Cosmopolitan Pearls

Style: Van Cleef & Arpels Effeuillage Collection

2009-01-31T09:03:00.000-08:00

For fans of Van Cleef & Arpels' prolific Alhambra line, the venerable jewelry house has introduced the Effeuillage collection in time for Valentine's Day. The mini-collection consists of a ring and drop earrings with heart "petals" and is currently available in carnelian edged with rose gold or mother of pearl with yellow gold in select VCA stores.

Photo Credit: Van Cleef & Arpels

Food: Tofu Tip

2009-01-30T21:33:00.000-08:00

Hopefully I'll get in full blogging mode in the upcoming weeks; in the meantime, here's a quick cooking tip. During the winter months my family and I love eating Shabu Shabu, essentially a Japanese version of fondue. A pot of hot boiling water is on the table, and you dip in raw meat, veggies, Udon, etc. My dad recently gave me a tip to freeze soft tofu before throwing it in the water (where it usually falls apart). Simply place an unopened box of tofu in the freezer; a day before or the morning of, defrost the box of tofu in the fridge or on the counter, slice it up and cook. The tofu maintains its structure, and freezing the tofu gives it a spongy texture to it that I like better than medium firm tofu. This works whether you're boiling it or cooking it in stir-fry.

Cook: Toaster Oven-Baked Mayo Salmon Filet

2009-01-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Although it may not look pretty, this dish is a staple in my limited cooking repertoire and a favorite of my oldest child. I marinate the fish in the morning, throw it in the toaster oven about 16 minutes before dinner, and it's done. Saute some vegetables, serve with white rice, and you have dinner.

Ingredients:
Salmon filets
Sea salt
White Pepper
Garlic Powder
White wine or rice wine (Michiu)
Sesame oil
Low-fat Mayo (I like Kraft) OR Regular Mayo (Best Foods)

Optional:
Chopped white onions (about 1 tbsp)
Chopped green onions

Buy skinned filets of salmon; I buy the Costco variety which I bring home, slice into quarters and put each slice into a Ziploc bag. Rinse one filet (about 1/2 pound or so) and dry with paper towel. Sprinkle sea salt, white pepper, and garlic powder on fish, add a splash of sesame oil and white or rice (Michiu) wine. Marinate in fridge for a few hours. Preheat toaster oven to 425 degrees. Line toaster oven tray with foil, place filet on foil. Using the back of a tablespoon, smear the top of the filet with a layer of mayo; you can add as little or as much mayo as you prefer. Sprinkle with chopped white onions if you'd like. Bake in toaster oven for about 12 minutes, then turn to broil (500 degrees) for an additional 4 minutes or until the top is bubbly and light brown. You can drizzle with additional sesame oil or garnish with scallions. Serve with Japanese rice.

Read: GOOP

2009-01-06T13:09:00.000-08:00

I just discovered Gwyneth Paltrow now has her own blog, GOOP (apparently based on a nickname of hers), and I actually think it's quite good. I wish I would have thought of the formatting--very nice and Zen. Yes, there are a ton of haters, (see article here at Eonline!) most notably criticizing her "Let them eat cake" attitude, but as a mother of two, it's nice to see someone else who has the time to workout and wear nice clothing to pick up her kids. It gives me a little inspiration. The blog has cute little categories of things to make, go, get, do, be and see. Loved her list of Los Angeles favorites under the "Go" category, although I do have to dispute the greatness of Katsu-Ya in Studio City for spicy tuna rice cakes....more on that later.

This week's newsletter in particular, is literally a big kick in the butt. Ms. Paltrow shares a mini-movie from the trainer she shares with Madonna, Tracy Anderson; it is a supplement to give her butt a boost, and the clip even features a handy little link so you can download it to your iPod. More about Tracy Anderson can be found at her website here.

GOOP

Gear: The Amazon Kindle

2009-01-03T21:13:00.001-08:00

So where have I been this past year? Well, with the birth of my second child, I am essentially evolving into my worst nightmare: a mom with a very depleted brain in sweats, no make-up, hair up in a bun, and yes, I have been known to catch a few episodes of Oprah. I do have to credit Oprah though for featuring the Amazon Kindle, the gadget I've always seen on Amazon's home page but was too lazy to figure out how it worked. Jeff Bezos was on Oprah touting the gadget, and I was sold. I balked a bit at the cost (about $359) but was so enthralled by the fact that I could carry up to 200 books on this one lightweight device that I bit the bullet and One-Clicked my way into owning a Kindle.

Here's how the device works: Amazon has a contract with Sprint that allows the books to be downloaded to your Kindle device wirelessly (on what's called the "Whispernet") within a few seconds using the same high speed data network as a cell phone (EVDO). There's no contract or additional fees other than your initial Kindle purchase; you just buy your Kindle, and your Amazon account permits you to buy new books anywhere within the U.S. within the coverage area. So you're at the airport and you finish a book--you can surf the Kindle store on your Kindle and buy a new title within a few seconds. You can highlight, make notes, look up words in the Kindle which has the New American Oxford Dictionary built in. All your purchases are automatically stored on Amazon. You can also subscribe to major newspapers like the NY Times and the Wall St. Journal, and they will automatically be delivered to your Kindle every morning. As for battery life, supposedly you can read War and Peace in one sitting on one charge if you turn off the wireless feature.

Granted I had to take a few baby steps back into the realm of reading and began by downloading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series for young adults, then I gradually worked my way up into the classics and found that I could download the entire Shakespeare catalogue for $.99, and depending on which edition you chose, Plato's Republic could be had for a mere $ .43. NY Times bestsellers generally sell for $9.99, a lot less than what you'd pay for a hardback.

The Kindle is like an iPod for books; however, they probably could have benefited from the Apple geniuses in the design. There are some glitches--yes, it's hard to lend your books to friends when it's on your Kindle, and it's too bad it's in black and white so any photographs in color aren't as effective, the ease of acquiring books anywhere has proven dangerous for the wallet, but the convenience outweighs the minor downsides, and I'm looking forward to seeing this device evolve.

Available at Amazon

Food: Sotto Voce

2009-01-03T20:30:00.000-08:00

We kicked off 2009 with a special package awaiting us at our front door--a lovely set of Sotto Voce hand-bottled Olio Santo and Aceto Balsamico from a thoughtful friend who knows the owners of Sotto Voce. Since we had just come home from the holidays, our fridge was empty so I hoofed it to the nearest market, picked up a baguette, came home and plopped myself down in a chair in front of the kitchen table with elbows propped on the table (sorry Mom) and devoured about half the baguette dipped in the oil and vinegar with some shaved Parmesan Reggiano. Pure heaven.

The Washington-based company has a small outpost in Pike Place Market not too far from the original Starbucks, and in addition to a variety of flavored vinegars, produces about 8 varieties of flavored olive oils with the original, Olio Santo, described as "a tasty blend of rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, peppercorns, garlic and mild chili flavors." Aceto Balsamico is described as " Spicy, but oh so tasty! Modenaceti Balsamic Vinegar infused with whole garlic cloves, crushed red peppers & whole red chilis!" The combination of the two is oh so yummy! Those of you who have frequented Piatti's restaurants may find the blend reminiscent of their oil and vinegar served with the house bread.

After experiencing the Olio Santo and Aceto Balsamico I promptly ordered 3 sets for friends who would enjoy it. They make wonderful hostess gifts as well; not only are they delicious, but the bottles are beautiful on the kitchen counter. www.sottovoce.com

Photo from www.sottovoce.com

Urban Moms: Strollers in the City

2008-01-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

Taking a quick break from our tour of LA here as I wanted to post a link to a great article from www.nymag.com where the author, Faye Penn, "test-drove" nine of the latest strollers on the streets of New York. Urban moms have to factor in quite a few obstacles that suburban moms do not face when buying a stroller, especially when dealing with public transportation. I had to laugh at the Cons listed for the Bugaboo Cameleon:

"Cons: Awkward moments on stairs. On bus ride, hit a passenger in the head with seat and had to ask another rider to fish MetroCard out of pocket. On subway, actually accepted an assist from a pregnant woman."

Photo: Michael Schmelling from www.nymag.com

Los Angeles Favorites: Hotel Bel-Air

2008-01-28T09:10:00.001-08:00

I'm usually one who prefers modern day conveniences and accommodations over places that rely on "character" as part of their allure. When looking for houses a few years ago, I had to stop my realtor who started off by showing us a lot of older homes with such "character" until I told her that I was from the suburbs of Southern California, home of the tract homes, where the only thing that separates your house from the other is the color paint you chose, and even then, it was easy to get confused sometimes. My one exception to this rule is the lovely Hotel Bel-Air tucked away in Stone Canyon in Los Angeles. The hotel is older, and you won't find the updated marble tubs in their standard suite bathrooms that you do in newer hotels, but just pulling up to the entrance and viewing the lush gardens makes you feel as if you've stepped into a different time period and after driving through traffic, there is an instant sense of serenity. A pot of tropical tea awaits you in your room after you've checked in. The hotel is also special to me as that is where my husband and I spent our wedding night right before departing for our honeymoon the following day and also where I had taken my then future mother-in-law for afternoon tea to have our first serious conversation together.

We've made it a tradition since then to try and go back for every anniversary. Now that we've kissed clubbing days goodbye, after dinner out on the town, we enjoy coming back to the very calm and adult piano lounge in the hotel where you can snack on mini-burgers and truffle fries in a dark library-like setting. The service is impeccable as evinced by the fact that we had mentioned we were celebrating our 5th anniversary there in conversation with our server, and at breakfast mind you, were served a mini-dessert complete with candle to honor the occasion. There are quite a few amenities like the famed Swan Lake and their swimming pool that the hotel is known for, but it's worth checking out their website to see all that can be experienced.

Photo 1: Hotel Bel-Air
www.hotelbelair.com

Los Angeles Favorites: In N'Out Burger

2008-01-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay, I know that In N'Out now has locations in Nevada and Arizona as well as in Northern California, but the fact that it got its start in Baldwin Park, CA, renders it an LA favorite for me. Those familiar with the drive through menu recognize the simplicity of it: hamburger, cheeseburger, or a double double with shakes and sodas offered along with fries.

Many are also aware of the "secret menu," an off-menu list that prepares the basic three choices, fries, and shakes in a variety of combinations. I have only tried one item off the "secret menu," and that is the Protein-Style cheeseburger and double double. A former co-worker of mine who was really into the Atkins diet and weightlifting first clued me into this delish preparation. Basically, you can get any burger (regular hamburger, cheeseburger, or double double) sans bun, wrapped in iceberg lettuce. I pretty much now always order the double-double protein style with grilled onions (you must ask for grilled onions!) and justify my fries by the fact that I'm missing my starch in the bun. For you calorie-counters out there, I checked the nutritional facts on the In N'Out website and taking the bun off saves you a mere 70 calories. Now I think you've guessed by my previous entries that I'm not exactly an adherent to the Atkins diet (nor of any other diet in particular), but for those of you who are watching their carbs, the Protein-Style burger is a worthy indulgence.

The Secret Menu

For the basic "official" secret menu:
http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp

For an even more comprehensive secret menu taken from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-n-Out_Burger_menu_items#The_Secret_menu

M by C
M meat patties and C slices of cheese (for example, a 3 by 3 or a 2 by 4)
Triple Meat
Three meat patties without cheese.
Animal Style
In addition to the usual condiments, mustard fried on the meat, pickles, extra spread and grilled onions are added.
Animal Style Fries
Fries with cheese, spread, and grilled onions.
Double Meat
Two meat patties without cheese.
Extra Everything
Adds extra spread, tomato, lettuce, and onions (regular or grilled).
Flying Dutchman
Two meat patties and two slices of melted cheese.
Extra Toast
Bun is cooked longer so it is extra toasted.
Fries "Light"
Almost raw fries that are cooked for less time.
Fries "Well"
Fries that are cooked longer to be extra crisp.
Fries with cheese
Fries with two slices of melted cheese placed on top.
Grilled Cheese
Two slices of melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun, with no meat. There is also a Grilled Cheese Animal Style (grilled onions are added).
Choco-Vanilla Swirl Shake
Chocolate and vanilla flavors combined in one shake.
Neapolitan Shake
All three shake flavors (strawberry, vanilla and chocolate) combined in one shake.
Root Beer Float
Vanilla shake with root beer combined.
Protein Style
Instead of a bun, the burger is wrapped in lettuce. In addition to burgers, a protein style Grilled Cheese is available.
Veggie Sandwich
A sandwich without meat or cheese.
Spread
Extra packets of refrigerated Thousand Island dressing in packages marked "Spread".
Lemon up
1/2 lemonade 1/2 7-up.

www.in-n-out.com for locations

Los Angeles Favorites: El Torito Grill's Guacamole

2008-01-22T16:27:00.000-08:00

Southern California has some great Mexican food including some restaurants that serve very traditional Mexican cuisine. Although I know that the best places are traditionally holes in the wall, I head to an established chain when I want good guacamole. El Torito Grill is a favorite stop for me when I head back home. There is nothing more satisfying that plopping down in one of their booths after a day of shopping in or walking around Beverly Hills and waiting for their signature guacamole to be prepared tableside while downing an iced tea. I always order it extra spicy (still not zippy enough for me) and topped with cotija cheese. On recent visits, the flavor has not always been consistent, but it is always fresh and delicious and not overladen with garlic and raw onions which is what separates it from other guacamole. I tell my husband that I could simply subsist on their guacamole with fresh chips and the hot flour tortillas served with sweet whipped butter and fresh salsa; ordering an entree after gorging on the aforementioned two always seems more like an afterthought, but somehow I always have room for a few bites of their yummy sizzling Carne Asada.

www.etgrill.com

Los Angeles Favorites: Michel Richard Patisserie

2008-01-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

I lived in Los Angeles for the majority of my life, and many places that I grew up with have come and gone, with the exception of a few that have managed to survive the fickle preferences of Angelenos. Michel Richard's Patisserie on Robertson is one of them and even has employees who have been there for over 20 years. Michel Richard was a place my parents patronized for desserts for special occasions ever since we arrived in LA from NY in the late 70s. Even now when I go back home to visit, it is a given that after a shopping trip I'll be picking up four of their simple raspberry tarts with an almond flavored crust, along with a thick slice of their Country Black Pepper pate, a baguette, some apricot danishes, brioches, raspberry cheese mousses, and mocha eclairs. If I decide to stop by after shopping along Robertson, I'll order a warm salmon curry salad for lunch with a cup of their french onion soup. In recent years, many other patisseries have cropped up in LA, including Amandine that makes the most amazing strawberry shortcake, but stepping into Michel Richard reminds me of the 80s, my childhood, and a bite into one of their pastries makes me feel like I'm five again. You can't say that about too many places. Michel Richard: 310 S. Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. www.maisonrichard.com

Music: The 88

2007-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Last night my husband and I were watching Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy on DVD with the subtitles on; when the screen flashed the artist name and song being played during a scene, Adam Merrin's "Still Alright," I told my husband that I knew an Adam Merrin in high school and immediately flipped open my laptop to Google him. And lo and behold, it was the one and very same guy. Upon further research, I found that he was also the pianist in a band called The 88, whose lead singer, Keith Slettedahl, sat in front of me in Spanish in high school. That very guy used to turn around and bug me with his singing in his creamy pseudo-falsetto voice; I'd tell him to stop.

Well, it's a very good thing that he didn't listen to me and pursued his passion because The 88 is probably one of the greatest alternative bands I've heard in a very long while, and clearly, I didn't get the full range of Keith's vocal capabilities during Mrs. B's Spanish class. Songs like "All 'Cause of You" and "Coming Home" showcase the the band's overall Beatle-esque sound well, but one of my favorite songs, "You Belong to Me", a love ballad, demonstrates the beauty of Slettedahl's vocals and guitar playing. Don't you love it when the guys from home make good?

www.the88.net
www.iTunes.com

Photo: Yahoo

The Pearls of the Duchess of Windsor

2007-09-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

About twenty years ago, Calvin Klein made some historic purchases for his then wife, Kelly, at an auction of the Duchess of Windsor's jewelry. Among them, the Duchess' wedding band engraved with the word "Eternity" that later provided the name for the designer's best-selling fragrance, and the Duchess' famed natural pearl and diamond necklace made by Cartier. Not too long after that, Kelly Klein was featured in a spread in Vogue wearing her pearls with a black scoopneck body suit, slim-fitting light denim jeans and black flats. As a teen, I was so enamored with that image of casual elegance, that I saved that photo. Well, it's too bad I didn't start saving some cash back then as well, as Calvin's former wife has decided to part with the necklace along with its accompanying natural pearl pendant and set of pearl earrings in an auction to be conducted by Sotheby's on December 4, 2007. Although the combined three lots are estimated to bring about $3 million, it will be interesting to see what they actually go for. Aside from their intrinsic value (the size and quality of these natural pearls are extremely rare), the pearls are of historical importance as they originally belonged to Queen Mary who had gifted them to her son Edward, who subsequently gave them to the woman he abdicated the throne for, Wallis Simpson.

Per the Sotheby's press release, Kelly Klein has said “These pearls hold a very special place in my heart. They were a present from Calvin early on in our relationship. They represent passion, tenderness and a promise about the future. Pearls, in my mind, are different from diamonds or gold. They are warm, mysterious, a small miracle created by nature. They should be worn close to the skin, imbued with the essence of the wearer. It is my hope they will be given again, as they have been in the past, as a gesture of love and worn often and proudly.”

Sotheby's Press Release

Photo: http://www.diamonds.net

CP on hiatus until August 20th! More posts then!

2007-08-09T21:11:00.000-07:00

Restaurants: The Slanted Door's Out the Door

2007-07-23T21:42:00.001-07:00

I am not a big fan of Asian fusion cuisine as I am very old-schooled when it comes to Asian food. Translation: if I've paid $5 for a bowl of great Pho, the $10 one can't be that much better. The Slanted Door in San Francisco's Ferry Building had me intrigued however, since it's been getting rave reviews and has become a standard lunch spot for young professionals in the area according to Bloomberg magazine. When I couldn't get a reservation at the ever-popular restaurant using OpenTable.com a week in advance, I was a little disappointed until a friend of mine told me they had two smaller outposts for quick meals and take-out, cleverly named, Out the Door, located in the Ferry Building with another one in the Westfield Center on Market Street. As we were staying in the heart of the city on Market, we headed towards the Westfield Center.

My husband ordered the Pho, I ordered Chicken in a Clay Pot, and we ordered Spring Rolls and Crispy Imperial Rolls to share along with a Taro and Milk Boba and a Tropical Fruit and Lime Boba. The Pho was made with wide rice noodles as opposed to the traditional thin ones, and my husband was disappointed at how bland it was. I had better luck with the Chicken in a Clay Pot; succulent boneless chicken pieces simmered in a sweet soy sauce based gravy. The only thing it was missing was some vegetables so I chose to supplement my meal with some Spicy Broccoli, which was undercooked and overseasoned.

The big winners over all were the Spring Rolls, Crispy Imperial Rolls, my chicken, and surprisingly, their Boba; their Boba was amazingly fresh, not made with the traditional powders you see at the chains, and the tapioca pearls were sweet and chewy. Would I give this place another shot? Absolutely. There are many more rice plates and dishes to be tried and at prices more reasonable than the Slanted Door.

Note to parents with young children: the food court atmosphere at the Westfield makes this location very kid-friendly as well.

http://www.slanteddoor.com/

Baby Gear: The BandaBib

2007-07-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Like most infants, my daughter was a drooler when she was teething; we went through five bibs a day, and even now, at the age of two, she'll drool when she's being very active or concentrating really hard on something (i.e., working on a puzzle). I was never a huge fan of how the terry cloth bibs looked around her neck, so when I saw Bazzlebaby's BandaBib in Target a few weeks ago, it definitely made me pause. It's a simple yet ingenious idea; a cotton bandana backed with thicker fabric in cute prints that closes with a snap button on the back. Definitely looks a lot cuter than the average bib, and it comes in assorted patterns for boys and girls. There's a great modeling picture at the Bazzlebaby site (which is still under construction) Bazzlebaby.com

Available at Target and Amazon.com

Photo: www.amazon.com

A Day on the Farm

2007-07-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

I was a bit deficient in the common sense department last weekend; I realized this as I found myself holding my breath in a port-a-potty with my purse tightly looped around my neck and a mere few minutes later, standing in a wet and muddy raspberry field with mud all over my bare feet; all before 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Yes, this is what happens when a city girl decides to go to the farm a day after a torrential downpour wearing flip flops and after downing an iced latte right before a 30-minute drive to Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

After a rough start, I wasn't expecting much from the rest of my farm adventure, but I was proven wrong and wound up having a fantastic time. Remlinger Farms is a wonderful place to bring the family. After a short period of picking raspberries in the U-pick area, we ventured over to the Country Fair Family Park area which opens at 11 a.m. There are pony rides, train rides, flying pumpkin rides (mini version of the flying Dumbo ride at Disneyland), and a mini-Thunder Mountain like coal mine roller coaster, among other atractions. The crops vary throughout the year, but strawberries and raspberries are available for picking. My only advice would be to wear washable shoes (garden clogs would be good) and to bring some gloves and a small pail for your little one.

In short, while I was outside, I realized how much enjoyment the simpler things in life can bring. I even started wondering what it would be like to live out near a farm a la Anne of Green Gables (I could make raspberry cordial like Marilla Cuthbert!). Of course then I thought about how the house would have to have A/C and heating, gas, proper plumbing, etc. and then I quickly concluded that driving out a few times a year for the experience would be good enough for me.

Check www.remlingerfarms.com for schedules and hours

Beard Papa's Vanilla Cream Puffs

2007-07-02T07:21:00.001-07:00

I guess I am late to the Beard Papa's party. The franchise that specializes in "the world's best cream puffs" originated in Osaka, Japan in 1999 and now has outposts on the East Coast, California, and Hawaii. I first had a BP cream puff last year when my mother's neighbor gave her a box. I thought they were just okay, but then again they were eaten after they had been in the refrigerator which always leaves the exterior rather stale and spongy. I thought I'd give them another try when I was recently in the Westfield Shopping Center on Market in San Francisco.

Caramel was the flavor of the week (Chocolate, Green Tea, and Strawberry are among the rotated flavors), but I opted for the original Vanilla upon my friend's suggestion, which is also the flavor I had when I first tried BP. I watched as they pumped the puff with the fresh vanilla cream right then and there (each one is filled to order), and, as it is with Krispy Kreme, you have to eat it right then and there to get the full effect of the freshness of the cream puff dusted with powdered sugar. Of course, I went back the following day to try the Eclair, which isn't really an Eclair in the traditional sense, but is really just the cream puff topped with chocolate. The Eclair was not as good as the original, mostly due to the fact that the puff had been in the refrigerator (death to cream puffs it seems) presumably to extend the longevity of the chocolate.

Overall, my recent experience redemeed my earlier one, and it is probably a good thing that I don't live near a BP's, otherwise I'd be perpetually walking around with a smattering of powdered sugar on my nose.

www.beardpapas.com

Style: The SilkyPop by Hermes

2007-06-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

We've all seen the resusable bags at Whole Foods or Trader Joes that one can buy for a mere dollar or two that enable one to take baby steps towards saving the planet. Hermes has taken this seemingly small endeavor one gargantuan step further, make that about a thousand steps further at just over $1K in price, by introducing its SilkyPop bag. The bag is crafted of silk with designs used on Hermes scarves and designed to fold up into a zip-around wallet-type clutch crafted out of buffalo skipper skin that one can carry in their handbag. For an animated demonstration of this fold, you can see the SilkyPop on the UK Hermes site

According to a recent article in the LA Times on the subject of stylish resusable bags, "a spokeswoman for Hermes, for example, said that their new Silky Pop, a hand-wrought silk tote that collapses into a wallet-size pouch of calfskin, was intended as a high-end alternative to the extra fold-up shopping bag that many European women already carry in their purses. ("Say you're out walking. You decide to pick up a few apples, you pull out your bag," she explained, then quickly added: "Though obviously, Hermes clients usually aren't shopping for their own groceries.")

The SilkyPop embodies all the whimsical aspects of Hermes that I've come to admire, but this is one new contraption that I won't be filling with apples. Coming soon to an Hermes store near you.

Photo: http://uk.hermes.com

Chain Dining: The Cheesecake Factory

2007-06-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

As any parent of a young child knows, restaurant choices are automatically narrowed down for parents based on how kid-friendly a place is. After two years of dining out with a small child, I have now culled from the chain-restaurant menus certain favorites so that as soon as we are seated and before drink orders are even taken, we are ready to order; this is all part of parental strategic dining in the event the child has a meltdown and a quick exit needs to be made. I've decided to share these here over time as part of the "Restaurants" section. Some of the choices are obvious, others may be a little surprising. Needless to say, these choices can be enjoyed sans child, probably even more so. Let's start with the Cheesecake Factory.

There is no kids' menu at the Cheesecake Factory, which works out just as well; due to the enormous portions doled out at this restaurant, there's no shortage of food when we share with our two-year old. They do bring a small plate with sliced bread and bananas for your child that our daughter always seems to enjoy.

Appetizers:
Fire-roasted Artichokes
Simply roasted artichokes served with two dips; a vinaigrette and aoli. I usually fill up on this quickly so I usually just add a small side salad to accompany this and that would be my meal. Wet towels are brought to clean up the messy fingers. Pseudo-healthy.

Avocado Eggrolls (shown)
An all-time favorite. Sundried tomatoes and avocados in a crispy wrapper with an even more delicious sweet dipping sauce. Definitely not so healthy, but very very good.

Firecracker Salmon Rolls
Slightly more refined in its preparation than the Avocado Eggrolls, the wrapper is a lot thinner and crisper, and it's served with a side of red cabbage doused with an Asian dressing of some kind. A little bit lighter fare than the Avocado Eggrolls, but delicious.

Entrees:
Chicken Madeira (shown)
An all-around favorite at the Factory and is usually served with mashed potatoes, although you can request a substitute; I usually pick broccoli to assuage the guilt.

Miso-glazed Salmon
Served on a bed of white rice with a few obligatory snow peas scattered about, the salmon is very tender and tasty.

Portobello Mushroom Burger
I am not a vegetarian, but a friend of mine introduced me to this incredibly tasty "burger" a few years back. Essentially, picture a burger but with a large portobello mushroom sandwiched between the buns; the aioli used on the burger really sweetens the deal.

As for dessert, well, we usually are so stuffed that we pass, but if it's a special occassion, the Vanilla Bean cheesecake is an all-time favorite.

Food: Chocolate and Zuchinni

2007-06-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through the June issue of House and Garden and came across a small profile of Clotilde Dusoulier, a 27 year old resident of Montmartre in Paris whose food-focused blog, Chocolate and Zuchinni, has become a huge hit for the on-line set, and Ms. Dusoulier now even has a few cookbooks under her belt. I checked out her site and loved it, but what I found extremely useful and wish I had seen before I had gone to Paris was her Paris City Guide located here:

Chocolate and Zuchinni Paris City Guide

In it, Clotilde details out her experiences from a local standpoint, not places you'd necessarily find in Zagat but that are favored by locals nonetheless; even if a trip to Paris isn't in your future, if you are foodie, you will enjoy Ms. Dusoulier's blog.

Photo: http://chocolateandzuchinni.com

Travel: Eagle Creek Compression Sacs

2007-06-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

One of my proudest packing accomplishments occurred over ten years ago on my first trip to Europe; I packed enough clothes for 28 days in one suitcase by neatly folding up thin sundresses into Ziploc bags and squeezing the air out. Needless to say that with time, my clothes aren't exactly teeny tiny anymore, and I need something larger than a gallon-sized Ziploc in which to pack up my clothes and still keep them wrinkle-free. That's why I was pleased to give Eagle Creek's Compression Sacs a try when I packed for Paris; essentially, they are larger and sturdier Ziploc bags designed to reduce volume up to 80%. You simply place your folded clothing inside, seal the top, roll it back and forth to squish the air out and watch your clothes shrink into a dense but packable package. I picked up the Medium and Large set, and I was able to squeeze in four lightweight trenches and dinner coats into the Large and about six long-sleeved tees and some dress pants into the Medium. These are a must to maximize space and minimize wrinkles; they also offer stress-relief when one discovers they've purchased too much during their trip and wouldn't have been able to squeeze everything into one suitcase otherwise.

Available at REI, www.ebags.com

Photo: www.eaglecreek.com

Paris: The Address Book

2007-06-12T18:33:00.001-07:00

I'm finally winding down the lengthy Paris section. There are tons of travel books on Paris out there that do a much better job than I in condensing a lot of information in one place; this list below just details out a few of my favorite places and places to visit on my next trip. A great blog to visit is http://www.secretsofparis.com which is written by an American living in Paris who also conducts tours. She has some great basic information under "The Guide" section.

CP's Top Sights
Musee d'Orsay: www.musee-orsay.fr; 1 rue de Bellechasse or 62 rue de Lille, (7th)
Musee du Louvre: www.louvre.fr ;34-36 quai du Louvre (1st arr.)
Musee de l'Orangerie: www.musee-orangerie.fr
The Eiffel Tower: www.tour-effiel.fr; Champ de Mars, (7th arr.)
Giverny
Saint Chapelle: www.monum.fr Palais de Justice, 4 bd. du Palais (4th arr)
Notre Dame: www.monum.fr; 6 place du Parvis Notre Dame

CP's Favorites for Shopping:
For handbags, belts, journals, and scarves:
Hermes: 24 rue de Faubourg St. Honore (8th) Metro: Concorde (call a few months ahead if you'd like to tour the museum upstairs)

For children's clothing:
Petit Bateau (multiple locations); I visited the one at 116 avenue de Champs Elysees

For tailored shirts, ties and pajamas:
Charvet: 28 place Vendome, (1 arr)

For unique women's and children's clothing:
Gaspard de la Butte: 10bis, rue Yvonne Le Tac (in Montmartre near the Abbsesses Metro stop)

For all-around one-stop shopping:
Galeries Lafayette: 40 bd. Haussmann (9th arr.)

Restaurants and Cafes:

Laduree, 21 rue Bonaparte and various other locations; www.laduree.fr
Fauchon: 26 place de la Madeleine (8th arr.)
Au Coin de Gourmet: 5 rue Dante (5th arr.)
Le Grand Colbert: 2 rue Vivienne (2nd arr.)
Pierre Gagnaire: 6 rue Balzac (8th arr.)
Taillevent: 15 rue Lamennais, (8th arr.)
La Tour d'Argent:15-17 quai de la Tournelle
(for the first time visitor; lunch is also a good bet--that's when the locals go apparently)

Places on my list that I didn't have time to visit:

Restaurants and Cafes:
Pierre Herme: 72 rue Bonaparte, (6th arr)
Cafe de Flore: 172 bd. St-Germain, (6th arr)
Les Deux Magots: 6 place St-Germain-des-Pres, (6th arr.)
Chez Paul: 13, rue de Charonne, (11th arr.)
Le Grand Vefour: www.relaischateaux.com
Mariage Freres: www.mariagefreres.com
Angelina: 226 rue de Rivoli, (1st arr.)

Shopping:
Didier Ludot: 24 Galerie de Montpensier (1st arr.)

Paris: Useful Guides

2007-06-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

In the past I've relied on Dorling Kindersley's excellent Eyewitness Travel Guides; the London guide in particular was extremely well-done. I knew that I would not want to tote around a heavy book with me this time around, and because I was just hitting the major tourist attractions, DK's compact Top 10 Paris book worked just fine for me; although if it's your first time, I'd recommend Rick Steves' Paris. Those of you with iPods can download his Paris walking tour podcasts for free. A friend of mine told me about the podcasts, and they proved to be perfect for places like the Notre Dame, the Louvre, and Versailles.

Other books I found useful:
For shopping:
Where to Wear Paris 2006-a great little guide recommended by one of the gals on The Purse Forum. Essentially a Zagat guide for shopping, but better. If you just want to hit the well-known spots, then this is not worth the investment since you can easily look up address information for those shops on-line before you head out (assuming you're so inclined); if, however, you're interested in specific types of shops for the home or mens clothing that are a little off the beaten path, then this guide is for you. In addition to covering well-known stores, the guide is organized by category and gives the nearest Metro stops for each store mentioned as well as opening/closing hours. Not sure if it's published annually as the 2007 guide was not out in May of 2007.

For eating:
Zagat Paris Restaurant Guide for obvious reasons

Phrasebook:
As previously mentioned, I relied on Lonely Planet's French phrasebook; in addition to commonly used phrases, they throw in some amusing ones covering relationships like "what's your sign?" that you can go through for enjoyment while passing time on the plane.

Maps:
The most useful maps turned out to be the Pocket Pilot Map and the Map Easy; refer to my earlier post "Prepping for Paris: The Maps" for descriptions. The Pocket Pilot Map was compact and a lifesaver if you plan on using the Metro.

Next: the Paris Address Book and Travel Essentials

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: The Book

2007-05-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

After hearing about the film (see previous post), I thought it only proper to visit the inspiration behind the film, and I headed to the bookstore to pick up a copy of Jean-Dominique Bauby's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I finished the short, 131-page paperback translated from French to English in a little over an hour, dog-earing pages where Bauby's eloquent insightfulness moved me.

While Bauby's dismal situation would cause one to expect a tear-jerker, and tears did well up from time to time, I cried a lot less than I thought I would. Bauby does not spend a lot of time pitying himself or his situation. Instead, the book is a compilation of all that is going on in his mind throughout the course of his time at the hospital. As to be expected, there is a lot of reflection on the past, memories, his thoughts on the people at the hospital, what he sees, feels, thinks, what he misses the most, his interactions with his children, and sometimes insightful and humorous reflections on his condition.

When his son asks him to play hangman, Bauby aches to tell him that "I have enough on my plate playing quadriplegic. But my communication system disqualifies repartee: the keenest rapier grows dull and falls flat when it takes several minutes to thrust it home. By the time you strike, even you no longer understand what had seemed so witty before you started to dictate it, letter by letter. So the rule is to avoid impulsive sallies. It deprives conversation of its sparkle, all those gems you bat back and forth like a ball-and I count this forced lack of humor one of the great drawbacks of my condition."

Although his body was trapped in the diving bell, his eloquent memoir shows that his mind was indeed as active as a glorious butterfly.

Paris: Some Basic Tips

2007-05-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd throw out some tips that I learned prior to and after my trip that proved useful to me:

U.S. Passports:
A not so known rule, your passport must be good three months past the last day of your trip, so if you passport expires a week or so after your trip, you're not within this rule and should get it renewed as soon as possible.

Paris Museum Card/Pass:

Best thing ever if you plan on hitting all the sites over the course of two or three consecutive days. At most sites, in addition to gaining you entry, it will allow you to bypass the long lines at the entrances for buying tickets or getting in. Never wait in line without checking first to see whether or not your card will gain you automatic entry (it will not at Saint Chapelle and Notre Dame--you will have to wait in line). Museum Cards can be purchased through your hotel.

Opening/Closing Days and Hours
It is good to know when certain sites are closed and when the major holidays are; i.e., the Louvre, l'Orangerie and certain other national museums are closed on Tuesdays, and the Musee d'Orsay and Versailles on Mondays (fountains only run on the weekends, and even then it's not all-day long but a sporadic event), and plan your itinerary accordingly. This information is subject to change so it's best to reconfirm before your trip.

Credit Cards and ATM cards:
Give your banks and credit card companies a call before your trip and let them know what dates you will be at your destination. You'd hate to have to call them from overseas in the midst of a shopping spree wondering why your card won't work.

THE CUSTOMS/LANGUAGE

I loved the Lonely Planet's French phrasebook as well as the iTunes download for Rapid French by Earworms Learning which has a lot of repetition set to pleasant and mild electronica. In short, making a serious attempt and being well-mannered (saying your hellos, pleases, and thank yous) will get you far. Everyone we met was extremely helpful and gracious despite my severe butchering of the language.

Knowing how to ask for the check (l'addition) is a must; unlike in the States where your check is practically served with your meal, it is considered very rude to bring the check before you are ready.

Sortie=Exit; very helpful when exiting the metro stations

Le Menu vs. La Carte: asking for le menu would be asking for the fixed price daily specials whereas you really want to ask for la carte (the menu as we know it in the States).

Chaud and Froid: Hot and Cold. Keep this in mind when in your hotel bathroom; "C" does NOT stand for cold, but rather "chaud" which is hot. I learned this the hard way by automatically turning the "C" tap for cold.

TRANSPORTATION

Le Metro:
The only thing that really enabled me to figure out the Metro was my Pocket Pilot Map of Paris which had all the stops, and most importantly, the corresponding numbers. Everyday, I'd write on a piece of paper where I needed to change trains depending on where we were going; it made it so much easier once I got to the station, and I just had to figure out which platform to stand on depending on the direction we had to go. While we purchased the packet (carnet) of ten individual tickets since it was unknown to us whether or not I could figure out how to use the Metro early on, the more economical way of doing things if you plan on using the Metro is to purchase the Carte Orange (really for the locals but supposedly can be sold to tourists with passport presentation) or

Paris Visite (meant for tourists only):

this card allows you to get around Paris over the course of 1, 2, 3, 5 days. The packets of tickets and the cards can be purchased at any major Metro station.

If you wind up purchasing individual tickets, hold onto them until you exit the system and arrive at your destination at which point you can discard them. Used tickets will be stamped on the back by the turnstile machine as you insert them.

Visit http://www.parisvisite.com/en/Carte_Parivisite_presentation.php for information and fares.

The Taxi:
The conventional way of getting a cab in Paris is to find a taxi stand (small shelters) and wait there, not standing in the middle of the road and hailing one with your arm unless you have an early death wish. If you call for one at your hotel, be prepared to find the meter already running by the time it arrives as they charge you from wherever they are when they are called. It is cheaper to find your own or to take the Metro obviously. It is also handy to keep a copy of your hotel address with you and learn the address number in French.

Next: Useful Guides

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: The Movie

2007-05-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Before I continue wrapping up my Parisian adventures, I thought I'd deviate a little and talk about Cannes. Every year, I follow the Cannes film festival with great interest and make a few mental notes of what to watch out for in the coming months. This year, artist Julian Schnabel's adaptation of a beloved French memoir, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death , has generated quite a bit of buzz. The memoir of Jean-Domnique Bauby, a former editor at Elle, recounts the author's remarkable tale of what it was like for him to live with "locked-in syndrome" caused by a rare stroke to the brain stem. As he was unable to speak or move, he could only communicate by blinking his left eye; using an alphabet system corresponding to blinks, the book was painfully transcribed by a very patient publisher's assistant. Unfortunately, Bauby passed away shortly after the book was published.

The film has opened at Cannes with favorable response and has been sold to ten markets already.

For more details, refer to this article by one of my favorite movie critics, the Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan: LA Times, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Paris: Galeries Lafayette

2007-05-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

To describe Galeries Lafayette as a department store would really be an inept moniker as it is really everything you could possibly want in one place. A wide variety of designer labels from the luxury end to the moderately-priced are housed under one roof. There were a few brands like Antik Batik that I found to be slightly less expensive than in the States, and then there were some other brands I didn't even recognize. If you plan on doing some serious shopping here, give yourself plenty of time and pace yourself. In general, I skipped the clothing and handbags (and the general sense of chaos in the multi-level crowded store) and made my way to my favorite part of Galeries Lafayette, its gourmet food market, Lafayette Gourmet. There is an Eric Kayser counter in there, cured meats, cheeses, wines, chocolates, produce, Asian foods, among a variety of other items. We wound up buying some macaroons, croissants and the most delicious pineapple, cleaned and cored right in front of us. I'd definitely hit this place or Fauchon if you're looking to have an impromptu picnic along the Seine as there is a vast array of food items from which to choose from.

If you do decide to shop for clothing and the like at GL, be sure to pick up the 10% off card for visitors at the desk or your hotel.

40 boulevard Haussmann
http://www.galerieslafayette.com

Scenes from Versailles

2007-05-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

The photo above is a detail from a very familiar painting, an exact copy made for Versailles of his original hanging in the Louvre, Jacques Louis David's The Coronation of Napoleon. Everything in this copy is identical to the original except for this one interesting detail; whereas in the original, all five (number five is cut off in my photo) women are wearing white, this woman, Napoleon's sister, Pauline, with whom David was in love, is highlighted in this copy at Versailles by having her dress painted a peach color.

The grand trees at Versailles, every one of which has been catalogued carefully as to its origins and age.

I did a double take when I walked by this one, Laocoön and His Sons is one of my favorite sculptures, but it resides in the Vatican. I took a closer look at the placard and realized that it was one of the many copies of the original which had been unearthed in Rome in the early 1500s. This particular copy at Versailles was done in 1696 by Jean-Baptiste Tuby, Philibert Vigier, and Jean Rousselet.

Here's the original along with some interesting facts (note the difference in positioning of the right arm in both works):

From Wikipedia: "When the statue was discovered, Laocoön's right arm was missing, along with the hand of one child and the right arm of the other. Artists and connoisseurs debated how the missing parts should be interpreted. Michelangelo suggested that the missing right arms were originally bent back over the shoulder. Others, however, believed it was more appropriate to show the right arms extended outwards in a heroic gesture. The Pope held an informal contest among sculptors to make replacement right arms, which was judged by Raphael. The winner, in the outstretched position, was attached to the statue.

In 1957, however, the original right arm of Laocoön himself was found in a builder's yard in Rome, and was in the position which had been suggested by Michelangelo. The arm has now been rejoined to the statue. There are many copies of the statue, including a well-known one in the Grand Palace of the Knights of St. John in Rhodes. Many still show the arm in the outstretched position. The copy in Rhodes has been corrected." Clearly, the copy at Versailles has not.

The young and ill-fated Marie Antoinette

The fountains at Versailles which only run on the weekends and during the high-season. Because approximately 80% of the original pumping system is still in use, they are not on continuously but only for short durations.

Paris: The Shopping-Part II

2007-05-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hermes

One of the stores I was most excited about visiting for the first time was the flagship store on 24, rue Faubourg-St. Honore. The museum upstairs has been re-opened to the public by appointment only. Unfortunately, I had not thought ahead, otherwise it would have been spectacular to view the vintage items up there. All the staff at Hermes were unfailingly polite and helpful. I had the good fortune of working with a knowledgeable SA who had been there for quite some time. One thing I noticed about the locals who carried their Hermes Kellys on the streets was that they wore them quite casually, with the straps dangling and the flap on the turnkey alone. They were always in black or brown and looked as if they had been well-loved and worn. Definitely a case of the owner wearing the bag and not the other way around.

We also visited the store at George V which had a delightful storefront and the largest collection of Hermes hats I'd ever seen in an Hermes store.

Scenes from Giverny

2007-05-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Before I conclude the shopping section, I thought I'd take a break and write about one of the highlights of our trip. Monet's home in Giverny is about an hour away from the heart of Paris and is worth the journey, especially with the wonderful weather we were experiencing. We took a tour through a company whereby a mini-van picked us up at our hotel, drove us there and had our tickets ready. Definitely nice to have it all taken care of as I wasn't too clear on how far the train station was from the house. Some unexpected gems at Giverny include the Museum of American Art just down the road from Monet's home which houses an impressive collection of American impressionist work (and many modern conveniences like A/C!), the homemade ice cream cart near the entrance, and Monet's large collection of Japanese woodblock prints decorating an entire room in the house.

Paris: The Shopping-Part I

2007-05-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

Even though I love to shop, I had only one major store I wanted to go to in Paris, and that was the Hermes flagship store at 24, rue Faubourg-St. Honore. Before we get to Hermes however, there were a few other places we hit that I enjoyed and stocked up at:

Charvet
10 place Vendome

This store is another Parisian institution having been around for over 100 years. They are renowned for their ready to wear or made to measure shirts for men and women and have attired royalty and various heads of state; perhaps their most famous client was the Duke of Windsor. It is a must to own one of their dress shirts; better yet, to have them made to measure specifically for you. There are a total of seven floors at Charvet. We only made it to three. Definitely check out their mens' shirts and womens' floor. They are also well known for their pajamas and robes.

Petit Bateau
Yes, there are a few stores scattered here and there in the U.S. but the prices are a bit high for the cotton clothing, although they are of wonderful quality. It is less expensive in France, and it was at the Champs Elyssees location that I scored a major find, a lovely button-down terry robe for my daughter. DH had been obsessed with finding her one after realizing that she was outgrowing her hooded towel. Every store we went to in the mall, he would ask if they had robes for toddlers. Not surprisingly, the answer was always no. So when I saw a simple yet adorable robe with buttons instead of a sash, I was elated. I also went a bit crazy on the adorable bateau necked tops, camisoles, pajamas, and basic tee shirts. The aesthetic is so much more appealing than the bright pink, mini-Paris Hilton outfits one finds in the States.

http://www.petit-bateau.us/

Louis Vuitton
Okay, this place (the flagship on the Champs) was a zoo. Full of tourists elbowing their way to the front of the counter and vying for the attention of a team of staff that are severely outnumbered; it is also peppered with a team of security at the doors and throughout the store. We headed there in search of a few gifts. A very nice SA greeted us and as we pointed to bags behind the counter to try on, other customers watched the modeling session carefully. I think my mom must have sold at least three bags just by modeling her bag in front of a mirror. I watched a few tourists point to her bag when talking with their SAs. It was really amusing to watch. After we made our selections, our SA pulled them out for our inspection and we gave them a cursory lookover and said they looked fine. He looked relieved and when I asked him about it, he stated that some customers were really particular and really went over their bags with a fine-toothed comb. If anything, it is fun just to go in there and watch it all go down.

Gaspard de la Butte
near the Abbesses Metro stop

We found this store by accident. We were walking through Montmartre when we spied this tiny store as being open, a rarity on Labor Day in Paris. I am so glad we went in. The clothing was well-made and absolutely adorable for both women and children. It was like Marc Jacobs, Marni, and Liberty all rolled into one. Some floral cotton tops with patchwork, a mod 60s mercerized cotton coat, cropped jackets for toddlers, all just gorgeously crafted.

Paris: Other Food

2007-05-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

A few other great places we hit:

Fauchon
26 place de la Madeleine

Another legendary patisserie located dangerously close to our hotel; they had a huge variety of delicious madelines available, from pistachio to chestnut. Great place to stop off to get some fresh juice and a pastry after a long day out.

Au Coin des Gourmets
5 rue Dante (Latin Quarter)

This is a tiny gem of a restaurant tucked away from the tourist crowds on the main streets. A friend of mine recommended this place owned by the Ta family. The restaurant specializes in Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisine. If you want a nice break from richer foods, this is the place to go. The food is light, fresh, and clean. And did I mention tasty? As usual, my stomach overrode my brain and I neglected to photograph the food, but everything was delicious, not to mention new to me. Definitely worth a visit.

Le Grand Colbert
2 rue Vivienne

Yes it's the restaurant that had a cameo in Something's Gotta Give,and no, I am not biased because the handsome maitre'd thought I spoke French well (if he only spoke with the cab driver who laughed heartily after he finally understood my pronounciation of the number "twenty four" ). As usual, we over ordered. Onion soup, salad, frog legs, steak, and roast chicken (in honor of Diane Keaton's character). Salad was passable, a little overburdened with ingredients (see photo; yes, there is some lettuce buried underneath all that) and not a conventional Caesar salad. Everything else was tasty, but the real star of the show was the frog legs.

Okay, the last time I had frog legs was when I was ten, and my dad had prepared some and told me it was chicken. I ate the tasty things until it dawned on me that my dad does not eat chicken (loss of a childhood pet to the butcher's knife apparently). I was a bit traumatized and hadn't touched them since then until I had them again at LGC. They were drenched in butter, oil, garlic, and parsley. They needed a bit of salt, but with a splash of balsamic vinegar, they were incredible! My dining companion's chicken was very tasty and fresh. You will not find the chicken of the Costco rotisserie variety here. We're used to chicken breasts that can feed three people here, but in France the chickens are not of the super growth hormone variety due to the country's ban on such hormones (hellloooo U.S.). The chicken is a lot smaller and a lot more savory; the cuisine relies on the freshness of the poultry versus dousing the poor bugger with a ton of seasoning. Instead, they douse the poultry with cooking wine. All in all a great meal.

Fauchon photo: from www.fauchon.fr

Coming up: Paris--Shopping

Scenes from Paris

2007-05-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

View from the Eiffel Tower at night

The Eiffel Tower at dusk

Muguet de Bois; sold all over the streets on Labor Day (May Day); apparently the only day street sellers can sell without being assessed by the government

A march on Labour Day

Madame Royal's defaced picture in the midst of presidential elections

One of the older Metro stations at Abbesses; to come up from it, one needs to climb a tiring number of stairs in a circular formation. There is an elevator available: word to the wise-use it.

One of my favorite memories: a mother duck herding her ten ducklings down the steps near the Jardins Tulieres. She created quite a scene as everyone stopped to watch their progress.

Sacré-Coeur at Montmartre, the highest hill in Paris.

Paris: Pierre Gagnaire-Food as Art

2007-05-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

I've saved the best for last. If you remember in a previous post, I had the most difficulty orchestrating reservations at PG via E-mail, but it was definitely worth it. Pierre Gagnaire is located in the Hotel Balzac, not too far from the Arc de Triomphe. The dining room is intimate and cozy accented by blond woods and white cloths covering the tables. Here, as at La Tour d'Argent, I was brought a little stool to set my handbag on. Any place that takes care of my handbag as well as me gets brownie points upfront.

The most gallant gentleman wonderfully translated each and every single item on the detailed menu and its ingredients for us. We opted not to go for the multi-course prix fixe meal as we had been warned beforehand that with all the amuse-bouches (see fifth photo) that faced us, we would get full quickly. It is a shame that I can't recall what we had and didn't ask for a copy of the menu that evening so you will have to bear with my rudimentary descriptions of the remarkable dining experience we had, which really don't do the meal justice. In essence, my dining companion selected a crab-themed display of various courses while I selected one that had langoustines. The overall theme of the evening was a marriage of unexpected ingredients. I'll let the photos do most of the talking, athough I was so in awe of the vanilla souffle I had for dessert that I completely forgot to take a picture of it; it was the most amazing souffle I have had in my life.

Mid-way through our meal, Gagnaire himself appeared in the dining room with that glorious mane of white hair. It's funny, but I felt as if I was meeting George Clooney when he stopped by to talk with us and ask us where we were from. When I told my husband about his great hair, his response was, "Well, I hope he had some sort of hair net or hat back there." Nice eh?

Regardless, Pierre Gagnaire was a fantastic experience and one that should be had by everyone at least once in their lifetime. Special thanks to Suzie & Winston for the great recommendation!

Paris: Taillevent

2007-05-07T05:47:00.000-07:00

It is a sad day when a gal with a palate like mine has to go to Paris. Why? I don't drink wine, I can't stand strong cheeses, and I don't eat lamb and don't like to order duck. Sadly, all of which seemed to be quite prevalent everywhere we went.

Taillevent is another long-standing Parisian institution having opened in 1946. It has held a three star Michelin rating for 34 years until February 2007 when it fell to two stars. I only found out about the demotion after I came back and researched Taillevent's origins, but it confirmed my own opinions, especially after dining at Pierre Gagnaire. I would have chosen to go for dinner, but by the time I thought about it, reservations were already booked for dinner, but lunch was available for my desired date.

We arrived at Taillevent after a long day of shopping; its location is within walking distance from George V and the Champs Elysees. With reservations at 12:30 p.m. we arrived a few minutes early and were the first ones seated. The service at Taillevent is impeccable. It seemed as if we had a team of at least six different people watching over our table. When I needed to rise to use the washroom, a gentleman immediately appeared out of nowhere at my side to escort me to my destination as soon as I pushed my chair back.

Wine is a big deal at Taillevent with what many consider to be the best wine list in Paris. There were two gentlemen at a neighboring table; locals in business suits who were enjoying different wines with every course. Our gracious host promised not to tell the chef that we were enjoying our meal with water and orange juice.

We opted to select the Menu Saveurs et Decouvertes which was comprised of seven courses:

Royale d'asperges de Provence
Langoustine royale poelee
Coquilles Saint-Jacquess dorees
Canard de Challans roti
Roquefort glace au pruneau
Mille-feuille aux framboises
Craquant au chocolate et aux feves de Tonka

I of course, requested a substituion for the Roquefort glace and the Canard immediately. Everything was fine until I received my langoustine. After many years of eating live seafood in Monterey Park, CA, I know the difference between fresh/live seafood, and not-so-fresh seafood. One bite, and I froze. I told myself, this is Taillevent, perhaps it is just extraordinarily tender. But the second powdery bite confirmed my suspicions that this langoustine was not so fresh. My dining companion's langoustine was just fine, so I think I just landed a bad one. The third course of scallops redeemed my langoustine experience as they were fresh and delicious. I substituted beef for the duck which was good, but the real piece de resistance was the incredible mille-feuille with raspberries. One of my favorite desserts thus far; delicate, melt-in-your mouth layers of the finest pastry (hence the name, mille-feuille), with a few fresh raspberries in between. Absolutely heavenly.

I would still like to give Taillevent another try for dinner as I loved the staff and the warm environment. Lunch at 190 Euros per person was actually a bargain compared to Gagnaire and some other restaurants, and aside from the langoustines, it was a lovely experience.

Next: Pierre Gagnaire

Paris: La Tour D'Argent

2007-05-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Next up on the eating tour was our first dinner in Paris at La Tour D'Argent which traces its origins back to 1582 and where the canard (duck) is its specialty. Since the late 1800s, every duck served has borne a number with the first being served to Edward VII in 1890 and the millionth duck served in 2003. Although its reputation as being the best restaurant in Paris (it has the longest holding record of 51 years for a three star Michelin rating until falling to one star in 2006) has long been overshadowed by the emergence of more modern restaurants like Pierre Gagnaire offering haute cuisine, it is indeed a national institution and when you enter its doors, it is almost like stepping back in time. On the walls are signed cards and photos of JFK, the Emperor of Japan, and various other heads of state. I was advised to request a table with a view, which was wonderful advice; once we were escorted up to the dining room in the elevator, we were seated at our table overlooking the Seine River and Notre Dame which offered breathtaking views of Paris in the evening.

As for the food, the amuse-bouches got me excited as they were absolutely delicious. Because I can't think of duck being prepared any better than a Peking Duck in Chinatown, we forewent the duck and tried the sole and the beef filet (pictured) with artichoke and onions. The fish wasn't anything spectacular; the beef was well prepared and fairly decent. I had forgotten the advice I was given to order the chocolate souffle there and instead ordered the Belle Epoque crepes and the profiteroles. The former was laden with a heavy dose of orange liqueor which was not to my liking, but the latter was spectacular. Instead of being filled with ice cream, the puffs were filled with custard, drenched in chocolate sauce and served with ice cream on the side.

In hindsight, I probably should have tried the duck. Our neighboring tables had ordered the duck and when they were wheeled out, they looked remarkable, and judging by the empty plates on our fellow diners' tables, I can only surmise that they were quite delicious as well.

www.latourdargent.com

Paris: Ladurée

2007-05-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

Ah, Paris. Where to begin? There was a lot of running around to the usual sites: The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Giverny, Versailles, Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, Montmartre, etc. There was a lot of eating, walking, and there was a lot of shopping as well. Let's start with the food and restaurants this week:

Ladurée

Our first meal in Paris was breakfast at Ladurée on the Champs Elysees, the famed tea salon noted for their famed macaroons. From the Laduree website:

"The story of the Ladurée macaroon starts with Pierre Desfontaines, distant cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée, who at the beginning of the 20th century first thought of taking two macaroon shells and joining them with a delicious ganache filling. The way of making them has never changed since that time.

These small, round cakes, crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, are made every morning in Ladurée’s "laboratory". The pastry chefs measure out very precisely the required amounts of almonds, eggs and sugar, before adding one final ingredient, a pinch of unique "know-how", essential to the making of such a delicacy.

Once cooked and filled, the macaroons are put to one side for 2 days before going on sale, the time it takes to achieve a perfect balance between texture and flavour.

Macaroons come in two sizes: the mini-macaroon or "gerbet" and full-size macaroons.

With each new season, Ladurée pays tribute to this its most famous creation by creating a new flavour."

As you can see, these are not the macaroons of the coconut variety we are used to in the States. While I adore the mini-macaroons (pictured), I wouldn't advise heading over to Ladurée for breakfast.

We ordered the petit breakfast for two which came with an assortment of breads (not impressive), coffee, juice or chocolat chaud, and eggs; all in all, it was a mediocre meal for about 60 Euros. I would probably not go to Ladurée on the Champs again. My second experience was much better as it was strictly to buy a small assortment of macaroons at the 21 rue Bonaparte location. Somehow, the macaroons tasted better there. As it was May and in honor of May Day, they even had a Muguet de Bois (Lily of the Valley) flavored macaroon. Vanilla and Caramel were favorites of mine; my only regret is that we didn't have enough time before we left to make another pit stop to bring some home.

ETA: Just received a response from Laduree letting me know that their first U.S. location will be opening in New York by the end of the year!

http://www.laduree.fr

Next: La Tour d'Argent and Pierre Gagnaire

Au Revoir! (Back in about a week or so)

2007-04-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

Just a short note to say that CP will be on break until around May 4th or so. Be sure to check back then for notes from my Paris trip!

Prepping for Paris: The Maps

2007-04-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

Since I’m the designated navigator for this upcoming Paris trip, I decided that I needed to arm myself with maps. To avoid looking like a tourist with one of those large maps or local free ones, I decided to try and find some that were pretty compact and discreet, were waterproof, fit nicely in a purse, yet would make it very easy for me to get around. Here are some of the better options I found:

The Red Map:

Pro: The easiest on the eyes, with pastel colors and clear font, this map lists quite a few of my favored shop locations (by map quadrant), museums, churches, parks, hotels, and neighborhoods.

Con: Metro stops aren’t listed by name but are shown on the map by colored dots.

www.redmaps.com

Pocket Pilot: truly a pocket map; tiny and folds up into a small square.

Pro: Metro Stops are very easy to read and find as they are punctuated by a blue box. Handy bits of information are on the map, top sights, city statistics, climate, useful phrases, tips on public transport, etc. The major department stores like Printemps and Galeries Lafayette and hotels are clearly marked as well.

Con: Other than the tiny font, I see myself using this frequently because of its small size and Metro stop information.

www.pocket-pilot.info

Streetwise:Paris: The most highly reviewed of the maps on Amazon.com; I don’t think the reviews are padded as I’ve always heard positive things about Streetwise.

Pro: Folds up nicely, is probably the most detailed map available. Great if you find yourself lost on a small street as it will most likely be on this map. Has a detailed Paris Street Index so you can quickly find out where you are on the map. Also marks taxi stands with a large T; taxi stands are the preferred mode to catching a taxi. The New York method of flagging a cab down is apparently not appreciated here. Lists some hotels, the major museums, sites, by quadrant.

Con: Because of the level of detail, looking at it can be a bit of headache. Metro stops are there, but you have to look very hard as they are not highlighted; however, there is a great overview map of the Metro system.

www.streetwisemaps.com

MapEasy (pictured):
Pro: I was drawn to this map because it lists out landmarks, eateries, and shops by their name directly on the map. So if I start to get hunger pangs in the midst of walking along the Champs Elysees, I need only to take this map out and take a glance to find out where the nearest café or McDonalds (in the event I’m craving a little taste from home) is.

Con: Because it is a full-map fold, this map will make you look like a tourist unless you figure out a way to fold it compactly beforehand to show the area you will be in.

www.mapeasy.com

Which one is the best? The verdict will be in upon my return (if I can find my way back that is).

The Perfect Murder: The Perfect Wardrobe -Part III, The Handbag

2007-04-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

And so we conclude this three-part high-level look at the wardrobe of The Perfect Murder, by extolling the virtues of the handbag Gwyneth Paltrow's elegantly attired character totes throughout the movie, the Hermes Kelly.

The Kelly was actually born in the 1930s, then known as the Petite Sac Haut a Courroies (the original and larger Haut a Courroies was originally created to transport saddles in 1892), before it was re-christened the Kelly bag in the mid 1950s in honor of actress Grace Kelly who was a big fan of the bag and at one point, carried one to shield her pregnancy from photographers.

The bag takes approximately 13 hours to construct with over 2,500 stitches. While Kelly bags can be ordered in various sizes and colors and with different hardware, Black box calfskin is revered amongst collectors as being the quintessential and classic leather for the Kelly, particularly with gold hardware. Box calf ages beautifully; some of the oldest bags I've seen have been in box calf and they look wonderful. And it is this exact combination that Paltrow carries throughout the film and not surprisingly, it goes with everything she wears. Indeed, it is the perfect handbag.

Photo: courtesy of TPF member Dressage Queen; used with permisson.

The Perfect Murder: The Perfect Wardrobe -Part II, The Clothing

2007-04-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

As I’ve gotten older and experimented with trends, it has finally dawned on me that the pieces that have longevity in my closet are classic and basic pieces; a tailored shirt, the perfect black dress slacks, the versatile long black skirt, etc. Not the trendy tops or low-waisted jeans that always make me feel uncomfortable or make Spanx necessary to suck in the sagging skin from pregnancy and prevent the dreaded "muffin-top" look.

Comfortable and classic is what best describes the wardrobe for Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in The Perfect Murder. Nowhere in the film do you see her tugging at low-waisted pants nor wearing the latest trend. Even though her closet is quite large by New York standards, it is neat and has everything hanging in its place. Her closet isn’t overloaded with a thousand tees that she couldn’t resist because they were 5 for $10. Sorry…projecting a bit here.

While we can’t see everything in the closet, we can only extrapolate based on what we’re shown in the film.

For Evening Formal:
Solid colored floor-length evening gown; yes, her evil husband chose it…wonder what she would have picked had he not intervened, but it was beautiful nonetheless and perfectly tailored to her figure. Nothing hanging out, everything tucked in and just perfectly adorned with a necklace, bracelet and a neat chignon.

For Work:
French Blue Button Down Shirt (loved the cufflinks)
Cashmere pullovers and cardigans
Black long skirt
Turtleneck
Knee-high boots
Brown long shearling coat
Hermes scarf

Post Murder Attempt/Quick errand:
Fisherman’s sweater—even when she’s at the police station right after being attacked, Paltrow’s character manages to look chic sans makeup with a heavy cable-knit classic oatmeal fisherman’s turtleneck sweater.

Overall, each piece is a timeless basic, and with the exception of the evening gown, work interchangeably with each other in any closet.

Tomorrow: Part III-The Handbag

Photos: Warner Brothers

The Perfect Murder: The Perfect Wardrobe -Part I, The Jewelry

2007-04-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite movies is the 1998 remake of 1954’s Dial M for Murder , The Perfect Murder, starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Not so much for the movie itself as it is to drool at the perfection and élan with which costume designer Ellen Mirojnick managed the wardrobe for Gwyneth Paltrow’s upper East Side character, Emily Taylor. Despite the character’s evident wealth, which is a major plot point in the story, she wears the same overcoat, jewelry, watch and handbag throughout the film. Elegant simplicity in quality not quantity you know? The pieces chosen are timeless and absolutely classic and worth taking a closer look at.

For starters, let’s take a look at the jewelry used in the film; per the credits, “select” jewelry was provided by Cartier, but many of the designs are quite basic and not exclusive to the jewelry house.

For Work: A long strand of pearls doubled
For Evening: A diamond Riviera necklace and bracelet
Daily: Diamond studs, Tiffany Elsa Peretti floating diamond necklace,
Cartier Panthere watch (now replaced by the Demoiselle model) and Cathy Waterman wedding band

Let’s stop for a moment and focus on this last piece. I love the fact that her character had this delicate, yet striking wedding band instead of a huge engagement ring that one would expect from a Park Avenue princess. It was very consistent with her character’s understated elegance. While it’s possible that a band was chosen because it served as a plot point in the film, it was nonetheless a beautiful choice. Paltrow had a hand in recruiting designer Cathy Waterman to create the wedding band which is actually three of Waterman’s signature delicate floral bands that were fused together for the film. Apparently two bands were made with slightly differing designs and even Waterman herself is a bit unclear as to which one was used. Being the die-hard that I am, I slow-mo’d the film and indeed, the ring used in the film is the same design that is now a part of Waterman’s line; known aptly as “The Perfect Murder” ring. Available at www.twistonline.com

Movie Photos: Warner Bros.
Ring Photo: Twist

Travel: Prepping for Paris-The Restaurants

2007-04-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Paris in a few weeks time and have been scrambling trying to get the itinerary together. When I travel, the sights are secondary to the food and shopping. In fact, I have been known to shallowly reject prospective vacation sites because they were deficient in the latter two categories. Given that Paris has an abundant selection of options for both food and shopping, I find myself a little overwhelmed as to where to go for both; however, after some research and consultation with knowledgeable friends decided to make reservations via E-mail at three well-known restaurants, and here's what I found:

1. Pierre Gagnaire: www.pierre-gagnaire.com (French-only website that I could tell); luckily, I recognized the word "Contact" in the titles and clicked on that. I E-mailed them a few months ago only to receive a reply that they do not take reservations more than one month in advance; please E-mail again at that point. I followed instructions, exactly E-mailing them a month from the date I wanted; after no response over four days, I try again. Finally, I get a response. The day I selected was booked. So I try again with another date. Success! Now, please fill out the attached form with your hotel information AND your credit card information to confirm the reservation. I duly fill it out and return it. No response to my request for confirmation of receipt. I try again. Auto-reply stating that the restaurant is closed for a week. Still waiting....

2. Taillevent: www.taillevent.com (English option on the website). I wrongly assumed that they followed Gagnaire's practice of only one month in advance; so I try one month to the day only to be informed (albeit, in an extremely friendly E-mail) that they are booked solid for dinner reservations for one month past the time we'll be there, BUT they would gladly welcome us for lunch. Great! Same request for information although no CC information, BUT I must call the morning of my reservation before 10 a.m. otherwise my reservation will be canceled. Since our reservation is on a Monday, and they are closed on Sundays, I must remind myself to call the morning of. Now let's just hope they'll pick up the phone at that time.

3. La Tour d'Argent-www.latourdargent.com, (English option available) -the fastest and friendliest response out of the three. No CC information needed nor form for reply. I had made a mistake about our arrival date and had to modify the reservation, and they got back to me almost immediately accommodating my request for the change. I requested a table overlooking the Seine and the Notre Dame as had been advised and was told they would do their best to accommodate my request. They also attached a PDF of their menu to boot. I am merely requested to confirm my reservation sometime after my arrival; no timeframe specified.

The plus to reserving with the above three is that I was able to communicate in English via E-mail, saving myself the agony of trying to speak very poor French on the telephone with phrase book in hand. Let's just hope that I remember to avoid "ris de veau" (sweetbreads) on my visit.

Photo: www.seaintorg.com

Pho & Cream Puffs?

2007-04-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

When we saw that Pho Than Brothers was opening up a location on the Eastside, we no longer had an excuse to not try out the establishment known for cheap and great Pho served with cream puffs. I was expecting other dishes on the menu encased underneath the glass on our table, but nope, aside from beverages, Pho in every combination and size (from small to XL) was pretty much it. I ordered a medium-sized bowl of the Pho Bo with eye round steak and a glass of Nuoc Mat (Cane Tea). I was pleasantly surprised to see that our cream puffs arrived shortly after we sat down. Any place that serves you dessert first already has a leg up on their competition in my book. Cream puffs were fairly decent and can be bought—15 for $7.50. As for the Pho, when I first saw the clump of rice noodles in the bowl, I was prepared for the noodles to be a bit undercooked and not heated through as I’ve found at some places, but the noodles quickly unfurled and I discovered perfectly cooked rice noodles in a delicious MSG-free broth. The medium-sized bowl of Pho was just right for me, and I even had some left over. Both the Pho and the tea worked perfectly on a cold and rainy day. In short, a great and inexpensive meal.

For locations and menu, visit: Pho Than Brothers

Cash only
Open 7 days a week

Hermes: The Limited Edition Turandot Scarf

2007-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of their Charlotte store opening, Hermes has re-issued a limited number of scarves in my absolute favorite Hermes design ever: 2002’s Turandot designed by Natsuno Hidaka. Generally when Hermes re-issues a design, they never do it in colorways that have been previously issued. It is my good fortune that someone over in headquarters didn’t want to have to think too hard because they opted to re-issue the scarf in two previously issued colorways: Prune and Coral. The Prune, which we shall now re-name as Aubergine because, well, it just sounds better, was a colorway that I was missing, and in my humble opinion, is one of the most beautiful colorways. Some fabulous articles on the Hermes scarf and the limited Turandot edition can be found at the Charlotte Observer and the Charlotte Observer Style section

Stationery Style: Iomoi.com

2007-04-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a paper fixation since I was a child. I’m not just talking pretty paper, I’m talking any paper. I collected the labels and wrappers from cans and soaps as a 3-year old and carefully toted my prized collection in what would become another object of fixation as an adult: an old handbag my mom had passed down to me. As I grew older, I discovered the joys of Sanrio, which I’m not embarrassed to say, still captivates me today. However, I’ve also come to enjoy the art of finer stationery, but was quite surprised at how much a small batch of personalized stationery can cost at Smythson, Mrs. John L. Strong, or even Crane. So I had a small batch made up through William Arthur using letterpress and even then, that small batch cost as much as an Hermes scarf. It’s too bad I didn’t come across the Iomoi.com website sooner. The site customizes stationery, calling cards (great for play dates), address labels, and even lovely little paperweights. The designs are absolutely charming, taking cues from such popular designs as Goyard’s stripes or Tory Burch’s emblem, but also making available other adorable, yet more traditional motifs such as flowers, monograms, and my personal favorite, a woman toting a Birkin.

www.iomoi.com

Photos: www.iomoi.com

Beauty: Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion

2007-04-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

I never would have found out about this little treasure of a beauty product had I not gotten a trial-sized version of it from Sephora on one shopping trip. You apply a little on your lids before applying eyeshadow, let it dry for a few seconds, and then apply your shadow over it. Colors appear richer and shadow stays put longer as the powder has something to cling to rather than just dry skin. A little goes a long way; definitely one of my must-haves!

Available at www.sephora.com $15

Photo: www.sephora.com

Easter and the Pomegranate?

2007-04-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone. As I am due to leave for services here shortly, I will make this brief.

I recently learned something new from an Hermes scarf collector's group I belong to. Apparently, the fruit du jour, the Pomegranate, which seems to be quite popular in recent years, is a symbol of the Passion. Of course I had to look this up and found all kinds of interesting tidbits of information regarding this complex fruit that is now in everything from POM juices to beauty products.

From http://organicpassion.info/facts-about-pomegranate/

-The pomegranate was first cultivated in Persia 5,000 years ago.
-It was the favourite fruit of the ancient Greek gods and in Ancient Greece, represented life, regeneration and marriage.
-In China, a picture of a ripe pomegranate is a popular wedding gift.
-In Buddhism, the pomegranate is one of the three blessed fruits and found in art as a symbol of abundance and prosperity.
-The pomegranate is a symbol of resurrection and eternal life in Christianity. It symbolised fertility, and this symbolism
was brought to life in 1487 by Allesandro Boticelli in his painting “Madonna of the Pomegranate” which depicts the
Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus with a pomegranate in his hand.
-It is customarily eaten during the Jewish New Year.
-The Prophet Mohammed cherished the fruit saying it brings physical and emotional harmony.
-The ancient Egyptians were buried with pomegranate. The Babylonians believed chewing the seeds before battle made
them invincible.
-Pomegranate is used to make grenadine syrup, which is used in cocktails such as Mai Tai or tequila sunrise.

Anyhow, I will be wearing my Les Jardins d'Andalousie scarf (pictured) today, which is laden with pomegranates.

Restaurants: Le Pichet in Belltown

2007-04-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

Part of me wishes we tried this restaurant after my Paris trip so I could say without hesitation that this little gem of a French cafe resembles those in Paris. As it is, I will just have to say that this cafe meshes with my idea of what a French cafe would be like in Paris. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera at home, so no pictures of what we polished off today.

Le Pichet is located just a few steps away from Pikes Market in Seattle's Belltown. It is a tiny place, with about 14 tables inside and just another handful out in front. There is also a small bar area.

We went there for lunch and called ahead--no reservations taken they said; just come before 12:30 p.m. and you should be fine. We arrived just after 12 p.m. and seated ourselves at the last open table inside. I ordered the grilled quail watercress salad with avocado and creamy almond vinaigrette, some air-dried country sausage marinated with garlic and chiles, and a Lyon-style onion soup to share. My DH wanted to order the quiche, but was informed that it was sold out; the couple dining next to us had just ordered the last two remaining portions. As an alternative, my husband ordered the two eggs broiled with ham and gruyere (pictured), but I caught him enviously eyeing our neighboring diners' quiches more than once. The server did say that the broiled eggs were among the most popular items on the menu. The quail was perfectly grilled and seasoned; it's too bad the birds are so tiny that half a quail really equals the meat on one chicken wing. The watercress, avocado, and almond dressing served as a wonderful complement to the seasoned quail. The onion soup was well-flavored, not too salty, and quite hearty; really, a meal in and of itself. The sausage was not something I would order again given the amount of food we had ordered; it is really something meant to be enjoyed with a nice baguette and a selection of cheeses.

We capped off our meal with crepes with fromages blanc and caramelized creme tarte. The former was dusted off with powdered sugar and rhubarb compote. The latter was rich--a bit like pecan pie filling without the cloying sweetness, and after a bite of which, prompted DH to say, "they must use gallons of butter here." Indeed the food is rich and not for those dieting, but the portions are small enough for one to hope that Mireille Guiliano's statement that "French Women Don't Get Fat" rings true, and the calories would be justified after a long day of strolling around downtown Seattle on a rare sunny day.

Open Sunday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to midnight
Friday and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

First Photo: Le Pichet
Second Photo: Suzie

www.lepichetseattle.com

NY Mag: "The Power (and Peril) of Praising Your Kids"

2007-04-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

As the parent of a toddler, I find myself jumping up and down at the slightest response to any command I give or clapping like a buffoon when she does something correctly. I am on the encouragement bandwagon and focused on not making my child feel unworthy, especially having grown up in a conservative and stereotypical Asian environment where praise regarding one's intelligence wasn't exactly part of the daily conversation.

Then I read this eye-opening article by Po Bronson on nymag.com-How Not to Talk to Your Kids: The Inverse Power of Praise; I had heard something similar in the past, but the basic point was so well-articulated here that it really stuck with me and is worth including here for parents to read. In short, how you phrase your praise may affect your child's estimation of their own abilities.

His concluding quote really hit it home for me:
"Offering praise has become a sort of panacea for the anxieties of modern parenting. Out of our children’s lives from breakfast to dinner, we turn it up a notch when we get home. In those few hours together, we want them to hear the things we can’t say during the day—We are in your corner, we are here for you, we believe in you.

In a similar way, we put our children in high-pressure environments, seeking out the best schools we can find, then we use the constant praise to soften the intensity of those environments. We expect so much of them, but we hide our expectations behind constant glowing praise. The duplicity became glaring to me."

You learn something new everyday.

An Emergency Purchase: the Olympus WS-300M Digital Voice Recorder

2007-04-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

From the time my daughter was born I had always talked about recording her voice and saving it for posterity. Somewhere in storage is a tape of me as a 3-year old getting confused between “Flushing” and “French Fry” when being asked where I lived, and my parents love hearing that over and over again. My daughter is now two, and I haven’t taped a thing. And then today, the bomb dropped. I handed her a sippy cup for her water; this one had a bunch of Sesame Street characters on it, including her favorite, Mo-Mo, but today, when she saw the cup, she actually called him “EL-mo” instead of just “Mo-Mo.” I was stunned. And then it dawned on me, she was growing up, and baby talk was slowly making its way out, and I hadn't captured a moment of it.

When she first started talking, I had loved how she abbreviated words—as if she couldn’t be bothered to say the whole thing so she’d just say the last half of the word. Zebra was “bra” and Elmo was “Mo-Mo.” But no longer, now it’s just “zebra” and “Elmo,” and for some reason, I was really sad. On the positive side, I immediately ran to my laptop to Google “digital voice recorder for Macs” and quickly got to Amazon where I found the Olympus WS-300M had gotten good reviews and easily synced with the Mac so I could just convert the files into MP3s and burn them onto disc to torment her with them at a later date. You can even get a small microphone to go with it.

Hopefully it’ll be easy to use, and in between now and the time that it arrives, my daughter will still be saying “Mama” instead of “Mommy.”

Photo: Amazon.com

Otter Love and the Fashion Consultant

2007-04-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

A short yet sweet entry today; a friend of mine sent this YouTube link to me--you must watch it until the end.
Sea Otters on YouTube

Also, worth looking at: one of my favorite sections of New York Magazine and the precursor to the now popular Sartorialist, "The Lookbook" which profiles real-life New Yorkers as seen on the streets. The Fashion Consultant profiled here is fabulous and her remarks spot on.
The Lookbook

Photo: Jake Chessum for New York Magazine

Yo-Yo Ma: The Silk Road Ensemble

2007-04-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble perform. My DH humored my lifelong crush on this virtuoso (still as handsome and charming as ever by the way) by scoring some tickets from Craigslist since the performance had been sold out. Since we were out of town just prior to the performance, he enlisted the help of a loyal friend to do the drop-off and pick-up of the tickets from the seller--which took place in a parked car creepily enough.

I went to the concert completely oblivious as to the program content; while I've always been a fan of his interpretations of classical pieces, I had not been a faithful listener of Mr. Ma's performances with the Silk Road Ensemble, even though he had been performing with the ensemble for eight years. The only piece from the Ensemble I had heard up to that point was "The Desert Capriccio" from the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" soundtrack.

The Silk Road Ensemble performs pieces commissioned by the Silk Road Project, a not-for-profit arts and cultural organization Mr. Ma founded in 1998. The organization derives its name from the Silk Road, which per the organization's website, "refers to a series of routes that crisscrossed Eurasia from the first millennium B.C.E. through the middle of the second millennium C.E. The best known segment of the Silk Road began in the Chinese capital of Chang'an (Xian), diverged into northern and southern routes that skirted the Central Asian Taklamakan Desert, converged to cross the Iranian plateau, and ended on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean in cities like Antioch and Tyre." As such, the pieces commissioned have a strong Asian and Middle Eastern influence, using classical instruments from each that are hardly seen or heard in the Western world.

These influences came to a heady intersection with the program's opening piece, the lively and rousing "Gallop of a Thousand Horses," which showcased each performer's talent and ability right from the get-go. I have to admit that I expected the ensemble to be overshadowed by Yo-Yo Ma's performance and presence, but I was happily mistaken. Each artist more than held their own; each, clearly a master of their own instrument, yet more than able to work beautifully together to create some moving and intense performances.

I immediately hopped onto iTunes when I came home to check out the ensemble's existing recordings ("Distant Valley" is a favorite). Hopefully you'll be as intrigued as I was to find out more about this fantastic ensemble and will be quick to order tickets should they tour in a city near you.

http://www.silkroadproject.org/
photo: crossovermedia.net

On Newsstands Now: InStyle's Annual Best Beauty Buys Issue

2007-04-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

InStyle magazine has come a long way since its first issue debuted thirteen years ago with Barbara Streisand on the cover. The earlier issues were wafer-thin, no thicker than a weekly tabloid, and now advertising has quadrupled the popular publication’s size. The initial focus of covering celebrities at home has broadened to include style, clothing, entertaining, and an annual issue on the best beauty buys that I look forward to and is currently on the newsstands. I take comfort in the fact that it doesn’t change too drastically from year to year; its consistency lends a bit of credibility to the list for me. My personal favorites: Armani foundation and Cle de Peau’s concealer. It is always a fun read, and particularly helpful if one needs some assistance navigating through the endless choices at the drugstore and department store cosmetic counters.

Photo: InStyle.com

Facing East: Taiwanese Cuisine in Bellevue

2007-03-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

At my husband’s request, this is our second time visiting Facing East in one week. We made the mistake of coming at around 6 p.m. on a Saturday and faced a wait inside the crowded tiny restaurant located in a strip mall next to the Bellevue Post Office. The second time we came in at around 5 p.m. on a weekday, and there was no wait. I’ve been eating Chinese food for a long time, but Taiwanese cuisine is new territory for me so I asked the friendly server for recommendations in addition to the favorites my husband had ordered.

We started off with the Citrus Fruit Tea, a refreshing medley of fruit flavors in an eye-catching array of lemons, oranges and green apples floating in a clear teapot that can be served hot or cold. I spotted these on almost every table during our first visit and inquired about it immediately. We ordered it hot the first time on a cold and rainy day, and the second time, ordered it cold after a day at the park; both are delicious. The Sweet Potato Flour Dumplings with Pork Stuffing (sold out the first time we went) arrived next, followed by the Taiwanese Style Chow Mein, Spiced Pork Stew over Rice (a popular favorite), Five Spiced Fried Chicken with Basil Puree, Pork Pottage with Noodles (husband’s favorite), and the Taiwanese Pork Burger.

Because I am not a big fan of black mushrooms and bamboo shoots, I passed the Dumplings over to my husband as the stuffing contained a generous portion of the above. The Taiwanese Style Chow Mein ($8.25) is great for the kids. The Spiced Pork Stew ($2.75-small, $3.99-large, pictured) is incredibly flavorful; rice topped with minced fatty pork and bathed in a delicious broth-something to be had every once in awhile before you’ll start needing a prescription for Lipitor. My favorites are the Five Spiced Fried chicken with Basil Puree ($5.25)—bits of chicken deep-fried with basil, and the Taiwanese Pork Burger ($2.75)—another luscious and fatty slice of pork with bits of preserved vegetable and an indescribable sauce, sandwiched between traditional white flour bread. The Pork Pottage with noodles ($4.99) is nicely done according to my husband; large chunks of pork steeped in fish paste and suspended in a starchy sweet broth. There are still many other items to be had on the small, yet comprehensive menu. Next on my list to try: the Salt Pepper Shrimp and Broiled Cod with Miso Glaze.

ETA: Favorite dishes are now: Broiled Cod with Miso Glaze, Shrimp Rolls (delicious, and you must ask for their chili sauce), Taiwanese Shaved Ice (not on the menu) for dessert.
Closed Mondays; credit cards $20 minimum
1075 Bellevue Way NE (inside the Belgate Plaza)
425-688-2986

Then Sings My Soul: Stories of the Hymns by Robert J. Morgan

2007-03-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Some of the world’s most beautiful music and poetry can be found in the hundreds of hymns written by devout believers over the centuries. I have to admit that I preferred more contemporary worship music during my youth, but over time, when the first sprigs of white hair seem to be here to stay, I have come to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of the hymn. Robert J. Morgan offers stories and perspectives behind 150 well-loved hymns in this first volume (there is a second one) complete with music and lyrics.

Among all the hymns, there is one that always brings a tear to my eye, and after reading the story behind Horatio G. Spafford’s well-loved 1873 hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul,” I will have an even greater appreciation for the lyrics—“when sorrows like sea billows roar.”

Mr. Spafford was an attorney who had lost most of his fortune in real estate investments during the great Chicago fire in 1871. He lost his only son to scarlet fever during the same period of time as well. Two years later, he planned a vacation abroad to Europe with his wife and four daughters; however, when an urgent matter detained him, he sent his wife and his four daughters ahead of him on another ship. That ship wound up colliding with another vessel, and sank, killing the majority of the passengers, including all four of his daughters. His wife was found barely conscious. En route to join his wife, when he passed the waters where the ship had sank it is written that he said, “It is well; the will of God be done.”

I hope that when my head is fully crowned with silver (or hopefully a nice salt- pepper gray), I will have attained that level of contentment and confidence with whatever comes my way. One thing I know, I am sure I will be wondering then as I do now, why we don’t sing hymns more often.

Available at www.amazon.com

Mama’s Got Edge Darn it!: The Hermes Collier de Chien Cuff

2007-03-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

It will soon come to light that I am an ardent admirer of Hermes of Paris. Bags, scarves, bracelets, houseware, blankets, ready-to-wear, you name it, I love it. I recently picked up their Collier de Chien cuff in Rouge Garance Chamonix. I love the hardware on the cuff; I’m pretty wimpy by nature in my attire and in my demeanor so wearing it is just my passive-aggressive way of saying, “Don’t mess with me!” Blame it on Wonder Woman I say.

As with many of the famed goods from the house of Hermes, debatable necessity is the mother of invention. Hermes lore states that the signature Collier de Chien design made its way towards accessories for humans when a customer requested that one of their dog collar leashes be extended into a belt. Soon, the signature hardware became attached to necklaces, bracelets, gloves, and now, even their bags—with the current arrival of the Medor Clutch as shown in the photo above. It’s just too bad the meaning hasn’t changed; Collier de Chien translates to "dog collar" in French. "Dog collar" cuff just doesn't have as nice a ring to it eh?

Collier de Chien cuff available at Hermes stores or at www.hermes.com
Photo: Harper’s Bazzar

MAC’s Whirl Lipliner: An Alternative to the Old Spice

2007-03-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

I know a lot of you out there are fans of perennial favorite, MAC’s Spice lip liner, but did you know that it’s changed over the years? I first picked up the pencil at the age of 19 after reading how Michelle Pfeiffer used it with a layer of Clinique’s Black Honey Semi-Lipstick over it; a formula that worked perfectly for my fair skin. I finally reached the tail-end of a five-year old pencil (not as gross as it sounds—initially lost, but found at a later point) and went to buy another one, only to discover it didn’t look as good on me anymore. Was it time? Did my lips change coloring to render the pigment peachy and pasty versus the light and pinky brown I had gotten used to? Well, on a recent visit to my local MAC counter I told the cosmetician of my plight, and that’s when she let me in on a little secret: Spice had changed—in fact, it used to be more of a “pinky brown.” WHAT?!? Why on earth would they even toy with perfection? Well, she didn’t know the answer, but she had a recommendation for an alternative: MACs Whirl—a more pinky version of Spice. While it’s not quite exactly like the old Spice, it’s closer than the newer version of Spice which is a bit more pasty on me. Go ahead, give it a Whirl—(sorry, I coudn't resist. It’s the latte kicking in.)

www.gloss.com

Out on DVD: The Curse of the Golden Flower

2007-03-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday, DVD release day! On my shopping list: Zhang Yimou’s The Curse of the Golden Flower.

I had meant to see this one in the theatre, but instead, after eating some suspicious foie gras terrine at Bergdorf’s for lunch and having to prematurely leave dinner at L’Atelier due to the belated effects of that terrine, wound up watching this in my hotel room bed with a pizza from Ray’s in New York. DH and I were riveted to the screen from the opening scene to the credits. The movie's plot centers around a highly-dysfunctional imperial family that gives the House of Atreus a run for its money; however, whereas Clytemnestra's little plot was successfully carried out against Agamemnon by Orestes, Gong Li's Empress and Jay Chou's Prince Jai struggle a bit more in their endeavor against Chow Yun Fat's mighty Emperor. The storyline is just so-so, but the costumes and sets steal the show. As a sidebar, I must add that we were relieved and impressed to hear a vastly improved Mandarin-speaking Chow Yun Fat; for native Chinese speakers, listening to traditionally Cantonese-speaking actors painfully churn out Mandarin in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a major distraction.

After seeing director Zhang Yimou’s considerably depressing "To Live" and "Shanghai Triad," many many years ago, I was happy to hear from my dad that he made a journey towards movies with a slightly brighter theme with “The Road Home” and “Not One Less.” Then it seems he had a bit of director envy after Ang Lee’s "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" as he began to explore the Wuxia genre with "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers"; both of which I appreciated for their visual beauty. In terms of this last characteristic, "the Curse of the Golden Flower" is the crown in his triumvirate of this genre. Can I just say it again? The costumes and sets are spectacular!

All in all----visually and tragically beautiful to watch. Check out the film's website for the gorgeous production photos:

http://www.sonyclassics.com/curseofthegoldenflower/

Photo: Sony Classics Production Photos from Yahoo

Tory Burch's Amy Pump: An Elevated Reva

2007-03-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

While I adore my 4" Louboutins, I lack Sarah Jessica Parker's remarkable ability of running in them. Everytime I see her run in Manolos or sky-high platforms in old SATC episodes, I'm in awe. I can barely handle the coordination involved in merely standing in 4" heels; throw in the fact that most days will require running after or holding a 30-pound plus toddler, and it just ain't gonna happen. That's when stylish flats such as my favorite and the ever-popular and constantly sold out Tory Burch Revas (first photo) come into play. The flats named after the designer's mother are perfect for running around with/after a toddler and add a bit of pizazz to whatever you're wearing. But what about those days when you just want something in between the classic ballerina flat and the sexy four-inchers? That would be the Reva re-incarnated as Tory Burch's Amy pump; essentially, the Reva with a two-inch stacked heel gilded with gold trim. As Goldilocks would say, "This one is just right!" Well, almost, if only they would come with silver hardware and in colors other than black and brown...but for now, I'm managing a fast-paced walk in them just fine.

Available at www.toryburch.com

Rover's in Seattle: the March 2007 Classics Menu

2007-03-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

After a long week, I tossed the gym clothes and milk-stained sweats into the hamper, put on my new Vivaldi coat (see earlier post), Louboutin wedges, kissed my daughter good night, said goodbye to our sitter, and skipped out the door for a dinner date with my husband and some good friends of ours at Rover’s in Seattle.

Even though we’ve lived in Washington for several years, we only recently began creeping out of our parental comfort zone and acquainting ourselves with its finer dining establishments. My husband had read about chef Thierry Rautureau’s Rover’s restaurant in Seattle magazine; it has been a longtime favorite with critics and local epicureans alike. He thought it would be the perfect dining destination for a rare night out knowing my penchant for French food.

The atmosphere is quaint and charming, like many of the restaurants on Madison in Seattle. Upon first glance at the menu, I have to say that I felt a little disappointed as the menu items did not reflect traditional French fare; as I was about to curse my husband’s incorrect assessment of the cuisine*, I spotted the Classics menu being offered for the month of March, which as luck would have it, pays homage to traditional French dishes. I chose the Vichyssoise, Salade Lyonnaise, Boeuf Bourguignon, and Cherry Clafoutis. Each course had me wanting more; in fact, if I just had a trough full of the Boeuf Bourguignon, I would have been quite happy. The Clafoutis reminded me of a delicious Berry Cobbler I once had at Chez Paul’s in Maui; light, airy, not too sweet, and just pure perfection. In short, this was one of the best meals I’ve had since we moved here. After our server told us this was the first time in 20 years that Boeuf Bourguignon has been offered on the menu, I am already plotting our next visit before the Boeuf disappears at the end of this month.

*In hindsight If I had only visited the restaurant’s website I would have seen this accurate description of Rover's cuisine; “Our menu is best described as the cuisine of the Pacific Northwest refined by a French accent.”

Rover’s March Classics Menu

Vichyssoise or Lobster Bisque

Salade Lyonnaise or Celery Remoulade

Sole Normande or Boeuf Bourguignon
or
Swiss Chard Tart with Pine Nuts, Raisins and an Herb Mushroom Etuvée

Chocolate Souffle or Cherry Clafoutis

Call 206-325-7442 for reservations

www.rovers-seattle.com

Tube Press: At a buck apiece, it's worth getting.

2007-03-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

I have to confess that given a brand-new tube of toothpaste, I will haphazardly squeeze it in the middle, beginning, or end with the sole aim of getting toothpaste onto my toothbrush as quickly as possible. This pattern continues every morning and evening for several days until my dear husband spots the mutilated tube atop my bathroom counter; at which point he will venture over to rescue it from its distorted existence by neatly rolling the tube up for me. So when I spotted this nifty contraption while shopping for more shoe boxes (more on that later), I decided to give into my sudden and rare domestic whims and purchased two; one for my husband and one for me. And what a small, yet satisfying difference this simple contraption makes! I am quite pleased in seeing how nice and neat my tube of toothpaste appears...and to know I did it without spousal support.

Available at www.walgreens.com $1.99 for two

More Eggs: Faberge's 1906 Swan Egg

2007-03-22T22:28:00.001-07:00

Since we’re on the subject of eggs, allow me to mention my childhood fascination with Faberge eggs which began soon after I saw the 1983 James Bond film, Octopussy, in which the opening scene deals with a stolen Faberge egg. After looking through several books on Faberge, there was one egg that I became enamored with: The Swan Egg. Czar Nicholas II presented this egg to his mother for Easter in 1906. The exquisitely jeweled pale lavender exterior alone is an eye-catcher, but what really had me going about this egg were the multiple surprises inside. Once opened, the egg reveals a platinum swan sitting in a small lake carved out of aquamarine. But that isn’t all. The swan has a mechanism that when activated causes the swan to move its rump and arch its neck. Pure genius! I then cheekily declared to my mother (at the age of nine), that whomever I married would have to procure this egg for me to win my hand in marriage. Needless to say, my married surname is not Sandoz, the Swiss foundation that currently owns my beloved egg.

Photos: http://andrejkoymasky.com

Cadbury Mini-Eggs: An Annual Treat

2007-03-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that I am not a chocolate lover by nature; given the choice between a slice of pizza and a bar of chocolate, pizza would win hands down as it would satisfy my savory palate everytime. But right around early March, when Target gets their remaining Easter stock, I quickly & purposefully stride towards the Easter display aisle, keeping my eyes peeled for the shiny purple package that holds the objects of my desire: Cadbury Mini-Eggs. A high-school classmate of mine introduced these special treats to me many years ago during one particularly slow AP English class. These mini-eggs have a crisp and thin candy shell, and the inside, of course, has the most delicious creamy Cadbury milk chocolate that M&M’s don’t even come close to. I know you chocolate connoisseurs revere chocolate to a whole other level and are probably smirking at the thought of drugstore chocolate, but give these a try. Every year, they have my simple tastebuds coming back for more.

Photo: Cosmopolitan Pearls

Tiffany's $275,000 Octopus

2007-03-21T13:29:00.001-07:00

Although I wear the same simple jewelry everyday, I appreciate extraordinary jewelry designs that demonstrate remarkable craftsmanship. I first saw this glorious piece in a Tiffany advertisement last year and was delighted to find it in the Tiffany Blue Book for 2006-2007. Although the Blue Book has been out for quite some time, I thought it a worthy piece to include here nonetheless. The bracelet is made up of hundreds of “specially-cut melee diamonds,” pink and green sapphires set in etched white gold. C’est très magnifique!

Photo: Tiffany 2006-2007 Blue Book

It's About Time: The Bugaboo Cup Holder

2007-03-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

As if I needed another accessory cost for my money pit of a stroller (albeit, I love my Bugaboo Chameleon) Bugaboo has finally decided to come out with their own cup holder, one that doesn't require any screws--it just snaps onto the frame. Finally! My local Babystyle has sold out of them so I'm patiently waiting for a new shipment to come in. Now if only they would come out with a snack tray...

Nanette Lepore: The Vivaldi Coat

2007-03-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I tried on a lovely black Chloe silk evening coat with little bow closures and fell in love; however, given the climate I live in, I couldn’t justify the price considering I’d use it just a handful of times. Then in New York I found something a little funkier and a bit more dramatic, and at a fifth of the price of my Chloe find: the Nanette Lepore Vivaldi Coat. The coat is made of a linen blend with ¾ length bell sleeves with the neckline and center opening trimmed with a lovely taffeta-like ruffle. The back of the coat has a lovely bow. Granted, it’s a bit more in-your-face than the subtle and minimalist design of the lovely Chloe coat, but with a title like the “Vivaldi” coat, what does one expect? Ms. Vivaldi will be making her debut this Friday during a dinner date at a lovely French restaurant near you.

Available at www.eluxury.com and www.nordstrom.com
Photo: from www.nordstrom.com

Leigh Nash: Blue on Blue

2007-03-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

One of the few albums I can recommend to purchase in its entirety, Blue on Blue is the beautiful solo debut from Leigh Nash, the former lead singer of the now sadly defunct group, Sixpence None The Richer. Melodic and not over-produced, the album is gorgeous. Favorite tracks: "All Along the Wall," "My Idea of Heaven," and "Ocean Size Love."

Available through www.iTunes.com

Christian Louboutin: Not Just For Boosting Your Height

2007-03-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the UPS truck from Christian Louboutin’s store on Madison and in my closet are a pair of black calfskin Louboutin platform pumps with a stacked 3.5 inch wooden heel. Take note, these are shorter than the popular Bruges oft-spotted on the startlet du jour, and different from this Spring’s version, the Super 868, which has a pointier toe and a sky-high heel. In short, this is the perfect shoe.

My current shoe? $10 flipflops from Nordstrom Rack. What did I wear outside the house today in the torrential rain? That would be my Asics Kayanos to the gym. When would I wear this perfect shoe then? Good question. Pre-pregnancy and marriage, I would tell you that I would wear these with the pantsuits I used to wear to work to attend team and client meetings with CFOs and attorneys.

The ugly truth is that post-pregnancy I couldn’t bear to look at a heel, not helped by the fact that my foot size went up by a ½ size; the best I could do were clogs to those post-partum doctor visits. And even then, those were a stretch. Ever try to carry a 9 pound newborn inside a hefty infant carrier post-C section?

It took me about a year before I could even remotely think about myself again. Post-partum depression, shedding some of the baby weight, dealing with the stress of a very steep learning curve of being a first-time parent away from family who could help, were things that I found very overwhelming. Style got put on the backburner, and keeping my head above water became paramount.

When my daughter turned one, I also reached a mini-milestone; I became re-interested in looking somewhat presentable when going out. Invigorating my wardrobe was a head-to-toe process, so that’s when I got my first pair of Louboutin shoes; a pair of leopard-print wingtip slingback wedges I found on sale at Bergdorfs on-line. Wearing those shoes made me feel taller—both literally and figuratively. The leopard-print made me feel cool & stylish. In short, those were the shoes in which Mama got her groove back.

So when will I wear the perfect shoe? The answer: whenever Mama needs a little boost. ☺

www.christianlouboutin.fr

HBO's Classical Baby: Music, Art, and Dance

2007-03-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

As the rookie mother of a two-year old, I've seen a lot of children's DVDs and can practically recite from memory what animal will appear next on Baby Einstein's Baby Noah DVD. By far, the most well-done series I have seen is HBO's Classical Baby series. The series is comprised of three DVDs that originally aired on HBO; there is the Music show, Dance show, and the Art show (or "Ah-t" show as my daughter likes to say). The last is my absolute favorite as it bring to life well-known works of art and pairs them with familiar classical pieces. Watching Chagall's 1915 painting, "Birthday" come to life or two mischievous bees contributing to the creation of one of Pollock's canvases are just some of the ways this wonderful series proves to be entertaining and educational for both children and parents. For a classical music buff, it was also a pleasant surprise to see in the credits that the selections used were taken from wonderful recordings. i.e., the Music show's "Busy Caterpillar" segment is set to cellist Yo-Yo Ma's recording of "Prelude from Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major." The Music and Art show segments are soothing enough that we have incorporated it as part of the nightly bedtime ritual.

Don't despair if your child doesn't take to it right away....it is inevitable that they will fall madly in love with it--just as my fickle little toddler did.

Photo: HBO
Available at www.amazon.com

Ode to Nobu Malibu

2007-03-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite restaurants on the planet is Nobu Matsuhisa's restaurant in Malibu. Everytime we go to Southern California, it's a mandatory stop for us. Celebrity sightings are an added plus or minus depending on how you view it. On one visit, we almost ran over Tommy Lee who inexplicably made a sudden mad dash across the parking lot, almost giving our elderly parents a small heart attack. We never order the sushi as you really want to focus on what they're known for---their specialty dishes.

What to Order:

Raw Dishes:
Tiradito: thinly sliced white fish delicately laced with lemon juice and adorned with a tiny Sriracha dot

Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno: thinly sliced yellowtail with cilantro and a jalapeno sliver capping each slice; one of Nobu's signature dishes

Albacore Vegas Salsa with Avocado: thinly sliced albacore with avocado served with a refreshing blend of chopped tomatoes, cilantro & white onion.

Other dishes:
LIVE Sweet Shrimp fried in Phyllo dough (make sure that it's LIVE and you say "fried in Phyllo" otherwise you'll wind up with the raw version of live sweet shrimp)--you must ask your server if it is available as it is considered a special that is not on the menu. For the faint of heart, please note that the head will arrive to you separately flash-fried (with the antennae dusted with goldleaf no less). It is perfectly kosher for you to eat the shrimp heads, although I always pass mine off to my DH.

Lobster Salad: essentially, their Shitake Mushroom Salad served with fresh lobster. You can spend the market price of around $50 for the salad which is quite good, or if you're just in the mood for some greens, just get the Shitake Mushroom salad which eases the guilt that accompanies some of the richer courses.

Soft Shell Crab Spring Rolls--crisp rolls generously stuffed with soft shelled crab. Unbelievably good.

Rock Shrimp with Creamy Spicy Sauce and/or with Butter Ponzu Sauce: Tempura rock shrimp mixed with a creamy spicy sauce and topped with chives & shitake mushrooms; the Ponzu sauce variety is also good--the rock shrimp is tossed with a delicious butter and ponzu-based sauce.

Kobe Beef Special: thinly shaved and marinated Kobe beef prepared with crispy onions, sugar snap peas, and crisp shitake mushrooms (order at least 1 oz per person); my favorite dish by far. This would be my choice for a last meal. Be very descriptive when ordering this as Nobu prepares their Kobe Beef in a variety of ways. At Malibu, this form of preparation is unfortunately also known as "the Leg Spreader."

Miso Cod: by far, their most popular dish, although it definitely is not one of my favorites, but for the sake of fairness, will put it here b/c maybe I'm just missing the requisite tastebuds for this one.

Dessert: order the below and it will arrived on one platter; perfect for sharing

Bento Box: chocolate souffle cake with green tea ice cream

Spring Rolls: thinly rolled crisps filled with butterscotch, white chocolate and chocolate fillings served with caramel, chocolate and raspberry dipping sauces.

Shiso Crepe: filled with delicious bananas and served with ice cream

Beverages:
Now I'm quite a lightweight, but I do adore their fruit infused Sakes which come in a variety of flavors; we've tried Lychee, Passionfruit, Blood Orange, Strawberry, and Coconut. Passionfruit and Blood Orange were among my favorites. Availability varies daily.

Location:
Nobu Malibu (in the Malibu Country Mart)
3835 Cross Creek Rd Ste 18A
Malibu, CA 90265
310.317.9140

When to Go: supposedly fresh fish deliveries happen on Monday!
Hours: Mon-Thu 5:45pm-10pm
Fri-Sat 5:45pm-11pm
Sun 5:45pm-10pm
www.noburestaurants.com