Guiney pigs taught my sister and I the birds and the bees.
(Illustration: Erina Ellis)
Archive for January, 2009
kitties, puppies, guiney pigs.
January 31, 2009I do, Alexis Bittar.
January 30, 2009I purchased my first piece of Alexis Bittar last Summer when I hosted the Cravefest Awards, a pair of beautiful gold hand-sculpted Lucite earrings. His jewels have the perfect marriage of detail, originality and sculptural beauty. I can spot an Alexis Bittar anywhere, and the phonies never measure up.
These are my idea of a modern promise ring.
Vermeil Sculpted Ring; with Turqoiuse .75″ in length.
Vermeil Lattice Ring; in Stabilized Variscit.
Gold Coral Ring; 1.25″ in height.
Sophia Cocktail Ring; 1″ in height.
Organic Bubble Ring; in Gold .75″ in length and height.
Tara’s French Wine Guide: Alsace Region.
January 29, 2009
THE “GIRL EVERYONE WANTED TO DANCE WITH” REGION
Let’s begin with the region that was the girl everyone wanted to dance with in World War I… and WWII… Alsace. Once a part of Germany, and then France, and then Germany, it is now happily residing in France. I was 100% unfamiliar with Alsace until 2 weeks ago, and now I’m obsessed! This tiny region happens to be one of the best White Wine producers in the world… Who knew?!
Although the Alsace region produces some Pinot Noir, they are predominantly a white wine producer. It should come as no surprise, given the close quarters it shares with Germany that most of the grapes grown in this region are more of the German varietals, such as Gewurztraminer (Gewurz –being the German word for spice) and the Riesling.
Rieslings have a unique characteristic because they are very expressive of the Terroir- meaning the grape really takes on the personality of the conditions it’s in. i.e. very mineral soil = very mineral Riesling.
A FEW OF MY FAVOURITES…
In my class we tried a bottle of each. Here are my thoughts on two of them.
GEWURZTRAMINER
Bottle: Pierre Sparr, Alsace AC, 2007 14%
Colour: Greenish, Lighter in Colour (pale)
Aroma: Botanicals, Lychee
Taste: Lychee, Tropical Fruit, Low Acidity, Spicy after taste at the back of the palette
Food Pairing: Spicy Foods (Asian Influenced), Wasabi, Horseradish
Price: $16.10; LCBO
RIESLING
Bottle: Willm Reserve, Alsace AC, 2007 12%
Colour: Pale, Bright but fades towards edge, Straw
Aroma: Fruity, Flower, Apple Blossom, Exotic,
Taste: Citrus, Sour Apple, Stainless Steel (from the fermentation process)
Pairing: Pork & Apple Sauce, Chicken
Price: $16.95; LCBO in the vintages section.
DELICIOUS FOOD
La Palette is a favourite French restaurant of mine in Toronto that carries a delicious Gewurztraminer from Alsace:
For more information on this region and the wine it produces, you can read more here.
-Tara Anderson
Mrs. O Style.
January 29, 2009
I’m not surprised that a Mrs. O style blog exists, but I’m happy it’s a good one. Just last week a pal and I were talking about the type of access one would need to cover her every outfit. Nine women, mostly from New York and London, are keeping tabs for you and I. Mary Tomer spearheads the blog.
I’m so fond of the Obama relationship, such obvious love and respect for one another.
(photo credit: Pete Souza, White House)
French Food: Croque Monsieur.
January 28, 2009The arctic winter weather continues, and nothing soothes the pain more then comfort food. I’m a big fan of Laura Calder’s French Food At Home -I’m a Food Network devotee actually. Laura hosts a weekly half hour show from her Nova Scotia home, and the food always looks delicious. But on a Winter night, there’s nothing better then a grilled cheese and soup combo. For a grilled cheese twist, try this croque monsieur recipe, courtesy of Laura Calder.
Ingredients:
- 2 x slices white bread
- A spoonful of crème fraîche
- A spoonful of Dijon mustard
- A pinch of paprika
- A grinding of pepper
- A handful of grated Gruyere cheese or Comté
- 1 thin slice of very good ham, baked or boiled
- Clarified butter, for frying
Directions:
- Cut the bread so that the two slices are still attached at the bottom, like a man’s wallet. Mix the crème fraîche and mustard together with paprika, and spread it generously on both insides of the “wallet”. Season with pepper.
- Make a sandwich within a sandwich: scatter in a layer of grated cheese, lay the ham on top of it, and scatter more grated cheese on top of the ham. (Alternatively, stir the cheese into the cream and mustard mixture, spread on both sides of the bread with the ham in the middle.)
- Press the sandwich together with your hand. Fry in clarified butter in a frying pan, a few minutes per side until it’s golden on the outside, and melting in the middle. Serve hot with a bit of salad.
Introducing: Tara’s French Wine Guide.
January 28, 2009
My beloved friend Tara is contemplating a career change. She’s currently enrolled in a wine program at a respected college in Toronto. I suggested she post a six-part French wine guide here on Bonjour Chérie.
Look out for her first post, covering the Alsace region this Thursday.
A note from Tara:
I have been an avid Wine drinker since the ripe old age of six. I used to sit at the table and annoy my mother and godmother until they poured a splash of vino into my glass of milk. (I will pause for the obvious reaction…) Post my milk and vino cocktail, I have come to really take pleasure in a glass of wine. But up until recently I ignored where the wine was conceived and just enjoyed it for what it was; a classy way to get a buzz.
Over the past two years, I have become curious about this complex beverage, so curious in fact, I have decided to potentially make a career change and revolve my life around wine and the intricacies that go into making it.
Since starting the wine program at a college here in Toronto, I have had my eyes opened to the different regions of France and how diverse the wine is from region to region. Up until now, I just assumed if I opened a bottle of wine from France, well, it was from France… During my time here on my BFF’s blog, I hope to shed some light on some of the hidden gems within the borders of France.
-Tara
Suitcase: Visiting la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
January 28, 2009You just can’t deny the architecture, and theatrical nature of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Moschino Cheap & Chic silk chiffon floral blouse.
J Brand Skinny white jeans
Marc by Marc Jacobs Faridah Totally hobo.
Miu Miu (I’m in love with these sandals!)
Estée Lauder Berry nail polish.
Dreaming of Spring.
January 27, 2009
According to a British psychiatrist, a combination of bad weather, unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions and credit card debt left from the holidays, made last Monday, January 19th, the most depressing day of the year.
Today has been just that for me.
Still, I dream of Spring, passionate love affairs, and pretty apartments I hope to one day live in.
