: Mandy Moore, LeAnn Rimes Diane von Furstenburg: Rachel Zoe, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Corinne Bailey Rae, Bill Cunningham Betsey Johnson: Nicki Minaj, Jonathan Cheban, Nigel Barker Donna Karan: Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington, Wyclef Jean, Anna Wintour, Anna Dello Russo Once everyone with a seating assignment goes in, the standing room section storms through. We try to give them water, but most are too focused on securing their spot (understandable). When they all pass, we are allowed to follow in behind. Depending on what the crowd (and our luck) is like, we can at the very least see the show from the back in standing room. This is not bad at all, because I actually like seeing over everyone and onto the runway, much like I prefer to sit in the mezzanine over the orchestra section in a theater. If we are lucky, right before the show starts, we get to fill in empty seats. This is nice because you can focus, give your feet a rest, and see everything really well. Now, if we are really lucky, one of the empty seats to fill in is in the front row! I sat front row at Monique Lhuillier and, honestly, it was the coolest thing ever. The seat I was in at that show was right next to where Rachel Zoe was sitting for DVF’s show! You can see every little detail of everything. I would say you are so close you can hear the models breathing, but they don’t really seem to breathe, so you can’t hear that. (Side note: It really is bizarre to see models in action on a long runway. They are very robotic -- it is kind of freaky. And you know how the camera adds pounds? Well, these creatures are definitely thinner in person.) That front-row seat was probably the highlight of my week so far. I know an experience like that comes very rarely, so I soaked it up completely. I felt like I was meditating. Nothing else was going through my mind but what I was seeing right in front of my eyes. While I am originally from Pittsburgh, I am currently living in New York for college. School doesn’t stop for me during Fashion Week, but with the way the schedule worked out, I have only had to miss one class this whole week. I have two online classes and a work-study job as well, so although it has been difficult keeping up with them in the midst of all this craziness, it is so worth it. I have seen many of my former editors from an internship I had at a fashion magazine last semester, and they are really impressed with the experience FIJI Water has given us. With my previous internship, the closest I got to Lincoln Center during Fashion Week was to deliver invitations to an editor by the famous fountain in the center of the complex. Shows like DVF, Donna Karan, and Michael Kors are not shows just anybody can get into. I feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity. I knew I would somehow make it into the tents one day, but I never thought it would be this soon. I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who voted for me! I blog about my eventful life in New York, including this very eventful week, at www.kristiedash.com. Follow me on Twitter (@KristieDash) for even more updates. P.S. As a Fashion Week intern, I get a year’s supply of FIJI Water. I am so excited for this because I love water and I have always loved FIJI Water the most. Now, FIJI Water can help quench my thirst as I conquer New York!

Get Red Carpet-Ready for TIFF With a Style-Blog Expert

hwatterworth — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:32:52 +0000

Now that Labor Day is behind us, the mass migration from movie-making epicenters like New York and Los Angeles for the Toronto International Film Festival is officially upon us. With gala after gala and party after party (after after-party!), there will no shortage of splendid red carpet fashion to gawk at. We connected with Julia Seidl, the brains and beauty behind the StyleHog.com, on a few film-fest fashion tips and tricks. Q: What will your go-to items be for this year’s festival? A: Heels that look hot but won’t kill my feet, a bold red lipstick, a structured mini handbag, and an amazing statement necklace to add some bling! [caption id="attachment_17885" align="alignright" width="175" caption="Leighton Meester (Image via A.H. Walker/WireImage)"][/caption] Q: What are the key red carpet trends this season? A: Dresses with cutouts, metallics, minimalist styles and colored lace, as well as interesting prints. Q: Who do you think will be some of the best-dressed at this year’s festival? A: I will be keeping my eyes on Blake Lively, Carey Mulligan, Kirsten Dunst, Freida Pinto, and Leighton Meester – usually these young ladies are right on the money with their red carpet choices. Q: Do you have an all-time favorite TIFF style moment? A: In 2008, to The Duchess premiere at TIFF, Keira Knightly wore an inky-grey, floor-grazing Alexander McQueen dress that I still dream about today. Q: How do you transform a look from press junket to party? A: It would be nice to say just change up your shoes, let down your hair, and add some accessories, but in reality going from event to event means you must change your complete outfit - at least, celebrities must! With every move and every minute being photographed, celebrities generally step into a new look for a party or the red carpet. Q: What’s the ultimate TIFF-party look? [caption id="attachment_17887" align="alignright" width="193" caption="Carey Mulligan (Image via John Shearer/WireImage)"][/caption] A: For 2011, I like the idea of abandoning the usual cocktail dress and opting for something longer with a thigh-high slit. Think vintage Halston or Bianca Jagger circa 1970s. Sexy in a not-so-obvious way with just a hint of something shiny and gold. And heels in mixed mediums with architectural details, because your feet require just as much attention as your dress! Q: What are some red carpet style mistakes? A: Dressing too young and showing too much skin. Q: If you could style any visiting celebrity, who would it be? What would you dress them in? A: I would love to style one of the Olsen twins, especially Mary-Kate. I wouldn’t so much style them because they definitely don’t need any help when it comes to getting dressed, but I would love to watch them put together an outfit and find out what they are inspired by, how they choose their looks, and how they shop. For more fashion posts on what’s hot on and off the runway, check out Julia’s blog. Above Photo: Freida Pinto (Image via Sean Gallup/WireImage)

A Fashion Intern’s Dream Come True

FIJI Water — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:16:56 +0000

Gabriel Tyler is one of four interns working with FIJI Water at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 (September 8-15, 2011).

I was born and bred in Chicago, so I am no foreigner to what can happen in a big city like New York. I’ve learned to be prepared for what every new moment may bring and, thus far, this trip to Fashion Week has proven that that notion is the only way to live.

Who would have thought that I would be in New York City attending and working behind the scenes at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week? I remember a little over a year ago, I sat in my apartment watching a few clips on YouTube from the season’s runway shows. It was at that time that I determined that I would be in New York City the following year for Fashion Week, no matter what I had to do. Well, a year later, I can finally say I made it. I’ve been very fortunate. God has really showed His face in my life. I know that God is real and all of this is not by chance. I cannot express how honored I am that FIJI Water has given me this opportunity.

Here are a few things I experienced and learned in the concrete jungle.

The FIJI Water fashion interns (l. to r.) Marco, Kristie, Teghan, and Gabriel.

1. Fairy Tales Do Come True

I love People’s Revolution. I fell in love with Kelly Cutrone when I watched her show on Bravo, Kell on Earth. She was everything I wanted to be, and I understood why she took herself and her business so seriously: Kelly loved what she did. It wasn’t a job for her, it was her life.

I submitted my resume to People’s Revolution two years in a row, but I never got a reply. I chalked it up to fate and moved on, hoping that one day the planets would align and I would get my chance with Kelly Cutrone.

On the first day of the internship, I took an early-morning flight to New York and just so happened to walk past the People’s Revolution office in SoHo while I roamed the city with Teghan, another FIJI Water Fashion Week Intern. We both felt like destiny had put us in the right place at the right time.

I called the office and asked could we come up for a visit. I was put on hold, then five seconds later the buzzer rang, letting Teghan and me into the building. We ran up the stairs and, as soon as we opened the door, Kelly was right there smiling at us. I’ve never had celebrity shock until that moment. She took pictures with both of us, chatted with us for a long time, allowed us to tour the entire office and even invited us to an exclusive fashion show! We couldn’t make the show because of prior obligations to our internship, but we were both shocked and grateful that we were even let past the door. To get invited to anything by Kelly Cutrone, the PR machine herself, was the highest of high honors. Like I said, dreams do come true. I hope I get to see Kelly again.

2. Fashion Is More Than Clothes, Style, and Good Taste — It’s Work

My advice to anyone who wants to get involved in the fashion industry is don’t be fooled into thinking the industry is all fun and games. When you’re in this life, it’s the only life you have. It’s fun, but you have to do it because you love it, not because you want perks.

All of us have received the perks, including a new wardrobe from TopShop/TopMan courtesy of FIJI Water, exclusive access to the BCBG runway show, the first show in the Theatre at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and a great lunch from Ed’s Chowder House at The Empire Hotel.

However, we have all put in a lot of work, including a long acceptance process, early-morning meetings, and long hours of standing, working, and sporting a FIJI Water style. It’s work, and work is work, but in the end it’s all worthwhile.

Everywhere I go, people ask to take my photo. I guess Noelle and Paul really knew what they were doing when they helped the TopShop/TopMan stylist choose my outfits. I’m beginning to feel like a celebrity. I’m meeting new people all the time, talking with people I would have never gotten a chance to meet outside of this opportunity, and getting skills and exposure to an industry I hope to one day dominate. I wouldn’t trade this chance for anything.

3. Dream Big and Take a Chance, or Go Home

People say that dreaming is for children and that dreams never come true. I guess they’ve never been to New York. If you want to make it, you have to take it. No one ever gets anywhere by fitting in and wishing they’d make it. Do like I did — say who, what, and where you want to be, and make it happen. It takes a lot of work and time, but if it’s truly what you want, those things won’t outweigh the fulfillment you’ll get.

Make sure you check out my Tumblr for a step-by-step play to my life in New York during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. You can also follow me on Twitter @MisterTyler. I’ll be updating consistently throughout the day for the entire week.

P.S. I’m addicted to FIJI Water! Have you picked up a bottle lately? If not, go to the store and buy a bottle now! It truly tastes great. It’s the best artesian water in a bottle that I’ve ever had. I think it may be the minerals in it. Either way, you should drink it.

Thanks for the love, Gabriel!

– FIJI

Behind the Scenes With Fashion Intern Marco

FIJI Water — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:50:54 +0000

Marco Garcia is one of four fashion interns working with FIJI Water at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 (September 8-15, 2011).

New York Fashion Week has turned out to be everything we’ve ever imagined it to be. The editors, the photographers, the models, the designers, and of course the clothes are all here inside the tent at Lincoln Center, and having access to it all has been beyond amazing.

Walking in and out of the tent at Lincoln Center is definitely a privilege. Onlookers — many of them secretly hoping for a chance to step indoors — stand outside the tent, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone they recognize, whether it be a socialite, a fashion blogger, or perhaps someone with a killer outfit. Others are looking to snap your picture and feature you on their website.

During the first official day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the interns (pictured above after styling in FIJI blue at Top Shop: Kristie, Marco, Teghan, and Gabriel) and the FIJI Water team met inside the main tent at 9 a.m. to help at the BCBG Max Azria runway show. The crowds were huge and the photographers were on their toes snapping picture after picture. Once everyone was seated, we were allowed inside. Seconds before the show started, Teghan and I were escorted by one of the show coordinators to seats on the floor. They were not just any floor seats but FRONT ROW seats! We were both in heaven! To see a picture of a designer’s outfit is one thing, but to actually see it as it walks down a runway on a gorgeous six-foot-tall model definitely makes you appreciate the details and all the hard work that goes into its creation. The way a piece flows and the colors chosen to tie a collection together bring a designer’s creation to life.

The first day of MBFW has been by far the highlight of my experience with FIJI Water. We are only in the first half of Fashion Week, so who knows what other amazing opportunities will arise in the next few days or what people we will meet, but all I know is that I am 100% ready!

Critic’s Choice: Top Five Must-See Films at the Toronto Film Festival

FIJI Water — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:24:21 +0000

Sifting through the massive influx of films screening the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is no easy task. There are hundreds of them, after all. Film and entertainment writer Richard Crouse gives us his top five picks of the best of the fest. 1. Drive, an art-house thriller with Ryan Gosling and plenty of atmosphere. Gosling plays a film stunt driver who finds himself wrapped up with Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her ex-con husband. Directed by Nicolas Winding. Starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, and Christina Hendricks 2. The Artist, a heartfelt tribute to the silent movies of the 1920s, fuelled by forceful nostalgia. True to traditional 1.33 aspect ratio and played out entirely without dialogue, this film follows the rise and fall of silent film star George Valentin, played by Jean Dujardin. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius. Also starring Berenice Bejo. 3. Take This Waltz, director Sarah Polley's bittersweet look at life and love. Michelle Williams's character is happily married to Lou (Seth Rogen), but when a mutual spark ignites with Daniel (Luke Kirby), who just moved into their Toronto neighborhood, the question of longterm love surfaces in this funny and heartfelt love story. Starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and Sarah Silverman. 4. Pearl Jam Twenty, a look at twenty years of the band that played a major role in shaping the soundtrack of the '90s. Produced and directed by filmdom's number-one rock 'n' roll fan Cameron Crowe. With Eddie Vedder, Kurt Cobain (footage), Chris Cornell, and Neil Young. 5. Edwin Boyd, a seldom-told slice of Torontonia starring Scott Speedman as the legendary bank robber. The film follows Boyd from his return from World War II to his arrest in 1952. Directed by Nathan Morlando. Starring Brian Cox, Kevin Durand, and Scott Speedman. Which film on the TIFF schedule are you most excited to see? Buy tickets here. Top Image: Ryan Gosling in Drive

Your Guide to the Hottest Parties at the Toronto International Film Festival

hwatterworth — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:26:32 +0000

With an abundance of parties, red carpets and gifting suites, it’s easy to forget that the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is actually about film. Long recognized as the entertainment industry's preferred water, FIJI Water will be on-site at some of the festival's star-studded parties and events. Here are just a few hot happenings in Toronto.

IT Lounge

Where: NKPR, 312 Adelaide St., Toronto Date: September 8 – 14, 2011 A celebrity gifting suite that gives back, NKPR headquarters will once again transform into a can’t-miss pop-up shop loaded with star-worthy finds. This year’s IT Lounge connects diverse brands such as Canada’s RW&CO. and Italy’s Coccinelle to raise funds and awareness not only for international charity partner Artists for Peace and Justice (founded by Academy Award-winner Paul Haggis) but also locally for Camp Oochigeas, where children with cancer rediscover the magic of childhood.

TORO After Dark Benefiting Artists for Peace and Justice

Where: TORO After Dark at AME Date: September 9, 2011 [caption id="attachment_17660" align="alignright" width="199" caption="Jennifer Garner at the Film Festival"][/caption] As part of Artists for Peace and Justice's mandate to help children in Haiti, Paul Haggis, Gerard Butler, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt, and George Stroumboulopoulos will team up to host a soirée at sophisticated night-spot AME. For just $150 per person, guests can rub elbows with A-listers and enjoy SKYY Vodka event-themed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres in a lounge atmosphere. 100% of proceeds will benefit health, education, and dignity initiatives in Haiti.

HELLO! Hollywood Style Gala

Where: The Ritz-Carlton Date: September 10, 2011 This is the first TIFF for The Ritz-Carlton, and what better way to break in this brand-spankin’-new hotel than with the HELLO! Hollywood Style red carpet and gala? It’s the magazine’s fifth-anniversary TIFF party and it's celebrating Hollywood glam as featured so prominently in the pages of the magazine.

TORO After Dark

Where: AME Date: September 10, 2011 The TORO After Dark lounge is a hideout for industry insiders to recharge on some cool cocktails and delectable passed hor d'oeuvres. The modern-meets-traditional-Japanese interior décor of the very Zen AME is the perfect backdrop to escape the festival noise. Brought to you by the dapper gents at TOROMagazine.com.

Academy for Peace and Justice Lunch

Where: Private Residence Date: September 10, 2011 Held at a private estate in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood, this intimate event will feature performances by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne.

InStyle Party

Where: Windsor Arms Date: September 13, 2011 A TIFF staple, the InStyle party has no shortage of buzz or celebrities, making it the place to see and be seen. That is, if you can get on the iron-clad guest list.

Contest alert!

Calling FIJI Water fans in Toronto! Want to get in on the film festival fun? Let us know in the ‘comments’ which film debuting at the TIFF you're looking forward to seeing for your chance to win exclusive tickets to a FIJI Water film festival event! Must be 19+ to enter. Random draw will take place on (TBC) Winner will be contacted via Twitter. Top image: Edward Norton at the Film Festival

Amy Smilovic of Tibi on the Return of the Nineties Silhouette, and More

FIJI Water — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:09:15 +0000

Amy Smilovic created the Tibi label while living as an expat in Hong Kong in 1997. As she told ExpatWomen.com, she had the choice of either going to work at her husband’s company or starting her own fashion label — a dream she had harbored for a long time. She chose the latter.

Flash forward to 2011, and Tibi clothes are sold in over 200 stores worldwide. Her Spring 2012 collection will debut on runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tuesday, September 13. Smilovic spoke to us about how her inspirations this season, and what she wears when she’s not wearing Tibi.

Q: What inspired you to leave your old career and become a designer?

A: I’ve always been artistic, so even when I was working in advertising, creativity and design (of some kind) was something I had in my professional life. When I moved to Hong Kong with my husband, Frank, who worked for American Express at the time, the idea of being an entrepreneur was just less intimidating. There are so many small businesses there. Especially for the fashion industry, Hong Kong is an epicenter. You can visit your factories, and I worked closely developing fabrics and prints with local artisans. I started very small, just out of our apartment, and it took off. An order from Saks Fifth Avenue solidified my business.

Q: What was the inspiration for this season’s collection?

A sketch from the Tibi Spring12 collection.

A: Spring12 is about modernizing and refreshing the ’90′s silhouette (think Gwyneth Paltrow) – streamlined cuts with a sportswear element of drawstring details, motor jackets, track suits, and asymmetrical hems. Sorbet colors – raspberry, lime, melon – color block in solids, or mix with bold geometric prints in black and navy.

Q: What kind of woman do you design for?

A: The idea of an all-encompassing Tibi woman is something that I’m asked about a lot. She’s constantly evolving and has never been represented by just one person. I design a lot for myself, what I’m in the mood for and would love to wear, and then make changes so it will translate to our different customers and fans. Buzz words are “sophisticated,” “cool,” and “feminine,” and I love to see how the different pieces of our collections play out in different locales and on different bodies. One thing is non-negotiable though: Our girl has fun with fashion and is never trying too hard.

Q: What is your favorite piece from this season’s collection?

A: I’m loving all our mid-length skirts, in solids and prints, with and without pleats. They’re universally flattering and simple to throw on under a chunky sweater or with a classic button-down.

Q: When you’re not wearing your own styles, whose do you turn to?

A: I love a number of other designers, but never wear anyone head-to-toe, not even Tibi. Some of my favorites are Celine, Acne, Vanessa Bruno, Alex Wang, Phillip Lim, and Stella. For accessories, I love Margiela, Balmain, Miu Miu, Reed Krakoff, and Tom Binns. And then for basic layering pieces, I like J. Crew and James Perse.

Designer Adam Lippes Talks Oprah, and What He Wears When He’s Not Wearing ADAM

FIJI Water — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:47:09 +0000

Adam Lippes has a slightly unusual background for a fashion designer — he studied psychology at Cornell and art history at the American University in Paris. It was only on returning to New York in 1995 that he began his fast-moving career in fashion. After a year at Polo Ralph Lauren, Lippes joined Oscar de la Renta and quickly rose to Global Creative Director, the youngest person to do so in the history of the company.

In 2004, Lippes launched his own line, ADAM, and had his New York Fashion Week debut three years later, the same year he was elected to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. This fall, Lippes opens his second store in New York City, in downtown’s NoLita neighborhood. His Spring 2012 collection will premier at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Saturday, September 10.

A sketch from ADAM's Spring 2012 collection, signed by Lippes.

Q: You’ve had a number of illustrious milestones in your career, including becoming a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Which milestone are you most proud of and why?

A: One of the milestones I’m most proud of is being on Oprah (in 2007, ADAM was chosen as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things”). She’s such an incredible star and it was such a great honor.

Q: What was the inspiration for this season’s collection?

A: The inspiration for Spring 2012 began with an extraordinary exhibit titled “Picasso and Marie-Thérèse” at the Gagosian Gallery in NYC.

Q: What kind of woman or man do you design for?

A: The woman I have in mind for our collection appreciates sporty, refined, feminine, and easy clothes, and I always love her confidence.

Q: What is your favorite piece from this season’s collection?

A: I haven’t picked a favorite piece from this season’s collection, though I have a bunch in the running.

Q: When you’re not wearing your own styles, whose do you turn to?

A: I wear lots of Dior jeans and John Lobb shoes.

Zenxin Organic

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Isetan

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The Market@ Central

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SunMoon

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Four Seasons Gourmet Market

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Nature’s Glory

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Supernature

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Swiss Butchery

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Unity by NTUC Health

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Finest by NTUC

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Carrefour

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Cold Storage

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Watsons

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7 Eleven

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Singapore

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EHS online shopping

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Pchome Online Shopping

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Yahoo! Online Shopping

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Costco

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FIJI’s UCLA Football Fan Sweepstakes

FIJI Water — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:49:26 +0000

Attention, Bruins fans! This September and October, we’re giving away nine ticket packages to see UCLA football. Packages include a pair of game tickets, VIP passes to the UCLA pre-game fan zone, a parking pass, game day garb to show your love, and two cases of FIJI Water.

Grand prize is four suite tickets to UCLA’s final home game, a locker room tour on game day, and two tickets to the 2012 Rose Bowl (hopefully to see the Bruins)!

To enter, fill out the form below. Be sure to also tell us where you purchase your FIJI Water in Southern California. First prizes will be awarded on or about September 9 and 23 and October 14 and 21. The grand prize will be awarded on or about October 31. See complete sweepstakes rules for details.

Win Two Tickets to Meet Train and Attend Wine Amplified

FIJI Water — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:11:31 +0000

This contest has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered, winners will be announced soon!

Want a little rock and roll at your food and wine festival? If so, then Wine Amplified is for you.

On Saturday, September 17, Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay will bring the worlds of rock and fine wines together in one place. Sample over 150 wines while rocking out to Train and four other bands.

One lucky winner will receive a prize package that includes the following:

Two VIP tickets to the sold-out Wine Amplified event, held on Saturday, September 17
Two tickets to the Bubbles & Chocolate party, held on Friday, September 16
Two meet-and-greet tickets to meet the members of Train live in person.

See the official rules for sweepstakes details.

Meet the 2011 New York Fashion Week Fashion Interns

FIJI Water — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:18:25 +0000

Congratulations to Teghan, Kristie, Marco, and Gabriel, the winners of our biannual Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Internship Contest! These four fabulous fashionistas will be coming with us to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City this September 8-15 at Lincoln Center.

This season’s internship contest had a record number of entries, almost 300, and some very heated voting in the final video round. The winners really had to work it to drum up support, which is of course exactly the right attitude needed for the fashion industry.

We asked our interns to “tell us a little about yourself,” and we’ve shared what we learned, below. If you want to see the wonderful videos they created to earn their internships, visit our Facebook page.

Teghan Collins

Collins is a 22-year-old fashion fanatic, entertainment enthusiast, and social media addict who doesn’t plan on ever going to rehab. With two degrees from the University of Georgia — a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelors of Arts in Advertising — Collins has a knack for infusing out-of-the box creativity with the fundamental principles of advertising and marketing (which she hopes will guide her into a career in the fashion industry). Thanks to her military upbringing, Collins loves to travel and can call Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania home.

Kristie Dash

Dash, a Communications & Media Studies major at Pace University, has had the most exciting year of her life thanks to New York City’s wealth of opportunity and her motivated, hard-working attitude. She is obsessed with all things related to pop culture, fashion being at the top. Dash plans on interning a lot to discover what her true calling is but would love to write for a fashion magazine.

Marco Garcia

Marco Garcia is a recent graduate of California State University, Long Beach, with a B.A. in Film and Electronic Arts, Theory and Practice of Cinema, and a minor in American Studies. Marco has a love of all things artistic: everything from photography, film, music, and fashion. He has a strong passion for creativity and aesthetics and hopes to work as an art director. He enjoys spending time with a close knit group of friends who are driven by both passion and compassion.

Gabriel Tyler

Gabriel Charles Tyler is a journalist, visionary entrepreneur, and Chicago native. He currently attends DePaul University, where he double majors in Journalism and African and Black Diaspora Studies. This young visionary has contributed his talents to a number of publications and companies, gaining recognition for his commitment to excellence. Tyler hopes to one day become a household name.

Tennis Recap: Rounding Up the 2011 Rogers Cup

hwatterworth — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:21:40 +0000

What an unpredictable week it was for both the men and the women at the 2011 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, as top seeds across the board were eliminated well before anyone expected. In fact, just two top-five players from the men’s and women’s fields made it through to the quarterfinals. From Rafael Nadal being knocked out in the second round by Ivan Dodig, to Caroline Wozniacki losing against Roberta Vinci in her first match, the tournament was full of upsets.

One of the week’s biggest surprises was the play of qualifier Galina Voskoboeva, who reached the quarterfinals after an unlikely run that saw her beat three higher-ranked players, including world no. 5 Maria Sharapova. But the real story in Toronto was the play of American Serena Williams, who bulldozed her competition en route to her second Rogers Cup title and her 39th career WTA singles title. Williams had the killer instinct that we’re used to seeing from her, and now has 11 straight match wins to go along with two tournament victories in just two weeks. Ranked no. 80 in the world going into the tournament, Williams was the underdog at the beginning of the week but showed that, with will and resolve, victory is possible.

Serena Williams, Rogers Cup winner (Image Via Central Image Agency)

On the flip side, the stellar play of the world’s top ranked male player, Novak Djokovic, was just what tennis fans expected. There’s simply no other current tennis player who’s as effortlessly commanding as Djokovic, and he proved it this past week by losing only one set the entire tournament. Not only did his win over Mardy Fish (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) in the final give him his ninth title this season, but it also made him a five-time ATP Masters series champ. With a record of 53-1 in 2011, Djokovic is proving that he is virtually unbeatable. And that’s something his opponents ought to fear heading into the U.S. Open.

With the 2011 Rogers Cup in the books, Canada’s week as the center of the tennis universe comes to an end — until next year.

Top Image: Novak Djokovic during the Rogers Cup final match in Montreal Sunday, August 14, 2011. (Image Via Central Image Agency)

Tennis Recap: 2011 Rogers Cup Day Finals

hwatterworth — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:11:08 +0000

In what was his toughest match at the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic made tennis history in Montréal. On Sunday, the world’s no. 1 became the first man ever to win five straight ATP Masters tennis titles after he beat Mardy Fish (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) in the Rogers Cup final. Fish proved to be a formidable opponent, breaking Djokovic several times and winning a set. Amazingly, that was the only set Djokovic lost the entire tournament. No player in any sport is unbeatable, but after winning his 53rd match in 54 tries this season, Djokovic is as close to that exalted state as any athlete in the world. [caption id="attachment_17356" align="alignright" width="228" caption="Serena Williams, Rogers Cup winner (Image Via Central Image Agency)"][/caption] Over in Toronto, Serena Williams took home the title after beating Australia’s Samantha Stosur (6-4, 6-3) for her 39th career WTA tournament win. Competing in her second event since Wimbledon, Williams blazed her way to a title amidst a star-studded field, rising from no. 80 to no. 31 in the WTA rankings. She hammered nine aces and won 89 percent of her first-serve points en route to her second tournament win in as many weeks. Stosur and Williams have met five times in the past, and with Stosur winning two of those, Williams was far from a sure thing this time around. Becoming the Rogers Cup champion is just the latest step in a comeback from an injury that sidelined her for 49 weeks and should make her opponents very nervous as the U.S. Open approaches. Top Image: Novak Djokovic during the Rogers Cup final match in Montreal Sunday, August 14, 2011. (Image Via Central Image Agency)

Tennis Recap: 2011 Rogers Cup Day 4

hwatterworth — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:07:10 +0000

On a day when top seeds continued to tumble at the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, men’s no. 1 Novak Djokovic managed to advance by defeating Marin Cilic (7-5, 6-2). Now that Switzerland's Roger Federer was knocked out of the tournament, Djokovic is the man to beat in the top half of the draw. Federer fought hard in his match against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsong a but ran out of gas and lost the match (7-6, 4-6, 6-1). With eight players left in the men’s pool, this weekend promises to be very exciting. [caption id="attachment_17299" align="alignright" width="228" caption="Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva VS Maria Sharpova (Image Via Central Image Agency Inc.)"][/caption] Over in Toronto, Thursday was certainly a day for upsets. Just one day after the tournament’s no. 1 and no. 2 seeds were eliminated, no. 3 seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia lost to no. 12 seed Agnieszka Radwanska; while Maria Sharapov a, Li Na and Petra Kvitova were also all knocked out of the tournament. Despite so many big names being eliminated on Thursday, 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams advanced after beating China’s Jie Zheng (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). Injuries have plagued Williams most of the season, but she seems to be playing with a renewed passion and will be very interesting to watch down the road. Williams will play Lucie Safarova on Friday night for a spot in the semi-finals. Friday also marks the start of the Rogers Legends Cup, which will feature Michael Chang on Jim Courier in its opening match. For more information and extensive recaps of the Rogers Cup, check out the official Rogers Cup site. Top image: Novak Djokovic in his match versus Marin Cilic at the 2011 Rogers Cup in Montreal. (Image Via Vincenzo D'Alto/Central Image Agency)

Tennis Recap: 2011 Rogers Cup Day 3

hwatterworth — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:08:59 +0000

Wednesday was full of surprises for both the men and the women at the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. First, top-ranked and defending Rogers Cup champion Caroline Wozniacki was upset by Italy’s Roberta Vinci (6-4, 7-5). Then, Croatia’s Ivan Dodig knocked out two-time Rogers Cup champion Rafael Nadal with a shocking (1-6, 7-6, 7-6) victory. Dodig, who called it the greatest moment of his life, won the match largely because of his impressive serving game (19 aces) and will face Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic in the 16th round on Thursday. [caption id="attachment_17261" align="alignright" width="219" caption="Sharapova VS Jovanovski. (Image Via Central Image Agency)"][/caption] The day’s action also featured third-seeded Roger Federer, who played against Canadian Vasek Pospisil. Pospisil put up a valiant effort, but ended up losing to the former world no. 1 and 16-time Grand Slam champion (7-5, 6-3). Federer, who turned 30 on Monday, won the Rogers Cup in 2004 and 2006, and finished second in 2007 and 2010. His third-round opponent will be France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who upset the Swiss superstar at Wimbledon last month. Over in Toronto, world no. 5 Maria Sharapova defeated 19-year-old Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia, who is one of just three teenagers in the WTA top 100 (no. 54). It took Sharapova just 24 minutes to win the first set (6-1), but Jovanovski fought hard in the second set and lost by a slight 7-5 margin. The good news for tennis fans is that Sharapova is on a collision course to meet Serena Williams in the Semi-Finals, assuming both of them win their next two matches. Williams, who defeated world no. 20 Julia Goerges in straight sets (6-1, 7-6), will play Jie Zheng of China on Thursday, while Sharapova will play Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan. Be sure to catch all of the action as the tournament starts to get intense! For more coverage on the 2011 Rogers Cup, visit the Rogers Cup website. Top Image: Rafael Nadal in his match versus Ivan Dodig at the Rogers Cup in Montreal Wednesday August 10, 2011. (Image Via Vincenzo D'Alto)

Tennis Recap: 2011 Rogers Cup Day 2

hwatterworth — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:26:42 +0000

With two former tournament champions handed second-round exits, Tuesday turned out to be a very eventful day for both the men and women at the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. Women’s world no. 2 Kim Clijsters withdrew from her match while leading 6-3, 1-2 against China’s Zheng Jie, while the two-time reigning champion on the men’s side, Andy Murray, was ousted by South Africa’s Kevin Anderson. [caption id="attachment_17211" align="alignright" width="211" caption="Williams VS Bondarenko/Image Via Central Image Agency"][/caption] Former world no. 1 Serena Williams started her match with a bang when she aced Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine on just her second serve. From there, Williams didn’t look back as she took the first set in a mere 16 minutes, with an end score of 6-0, 6-3. On Wednesday she’ll play against Germany’s Julia Goerges, who took down the tough Jelena Jankovic on Monday and looks to be a very challenging opponent down the road. Their match is definitely one to watch! Wednesday will feature a flurry of matches with some of the world’s best talent, including Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, among many others. For a full recap on yesterday’s matches check out the Rogers Cup website.

Tennis Recap: 2011 Rogers Cup Day 1

hwatterworth — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:25:46 +0000

With the first day of main draw play at the 2011 Rogers Cup in the books, nobody could have asked for a more exciting start to the tournament. On the women’s side, four seeds were defeated (three to qualifiers), including world #9 Marion Bartoli, #14 Jelena Jankovic, and #15 Svetlana Kuznetsova, proving that the women’s field is wide open and superstars need to be at their best, even in the early rounds. [caption id="attachment_17148" align="alignright" width="264" caption="Julia Goerges beats Jelena Jankovic. (Image Via Central Image Agency)"][/caption] Perhaps nobody will realize this more than former world no. 1 Jankovic, who showed signs of rust when she took the court for the first time since Wimbledon against Germany’s Julia Goerges. Jankovic was undefeated in her two previous meetings with Goerges, but yesterday Goerges was on her game as she handed Jankovic an early Rogers Cup exit in a decisive (6-1, 6-3) victory. The 22-year-old, who will play the winner of today’s match between Serena Williams and Alona Bondarenko, is a player to watch as the tournament proceeds. Over in Montréal, the men’s matches ran on script. Former world no. 4 and 2009 Rogers Cup runner-up Juan Martín del Potro showed his old form by beating Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen (6-4, 6-0). Del Potro is now en route to play Novak Djokovic in the third round, as long as he can get past Croatia’s Marin Cilic (def. A. Seppi 7-5, 6-4). Two other seeded players joined del Potro in the second round, as world no. 17 Stanislas Wawrinka downed former no. 5 David Nalbandian (6-1, 6-4), while world no. 16, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, beat Italy’s Fabio Fognini (6-4,7-6). Tsonga has been very impressive this season after his spectacular performance at Wimbledon where he reached the semi-finals only to lose to Novak Djokovic. Fognini took Tsonga to the wire, but the 26-year-old from France was just too much for him to handle. Tsonga will play his second round match against Austria’s Bernard Tomic. [caption id="attachment_17151" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in his match against Fabio Fognini, takes a FIJI Water break. (Vincenzo D'Alto/THE GAZETTE)"][/caption] The second round will also include Andy Murray playing qualifier Kevin Anderson, and world no. 1 Djokovic is matched up against Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko. Top featured image: Fabio Fognini in his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Rogers Cup in Montreal (Vincenzo D'Alto/THE GAZETTE)

Game, Sip, Match: 2011 Rogers Cup Tournament

hwatterworth — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:46:24 +0000

FIJI Water is gearing up for its return as the official water of the 130th annual Rogers Cup. An ATP Masters 1000 level tournament, Premier WTA tournament, and U.S. Open Series event, the Rogers Cup returns to Toronto and Montréal from August 5 to 14.

New Virtually Combined Format

Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again! This year promises to be very exciting, with the tournament taking on a new “virtually combined” format. No, that doesn’t mean men and women will be squaring off against one another, but that for the first time the men’s and women’s tournaments will be played simultaneously in Montréal and Toronto, offering fans in one venue the opportunity to view matches from the other. Watching Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal play at the same time? Now that’s a match made in tennis heaven.

Must-See Matches

Speaking of Rafael, the men’s field has drawn a lot of attention so far this season, with Nadal and Roger Federer serving up competition for the number-one spot, chasing recent Wimbledon-champ Novak Djokovic. Needless to say, all three will be vying for the 2011 Rogers Cup at the Uniprix Stadium in Montréal with utmost determination. And of course, there’s two-time Rogers Cup champion Andy Murray (2009, 2010), who will defend his title and aim for a three-peat.

As for the women’s field, the top 25 players in the world will hit the Rexall Centre courts in Toronto, including former world number-one and 2001 Rogers Cup champ Serena Williams; 2011 French Open winner Li Na; 2011 Wimbledon runner-up Maria Sharapova; current number one and last year’s Rogers Cup champion Caroline Wozniacki; and many others. The tournament will also feature the usual doubles tournament, which will run alongside the singles tournament and will feature some very interesting duos, such as the all-Serbian team of Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic; Andy Murray and brother Jamie Murray; and the French pairing of Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon. Oh, and let’s not forget about the best doubles duo in the world: the Bryan brothers.

Legendary Tennis

As if that weren’t enough, the Rogers Cup will also host the Legends Cup, a mini-tournament played between ATP Hall of Famers Jon McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, and Michael Chang during the final weekend of the tournament (August 12 to 14).

The tournament will conclude on August 14, when all four championship matches (Men’s/Women’s Doubles, Men’s/Women’s Singles) will be played.

As the tournament’s official water, FIJI Water will be there hydrating both players and fans throughout. Find tickets, tournament schedules, and more information on RogersCup.com.

Get Fall-Fashion Ready With the Top Trends of the Season

hwatterworth — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:51:49 +0000

Plug your ears and sing out loud: It won’t change the fact that summer will eventually come to an end. The good news? Fall marks the start of a new style cycle, which is a great excuse to hit the shops for some serious sartorial reinvention. Can’t quite shake your summer love of flip-flops and maxi dresses? We caught up with Marissa Liu, fashion reporter for Trend Hunter Magazine, to get the lowdown on what’s hot for the cool months of fall. As the official water of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, FIJI Water was on site when many of these trends were first realized at MBFW in February. Mature Masculinity [caption id="attachment_16970" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Paul Smith FW '11/de Moraes Barros/WireImage"][/caption] This fall in women's fashion, the baggy boyfriend look of the past few seasons has gone from boys to men. Take a hint from the gentlemanly neckties and stiff collars at Paul Smith, boxy overcoats and sharp tailoring at Michael Kors, and utility at Alexander Wang. “Be a little more daring when dressing for a party and pair a fitted white shirt with black bottoms and killer heels – all wardrobe staples,” suggests Liu. “Add a black neckpiece like a bowtie for instant femme fatale.” Shake up unisex style with a longer hemline à la the 1920s or a touch of 1960s mod. Prada heralded this season’s look at Milan Fashion Week with bold colors and Peter Pan collars. For something a little more vibrant, think big prints and techy plaid, as seen on the tailored looks at Rag & Bone. Outerwear That's In As for investments – the fashion euphemism for spending a little (or a whole lot) extra to span multiple seasons – Liu says outerwear is key. "Invest in a well-made coat that can take you from a cool fall day to a frosty winter evening." If your pockets aren’t quite as deep as high-end prices are staggering, there are just as many ways to keep things fresh this fall without the heart-wrenching experience of glancing at couture price tags. Big Style, Small Budget [caption id="attachment_16976" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Rag & Bone FW '11/JP YIM/WireImage"][/caption] “Accessories are an easy way to reinvent a look,” says our style guru. Other recommendations: vintage shops. If there’s anything we’ve learned from the '50s, '60s, and '70s looks on the runway, it's that fashion isn’t immune to repetition. More good news: Some of the styles that you’ve been rocking all summer can just as easily be appropriated into your fall wardrobe. “Anything sheer and lace that you wore on its own in the summer can be layered over a slim fall look and will look lovely peeking out under outerwear,” suggests Liu. Classic Gentleman vs. Grunge Boy As for the gentlemen, lower temperatures will ultimately mean letting go of this summer's ubiquitous cuffed pants. Transitioning to fall, Liu noted that the runways were polarized between smart, white collar style and blue-collar grunge. On one hand, "the double-breasted suit is making a return. Once a traditional staple for well-to-do businessmen, it made a triumphant reappearance on many a Fall/Winter 2011 runway." [caption id="attachment_16972" align="alignright" width="203" caption="Costume National FW '11/Tullio M. Puglia/WireImage"][/caption] Then again: "Overalls and boiler suits were being paraded down the runways, perhaps as a return to grungy glamour, or to bring a little panache to a blue-collar staple." Gents, pick your looks. Or if you're feeling daring, combine the two. Want to see one of the shows at the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this September 8-15? FIJI Water has five pairs of invitations to give to a few lucky Facebook fans. Enter on Facebook. Happy shopping! (Top image: Band of Outsiders FW '11/JP Yim/WireImage; Michael Kors FW '11/JP Yim/WireImage)

This Fall, FIJI Water Teams Up With Citymeals-on-Wheels to Fight Hunger

FIJI Water — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:47:00 +0000

Help feed the elderly in New York City with your purchase of FIJI Water in restaurants and supermarkets this September and October.

For every case of FIJI Water sold in participating stores and restaurants in the NYC metro area between September 1 and October 31, we will donate $1.00 to Citymeals-on-Wheels and other Meals-on-Wheels programs, up to $25,000. For a list of participating stores and restaurants, see below.

About Citymeals-on-Wheels

Citymeals raises private funds to contribute to 30 community-based agencies that bring weekend, holiday, and emergency meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers who can no longer shop or cook for themselves. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, Citymeals-on-Wheels delivered 2.1 million meals to over 16,000 New Yorkers at times when they would otherwise have been alone and hungry.

Gael Greene and James Beard founded Citymeals-on-Wheels in 1981, after reading a newspaper article about homebound elderly New Yorkers with nothing to eat on weekends and holidays. They rallied their friends in the restaurant community, raising private funds as a supplement to the government-funded weekday meal delivery program. Thirty years ago, their first efforts brought a Christmas meal to 6,000 frail aged.

Citymeals’ volunteers are not just providing food, however. They also provide company and human contact to people who, for various reasons, have difficultly leaving their apartments.

FIJI Water is proud to have worked with Citymeals-on-Wheels for over eight years. Now, you too can help, simply by purchasing FIJI Water in the NYC metro area at participating restaurants and retailers.

List of Participating Retailers

Pickled Watermelon Polenta and Compressed Melon With Cucumber Cream: Two Recipes From SF Chefs 2011

FIJI Water — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:45:28 +0000

San Francisco is, and always will be, a major influencer for food and wine trends. It is a community rich with farmers, writers, winemakers, spirits distillers, artisans, and vibrant independent chef owned restaurants.

SF Chefs 2011 is a food and wine event celebrating the unique flavor, diversity and bounty of Northern California. The Grand Tasting Tent, set on San Francisco’s legendary Union Square, will feature over 200 of San Francisco’s finest restaurants, bars, distilleries, breweries, and wineries displaying their finest creations.

We’ve also partnered with some SF Chefs of our own, who will be serving up FIJI Water-inspired treats from our signature FIJI kitchen. On Friday, August 5, Chef Paul Piscopo of Trace, the soon-to-be launched new restaurant at W San Francisco, will be serving corn panna cotta with crispy polenta and pickled watermelon. Two days later, Chef Daniel Corey of Luce will serve compressed summer melons with cucumber cream and tomato jus. We’ve got a sneak peek at the recipes for these culinary creations below. Enjoy!

FIJI Polenta with Corn Panna Cotta and House Pickled Watermelon

FIJI Polenta

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 quart FIJI Water
1 cup coarse ground cornmeal
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
11/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces Parmesan, grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large, oven-safe saucepan heat the olive oil over low heat.
Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, making sure the garlic does not burn.
Add the FIJI Water, whisk in the cornmeal and turn the heat up to high.
Once you have added all of the cornmeal, cover the pot and place it in the oven.
Cook for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so to prevent lumps.
Once the mixture is creamy, remove from the oven and add the butter, salt, and pepper and gradually add the Parmesan.
Pour the polenta into a 1/2 sheet pan lined with plastic wrap.
Place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
Once set, turn the polenta out onto a cutting board and cut into small squares.

Corn Panna Cotta

8 ounces. sweet corn kernels
1 cup FIJI Water
1 cup cream
1 sheet gelatin
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper

In a pan add the corn kernels, FIJI Water, and olive oil.
Gently simmer until tender and sweet and all of the FIJI Water has been reduced.
Add the cream and bring to a simmer.
Add the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth.
Soak the gelatin sheet in cold FIJI Water until soft.
Add the warm corn liquid.
Pour this liquid through a fine mesh strainer, season the corn puree to taste, and pour into small serving bowls to set.

House Pickled Watermelon

1.5 quart FIJI Water
1 quart watermelon rind (white only, no skin), finely diced
1 cup unsweetened rice vinegar
1/3 cup salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 jalapenos, split
5 garlic cloves
1 large piece fresh ginger, sliced
1/2 red onion, julienned
mustard seed, coriander, celery seed, black peppercorns, allspice, and bay leaves

Combine all ingredients except for the watermelon rind in a large pot and bring to a simmer, dissolve all sugar and salt.
Allow to cool, then add the small diced rind from the watermelon.
Refrigerate a minimum of overnight.

Assembly

Dust the polenta squares with flour and pan fry in oil until crispy.
Transfer to paper towels, season with salt and pepper.
Top the set panna cotta with a small amount of the pickled watermelon, the crispy polenta and chives.
Enjoy!

Compressed Summer Melons With Cucumber Cream, Tomato “Jus”

Compressed Melons

3 each Galia melon
1 cup white verjus (fusion)
1/4 cup FIJI Water

Clean and dice melon into large dice or use medium melon baller.
Toss in bowl with verjus and FIJI Water.
Place melon in vacuum bag and compress on highest setting.
Let sit for 4 hours or overnite in cooler.

Cucumber Cream

2 cup of yogurt, Greek “Fage” preferably
1 cup cucumber juice, fresh
1 lemon, juiced
kosher salt, to taste

Whisk together all ingredients in mixing bowl. Season with salt to taste.
Transfer to siphon and charge with two cartridges if you have it, otherwise cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Tomato “Jus”

6 pounds canned San Marzano tomato
3 quarts FIJI Water
5 crushed cardamom pods
1 fresh bay leaf
2 strips of orange zest
4 pieces fresh thyme

Combine all ingredients in a large stainless steel pot and bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours. Run everything a food mill then pass through strainer.
Freeze overnite.
Remove from freezer and let drain/thaw over cheesecloth. Liquid should come out completely clear.

To Plate

Pool the bottom of bowl/cup with tomato “jus.”
Place compressed melon in the “jus”and season with espelette and sea salt.
Top with cucumber cream and garnish with sea salt, a bit more espelette and small leaf of lemon basil.

Announcing the Acquisition of Landmark Vineyards

jrobbins — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:30:49 +0000

FIJI Water, the country’s leading premium imported bottled water, announced today its purchase of the award-winning Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood, California. Landmark is known for its outstanding Chardonnay winemaking sourced from the best grapes in California.

“The addition of Landmark Vineyards to the growing portfolio of wine brands in the FIJI Water/Roll Global family is an important step for the company,” said Stewart Resnick, Chairman, Roll Global, which owns FIJI Water and JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. “Proprietors Mike and Mary Colhoun have done a fantastic job creating world-class Chardonnay and we look forward to carrying on that tradition.”

FIJI Water plans to maintain the winemaking and hospitality operations of Landmark Vineyards in its current location in Kenwood, California. Winemaker Greg Stach will be staying on to manage the award-winning Landmark program.

“Mary and I are thrilled that a well-respected company will be taking the reins at Landmark,” said Mike Colhoun, who along with wife Mary will maintain a limited role with Landmark. “We look forward to seeing the careful and thoughtful growth of the Landmark name that has been in our family for over 37 years.”

Advising on the transaction on behalf of Landmark Vineyards was San Francisco-based investment bank, Demeter Group. “As the preferred advisor of the industry’s most prominent ultra-premium winery transactions, we are happy to have been able to work with Roll Global to continue building their wine portfolio,” said Jeff Menashe, Chief Executive Officer of Demeter Group. This acquisition follows FIJI Water’s December 2010 acquisition of Paso Robles-based JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery.

ABOUT Landmark Vineyards

Landmark is a third-generation, family-owned-and-operated winery with a rich history in farming and agriculture. The winery was founded in 1974 by Damaris Deere Ford, great-great granddaughter of John Deere. Today, her son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Mary Colhoun, are the proprietors, continuing to express the family’s agricultural legacy through Landmark’s everyday vineyard practices.

Landmark’s commitment to family and tradition is evident in all aspects of the winemaking process, including naming the wines in homage to their cherished John Deere heritage — Landmark and Overlook were Deere family homes; the Damaris Chardonnay was named after Michael’s mother, John Deere’s great-great-granddaughter, as well as the Colhoun’s daughter, who represents the brand on the East Coast; the Grand Detour Pinot Noir is named for the location of John Deere’s blacksmithing shop in Illinois; and with a nod to the beginning of it all, the Syrah is aptly named Steel Plow.

Landmark Vineyards is located at 101 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, CA 95452. The tasting room is open daily from 10:00am to 4:30pm. Guided Estate Tours are available daily by appointment in addition to Self-Guided Vineyard Tours. For additional information, call 707-833-0053 or visit the website at www.landmarkwine.com.

Villa La Estancia’s Sea Scallop Ceviche and Mango Gazpacho

FIJI Water — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:11:51 +0000

Straight from Cabo San Lucas’ Villa La Estancia Resort come two recipes from Chef Eugenio Villafana at La Casona, an open-kitchen-style restaurant featuring cuisine from Baja Mexico. Served cold, the popular mango gazpacho and sea scallop ceviche are two Latin specialties that are perfect for hot summer entertaining.

Five days at Villa La Estancia was also one of the first prizes in the FIJI Water Metro Hunt. For more information about this Trip Advisor five-star resort, visit their website.

The mango gazpacho in its native setting, poolside at Villa Estancia Resort.

Mango Gazpacho

(serves 4)

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2 cups fresh mango
3/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 piece green bell pepper
1/4 piece yellow bell pepper
1/8 piece red onion
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 piece jalapeno pepper
1 piece fresh squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
3/4 cup coconut milk
Celtic salt
fresh ground black pepper

Blend eveything together, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy your mango gazpacho with celery sticks.

Sea Scallop Ceviche

(serves 4)

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2 cups baby sea scallops
1 cup fresh mango, diced
1/2 cup cucumber, skin on, diced, no seeds
1/2 cup jicama, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and fine minced
1 sprig cilantro, minced
10 limes, fresh squeezed
2 serrano pepper, no seeds, minced
Celtic salt
fresh ground black pepper

Mix scallops with lime juice and let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Combine all ingredients and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve your ceviche with dehydrated corn tortilla chips.

Win an All-Inclusive Trip to the Famous Turtle Island Resort

FIJI Water — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:24:38 +0000

This is the trip to Fiji we’ve always wanted to give away.

Win seven unforgettable nights at one of the world’s most famous and exclusive resorts, Turtle Island, Fiji. From the moment your plane lands at this private island, you’ll spend every moment in pampered luxury. Your personal liaison will whisk you away to your private beachside villa, one of only 14 on the entire island. Stroll the private beaches, relax with the complimentary lomilomi massage, or feast on a leisurely lunch under the palms: All food, drink, and activities are covered for your entire stay.

Oh, and did we mention you’ll be flying Air Pacific business class from the U.S.? Or that if you don’t win the trip to Fiji, you still have a chance to win a stay at one of three fabulous boutique hotels in the U.S.: the Gansevoort in Miami, the Georgian in Los Angeles, or the Wit in Chicago.

Turtle Island, frequented by such celebrities as Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman, is one of those exclusive resorts you’ve heard about but never thought you’d have a chance to visit. Until now. Click below to enter or go to www.fijiwatertriptofiji.com.

ENTER A SECOND TIME!

For a chance to win a second trip to either the Sofitel Fiji Resort or Hilton’s Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, visit the FIJI Water display at participating retailers and text the short code to the phone number provided to enter.

List of Participating Retailers:

Win a Trip to the Islands of Fiji From Singapore

FIJI Water — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:59:59 +0000

Singapore fans, want to win a trip to the islands of Fiji? From 20 July until 31 August 2011, each purchase in Singapore gives you a chance to fly away to the exotic South Pacific nation.

First Prize: Return air tickets for two to Fiji, including five days, four nights at the luxurious Shangri-La Resort

Second Prize: A two-day, one-night getaway at the Amara Sanctuary Resort at Palawan Beach, Singapore.

Third Prize: A two-day, one-night weekend stay at the Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore’s only beachfront resort.

Simply buy at least two bottles of FIJI Water on a single receipt and SMS the following information to phone no. 9111 2000:

spacespacespacespacespace

Please visit www.tucklee.com/fijiwatercontest for more information. Terms and conditions apply.

Refreshing Summer Sips

hwatterworth — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:33:15 +0000

There’s nothing better than relaxing on a summer afternoon with a delicious cocktail in hand (well, except maybe relaxing with a bottle of FIJI, of course). We chatted with Canadian cocktail guru Dee Gibson of Catering with Style, who used FIJI Water to create three refreshing concoctions that help beat the summer heat.

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Rhubarb Delight

Although not a classic cocktail ingredient, rhubarb provides a fresh, tart flavor and combines with the Grand Marnier and vodka perfectly. “This is a perfect afternoon drink on a lazy summer day,” advises Dee.

1 1/2 ounces vodka
1/4 ounces Grand Marnier
2 ounces rhubarb simple syrup*
Juice of 1/2 a lime
Garnish: mint

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In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients and shake.
Strain and serve in a martini glass.
Garnish with mint.

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Rhubarb Simple Syrup

1/2 cup FIJI water
3 stalks of rhubarb
1/2 cup of sugar

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Bring contents to a boil in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes.
Strain through sieve and let cool.

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Blueberry Wine Spritzer

Not only is this a tasty twist on the classic wine spritzer, “blueberries are a natural antioxidant that give a burst of flavour to this sparkling cocktail,” says Dee.

1 1/2 tsp. blueberry simple syrup*
4 ounces sparkling wine
Fresh blueberries

Pour blueberry syrup into a champagne flute.
Top with sparkling wine and garnish with four fresh blueberries.

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Blueberry Simple Syrup

1/4 cup FIJI water
1 pint blueberries
1 1/2 tbsp sugar

In a small saucepan, place all ingredients over medium heat.
Bring to boil, then reduce temperature to low and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until berries soften.
Remove pan from heat, strain syrup, and cool.

Gin Lemonade

FIJI Water keeps this thirst-quenching cocktail light on calories, but not on refreshment. “Mint and lemon mix well with gin as they enhance the herbal flavours,” says Dee.

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1 1/2 ounces gin
2 ounces FIJI Water
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
4 mint leaves

In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with lemon juice and sugar.
Fill shaker with ice and pour in gin and FIJI water.
Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
Garnish with lemon wheel and mint leaves.

Ride a Chauffeured Cable Car to San Francisco’s Best Restaurants UPDATED

FIJI Water — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:28 +0000

A fifth destination and a special dinner for Crawl attendees have been added. Learn more below:

We’re excited to announce that a fifth fantastic venue has been added to our line-up: Tres Mexican kitchen on Townsend St.
The final destination on the tour, Luce, will be offering a special dinner for Cable Car Crawl attendees after the event. A three-course meal prepared by Chef Daniel Corey, paired with wines from JUSTIN Vineyards, will be offered for $65 per person, not inclusive of tax or gratuity. Reservations can be made through www.opentable.com or by phone at 415.616.6566. Please use Cable Car Crawl as package code when prompted.

The Cable Car Crawl

This July 31, the cable cars of San Francisco will be delivering a treat considerably more delectable than Rice-a-Roni.

As part of the run-up to SF Chefs, the annual food, wine, and spirits week in San Francisco, FIJI Water is excited to present the SF Chefs Cable Car Crawl, an afternoon of food and wine sampling at four of the city’s best restaurants, with transportation between provided by private electric cable cars.

Taking in the City and Its Food, At Leisure

It’s the best the city has to offer: delectable food paired with excellent wines, along with those fabulous views taken in from a chartered, open-air cable car. And it cuts out SF’s most nettlesome feature: walking up those darn hills!

The whole shindig starts at Luce (located down near the water) and then crawls up the hills to each stop on its route — Butterfly, Roy’s, and Alexander’s Steakhouse. At each location, the lucky passengers will be served one FIJI Water-inspired dish paired with a cocktail or wine, before it’s off to the next stop.

The Cable Car Crawl is going to be one of the most enjoyable events at SF Chefs this year, and we would like to invite you to join us July 31 for this special event. Tickets are $55 each, or $45 each if you use your Visa Signature Card.

Grooming Clubs Shave Spa Stigma for Guys

hwatterworth — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:30:35 +0000

“When you look good, you feel good,” said a sharply dressed John Allan at the opening of his latest men’s grooming club, and first international location, in Toronto.

A stylist and advocate for men’s grooming since 1988, John Allan has helped initiate thousands of men into the “club” of maintaining and improving their appearance with specialized services and products.

Sponsored by FIJI Water, this launch celebrated John Allan’s new men’s club at The Bay Queen St., where professionals can unwind before, during or after a hard day’s work, including skin treatments, shoe shines and beard trims, for an annual membership of $750.

Already incredibly popular in both New York and Chicago, the launch of John Allan’s in Toronto reflects men’s growing awareness of good skin care habits, products and treatments. “Men are educated now,” says Allan, “and they’re no longer satisfied with a $10 barbershop trim.”

But his eponymous grooming clubs aren’t spas, Allan is quick to note. “There’s no pampering of any sort. Only grooming.”

With the launch of similar clubs all over the country, it’s clear that men are putting their grooming habits in the hands of the pros. In between visits, of course, you’ll need a few key products to maintain the results. Check out these John Allan products to help get you through the summer in style.

Keep It Smooth
It’s summer and the sun is shining – but it’s also drying out your skin. Allan recommends using an exfoliating scrub to wash away dead skin cells to keep your skin looking smooth between shaves.
John Allan’s Scrub Exfoliating Face Cleanser, $17

Slick Shave
Avoid razor burn by using a pre-shave solution, which creates a slick surface for the blade to glide over to avoid irritation.
John Allan’s Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution, $29

Avoid the Shine
“In the summer heat, hair gels and waxes can leaves your hair looking sticky and greasy,” says Allan. Try using a matte pomade to hold your hair in place without the shine.
John Allan’s Matte Lightweight Styling Pomade, $23

Guys, which products are part of your daily regime? Do you have a go-to spot for grooming?

Meat Josh Ozersky, Founder of Meatopia Food Festival

FIJI Water — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:57:27 +0000

Josh Ozersky may be the country’s most enthusiastic carnivore. But he’s also a strong believer in meat that is humanely raised and hormone-free, and he’s brought those two passions to his festival of all things animal, Meatopia, which happens July 23 in Brooklyn.

Meatopia is “going to the next level” this year, with 49 chefs cooking up a cornucopia of delicious meats — and, yes, unlimited FIJI Water to wash it down.

You can also try your luck in our Meatopia “Meat Elite” ticket giveaway, where you have the chance to win two VIP tickets to the festival.

In the run-up to the festival, Ozersky sat down with us to talk about how Meatopia started, his “meat tooth,” and the one meat he doesn’t really like.

Q: How did the idea of Meatopia come about?

A: I published my first meat book, Meat Me in Manhattan, in 2003. It was a small, no-frills, guerilla-style publication, and I threw the book party myself at a place called the Box Car Lounge in New York. I had a little meat party as the book party and had an assortment of meats from around New York present, and I called it Meatopia. Subsequently, as I became more successful, I made the parties bigger and bigger and started inviting some of the great chefs of New York to come and cook on-site.

Q: How did your love affair with meat begin? Was it love at first sight? Or was it love acquired over time?

A: It was neither. I was a very solitary child who was fat and depressed and I self-medicated myself with food, especially meat. I never had much of a thing for sweets. I had what I guess you could call a “meat tooth.” There was something about animal flesh and all the unique flavors; it had a soothing influence on my mood.

A steer at Creekstone Farms, one of the providers for Meatopia.

Q: Can we talk a little bit about the 850-pound steer that is being served at the event?

A: So this is something that, to my knowledge, has never even been attempted at an event in New York or probably even in the country. You’ve all seen whole hogs cooking, that’s pretty much old hat — not enough for the grandiosity of my ambitions for this event. So I talked to Pat LaFrieda, the celebrity butcher who is one of our sponsors, and he and I decided that we are going to grill an 850-pound whole steer! Which is 850-pounds after it has been prepared; we are talking maybe 1,400 when it was alive! It is a reallybig animal and it is going to be carved whole by Pat LaFrieda in front of everybody.

Q: What is the rarest form of meat you have ever had, that most people are unaware of or have never heard of?

A: Here’s the thing. I have eaten all the different kinds of “weird game meat” and so on that you have heard about, but my approach with meat is that I am really not that enthusiastic about people eating crazy meats like zebras and wild foods or caterpillars or whatever. I believe that we should eat more beef, pork, veal, ham, goat, chicken, duck, and turkey—well, turkey I don’t really like. The point is the meats that are represented at Meatopia are all meats that everybody likes that are already in production with American meat farmers. There will be a few game meats present, but Meatopia is not really about eating “crazy” meats. It’s about the meats that everybody eats but that is raised in a more responsible, thoughtful way and cooked with all the art feasible to human ingenuity.

All the animals served are hormone, antibiotic, and cruelty-free.

Q: What kind of farms does the meat served at Meatopia come from? How was it raised and is it hormone and antibiotic-free?

A: With an event like this, where you are serving thousands of people with 49 chefs, you can’t get all of the meats from small farms. I can, however, vouch for all of the meats being cruelty-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. So some of the farms are small farms, and we have some really beautiful meats coming from there, but then we also have some larger operations who are really trying to do the right thing. For example, Creekstone Farms in Kansas is a larger beef operation. A lot of the things you have heard about beef, if you were buying from Creekstone that would not be the case. So these large farms are trying to find an alternate way for agriculture.

Q: And a portion of the proceeds are going to charity?

A: We have three different organizations that we are making donations to from Meatopia. One is Slow Food USA (www.slowfoodusa.org), the other is Just Food (www.justfood.org), and then we are making a donation to the Armed Forces foundation to support American military troops.

Q: Final question: Besides meat, what else can’t you live without?

A: Sweet and Low! I couldn’t live without Sweet and Low. Right now I am drinking Rwandan coffee with Sweet and Low in it. I just love it!

Intern for FIJI Water Behind the Scenes at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

FIJI Water — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:05:02 +0000

FIJI Water is inviting four fashion-forward individuals to join us under the tents at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City this September.

This season, our Fashion Week internship contest will be run exclusively on Facebook. To enter, please go to our Facebook page tab “MB Fashion Week Intern Contest.”

Our four FIJI Water interns will work behind the scenes at Fashion Week as FIJI Water brand ambassadors, rubbing shoulders with the glitteratti and soaking up more fashion experiences than you can shake a $10,000 handbag at. In past seasons, our interns have had opportunities to see and even help set up runway shows by top designers. All interns also receive a full year of FIJI Water Delivery.

But it’s not all glamour. This is a real internship with real duties and responsibilities, so only the best and brightest need apply. We’re looking for energetic brand ambassadors who can stay professional during long days while manning the FIJI Water booth and interacting with celebrities and other fashion VIPs. To learn more about what the internship entails and what you’ll get out of it, read intern testimonials from previous seasons of Fashion Week.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Enter now.

More Details on the Internship Contest

Please note that the winning interns must provide for their own transportation to, and accommodations in, New York City for the duration of the internship (September 8-15, 2011). If you are chosen as a finalist, you must show you have a place to stay in or around New York City during that time. Interns will be given a $250 stipend for the week to help defray costs, a Metrocard to get around town, and a year’s supply of FIJI Water.

All interns must be over 18 and a resident of one of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. See our official rules for the details.

The Application Process

The February 2011 FIJI Water Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Interns.

The internship contest is divided into two rounds, with eight finalists from the first round advancing to round two.

In the first round, each applicant gives their answer to the question “What does ‘good taste’ mean to you?” in 200 words or less.

Of the eight finalists in round one, seven of the finalists are selected by FIJI Water judges, but one “wildcard” finalist will be determined by your votes on Facebook — so be sure to tell your friends to vote for your entry. To vote, you must be a fan of FIJI Water on Facebook.

In the second round, the eight finalists create a video response to a fashion question. (See last year’s question and video responses.) In round two, all four winning entries will be selected by your votes on Facebook.

Making Your Entry Stand Out

Here’s what we look for in determining the finalists:

1. Excellent writing skills.
2. Creativity.
3. Thoughtfulness.
4. Brevity. If your entry is longer than 200 words, the Facebook app won’t allow you to enter it.

Read past seasons’ entries to get an idea of what does and doesn’t work.

The finalists will be contacted by FIJI Water by July 25, at which point they must provide:

1. A resume.
2. Details on how they will get to New York for Fashion Week and where they will stay.

About the Voting Process on Facebook

In both round one and two, you can vote as many times as you like, but you can only vote once for each entry (including your own). Use your votes! Share the love!

To vote, you must be a fan of FIJI Water on Facebook.

If you are having problems entering or voting, please comment on our Facebook page or on this blog post and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

GOOD LUCK!

Fast, Cheap, and Vegan: Pantry Soup From The Actor’s Diet

FIJI Water — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:52:49 +0000

Lynn Chen is an actress living in Los Angeles. For the last three years, Chen has also written a blog, The Actor’s Diet, chronicling her life as a (sometimes) working actor, who balances the ups and downs of that career with a steady passion for food. We invited Chen to share some of her favorite recipes with us on the FIJI Water blog.

Even though it’s summertime, I’m still craving soup. I make it all the time, and vary the ingredients according to what I’ve got in the pantry and what’s in season. Measurements are loose – there’s really no way to mess this up!

I like soups really chunky. Start off by sauteing a bunch of carrots, celery, and onion in some olive oil over high heat:

After a few minutes, add some chopped zucchini (each veggie layer gets some fleur de sel and pepper).

Then the pantry goods: seasoned diced tomatoes, garbanzo beans, a box of low-sodium veggie broth, a bay leaf, and a tablespoon each of cumin and coriander.

Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until it’s time to eat.

Serve with crusty bread.

If you have leftovers, you can combine the soup and bread to make a new dish — Ribollita!

I like to freeze it flat for another time, when I’m in a soup-y mood.

There you have it — fast, easy, cheap, vegan, and enough to feed an army.

All the Meat You Can Eat: Win VIP Tickets to Amstel Light Meatopia 2011

FIJI Water — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:09:36 +0000

This sweepstakes has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered; winners will be notified soon. Meatopia, the annual celebration of all things carnivore, is celebrating its first year in a new Brooklyn location with a VIP "Meat Elite" ticket giveaway exclusively for FIJI Water fans. The two tickets include unlimited tastings, unlimited beer (courtesy of event sponsor Amstel Light), one-hour early access to the event, and access to the VIP lounge.

Meatopia Down Under the Brooklyn Bridge

Meatopia is going to the "next level" this year. The festival moved from the picturesque but difficult-to-reach Governors Island location to the Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, NY, on a pier with magnificent views of the bridge, the East River, and downtown Manhattan. In attendance will be over 45 great chefs from all over the United States, half a dozen farmers, live music, and every form of meat cookery -- from whole roasted lambs and goats by the likes of Aaron Sanchez, Michael Psilakis, and Seamus Mullen, to Nate Appleman’s chorizo tostadas, to Michael White’s porchetta. Just as important as the variety of meats is the humane way the animals were raised -– and the people who raised them will be there too, talking about how the animals lived and what they ate. Josh Ozersky, founder of Meatopia, has also informed us that a 850-pound steer will be prepared and served on-site by a family of non-chefs with the help of culinary veteran Mike Cirino (A Razor, A Shiny Knife). To guarantee yourself a spot by the fire, purchase tickets to Meatopia online.

Join the Meat Elite

To enter to win the Meat Elite tickets, fill out the form below. Tickets do not include transportation or lodging. Open to U.S. residents 21 and older. Please see the official rules for all the legal details, snout-to-tail. [gravityform id=26 name=Meatopia2011 VIP Ticket Giveaway Entry Form]

Five Super Summer Salad Toppers

hwatterworth — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:06:53 +0000

Light and refreshing, salads are a go-to meal during summer months — but not all of them are created equal. If you’re tired of lettuce and tomato, think outside the bowl and add one — or all — of these five super foods to your next salad creation. They’ll do wonders for your plate, palate, and health.

Spinach

Full of calcium, folic acid, vitamin K, and iron, spinach is also rich in vitamin C, fiber, and beta carotene, a source of vitamin A. Add in its lutein and flavanoids, which act as antioxidants, and this good-for-you green is a nutritional powerhouse.

Almonds

High in vitamin E, magnesium, fiber, and protein, these nuts also contain calcium for strong bones. Try toasting them in the oven to really bring out their flavor. (If you’re watching your fat intake, remember: Just a handful will do.)

Salmon

Brain food! Grill some of this omega-3-rich fish and slice it over your greens. Salmon is also a good source of calcium, magnesium, protein, and B vitamins — it’s one of the most healthful animal proteins you can eat.

Quinoa

This gluten-free super food is the trendiest grain on the market, and it’s little wonder why. High in protein and boasting nine essential amino acids, quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa) is a very good source of manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, and phosphorus.

Blueberries

These low-cal berries are packed full of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. They’re also low in sugar – which will help keep belly fat at bay – and high in color, which creates a plate-prettying effect.

Need some more summery dishes to round out your meal? We’ve got you covered with recipes for a summer soup, fruit punch, and sorbet.

Golf Fashion: Keep Your Style on Course

hwatterworth — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:59:01 +0000

Obnoxious plaids, fussy collars, and itchy sweater vests have bogeyed golf fashion for decades. Fortunately, style on the green has come a long way thanks to breathable fabrics, flattering shapes, and prints you’ll want to wear even off the course. We can’t promise they'll help your game improve, but these super-chic golf trends are a surefire fashion hole-in-one.

For Her

The Color Block Polo Summer’s popular runway trend meets the sleeveless polo in this marriage of golf and fashion. Make a statement on the course with the Fila Valencia Polo (above), $80. The Pleated Skort Who said skorts can’t be sexy? Spice up the functional skirt/short combo with pretty pleats and a pop of orange in this Fila Malaga Golf Skort (above), $80.

For Him

The Argyle Polo This popular golf print is no longer reserved for sweater vests. Embrace the spirit of argyle in this Sunice Argyle Placement Polo, $79.99. The Subtle Plaid Pant Stand out from the crowd – but not too much – in this tone-on-tone white Nike Dri-FIT Core Plaid Pant, $109.99. Plaid has never looked so stylish.

FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen Sells Out for the First Time Since 2008

FIJI Water — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:15:13 +0000

Perhaps (hopefully) it's a sign: For the first time since before the Great Recession, the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen sold out before the event started. Over 5,000 guests participated in the event's 29th season June 17-19, along with top-shelf chefs from around the world. Trying to encapsulate the FOOD & WINE Classic in a single blog post would be an impossible task. There were literally dozens and dozens of tastings, panels, and other events this year all over town. Instead, we bring you some of the highlights:

FIJI Water Dinner at Casa Tua Restaurant and Private Club

New York-based chef Christopher Lee of Aureole served guests at Casa Tua a six-course dinner (see a PDF of the menu) paired to excellent JUSTIN Winery wines. The dinner was followed by the Altitude Party at Casa Tua with our friends from Ultimat Vodka, which included a D.J., a sophisticated photo booth that made the subjects feel as if they were part of a fashion shoot, specially created Ultimat vodka drinks (sage lemonade anyone?), and more.

[caption id="attachment_15451" align="alignright" width="265" caption="The Grand Tasting tents in Wagner Park, with a view of the mountains behind. "][/caption] The Grand Tasting Sessions

Held at Wagner Park in the center of town, with beautiful views of the mountains, the Grand Tastings were the heart of the Classic. Hundreds of wineries and chefs strutted through over the weekend, leaving behind full bellies and light heads. Which is where we come in. As with the last nine seasons, FIJI Water was on hand. The water in the little square bottles was appreciated throughout the Classic both for its delicious taste, which does not interfere with all the great food and wine prepared for guests, and for hydration. At high-altitude (Aspen is at 8,000 feet), it's especially important to stay hydrated to counter altitude sickness. In Wagner Park, FIJI Water's photo booth was a steady magnet for guests looking to have some fun and commemorate their visit to the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen. Even a few celebs popped in for an informal photo shoot, including Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, and chefs Jose Andres and Andrew Zimmern. We also hosted our first Foursquare contest at the FIJI Water Tent. Congratulations to Douglas Heddings, who won a year of FIJI Water Delivery when he became Foursquare Mayor of the FIJI Water Tent.

Best New Chefs and the Publishers Party

Beyond the Grand Tasting sessions, other standout events included the Best New Chefs party, where ten of FOOD & WINE's Best New Chefs prepared samples for the ready-to-party crowd. The event took place at the Aspen Meadows, a complex with stunning views right on the Roaring Fork River. The Publishers Party, a private event held for friends of FOOD & WINE magazine, was held on the summit of Aspen Mountain (altitude: 11,212 feet). Guests took a 20-minute gondola ride up the mountain to get there, and were rewarded with the most spectacular views of the valley. Inside was a Cuban-themed party with live music, food, and Cuban drinks -- and, of course, FIJI Water, which comes from a different island but was welcomed warmly by guests and organizers. Until next year, we leave you with a Flickr stream of some of the photos from our photo booth, below. Here's to many more sold-out Classics to come.

Summer Fashion Trends to Heat Up Your Wardrobe

hwatterworth — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:30:23 +0000

Fashionistas, rejoice! Confident colors, elegant nautical looks, and super-comfy maxi dresses are the trends for summer. Here’s where to shop for the styles you’ll be loving til fall -- and how to wear them well.

Bright and Colorful

Nothing goes better with a tan than teal. (Above, Banana Republic $69.50)
Forget the boyfriend, this pink and purple tote is the ultimate arm candy. (Gap $49.95)
A hot red hue and rosette detailing will get you noticed in no time. (RW&CO. $60)
You’ll light up warm summer nights in this lemon-yellow top. (RW&CO. $48)

Nautical Inspired

The details on this top are so sweet that no accessories are needed. (RW&CO. $40)
Anchor your outfit with this navy striped bag. (RW&CO. $20)
The striped shirt is a must for every wardrobe—it will never go out of style. (Old Navy $12.50)

Maxi Dresses

This is the official dress of summer 2011! (RW&C0. $88)
Elegant and easy, you can dress this look up or down. (Banana Republic $185)
Delicate ruffles and a tropical print flatter every body type. (Old Navy $34.94)

Trend Alert: Bold Jewelry Is Big for Summer

hwatterworth — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:13:54 +0000

The must-have accessory for summer? Bright, colorful, notice-me jewelry. One designer doing bold beautifully is Thomas Sabo, who recently opened his first Canadian flagship store in Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Founded in Germany in 1984, Thomas Sabo is known for the chic global aesthetic its namesake designer creates every season alongside Creative Director Susanne Kölbl. Celebrities such as Malin Akerman, Nicky Hilton, Olivia Palermo, Snoop Dogg, Beth Ditto, and brand ambassador Katy Perry are all about the bold look this brand has perfected. Here’s how to work the look: [caption id="attachment_14945" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Examples of colorful jewelry and accessories from Thomas Sabo"][/caption]

Eye-Popping Pendants

Layer these rocker-girl pieces -- whether pretty-in-pink or a little bit lippy -- for an edgy look that's perfect at music festivals, the beach, and anywhere else you may end up this summer.

Charm Bracelet

You can have a new bracelet every day with Thomas Sabo’s wide selection of eye-popping charms. They're a great memento of the summer's most charming moments like a fun road trip with friends or a perfect beach day,

Statement Rings

Get serious bling with dramatic rings that dress up your favorite casual summer look.

Colorful Watch

This oversized timepiece is right on trend. If yellow is not your shade, choose from a rainbow of colors that will light up your life... or at least your summer.

FIJI Water Carrot Melange From Camp Blogaway

FIJI Water — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:56:32 +0000

As an official sponsor of Camp Blogaway outside Los Angeles last month, FIJI Water was given the opportunity to present to the assembled bloggers a recipe that we felt really highlighted our brand. We're strong believers in the superior taste of FIJI Water, and chances are if you're reading this you agree. We wanted to showcase this to the bloggers, but how do you contrast what can be a very subtle difference in taste between one water and another? Luckily, we had Patricia Rose, who writes the blog Freshfoodinaflash.com. Rose came up with a very simple recipe for a carrot melange that we feel does an excellent job of highlighting the superior mouthfeel of FIJI Water compared, in this case, to city tap water. Rose began her food journey as an ad sales rep at McCall’s Magazine before attending culinary school at UCLA. Today, in addition to her blog, she sells ads for La Cucina Italiana, and teaches cooking at the Holy Nativity Hall in Los Angeles. Rose presented her recipe to the "self-proclaimed foodies" at Camp Blogaway. "They definitely tasted the difference," said Rose. "The carrot melange made with FIJI Water had a more intense flavor than the carrot melange made with city water. This demonstrated that even cooked food, such as vegetables or pasta, will be enhanced when using FIJI Water over city water." Would you cook with FIJI every day? Probably not. But when you're pulling out all the stops for a festive occasion and only want the best for your guests, consider using FIJI.

FIJI Water Carrot Melange

(serves 6)

THIS IS JUST TO ADD A BLANK LINE

2 tablespoons butter pinch sugar, salt, and pepper to taste 4 large carrots, peeled 1 small parsnip, peeled 1/2 cup edamame (soybeans) 1/2 cup FIJI Water

Peel and cut ends off carrot and parsnip. Using a thick blade vegetable peeler, cut ribbons of carrots and parsnips, shaving from bottom to top of carrot.
Melt butter in skillet. Add carrot/parsnip ribbons and toss to coat with butter. Saute on medium-high heat.
Watch and smell the caramelization of the vegetables. Add sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Once pan is dry, add FIJI Water and listen for the sizzle.
Toss the carrots and parsnips; they will begin to absorb the FIJI Water. Midway thru the evaporation process, add edamame soybeans to the pan. Continue to toss ribbons in the pan so that they are cooked evenly.
When all liquid has evaporated, spoon onto dish. Taste the difference.

Total Time: 10 minutes

Big Boi Secret Event Twitter Contest and Trailer to “The Crown Life”

FIJI Water — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:47:36 +0000

Big Boi is hosting a "The Crown Life" event in Chicago on June 8, and we've got two tickets to give away. To get the tickets, just retweet "RT to win tickets to @BigBoi @Brandonmbyrd secret event in Chicago 6/8 #fijibigboi #thecrownlifechicago http://ow.ly/52boY." Make sure your retweet includes the hashtag #fijibigboi and #thecrownlifechicago.

Fine Print:

Tickets are to a Chicago-area event; prize does not include transportation to the event or accommodations.
Must be at least 21 years old to be eligible.
See our official rules for details.

Trailer to "The Crown Life"

Here's a peek to the behind-the-scenes documentary on Big Boi, The Crown Life, premiering soon.

By Popular Demand: Sorbet Recipes From Paso Robles Wine Festival

FIJI Water — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:40:24 +0000

Due to popular demand, we are posting the recipes for the FIJI Water sorbets served to great acclaim at the 29th annual Paso Robles Wine Festival. The sorbet in two flavors -- grapefruit-tarragon and POM-lime -- is the product of the fertile culinary imagination of Chef Will Torres of JUSTIN Vineyards, which was acquired by FIJI Water in December. Chef Torres got such a positive response to the sorbets that we decided to post the recipes ASAP. The FIJI Water booth was part of the Paso Robles Wine Festival, a lively weekend of great wines and great food held in Paso's Downtown City Park, May 21. Nearly 80 wineries, along with local artisans and chefs, participated in the festival. To make the large quantities of sorbet necessary for tasting at the festival, Chef Torres turned to the students at the Paso Robles Culinary Academy. In return for their assistance, FIJI Water contributed to the academy's scholarship fund.

Grapefruit-Tarragon Sorbet

makes 3 quarts

3 cups ruby red grapefruit juice 3 cups simple syrup and FIJI Water in a 1:1 ratio 15 sprigs tarragon 6 ounces FIJI Water 5 gelatin sheets (bloomed in cold water)

Steep tarragon in simple syrup for 30 min.
Add in bloomed gelatin.
Strain and cool.
Mix well and run in an ice cream maker.
Store in an airtight container in freezer.

Pomegranate-Lime Sorbet

makes 3 quarts

36 ounces sugar 4 gelatin sheets (bloomed in cold water) 72 ounces POM pomegranate juice 12 ounces corn syrup 6 ounces FIJI Water 6 ounces lime juice and zest

Combine sugar, POM juice, and corn syrup and bring to a boil.
Add in bloomed gelatin.
Strain and cool.
Add in lime juice and zest, and mix well.
Run in ice cream maker.
Store in an airtight container in freezer.

Win Tickets to See Tan Dun Water & Paper Concertos with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

FIJI Water — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:42:41 +0000

All right FIJI Water fans, we know you love water – but how about the symphony? The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is presenting Tan Dun’s Water & Paper Concertos, a refreshing twist on the centuries-old musical genre. An Academy Award-winner for Best Original Score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun is known for using organic, non-traditional instruments to create imaginative musical compositions. His captivating work even caught the attention of Google, which commissioned him to compose Internet Symphony No. 1 "Eroica," the first symphony in which musicians around the world play the same piece virtually via the Internet. Check out this performance by the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. Intrigued? We thought you might be. Dust off your top hat and tails: You could win two tickets to the performance. Just leave a comment at the bottom of this page answering the following question in 50 words or less: “What's your favourite movie soundtrack and why?" One winner be randomly selected from all eligible entries. Good luck! (Note: all entries will be vetted before they will appear in the comments section.)

Fine Print:

Tickets must be used for the Saturday, May 28 (7:30 p.m.) performance. Additional restrictions apply, please see our complete contest rules for all the details.
Entrants must be Canadian residents residing in the Greater Toronto Area.
Contest ends May 25 at midnight, Eastern Daylight Time.
You must be 18 or over to enter.

The Top Chefs of Vegas Uncork’d: They Slice, They Dice, They Spin Records

FIJI Water — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:39:23 +0000

Think you know your "Who's Who" of celebrity chefs? Put your knowledge to the test. Below is a partial list of some of the 50 top chefs that attended Vegas Uncork'd, the food festival presented by Bon Appétit magazine that took over the Las Vegas the weekend of May 5-8. Based only on the chef's first name and the name of one of their signature restaurants, can you guess their full name?

"Jose" (Jaleo)
"Tom" (Craft)
"Scott" (Scarpetta)
"Alain" (Mix)
"Susan" (Street)
"Jean" (Everest)
"Michael" (RN74)
"Mary Sue" (Border Grill)
"Rick" (RM Seafood)
"Charlie" (Aureole)
"Alex" (Stratta)
"Nobu" (too easy)
"Gordon" (The London)

Answers are at the bottom of this post.

The Food Festival That Ate Las Vegas

While you're chewing on that, we want to tell you all about Vegas Uncork'd. What makes Uncork'd such an epic event is that it's everywhere. Participating casinos included the titans of Vegas: the Wynn and Encore, Venetian and Palazzo, The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Caesars Palace. The other fabulous thing about Uncork'd is the caliber of the chefs that participate, and that they actually get involved, mingling with guests and cooking up their specialties all day long -- then partying all night (see below).

Chef and DJ Hubert Keller and "FIJI All Night Long!"

One of our favorite chefs, Chef Hubert Keller of Fleur in Mandalay Bay (and Fleur de Lys in S.F.) worked double-duty as celebrity chef during the day and DJ at night, mixing tracks behind the turntable at the Hubert After Hours Party. We've got some fun pictures and video of "DJ Keller," including the Top Chef judge leading the crowd in a chant of "FIJI all night long!"

Uncork'd All Over Town

An incomplete list of other memorable moments would have to include:

The Grand Tasting poolside at Caesars Palace May 6 with 2,500 in attendance. We set up the FIJI Water Lounge to keep the foodies well-hydrated and rested between tastings from over 50 of the top restaurants in Las Vegas, including Fleur/Burger Bar, NOBU, Joel Robuchon, Craftsteak, Shibuya, Aureole, Sage, Jean Georges Steakhouse, Julian Serrano, Comme Ca, and Jaleo/China Poblano.
Jet Tila of Wazuzu claiming victory at the Fourth Annual Celebrity Chef Blackjack Tournament poolside at the Encore.
Casino magnate Steve Wynn and Chef Tal Ronnen (who has created innovative vegan meals for Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres) hosting an interactive tasting of delicious meatless cuisine with Chefs Alex Stratta and Tila.
Lunch with France's Chef of the Century, Joel Robuchon, at Joel Robuchon inside the MGM Grand, hosted by Bon Appétit Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport.

Those are just some of the take-aways from a fabulous weekend. See photos below and on our Facebook page and Flickr profile. Enjoy! (Chef quiz answers, by last name, in order: Andres, Colicchio, Conant, Ducasse, Feniger, Joho, Mina, Milliken, Moonen, Palmer, Stratta, Matsuhisa, and Ramsey. Whew!)

Think Pink (and Golden, Too): Beauty Trends for Spring 2011

FIJI Water — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:56:12 +0000

While drinking loads of water is essential for a healthy-looking complexion, the latest beauty trends for spring will help your skin look its best, too. This season, it’s all about adding color in the right places, with bronzed skin and a bold pink lip. Sure, the trend looks great on the runways, but how does it translate to real life? We recruited a volunteer, Lacey, to try out the hottest healthy-skin beauty trends of the season with some of our favorite products: Stila’s Bronzing Tinted Moisturizer and Stila Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Petal. “I definitely protect my skin from the sun, but some more color would really be nice for spring," said Lacey. “I don’t usually wear makeup, so this tinted moisturizer is the perfect option for me. It feels smooth and it goes on really even.” Check out Lacey's before and after shots. “I have colour! Yay! It looks like I’ve been out in the sun, but without the sun damage. And I love the pink lip! I wouldn’t usually wear something so bold, but it looks really great against my new glow.” What are your sun-safe beauty tips for spring?

Fresh Fruit Recipes for Hot Summer Entertaining

Fri, 13 May 2011 09:26:22 +0000

Hotter temperatures mean enjoying light, refreshing, hydrating treats. The first step to hydration? Recipes that use water as a base ingredient. Of course, the end result of any recipe is only as good as the quality of the ingredients – and water quality can turn a tasty recipe sour. Different waters have unique tastes and mineral contents directly influenced by their origins. FIJI Water's celebrated soft texture and clean taste won't mar the flavor of other ingredients. Here are three fruity recipes that are perfect for any kind of summer gathering, from backyard barbeques to summer evening soirées.

THIS IS JUST TO ADD A BLANK LINE

Orange Mint Sorbet

(serves 4)

THIS IS JUST TO ADD A BLANK LINE

1 cup of FIJI Water 1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 1 cup sugar 2 sprigs of fresh mint

In a small saucepan, combine FIJI Water, sugar, and mint leaves over medium heat.
Bring to a boil. Stir. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Turn heat off and cover pan. Let cool.
Strain syrup into a medium-sized bowl. Add orange juice and mix well.
Pour mixture into container, cover, and place in freezer until half frozen.
Take out, stir with fork, and place back in freezer.
Once fully frozen, blend mixture in a blender until smooth.
Cover and freeze until ready to serve.

THIS IS JUST TO ADD A BLANK LINE

Fruit Medley Punch

(serves 40)

THIS IS JUST TO ADD A BLANK LINE

4 litres of FIJI Water 6 cups pineapple juice 2 cups fresh lemon juice 2 cups orange juice 2 litres lemon/lime soda (carbonated) 5 cups sugar 1 fresh pineapple, finely sliced 3 medium-sized oranges, finely sliced 1 sprig of fresh mint

Combine all liquid ingredients in large punch bowl.
Sweeten to taste.
Garnish with floating orange slices and a sprig of fresh mint.
Chill and serve.

Fruit Gazpacho

(serves 6–8)

3 cups of FIJI Water 2 cups orange juice 3 tbsp sugar Zest of 1 orange Zest of 1 lime or lemon 1 mango or papaya 1/2 cantaloupe melon 1/2 honeydew melon 1 apple peeled and sliced 1 cup blueberries 1 cup sliced strawberries 1 or 2 sliced kiwis

Combine the first eight ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.
Empty mixture into a bowl. Stir in the diced apple and blueberries.
Serve and garnish with sliced strawberries and kiwi fruit.

Take the Best Buddies Challenge: Boston to Cape Cod by Bike for Charity

FIJI Water — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:40:12 +0000

One of the causes we love to support at FIJI Water is Best Buddies International, an organization that promotes opportunities for intellectually disabled individuals. The twelfth annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port charity bike ride happens June 4 in Boston. As part of the celebration, for the months of May and June, $1 per case of FIJI Water sold at Stop & Shop, Big Y, Demoulas, Roche Bros, Shaws, and Tedeschi’s in New England will be contributed to Best Buddies International. To find one of these retailers near you, please see our store locator. That's how we're helping out. But if you live in the Boston-area, or are an avid cycler, we strongly encourage you to participate in the ride itself. It is a fantastic event and a great time.

The Classiest 100-Mile Bike Ride in America

The Hyannis Port ride is probably one of the most well-organized and fun bike rides in the country, charitable or otherwise. The ride itself is part of a weekend of festivities, events, and camaraderie. Beginning at the famous JFK Presidential Library and Museum on the South Shore of Boston, the 100-mile ride winds through some of Massachusetts's most beautiful scenery, crossing over the Bourne Bridge into Cape Cod and finishing up at Craigsville Beach in Hyannis Port. There are also 50- and 25-mile rides and a 5K walk for those who prefer to show their support on foot. View the course maps. All of the ride options at the Audi Best Buddies Challenge are point-to-point with four fully stocked rest stops and multiple support vehicles spread over the route (with restrooms!). Transportation for riders and their bikes to and from the finish and start lines and hotels is taken care of, and there are discount rates at local hotels. Each participant is assigned a Challenge Coach who helps them with their training regimen and fundraising plan to help them meet their goals, both athletic and charitable. At the finish, riders enjoy hot showers, professional massages, and plenty of food and refreshments. And then the celebration really starts: Everyone heads over to the famous lobster bake and beach side buffet, followed by a concert by Natasha Bedingfield.

About Best Buddies

The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,500 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. Best Buddies has accredited international programs on six continents, with additional country programs under active development.

Towns Hit Hard by Tornadoes Receive Water Donations

FIJI Water — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:14:58 +0000

FIJI Water's southeast team was on hand in northern Alabama last week distributing cases of FIJI Water to communities hard-hit by tornadoes that ravaged the area in April. With the help of United Johnson Brothers and Associated Grocers, we have been able to respond to a pressing need for clean drinking water in the towns of Pleasant Grove, Tuscaloosa, and Hackleburg. We will be continuing our commitment to these communities in the days and weeks ahead. A record 38 twisters tore through Alabama the evening of April 27, killing at least 236 in the state and leaving billions of dollars in damages. In Tuscaloosa County, Ala., which had 41 fatalities from the storms, the Tuscaloosa Times said the tornadoes "may be the state's worst natural disaster." All told, 354 people died from the storms across the southern states. FIJI Water employees and our partners will continue to donate water in these communities. If you would like to help out, there is a list of local charities accepting donations.

Chef Eric Hara of Pier 9 Whips Up Sea Urchin Panna Cotta

FIJI Water — Fri, 06 May 2011 18:28:00 +0000

The LUCKYRICE Food Festival is an annual week of festivities showcasing Asian cuisine and culinary culture in New York City and beyond. On May 6, FIJI Water showcased Chef Eric Hara of Pier 9 and 9 Restaurant at LUCKYRICE Food Festival's Grand Feast event. Before Hara's appearance at LUCKYRICE, we had the privilege of visiting the chef in his restaurant, where he showed us how to cook the dish he served at the event: sea urchin panna cotta. Watch the video below to see the chef in action in his kitchen. A three-course dinner at Eric Hara's Pier 9 is also part of the grand prize in our Kenny Chesney Sweepstakes. If you are a country music fan, be sure to enter the sweepstakes on our Facebook page. Grand prize includes airfare, a stay at the HUDSON Hotel (just a few blocks from Pier 9) and two tickets to Chesney's Goin' Coastal show at the Meadowlands. Sea Urchin Panna Cotta From Chef Eric Hara and LUCKYRICE

About LUCKYRICE Food Festival

An annual week of festivities, the LUCKYRICE Festival shines a spotlight on Asian culinary culture through eight auspicious events (8 is a lucky number in Chinese numerology), including the Grand Feast, Night Market, Opening Cocktails, Talk + Taste, and other tastings, dinners, and gastronomic gatherings. Following a sold-out 2010 New York City launch that attracted over 6,500 guests, LUCKYRICE is expanding into other North American markets with both the festival and year-round custom events.

About Chef Eric Hara

Eric Hara has been working in kitchens since the age of 16. After graduating the School of Culinary Arts in Santa Barbara, California in 1997, Hara worked at some of the city's best restaurants, including Citronelle and Downey's, before moving on to dining rooms in Laguna Niguel and Alberta, Canada. At the age of 26, Hara moved to America's culinary capitol, New York, where he became executive chef of New York Times two-star restaurant Chez Josephine. Hara was then hired by David Burke to lead the kitchens at davidburke & donatella and fishtail by davidburke. Of his tenure with Burke, Hara remarks, “It taught me a lot of the business—creativity, thinking outside of the box, and pushing myself to do new things.” Ready for a fresh challenge, Hara next took an executive chef position at the iconic Oak Room in the recently revitalized Plaza Hotel. In 2007, Hara was named a Star Chefs “Rising Star Chef” for New York City, minting his status as one to watch in the Big Apple. Now, Hara brings his passion for fine dining without pretention to Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood with 9 Restaurant and Pier 9, where he is both executive chef and partner. “I like to have fun, and I like to have fun with the food,” Hara says. “We want our guests to enjoy these spaces as comfortable neighborhood hangouts and hopefully try something they might not have experienced before.”

Go Coastal With Kenny Chesney Sweepstakes

FIJI Water — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:50:38 +0000

Calling all country music fans! FIJI Water and Kenny Chesney, in conjunction with the HUDSON Hotel New York and Pier 9 restaurant are giving away a trip for two to see Kenny Chesney's Goin' Coastal tour at the New Jersey Meadowlands August 13. Winners will stay at the chic HUDSON Hotel a block from Central Park in New York City. They'll also get a three-course dinner for two at Eric Hara's Pier 9 restaurant. And we're throwing in a year of FIJI Water Delivery for good measure. First and second place winners will receive tickets to see Kenny in concert in Foxboro, Massachusetts. To enter the Kenny Chesney Goin' Coastal Sweepstakes, please go to FIJI Water's Facebook page. You must be a fan of FIJI Water on Facebook to enter (just click the "Like" button at the top of our page). See the official rules for more details.

Politics and Showbiz Mingle at White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party

FIJI Water — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:07:44 +0000

The most memorable moment from this year's White House Correspondent's Dinner may be host Seth Meyer's (unintentionally) topical joke about Osama bin Laden having his own show on C-SPAN, which got a (knowing?) laugh from President Obama. Indeed, we feel for any of those correspondents who partied a little too hard Saturday night at MSNBC's after-party, since it's unlikely they got any sleep the following night. On the other hand, it was a fabulous party.

Rachel Maddow Works the Bar, Sarah Palin Works the Crowd

Held at the Italian Embassy, the MSNBC after-party featured a wild variety of bold-face names from entertainment, politics, and media (not that there's much daylight between those categories). After all, how often do Rachel Maddow and Sarah Palin attend the same party? For her part, Maddow really worked the scene -- literally. The host of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC was serving drinks from "Maddow's Bar" all night long. No word on whether the former Alaskan governor was a customer, but Palin may have been abstaining since she was there with daughter Bristol, who got high fashion marks for her dazzling white dress. Dinner host Meyers apparently shared a few of his "plus-ones" with pals from Saturday Night Live: Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, and Fred Armisen all made an appearance, along with Glee funnywoman Jane Lynch. Sean Penn was also there, although without rumored girlfriend Scarlett Johanssen. John Legend represented the musical set in the crowd while hot-hot Cee Lo Green sang to the crowd. The food was suitably apropos of the locale (or should we say a proposito?) Bite-sized versions of caprese salad, fried eggplant dipped in marinara sauce and tiramisu circulated while guests star-gazed. To keep everyone awake there was Starbucks, and to keep everyone hydrated there was, of course, FIJI Water, which was an official sponsor of the party. We've got a Flickr stream of photos below, courtesy of Paul Morigi of Getty Images; you can also see pics from the event on our Facebook page.

RA Sushi Presents the Seventh Annual Nicky’s Week

FIJI Water — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:14:23 +0000

Nicholas “Nicky” Mailliard (pictured at left) was 13 years old when he lost a long battle with brain cancer in 2005. He was also the nephew of one of the founders of RA Sushi, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based restaurant chain. Inspired by Nicky's struggle, RA Sushi started the Nicky's Week fundraiser. For one week each year, the purchase of select menu items at every RA Sushi location benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the nation's top children's cancer research center. This year, Nicky's Week runs Sunday, May 29 through Saturday, June 4. For that week, 100 percent of the proceeds from select menu items and beverages (including FIJI Water) will go to St. Jude to help support the hospital's lifesaving mission. The menu items include: edamame, tootsy maki, shrimp nigiri, pork gyoza, tuna tataki, and chicken yakitori. All 25 RA Sushi locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, and Texas will participate in the fundraiser.

"St. Jude is an incredible organization with an important mission, and we want to help ensure that its services remain available to children and families battling serious illness," said Scott Kilpatrick, co-founder and vice president of RA Sushi. "Nicky’s Week has raised more than $700,000 for the hospital since 2005, and our goal is to increase that number by $125,000 this year." All donations from the weeklong effort will help support St. Jude, which has treated children from all 50 states and around the world. While St. Jude is primarily a cancer research center, doctors and researchers there also treat children with sickle cell disease and pediatric HIV. At St. Jude, no child is ever turned away because of a family's inability to pay for medical treatments. Nicky’s Week sponsors include FIJI Water, The Republic of Tea, and Shirakiku.

Metro Hunt Competitors Blanket San Diego in Race to the Win

FIJI Water — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:00:11 +0000

Last Saturday, residents and tourists in downtown San Diego were witness to a strange sight: teams of Metro Hunt participants racing to complete tasks and uncover clues. The teams, with names like Team SoButter and Fashion Makes Me Horny, had three hours to figure out the clues, find the correct location, and tweet out photos of themselves, all during FIJI's second social media scavenger hunt. As a result, the same obliging street musician was photographed at least five times by maniacally grinning Hunt contestants. Various statues were groped. Restaurateurs were quizzed on the number of martinis on their menu, or the number of blades on their ceiling fan, or what the view is like from the second floor. At stake were some serious prizes, including an expenses-paid trip to Fiji, courtesy of Air Pacific, the Westin Denarau Resort, and the Fiji International Jazz Festival; a resort stay in Mexico courtesy of Villa Group Resorts, shoes, spa treatment, and more -- not to mention local social media street cred.

Fierce Competition on the Streets of San Diego

As the two-person teams headed out into the city, the FIJI Water Metro Hunt judges booted up their computers at home base, the W Hotel San Diego. Using Twitter (#fijihunt) and Foursquare, our four judges tracked the teams as they moved across downtown, tweeting the answers to the puzzles on the Metro Hunt clue sheet. That clue sheet was a work of art in itself, featuring references to everything from Japanese characters to Morse Code to the board game Battleship. In the age of Google, you need to get pretty obscure to pose a real challenge! [caption id="attachment_13517" align="alignright" width="315" caption="An example of one of the clues from the Metro Hunt. Correct answer: the Dragon's Den."][/caption] For example: for clue #8, competitors had to decipher an image from the classic board game Battleship. Correctly divining the clue("Sink the battleship") gives you the coordinates K-10, or K St. and 10th Avenue, address of the Dragon's Den. Inside is the key to the rest of the clue, "take a picture of the item on the wall that the unknown comic would like least." That turns out to be a gong on the wall (the sound of a gong being the sign that a failing comic's time has run out). The rules were also strict: All answers must be correctly spelled and accompanied by the clue number and photos must always include both team members (to avoid teams divvying up the work). In the end, while local knowledge and social media savvy mattered, it was the most focused team that won.

Metro Hunt Grand Prize Winners: Home Grown

First place winners were brother and sister team Vicky and Phil Tully of Home Grown. The San Diego natives used their local knowledge and a strong drive to win to accumulate a total of 131 points -- 20 more than the closest challenger. When the first place prize was announced, the two were visibly stunned. By Monday however, they were peppering the FIJI Water team with questions about where to go and what to see in Fiji. Second place was no booby either -- five nights at your pick of one of five Villa Group Resorts in Mexico. Downtown Robbery, led by local social media maven Downtown Rob (a.k.a. Rob Marlbrough) and Melonie Gallegos, a social media strategist for national brands. This dynamic duo gathered 111 points. Third place went to Lance Carter and Annette Goad of team Face Plant, with 110 points. They walked away with a spa day at Shutters on the Beach, including a massage treatment, lunch at Coast, and all-day pool access at this swank Santa Monica boutique hotel. To add to the indulgence, they received a special chocolate pack from Chuao Chocolatier -- about which @oceancitygirrl tweeted, "The gift box looked amazing & had so much inside. Can't wait to try it all!" View the complete list of Metro Hunt teams and their points. Special prizes were also awarded for: Most Profile Views: The Roadsters (the Pack of Rock, including two You Rock Guitars, two memberships to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, and a pair of $75 iTunes gift certificates, courtesy of San Diego's Rubicon Deli.) Best Dressed: TBG Angels (two $250 gift certificates from Donald J. Pliner) Most Twitter Impressions: The top three teams, 1. Wine Harlots, 2. SoButter, and 3. Martini Mamas, received Munitio headphones. Most Pumped: Cereal Killers (event planning package from dkkevents) Most Spirited: Emerging Media (four tickets to SeaWorld) Best Profile: Fashion Makes Me Horny (bags from Overland Outfitters) Best "FIJI Delivers"-Inspired Photos: Ice Wench (one-year FIJI Water Delivery subscription each) and The Roadsters (six-month FIJI Water Delivery subscription each) Everyone who participated received a gift bag stuffed with goodies from FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Get Crackin' Pistachios, Pop Chips, and Ubisoft, which provided the Wii game Fit in Six, and more.

FIJI Water Employee Profile: Apao Erone

FIJI Water — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:06:28 +0000

Apao Erone has been with FIJI Water from waaaay back. Erone, 41 (at right in the photo), helped run the first pump tests on the source of FIJI Water, the aquifer under the Yaqara Valley on the Fijian island of Viti Levu. Today, Erone is one of about 400 people employed by FIJI Water in Fiji. Recently, Erone answered some questions for our blog about his career at FIJI Water and the history of the company as he has witnessed it. FIJI Water: Tell us a little about you. APAO ERONE: My name is Apao Erone, I am 41 years old. I am from the Fiji Islands, and of Rotuman/Tongan ethnicity. (By the way, Rotuma is a Polynesian island that is part of Fiji and the South Pacific, located 450 kilometers off Fiji’s main island.) I am married with four kids and an adopted little girl, so five lovely children in total. My beautiful wife is Tongan, from the village of Lakeba, in Nukualofa, Tonga. We also have my dad staying with us; he turns 80 this year. My mum passed away 20 years ago, and I have two sisters and a brother here in Fiji, and two more sisters living on the island. FW: Describe your job at FIJI Water. AE: Currently, I am the Vanua Support Manager, based at the FIJI Water Bottling Plant in Yaqara. ["Vanua" literally translated means "land," but the meaning encompasses the word "community" as well.] Basically, my role is to manage the NWVL [Natural Waters of Viti Levu] Trust, which was set up to provide much-needed funds and assistance to help improve the livelihood of the six local villages surrounding the FIJI Water bottling plant. FW: How long have you worked at FIJI Water? How did you get a job there? AE: I have been working for FIJI Water since 1995. My first task on the job was to get the land lease signed for where the factory is currently located. I did the first pump test on the boreholes, before the first building was built, and continued assisting in the ground work for operations from then on. In 1996, when the groundwork was complete and operations started to kick off, I moved to Suva, where our admin office was based, and started work in sales. I helped to sell the first bottles of FIJI Water, driving deliveries to customers, and stacking shelves. In 1999, I moved to Yaqara to act as a General Manager for a month, and then looked after operations and sales from then until 2005, when the company was sold to Mr. & Mrs. Resnick. I then left operations, and focused on sales until late 2008, when I took up my current position, looking after the NWVL Trust. FW: How has it been working for FIJI Water? AE: When I first joined FIJI Water fifteen ago, I was not sure how far it would go or what the outcome would be. But now I can honestly say that it was the best decision for me. This company that I have worked with from scratch has provided for me and my family very well, and I am truly grateful. I have been able to buy my own home and improve the life of my family and extended family. I am very proud to be part of FIJI Water and to see it operating at a very high level of professionalism, producing the world's number one premium bottled water brand known worldwide. When I sold the first bottle of FIJI Water here in Fiji in 1996, people thought then that something was wrong with me, because here in Fiji you can actually drink water directly from the streams and taps. Now they know better -- everybody in Fiji knows about FIJI Water, and our country as a whole is very proud of the brand and what it has done for our people. FW: What do people think of FIJI Water when it started? What do they think of it now? AE: When FIJI Water first started back in 1996, it was the first in a brand new industry for Fiji. People in Fiji were not at all familiar with the bottled water industry and had no idea of how it would impact their lives and our economy. Now FIJI Water is one of the top exporters in Fiji. The company as a whole is like the father of the six villages and communities surrounding it in Yaqara, and mother to the rest of Fiji through its economic benefits and the Foundation work. Now they always say that they cannot thank FIJI Water enough for everything that we have done for them, and they are extremely proud of the name “FIJI Water.”

San Diego Social Media Compete for a Dream Trip to Fiji

FIJI Water — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:31:16 +0000

This Saturday, April 16, San Diego’s most socially savvy and Twitter-ific Web 3.0 influencers will compete for honor, glory, and a slew of amazing prizes. We’ve put together an event full of challenges, rewards, friendly competition, and creative online smacktalk. And now, with the San Diego Metro Hunt just two days away, it’s time to show the grand prize that everyone’s playing for: an expense-paid trip to Fiji for the International Jazz & Blues Festival. [caption id="attachment_13232" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Scuba diving off Denarau Island, Fiji"][/caption] The Trip Two lucky winners will fly courtesy of Air Pacific to Denarau Island, Fiji on May 10, 2011. During their four night stay, they'll explore the beautiful beaches, parks and gardens. Explore the colorful undersea world with its coral reefs and exotic fish, or catch a boat from nearby Port Denarau and go island-hopping to Denarau’s nearest neighbors, the Mamanuca Islands. Between the sunshine, the warm blue waters and the famously friendly people, Fiji is the ultimate tropical paradise. The Event The International Jazz & Blues Festival takes place May 12-15, with a lineup that includes Fiji’s best talent, plus many international artists. The program includes high-energy British-style rhythm & blues, jazz standards, soulful torch song medleys, and Kiwi guitar rock. Presented by Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific, this is four days of great music, culture, and fun, with picturesque Port Denarau as the backdrop. [caption id="attachment_13238" align="alignleft" width="243" caption="The Westin's Infiniti pool"][/caption] The Hotel You couldn’t ask for dreamier accommodations than host hotel Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa. Overlooking the ocean, the resort offers pure South Pacific bliss, from the moment you wake up and wander to the Ocean Terrace for island fruits and fresh juice, to the lazy days by the pool, to happy-hour rum drinks at Meke Lounge, to the torch ceremony every evening and the final moment you drift to sleep in your trademarked Heavenly® bed. Because the Westin is part of Fiji’s only integrated multi-hotel resort, guests have access to all the resort complex facilities, including the 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, four pools, and 18 restaurants and bars. As we said before, the FIJI Water San Diego Metro Hunt will be full of challenges, but the rewards will be great.

Metro Hunt Contestants Compete for a Five-Night Stay in Mexico, Courtesy of Villa Group Resorts

FIJI Water — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:42:01 +0000

Sure, the San Diego Metro Hunt clues may be challenging, and the smack talk on Twitter indicates that several teams will be in heavy competition, but with prizes like we’re offering, no wonder. Just how awesome is the prize pool? For your answer, check out what we’re giving the San Diego Metro Hunt runners-up: a five-night stay at one of any five Villa Group Resort properties in beautiful beachfront Mexico. Sunny days await at this collection of luxury hotel properties in five Mexican destinations. Enjoy an invigorating blend of relaxation and adventure, along with golden beaches, undersea beauty, friendly locals, and fresh gourmet cuisine. Win five nights accommodations in a one-bedroom, ocean-view condominium suite in your choice of the following great resort destinations: Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, the Islands of Loreto, Puerto Vallarta, or Riviera Nayarit. Villa del Arco, Cabo If you like to be in the center of the action, this all-suite property on El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas is a great choice. Kids will love the “Pirate Ship” in the main pool, while adults might opt for a more private swathe of sand, with a view out to sea and the famous El Arco rocks in the distance. This is a self-contained resort with three restaurants, a water sports center, nightly entertainment, and the full-service Desert Spa. Villa del Palmar, Cancun As seen on the Today Show: This new hotel within the prestigious Mujeres Beach Resort on the Mayan Riviera takes luxury to new levels, including ensuite Jacuzzi tubs, pool butler service, a fantastic spa, and gourmet cuisine. Sip margaritas on a swing at the poolside Tiki Bar or charter a sailboat for a day of ocean adventures. Villa del Palmar, Islands of Loreto [caption id="attachment_13179" align="alignright" width="265" caption="Eco-adventures in the Sea of Cortez at the Villa del Palmar, Islands of Loreto "][/caption] If you are a fan of eco-adventures and like to be the first to explore a new region, this stunning new resort is for you. Located on the Sea of Cortez on the east cape of Baja, Villa del Palmar in the Islands of Loreto combines “Old Mexico” charm with ocean-based adventures galore. Whales, sea lions, and sea turtles await offshore, while the hotel offers ultimate relaxation and romance, which made it one of The New York Times’ recommended destinations for 2011. Villa del Palmar, Puerto Vallarta This is a classic that families return to every year for its airy and comfortable all-suite accommodations, traditional hospitality, and inviting sun-splashed ambience. Located in the heart of the famous Hotel Zone, beachfront on Banderas Bay, the property features four dining/drinking establishments are on property, plus in-suite private chef service upon request. Villa la Estancia, Riviera Nayarit One of our favorite properties is also #1 rated in the region by TripAdvisor. Villa la Estancia is perfect for a romantic getaway, with its quiet casitas and free-form swimming pool. Located just over the state border from Jalisco and 30 minutes north from Puerto Vallarta’s airport, the up-and-coming resort region of Riviera Nayarit boasts world-class fishing and great golf. Follow hashtag #fijihunt on April 16 (which happens to be National Foursquare Day) to watch live as teams tweet and Foursquare their way towards winning one of our fabulous prizes.

Metro Hunt Teams Vie for Pre-Competition Prize: The Pack of Rock

FIJI Water — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:05:36 +0000

Social media mavens are the rock stars of the Web 3.0 world. As such, as a prelude to the FIJI Water Metro Hunt in San Diego this coming weekend, we’re showing our adoration with prizes for the team that rocks the hardest – and takes the least amount of time to warm up. We’ve put together a little pre-event prize we like to call the Pack of Rock, and it’s up for grabs to the Metro Hunt team who garners the most unique pageviews in the days leading up to the main event. Included in the Pack of Rock are two You Rock Guitars, one for each teammate. These musical instruments for the tech-enabled world connect to your iPad or computer (PC or Mac) and are instantly enabled with backing tracks and loops you can jam along to, follow if you’re trying to learn songs, or riff on if you’re in the mood to compose. The You Rock Guitar never needs tuning, has a removable neck for travel, and can go from mute (for practicing) to amped (for performance). And because the latest in next-generation iPad-compatible instrumentation is not enough for our Metro Hunt VIPS, we’re throwing in two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum memberships and branded gear, including portable speakers, as well as two $75 iTunes gift cards, courtesy of San Diego’s very own Rubicon Deli. Okay, so maybe this little pre-event prize isn’t so little after all. Take a peek at the team profiles and cast your vote for the winner by clicking on their page. Remember: Only unique pageviews count, so reloading the page isn’t going to your fave team any favors. Follow us on Twitter under the hashtag #fijihunt for more updates, prize info, and smack-talking between teams.

Win Two VIP Tickets to Private Tastings, Concerts, and More at Sonoma Jazz +

FIJI Water — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:45:58 +0000

Sonoma Jazz + combines world-class musical performances with everything you would expect from a festival in the heart of California wine country: great wine, great food, and a relaxed, casual ambiance. Which is why we are so excited to be giving away two VIP tickets to all three days of the festival. The package includes premium seating to three nights of musical performances by John Fogerty, Sheryl Crow, the Gipsy Kings, and more. Winners will also have admittance to an exclusive VIP tent each night, where they will be treated to premium wine tastings and gourmet cuisine from wine country chefs. In addition, winners receive tickets to Wine & Song Around the Plaza, featuring the perfect pairing of music and wine with the Bay Area’s best musicians and Sonoma Valley’s finest wines. And last but not least, free parking! The sweepstakes entry form is below. But if you want to hedge your bets, we strongly recommend buying tickets. General admission starts at $60. Special lodging-plus-tickets packages are also available. Click the button below to be directed to the Sonoma Jazz+ site.

To enter to win this package, fill out the form below. Accommodations and transportation to and from the festival are not included. See complete sweepstakes rules for details. Total package value: $2630.[gravityform id=25 name=SonomaJazz Festival Ticket Sweepstakes Entry Form]

Dean & Deluca

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:55:24 +0000

Breeze Super

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:54:48 +0000

Jasons Marketplace

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:54:26 +0000

City Super

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:54:05 +0000

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:53:43 +0000

Family Mart

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:53:20 +0000

Royal Supermarket (Macau)

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:52:37 +0000

Uny

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:50:21 +0000

Wellcome

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:49:51 +0000

City Super

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:49:22 +0000

7-Eleven

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:48:53 +0000

Metro Hunt Sponsor Spotlight: Spa, Shoes & Sweets

FIJI Water — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:53:47 +0000

Looking at our lineup of San Diego Metro Hunt prize sponsors makes us wish that we could participate in the event ourselves, or at least go raiding the goodie bags. Above and beyond the amazing grand prize of a trip to Fiji for the International Jazz & Blues Festival, there are a slew of other super-desirable prizes up for grabs.

Celebrity Sightings and Spa Bliss

A couple hours up the coast from San Diego -- perfect for a daytrip -- Shutters on the Beach is a favorite LA hideaway. The charming Santa Monica retreat combines the perfect blend of surfside-sunny and celeb chic. Metro Hunt winners of the Shutters “All in One” package get a full day to lounge about the property, with a 60-minute massage, lunch at Coast, and complimentary valet parking.

Designer Kicks

We're very pleased to introduce FIJI fans to upscale footwear brand Donald & Lisa Pliner, a line of elegant, meticulously crafted styles by this husband-and-wife duo. For men, the brand is great with the classics: driving shoes, Oxfords, loafers, and suede boots. Women's styles range from platform wedges to sexy pumps to booties with a five-inch heel. Lisa gets extra props for designing a women's collection that actually delivers comfort as well as style. Metro Hunt contestants will have a chance to win $200-$400 gift certificates from Pliner—a fashionista's call-to-action if ever there was one.

Local Delicious

Our yummiest prize sponsor to date is local to San Diego, but their reputation among organic and artisanal foodies has outgrown county borders. Chuao Chocolatier was founded by two Venezuelan brothers who use rare Venezuelan cacao as the base for wonderfully creative, savory-spicy-sweet confections such as “Firecracker” truffles (chipotle-infused caramel fudge) and green tea-infused ginger ganache. Are your mouths watering yet? Stay tuned for more Metro Hunt posts as we approach game day, April 16. We’ll spotlight some of the host venues on the event route, introduce you to a few of the teams that will be competing, and dish more on our two biggest prizes. We might even give away a ticket or two, so that in addition to reading, you can join in the fun and compete to win.

Hong Kong

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:02:30 +0000

Taiwan

admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:02:09 +0000

한국 (Korea)

FIJI Water — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:12:39 +0000

Australia

FIJI Water — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:03:57 +0000

Whole Foods Market

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:31:03 +0000

Waitrose

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:30:41 +0000

The Market Place Group

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:30:21 +0000

Selfridges

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:29:25 +0000

Partridges

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:28:59 +0000

Ocado

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:28:41 +0000

Harvey Nichols

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:28:22 +0000

Harrods

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:27:43 +0000

United Kingdom

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:27:18 +0000

Walmart

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:25:22 +0000

Superama

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:25:00 +0000

Soriana

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:24:36 +0000

La Europea

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:24:09 +0000

HEB

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:23:45 +0000

México (Mexico)

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:23:18 +0000

ルッキンググラスギフト（東京ディズニーホテル内）

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:21:31 +0000

ランキンランキン

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:21:00 +0000

プラザ

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:20:42 +0000

ピアットフォルテ

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:20:27 +0000

平和堂

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:20:08 +0000

ナショナル麻布

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:19:50 +0000

東急ストア

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:19:32 +0000

ディーンアンドデルーカ

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:19:16 +0000

成城石井

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:19:01 +0000

神戸グローサーズ

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:18:20 +0000

クィーンズ伊勢丹

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:18:03 +0000

キッチンガーデン

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:17:49 +0000

オリンピック

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:17:33 +0000

オオゼキ

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:17:20 +0000

ITS’ DEMO

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:14:19 +0000

アクアストア

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:13:56 +0000

日本 (Japan)

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:13:34 +0000

Zehrs

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:03:45 +0000

YIG

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:03:08 +0000

Whole Foods Canada

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Win Tickets to See Paul the Movie in Australia

FIJI Water — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:24:57 +0000

Attention scifi/comedy/buddy picture/road-movie fans! We're giving away three (3) pairs of tickets to "Paul," (www.Paulthemovie.com.au) starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, only at the movies April 14. Paul is about a space alien on the run, so we thought we run our little contest with an aliens theme. Here's what you have to do to win tix: See the comments box at the bottom of this page, where it says "Leave a Reply"? In that space, leave your reply to the following question in 50 words or less: "What is your favorite movie space alien, and why?" By "favorite" we don't necessarily mean "most lovable." The Alien from Aliens could be your favorite cinematic alien. Or it could be E.T., the most lovable extraterrestrial there ever was. Just justify your answer, be clever, and be brief. Got it? The best three answerers get two tickets to Paul. Good luck, and may the force be with you.

Fine Print:

Tickets cannot be used Friday or Saturdays after 5 p.m. Additional restrictions apply, please see our complete contest rules for all the details.
Contest ends April 14 at midnight, Sydney time ("Game over man!").
You must be 18 or over to enter.

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Fresh From the Skillet: Recipes From Devoured PHX Food Festival

FIJI Water — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:25:40 +0000

After just two years, Devoured PHX has become one of Phoenix's biggest culinary festivals. This year, an average of 3,000 people attended each day, including the winners of our exclusive EaterAZ ticket giveaway. As we like to do, we've grabbed a couple of the most popular recipes from the festival to share with you. Below you will find instructions for a zesty shrimp ceviche from Chef Aaron May's Vitamin T. If you're feeling a little more ambitious, try the recipe for pork belly pastrami with rye spaetzle and Brussels sprouts kraut from Chef Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House in Scottsdale. It takes a good day and a half to prepare, but Arizona Republic food critic Howard Seftel called it "the stuff dreams are made of." It's below the ceviche recipe.

[caption id="attachment_11803" align="alignright" width="149" caption="Chef Aaron May of La Grande Orange"][/caption] Shrimp Ceviche

(serves 4)

1 pound (16-20) shrimp, peeled and cleaned 2 bay leaves dash Tabasco 1 1/2 white onion 1 large tomato, roasted, peeled, and seeded 1 serrano chili, roasted and pureed 2 red peppers 2 limes 2 oranges 1/2 lemon 1/4 cup tomato juice 1 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon onion seed 1 small whole red onion, sliced thin 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped 1 sprig cilantro salt and pepper to taste

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil with 1 onion, Tabasco, bay leaf, and scant amount of salt.
Blanch shrimp for 90 seconds, then remove to an ice bath.
Toss remaining onion, tomato, peppers, and serrano chili in olive oil and char on a hot grill.
Let cook through and place in blender with ketchup and juiced lemon and oranges, and process until smooth. Reserve chilled.
Juice limes and place shrimp in lime juice, season with salt and pepper, reserve chilled for 5 minutes.
Cover with ketchup mixture and garnish with shaved red onion, cilantro, green onion, and onion seed.

Filler Space
[caption id="attachment_11807" align="alignright" width="149" caption="Chef Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House "][/caption] Pork Belly Pastrami With Rye Spaetzle

Pastrami

1/2 pound pork belly 1 cup FIJI Water 1 tablespoon pickling spice 5 garlic cloves 1/8 cup Morton Tender Quick 1/8 cup sugar ice as needed

Combine water, spices salts, garlic, and sugar in saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer 5 minutes.
Transfer to 1-quart container; add ice to bring brine level to 2 cups and also to chill liquid.
Add pork belly; weigh down with plate to keep under the surface of the brine. Allow to sit for 1 day per inch of thickness; turn belly over after first night.

Filler Space

Rub

1/4 cup coriander, ground 1/8 cup coarse black pepper 1/2 teaspoon clove, ground 1/2 teaspoon juniper berries, ground 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed, ground

Combine thoroughly and rub all over bellies.
Smoke in perforated pan with wood chips.
Wrap in plastic and then foil. Place in roasting pan and cook in oven at 275F for 8 hours.

Filler Space

Rye Spaetzle

1 cup rye bread crumbs 1 egg, beaten 1 cup flour 1/2 cup FIJI Water salt

Combine rye crumbs, flour, and salt.
Mix in eggs and water to form semi-stiff dough. Using plenty of flour, roll into 1-inch-round log.
Flatten log and cut 1/2-inch-thick piece and cook in salted water like pasta. It will float when done.
Drain and brown quickly in sauté pan with blended oil.

Filler Space

Brussels Sprouts Kraut

1/2 pound Brussels sprouts, sliced 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar 1/2 cup water pinch kosher salt 1/8 cup sugar 1 teaspoon caraway seed 1 teaspoon mustard seed

Combine vinegar, water, sugar, seeds, and salt in sauce pot and bring to boil.
Add Brussels sprouts and return to boil; chill in ice bath. Store in cooler over night.

Filler Space

Sauce

1/4 cup white wine 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard 1/4 cup heavy cream

Combine wine and mustard thoroughly.
In hot sauté pan, add kraut and sauté briefly. Deglaze with wine mixture, reduce by half, then add cream and reduce by half again.

Recycling Program in Fiji Rewards Schools for Collecting PET Bottles

FIJI Water — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:17:48 +0000

As a local business with a deep love of Fiji, FIJI Water hates to see our bottles -- or anyone else's -- spoiling that country's natural beauty. That's why we've created the NWVL Recycling Programme (NWVL stands for Natural Waters of Viti Limited, our bottling division in Fiji). The programme's goal is simple: to develop a culture of recycling in Fiji, with a near-term goal of recycling 50% of all PET plastic bottles (ours and others') in Fiji by 2014. To achieve this goal, we came up with the School Recycling Program, an innovative competition to encourage school children to collect plastic bottles for recycling.

Educating Future Recyclers and Environmentalists

Just like anywhere else, Fiji struggles with how to educate its population about recycling. By directly engaging children, the FIJI Water program both increases recycling locally and helps instill good recycling habits in the next generation. The first pilot stage of the program began last October, with eight schools participating. At the end of a six-week period, the school children who collected the most kilograms of PET plastic won prizes for their school. Over the six weeks, close to 3,000 students collected 2,670 kilos of plastic -- over 108,000 PET bottles! The winning school, Namosau Methodist, won a computer, laser printer, $1000 worth of building materials, and $500 worth of sporting equipment. Second and third place schools also won big, and every school that participated received $500 worth of stationery supplies. One student, Shakil Naidu, a Class 3 student at Namosau Methodist, rallied his parents, friends, and family members to hire a carrier to deliver all the plastic bottles that they had gathered over the first four weeks, a total of 65 kilograms of PET, or the equivalent of 2,600 bottles. Naidu won a prize for his efforts, and helped his school come in first. Due to the success of the pilot program in late 2010, this year the recycling program has been expanded to an additional 9,000 students in fifteen schools across the western half of the Fijian islands. We at FIJI Water are committed to giving back to the community and feel that environmental stewardship is each and everyone’s responsibility. The School Recycling Program presents enormous potential for educating Fiji’s children on the importance of recycling while also channeling revenue from used plastic bottles straight back into the education system.

FIJI Water Metro Hunt Comes to San Diego April 16th

FIJI Water — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:36:55 +0000

FIJI Water is proud to announce the return of the FIJI Water Metro Hunt*, coming to San Diego Saturday, April 16, 2011. Building on the huge success of the inaugural event in Chicago, the Metro Hunt San Diego will feature the best downtown venues, a guest list comprising the top new media influencers in the Southern California area, and an amazing prize pool that includes a first prize trip for two to the Fiji Jazz Festival, with round-trip flights on Air Pacific and four nights' lodging at the gorgeous Westin Fiji Resort. We're rewarding not just the winners of the Metro Hunt, but also the attendees who've given us the best Twitter/Facebook love before the event. Are you the most creative video-blogger on the block? The most socially savvy? The best-dressed? Put those skills to work, and you could win great prizes -- including a five-night stay at a luxury Villa Group hotel -- both before and during the Metro Hunt. Want to join us? Read on...

"Scavenger Hunt" Concept Goes Social & Sophisticated

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, 50 two-person teams culled from the A-lists of local media, social media, and niche "influencers" will hit the downtown streets and poshest venues in America’s Finest City. Their mission: to complete venue-based challenges in the hopes of scoring fabulous prizes. Teams also receive points for posting their progress on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets. Following the main event, all contestants will gather for an awards ceremony and wine reception at the W Hotel, our host venue for the day. If you're a media influencer and social media aficionado who'd like to join us, please fill out the quick application form. Hurry--space is limited. Participating sponsors include Air Pacific, the Westin Denarau Resort & Spa, The Fiji Jazz & Blues Festival, The Villa Group, Shutters on the Beach, Donald J Pliner, MUNITIO, Overland Equipment, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. For a complete list of sponsors, visit the Metro Hunt website. *Formerly known as the FIJI Water Urban Hunt.

Wagyu Dango Meat-Filled Rice Balls From Nobu and Cart for a Cause

FIJI Water — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:05:54 +0000

Food trucks have gone from trendy niche phenomenon to a common sight on street corners around the country -- if you can think of a type of food, chances are there's a food truck that serves it. FIJI Water is proud to be a part of a completely different spin on the food truck phenom: Cart for a Cause, a nonprofit program benefiting St. Vincent Meals on Wheels of Los Angeles. The "cart," a bright-red food truck (that just recently had a makeover), serves lunch every Tuesday at a different location in LA. Follow Cart for a Cause on Twitter or Facebook to get the latest on where and when the cart will be serving. For just $10, Cart for a Cause provides a fresh gourmet meal prepared by a celebrity chef, a healthy beverage provided by POM Wonderful or FIJI Water, and a healthy snack and/or dessert. Best of all, your $10 is enough to provide three square meals to a homebound senior via Meals on Wheels. Executive Chef Alex Becker of Nobu West Hollywood, in partnership with Cart for a Cause, has provided us with the recipe to his very popular Wagyu dango with saffron wasabi aioli. If that recipe name sounds like a foreign language, here's the translation: Wagyu beef is a type of intensely marbled beef from cattle originally bred in Japan, the best-known variety being Kobe beef. Dango are Japanese rice dumplings.

Wagyu Dango With Saffron Wasabi Aioli

(makes 6 pieces) Filling

3 ounces Wagyu beef, minced 1 teaspoon soy 1 teaspoon mirin 1 teaspoon green onion, sliced 6 ounces cooked rice

Mix together soy, beef, mirin, and green onion.
Portion rice into 1-ounce increments and press flat.
Portion Wagyu mixture into 1/2-ounce balls and place in the center of rice.
Using plastic wrap, roll rice around Wagyu mixture tightly.
Set in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Aioli

pinch of saffron 1 tablespoon wasabi 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 tablespoon water (warm) 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Mix wasabi, saffron, lemon juice, and water together into a paste.
Mix into mayonnaise until uniform in texture.
Let set at room temperature for 1 hour then mix again.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Fry the dango until they are dark golden brown. Place a bit of the aioli on the plate, then put the dango on the aioli. Serve hot -- or just come eat them at Nobu West Hollywood.

Crab Cake and Jambalaya Recipes From the Charleston Wine + Food Festival

FIJI Water — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:36:55 +0000

Praised as one of the top five food festivals in the U.S., the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival was held March 3-6 in around historic Charleston, S. C. If you couldn't make it this year - or if you did and you're itching to try some of the recipes you sampled at the festival at home - we have good news. Participating chefs from the Charleston Grill and 82 Queen restaurants have agreed to share the recipes for a pair of their signature dishes.

[caption id="attachment_11356" align="alignright" width="149" caption="Executive Chef Michelle Weaver of the Charleston Grill"][/caption] Executive Chef Michelle Weaver of the Charleston Grill

Located in the Charleston Place Hotel, the Charleston Grill is one of Charleston's - and South Carolina's - best-reviewed restaurants. The Grill has received multiple restaurant awards, including the Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award, and has earned Four Diamonds from AAA. Raised in Alabama on her mother's farm, the Grill's Executive Chef Michelle Weaver studied cooking at the New England Culinary Institute before joining the Grill's previous executive chef, Bob Waggoner, at The Wild Boar in Nashville. Weaver followed Waggoner to the Charleston Grill in 1997 and quite easily stepped into his shoes when he left to pursue opportunities in television. The Grill's crab cake, below, is one the restaurant's most popular appetizers and was served at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival.

Charleston Grill Crab Cake

(serves 4)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Crab Cakes

1 pound crab meat 1 egg white 1/2 lemon zest 1/2 lemon juice 1 tablespoon chives 1 tablespoon thyme 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons bread crumbs made from crustless white bread fresh in a food processor salt and fresh ground white pepper

Mix together mayonnaise, salt and pepper, egg white, zest, juice, chives, and thyme.
Fold in crab meat.
Make a patty, dust with bread crumbs, and sear in butter or oil.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Crab Cake Sauce

6 shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut into julienne strips 10 red pear tomatoes 10 yellow pear tomatoes 2 limes cut into segments (save the juice) 2 shallots, chopped fine 2 tablespoons fresh dill 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Heat shallots in oil, then add shrimp and cook.
Add remaining ingredients and heat through.
Serve warm over crab cakes.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

[caption id="attachment_11359" align="alignright" width="149" caption="Executive Chef Steven Lusby of 82 Queen"][/caption] Executive Chef Steven Lusby of 82 Queen

A three-time winner of the Best City Restaurant award from Southern Living magazine and five-time recipient of the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine, 82 Queen is located in downtown Charleston's historic French Quarter. Young Executive Chef Lusby is a fourth-generation culinary professional. He joined the 82 Queen team as a sous chef in 2006 and was promoted to executive chef in 2010. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Lusby maintains a cooking philosophy that leans toward dishes that are reminiscent of home cooking while incorporating local, seasonal ingredients. He strongly supports the "farm to table" philosophy in his personal and professional cooking.

82 Queen's Jambalaya

(serves 4)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

6 cups cooked rice (cooked in chicken broth) 1/2 pound Andouille sausage, diced 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled 1/2 pound crawfish tail meat 1 large tomato, diced 1 sweet onion, diced 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 yellow bell pepper, diced 2 celery sticks, diced 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning 1 teaspoon Cajun blackened spice 1/2 stick butter salt, pepper and/or Tabasco, to taste

In a large skillet, sauté all ingredients except rice until the shrimp are cooked.
Add rice and stir constantly until well blended.
Adjust seasoning and add Tabasco to desired taste.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Fall 2011 Recap

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:57:33 +0000

The tents have been taken down, the fashion editors have returned to their lairs, and the media and celebrities have moved on to the Academy Awards -- but we're still recovering from a very busy week as the official water of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Accompanied by our stalwart interns, FIJI Water was a welcome presence this season. Our little square bottles were spotted quenching thirsts at shows by Michael Kors, Christian Siriano, Charlotte Ronson, Isaac Mizrahi, Rebecca Minkoff, and many, many more. To see some of the pictures we have from the week, go to our Facebook photo albums or see our Flickr stream (also below). But the highlight of the week for us was the Christian Siriano Collection (one of his shoes is in the picture above). We streamed the show live on our website and Facebook page to thousands of viewers -- and after the show, Siriano gave away a look from the collection on our site. Congratulations Lindsay LaHote on winning a dress from Christian Siriano!

[caption id="attachment_11184" align="alignright" width="265" caption="The FIJI Water Fashion Week Interns."][/caption] The FIJI Water Fashion Week Interns on the Scene

Our interns, Brittany Caswell, Jackie McKenzie, Meghan Alyssa, and Alma Alice Woo, turned heads in their looks styled by Fashionista.com, which also has a fabulous interview with all four interns. The girls got to see plenty of the fashion action at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, while passing out FIJI Water and representing us with style. Caswell and McKenzie were even photographed by The Daily, a fashion magazine put out by MBFW organizer IMG. Other brushes with celebrity include McKenzie being "accidentally shoved" by Anna Wintour's handlers, but the good sport said she didn't mind because Wintour gave her a kind word and McKenzie "also somehow touched her fur." Wow. Said Caswell of the whole experience, "This is surreal! I saw people from Anna Wintour to Kim Kardashian. I took a picture for Essence Magazine street style and then another with Brad [Goreski]." It wasn't all fun and games, however. When we ran our internship contest back in December, we warned participants that there would be hard work involved -- and we weren't kidding. The interns certainly did their time out of doors this fashion week, passing bottles in the cold outside the venue at DKNY, and distributing FIJI Water on a chilly Sunday from an ice bar in a courtyard at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Such is the price of a career in fashion.

[caption id="attachment_11189" align="alignleft" width="265" caption="The Bumbys: performance artists and fashionistas."][/caption]

The Bumbys' Dry Wit Makes a Splash

FIJI Water sponsored Brooklyn-based performance art duo the Bumbys ("Jill" and "Gill") to appear at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and offer their “fair and honest appraisal of your appearance” to the curious. The duo was a hit with attendees and the media, earning mentions in Fashionista.com, ELLE, and elsewhere. Said our own Paul Poux about the Bumbys, "Some people were intimidated by the idea that they were going to be judged or have their clothes critiqued, but that's not what the Bumbys do at all: They create an idea for you of who you might be -- or should be -- based on your look. It's priceless to see guests wait while the Bumbys type away making an appraisal - they stand there waiting, waiting, then finally receive their typed card, read it, and always break into laughter." Our guess is they'll be offering up their appraisals at more events in the future!

But What About the Fashion??

[caption id="attachment_11179" align="alignright" width="162" caption="Designer Zang Toi the day after his blockbuster show. "][/caption] As for the shows and the clothes, we were able to gather a few pithy observations in between running around like headless chickens in stilettos:

Zang Toi, profiled last season right here at FIJIWater.com, had widespread, spontaneous applause break out after the show -- the only one we saw where that happened. Zang also got a standing ovation afterward. We ran into him the next day on the way to friend Pamela Rolland's show, and he said he was pleased with the reaction but was relieved all the hard work was over.
The celebrities were back at Marc Jacobs after several season where celebs were noticeably absent -- most likely because Jacobs decided to let them back.
Libertine, which showed Saturday morning at 10 a.m. (so early!), managed to wake up the crowd with colorful clothes and patterns on traditional designs.

That's it for now. Until September, so long and stay hydrated!

FIJI Water Employees Prepare to Hustle up the Hancock

FIJI Water — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:53:18 +0000

It's the ultimate test of a New Year's resolution to exercise more. This Sunday, February 27, 4,000 people (including five FIJI Water employees) will be participating in Chicago's Hustle Up the Hancock. The run/hike up the 94-story John Hancock Center (pictured at left, worm's-eye view) is in support of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, an appropriate cause for what may be one of the most physically challenging charity events all year. Want to help the Respiratory Health Association meet its fundraising goals this year? Donate below.

FIJI Water Employees Participating in the Hustle

FIJI Water is not merely sponsoring the Hustle, we're participating. Five of our local employees will be rocking their quads as they ascend the tower on Sunday. To find out how they are preparing for the 94-story climb, we caught up with two of them, Robbie Dunsworth, our District Sales Manager, and Erin Kate Johnson, our Northeast Event Marketing Manager. Robbie Dunsworth, 1-Year Veteran of the Hustle Q: Is this your first time participating? A: No, Erin [his girlfriend] and I participated last year. My time was around 18:43. Q: Have you started training for the 94-story climb? If so, what have you been doing? A: A little. I do the stair climber about 10 minutes once or twice a week. But I’m going to move to 20 minutes on the stair climber twice a week. Shouldn’t be too hard. Erin Kate Johnson – Very Scared First Timer Q: Is this your first time participating? A: Yes – I am stressing. The only stair experience I have is when living in the dorms in college. I lived in the Athletes Building and the football players thought it was funny to break the elevators by jumping up and down. When they did this, I would then have to take the stairs to the 20th floor. This was ten years ago and now I currently live in an elevator building. (The elevators never break.) My biggest fear is getting inside the staircase and not being able to complete the full climb and literally be sitting on a step as others “hustle” by me. I have never done any marathons or physical challenges. My biggest challenge is going to Tabata at Equinox two times a week, which is only a 45-minute class. Q: Have you started training for the 94-story climb? If so, what have you been doing? A: Absolutely NOT! As I think for many of us, my New Year's resolution of working out has ended due to traveling for work and laziness. I haven’t gone to the gym in over two weeks! Q: If not, what is your strategy moving forward? What are your biggest fears about the climb? A: My strategy is to start a crash training program. I plan on going to the gym every day until the day of the event and get time logged on the Stairmaster. I am also hoping to use the stairs in my building and do test climbs of 30 stories. Good luck, Erin, Robbie, and the rest of the FIJI Water contingent!

New Library in Fiji to Get Books from California Students

FIJI Water — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:55:54 +0000

As part of its ongoing charitable work in the islands of Fiji, the FIJI Water Foundation recently announced the completion of a library in a remote village on the island of Vanua Levu, the second largest island in the Fijian archipelago. The library will be stocked in part with books gathered by California schoolchildren. Launched in 2007, the FIJI Water Foundation is a charitable trust funded and supported by FIJI Water's owners, employees, and partners from around the world. Today, it is one of the largest charitable organizations in the islands.

Sowing a Passion for Reading From California to Fiji

Built for approximately F$13,700, the new library will help foster a passion for reading in the school's 173 students. Before the library was built, the nearest library was in the town of Savusavu, 100 kilometers -- and a F$8 bus fare -- away. The library's collection will be supplemented by books donated by American school children as part of The Fiji Reads Project. A group of San Mateo County, Calif., teenagers led by 13-year-old Justin Grodem, an eighth grader at Central Middle School, have been collecting books for Fiji from their community. The students easily surpassed their initial goal of 500 books, and had over 5,000 when they wrapped up "Boys for Books" in November. The books will be shipped to Fiji by FIJI Water's shipping line, Neptune Pacific. “I was surprised to start something and have it be so successful without doing anything big,” Grant Biggers, one of the boys behind the book drive, told the San Mateo County Daily Journal. Many of the FIJI Water Foundation's grants are awarded using an innovative 75%-25% system, meaning 75% of the project cost comes from the Foundation, and 25% comes from the local community. The local contribution can be in cash or kind, meaning the donation of labor and/or meals for laborers. "We try to get the whole village involved because it gives them a sense of ownership and in the end a sense of achievement," said Fane Niumataiwalu, FIJI Water Foundation Manager.

New Water Project in Wailevu

Just as the Lekutu project is winding down, the Foundation has announced the village of Wailevu as the latest recipient of a Foundation grant. The Wailevu village school was awarded F$15,000 for a new water reticulation system to bring clean water to approximately 150 students. When completed, the new system will allow students access to clean water without the disruption of classes.

A Bittersweet Announcement from the FIJI Water Foundation

Finally, a bit of staffing news from the Foundation: Olive Compain, the much-beloved Foundation Administrator, has left to move to Papua New Guinea. Fane Niumataiwalu will be taking over her responsibilities. Moce mada ("farewell" in Fijian), Olive!

Win a Trip to Palms Casino Resort This Memorial Day

FIJI Water — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:05:19 +0000

This sweepstakes has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered. Winners will be announced soon. This Memorial Day, skip the barbecue and go straight to Vegas! FIJI Water and the Palms Casino Resort are offering a fabulous Memorial Day weekend for two at the luxury resort casino with airfare, accommodations, dining, and nightlife included. Grand Prize includes airfare and accommodations for two for two nights at the Palms Casino Resort, All Venue Access wristband to the Moon Nightclub, Playboy Club, Rain Nightclub, and Ghostbar including a "hosted bar" at the Rain, plus dinner for two at gourmet restaurant Nove Italiano. Winners also receive tickets to The Love Festival happening all weekend at the Palms. And to top it off we're throwing in one year of FIJI Water Delivery. Two runners-up will receive the All Venue Access wristband (but are responsible for their own transportation to Las Vegas and accommodations there). Must be a resident of the United States and at least 21 at time of entry. See official rules for complete details.[gravityform id=19 name=PalmsMemorial Day Flyaway Sweepstakes]

Designer Cynthia Rowley on Luxury, Fragility, and Democratic Fashion

FIJI Water — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:14:57 +0000

In the run-up to New York Fashion Week, we caught up with designer Cynthia Rowley, who will be showing at 7 p.m., Friday, February 11, at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

Rowley designed her first dress at age 7, sold her first collection in college, and has won or been nominated for numerous fashion awards, including the Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear. Rowley talked about her own inspirations, and what it means to have “good taste.”

Q: What inspired you to become a fashion designer?

A: I don’t know that I had a choice. I was always interested in playing with fabric. I made my own clothes and bought Betsey Johnson sewing patterns and tinkered with them. I was fortunate enough to have a lot of different people — both friends and industry contacts — along the way telling me to go for it, or else I don’t know if I would have had the perspective to see that this could be my career.

Q: What was the design inspiration for your fall collection?

A: Well, in my spring collection, everything had to be sleek and clean and architectural. When I approached fall, I filtered everything through the same modernist lens – the clothes are very contemporary – but with a completely different twist. This collection is full of these really beautiful fabrics that are both fragile and luxurious.

A look from Cynthia Rowley's Spring 2011 Collection.

Q: How much time does it take to create a season’s collection?

A: I think it would be hard for any designer to determine how long it takes him or her to really conceive a collection from inspiration to production. I mean, for some of the designs that I end up actualizing, I might have seen a movie ten years ago, or read a book that all of a sudden I’m reminded of, and then it becomes a central inspiration in the collection’s development.

Q: What do you do to set your design apart from those of other designers?

A: I think every designer has his or her own unique point of view, so I never even have to try to set myself apart.

Q: What kind of woman (or person or man) do you design for?

A: Well, I could give you the typical answer, and tell you that I’m designing for someone confident, adventurous, creative, etc., but the truth is, we have such an extensive range of lines and products, that I don’t have a type – I just try to create compelling, beautiful products.

Q: How do you want people to feel when wearing your clothing?

A: It’s important to me that my clothing makes people feel comfortable, but also confident and sexy. I would be happy if my clothing inspired people to have more fun – to be more playful and adventurous. I would hope that my customers would take the pieces I’ve designed and style them in a way that feels authentic to them.

Q: What is your favorite piece that you’ve designed?

A: It’s kind of like what they say about kids: “It’s impossible to choose a favorite!”

A look from Cynthia Rowley's Spring 2011 Collection

Q: What are some of your least favorite trends of recent years?

A: Oh, let’s not get dragged down by the negative side of things…!

I mean, to be honest, there’s validity to looking and learning from anything new. I think anything really new is good.

Q: What is the future of fashion? What big milestones do your foresee for the next 10 years?

A: The future of fashion is democratic consumption. I think we’re going to see the consumer playing more and more of a role in how we create and what makes its way onto the runway. Of course, the bridge between designer and consumer is becoming smaller every day with all of the new technologies designed to facilitate these communications… which is really exciting!

Q: In fashion, what does “good taste” mean to you?

A: Good taste means knowing yourself and what works for you. Though it’s important to be aware of seasonal trends, it’s way more key to develop an overarching sense of style — not necessarily timeless, but thoughtful. I don’t believe in the “dressing your age” adage — I think it’s outdated—but I do think it’s important to partake in styles that suit your body type and convey an interest in looking your best. I also think good taste has so much to do with being willing to experiment. When you step outside of your comfort zone, you can create a look that’s really different and special.

Q: What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion?

A: Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. You should try to intern with or assist a designer that you like and respect to get a better sense of the process as a whole. Don’t expect it to be about glamour, because most of it is about hard work. Don’t get discouraged by minor setbacks, and don’t let criticism drag you down – have faith in your own vision.

Christian Siriano Dishes on the Dark Inspirations for His Fall 2011 Collection

FIJI Water — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:28:55 +0000

Christian Siriano has been designing since he was 13 years old. After attending the Baltimore School for the Arts, Siriano interned in London under legends Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen before moving to New York City. Today, Siriano's designs are sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and specialty stores around the world. Project Runway's Tim Gunn said of Siriano, "I really believe he is this generation's Marc Jacobs. I really do. We have found America's next great fashion designer." On Thursday, February 10, Siriano's Fall 2011 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will stream live on the FIJI Water website and Facebook page. In anticipation of his latest season at MBFW, Siriano answered some questions about what inspires him. At the bottom of this post is a Flickr stream of some photos of Siriano and his work. Q: What inspired you to become a fashion designer? A: I love so many things about fashion and clothing. I love the idea of feeling glamorous when you are wearing something you feel good in. I fell in love with clothes when I was backstage, maybe 5 years old, at my sister's ballet performance, and I loved the costumes, hair, makeup, and the hustle of one dancer changing into her next look for her next dance. It was a fantasy world that I wanted to be in. Q: What was the design inspiration for your fall collection? A: The look for this collection came organically. It struck me naturally as I was researching images of plant life, looking for inspiration for prints last season, and then all of a sudden it literally came to me from these organic inspirations. I read about these dark plants that only survive out of sunlight, beautiful leaves and blossoms that come up black and thrive in the dark. I have had my dark moments in past collections, but this time I let the dark thrive in the same way. I wouldn't say the collection explores dark themes though. The clothes themselves are very beauty-centric, I focused on the delicate and the intricate. There is color involved; we have some greens and a beautiful mauve, and the shades of black and gray really helped me work more with different types of luxurious textures. I wanted some of the folds and sculptures of this collection to mimic the qualities of these plants. We have the large lapel of a cashmere coat overlapping onto itself, framing the wearer as the flower above. We have the drape of a lame blouse recalling a leaf in the rain and petals cut and embossed into these shapes. The silhouettes help bring the romance and softness to light, through the sexiness of the darker colors. After all, I still wanted this collection to be about my woman, the woman who wants to wear my clothing and feel beautiful in it. She likes this look of glamour but also loves to feel powerful. There is an inkling of military, and clean menswear-inspired trousers, a few double-breasted coats. There are structured jackets paired with soft sheer organic flowing skirts to bring some contrast. And since it's fall, our woman can pair soft, feminine fabrics and cuts with a strong outer layer. Q: How much time does it take to create a season’s collection? A: I usually become inspired and start to conceptualize the new collection as I'm finishing the season before. I'll think "next season I want this to happen and I want the clothes to be about this." Meanwhile, it's the day after my show. Real work on a collection, for me, usually starts three to four months before the show date. Q: What do you do to set your design apart from those of other designers? A: I create what I create and I don't set out to be specifically different from or similar to anyone else. I just do what I love! Q: What kind of woman (or person or man) do you design for? A: I want to design for women who want to feel great about themselves when they put my clothes on! My customer loves to look good and feel good, mix some power in with being glamorous. I love a woman who enjoys getting dressed up. Q: What is your favorite piece that you've designed? A: The latest thing I've done is always my favorite. Fashion is always onto the next, so it's good that I am, too! Q: What are some of your least favorite trends of recent years? A: My least favorite trend is that more and more people are getting more and more critical of every little thing, at every turn. Fashion is fun! We're all supposed to be having fun, right? Q: What is the future of fashion? What big milestones do your foresee for the next 10 years? A: The future of fashion? Suri Cruise, ha ha.

Sneak a Peek at Fall 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

FIJI Water — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:06:12 +0000

FIJI Water is back in the tents at Lincoln Center this month as the official water of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the premier event of New York Fashion Week. We've got an exciting schedule of events this season, including an opportunity to see a live stream show at Fashion Week.

Christian Siriano's Fall 2011 Collection: Exclusively at FIJIWater.com

Designer and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano will have his Fall 2011 Collection streamed live exclusively at FIJIWater.com and on our Facebook page starting at 7 p.m. PST, February 10. If you miss it, don't worry: The entire show will be archived on our site and Facebook after it is over. Right after his show, Siriano will be giving away a look from his Fall 2011 Collection. The giveaway starts as soon as Siriano's show ends -- just pop over to www.fijiwater.com/christiansiriano to enter (contest won't be live until after the Siriano show). You'll need a strong fashion sense to win!

The Bumbys, Our Wonderful Interns, And More

As the week gets into full swing, FIJI Water will be hosting a special appearance by famed performance artists The Bumbys on Friday, February 11, 7–10 p.m. A little bit snarky and a lot sweet, Jill and Gil Bumby will be the real fashion critics this season in the tents at Lincoln Center. Stop by their table in the lobby to receive a “Fair and Honest Appraisal of Your Appearance.” As with the last five seasons, the latest batch of bright-eyed FIJI Water interns will be handing out bottles to the assembled glitterati. The girls -- Brittany, Jackie, Meghan, and Alice -- will be wearing outfits styled by Fashionista.com, which will be featuring regular updates on their look(s) and photos throughout the week. We'll also be running exclusive profiles of Siriano and designer Cynthia Rowley (recently featured in the Wall Street Journal), earned wisdom from last year's interns, photos, video, tweets, and more from under the tents all week. So come back! Oh, and if you're attending any of the shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (like the winners of our Invitation to Fashion Week contest will be doing) remember: recycling is the new black. Drop your empty FIJI Water bottles in our bright blue containers strategically placed throughout Lincoln Center.

Win a VIP Trip to the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas

FIJI Water — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:08:26 +0000

This sweepstakes ends April 30, 2011 at midnight Eastern time. There's Las Vegas, and then there's Wynn Las Vegas. The day it opened, Steve Wynn's magnificent casino resort redefined luxury on the Strip. The Wynn and its partner hotel, Encore, have more five-star ratings than any other casino resort in the world -- the restaurants, shopping, shows, and spas are all the finest the city can offer. So when we say we are giving away a "VIP trip" to Wynn Las Vegas, we mean a truly VIP trip. Our Grand Prize winner will be treated to:

A three-night stay in a Parlor Suite -- 1,200 square feet of luxury high above the Strip.
Two VIP Indulgence tickets to Le Rêve, which include Champagne Circle seating with plush, luxurious seats, video monitors to watch behind-the-scenes action, and a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolates.
Couples Good Luck Ritual treatment at The Spa at Wynn Las Vegas, including a 50-minute massage and foot and scalp treatment in a private couples suite with fireplace.
Exceptional dinners at three renowned restaurants, one for each night: Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, Sinatra, and The Country Club.
Gift card to cover travel expenses for two to Las Vegas.
Transportation in style to and from airport.

Of course, at Wynn Las Vegas, even runner-up is pretty fabulous: Three first-prize winners will receive a two-night stay at Wynn Las Vegas, dinner, tickets to Le Rêve, and a gift card to cover travel expenses. Sound amazing? It will be.

Former Fashion Week Intern Jenny Eisenberg Tells All

FIJI Water — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:48:03 +0000

This is hardly the first season FIJI Water has sponsored a Fashion Week Internship. In fact, we've had interns the last five seasons, so it has become something of a minor institution. Jenny Eisenberg, pictured above at left with her twin sister, was an intern at Spring 2011 Fashion Week held last September. We asked her to share some of the hard-earned wisdom gained from that event with us, and update us on what she is doing now.

Jenny Eisenberg's Fashion Week Wisdom

I remember telling my friends when asked about the Fashion Week internship that the experience reminded me very much of studying abroad. You love it while you’re there -- you’re always ready for anything, trying and seeing new great things, running around everywhere on no sleep -- but not truly able to appreciate the magnitude of how great an opportunity it is while it's happening. Afterwards, as I expected, it is even that much more special to me. There is nothing quite like having a personal pass into a venue full of the fashion elite. The shows we saw were fantastic, a true testament to the creative fashion minds of our time. The people who attend them, whether lucky attendees (after all, you can’t just buy a Fashion Week ticket, you have to be invited), PR, photographers, celebrities, or friends of the designers, everyone is decked out in their own version of fabulous. These people are almost as amusing as the show itself, which made the repetitive task of handing out water very entertaining. Celebrities like Carmen Electra strike a pose as do the other attendees as they're stopped by photographers to get their picture -- who knows which shot could be the priceless one? Overall, the experience was phenomenal. The FIJI team is great and really went out of their way to ensure we had a very unique experience. Getting to see some of the big shows like Zac Posen and Betsey Johnson were definitely two of my favorite memories. Additionally, I particularly enjoyed seeing the difference between fashion exhibits, smaller fashion shows at off-location venues, and huge Lincoln Center fashion show productions. The free year’s supply of FIJI Water doesn’t hurt either. I would definitely recommend entering the contest to anyone interested in entering the fashion industry. I now work as an Assistant Merchandiser at Ann Taylor, a job I started the week following the contest. The FIJI experience really helped broaden my scope of the industry. I would love to see high fashion play a strong role in my extended future; the artistic nature of it is really undeniable. I would also push all applicants to be creative with their responses. I made a video in the final round that I wasn’t physically in because I was at the beach with my sister’s old laptop and very limited Internet access. Apparently, my submission caused an uproar in the FIJI office because it was the first time someone had entered a video without themselves in it and they weren’t sure how audiences would react. I think ultimately viewers appreciated the variety in our videos and it added an extra dimension to the competition. It might seem far-fetched or unrealistic to enter and win, but the rewards of winning far outweigh your skepticism. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Announcing the Winners of the Fall 2011 Fashion Week Internship Contest

FIJI Water — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:19:32 +0000

The votes are in, and FIJI Water is proud to announce the winners of our February 2011 New York Fashion Week Internship Contest. But first, we would like to thank everyone who entered and especially our eight finalists, who turned in some amazingly creative videos. We would also like to thank the thousands of people who voted. We couldn't have done it without you!

Presenting our Fashion Week Interns

This season, the four finalists with the most votes qualified to be FIJI Water interns. Here they are in alphabetical order: Brittany Caswell Brittany Caswell describes herself as "outgoing, hardworking, with a unique style and personality." She recently graduated from Millersville University with a degree in business marketing and was featured on the front cover of a décor and fashion magazine in May 2010. Caswell plans to pursue an MBA in fashion marketing.

Jaclyn McKenzie Jackie McKenzie hopes to have a career in the fashion industry after graduating from Ohio State University. She would also like to attend London or Paris Fashion Week -- or both! McKenzie loves "the creativity in fashion and how people represent themselves through clothing."

Meghan Alyssa Meghan Alyssa Mende is pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in event planning at Rider University, class of 2012. Mende's dream is to eventually become a successful event planner. "I am a very creative person," said Mende. "That's why I love fashion so much, there's no limits to how creative you can be."

Alma Alice Woo Alma Alice Woo is a communications major and co-editor of Trend, a fashion publication, at the University of California, San Diego. She has been intrigued with design since she was a young girl and is "motivated and determined to work in the fashion industry in which I am passionate about!"

Congratulations to Brittany, Jackie, Meghan, and Alice! They will be joining FIJI Water at New York Fashion Week, February 10-17, for an intense week of hard-work, fashion, and fun. Check back here for more exciting Fashion Week news, including exclusive live feeds of designer shows, tweets from the shows, designer profiles, and more.

Wildlife of the Sovi Basin: The Sheath Tail Bat

FIJI Water — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:32:38 +0000

In 2008 FIJI Water committed $5 million to preserve 50,000 acres in the Sovi Basin, one of the largest remaining lowland rain forest in the South Pacific, and an important part of the Polynesia/Micronesia biodiversity “hotspot.” As part of a continuing series, we will be profiling some of the rare and endangered creatures found there.

The Sheath Tail Bat: Barely Hanging On

It would be hard to find a better argument for preserving the Sovi Basin rain forest than the sheath tail bat. Once relatively common in many of the islands of the South Pacific, sheath tail populations have been mysteriously dropping since at least Word War II. Known locally as Bekabeka and by science as Emballonura semicaudata, the sheath tail, like many other bats, eats insects, hunts at night (is nocturnal), and roosts in caves. Sunset at a sheath tail roosting cave is an awesome event as bats swarm out of their cave by the hundreds in search of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Like other bats, Bekabeka also hunts using echo-location. These bats can determine the size and nature of objects in front of them just by analyzing the sonar echoes they receive from the objects.

A Mysterious Drop in Bat Populations

Because the sheath tail has been little-studied, scientists aren't exactly sure why populations are dropping. Bombing of island caves during World War II, feral cats, eco-tourism, forest loss, and insecticides have all been blamed for steady declines in populations throughout the South Pacific. As a result of these declines, the bat is on the IUCN's Endangered Species Redlist, and many Pacific governments have passed laws to protect them. Fiji is one of the few places with a steady population of sheath tails. In 1979, the last sheath tail was observed on Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, but bat populations still exist on smaller islands scattered around the archipelago. The disappearance of the sheath tail, besides being a loss to biodiversity, would have further repercussions: Where they still exist, sheath tails play an important part in maintaining the population of flying insects.

Wine Extravaganza La Paulée de New York Celebrates 10th Anniversary

FIJI Water — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:50:19 +0000

A lusty three-day event February 10-12, Daniel Johnnes' La Paulée de New York is a grand tasting of rare and exemplary Burgundies matched with impeccable French cuisine. More than thirty of the most sought-after Domaines will be there to share the newest releases and older vintage wines sourced directly from their cellars during various tastings, banquets, and auctions. Want to go? Tickets to events range from $125 to $3750, and there are still some available.

A Modern Wine Celebration of Ancient Vintage

"The wine dinner to end all wine dinners," as the New York Times calls it, has happened every other year for the last 10 years in New York , but its roots extend back to medieval France. La Paulée de New York is the American branch of an older tradition, La Paulée de Meursault, which was inaugurated in France in 1923. In France, the La Paulée luncheon itself is only the crowning event of "Les Trois Glorieuses," three days of celebration marking the end of the grape harvest held in the town of Meursault, Burgundy. But that tradition is itself a modern reinvention of a much, much older one from medieval France, when growers and their workers would gather to fête the sale of their wines and the socking away of another vintage in the cellars.

From French Village to Park Avenue

[caption id="attachment_10508" align="alignright" width="199" caption="A traditional male chorus will be on hand to serenade attendees. "][/caption] Yet even as the event has migrated from a rustic affair in the French countryside to the world's classiest B.Y.O.B. party, attendees still honor the old customs, like joining in the singing of traditional French anthems and sharing prized bottles from their cellars with friends, both long-acquainted and just-met. As in France, there will be a charity auction as well. Over the years, the auction raised over $2 million for Citymeals-on-Wheels. One notable difference with France is that the wines La Paulée de New York's well-heeled attendees bring tend to be some of the rarest (and most expensive) bottles of vino in existence. "It's my homage to La Paulée de Meursault," said Daniel Johnnes, founder of the event and Wine Director for Chef Daniel Boulud's restaurants, which include flagship DANIEL, Cafe Boulud, DB Bistro Moderne, Bar Boulud, and DBGB Kitchen and Bar. Chef Boulud himself will be leading the culinary aspect of La Paulée de New York as Chef D’Honneur. He will be joined by other members of the city's culinary elite, like Tom Colicchio of Craft, Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park, and Michel Troisgros of Restaurant Troisgros.

Vote for Your Favorite Fashion Week Intern

FIJI Water — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:07:51 +0000

We received a record number of entries to our New York Fashion Week Internship Contest this season, making it especially difficult to choose our eight finalists -- but choose we did. Next, each finalist was given one week to come up with a video response to the following scenario: "Imagine you are an emerging fashion designer preparing your first collection for New York Fashion Week. What is the name you have chosen for your collection, and why? Where did you get the inspiration for your collection? Pick a key item from your closet or elsewhere that would best represent what we will see in your collection." Now it's your turn to vote for your favorite candidate. Watch the videos, then vote at the bottom of this page. The four finalists with the most votes are coming with us to New York Fashion Week! The videos (in alphabetical order by last name):

Folayemi Agusto

--!>

Samantha Epstein

Catherine Hsu

Jackie McKenzie

Meghan Mende

Gabrielle Tavani

Alma Alice Woo

Vote!

[polldaddy poll=4338624]

Taking a Day Off to Volunteer Around the Globe

FIJI Water — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:48:30 +0000

In addition to our regular work with charities in the U.S. and abroad, every year FIJI Water sets aside a full day for all of our employees around the globe to step away from their desks and give back to their community. From Australia to Los Angeles, Fiji to South Florida, our employees around the globe took off a full day on December 16 to give back to our various communities.

Volunteering in Los Angeles...

Last Thursday, the entire office at FIJI Water's headquarters in Los Angeles showed up at the St. Vincent Meals on Wheels program on West 3rd Street in Westlake/Echo Park. The St. Vincent program has been in operation since 1977, preparing and distributing meals to the homebound elderly. Today, the program distributes 4700 meals a day in the Greater Los Angeles Metro Area, and over a million meals a year. FIJI employees spent the day making blankets, assembling Christmas gift bags, and delivering meals to Meals on Wheels clients. FIJI Water was assisted by knitting professional Sasha Ross of Hands-On 3rd and expert volunteers from shopping event Unique LA. "Looking around at all the tables filled with FIJI Water employees, I felt a great sense of pride. I’m proud to be part of a company like FIJI Water that encourages its employees to help those less fortunate by dedicating a day, company-wide, to give back," said Kendra Hammer, Consumer Promotions Manager. After finishing our volunteer work, Cart for a Cause swung by to provide lunch: gourmet sandwiches from Susan Feniger's STREET. Lunch was served up to volunteers and the entire Meals on Wheels staff by FIJI Water's LA events team. Thanks, guys, for working so hard while the rest of us ate lunch! Have you done your good deed(s) for the year? How about donating to Meals on Wheels?

...and Around the World

Elsewhere on planet Earth, FIJI Water workers mobilized to do their part and give back. In Australia, the FIJI Water Australia team donated their time and labor to Meals on Wheels Australia. As one employee said, it feels like such a small world when we can support the same charity on the same day 8,000 miles apart! Our team in Fiji actually conducts volunteer days on a monthly basis. In November, the Fiji office, with charity Give Clean Water, went to the village of Keiyasi in the Navosa region, where they helped install water filters to prevent water-borne illnesses. This is in addition to a borehole, tanks, and reticulation systems installed in the village earlier this year. Back in the U.S., the Florida team spent the day helping out at Feeding South Florida's Broward County facility. In New York, our events team offered their services to Harlem United, to which we also recently donated a van. The team handed out condoms, conducted HIV testing, and participated in needle exchange and other AIDS-prevention programs. "It was the real deal," said Paul Poux, Event Marketing Manager, East. In Chicago, the regional sales team spent the day at the Chicago Food Depository Center. According to Erin Kate Johnson, our Northeast Event Marketing Manager, "Teamwork was key when we worked the Flex Line - think I Love Lucy working in the chocolate factory." The team packed over 774 boxes of food. Below is a Flickr set of photos from FIJI Water volunteer day activities around the world. Thinking of volunteering yourself? VolunteerMatch connects volunteers with opportunities near them.

Chocolate Chip With a Twist Wins Holiday Cookie Bake-Off

FIJI Water — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:51:19 +0000

Christmas came early for New Yorkers during the 2nd Annual FIJI Water Holiday Cookie Swap and Bake-Off that took place in Manhattan's East Village last Saturday. Guests were treated to not just holiday décor and all the FIJI Water, Mionetto Prosecco, and Green & Black’s Chocolate their hearts could desire, but also a cornucopia of holiday cookies from 25 volunteer bakers. The event raised $9,000 the Lower Eastside Girls Club and their new culinary program. Stiff Competition, Expert Cookie Judges Before the event even began, the 25 volunteer bakers got started decorating their tables with Christmas wrapping paper and arranging their cookies for a tasty display. Three bakers would be walking away with prizes for the best cookie of the night, with a grand prize valued at over $500 donated by sponsor King Arthur Flour. Cookies were judged by an esteemed panel including Julie Christopher of King Arthur Flour, Pastry Chef Jen Shelbo of Maialino, Chef Sue Torres of Suenos, food writer Josh Ozersky, Pastry Chef Myriam Eberhardt of DBGB Kitchen and Bar (who provided us with the very easy-to-make recipe to her pistachio Breton cookies), and Nichelle Stephens, blogger and cupcake enthusiast. Despite the daunting panel of culinary pros, nerves disappeared as guests poured in excited to try and to buy as many cookies as possible. During the event, the all-female a cappella group Treble put us in the Christmas spirit with classic holiday tunes. The youngest members of the girls club, dressed head to toe in Christmas gear, also joined in for a few songs -- which hands-down won for most adorable moment of the day. In the end, Jamie Newman's chocolate chip cookies with spicy candied pecans won the grand prize (Newman is pictured above with two plates of his winning cookies). Newman professed to being "overwhelmed." "I never thought I would win, given the stiff competition of seasoned bakers," said Newman. "In fact, I was worried I would have dozens left over, but I managed to sell every last cookie! The win itself was very gratifying, but the fact that all my proceeds went directly back to the Lower Eastside Girls Club made it all the better." Newman also shared with us what, in his opinion, made his cookies winners. "People were definitely intrigued by the idea of adding a hint of heat to something as common as a chocolate chip cookie," he explained. FIJI Water and the Lower Eastside Girls Club Holiday Cookie Swap '10 from FIJI Water on Vimeo.

In Style, for Style: Win a Trip from Australia to New York for Fashion Week

FIJI Water — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:36:12 +0000

Live in Australia but pine for a taste of New York fashion? Pine no more! FIJI Water wants to fly you and your friend/spouse/style consultant business class to New York City for New York Fashion Week, February 10-17, 2011. In conjunction with Woolworths, FIJI Water will not only fly the two of you to New York in style, but we'll put you up in a four-star hotel for four nights, get you into at least two fashion shows, and buy you a fine meal (up to AU$300). Plus, we'll shuttle you back and forth from your hotel to the airport and events. In other words, even if you're not into fashion, this is an amazing trip.

How Do I Enter?

All you have to do to enter is purchase two bottles of FIJI Water at Woolworths (in Queensland, NSW, or Victoria only) and then come up with a really original answer to the following: "Describe your ultimate New York Fashion Week experience with FIJI Water." (See official rules for details.) Good luck!

Holiday Cookie Swap Recipe Preview

FIJI Water — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:33:07 +0000

The 2nd Annual Holiday Cookie Swap and Bake-Off happens this Saturday in New York City. But if you don't live in New York, or you just can't wait to try the cookies on offer, we've got a recipe from one of the participating chefs, Myriam "Mymi" Eberhardt of DBGB Kitchen and Bar. Chef Eberhardt was classically trained in the culinary arts at the prestigious Lycee Joseph Storck in the Alsace region of France and worked for five years at La Manoir aux Quat'saisons, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Oxfordshire, England. While she's always had an interest in pastry, Eberhardt worked primarily on the savory side until moving to New York to work under Chef Boulud in 2005. Two years later, Eberhardt moved up to pastry sous-chef at DB Bistro Moderne, and later to full pastry chef at DBGB Kitchen and Bar. Chef Eberhardt's recipe, below, is for iced pistachio Breton cookies. She'll be serving these at the cookie swap Saturday, December 18, from 1-4 p.m. at La Vie Restaurant. Proceeds benefit the Lower Eastside Girls Club's job training programs.

[caption id="attachment_9688" align="alignright" width="242" caption="Chef Eberhardt's pistachio cookies will be at the cookie swap December18."][/caption] Pistachio Breton Holiday Cookies

(makes 2 dozen)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Cookies

1/2 cup egg yolks (14) 1 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/4 cup (2 1/2 sticks) butter, very soft 1/4 cup pistachio paste 2 1/3 cup flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp salt

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Icing

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/2 lemon, juice

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, whip the yolks with the sugar until thick and light in color.
Gradually add the butter until fully combined, then add pistachio paste, and whip for one minute.
Using a rubber spatula, scrape mixture from the whisk and replace with a paddle attachment. Add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
Place a sheet of parchment paper on a flat surface and scrape the dough on top. Top with another sheet of parchment, and using a rolling pin, roll the dough between the paper into a 1/4-inch thick sheet. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until hardened.
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using cookie cutters of your desired shape, cut out the cookies and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Any dough scraps can be re-rolled and cut. Bake cookies for 6 minutes or until golden brown.
While the cookies are baking, make the icing by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle onto the still-warm cookies to decorate.

The 2nd Annual Holiday Cookie Swap and Bake-Off Approaches!

FIJI Water — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:30:16 +0000

For the second year running, FIJI Water and the Lower Eastside Girls Club in New York are sponsoring a really sweet way to enjoy the best of the holiday season, and contribute to charity, too. The 2nd Annual Holiday Cookie Swap and Bake-Off happens Saturday, December 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. at La Vie Restaurant and Lounge in the East Village of Manhattan. Proceeds from the event go to the Girls Club's job training programs.

Have Your Cookies and Eat Them, Too

[caption id="attachment_9572" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Peppermint meringues. Yum. "][/caption] The idea for the charity cookie swap came from old-fashioned cookie swaps, where friends or family members bake a big batch of cookies, then come together and divvy them up. Last year's swap was a hit: Despite a massive blizzard, guests poured in and we sold every cookie. Besides FIJI Water, the event is sponsored by King Arthur Flour, Mionetto Prosecco, and Green & Black’s Chocolate. (I feel a recipe coming on already...) On the day of the event, 25 volunteer bakers will stake out space in La Vie with their wares. Each baker will have a minimum of six dozen cookies each (25 bakers X 6 dozen = at least 1,800 holiday cookies!). Arriving guests receive an empty holiday cookie tin and a complimentary glass of Mionetto Prosecco with admittance, and then are set loose to fill their tins: Cookies are on sale for $0.50-2.00 each. At the end of the day, cookies will be judged by a panel of celebrity chefs and bakers. The winner will be awarded the King Arthur Flour Best Cookie Award and a “Baker’s Basket” of amazing kitchen ingredients and accessories valued at over $500. But this is a cookie swap, so everybody is a winner. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Proceeds go towards the the Girls Club's job training programs.

[caption id="attachment_9574" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="The scene at last year's swap. "][/caption] A Sweet Event for a Sweet Cause

Proceeds from this event will benefit job-training programs in the culinary arts for economically disadvantaged Lower East Side teens. Every year, the Lower Eastside Girls Club trains girls and young women to work in its commercial bakery through its Cookie Academy program. This program offers much needed professional skills development to Lower East Side teens, and give them that “first job” experience. With teen unemployment at over 50% nationally, and way higher on the Lower East Side, there is a great need for this type of programming. FIJI Water, the Lower Eastside Girls Club, and all of our co-sponsors are proud to offer a youth-run venture that will satisfy your palate and sweet tooth at an affordable price.

Announcing the February 2011 New York Fashion Week Internship Contest

FIJI Water — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:00:14 +0000

The first round of the internship contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered -- we will be contacting the first round winners soon! Fashion Week is fast approaching, which means it's time for the FIJI Water New York Fashion Week Internship Contest. For five seasons, FIJI Water has brought our interns to the center of the fashion action, and this February will be no exception -- especially now that FIJI Water is the official water of the main event at Lincoln Center, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. We're looking for four energetic interns to join us behind the scenes in New York City February 9-17, 2011. Details, contest rules, and dates are below.

A Valuable Experience and an Unforgettable Week in Fashion

Interested in fashion, event management, or PR? Add a stylish boost to your resume with a week on fashion’s frontlines. As a FIJI Water intern you will rub elbows with key fashion insiders and see the inner workings of the business up-close. Interns not only have opportunities to distribute FIJI Water at shows from established designers like Betsey Johnson and Donna Karan to newer designers like Yigal Azrouel, but can sometimes attend these shows on their own. September 2010 Fashion Week interns even went backstage at shows for Christian Siriano and Charlotte Ronson. Not to mention all the celebrity sightings and more fabulous fashion than you can shake a $10,000 handbag at. But it's not all glamour -- you'll also be hefting crates of FIJI Water, representing our brand at Lincoln Center, and generally working hard (while learning a lot). "There is nothing quite like having a personal pass into a venue full of the fashion elite...I would definitely recommend entering the contest to anyone interested in entering the fashion industry," said Jenny Eisenberg, a September 2010 intern. We’re looking for people with just the right mix of friendliness, enthusiasm, and passion for fashion. Think you have what it takes? Then read on:

How to Enter:

In our comments section below post your 150-300-word response to the following: "What does 'good taste' in fashion mean to you?" Comments must be submitted by 11:59PM PST, December 22, 2010. Comments submitted on Facebook or anywhere other than in the comments section of this blog post will not be considered.
Make sure you include your email address so we can contact you if you’re chosen as one of our finalists. If we can’t contact you through the email address you provide, we can’t include you as a finalist.

Then What?

Week of December 27, 2010: We’ll choose the final eight (8) candidates, who will then create their very own video in which they answer three (3) specific questions to test their fashion enthusiasm and knowledge.
January 7-14, 2011: Visitors to this blog will be able to view the videos and vote for their favorite.
(On or around) January 17, 2011: We’ll tally up the votes and announce our Fashion Week interns.

The Fine Print:

Interns will receive a year of free FIJI Water Delivery.
Sorry, this internship is unpaid and does not offer reimbursement for any travel or lodging expenses, but there will be tons of networking opportunities and hands-on experience promoting a leading brand.
By entering the contest, candidates agree to release and hold harmless FIJI Water and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees from all claims, liability or damage caused or claimed to be caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in connection with this contest.
FIJI Water and its affiliates assume no responsibility for the conduct of any contestant or voter or the responses of anyone appearing in any entry.
By participating, candidates acknowledge and accept the terms of the official rules of the contest. Additional restrictions may apply.
By submitting your comment, you also must be willing to provide us with a photo of yourself to be used with your video.
All candidates must be 18 years or older and a U.S. resident to participate in this contest.

Ready with your entry? Just post it in the comments box below. Good luck!

The Perfect Pairing: Award-Winning Winery Now Part of FIJI Water

FIJI Water — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 09:32:27 +0000

Good taste is hard to find. For seven years, Stewart Resnick, co-owner of FIJI Water and a long-time wine enthusiast, and John Cochran, our President and COO, scoured the hills of California wine country, looking for the perfect winery to add to the FIJI Water family. It needed to have the same reputation for premium taste and quality that FIJI Water has, and it needed to have a culture like FIJI's: both laid-back and hard-working at the same time. They've finally found it. Today, FIJI Water is proud to announce the acquisition of JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles, California. JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is a critically-acclaimed, world class premium wine brand that FIJI Water and its parent company, Roll International, are proud to add to their portfolio (pictured above are, from left to right, JUSTIN's co-proprietors Justin and Deborah Baldwin, Resnick, and Cochran).

[caption id="attachment_9562" align="alignright" width="194" caption="JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery co-proprietors Justin and Deborah Baldwin. "][/caption] A Mutual Commitment to Superior Taste

For anyone familiar with both FIJI Water and JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, today's announcement should make perfect sense. Both of our companies have built successful businesses with deeply loyal followings founded on a simple premise: the superior taste of our products. In JUSTIN's case, their blends and single varietals have won innumerable awards and benchmarks for popularity. Their 2007 FOCUS was recently granted an eye-popping 95 points by Wine Spectator. At the same time, JUSTIN's cabernet sauvignon is the mostly widely drunk wine by the glass in American restaurants. Read more about JUSTIN's wines. JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1981 by co-proprietors Justin and Deborah Baldwin. In addition to the winery, JUSTIN also has a beautiful bed & breakfast, tasting room, restaurant, and the private Wine Society Lounge where JUSTIN's wine club members can sip the latest vintages. Learn more about the vineyards and winery. [caption id="attachment_9563" align="alignleft" width="200" caption=" ISOSCELES, JUSTIN's award-winning bordeaux-style blend. "][/caption] FIJI Water's goal will be to provide the new member of the family the opportunity to grow without compromising quality. At all. Of course, when it comes to managing the quality of the product, growing a wine business is a lot trickier than growing a water business. That's why the Baldwins will be staying on as Founders and Advisors to the business, continuing to do what they do best – make great wine. FIJI Water also has the experience, expertise, and dedication of JUSTIN's employees to rely on. Here at FIJI Water, we are excited to get to know the "Paso Robles contingent," preferably over a glass of the '07 ISOSCELES up in Paso. Welcome!

Sailor for FIJI Water Shipper Wins Bravery at Sea Award

FIJI Water — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:28:25 +0000

The International Maritime Organization bestowed its highest award for bravery on a sailor working for one of the shipping lines that carries FIJI Water from Fiji. James Fanifau of Neptune Pacific Shipping was awarded the 2010 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea in a ceremony in London on November 24. Fanifau, 30, of Fiji, was joined at the ceremony by the man whose life he saved, Dr. Jerome Morgan, 72, of the United States (both pictured above).

A Dramatic Rescue at Sea

Fanifau was Fourth Engineer aboard the cargo ship MV Scarlett Lucy on May 21, 2009, when the ship responded to a broadcast from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre. Morgan's yacht, the Sumatra II, was taking on water and sinking amid severe weather conditions in the Tasman Sea 350 miles east of Brisbane. Weather conditions were very poor, with rough seas, waves up to eight meters high, and low visibility. In addition, the yacht was too far from shore for a rescue helicopter to be sent. When the Scarlett Lucy arrived, a second passenger on the Sumatra II was able to scramble up a boarding net to safety, but Morgan remained adrift and repeated attempts to rescue him with life rings failed. Finally, displaying exceptional heroism, Fanifau dove overboard and pulled the exhausted Morgan to safety. Here is some video of the rescue: Morgan's sons were also present at the ceremony, where the doctor thanked Fanifau for saving his life. "I would not be standing here before you today if it were not for the courage and bravery of James Fanifau. James braved the violent storm that dark night to reach out for me and deliver me from the certain jaws of death, so that I would be able to see my beloved family again." The IMO established this annual award to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life, perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment. A total of 31 international candidates were considered for the 2010 award with Fanifau’s actions being recognised by an eminent panel of judges and supported by the governing Council of the IMO. Officers of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre recommended Fanifau for the nomination, noting it was one of the most courageous rescues they had witnessed in recent years, according to the AMSA's website.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Dried-Fruit Stuffed Pork Loin

FIJI Water — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:18:59 +0000

No Thanksgiving meal is complete without at least one non-turkey entree option. If you're scrambling for bird alternatives this Thanksgiving, we've got a recipe for you. Chef Amar Santana of Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza created a tasty shrimp gazpacho served at the American Food & Wine Festival in September. For Thanksgiving, Santana is cooking up something richer and more November-y: dried fruit stuffed pork loin with roasted winter squash and sautéed Brussels sprouts, below.

Dried Fruit Stuffed Pork Loin with Roasted Winter Squash and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Pork Loin:

3 pounds pork loin, boneless 1/4 pound dried apricot 1/4 pound dried figs 1/3 cup golden raisins 1/3 cup dark raisins 1/2 cup apple sauce 8 fresh sage leaves 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground ginger 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 shallots, chopped 1 tablespoon lemon juice salt and pepper to taste vegetable oil

In a medium sauté pan add butter, shallots, and garlic and cook until soft for about 4 minutes, then add all the dried fruits and cook for 2 minutes. To finish, add spices and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and set aside, allowing it to cool.
For the loin, using a metal such as a sharpening still, make a hole in the middle of the loin and stuff with dried fruit.
Sear the loin in a hot pan on both sides, then place in a oven at 375 deg. for 40 -45 minutes.
Take out and let it rest, then slice.

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Roasted Winter Squash:

1 large butternut squash (about 3 lbs) freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves 2 tablespoons honey 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup maple syrup 2 sprig of thyme

Combine butternut squash with melted butter, sage, honey, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup, season with salt and pepper.
Place the squash on a non-stick pan and cook in a preheated oven at 400 deg. for about 12 minutes.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Brussels Sprouts:

12 ounces Brussels sprouts 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup chopped shallots 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 1 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped salt and pepper

Using a small knife, peel all the leaves from the Brussels sprouts.
In a sauté pan add olive oil, shallots, and garlic and cook about 3 minutes. Add Brussels sprout leaves and cook until leaves turn bright green color. Finish with salt, pepper, parsley, and sage.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Enjoy!

Citymeals-on-Wheels’ Power Lunch for Women

FIJI Water — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:56:42 +0000

Our President, John Cochran, joined some of the most powerful women in the country at Citymeals-on-Wheels' annual Power Lunch for Women November 15. The lunch at the Pierre Hotel honored two extraordinary philanthropists and long-time friends of Citymeals: Wolfensohn & Company Managing Director Diana Taylor and actor/director and Citymeals board member Kathleen Turner. The lunch raised $1,110,922 -- enough to provide 175,000 meals to homebound seniors in the New York City area. Journalist and news anchor Paula Zahn gave a special video presentation at the beginning of the lunch, which was emceed by another prominent journalist, Good Morning America anchor Juju Chang. Also in attendance was a who's who of powerful New York women, including celebrity chef Bethenny Frankel, Bobbi Brown, Mary Higgins Clark, Kathie Lee Gifford, Wendi Murdoch, Ruth Reichl, Gail Simmons, Silda Wall Spitzer, and many, many more. Citymeals called the event "an enormous success, bringing together an incredible group of women (and men) who show dedicated commitment to Citymeals’ mission and have become part of its ever-growing family." As he did last year, Mr. Cochran spent the morning before the lunch distributing meals to homebound elderly on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He was joined by his wife, Jen, and Gail Simmons of Food and Wine magazine and the show Top Chef. Gael Greene and James Beard founded Citymeals-on-Wheels in 1981 after reading a newspaper article about homebound elderly New Yorkers with nothing to eat on weekends and holidays. They rallied their friends in the restaurant community, raising private funds as a supplement to the government-funded weekday meal-delivery program. According to the Wall Street Journal, when the organization started nearly 30 years ago, it was serving 6,000 meals a day to people who were, on average, 60 years old. Now, as people are living longer, the charity says it is serving 17,000 meals, and the fastest growing group of clients is more than 90 years old. FIJI Water is proud of its sponsorship of Citymeals-on-Wheels and to be a part of this important event again this year.

Wildlife of the Sovi Basin: The Fiji Tree Frog

FIJI Water — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:01:29 +0000

The Fiji tree frog is one of only three frog species endemic to Fiji, meaning they are found there and nowhere else, and the only one that still survives in significant numbers. The frog in the photo was caught on film during a recent scientific foray into the Sovi Basin, part of research funded in part by the FIJI Water Foundation and Conservation International.

Baby, Can You Hear Me Calling?

The Fiji tree frog's biggest claim to fame is that it is one of the very few species on the planet where both the male and the female have mating calls (not including the cast of Jersey Shore). Another interesting fact: Averaging only 53 mm long, the Fiji tree frog can jump more than a meter -- the equivalent of a human jumping almost 120 feet.

Worshiped and Eaten

Frogs have an interesting place in Fijian culture. A close relative, the Fiji ground frog, known locally as Dreli, Boto ni Viti, or Ula, was the principal totem animal of the tribe Batinikia. According to NatureFiji.org, to even utter the word "Boto" in Batinikia territory was to risk severe punishment. On the other hand, another native frog, the giant ground frog, is believed to have been eaten to extinction.

Surviving -- Barely

Tree frogs, as their name suggests, spend most of their lives in trees, which scientists believe probably helped protect them from human hunters and foreign predators such as the Indian mongoose and Pacific boa constrictor. As a result, while the tree frog is considered "near threatened," it has managed to avoid extinction, unlike other native frog species. In fact, for a long time the tree frog was believed to be the only native Fijian frog species left following the extinction of the Fiji ground frog and giant ground frog. But in 2008, a team of scientists from Conservation International discovered a small population of the smaller-sized ground frogs in the Nakauvadra Range of Viti Levu. In 2008, FIJI Water committed $5 million to preserve 50,000 acres in the Sovi Basin, one of the last low-lying rain forests in Fiji, and an important part of the Polynesia/Micronesia biodiversity “hotspot.” As part of a continuing series, we will be profiling some of the rare and endangered species in the Sovi Basin both as a way to promote conservation work in the basin and showcase the importance and beauty of the animals found there.

Join John Legend & The Roots on the Beach in Cabo This December

FIJI Water — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:31:04 +0000

Capella Pedregal resort in Cabo San Lucas is planning an amazing weekend of music on the beach -- and you're invited. To benefit the Capella Foundation, which supports local charities in Cabo, Capella Pedregal has invited Grammy-winners John Legend & The Roots with special guest Joss Stone to play at the exclusive resort Saturday, December 11. John Legend & The Roots will be playing songs from their new album, Wake Up, which was released by Sony Music in September. Capella Pedregal resort is located just 35 minutes from Los Cabos International Airport. It occupies one of the most coveted parcels of land in Cabo -- 24 beachfront acres at the southernmost tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, near the legendary rock formations known as Land's End.

An All-Inclusive Weekend of Music and Relaxation

Capella Pedregal has organized an all-inclusive weekend centered around the concert, with every detail taken care of, including a pre-concert cocktail party and flamenco performance. The concert itself will be performed on a “floating” stage suspended over one of the resort’s pools, affording an almost 360-degree view of the band. Guests will enjoy the concert in a relaxed atmosphere with general admission seating that evokes an intimate living room setting with love seats, chaise lounges, and glowing lanterns. After the concert there will be a private party on the beach where guests will have the opportunity to meet the performers. Guests also receive daily breakfast for two in the signature Don Manuel’s restaurant or in-residence for those who book a Capella Villa, entrée to a private bonfire dinner on Capella Pedregal’s private beach, and invitation to a grand-finale event featuring a traditional horse dressage show and 10-piece mariachi band.

Bring Your Crew

Resort guests can choose to stay in a room or at one of the private villa residences, which sleep eight. Capella Pedregal partner American Airlines is also offering a 10% discount to travelers going to the concert. Two-night packages are available, with the option of five- and seven-night stays. For more details, please see the Capella Pedregal website. The concert kicks off the Capella Pedregal concert series, a line-up of exclusive concerts held at the resort, so if you can't make it December 11, there will be more musical headliners just around the corner.

Taking the Guilt Out of Eating Bluefin Tuna

FIJI Water — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 09:49:58 +0000

It is a serious problem for anyone passionate about sushi: how to enjoy fish that is both high quality and sustainably raised. Chef Makoto Okuwa of Sashi, a gourmet Japanese restaurant in Manhattan Beach, Calif., felt this conflict daily. So when the chef heard of a new kind of sustainably farmed "hand-crafted" bluefin tuna with the rich flavor of wild caught, he jumped at the opportunity to serve it at his restaurant. "Cage-Free" Fish The Kindai Tuna is a product of Kinki University's fisheries program, which developed the fish specifically as a way to help protect the world's endangered tuna population. One way to think of Kindai bluefin is like high-end cage-free chicken. Unlike industrial farming operations, Kindai tuna are given space to swim, allowing them to build the muscle mass that in turn imparts more flavor. The tuna are also hand fed, instead of by machine, which prevents overfeeding and pollution of the fishery. Nor are the tuna drugged to calm them before harvesting, as at some industrial fish farms. But because the tuna are raised, not caught, they also have a key advantage of farmed fish over wild: a much lower mercury content. The result is a fish that is both sustainably raised and delicious to eat. A Sustainable -- and Rare -- Delicacy Unlike profit-seeking companies, Kinki University is not aiming to maximize profits through mass production, so only a very small amount of Kindai is imported to the U.S. to keep its integrity. In fact, until recently Kindai tuna could only be found in Japan and a select few restaurants in New York. When Chef Makoto heard of the sustainable tuna on a trip to his native Japan, he convinced Kinki University to let him serve it at Sashi. Now Sashi is the only restaurant in Southern California (and one of only seven in the U.S.) to offer the gourmet, conservation-friendly tuna. Chef Makoto also immediately removed wild-caught bluefin from the menu -- and hasn't looked back. To try Kindai tuna yourself, make a reservation at Sashi today. What do you think of Kindai tuna? Would you consider trying it?

Justin Timberlake at JTSHCO: Trick Shots and a Hole-in-One

FIJI Water — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:28:28 +0000

Justin Timberlake (he sings! he dances! he acts! he plays golf!) led an all-star "cast" at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas the week of the 17th. The week-long golfing event featured the open itself (which is a PGA-tour event), a celebrity pro-am, a concert with Timberlake, Elton John, and others, and a FIJI Water-sponsored Youth Golf Clinic. And to top it all off, a little-known American golfer made history on the last hole of the last day of the open. JT and Magic Golf Balls One of the highlights of the week-long event was the FIJI Water Youth Golf Clinic, which kicked off the tournament week on Sunday, October 17 at TPC Summerlin. JT himself hosted the event, along with "trick shot master" Peter Johncke, who managed to steal some of Timberlake's aura by amazing the assembled kids with a variety of crazy golf demonstrations. But Timberlake held his own, rising to the challenge by hitting a golf ball between two barrels over a hundred yards away. Here's the video: We've posted a Flickr stream of photos of the event at the bottom of this post. On Wednesday, the MGM Resorts International Celebrity Pro-Am took place at TPC Summerlin. Participating celebrities included Andy Garcia, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Chris Kirkpatrick, Josh Kelly, Doug Flutie, and Kenny G. FIJI Water hosted the awards reception in the clubhouse at the conclusion of the day, where Timberlake’s team claimed the pro-am first-place trophy. On Saturday, The JT & Friends concert, whose proceeds benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children, featured Elton John, Christina Aguilera, Diddy & Dirty Money, Lady Antebellum, Selena Gomez, Salt-n-Pepa, and T-Pain at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. A Long Shot in the Dark But the most stunning performance of all came at the very end of the week, when 32-year-old golfer Jonathan Byrd won the open with a hole-in-one -- a first in PGA tour history. Here's some amateur video of the historic shot: Proceeds from the entire event will go to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a health-care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative medical research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Donate to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Halloween Cocktails From Ultimat Vodka and Patrón

FIJI Water — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:15:51 +0000

Our friends over at Patrón and Ultimat Vodka have slipped us some of their Halloween cocktail recipes, which we now share with you. Why not sip them while carving one of our FIJI Water jack-o'-lanterns? Enjoy!

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Ultimat Ghost

1 1/4 ounces Ultimat Vodka 1/4 ounce Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur 1/4 ounce half and half 1 teaspoon grated white chocolate

Add half and half, simple syrup, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, and Ultimat Vodka.
Shake with ice and strain into a pre-chilled martini glass.
Garnish with grated white chocolate.

Ultimat Vampire Elixir

1 1/2 ounces Ultimat Vodka 3/4 ounce apricot brandy 1 ounce fresh lime juice club soda splash of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice

Pour Ultimat Vodka, apricot brandy, and lime juice over ice in a highball glass.
Top off with club soda and a splash of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice.
Garnish with sliced orange peels for a “fingers” look.

Ultimat Candy Corn-Tini

The infused vodka:

1/2 cup candy corn 1 1/2 cups Ultimat Vodka

The rest:

2 oz Patron Citrónge Orange Liqueur juice of 1/2 lemon 1 large egg white candy corn for garnish

Infuse the vodka: Combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.
Make the rest: Add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice, and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.

Vampire Juice

Hibiscus syrup:

2 cups sugar 2 cups FIJI Water 1/4 cup dried hibiscus flowers 2-inch piece fresh ginger, unpeeled and sliced

Cocktail:

4 cups Patrón Silver tequila 2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice, strained 1 cup Patrón Citronge orange liqueur cubed ice thinly sliced lime, for garnish

For the syrup: Put the sugar, FIJI Water, hibiscus flowers, and ginger in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and set aside to steep for 30 minutes. Strain and refrigerate until chilled.
To make the cocktail: Combine the Patrón Tequila, 2 cups of the hibiscus syrup, lime juice, and Patrón Citronge orange liqueur in a large pitcher.
To serve, fill a shaker half way with ice, add the some of the drink, and shake until chilled. Strain and serve straight-up in a cocktail glass garnished with lime slices or serve over ice in a rocks glass.

Ultimat Witches Cauldron

2 cups chilled Ultimat Vodka 1 (6-ounce) package lime gelatin 2 cups boiling water 3 cups chilled pineapple juice 2 liters chilled lemon-lime soft drink or ginger ale

Special equipment:

1 large black plastic cauldron (available at party or craft stores) 1 punch bowl that fits inside the cauldron 1 plastic hand (available at party supply stores), sterilized in hot water 1 block dry ice (available at supermarkets, ice cream shops, or ice companies)

Pour the gelatin mix into a large bowl. Slowly stir in the boiling water. Stir at least 2 minutes, until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in the pineapple juice. Let cool to room temperature.
Wearing heavy-duty gloves or using tongs, place the block of dry ice in the bottom of the cauldron. (Dry ice will burn skin, so handle it with gloves and tongs and keep it away from kids and pets!)
Use an ice pick to break the block into smaller chunks, if necessary.
Fill the cauldron with just enough water to cover the dry ice. It will begin to "steam."
Place the punch bowl inside the cauldron, on top of the dry ice. The cauldron will appear to be magically smoking.
Carefully pour the drink mixture into the punch bowl. Slowly add the chilled vodka and lemon-lime soda or ginger ale. Stir gently to mix.

FIJI Water Receives Award From Fiji’s U.S. Ambassador

FIJI Water — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 09:29:15 +0000

FIJI Water received a surprise "Special Citation Award" from the U.S. Ambassador to Fiji during the commissioning of the FIJI Water Foundation's most recent water project on Monday. The citation from Ambassador Steven McGann recognized FIJI Water for being a finalist for the State Department's 2010 Award for Corporate Excellence. FIJI Water received the Corporate Excellence award in 2004, and this year was one of 12 finalists out of a field of 78 nominees. The commissioning ceremony in the village of Keiyasi in Navosa, Fiji, marked the completion of three boreholes and the installation of clean water tanks funded by the FIJI Water Foundation. The successful water project provides a safe and local source of water for villagers, who previously had to march to the distant Sigatoka River to find water. A Water Project 40 Years in the Making The Keiyasi project was the result of a chance encounter between Sharee Lipton, a writer, and David Roth, Director External Affairs for FIJI Water, during a launch party for Lipton's book A Woman in the South Pacific at the U.S. Ambassador's residence last year. Lipton, who first visited Keiyasi exactly 40 years before Monday's ceremony, conveyed to Roth the village's difficulty in procuring clean water. Roth helped Lipton connect the foundation with Apenisa Lolawa, the great-nephew of one of Lipton's acquaintances in Keiyasi, who applied for the grant on behalf of the village. Recognizing Our Sustained Commitment Ambassador McGann was joined by the U.S. Embassy’s Second Secretary for Consular and Commercial Affairs Paul Kreutzer, Roth, Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko representing Lipton, and the Foundation’s team, all of whom defied warnings from the weather office to attend the ceremony at the remote village. “From a record 78 nominations submitted by U.S. Ambassadors around the world, ACE finalists are international corporate leaders who recognize the vital role that U.S. businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens," said McGann during the ceremony. "FIJI Water was recognized for the company’s disaster relief efforts, volunteerism, partnerships that focus on health, education, and the provision of sustainable and effective water projects around the nation of Fiji.” The U.S. Ambassador was the first sitting diplomat to visit Keiyasi, and his presence was greatly appreciated by all in attendance. “This has been a remarkable day,” said FIJI Water's Roth. “We are humbled by the ambassador’s presentation and honoured to have become a positive part of Keiyasi’s development and its history. The water project we commissioned today is not only for the people who reside in Keiyasi today, but for all the children that will live here tomorrow.”

Add Your Tips to We Heart UK’s Winter Style Guide

FIJI Water — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:42:46 +0000

FIJI Water has teamed up with the UK's most stylish guide to nightlife, shopping, and entertainment, We Heart. Starting October 22, We Heart will be delivering an exclusive style guide for the winter months, the We Heart + FIJI Water Winter Wanderlust guide. It may be getting chilly, but that's no excuse for hibernation, especially when London, as ever, has legendary offerings in nightlife, shopping, and entertainment. Whether you're turned on by fashion, design, music, or bars and restaurants, We Heart + FIJI Water will be uncovering the capital’s seasonal best, complemented by top tips from local spotters. ...And That's Where You Come In! As part of We Heart's partnership with FIJI Water, the exclusive style guide is opening up its listings to suggestions from FIJI Water UK fans. Spill the beans on your favorite foodie markets, tell us where you'll be looking for vintage winter outfits, or spread the word about the ultimate bloody mary recipe. Send your tips to We Heart through Twitter or Facebook -- just use the #weheartFiji hashtag or post onto We Heart's Facebook wall. The best tips will be featured as part of the FIJI Water + We Heart Winter Wanderlust style guide. Why We Heart Loves FIJI We Heart is excited to work with brands that care about style, uniqueness, and attention to detail just as much as they do -- and that's exactly why FIJI Water is their favorite bottled water. Not all waters taste the same; getting your daily hydration -- a must in the party season -- needn’t be dull. About We Heart Officially launched less than a year ago, We Heart has already become one of the UK's most popular sources of lifestyle news and features, keeping those with an eye for quality, innovation, and desirability up to date with the very latest in design, fashion, arts, interiors, architecture, music, and nightlife. Recently awarded Best Independent Blog 2010 by high-profile interiors website Mydeco, and with an army of obsessive followers, We Heart is fast becoming the Internet's first port of call for anyone with more than a passing interest in style and trends.

Boo-la! FIJI-Inspired Halloween Pumpkin Stencils

FIJI Water — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:58:15 +0000

The pumpkin stencil is a great creative leveler. With a good stencil and the right tools even the the (ahem) less-than-artistically-gifted among us can pull off a scary-good jack-o'-lantern. This Halloween, we are proud to present our very own FIJI Water-inspired pumpkin stencils, which are the product of the hard work of our very talented graphics team at FIJI. Thank you, Lluvia, Rob, and Betsy! Happy FIJI-ween! The team came up with two FIJI-designs: "Hibiscus" and "Beach." To use the stencils, just click on the image below, which will open a PDF that you can print out. Cut out the parts of the stencil that say "Remove," tape it to your pumpkin, and start carvin'.

Pumpkin carving has advanced a lot in the last few years, and there are now pumpkin-carving kits that are another great tool in narrowing the gap between expert and amateur. We highly recommend purchasing a carving kit to use with your FIJI stencil (or any other detailed stencil). One can be had for a few bucks at your local drugstore or supermarket.

If FIJI Water is not the first thing you think of when you think of jack-o'-lanterns (we forgive you), the people over at Bessed.com have compiled a great list of places to go for pumpkin stencils of all kinds. The sites on the list all have large libraries of stencils you can print out, for a fee. There are also free stencils to be found on the Internet, although the selection is not as good. One site with an amazing trove of free stencils is the World Wildlife Fund, which has a dozen animal-inspired stencils that are all downloadable for free. If you do use our FIJI stencils, be sure to send us a photo of your work. We'll put it up on our Facebook page and website and declare you incredibly crafty. Happy Halloween from FIJI Water! (By the way, "Boo-la!" is a nod to our roots in Fiji: "Bula" means both "hello" and "good-bye" in Fijian. It's sort of a Fijian "Aloha.")

Vinaka to Our Fijian Facebook Fans Contest

FIJI Water — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:18:04 +0000

[This sweepstakes is over. Check our website for future opportunities to win.] In gratitude to our loyal FIJI Water fans from Fiji, FIJI Water is proud to announce our first -- but definitely not our last -- sweepstakes for our Fijian fans only! Grand Prize is a one-night/two-day stay at the luxury Tanoa Plaza Hotel in Suva, including continental breakfast for two. First Prize is dinner for two at the Hard Rock Café in Denarau, Nadi. Both Grand Prize and First Prize winners also receive a free case of FIJI Water. Just fill out the form below and you're automatically entered into the contest. You must be a legal resident of Fiji over the age of 18 and a fan of FIJI Water on Facebook to qualify to win. Important Rules Recap:

One entry per person only.
Employees of FIJI Water, and its respective parent, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and such employees’ immediate family members (parent, spouse, sibling, child, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win.
Must be over 18 and a legal resident of Fiji.
Must be a Facebook fan of FIJI Water.
Full official rules here.

[gravityform id=6 name=FijiFacebook Fans Contest]

Blog Action Day: Bringing Access to Clean Water in Fiji

FIJI Water — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:08:54 +0000

This year's topic for Blog Action Day -- water -- is naturally close to our heart here at FIJI Water, but not just for the reasons you might think. For many in the country FIJI Water comes from, Fiji, finding clean water is a constant challenge. A combination of poverty, a lack of infrastructure, and even global climate change, makes it difficult for many Fijians to have access to clean drinking water. As a result, every year Fijians die or are sickened by easily preventable diseases such as typhoid. Investing in Clean Water, One Village at a Time Since it was founded with a grant from FIJI Water's owners Lynda and Stewart Resnick three years ago, the FIJI Water Foundation, in collaboration with its partners Give Clean Water and Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation, has invested in dozens of clean water projects around Fiji. As a direct result of foundation-sponsored development work, over 45,000 Fijians, or about 5% of the population, now have access to clean water -- and that number rises steadily. Clean Water by the Bucket For just one example of the work the FIJI Water Foundation is involved in, recently the foundation organized a volunteer day devoted to the installation of clean water filters with the Give Clean Water team in Votua Village, Ba. Votua Village was one of the many communities that were completely flooded during the January 2009 floods. In addition, this particular village suffers from frequent water shortages and during times of water supply disruption residents rely on rain and river water, resulting in high levels of water-borne disease. Villagers noted that even a few hours before the volunteers arrived, water out of their taps was murky and muddy. The filters used by GCW are portable and long-lasting. Highly effective, they are equipped with the same technology used in kidney dialysis. The device removes 99.99% of all bacteria and protozoa from virtually any dirty water source. The filter kit is small, attaches to a five-gallon bucket, installs in minutes, requires no electricity, is easy to clean, and comes with a one million gallon (close to 4 million liters) guarantee – essentially for the recipients lifetime. Each filter can produce five gallons of clean drinking water in 15 minutes. Our Goal: Providing Clean Water to Every Fijian In the last two years, GCW has installed 1700 water filters in Fiji, reaching approximately 10,000 people. Three hundred of those filters were sponsored by FIJI Water, and we will sponsor an additional 300 next year. Ultimately, the goal of the FIJI Water Foundation and its partners Give Clean Water and Rotary Pacific is to provide clean water to every single Fijian, a goal that we believe is realizable. As GCW Founder, Darryl Larson, pointed out, "just 80 more projects such as these and everyone in Fiji will have safe, clean drinking water." How you can help.

Change.org|Start Petition

Benihana and FIJI Water Tweet Your Buddies Contest 2010 — UPDATED

FIJI Water — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:45:53 +0000

[This contest has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered. Check back here for future contests!] This contest has been updated to make it even easier to enter! To enter, simply tweet (or retweet) the following message: "Retwt to win @Benihana__ gift card: This Oct, all sales of @FIJIWater at Benihana go to charity @BestBuddiesIntl http://om.ly/xVqx" Prizes remain the same, as do requirements for entry. Please see the revised rules here. Old rules below: Like Benihana? Like taking pictures? Throughout the month of October, Benihana Restaurants and FIJI Water are running a Twitter-based photo contest, with prizes including gift certificates and FIJI Water. All you'll need is a camera, an Internet connection, and a little imagination.

Here's how it works:

Go to your local Benihana. Bring friends, family, friendly strangers, whomever.
Take a photo of you and your crew at the Benihana.
Share your photo link on Twitter and tweet it out with the hashtag #benihanafiji. (Read some tips on posting a photo link on Twitter.)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

That's it! There's no limit on the number of entries (but please, don't repeat the same photo over and over again). The winner will be picked based on originality. Each week for four weeks, we will select the most original and/or creative photo to receive our weekly prize: one $50 Benihana gift certificate and a case of 500ml FIJI Water. And while you're at Benihana, be sure to purchase FIJI Water. During the month of October 2010, all proceeds from the sale of FIJI Water will go to Best Buddies International, one of our favorite charities.

Important Legal Reminders:

Contest begins October 2, 2010 and ends October 29, 2010.
You must be a legal resident of the United States and at least 18 years old to enter.

See the full contest rules for details.

Hawaii International Film Festival Celebrates 30 Years

FIJI Water — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:53:37 +0000

England. Azerbijian. Ghana. Turkey. South Korea. Russia. These are just a handful of the dozens of countries that have had films in the Hawaii International Film Festival over the last 30 years. Over that time, the festival has become a required stop for Asian and Pacific filmmakers looking to introduce their films to Western markets. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Piano, and Shine are just a few of the films that premiered at the festival and went on to become worldwide hits. Hundreds of Films, Filmmakers, and Stars Expected This year, over 200 films from 40 countries will be screened at HIFF in Honolulu October 14-24. Gala Screenings include the highly anticipated Hawaii premiere of Conviction starring Hilary Swank, Juliette Lewis, Sam Rockwell, and Minnie Driver and directed by Tony Goldwyn; Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams; the North American premiere of Taiwan's Monga, directed by Doze Niu; Hawaiian-made One Voice, starring students of the Kamehameha Schools and directed by Lisette Marie Flanary; and the world premiere of The Star and the Sea, directed by world-renowned filmmaking duo Qiankuan Li and Guiyun Xiao. FIJI Water is proud to be a sponsor of the Hong Kong Cinema selection at HIFF 2010, and we're very excited about the films chosen this year, including star-studded Hot Summer Days (see the above still featuring star Wing Yeung), Hong Kong's answer to romantic ensembles like He's Just Not That Into You. We've included trailers to some of the Hong Kong Cinema selection below. But all of these films are literally a tiny fraction of the screenings available. If you are in Honolulu during the fest, definitely catch a screening or two (or more). Tickets are only $10-12, and at many of the screenings the filmmakers and/or stars will be available for Q&A afterwards. Check the HIFF website for details. ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW The story of a working family in Hong Kong whose eldest son, a popular boy and star athlete, becomes ill with leukemia. The film, set in 1960s British Hong Kong, won the Crystal Bear for the Best Film in the Children’s Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJAF89UsGmY

IP MAN 2 Sequel to the hit film about an iconoclastic martial arts master who decides to start his own academy in 1950s Hong Kong. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHcPyRJKUmI&feature=related

HOT SUMMER DAYS Five romantic stories interweave during one hot, hot summer. Featuring an all-star cast including Jacky Cheung, Daniel Wu and Nicholas Tse. Think of it as a Chinese "He's Just Not That Into You." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHGN13xqlbo&feature=related

Pumpkin Mousse-Filled Crème Puffs From San Francisco’s Fall Fest 2010

FIJI Water — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:15:39 +0000

When Chef Ryan Scott was 9 years old the "toys" at the top of his Christmas list included kitchen utensils, a wok, and a food dehydrator. Scott's childhood passion for cooking has followed him through the rest of his life. Raised in California's Central Valley, Scott pursued opportunities to cook at restaurants in Hawaii, New York, Boston, and elsewhere. In 2008, Scott became famous as one of the contestants on Top Chef Season 4: Chicago. Scott was bumped midway through the season when his panzanella salad and poached pears failed to impress, but soon joined the Mission Beach Cafe in San Francisco, and has been in SF ever since. Scott made his pumpkin mousse-filled crème puffs for Fall Fest 2010, a yearly food and wine festival held last weekend in San Francisco and sponsored by San Francisco Magazine. Pumpkin creme puffs are a perfect fall dessert (and a refreshing spin on pumpkin). See our Epicurean blog for more recipe ideas.

Pumpkin Mousse-Filled Crème Puffs with Salted Brown Butter Caramel

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Crème Puffs:

1 egg 1 cup FIJI Water 3/4 stick butter (6 tablespoons) 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt, plus 1/8 teaspoon 5 3/4 ounces flour 1 cup eggs (about 4 large eggs and 2 egg whites)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Boil FIJI Water, butter, and salt or sugar. Add flour and remove from heat. Work mixture together and return to heat. Continue working the mixture until all flour is incorporated and dough forms a ball.
Transfer mixture into bowl of a standing mixer and let cool for 3 or 4 minutes. With mixer on stir, or lowest speed, add eggs, 1 at a time, making sure the first egg is completely incorporated before continuing until all eggs have been added.
Add the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe immediately into golfball-size shapes, 2 inches apart onto parchment lined sheet pans. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 degrees F and bake for 10 more minutes or until golden brown. Once they are removed from the oven pierce with a paring knife immediately to release steam.
To assemble add about a ¼ cup of pumpkin mousse to the center of your puff. Drizzle mousse with caramel and top off with the pastry. You can garnish with more caramel or, powdered sugar and or candied pumpkin seeds.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Pumpkin Mousse

1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 3 cups heavy cream 1 tablespoon bourbon 3/4 cup superfine sugar 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

Combine pumpkin, 1 cup cream, bourbon, sugar and spice in a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cool fully.
Whip remaining heavy cream and vanilla to medium peaks and fold into cooled pumpkin mixture.

Recipes with FIJI: Tempura Peruvian Scallops from Nobu West Hollywood

FIJI Water — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:00:30 +0000

In 1973, while working at a Japanese restaurant in Lima, Peru, young chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa often found it difficult to find authentic Japanese ingredients. Instead, "Nobu," as he is now known worldwide, had to improvise with whatever he could find locally, and in the process created a revolutionary fusion of Japanese and South American palates. World cuisine would never be the same. In that spirit, Executive Chef Alex Q. Becker of Nobu West Hollywood has created a new special for Nobu WeHo, tempura Peruvian scallops with roasted garlic yuzu koshio aoli and heirloom tomatoes, and has agreed to share the recipe with us. Nobu WeHo is also offering all its Facebook fans and Twitter followers 30% off their check at the tapas bar and lounge, excluding tax and gratuity, for the month of October. Reflecting the "fusionary" style of Nobu's restaurants, Chef Becker honed his culinary skills in Italian cooking before coming to Nobu 57 restaurant in New York in 2005. Chef Becker's first job out of culinary school (Johnson and Wales University's Culinary Arts Program) was at Atlanta's diPaolo, where he eventually rose to Executive Chef. Following his stay at diPaolo, Chef Becker spent time mastering his craft in Caluso, Italy, where he studied at the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners and worked at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Gardenia di Caluso. Chef Becker is known locally for bringing Nobu to L.A. and vice versa, creating such Angeleno favorites as Wagyu Tacos, Foie Gras Crispy Soba, and Avocado-crusted Sea Bass.

Tempura Peruvian Scallops with Roasted Garlic Yuzu Koshio Aioli and Heirloom Tomatoes

(serves 6-8)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Tempura Batter:

1 egg 1 cup FIJI Water 1 cup ice 3/4 cup flour

Mix the egg with the FIJI Water and ice.
Whisking in a little at a time, add the flour to the water mix.
Adjust to desired thickness with more FIJI or more flour.
Keep batter cold.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Yuzu Koshio Aioli:

50 milliliters mayonnaise 1 tablespoon sake 1 tablespoon vinegar 2 teaspoons yuzu koshio 1 tablespoon roasted garlic 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

Blend yuzu koshio and roasted garlic together until smooth.
Mix in mayonnaise, sake and vinegar.
Blend in oil slowly and emulsify.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Additional Ingredients:

8 ounces Peruvian Bay Scallops (or any sweet bay scallop of preference) 1 tablespoon chopped chives 12 heirloom cherry tomatoes (halved) 3 shiso leaves 1/4 cup flour

To Assemble:

Dust the scallops with flour and then coat with the tempura batter.
Fry at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove from fryer and drain quickly.
Toss the scallops in the aioli with the tomatoes and chives.
Plate and finish with torn shiso leaves.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Serve hot. Enjoy!

Celebs Support Haiti During 2010 Toronto International Film Festival

FIJI Water — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:58:09 +0000

A new tradition of giving back is taking root at the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's most renowned cinematic events. In an incredible show of support for the people of Haiti, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars took time out of their celluloid-themed schedule to help raise nearly $100,000 at a fundraiser for Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ), a charity devoted to changing the lives of the children of Haiti by providing them with food, water, medical care, and education. Stars including Martin Sheen, Paul Haggis, Josh Brolin, James Franco, AnnaLynne McCord, K’naan, Maria Bello, and Kathleen Robertson donned APJ smocks to paint messages of hope, love, and support on banners that will be displayed in schools supported by APJ in Haiti. Hundreds of guests mingled with the stars while enjoying a live jazz performance by Sophie Milman and sipping on SKYY Vodka cocktails, Stella Artois, and FIJI Water. Things quieted down when the four co-hosts -- APJ founder Paul Haggis and board members James Franco, AnnaLynne McCord, and Maria Bello -- shared their personal stories about their experiences in Haiti and thanked the crowd for their generous support of the cause. The most memorable APJ red-carpet moment was probably Peter Tunney making Martin Sheen an offer he couldn’t refuse: “Show me your underwear and I’ll donate $1000 to APJ!” (They were Ellen DeGeneres Show boxer briefs, by the way.) Second place went to the big kiss shared by Josh Brolin and Paul Haggis.

One Day, 100 Miles: FIJI’s President Tests His Mettle for Charity

FIJI Water — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:21:10 +0000

It's one thing to go for a bike ride. It's quite another to race 100 miles along a hilly coastal highway in one day -- for charity. FIJI Water President John Cochran, along with his wife Jennifer and a team of FIJI employees, did just that September 11, 2010, in the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge. Best Buddies is one of our favorite charities here at FIJI Water. Started in 1989 by Anthony Shriver, Best Buddies is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. In June, FIJI sponsored the Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge. A week and a half out, Cochran gave the FIJI Water staff an update on his training during one of our monthly all-company meetings. He had just completed his longest ride to date, 80 miles. It was unclear when he'd have the time to get up to 100 miles before the race, but he seemed confident he'd be up to the task come game day. And he was! Not only did John and Jennifer complete the 100 mile race, but he and the rest of Team FIJI raised over $30,000 for Best Buddies -- twice their original goal. "It was inspiring to see all these people come together and challenge themselves to support Best Buddies," said Cochran. "When the hills got steep, knowing I was doing this all for charity really helped get me to the finish line." Joining Team FIJI was Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, who led a 3K walk for non-riders. Also spotted were Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race on CBS, and Maria Shriver, First Lady of California (as well as David Hasselhoff and a pirate, apparently). After the ride, everyone gathered at Hearst Castle for a party featuring a gourmet BBQ, dancing, and celebrating on the Hearst Ranch, followed by a private concert by Natasha Bedingfield.

How Our Interns Survived NY Fashion Week, Plus Marc Jacobs, Zang Toi, More

FIJI Water — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:26:45 +0000

Another season, another Fashion Week come and gone. FIJI Water's PR team is recovering after an intense eight days. Our interns, on the other hand, remain their chipper, vivacious selves. Last season, after experiencing Fashion Week, some of our interns decided they would rather pursue other fields, like event planning. This year our interns all said they still want to work in fashion. "[The internship]'s allowing us to see it's what we really want to do," said Toneisha, speaking for all four interns. Added Jenny, "I was standing right next to Carmen Electra!" Bless their hearts! Other important sightings included shoes. "You don't have to look up at Lincoln Center," said Erin, referring to the fabulous foot candy on display at ground level. Erin was equally awed by the balance and pose required for some of the most elaborate footwear. "You think, how is she wearing that?" The same way you get to Lincoln Center, Erin: practice, practice, practice. The interns also had some advice for the next class of interns in the spring. Ashley, or "Honest Ashley" as she was dubbed by her fellow interns, said "wear comfy shoes!" Erin said to always have your camera, because "you'll never know who you'll see." "Be flexible and open," Jenny advised future interns. "I got to work a last-minute show my first day because I was willing to move some things around." Awesome!

If It's Marc Jacobs, It Starts Early, People! And Other Observations

Marc Jacobs is known for starting before the stated time. When the music started at 7:58 for the 8 p.m. show and the models began walking, guests standing and chatting started to scatter and dozens of latecomers unable to take their seats had to watch from afar. This happens every season, but the news has not apparently filtered into the subconscious of those used to arriving "fashionably" late. Those who couldn't see the show, by the way, missed a '70s inspired collection worn by crazy-haired models circling an intimidating Richard Serra-esque artwork. Wednesday found FIJI taking in Zang Toi's homage to American movies from the '50s and '60s and Nanette Lepore's elegant warm pinks and oranges -- and a dress with back pockets! (Wave of the future? Jury's still out on that one.) Perched front row as Toi's movie-diva inspired outfits slinked by were real-life divas LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer of Real Housewives of New York City, and their respective real house husbands. More celeb sightings: Diane von Furstenberg at Marc Jacobs and Natasha Bedingfield, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and Stanley Tucci at Nanette Lepore. See you in the spring!

Saffron Shrimp and Gazpacho Recipe from the American Wine & Food Festival

FIJI Water — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:17:31 +0000

Exquisite food, drink, surroundings, company. The 28^th Annual American Wine & Food Festival is the premier culinary event of the season and it happens this weekend. FIJI Water is kind of addicted to fine food, so naturally, we’ll be there, along with enough star chefs to feed a king’s court. FIJI Water partnered with tyro Chef Amar Santana (pictured) of Charlie Palmer Restaurant at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza on a recipe for the big event. His recipe for Saffron and Olive Oil-Poached Shrimp and Avocado Gazpacho with Preserved Lemon and Corn Nuts includes FIJI Water, and Chef Santana will be serving it up at AWF. You can also make it yourself at home; the recipe is below. Most star chefs start young and rise quickly, and Chef Santana is no exception. By the time he entered the CIA (the Culinary Institute of America, not that CIA), on a full scholarship, Santana had already studied at Le Cordon Bleu, after winning a culinary competition at age 17. After graduating from the CIA, Santana went to Chef Palmer's Aureole, rising to sous-chef within a year. In 2007, Chef Palmer selected Santana, at the ripe old age of 25, to run the kitchen at his first Southern California restaurant. Under Santana's leadership, the restaurant earned five stars from the Orange County Register and was named one of the Top 10 Restaurants in Orange County by Orange Coast. Chef Santana has also been named 2010 Chef of the Year by Riviera Magazine. And now, on to the food. Here’s his recipe. It’s refreshing and simple. Make it yourself or have it served to you along with a Veritable Sultan's Parade of Epicurean Delights at the festival – tickets are still available. Oh, and if you need another reason to go (and granted, tix aren’t cheap), you should know that since its inception the festival has raised $15 million for the Meals on Wheels Programs of Los Angeles.

Saffron and Olive Oil Poached Shrimp and Avocado Gazpacho with Preserved Lemon and Corn Nuts

(serves 4)

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Avocado Gazpacho

2 ripe Hass avocado ½ red onion chopped 1 celery stalk chopped 3 tomatillo chopped ½ poblano pepper 1 english cucumber 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar ¼ cup lime juice ½ cup olive oil ½ bottle FIJI Water 2 teaspoons toasted ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 2 tablespoons sea salt

Marinate all ingredients except the olive oil and FIJI Water overnight.
Place all the marinated vegetables in a blender and puree at medium speed, adding the olive oil and FIJI Water. Season again with salt and pepper and serve chilled.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Saffron and Olive Oil Poached Shrimp

1 pound de-veined and cleaned shrimp 2 cups olive oil 1 pinch saffron 2 sprigs of fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 2 garlic clove crushed 2 lemons worth of zest and juice salt and pepper to taste

Place all the ingredients in a sauce pot except for the shrimp and heat until temperature reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit, add shrimp and slowly poach until all the shrimp turn color and look opaque.
After cooked, place the entire sauce pot on an ice bath and let the shrimp cool down in the oil.

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Garnish with baby cilantro and crushed corn nuts. Serve chilled. Enjoy!

Wildlife of the Sovi Basin: The Friendly Ground Dove

FIJI Water — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:05:53 +0000

There are over 3,300 rare species in the Sovi Basin. This is one of their stories. In 2008 FIJI Water committed $5 million to preserve 50,000 acres in the Sovi Basin, one of the last low-lying rain forests in Fiji, and an important part of the Polynesia/Micronesia biodiversity “hotspot.” As part of the creation of that historic land trust, Conservation International instigated an in-depth scientific study of the plants and animals living in the Sovi Basin and surrounding areas. As part of a continuing series, we will be profiling some of these rare and endangered creatures, both as a way to promote the work being done in the basin, and the importance and beauty of the animals found there. In that spirit, we would like to introduce the Friendly Ground Dove, aka Gallicolumba stairi. World, Ground Dove. Ground Dove, World. Casper The Friendly Ground Dove Clutched in the hand of a research scientist, "Casper" (not its real name) looks into the camera with a…friendly(?) look on its face. Actually, we’re probably reading too much into that expression, since the Friendly Ground Dove got its name not from its demeanor, but because it was first classified on the “friendly” islands of Tonga (Tonga was considered friendly by European explorers). While Friendly Ground Doves are still found in Tonga and Samoa, they are rare there. In Fiji, however, the Ground Dove is much more common, making the archipelago a crucial habitat for these small, somewhat clumsy birds. Unfortunately, their preferred territory -- low-land forests, including parts of the Sovi Basin -- has shrunk dramatically in the face of human encroachment. As a result, currently the dove is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Redlist of Threatened Species. Despite its name, the Friendly Ground Dove can fly, but prefers to move on foot, and they live and breed close to the ground, which may have made them especially vulnerable to predators. While the “friendly” moniker comes from the country, not the bird, the fact is that, like many other once relatively isolated animals, the Notorious FGD was probably very docile when first discovered, but the birds that survived encounters with human hunters, dogs, cats, mongoose and other foreign predators adapted by becoming skittish (thus their other name, the Shy Ground Dove). Today, the typical encounter with a Friendly Ground Dove usually consists of a brief glimpse of a small brown bird fleeing into the forest. However, on some of the more remote uninhabited islands of Fiji, where mammalian predators have not been introduced, scientists report that the doves are not only fairly common, but also still… friendly.

Designer Zang Toi on Taste, Fashion, and Style

FIJI Water — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:29:38 +0000

Zang Toi is recognized as one of the most original fashion designers in the world. Zang Toi is originally from Malaysia, and his earliest shows put him on the map with stunning colors and designs inspired by Southeast Asia. More than twenty years later, Zang's newest collections are always a highly anticipated element of New York Fashion Week. This year he'll be showing September 15 at the Studio at Lincoln Center. Zang recently took a break from show preparations in order to share some of his experiences and thoughts with us. Q: How did you get your start? A: I established my atelier in August 1989, and an orange and hot-pink baby doll dress from my very first collection, Resort 89/90, was picked up [by] Anna Wintour and was featured in Vogue, November 1989. Q: What are your greatest influences? A: The period style of Louis XV, Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Q: What are your favorite fabrics and materials? A: Loro Piana cashmeres for fall and winter, and couture silk shantung custom weaved for me in Lake Como, Italy, for spring and summer. Q: How do your Malaysian roots inform your work for an international clientele? A: Actually, I would have to trace my Chinese roots all the way back to Hainan Island, where my great-grandfather from my mother's side was a fine carpenter. After a visit to our ancestral home there seven years ago with my family, I realized that I must [have] inherited the creative gene from great-grandpa that serves me well in servicing my international clientele. Q: If you could sum up your attitude towards fashion in just three words, what would they be? A: Unique, chic, and glamorous! Q: In your eyes, which women alive today are the most stylish, the bravest, the most original? A: The First Lady of France, Carla Bruni. Her beauty and style is the epitome of effortless chic simply make the others look like very unfortunate "fashion victims." [caption id="attachment_2832" align="alignright" width="264" caption="A model wears one of Zang Toi's Fall 2009 pieces. "][/caption] Q: What single-most important piece of advice would you give to young people who seek to work in fashion? A: Work ethic. Hard work is key to success! Q: What’s a look that you really can’t stand? A: Aging ladies tittering painfully in hideous platform shoes. Not [a] very pretty sight. Q: If you could live in any era of history, which one would you pick? A: I would love to live inside the beautiful and romantic world of Fragonard's paintings. Q: What’s your favorite part of putting on a fashion show? A: Narrating a beautiful story of my collection that hopefully puts a smile on my audience. Q: The least favorite? A: The ridiculously high rental of the show space of 7 on 6. Q: Of all the shows you’ve created, do you have a favorite? A: My Fall 2004 collection. Q: Do you have a muse? If not, have you ever had one? A: No, as it would limit my creativity.

Q&A With Last Season’s Fashion Week Intern Lauren Crumpecker

FIJI Water — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:36:52 +0000

In the run-up to the start of the fall fashion season, we caught up with one of our interns from this past spring's New York Fashion Week. Lauren Crumpecker is humming along six months later, wrapping up an internship with MTV in New York. She's also excited about her next career move -- but it's not what you might expect. Q: What is your best memory of Spring 2010 Fashion Week? A: I loved meeting part of the FIJI Water team and asking them about their career path and experiences, as well as creating new friendships with the other interns. I am still in contact with Laura and Aislinn. Also seeing all the celebrities attend the shows was pretty cool! Q: Which designer were you most impressed with and why? A: I loved the Betsey Johnson show on Valentine’s Day. It was so creative with the hay-covered runways and saloon girl/gambling theme. She is almost 68 years old and has still managed to keep her image trendy, current, and unique. Also I got to see her signature cartwheel at the end of her fashion show! Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a future intern, what would it be? A: Make an effort to meet and learn about your fellow interns. I stayed in great contact with Aislinn and Laura, and it is fun to be able to meet up for dinner and reminisce about our experiences. I also would encourage future interns to stay focused and dedicated on the job. You never know who you will meet and what opportunities will arise, so it is best to always look professional. Q: Was your internship what you expected it to be? Why or why not? A: Yes and no. I honestly didn’t know what to expect at first. I had never been to New York City for a week or experienced Fashion Week. I was excited that we got a chance to watch all the fashion shows, which I didn’t know if we would be able to do. I knew we would be stocking fridges and the supply room, but I didn’t realize that we would be doing so much physical labor when we first arrived -- unloading every single box from the van. Q: What is one lesson you learned from being a part of Fashion Week? A: There is SO much hard work that goes on to produce a 15-minute fashion show. Fashion isn’t all luxurious and wonderful. It is a hard industry to get to the top of and takes true dedication. Q: Where are you currently working? A: This summer I am interning in New York City for MTV Networks (Nickelodeon) on the Digital Marketing team as well as for The Orchard in Interactive Marketing. Q: Do you think that your Fashion Week experience has helped you? A: Definitely! After experiencing New York Fashion Week, it made me more curious about New York City and what else it has to offer. I applied for summer internships in the city and am working two! Although it made me realize I do not want to pursue a career in fashion, it made me become more interested in Event Marketing as well as the entertainment industry. In addition, it helped me stand apart from other candidates in interviews. Employers were very curious about my internship, and more importantly from a marketing standpoint, how I went about getting votes through uses of social media, etc.

FIJI Heads to the Tents as Fashion Week Moves to Lincoln Center

FIJI Water — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:22:06 +0000

Time to throw on your Louboutins, people! New York Fashion Week is less than a week away, which means that as you read this, ten thousand pairs of $600 stilettos are stampeding towards Lincoln Center, the new epicenter of Fashion Week. FIJI Water is going to be a big part of the festivities this year: We're the official water of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the biggest, glam-est event of the hundreds of shows going on during the week. That's where leading designers will be showcasing their collections, and where most of the press, celebrities, and hangers-on will be collecting like moths to the flame. We also have some exciting partnerships to announce with hot designers Christian Siriano (of Project Runway fame) and media darling Charlotte Ronson. The FIJI Will Flow Because we are the official water at the big tents in Lincoln Center, FIJI will be readily available at all shows, a development that has already garnered a sigh of relief from the Tweetosphere. Just so you know: We're happy to be back, too. We're not just providing the water, though -- we're also providing all the recycling for MB Fashion Week. Keep an eye out for blue recycling containers throughout Lincoln Center for attendees to toss their empty bottles of FIJI. Remember, like the color black, recycling is always in fashion. [caption id="attachment_3188" align="alignright" width="198" caption="Charlotte Ronson Fall 2010 Collection (courtesy CharlotteRonson.com)"] [/caption] The FIJI Look The other big news is that we've partnered with Christian Siriano and Charlotte Ronson to come up with exclusive looks inspired by FIJI's iconic square bottle, pristine source, and distinctive taste. Models wearing the FIJI-inspired looks will be passing out bottles of FIJI to front-row VIPs at fashion shows all week long. Please, if you see a model struggling with bottles of FIJI, do them a favor and take one. Say Hello to Our Interns Finally, this fall, like last spring, FIJI will have four starry-eyed interns on hand schlepping cases of FIJI Water and soaking up the scene. If you're at the event, come say hi to Toneisha, Erin, Jenny, and Ashley. We will be posting exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and tweets all week long, so be sure to check our Facebook and Twitter feeds regularly.

The IT Lounge Movie Line Contest

FIJI Water — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:01:27 +0000

Every September, Toronto's film festival manages to lure a flock of celebrities to the Great White North with a host of world premieres, industry panels, and, of course, parties. This year we thought we'd give our Canadian readers a taste of the celeb experience at this world-renowned festival by awarding one (1) lucky winner of our Favorite Movie Line Contest a genuine celebrity swag bag from the IT Lounge at the festival (worth $575 CDN) and two tickets to an exclusive after-party. All you need to play is a a little movie knowledge and a lot of imagination. The Movie Line Contest 2010 Here's how it works: Think of a movie quote. It could be from a Hollywood blockbuster or a French New Wave art film, anything from Bambi to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Then take one word in that quote and replace it with the word "FIJI." A few examples:

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a FIJI."
"Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but FIJI, and for the rest of your life."
"Dude, where's my FIJI?"
"I see FIJI people."

Anything goes -- just no profanity or dirty language. This is a family-friendly blog. Once you have your quote, enter it in the comments section of this blog post (not on Facebook). The most creative/funny/bizarre submission, as selected by FIJI Water, wins the swag bag stuffed with everything a celebrity visitor to the IT Lounge would receive and two tickets to the Artists for Peace and Justice after-party and fundraiser. (You don't need tickets to the festival to attend the after-party or receive the bag.) Details

You must be a legal resident of Canada outside of Quebec province.
Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a movie quote on our blog so we can contact you. All entries must be submitted in the comments section of our blog below. No Facebook posts, please!
You must be 19 years or older.
Entry is subject to availability.
Only entries submitted between September 2, 2010 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Standard Time ("PST") and September 8, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be considered.
You do not have to attend the film festival to win. Tickets to the after-party are not tickets to the festival.
For Official Rules, click here.

The IT Lounge Swag Bag Officially called the "IT Lounge Beauty Prize Package," the swag bag contains products from FIJI Water, Stila Cosmetic, Ardell Lashes, Goody, and Andrea Professionals worth a total of $575 CD. About the IT Lounge Visited in previous years by the likes of Edward Norton, Queen Latifah, Tim Robbins, Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde, Ryan Gosling, Sissy Spacek, Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, and more, for five years the IT Lounge has invited entertainment industry VIPs to personally experience and discover the latest from established and emerging brands.

Duo Embark on Round-the-World Bike Ride to Raise $1 Million for Clean-Water Projects

FIJI Water — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:28:36 +0000

Last summer Ryan Delamater biked across Canada.

This fall, he’s taking on the world.

Early this morning, Delamater, 36 (at right in photo), and good friend Davin Anderson, 29, cycled away from their homes in Hudson, Ohio, on what they hope will be an 18-month pedal-powered odyssey across six continents.

Delamater and Anderson are embarking on this ambitious undertaking in support of a good cause: clean water. Their trip is sponsored by Give Clean Water and the FIJI Water Foundation, two nonprofits that work to bring clean drinking water to under-served communities around the world.

“I wanted to marry two passions in my life, cycling and serving other people,” Delamater told FIJI Water when we caught up with him before his departure. Last year, on his 6,000-mile trip across Canada, Delamater and another cyclist raised money for Ugandan children to keep them from being drafted.

By the beginning of this year, he was already brainstorming his next adventure. When he came up with the round-the-world idea, “I was frankly embarrassed to talk about it,” Delamater said. “It’s a really big project — there was a lot of work to put together a project of this scale.”

The plan, as it stands now, is to cycle south through Mexico and Central America, then down South America to Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the continent. From there they plan to fly to Cape Town, South Africa, and bike up the west African coast to Morocco and then Europe. From Europe it gets a little hairy, as the two will have to decide how to traverse the Middle East, including countries generally unfriendly to Americans, such as Iran and Afghanistan. Ryan has created a Google map of their around-the-world odyssey.

Davin and Ryan pose by their bikes.

If all goes according to plan, the duo will continue across the south coast of Asia to Australia, then invite everyone who helped them along the way to Fiji for a closing celebration.

In order to cover this extraordinary distance, Delamater and Anderson plan to bike 65 miles each day, six days a week for 18 months. Along the way, they hope to raise $1 million for clean water projects in Fiji.

On Monday Delamater shared some final thoughts before the duo heads out: “I’m feeling very fortunate and thankful that I have this opportunity. We only get a little time here on Earth, and I’m of the persuasion of doing as much with it as I can. We have planned and worked very hard on this and now we are hoping for the best.”

Be sure to check back for updates on their journey. You can also follow Ryan and Davin on Twitter (@ride4water) or on Ryan’s blog.

FIJI Teams Up With Citymeals-on-Wheels to Fight Hunger

FIJI Water — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:12:04 +0000

We have grandmothers, too.

Which is why, today through October 31, 2010, for every case of FIJI Water sold in the New York City metro area, we will donate $1 to Citymeals-on-Wheels, a nonprofit providing meals to homebound elderly.

In addition to donations per case sold in stores, one meal will also be donated for each case bought via FIJI Water Delivery . All together, FIJI Water will contribute up to $25,000 from your purchases.

Big-Time Charity

Citymeals has been operating in New York for almost 30 years, and has gained a place in the hearts of New Yorkers as one of the city’s most admirable charities.

Citymeals raises private funds to contribute to 30 community-based agencies that bring weekend, holiday, and emergency meals to New Yorkers who can no longer shop or cook for themselves. Last year, 1,500 volunteers helped bring over 2.1 million nutritious meals to 17,713 frail aged in every borough of New York City.

Citymeals volunteers are not just providing food, however. They also provide company and human contact to people who, for various reasons, have difficultly leaving their apartments.

Gael Greene and James Beard founded Citymeals-on-Wheels in 1981, after reading a newspaper article about elderly New Yorkers with nothing to eat on weekends and holidays. They rallied their friends in the restaurant community, raising private funds as a supplement to the government-funded weekday meal-delivery program. Twenty-nine years ago, their first efforts brought a Christmas meal to 6,000 frail aged.

Most charities use at least part of their donations for administrative expenses, but one of the amazing things about Citymeals is that they have arranged their finances so that 100% of all public donations — including those from FIJI Water — goes to straight to delivering meals. Citymeals is able to do this because of a partnership with the New York City Department of Aging and with the help of charitable gifts specifically designated for administrative costs.

FIJI Water is proud to have worked with Citymeals-on-Wheels for over seven years. This September and October, if you’re in the New York metro area, pick up a FIJI Water at a participating retailer (like Gristedes, D’Agostino, or Food Emporium) and help out an important cause!

Supporting Friends at the 2010 Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle

FIJI Water — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:54:46 +0000

Best Buddies International, along with event Chair and First Lady of California Maria Shriver, is hosting its seventh Carmel-to-San Simeon bike ride down the beautiful California coast. Supporters will spend a memorable day biking, walking, or running for a truly worthwhile cause. Held on September 11, 2010, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle offers people several different ways to get involved. Participants can choose between a 100-, 62-, 35-, or 15-mile bike ride down the majestic Pacific Coast Highway, or a 3K walk or 5K run led by Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis. As in previous years, participants will celebrate the completion of the Challenge by heading for the beautiful Hearst Ranch, where they'll be treated to a professional massage, gourmet barbecue, and private concert by pop singing sensation Natasha Bedingfield. [caption id="attachment_2795" align="alignright" width="308" caption="Best Buddies bikers start their inspiring, 100-mile adventure. "][/caption] FIJI Water is delighted to be the official water of this inspiring event, as well as its East Coast counterpart, the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port. In addition to the sponsorship, we’re donating $1 to the cause from every case of water sold at participating retailers, including Save Mart, Lucky, Nugget, Draegers, and CVS, in select locations throughout California, Oregon, and Washington during the months of August, September, and October 2010, up to a maximum of $7,500. There's still time to sign up for and be a part of the Challenge. If you're short on time but would like to make a donation, all amounts are welcome. Since its founding in 1989, Best Buddies has grown from a single chapter into a vibrant organization found on more than 1,500 middle school, high school, and college campuses around the world. The organization helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by creating one-on-one friendships with volunteers, facilitating integrated employment, and encouraging leadership development.

LA Times Celebration of Food & Wine This Labor Day Weekend

FIJI Water — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:27:44 +0000

Labor Day is just around the corner, and that means the LA Times Celebration of Food & Wine, the city's quintessential foodie event, is on its way. It couldn't be more LA. The setting: the New York street set on the Paramount back lot. The food: a mix of new twists and classic favorites served up by a who's who of LA chefs, including Ilan Hall (The Gorbals restaurant and winner, Top Chef Season 2) and Vinny Dotolo & Jon Shook (Animal Restaurant). And, apropos the movie set location, there will be musical entertainment featuring actress Zooey Deschanel, one half of indie folk duo She & Him (the other half is singer/songwriter M. Ward). They've promised a full concert set. Of course, great talent doesn't give up their Labor Day weekend without a great cause: a portion of the proceeds will go to Share Our Strength, which fights childhood hunger, and the Los Angeles Times Family Fund, which works with disadvantaged children around Southern California. If you can make it, be sure to swing by the Suva Café by FIJI Water, where Chef Hall will be serving his Hot Matzoh Balls. We will also have water on hand to keep attendees hydrated and cleanse the palate between tastings. The event lasts all day Sunday September 5th, and tickets are still available. Chef Hall Q&A [caption id="attachment_3012" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Chef Ilan Hall"][/caption] We caught up with Ilan before the celebration and quizzed him about which recent organic trend he finds "asinine," and the difference between the New York and LA food scenes: Q: Guilty food pleasures? A: McDonald’s Cheeseburger. Q: Any organic trends you dislike? A: I find USDA organic standards to be asinine. Q: Where do you go to source your food locally? A: Sage Mountain Farms. Q: Favorite recipe? A: My Grandma’s plum pie. Q: How much did your upbringing influence your cooking style? A: My cooking style is very much a product of my upbringing. My Scottish and Jewish heritage is present in almost all of the cooking that I do. Q: Favorite food show? A: Cooking with Coolio. Q: If Daniel Boulud decided to do another After Hours series in LA and partnered with you, who would your guest list consist of? A: Vinny Dotolo & Jon Shook, Thai Elvis, Ludo, Coolio, and Susan Feniger. Q: What is your favorite food pairing? A: Cheddar cheese, beer and Worcestershire sauce. Q: What is the big difference between the LA and NY culinary scenes? A: LA, especially the culinary scene downtown, is young. There’s a lot of freedom to experiment with style and technique.

The Votes Are In: Fall 2010 New York Fashion Week Interns Announced

FIJI Water — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:27:12 +0000

The final votes have been tallied, and we are now ready to announce the winners of the FIJI Water Fall 2010 New York Fashion Week Internship Contest. But first, we want to thank everyone who entered and everyone who voted. If you'll be at Fashion Week, be sure to stop by Lincoln Center and have a FIJI Water. Also, check back here and on our Facebook page and Twitter stream for more news from the event. (Drum roll, please.) And now...the winners of the Fall 2010 New York Fashion Week Internship Contest:

[caption id="attachment_3039" align="alignleft" width="137" caption="Jenny Eisenberg"][/caption] Jenny Eisenberg is a graduate of the University of Virginia and is a big fan of the classic style of Audrey Hepburn. Jenny is looking for an "upwardly mobile" position in the fashion industry -- clearly she's off to a good start.

Watch Jenny's New York Fashion Week finalist video.

[caption id="attachment_2946" align="alignleft" width="141" caption="Toneisha Friday"][/caption] Toneisha Friday describes herself as "fashion-savvy, goal-driven, and personable." After graduating from Seton Hall this past spring, she's currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.

Watch Toneisha's New York Fashion Week finalist video.

[caption id="attachment_2891" align="alignleft" width="140" caption="Erin Naku"][/caption] Erin Naku is a '10 grad of Lehigh University with a B.S. in Marketing and Finance. Among her many accomplishments, Erin has worked in Prague, Czech Republic.

Watch Erin's New York Fashion Week finalist video.

[caption id="attachment_2957" align="alignleft" width="144" caption="Ashley Sanders"][/caption] Ashley Sanders is pursuing a degree in economics at Virginia Tech, while working as a model. Last year, Ashley studied at the prestigious L'École Supérieure de Commerce in Dijon, France, and traveled across Europe in her spare time.

Watch Ashley's New York Fashion Week finalist video.

Congratulations to the winners, who will also enjoy a year of FIJI Water Delivery. We know with these four fashionistas working hard throughout the week, the models and designers will stay refreshed and well-hydrated.

Thank you to everyone for voting in our Fashion Week poll. Be sure to check back in a couple months for our Spring 2011 New York Fashion Week Internship Contest.

SF Chefs 2010: Seven Days, Over 100 Chefs, and One Winning Recipe

FIJI Water — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:27:44 +0000

Celebrating the Bay Area’s vibrant food culture, the SF Chefs 2010 event brought together many of the biggest names in the San Francisco food scene.

The personalities were as varied as the palates, and high-profile attendees included Fleur de Lys‘ Hubert Keller (who, as at this year’s Vegas Uncork’d, swapped his chef’s hat for DJ headphones), Bon Appetit‘s 2005 Chef of the Year Michael Mina, and Ryan Scott of Top Chef, Season 4.

Joining the more than 120 chefs at the Union Square event were local vintners, distillers, and food lovers of all stripes — to the tune of 1,500 guests per day. Ticket proceeds went to the Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Foundation, which supports Bay Area students entering culinary and hospitality programs.

A highlight of the celebration, which lasted from August 9-15, was “MIX with SF Top Chefs,” held at the XYZ Restaurant in the W San Francisco. The afternoon event was a reunion of sorts for local chefs who found foodie fame on the popular Bravo series, as they prepared their own specialty cocktails for a crush of thirsty guests. Ryan Scott, Jennifer Biesty, Mattin Noblia, Erik Hopfinger, and Laurine Wickett were in competitive mode all over again as their concoctions — each taking inspiration from different neighborhoods of San Francisco — were judged on presentation, originality, and taste. The winner was Biesty’s “FIJI Facial,” which sought to capture the cool and refined flavor of Nob Hill. For those eager to make this drink on their own, here’s the recipe:

Jen Biesty's winning drink, the FIJI Facial.

The Nob Hill FIJI Facial

1 ½ oz cucumber juice
1 ½ oz Square One cucumber vodka
.5 oz Cointreau
.5 oz lime juice
.25 oz ginger juice
1 ½ teaspoons organic cane sugar
3 ea. mint leaves

Muddle the mint with the sugar. Add all other ingredients into shaker with FIJI Water ice. Rub the rim of each glass with lime, then dip into salt. Shake vigorously and strain over shaved FIJI Water ice. Garnish with mint.

Follow Biesty on Twitter (@JenBiesty) for cooking tips and all her latest news.

Vote for Your Favorite September 2010 New York Fashion Week Interns

FIJI Water — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:01:34 +0000

We’re looking for eager and fashion-forward interns — and, as in previous seasons, we need your help to find them. The four candidates who receive the most votes will go on to be first-hand participants in one of the style world’s most exciting events.

We received a wealth of entries when we announced this season’s New York Fashion Week Intern Contest, and after making some very tough decisions we’ve narrowed down our selection to seven remaining candidates. As the last challenge in our contest, we’ve asked them to submit one-minute video essays that answer the following questions:

1. Think of an historical figure who, like FIJI Water, is the embodiment of good taste. Who would it be, and why?
2. If you could put that person in any one fashion designer’s show, who would it be, and why?
3. If you could put that person in any one style of outfit, what would it be, and why?

Now it’s up to all our friends and fans to vote for their favorite intern candidate. A few things to remember:

Voting starts today, August 17, 2010 at 12:01 a.m. PST and ends on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 11:59 p.m PST.
Only the votes logged on our poll below will be counted, so although we very much welcome your expressions of support, they won’t count towards a candidate’s tally.
Ratings and comments posted on YouTube do not count.
The four candidates with the most votes will be our interns.
Winners will be announced on or around August 25, 2010.
Please see our rules page for further information.

Watch the videos below and vote for your favorite. The four lucky winners will spend a week working and mingling with some of the most important names in fashion. Good luck to the seven who’ve made it this far!

Here are the videos, in alphabetical order, by last name:
Katia Bitnar

Lashay Boyd

Jenny Eisenberg

Toneisha Friday

Shaylee Malek

Erin Naku

Ashley Sanders

Miss Teen Idaho, Hosanna Kabakoro, on Her Experience at the Miss Teen USA Pageant

FIJI Water — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:10:39 +0000

A resident of Idaho since she was 14, Hosanna Kabakoro is as proud of her Fijian origins as she is to be an American. She recently got to share that pride at the 2010 Miss Teen USA Pageant, held at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, the Bahamas. Although she didn’t win, Hosanna was named Miss Congeniality — a quality that shines through in her reflections on the pageant and what the experience meant to her.

Q: What did the Miss Teen USA Pageant teach you?

A: The MTUSA Pageant confirmed that with hard work there are no limits to what a person can accomplish.

Q: What did you feel when you were standing on the stage with all those eyes on you? Were you nervous?

A: Allie LaForce, Miss Teen USA 2005, gave me some very good advice just after I won my title. She said, “When you walk out on the stage, imagine that the room is filled with all of the people who love you.” I did this and felt quite comfortable during the MTUSA Pageant.

Q: What was your favorite part of the pageant experience?

A: Getting to promote public service to other teens. I also loved visiting the Bahamas and swimming in the ocean again.

Q: Was there any moment during the pageant where you felt unprepared?

A: No. Fortunately, my sponsors made it possible for me to have all the clothing I needed and I am so grateful to FIJI Water, Pure Fiji, and Fabulous U Shopping for their generous support, as well as to my other private sponsors.

Q: If you could re-enter the pageant, is there anything you would do differently?

A: I don’t think so. I only paid $250 for the yellow gown I wore, and most of the other girls had paid thousands. I can’t imagine spending that much on a gown and then losing. I had so much fun, made lots of friends, learned a lot about the side of the pageant world most people don’t get to see, and have tons of material for a book, should I ever decide to write one.

Hosanna (center) and some of the other pageant contestants pose during a beach shoot.

Q: How would you describe the Miss Teen USA contestants as a whole?

A: Most of the girls were smart, helpful, and kind. I especially loved Misses Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky, Hawaii, and my roommate, Montana. Before I met the other girls I wondered if the rumors of “mean girl” stuff backstage were true, and although my gown was mysteriously torn on prelim night (20 minutes before I had to put it on!) I thought that most were terrific. The staff was wonderful, too, and patched my gown so I could wear it.

Q: If you could give advice to someone who entered a beauty pageant and walked away without the crown, what would it be?

A: “Don’t let the pageant take over your life.” It’s a PAGEANT. It is not the cure for cancer or the answer to world hunger. Have fun with it. Recognize that most pageant presidents know who they want to win. That is why the Miss Universe Organization arranges in advance to handpick six of the 15 finalists. Pageants are a business and the organizers have to answer to their advertisers and sponsors. Don’t let it rock you if you don’t win. After MTUSA crowned the gal they wanted to win, I looked around at the amazing women who didn’t and was blown away by their intellect, charisma, and grace. If they were the “losers,” then I figured I was in excellent company. I really do believe that when a door closes, a window opens.

Q: Do you feel that the Miss Teen USA Pageant changed you?

A: I am much stronger and more confident than I was a year ago. I also know I can handle an interview and answer just about any question thrown at me. I know I will take the skills I learned this past year and use them in the future.

Q: What are your next plans?

A: I was invited to be Guest Speaker at the first Fiji Children’s Day Award in November and am really hoping I can attend, so I’m trying to raise sponsorship for two round-trip tickets from Boise, Idaho, to Nadi, Fiji. I am honored to have been asked to speak at this wonderful event.

Another goal I have is to land a job with Fiji Television. I speak both Fijian and English and would very much like to put the past four years of journalism experience to good use as a broadcast journalist.

Q: How do you plan to take this experience with you in the future?

A: I have been blessed by the many opportunities I have been granted. I’ve been privileged to live in Idaho and Washington, DC, where I worked under some of the world’s most powerful people. I have worked with refugees from all over the world, visited places like New York, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas, and currently serve on the National Board for Girl Scouts USA. I guess the most important thing I learned from Miss Teen USA was that you can never lose by being kind and genuine. Being voted the kindest girl by my peers and staff is an honor I will cherish forever.

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The Netball's in Your Court, Australia: Win Tickets to See the Diamonds Take on Jamaica

FIJI Water — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:39:25 +0000

Australian netball fans won’t want to miss their national team, the Diamonds, go head-to-head with Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls on Sunday, August 15, at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Enter our contest and win tickets to see these two great teams test their skills in preparation for October’s Commonwealth Games.

The 2010-11 Diamond team roster is taking shape, and includes well-known players like Nathalie von Bertouche and Renae Hallinan as well as up-and-comers like Amy Steel. They’ll all compete in the August 15 match, which will be the third event in the Holden Netball Test Series. The fourth and final game will be against New Zealand’s national team, the Silver Ferns.

Currently numbering 15 players, the team’s final roster of 12 will be selected by the end of the exposition period. They’ll then compete against the best netball teams from around the world in Delhi, India, for the Commonwealth Games.

How to Enter

Everyone who’s passionate about netball — especially the hard-charging members of the Diamonds team — is invited to answer the following question:

“Which Diamonds player is your favorite, and why?”

We’re looking for brief answers that best express your admiration for a specific athlete. An answer might be “Sharelle McMahon is my favorite because she’s a tough fighter and always stays focused on the game.”

McMahon, Lauren Nourse, Madison Browne, and the rest of their teammates will have their August 15 match telecast live on Ten from 3pm. You can also watch the event streaming on Netball Australia or the new Match Centre so you don’t miss a minute of the 2010 Holden Netball Test Series and the New World International Netball Series in New Zealand. With special features such as live scoring, Netball Australia’s Match Centre will provide you with up-to-the-minute court action.

Renae Hallinan and Kimberlee Green outflank an opponent.

The Fine Print

All entries must be posted in the comments section of the FIJI Water blog, found below. Entries posted on Facebook will not be eligible for consideration.
Winners will receive two tickets each to the match.
Submissions will be evaluated by FIJI Water judges on the basis of their creativity, passion, and other positive criteria.
Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you.
You must be 21 years or older to enter.
Only entries submitted between Monday, August 9, 2010 at 12:01 a.m. AEST and Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. AEST will be considered.
Official rules

You can also buy tickets to the August 15 match as well as others.

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All Aboard for Art on Track, Chicago’s Most Moving Art Experience

FIJI Water — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:59:42 +0000

On Saturday, August 7, Art on Track — one of the biggest mobile art galleries in the world — will begin its five-hour evening tour around Chicago. With train cars transformed into exhibition spaces, the event is a one-of-a-kind celebration of the Windy City's creative life. Now in its third year, Art on Track accepts submissions from different area artists vying to reimagine one of eight Chicago Transit Authority "L" cars as exhibition spaces. Once the winners have been selected, they set about transforming the cars through any number of different media, ranging from film and fabric to plants and bubble wrap. The end result will be the same, however: a unique showcase designed to promote over 200 local, emerging artists. Well-known Chicagoland artists selected to participate in this year's event include 3 Blondes & a Bald Guy, the Addington Gallery, Spudnik Press, Renee Robbins, and others. Art on Track's founder, Tristan Hummel, is also involved, working on this year's incarnation of the FIJI Water car: a constellation of illuminated, magnetic balls, each carrying a message that can be transferred to other Art on Track cars or taken out into the world for someone else to discover. To get a full sense of how the project works, as well as all its imaginative possibilities, be sure to ride the rails this Saturday. [caption id="attachment_2623" align="alignright" width="338" caption="Artists work to transform the interior of a Chicago CTA car as part of the Art on Track experience. "][/caption] Guests can purchase their tickets for next Saturday's event either online or at the CTA's Wabash and Adams or Wells and Washington stations. From these locations, the train will embark on its turn around the Loop, making four different stops along the way so that guests can switch and experience each car. An important new fixture on the city's artistic landscape, Art on Track is produced by SALVO, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing cultural awareness and education through exposure to the fine arts. It provides several free alternative public spaces for arts organizations to showcase their talent to an expanded demographic, and to reach out to those who may otherwise be isolated from the city's vibrant art culture.

Utilisez Votre Imagination! Enter our Photo Caption Contest and Win Two Tickets to the Montreal Rogers Cup

FIJI Water — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:49:28 +0000

Women's tennis aims high during August 13-22, as the Rogers Cup, presented by National Bank, gets underway in Montréal. Canadian residents are invited to enter our photo caption contest for a chance to win two tickets to this premiere sporting event, a complement to the men's tournament in Toronto. We're looking for witty and memorable captions that describe this photo of Canada's top-ranked women's player Aleksandra Wozniak, taken at a recent Rogers Cup:

Is she thinking about her next serve? Training tips? The favorite restaurant she can't wait to get to after the match? That's up to you and your imagination. One example caption might be "Oh, you're not going to get by me you little monster!"

The winner of our photo caption contest will receive two tickets to see exciting on-court competition at this summer's Cup.

How to Enter

Participants must post their entries in the comments section of the FIJI Water blog; posts on Facebook will not be considered.
Entries can be as long as you'd like, but in order to win they need to be funny, clever, amusing, or even profound. The winning entry will be chosen by FIJI Water based on these criteria.

The Rules

Entrants must be legal residents of Canada.
Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you. Captions submitted without an email address will not be considered.
Entrants must be 19 years of age or older.
Photo caption entries must be received between August 2, 2010 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time ("EDT") and August 6, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
There is a limit of one entry per contestant for the entire contest entry period. Entries received from any contestant in excess of this will be void. Contestants may only enter in their own name.
The winning entry will be chosen by a panel of FIJI Water judges.
No purchase necessary.
Void where prohibited by law.
For the complete list of sweepstakes rules, requirements, restrictions, complete entry details, and prize description, please see the rules page.

Want to Be an Intern at the September 2010 New York Fashion Week?

FIJI Water — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:56:59 +0000

The autumn edition of New York Fashion Week is on its way, and once again, we're looking for four dedicated, couture-loving interns to be a part of it all. Enter our contest and you could find yourself rubbing (very well-dressed) elbows with the world's best-known names in sartorial style and design. For four seasons, FIJI Water's New York Fashion Week Intern Contest has given multiple interns a chance to see the inner workings of high-pressure, high-excitement fashion shows. One of last winter's winners — whose video entry received almost 8,000 votes — wrote, "I was blown away by the creativity of the designer and the elegance of the models, and blinded by the amount of flashes going off in the room. It is amazing to see how much work goes into a show." That sense of amazement is the norm at every fashion show, whether it's premiering the work of established designers like Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson or newer talents like Reed Krakoff and Alexander Berardi. And of course, there's always plenty of great celebrity sightings at NYFW, too. How It Works

Post your 150-300-word submission in the comments section of the FIJI Water blog below, explaining why your love of fashion and commitment to hard work make you the right person for the NYFW internship. Comments must be submitted by 11:59PM PST, August 5, 2010. Comments submitted on Facebook will not be considered.
Make sure you include your email address so we can contact you if you’re chosen as one of our finalists. If we can't contact you through the email address you provide, we can't include you as a finalist.
If you need some inspiration, take a look at the blog comments from last season's Fashion Week intern search. [caption id="attachment_1256" align="alignright" width="360" caption="Four former FIJI Water Fashion Week interns ready to work the February 2010 shows."][/caption]

Then What?

August 10, 2010: We’ll choose the final eight (8) candidates, who will then star in their very own video as they answer three (3) specific questions from our FIJI Water Events team.
August 17-24, 2010: Visitors to this blog will be able to view the videos and vote for their favorite.
(On or around) August 25, 2010: We’ll tally up the votes and announce our Fashion Week interns.

The Fine Print:

Interns will receive a year of free FIJI Water Delivery.
By entering the contest, candidates agree to release and hold harmless FIJI Water and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees from all claims, liability or damage caused or claimed to be caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in connection with this contest.
FIJI Water and its affiliates assume no responsibility for the conduct of any contestant or voter or the responses of anyone appearing in any entry.
By participating, candidates acknowledge and accept the terms of the official rules of the contest. Additional restrictions may apply.
Sorry, this internship is unpaid and does not offer reimbursement for any travel or lodging expenses, but there will be tons of networking opportunities and hands-on experience promoting a leading brand.
By submitting your comment, you also must be willing to provide us with a photo of yourself to be used with your video.
All candidates must be 18 years or older and a U.S. resident to participate in this contest.

New York Fashion Week is an exciting and dynamic experience, which means we're looking for people who will be the perfect fit: friendly, appealing, and more than ready to embrace every aspect of this week-long adventure. Enter now for your chance to go behind the scenes at one of the world's premier fashion events.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words — and Two Tickets to the Toronto Rogers Cup

FIJI Water — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:08:47 +0000

Toronto's Rogers Cup, held August 7-15, 2010, is one of the biggest and best-known events on the professional men's tennis circuit. Enter our photo caption contest and you could win two tickets to a match featuring some of the most talented players competing today. FIJI Water's 2010 Rogers Cup-Toronto Photo Caption Contest invites Canadian* tennis fans to come up with a clever or original caption for the following photo, describing what you think Rafael Nadal and his doubles partner, Francisco Roig, are talking about:

We're looking for interpretations that best capture their facial expressions, and what's going on between them. An example might be: "You want ME to give Roger MY water?!"

The winner of the Rogers Cup-Toronto Photo Caption Contest will receive two tickets to a tournament match. How to Enter

Participants must post their entries in the comments section of the FIJI Water blog; posts on Facebook will not be considered.
Entries can be as long as you'd like, but in order to win they need to be funny, clever, witty, or profound — in a word, “good.” The winning entry will be chosen by FIJI Water based on these criteria.

The Rules

Entrants must be legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec).
Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you.
Entrants must be 19 years of age or older.
Photo caption entries must be received between July 26, 2010 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time ("EDT") and July 30, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
There is a limit of one entry per contestant for the entire contest entry period. Entries received from any contestant in excess of this will be void. Contestants may only enter in their own name.
The winning entry will be chosen by a panel of FIJI Water judges.
No purchase necessary.
Void where prohibited by law.
For the complete list of sweepstakes rules, requirements, restrictions, complete entry details, and prize description, please see the rules page.

*Contest not open to residents of Quebec.

The FIJI Water Urban Hunt: Chicago’s Most Exciting Social Media Event of the Summer

FIJI Water — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:39:42 +0000

Love Chicago? Love social media? Then enter the FIJI Water Urban Hunt, a one-of-a-kind scavenger competition held on August 14 that will pit teams against each other as they race to collect points and win prizes. Participants will use the biggest names in social networking -- Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and YouTube -- as they race through downtown Chicago locating, documenting, and sharing items on their list of challenges. As they gather more and more points, teams will be able to track their progress as well as that of their competitors, ensuring that everyone works extra-hard to win the event's prizes. How It Works

Up to 50 teams of two persons each will comb historic downtown Chicago looking for clues.
Each team will give themselves a team name and team profile.
Each team will have a designated captain, who will be responsible for checking in on the Urban Hunt's Twitter and Facebook pages, Foursquare, and other required social-media platforms.
Teams will be kayaking for a specific segment of their clue list!
Teams will earn extra points for using social media in entertaining and creative ways.
The winning team will win two iPads, travel vouchers, a year of FIJI Water Delivery and more.
Winners will be announced and prizes awarded at an after-party sponsored by VeeV Vodka and held at SUSHISAMBA.

[caption id="attachment_2440" align="alignright" width="317" caption="Chicago's iconic skyline will serve as the event's backdrop. "] [/caption] The Fine Print

Team captains must have minimum numbers of Facebook friends and Twitter followers to participate. (The second team member does not.)
No private transportation may be used. Teams will be given a special CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Card for use during the event.
Team members must be over 21 years of age to participate.
The team captain must have access to a smartphone.
All team members' Facebook profiles must be public for the entire day of the event.

People who love social media and being challenged will love the FIJI Water Urban Hunt. It's an exciting way to explore Chicago, make new friends, and play your way to some great prizes. Chicago skyline photo courtesy of Andre Alforque.

Try Your Luck and Win Two Nights in Vegas

FIJI Water — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:55:03 +0000

Enter the FIJI + Vegas Sweepstakes and you could win two nights at The Mirage Hotel & Casino, as well as a year’s supply of FIJI Water Delivery. Las Vegas feels like summer vacation all year long, and FIJI Water and The Mirage want to honor that delicious combination of relaxation and entertainment with two free nights at one of the city’s best-known resorts. With over 3,000 rooms, six high-end restaurants, an astounding entertainment line-up (current performances include Tim Allen, Jay Leno, and Cirque du Soleil), two elaborate swimming pools, a dolphin habitat, and of course, a casino, The Mirage is truly a world unto itself.

The winner of the FIJI + Vegas Sweepstakes will also receive the use of a cabana by the pool with complimentary drink service, dinner for two at acclaimed nouvelle burger restaurant BLT Burger, and a year of FIJI Water Delivery to keep you hydrated throughout the summer and beyond.

How to Enter

To enter the FIJI + Vegas Sweepstakes, you need to:

Complete and submit an online entry form.

All information must be included in order to be a valid entry. Entries generated by script, macro, or other automated means are void.

The sweepstakes winner will spend two nights in deluxe Mirage accommodations.

The Fine Print

Open to residents of the continental United States.
Entrants must be 21 years or older.
Sweepstakes begins 12:00:01 PM Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on July 20, 2010 and ends at 11:59:59 AM PST on August 20, 2010 (the “Promotion Period”).
All entries must be received by 11:59:59 PST on August 20, 2010.
No purchase necessary.
Winner will be selected at random.
Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.
Void where prohibited by law.
For the complete list of sweepstakes rules, requirements, restrictions, complete entry details, and prize description, please see the rules page.

Qual Es Su Favorito? Enter the New York International Latino Film Festival Ticket Giveaway

FIJI Water — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:57:38 +0000

The last few decades have seen an explosion of talent and energy in Latino filmmaking, a vigorous nueva ola that is celebrated and explored at the New York International Latino Film Festival. In the same spirit of inspiration and creativity, we're giving away premiere tickets to two people who best describe their choice for favorite Latino film of all time. Presented by HBO, the NYILFF will be celebrating its 11th season with dozens of films made by emerging Latino artists. Alongside all the features, shorts, and documentaries, the festival will be promoting new music and art showcases, family and community events, scholarships for aspiring filmmakers, and a nationally recognized short film competition. Speaker panels will cover such relevant topics as fundraising, distribution, and, of course, ways to tell truly great stories. How to Enter All those who love movies -- especially those made by Latino artists -- are invited to answer the following question: "Which do you think is the greatest Latino film ever made, and why?" We're looking for brief and insightful answers that capture the essence of truly great films. An answer might be "I think Amores Perros is the best Latino film of all time, for its compelling script and strong direction. It's a film that stayed with me for days afterward." The Fine Print

All entries must be posted in the comments section of the FIJI Water blog, found below.
Grand-prize winner will receive two tickets to the opening night ceremonies (attended by actors America Ferrera and Wilmer Valderrama).
First-prize winner will receive two tickets to closing-night ceremonies and the critically acclaimed Brazilian film Sonhos Roubados.
Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you.
You must be 21 years or older to enter.
Only entries submitted between Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:01 a.m. PST and Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be considered.
Official rules

You can also buy tickets to the NYILFF and its numerous events and film screenings held throughout the New York City area.

Proud to Be Fijian: Miss Teen Idaho

FIJI Water — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:22:22 +0000

Hosana Kabakoro has packed a lot of living into her 18 years. A student at the College of Southern Idaho, she was the recipient of a Congressional Bronze Medal for initiative, achievement, and service; is an avid skier and surfer; and was recognized by former First Lady Laura Bush as one of America’s top 50 high school volunteers. Today she serves as Miss Teen Idaho, making her the pride of the Gem State as well as Fiji, where she spent much of her early life.

FIJI Water is immensely proud to be one of Hosana’s sponsors. We caught up with her as she prepares to compete in the Miss Teen USA contest.

Q: Tell us about your background.

A: I was born in South Korea when my dad was attending seminary, but we moved to Ca’audrove [Fiji] when I was just three years old. I also lived in Suva [Fiji], Kona and Honolulu, Hawaii for a short time, but I consider Naweni village my Fiji home. We moved to Idaho four years ago and I love it here and am as proud to be American as I am Fijian!

Q: What is the one thing you miss most about Fiji?

A: I watched a documentary about a group trying to establish an eco-resort in Fiji last week, and it brought back so many memories. I miss the simplicity of the village lifestyle. I know that is changing, but I believe the people of Fiji recognize how precious our traditions and culture are, and will work to maintain them. I guess what I miss most is going down to the sea with my bubu [grandmother] Di Waqa and fishing and listening to her tell me stories about when she was little. I am so busy here in America and, every now and then, I long for the quiet of the village when everyone is having an afternoon rest. I also miss the sound of the sea breaking out on the reef and when, on a really, really hot day, the tide comes in and all of a sudden a breeze starts to blow and cools me off. That was a wonderful feeling!

Q: What do you love most about America?

A: I love knowing I am free to be all God created me to be. The only obstacles are the ones I put up. It doesn’t matter what race, color or gender I am. In America, I can truly become anything I want to be! I love being American and I am so honored to represent my state.

Q: What do you love most about Idaho?

A: Idaho is one of the least populated, and thus, pristine states, in America. We have high deserts, deep valleys, spectacular lakes, canyons, and rivers. When you visit Idaho, you come to understand what “purple mountains majesty” really means. I love the beauty of this great state. I love being able to drive up out of the desert, past tumbleweed and stone, into the forests and lakes of the mountains. I love seeing deer cross the highway, and I love knowing I live in a place rich with history and the sacrifice of men and women who worked to make America what it is today.

Q: What would you say are the most challenging problems facing American teens today?

A: I think American teens sometimes do not realize just how fortunate they really are. This can lead to a sense of entitlement, rather than a heart of gratitude. I believe the greatest challenge facing American teens today is recognizing the tremendous blessings and opportunities they have, and then not taking them for granted or wasting them. Use them to change history! So many of the wonderful girls I have the privilege of knowing at Girl Scouts, Miss Teen USA, and the other organizations I work with have grasped this concept, and we feel a tremendous responsibility to challenge other teens to do so as well.

Q: What do you want the world to know about Fiji?

A: I want the world to know that Fiji is a nation of tolerance and understanding. I want the world to know that for over 100 years, Christians, Muslims, and Hindus have lived, laughed, raised families, and worked together peacefully to build a nation affectionately known as “The Isles of Smiles.” I want the world to know that while we are not perfect, we are a nation learning about Western culture while struggling to maintain our own unique identity. I want them to know that Fiji and its people are special, and rare and precious for just the reasons I listed.

Hosana is sure to be a hit at the Miss Teen USA contest, which will be held on July 24, 2010.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten?

A: In the next five years I see myself working my way up in broadcast journalism and mentoring young women to make careful choices. In ten years, I see myself as Fiji’s very own female Anderson Cooper!

Q: We understand you helped start the first library on the island of Vanua Levu in Fiji. Why is service to others so important to you?

A: I was fortunate that my mom started teaching me to read when I was just two years old. We didn’t have television in Naweni so I spent hours, especially in rainy season, reading books about history and science and art. When a child is able to develop a love for the written word, there is no limit to what they can learn. When village schools are underfunded, students often suffer because they do not have access to quality texts. This means they never have a chance to develop a love for reading. Libraries make it possible for kids to borrow books at an early age and learn to love reading. There really is nothing as wonderful as finding a cool spot in the shade under a mango tree, and then opening a book to the very first page and beginning to read what someone else has written. I want kids all over the world to be able to experience this. Every child in Fiji, and every child in every village and town in the world should have access to a library.

Q: If you won the lottery tonight, what would you do with the money?

A: The first thing I would do would be buy a ticket for me, my mom, dad, and sister to fly to Fiji in November so we can attend the Fiji Children’s Day awards. I have been asked to speak and am working to raise sponsorship so we can all attend this wonderful event. The next thing I would do would be to put a complete water and filtration system in Naweni village so the people would finally have access to potable water for the first time ever. I remember my mom treating people with huge boils, scabies, and gastrointestinal diseases on a daily basis simply because there was no dependable access to potable water. The next thing I would do would be to pay off my parents’ house in Idaho so we could sell it and return to Naweni and rebuild our home there. The rest of the money would be put in a fund and I would use interest and dividends to finance appropriate responses and projects aimed at alleviating disease and poverty in the South Pacific. Oh yeah, I would also buy a new cellphone!

Q: If you became a famous actress, what is the one thing you would ask to have in your dressing room?

A: It’s the same thing I ask my mom to bring to every appearance I make as Miss Idaho Teen USA: I have to have two big bottles of FIJI Water and a box of Altoids Cinnamon Mints.

Q: If you could trade places with anyone, real or fictional, living or dead, famous or not famous, who would it be, and why?

A: I would change places with Larry King, because he has the power to inform, educate, and raise awareness on so many of the issues facing us as a world. And also because then I could meet Jason Derulo!

Q: What is the message that you’d most like to share with America’s teenage girls?

A: You can be a problem solver or a problem maker — the choice is yours. Be informed. Be involved. Be compassionate. Be brave! Be bold! Be gentle! Be all God created you to be!

The 2010 Miss Teen Universe contest will be held July 24 at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, the Bahamas.

Domaine Chandon and Dinner Down Under

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:55:48 +0000

A number of Australian food-lovers recently got to savor some of the continent’s finest dining when they supported the 2010 Chandon Supper Club. This event, held in six cities and almost 200 restaurants, is an important fundraiser for Camp Quality and the services and opportunities it provides to children fighting cancer.

“White Magic” was the theme of this year’s Supper Club, which takes place at a series of dinner parties held throughout the month of May. Attendees were encouraged to dress accordingly and many did, complementing the white decorations, lighting, and, of course, wines and champagne provided by sponsor Domaine Chandon.

Once seated, each 12-person table was then indulged with a lavish meal prepared by some of the best-known restaurants in the country. In Brisbane and along the Gold Coast, over 350 supporters headed out to Alchemy, Il Centro, Tukka, and 27 other high-profile eateries to show their support for Camp Quality. Later in the month, some 650 Sydneysiders dined at Manta and a host of other contributing restaurants, while residents of Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth also turned out in big numbers to enjoy dinner followed by the “white carpet” after-parties, the locations of which were kept a secret until the very last minute. Event co-sponsor Lexus was on hand to provide luxury transportation to and from the after-parties, which lasted until midnight (and sometimes beyond). The event reached its final destination of Canberra, Australia’s capital, on May 27.

FIJI Water was proud to support the 2010 Chandon Supper Club.

When it was over, some 2,000 people had attended this year’s series of dinners, raising $1 million AUD to provide fun and exciting summer camp experiences to scores of children.

Founded in 1983, Camp Quality was the brainchild of American émigré Vera Entwistle, who, inspired by a similar effort in the United States, decided to devote herself to the creation of an Australian version not long after her arrival. Since then, the charity has expanded from its core mission of providing fun, optimistic relief to kids into educational programs, support for families, and hospital services.

To be a part of next year’s Supper Club dinners, register or donate today. They’re sure to be an unforgettable time for you — and an even better one for a child who needs to remember childhood.

Top Chefs: FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen 2010

FIJI Water — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:02:04 +0000

After five Grand Tastings, more than 800 booth photos, and countless glasses of vino, the 2010 FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen — the nation’s premier epicurean festival — came to an end this past Sunday. In what Metromix described as “summer camp for celebrity chefs, media and food fans,” gourmets and gourmands descended upon the mountain town of Aspen for a long weekend of pourings, parties, and… deep-fried pickles? Yes, you read that correctly. The newly trendy, heart-unhealthy food even made an appearance at the mountain-top Publisher’s Party, which required a 20-minute gondola ride to reach the peak and take in the sunset views.

For a select crowd not attending the Publisher’s Party, FIJI Water threw a five-course dinner prepared by Chef Rob Wilson at The Wild Fig. Chef Rob, whose home base is The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, displayed his creative flair with such dishes as yuzu compressed-fruit jujubes and espresso-scented squab, with assistance from Sous Chef Justin Monson. The after-party outlasted most every event in town, with guests making their way back to their hotels on foot or by pedicab.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa showed up to get his picture taken at the FIJI Water photo booth.

Back at the main affair – the Grand Tasting tents – crowds gathered to pose at the FIJI Water photo booth, manned by FIJI employees wearing Robert Graham. Amongst the sightings at our booth include longtime FIJI friend Nobu Matsuhisa, Top Chef’s Gail Simmons, and a host of fans looking to ham it up for the camera. (If you had your photo taken at our booth, you can find it either on the FIJI Water site or in the albums on our Facebook page, where we welcome you to share your photos from the event.)

For those of you who now consider yourselves veterans, we invite you to share your tips on attending next year’s FOOD & WINE Classic either in the comment space below, by tweeting your tip to @fijiwater, or by sending an email to bula@fijiwater.com. Please note if you would like your tip to be anonymous.

Serving Compassion: Enter the CityMeals Silver Spoon Ticket Giveaway

FIJI Water — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:13:16 +0000

Compassion is at the heart of the CityMeals-on-Wheels mission. In that spirit, we're giving away a pair of tickets to the inspiring — and delicious — 25th Silver Spoons Chefs' Tribute to the person who best conveys their own compassion and kindness for those in need. Held in honor of renowned chef and CityMeals founder James Beard, the Silver Spoons gala dinner will be held on Monday, June 14 at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Over 1,000 guests will come to stroll the esplanades and gardens of the famed Manhattan landmark, sample exquisite cuisine, sip champagne and cocktails, and dance until midnight. All proceeds from the event will support CityMeals-on-Wheels' efforts to bring nutritious meals to the home-bound elderly. How to Enter Those who care about food almost as much as they care about people are invited to enter by answering the following question: "For whom or what do you feel the most compassion, and how do you honor that compassion?" We're looking for answers between 100 and 250 words in length that best capture the way you feel for someone or something that's vulnerable and dear to your heart, and what you do to help. So if someone in your neighborhood is struggling with an illness and you try to be there for them, or there's a problem in your community that you're trying to help solve, be sure to tell us about it. We're looking for heart, authenticity, and the kind of inspiration that comes from true compassion. [caption id="attachment_1898" align="alignright" width="318" caption="Two volunteers from the New York Fire department bring some delicious holiday cheer to CityMeals friends."][/caption] The Fine Print

All entries must be posted in the comments section of the FIJI Water blog, found below.
Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you.
You must be 21 years or older to enter.
Only entries submitted between Tuesday, June 8, at 12:01 a.m. PST and Friday, June 11 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be considered.
Official rules

You can also purchase tickets to the Silver Spoons event or make a donation to CityMeals-on-Wheels that will bring food and companionship to those who need it. More news and information: Citymeals-On-Wheels Power Lunch for Women: A Powerful Impact Quench Your Thirst and Help Provide Meals to the Elderly in Need

Score a Day of Golf for Father’s Day

FIJI Water — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:35:18 +0000

Enter the FIJI Water Father’s Day Sweepstakes and you could win a round of golf on a prestigious ClubCorp course. FIJI Water and ClubCorp want to send one lucky winner and three guests onto the links as a way of saying thanks to all the special dads out there. With more than 90 country clubs, golf courses, and golf resorts, ClubCorp is one of the best-known names in golf, offering premier venues, invaluable instruction, and flexible programming for all levels and ages of players.

The winner and his or her guests will also receive the use of ClubCorp golf carts during their day on the course.

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter the Father’s Day Sweepstakes:

Complete and submit an online entry form.
Send an email to HomeDelivery@FIJIWATER.com with your first and last name, complete home mailing address (no P.O. boxes), daytime telephone number (including area code), date of birth, and email address.

All information must be included in order to be a valid entry. Entries generated by script, macro, or other automated means are void.

The Fine Print

Open to residents of the continental United States.
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Sweepstakes begins 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on May 27, 2010 and ends at 11:59 PM PST on June 13, 2010 (the “Promotion Period”).
All entries must be received by 11:59 PST on June 13, 2010.
No purchase necessary.
Winner will be selected at random.
Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.
Void where prohibited by law.
For the complete list of sweepstakes rules, requirements, restrictions, complete entry details, and prize description, please see our rules page.

Support the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Bike Ride

FIJI Water — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:42:50 +0000

Exhilarated bikers celebrate a job well done after last year's Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port.

Best Buddies is hosting its eleventh annual Hyannis Port-to-Boston bike ride. Committed supporters get to spend an invigorating day biking, walking, or running for a truly worthwhile cause. Held on June 5, the Best Buddies Challenge offers people several different ways to get involved. Participants can choose between a 100-, 50-, or 20-mile bike ride through the Massachusetts countryside, or a 3K walk or 5K run led by Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis. When it’s over they’ll be treated to massages, showers, a buffet, open bar, and a lobster-bake party with a private concert by KC and the Sunshine Band — all held on delightful Craigville Beach in Hyannis Port, one of the best-known and best-loved towns on Cape Cod. In addition to the food and entertainment, different guest speakers will describe first-hand how Best Buddies programs have enhanced the lives of individuals with — and without — intellectual disabilities.

Best Buddies was founded in 1989 and over the years has grown from one chapter into a vibrant organization found on more than 1,500 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and around the world. It helps people with intellectual disabilities by creating one-on-one friendships with volunteers, facilitating integrated employment, and encouraging leadership development.

Participants in the 2009 Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle cycle along the glorious California coast.

FIJI Water is delighted to be the official water of this inspiring event as well as its West Coast counterpart, the Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. In addition to sponsorship, we’re donating $1 to the cause from every case of water sold at participating retailers in the New England area. Visit Market Basket, Stop & Shop, Big Y, Roche Bros., and Tedeschi’s to show your support.

Introducing the Winners of the "Two Tickets to Paradise" Video Contest

FIJI Water — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:56:44 +0000

It's a big world, filled with exciting places and talented people. Two of them have won the "Two Tickets to Paradise" Video Contest with their imaginative submissions and will soon be embarking on an unforgettable South Pacific adventure. FIJI Water is proud to announce that Daniel Taylor's video submission received the greatest number of votes, making him the contest's Grand Prize winner. Daniel, a 21-year-old native of Charlotte, N.C., just graduated from college with a degree in film & animation. He and a guest will be flying to Fiji in Air Pacific's luxurious business-class seating. In order to make his prize-winning entry, Daniel started by creating a short jingle that could basically narrate the entire video. "After laying out my scenes," he says, "I started to design the backgrounds and characters using a very simplistic but readable style. Finally, after the designs were finished, I took a full night to animate, edit, and record my 'jingle.' After everything was finished, I sent it in and prayed for the best!" As for his trip, Daniel, who will be making his first excursion outside of the United States, plans to explore Fiji and "observe the wildlife on the island." FIJI Water and Air Pacific wish Daniel well as he pursues his goal of directing feature films. Daniel's winning video can be seen below. The First Prize winner is Richard Boehmcke of Kew Gardens, New York. Richard's submission (below) was also the result of some inspired brainstorming. "I was just trying to think about why someone would drink FIJI Water," says Richard. "I thought about the kind of water I drink and how sometimes my tap water seems a little off. It kind of made me think of how sometimes my whole day is a little off. And then I thought about what a perfect day would taste like." An aspiring writer, playwright, poet, and blogger, Richard plans to get to Fiji and bury himself "in the sand and not move for a week. Maybe I will have a fruity drink." (We have a feeling Fiji's beaches, rain forests, and culture will tempt him out of the dunes -- eventually.) FIJI Water and Air Pacific congratulate Daniel, Richard, and all other contest entrants on their creativity, talent, and hard work.

Enter the FIJI Water "Every Bottle Is a Chance to Escape" Summer Sweepstakes

FIJI Water — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:42:23 +0000

One of the InterContinental's four swimming pools.

A tropical vacation is a dream at any time of year, but even more so in carefree summertime. To make that dream come true, FIJI Water and its partners Air Pacific and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa are excited to offer the “Every Bottle Is a Chance to Escape” Sweepstakes. The grand-prize winner will receive business-class airfare to Fiji and accommodations at a hotel that recently made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller Hot List 2010.

After an extra-comfortable flight on Air Pacific, the lucky winner and their even luckier guest will be taken to the InterContinental for six days and five nights of luxurious relaxation. When it comes to things to do, they’ll be able to dine and drink at five different restaurants and bars, be pampered at an opulent spa, cool off in four swimming pools, or take in as much golf as they like on an 18-hole championship course. They can also walk out the front door of their stylish accommodations and head down to one of Fiji’s most beautiful beaches.

In addition to their stay, the winner and their guest will also receive a special couple’s spa treatment, a romantic cabana dinner, and round-trip airport transfers.

Three first-prize winners will also be on their way to a fantastic tropical adventure with round-trip, economy-class tickets to Fiji, courtesy of Air Pacific. Twenty second-prize winners will be randomly drawn from among all eligible entries to receive a FIJI Water beach kit that includes a beach towel, beach ball, canvas cap, t-shirt, and cooler bag.

How to Enter

Choose from three methods of entry: text, online, and traditional mail.

Text: Visit your local participating retailers to get the secret keyword you need to enter. Text it to 78247, and you could win not only this trip to Fiji but other exciting prizes as well.
Online: Visit www.fijiwater.com/escape and follow the on-screen instructions to enter.
Mail: Mail in a 3×5 card that includes your first and last name, email address, street address (including city, state, and ZIP code), phone number and the word “FIJI” to Escape to Fiji Sweepstakes, c/o Brandmovers, Inc., P.O. Box 723188, Atlanta, GA 31139.

Entries must be legible and completed in full to be valid. Machine-duplicated or reproduced entries will not be accepted.

The resort's inviting accommodations.

The Fine Print

All entrants must be 18 years or older.
Limit one entry per person.
All entries must be submitted and received between 12:00:01 AM, Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 23, 2010 and 11:59:59 PM, ET on August 31, 2010.
For the complete list of sweepstakes rules and requirements, please see our rules page.

Great Tunes for a Great Cause: 1% for the Planet’s Compilation Album

FIJI Water — Thu, 20 May 2010 22:21:12 +0000

Lori McKenna, Josh Ritter, Jackson Browne, Mason Jennings, and Jack Johnson are extremely diverse singers and musical artists, but one thing they have in common is a song on the new album 1% for the Planet, the Music: Vol. 1. Over two years in the making, this compilation features 41 songs from artists who donated their time and talent to its creation.

Since its recent debut, 1% for the Planet, the Music: Vol. 1 has been at the top of Amazon’s MP3 album list, risen to #3 on Billboard’s folk charts, and spent time on iTunes’ top-50 album list. All proceeds from album sales help different environmental groups and initiatives around the globe. FIJI Water has been a member of 1% for the Planet since December 2009.

From its beginnings in 2002, 1% for the Planet has grown from 21 participating companies to over 1,200 in 38 different countries, and total monies allocated to environmental protection groups have surpassed $50 million. FIJI Water, one of the organization’s five largest corporate members, has undertaken numerous efforts to preserve and protect the environment, which made the company a natural fit for a partnership in the organization.

One of these efforts has been to save the Sovi Basin, a 50,000-acre Fijian lowland rain forest. With $5 million invested in the project, FIJI Water is ensuring that this important habitat and the unique plant, insect, and animal species found there will forever be protected, while at the same time benefiting the planet as a whole through carbon sequestration. This important endeavor has been undertaken with the partnership of Conservation International.

FIJI Water has also embarked on the Nakauvadra Forest Carbon Project. Located on the Fijian island of Viti Levu, this region has suffered alarming, long-term environmental degradation. In response, FIJI Water partnered with Conservation International to begin the immense task of reforesting the area.

For a deeper understanding of FIJI Water’s commitment to environmental causes, please watch the following movie. It’s a gorgeous — and sobering— look at all that’s at stake.

Class Is in Session: Derek Blasberg's Book Party

FIJI Water — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:45:08 +0000

Charlotte Ronson, Nicky Hilton, and Derek Blasberg share some laughs post dinner at the Style.com- and FIJI Water-hosted event.

Derek Blasberg, Editor-at-Large at Style.com and a contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar magazine, was recently in Los Angeles to promote his new book, Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Very Modern Woman.

Currently on a cross-country promotional tour, Blasberg brought some much-needed advice — gleaned from the world’s deepest, most thought-provoking socialites — to a city awash in velour track suits and Uggs. He found a very receptive audience in Beverly Hills, where, on a warm spring evening, Nicole Richie, Kate Bosworth, and Margherita Missoni hosted an appropriately fabulous party to help him spread the gossipy gospel. A tongue-in-cheek, sure-fire hit, Classy draws on Blasberg’s deep experience in the fashion and social worlds to give ambitious young women the kind of advice they need to succeed without ever sacrificing true style. (Hint: If you’re going to face the press, be sure all the logos you’re wearing are the real thing.)

Nicole Richie in Missoni poses for photos inside the private celebration for Derek Blasberg at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills.

Starting off with cocktails at the sleek, brand-new Missoni store on Rodeo Drive, the party was enjoyed by a who’s who of the film and fashion world, including actors Patricia Arquette and her husband, Thomas Jayne; socialite Nicky Hilton; event producer and DJ Brent Bolthouse; actor Balthazar Getty and his wife, Rosetta; and other high-profile entertainment personalities.

From there, the party moved to Mr. Chow’s, a long-time fixture on the Los Angeles restaurant scene. Guests such as Shanae Grimes, Malin Akerman, and Charlotte Ronson were treated to champagne and a Thai family-style dinner that included ma mignon, chicken skewers, and XO string beans.

FIJI Water was delighted to support the celebration of Derek and his work. In a world where good taste so often seems to be in short supply, Classy offers wise and witty guidance to all women, whether they live in the stressful public eye — or need some sage suggestions to get there.

Vegas Uncork'd: Three Days of Food and Fabulousness

FIJI Water — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:49:04 +0000

FIJI Water was always on hand to complement the great food.

Wine and food lovers recently descended en masse to Las Vegas’s epicurean epic, Vegas Uncork’d. Presented by Bon Appetit magazine, the event featured many of the top names in the world of fine dining — including one who moonlights as a DJ.

As the official water of the fourth annual Vegas Uncork’d, FIJI Water was the perfect fit for such an exciting — and delicious — celebration of all things culinary. Held May 6-9, over 30 events took place at Las Vegas’s premier resorts — the Wynn/Encore, Palazzo & Venetian, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and Caesars Palace. It was as memorable as it sounds, and some 3,000 gourmets, gourmands, and oenophiles showed up to be a part of it all.

The festive tone for Uncork’d was set when it opened at the Garden of the Gods, the sprawling array of swimming pools and flower-filled gardens at Caesars Palace. Fleur de Lys‘s renowned chef — and inspiring DJ — Hubert Keller (see video below) spun tunes from the FIJI Water booth while guests wandered around the extravagant grounds, sampling menus prepared by over 75 of the best-known chefs in the country. Of these, on hand were Wolfgang Puck, Susan Feniger, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, and “Chef of the Century” Joel Robuchon.

The sold-out Masters Series Dinners were another very popular element of Vegas Uncork’d, showcasing the inspiration of chefs Guy Savoy and Bradley Ogden. “Shinkansen to Shibuya: A Sake and Sushi Celebration,” lead by chef Yoshinori Nakazawa, was also a crowd-pleaser. The Celebrity Blackjack Tournament saw Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas guard his champion’s crown for the third year in a row, while Olympic skater Johnny Weir co-hosted the Fashion Feast Gala with Iron Chef Cat Cora. For this event, guests were treated to a menu prepared by chefs Michael Mina and Todd English.

In a city that’s known for its food-oriented events, Vegas Uncork’d is a standout. As Bon Appetit editor-in-chief Barbara Fairchild explains, “There is no place else that has per square mile the quality, and quantity, of interested, talented chefs.”

The First Annual Lucky Rice Food Festival

FIJI Water — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:24:16 +0000

New York City is one of the world's most exciting culinary hot spots, and last week's Lucky Rice Food Festival was further proof that the reputation is well deserved. Some 3,000 hungry food fans attended the festival's different events, which took place over a sunny spring weekend. [caption id="attachment_1680" align="alignright" width="260" caption="Crowds enjoying the Asian Night Market in Brooklyn."][/caption] Asian cuisine has never been so innovative or diverse, and the Lucky Rice Food Festival celebrated that fact over four food-filled days. Host of Top Chef Masters, Kelly Choi, got things started with a Thursday-evening launch party at the East Village's historic Bowery Hotel. Guests were treated to a wide range of drinks prepared by Apotheke, a Chinatown bar and "libation lab" that's known for its inventive approach to all things cocktail (think cucumbers, lavender, and flames). The next day, the festival shifted into higher gear with a dumplings workshop lead by chef Anita Lo during the afternoon, followed by the recreation of an Asian night market in the evening. Hosted by Momofuku's David Chang, the market — based upon the lively pan-Asian tradition of night-time, open-air food markets — took place in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood, where the estimated 1,000 guests sampled delicious fare provided by Korean, Taiwanese, and Malaysian restaurants, as well as Asian-inspired dishes like hot dogs topped with Thai pickled cucumbers and mango. Another big hit of the night was the Mighty Leaf Tea -- made with FIJI Water. [caption id="attachment_1682" align="alignleft" width="350" caption="Host of "Top Chef Masters" Kelly Choi. "][/caption] Saturday's climactic event was the appropriately named Grand Feast, showcasing exceptional dishes from many of the city's best-known restaurants, including Daniel, Morimoto, and Jean-Georges. Held in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel ballroom overlooking Central Park, the night saw 600 people dine on such fabulous fare as the Korean mixed-rice dish bibimbap, prepared right in front of them. Founded by media entrepreneur and Asian-food enthusiast Danielle Chang, the Lucky Rice Food Festival's debut was an unqualified success, and promises to become a fixture on the New York epicurean scene.

A Dinner With the True Tastemakers of Los Angeles

FIJI Water — Mon, 10 May 2010 23:03:34 +0000

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

Los Angeles’ Galerie Half was the place to be last Tuesday night, when FIJI Water owners Lynda and Stewart Resnick hosted a dinner for the city’s top fashion directors and most influential chefs. Guests dined on an exceptional meal prepared by super-chef Nobu Matsuhisa. As one of the most stylish and forward-thinking cities in the world, Los Angeles is home to talented men and women whose creative vision drives both food and fashion. A Dinner With the True Tastemakers of Los Angeles celebrated them with a 12-course meal crafted by Chef Nobu and his team.

The event honored such epicurean leaders as Mark Peel, chef and owner of Campanile and the Tar Pit, and Michael Voltaggio, executive chef of the Dining Room at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena (and the winner of Top Chef, Season 6.) They and other guests began the night with such appetizers as lobster tacos, whitefish ceviche, and spicy tuna crispy rice.

Also honored was Roy Choi, chef and owner of Kogi BBQ and Chego (and Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef for 2010). He and fellow stars of the Los Angeles food scene Ilan Hall, owner and chef of the Gorbals, and Steven Fretz, executive chef of XIV by Michael Mina, mingled with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles City Council President Erik Garcetti as drinks provided by Grey Goose Vodka and Moët & Chandon made the rounds.

Acclaimed chefs Mark Peel, Susan Feniger, and Nobu Matsuhisa.

Dinner entrees included baby spinach and dry miso salad with lobster, seafood harumaki, and other Nobu specialties. Sampling them all were Mary Sue Milliken, owner and chef of Border Grill and Ciudad, and Susan Feniger, owner and chef of STREET, Border Grill and Ciudad; and Jorge Chicas, executive chef of the Bazaar by Jose Andres.

Stars from the Los Angeles fashion world were also celebrated. Representatives from Bulgari, Christian Dior, Oliver Peoples, Richemont, Puma, Ted Baker, Reiss, Prada, H & M, and Diesel enjoyed grilled Chilean sea bass with truffles and spring vegetables complemented by wines from Silver Oak Cellars.

FIJI Water’s ultimate tribute to the guests, however, came in the form of a donation on behalf of each guest to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, which brings food to 4,700 home-bound seniors every single day. It was a fitting gift to the City of Angels from those she has inspired the most.

Partnering With Give Clean Water to Install Home Filtration Systems in Fiji

FIJI Water — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:09:32 +0000

Many students volunteered their time to the project.

In partnership with Give Clean Water, over 60 FIJI Water employees recently volunteered their time to install 130 home-filtration systems in an area of Fiji that lacks access to safe, drinkable water. Approximately 750 people will benefit from the new filters.

Helped by friends, family members, and neighbors, the teams of volunteers focused on the villages of Natalecake, Vadravadra, and Wavuwavu in the province of Ba. Here people not only endure frequent water shortages but are often forced to use rain and river water when bad weather disrupts the local water supply. The result is an intolerably high level of dangerous water-borne diseases.

In order to eradicate the problem, Give Clean Water installed Point One Filters, which remove 99.99% of the bacteria that cause typhoid, cholera, and other dangerous diseases. Once the devices were properly secured, the volunteers then showed home owners how to use and maintain them in conjunction with basic principles of hygiene and sanitation. The filters come with a one-million-gallon guarantee — essentially the recipient’s lifetime.

Community-building is a team effort.

One inspiring aspect of the initiative, which took place on April 30 and May 1, was the spirited involvement of students attending the local Vatukaloko Jr. Secondary School. Give Clean Water Founder and Board Chair Darryl Larson noted that the youths were not only learning about the importance of clean water and hygiene, but were also empowered by the opportunity to be teachers and volunteers in a new community. “If you raise the bar, you’ll find that young people will rise to exceed your expectations,” Larson said.

FIJI Water is proud to partner with Give Clean Water as it seeks to install 200,000 home filtration systems over the next ten years. To date, the FIJI Water Foundation has donated $60,000 to the effort, resulting in 600 home water systems benefiting some 3,000 people.

More news and information:

Local Fiji Communities Get Clean Water Filters

FIJI Water Employees Give More Than $52,000 to Charities in Fiji

FIJI Water Spends a Day with Habitat for Humanity

Vote for Your Favorite "Two Tickets to Paradise" Video Contest Entry

FIJI Water — Tue, 04 May 2010 07:44:37 +0000

We received many fantastic entries, and the competition was fierce, but the top three finalists have been selected by the FIJI Water judging panel. Now it's up to you to vote for your favorite video — and send the winner to an exciting Air Pacific destination. The Latest: Following are the top three video finalists in alphabetical order. Once you've viewed them, please vote in our poll below. We welcome all participants but, remember, you can only vote once, and any votes determined to be made by auto-generators or proxy servers will not be counted. Video 1: Richard Boehmcke

Video 2: Michael Phan

Video 3: Daniel Taylor [polldaddy poll=3134329] What Comes Next? All are welcome to review the finalists and choose their favorite until 11:59 PM, Pacific Standard Time, May 10. Once the public voting period ends we will tabulate the results. The finalist receiving the most votes will win the Grand Prize of two round-trip, business-class tickets to a select Air Pacific destination, and the finalist receiving the second-most votes will win First Prize (two round-trip, economy-class tickets on Air Pacific). In the event of a tie, a winner will be determined by the FIJI Water judging panel based on our initial submission criteria. After the winners have been determined, they will be contacted within five days from the close of the voting period. The Grand-Prize and First-Prize winners will then need to sign and return documents certifying their eligibility and other legal requirements. (For a complete list of required documents, please see our legal page.) In addition, anyone other than the contestant appearing in the top two winning videos will be required to complete and return a release consenting to the use of the video. Then, of course, what follows is a dream-vacation for some very talented filmmakers. Stay tuned for more information as the voting period progresses, and many thanks to all those who entered the "Two Tickets to Paradise" contest.

Celebrating Arbor Day with Million Trees LA

FIJI Water — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:26:05 +0000

This past Friday was Arbor Day, and to honor the important date, more than 175 volunteers contributed their time and muscle to help Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plant 53 trees at a local high school.

With the blessing of perfect weather, the sunshine and blue sky helped set the stage for an important community effort at Woodland Hills’ El Camino Real High School. Million Trees LA, a non-profit organization committed to greening the City of Angels, provided 53 Australian willow saplings to be planted around the school’s grounds and walkways, and the volunteers were there to get them into their new “homes.” Once they’ve matured, the trees will provide much-needed shade and tree canopy to the campus. FIJI Water is proud to have sponsored the event.

Leading the planting effort was Mayor Villaraigosa, who also serves as head of the Million Trees LA initiative. He was assisted by many El Camino High School students, local families, members of the L.A. Conservation Corps and Forest Fire & Rescue, and other volunteers, including popular rapper Master P. (In that same spirit, a local DJ offered his services and was spinning just the right music to get the crowd ready for a morning of planting.) FIJI Water representatives included Grace Jeon, the senior vice president of national accounts and field marketing, and Scott Parido, the senior vice president of United States retail, Mexico and Canada sales. Once they and the mayor completed the ceremonial planting of the first tree, the volunteers were broken up into teams and set to planting. All told, the effort took just over two hours.

FIJI Water also supplied many eager volunteers.

Planting trees is high on the list of FIJI Water’s environmental priorities. On the Fijian island of Viti Levu, we have partnered with Conservation International to preserve and protect the Sovi Basin, 50,000 acres of critical rainforest that is home to flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth. Nearby, we’ve embarked on a second partnership with Conservation International in the Nakauvadra Forest Carbon Project, which will restore degraded grasslands and abandoned sugar cane farms by replanting them with native, high-value timber, fruit and spice trees. Like those planted at El Camino Real High School, they will grow into natural assets that benefit not only the local community but the entire planet as well.

More news and information:

Celebrating Earth Day Is a Daily Event

Project Compassion: San Francisco’s "Discarded to Divine" Event

FIJI Water — Sat, 01 May 2010 02:00:46 +0000

FIJI Water partnered with Project Runway star Jay Nicolas Sario to create a fabulous (and frugal) cocktail dress for this year's Discarded to Divine event in San Francisco. Now in its fifth year, Discarded to Divine invites fashion designers from the Bay Area to "reimagine" recycled items by turning them into clever, creative, and conscientious clothing and housewares. One of this year's Project Runway contestants, San Franciscan Jay Nicolas Sario, created a scene-stealing mini-cocktail dress out of FIJI Water bottles (that he drank himself!) that was sold at auction for $450. All proceeds from Discarded to Divine go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco, which serves the city's disadvantaged. Held at the stunning St. Mary's Cathedral in the heart of the city, Discarded to Divine is one of San Francisco's most beloved and anticipated events. Every year, the top-tier affair raises money to help St. Vincent de Paul, while at the same time raising everyone's awareness about recycling, sustainability, and what -- and who -- our society chooses to "discard." That mission is what first attracted Jay to the event. "The St. Vincent de Paul Society and FIJI Water both carry the spirit of sustainability and philanthropy. It was a natural fit for me to join forces with both and benefit a cause that is important to me," said Jay. This year's event will benefit victims of domestic violence in particular. Other talented Bay Area designers that gave their time and energy to the event included Aurelio, Barbara Beccio, Kevin Parcasio, Christopher Collins, Cari Borja Clothes Maker, Eimaj Designs, Elaine O’Malley, Offhand Designs, On Aura Tout Vu, Sweet P. (one of Jay's colleagues from Project Runway), Colleen Quen Couture, David Pedroza, and Joseph Singh. Each one donated their talent and ingenuity to the event, and helped make it as memorable as it was. This is the third year in a row that FIJI Water has sponsored Discarded to Divine. As passionate believers that all people can make a difference, FIJI Water is committed to supporting recycling and sustainability efforts wherever and whenever possible.

Celebrating Earth Day Is a Daily Event

FIJI Water — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:54:20 +0000

Earth Day is an important day at FIJI Water, but our commitment is to celebrate it all year long through our support of environmental and community giving. Our company is committed to responsible environmental stewardship, and it drives everything we do. One project we're especially proud of is our protection of the Sovi Basin. Located on the Fijian island of Viti Levu, the Sovi Basin is a 50,000-acre expanse of some of the last low-lying rain forest in the country, and a very important part of the Polynesia/Micronesia biodiversity "hotspot." Home to myriad plant and animal species found nowhere else, the 34 biodiversity hotspots scattered across the globe are stunning examples of nature's creative genius: This hotspot alone is home to 3,300 unique species of plants. When it became clear that the Sovi Basin was threatened by logging interests, FIJI Water and partner Conservation International acted quickly to protect it. With $5 million committed, FIJI is ensuring that this critical habitat and its wildlife will remain protected in perpetuity, while at the same time giving the whole planet a boost: By preserving the forest (via efforts including reforestation programs), enough CO2 will be sequestered to equal approximately 2 million cars kept off the road. FIJI Water is also a proud to be the fifth-largest member of 1% for the Planet, the ground-breaking organization whose members contribute 1% of their profits to environmental causes. Founded in 2002, 1% for the Planet began with 21 contributing business and now numbers over 1,200 in 38 different countries. For Earth Day, organization chief executive Terry Kellogg shared his thoughts on corporate environmental commitment in today's Huffington Post. For a glimpse at these and our other environmental programs, as well as some stunning imagery of the Fijian rainforest, view our video:

Enter the FIJI Water Mother’s Day Sweepstakes Sponsored by FIJI Water, Sofitel, EmpireCLS & UrbanDaddy

FIJI Water — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:39:21 +0000

Want to honor the most important woman in your life with a luxurious overnight hotel stay? Enter the Mother’s Day Sweepstakes and your favorite mom could soon be on her way.

FIJI Water and cosponsors Sofitel Hotels, EmpireCLS, and UrbanDaddy are pleased to offer moms and the people who love them the chance to enter the Mother’s Day Sweepstakes. The winner will spend an unforgettable night in one of the eight luxurious and elegant Sofitel hotels in the United States.

After they’ve checked in and had dinner in the hotel restaurant, the winner and their guest will have the use of a limousine for several hours, whether they take it on a romantic drive overlooking the city, a play, the opera, or to a nightclub they heard about through UrbanDaddy.

Upon return from the Sofitel adventure, the winner will start to enjoy a year of free FIJI Water Delivery Service.

How to Enter

Simply fill out your contact information on the entry page and submit. A winner will be chosen at random from all properly submitted entries.

The Fine Print

Entrants must be 18 years and older.
Only one entry per person.
All entries must be submitted between between 12:01 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”) on April 20, 2010 and 11:59 p.m. PST on May 3, 2010. Entries received before or after the official entry period will be automatically disqualified.
Winner will receive one night in the Sofitel hotel of their choice (located in San Francisco, Redwood City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Miami, Philadelphia, or New York City).
Free limousine and chauffeur service will be available for a total of six hours.
For the complete list of sweepstakes rules and requirements please see our rules page.

Enter the FIJI Water Mother’s Day Sweepstakes and win a wonderful memory. It’s the perfect gift for the perfect mom.

Announcing the Minute to Win It "Stick the Landing" Sweepstakes

FIJI Water — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:08:17 +0000

Those who love NBC's exciting new game show Minute to Win It can now enter an entertaining sweepstakes competition of their own, SPONSORED BY FIJI WATER. Five lucky winners will receive a year of free FIJI Water Delivery Service. To enter, tune in on Sunday, April 18, at 8 p.m. PST/7 p.m. CST to Minute to Win It, where contestants compete to win up to $1 million through challenging games using everyday household items. In this episode, FIJI Water will play the lead role in "Stick the Landing," a game in which contestants must toss FIJI bottles onto table-tops and make them land upright to win. How to Enter After watching the April 18 episode, visit our sweepstakes entry page to answer the following question about the game:

According to host Guy Fieri, the FIJI Water bottle needs to be partially full in order to complete the “Stick the Landing” challenge successfully. Approximately how FULL does it need to be - 3/4, 1/2 or 1/4?

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL EPISODE ON NBC

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ENTRY PAGE Once you've answered the question, simply fill out the rest of the response form and submit it. Winners will be selected at random from the correct responses. If you’re one of the lucky five chosen, you’ll enjoy a year of free FIJI Water delivered right to your door. The Fine Print

Be sure to include a valid email address when submitting your entry so that we can contact you.
You must be 18 years or older.
You may enter only one submission during the promotional period.
Only entries submitted between April 18, at 8 p.m. PST and April 23, at 11:59 p.m. PST will be considered. Entries submitted outside of the promotional period will be automatically disqualified.
Winners will be notified within thirty (30) days of the end of the sweepstakes.
Five (5) winners will be selected at random from all correct answers submitted.
Official rules

Announcing the "Two Tickets to Paradise" Video Contest With Air Pacific

FIJI Water — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:16:40 +0000

Want to win two tickets to exciting Air Pacific destinations? Ever wanted to visit Fiji? Auckland? Sydney? Tonga? If so, now's your chance to fly in style as FIJI Water and Air Pacific announce the “Two Tickets to Paradise” Video Contest. We’re looking for fun, creative, and compelling videos that highlight the perfect pairing of FIJI Water and Air Pacific. These two great brands deserve a great video, and there’s no better talent pool in which to find it than our fans. Get ready to get creative, and let the cameras roll. How Do I Enter? Motivated filmmakers will create a video (no longer than :32 seconds) that showcases both FIJI Water and Air Pacific. Other than no lewd language, lewd behavior, or inappropriate material (they’ll disqualify you), the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative guidelines. Be original, be uplifting, be yourself -- be whatever your muse tells you to be. Once your video is finished, upload it to YouTube and fill out the contest entry form, which includes a place for you to include a link to your video. The contest will be open for submissions beginning at 12:01 A.M., April 10, 2010, until 11:59 P.M., April 24, 2010. Voting on favorite videos will begin on May 4 and end on May 10. Who Can Participate? The “Two Tickets to Paradise” Video Contest is open to all residents of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam), Australia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years or older. How Will the Videos Be Judged? FIJI Water will review all qualified video entries and rank them according to the following criteria (subject to change):

content
creativity/originality
professionalism
use of Air Pacific/FIJI Water products, logos, and taglines
understanding of what FIJI Water and Air Pacific stand for (videos must be in line with both brands’ look/feel)
overall “mass appeal"

Once our FIJI staff has made the tough choices and selected the best of the best, the finalists will be posted on the FIJI Water blog and and voted on by visitors to the site. The video that garners the most votes will be the grand-prize winner of two business-class tickets to select Air Pacific destinations. A first-prize winner will win two economy-class Air Pacific tickets. For the complete rules surrounding the FIJI Water and Air Pacific “Two Tickets to Paradise” Video Contest, please see our rules page. A helpful list of frequently asked questions is available here. So have fun and be sure to put your heart, soul, and imagination into the best video you can make. We're as eager to see what you come up with as you are to visit paradise.

"Two Tickets to Paradise" Video Contest: Frequently Asked Questions

FIJI Water — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:15:38 +0000

Questions about our entering our "Two Tickets to Paradise" Video Contest? Wondering about important dates and guidelines? Read here for a closer look at the rules and requirements. 1. Do I need to buy anything to participate? No purchase is necessary. 2. When does the contest begin? Entries can be submitted beginning at midnight, Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 < ![endif] >< ! [if gte mso 9]> < ![endif] >April 10, 2010 at 12:00:01 A.M. Pacific Time (“PT”) Zone in the U.S. 3. When does it end? Entries submitted after 11:59:59 P.M., April 24, 2010, PT will not be accepted. 4. What does the video have to be about? The theme or content of your video submission can be about anything you want, but it must showcase both FIJI Water and Air Pacific Airlines. Videos will be judged on particular criteria, so although your video can be about anything, your chances of being chosen as a finalist are greater if your video contains elements of each of the judging criteria. Videos must also use all assets provided by FIJI Water and Air Pacific. Videos that contain lewd or inappropriate language or behavior or material deemed to be damaging towards the brands will be disqualified. 5. Who can participate? The “Two Tickets to Paradise” Video Contest is open to residents of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam), Australia, and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years or older. 6. Can I have other people in my video? Yes, but all participants depicted in your video must sign required release forms, which must be submitted before your prize is rewarded. 7. What are the dates I need to remember? The most important dates are April 10, which is the first day entries can be submitted; April 24th, which marks the last day to enter a video into the contest; and May 4, when visitors to the FIJI Water blog can vote on their favorite video submission. The voting period will end on May 10, 2010 at 11:59:59 P.M., PT. April 10: Video submission entry period begins April 24: Video submission entry period ends May 4-10: Voting for videos conducted on FIJI Water blog 8. Where do I upload my video submission? All contest entrants must upload their videos to YouTube. 9. How long does my video submission need to be? All video submissions must show a time between :28 and :32 seconds once they have been uploaded to YouTube. 10. What assets can I use in my video submission? Contest participants must use all the assets provided by FIJI Water and/or Air Pacific and must not use any asset, such as music or a moving image, that is protected by copyright laws. This restriction also applies to corporate logos, such as those worn on clothing or promotional signage. 11. Where can I find the assets I need for my video submission? Requisite assets provided by FIJI Water can be found here. 12. What are your criteria for judging a video submission? How will it be evaluated? Video submissions will be judged according to, but not limited to, their content; creativity; originality; professionalism; use of Air Pacific/FIJI Water products, logos, and taglines; understanding of what FIJI Water and Air Pacific stand for (videos must be in line with both brands’ look/feel); and overall “mass appeal.” 13. How are votes on a video calculated? In the first round of judging, all entries will be evaluated by FIJI Water, and up to ten videos chosen will then be posted to the FIJI Water blog. During this second phase of the contest, videos will be voted on by visitors to the FIJI Water blog. 14. When will winners be notified? Winners will be notified within five days of the end of the public voting period. 15. How many times can I vote on a video? You can vote only once during the entire contest. 16. Will I be disqualified if my video submission does not meet the time requirements? What else could potentially disqualify me? Yes. Any video submissions that do not meet the time requirements will automatically be disqualified. Applicants will not be notified if they are disqualified. You may also be disqualified for lewd and inappropriate language or images, inaccurate submission information, inclusion of copyright-protected material, and failure to follow contest rules and regulations.
17. Where can I find the Official Rules for the contest? Rules for the “Two Tickets to Paradise” contest can be found here. 18. What is the Grand Prize? The winner of the contest Grand Prize will receive two business-class, round-trip tickets to select Air Pacific destinations. 19. What is the Runner-Up Prize? The winner of the runner-up prize will receive two round-trip, economy-class tickets to select Air Pacific destinations. 20. Does FIJI Water and/or Air Pacific have the right to use my video in a commercial aspect? Yes. Upon submission, all videos and contest-related creative efforts become the property of FIJI Water and Air Pacific, even if they are not chosen as finalists. 21. Will my contact information be used in any capacity outside of the contest? No. All contact information submitted by contest entrants will only be used for correspondence pertaining to the contest itself or any other promotional event sponsored by Air Pacific or FIJI Water. 22. How will I know that you received my entry submission? Successful submission of a contest entry will result in an automatically generated email sent to the email account you provide.

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Who can participate?

Save the Date: The 2010 FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, June 18-20

FIJI Water — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:40:48 +0000

Winter turns to spring and spring turns to summer — and that means the 2010 FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen is on its delicious way.

One of the world’s best-known and most respected gastronomic celebrations, the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen is gearing up for an inspiring 28th year. As with previous events, an array of the world’s most famous chefs — as well as a number of promising up-and-comers — will be on hand to dazzle guests with their cooking, share tips and secrets with enthusiasts, and enjoy the beauty of Aspen in the summertime. To buy tickets for this memorable event, visit Food & Wine.

For the 2010 FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, headline chefs will include Mario Batali, Giada DeLaurentiis, Jacques Pepin, Thomas Keller, Morimoto, David Chang, Art Smith, and Michael Symon.

Of course, many other well-known cooking stars will be on hand, too. Top Chef fanatics will be excited to learn that their favorite judges Tom Colicchio and Food & Wine’s Special Projects Manager Gail Simmons will be cooking up delicious meals, and guests won’t want to miss a special Classic Quickfire with Top Chef Season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio competing against Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless.

Promising new chefs at the 2009 event.

These talented chefs and others will also be leading 95 very popular and eclectic cooking demonstrations, ranging from the “Best of Ligurian Cooking,” “Korean Marinades for BBQ,” and “I Like American Chardonnay and I’m Not Afraid to Say It!” to the climactic Grand Cochon (ten chefs preparing their best pork dishes), held at the Hotel Jerome.

In keeping with its devotion to the art and joy of food, Food & Wine will donate 2% of the proceeds from every Classic ticket to Grow for Good, which will benefit the Wholesome Wave Foundation. Grow for Good is Food & Wine’s national initiative dedicated to supporting local farms and encouraging sustainable agriculture.

FIJI Water is excited to be the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen’s official bottled water for the eighth year in a row. Its great taste and smooth mouthfeel make it the natural choice for the high-end epicurean industry.

More news and information:

FOOD& WINE Classic in Aspen 2009

Learn the Secrets Behind FIJI Water's Marketing Success

FIJI Water — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:20:25 +0000

Lynda Resnick is the entrepreneurial and marketing genius who has made FIJI Water the #1-selling imported bottled water brand in America. Her best-selling book, Rubies in the Orchard, has just been released in paperback. In it, she divulges her secrets for building a brand and achieving iconic stature – information that any company, large or small, can adapt to achieve success.

Enter to Win the "Vino Maximus" Ticket Giveaway Contest With JET

FIJI Water — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:24:18 +0000

The only thing better than a wine-tasting is a wine-tasting in Las Vegas, and the only thing better than that is a wine-tasting in Las Vegas attended by rock superstars JET. One witty wine-lover will win two VIP tickets to "Vino Maximus" and the chance to meet one of rock's hottest new bands. FIJI Water and Rock ‘n Roll Wine are excited to give away two very VIP tickets to Vino Maximus, a premiere wine-tasting event to be held March 27, 2010, at the renowned Caesars Palace. The inaugural affair to debut the completely renovated Garden of the Gods Oasis, Vino Maximus will be a catered, poolside party featuring some 120 high-end wines from more than 40 different wineries. What’s more, FIJI Water will be hosting the FIJI Water Luxury Lounge, a separate, ticketed space that will feature great food, the finest wines (served in Riedel glasses), and of course, the finest premium water. Guests to Vino Maximus will be entertained by opening musical acts the Crash Kings and Imagine Dragons, followed by the multi-platinum rock quartet JET as they perform on a plexiglass-covered swimming pool (one of the Garden’s 18 different swimming options). How to Enter Oenophiles, FIJI Water enthusiasts, and JET setters can combine their love of all three by answering the following simple question in the comments to this blog post: "If your favorite wine were a rock-'n'-roll song, what would it be, and why?" Responses can be as long as you’d like, but all you have to do to win is be funny, clever, moving, witty, or profound -- in a word, “good.” That’s because the best entry selected by our judging team will win two VIP, all-access tickets to Vino Maximus, as well as a personal introduction to multi-platinum-selling JET. So if your favorite Chianti reminds you of Kanye, or your preferred Merlot reminds you of a Dusty Springfield melody, be sure to tell us about it, and why. Examples:

If my Shiraz were a rock-'n'-roll song, it would be 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T' by Aretha Franklin, because it's strong and soulful.
If my Domaine Chandon were a rock-n-roll song it would be 'Celebration' by Madonna, because it's so festive.

The Fine Print:

Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you
You must be 21 years or older
Only entries submitted between Friday, March 19, at 12:01 a.m. PST and Wednesday, March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be considered.
Official rules

It's that simple. On your mark, JET set, go! Update: Congratulations to Stephanie C. for her winning entry. Enjoy yourself, Stephanie, and let us know how it went. If you take pictures, please send us some so we can put them up on our Facebook page.

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Enter our #contest to twin 2 VIP tickets to #LasVegas wine-tasting and meet rock sensation @JetTheBand: (link to blog post here)

NBC Premieres New Game Show, Minute to Win It

FIJI Water — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:26:49 +0000

NBC's new game show Minute to Win It, hosted by all-American chef and television personality Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives), features competitors participating in a series of fun and challenging games that can lead to a $1 million prize. The show premieres at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, with the FIJI Water "Stick the Landing" Sweepstakes to follow shortly thereafter. Each episode of the game show sees competitors face 10 challenges using typical household items. At various checkpoints throughout the game, competitors can walk away with the money earned up to that point -- but if they hang on, they could win the ultimate $1 million prize. Fans are encouraged to play along at home, too -- part of the fun is realizing that you can challenge yourself in almost exactly the same way as if you were on the show. Worried that your reflexes just aren't what they used to be? Find out with a little Minute to Win It of your own. Game night with your friends might soon be getting a bit more interesting. FIJI Water is going to play a leading role in one of these challenges, dubbed "Stick the Landing." It's so much fun that we needed to give it its own sweepstakes, which will be announced before the episode airs. To participate in the "Stick the Landing" Sweepstakes, watch the first Minute to Win It episode that features FIJI Water. As part of the sweepstakes, we'll post a question about FIJI Water's role in the episode, after which you can submit your response. Winners will be selected at random from the correct responses. If you're one of the lucky five chosen, you'll enjoy a year of free FIJI Water delivered right to your door. Updates about exact timing of the sweepstakes will be communicated through Facebook, Twitter, and here on the FIJI Water blog. Tune in to the two-hour series premiere, Sunday, March 14, 7pm/6pm Central.

LA Weekly's Second Annual Gold Standard Food and Wine Event

FIJI Water — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:45:02 +0000

Saturday, February 28, saw LA Weekly host its second-annual Gold Standard Food and Wine event. Happy Los Angelenos, LA Weekly readers, FIJI Water fans, and followers of Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic and writer Jonathan Gold enjoyed food from some of the city’s most delicious eateries.

Chef Mary Sue Milliken, owner of Border Grill and Ciudad

Jonathan Gold is known by many for his unpredictable taste and appreciation of the diverse ethnic cuisines represented in Los Angeles. He’s recognized as the final word on the best and most exciting food in the city, whether it’s from a mom-and-pop taco truck or a trendy, high-end restaurant. This event, which was held at the always-entertaining Petersen Automotive Museum, gave guests the rare opportunity to sample Gold’s top tasting picks all in one very interesting location.

Specializing in cuisines from all over the world, the 40 restaurants that Gold selected reflect Los Angeles’ incredibly diverse culinary life. Guests got to dine on such creative dishes as avocado-and-grilled-corn tacos, cured salmon with Meyer lemon, cold chorizo velouté with cornichon sorbet, and “golden” cupcakes for that oh-so crucial sweet chaser.

Non-alcoholic hydration needs were met by FIJI Water, while those looking for something with more buzz could choose between many different wineries and breweries.

Besides eating, noshing, chowing, snacking, smiling, and drinking, guests were entertained by DJ Ice and his musical sampling, as well as by country-western singer Lynda Kay.

Other high points of the evening were the unveiling of the sleek, state-of-the-art FIJI Water kitchen (for inspired foodies who like to take matters into their own hands as well as their homes) and a raffle for various sponsor-provided gifts and prizes.

Making the event even sweeter was the fact that a portion of the proceeds went to Heal the Bay and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Australia’s Second Moonlight Cinema Ticket Giveaway

FIJI Water — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:24:55 +0000

Anyone who missed out on the recent chance to win free tickets to Moonlight Cinema, take heart: FIJI Water is giving you another opportunity to win a night of silver screen under silver stars. This time, one lucky FIJI Water fan will win a six-month supply of FIJI Water plus a double pass to a Moonlight Cinema showing. Three runners-up will win a Moonlight Cinema double pass, which are valid at all locations throughout the rest of the summer. (The only exceptions are films shown on “no free” nights.) FIJI Water will again be stationed at Moonlight Cinema in Melbourne on Sunday night, February 28, offering samples of our artesian water — the natural complement to any theater snack. Good luck! I Want to Go! How Do I Win Tickets? Write a comment on this blog post (entries submitted on Facebook will not be accepted), substituting the word “FIJI” for a word from your favorite movie line. An example might be, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a FIJI.” Be funny. Be creative. We’ll pick ONE (1) best entry and THREE (3) runners-up. The best answer will win a SIX (6) month supply of FIJI Water (6x 500ml cases) and TWO tickets to Moonlight Cinema. The THREE (3) runners-up will receive TWO tickets to Moonlight Cinema. The Fine Print:

Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you
You must be 18 years or older
You must have an address in Australia to win tickets
You may only win once during the promotional period
Entry is subject to availability
Only entries submitted between Monday, 22 February, at 12:01 a.m. AEST and Sunday, 28 February at 11:59 p.m. AEST will be considered.
Official rules

Join in the fun. The lucky winners could see their summers become even more memorable.

New York Fashion Week: The Alexander Berardi Show

FIJI Water — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:34:07 +0000

Five days of New York Fashion Week, four lucky FIJI Water Interns experiencing the thrill of it all. Contest winner Aislinn Zolna shares her second day on the fashion-show floor with us: Today is my second day as an intern for FIJI Water and there’s no doubt about it: I’m having a blast! Every day just gets better and better with all these fun-filled shows. I know Dawn and Laura have been having a great time too. Tonight I worked at the Altman Building, where designer Alexander Berardi put on a fabulous show. His designs were really interesting, and covered the spectrum from preppy to sexy: Button-down shirts, tailored blazers, and slinky little mini-dresses were all displayed on the runway. The spotlights were hot, too, and we supplied the audience and models with plenty of FIJI Water. On that note, I’m so excited to keep everyone hydrated with FIJI Water in the upcoming events of Fashion Week. More news and information: FIJI Water's New York Fashion Week Internship Contest FIJI Water's New York Fashion Week Internship Contest Finalists Alexander Berardi (Official site) New York Fashion Week: The Betsey Johnson and Zac Posen Shows

New York Fashion Week: The Jeremy Laing Show

FIJI Water — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:54:55 +0000

New York Fashion Week was as exciting as you’d imagine, and the winners of FIJI Water’s New York Fashion Week Internship Contest got to experience the city and the shows in all their glamorous, glorious detail. Here’s winner Laura Harap’s account of her second fun and fashionable day:

So today was our second day helping FIJI Water during New York Fashion Week. What a whirlwind! Designer Jeremy Laing greeted us as we arrived and he couldn’t have been nicer. My fellow intern Dawn and I gave out FIJI Water at his show, and of course we got plenty of opportunities to experience his talents — which were simply amazing. I was truly inspired by his work.

Another thing I loved about working at Jeremy Laing’s show was that it was a presentation and not a typical runway show. When a designer follows the presentation format, models stand in a line while all the invited guests walk past them in order to view the clothes more closely. I felt that this type of fashion show was more intimate than the runway style, and allowed guests to get a much better look at the genius behind the clothing.

Jeremy was walking around and prepping the models before they walked over to have their pictures taken, and you could tell that his heart and soul had gone into every piece he created. Needless to say, the bottles of FIJI Water flew off the table, and we got lots of feedback on the delicious taste. Today was an amazing experience and I’m even more excited for what tomorrow brings!

More news and information:

FIJI Water’s New York Fashion Week Internship Contest Finalists

FIJI Water’s New York Fashion Week Internship Contest Results

Jeremy Laing (Official site)

New York Fashion Week: The Alexander Berardi Show

New York Fashion Week: The Betsey Johnson and Zac Posen Shows

New York Fashion Week: The Betsey Johnson and Zac Posen Shows

FIJI Water — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:07:08 +0000

New York Fashion Week was a blur of style, fun, creativity — and a wonderful experience for our four lucky FIJI Water Fashion Week interns. Contest winner Lauren Crumpecker shares her stylish story with us:

The high-spirited Betsey Johnson show.

This weekend we worked at six shows! It was hard and even stressful at times, but we had fun and kept our guests happy and refreshed with FIJI Water. I was amazed to see the variety between all the collections — from a preppy Karen Walker, to a classic Zac Posen, to the crazy and theatrical Betsey Johnson.

When we arrived at the Altman Building on Valentine’s Day for Betsey Johnson’s show, it was already a mad house. Kelly Osbourne was getting ready to open the show, and all the assistants were blowing up huge inflatable hearts. The energy behind the scenes was anxious and intense, but the show was flawless and wonderfully over-the-top.

The Altman Building was transformed into a fun house with a saloon-girl-and-gambling theme. The backdrop was painted black and there were hearts, skulls, and pistols everywhere. The building filled up with people fast, including such famous faces as Melissa Joan Hart, Fefe Dobson, Patricia Field, and Matthew Settle. The models worked the hay-covered runway with a playful, flirty attitude as they blew kisses to the audience and tossed out dollar bills from their garter belts.

Towards the end of the show, Betsey Johnson paid tribute to the late Alexander McQueen with a model holding a “Long Live McQueen” sign. To top it all off, Betsey Johnson came out in a jail-house suit doing her signature cartwheel, followed by a parade of models carrying large, red inflatable hearts. What a show!

The next morning, we had to wake up early for Zac Posen’s show. During the preparations, the mentor of America’s Next Top Model, J. Alexander, was strutting his stuff on the runway and giving the models advice on how to walk, smile, and pose for the camera. His upbeat and “out-there” personality really stood out, just as it does on television.

Zac Posen and J. Alexander confer before Zac's show.

Meanwhile, we FIJI Girls greeted the buyers, magazine editors, and guests as we handed out water and fortune cookies for the Chinese New Year. Security was intense, and I was excited to see Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of “Vogue” magazine, in the front row. I had heard she admired Zac Posen, and there she was. The designer’s show was full of energy, and he even had a live violinist on stage playing to the beat of the music. Posen had more than 40 looks in his collection, starting with earth-toned, classic sportswear. Those styles were followed by some bright red pieces, fur jackets, and floral-print dresses that really popped on the runway.

It was such a privilege to attend so many shows this weekend, and I have a new appreciation for all the hard work that goes into producing the perfect 15-minute fashion show. I’m really going to miss all the excitement and energy at New York Fashion Week when I have to return to reality.

More news and information:

FIJI Water’s New York Fashion Week Internship Contest

FIJI Water’s New York Fashion Week Internship Contest Finalists

New York Fashion Week: Our Interns’ First Day

New York Fashion Week: The Jeremy Laing Show

New York Fashion Week: The Alexander Berardi Show

FIJI Water Employees Give More Than $52,000 to Charities in Fiji

FIJI Water — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:37:02 +0000

At FIJI Water, we believe in doing well by doing good. Through our FIJI Water Foundation, we support significant initiatives that provide Fijian communities improved access to clean water, health care, and education — not to mention our longstanding large-scale environmental efforts.

FIJI Water's Fleet Contractor, Bradley Scougall, gives to Father Law Old Persons’ Home

With such humanitarian commitment established as a benchmark, giving back is a notion that permeates the company. At FIJI Water, employees around the world are encouraged to contribute to charities of their choice through Roll Giving, a program supported by Roll International, FIJI Water’s parent company. Last week, a special ceremony held at the FIJI Water office in Naikabula, Lautoka, honored the employee giving that has become such a valued part of our corporate culture in Fiji.

This year marked the third year of the employee grant program. Launched in mid-2007 with just three named charities, the fund has since grown to include more than 20 organizations identified by FIJI employees. Through this donation infrastructure, FIJI Water gives its salaried, Fiji-based employees $250-$1,000 USD to put toward causes that are important to them.With 100% employee participation, last week the FIJI Water family in Lautoka, Yaqara, and Suva gave away more than $52,000 FJD to benefit 22 local charities. We were privileged to have 16 representatives from these charities attend the commemorative giving ceremony. The organizations supported by Roll Giving include the Veilomani Boys Rehabilitation Center, Fiji Society for the Blind, Treasure House Children’s Home, Golden Age Home, Fiji Crippled Children’s Society, Dilkusha Girls Home, SPCA, Fiji Cancer Society, Homes of Hope, and Save the Children. It’s all a part of FIJI Water’s ongoing commitment to be a better business, a better employer, and a better neighbor by giving back to the communities in which we work and live.

Read more about the Roll Giving Ceremony:

Fiji Times: Workers Pitch In

Fiji Sun: Water Firm Boosts Charities

New York Fashion Week: Our Interns’ First Day

FIJI Water — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:47:30 +0000

New York Fashion Week kicked off today and the winners of the FIJI Water Fashion Week Internship contest are on the ground to keep fashion's finest hydrated. We turn over our blog today to intern Dawn Conrade for behind-the-scenes action. A native of Kansas, Dawn shares with us what her first day as a FIJI Water fashionista was like: First let me say WOW! What an amazing first day working as an intern for FIJI Water! 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Play Video Poker best online casinos play european roulette online Playing Winning Blackjack secure us blackjack site? this new experience. Meeting the other internship winners and hearing each girl's life story was so much fun. We spent the greater portion of the morning loading and unloading a truck full of FIJI Water. My muscles definitely got a workout they’d never had before! Then it was off to learn about the ins and outs of FIJI Water and to get dressed for the show. As a small-town Kansas girl, I was definitely out of my element once the people started arriving for the show. I’ve never seen so many beautiful stylish people in one place at one time. I tried my best to deliver my line -- “Would you like some FIJI Water?” -- with a smile to each guest without staring. As the show began, we were allowed to put down the water and just watch the show. And again I’m going to say WOW! I was blown away by the creativity of the designer and the elegance of the models, and blinded by the amount of flashes going off in the room. It is amazing to see how much work goes into a show that only last ten minutes start to finish. All in all, I think the day went well. The guests were amply hydrated with some delicious FIJI Water, and even though my muscles were aching when I left, I still left with a smile and can’t wait for it to all start again tomorrow. Check back here and follow us on Twitter for more Fashion Week updates from our interns. Until tomorrow... [caption id="attachment_1257" align="alignnone" width="351" caption="A model in the Toni Maticevski show sponsored by FIJI Water"][/caption]

Valentine’s Day Recipe: Chef Katie Chin’s Peach Flambé

FIJI Water — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:08:46 +0000

Everyday Chinese Cooking and co-host of the PBS cooking series Double Happiness." width="165" height="246" />

Chef Katie Chin

Looking to make something sweet for that special someone? Since this Valentine’s Day also falls on Chinese New Year, what better way to show your passion than with a fiery Asian flambé?

Our Valentine’s Day dessert recipe comes from Katie Chin, co-author of Everyday Chinese Cooking and co-host of the PBS cooking series Double Happiness. Katie has made numerous appearances on national television, including specials for The Food Network and Fine Living. She has also been featured in Glamour, Bon Appetit, Self, and Elle, among many other publications.

Peach Flambé

Peach Flambé With Shanghai Ginger Ice Cream
1 pt. vanilla ice cream
2 Tbsp. crystallized ginger, chopped finely
4 Tbsp. butter
8 peach halves (can be canned or fresh)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup brandy
1 cup cream
4 martini glasses

Allow ice cream to soften for a few minutes at room temperature. Mix ginger pieces into ice cream. Place ice cream back in container and into the freezer.

Melt butter in pan, add sugar, and stir to mix until sugar is melted. Add peach halves and sauté for a couple of minutes. Add brandy, allow to heat, and ignite (flambé) until brandy is burned off.

Take the peach halves out of the pan and onto a pre-warmed plate. Add the cream to the pan and stir until the sauce thickens a bit.

Place one scoop of ice cream into each martini glass. Place peaches on top and pour flambé over ice cream and peaches. Garnish with minced ginger.

Serves 4

Be sure to follow Katie on Twitter (@chefkatiechin) or find her on Facebook for cooking tips and delicious Asian-cuisine recipes.

Moonlight Cinema Ticket Giveaway in Australia

FIJI Water — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:00:32 +0000

Calling film fans and FIJI Water enthusiasts in Australia! We heard your requests, and we are happy to announce our first international ticket giveaway.

FIJI Water has partnered with Moonlight Cinema, the premiere outdoor movie theater showing classic, cult, and newly released films in select cities throughout Australia. If you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, or Brisbane, you might soon be enjoying a night of film under the stars. We are offering 260 Moonlight Cinema vouchers, which are valid at all locations and for any films throughout the summer of 2009/2010. The only exceptions are films on the “no free” list or any film screened on February 14, 2010.

Beginning February 6, 2010, FIJI Water will be stationed at Moonlight Cinema locations on selected evenings, offering samples of our artesian water — the natural complement to any theater snack.

I Want to Go! How Do I Win Tickets?

Write a comment on this blog post. In your comment, replace any part of your favorite movie title with the word “FIJI.” Examples: There’s Something About FIJI, Breakfast at FIJI, FIJI Fairy, Edward FIJIhands. Be funny. Be creative. We’ll pick SIX (6) of the best entries everyday at midnight AEST, from February 8, 2010, to February 12, 2010. Winners will be contacted the following day; each winner will receive EIGHT (8) passes. Clever film fans, step forward.

The Fine Print:

Be sure to include a valid email address when leaving a comment on our blog so we can contact you
You must be 18 years or older
You must have an address in Australia to win tickets
You may only win once during the promotional period
Entry is subject to availability
Official rules

Votes Are In: New York Fashion Week Interns Announced

FIJI Water — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:37:12 +0000

After an exciting week of voting, we are proud to announce the New York Fashion Week interns. If you’ll be at Fashion Week, stop by the Altman Building to say hello and enjoy some complimentary water. And if you're in the NY area and would like to attend Fashion Week, enter our drawing for a chance to win tickets and backstage passes to a designer show. Without further ado, here are our new Fashion Week interns, in alphabetical order by last name:

Dawn Conrade Dawn describes herself as an incredible people person, self-motivated, and hardworking. She is passionate about fashion and looking to jumpstart a career change.

Watch Dawn’s New York Fashion Week finalist video.

Lauren Crumpecker Lauren was born in Washington, D.C., and has traveled extensively. She is thankful for her trips to Africa, Europe, and Asia, which have widened her perspective of culture and fashion.

Watch Lauren’s New York Fashion Week finalist video.

Laura Harap Laura is a student in New York City, majoring in marketing and international business. She says that she lives and breathes fashion and is thrilled by the opportunity to go to New York Fashion Week.

Watch Laura’s New York Fashion Week finalist video.

Aislinn Zolna Aislinn graduated in May 2008, with an associate degree in fashion merchandising. In her spare time, she enjoys sketching designs and is working towards having her own clothing line. Watch Aislinn’s New York Fashion Week finalist video.

Congratulations to the winners, who will also enjoy a year of FIJI Water Delivery Service. We know with these four fashionistas working hard throughout the week, the models and designers will stay well-hydrated. Don’t forget to follow FIJI Water on Twitter or find us on Facebook, where our FIJI interns will be tweeting and sharing photos from some of 2010’s most influential shows, including Toni Maticeveski, Betsey Johnson, Zac Posen, and Sophie Theallet. Thank you to everyone for voting in our Fashion Week poll. Be sure to check back in a couple months for our internship contest for New York Fashion Week Fall 2010.

Gov’t Mule and Dare 2 Dream Ticket Giveway in Chicago

FIJI Water — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:14:23 +0000

FIJI Water and Gov’t Mule are proud to support Dare 2 Dream, one of Chicago’s hottest music events, a portion of whose proceeds will benefit the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital supporting pediatric cancer research and treatment. We’re giving away (2) two tickets and (3) three months of FIJI Water Delivery Service.

This marks the seventh year of the show and the legendary rock band Gov’t Mule will be headlining the event. Led by Warren Haynes, one of Rolling Stone’s top 25 greatest guitarists of all time, Gov’t Mule has sold more than one million albums to date and more than two million songs through its website. We’re proud to sponsor this event, and we want you there with us.
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On Twitter:

Follow us on Twitter, and retweet this sentence: Follow @FIJIWater & RT to win 3 mos. of FIJI delivery & 2 tix to Gov’t Mule in Chicago http://bit.ly/fijigovtmule #FIJIGovtMule.

That’s it! Don’t forget the #FIJIGovtMule hashtag, because that’s how we’re tracking your entry on Twitter. We’ll randomly choose one follower who re-tweeted the message as our winner on February 3, 3pm PST.

Here are the official rules. Sorry, travel and accommodations aren’t included. Support a good cause by re-tweeting and you could also find yourself with a three month supply of FIJI Water.

Vote for the Spring 2010 New York Fashion Week Internship Finalists

FIJI Water — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:13:09 +0000

New York Fashion week is just around the corner and our search for four fantastic interns continues.

We carefully read through all the entries we received on our blog and narrowed our choices down to seven fabulous fashionistas, who have submitted videos of themselves answering these questions:

1. If Fashion Week were an island and you could take only three things with you, what would they be and why?
2. If you were a pair of shoes, which pair of shoes would you be and why?
3. If you were to attend a premiere Fashion Week party, what would you wear and why?

Now it’s up to you to vote for your favorite intern candidate. Voting starts Jan. 22, 2010 (now!), and ends 11:59 p.m., Jan 28, 2010. Please remember that only the votes on our poll below are counted. Ratings and comments on YouTube do not count. Official interns will be announced on or around Feb. 1, 2010. Check out the videos below and vote for your favorite! The four candidates with the most votes will move on to a week of water ambassadorship and haute couture. Good luck to everyone!

Here are the videos, in alphabetical order, by last name:

Name: Emily Bender

Name: Patrice Chatman

Name: Dawn Conrade

Name: Lauren Crumpecker

Name: Laura Harap

Name: Kimberly Preacely

Name: Aislinn Zolna

Continuing the Global Relief Effort in Haiti

FIJI Water — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:20:35 +0000

A soldier palletizes water to be air-dropped in Haiti.

After a week of urgent calls and logistical hurdles, FIJI Water is now able to donate more than 136,000 liters of water to the victims of the earthquakes in Haiti. Given the disrupted infrastructure throughout the country, our biggest challenge was coordinating the transportation of the much-needed water. Thanks to the United States Military, specifically the Fort Bragg base in North Carolina, we are now assured that the water will reach those who need it so desperately.

When Fort Bragg’s chief of supply called to offer transportation for our water, we jumped at the opportunity. Within 48 hours, eight trucks carrying 150 pallets of FIJI Water arrived at Fort Bragg. The water is being prepared for shipment now; it will be air-dropped and marked “For Humanitarian Aid Only” — which means the water will go directly to the people of Haiti.

We’d like to give a special thanks to the dedicated U.S. Military officers for their time and support.

Take a look at some pictures of the water delivery to Haiti on our Facebook page.
Please feel free to read more at The Huffington Post. You can also read about our previous commitments to the relief efforts, most notably to Partners in Health, as well as how you can help.

Joining the Global Relief Effort in Haiti

FIJI Water — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:25:12 +0000

FIJI Water and its parent company, Roll International, have made several financial commitments to non-profit organizations to help support the people of Haiti in their time of need. We are committed to donating money to organizations that were on the ground in Haiti prior to the disaster and that will continue to help the people after the initial emergency response is over. One group with whom we are working is Partners in Health (PIH), who has had a presence in Haiti for nearly 25 years and is one of the largest non-governmental health care providers in the country.

To learn more about Partners in Health or donate to them, please visit www.pih.org.

To donate via mobile phone, please visit The Huffington Post

To read the most up-to-date news, visit the Huffington Post’s real-time tweets page.

We are also working on donating water and have been researching how to both transport and distribute it as quickly as possible. We are coordinating with various organizations on the ground in Haiti and have offered product as soon as they are able to accept it. We will post updates on our progress as we receive more information.

If you happen to be located in New York City, the fashion community has come together to raise money for The Red Cross through an event sponsored by FIJI Water. Get a group of friends together and help support the relief efforts!

Details:
Soho Grand Hotel
310 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013-2225

6-10pm
$20 donation
Complimentary cocktails from 6-8pm
RSVP now

Got a Passion for Fashion? We’re Looking for Interns at NY Fashion Week!

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:09:01 +0000

If you know fashion, you know the prestigious, ultra-chic New York Fashion Week is just around the corner (February 10-18, 2010). We will be there again, and we want you there with us! FIJI Water is looking for four (4) fashion-savvy interns to make sure the Fashion Week designers, stylists, models, and fashion show guests are not only hydrated but informed as to why FIJI Water’s winning taste and purity makes it an indispensable component of any fashion show. Our Fashion Week interns will also receive a year of FIJI Water home delivery. I’m In! How Do I Apply?

Post your 150-300-word comment on this blog post explaining why you're the most tasteful, hardworking individual deserving of a weeklong New York Fashion Week internship. Comments must be submitted by 11:59PM PST, January 6, 2010.
Make sure you include your email address so we can contact you if you’re chosen as one of our finalists. If we can't contact you through the email address you included, you won't be considered.
If you need some inspiration, take a peek at the blog comments from last season's Fashion Week intern search and some of the finalists on our Facebook page.

Then What?

January 15, 2010: We’ll choose the final eight (8) candidates, who will show off their style and swag in their very own video, along with answering three (3) specific questions from our FIJI Water Events team.
January 22-28, 2010: Visitors of this blog will be able to view the videos and vote for their favorite.
(On or around) February 1, 2010: We’ll tally up the votes and announce our Fashion Week interns.

The Nitty-Gritty:

By entering the contest, candidates agree to release and hold harmless FIJI Water and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees from all claims, liability or damage caused or claimed to be caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in connection with this contest.
FIJI Water and its affiliates assume no responsibility for the conduct of any contestant or voter or the responses of anyone appearing in any entry.
By participating, candidates acknowledge and accept the terms of the Official Rules of the contest. Additional restrictions may apply.
Sorry, this internship is not paid and no reimbursement will be made for any travel or lodging but there will be tons of networking and hands-on experience with a leading brand.
By submitting your comment, you also must be willing to provide us with a photo of yourself to be used with your video.
All candidates must be 18 years or older and a U.S resident to participate in this contest.

So, get those comments in and we'll see you fashionistas and fashionistos at Fashion Week!

Three Favorite Art Pieces from Art Basel, Miami Beach

FIJI Water — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:03:39 +0000

It’s no secret that FIJI Water is a huge supporter of the arts, so sponsoring the prestigious Art Basel Miami Beach was a no-brainer. Not only was there a magnificent selection of top galleries throughout the four-day affair but also special exhibitions and parties that showcased architecture and music. As the sister event to the original, Swiss-based Art Basel (often called the “Olympics of the Art World”), the Miami Beach event is easily the United States’ most important art show. Since its stateside inception in 2002, the event has attracted a sophisticated and eclectic crowd, ranging from art connoisseur Steve Wynn (rumored to have purchased a Rembrandt) and buddy Sylvester Stallone to the casually dressed Lance Armstrong, who casually chatted up the crowd in a baseball cap and jeans.

More than 250 art galleries from all over the world showcased their art. Take a peek at a few standout pieces from the affair:

Crazed Lion Sculpture at Art Basel, Miami Beach

The bold colors along with the fierce expression on the lion’s face makes this piece stand out.

Photo of Stretched Woman at Art Basel, Miami Beach

No, your computer monitor settings haven’t gone wonky. This stretched-out art piece — Evan Penny‘s “Female Stretched” — was created that way. We also heard that it sold for $300,000 on opening day.

David LaChappelle’s “Archangel Michael” at Art Basel, Miami Beach

Lastly, this tribute piece was created by David LaChapelle, celebrity photographer and artist. It’s called “Archangel Michael” and isn’t a real picture of Jackson but of a lookalike.

We were thrilled to be part of this esteemed event and look forward to next year.

Holiday Sweets and Treats for a Good Cause

FIJI Water — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:56:18 +0000

Can you think of anything better than the scent of warm, freshly baked cookies? We can’t. That’s why we’re going to be at the first annual Holiday Cookie Swap and Bake-Off this Saturday, December 19, from 1pm-3pm, at the Bowery Poetry Club in NYC, to benefit the Lower Eastside Girls Club.

The event is based on an old-fashioned cookie swap, where friends or family members bake a big batch of cookies, then come together and divvy them up. For a small donation of $15, guests will receive a tin to fill with cookies priced at $.50 and up. All proceeds will support entrepreneurial training programs at the Girls Club.

There will be 25 bakers at the event, showing off their most delectable cookies. A panel of celebrity bakers and chefs will also be judging and tasting, including Gina DePalma from Babbot; Myriam Eberhardt from DBGB Kitchen & Bar; Nichelle Stephens, Co-Editor of Cupcakes Take the Cake; and Sue Torres from Suenos. The winner will receive a “Baker’s Basket” of amazing kitchen goodies valued at more than $600, donated from Whole Foods Market, Russ and Daughters, Ghirardelli Chocolate, King Arthur Flour, Mionetto Prosecco, and, of course, FIJI Water.

Tickets are available online at The Girls Club website, or at the door. The organization aims to help girls and young women from the ages of 8-23, grow, learn, have fun, and develop the confidence in themselves to make a difference in the world. By delivering strong arts, literacy, science, health, and leadership programs, the organization provides girls with the vision to plan — and the tools to build — their future.

For more information about the Cookie Swap:
“Sweet Angel” Benefit Holiday Cookie Swap
FIJI Water Facebook Event

Bring your sweet tooth and appetite. It’s going to be one delicious day.

Doing Well by Doing Good: We Are Proud to Join 1% for the Planet

FIJI Water — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:28:46 +0000

We have huge news! As part of our long-standing sustainability commitment, we’ve joined 1% for the Planet, a global alliance of companies who pledge 1% of their annual sales directly to non-profit organizations focused on sustainability. 1% for the Planet’s mission is to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet. Currently, it’s a global movement of 1,116 companies that donate 1% of their sales to a network of 1,877 environmental organizations worldwide… and growing. We’re incredibly honored to be the first premium artesian bottled water company to join 1% and one of the alliance’s top five brand members based on annual revenue and environmental contributions. Becoming a member is part of our ongoing effort to help protect the environment. Among a number of initiatives, we’re working to preserve the Sovi Basin, the largest remaining lowland rainforest in the South Pacific, a project that will keep 10 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. We’ve also teamed up with the people of Fiji and Conservation International to work on our major reforestation project. Planting of the first 250 acres began in October 2009 and another 1,000 acres will be planted over the coming years. Here's a video highlighting our Sovi Basin project: If you know us, you know that we’re passionate about doing well by doing good. We know as a business, we’re responsible for giving back to the communities where we live and work. We couldn’t be more proud of our pledge to 1% for the Planet. For more information about our 1% membership: Official FIJI Water Press Release

Citymeals-On-Wheels Power Lunch for Women: a Powerful Impact

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:21:39 +0000

Did you know more than 5 million seniors regularly go hungry? Citymeals-on-Wheels raises private funds to ensure no homebound elderly New Yorker will ever go a day without food or human company. On November 20, FIJI Water employees in the NY region gathered at the Citymeals-on-Wheels distribution center on Manhattan's Upper East Side to help make deliveries to the elderly. Each employee helped make deliveries of five or more meals to home-bound recipients. Our very own CEO, John Cochran, also delivered meals with FIJI friend and multi-platinum recording artist Michael Bolton. "This is my fourth year participating in this event," said John. "While delivering these meals, I’ve met people whose faces and stories will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Later that day, John and Michael attended the 23rd annual Citymeals-on-Wheels Power Lunch for women, a gathering of 300 of the country’s most influential women in philanthropy, business, society, and entertainment. Some of the women in attendance included: Gloria Steinem, Deborah Roberts, Kathie Lee Gifford, Silda Wall Spitzer, Donna Hanover, Tyne Daly, Kathleen Turner, Kelly Rutherford, and Jane Krakowski. FIJI Water donated $25,000 to raise awareness about Citymeals in supermarkets throughout NYC. This year’s power lunch raised $1.15 mil to go towards more meals. Now you can understand why we’re so proud to be the official water of Citymeals-on-Wheels!

FIJI Water’s Forest Restoration Project Is Well Underway With First 250 Acres Planted

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:31:16 +0000

FIJI Water is a carbon negative product and the only bottled water brand in the market to offset its emissions by 120%. We think that’s pretty cool. And yet, it doesn’t end there.

Our reforestation project that helps us to get to our carbon negative status delivers so much more. Joining forces with Conservation International and the people of Fiji, we have begun planting our new forest last month (the first 250 acres, anyway).

What does it all mean?

1. Improving Water Quality: Restoring these lands through our reforestation effort will stop erosion and improve the quality of water supply for local communities. Forests play a critical role in protecting important watersheds, especially in degraded areas such as the surroundings of the Nakauvadra range on Viti Levu, the site of our project.

2. Saving the animals: By safeguarding watersheds and expanding natural forest habitats, our project will also protect existing wildlife and biodiversity in this region. It will become a home to many native, often endangered species such as the masked shining parrot and the Fiji ground frog.

3. Supporting the Fijians: Our carbon forest project will also have an important socio-economic impact in the region. Already, more than a hundred local Fijians have been working and earning wages as a result of this program. As this program will carry on for years to come, local communities will continue to plant and maintain the 500-hectare forest, which will be a mix of native species, fruit and spice trees, and high-value timber such as mahogany and teak. As a result, community members will be able to support their livelihoods through selling agricultural products and sustainably harvested timber.

By improving water quality, saving the animals and supporting the Fijians, we’re doing all we can to commit to our pledge to be carbon negative.

Read more about our planting activities:
Fiji Sun: FIJI Water employees help forest carbon project

FIJI Water Spends a Day with Habitat for Humanity

FIJI Water — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:12:19 +0000

What’s built through donations, generosity, care, and volunteers? A Habitat for Humanity house! On November 5, 2009, the FIJI LA office took a trip to Downey and Imperial, Calif., to spend the day with Habitat for Humanity. We were split up into teams at two different sites in various degrees of completion. Some of us were hammering, building, and constructing, while the others were painting, gardening, and putting the trimmings on an almost finished house. The site in Imperial, still in the early stages of construction, will be one of Habitat for Humanity's many LEED-certified homes. At the Downey site, a home is in the final stages for Betty, a single mother of three children, two of whom require special services for their autism. For years, Betty has been known in the city of Downey for her volunteer work, and when she spoke to us during our lunch break, she mentioned how being the beneficiary of others' generosity has enabled her to afford a home for her family. The best part: She and her children will be able to spend Christmas in their new house. If you’ve never heard of Habitat for Humanity, it’s a nonprofit organization that works in communities around the world to select and support homeowners, organize volunteers, and coordinate house building. The homeowners themselves must personally contribute to the work of their home, in addition to assuming the no-profit mortgage once the home is built.Their mortgage payments, in turn, go to help fund other projects. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses internationally, providing more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe and affordable shelter. They’ve even helped construct/rehabilitate 671 homes in Fiji! It’s a great organization dedicated to alleviating the global housing crisis, and we were honored to be part of their mission.

Benihana Restaurant and Best Buddies $50 Gift Card Giveaway

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:40:15 +0000

If you’ve never experienced Benihana, now is your chance: This month, FIJI Water is giving away (8) $50 Benihana gift cards! The best part? Benihana will donate all proceeds from FIJI Water sales at its 77 restaurants in North America to Best Buddies, an organization dedicated to creating friendship, employment, and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
There are two ways to win:

1. On Facebook: Write a haiku about Benihana, food, hunger, or the Best Buddies organization on our Facebook wall. The haiku with the most “Likes” by each Wednesday, 3pm PST during the month of November will win a $50 gift card to Benihana. We’ll have one winner each Wednesday until November 27, 2009, four winners total. One entry per person per Facebook account.

Just in case you need a poetry refresher: Haikus are Japanese poems that are three lines. The whole poem is 17 syllables (five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line), and they don’t have to rhyme.

An example haiku (with number of syllables for each line):

Daydreaming of food (5 )
Fresh stir-fry heart-shaped fried rice (7)
Benihana now! (5)

2. On Twitter: Follow us on Twitter, and retweet this sentence: Follow @FIJIWater & RT to win $50 card to Benihana. This month, FIJI Water sales @Benihana__ go to Best Buddies #fijihaiku. One entry per retweet.

That’s it! Don’t forget the #FIJIhaiku hashtag, because that’s how we’re tracking your entry on Twitter. We’ll randomly choose one follower who retweeted the message as our winne by 4pm PST every Wednesday, until November 27, 2009.

Here are the official rules. Now, go get your haiku and retweet on!

Local Fiji Communities Get Clean Water Filters

FIJI Water — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:38:02 +0000

On October 23 and 24, the FIJI Water Foundation partnered with the Give Clean Water organization to install water filters in Fiji communities. More than 35 FIJI Water employees, students, teachers, and FIJI Water family members volunteered for the event. Even the Give Clean Water bus drivers decided to stick around and help when they saw the work the volunteers were engaged in. Even our youngest volunteer, Philip Scougall (age 1), lent a helping hand! Together, they installed more than 130 water filters in the Natunuku and Sasa villages.

Since 2008, the Give Clean Water organization has installed more than 1,000 household water filters in communities around Nadi and Ba. Beginning July 2009, the FIJI Water Foundation has donated $30,000 USD (more than $60,000 FJD) toward the installation of as many as 300 water filters in Ba area homes. Friday and Saturday’s volunteers installed more than 130 water filters in the Natunuku and Sasa villages. In 10 years, Give Clean Water aims to install a filter in every home in Fiji.

The PointOne filters, which eliminate 99.9% of all disease-causing bacteria and are designed after filters used in kidney dialysis, come with a lifetime guarantee if used and maintained properly. The Give Clean Water and FIJI Foundation team also conducted a community education session on the importance of drinking clean water. Give Clean Water has three local Fiji staff who will return to these communities in a few weeks to do a follow-up visit and check on the filters.

A big vinaka vakalevu (“thank you”) to everyone who helped out. We really appreciate the gift of your time and effort!

Read more about the Give Clean Water and The FIJI Water Foundation :
Fiji Times: Clean Water at Last for a Flood-Hit Village
Fiji Sun: No More Dirty Water

2009 Pacific Mini Games: Sports, Tradition, and Culture

FIJI Water — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:24:20 +0000

Did you know that the islands around the South Pacific have their own version of the Olympics? It’s true! Fiji was the first host country in 1963. It ‘s a great athletics event, but the true purpose of the Pacific Mini Games is to create bonds, friendship, and brotherhood among the people of the Pacific Region. Most importantly, at the heart of the Pacific Mini Games are The Four Pillars: Mana (spirit), Legacy, Tradition, and Winning Hearts (sharing the best of the people and the nations). No one is discriminated by race, religion, or politics.

Teams compete in different sports including tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, bodybuilding, weightlifting, and sailing. This year, some of the nations who participated in the 12-day event included the Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Norfolk, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and, of course, Fiji.

Our representative for the 2009 Pacific Mini Games, Ernest Petueli

We are proud to announce that our representative for the Pacific Mini Games, Ernest Petueli, Jr., took home the Bronze Medal in the Long Jump. Ernest has been playing soccer since the age of seven and has received three gold medals from the mayor and the community of Tavua. He represented Fiji at the Oceania Championships in Brisbane, Australia, and then at the Pacific Mini Games. Ernest’s father, Ernest Petueli Sr., is a a FIJI Water employee and they are both very active members of the Fiji community. You can find them volunteering at community events such as walkathons and cleanings of local schools. Congratulations, Ernest! We are so proud of you!

FIJI Water Achieves NSF Bottled Water Certification

FIJI Water — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:46:54 +0000

It's confirmed! FIJI has met NSF, FDA, and EU standards for safety and quality, and we couldn't be more proud. So, what does that mean, and why does it matter? NSF International is an independent, not-for-profit organization that helps protect consumers by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, and consumer goods. In order for FIJI to receive the NSF Certification, our facility in Yaqara, Fiji, was subject to a rigorous audit to verify that the bottling facility met Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Requirements. It was also tested to both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European requirements for more than 160 chemicals, inorganic, radiological, and microbiological contaminants. The process also included annual unannounced plant inspections covering every aspect of the operation, from the source of water, through the disinfection and treatment, to the container closure process. Click here for more information on NSF's Beverage Quality Certification. You can also find FIJI Water's certification on the NSF website. Ongoing testing and annual audits will ensure continued compliance with NSF standards, as well as U.S. and European requirements, so you can be sure that FIJI Water will remain the purest and best tasting water. We'll drink to that!

Blog Action Day 2009: Our Earth Needs OUR Help

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:14:35 +0000

The following post is for Blog Action Day ’09. Blog Action Day is a yearly event where bloggers write about one global issue on a chosen day to bring awareness and inspire change. This year’s topic is climate change. Track other Blog Action Day posts on Twitter by searching “#BAD09.”

Let's do right by the earth.

We all know that climate change affects each and every one of usthrough our environment, health, and daily living. It’s a big issue, but no single person or business is responsible for everything. At FIJI Water, we believe that we’re all responsible when it comes to our earth. When it comes to environmental issues, we like to share what we’re doing and hope others will do the same. Here are some things any one of us can do to bring awareness to climate change:

Communicate: Remember the phrase “Sharing is caring?” Well, it’s true! Openly talk about yoursustainability practices, your environmental solutions, and goals. Sharing your stories and progress not only holds you responsible but encourages others. At FIJI Water, we’re striving to be more transparent in our solutions by posting our latest updates right here on our blog and reporting on our progress.

Educate: Knowing is half the battle. It’s hard to decide between plastic or glass, for example, if you don’t have the facts. You can do your part by educating others about climate change issues, climate strategy, the newest sustainability practices, and renewable energy projects. By doing so you’ll be encouraging responsible decision-making and helping to pave a path towards sustainability.

Inspire: Anything and everything we do to work towards being green can inspire thought and action in others. At FIJI Water, we do what we can everywhere we can. From working with non-profits to engage in environmental or reforestation projects to advocating government recycling laws — each is but a small step towards a big goal.

By communicating, educating, and inspiring, we can all play a part in finding a sustainable solution to our climate crisis. Unlike pet rocks and Tamagotchi’s, sustainability isn’t a fad, it’s a continuous path. One of our core beliefs is that sustainable business practices are “common business sense.” Because, whether you’re a customer or a corporation, every little bit helps.

Photo courtesy of rAmmoRRisen

Wanna Rock and Roll All Nite with KISS and FIJI Water?

FIJI Water — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:26:40 +0000

Dust off your platform boots and get ready to enter for a chance to nab two VIP tickets to see the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour in either Greensville, SC, or Hampton, VA. In each city, we have tickets for diehard fans who can best display their devotion for the band. There are two possible ways to rock and roll you way into the concert: 1. Take a picture of yourself, a bottle of FIJI Water, and a piece of KISS memorabilia. 2. Find an old photo of you from back in the day and post it to the Facebook page. Whichever of the two options above you choose, you must post your photo to our Facebook Page by the dates listed below. If your photo is chosen, we will contact you via Facebook for information on how to get the tickets to you. Photos must be posted to our Facebook wall by 3PM Pacific Time, Monday, October 12; any photos posted after this time will not be considered. In your photo's caption, include why you should be chosen to receive the concert tickets and in which city you would like tickets. Ticket recipients must be 18 or over. Hampton, VA: Friday, Oct. 16 at Hampton Coliseum -- Two pairs of tickets available (two photos chosen) Greensville, SC: Saturday, Oct. 17 at Bi-Lo Center -- One pair of tickets available (one photo chosen) Please be sure your user profile on Facebook is set to be able to receive messages via Facebook; otherwise, there is no way that we can contact you if you are chosen and your prize may be given to someone else. You can post as many times as you like, but only complete posts that fulfill all the requirements will be considered. Transportation to and from the event is the recipient's sole responsibility. Want to get alerts on more FIJI Water giveaways and events? Follow us on Twitter. FIJI WATER KISS CONCERT CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN IN THE FIJI WATER KISS CONCERT CONTEST ("CONTEST"). Entry into this Contest constitutes your acceptance of these Official Rules. CONTEST ENTRY DATES: Contest begins October 8, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time ("PST") and ends October 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. PST ("Contest Entry Period"). WHO MAY ENTER: Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, District of Columbia and Canada (excluding residents of Quebec, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) who are of legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (and at least eighteen (18) in the U.S. and nineteen (19) in Canada). Void in Quebec and where prohibited by law. Contest subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Employees of Fiji Water Company LLC ('Sponsor') and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and such employees' immediate family members (parent, spouse, sibling, child, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win. Participation constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor's decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility qualifications of the winners. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws. CONTEST ENTRY/OBJECTIVE: The objective of the Contest is to submit a photo of yourself on FIJI Water's Facebook Page for a chance to win two (2) tickets to the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour concert in Greenville, South Carolina or Hampton, Virginia. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, you must submit a photo of yourself ('Photo') on FIJI Water's Facebook Page ('Contest Web Site'). During the Contest Entry Period, you must go to the Contest Web Site to submit your Photo (your 'Entry'). Any Entry that does not include all required information and adhere to the foregoing and following requirements will be considered void and will not be considered in the judging of this Contest. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: Each Entry must either be: (1) a photo of yourself with a bottle of FIJI Water and a piece of KISS memorabilia; or (2) an old photo of yourself from back in the day displaying your devotion for the KISS band. For each Entry, you must include a caption on the Photo stating why you should be chosen to receive the concert tickets and in which city you would like tickets for. Concert tickets are available for the following dates and locations:

Hampton, Virginia: Friday, October 16 at the Hampton Coliseum Two (2) Photos will be selected and each Photo will win two (2) tickets to the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour Concert
Greensville, South Carolina: Saturday, October 17 at the Bi-Lo Center One (1) Photo will be selected and win two (2) tickets to the KISS ALIVE/35 Tour Concert

Winners of the Contest must be 18 years of age or over. Transportation to and from the concerts is the winner's sole responsibility. All Entries must be received by October 12, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. PST. For purposes of these Official Rules, "receipt" of an Entry occurs when Facebook's servers record the Entry information resulting from contestant post on FIJI Water's Facebook Page. Contestant warrants and represents: (a) he/she is the sole and exclusive creator and owner of the Entry, including all rights therein, and that the Entry has not won any previous awards or competitions; (b) Contestant has the full and exclusive right, power and authority to submit the Entry and to grant Sponsor the rights to the Entry, including but not limited to the worldwide copyright; (c) no part of the Entry has been published, or; (d) no rights in the Entry have been previously granted to any person, firm, corporation or other entity. Sponsor reserves the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any Entry at any time in the event it is determined that the Entry is offensive, inappropriate, not in keeping with Sponsor's images or if it is determined that the Contestant has not otherwise complied with these Official Rules. If the Entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Contestant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Contestant is responsible for obtaining, prior to Entry of the Entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the Entry by Sponsor in the manner set forth in these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to request proof of these permissions in a form acceptable to Sponsor from any participant at any time. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entry for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion. PRIZE JUDGING: Judging begins October 12, 2009 and ends October 14, 2009. All eligible Entries received will be judged by a select panel of Fiji Water employees who will serve as judges to determine the winners. The judging will be based on the originality and creativity of the Entry which shall be determined at the judges' discretion and criteria ('Judging Criteria'). Judges' and Sponsor's decisions are final and binding. WINNER NOTIFICATION: Winner will be notified via Facebook and provided information on how to receive the concert tickets. Please be sure your user profile on Facebook is set to be able to receive messages via Facebook. Potential winners may be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release ("Affidavit/Release") as well as any other documents which may be required by Sponsor, all of which must be received fully-executed within seven (7) days of date printed on notification or he/she may be disqualified. If after three attempts to contact a potential winner, Sponsor has been unable to do so, he/she will be disqualified. Any Canadian resident who is a potential winner of any prize must correctly answer a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question administered by telephone without assistance or mechanical or electronic aid in order to receive a prize. If a selected Canadian potential winner cannot be reached by telephone within a reasonable time period or answers the skill testing question incorrectly, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, he/she may be disqualified, and, at Sponsor's discretion, the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. If a potential winner is eligible but considered a minor in his or her state of permanent residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be required to execute and return the Affidavit/Release and all other required documents on such winner's behalf as well as comply with any other requirements imposed on winner set forth herein. In the event it is determined that a potential winner has not complied with these Official Rules, has failed to execute and return any required documents within the specified time period, has made false statements or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, then potential winner will be disqualified. Should a winner make any false statement(s) in any document required by Sponsor or prize supplier, such winner will be disqualified and required to promptly return to Sponsor the value of his/her prize. If a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, at Sponsor's discretion, Sponsor may declare an alternate winner. PRIZES: Three (3) Grand Prizes: Each winner will receive two (2) tickets to the KISS/ALIVE 35 Tour Concert in Hampton, Virginia or Greensville, South Carolina, subject to these Official Rules. Approximate Retail Value ('ARV'): US$125.00 each ticket. Total ARV for all prizes = US$750.00. All prize details are at Sponsor's sole discretion. Prizes are awarded 'as is' with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsor. Federal, state and local taxes and other expenses not specified herein are winners' sole responsibility. Prizes are non-negotiable and not redeemable for cash, credit or merchandise except as specified. No substitutions or cash redemption of the prizes is permitted except that Sponsor retains the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater retail value. No transportation shall be provided to and from the concert by Sponsor, and shall be the winner's sole responsibility. Additional restrictions may apply. GENERAL CONDITIONS: Winning constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) for Sponsor and its designees to use winner's name, Entry, hometown, likeness, prize won, and photo and video (all at Sponsor's discretion) for future advertising, publicity in any and all media now or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification or permission. Contest parties and their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees (collectively, ""Released Parties") are not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, stolen, altered, garbled, incorrect, incomplete or delayed Entries or votes; all of which will be void. Released Parties are also not responsible for problems uploading or downloading any Contest-related information or materials from the web site or for any other technical malfunctions of electronic equipment, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer hardware or software failures, phone lines, failure of any Entry or vote to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems, traffic, congestion on the internet or the web site, or for any other technical problems including telecommunication, miscommunication or failure, and failed, lost, delayed, incomplete, garbled or misdirected communications which may limit a contestant's ability to participate in this Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for any other errors or malfunctions of any kind, whether network, printing, typographical, human or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors or malfunctions which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of Entries, the submitting or tabulating of votes, the announcement of the prizes or in any Contest-related materials. Mass Entries or votes or Entries or votes generated by a script, macro or use of automated devices may, at Sponsor's sole discretion, be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Contest in the event it becomes infected by a computer virus or is otherwise technically impaired, and to cancel or suspend the Contest in its entirety should tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or other causes corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Contest and, if terminated, at Sponsor's discretion, determine the winner using all non-suspect, eligible Entries received up to time of cancellation using the judging procedure outlined above. In the event of a dispute regarding Entries received from multiple users having the same e-mail account, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account at the time of Entry will be deemed to be the contestant and must comply with these Official Rules. Authorized subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual (and void his/her Entry and vote) it finds to be tampering with the Entry or voting process or the operation of this Contest or website, intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other contestant, Sponsor or any of its representatives or to otherwise be acting in violation of these Official Rules. CAUTION: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operations of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other such remedies from any such contestant to the fullest extent permitted by law and to disqualify such contestant from the Contest. ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS: Contestant hereby acknowledges that Entry and all other materials of every kind whatsoever created by contestant relating to the Contest (collectively, the "Work") are a "work made for hire" (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act) for Sponsor, and Sponsor is the sole and exclusive owner, in perpetuity and throughout the universe, of all right, title and interest in and to the Work, including without limitation all copyrights in and to the Work (and all renewals and extensions thereof now or hereafter provided by law) and all the rights therein and thereto, and may exploit the Work (and all rights therein) in any manner throughout the world without restriction. Without limiting the binding effect of any of the foregoing provisions, in the event that any part of the Work is not deemed to be a "work made for hire" for Sponsor, then contestant hereby irrevocably and exclusively grants and assigns to Sponsor (or, if any applicable law prohibits or restricts such assignment, contestant hereby grants to Sponsor an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable license of) unlimited right, title and interest in and to such Work, including, without limitation, all rights of every kind and nature (whether now known or hereafter devised, including all copyrights therein and thereto and all renewals and extensions thereof), throughout the universe, in perpetuity, for all purposes, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised. By submitting an Entry, contestant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor may obtain many submissions under this Contest and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to others submitted under this Contest and/or other contests staged and/or sponsored by the Sponsor, and waive any and all claims contestant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any composition, film and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the Sponsor (or its designees) may be similar to his/her Entry. Contestant acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsor does not have now, nor shall any of them have in the future, any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of any copyright in and to contestant's Entry. MISCELLANEOUS CONDITIONS: By participating in the Contest, contestants (i) agree to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) agree to be bound by the decisions of Sponsor and judges, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to permanently disqualify any person it believes has intentionally violated these Official Rules and void all associated Entries and/or votes. RELEASES: By entering the Contest, contestants agree to release and hold harmless Released Parties from all claims, liability or damage caused or claimed to be caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in connection with participation in this Contest, or acceptance or use of the prize, the substitution of a prize in accordance with these Official Rules, the administration of the Contest, the operation of the website or Released Parties' use of any of the rights granted herein. Released Parties assume no responsibility for the conduct of any contestant or voter or the responses of anyone appearing in any Entry. ARBITRATION AND CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Contest, contestant agrees that (1) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association and held at the AAA regional office nearest the contestant; (2) the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and (3) judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will contestant be permitted to obtain awards for, and contestant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, other than contestant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with entering this Contest), and contestant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of contestants and Sponsor in connection with this Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of California, USA without regard to California choice of law rules. WINNERS LIST: If you would like the names of the winners (available after January 20, 2010), please send a self-addressed stamped envelope by March 20, 2010 to: Fiji Water KISS Concert Contest Winners, 11444 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90064. Winners' names will also be posted on the Contest Web Site. SPONSOR: Fiji Water Company LLC, 11444 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

Nobu's Dessert Recipe from 2009 American Wine and Food Festival

FIJI Water — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:46:22 +0000

Nobu Matsuhisa shows off his Chocolate Yuzu dessert, which he served at the FIJI Water booth.

This past weekend, one of America’s premier culinary events, American Wine and Food Festival, joined together the talent of the world’s top chefs and spirit purveyors for 2,700 party-goers to enjoy a memorable evening of epicurean delights, fine wines , live music, dancing, and a luxury silent auction, all within the backdrop of fantastic Hollywood movie sets at Universal Studios backlot.

AWFF gives guests the opportunity to sample a variety of tastes from internationally acclaimed chefs while supporting the Meals On Wheels program. Since the event’s inception in 1982, the Puck-Lazaroff Foundation has raised more than $15 million for the program that serves thousands of meals each day to Los Angeles’ homebound, senior, and disabled citizens.

Guests capped the night off in The Lounge, an after-hours retreat featuring sparkling wines from France’s Loire Valley and tempting desserts by a multitude of pastry chefs. Watch the video for a tantalizing recipe from Pastry Chef Gabrielle Riva & Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, a Ghirardelli sponge cake layered with raspberry jelly, set in a yuzu caramel sauce and finished with Ghirardelli dark chocolate cremoso, chai tea ice cream, and caramelized pumpkin seeds.

INGREDIENTS

Chocolate Sponge

300g butter
100g confectionery sugar
450g 60% Ghirardelli dark chocolate
500g egg yolks
8g baking powder
200g cake flour
150g almond flour
750g egg whites
320g sucrose

Chai Tea Gelato

523g chai infusion
170g milk
90g milk powder
40g dextrose
20g glucose powder
150g sucrose
7g stabilizer

Dark Chocolate Cremoso

250g milk
250g cream
100g egg yolks
100g sucrose
225g 70% Ghirardelli dark chocolate
Raspberry jelly
1kg raspberry puree
100g sucrose
25g gelatine

Caramelized Pumpkin Seeds

100g pumpkin seeds
60g sucrose

After NY Fashion Week and Marc Jacobs, We're Hydrated and Tired!

FIJI Water — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:55:08 +0000

What an incredible experience FIJI Water had at NY Fashion Week this season!

The show was a huge success.

FIJI Water was enjoyed at more than 50 events during the week, including shows from Marc Jacobs, Cynthia Rowley, Zac Posen, Luca Luca, Alexander Wang, Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto, Thom Browne, and many more. Models, stylists, production crew, PR people, and guests could all be seen carrying FIJI Water’s square bottles and enjoying what’s inside them. We received calls on our cell phones from panicked designer reps if our deliveries were even a little bit late, all with the same, “The models need FIJI Water!” You’d think it was an emergency. And maybe it was.

For sheer drama this season we’d have to choose the Marc Jacobs show. When we arrived an hour before showtime, we saw that the clothes were just arriving, too. As assistants wheeled them off the truck and into a service elevator, a

FIJI Water was available behind the scene.

headset-wearing production person kept yelling, “Hurry! They need the clothes now!” Backstage it seemed more peaceful, as the makeup folks carefully painted models’ faces a stark white. FIJI Water bottles littered the makeup tables as photographers snapped away. Outside hair and makeup, the all-white set constructed for the show started to fill with guests. Anna Wintour arrived early. Rachel Zoe followed. The room filled almost to capacity and then a pack of large guys — bodyguards — entered, and we heard excited whispers all around us: “It’s Madonna!” We could only see the top of her head, but we recognized companion Jesus Luz in tow.

When the show started, we finally got to see those late-arriving clothes that the New York Times later described as a “combination of Eastern and Western styles” with “ruffles and frills everywhere” and overall “a terrific presentation.” The amount of detail on each look made them fascinating to watch as they went by, almost as if — but, wait! What is happening over at the main entrance to the room?

Each detail contributed to an exciting, event-filled week.

It’s Lady Gaga! She has arrived, wearing a leather-studded Venetian Carnivale mask as only she can. The afterparty is to be in her honor, so as the important guest that she is, she isaccompanied by Marc Jacobs’ boyfriend, Lorenzo Martone. But since the show has started, they cannot be seated, and so have to stand for the full 15 minutes, with Lady G in sky-heeled boots. It made for great theater but distracted from the clothes!

Spot Our Train During Chicago’s Art on Track and Nab a $150 Gift Certificate to Blick

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:44:44 +0000

For the second year in a row, Chicago plays home to the world’s largest mobile art exhibition, dubbed Art on Track. Join FIJI Water for an unforgettable ride circling the Chicago Loop in celebration of fine arts culture, or be the first to spot the FIJI Water-themed train for a chance to nab a $150 gift certificate for art supplies from Blick!

Created by SALVO, a Chicago non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of visual art, Art on Track is a mobile art experience that takes over an eight-car CTA “L” train to display the fine works and art installations of more than 200 local emerging and established artists. Among train cars furnished by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and others, FIJI Water will provide a car that proudly displays the works created by the Flatiron Artist Association, a renowned artist group and cornerstone of the Wicker Park neighborhood artist community.

In further support of Chicago’s local artist and art student community, we’re offering a $150 Blick gift certificate to the first person to correctly identify the tagline displayed on the outside of the FIJI Water train. The FIJI Water train car will be on route throughout the week leading up to Art on Track, so keep an eye out for FIJI Water on the CTA Orange Line. If you just want in on the creative fun, join us on October 10, 2009 from 11AM-8PM at the Adams and Wabash CTA platform for a ride around the Loop aboard the FIJI Water art train.

Look for the FIJI Water tagline on the tracks!

To be eligible for the $150 Blick gift certificate, simply visit our Facebook Page and be the first to post the tagline that appears on the side of the train car. Please keep in mind that only those posts submitted after 12PM Central Time, October 6, when the FIJI Water train begins running, will be considered eligible. Please make sure that your Facebook settings allow you to receive messages from non-friends, as someone from FIJI will be contacting the recipient via Facebook. If we are unable to contact you in this way, another recipient will be chosen.

SALVO NFP is an organization dedicated to increasing cultural awareness and education through exposure to the fine arts. SALVO provides free alternative public spaces for arts organizations to showcase their talent to an expanded demographic, and to reach out to those who may otherwise be isolated from the city’s vibrant art culture.

Lei'd-Back Fun at the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta

FIJI Water — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:29:45 +0000

Guests have a variety of chef luncheons, wine seminars and cooking demonstrations to choose from at SFW&C Fiesta.

Each September, the historic Southwestern city of Santa Fe welcomes visitors from all over the country for the annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta. Recognized as one of ‘America’s 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences’ by Food & Wine Magazine, the week-long festival is a celebration of the famed Hatch chile, whose aroma fills the fall New Mexico air every year.

The week kicked off in grand style with a welcome reception hosted by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson at his hilltop Governor’s Mansion. Attendees enjoyed the next few days with chef luncheons, wine dinners at top Santa Fe restaurants, compelling wine seminars, and cooking demonstrations at the Santa Fe School of Cooking.

The week culminated with the Grand Tasting, held against the backdrop of the City Different’s opera with a remarkable view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in their golden fall glory. Four giant tents housed more than 60 unique Santa Fe restaurants and more than 100 world-class wineries. FIJI Water was in the middle of the action, with a giant tent that offered attendees a relaxing environment to enjoy a cold bottle of FIJI while taking a break from such amazing foods as the green chile cheesecake from Tesuque Village Market. Guests also lined up for an opportunity to make their own Fijian lei at the FIJI Water Lei Making Bar.

Guests cool off in the FIJI tent to make their own Fijian lei.

This year’s fiesta was the 19^th annual celebration of the SFW&C Fiesta, which started in 1991 as a one-day grand tasting of 20 restaurants and 20 wineries. Since then, the SFW&C Fiesta has transformed into one of the country’s best culinary celebrations. FIJI Water is proud to have been the official water partner since 2002.

Win Two VIP Badges to the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

FIJI Water — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:28:47 +0000

THE HILL, a 22,000 foot entertainment complex on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

International superstar and recent Emmy Award-winner Justin Timberlake returns to Las Vegas to host the hottest stop of the PGA Tour. A bevy of well-known golfers and celebrities will participate in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open to benefit Shriners Hospitals. The 2009 tournament will take place October 12-18 at TPC Summerlin.

As the official water for this year’s tournament, FIJI Water is giving away two VIP badges to view the tournament from the VIP marquee on the 18th hole. Enjoy incredible views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas skyline, all while having a front-row seat to watch celebrities compete alongside PGA TOUR professionals.

Enter to win by visiting our VIP Sweepstakes page, but hurry! The deadline for entry is October 2, 2009.

Justin Timberlake is the 14th celebrity to host a PGA TOUR Tournament. He joins the ranks of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, to name just a few. The tournament, held under different titles, has been hosted annually in Las Vegas since 1983, when it was known as the Las Vegas Invitational.

Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation Celebrates Fourth Successful Trip

FIJI Water — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:07:54 +0000

Susana Tikoisuva recovers at Lautoka Hospital as her mother sits by her side.

Last Thursday, the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation wrapped up their week of work here Fiji — a week that saw more than 30 individuals receive free life-saving heart surgeries, including single, double, and triple bypasses and pacemaker installations. The FIJI Water Foundation was the major sponsor of the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation’s 2009 medical trip and had the opportunity to scrub into the wards and to meet with doctors, nurses, patients, and families. We were deeply moved and humbled by the amazing work these medical professionals do, using their own vacation time and getting very little sleep during the week! The youngest patient operated on during the tour was 16 years old, and the eldest was 83.

At Lautoka Hospital last Thursday, the recovering patients were all smiles as the Miss Sugar City (an annual local charity pageant) contestants had just come for a visit. Despite having undergone major surgery only days before, the patients were looking very well, some already walking around, laughing, chatting, and eating. One heart-bypass patient, Maya Telamarawa of Rabi Island, was so inspired by the visit that the doctors and nurses nominated her ‘Miss Hospital’ and presented her with her own crown and ribbon.

Lautoka Hospital nurses pose in front of the event banner.

Such was the lighthearted mood in the recovery wards of Lautoka Hospital as these patients bounce back and embrace their renewed leases on life. The surgeries, normally available only overseas, might cost NZD$20,000 (about US$14,000) or more, but thanks to the generous assistance of volunteers and sponsors, all of these patients have received expert surgery and care at no cost. This is the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation’s fourth trip to Fiji. To date they have operated on more than 100 of Fiji’s neediest patients.

The mother of 22-year-old patient Susana Tikoisuva of Lau said that the care they had received at the hospital was wonderful. She couldn’t believe how quickly her daughter was recovering from the surgery on the hole in her heart. Lautoka’s regular nurses and doctors were also delighted to work with the New Zealand doctors during their stay, saying their professionalism and good humor allowed them to fit in easily. Local surgeons-in-training were able to observe and scrub into surgeries they would otherwise witness only overseas.

As Foundation spokesman Deepak Singh of Auckland enthused, ‘This work could not have been done without the support of our sponsors, FIJI Water Foundation, Air Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Rotary [International]. FIJI Water Foundation is our major sponsor, and this is their second year of supporting the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation medical team.’

"Miss Hospital," Maya Telamarawa

Mr. Singh described the financial challenges faced by some of the patients. For some, they would like to have the surgery but cannot afford transport to Lautoka. One man could not afford bus fare to the hospital from Nadi to be with his daughter during her surgery. Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation was able to cover these costs so that patients and families could focus on preparation, recovery, and being together. ‘We realized how blessed we are and that it is our duty to help,’ said Mr. Singh.

FIJI Water Foundation is proud to be the team’s major sponsor, and we are also inviting all of Fiji to help support the costs of these heart surgeries. Until the end of the year, for every 1.5L bottle of water purchased at participating stores, 5 cents will be given to the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation. For every six-pack purchased, customers receive a complimentary reusable shopping bag.

Best Buddies and FIJI Water Take the Challenge to Hearst Castle

FIJI Water — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:30:48 +0000

FIJI Water partners with Best Buddies for its East and West Coast Challenges.

Close to 1,500 people took part in the weekend’s festivities at Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club for the annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle.The events included the 100-mile cycling course from Carmel to San Simeon, on Saturday, September 12. The Challenge, hosted by Maria and Anthony Shriver, raised a record amount of more than $4 millionfor Best Buddies International.

All those running, walking, or cyclingwere able to takein the amazing scenery along Pacific Coast Highway and stayed hydrated throughout the day with FIJI Water. The 100-mile charity ride also featured alternate 62, 35 and 15 mile routes, a 5K run and a 3K walk. Many experienced VIP treatment with refreshing rest stops, massages and showersas theyran or walkedbetween Carmeland San Simeon.Afterwards,all enjoyed a gourmet BBQ and private performance by Ciara at the Hearst Ranch.

The weekend’s festivities also included a First Lady’s Celebrity/Sous Chef Challenge, featuring top California chefs such as Scott Giambastiani, Jeff Rogers, Ryan Scott and Cal Stamenov. Other celebrities present were actors David Caruso, Verne Troyer,Lisa Rinna, Maureen McCormick, and Nancy O’Dell of Access Hollywood.

To conclude the two-day event, an invite-only, VIP post-party was held at Hearst Castle, where guests were invited to swim in the renowned Neptune Pool, normallyclosed to the public.

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development. The Best Buddies Challenge enables participants to create teamwork and new friendships among their peers and those with intellectual disabilities.

Toque 2009: An Evening With Chicago's Culinary Masters

FIJI Water — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:05:37 +0000

Chicago philanthropists arrive for an evening out to benefit children battling pediatric cancer.

Philanthropy plays a big role in our lives here at FIJI Water, and the coming of September heralds the flagship event of one our favorite charities, Children’s Oncology Services, Inc.(COSI). Set in the magnificent Harold Washington Library Winter Garden, Toque: An Evening With Chicago’s Culinary Masters, is fast becoming a Chicago tradition and is proof that philanthropy can be not only rewarding, but delicious as well.

Toque, named after the traditional tall, pleated, white hat worn by chefs, has selected some of the finest Chicago restaurants to contribute artful dishes to its split five-course meal. Local greats such as Art Smith of Table 52 and Tony Galzin of MK Restaurant dazzled the foodie contingent with masterful creations, all adding to a perfect meal for a truly worthy cause. Additionally, Bill Kurtis, television journalist and founder of Tall Grass Beef, served as master of ceremonies and donated a fantastic dinner trip to his Mettawa estate to the live auction.

Ticket sales and donations for the evening all benefit the One Step Camp, a summer camp attended by children battling pediatric cancer. Made possible by COSI, the One Step Camp is set on Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva, and serves as a place where children with cancer can go to have fun and just be kids. A team of world-class doctors is kept on staff at the camp to ensure health problems don’t get in the way of boat rides, swim races, and campfires — something no child should live without.

FIJI Water is a proud partner of COSI, donating water and silent-auction items to each of itsthree annual fundraisers. To make a donation to Children’s Oncology Services, please visit www.onestepcamp.org, and be sure to check in this January to COSI’s annual Chicago poker tournament.

FIJI Water Foundation Welcomes Home Children After Heart Surgeries

FIJI Water — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:51:36 +0000

The three Fijian children who received heart surgeries return home.

A few weeks ago in August, Shivangani Chand said goodbye to her schoolmates at Rabulu Indian School in rural Tavua, Fiji — but not as any 10-year old child might on a typical Friday afternoon. The following day she traveled to Nadi with her mother, where she joined two other children, Josefo Qionibaravi of Nausori and Timoci Tagiciverata of Kadavu, on a life-changing journey.

These three children were all identified by the Fiji College of General Practitioners (FCGP) Children’s Heart Foundation as having severe heart defects, correctable only by surgery overseas. Shivangani suffered from heart valve deterioration caused by rheumatic heart disease, but the needed surgery and airfare to India, at $18,000 FJD (more than $9,000 US, at the time of this posting), was far beyond her family’s modest means.

As a cane-cutting laborer supporting four children, her father, Saras Chand, struggles to make ends meet. Shivangani is the only daughter in the family and excels in school, despite having to take a few semesters away due to sickness. Since her valve dysfunction was first identified, her parents feared the worst and wondered how they would ever afford the needed surgery, which costs patients over $40,000 FJD ($20,000) in Australia or New Zealand.

FIJI Water Foundation‘s support of the FCGP Children’s Heart Foundation has given Shivangani a second chance at a normal life. The FIJI Water Foundation funds projects around Fiji in the three priority areas of health, education, and water infrastructure.

Shivangani poses for a photo after her return from Chennai, India, where she underwent heart surgery.

This past Wednesday morning, along with family, FIJI Water employees and Foundation representatives welcomed Shivangani back to Fiji after a successful open heart surgery at Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai, India. Shivangani, Josefa, Timoci and their parents arrived back on their native soil to a local fanfare by FIJI Water and Vodafone. (Justin and Timoci’s surgeries and airfare were sponsored by Vodafone ATH Foundation.)

For Shivangani and her mother, it was their first trip on an airplane. Mrs. Chand, speaking in Hindi, said that she was very scared to fly but Shivangani was the brave one and she in turn had to be brave for her daughter. Mrs. Chand raved about the care and the facilities at Frontier Lifeline, and was happy to see how lively Shivangani has been since the surgery three weeks ago. Her daughter could not wait to get back to school and was busy doing homework on the plane ride home. Said Shivangani’s uncle Pramesh Prakash, ‘We are truly grateful to FIJI Water and its Foundation for assisting us.’

Family members anxiously await the return of Shivangani at the Nadi airport.

As FCGP Children’s Heart Foundation president Dr. Ponnu Goundar has said, these children presented difficult cases and India was the best option. In addition, the FIJI Water Foundation is a major sponsor of the Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation, who arrived in the country today. Their team of volunteer surgeons and medical personnel will perform free corrective heart surgeries for Fiji’s needy residents from September 10th-18th at Lautoka Hospital. This visit makes additional training and resources available to our local doctors and nurses during their duration of their stay.

Quench Your Thirst and Help Provide Meals to the Elderly in Need

FIJI Water — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:32:51 +0000

Now when you purchase FIJI Water from September 1 until October 31, in the NYC metro area and California, you will be doing so much more than quenching your thirst. FIJI Water will donate $1.00 per case or 5% of gross sales sold at participating retailers, restaurants, and hotels. In addition, one meal will be donatedfor each case bought via home delivery service to the Citymeals-on-Wheels and other Meals on Wheels programs. FIJI Water will contribute up to a maximum of $30,000.

Meals-on-Wheels programs provide a continuous lifeline of nutritious food, human company, and love to homebound elderly in need, thereby helping them to live with dignity in their own familiar homes and communities through private funds.

Thanks to their partnership with the New York City Department for the Aging, along with gifts designated for administrative expenses, Citymeals-On-Wheels can promise that 100% of all other donations will be used entirely for the preparation and delivery of meals.

In 2008, contributors helped bring more than 2.2 million nutritious meals to 18,065 frail aged in every borough of New York City. In addition, more than 1,500 volunteers collectively spent 62,000 hours visiting and delivering meals to New York’s frail aged.

FIJI Water is also working with Meals-On Wheels in Greater San Diego, San Francisco, Alameda County, and St. Vincents Meals on Wheels to help West Coast elderly in need to also receive warm meals and loving human contact. For a list of these participating retailers and restaurants, click here.

Now, youcan help, too, when purchasing FIJI Water in California and the NYC metro area or via home delivery at www.shopwww.fijiwater.com.

Let’s drink to that!

Taste of Tennis: Andy Roddick, Tennis Greats and Star Chefs Tune Up for the U.S. Open

FIJI Water — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:49 +0000

FIJI Water's new cooler cubes make their New York debut at Taste of Tennis.

FIJI Water participates at a lot of food events throughout the year. We love the chefs who attend, and FIJI Water’s smooth, neutral taste doesn’t interfere with food flavors. And did we say that we love food?

But Thursday’s event was special: It was the 10th annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis, which pairs tennis stars (Andy Roddick!) with celebrity chefs (Bethenny Frankel!) to serve up great food and drink to guests. All this to help kick off the U.S. Open, which starts Monday, Aug. 31.

Andy and Bethenny, who according to Wikipedia is a natural foods chef, made a special cocktail for the crowd that used products furnished by Rums of Puerto Rico, the presenting sponsor. As they stood behind a large bar in the W Hotel NY ballroom, crowds of cameras, reporters and guests swarmed around them, trying to get a photo, a quote, or, more importantly, a drink. Quite the circus!

Chef Martin Maginley and Tomas Berdych dish it up at Taste of Tennis.

Chef Martin Maginley of Round Hill Resort in Jamaica (the country, not Jamaica, Queens) was paired with player Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic. Chef Alfred Portale from Gotham Bar and Grill served guests sips of a silky corn chowder. Chef Wendy Israel of Baking by Design showed off her talents with a large cake shaped like a tennis court, complete with net and players, while DJ Mel DeBarge kept the room hopping with a great mix. And current Lleyton Hewitt coach Nathan Healey of Australia took the award for cuteness by working the room with wife Marnie and baby.

We got there early to set up the FIJI Water serving station, as the room gets really warm with all the guests and camera lights — everyone wants lots of FIJI Water, chilled, pronto. NYC saw the debut of FIJI Water cubes used to serve the bottles, which when lighted helped thirsty guests find us in the relatively dark room. Thank you to our FIJI Water servers John and Dmitri, who could not have been more helpful to guests, touring the ballroom with lighted trays and cold bottles. Now that’s service!

FIJI Water Foundation Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

FIJI Water — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:10:42 +0000

Successful grantees and foundation staff celebrate by blowing out the candles on the FIJI Water Foundation birthday cake.

FIJI Water Foundation celebrated its second birthday yesterday — two years of assisting in development projects in water, health, and education throughout Fiji. Supporters, friends, partners, and grantees joined to help us celebrate by officially launching our Foundation website and announcing the Foundation’s most recent group of successful grant applicants, one of who traveled all the way from remote Kioa Island in the north of the county to speak about how the FIJI Water grant will finally make it possible for the island and its villages to have direct access to clean water.We also heard from the Director of Project HEAVEN, a remarkable organization that screens kids in remote parts of Fiji for ear and eye disease, and then makes sure they get treatment if any problems are discovered.

FIJI Water already has a robust online presence on the www.fijiwater.com and FIJIGreen.com sites, which provide information about the brand and mission to customers around the world. Until now, however, online customers, grantees, and partners have had limited access to information about the foundation and our development work in Fiji. Thus, we are thrilled to share our new website with you and with the world. This new site features foundation history, project descriptions, grant application resources, Twitter and news feeds, and an interactive project map. It also links to the partners who have helped make our work here possible. We look forward to growing this list as more companies consider joining our efforts. Internet is still not widely available throughout all of Fiji, but it’s moving fast: The Kioa Island grant recipient accessed the application materials and applied via email all the way from Fiji’s rural Northern Division. We look forward to the increased visibility and accessibility this site will give to our projects and partners.

In addition to observing our birthday and launching the new website, the ceremony honored the work of the inspiring organizations and communities we work with everyday. Fourteen new projects were launched, including four library projects, three kindergarten projects, two new water and sanitation projects, support for an NGO that provides ear and eye screening for children, support of a volunteer heart surgery team, as well as the foundation’s first electrification project, which will help to illuminate an entire district, including three schools, a health center, and a nursing station.

FIJI Water Foundation has donated more than $240,000 FJD to these 14 development projects. Since its establishment in 2007, the foundation has funded over $1,400,000 in projects directly impacting more than 70,000 people in 13 of Fiji’s 14 provinces. The same passion and world-class approach we have brought to bottling water, we bring to our developmental efforts.

We look forward to working with these communities and organizations as they implement their projects, some of which are already underway. We are always looking for new partners who share our development goals and welcome applicants for projects to be funded in early 2010.

Read more about our second-anniversary celebration:

FIJI Sun: FIJI Water Foundation Comes of Age

FIJIVillage.com: FIJI Water Gives $240,000

Win Two Nights to the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball

FIJI Water — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:35:16 +0000

Crowds flock to the beach to watch the final game in the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball.

Get ready to bump, set, and spike your way to the last event in the 2009 U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball by entering to win two tickets and two nights’ accommodations at the beach. Catch long-time champ and fan favorite Karch Kiraly as he plays his last games before retirement after almost 30 years on the sand. The third annual U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball will be held September 25th, 26th and 27th in Manhattan Beach, Calif., beside the historic Manhattan Beach Pier.

Kiraly, a three-time Gold Medalist, has has become one of the most recognized sports figures today. At age 46, he is considered the “Michael Jordan” of pro beach volleyball and is the oldest player to compete in the sport, where he continues to beat competitors half his age. Kiraly grew up in Santa Barbara and currently lives in San Clemente, so the SoCal native is sure to have a huge crowd of friends, family, and locals out to see him before he retires.

FIJI Water is proud to be a sponsor of the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball, along with Spaulding, Corona Extra, Oakley, Quicksilver, Surftech, and The Surfrider Foundation.

Come on out to the beach with FIJI Water.

The U.S. Open consists of two-person teams for men, women, and co-eds, ranging in experience from novice to expert.There were 32Official Qualifier events leading up to this final weekend. Come on out and join us on the sand, and enter our contest below to experience the final U.S. Open event of the summer.

Enter here to to win! All entries must be submitted by Sept. 11th.

Grand Prize (1 Winner): 2 Nights’ Accommodation & Dining at Luxury Beach-Front Hotel Plus VIP Tickets to U.S. Open Beach Volleyball Event (for 2 people)
1st Place (10 Winners): Spaulding “Karch Kiraly” Signature Volleyball
2nd Place (20 Winners): FIJI Water Beach Towels

Drawing is random and will happen two weeks prior to event. Winners will be notified by e-mail, and the instructions to claim the prizes will be on the e-mail. Must be 18 or older to win.

Want to Be an Intern at New York Fashion Week?

FIJI Water — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:36:50 +0000

UPDATED: Vote for our finalists on Facebook! Want to get in on all the fashion action at New York Fashion Week? FIJI Water is once again giving a few lucky volunteers the chance to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the most glamorous event of the fall season. We're looking for 6 interns to make sure this New York Fashion Week (Sept. 10-17) is in excellent taste. Simply post your 150-300-word comment on this blog post explaining why you are the most tasteful, hardworking individual deserving of a week-long New York Fashion Week internship. Sorry, no class credit, but there will be tons of networking and hands-on experience with a leading brand. Intern applicants must be available to be in New York City September 10-17, 2009, and be willing to provide FIJI Water with a photo of themselves for use in the second portion of the contest. All entries must be made by midnight PT, August 25, 2009. When you sign up to post to the blog, be sure to include your email address so that we can contact you for your photo if you are chosen as one of the finalists. The FIJI team will choose the final 10 contestants, who will then have their photos posted on the FIJI Water Facebook Page. Then, beginning August 31, our Facebook fans will vote by posting comments on the photos. The six applicants with the most comments (not "Likes") will be chosen as FIJI Water's interns for New York Fashion Week, during which they will receive backstage passes and be responsible for making sure production crews, designers, hair and makeup stylists, models, editors and fashion show guests understand why FIJI Water's winning taste and purity makes it an indispensable component of any successful fashion week. Interns will be announced September 3rd, 2009, and will each receive a year of FIJI Water home delivery. This internship is not paid and no reimbursement will be made for travel or lodging. Just want tickets to New York Fashion Week? Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to a designer show that includes a backstage tour. Read more.

FIJI Water Responds to Mother Jones Article

FIJI Water — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:06:42 +0000

This is our response to the recent Mother Jones article about our company.

We strongly disagree with the author’s premise that because we are in business in Fiji somehow that legitimizes a military dictatorship. We bought FIJI Water in November 2004, when Fiji was governed by a democratically elected government. We cannot and will not speak for the government, but we will not back down from our commitment to the people, development, and communities of Fiji.

We consider Fiji our home and as such, we have dramatically increased our investment and resources over the past five years to play a valuable role in the advancement of Fiji.

It is true that Fiji is a poor country, but we believe that the private sector has a critical role to play to address the underserved areas of Fiji’s development, with special attention to economic opportunities, health, education, water and sanitation.

First, we employ nearly 350 Fijians in a rural part of Fiji with very little economic opportunity. We are one of the highest paying employers in the country with an annual payroll of nearly $5 million; we provide health care and other fringe benefits; and we have created advancement opportunities for women. There are also a number of smaller, entrepreneurial enterprises that have been created in the local region to supply our facility.

As an active member of the Fiji community, FIJI Water is committed to enabling positive change by means of social investment, capacity building, and sustainable development. It is important to us that we give back to the communities in which we work and live. We know that Fiji has tremendous potential because we see it realized at our factory every day.

Part of our investment in Fiji comes from royalty and trust payments paid each year that is a percentage of our total volume. As we grow our business, we are able to contribute more in royalty payments. In 2008 alone, we paid $1.3 million USD in royalties representing 1.5% of gross revenues of our Fijian company. These payments have allowed us to bring clean drinking water to the surrounding villages, infrastructure projects like electrification, kindergartens, secondary schools, renovations of community halls and much-needed health care clinics.

In addition, in late 2007 we created the FIJI Water Foundation to serve as a vehicle for social investment around the islands of Fiji. The Foundation has played a critical role in flood relief in Fiji, renovation of schools, and bringing much needed health care to rural villages. We have also partnered with the Rotary Club and Pacific Water for Life to bring clean water to 100 communities in Fiji this year. To date, FIJI Water Foundation has invested $600,000 USD, directly impacting more than 50,000 beneficiaries in 11 of Fiji’s 14 Provinces. You can learn more about the specific projects we have funded at www.fijiwaterfoundation.org.

With respect to the environmental issues raised in the article, our commitments are quite clear and laid out in www.FIJIGreen.com. We are the only bottled water company in the industry to publicly report its entire life cycle carbon emissions. We are independently audited and report to the Carbon Disclosure Project. And we are offsetting these emissions by 120%.

Land access issues are very delicate to negotiate in Fiji, but the Sovi Basin project remains on track and the 50,000 acres of the last remaining lowland rainforest in the South Pacific is protected now and through perpetuity from logging. The project will pay the local villagers not to sell their timber rights to logging companies. Deforestation of our tropical rainforests is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions. Protecting the Sovi Basin is the equivalent of removing 2 million cars from the highway.

Our carbon offset project in Fiji includes replanting the rainforests that have been decimated to plant sugarcane fields. Part of this effort includes planting native tree species, such as mango trees, to provide local villagers with a source of income. We are proud to create projects that protect the environment as well as provide for a source of sustainable income for the local Fijians.

It’s unfortunate that the reporter did not have the opportunity to speak to any one of the thousands of local people whose lives have been impacted in a very positive way because of FIJI Water. Had we known she was in Fiji, we would have been happy to escort her to any one of the 75 villages who have been a beneficiary of a clean water project sponsored by FIJI Water this year alone. She could have visited one of the villages surrounding our plant to visit a kindergarten that was recently built or to meet a local Fijian who received a life-saving corrective heart surgery by a physician we brought to the island.

The real irony here is that the reporter suggests that buying FIJI Water somehow legitimizes a military dictatorship, when in fact the jobs, revenues, and community projects supported by FIJI Water are strong contributors to growth in the well-being of the Fijian people.

Lollapalooza Chicago 2009: We Rocked the Biggest Music Festival of the Summer

FIJI Water — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:40:27 +0000

[caption id="attachment_410" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="FIJI Water fans enjoy the photo booth at Lollapalooza 2009."][/caption] Chicago's annual festival of rock, Lollapalooza, more than lived up to its reputation when a slew of headlining names -- Depeche Mode, The Killers, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ben Harper and Tool -- descended upon the city the weekend of August 8. The weather was sultry in predictable Chicago summer style, so we stayed close by with FIJI Water on hand to make sure the music buffs stayed cool and hydrated for the duration of the amazing three days. Hot days in Grant Park were punctuated by visits to BMF Media's Music Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel, where celebrities and music-industry heavyweights escaped for some star treatment, relaxation, gifts, and ice-cold FIJI Water. Complimentary massages and facials furnished by David Barton Gym and Fari + Sal, energy provided by Red Bull and CafÈ Bustelo, and a relaxing, sky-high field of grass given by Ravinia Festival all added to the chic comfort of the fantastic space. At times it was hard to leave the Music Lounge to re-enter the sweltering hot weather, but the shows were well worth it! At night, all of the VIPs privileged with daytime pampering returned to the Music Lounge for after-parties of epic proportions, where the cocktails flowed and the live performances kept coming. Music highlights included Band of Skulls, DJ MOMJEANS (Danny Masterson), Passion Pit, GZA, and Ra Ra Riot. Stars and guests alike enjoyed FIJI Water throughout the weekend's parties, as well as the special addition of a FIJI Water photo booth on Sunday night. Guests of the Music Lounge clambered with their friends to take a pic backdropped by their favorite skyline, wearing funky props and wigs -- all in the name of fun. It's hard to believe Lollapalooza has come and gone, but this year's highlights will live fondly in our memories, and we will look forward to an even bigger and better time in 2010. Don't you think it'll be worth the trip?

Whip Up Something Spectacular With Recipes from Top Chefs at SF Chefs. Food. Wine.

FIJI Water — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:24:37 +0000

If you follow us on Twitter, you know we were mixing and mingling with San Francisco’s finest at SF Chefs. Food. Wine. on August 6-9. On Thursday evening, FIJI Water co-hosted the Rising Star Chefs Reunion, which brought together Rising Star Chefs and Bar Stars as recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle to sample one-of-a-kind tastes celebrating America’s most competitive food city.

SF Chefs. Food. Wine.

SF Chefs. Food. Wine. is a four-day food and wine event celebrating the unique flavor, diversity, and bounty of Northern California. Classes and seminars offered interactive opportunities for the public to participate with local farmers, ranchers, chefs, winemakers, distillers, media, luminaries, authors, vintners, mixologists, and culinary experts in an entertaining forum. But keep reading — we’ll be giving away some yummy trade secrets of the chefs after the jump.

This event is not only a delicious way to spend some time overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. It also benefits four charities. San Francisco Food Bank (a member of Feeding America) provides food to more than 133,000 people every year through more than 600 community programs. Meals on Wheels provides food and meal delivery, with a focus on seniors and others with mobility issues. The Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Foundation provides funding for culinary and hospitality students based upon economic need. And Project Open Hand provides Meals with Love to people living with HIV/Aids in San Francisco. All four charities will receive funding from the weekend’s activities.

Star chefs agree amazing taste begins with using ingredients of the highest quality. With its unique clean taste and soft feel on the palate, FIJI Water is the perfect starting ingredient or accompaniment to the world’s greatest cuisine. Here are some of our favorite recipes of the night. Grab your chef hat and apron, and a few liters of FIJI Water and tryout one of the below recipes. Then let us know, can you taste the difference?

Prepare your own gourmet meal at home with a recipe from Chef Jamie Lauren.

Chef Jamie Lauren: Strawberry Gazpacho with Crab and Cucumber

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar
398 Hayes Street, San Francisco

INGREDIENTS

Gazpacho (Yields 2 quarts)

6 cups seascape strawberries, cut into quarters
1 large English cucumber, peeled and chopped into large chunks
3 cloves garlic
1/2 cup FIJI Water
2 Tbs sherry vinegar
1 Tbs sugar
2 cups pure California olive oil
salt to taste

Cucumber and Crab Salad (Yields 1 pint)

1 small Persian cucumber, peeled and cut into very small dice
1 small red onion, minced
1/2 red bell pepper, small diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, small diced
1 small jalapeno, seeded and cut into small dice
1/4 cup lemon agrumato (lemon-flavored olive oil)
1/2# cleaned Dungeness crab meat
salt to taste

Gazpacho Method: Place the garlic, cucumber, strawberries, and FIJI Water in a blender. Puree on high speed until smooth. In a slow and steady stream, add the olive oil until the soup begins to lighten in color. It will start to look emulsified and creamy. Add the vinegar and sugar and adjust seasoning with salt. It should be a balance of tart and sweet with the subtle cucumber flavor coming through.

Crab and Cucumber Salad Method: Combine all ingredients and season with salt. Allow to sit for at least an hour or so before serving.

To serve: Place 6 ounces of chilled gazpacho (it may thicken as it sits, in which case, just add a little FIJI Water and adjust seasoning again) in a chilled bowl. Top with 2 tablespoons of the crab salad and and drizzle with 1 teaspoon lemon agrumato. Garnish with a leaf of sliced basil.

*******************************************************************************

Chef Tim Luym: Braised Oxtail in Peanut Sauce (Kare Kare)

Poleng Lounge
1751 Fulton Street, San Francisco

INGREDIENTS

Braised Oxtail in Peanut Sauce (Yields 4-6 servings)

3 oxtails cut into 2-inch pieces
1/3 Japanese eggplant
1/3 Chinese long beans
1/3 banana blossoms or bok choy (optional)
1/2 cup light beer
1 1/2 quarts FIJI Water
3/4 cup yellow onion, small diced
1 Tbs garlic, minced
1/8 cup rice flour, toasted
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
2 Tbs aceite seeds
4 Tbs canola oil
salt to taste

Method: In a medium stockpot, infuse 2 tablespoons canola oil with the aceite seeds over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove the seeds and sweat the onions and garlic in the infused oil.

In a large skillet, brown oxtails on all sides with 2 tablespoons canola oil over high heat. Transfer to the large stockpot with the onions and garlic. Deglaze the pan with the beer and add liquid to the stockpot. Add the FIJI Water, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for 3 hours or until soft and pulling off the bone. After 2 hours of cooking, add the peanut butter and rice flour to the stockpot. During the last half hour of cooking, add the vegetables. Season with salt to taste.

To Serve: Once the vegetables are tender, transfer to a bowl and serve with rice and shrimp paste on the side.

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Chef Richard J. Corbo: Spiced Eden Farms Pork Sausage & White Friulana Polenta

Pizzeria Zanna Bianca (Opening in early 2010)
Jack London Square Markets

INGREDIENTS

Farce (Yields 18-20 sausages)

1 pound lean pork meat, Eden Farms Berkshire
12 oz pork back fat
2 Tbs white wine
1 1 tsp garlic
æ oz salt
1 tsp sodium nitrite
10 oz FIJI Water, frozen, crushed
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 pound lamb casing

Spice Mixture

1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp mace
1 tsp coriander
º tsp bay leaf
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
º tsp cinnamon
1 tsp licorice

Polenta Batter

1 cup polenta bianca friulana
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
º tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup corn milk (or creamed corn)
1 cup buttermilk

Spiced Eden Farms Pork Sausage Method: Combine the pork with the wine, garlic, salt, and sodium nitrite and grind through a small die. Separately, grind the fat through the same die, then immediately freeze the two, separately.

Place the meat into a food processor with the spice mix and all of the frozen and crushed FIJI Water. Process until meat temperature is 40 degrees F. ( This should take approximately five minutes.) Add the fat, then process till 45 degrees. Finally, add the milk powder and process till 55 degrees F.

Check seasoning. Using a sausage stuffer, stuff 2-3 ounces of the farce into lamb casing. Tie or twist off approximately 4-inch links, being careful not to allow your mix to exceed 58 degrees F. Poach to internal temperature of 150 degrees F, then chill immediately.

White Friulana Polenta Method: To prepare the polenta batter, combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Separately, combine the wet. Then combine the two and fold together. Allow to rest for ten minutes before using.

To serve: Skewer the sausage links lengthwise individually, and dip into the batter to coat. Deep fry at 375 degrees F. Serve immediately crisp and hot. Yields 18-20 sausages.

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Chef Robert Lam: Vietnamese Chicken and Ginger Noodle Soup

: Recipe secrets from Chef Robert Lam.

Butterfly Restaurant
Pier 33 at Bay Street, San Francisco

INGREDIENTS

Consomee Raft (Yields 2 quarts or 8 bowls)

2 qts FIJI Water
2 qts *chicken stock
3 lbs chicken, thigh and breast meat, ground
2 Tbs garlic, peeled and minced
2 Tbs ginger, peeled and minced
º bunch cilantro, chopped
º bunch green onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, rough chopped
1 lemon, juiced
3 Tbs oyster sauce
3 Tbs soy sauce
1 cup fish sauce
14 egg whites

*Chicken Stock (Yields 4 gallons)

15 lbs organic chicken bones
5 gallons FIJI Water, ice cold
1 lb ginger, bruleÈd
3 onions, halved and bruleÈd
4 shallots, bruleÈd
2 cinnamon sticks
4 carrots, peeled, chopped
3 cloves
8 black peppercorns
8 white peppercorns
8 coriander seeds
8 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups fish sauce
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch celery, chopped, no leaves
4 bay leaves
4 onions, peeled, rough chopped

Chicken Stock Method: BruleÈ the shallots, onion, and ginger by placing cut halves onto a skillet or sautÈ pan and cook until burnt. Add all ingredients together in a stock pot with FIJI Water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, immediately pull off to the side of the burners and skim. Lower to a simmer. Strain the stock and chill.

Consomee Raft Method: Combine chilled chicken stock and ice cold FIJI Water in a large stock pot. Combine ground chicken with all ingredients and mix thoroughly, making sure that the egg whites are evenly dispersed through the mix. Add to the stock and put on medium-high heat. It is very important that you stir with frequency at this point on. Stir and scrape from the bottom of the pot for as long as it takes for the stock to reach bath-water temperature. Stir every 2-4 minutes.

Once the ‘raft’ has started to form (when you can see the egg whites starting to cook and look like a round stage on top of the pot), stop stirring and pull the pot off to the side of the burners. This will facilitate in the stock not getting too much direct heat underneath it and allow it to simmer without burning the bottom. Cook for up to another 1 hour once the raft is formed.

Strain the stock by gently discarding the raft with a large slotted kitchen spoon or a large iron-mesh skimmer and then pouring the stock thru a coffee filter or chinois. Adjust the seasoning and chill.

To serve: Poach a whole 2-pound chicken in some leftover chicken stock. (Lam prefers to brine his chickens before he poaches them. Typical brines are 60% salt, 40% water with aromatics — garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, thyme, pepper flakes.). Brine/marinate the chicken for 2 hours and poach in the stock till done. Chill and shred the meat. Place meat over boiled rice noodles (fat or skinny), pour hot broth over the top and serve with blanched rice noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro leaf, basil leaf, jalapeno, hoisin sauce, and garlic chili sauce.

Bon AppÈtit!

Photo courtesy of heitzie

FIJI Water Teams Up With BakitWhy.com

FIJI Water — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:33:14 +0000

Finishing touches are put on the culinary delights of the evening.

FIJI Water is proud to support BakitWhy.com and its co-founder (who was also our former social media MBA intern), Kaywan Shiraz.

Saturday, August 1 marked theone-year anniversary of the online Pilipino American lifestyle community BakitWhy.com. Hundreds of VIP guests flocked to Jimmy’s Lounge in Hollywood, Calif., to sample cuisine by Chef Larry Banares and indulge in the open bar sponsored by FIJI Water and Vuqo Vodka, a newcomer whose premium vodka is made from fermented coconut flowers.

Throughout the evening we were treated to performances by Justin Rivera, who used his priceless comedic timing to take us through a magical journey of not-so-magic tricks, including turning a bottle of FIJI Water into a bottle of ketchup; and Filipina singer / songwriter/ producer Ashley Robles, whose angelic voice and cutting-edge moves wowed the thirsty crowd.

Guests arrive for a night of food, music, and magic.

To lend a hand, BakitWhy used its one-year anniversary not just to celebrate but also to raise money for a cause close to their heart: Shirt the Kids, a unique T-shirt company that donates a percentage of their proceeds to provide food and clothing to children in the Philippines and the American Kids Cancer Fund. Silent auction items included one year of FIJI Water delivery, a signed copy of Dr. Kevin Nadal’s Filipino American Psychology, a skateboard by Bathala Project, a Pnoy Apparel Revolt Hoodie, an autographed BakitWhy shirt and lunch with BakitWhy.com director Jeremiah Abraham.

Check it all out at FIJI Water on Facebook for more photos from BakitUp++.

Giveaway: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Palms Las Vegas

FIJI Water — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Pirates commandeer the Palms Casino for three nights that are as decadent as they are debaucherous. This year’s theme for the Vegas installation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is ‘A Pirate’s Guilty Pleasure,’ a no-holds-barred masquerade that takes the entire pool area of the Palms back to the time of buccaneers, complete with fortune tellers, mermaids, and a menagerie of colorful characters.

As a sponsor of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, FIJI Water is giving away two VIP tickets valued at $150 each and all you have to do to claim them is write the most convincing tweet. Just hop on Twitter on Thursday, August 4 and tell us why you above all others should be chosen to attend the most over-the-top party of the year. Be sure to include #FIJIpirate in your tweet. We’ll start monitoring tweets at 10AM, stop at 3PM Pacific Time, and choose our favorite tweet by the next day.

2008's A Midsummer Night's Dream

You can tweet as many times as you like, but only posts that fulfill all the requirements will be considered. If chosen, you will be direct messaged (DM’d) via Twitter, so please make sure that you are following us so that you can receive our communication; in return, we will also follow the recipient.

If chosen, you will be required to provide us with your first and last name, as well as your email address and possibly your home address, so that we may mail your tickets. The name you provide us must match your name on your ID. Accommodations and transportation to and from the event is the recipient’s sole responsibility. If the chosen tweeter does not respond within 24 hours, another recipient may be chosen.

Costume or mask is required for admission.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
August 15, 9PM-2AM
Palms Casino, Las Vegas

Good luck!

Summer Recycling Projects Become Crafts for Kids

admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:43:50 +0000

Kids find new uses for FIJI bottles.

Summer is in full swing and my girls and I are loving the outdoors! I particularly love that my house stays cleaner. My kids are 21 and ready for my little art lessons I dreamed of when I was pregnant. I thought I’d teach them about recycling. What better way to practice than on FIJI Water bottles!

So far we’ve made:

A flower vase
Musical maracas (adding popcorn seeds to the empty bottles!)
Bowling set (We bowl using a soccer ball and eight empty FIJI bottles)
Airplanes (ok, the hole in the neck was where the “pilot” sits)
Cardboard cars (We used the FIJI cardboard box to make cars that we’re painting)

We’ve got some fun stuff going on. Cheers to your summer and reducing your carbon footprint by recycling your plastic bottles!

And if you’re feeling really adventurous and crafty, why not try to recycle a few cases worth of bottles into a chandelier or haute couture dress?

Recap: Food & Wine Classic in Aspen 2009

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:19:39 +0000

Visitors to the FIJI photo booth at the 2009 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

I was told that the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen was the biggest and best epicurean event in the U.S., and now I know why. Not only were all the top chefs in attendance, but there were huge crowds at every grand tasting session, cooking demonstration and wine seminar even during the rainy afternoon session on Saturday.

Chef Mario Batali stops by FIJI Water's photo booth.

Our FIJI Water booth was strategically located just inside the main entrance. Talk about well placed and appreciated! Between the endless drinking of wine the night before and the adjustment to the high-altitude dryness of Aspen, we literally provided an oasis for F&W ticket-holders.

This year we added a photo booth element, offering free souvenir photos that print out in mere seconds. It was a hit! The most amazing part was that it had an automatic Photoshop feature, which made everyone’s dark circles from lack of sleep virtually disappear.

It was three days (and nights) of good food, wine and fun. I highly recommend the experience to anyone who likes to eat or drink.

Los Angeles: Extravaganza for the Senses

FIJI Water — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:28:22 +0000

Saban's Extravaganza offers gourmet bites from LA's top restaurants

As one of Southern California’s ‘top 100 events,’ Extravaganza for the Senses invites guests to an evening of unlimited sampling of food, wine, and FIJI Water as more than 100 wineries and 40 Los Angeles restaurants take over the backlot of 20th Century Fox Studios.

FIJI Water is giving away two general admission tickets to the event, and all you have to do to be considered is submit a comment right here on this blog post, describing your love of food, wine, or FIJI, and why you’d like to attend the Extravaganza for the Senses. One comment will be chosen at random. This is a Los Angeles-area event, so please post only if you can actually attend.

If your comment is chosen, we will contact you via the email you include on your profile, so please make sure to include a valid email address. The phrase ‘Extravaganza’ must appear in your comment to be considered! DEADLINE EXTENDED: Any comments submitted after July 15, 2009 at noon PT will not be eligible. Ticket recipients must be 21 or over.

Guests enjoy the wine tastings at 2008's Extravaganza for the Senses.

All proceeds from the event benefit The Saban Free Clinic.

Event Information:
July 18, 2009 at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Want to get alerts on more FIJI Water giveaways? Follow us on Twitter.

Phoenix: 311 Ticket Giveaway

FIJI Water — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:58:57 +0000

Photo: Marcello Ambriz

We’re making this one easy for you, Phoenix. If you want to see the Omaha funk-rockers when they play the Dodge Theatre on July 10, 2009, simply write on our FIJI Water’s Facebook Wall stating how much you like the band — and you could snare a pair of tickets to the show. And if you’re really lucky — and persuasive — we might even arrange a meet-and-greet beforehand.

If your Wall post is chosen, we will contact you via Facebook for information on how to get the tickets to you. The phrase ’311′ must appear in your post to be considered! Any Wall posts submitted after July 6, 2009 at noon PT will not be eligible. Ticket recipients must be 18 or over.

Show Information:
July 10, 2009 at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.

Want to get alerts on more FIJI Water giveaways? Follow us on Twitter.

Houston, OC, and Las Vegas Giveaways: Want to ‘Hang Tough’ With New Kids on the Block?

FIJI Water — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:13:13 +0000

[caption id="attachment_259" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="New Kids on the Block pose with fans at a recent pre-concert meet-and-greet. This could be you!"][/caption] FIJI Water and New Kids on the Block (or NKOTB, if you want to get all post-Maurice Starr on us) want to give our fans a chance to see -- and possibly even meet -- their boy-band idols when they play Houston, Irvine, and Las Vegas. In each city, we have a pair of tickets for each of two diehard New Kids fans who can best display their devotion for Jonathan, Jordan, Joey, Danny, and Donnie. There are two possible ways to nab tickets: 1. Take a picture of yourself, a bottle of FIJI Water, and a piece of NKOTB memorabilia. 2. Find an old photo of you from back in the day and post it to the Facebook page. Whichever of the two options above you choose, you must post your photo to our Facebook Page by the dates listed below. If your photo is chosen, we will contact you via Facebook for information on how to get the tickets to you. Please note the deadlines for each city below; any photos posted after the times listed will not be considered. In your photo's caption, include why you should be chosen to receive the concert tickets and in which city you would like tickets, as well as if you would like to attend a meet-and-greet with the band at 4:45PM the day of the concert. Ticket recipients must be 18 or over. Show Information: Irvine, Calif.: July 10 at Irvine Meadows/Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (photo deadline: noon PT on July 7, 2009) Las Vegas: July 11 at Pearl Theatre, Palms Hotel and Casino (photo deadline: noon PT on July 8, 2009) Houston: July 18 at Woodlands Pavilion (photo deadline: noon PT on July 15, 2009) Want to get alerts on more FIJI Water giveaways and events? Follow us on Twitter.

Houston, OC, and Las Vegas Giveaways: Want to "Hang Tough" With New Kids on the Block?

FIJI Water — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:13:13 +0000

[caption id="attachment_259" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="New Kids on the Block pose with fans at a recent pre-concert meet-and-greet. This could be you!"][/caption] FIJI Water and New Kids on the Block (or NKOTB, if you want to get all post-Maurice Starr on us) want to give our fans a chance to see -- and possibly even meet -- their boy-band idols when they play Houston, Irvine, and Las Vegas. In each city, we have a pair of tickets for each of two diehard New Kids fans who can best display their devotion for Jonathan, Jordan, Joey, Danny, and Donnie. There are two possible ways to nab tickets: 1. Take a picture of yourself, a bottle of FIJI Water, and a piece of NKOTB memorabilia. 2. Find an old photo of you from back in the day and post it to the Facebook page. Whichever of the two options above you choose, you must post your photo to our Facebook Page by the dates listed below. If your photo is chosen, we will contact you via Facebook for information on how to get the tickets to you. Please note the deadlines for each city below; any photos posted after the times listed will not be considered. In your photo"s caption, include why you should be chosen to receive the concert tickets and in which city you would like tickets, as well as if you would like to attend a meet-and-greet with the band at 4:45PM the day of the concert. Ticket recipients must be 18 or over. Show Information: Irvine, Calif.: July 10 at Irvine Meadows/Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (photo deadline: noon PT on July 7, 2009) Las Vegas: July 11 at Pearl Theatre, Palms Hotel and Casino (photo deadline: noon PT on July 8, 2009) Houston: July 18 at Woodlands Pavilion (photo deadline: noon PT on July 15, 2009) Want to get alerts on more FIJI Water giveaways and events? Follow us on Twitter.

Sushi, Pizza, Pho — What's Your Fave?

FIJI Water — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:40:35 +0000

Given the popularity of talking about favorites and everyone wanting to know what everyone else’s favorite dish or restaurant is, this post is going to be dedicated to just that.

Sushi: One of FIJI Hungry Gals' favorite foods. Photo: amrufm via Flickr

Sushi is one of my favorite foods. So are pizza and pasta (especially the ones I had in Italy). And then there are also all kinds of yummy Chinese food — suckling pig, beef stew noodle soup, goose, etc. — all currently on my mind because of a recent Anthony Bourdain episode that featured some great eats from Hong Kong. Of course, Thai and Vietnamese food are also not to be left off my list of favorites; I sometimes dream about having duck curry or a bowl of ph? with perfectly half-cooked beef when I haven’t had them for awhile. Then there’s Mexican food — who doesn’t enjoy a good taco al pastor? Or even three of them?

While I have a list of restaurants I often frequent, I think it will be extremely difficult for me to tell you my favorite

Un-pho-gettable phood. Photo: jasonlam via Flickr

one. I really enjoy K-Zo in Culver City with its ever-changing specials menu that offers you the freshest fishes of the day. But I also love going to Sushi King in Santa Monica because of its large slices of fresh fish. Just speaking of sushi alone, I can name 10 of my “favorite” sushi restaurants. (See the comments section from my last post, “First Stop of FIJI Hungry Gal’s Gastronomy Journey.” for a list of some of my favorite dishes & restaurants around the world.)

You see, as clearly depicted above, it’s hard to truly have a favorite food ora favorite restaurant. I have many favorites — for things ranging from sports to cities to everyday mundane products such as shampoo — but it’s always ONE of my favorites. The only product that I can think of where I truly have a favorite is bottled water. And that is FIJI Water. Even before I started working here, I treated myself to a bottle of FIJI Water once in awhile. It is the best-tasting water on Earth. It is a treat. It is an affordable luxury. It is my favorite bottled water, and not justONE of my favorites.

Raining in Los Angeles!?!

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:00:42 +0000

This morning Itook my girlsinto the backyard for a lesson about rain. This is a rare live demonstration living in Southern California. Both girls looked up and said, “Agua.” (Yes, they’re bilingual, but this isn’t about bragging!!!) My husband ran outside to remind me that being outside for this short period would give my girls pneumonia. Quick to be defensive without thinking through what I was saying, I launched into a speech about how the rain is probably much more harmful than the cool temperatures and anyway it was only misting. My little students didn’t know the difference between rain and mist. I went on to explain pneumonia is the least of our worries, and if he wanted to be onto something better, our pollution is so disgusting that I’m sure we’re somehow being contaminated and the girls should put their tongues back in their mouths. Then I realized I had gone too far and took my rain lesson back inside the house and to the window.

Made me think hours later, as this blog entry sat on my TO DO list, that Fijians don’t have this problem. Fiji is one of the farthest places away from industrial pollution. I bet Fijian Mommies get to teach their rain lesson outside without thinking about pollution and acid rain. Maybe the warm tropical weather helps ward off paranoid Daddies too!

Wine Spectator Magnum party in Sonoma

FIJI Water — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:07:09 +0000

Hello, FIJI lovers! Last night I had the privilege of attending an event that FIJI Water sponsors, the Wine Spectator “Bring Your Own Magnum” party in Sonoma, CA. The premise is fairly simple, but it works like a charm: Wine Spectator invites winemakers, winery owners and advertisers/partners to bring a magnum of a particular wine from their winery. Over 100 hundred wineries are invited, so there was plenty of good wine to go around!

The event was held at the Hotel Healdsburg in Sonoma County. FIJI Water was the official water of the event, and we had a really cool FIJI ice sculpture shaped like a vase; I was impressed by how it stayed intact for so long without melting! In addition to the fabulous wine, Chef Charlie Palmer (who has a restaurant in the hotel) was the caterer of the event, and was there with his young sons, personally carving up fabulous tri-tip and rosemary crusted chicken and serving it to the guests. Pretty cool.

Some of the best wines I tasted were: Flowers Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007, Rodney Strong Symmetry 2005 Meritage, & Landmark 2007 Kanzler Pinot Noir, but there were many more great ones as well!

This was definitely one of the best food & wine events I’ve been to – for those of you who are into events like this, I recommend you check out the “SF. Chefs. Food. Wine” event happening from August 6-9 in Union Square in San Francisco.FIJI will be the official water sponsor of this event as well, and if you’re into great food and wine, it will be a great event to check out – http://www.sfchefsfoodwine.com/

Does anyone else have any good recommendations on food & wine events happening on the West Coast?

Danny

Gift Bags for Good: Bringing Clean Water to People in Need — and How You Can Help

FIJI Water — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:37:40 +0000

FIJI Green Gal: From our amazing event manager, Paul, here’s an update about a very special FIJI Water-sponsored charity event called Gift Bags for Good. Learn more about what happened last night in New York City, and find out how you can still help no matter where you are! And a big thanks to Ariston Anderson at the Huffington Post for her shoutout.

Last night FIJI Water presented the charity event Gift Bags for Good. It’s an auction of donated gift bags (or “swag“) from awards shows, celebrities, TV shows and handbag makers; and 300 guests came to examine the fab merch displayed all around them, bid against each other to take the gift bags home and by doing so raise money for two important charities, Water Partners International and Clothes Off Our Back.

I couldn’t believe the guest “gets” we got! Sherri Saum from HBO’s In Treatment, who had donated one of the bags; Zach Roerig from Friday Night Lights; and Paul Iacono (from the upcoming Fame) showed up to support the event. Terry Serpico (Army Wives) came and donated a gift bag he had just received that day – what a class act! Thank you, Terry!

Sherri Saum

A gorgeous Sarah Leshner (Amazing Race 13) brought a bunch of reality show pals, including the new Survivor Tocantins winner, James “JT ” Thomas, and runner-up Stephen Fishbach!

JT and Paul

JT was just voted the Survivor winner on Sunday, so he’s a busy guy right now, but he told me he loved that the event was helping Water Partners, who provide safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Maybe being on Survivor helps you appreciate the things we take for granted, like clean drinking water, even though Water Partners estimates that 1 billion people don’t have it.

Water Partners photos from Tigray, Ethiopia

Sarah (love her!) also brought recent Survivor Ben “Coach” Wade and Survivor alumni from the Panama and Guatemala seasons. Reshma Shetty from USA’s Royal Paines, Denise Vasi from ABC’s All My Children and Wendy Diamond from Animal Fair also came – thank you all! And thanks to special guest, our favorite blogger FIJI Green Gal for stopping by to check it all out.

Bidding on bags got quite heated for some of the lots! Maybe guests were put in the mood by the 10 Cane Rum and Red Bull Cola cocktails, the Corona and Corona Light beer, the freshly made Cafe Bustelo espresso and (natch) the FIJI Water? There was especially frenzied activity surrounding the MTV Networks bag, the Lucky Shops VIP bag, the NY Fashion Week show package (donated by FIJI Water) and the W Hotel Hoboken suite for July 4′s NY Fireworks. Bidding guests hovered over the bid sheets protectively in case someone outbid them, and when that happened they quickly wrote their name in again with a higher bid. Drama!

MTV Networks bag

Lucky Shops VIP bag

NY Fashion Week Package from FIJI Water

Only some of the bags we showed at the event were for silent auction. The others, including donations from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ugly Betty and many more will now be auctioned online at http://www.clothesoffourback.org/ through June 3. Water Partners and Clothes Off Our Back (COOB) share the online auction proceeds, and COOB donates its share to children’s charities around the world.

Go bid!

Out and About: Art in Chicago

FIJI Water — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:59:15 +0000

With the late arrival of spring the weather in Chicago has been beautiful, and coincidentally so have been the events, literally. The city continues to bloom into a Mecca for beautiful architecture and artistic talent, and this month we’re all celebrating it.

‘Young Modern’: To herald the grand opening of the newly renovated modern wing, the Art Institute of Chicago hosted more than 1,200 young artists and art enthusiasts to a preview soiree complete with DJs, champagne, and, of course, FIJI Water.

Chic young Chicagoans cheerfully toured newly curated galleries, danced in the upstairs salon, and mingled with friends in the expansive lobby. Fantastic fashion presentations given by Marisa Swystun and Michelle Barone were only enhanced by the presence of large bottles of FIJI Water, everyone’s favorite accessory.

‘Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence’: For the eighth year in a row, philanthropist Richard Driehaus hosted nearly 400 of his closest friends to a charity event in benefit of student designers from area art schools.

The night began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres set among Driehaus’ collection of rare vintage cars, and later involved a fashion show featuring the fantastic and outlandish creations of 25 students. FIJI Water had the best view in the house, featured alongside the runway on VIP tables and seats, and FIJI Water recycling bins flanked the exit to make sure guests helped to ‘complete our cycle.’

‘Project Art Chicago: Escape the Ordinary’: On Friday, May 22nd, Project Art at the Climax Lounge in Chicago promises to be a ground-breaking display of the finest creations young Chicago has to offer. Curated by Tristan Hummel, the event will feature the paintings, photography, sculpture, video, music, and breakdancing of the area’s most talented young artists. FIJI Water is proud to be the exclusive bottled water of the series, which will continue monthly throughout the summer. Everyone is welcome to join this free event, and more information can be found at www.yelp.com.

Stay green!

Call for National Service

FIJI Water — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:32:48 +0000

FIJI Green Gal: Here is Kristin, one of our marketing team members, to share her thoughts on public service. Thanks for joining us, Kristin…

When Barack Obama became president, he asked Americans to rise to the challenge in his call for national service. I truly believe that there is something every American can do to serve their community andtheir fellow man, and to help those in need.

As the largest export in Fiji, FIJI Water has a fundamental responsibility to give back to our community. Throughout our history, we have invested in education programs and health care projects that directly benefit the people of Fiji. And the FIJI Water Foundation, seeded by the company’s owners, Lynda and Stewart Resnick, and funded by contributions from our employees worldwide, has provided access to clean water in over 100 communities in Fiji, along with relief aid during natural disasters, support for schools, and critical medical services in this developing nation.

No matter where you live, there are organizations that need your help. You might start by locating a Salvation Army nearby, or by contacting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and offering your time. But you don’t have to volunteer at a nationally recognized organization just to serve the community where you live. A simple act of kindness can have the greatest impact of all. Try helping your neighbors take their trash out, or walking an elderly person across the street. Buy a sandwich for a hungry war veteran or visit a local animal shelter and ask if you can walk a dog. The most important thing to remember is that change starts with you. You can be the change you hope to see in others.

Will you rise to the challenge?

FIJI Green Gal Gets a Shiny Red Bike

FIJI Water — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:53:19 +0000

As May is National Bike Month, I thought this would be as good a time as any to tell you about my shiny red bike! Besides, I love my bike, and I love talking about it. Yes, it’s the beautiful bike you see above — a K2 T-Nine Breeze.

I bought my shiny red bike last November (prime cycling season, haha!) and haven’t been able to get enough of it since. I’m lucky enough to live near the beach, so I ride it along the oceanfront a lot, especially at sunrise when it’s quiet and peaceful out. And sometimes I ride to the farmers’ market and fill the basket with yummy fruits and veggies. Something about riding around on a bike with a basket full of good fresh produce makes me feel very Euro. I’ve even ridden my bike to special occasions dressed up and in high heels — fashion first!

I get around on my bike pretty easily now, but that wasn’t true in the beginning. I literally hadn’t ridden a bike in 25 years when I bought the Breeze. You do pick it back up pretty quickly — “just like riding a bike” — andfortunately my bikehandles beautifully, but some nuances can get lost at first. My second time out, I was pedaling along, lost in thought, and then suddenly realized I was headed straight for a hedge. There wasn’t room to swerve, so I started pedaling backwards to brake, just like I used to when I was a little kid on my kid’s bike. The problem is that I have hand brakes now. Oops! Thankfully neither my bike nor I incurred serious injury — mainly just a bunch of twigs stuck in my hair and the wheel spokes. It did look pretty spectacular!

Of course, being a green gal, I’d considered the possibility that using my bike instead of a car or public transportation would reduce my carbon footprint. But one unforeseen consequence of riding my bike everywhere was an insatiable appetite. I could not stop eating!

And though I normally eat a healthy andlower-carbon diet high in vegetables, and usually eat meat just a couple of times a week, once I started riding my bike, I was craving meat and potatoes all the time. I’m pretty sure I had beef for several nights in a row at one point. I wondered if my beef-eating habits were negating all the carbon benefits from biking instead of driving. Now, I’ve heard from trustworthy sources that for most people, driving is a bigger source of carbon than eating beef, so normally that wouldn’t be the case. But I sure was eating a lot, so I don’t know…

After a couple of months, my metabolism adjusted, and I’mnow back to my previous, healthier eating habits. But I was pretty worried for a while — I mean, who GAINS weight because she gives up her car for a bicycle? That said, there is no seasoning in the world that makes food taste as delicious as fresh air and lots of exercise. Everything tasted so good!

If you’re thinking about getting a bike, or riding your bike more, I highly recommend it! It’s so much fun and so relaxing, and it makes your food taste really good.

FIJI Water at the Summit of the Americas

FIJI Water — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:59:25 +0000

Good to see leaders at this year’s Summit of the Americas — including President Obama — staying hydrated with the best water in the world! Of course, we already knew the president has great taste in water.

First Stop of FIJI Hungry Gal's Gastronomy Journey

FIJI Water — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:48:00 +0000

FIJI Green Gal: Joining the blog today is one of my colleagues, whom we’ve dubbed “FIJI Hungry Gal” because the girl sure does love to eat! I can always count on her for a great restaurant recommendation and ideas for a dinner partymenu. I’ve also had the good fortune to eat her cooking, and the girl’s got skills. She’ll be sharing some of her great food insights with us on this blog. It’ll be delicious!

I’m a self-professed foodie and I love talking about food. When I go on vacations, I plan it around my meals, not the places I visit. The most exciting times of the day for me aren’t morning, afternoon, or evening, but they’re when I’m eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

So as you can imagine, as I’m writing this blog entry, all I’m thinking about is where I’m having dinner tonight. Let me tell you about this place. Recommended to me by a couple of fellow foodies, the first thing they raved to me about was the Loukouma, which are baby Greek donuts drizzled with Greek honey, cinnamon, toasted walnuts and vanilla ice cream. Sounds delicious, right? Well, it wasn’t a huge hit for me. Regardless, Petros in Manhattan Beach is a great restaurant. When my husband and I ate there the first time, he had the feta-crusted Colorado rack of lamb, and I had the lamb pasta. As we took our first bite, I heard myself saying, “Mmmmm,” as you can often hear coming out of my mouth whenever I’ve tasted something really good. The lamb dishes were you so succulent, and I was able to taste all the different flavors on my tongue.

While I was really happy with my dinner, I wasn’t so thrilled about their bottled water choice — instead of offering the best-tasting FIJI Water, they decided to serve a different artesian water. Do they not realize that the type of drink you consume has a significant impact on the overall satisfaction of your meal? Whenever the waiter/waitress asks me if I want bottled or tap, I always ask if they serve FIJI Water. Why? Because unlike other bottled waters, the purity and softness of FIJI Water will not interrupt the flavors of my food. So the next time you go on a gastronomy journey, pay attention to the water you’re served and ask yourself if it complemented your meal orif it tainted the flavorsof your food.

Wanted: Green Tips!

admin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:42:32 +0000

It occurred to me this is a wonderful place to share some of how I live a little healthier and greener, and in turn, improve what I’m doing by learning from our readers!

Nothing I do is extraordinary or time consuming, but I feel good about my little part. Here’s a listof what I do:

Ihave two garbage cans in my kitchen, one for soiled stuff, the other for recycling.
I recycle all my used coffee grains and filters and feed them to my yard as natural fertilizer.
I replaced all my household cleaners with earth-friendly and non-chemical solutions. Vinegar and water on my hardwood floors make them shine better than any other product I’ve ever used!
When running the water for my kids’ bath, I don’t let the water warm up before putting the drain plug in.
I replaced every bulb in the house with those CFL light bulbs.
We have large fish tanks and bought a pump to water the lawn when we clean the tanks. The water has great fertilizer in it!
We use the door hanger advertisements as coloring books for my kids, and recycle the ones that don’t get put on the refrigerator for display!
On the weekends, we try to walk more and drive less.
I sign up for paperless statements when they’re offered.
I re-use envelopes for shopping lists, etc… blank, white envelopes are perfect!
I turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth.
We unplug electrics after using them.
We purchase predominantly organic food.

I’d love to hear little steps you take that help you live a healthy, greener life!

Bottled water now the most recycled item

FIJI Water — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:55:03 +0000

Courtesy of finewaters.com, some nice news about progress on the recycling front…

“With data compiled during an extensive bale composition study in 15 locations in 14 states, the 2008 NAPCOR PET analysis states: ‘Water bottles are now the most recycled container in curbside programs by weight, and overwhelmingly by number.’ PET water bottles now account for 50% of all the PET bottles and containers collected by curbside recycling. This trend was consistent in all curbside bales sampled nationally, with no major shifts observed in any other plastic container category. The biggest jump in water bottle collection for recycling was in California, where a state-funded consumer education campaign, emphasizing that water bottles are recyclable, seems to be having the desired effect.”

There’s still a lot more we can do, though. Check out FIJIGreen.com to learn more about recycling’s environmental benefits, play a recycling game, and find out how you can help improve recycling rates across the board!

One hour greener in Fiji

FIJI Water — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:50 +0000

FIJI Green Gal: Here’s an update from Fiji courtesy of Molly, our FIJI Water Foundation coordinator…

FIJI Water and its hundreds of employees in Fiji were proud to join Fiji’s Earth Hour celebrations this year. On March 28th from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, the factory in Yaqara shut down bottled water operations and used critical lighting only, as did the logistics, finance, and foundation offices in Lautoka and Suva. We encouraged our employees, friends, and neighbors in the communities around our factory to do the same, supplied water to Earth Hour volunteers in the West, and also assisted in the collection and recycling of those donated bottles.

Elsewhere in Fiji, landmark buildings turned off their lights, restaurants held candlelit dinners with live guitar serenades, and at resorts guests were guided to their rooms by tiki torch.

Participating in this year’s Earth Hour is a part of our ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and the environment. As we work on big projects – cutting emissions across our products’ entire life cycle, promoting local recycling, investing in forest carbon and renewable energy projects- we also remember that there are small things we can all do every day to make a difference on our planet.

For more information about Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org and see how you and your community can be a part of next year’s celebration.

A fabulous getaway to Fiji…right outside Salt Lake City!

FIJI Water — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:03:54 +0000

Last October, Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake unveiledthe Rio Tinto green stadium in Utah. FIJI Water is the exclusive water of this innovative sports arena. Our incredibly talented production artist Robert, along with sales guys extraordinaire Jonathan and Parker, helped transform one of the stadium’s luxury suites into a gorgeous space that reflects the beauty of Fiji. Looking at these photos reminds me of sitting on the beach in Fiji…ahhhh…

Out and About: Miami's Winter Music Conference

FIJI Water — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:59:05 +0000

FIJI Green Gal: Along with Marssie, our fantastic events coordinator David will be bringing you “Out and About” highlights from the great events featuring FIJI Water. Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while may remember David as the force behind the fabulous FIJI Water chandelier featured at a Chicago fashion event. Yeah, he’s kind of awesome.

Although St. Patrick’s Day is just behind us, we are going to keep the ‘green’ drinks coming to you all year. Next stop: Miami, FL, where from March 24th-28th FIJI Water will be keepin’ it cool on a HOT town for the 2009 Winter Music Conference.

An important stop for the world’s most renowned DJs and musicians, Miami’s Winter Music Conference is a haven for music’s newest beats and trends, hosting a veritable ‘who’s who’ of celebrities and international jet setters for a five day extravaganza of sights and sounds.

As the darling beverage of Miami, FIJI Water will be the exclusive bottled water served at the hottest locations of the Winter Music Conference.

Look for us at the infamous Raleigh Hotel, home to BMF Media’s ‘A|X Music Lounge,’ a place where celebrities, musicians, and music industry insiders will come to relax amid the frenzy of WMC performances-and for them only the finest tasting water will do. To add a ‘green’ touch to the lounge, FIJI Water recycling will be provided to ensure each guest enjoys their FIJI responsibly.

On the weekend you’ll find FIJI Water lounging poolsideatthe posh Fountainebleau Hotel, Miami’s premier beach resort and home to LIV, the area’s hottest new nightclub.

Special guest performances at LIV by DJ AM and Subliminal Sessions will ensure the parties jump until the wee hours of the night.

Things are only just starting to heat up around here as we quickly approach spring and a host of fantastic FIJI Water sightings across the country. Be sure to stay dialed in to the FIJI Green Blog for next month’s inside track on the Sonoma Jazz Festival from my pal, Marssie.

Stay green!

'DON'T TOUCH!' I repeat, 'DON'T TOUCH!'

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:50:04 +0000

You would think some marketer at a technology company would have thought to include a voice recorder in the hospital goodie bag I received after my babies’ delivery. I liked the free baby shampoos, diaper cr’me,and all that-but I’d use a recorder more often and much longer! I would record the following: “Don’t touch,” “Careful,” and “Rocks are not food.” I’m sure battery companies would be grateful, but I digress…

In the spirit of this FIJI Water blog entry, it makes me think of our ad campaign “Untouched.” FIJI Water is untouched by man; I’ve been to Fiji and seen the factory. No one is yelling, “Don’t touch!” No one has to…FIJI Water’s state of-the-art bottling facility is designed to protect the purity and quality of the water. It sits on top of an aquifer (which is like a huge, slow-moving, underground river), and the water is drawn into the factory straight into the bottle without human contact!

Now if I could only get my little ones to leave Mommie’s shoes and jewelry box “Untouched!”

"DON"T TOUCH!" I repeat, "DON"T TOUCH!"

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:50:04 +0000

You would think some marketer at a technology company would have thought to include a voice recorder in the hospital goodie bag I received after my babies” delivery. I liked the free baby shampoos, diaper cr”me, and all thatÖbut I’d use a recorder more often and much longer! I would record the following: “Don”t touch,” “Careful,” and “Rocks are not food.” I”m sure battery companies would be grateful, but I digress…

In the spirit of this FIJI Water blog entry, it makes me think of our ad campaign “Untouched.” FIJI Water is untouched by man; I”ve been to Fiji and seen the factory. No one is yelling, “Don”t touch!” No one has to…FIJI Water”s state-of-the-art bottling facility is designed to protect the purity and quality of the water. It sits on top of an aquifer (which is like a huge, slow-moving, underground river), and the water is drawn into the factory straight into the bottle without human contact!

Now if I could only get my little ones to leave Mommie’s shoes and jewelry box “Untouched!”

Learn the secrets behind FIJI Water's marketing success

FIJI Water — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:58:00 +0000

Learn the secrets behind FIJI Water’s marketing success

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:58:00 +0000

Learn the secrets behind FIJI Water"s marketing success

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:58:00 +0000

FIJI Water's Los Angeles office receives LEED Silver certification

FIJI Water — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:13:23 +0000

We’re delighted to announce that FIJI Water’s Los Angeles office has received LEED Silver certification!We’re proud tobe “apioneering example of sustainable design,” as the official letter from the U.S. Green Building Council phrased it. A tremendous amount of thought and effort went into this renovation, and it’s been amazing to see how many details go into making an office that’s good for people and good for the environment.

Join FIJI Water on Facebook and MySpace

FIJI Water — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:47:27 +0000

Get social with FIJI Water! Add FIJI Water to your Facebook and MySpace pages to stay up to date on the latest events, press and more…

FIJI Water sponsors Hollywood's first eco-friendly lounge

FIJI Water — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:35:39 +0000

FIJI Water is proud to announce a wonderful new partnership with Ecco Ultra Lounge, Hollywood’sfirst eco-friendly lounge!Located in the heart of the popular Cahuenga Corridor,Eccosets the standard for an eco-friendly nightlife experience by minimizing and neutralizing its impact on the environment.

Celebrities like Hayden Panettiere and Nicole Richie have been spotted at Ecco, and Discovery Channel’s Planet Green – recognizing the eco-friendly milestone Ecco will establish in the nightlife industry – will feature the venue on its show “Alter Eco,” hosted by “Entourage” star Adrian Grenier.

Ecco serves FIJI Water as its exclusive bottled water and also offers two cocktails made with FIJI Water:

Absinthe-Minded (Enjoy with Caution!): Organic Lucid Absinthe, Sugar, FIJI Water, Wormwood
Alter Eco: Juniper Green Organic London Dry Gin, Fresh Lemon Juice, a Few Drops of Rose Infused FIJI Water

So the venue is a place to see and be seen, the water tastes great, and the cocktails are yummy. Butwhat makes Ecco eco-friendly?Well, it features (among other things):

Multi-colored, energy-efficient, state-of-the-art LED lighting system, exclusively designed and installed by Disco Designer and Cosmos Lighting
Power supplied by LA Department of Water & Power’s Green Power resources
Superior Organic cuisine and liquors
Cold & Heat Insulation, saving 20% of standard energy use through high quality insulation
Energy efficient recycled steel air pressure toilets and waterless urinals
State of the art ‘Dyson Airblades’ hand dryers
Free valet for hybrid vehicles
Paperless Solution for ticketing and reservations – Provided by UpCode Solutions USA and its Mobile Access & Interaction technology (MAI)ô
Audio provided by Turbosound, winners of the Best Club Awards 2008 ‘Best Sound System & Best Sound Product’

It’s amazing to see how many details the club owners, designers, and operators thought about as part of their effort to minimize Ecco’s environmental impact. Click here to learn more!

The New Year brings a Healthy Buzz

FIJI Water — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:18:07 +0000

What better time than the New Year to look for a healthy buzz? Here’s a message from our friends at POM Wonderful on how to get one…or two…or more. And keep reading to find out how to get a healthy buzz for FREE!

Glad we have your attention now…since you love FIJI Water, you might also be interested in an exclusive offer from its sister company, POM Wonderful. POM is now offering its newest product, POMx Iced Coffee, for delivery to your home or office at shopwww.fijiwater.com (you know, the same shop where you can get FIJI Water delivered for less than $1 a day!).

POMx Iced Coffee is an antioxidant rich coffee energy drink that is a blend of all-natural ingredients and the only iced coffee that will provide you with a Healthy Buzzô – a potent combination of polyphenol antioxidants and caffeine.

Click here and enter code POMX78 at checkout to receive a FREE CASE of coffee with the purchase of one case! POMx Iced Coffee comes in two delicious flavors – CafÈ au Lait and Chocolate – so this is a great chance to try each one!

You can alsovisit us on MySpace or Facebook.

FIJI Green Gal starts eating dinner again

FIJI Water — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:52:51 +0000

Some months ago, I asked for advice on how best to adjust to the demise of my microwave, as I wasn’t doing such a good job of it on my own. People sent me some outstanding ideas, all of which have helped me eat more, sleep more, and reduce my carbon footprint. And when I can achieve all three goals, life is good!

I figure there’s no time better than the food-filled holiday season to update you on my progress. Some great ideas that readers shared with me included preparing food that tastes good as cold leftovers, going for raw foods, incorporating ingredients from the local farmers’ market, and just eating cereal sometimes (thanks todropofkim, CatieB, and Betty!). (You know, I love eating cereal with fruit for dinner. It’s yummy andnutritious, and it reminds me of college! Can’t believe I’d forgotten that was an option, so thank you for the reminder.)

Especially during summertime, it was lovely to pull together simple but delicious salads, use the abundance of gorgeous produce to make vegetarian entrees that taste good without reheating the next day, and have more light and refreshing options in the warm weather. And of course, with my eating less meat and using less gas and electricity to heat food, my carbon footprint dropped too. One of my favorite dishes is a simple cannellini dip that takes five minutes to prepare, tastes amazing and flavorful, and is even better after a day in the refrigerator. With some pita bread for dipping and salad and fruit on the side, it makes at least a couple of easy and satisfyingmeals.

But with the colder weather settling in,I’m eager forwarmer dinner options. Apart from substituting oatmeal for cereal,I now know how to reheat food properly on the stove, thanks to dropofkim: Add a little water and heat on low. And I’ve found doing this means thefood heats up evenly and stays hot much longer than when warmed in a microwave. I’ll also visit favorite restaurants from time to time to enjoy a good meal. Especially with the economic downturn, I’m feeling keen to support neighborhood businesses where I can.

I haven’t given up entirely on getting a microwave. There’s still a lot to be said for the convenience! But I’m going to keep in mind jcwindsor’s suggestion to find an EnergyStar appliance and CatieB’s suggestion to find a kitchen cart made of recycled and/or repurposed materials. In the past, I’ve found some gorgeous furniture for great prices at consignment shops, garage sales, and the like – I love finding antiques andartisan pieces at bargain prices! Now,I suspect “antique microwave cart” is an oxymoron, but I still like the idea of finding a way to repurpose materials and keep them out of landfill. Another option could be to find a cart made of rapidly renewable resources like bamboo, which also looks beautiful.

Thanks again for all the great suggestions – I love the creativity, the variety, and most of all the delicious results!

President-elect Obama drinks FIJI Water on Election Night

FIJI Water — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:47:12 +0000

Many of you may already have seen the photos of President-elect Barack Obama and family taken behind the scenes on Election Night. And if you haven’t, they’re available on Yahoo! News and President-elect Obama’s Flickr photostream.

Regardless of your political views, there was much to celebrate that night – a peaceful transition of power, the nation’s first African-American president, and more. And the FIJI Water team found something else to celebrate too- the fact that our new president-elect has great taste! Check out the FIJI Water in the Obamas’ suite.

FIJI Water sponsors Real Salt Lake's new green stadium

FIJI Water — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:53:09 +0000

October 9th was a special day in Utah. The Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake, in partnership with FIJI Water and other sponsors, unveiled a new flavor of green a stadium. Rio Tinto Stadium seats 25,000 and is just 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. The dramatic views of the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountain ranges are bound to make visitors feel like they’re much further away. The stadium will host soccer, football, and rugby matches as well as community festivals, concerts and other events.

Eager to get the scoop on the exciting debut match up? Click here.

As one of Real Salt Lake’s exclusive sponsors, FIJI Water is proud to supply the stadium with a carbon negative beverage to support their green initiatives.Real Salt Lake’s Chief Business Officer John Kimball observes, ‘It is important to relay the message that everyone from individuals and families to small businesses and large corporations can do their part to improve our planet-’

But the planet isn’t the only one that benefits. Real Salt Lake will contribute to 12 local charities and will donate $7.5 million to local K-12 soccer teams. They will also reserve 500 seats at every home game for underprivileged youth, free of charge. Youngsters in Utah – more of whom play soccer than any other sport – must be thrilled.

Grown-ups have a reason to cheer, too. The Economic Development Corporation of Utah estimates that the stadium will create 100 full time jobs as well as 75 more in supporting local businesses.Even more peoplewill benefit from the improved transportation infrastructure and increased revenues for education. And of course, they can enjoy sporting and entertainment events from world-class performers.

If you’d like to see the view from the inside of Rio Tinto Stadium, take a look at their live webcam.

Support underprivileged children by watching "Dancing With The Stars" live

FIJI Water — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:30:33 +0000

Fiji is normallythe focus of our social development projects, but todaywe’d like to share an exciting opportunity to help children in the United States – andto have agreat time!

You and a guest will travel to Los Angeles with ‘NSYNC star Chris Kirkpatrick to watch a taping of Dancing With The Stars.Roundtrip airfare, hotel, car service, and dinner with Mr. Kirkpatrick are all included.

Proceeds will go to the Chris Kirkpatrick Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides underprivileged children with access toproper healthcare and education through scholarships.

If you are interested in helping children by takinga trip to Los Angeles with an ‘NSYNC star, don’t hesitate – there are only two days left to place bids! Click here to place yours today.

FIJI Green Guy attends interfaith meeting

FIJI Water — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:40:45 +0000

In September I went home to visit my mom for the first time in six months. I was a bit surprised when she told me that I absolutely must join her at an interfaith meeting being held at a church across town. With only a day and a half at home, I hadn’t expected to spend Saturday morning with a new church group.

As usual, mom knew best. The meeting was hosted by a church (I won’t mention the name in the merits of privacy but they should feel free to chime in!) whose members had spearheaded the effort to calculate their collective carbon footprint. They started with electricity usage and converted these kWh into greenhouse gas equivalents (which you can try here). Next, they looked at emissions from their parishioners’ travel to services. To do this, the green group asked church members to volunteer their home addresses; these were used to create a map of the area with thumb-tacks showing where people commuted from. For those who chose not to provide a home address, the average distance of the sample group was used. By taking the total distance traveled by all members and dividing by the average car’s fuel efficiency the faith group calculated the amount of gasoline used. Their final step was to translate this amount of gasoline into carbon dioxide (which you can do here).

Needless to say, I was impressed. They had gone beyond examining the church’s stand alone emissions to include the environmental impact of the parishioner’s travel to church as well.

As it turns out, my mom had brought me there to offer advice on carbon footprinting. Trying to do my part, I suggested they take an entire life cycle look at their operations. That is, in installing new patio doors, what type of wood was used? Was it certified sustainable? Where was it shipped from? How will this affect the insulation of the building? Throughout the morning, other members with a wide range of expertise educated us on topics including wave energy, waste vegetable oil as a diesel substitute, Equal Exchange Coffee, compostable packaged goods and the carbon footprint of meat.

It was refreshing to see a small but very diverse group coming together to address local environmental stewardship. Political debates about the effectiveness of a carbon cap-and-trade program versus a tax and other issues related to climate change could take years to settle. In the meantime, we need to act and this is something that people across many faiths recognize. As Gandhi said, ‘When the people lead the leaders will follow.’ The Interfaith group is planning a second meeting this Winter I may have to take another trip home.

"Six Products, Six Carbon Footprints"

FIJI Water — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:05:43 +0000

On October 6, the Wall Street Journal published a fascinating article titled “Six Products, Six Carbon Footprints.” Among other things, it reported lifecycle carbon footprints for these consumer products: milk, beer, detergent, a fleece jacket, hiking boots, and a Prius.

The footprint analyses found that transportation often represents only a small percentage of a product’s carbon footprint. Factors like raw materials production (e.g., raising cows for milk, making packaging) and usage (e.g., refrigeration for perishable products, driving a car) play a much larger role.

This is consistent with the studies I wrote about earlier this year in “Debunking the Food Miles Myth,” which showed that the ways in which a product is made, grown, packaged, etc. have an impact on its carbon footprint that often outweighs mere transportation distances.

It’s encouraging to see other companies taking action to measure and report their products’ lifecycle carbon emissions. In brief, here are the footprints. (For your reference, the carbon footprint of a 1L bottle of FIJI Water is 1.3 pounds CO2eq, or 573 grams.)

Half-gallon of milk from Aurora Organic Dairy: 7.2 pounds CO2eq
Six-pack of beer from Fat Tire Amber Ale: 7 pounds CO2eq
Laundry detergent from Tesco: 31 pounds CO2eq
Fleece jacket from Patagonia: 66 pounds CO2eq
Pair of hiking boots from Timberland: 121 pounds CO2eq
Toyota Prius: 97,000 pounds CO2eq

And…

Transparency about a product’s full carbon impact: Priceless

Sorry, I had to do that. I’m a sucker for those MasterCard commercials. But seriously, we at FIJI Water think it’s fantastic that all of these companies are not only measuring their products’ footprints, but also sharing them with the public.

FIJI Water Wins Oracle Green Award

FIJI Water — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:16:43 +0000

On September 22, Oracle Corporation awarded FIJI Water an “Empower the Green Enterprise” award. This award recognizes customers who are using Oracle products to support green business practices and sustainability initiatives.

The winners were selected by a panel of seven judges, including three sustainability experts: Cody Sisco, manager of Advisory Services at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR); Daniel Esty, green thought leader and co-author of Green to Gold; and Mike Sweeney, executive director of The Nature Conservancy’s California chapter.

FIJI’s IT team hasbeen hard at work finding ways tomake our software and hardware systems greener.In May 2008, the team reconfigured our enterprise software systems – using a tool called Oracle VM – so that we could put them all on one physical machine. This achievement reduced the need for extra hardware and cabling, physical space, and electricity, and we now use 8 CPU boxes where we once used 32. This work, along with replacement of old servers with energy-efficient ones, resulted in data center energy savings of 20% for production servers and 59% for test servers. There are also financial benefits; the energy bill for our hosted servers has dropped by about two-thirds.

In addition, the IT team has used Oracle’s auto-notification features toeliminate paper usage for invoices and purchase orders in our Fiji offices. This will help us avoid printing about 12,000 pages per year. While the direct impact of this change is relatively small equivalent to saving one tree we believe every bit makes a difference.

“Global businesses recognize that environmental responsibility is good business,” said Oracle Chairman, Jeff Henley. “Whether green projects are driven by an organization’s desire to protect the environment, reduce costs, produce eco-friendly goods to meet growing consumer demand, or comply with increasing levels of government regulation, the results can be both good for the environment and good for business. Oracle’s ‘Empower the Green Enterprise’ awards showcase the success of environmental IT initiatives and the tangible business benefits our customers across the world are realizing by pursuing green practices.”

Other award recipients included: Alcoa, Australian Vintage Limited, BT, Dell, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Ingersoll-Rand, Intercall, Interface, Motorola, National Ignition Facility & Photon Service, Novartis International AG, PG&E, Standard Parking, Sun and Supervalu.

Recycling is still in vogue

FIJI Water — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:48:38 +0000

Learning to recycle was the first environmentally-conscious lesson for many of us. It also found its way into bake sales and car washes as a means to raise some money for a school field trip. While I can’t remember the last time I took part in a bake sale, recycling is something we all (hopefully) do on a daily basis. It’s very easy to do, but because it’s so simple, it’s also easy to forget!

‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ has emerged as a mantra of modern conservation, and we at FIJI Water wholeheartedly support this. Recycling allows a container to live a second life as another good, minimizes landfill use, and lowers the carbon footprint of our product by at least 25%! These are some of the reasons why we insist on having recycling bins at our many events across the country. By promoting recycling, we hope to remind everyone that like blue jeans, recycling is still very much in vogue.

Beyond raising awareness, our support for recycling is about results. In the first half of 2008 we supplied 331,000 bottles of the world’s best water to a variety of events and venues. If every one of those bottles goes into a recycling bin, that represents a reduction of 33 metric tonnes of CO2. To achieve the same reduction, you’d have to pledge to walk to work for the next year and to convince eight of your friends to do the same!

Because our product is carbon negative, each bottle results in a net reduction of carbon from the atmosphere. Add this into the equation, and by drinking & recycling 331,000 bottles of FIJI Water, we avoid or remove 53 metric tonnes of CO2. This has the same impact as planting over 1,200 trees!

Below are some photos of our stylish recycling bins at various events. I think you’ll agree they not only raise awareness and reduce emissions, but add a touch of class. Stay hip and recycle!

Hard Rock Hotel’s Save the Planet Golf Tournament in Las Vegas

De La Mar Hotel’s Yacht Showcase held in Greenwich, CT

Aspen Food & Wine Classic

FIJI Water presents international keynote at Australia's 2nd Annual Climate Change Summit

FIJI Water — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:23:03 +0000

Barbara Chung, FIJI Water’s Senior Manager of Sustainable Growth, delivered an international keynote address on July 24 at the 2nd Annual Climate Change Summit in Sydney. You can view the presentation and listen to the speech online.

What made Australia an appropriate venue for sharing the story of FIJI Water’s path to sustainable growth?

FIJI Water and Australia are in the same boat-often literally when it comes to their products.
The effects of climate change are already apparent in both Fiji and Australia, with rising sea levels in Fiji, and heat waves, less rain, and increased drought in Australia.
The food & beverage category represents a vital export contributor and economic growth opportunity for both countries. FIJI Water comprised almost 20% of Fiji’s exports in 2007, while food exports comprised almost 20% of Australian merchandise exports in 2005, with beef, dairy, fish, grain, and wine as the leading contributors.
Because of their distance from their major export markets, both FIJI Water and Australia are sometimes challenged by ‘food miles’ misconceptions.

As Barbara explained in her introduction, “What I want to do today is share what we’ve been doing at FIJI Water, of course, but more importantly share with you the lessons we’ve learned on our path to sustainability in the hope that it would be helpful to you as well.” At FIJI Water, we think of sustainability as a journey, not a destination, since there is always room for improvement in how a company does business and how we as individuals live our lives.And it’s much easier (and more fun!) to travel this road when we can all help each other do so.

FIJI Green Guy joins team!

FIJI Water — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:53:40 +0000

I’m proud to be a new member of FIJI Water’s sustainability team, and I’m looking forward to engaging with all of you about our initiatives and ideas. What you want to call it sustainability, corporate social responsibility, or just doing things the right way is a journey more than a final destination. Because of this, I’mopen to recommendations, ideas, and criticisms. You can voice your feedback to help us continue to be the best. We’re proud of our product, and wewant toensure that every bottle makes a difference.

Looking forward to enjoying the journey,

FIJI Green Guy

FIJI Water welcomes new FIJI Green blogger

FIJI Water — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:28:11 +0000

Hi everyone, I have some exciting news to share with you today! A new blogger is joining the FIJI Green team. I’ll still be around, of course, but he’ll start chipping in with our online discussions going forward. As he’s a guy, we call him “FIJI Green Guy” – keeping things simple!In the next posting he’ll introduce himself to all of you. Welcome to the team, FIJI Green Guy!

FIJI Water "Rocks the Vote" at the Democratic National Convention

FIJI Water — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:04:59 +0000

On Tuesday, August 26, MTV hosted its Rock the Vote party at the 5 Degrees nightclub in Denver during the Democratic National Convention. The party’s theme was “Rising Stars: An Evening to Celebrate the Next Generation of the Democratic Party.”

FIJI Water was one of the sponsors, and we had a water bar that not only looked gorgeous, but also shared some great facts about reforestation, recycling, and how we can all make a difference for the better. For example, just by stopping by the recycling bin on the way out, party guests could reduce the carbon footprint of a 500ml FIJI Water bottle by over a third! This has the same impact as shutting down your laptop overnight instead of leaving it on, or going for a walk instead of watching 30 minutes of television.

That might not sound like a lot. But consider this: The DNC provided over 26,000 bottles of FIJI Water to volunteers, delegates, speakers, and VIPs. The cumulative carbon negative impact of those bottles was a removal of over 1.5 tonnes of CO2eq from the atmosphere, equivalent to planting over 40 trees. And by recycling all those bottles, people could achieve an additional reduction of over 2.5 tonnes, equivalent to planting another 70 trees.

At Rock the Vote, we also gave out small gift bags with pine seeds and a peat pot that guests could plant, along with a card encouraging people to voice their support for expanded curbside and consumer incentive recycling programs to their legislators.

It was a great party. Check out these photos of the water bar, VIP reception area, and gift bags.

A mile long line culminates in a historic moment at the DNC

FIJI Water — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:53:11 +0000

Here’s a wrap from last Thursday at the Democratic National Convention, an event-filled day culminating in Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech. Yes, this posting is sadly delayed — there was so much to say I just wasn’t sure where to start.

So let’s start with the journey to Mile High Stadium. And a journey it was, despite the fact I was staying in downtown Denver! An abbreviated timeline:

1:30 pm: Left the hotel
1:42 pm: Got on the Light Rail toward Mile High Stadium
2:07 pm: Got into line far, far, far away from the stadium-as one guy quipped, “a mile long line to get into a mile high stadium”
3:58 pm: Went through the security check
4:33 pm: Sat down inside Mile High Stadium, near the 50 yard line facing the stage, on the first level
4:33 pm onward: Watched history in the making

On the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in Washington, DC, Sen. Obama, the first ever African-American nominated for president by a major political party, stood up and accepted the nomination ‘with profound gratitude and great humility.’

Speaking of gratitude and humility, I was so grateful and humbled not only to be present for this historic moment, but also to sit in the stands alongside many whose sacrifices had made this day possible, and toremember and honor many others like them who could not be there.

Funnily enough, one of the most succinct summaries of this moment’s historical significance came from Gov. Mike Huckabee, on Wednesday at the Republican National Convention: ‘So, I say with sincerity that I have great respect for Senator Obama’s historic achievement to become his party’s nominee — not because of his color, but with indifference to it. Party or politics aside, we celebrate this milestone because it elevates our country.’

And there was indeed a great deal to celebrate that night, not just for Democrats or Americans, but for anyone who cares about making the world a better place. It was worth waiting for — and I’m not just talking about the line to the stadium.

A Mile-Long Line Culminates in a Historic Moment at the DNC

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:53:11 +0000

So let”s start with the journey to Mile High Stadium. And a journey it was, despite the fact I was staying in downtown Denver! An abbreviated timeline:

1:30 pm: Left the hotel
1:42 pm: Got on the Light Rail toward Mile High Stadium
2:07 pm: Got into line far, far, far away from the stadium — as one guy quipped, “a mile-long line to get into a mile-high stadium”
3:58 pm: Went through the security check
4:33 pm: Sat down inside Mile High Stadium, near the 50 yard line facing the stage, on the first level
4:33 pm onward: Watched history in the making

On the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, DC, Sen. Obama, the first ever African-American nominated for president by a major political party, stood up and accepted the nomination “with profound gratitude and great humility.”

Speaking of gratitude and humility, I was so grateful and humbled not only to be present for this historic moment, but also to sit in the stands alongside many whose sacrifices had made this day possible, and to remember and honor many others like them who could not be there.

Funnily enough, one of the most succinct summaries of this moment’s historical significance came from Gov. Mike Huckabee, on Wednesday at the Republican National Convention: “So, I say with sincerity that I have great respect for Senator Obama’s historic achievement to become his party’s nominee — not because of his color, but with indifference to it. Party or politics aside, we celebrate this milestone because it elevates our country.”

FIJI Green Gal gets confused at DNC delegate roll call, FIJI Water hydrates DNC volunteers, and more

FIJI Water — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:42:35 +0000

The single most interesting experience I had on Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention was the delegate roll call. Each state is called in alphabetical order to cast their delegates’ votes for the nominated candidates. This continues until there are enough votes cast for one candidate to win the nomination, or until someone moves to suspend the vote and nominate a candidate by acclamation.

Sounds simple enough, no? Well, as a political novice, I found there were many twists and turns that were quite confusing for an outsider, but resulted in some interesting moments and an altogether memorable experience.

The roll call began simply enough, with Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa…

During the roll call,each delegationshares a few (or many) words about what makes its state or territory special. It is the cutest thing, if only because I’m a sucker for neat trivia and historical facts. A few examples of the kinds of facts each delegation shares:

Guam is the first part of America on which the sun rises every morning. (Forgive my ignorance, I’d always heard it was Maine but now know better.)
Idaho was the birthplace of Sacajawea, the Native American woman who helped guide the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition in the American West.
Minnesota is home to the collegiate national champion Minnesota-Duluth women’s hockey team. (Really!)

As one delegation after another announced its votes, I settled in to enjoy the proceedings. When they got to California, though, I was in for a surprise – California and its 441 delegates “passed,” meaning they elected not to cast their votes. Huh?!?

I was wondering if all the Democratic primary voters in California had cast their votes in vain. It was completely bewildering. But when Illinois, Senator Obama’s home state, also passed, I figured something was up.

The voting continued until the roll call reached New Mexico. New Mexico, instead of voting or passing, announced that it would “yield” to Illinois, making it Illinois’s turn to vote again. As the Illinois delegation spoke about its state and senator,Senator Clinton entered the convention hall! At that point, we all realized what was going on. Illinois would yield to New York, and Senator Clinton herself would make the motion to suspend the vote and nominate Senator Obama by acclamation.

The convention had planned for California and Illinoisto pass, so that the total delegate count would remain below the number needed and the roll call would not end before it reached New Mexico and New York. The delegate roll call was pure theater – not a “real” vote – but very entertaining for someone like me who had no idea what was going on!

And ultimately, it was amazing to be present at the first ever nomination of an African-American for U.S. president by a major political party. As I’ve mentioned before, I think most will agree regardless of their political leanings that this is an extraordinary moment in history. And it was wonderful to be a part of it in person.

Other updates from Wednesday…

Still haven’t found the Obama earrings. I’ve learned my lesson: Shop first and ask questions later!
Celebrity sightings: Saw Ben Affleck not once but twice at my hotel. I didn’t know he was growing a beard! Also saw Steven Spielberg posing for a photo with a couple of fans.
Visited the tent where the DNC is providing FIJI Water for its volunteers to keep them hydrated in the hot Denver weather. (And, in case it matters to you, FIJI Water will also be at the Republican Governors’ Assocation events at the convention in St. Paul next week, along with some Young Republican events. Everyone needs to stay hydrated.)

Sir Charles scolds FIJI Green Gal, and other DNC highlights from Tuesday

FIJI Water — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:35:13 +0000

I had a great time at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday! Here are some highlights:

Charles Barkley scolding me for being outside at the CNN Grill in a light drizzle (it was about 10 drops of rain total!) instead of going indoors. He is a big, big man. Funny, too. I stayed outside anyway, it was beautiful and the Denver sky is really lovely. Still, it was so much fun to see (and hear!) “Sir Charles” in person!
Seeing the really big crowds start to arrive. If you saw the security check line that CNN was broadcasting, you know what I’m talking about. And yes, I was standing in that loooong line at one point. Am I a dork for looking at the footage early this morning to see if I was on TV? And squinting at the tiny faces in the crowd to see if I could find myself or anyone I met in line?(The answer is yes.)
Attending the MTV Rock the Vote party at the 5 Degrees nightclub in Denver. FIJI Water was one of the sponsors, and we had a water bar that not only looked gorgeous, but also shared some great facts about forest conservation, recycling, and how we can all make a difference for the better. I’ll share pictures and more details in a future posting.
Some guy on the street trying to sell me a pair of Obama earrings. They were dangling earrings with his face as the “charm.” I realized later (after I’d declined) that those earrings would be an awesome or at least hilarious memento to show the grandkids someday! Gotta look for that guy today. I’ll posta picture if I do find them.
Just taking it all in. The crowds, the energy, the enthusiasm, the drama…this is seriously fun.

Remembering those who came before…and following in their footsteps

FIJI Water — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:30:37 +0000

I appreciated Michelle Obama’s reminder in her speech last night that this week is the 88th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the U.S. (August 26, 1920) and the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington(August 28, 1963).

It made me thinkabout all of the history that led to this moment, and the faith of many who came before us who believed in a better world against all odds, and their tremendous sacrifices to make possible a daymany of themwould never see.

Whether it was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who helped launch the U.S. women’s suffrage movement that would make it possible for future generations of women to vote and hold political office, or Dr. King, who met hatred with love as a civil rights leader and paved the way for an African-American to run for president, or many others like them both known and unknown…they allrenew my faith that every one of us can make a lasting difference for the better, each in our own way.

I was reminded of Dr. King’s 1968 sermon on “The Drum Major Instinct,” especially one excerpt that is frequently quoted, and with good reason:

If you want to be important – wonderful. If you want to be recognized – wonderful. If you want to be great – wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

That’s a new definition of greatness. And this morning, the thing I like about it: By giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato or Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.

FIJI Green Gal is going to the Democratic National Convention!

FIJI Water — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:09 +0000

I’m thrilled to report that I’ll be blogging from the Democratic National Convention this week! The DNC gave the FIJI Water team some credentials (thank you, DNC!), so I’m on my way to Denver with some colleagues.

This is my first time ever attending a convention for any political party, so I’m very excited to see this part of the American political process up close. And regardless of what your political leanings are I’m sure most will agree that it’ll be amazing to attend the first convention ever to nominate an African-American as a presidential candidate. I feel very lucky to be a part of this historic moment.

Okay, I have to pack my bags and head to Denver. Stay tuned for updates! And feel free to mention anything particular at the DNC that you’d like to hear more about: ‘What was it like to hear Senator Obama’s acceptance speech in person?’ ‘Where do the delegates get those silly hats?’ ‘Who throws the best party?’ I’ll do my best to address your questions in a future posting.

FIJI Water brings running water to Malolo Lailai Island

FIJI Water — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:52:28 +0000

In my last posting, I shared with you an overview of the work FIJI Water is doing to bring clean safe drinking water to our neighbors in Fiji. Today I’d like toshare a little bit more about one of the many projects we’ve completed.

Malolo Lailai Island is a 620-acre island that is part of the Mamanuca Islands, in the Western Division of Fiji. Along with having a pretty name, it is home to two villages – Yaro and Solevu – and five settlements (Cubi, Kawalevu, Vuya, Nawaikama and Yako) with a totalpopulation of about 1,300.

The Malolo Lailai Island residents have not had access to running water in the past, so they would use rainwater catchments and wells to get water. Since the island receives rainfall for only three months of the year, island residents would spend the other nine months trying to get water from the mainland or sporadic rainfall. The well water was used for washing only, since it was not fit to drink.

This all changed in December 2007, when the Rotary Pacific Water for Life Trust, which FIJI Water has funded, brought clean running water to every house in the villages. We were delighted to help make this happen. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – we believe that Fiji is home to the best water on the planet, and the people of Fiji should be able to enjoy it as much as the rest of the world does.

FIJI Water is bringing clean water to over 100 Fijian communities in 2008

FIJI Water — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:16:15 +0000

We at FIJI Water are proud of our Fiji heritage and dedicated to contributing to Fiji’s social and economic development. Because of this, we have funded local and national development work in Fiji, including water access projects. The fact that our business exists is the reason why a hundred Fijian villages will have clean water this year.

We believe that Fiji is home to the best water on the planet, and the people of Fiji should be able to enjoy it as much as the rest of the world does. Reliable access to clean, safe drinking water is common throughout much of Fiji, but there are still remote villages where infrastructure is lacking.

FIJI Water has taken direct responsibility for providing water access to the villages that surround our source in the Yaqara Valley. We are doing this work through the Natural Waters of Viti Limited Trust, which we established in 2000 and fund with a percentage of company revenue. All funds from the trust go directly to projects in Vatukaloko, our local vanua, which is comprised of the six villages surrounding our plant and is home to more than 75% of our 400 person workforce.

Over the last eight years, the trust has invested hundreds of thousands of Fijian dollars upgrading water systems in local villages, and this year we have used our own onsite talent and resources to drop three new bores in the villages to provide better quality and more consistent water supply. We have completed projects that serve the towns of Drauniivi and Togovere, and by the end of 2008 we will complete similar projects in Naseyani, Nananu and Rabulu.

In addition, the FIJI Water Foundation – founded in 2007 with the intent of bringing similar benefits to communities throughout all of Fiji – is a partner in the Rotary Pacific Water for Life Trust, which is building sustainable water projects in Fijian communities that have been determined by an external SoPAC survey to have the highest level need. In addition to its Rotary partnership, the FIJI Water Foundation has provided water tanks, bores, piping, and expertise directly to numerous other schools and communities that have applied for aid, including Navesau Adventist School in Ra, Vunisoco Village in Namosi, and Malomalo Primary in Nadroga.

Through our partnership with the Rotary Club, we will be responsible for bringing water access to a hundred communities this year alone with the goal of another hundred communities in 2009. Over 50 of the projects we have planned for 2008 are already complete, and we’re looking forward to sharing more about individual projects in upcoming blogs.

Protecting Fiji's forests is good news for the planet

FIJI Water — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:35:12 +0000

We’re delighted to have as guest bloggers today our friends at Conservation International. Read on to learn more about our partnership to protect the Sovi Basin and how you too can help Conservation International protect rainforests around the world.

The more than 300 islands that comprise the nation of Fiji are a true biological wonder. Dramatic volcanic mountains that gave birth to these islands tower above lush verdant forests. Many of Fiji’s plants and animals are unique to the islands and have evolved very little since their ancestors inhabited the forests.

The crown jewel of Fiji’s spectacular biodiversity is the Sovi Basin, located on the island of Viti Levu. The basin is surrounded by volcanic peaks which form a bowl shape between them. The end result is one of the world’s most impressive geological structures.

At Conservation International, our goal is to protect the world’s natural biological diversity and demonstrate that human society can live harmoniously with nature. That is our mission and it guides us in everything we do.

Our partnership with FIJI Water reflects that spirit. Ours is a strategic and focused partnership whose primary goals include the protection of Fiji’s Sovi Basin, a crucial source of freshwater for the nation of Fiji and for the planet.

To that end, Conservation International’s Global Conservation Fund will contribute to a trust fund set up by The FIJI Water Foundation to protect the Sovi Basin. The fund was launched with initial funding from FIJI Water owners Lynda and Stewart Resnick and the combined donations of more than 700 FIJI Water employees. The fund will go to support the annual management costs of protecting the Sovi Basin.

One of the most unique aspects of this funding is the compensation of local communities to protect the land around the basin. The goal of that is to provide a different source of income to communities who traditionally become susceptible to logging interests and the one-time payoff that comes with cutting down a forest. The trust will also support a facility to distribute small-scale grants for community development in and around the Sovi Basin providing new opportunities to those communities to prosper and thrive. The National Trust of Fiji is responsible for management of the Sovi Basin, and will receive and administer revenues from the fund.

But this is not just good news for Fiji. This is good news for the planet because this ambitious and forward-thinking partnership to protect the rainforests of Fiji will result in about ten million tons of carbon dioxide stored in these forests will remain out of our atmosphere. Since deforestation accounts for 20-25 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere double that of all the world’s cars, trucks, and planes combined protecting Fiji’s rainforests protects us all.

So join us and help protect an acre of rainforest by visiting www.conservation.org and click the ‘Protect an Acre of Forest’ button. For as little at $15 you can help Conservation International protect an entire acre of tropical rainforest. Because what is lost there, is felt here. We’ve enlisted longtime Conservation International board member Harrison Ford to help with the cause. Click here to view the startling public service announcement that’s generating a lot of buzz.

FIJI Water's Los Angeles office completes LEED-targeted renovation

FIJI Water — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:10:11 +0000

FIJI Water has renovated its Los Angeles office with the goal of achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified status through the U.S. Green Building Council, which takes into account water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection and indoor environmental quality.

We recently moved into this beautiful new office space, the design of which considered our employees, our company and the environment in every detail. LEED focuses not only on environmental benefits, but also employee health and well-being, resulting in a workplace design that’s good for people and good for the environment.

One of the office’s most striking features is the abundance of soft and natural light. The workspace walls are slightly lower than those oftypical cubicles and include window panels along the top for maximum exposure to the building’s natural light while still providing privacy. In addition, our management team elected to have only four offices in this space, all along one wall, and those offices have large interior glass walls that allow an abundance of natural light to come into the general work area. The natural light is complemented by “barrel lighting” which provides direct and indirect (reflected) light that is much softer and easier on the eyes than traditional direct lighting.

Each workspace is designed efficiently and comfortably. My personal favorite is the multi-purpose mobile filing cabinet that doubles as cushioned seating for visitors. It’s almost as comfortable as the Knoll Chadwick ergonomic chair that every employee has! (In fact, all of the office furniture was manufactured by Knoll, which specializes in sustainably-made furniture that promotes employee comfort and well-being, and has a LEED-certified plant itself.) Other workspace features include:

Tower cabinet with shelves to store binders, books, etc.
Narrow cubby for hanging coats or sweaters and for storing personal itemslike yoga mats and purses
Flat screen monitors that take up less desk space
Floating shelves for in/out boxes, pencil holders, etc., keeping desktops free of clutter

The new workspace was manufactured using clean technologies like VOC-free adhesives, low-VOC paints, and recycled steel, aluminum and fabrics. It also includes bamboo floors and cabinetry. Bamboo is a “rapidly renewable building material and product (made from plants that are typically harvested within a ten-year or shorter cycle),” to quote the LEED application form. In other words, bamboo grows and regrows super fast (I have some in my garden, it grows like a weed), so it’s more sustainable than traditional wood materials.

Other less readily visible but equally important features of the new office include the following:

The lighting power density is 25% more efficient than required by the Title 24 standard. (Title 24 is California’s energy efficiency standard for residential and non-residential buildings.)
90% of the kitchen appliances are Energy Starcertified. The only exceptions are small appliances like toasters that don’t normally receive an Energy Star certification.
The bathrooms now have dual flush toilets, resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage. (Incidentally, these are very common in Fiji and other countries, but still unusual in the U.S.)

We were awarded maximum LEED credits for our successful effort to recycle everything possible when disposing of the previous office materials. In total we recycled over 75% of the construction waste.

We hope to have more good news about our efforts toward LEED certification status once the project is complete and all credits are tallied. Stay tuned for updates!

FIJI Green Gal stops eating dinner and loses carbon weight

FIJI Water — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:12:46 +0000

Hi everyone! I know I haven’t posted in ages…my apologies! I’ve been unusually busy and short on time the past few weeks.

It all started when my microwave stopped working three weeks ago. I suppose it was due…it was quite old. However, it was part of a microwave-oven combined unit, and the oven still works great. So I didn’t want to replace the microwave, because that would also mean replacing a perfectly good oven. And the prospect of sending a good oven to landfill – or even recycling – was just too much for my devoted green heart to bear.

Because I’m usually busy, I try to save time on cooking dinner during the week by making a big meal one night and then microwaving leftovers for another night or two. I like todress up the leftovers with freshly sauteed vegetables, grated cheese,or something else quick and easy. Without a microwave, I figuredI shouldcook smaller meals each night, just enough to eat for that night, then start from scratch the next day. (I’ve tried reheating leftovers on the stove before, but the food kept getting overcooked.)

Itwas certainly nice to eat a freshly prepared dinner everynight…but after a week I just couldn’t handle the time sink any more. So I decided to just eat a good breakfast and lunch each day, and not eat dinner any more unless I was out with family and friends. Hey, that could help me lose weight too, and who doesn’t want to lose a few pounds? And I could use the extra time to catch up on everything I’d fallen behind on (like this blog!)during the Week of Freshly Prepared Dinners.

Filled with hope and good intentions, I launched my new dinner-less resolution. But I don’t like the feeling of overeating at any meal, so I’d eat a normal, moderate breakfast and lunch, and then when “dinnertime” rolled around, I’d be pretty hungry. As it got later in the evening, I’d be sooooo hungry. Oh, it was painful. You know you’ve hit rock bottom when even a piece of chocolate isn’t satisfying.

So I started going to bed earlier and earlier to avoid feeling hungry…in bed by 8:30 pm or 9 pm, and up by 5 am. You’d think I’d at least be able to catch up on my life in those spare morning hours, right? Nope. Whether it’s running errands, or working, or whatever, most businesses and services aren’t open that early. So I’d spend a lovely few hours working in my garden…and falling further behind on everything I needed to get done. Or – like last night – I’d hang out late with friends, then forget to reset my alarm and still wake up at 5 am, and stumble sleepily through the rest of the day. (And the blog continued to languish.)

I was explaining this to a co-worker (who noted my sleepy expression), and he pointed out that I’d reduced my carbon footprint over the past couple of weeks by not cooking, eating, or getting a new microwave. I’d saved energy by not cooking, avoided emissions from food production by not eating, and saved money and energy by not buying a microwave. That put a smile on my sleepy face.

To make a rough estimate of the emissions I’ve avoided:A week’s worth of dinner for me- back when I had a microwave – might have looked like this with a glass of wine every night:

Monday: Grill 8 oz organic steak, eat half of it with a baked potato and steamed broccoli. (I usually offset the healthiness of the broccoli by putting generous amounts of sour cream or butter on the potato.)
Tuesday: Go vegetarian and make daal, a curried lentil soup. (Takes me back to Fiji where this is a staple dish.)
Wednesday: Slice leftover steak thinly, pile onto toasted ciabatta bread, add grated Havarti cheese, and reheat, then top with freshly sauteed button mushrooms and Vidalia onions. (Heaven. You gotta try this.)
Thursday: Microwave leftover daal. (It’s almost the end of the week, I’m keeping it simple.)
Friday: Eat a serving of sushi. (Happiness.)

Okay, I had too much fun writing that menu. I love to eat. But I’m sleepy so I’m going to keepthe calculations simple. Let’ssay I eat the steak and fish and drink the wine, but pretend the non-meat stuff has no carbon footprint. (Vegetarian options often do have a lower carbon footprint.)

An 8 oz conventional steak results in about 8,300 g CO2eq across its lifecycle, and an 8 oz organic steak causes about 4,980 g CO2eq. Sushi-grade tuna, during the summer months, results in about 1,120 g CO2eq per 3 oz serving. And a bottle of wine causes about 2,650 g CO2eq and holds about 5 glasses.

So 4,980 (steak) + 1,120 (tuna) + 2,650 (wine) = 8,750 g CO2eq per week from the food and wine’s footprints alone. And 3 minutes in the microwave means about 30 g CO2eq, so if I’m reheating stuff twice a week, that adds another 60 g CO2eq. So I’m avoiding at least 8,810 g CO2eq per week in my dinner-less state…and definitely more, since I’m not counting emissions from cooking orturning on my kitchen lights, or thelifecycle carbon footprints ofthe potato, sour cream, broccoli, lentils, ciabatta, cheese, mushrooms, onions, rice, nori (seaweed), herbs and spices.

At this rate, in a year I’d avoidabout 0.5tonne CO2eq (8,810 g CO2eq/week * 52 weeks * 1 tonne / 1,000,000 g). According to Conservation International’s carbon footprint calculator, my annual carbon footprint is 8.2 tonnes. So if I can keep skipping dinner for a year, I’ll cut my carbon footprint by at least 5%! Not as big a reduction as I’d like, but every little bit counts.

So what do you think? Should I replace the microwave-oven unit? Buy a new standalone microwave…and a new microwave cart to put it on? Sponge free meals off my neighbors? Go out to eat every night and support local businesses? Just keep on skipping dinner and going to sleep at 8:30 pm? Do you have tips on how to reheat food on the stove successfully? Discuss!

Los Angeles AFB is home to world's first solar-powered commissary

FIJI Water — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:13:48 +0000

On May 28, the Los Angeles Air Force Base (AFB) and the Defense Commissary Agency held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the commissary’s new rooftop photovoltaic power system. FIJI Water was proud to be one of the sponsors for the ceremony, which recognized the Los Angeles AFB Commissary as the first military commissary in the world to become solar powered.

The solar power system produces enough electricity daily to power over ten households. The Los Angeles AFB Commissary has also demonstrated good environmental stewardship with initiatives that include recycling plastic and cardboard and installing energy-efficient lighting.

Don’t you love it when people serve their country, provide great benefits for their service members, and take care of the environment too? You can read more about the solar power system dedication on the Los Angeles AFB web site.

Designer FIJI Water Dress Sparkles at San Francisco Fashion Show

FIJI Water — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:54:37 +0000

On April 26th, St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco held the”Discarded to Divine“gala, an eco-friendly fashion show and charity fundraiser. Kim, our Northern California events coordinator, recruited designers Elaine O’Malley and Lisa Anne Fullerton to create a dress made from 100% recycled and reused materials, including FIJI Water packaging, for a model to wear throughout the evening.

Here, Elaine and Lisa explain the amazing creative process that led to the design of the dress:

Creating the FIJI Water dress was a great creative experiment for both of us. When we were approached by FIJI Water, we were extremely excited to take on such a remarkable challenge, and especially inspired by FIJI Water’s commitment to the environment, and our own part in bringing this fantastic idea to life!

We began coming up with different design concepts early on, creating sketches and idea boards, based on the current trends in fashion, and our own imagination of how we could transform plastic water bottles into a wearable garment. Everything changed when we received our first shipment of raw materials from Fiji, and one concept sketch stood out as the most viable way to use our newly discovered creative tools.

We began opening boxes and simply experimenting. There were rolls of labeling stickers, bottle caps, plastic shrink wrap, even bags of plastic resins that they melt down to create the actual FIJI bottle! We had also been drinking FIJI Water quite liberally at the time, and had acquired quite a collection of empty bottles to play with. Ideas flowed as we toyed with pleating the rolls of labeling, and cutting circular sequin shapes out of our leftover plastic bottles, and the FIJI Water dress was born.

In addition to the raw materials provided by FIJI Water, we also used two innovative textiles to help create the base of our garment. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a textile made from 100% plastic PET bottles, which has the potential to keep almost three billion plastic PET bottles out of the world’s landfills each year and provide a great alternative to contribute to a healthier environment. We also used a new innovation of polyester, which has been recycled from old polyester clothing that is broken down and then re-woven into new fabric. Between these two amazing recycled textile resources and the raw materials from Fiji, we were able to recycle and reuse in new and unusual ways to create a fantastic and fun garment.

We created the garment in less than two weeks, with very few solid hours of work time, as we are both working designers. However, our collective inspiration and fabulous teamwork was enough to get us through the bumpy road of sewing through plastic and renegade pattern-drafting techniques, and our end result was a flirty, fun, one-of-a-kind, ‘enviro-tastic’ FIJI Water dress!!!

Why does rainforest conservation matter?

FIJI Water — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:15:12 +0000

When I was a kid, I watched documentaries on PBS that talked about the importance of protecting rainforests. (Yeah, I was a nerdy kid who liked educational TV!) That instinctively made sense to me – I’d seethose beautiful landscapes and interesting animals, and of course I wanted them to be safe always.

But the part I thought was really cool was how the local people lived in the rainforest – mainly because it looked like fun to move around your neighborhood on rafts instead of on land. Now I realize that’s not actually the case in every rainforest or in all seasons…but when you’ve only got a few years under your belt you miss some of the finer details.

Well, I’m a bit older now, but I’ve learned my initial instincts were sound…and also learned more about why rainforest conservation is so important. Here are the facts:

Deforestation is the second largest source of global greenhouse gas emissions today, following only the power generation sector; it accounts for almost 20% of those emissions, or twice the emissions from all the world’s cars, trucks, and airplanes combined
Tropical deforestation in developing countries is responsible for nearly all (96%) of the emissions from deforestation
Forests protect water and soil quality and provide livelihoods for over 1.6 billion people around the world; many of them are the world’s poorest people in Africa, South America and Asia
But less than 5% of tropical forests are managed sustainably, putting these livelihoods at risk
Tropical forests play a critical role in protecting unique animals and plants you can’t find anywhere else in the world

Yet incentives to prevent deforestation were somehow not included in the Kyoto Protocol. You might wonder why the protocol didn’t address this if it’s so important.

To paint it in simple strokes: Developing nations wanted compensation for not cutting down their rainforests. After all, they argue,if they’re giving up income from forestry and logging, they should be able to make up the lost funds in another way. But industrialized nations didn’t want to pay developing nations for “doing nothing.” So they reached an impasse.

It’s our hope that future international agreements will incorporate effective action to reduce deforestation. In the meantime, we’ve been seeking to do our part by partnering with Conservation International to protect the Sovi Basin. Now, we obviously don’t treat the Sovi Basin project as an “offset,” because it’s already there – we didn’t plant it. But we knew the benefits the Sovi Basin would provide to Fiji and the rest of the world – shelter for unique species, watershed protection, erosion control, and carbon sequestration – werebenefits we wanted to ensure forever.

And hopefully I’ll get to ride on a raft in the rainforestfor real one of these days…whee!

To learn more about conservation and reforestation efforts going on around the world, check out Conservation International’s web site.

Defining a (close to) ideal bottle bill

FIJI Water — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:44:58 +0000

As we’ve mentioned before, FIJI Water is advocating for expansion of container deposit laws. The evidence shows that they boost recycling rates. But some bottle bills work better than others, and as with most things in life there’s always room for improvement no matter how good you are.So we’dlove to hear your thoughts on what would make a good container deposit law – or for that matter, what makes a bad one.

Here are some facts about what container deposit lawsdo well:

The 11 states in the U.S. that have such laws account for 60% of recycling activityin the nation. Michigan, with a 10-cent deposit, has recycling rates close to 100%.
The deposit amounts are sufficient to motivate people to recycle, but not so high as to make prices prohibitive.
Customers who purchase recycled plastics, such as carpet manufacturers, have found that bottle bill states provide better quality material. With deposit laws, people sort plastics more carefully so there’s less contamination from non-recyclables or between different types of plastic.

But there are also some issues with current bottle bills. To name a few:

We think an incentive program should cover all recyclable materials. The point is to improve recycling rates and reduce what goes to landfill, right? But the materials currently subject to container deposit laws form an odd hodgepodge. Several bills cover soft drinks but not bottled water. Many bills don’t cover non-beverage containers, such as shampoo bottles or food jars. The California bill covers water bottles and beer cans, but not wine bottles or “100% fruit juice in containers 46 ounces or more.” (You’d think it would be easy to subject wine bottles to a deposit – wine is pricey enough that another 5-10¢ won’t make a difference, even if you’re buying Two-Buck Chuck. And a big juice bottle has more plastic or glass than a small juice bottle, so isn’t it even more important to recycle? But I digress…)
Who should keep the unclaimed deposits? Distributors often pay much of the cost of managing a container return system, so they may want to lay claim to these funds to help make up the costs. But some states argue that unclaimed deposits represent “abandoned property” and therefore belong to the state.
What type of container returninfrastructure is best?Some states collect containers via retailers, others through redemption centers. While retailers are convenient for consumers,redemption centers keep retail stores from becoming collection sites for used packaging.

Perhaps we can think more creatively and go beyond the traditional bottle bill structure. Should there be a heavier price on landfill-boundtrash, instead of (or along with) recycling incentives? In Switzerland, for example, recycling is free but throwing away trash is costly – at least $2/bag. As a result, they’ve achieved phenomenal recycling rates, such as 80% for plastic PET bottles.

Another possibility is a federal container deposit law, such asthe Bottle Recycling Climate Protection Act of 2007 introduced by Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey into the U.S. House of Representatives on November 15.This would provide for a 5¢ deposit on every beverage container sold in the U.S.

It’s also important to make recycling easy. Today, only about 50% of American households have access to curbside recycling programs. Curbside recycling programs and single-stream recycling (i.e., you can put all recyclables into one bin, instead of separating paper, glass, plastic, etc.) have been shown to boost recycling rates too.

There’s a lot to consider here, so please share your thoughts on how best to improve recycling rates.

Ben Jelen shares his thoughts on caring for the Earth

FIJI Water — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:58:29 +0000

Ben Jelen is an extraordinarysinger-songwriter with a passion for the environment. This passion is infused throughout his music – check out the video of his single “Wreckage” below – and his life – his tour is carbon neutral. We’re thrilled and delighted to have Ben join us today and share his thoughts on FIJI Water, the Ben Jelen Foundation, recycling, and what we can all do to help care for our planet. Ladies and gentlemen, here’s Ben Jelen…

FIJI WATER

What interests me most in Fiji water is that they are a carbon-negative company — this means that their net activities actually reduce carbon emissions!! – how is that even possible?

To understand, I imagined a world without Fiji water, where their company had not existed. In this world, there was no effort to replant old rainforest. In this world there was no profit set aside to offset carbon emissions — no money put into offset programs that plant trees and build infrastructure for clean energy. In fact this world had the island of Fiji exporting timber, depleting the beautiful Sovi basin. Fiji water shows us that any company, even one that is up against a literal ocean’s worth of emissions can still have a positive impact on the environment. It takes real dedication and I applaud them for setting this example.

Taking advantage of new advances in green technology, Fiji water fits into my philosophy on Environmentalism – they are targeting a way of operating cleanly, realizing it takes time to get there, so starting now. Fiji water is not abandoning their business, but taking something that is part of the problem and turning it into a solution.

It is in this train of philosophy that I have started the Ben Jelen Foundation. As a musical artist consistently writing and talking about these problems, the foundation has been an amazing outlet for me, and a real way of helping with the environmental issues out there, focusing on solutions rather than problems. We kicked the foundation off at South by Southwest earlier this 2008 and it was a great success – since, I’ve continued to raise money – the money will be donated to the four following areas, with the specific recipients changing from time to time.

Education: Local (New York) education of teens on environmental issues.
Political: Donations to groups that lobby for environmental protection at the political level.
Humanitarian: Give to those worse affected by climate change.
Investment: Continue the long process of investing in clean energy infrastructure.

We’re excited to partner with Fiji water, talk about the issues and watch our progress – Something we can all help out with now is to recycle all plastics. Once the product is in our hands we do also have the responsibility of ‘completing the cycle.’

Please enjoy the video for my song “Wreckage” – This song is about hope, that the choice of taking care of our planet is very much in our hands. I’m so glad to see companies change the landscape from the inside out, its exciting and real!

For any more info, visit www.benjelen.com/foundation

FIJI Water chandelier lights up Chicago fashion show

FIJI Water — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:40:31 +0000

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” – this phrase captures a great philosophy about how to use precious resources. First reduce what you use; then reuse what you can; and finally recycle.

We’ve shared with you our commitments toreducing and recycling, and now here’s one of the most creative ways to “reuse” I’ve ever seen. Check this out – it’s a chandelier made out of FIJI Water bottles!

This was part of the decor at CS Magazine’s spring fashion show “Seeds of Spring” in Chicago last Thursday. The event planning adhered to high sustainability standards, featuring designers known for clothing made of sustainable materials, environmentally responsible food and beverage sponsors, and decor decisions that carefully considered environmental impacts.

The FIJI Water chandelier was constructed by Event Creative of Chicago using bottles our U.S. Midwest event coordinator David had collected from other events sponsored by FIJI Water.

And – because we can’t all have fabulous FIJI Water chandeliers and do need to recycle – David also arranged for recycling bins at the event and included a “blue recycling bag” in each of the 300 CS gift bags. (“Blue recycling bags” like the one pictured here are generally required to collect recyclables in Chicago.)

Check out BizBash to read more about the Seeds of Spring show.

Ni Bula Vinaka, and please remember to recycle!

FIJI Water — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:01:13 +0000

In my last posting, I wrote about recycling efforts in our community (“vanua”) in Fiji. Now Molly, our Culture and Community Affairs Coordinator, will share more about her experiences in the local villages. Take it away, Molly…

Ni Bula Vinaka to everyone from sunny Fiji – sunny now that cyclone season is over, that is. Before I started my work here at FIJI Water, I was based in rural Fijian communities for two years as a U.S. Peace Corps Environmental Volunteer, so I have some experience in Fijian waste management. Given that, I’m really thrilled with the progress we’ve made in a short time with these fairly simple initiatives.

It’s pretty exciting to be on the cutting edge of recycling here in Fiji, because for the most part, we’re working with a blank slate. Most rural families naturally practice reducing and reusing as a money-saving devices, craftily turning one person’s trash into another’s treasure. Gunny sacks and fabric scraps are sewn into throw rugs, tires are made into swings and planters, and glass and plastic bottles become handy containers.

When it comes time to disposal however, our work in the vanua has the potential to change the way our communities think about their recyclables. Just last weekend I participated in our local women’s netball club weekly tournament, as part of the FIJI Water employee team.

Cartons of FIJI Water were everywhere, and bottles were swigged greedily as we played under the hot equatorial sun. It was music to my ears, however, to hear throughout the day small children, mothers, and the other members of the team saying to each other ‘Recycle please, everybody.’ ‘Don’t forget to save the bottles!’ ‘Bring that bottle back over here, we can recycle it.’ They said it in Fijian, of course, so forgive the rough translations, but I was elated to find that the message is catching on, and that I am no longer the lonely broken record.

Meanwhile at the plant, employees are regularly coming up to me at my desk to boast about all the bottles they return in a week. You’d think I was giving out gold stars! Recycling updates are part of our weekly staff meeting, and departments are lined up against one another and challenged to improve their participation in the program.

We also had a visit last week from the Vatukaloko Jr. Secondary School as they ran the round-the-island torch up to the factory as a prelude to the nationwide secondary school athletics meet in Suva. They ran in the uniforms they had earned through a month-long recycling drive held at the school, and as they prepare to compete, they can have pride knowing that FIJI Water is 100% behind them.

It can be a challenge to establish new habits for a people who, even just 100 years ago, were using all natural, biodegradable materials for all of their everyday needs. Snacks which were once wrapped in banana leaves that could be recklessly discarded, now come in plastic wrappers and tins. The best tool we have is education, and to call upon people who live in a tiny corner of the planet to think of the larger picture. Bottle by bottle, we are doing our part to make Fiji a cleaner, greener place.

Recycling in the vanua

FIJI Water — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:09:58 +0000

First things first: What is a ‘vanua’?

“Vanua” is the Fijian word for “community.” There are six villages that comprise the vanua in the region from which FIJI Water comes: Drauniivi, Togovere, Rabulu, Naseyani, Nananu, and the small settlement of Navunitivi.

As we too are part of the vanua, we work with the community in several ways in addition to our role as an employer, e.g., building and sponsoring schools, developing water access infrastructure, supporting local health clinics and more.

On the environmental front, this work includes recycling education and sponsorship. Our efforts have included:

Providing a free case of product to FIJI Water employees at the bottling facility in return for every case’s worth of bottles they bring in, along with the usual weekly provision of one free case per employee.
Conducting a recycling drive at the secondary school in Drauniivi. Students brought in aluminum cans, FIJI Water bottles, and other PET bottles to raise money for their school track uniforms. We’re looking at extending similar efforts on an ongoing basis, to encourage a habit of recycling and benefit local schools.
Sponsoring the eight local women’s netball clubs in a clean up drive, and in return providing new balls for the clubs and trophies for their annual awards ceremony.
Planning to situate outdoors recycling stations at the plant, local villages, and nearby towns, to serve as collection centers for recyclables.

Molly, our Culture and Community Affairs Coordinator, has been one of the driving forces behind these efforts and many other ways in which we serve the community. In our next blog posting, she’ll share more about recycling education efforts in Fiji.

Finding inspiration in recycling…and more

FIJI Water — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:01:36 +0000

I’m feeling inspired after spending last week in Fiji. Fiji, of course, is so beautiful that it’s always inspiring. On top of this, the team at the bottling facility is doing some fantastic work to reduce our carbon footprint and improve recycling rates in our local community. They encouraged me tremendously, so I’d like to share some of their stories with you over the next few postings.

Let’s start with recycling at the bottling facility. Paul, our Director of Production Operations & Engineering, has been hard at work over the past year and a half figuring out how to recycle manufacturing waste materials. Thanks to his efforts and those of our recycling partners in Australia, we’ve reduced by 70% the amount of manufacturing waste taken to landfills. Paul’s ultimate goal is for the FIJI Water plant to become a “zero waste” facility, meaning we will reduce, reuse, or recycle all waste.

At first Paul started with plastic and cardboard, for which there are many eager buyers already. Not content with that, however, Paul and the team persisted and found buyers for lab coats, shoe covers, hair nets, pallet strapping, bulk bags and drums, empty spools, and more. (Who knew you could recycle this kind of stuff too?)

When looking for buyers to take the recyclables, Paul simply asks that they pay enough to cover the cost of transportation. With popular materials like PET, however, he can usually get more. So he’s taken the money earned and reinvested it into the recycling infrastructure at the plant. This helps us recycle more materials and do so more efficiently. The bottling facility is now capable of recycling not only its own waste, but also recyclable materials brought in by local residents from their villages and towns. This is important because there is no other recycling infrastructure available to the local community.

In case you are wondering whether the greenhouse gas emissions from transporting recyclable materials to buyers are worth the effort to recycle, here are the numbers from our base year.

Emissions created by transporting recyclables: 13 tonnes CO2eq
Emissions avoided by recycling materials instead of producing new ones: 619 tonnes CO2eq

The net impact is an emissions reduction of 606 tonnes CO2eq, having thesame effect as taking 111 passenger vehicles off the road for a year or planting over 15,000 trees.

This works on an individual level too. Every time you recycle the packaging for anything you use – food and beverage, for example – you reduce its carbon footprint. Play our recycling game to learn how this works!

Debunking the "Food Miles" Myth

FIJI Water — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:48:45 +0000

We here at FIJI Water hear a lot of complaints about “food miles,” ours in particular. The concept is that the longer your food travels, the worse it is for the environment.

We think this is a load of hooey…and so do scientists who have studied lifecycle carbon footprints. The key word hereis lifecycle – how a product is developed or packaged, what the transport mode is, and other factors can have a far greater impact for better or worse than the mere distance traveled.

The New Yorker recently published an article about carbon footprints that, among other things,summarized major scientific studies on “food miles.” These studies have shown:

Apples imported from New Zealand to Northern Europe or New York can have a lower carbon footprint than apples raised fifty miles away. Adrian Williams of the Natural Resources Department of Cranfield University, in England, explains: ‘In New Zealand, they have more sunshine than in the U.K., which helps productivity.’ This means you get more good apples per acre, and the manmade energy required to grow the crop is therefore lower. New Zealand also has many renewable energy sources with little or no carbon impact.
Lamb raised in New Zealand and shipped to England has one-fourth the carbon footprint of lamb raised and consumed in England. Lambs in New Zealand feed on pastures that generally require less fertilizer than grazing land in the U.K., and fertilizer has a big carbon impact.
Importing beans from Uganda or Kenya to Europe is less carbon-intensive than growing beans in Europe. The farms in Uganda and Kenya are small, rarely use tractors, and fertilize the crop with manure, while European farms often require energy-dependent irrigation systems.
Roses shipped from Holland to England have a seed-to-store carbon footprint six times that of roses air freighted from Kenya. That’s because the Dutch roses almost always are grown in greenhouses, which use lots of energy.

And here’s an example closer to home for us: We used to send product to New York by ship from Fiji to Los Angeles, then truck from Los Angeles to the East Coast. Now we send the product by ship through the Panama Canal to Philadelphia or Newark, then truck to New York – a route that covers 50% more miles, but reduces emissions by 55%. This is because ocean freight causes 85%less emissions than trucking. Had we used food miles as a metric, we would never have made this change.

The real problem with the “food miles” concept is that it misleads people who are genuinely trying to make ethical decisions. There are still people who are choosing to “buy/eat local” and thereby actually making their environmental impact worse than it otherwise would have been. It’s unfair to them and to the environment. Of course, it’s hard for people to make the right decisions unless they have the right information, which is why it’s so important for companies to publish the full lifecycle carbon footprints of their products.

FIJI Water receives an ELLE 2008 Green Award!

FIJI Water — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:14:55 +0000

ELLE Magazine has recognized FIJI Water in its annual green issue with an ELLE 2008 Green Award! We were hailed – alongside other recipients like Brad Pitt, the Energy Action Coalition and Paul and Stella McCartney – as one of the ‘people, products and concepts that put energy, and our planet, in the right place.’ They highlighted the fact that FIJI Water is ‘carbon negative not neutral this year,’ and spoke about our commitments to reduce carbon emissions in the bottling and shipping process, to preserve the Fijian rainforest, and to minimize packaging.

Take a look at what the other award winners are doing too. It’s so inspiring!

FIJI Water's Thomas Mooney talks about FIJI Green

FIJI Water — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:52:49 +0000

Our Senior VP Sustainable Growth, Thomas Mooney, recently spoke with Sustainable Life Media. In this interview, Thomas explains how we’re planning to fulfill the FIJI Green promise and answers the criticism that ‘bottled water’ and ‘sustainable’ don’t belong in the same sentence. You can read the interviewhereor listen here.

We've started reducing our carbon footprint

FIJI Water — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:23:32 +0000

Last November, FIJI Water promised to reduce its carbon footprint by 25% by 2010. In the past few months, we’ve taken a number of steps toward that goal:

We’ve started producing the 1.5 L product with an initial 7% reduction in packaging.
We’ve reduced by 70% the amount of manufacturing waste materials taken to landfills.
We’re using more fuel-efficient trucks in Fiji to transport the product from plant to port, resulting in a 50% reduction in fuel usage.
By optimizing our logistics, we’ve reduced trucking miles from warehouses to distributors by 26% on average.

These changes reflect a lot of hard work and initiative on the part of many people throughout the company, especially our operations and logistics teams. We look forward to sharing more good news like this over the coming months.

We"ve started reducing our carbon footprint

admin — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:23:32 +0000

Last November, FIJI Water promised to reduce its carbon footprint by 25% by 2010. In the past few months, we”ve taken a number of steps toward that goal:

We”ve started producing the 1.5 L product with an initial 7% reduction in packaging.
We”ve reduced by 70% the amount of manufacturing waste materials taken to landfills.
We”re using more fuel-efficient trucks in Fiji to transport the product from plant to port, resulting in a 50% reduction in fuel usage.
By optimizing our logistics, we”ve reduced trucking miles from warehouses to distributors by 26% on average.

FIJI Water announces its carbon footprint and joins the Carbon Disclosure Project

FIJI Water — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:00:59 +0000

Today we announced our carbon footprint and reported on our progress to date toward fulfilling the promise of FIJI Green. We’re thinking of this as FIJI Green’s first “annual report,” even though it’s all online and not a big book. (And we’ll update you more than once a year that’s what this blog is for!)

Why does this matter? We believe consumers will make environmentally responsible purchasing decisions if they have the information they need. The trouble is that they often don’t have this information. It’s like trying to tackle the obesity epidemic by removing nutrition labels from food and beverage products that doesn’t make any sense, and neither does trying to tackle climate change without giving consumers the carbon footprints of the products they eat, drink, and use.

We hope that companies in our industry and beyond will provide comparable lifecycle carbon footprints for their products, so that we can all work together to address the issue of climate change. In this spirit, we have become the first privately held company ever to join the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration. The CDP is the world’s largest investor coalition on climate change and has been the leader over the past several years in working with companies to disclose their carbon footprints. We will work with the CDP to disclose our carbon footprint and encourage our suppliers to do the same.

Welcome to the FIJI Green blog!

FIJI Water — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:35:26 +0000

Hi everyone, welcome to our blog! We’re excited about starting this up and look forward to sharing with you the latest news on FIJI Green, our path to sustainability. We’ll talk about our day-to-day wins and struggles, neat stuff we’re learning along the way, and opportunities for you to get involved.

And we want to hear from you! Please share your thoughts on FIJI Green, what we’re doing, what we have planned-all of it. Feel free to ask questions too we know topics like carbon footprints and climate change can get pretty complicated, and we’ll do our best to make them a bit easier to understand.