The newest wave of trendy diets does not reveal anything revolutionary to Chef Terry Conlan. After thirteen years as the award-winning Executive Chef at Lake Austin Spa Resort, Conlan still takes all the latest food gimmicks and, rather unceremoniously, tosses them aside. He does what he enjoys most�creating innovative, healthy food that�s deliciously satisfying and, above all, made from the freshest ingredients available.

Conlan�s simple philosophy about food�keep it fresh, reduce the fat and make it flavorful�helped draw attention to Lake Austin Spa Resort at a time when competitors still insisted on doling out meager portions and policing calories. He insists on presenting guests with a range of enticing choices that reflect the wonderfully rich and diverse regional cuisines of the Southwest, Mexico, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia. �The problem with the concept of spa cuisine, at least as it is generally perceived, is that it�s just too limiting to take us where we want to go, which is everywhere, and to let us eat what we want to eat, which is everything,� Conlan writes in his cookbook, FRESH: Healthy Cooking and Living from Lake Austin Spa Resort, published last year. FRESH was also a finalist in the International Association of Culinary Professionals 2004 Cookbook Awards in the Health and Special Diet category. Cookbooks in this category were nominated for focusing on healthy eating, nutrition, dietary concerns and special or restrictive diets.

The self-described �foodie� explains his own sensible �spa food� theory by proclaiming that the possibilities of healthy, genuinely satisfying eating are almost limitless. That results in an eclectic, seemingly unlimited menu for guests. Rainbow Trout and Shrimp Mousse. Fattoush. Corn and Green Chile Soup. Jerk-Crusted Salmon. Phat Thai. Coffee-Crusted Sirloin with Jalape�o Red-Eye Gravy. And for vegetarians, only in Texas do they find Chicken-Fried Portobello Mushroom Steak with Roasted Garlic Mashers and Cream Gravy. Don�t worry; Conlan�s cut the entire entr�e to only five grams of fat per serving.

Devoted guests of the resort have long marveled at the excellent gourmet cuisine served here. The lessons learned in the dining room and from Conlan�s weekly cooking demonstrations encourage eating habits that are nutritionally balanced and varied in presentation and taste. Much of the flavor for the food comes from herbs, vegetables and spices grown in the onsite organic gardens.

Even dessert isn�t forbidden here. Indulgence seems necessary when a warm cup of Double-Chocolate Cappuccino Pudding Cake tempts you with only four fat grams. The ingenious kitchen staff also lightens up other traditional favorites such as Sweet Potato Pie, Cr�me Br�l�e and Blueberry Cobbler (topped with a dollop of frozen yogurt, of course) to the point that there�s no reason to feel guilty for having dessert.

Dining at the spa, whether in the main dining room or the new LakeHouse Spa, commands a celebration that Conlan lists as a key ingredient for healthy eating. Friendly conversation bounces around the tables at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The feast of senses that began with the food continues as guests linger into the twilight before making their way to a book discussion, to the spa for a relaxing massage or onto the dock for a moment of solitary stargazing.

The completion of the new 25,000 square foot spa solidifies Lake Austin Spa Resort�s total metamorphosis into one of the country�s premier spa resorts. Nestled along the shores of scenic Lake Austin in the rolling Hill Country outside Austin, Texas, the resort has been honored by Cond� Nast Traveler as a 2004 �Top Five Spa�, by Travel + Leisure as one of the �Top Ten Spas in North America,� one of Departures magazine�s �Top 25 Luxury Resorts in North America� and as a �Top Five Spa� by the Zagat Survey. Overnight packages start from $995 per person for two nights and are all inclusive of healthy spa cuisine, luxurious spa treatments, fitness classes and activities. For reservations and information, call 800-847-5637 or visit the website at www.lakeaustin.com.

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Media Contact: Darlene Fiske +1 512-372-7374 dfiske@austin.rr.com