Wednesday Wardrobe Wants: New Year's Eve Glam

Black and blue is not just for bruises.


The color combination can be the epitome of evening elegance.


And what better night than New Year’s Eve to display such bold sophistication?


This is what I would like to wear (if I was going out this NYE) - I like it's urban elegance, no?

Items in this set:

French Connection Panel Dress
Ribbon Bow Waist Belt 

Rock and Republic Celina Blue pumps

Hobo metallic clutch

Kimberly McDonald 18K White Gold Double Geode earrings

Franco Pianegonda Glitter Sapphire Ring

Tasty Tuesday: Pistachio Crusted Scallops for that Occasion around the corner

In case you weren’t aware, New Year’s Eve is around the corner!  And this year the husband and I have decided to stay in on New Year’s for a couple of reasons: 

1. Transportation:  It’s impossible to get a cab on NYE, the public transportation actually stops running pretty early considering what night it is (and can be unreliable – the time we waited for the El in 20 degree weather on NYE while I was in a short party dress and heels is not a pleasant memory), and well, driving is not a good idea. 
2. Expenses:  For what we consider a normal night out in the city, all of a sudden the cost is 3x as much on NYE.  We often go to dinner and drinks, or out to a concert, so it seems odd to us that we would pay 3 or 4 times more than normal to do this on one particular night. 

And so you have it, we are perfectly content staying in on NYE and going out with our friends on any of the other 364 days this year.  We have done it both ways before, and I can honestly say I’m looking forward to staying in!  Why you ask?  Because it means that we will be indulging in a special home cooked meal!

Here is what our NYE menu will consist of:

Gourmet cheese and olives
Pistachio Crusted Scallops with Chardonnay Cream
Strawberry, Avocado and Spinach Salad
Chocolate Fondue with fresh fruit for dipping
Prosecco sparkling wine to toast in the New Year

Last time we stayed in we did caviar and king crab legs, which were absolutely di-vine (can I stress that enough?!) and the meal felt so classically fantastic.  This year we decided to change it up a bit, and with my husband’s request for scallops I dusted off this recipe I learned at a cooking class at the Chopping Block a year or so ago.


And so this Tasty Tuesday I share with you this delightful scallop recipe!

photo courtesy of Club Corp.com

The sauce in this recipe is not this vivid orange, but delicious just the same!

For the scallops:

1 pound scallops
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup pistachios, finely ground
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (has a higher heat tolerance and lighter flavor than EVOO)

Season the scallops with salt and pepper.  Press one side of the scallops in the ground pistachios.  Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat and add the grapeseed oil.  Sear the scallops on the pistachio crusted side first until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.  Flip and repeat.  Continue to cook until the scallop is just cooked through.  Serve with cream sauce.

Side note – some people are intimidated to cook scallops because they are such a delicate food.  A couple tips for cooking a scallop beautifully: 1) make sure the scallops are dried off well before searing. 2) you will be able to tell if they are done when they lose all translucency and are no longer soft to the touch.

For the sauce:

2 tablespoons butter
2 shallots, minced
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 cup chardonnay
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons chives, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a sauce pan over medium heat and add the butter. Gently sauté the shallot until translucent, about 2 minutes.  Add the curry powder and sauté for 1 additional minute.  Add the wine and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to a simmer and reduce the wine by half.  Stir in the cream and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes.  Stir in the chives and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Voila!  It really is pretty simple, no? For the scallops, you can eyeball however many scallops you would like to serve, a pound seems a bit much for just the husband and I. I will make the full recipe for the sauce though, just because I’m ok with having a little extra sauce. :)

If you’d like any of the other recipes from my NYE menu, just let me know and I’d be happy to send to you!

A city girl’s book review – East of the Sun by Julia Gregson

The days in between Christmas and New Year’s are often calm, quiet winter days for me, the perfect time to curl up by the fire (if only my Chicago apartment had a fireplace, we would certainly make use of it!) and read a good book. And so I thought what better time to write about one of my favorite books I discovered this year – East of the Sun by Julia Gregson.

When I picked up this novel after just attending an Indian wedding in the Alabama heat, my intention was to find enjoyment and relate the book to my recent exposure to Indian culture. Little did I know I would soon become enchanted by the story, not wanting to start or end my day without reading it, and at the same time dreading the day it was over and I had to say goodbye to the characters I had forged a great connection. 

East of the Sun has now received the recognition of International Bestseller, and no one should be surprised. Julia Gregson (who also authored The Water Horse) weaves a story of characters from two different parts of the world so brilliantly one questions if she lived it (She didn’t though, yet it is built on the reality of a woman she did know.) 

The story begins in 1928 on a large cruise ship where a gaggle of girls excitedly await their arrival in India. Called the “Fishing Fleet”, their mission is to head east, cast their bait, and get a catch - or more literally, land a gentleman suitable for marriage. You have Rose, quiet and beautiful, who is leaving her beloved family in England to marry a man in India she barely knows. Her best friend, Victoria, who is everything you want a best friend to be – supportive, sometimes mischievous, and always adding an element of drama to their adventure, as she tries her hand at finding her own “catch” to write home about to mum. And then there’s Viva Holloway, a few years older than Victoria and Rose yet not quite old enough to take on the responsibility of chaperon, though she certainly tries.  Add in one more kid named Guy Glover, a troubled schoolboy whose parents really should have known better than to send him out of their sight (though I believe that’s the point, to relieve him off their hands) and you have one interesting bunch. 

And so this crowd has adventures on their journey across sea, and once docked it’s only compounded. Mix in the exotic Indian culture, the juxtaposition of the poverty stricken streets of Tamarind, and the wealth of the Bombay Yacht club, and you have one heck of a ride. 

East of the Sun is a tale for anyone who appreciates a fantastically told story, with highs and lows, romance and turbulence, wealth and poverty, culture clash and cultural romance. Just note my “I told you so” when you’re sad that it’s over.

Wednesday Wardrobe Wants: Christmas evening fashion for the family celebration

Each year, I have the dilemna of what to wear for Christmas dinner and evening celebration with the family.  You want to look nice, polished, yet comfortable enough to kick back and enjoy the long night.  I started an entirely different look only to scratch it and end up here, much like what I'm sure I'll be doing with my own closet tomorrow.

I love the geometric and tailored pieces of this look.  The subdued colors allow you to explore some really fun (and festive!) shoes and accesories with a bit of sparkle without overpowering the family-friendly look, maintaining your polish, and dare I say it? sophistication. :)

Here are my Wednesday Wardrobe Wants:

Sportmax blouse, Catherine Malandrino skirt, Marni suede platforms with bow and jewel detail, Yves saint laurent bag, 18K White Gold Ring with Geode and Diamond, Natalia Brilli leather cuff, Swarovski geometric earrings

What will you be wearing for your family Christmas celebrations?

Tasty Tuesday: The Dreaded Dessert? Or Delicious Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

It should be no secret I love to cook, but perhaps it is lesser known that I am often intimidated to bake. Cooking is like the flower child sibling to the older sister baker, a sister strict in rules in regulations with a sibling known to live freely and see where life takes them. Generally speaking baking is about precision, and to see great results you oftentimes must follow the recipe pretty carefully. I’ve actually never had a disaster in the dessert arena (ok totally just jinxed myself), but I much more enjoy the option and potential to make something “one of a kind” by deviating from a recipe to cook up something good. And I’m not the only one that feels this way…



Why am I ranting and raving about this topic you ask? Because today I embark on baking holiday cookies, and I need some dear reader support here. I love the outcome of a delicious holiday cookie, but the process can be slightly…daunting. Especially with the holiday cookie – where many times there is sugar dough involved, rolling pin required, and frosting & sprinkles galore, all of which are above and beyond my green thumb in the kitchen.

After tasting these heavenly morsels at Terzo Piano (which you can read about here), I decided I had to swallow my fears and give them a try. So this is the recipe I will be baking today, and I share it with you on this delicious Tasty Tuesday right before Christmas.

A few things I like about these cookies – 1) they are chocolate-y, which is slightly off the beaten track for the standard holiday cookie 2) they are meant to be morsels, so you can indulge without popping your pants button 3) they stay decisively moist in the center, and thus are like a brownie + cookie all in one!

So here you go, dear readers, from Terzo’s recipe book to yours:

 photo courtesy of cakeitaly.com

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

½ c. butter
1 ½ c. brown sugar
8 oz. chocolate, melted
3 3/4 c. All Purpose flour
¾ c. cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 tspn vanilla
1/3 c. milk
Granulated sugar, on plate for coating
Powdered sugar, on a plate for coating
Candy canes, broken into small pieces

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with silicon baking sheet or parchment paper.
• With an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar. This should be mixed until the butter looks fluffy.
• Add the melted chocolate, eggs and vanilla to the butter mixture and combine well.
• Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add a third of the dry ingredients and a third of the milk, alternating until all are mixed in.
• Take a small amount of the dough and roll into a ball between your palms. Drop onto a plate (it should be about the width of a quarter) with granulated sugar to coat the outside, then move to the powdered sugar plate and do the same.
• Sprinkle top of cookie with candy cane pieces and place on baking sheet, about 3 inches apart.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to cooling racks with a metal spatula.

Wish me luck :)

Thank you to Alaina of Live Creating Yourself

Thank you to Alaina of Live Creating Yourself for including me in her list of Kindred Spirit bloggers countdown before the holidays!  Alaina did an amazing job of putting this series of posts together, from putting a playlist on her site which plays the kindred spirits' favorite holiday songs, to creating great collages of each featured blog (check mine out below!):

 

I've been loving Live Creating Yourself for inspiration design ideas, and as a fellow Chicago blogger we have a love of our beautiful city in common. Head on over and check it out!

Foodie Friday: A city girl’s review of Chicago’s C-House restaurant

When I looked up what the White House served at the recent state dinner, I was so pleased to see the menu was created by a chef with some Chicago roots. I must say, President Obama has done a terrific job taking some of the food and culture of Chicago to the White House. First with Redmoon Theater orchestrating the House’s Halloween festivities, and now with Chef Marcus Samuelsson being Guest Chef for the state dinner. How appropriately fantastic!

So seeing Marcus has an acclaimed restaurant here in this very city, I had to check it out. Located in the Affinia hotel, I was slightly skeptical at first, given hotel restaurants can have the tendency of being… mediocre and overpriced. But given the obvious backing by the President (side note to show is his taste, he is also a fan of Spiaggia), and press in Chicago Magazine, Chicago Time Out, Chicago Social, and more I quickly changed expectations to be more in line with what I was reading. Therefore, stepping into C-House I actually came in with high expectations.

Stepping into the restaurant the atmosphere matched that of modern fine dining. Clean lines, with muted earth tone colors, tre chic I say. Their clever branding is also a plus in my book, as a business / marketing graduate, I appreciate the thought put into both the name and logo.

Now, onto the food.

We started with the Chef’s selection from the C-Bar: tuna with pine nut and toasted rice vinaigrette, crab salad with apple & bacon vinaigrette, and Yellowtail fish tacos served with deliciously roasted corn kernels and herbs (which I could not get enough of!) I think those corn kernels were the highlight of the night for me.

We paired our C-Bar h'orderves with cocktails from the bar: me a lavender lemon concoction, perfect for a girl with a sweet tooth, and my husband enjoyed a Perfect Storm (pictured here), complete with egg whites for just a little froth. (how pretty is that cherry sitting at the bottom of the drink?)

Next up were oysters, from which we tried the Penn Cove, Sunset Beach and Beausoleil.  They were delish, and tasted as if they had been scooped out of the ocean saltwater just moments ago.

My only gripe was that our server didn't know which topping was more appropriately placed on which oyster, and I think this might have increased my enjoyment of the flavors. Slurpring up sweet oysters, I would have liked to know not to put the sugary accompaniment on top. I didn’t know not to do this however, until I had tasted it, and it was time to move onto the next oyster. Oy vey, I say!

Side note - If you are an oyster fan, I would recommend checking out their “one buck shuck” – which is $1 oysters every Tues, Wed, and Thurs from 4-7PM in the C-House Bar & Lounge (and of course they have other specials to accompany the oysters as well)

Out came our entrees. I opted to go with the Grilled Whole Trout with bacon,pears, & brown butter, and though I didn’t quite get a pic of it whole, here is a pic of it half eaten :) (I know... patience is a virtue - I’m working on it!)

And more than half-eaten:

I absolutely devoured my plate. The flavors combined to form this complexity on the dish, yet the ingredients were all fairly simple. I couldn’t get enough of the cubes of bacon, and found myself wondering if there was any part of the fish head I could eat without making our dining neighbors squirm. I decided against it, but it was difficult.

My husband went with the Poached Sturgeon with peekytoe crab, fennel, & pickled crab apple, and as I was so enjoying my trout, I didn’t want to interrupt my experience to taste his. 

We were at that point too full for dessert (I mean did you see how I cleaned my plate?) and so we opted to linger over coffee. The small size of the restaurant and the fact that it is, afterall, in a hotel, seemed to keep the crowds away. It was a quiet and enjoyable evening.

C-House Fish & Chops
166 E. Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312.523.0923

Happy Foodie Friday~

The vote is in: It’s ok to be well-rounded

photo courtesy of cutebabyfix.com

I think butterball babies are the cutest, don’t you?

Last week I polled you dear readers around what was your favorite topic here on CGC. And guess what? The majority vote was the choice, “I like the variety, keep them all” - - which I must say, made me very happy. We’re all multi-faceted people, with multiple interests. Why not share varying topics on blogs then? I have some general “theme days” (not cheesy I promise) which allow readers focused on one topic to know when to expect a post. Tasty Tuesday, for example, you can count on receiving a recipe. Or Wednesday Wardrobe Wants, where I share my likes in fashion. And Foodie Friday, which will be some tidbit about restaurants or the food scene in general. The rest of the days are sprinkled with odds and ends I find delightful in between. My hope is that you find each and every post enjoyable, but I know there's some that just want their fashion fix, or foodie fix, or whatever!  I hope to appeal to you all, my well-rounded readers. :)

Please keep up the comments on posts which you enjoy, and sending me feedback and nice perky emails. I love hearing from you, in every way shape or form.

I’ve now enabled the “following” feature on the right-hand side as well, so if you like my blog, please follow me, mention it in the comments, and I’ll follow you back!

Wednesday Wardrobe Wants: The sophisticated snow bunny

Here in Chicago, winter weather clothes are a must. So how do you avoid looking frumpy when the frigid air requires multiple layers and pretty much only your eyes to peek out? Luxurious fabrics, and light, warm layers are a start.  Winter looks can contain delicate details, adding softness to your look like a winter snow bunny.

I call it the sophisticated snow bunny, because if you haven't noticed, everything's sophisticated around here

These are my Wednesday wardrobe wants~

Philip Lim Ribbon-tie cocoon cardigan, Marc by Marc Jacobs jeans, Mukluks short suede boots, Burberry perforated leather hobo bag, Burberry Sunblushed cashmere-blend checked scarf, Pom-pom slouch cap, Leather and chains cuff bracelet, Tory Burch Lattice gloves, Polki sphere earrings

side note: I've enabled the following feature! please follow my blog if you like it :) mention it in the comment, and i'll follow you back!

A Tasty Tuesday review: The Art Institute of Chicago puts on cooking class at Terzo Piano. Success? Or Fail?

My husband is a big fan of a website called shipmentoffail.com. People always look at him quizzically when he brings this up, then ask him what exactly it is. “It’s posts of people failing at different things – it’s really funny” Umm… ok. The thing is, it is quite funny. Some posts hysterically funny. The great aspect of this website is that anything you run across in your day-to-day has the potential of becoming a fail. When you start thinking in these terms, the fails you see in life become funnier and more pronounced. Walking into the Terzo Piano cooking class this past Sunday, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I could have been walking into a potential “fail” situation – I didn’t have a lot of information to go off, and as I attend many cooking classes around the city, I did have expectations.

Wow. This was the word that kept stumbling out of my mouth as my girlfriend and I exited the Terzo Piano restaurant (at the Modern Wing of the Art Institute) Sunday. We couldn’t quite articulate our pleasure. And so it took me these solid 40 hours to digest the experience enough to write about it now. We were pampered with a 2 hour cooking class featuring Chef Tony Mantuano’s selections, (head chef of Spiaggia, Café Spiaggia, and now, Terzo Piano. He’s also a 2005 James Beard winner!). Not only that, but Tony Mantuano was there himself, with his wife who is also in the food / wine business, spilling words of wisdom on us from start to end.

With the class focused on appetizers and cocktails fit for a foodie fete, it was the perfect subject matter for this time of year. We left the class with an arsenal of new recipes to test out (both food and drink), along with cooking tips, Chicago history tidbits, and foodie facts. Here I share with you my two favorite recipes from the session. All will be going in my recipe book. And I will be back again come March for the next Terzo Piano cooking class. The only fail of the session? My hopeful-turn-downtrodden face when the raffle winner was announced and the winner collected her signed copy of the Mantuano cookbook, Wine Bar Food. *sigh*

My two favorite recipes demonstrated on Sunday:

photo courtesy of foodnetwork.com

Parmesan Frico
The simplest, easiest thing you'll ever make - these cheese crisps are light, flavorful and perfectly pretty for party platters

Ingredient: High Quality Parmesan Cheese (or other favorite hard cheese), grated with a medium grate

• Preheat over to 350 degrees
• Line a sheet pan with a silicone baking sheet. Mound cheese in about 1 Tblspn size, and spread slightly so cheese is even in thickness.  Leave space about 2" around each mound.
• Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown
• Remove the frico with an offset spatula onto parchment paper to cool.  Serve at room temperature.
• May be kept overnight in an airtight container

Quail Rillette

These rillettes are a bit fancier yet equally delicious. They taste like something your grandmother would make using fresh ingredients from the Italian countryside.  A bit rustic, tender quail on crunchy toast - yum.

Ingredients:

8 pieces Quail, semi-boneless (or may use duck legs, rabbit, chicken legs, etc)

EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

3 cloves garlic

Zest of two oranges

2 sprigs rosemary

Handful fresh sage

Salt & pepper

for the brioche:

Toasted bread

Orange zest

EVOO

Chiffonade of sage for garnish

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Rinse the quail and season well with salt and pepper.
• Place the quail into a large roasting pan or casserole dish. Cover with EVOO. Add garlic, orange zest and herbs. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Place in the oven and cook until the meat from the quail is very tender - pulls apart when touched with a fork.  This should take about 2 hours or more.
• Remove the dish from the oven carefully, uncover and cool down in an ice bath (or in the fridge)
• When manageable in temperature, pick the meat off the quail into a metal bowl over ice. Strain the oil into a pourable container, like a pitcher.
• Pour a small amount of oil over the quail meat and stir vigorously.  Oil will emulsify into the meat mixture when it hits the cold meat. Continue to add oil until the desired consistency is reached. Check for seasoning.
• To serve, toast some bread (brioche) and spread the rillettes over the top. Garnish each toast with some EVOO, a small piece of orange zest and chiffonade of fresh sage.

Serves ~20 people

This was the first of a series of cooking classes Terzo Piano and The Art Institute have planned.  The next is March 27th, and will "celebrate Henri Matisse's artwork through food and drink".  Information is not up on their website yet, so for information call 312-443-8650. 

Happy Tasty Tuesday~

Foodie Friday – The Violet Hour & Bluebird – the ultimate duo?

As I mentioned on Wednesday, I visited The Bluebird last Friday on a double date with my foodie friend and the boy which swoons after her (she promptly corrected me from Wednesday’s post, she was not to be portrayed as the swooner! I do agree dear foodie friend, no girl should be the sole swooner in a relationship. It is only when the swooning is mutual that it is a proper relationship – which of course yours is) In any matter, before we did any food ingestion we first of course had to have a proper cocktail. Enter The Violet Hour. I have made mention of the Violet Hour before (in this post here), but I’ve never given a proper review before.

Violet Hour is one of my favorite places to take two types of people 1) Anyone who appreciates a supreme cocktail and the finesse which goes into one, and 2) anyone from out of town or that is not familiar with the concept of the Violet Hour, since it is just such an interesting concept executed so well. That being said, I guess that doesn’t leave a whole lot of people that I wouldn’t take to Violet Hour :) 

The allure of The Violet Hour is not new any more (to me and much of Chicago), however I still love the concept. Made to emulate a speak-easy on the outside, the only thing that marks the entrance is a lantern overhead the door. If the lantern is on, The Violet Hour is open. The wood-planked side of the building is often painted with different works of graffiti, or as I like to call it, street art, since there really is talent that goes into it as well. (Side note – I wonder if they commission the artists to do the street art for them, since it does seem to be very intentional). Once entered you have to go through a set of thick velvet curtains which hang from the very high ceiling all the way down to the floor. You are now entering the “hush and wonder” as they call it, and you get your first chance to look around the room.

The lounge is separated into two rooms, and then further into smaller spaces of intimacy, and my favorite is the front room for the pure sake of people watching. The chairs are more appropriately called thrones, sky-rocketing high backs making you feel like the shrunken Alice (as in Alice & Wonderland) and you can’t help but wonder what potions you’ll be given and if they’ll make you grow to fit the chair? The bar flanks the right hand side of the room as you walk in, and you know there are some pretty exotic ingredients behind. Chill music sets the tone, you’re seated, and ready to indulge.

You’re given a thick menu and it’s only when you look inside (by dimly lit candlelight) you realize it’s mostly all for cocktails / liquors / adult beverages so to speak. Sure they serve food, and darn good food too (little sammies, yummy frites, and delicious duck meatballs), but c’mon, we’re focused on the drinks. They make all their own house syrups, they pay attention to their ice cubes (a sign of cocktail sophistication), and they are so innovative on their conconctions even the most cultured cocktail palettes are sure to find something new to explore. And that is what Violet Hour is for – exploring. There are drinks with egg whites (quite delicious, it just adds a touch of froth), absinthe, lavender and violet. The bartenders and wait staff are so knowledgeable it’s really a shame if you don’t put them to use. Tell them what you like in a cocktail, and they’re sure to provide a recommendation for you that has you glowing afterwards. This is not the place to order a Miller Lite (it’s really not, they don’t carry it so don’t even try!)

Despite all this grandeur, Violet Hour still achieves an element of comfort. Take friends, family (I have taken any family member I that visits over the age of 21!), sit back and unwind.

Haha, so now that I’ve written a thorough review of The Violet Hour, what about The Bluebird you ask? It is quite convenient to make the two a date night duo, since the Bluebird is straight down Damen just about 3 blocks. I won’t be quite as wordy reviewing it, as well, quite frankly it doesn’t deserve quite as many words.

It is a good restaurant, don’t get me wrong. It is a great date place, given it’s vibe, concept and location. It’s also priced appropriately, so you don’t have to worry that you’re not getting your money’s worth.

The neatest thing I found about Bluebird is their large selection of beer which is served in bottles similar to wine. This was definitely a night for imbibing! Our table started off sharing a bottle of light wheat ale, and then the ladies separated from the gents so we could split what sounded good to us. I think we tried a total of 6 different beers amongst us, and we owe a thank you to our waiter for consistently providing good recommendations for our different tastes and food pairings.

Our table split the serrano ham, manchego cheese & egg flatbread, which was bready and felt like comfort food, heavier than your average flatbread. Foodie friend and I then went with the mussels, sautéed in a white ale with shallots, chili flake and garlic and a side of frites to split. These were great – just what you want out of a mussels and frites combo. The best part to me? The curry ketchup, which I’ve yet to emulate at home but you’re darn tooting if I don’t! (don’t ask me where I got that expression, I think from my mother?) The husband went with the bison burger, and the swooner with mac + cheese with goat's milk cheddar cheese and bacon. That was delicious. That was comfort food.

Summary? Make Violet Hour a destination and get creative with your cocktails. Explore the hush and wonder. Try Bluebird for a unique date, a friendly gathering, beer connoisseurs, palattes that want to explore, and palattes that want to play it safe. It’s a good well-rounded restaurant with a laid-back warm atmosphere, and, some great art ;-)

Christmas Cocktails: {Another} holiday party look

A party of modern opulence. Luxury at it’s finest. Think swanky hotel lounge + subtle sophistication.  That's where this Christmas cocktail party's at...

The husband asked why I always put a chair in my fashion spreads. “Because a lady always needs somewhere to perch of course!” Besides, it sets the stage for where this said lady is wearing her garb – a picture can do more than words, no?
 
Think red lips, hair swept up with falling wisps.  That's what I see for her to look the part of the ultimate sophisticate.  Perhaps if she perches just so, she will get caught under the mistletoe (do you spy it?) and her red lips will rub off on her gentleman's.  A merry Christmas indeed.

Drip-style art: Cy Twombly, John Coyle Steinbrunner, and, my brother?

If you’ve been following my blog for any amount of time (thank you, dear readers!) you’ll remember the post I did in October about my visit to The Modern Wing and the artist Cy Twombly’s similarities to my brother’s artwork (or perhaps it’s the other way around?) If you’ve forgotten, or are curious, you can find it here :-)

Last Friday I had the delight of doing a double-date with my foodie friend to meet the boy she swoons after, and we found ourselves at Bluebird (no worries, the restaurant review will be up soon – that’s just not that point of this post) We all took a minute to soak in the atmosphere before any imbibing or indulging began, and as the husband and I know one of the artist’s whose art decks their walls (Mary Livoni, a lovely lady who works with my father), we were of course curious about the others.

Enter, John Coyle Steinbrunner, who does fascinating abstract pieces:

My foodie friend’s boy asked if the drips in J.C’s work was intentional. “Of course!” I replied, as loyal readers will remember this is one of renowned Twombly's signature styles.  Such as these:

And then you have my brother's art, which follows suit, such as these:

All very different artists, though all embracing the drip. Is this “drip-style” as I have termed it the way of modern art? Can you name any other artists that follow similar suit?

If you’re interested in learning more about Steinbrunner or Livoni’s art currently decorating The Bluebird, you may like to attend the Bluebird Salon Series, “Picture This Like This”, where you receive dinner and drinks, plus a discussion with the artists, all for $30 a person. Click here for more info – your last chance is this Sunday!

Tasty Tuesday: An Apple Chutney Recipe to warm your soul

I cooked up a storm this past weekend – perhaps it was all my stormin’ in the kitchen which brought about this wintry weather we’re now receiving (well don’t hold me to that). After the busiest Friday I’ve had in a while, all I wanted to do is hibernate in my cozy apartment and cook. And so I did. The husband and I have started a tradition of eating pork on Sunday night – it all began when we bought delicious cuts of pork from the farmer’s market one Saturday over the summer, and it’s been history in the making ever since.

So this Sunday being no different, I decided to make pork shoulder with a side of apple-ginger chutney. The apple chutney is really the spotlight stealer in my mind – it’s moist, flavorful, fruity, and pairs excellently with pig. We didn’t even snap a pic because we were just too excited to eat (I need to get better at patience when a plate is in front of me!). And the best part is, I made this recipe with items I already had in my fridge. That’s one of the things I love about cooking – have a properly stocked kitchen, and the possibilities are pretty endless. No need to go out grocery shopping for this one folks!

From my recipe book to yours:

serves about 4

mmm... yum!

And next I'll share a way of cooking the pork to go along with the chutney.  Both of these recipes are so flexible and you really could pair the chutney with anything you'd like! (It even tastes great on sandwiches - so you can make a bigger batch for leftovers)

isn't this the cutest? My hubby added his own notes so I wouldn't forget the details.  I didn't notice this until I went into my recipe book to take this photo. I think he was trying to give me a hint? ;)

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

A new week, a new holiday season, a new zen

Zen is a way of being.  It also is a state of mind. 

As we all start to shift our focus to the new week, I thought I’d post about something I’ve been meaning to write about for a while.  Had I just been less stressed this week, I might have gotten this post out sooner.  This topic has been on my mind for a few weeks now - Ways to de-stress, to live with zen.

It all started when I went and got a massage a couple weeks ago – I had a very intuitive massage therapist, and she talked to me for a while about letting go of my anxieties on a daily basis.  Everyone has them – the things that keep streaming through your head at night, or the daily matters that make your shoulders slowly creep up to your ears throughout the course of the day.  I went to the spa to de-stress for that day, and what I found was the whole topic of finding ways to unwind brought to the forefront of my mind.

It’s so important to take time out of our busy schedules to make sure we are doing ok – that we’re healthy, and in the right state of mind, living with the right attitude towards life.  It’s only when we put ourselves first that the rest of it falls into place – our relationships, family & friends, work, fun, balance.

So I started compiling ideas, and trying these items throughout the past couple weeks. I think it’s the appropriate time to share them as we embark on not only this new week, but the holiday season, which can sometimes become the most stressful of times for even the most peaceful of people.

I started thinking about things to do and found myself organizing them into 3 levels – things to do daily, weekly, and monthly.  The common thread?  In order to de-stress it should be about you.  Chatting with a friend doesn’t count, as much fun that that is – that’s not "you time".

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Daily 

Find a ritual to put into your daily routine that allows you to unwind .  It can be as small as an afternoon cup of tea that helps soothe your worries (my recent personal favorite), reading a good book or listening to music that takes your mind off work / day to day tasks, or setting 20-30 min aside each day to do what you enjoy – anything that you personally find detoxifying:  writing in a journal, some exercise, a walk with the pooch.

Weekly

Think about what you wish you had time for, and then carve out the time to do it (Sundays a great day to start planning out the week).  A bubble bath?  Make it a Sunday night ritual.  A manicure?  Set aside time during your week to make sure it happens.  For me, it’s a good home-cooked meal.  Sure, I cook *simple* recipes during the week but on the weekends is when I like to stretch myself in this realm.  I choose a recipe that sounds challenging and tackle it.  The husband enjoys the outcome and I enjoy the therapeutic process of peeling the veggies, prepping the kitchen, and making a great meal.  I realize this may sound like torture to some - - and that’s why this is all about making it your own. :)

Monthly 

This can be a bit more challenging, since it’s not on a daily or weekly basis you need to make sure to plan ahead so it doesn’t slip through the cracks.  Think of something you long to do, then schedule it in! A monthly museum exploration, a massage, a few hours on a hobby you’ve been meaning to do / try… In the city, I’ve found the activity of doing a city walk and window shopping recharges my batteries and gives me the sense of independence I like to maintain.  Getting out on my own into the elements, putting foot to pavement, and discovering - is liberating to me.

The more you think about living holistically, de-stressing and maintaining healthy living, the easier it becomes.  Share with me the things you do to unwind, and I’ll check back later with a post to further ideas.  

Have a stress free week!

Tasty Tuesday: My secret weapon - Wakamono

For this Tasty Tuesday, I thought I’d share with you a local gem that serves up delicious (light!) nourishment for a very reasonable price.

Many of us are still just emerging from the food comos we encountered last week – the tryptophan in turkey is no laughing matter. So I thought I’d share with you a lighter fare – in hopes that you’d appreciate it even more today than others. This place is my hidden weapon – I’ve taken all my friends and family there at one time or another. I almost don’t want to write about this spot for fear they become overrun with popularity that they’re impossible to get into anymore (but who am I kidding, my reader base is not that large... yet!). Not that’s it’s currently easy – with a no reservation policy, try 8PM on a Friday night and you will be waiting for a good 90 min. (though if you take a que from umbecauseisaidso, you can find ways to pass the time creatively)

For all you sushi lovers out there, this one is for you. It is the best sushi I’ve ever had, and trust me I continually try to top it, but, no dice. Wakamono. Home of the most delicious maki rolls. They truly know they’re flavor combinations. I haven’t had a roll there that didn’t appeal to me. My favorites are the wakamono roll, peter parker spider roll, kani chung roll, godzilla roll, oh and the yo la mango roll, ok and last one… the classic dragon roll. Everything is so fresh, so tasty.

This restaurant is great for a date, for friends, for enemies. It brings people together. They have a very nifty *little* bar, decorated to the nines with gold glint, mirrors and red accents, in a separate room where you can wait for a table. The restaurant itself is small, and tables can be close together, which here adds to the vibe that you’re in a very cool place – it doesn’t feel overcrowded or claustrophobic like some places can. Also, if you have a party of six and time it right, there is a table that is tucked away in its own little nook (which I have been swooning to sit at for 4 years, so don't tell me if you do, I'll be very jealous!)

And don’t just go for the maki. The appetizers are divine – I can’t say enough about the jalapeño miso soup, and fresh edamame is an all-time fave (like the maki, I don’t know what magic they use, but it is the best edamame I’ve ever had) To top it all off? It is BYOB, with a small corkage fee ($5); a thrifty option never frowned upon.

Sometimes, when the husband and I want a nice night in with delicious light fare and no clean up, we order Wakamono for delivery and set up a nice spread to enjoy. It really is divine. In fact, it is the meal we ate the night of our engagement, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Here I am about to indulge- I think I was literally squirming in my seat I wanted to dig in so bad!