Citrus Risotto with Sauteed Shrimp

Thursday, January 16, 2014

I  know this dish may seem a little strange.  But bear with me — citrus risotto isn’t some odd sweet-and-sour rice porridge.  It’s an elegant dish that beautifully balances tart, creamy, salty and sweet flavors.  And it can turn simply cooked seafood into a very special meal.  It’s a delicious complement for shrimp or scallops, […]

The Vieux Carré

Monday, January 13, 2014

The Holidays are over, but many of us still have months of chilly brown-liquor weather to get through before our thoughts turn to the light, dry drinks of spring.  In the winter, a classic Manhattan is our go-to before-dinner tipple, but a reader recently reintroduced me to the Vieux Carré, a lovely, complex drink developed […]

Finishing the Loft Powder Room

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve lived here for a couple of years now.  A home is never finished, of course, but we’re still fine-tuning some aspects of the original plan that didn’t quite work. We took the same approach to the powder room that we did to the other bathrooms in the house — […]

Fondue Weather

Sunday, January 5, 2014

The Holidays are over.  And it’s cold.  Really cold.  One of the great consolations of winter, though (and from people who know a lot about winter) is Swiss cheese fondue.  It’s so simple –really just good cheese melted into wine– and yet it’s one of the most outrageously delicious and completely satisfying things I’ve ever […]

Video: Making Easy (and one not-so-easy) Holiday Centerpieces

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Here’s a video about how to spruce up your Holiday table with three different centerpiece ideas.  They all involve seasonal fruit and one of my very favorite materials –spray paint.  Two are very quick, but for one you’ll need to get a little crafty.  (Spoiler alert:  a glue gun is involved.)  Have fun!  

Warming Holiday Punch

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Here’s a video about making (and enjoying) one of my favorite winter drinks –Glogg, a traditional Scandinavian warm punch made of spiced wine, port and Aquavit (also spelled Akvavit).  The flavor is fruity and spicy and delicious –but not too sweet, and I don’t think any sleet soaked bad mood can withstand it’s happy aroma. […]

Holiday Craft Video: Golden Placemats

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

During the Holidays we take out all of our favorite dishes and silverware and set a special table.  Here’s a quick and easy craft to add a little customized glamor (glitz?) to your traditional table setting.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Moroccan Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Monday, November 25, 2013

A disclaimer: there’s nothing authentically Moroccan about this dish.  (In fact, I don’t even know if they eat turkey in Morocco.)  But it’s our favorite way to use leftover turkey and mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving, and the (blandish) leftovers are livened up with some flavors we associate with North African cuisine:  cumin, paprika, cinnamon, green […]

Raclette

Thursday, November 21, 2013

It’s not a lot to look at, but it’s just wrong how good this tastes.  Raclette is a close cousin of Swiss fondue, but it’s even simpler, consisting of just two ingredients:  cheese and boiled potatoes.  But what a cheese: called Raclette (from the French racler, to scrape), it’s a mellow, meltable Alpine cow’s milk […]

Take Five: Northern Lights

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Vintage Georg Jensen Candelabra by Henning Koppel.  Mid-century luxury in sterling (for the price of a nice car). Georg Jensen Masterpieces Design 1085 Candlestick.  A classic mid-century design reinterpreted in stainless steel — at a more accessible price.   Tom Dixon Spin Candelabra.  Muscular and elegant at the same time.  And all of the the arms […]

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