Credit: Katzie Guy-Hamilton
This week, we are delighted to spotlight mover and shaker Katzie Guy-Hamilton. Katzie, a newly-minted author, renown pastry chef and certified health coach, is a triple threat with an established voice in the wellness industry. On top of juggling her responsibilities as the Director of Food and Beverage for Equinox Fitness, Katzie recently debuted a book “Clean Enough” which highlights an inclusive, holistic and empowering approach to nutrition.
by Sophia (YiRui) Liao
Prior to joining the high performance world of Equinox Fitness, Katzie ran all Global Food and Beverage and Innovation for the indulgent chocolate brand Max Brenner International. Is your mouth watering yet? Hold on, there’s more. She led the Pastry departments at Grand Hyatt New York’s flagship in Grand Central and the celebrated pastry program at the Ace Hotel. She trained in California under Pastry Maven Sherry Yard at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago Beverly Hills. Here are some hot-seat questions we asked of Katzie:
Name: Katzie Guy-Hamilton
Any nicknames? My name is actually Kathryn! I even use Katzie on my resume- it was my email address during the AOL days and my mentor decided it was a better version of my nickname than Kat. Katzie stuck and I love it.
Residence(s): New York City
What is your current role and how did you get into this industry? I am a new author and the Director of Food and Beverage for Equinox Fitness, a luxury fitness company. I am a trained pastry chef and a huge fan of health and wellness. I broke into this industry by becoming a health coach and pursuing the balance of eating real food to be well. A little sweet and a lot of vegetables.
What is your biggest accomplishment to date that you’d like to share with our audience? Clean Enough: Get Back to Basics and Leave Room for Dessert comes out January 1, 2019. This book means the world to me, advocating for eating real, clean foods and practicing food freedom, as that slice of cake can be part of a lifelong memory.
Clean Enough Cover in Progress
What is the hardest part of your day? I am juggling a lot. My role at Equinox is incredibly demanding and there are a lot of balls in the air. Outside of that, I have just finished writing a book! I am on a mission for everyone to ditch the diet trends and to get back to basics and at times I struggle to practice what I preach with the pressure to keep doing and keep going. Everything has and will continue to evolve and that makes me feel connected to my purpose.
What motivates you? What I am doing and advocating for is real, it is honest and it is as much about food as it is about mindset and the whole picture of your life.
How do you get into a creative mood? I must let go to get creative. I am inspired by travel, where I tap into my ethereal side, floating through dinners and gelato with curiosity and a smile. I recently returned from Italy where Sardegna took my heart. The food and lifestyle got me into a very creative vibration.
Katzie Guy-Hamilton
What causes do you support and are passionate about? I am passionate about children having all of the outlets and opportunities that I did and do. Being a creative can be confusing if you are not sure where to direct your energy. I love teaching kids healthy cooking and treat-making as well as fundraising and advocating for mentoring programs. Giving back and spreading my love of food is incredibly important to me. I support Goal4Kids, CBSBB and Autism Speaks.
What would you do if given one extra hour with your day? See my family more! I’d teleport to Massachusetts to hang out with my nephews, gossip with my sister and go for a walk with my mom. They are not far away but I would love to be able to spend more time with them.
What was the greatest lesson you have learned so far? A loving mindset is everything. This has gotten me where I am and the only thing that keeps me in a rhythm. My spirituality and taking care of myself is the magic that allows me to share.
Who do you admire for their combination of beauty and brains? Amal Clooney. From afar she dedicated herself to being an excellent professional and, from what it appears, stayed true to discovering and being who she is. There is no timeline that is universal for everyone and I have needed to recognize that as I pursue my passions, work to be better and to live with grace. Her purpose is human and supports those living free and well globally, something that I admire.
What fitness routine do you swear by? The Class by Taryn Toomey- cathartic, connected and strong. I both swear in the class and swear by this healing modality.
Any tips for relaxation? Cell phone off. Go get reflexology. If you are in New York it is only $25/hour, and say kind words to yourself.
What is your daily beauty routine and what are your favorite beauty indulgences/experiences? I love natural beauty products and am a huge fan of Kypris and RMS for makeup. I use oil based cleansers and wild rosewater to tone. I LOVE spas and am not afraid to admit it. I could go to Aire and get a facial as well as a massage every day if I could. Making sure you are exfoliated and cleaned is so important as your skin ages. Floating and being still as well as massaging out tension, these are for personal maintenance not indulgence. Oh and dry brush every day.
BEAUTY SMOOTHIE ROSE EDITION, One Of Katzie’s delectable recipes
Which memory do you always carry with you? Right now I think about my Uncle Robbie often. He persevered, was generous, was undeniably funny and also an incredible cook. Preparing dinner with him with a side of wine makes my heart feel full.
What don’t you leave home without? My laptop, it is glued to me, as well as my cell phones, YSL rouge pur lipstick and lemons…because hot water with lemon will solve most issues throughout the day.
Any secret vices? I love apples so much so that I have to cut myself off. I also love to wear the ugliest sweatpants I can find and wear them high with big socks. There is nothing appealing about my true at-home loungewear.
What is your life ethos? What motto do you live by? Through the lens of love, anything is possible.
What are your secret talents? Whether it is 10 people or 50, I can have dinner on the table in under an hour. I am also a terrible driver with an automatic yet incredibly proficient in a foreign country with a stick shift.
What’s on your nightstand? A rose candle, palo santo wood, crystals and stories by Doris Lessing.
Katzie graduated from the French Culinary Institute and received its Outstanding Alumni of the Year award for 2011. Katzie appeared on Season Two of the television cooking competition, Top Chef: Just Desserts. Katzie teaches healthy cooking at Goal4Kids in Harlem and Co-Chairs October Ball, benefitting the Catholic Big Sister’s and Big Brothers Organization. She embodies the concept of living mindfully in the middle and is a certified Health Coach by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Katzie has appeared on Fox Network, Bravo TV, Martha Stewart Radio, CBS, Food Network and has internationally appeared in Japanese, Australian and Korean Media.
8 comments
What a great interview! Will keep an eye out for her book – it sounds like something I would be interested in…
I love the part about teaching kids about healthy food – it’s so important for them to feel like part of the process!
I love that she still uses her name from the AOL days! It’s something our kids will never understand. I can’t wait for this book to come out and setting a reminder to look for it in the new year!
I o love the idea of clean enough! I want to eat healthy food, but I really love cake. Balance is so important. I’m really looking forward to reading it.
This was so cool to read! I loved learning about how she broke onto the scene and the other amazing things she is interested in as well!
Oh my goodness, Katzie’s food looks wonderful. I love the questions – sometimes I feel like we forget that really creative people are still just like us, loungewear and all!
Great interview, I love that her personality shows through the images and the text. that’s really refreshing. i also look forward to her book coming out, if the recipes are anything like the food this post shows, im in for a big delight!
Oh I wish I could have dinner for 10 or 50 on the table in an under an hour! She sounds like a lovely person and I love the picture with her hands covered in chocolate! I’ll have to look out for her book!