If there is one person to learn how to live in a golden state from, it is Aishwarya Iyer. The Brightland founder and CEO shares her ideal Sunday dinner, nighttime routine, and sweet tooth go-tos in this special edition of Bright Rx. Keep reading for her refined and easy breakfast recipe, as well. 

 

 

Q&A with Aishwarya 

 

 

 

Brightland: What does living in a golden state mean to you?

Aishwarya: To me, living in a golden state means consciously taking actions to be more present; reading 10-15 pages of a book on a weekday morning, putting screens away during all meals, lovingly making yourself or a loved one a nice meal, and looking around the space you’re in and practicing gratitude. 

 

Brightland: If you had all the time in the world, what meal would you cook for yourself on a Sunday night? 

Aishwarya: I would make this divine pasta with fried lemons from NYT cooking, a panzanella salad with tons of Brightland, olive oil brownies with sea salt, and I would drink some natural orange wine from Meinklang, my favorite natural wine purveyor. 

 

Aishwarya is photographed with Crosby, her cheese-obsessed rescue pup. 

 

Brightland: What is your nightly wind down routine? 

Aishwarya: Getting in bed, using a jade body roller from my friends at Esker, writing down three things I am grateful for, 5 minutes of meditation, and sleep. 

 

Brightland: What do you like to keep out on your kitchen countertop or "kitchen shelfie"?

Aishwarya: My kitchen shelfie has: 

1. Bellocq tea

2. A teapot from Japan gifted to me by my sister

3. My favorite cookbooks: Indian-ish, The First Mess Cookbook, and The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

4. Brightland AWAKE and ALIVE 

Brightland: What is your favorite way to use olive oil? 

Aishwarya: Currently, my favorite way to use Brightland is to make these delicious olive oil waffles and the aforementioned olive oil brownies with sea salt -- is it obvious that I have a sweet tooth? 

 

 

 

 Pan Con Tomate

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

 

Directions

1. Heat a pan with a tiny bit of Brightland's AWAKE
2. Slice french bread loaf into slices with medium thickness. Toast bread slices on the pan for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through
3. Rub raw garlic on toasted bread vigorously
4. Rub tomato on toasted bread
5. Drizzle Brightland's AWAKE on top of the bread+tomato
6. Chop manchego cheese into slices, and top the bread
7. Sprinkle sea salt on top