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TASTE Rootof All Good USED IN COOKING and medicine for centuries, ginger is still as popular as ever, both as a flavoring in cuisine—yes, gingerbread men do count!—and as a panacea, its medicinal properties touted as a remedy for everything from nausea to joint inflammation. Not surprisingly, ginger root is the star ingredient in this easy-to-prepare Ginger Elixir served at the café at the 43,000-square-foot Spa at Omni La Costa, part of the recently renovated Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (lacosta.com) in Carlsbad, California. In keeping with its Southern Californian location, the Spa Café offers a variety of healthy cuisine, juices and smoothies, with menu items showcasing herbs from the on-site garden. And though guests can also choose wines and champagne from the beverage list, this alcohol-free alternative is recommended for those with a sluggish digestive system. Indeed, Marc Therrien, executive chef at the Spa Café, suggests sipping the elixir prior to a meal because the freshly pressed ginger revs up the digestive system and helps the body break down food more easily. "Plus, I find it very refreshing and a good palate cleanser," he says. "It also provides a little natural boost, as an alternative to a mid-afternoon second cup of coffee." Or maybe we could consider it our "ayurvedic cocktail" come Happy Hour. We'll drink to that! —Lesley McCave Ginger Elixir S SERVES 2 MARC THERRIEN 1 cup ginger juice* 1 cup lemon juice 1 cup water ¼ cup honey Blend all ingredients well and serve. * Cut a piece of fresh ginger into 1-inch pieces. Place in a food processor. Pulse-chop then increase speed until puréed. Pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to get the juice. 134 DAYSPA | SEPTEMBER 2013