Normal business hours had ended, but at Salon Botanique Eco-Chic in Morristown on a recent Friday night, hair dryers were blasting, wine was flowing, and a dozen women—wrapped up in bamboo bathrobes—were laughing and cheerfully chatting.

For this Moms and Tots group, get togethers often involve going out to dinner, meeting with a nutrition expert, or completing a CPR course. This time around, group leader Jen Carcich decided to try something a little different—and a lot more luxurious. “I always wanted to try to do a spa weekend where we go away,” she says. “But logistically and financially, that’s not doable for most of our group. Then I came to the grand opening here and instantly thought, this will work.”
Carcich was introduced to Salon Botanique by her longtime hair stylist Stacy Beyer, who late last year partnered up with Aurora Marks when she opened a natural and organic spa in an old Victorian home on South Street in Morristown (973-889-9200; salonbotaniqueecochic.com). With a waiting parlor for socializing adjacent to the hair and nail salon—and a set of private rooms upstairs for massages, facials, waxing, and other treatments—the place lends itself well to an evening of relaxing and fraternizing.

And that’s exactly what Salon Botanique is going for. “We’re thinking outside the box,” says Ron Marks, who co-owns the spa with his wife, Aurora. “There’s a need for something new out there.” In addition to outfitting the place with the best natural and organic options available—from toxin-free paint to organic products to a specially devised water-purification system—the spa is going out of its way to offer its services for group parties, such as bridal or baby showers sweet sixteens, birthday parties, or just a moms’ night out.
“We’re just excited to get out of the house,” says Beth Sparacino, who has a four-year-old and six-year-old at home. Jen van Frank, mother of a two-year-old, agreed. “I’ve been dying to come to this salon, especially since it’s so focused on organic products, and this was a good excuse to come in and try it,” she says.

To stick with the healthy and nutritious theme, Organics-2-Go, a food delivery and catering service based in Morris Plains (organics2go.us), served an array of healthy, organic dishes, such as chicken and arugula pizza (see recipe on page 43). Nutritionist David Mita, president and cofounder of the company, is also a fitness trainer and yoga instructor. He’s looking to help people incorporate organic options into their diets to live healthier lives. “You can have organic, healthy food that tastes delicious,” he says. “People have this mind-set that all healthy food tastes like cardboard, and that’s not the case.”

Stephen Sainato, his business partner, says an event such as a spa party is a good opportunity to start integrating healthy food choices into your life. “If you eat organic food that’s prepared well, it’s easy to keep eating healthy without reverting to old habits,” he says.
So, in addition to the glow that comes from a Swedish massage and a pedicure, guests at this all-organic spa party benefited from Mita’s nutritionally balanced dishes that use agave nectar instead of sugar, pesticide-free plants, and hormone-free meat. “It’s such a better approach than unhealthy quick-fix foods,” Mita says.

Of course, this is a party, and champagne and wine were abundant as well. To infuse a little more nutrition into the bubbly, a splash of pomegranate juice gave the champagne a pink hue—an appropriate touch to an evening that was all about “girl time.”

As the moms went in and out of treatment rooms in carefully choreographed order, there were nothing but good vibes throughout the salon. The staff at Salon Botanique scheduled each guest’s preferred treatments with time in between to relax and chat with friends. “There's really a nice party flow when you do something like this,” says Aurora Marks. “I love to entertain anyway, and this place has a nice, comfortable atmosphere. The whole night has a nice feel about it.”

Marks says the host or party organizer can set up a customized set of services for the guests, and then each guest can choose add-ons­. For example, if everyone is getting a facial, some guests might choose to pay a little extra to get an undereye treatment or to address fine lines. In terms of pricing, the salon will base the price-per-person on the number of guests and the extent of the treatment options. “The whole premise of this place is the idea that people can come here, feel comfortable, and take care of themselves.”

Between socializing sessions, moms get the royal treatment.

 

Meet Me At The Spa

 

Incorporating spa services into your next baby shower, birthday party, or your teen's prom preparations is an original way to celebrate­—and a sure-fire way to give friends a day to remember. At Skin Deep Day Spa in New Providence (908-508-1800; skindeepdayspa.com), a recently renovated loft space holds up to fifteen guests for an event. "People relax, drink champagne, and just enjoy themselves in between their appointments," says Vernisha George of Skin Deep. George says birthday parties are particularly popular, and usually the guests are women, though men sometimes join the fun. And once people come to a party, they're often making new appointments before they leave. "They get a little bit of everything, so then they want to come back," George says.

Other spas that will help you host a get-together among bridesmaids, coworkers, or best friends include:

DePasquale The Spa, Route 10 East, Morris Plains (973-538-3811; depasqualethespa.com)

The Arrangement, 1070 Route 46, Ledgewood (973-584-5101; thearrangementsalondayspa.com)

Beaura Spa, 122 East Ridgewood Ave, Paramus (201-967-1756; parkercenterspa.net)

Fresh Water Day Spa, 499 Valley St, Maplewood (973-762-4046; freshwaterdayspa.com)

Rejuv Spa, 59-65 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville (908-630-9437; spaofbernardsville.com)

Bodies and Faces Day Spa, 80 Elmore Ave, Elizabeth (908-355-8966; bodiesandfaces.com)

Mothers’ Day— or Night—Out

top left: Manicure time, mood lighting in the fireplace, getting styled, and yummy (semi-healthy!) cupcakes

For the Morristown Moms and Tots Group (momstots.carcich.net), this spa night was one of many social events organized for young mothers in the area. Parents looking for some babytalk-free time can enjoy adults-only activities in a variety of places:

Super Suppers in East Hanover (supersupperseasthanover.com) offers an opportunity to prepare the night’s—or week’s—meals ahead of time, in the company of friends.

Studio U, a hands-on craft center in Chester (studiou.com), has Ladies Night once a week, where women can get together and do craft projects, such as mosaics and jewelry, while enjoying complimentary wine and a chick flick.

Regular outings can just be a monthly dinner at a favorite restaurant or brunch at a local cafe.

Even when the kids are around, meeting up with friends for nature walks, book club meetings, or parent-child yoga can be "playtime" for parents and children alike.

Organic Matters

When David Mita launched Organics-2-Go, the idea was to bring healthy meals into clients' homes. "As a nutritionist, I'd be telling people what they should eat, but many of these people are CEOs and parents, and said they would never be able to find the time to make the food right," he says. "I decided to come in and fill the void."

Mita's food is pesticide-, herbicide-, antibiotic-, and steroid-free. "There's no excuse not to feed your body with the safest and healthiest nutrients out there."
Eating organic food, though, isn't the only way to green your lifestyle. At Salon Botanique, all of the products used in the treatments and sold on the shelves are natural and organic. "Especially for parents with small children, it's nice to know they're not bringing chemicals into the home after visiting us," says co-owner Ron Marks. In particular, the spa uses Ligne St. Barth products and incorporates special treatments from St. Barth. The floors are made of fast-growing (sustainable) bamboo, the bathrobes are created out of organic bamboo fabric, and even the walls are painted with nontoxic paint. "It's all about sustainability," Ron Marks says.

Aurora Marks says she co-founded Salon Botanique in part because she perceived a need in the spa industry. "A lot of people are into natural products and are very eco-conscious, and there weren't enough options out there," she says. "And using clean, natural, organic products really makes a difference on your skin, in your hair, and in your life."

For more of Organics-2-Go's recipes, visit us online at parkplacemagazine.com

LEFT: Guests get their locks cut and styled at Salon Botanique Eco-Chic in Morristown.RIGHT: Rose petals add a delicate touch to pedicure preparation. Wearing comfy bathrobes, guests take turns getting a variety of treatments. Salon Botanique's product lines are a hit among guests who want to take the pampering home

Typical Spagenda

7pm: Guests arrive at Salon Botanique and mingle in the front waiting room, savoring the candlelit vibe and fun conversation.

7:30 pm: Champagne is served and the appointments begin. The spa compiles a schedule to accommodate everyone’s treatments—haircuts, massages, facials, waxings, manicures, pedicures—with some social time in between.

8 pm: Munchies and wine hit the stage. Finger food, including mini pizzas, sliced panini, and spring rolls, give guests something easy to eat in between treatments. Organics-2-Go’s recipes ensure the light meal will be a healthy and nutritious supplement to an evening of pampering.

8:30 pm: By now, the whole group is either mid-treatment or in bamboo bathrobes between appointments.

10 pm: The socializing is in full swing, and light desserts keep the palate satisfied.

11:30 pm: As the last massages come to an end and the final stroke of nail polish is brushed, rejuvenated guests depart.

Chicken and arugula pizza
with White beans and fontina
Ingredients:
Roasted Garlic and White Bean Dressing
1 can white beans (19 oz.) drained
2 bulbs garlic roasted
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon blue agave
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil dash of salt & pepper

Topping
1 lb. chicken cutlets
3 tablespoons vinaigrette
2 bunches arugula washed and dried
4 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 cups Fontina cheese,shredded

Pizza
6 6-inch pita bread no pocket

Dressing: Place the white beans, garlic, Dijon mustard, vinegar, and blue agave in a food processor and pulse to combine ingredients. With the processor running, add the oil in a thin steady stream until incorporated. Season the mixture with salt and pepper, scrape down side of bowl and process until smooth.

Topping: Season the chicken cutlets with salt and pepper, cover with vinaigrette, and grill chicken until fully cooked, about 8–10 minutes. Cool slightly, dice and reserve.

Pizza: Spread a thin layer of the white bean dressing on a pita. Sprinkle with the arugula, then a layer of tomatoes. The sprinkle with diced chicken and finish with shredded Fontina cheese. Repeat process with remaining pitas. Place pita pizzas on a baking tray and cook in a 350-degree oven until cheese is bubbly, about 7–9 minutes. Remove pizzas from oven, cool slightly, slice into wedges and serve.

Crabcakes
with grain mustaard sauce
Ingredients:

Grain Mustard Sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons grain mustard
2 tablespoons cornstarch,
dissolved in 4 tablespoons
chicken broth

Crabcakes
2 lbs. jumbo lump crab meat
1 cup grated cheese,
salt, pepper, fresh nutmeg
mousse recipe (below)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil to saute cakes
Mousse
1 lb. flounder fillets, boneless
1 small bunch basil, stemmed, washed and dried
1 large egg
1 cup of heavy cream

Grain Mustard Sauce
Heat cream and stock in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add mustard and cook
for one minute. Add the cornstarch slurry and cook
for one minute more to thicken.

Mousse:
In the bowl of a food processor outfitted with the metal blade, process flounder and basil
until well chopped. Add egg and pulse to blend.
With the machine running, add the cream in a thin
steady stream until incorporated.

Crabcakes:
Place crab meat and cheese in a large chilled bowl. Add seasonings and flounder mousse. Mix together gently by hand until combined. Refrigerate mix for 20 minutes. Form 12 equal-sized cakes or smaller if desired. Heat oil in a saute pan
for 1–2 minutes on each side to brown. Transfer
cakes to a baking sheet and cook in a 350-degree oven for 12–15 minute