Painting the town purple

Caitlin Mateo, executive chef of the Red Owl Tavern, introduced to the fall menu several dishes with purple accents, including a purple potato soup, and a pot de creme dessert made primarily from ube, a Japanese purple yam. Purple carrots add an unexpected color to the restaurant's popular hummus platter.

"We are trying to be mindful not just of how the dishes look, but also of how healthy they are," Mateo says.

Speaking of mindfulness, according to Eiseman, purple is often connected with meditation practices. Ultra violet energizes communities and calms those seeking refuge from today's overstimulated world.