If you have any wine geeks in your life, this is sure to put a big smile on their faces at the end of your next dinner party. Any self respecting wino knows that Riesling rocks. It rocks so much that wine impresario Paul Grieco devotes an entire Summer of Riesling at his infamous Terroir wine bars in NYC. If you’re in the city this month and you love your Riesling, be sure to attend one of their classes.
Back to this dish at hand. From the Aussie cook and photographer over at From the Kitchen comes this ingenious dish. Simple and delicious, here’s the recipe:
What You Need:
500ml Riesling
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 cinnamon stick
peel from one lemon
8 Bosc pears
300ml softly whipped cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp icing sugar
What You Do:
1. Put all ingredients except the pears in a big wide pot and bring to a boil stirring for a few minutes to dissolve sugar, then reduce to a simmer.
2. In the meantime carefully peel your pears then put all together into the simmering liquid, if they are not fully covered add equal quantities of water and wine to cover them. Leave to cook for about 10 minutes if you have ripe pears, 20 minutes for almost ripe pears and 35 minutes for rock hard.
3. Test for doneness by piercing one (make it yours for later) pear to ensure the point of a knife pierces easily into just soft but not mushy pear flesh.
4. Once the pears are cooked, remove carefully with a slotted spoon and put in a container, standing upright.
5. Next boil the poaching liquid for 30-40 minutes until it is reduced to an aromatic syrup. the good thing about this dessert is that it is equally nice in winter or summer as you can serve the pears warm, room temperature or cold with whipped vanilla cream (add 1 tsp vanilla paste and 1 tbsp icing sugar to 300ml softly whipped cream) and/or vanilla bean ice -cream.
I’m currently sipping a lip-smacking Pinot Gris from:
Their Pinot Gris is a great summertime wine, honestly it’s good year round as it has a tangy effervescence that gives it a little kick and a soft floral quality that rounds it out quite nicely. It’s acidity and .4% residual sugar make it an awesome food wine. This Northwest wine craves spice and would be great with some Vietnamese food doctored with a generous amount of Sriracha sauce. Salt and crunch do right by this wine too, I had it with fried oysters- heaven. At around $12, it’s double heaven. Thank you Washington State.
C and I recently popped open a bottle of bubbly that we had been saving for a special occasion. It wasn’t exactly a momentous day but we did made a big decision- to sell our beloved NYC apartment. Who knows where we’ll end up but with our growing family, we know we’ve (cue The Animals song) gotta get out of this place as evidenced by my 13 month old twins pacing back and forth and back and forth in our 800 square feet. We need a backyard… or a long hallway- something. But I digress, we popped this bottle to celebrate our ability to make this tough decision. We will miss our little piece of Manhattan but the story goes on.
In the meantime, we savored this sparkly goodness. I highly recommend this grower champagne to any and everyone that enjoys a complex glass of bubbly. Rodez apprenticed at Krug and it shows. His juice is truly the nectar of the Gods. It’s pricey for a Tuesday night, hence its (until recently) “cellared” status in our wine box that doubles as a side table- seriously, it’s a littles seagrass covered box and an end table (thank you Target) – but why not do it up on a Tuesday eve?
Pick up a bottle here- a wonderful gift for anyone that appreciates a very well made champagne.
Cin Cin!
P.S.: That book that is doubling as a coaster on my windowsill is Amazing. Our friends gave it to the bebes as their little one loved it- thank you Maeve- and it’s one of our (and their) favorite books. The illustrations are fabulous and I find something new every time I read it. ABC by Alison Jay.
I make stuff all the time, but usually it doesn’t quite work out the way I thought it would. Let’s face it, I’m not the world’s greatest cook and I’ve been known to get a tad frazzled in the kitchen. I am inspired though and when armed with a great recipe and ingredients, I can kick ass.
This one is worth the public recommendation- C and I were both big fans of the results. If you like scallops and are a fan of fennel, you will dig this. Easy, if not a bit time consuming just due to the tedious chopping and dicing, but honestly not too bad. My prep took me about 25 minutes and the cooking about the same. If you find yourself with enough energy to muster up something special at the end of the day (which happens about once a month for me), this one is worth that precious hour.
Here’s the recipe from Sunset Magazine.
I dropped one clove of garlic (I can’t handle the taste of garlic in my mouth for days after a dish, so I only used one), and left out the onion (only because I didn’t have one) and cumin (not the biggest fan)- it was perfect to my taste.
My ingredients:
I picked a Jura Chard to pair with this dish- a ’10 Tissot “En Barberon” Jura- absolutely perfect. Weighty enough to match the sear of the scallop and meatiness of the tomatoes and mineral and acidic enough to match the fennel. Heaven. I love a Jura Chard, it’s hard to go wrong with a good one. Get it here.
If this isn’t one of the greatest photos ever, I don’t know what is. It just doesn’t get better than these guys. Clooney and Pitt may be a close modern second to Redford and Newman but there’s just something about these two guys. I was so fortunate to meet Paul during the last year in his life, even in his old age he was as twinkly eyed as ever. He told me the story of how he met Joanne and how she taught him to dance backstage in the Broadway theater where they were doing Picnic. I wonder if he knew he made my year?
It’s been a big week over here. The bebes turned 13 months and my little man is waving and say night-night and bye-bye. He also loves to say Tiger. I love that so much. My little lassie is walking all over the joint- it’s amazing how so much can change in one week. I hope you’re off to an inspired weekend. No big plans for the 4th weekend over here, we’ll see what unfolds. It’s real hot, that’s for sure. I’m loving all this rain though- makes me nostalgic for my childhood summers in Florida.
A little link love and some things that inspire:
Parisians are given an etiquette manual to encourage friendliness. Interesting.
Fäviken: I gotta get here- somehow… someday. Apparently one of the best meals on the planet in the remote woods of Sweden. And- the chef’s name is Magnus, I mean come on.
My newest obsession, I would wear these things out.
I just saw this documentary- so inspiring. It really made me see our public defenders in a completely new light. I have so much admiration for the people that do this important work.
Also: It was so fun to read about my fab in-laws’ long lasting Showmance in this NY Times article.
I’m fascinated by people who work professionally as a Nose or “Le Nez” as they call them in the mother country. As a wino, I used my nose for work as a sommelier and rep and continue to do so as a Diploma student. But a perfume Nose is an entirely different ball of wax. Sure, a winemaker uses his nose (and taste) to build his elixir, but a Nose uses only his one sense- that almighty olfactory one- to create a scent. It is kind of mind blowing to think about how a Nose can manage to maintain his subjectivity and perspective when constantly surrounded by scent. When I attend an industry tasting and have upwards of 300 sips of wine (with spitting of course), I start to lose it around the 50th sip, and that’s being generous.
These guys spend their lives in the lab in the midst of musk, floral, citrus and even gamey notes. Mind you, they’re probably hanging out in a pretty nice lab if they’re sniffing it up at Hermés or Givenchy. It’s not exactly like they’re spending their days in an office park in Los Alamos, but still.
If you’re curious about what the experience might be like, Maison Guerlain Paris offers a Fragrance Workshop where you learn from the pros in their flagship store (totally worth a visit even if you don’t do the workshop) and even concoct your own scent for 50 euros. Anne McClain of MCMC in Brooklyn also offers custom classes. The classes are taught by her and will run you a bit more for the up close and personal experience. McClain is classically trained at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery in southern France, the Harvard of fragrance education.
Here is a run down of other perfumeries and mix masters offering workshops and classes. Put it on the list- more fun stuff to do.
We were lucky enough to be invited to dinner a couple of weekends ago in lovely Delaplane, Virginia. We dined on cucumber soup, fresh trout and homemade coconut sorbet at the lovely estate of Ashley Farms in the company of politicians, playwrights, dancers, doctors and dentists. It was an awesome mix and a night to remember with its setting the stuff of dreams.
Delaplane came to my attention about a year ago when we made the day trip out to do some tasting. Both RDV and Linden are close by, both recently lauded by wine expert extraordinaire, Jancis Robinson. She describes RDV’s wines as “sweet and seductive. Monumental and enormous”. Wowzers Virginia- makes me proud to call this state my new(ish) home. She also stated that RDV wines “stand a good chance of putting the state on the world wine map”. Double Wowzers. Another added bump for these VA. wines- the wine director at Bryan Voltaggio’s Volt recently told me that RDV was his favorite Virginia wine and good enough to play with the old world big boys.
RDV- yes, this is really what it looks like. What!?
But back to our dinner at hand. Only about an hour’s drive from DC, once we got about halfway out to Delapane, our shoulders literally dropped. Surrounded by emerald green rolling hills and horses galloping freely across the Virginia grass, it’s kind of unbelievable beauty. A few images from the stately estate:
If you’re headed to DC anytime soon, put a day in Delaplane with tastings at RDV and Linden on your hit list. Stay overnight and dine at The Ashby Inn in Paris, VA. (don’t you love that!)- a destination restaurant with its chef, Tarver King, on the short list for a James Beard nom. It’s the new Inn at Little Washington- go now before it gets bonkers.
If you live in or are planning a trip to the greatest city on earth, you should run your fingers over to amazon.com right quick and get yourself a copy of The Analogue Guide to New York. My very talented friend Alana Stone is the co-writer and co-editor of the ingenious Analogue Guide book series along with her her husband Stefan Horn. They live a wanderlusty life currently residing in Barcelona with their next stop perhaps LA or Vancouver- whichever best floats their boat. They go where their dreams and inspirations take them and recently welcomed their baby girl while effortlessly hopping from NYC to Madrid during pregnancy. Landing in Barcelona with their young lass, with a few stops in Italy and England in between, these guys get around. They’re the perfect people to write your dream guide book as they travel like locals hitting up neighborhood hot spots and haunts in a concerted effort to garner an authentic travel experience.
In her words, “Analogue Guides is a series of compact, independently curated city guide books featuring high quality, unique, low key venues- distilled through the lens of the neighborhood.” The genius of the guides is the way they are organized- by neighborhood. The layout gives you permission to travel more specifically focusing your day on a few spots in a decided part of town, as opposed to subjecting yourself to the torture of running yourself uptown, downtown and sideways-town in order to hit the “must-see spots” that most guide books would have you believe is the only way see the city. Whew- I’m exhausted just typing that.
The Analogue Guides are your ticket to traveling like the cool kids. And by that I don’t mean 19-year-old hipsters, I mean people that know the inside dealio and how to spend a proper day kicking back and exploring like a local. Take in the other side as you relax on the back patio of a killer surf shop in the impossibly darling West Village while sipping the best coffee around or stand in line for hours on end waiting for the elevator at Rock Center. It’s a different way of seeing the city. Seriously, enough said.
Ok, just a few more things- I love how Alana and Stefan are championing the printed page. Yay- long live paper and the printed word. Let’s be honest, some things are just more fun when they’re tangible. They’ve layered their guides with smart photography and well-appointed and easy to navigate maps. Their book is the kind of thing you want in your hand when walking the mean streets- so much cooler than a smart phone. And, ok one more thing, no trees were harmed in the printing of these books. All are 100% recycled. Now a bit about Alana:
Alana and I met in the wine world. Just as she was finishing up a stint in the cellar at Balthazar, I was beginning mine. We later met working for a small French importer of lip-smacking wines led by a curious and entertaining Frenchman. We had a ball together. She speaks 5 languages fluently and was always running off to attend some Catalan film festival while simultaneously working on her PhD in Japanese Comparative Literature at Columbia. I was impressed. We’ve stayed chums as I continue to live vicariously through her globetrotting. I heartily recommend her guide books to any and everyone planning a trip to the locales they cover. With London and NY published, more cities are in the works.
She has been gracious to share 5 of her favorite finds from The Analogue Guide: New York. Drumroll please…
1. Surf Shop & Coffee Counter Saturdays Surf Saturdays Surf presents a unique concept with a distinctly Pacific vibe. The shabby-chic store offers a vast array of surfing paraphernalia including boards, wetsuits, books and artwork dedicated to the wave—while doubling as an excellent café serving La Colombe blends. Grab a flat white and browse the selection of books dedicated to Australian, Californian and South African tides. Then head back to the gloriously dishevelled garden courtyard to finish off your cup in the afternoon sun.
2. Philadelphia Coffee Import La Colombe
Philadelphia based roaster La Colombe serves some of the finest beans in NYC at its aesthetically pleasing trio of Manhattan locations. The cafés boast a cosmopolitan atmosphere forged by a strong local following and international mélange of creative types. Drop by the sun drenched Nolita location for a rich and creamy cappuccino seemingly melting into its Italian Majolica cup, and a sumptuous slice of olive oil loaf. Then borrow a section of the NY Times and relax on the solid wooden banquette.
3. South Williamsburg Glamour Dressler
From its baroque decor to its clad-in-black wait staff, a festive atmosphere predominates at Michelin-starred Dressler. Playful and sophisticated, the space is peppered with intricate pieces by Brooklyn Navy Yard artisan sculptors. This sumptuous backdrop contextualizes the menu, consisting of an intricate hotchpotch of locally sourced New American cuisine and an extensive international wine list. All in all, a decadently pleasurable experience.
4. Pinnacle of the Performing Arts BAM —Brooklyn Academy of Music
Inaugurated in 1861, when Brooklyn was still an independent city, the Brooklyn Academy of Music has served as a major cultural force ever since. Drawing on deep historical ties with several acclaimed European theatres, BAM hosts top-flight international productions, in addition to maintaining its status as the premier NYC venue for cutting edge new work by local artists. Performances are held at either the intricately restored Harvey Theater or the grandiose Gilman Opera House.
5. Sushi par Excellence Sushi Yasuda
Arguably the best purveyor of sushi in New York City, Yasuda settles for nothing short of excellence. From the imposing wooden sushi counter, where you can order an omakase nonstop succession of delights, to the resolutely minimalist yet warm interior, every detail is meticulously executed. The lunch and dinner sushi sets are particularly enjoyable, as the chef will point out the day’s freshest ingredients for you to select from. Wherever possible, fish is locally sourced. A top-notch comprehensive sake list complements the menu.
Currently on Broadway as Mary Wilson of The Supremes in the hit show Motown, Ariana DeBose gives us a peek into a day in the life:
Ari, take us through your day:
My Morning:
My day always starts off with a cup of joe and some morning business.
-P.S.: as an actress, watching Crimes of the Heart totally counts as business- ha.
I’m working on my website and using the black and white fishnet veil image as inspiration.
My mom sent me this write up in my local Raleigh paper- what a nice surprise.
On my way to the 2 train, I spy some sensible graffiti art.
My Afternoon:
I squeeze in a quick photo shoot as I needed some new shots, I like how this one turned out- it’s my Mary Tyler Moore moment.
I head to the Genius Bar on the Upper West Side which I love because you don’t need an appointment.
I arrive at my dressing room to find my gown from Hilton Hollis- yay- for opening night, a huge perk of being on Broadway.
My latest obsession- Chimes Ginger Chews, they’re delicious and good for the vocal chords.
My fabulous dresser helps me restyle a dress I’ve already worn for another event.
I always pop in to stage management to say hello, we have an amazing and hardworking team.
That gooey gold lame is courtesy of the design talents of one Emilio Sosa- our costume designer. I’m the understudy for Diana Ross and I cannot wait to get into that gown.
My Evening:
A quick backstage photo op before curtain and then off to drinks with the legendary Martha Reeves and the Andantes (lucky me- another huge perk).
That’s a photo of my personal guru and master set designer, David Korins and I- he’s totally a genius.
And that’s a wrap- back uptown I go to start all over again tomorrow.
I’ve know Ari since she was a wee student of 18. Now she’s all of 22 strutting down the step and repeat with two Broadway shows and a stint on So You Think You Can Dance under her belt. Geez Louise, these young whipper snappers move fast today. She’s all abuzz on the New York theater scene and she took a few minutes out of her fun filled day to talk with us.
Did you always know you wanted to be on Broadway?
I always knew I wanted to perform. I figured out that Broadway was the place for me around age 12. The first musical I saw was Rent and there was something about that girl in the leopard coat (Mimi) that made me think I could do what she was doing.
What is your favorite thing about being on Broadway?
There are too many to count; but I just adore all the amazing people I get to meet.
What’s it like playing Mary Wilson?
It’s fabulous to play an icon every night! And Mary had so many dynamic qualities that make it so fun to play. She was a ball of sex appeal and utter joy.
How much do you love your costumes, and Emilio Sosa- what is he like to work with?
Emilio is so wonderful! He has such an eye for a woman’s body and how to capture the essence if each client or character. We had such a good time together with both the Mary track and my Diana understudy costumes. He worked to tailor the styles to my body and personality- makes a girl feel special!
Tell me about your training.
I trained at CC & Company Dance Complex in Raleigh, NC. I am Studio raised and grew up competing and taking class at conventions. I started taking private vocal lessons my junior year of high school and spent a short time at Western Carolina University where I took a very helpful acting class. But I am still training as we speak. I treat every job as a chance to learn something new, I’m constantly in dance class and training with my vocal coach.
What was it like being on So You Think?
SYTYCD was such a whirlwind. It was my first real audition experience and I learned a lot about myself and how to function in an audition. The show itself was just icing on the cake! I mean what 18 year old doesn’t enjoy being on TV?!
With an 8 show a week schedule and working 6 days a week, what is your perfect day off?
A day at the spa! I love to lounge in a pool with my best girls and a mimosa, throw in a full body massage and I’m set.
Sounds pretty great Ari. In your next life, you’re a…
Fashion Designer
Who or what inspires you?
PEOPLE inspire me. Every day I see something- an act of kindness, or something as small as a smile will inspire me.
Where is your favorite spot on the planet?
Austria. I sound like Maria Von Trapp, but I have never been more at peace then when I was there, the air is so clean.
What’s on your Bucket List?
So many things! I want to visit the rock of Gibraltar, climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge, ski the Alps and I definitely want to perform at the Kennedy Center.
What is something you really don’t need to do again?
No. More. Reality. Shows. It was fabulous while it lasted but I don’t need to do it again.
What are you reading and/or listening to?
I just bought Then Again by Diane Keaton. I really admire her and I’m enjoying her insight thus far and I’m currently listening to Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Nina Simone. This fierce white woman is singing for the gods!
What is your favorite personal possession:
I have a string of red beads from the 50′s my great grandmother gave me before she passed. I wear them whenever I want to feel fancy.
Favorite style or beauty trend of the season?
I’m living for this Aqua Fresh vibe this summer spotted via Marie Claire’s UK site.
Any show savvy tips for looking fabulous (preferably in 10 min. or less for us moms out here with zero beauty time on our hands)?
I love this tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier. It’s lightweight and so easy to apply- I use it as my base- it’s FLAWLESS and sets your face up for the day.
What’s on your perfect menu?
I”m obsessed with grilled shrimp, sautéed asparagus &almonds, and Mediterranean couscous paired with a Kermit Lynch La Viarte Pinot Grigio…. Now I’m hungry!
Where do you want to be in 10 years?
That’s a hard question…. part of me would love to have transitioned into television while still living life in the city. I’m legitimately hoping that I will have gone back to school by then and earned a degree of some sort.
And last, what advice would you give to a young performer with stars in his or her eyes?
Don’t let anyone tell you no. Go after what you want and get creative to make things happen for yourself. I didn’t grow up with money but I worked, got scholarships, and talked to as many people as I could. Don’t ever forget the power of communication. You only get what you ask for, so put positive energy out into the world and you’ll get it back!
I just love this. Not sure why- maybe it’s the whole idea of having limits in such vastness or maybe it’s just cool. In any case, happy weekend to you all! I hope you enjoy the first days of June. We’re throwing a tiny birthday party for the tiny bebes. They turned one this week so they’ll be smashing some cakes and opening some presents- yippee.
I’m making this Banana & Blueberry Cake and this Carrot Cake- I just can’t go the full monty yet with the sugar and the ice cream. If you’re rolling your eyes at me as you read this, I don’t blame you. But they’ll be on to sugar soon enough and besides I’m in full on preservation mode. I absolutely love watching them grow but will so miss the tiny babe stage.
Ikea makes a really cool pharmacy cabinet. I would love this for my bathroom.
For anyone that has the time, here are some super cute DIY cocktail sticks to make your party pinterest perfect. My parties these days are definitely not darlingly designed, it’s more of the throw it all together at the last minute or let’s just have an impromptu picnic but hey- whatever works.
And next time I’m in San Fran (please let it be soon), I’m hitting this place up for fantastic curios and oddities.
Haven’t we all danced around our bedroom in our underwear to the Dixie Chicks, “Landslide”? I know I have. Check out Tyler Marcum dancing alongside his 20 year-old self. This is awesome, he was pretty inspired in that dorm room.
Animals that you didn’t know existed- love that Irawaddy Dolphin!
Wow. There are so many things to say about this and I really can’t tell whether it’s for real or a spoof but after it’s all said and done, it’s really all about that camel toe and that gallup. Wow.
Mario Batali’s way of welcoming the weekend- Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!
Former showgirl, forever travel junkie, sometime sommelier, and mom to twin bebes. This little blog is a mixed bag of tasting notes, travels, tales of motherhood, and current musings. Thank you for stopping by. Cin Cin! (photo by Amy Dickerson for Anthology Magazine)
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