Dear Colleagues,

This month, the UBS Cooking School and community events calendars are packed with fun and engaging classes, events, and activations. Included are some delicious recipes for you to enjoy, as well as highlights of some of our Cooking School classes, Wellness Wednesday classes, and upcoming community events. Please join us for these exciting “Key Occasions.”

Regards,

The Community Management Team

This delicious recipe from Chef Jerome Grant's Sweet Home Café Cookbook: A Celebration of African American Cooking gives you an epic Creole spice mix that you can use on everything from veggies to steak, and anything in between! While the frying of the fish is fairly simple, it is important to focus on the cooking process to get the best results.

Creole Fried Fish

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1½ cups (188 g) of all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons (68 g) of Creole spice blend (recipe below)

½ teaspoon (2 g) of kosher salt, plus more for seasoning fish

1 pinch cayenne pepper

Four 1-pound (454 g) of croaker, porgy, spot, or other panfish, heads cut off, scaled, gutted, and gills removed

1½ cups (326 g) of vegetable oil, for frying

Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

1. In a medium baking dish, mix the flour, Creole Spice Blend, salt, and cayenne until well blended.
2. With a few paper towels, dry the cavities of the fish. Pat the skin dry as well, and season the cavity and exterior of each fish with salt. Dredge the exterior of each fish in the seasoned flour to coat well.
3. Pour the vegetable oil into a large cast-iron skillet and heat to 350 °F (177 °C) on a deep-frying thermometer (or use a tabletop deep fryer).
4. Fry the fish in the hot oil for about 4 - 5 minutes, turning once until crisp, the flesh flakes, and the fish is opaque. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towels to drain off the excess oil. Serve hot with lemon wedges.

Creole Spice Blend

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons (34 g) of sweet Hungarian paprika

¼ cup (71 g) of celery salt

2 tablespoons (34 g) of fine sea salt

2 tablespoons (34 g) of ground black pepper

2 tablespoons (34 g) of garlic powder

2 tablespoons (34 g) of onion powder

1 tablespoon (17 g) of ground allspice

4 teaspoons (23 g) of cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. Warm a nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the paprika and lightly toast to develop its full flavor. Actively stir the paprika for 3 minutes, making sure not to allow the spice to burn. Transfer the paprika to a small bowl and let cool.
2. Once the paprika has cooled to room temperature, whisk in all the remaining ingredients until well mixed.
3. Transfer to an airtight container. The blend will keep for up to 3 months.

Crab Cakes are fun to make at home: you can customize the seasonings and the patty size, and the value is better than buying pre-made crab cakes. The chilling step is important to help prevent the cake from splitting during cooking, so be sure not to skip it! Please enjoy this tasty recipe from Chef Jerome Grant's Sweet Home Café Cookbook: A Celebration of African American Cooking.

Maryland Crab Cakes

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 pounds (907 g) of jumbo lump crab meat, preferably True Blue certified crab
2 large egg yolks

1 ½ tablespoons (20 g) of mayonnaise, homemade or Duke’s

2 teaspoons (27 g) of Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon (17 g) of Old Bay seasoning

2 teaspoons (10 g) of freshly-squeezed lemon juice

1 dash of Tabasco sauce

1 dash of Worcestershire sauce

½ teaspoon (2 g) of sea salt

½ teaspoon (2 g) of cayenne pepper

1 ½ cups (188 g) of plain breadcrumbs

½ cup (109 g) of vegetable oil

2 tablespoons (27 g) of unsalted butter

Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

Pick through the crabmeat to remove any pieces of shell. Be careful not to break up the lumps of crab excessively, and set aside the meat in a large bowl.

1. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire, salt, and cayenne, whisking until well-blended. Spoon the mixture over the crabmeat and gently mix until the meat is coated, being careful not to mash or break up the meat. Gently form the crab mixture into twelve 3-oz (85 g) discs.
2. Spread out the breadcrumbs on a large plate. Lightly coat the crab cakes with the crumbs. Transfer the cakes to a platter and cover with plastic wrap. Chill the cakes in the refrigerator at least 1 hour before cooking.
3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. When hot, work in batches to avoid crowding, add the crab cakes to the pan and cook, turning once until golden brown for about 4 minutes on each side. Serve hot with lemon wedges.

Join our talented trainers and enjoy a great workout in one of our group fitness classes. To sign up for the session of your choice, stop by the Fitness Center or email SH-WMUS-FitnessCenter@ubs.com.

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Thursday from 5:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 5:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Mondays:

• Yoga from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Tuesdays:

• Strength & Conditioning from 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Circuit Training from 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Wednesdays:

• Body Weight Tabata from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
• Indoor Cycling from 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Thursdays:

• Strength & Cycling from 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• QueenX Circuit from 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Fridays:

• Circuit Training from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
• Exos Signature Series: Pillar Strength from 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
• Pilates from 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
• HIIT from 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Celebrate Culture & Cuisine with Us!

This month, in partnership with MOSAIC, we’re celebrating Ramadan, Lunar New Year, and Lent with the following themed menu items at the Café from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.:

• February 17 - March 19: In honor of Ramadan, dates will be offered as a sweet addition to the dried fruit options at the Fruit & Nut Bazaar.
• February 18: In honor of Lunar New Year, the Global Buffet will offer General Tso's Chicken, Char Siu Pork (Chinese-Style Barbecued Pork), Edamame Dumplings, Vegetable Lo Mein, Sesame Long Beans, Daikon Radish Slaw, Ginger-Sesame Snow Peas, Bok Choy, and Carrot Radish Salad.
• February 20 & 27: In honor of Lent, the Grill Station will offer Beer-Battered Fish & Chips crisped to perfection with Tartar Sauce and French Fries.

Join us for a month of amazing flavors, cultural appreciation, and tasty traditions. Don’t miss out - come hungry and celebrate with us! For more information, please visit goto\mosaicamericas.

Every month, our Wellness Manager and registered dietitian Maya Billig (MS, RD, CDN) hosts informative virtual Wellness Wednesday classes from 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Don't miss this month's classes, be sure to sign up below!

• Virtual Wellness x Cooking Class: Middle Eastern Spice Crusted Chicken: Wednesday, February 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Virtual Wellness Wednesdays: Leveraging Nutrition, Exercise for Heart Health (Co-Taught by Fitness Specialist Enrique Camacho): Wednesday, February 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Virtual Wellness x Cooking Class: Hearty & Low Sodium Chili con Carne: Wednesday, February 18 from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Virtual Wellness Wednesdays: Beyond Black and White - The Rainbow Zone of Wellness: Wednesday, February 25 from 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

This month, expand your palate and join us for flavorful samplings and sales from an array of vendors below! The following offerings will be available during lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.:

• February 4: Unreal's chocolate snacks are all yum and no yuck, sweetened with cane sugar for a mind-blowing flavor! Stop by for an irresistible sample on Wednesday, February 4.

February 11: The Dessert Ladies will offer their elegant, themed sweets for purchase - an array of treats that are sure to make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Ready for the Superbowl? Wear your team's jersey and kick off the weekend's festivities with us here in the office! Build your own gameday box and load it up with wings, sliders, pretzels, and top it off with a beverage from our premium beer selection! Enjoy games, make friends (or friendly rivals!), and place your predictions for Sunday up on the board! Join us on Thursday, February 5 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the Hawk's Nest Library (seating area adjacent to the Game Room). Make sure to register below for this high-energy event:

Register Here

Our cafeteria continues to delight and surprise us all month long with several tasty offerings that will be available on the days listed below. Don’t miss out on these special items:

• February 6: In celebration of the Super Bowl, the Global Buffet will offer primetime picks such as Hot Dogs, Baby Back Ribs with Kansas City BBQ Sauce, Buffalo Wings, Steak Fries, Corn on the Cob, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, and Hot Dog Rolls from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• February 11: For an especially indulgent afternoon treat, stop by the Coffee Bar's Warm Cookie Pop Up from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• February 18: In celebration of Valentine's Day, don't miss this irresistible 'Marry Me Chicken' dish (named for its supposed ability to inspire a proposal due to its incredible flavor) served with Sundried Tomato & Spinach Cream Sauce, Stewed Orzo, Charred Peppers, Broccoli Rabe, and Roasted Garlic, available at the Chef's Table in the Café from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

February 25: Try one of New York City's street food classics, the knish (savory fried potato pastry), at the Coffee Bar from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Winter Olympics have arrived in the office - join us throughout the month of February for viewings of the Winter Games broadcast live from the Italian Alps! Watch as the world's top athletes compete for their countries in a range of winter sports, from dazzling figure skating to daring ski jumps! Games will be shown throughout the day all month long, beginning with the Opening Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6. You can view the games on the screens throughout the Hawk's Nest dining areas, including the Library seating area and the game room. No registration is required for these viewings, so invite your colleagues to join you in cheering for your favorite athletes!

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, our cafeteria is hosting a special pre-order sale featuring chocolate-dipped strawberries and red velvet cupcakes! Orders need to be placed by Tuesday, February 10 for pickup on Friday, February 13 at the Coffee Bar from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. To place your order, please visit the café to complete a pre-order sheet or submit your request using the Thrive app. The items and their prices are below:

• Box of 6 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries: $14

Box of 2 Red Velvet Cupcakes: $7

Whether you're interested in learning something new or want to improve your guitar skills further, register for a one-hour free guitar lesson taught by our UBS colleague Bryan Guner. Guitar lessons are taught every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., with the first session this month taking place on Tuesday, February 10. As space is limited, we ask that you please register by emailing us here. In your email, please include the date you would like to reserve and some information on your skill level.

The UBS Cooking School offers in-person classes where employees can practice their cooking skills and prepare fantastic recipes designed by our onsite chefs. A few of our popular, upcoming classes are featured below:

February 11: Seared Steak with Duck Fat Potatoes

• 11:00 a.m. class
• 12:30 p.m. class

February 17: Fried Shrimp Po' Boy

• 11:00 a.m. class
• 12:30 p.m. class

February 23: Beef Empanadas

• 11:00 a.m. class
• 12:30 p.m. class

February 25: One Hour Technical Class: Pasta Dough from Scratch

• 12:00 p.m. class

February 26: Lobster Fra Diavolo

• 11:00 a.m. class
• 12:30 p.m. class

Use this link to view more of our Cooking School classes: Cooking School

Are you looking for a cozy activity to finish off the workday? Join our new weekly knitting club, which will meet Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. starting February 11. This group will be led by our UBS colleague Megan Moreau, who has years of experience in different styles of knitting and crocheting. All materials will be provided and at the end of each session your work will be stored securely so you can pick right back up where you left off! All skill levels are welcome and instructional resources will be made available each session. As space is limited, we ask that you please register by emailing us here. In your email, please include some info on your skill level and what items you'd be interested in crafting.

In honor of Black History Month, join our Book Club which will meet in person weekly from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, February 11. This month, we will be partnering with MOSAIC to dive into a remarkable work of Black Sci-Fi/Speculative Fiction from the twentieth century, 'Parable of the Sower' by Octavia Butler. This novel follows teenager Lauren Olamina as she learns to navigate an increasingly challenging environment in a world where civil order has ceased to exist in any meaningful way. We will meet in person weekly in Conference Room #10 (second floor, 1200 building) to discuss the previous section of the book, and employees from all sites are welcome to join in on the discussion via Teams using this link. Books will be provided for all guests registering to join in person and will be available for pick-up from the Community Management Desk (second floor adjacent to TechPoint) starting Wednesday, February 4 at noon. Please make sure to register here to secure your copy:

Register Here

Happy birthday to you! Join us each month to celebrate our UBS colleagues' special day together. For this festive occasion, we'll have plenty of birthday cake and of course, we'll all sing 'Happy birthday'! We will celebrate February's birthdays on Thursday, February 12 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Hawk's Nest A (seating area by the Cooking School). To make sure you don’t miss out on the celebration, please register here:

Register Here

Join us to celebrate the day of love with this special LEGO crafting event, where you'll get the chance to build a stunning rose piece by piece! Pick your 'flower', take a seat, and enjoy this relaxing hands-on experience during the lunch hour. We will meet in Hawk's Nest A (seating area in front of the Cooking School) from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 12. This is a unique event you will not want to miss, so please be sure to register below:

Register Here

This event is co-sponsored by the UBS Young Professionals Network (YPN)

In celebration of New York Fashion Week, join us for a discussion with a world-class master tailor who has dressed two U.S. Presidents, multiple 'A-list' celebrities, and has been a key figure in costume design for several hit television shows. Joseph Genuardi, founder of Genuardi Master Tailor, will bring his years of experience, wisdom, and craftsmanship into the office for an engaging discussion on the art of men's business attire. Expect to learn about fabrics, cuts, silhouettes, tips to improve your in-office style, and more! Three lucky guests will be chosen to join Joseph after the event for a five-minute personal style consultation. This one-hour session will take place on Tuesday, February 17 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Conference Room #3 (second floor, 1200 building). This is an event you will not want to miss, so please register below to secure your spot:

Register Here

Après-Ski is a timeless tradition at snowy ski lodges around the world where drinks and conversations flow, tunes fill the room, and delicious treats are dipped in cheese fondue.

Join us for this first-of-its-kind event as we transform the Cooking School into a Swiss Chalet on Wednesday, February 18 from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.!

Explore the different culinary stations and activities:

• Kirsch Spritz with Homemade Cherry Soda
• Classic Swiss Cheese Fondue
• Italian Alpine Cheese Fondue
• Dippers & Skewers DIY Bar: Breads, Meats, Vegetables, Pickles, Preserves
• European Bites Buffet Bar: Crostini, Charcuterie, Crudité, Salads, Tortellini
• DIY Hot Cider & Sweets Bar

Please be sure to register below to secure your spot:

Register Here

Heart Health Awareness Month: Take Care of Your Heart

February is Heart Health Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to focus on our most vital muscle – the heart! Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but the good news is that many risk factors are within our control. Here are some simple ways to show your heart some love:

• Move Your Body: Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking or dancing, at least 5 days a week.
• Fuel Your Heart: Focus on whole foods, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Manage Stress: Try meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises to keep stress in check.
• Get Checked: Know your numbers – including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
• Quit Smoking: Get support to kick the habit and reduce your risk.

Small changes add up! What’s one heart healthy habit you’ll start this month?

How to Access Services:

All UBS (Non-Contractor) Employees can access our Health Center Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., schedule online via the MyPremiseHealth portal, or by calling your dedicated health center. No cost, 30-minute mental health consults are available with Behavioral Health.

Hot Off the Press: Newly Updated Dietary Guidelines

If you’ve seen headlines about the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and feel confused, you’re not alone. Updated every 5 years, these guidelines serve as the foundation for nutrition advice from healthcare professionals nationwide.

The purpose of the Dietary Guidelines is to translate nutrition science into practical recommendations that support health and reduce disease risk. An independent panel of experts - the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee - review thousands of studies and produce a scientific report that has traditionally served as the foundation for the final guidelines.

This time around, the committee released clear, evidence-based conclusions, but several results were reframed in ways that do not fully represent the findings. Still, the guidelines get many fundamentals right. Decades of research consistently support eating mostly whole, minimally processed foods; prioritizing vegetables and fruit; choosing whole over refined grains; limiting added sugars and excess sodium; drinking mostly water; and keeping alcohol intake low. These patterns are repeatedly linked to better health and longevity.

The guidance is less aligned with evidence in what foods are emphasized and placed highest on the pyramid. Recommended daily protein intake is elevated in the updated guidelines despite no widespread deficiency, while foods strongly linked to long-term health (whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and fruit) are deemphasized and placed lower on the pyramid. The messaging around saturated fat is mixed and the omission of guidance on processed meats ignores strong evidence of their harm.

When we zoom out, the pattern is clear: populations with the lowest disease risk eat diets rich in plant-based whole foods. The underlying science hasn’t changed regardless of how the guidelines are framed.

On Thursday, February 19, we'll be celebrating National Margarita Day with two types of margaritas on tap, and everyone's favorite musical game - musical chairs! Pick a salt or tajín-rimmed glass, sample delicious cocktails, and compete to be the last one standing in musical chairs. The winner will receive a set of four UBS-branded highball glasses, perfect for chilled drinks year-round! This event will take place from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room #3 (second floor, 1200 building). This event will sell out quick, so please be sure to purchase your ticket below:

Register Here