Shuesday: Ankle biters?

Forget about ankle biters, these are ankle breakers. I predict an article featuring comments from podiatrists in the NY Times in the next 4 weeks.

That said, they would look fantastic on Iman.

My little Uma

Amazing.

Guardian UK

Wednesday's Wordle: RedRiver

Wordle

Shuesday: Simple for Spring

I'm ignoring reports that the temperature will drop by the end of the week, and suggesting Prada for spring.

James Beard Nominees

I'm ridiculously excited by this year's nominations, because I've been to several, and because others are on the infamous "list".

Those I've visited include:
Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)

Joseba Jiménez de Jiménez
The Harvest Vine
Seattle

Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs)

Gabrielle Hamilton
Prune

(went there with The Scot and The Pastry Chef, among others)

Outstanding Chef Award
A working chef in America whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals. Candidates must have been working as chefs for at least the past 5 years.

Dan Barber
Blue Hill
NYC

(you'll no doubt recall the mixed experience I had at Blue Hill)

Best New Restaurant
A restaurant opened in 2008 that already displays excellence in food, beverage, and service and is likely to have a significant impact on the industry in years to come.

Scarpetta
NYC*

*just last Saturday - it was amazing.

I'd like to note that Momofuku Ko was also nominated for Best New Restaurant, but I'm boycotting their stupid reservations system on the grounds that I should be able to get into a restaurant I can see from my damn balcony, without a fleet of interns or law clerks to "refresh" the screen for me umpteen times a day.

Signature cocktails

If I had my druthers, I would probably drink strawberry daiquiris all the time. But I don’t. Sure, they’re delicious. But the strawberry daiquiri is a youthful drink, the drink of a girl on spring break in Cabo. Much like skinny jeans and Flashdance tops, I can’t pull it off anymore. These days, I am compelled by circumstances to act my age and order a nice Bordeaux and pretend I know what I’m talking about. If I had to guess, I’d say that many of us aren’t drinking what we’d truly like to drink. A friend of mine frequently orders Pimms to remind people of her stints abroad, though I suspect she longs for vodka tonic.

Really? I think life is a little short for this sort of messing about. I know a darling boy who drinks mojitos all year round unapologetically. Another who made up a delicious summer cocktail including vodka, pineapple juice and a splash of soda, and spent the months between May and September teaching it to all his local bartenders.

Bring me my dirty Sapphire martini, please, extra olives, (stuffed with blue cheese if possible). It takes the edge off the day with the efficiency of a spin class, and it's what I really want.

NYT: Proof

Oh the Places You'll Go: San Francisco Part Two

I decided SF deserved a second post.

Sunday we got up at a reasonable hour and walked from the Theatre District to the Hayes Valley for brunch at Absinthe. Again with the old school cocktails, and also the home restaurant of everyone's favourite Team Rainbow member, Jamie Lauren. I had coffee, a fig and champagne cocktail, an oyster shooter, a soft boiled egg (which was perfectly cooked) with salt and sage croutons for dipping, and toast.

Then we wandered and shopped 'round the area, noting the multitude of places one could purchase macarons (including a shop dedicated solely to their production and sale), and popping into a delightful old-school candy shop, Miette Patisserie and Confiserie. Then we caught a streetcar to Chinatown and wandered through Union Square in search of proper steamed pork buns (surprisingly hard to find in NYC).

That evening, we took the cable car to Gary Danko, for the following meal.

Butternut Squash Soup with Creme Fraiche and Caviar and Smoked Salmon on a Blini

Dungeness Crab Salad with Winter Citrus, Avocado and Meyer Lemon-Chive Vinaigrette
Seared Sonoma Foie Gras with Caramelized Red Onions and Fuji Apples

Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado, Nori, Enoki Mushrooms and Lemon Soy Dressing
Pancetta Wrapped Frog Legs with Garlic Purée, Potato, Lentils and Parsley

Roast Maine Lobster with Potato Purée, Blood Oranges, Edamame Beans and Basil
Lemon Pepper Duck Breast with Duck Hash, Celery Root-Garlic Purée and Poached Rhubarb

A Selection of Farmhouse and Artisanal Cheeses Presented Tableside

Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces

We started with a glass of Villa Creek's "Willow Creek Curée" from Paso Robles, there was a complimentary glass of bubbly, and we finally settled on a bottle of Domaine de Pallus, from Chinon in Loire Valley, "Les Pensées de Pallus". The sommelier was most helpful, and the customer service was extraordinary across the board.

Oh the Places You'll Go: San Francisco

The challenge with this post is that one realizes that 'tis mid-March and one has yet to blog the prior trip to San Francisco that took place in December. Ahem.

The trip began with a work component at Stanford. There's nothing like sitting indoors for three straight days talking about violence during regime change in the global south, but it was worth it. Stanford also has gorgeous sculpture garden which I managed to experience peripherally.

Thursday evening found me at the World Affairs Council for a screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a documentary about the role Liberian women played in the peace process, beginning in 2003 (review here). The women featured were among the most beautiful I have ever seen on screen, and their story was inspiring.

Then I met up with The Scottish Cowgirl, My Fellow Canadian, Cookie Monster and Busty Satan for dinner at Nopalit0. Yum! All kinds of things I didn't used to eat. Bad FG! The rest of the week sped by, and we were back in the city for cocktails at Bix, a gorgeous old-school supper club in the Financial District, and dinner at Kokkari.

Things almost went awry at Kokkari. We were seated by a group of giggling girls and an inflatable man doll. Can you say out of control bachelorette party? SCG immediately stood back up and walked us back to the front of the restaurant, where she firmly requested that we be re-seated. It took a few minutes, but was totally worth it. It's just not that kind of restaurant, and we were not in the mood.

Icons we mourn: Natasha Richardson

Ms. Richardson was an intense and absorbing actress who was unafraid of taking on demanding and emotionally raw roles. Classically trained, she was admired on both sides of the Atlantic for upholding the traditions of one of the great acting families of the modern age.

What to say? A member of stage royalty, suddenly taken from us. She will be missed.

NYT

Wednesday's Wordle: I left my heart ...

Wordle

Shuesday: Naughty Leprechaun

These should suit the bad little Irish girl you're keeping hidden from the public.

Tudormania

Whilst we wait about for the return of The Tudors (Sunday, April 5th, 9:00 pm), "some of the stately formality that marked the Tudor era has found its way into the fall 2009 collections, which displayed enough tufted silks and ruff collars to have outfitted young Queen Bess."




NYT

Wednesday's Wordle: Weather or not

Wordle

Shuesday: And I'd wear these with ... ? Part 2

Boot? Sandal? And really, who's got the legs for these? Other than Kate Moss, Posh Spice ...

Must haves: Post-recession shopping

Yes, you may open the door for me, boy.

Lanvin

Wednesday's Wordle: Beware the Ides!

Wordle

Shuesday: Pop that cork

Resort season, anyone?

Dior Bow Sandal