Food and Drink
01/03/2011
12/26/2010
12/21/2010
Monkey & Son, Organic Coffee: Fooking Amazing!
I was at a friend's house for dinner the other night and she brought out a package of coffee she had not yet tried. Did we want a cup?
Don't usually indulge in an after dinner coffee --unless it is decaf -- but one whiff of the incredible aroma from this unopened package immediately encouraged us make a fresh pot.
Wow! This was Monkey & Son, Organic Fook! blend and it did not disappoint. I like a full bodied, dark roast and this brew was rich and smooth with a strikingly fresh flavor.
Their website offers an array of light to dark roasts to suit all coffee palates with One to Four bean ratings marking the intensity of flavor. There is one decaf option and it is a lighter, Two Bean roast. I'm hoping they will add a Four Bean decaf to match the Fook! blend at some point. All the coffees they source are Fair Trade and Organic.
This coffee completely elevates the coffee experience and a happy new addition to my kitchen must-haves.
12/18/2010
Fabulous and Festive: Fresh Gravlax
Easy and delicious and great for a party:
A 1 lb piece of skinless fresh, wild salmon
1/4 cup each: brown sugar and sea salt rubbed over the fish
2 bunches fresh chopped dill pressed over the salt mixture to cover the salmon
1/4 cup vodka sprinkled over it all
Bind tight with plastic wrap and use several cans as weights to flatten the fish
Leave in the fridge and turn once a day for 3 days, et voila:
Ready for the close-up, sliced thin and sideways :
Serve with a drizzle of honey mustard mixed with fresh dill on a hearty slice of toasted flax seed bread
Pair with a glass of ice cold French Cremant Rose
Heavenly!
11/17/2010
Paris-Perfect Cafe Creme
Unexpected whimsy in a local cafe with a stylish stainless steel presentation:
A tiny tray pairing a fresh cafe with a measuring cup brimming with steamed milk.
I love the old style milk bottle nearby as a water carafe. And a wine glass for the water, bien sur.
All this and a crusty fresh tartine au buerre for dunking. Heavenly.
11/11/2010
Galiano couture macarons for LaDuree
John Galiano's exquisite sensibility has extended to a special edition of macarons from Laduree.
The flavor is an unexpected combo of Rose-Ginger in elegant, happy packaging.
These are definitely going on my wish list...or maybe I'll just have make a trip to Paris and sample a few!
11/10/2010
Wine find: Cain Five
A very stylish friend casually offered this one at a recent gathering without any fanfare.
One sip of this dark red makes you pay attention. For once, velvet applies here with hints of cocoa in the rich, earthy fruit.
It was not surprising to learn later that this lush wine is also a deluxe treat and not for everyday sipping but what a wonderful gift this would be for an aficionado.
Cain Five retails anywhere from $89-$139 depending on where you find it.
11/07/2010
11/04/2010
Paris Water Caraf Parade
In the window of a little cafe in the Marais
Love all the shapes and graphics of these bottles
11/03/2010
I stumbled opon a lovely restaurant in Paris...
Walked by this cute little spot when I was in a fun, artistic neighborhood in the 13th, called Butte aux Cailles. Naturally, I had to stop in and sample their cuisine!
Indian Summer called for a chilled bottle of wine (French but with a wacky English name). It arrived in an unexpected ice bucket, setting the tone for a delightful, informal meal.
...their baby squid sauteed with piment d'espelette was spectacular. That spice is magical--and rarely used in the U.S., so I was eager to enjoy this mysterious blend of special red pepper flavor. It was put to good use here, adding a lovely, earthy zip to the seafood.
This little place is the opposite of traditional French restaurants with career waiters in white and black. The service here is friendly and relaxed with casually dressed young women taking our orders with professional ease. The appealing and imaginative menu is unpretentious, yet refined and offers inspired Global/French comfort food.
Chez NathalieAddress. 45 rue Vandrezanne, 75013 Paris, France. Tel: 01 45 80 20 42.
