Wow, glamorous train travel. The passing of the breakfast tea on the railway between Peshawar and Lahore, Pakistan circa 1983. On the job hazards for sure, but these guy don’t look like they mind. In any case, I don’t think I’ll be seeing this anytime soon on my monthly Amtrak Northeast Regional train to NY. Nope.
2.2003 Auditions for The Office– so many great actors up for these roles. I spied this over at Cup of Jo, but couldn’t find an existing link that worked on youtube, so it may have been pulled. Check it out.
4. 50 Things That Look Like Your Childhood (for the youngish Gen Xers, and Gen Yers, is there a Gen Z yet?)
-just a little sidenote, that mountain in number 7 was actually climbed by my brother Ben who was a real live contestant on Nickelodeon’s GUTS– and he won (it was kind of imperative for the future of his well-being that he did, as both his opponents were girls and at 12, you kind of can’t lose to a girl). And I was a real live contestant on Teen Win Lose or Draw and didn’t win. That’s right, that’s what growing up in Orlando gets you.- spots on cheesy pre-teen game shows.
5. The Dog That Will Not Kiss His Owner: hilarious. I’m not really a pet videos-on-youtube kind of gal, but this is funny. The whole culture/language thing helps too.
7. Bon Appetít unveils this year’s 10 Best New Restaurants. This list always makes me want to jump in the car and road trip to each and every restaurant. {Photo by Peden + Munk}
How cute is this! $33 for a cotton blend cocoon-style sweater with this great graphic pattern- instant chic- even if I do have on yoga pants underneath. I found it here.
First of all, can we just talk about the fact that this is Lake Michigan. Seriously. The Western shore of the great glove state is one of America’s last hidden gems. I almost don’t want to write this post because it is so beautifully unspoiled. I went to college in Ann Arbor and spent a summer in Interlochen and had never been to this beautiful shore until my friend Meghan’s wedding last summer (posted here). The lake is clear blue and shark-free, the shores are sugary sandy and there’s no one there. I totally get why Mario Batali takes up residence there every summer, which leads me to the point of this post:
I’ve always wanted to have one special place to call home for a few weeks or maybe even a month during the summer. A place that is friendly and that I can’t wait to get to, a place where I know the local wine shop owner’s name and more importantly- he knows mine, and a place where my kids can make magical memories.
I was fortunate in my youth to travel like crazy- hence my perpetual wanderlust- but we always went somewhere different returning to very few places more than once, namely Jackson Hole and Santa Fe (ahhh, the West- how I miss thee). I loved that we always picked somewhere new to explore and it gave me a chance to see the world, but something in me now longs for a sense of tradion.
I’ve been desktop traveling along with other families’ and their summer vacations- boy, we are getting awfully voyeuristic as a society aren’t we- while I try to figure out where my family should land each summer. A few locales that inspire:
Some drool-worthy images from Batali’s summer in Michigan:
I’ts just such an American summer, isn’t it.
Since moving to VA., I constantly see bumper stickers with the letters OBX on them. For years I had no clue why so many Virginians felt propelled to paste these letters onto the behinds of their cars. For those in the know, OBX is short for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have not had the pleasure of visiting these pretty beaches but the people around here sing their praises. We may try it out for ourselves next summer. In the meantime, I followed along with Liz Stanley of Say Yes to Hoboken and her family’s annual Fourth of July trip to OBX. Doesn’t it look dreamy!
A few close friends call Vermont, Canada, and Montauk home for a few weeks every summer. These days I’m lucky if I can get an overnight in Rehoboth Beach, but I would like to make an effort to carve out the time for some proper summer R&R, and make it an annual event.
My friend Molly and her husband Oliver met as canoe camp counselors in Canada. Right next to that camp is a secret little place created for adults who are dropping their kids off at camp- an adult canoe camp. Arowhon Pines Camp in Algonquin Park, Canada is an International destination. On their 2-day stay, they met couples from Japan, Switzerland and Germany. Molly and Oliver return each summer to this part of the world for a nostalgic stay. Summer camp for adults- if you read this blog, you know how I feel about that. Sign me up! I love this place already.
My friends The Fricks spend their summers in Montauk. They graciously host boat-loads of people, including my lucky self and my family, in an impossibly fantastic house on the water. Montauk is pretty bad ass.
These kiddos get their annual dose of Americana at the Bristol, Vermont Fourth of July Parade. A major event in this small town complete with horses, lots of flags and plenty of firetrucks. My friend Natalia and her family love spending family time in Vermont every summer.
Here’s a dose of lovely Lake Michigan from the flip side- the Wisconsin side, that is. My friend Kristen and her family spend every Fourth of July at her in-laws’ lake house in gorgeous Door County, WI. I have always heard such amazing things about this part of the country- it’s definitely on the list- and her photos are so swoonful, I’m inspired to check it out. Look at that pink sky!
Where do you “summer” (how very Country Club of me, right)? I’d love to hear about the places that you love to return to each year.
Fireworks in Sturgeon Bay:
{Images: Lake Michigan- Greener Travel Guides, Batali’s Michigan- Mario Batali, Outer Banks- Liz Stanley, Vermont- Natalia Goldman, Canada- Molly Griffin, Door County- WI.: Kristen Schaeffer}
I don’t want to push summer out of the way just yet but I can’t help myself, I always get really excited for fall. Back to school, the change of season, falling leaves, hayrides and autumn festivals, sweater weather, college football, a new cute coat, boots, boots and more boots, I could go on…
Here are a five simple and pretty things for fall:
LA’s Ray’s & Stark Bar at the LACMA is adding a 45-page WATER menu to its beverage list. Huh? They also have a water sommelier. Really? A water somm? Which water would pair best with my chicken sandwich? Should I go with the Vichy Catalan or the Saratoga?
The water selection on this extensive list spans the globe stemming from 10 different countries with the most expensive from California. Martin Riese is said water somm and maker of 90H20, the $18 California water. I think I have to call bullshit on this. I mean, if the market will bear it then ok, why not but… I call bullshit. What say you?
I went to Whitehall, Michigan last summer for one of my best friend’s weddings. I’ve been holding on to these photos for a while but I’m kind of on a Michigan kick, so I thought I would share. Whitehall is a magical place on the east side of Lake Michigan.
Whitehall is such a gem of a place, it feels like a little secret. Local and quaint, this lakeside town seems almost bashful about its beauty. Standing on the sandy shores, Lake Michigan stretches out before you as far as the eye can see. Sitting in my rustic room, alone for the first time since having the bebes, all I could hear was the sound of the waves hitting the shore and lots of kids at play on the hotel’s vast grounds- two of the greatest sounds in the world. Whitehall, you have won me over. My two days there felt long and restful even though they were action packed and full of fun wedding events.
A lake wedding that looks like a beach wedding- perfect. A few photos from Meghan and Britt’s big day:
The beautiful bride and I at cocktail hour:
I absolutely loved this lake wedding, not only because Meg is one of my best girls, but because I completely fell in love with Michigan again. No wonder Batali’s up there every summer.
If you go to Whitehall:
Stay:
Michillinda Lodge: this is where I stayed, it’s an old school family resort right on the lake with a dramatic staircase taking you down to the beaches. The rooms are rustic and just right, you wouldn’t want this place to be fancy. I loved it.
Lakeside Inn: this is where the wedding reception took place. Not right on the big lake, but on the smaller White Lake. Charming and local.
Rent a Cottage: this is what I would do next time. What’s better than waking up with your cup of coffee on your back deck overlooking that beautiful lake!
Eat:
Pekadill’s: a sandwich shop and ice cream parlor with a pretty back garden. Exactly what it needs to be and good!
Shop:
Rexall Pitkin Drug and Gift Shop: seriously. This place is amazing, they have goods galore. A great place to pick up a souvenir or a really cute Whitehall sweatshirt. I loved this place.
The World’s Largest Weathervane: this one’s for the Clark Griswald set- which I happily fall into. If you’re at all impressed or interested by things-world-largest- then, you kind of have to see this. A short drive from Whitehall in Montague.
There’s not a whole lot happening in Whitehall, but that’s why I love it. There is a quiet, local charm that reminds me of the simplicity of my childhood summers- riding around on my bike and playing with friends until the street lights came on. You don’t need much to have a great time and with that lake, those trees and that beach beauty, it’s a perfect retreat.
Could Rita be any cuter eating her sandwich in Santa Monica circa 1941- I love her.
Happy Weekend dear readers, I hope you are off to lots of fun. I’m traveling to NYC for some work and play, what are you up to?
Here are a few fun things I found this week:
1. In the mood for cake and a beer? Bake a craft beer cake– 2 birds with one stone.
2. Talk about portion control- these are hilarious.
3. This one’s on my wish list- a former W Magazine art director’s tales of renovation and inspiration in the Greek Isles. I’m thinking it’ll be my next Calgon Take Me Away read. I’m waiting for the paperback.
4. For those not a fan of Big Brother- The Off Pocket– makes your cell phone completely untraceable. Get off the map!
5. These ladies are actual mannequins in a Swedish H&M store, I love it.
6. Cameron’s cool glass house from Ferris Bueller is on the market with a price drop. Get it here.
7. The genius foodie site, Food 52, has just launched their own market- Provision. Pick up a cute kitch-y gift for your foodie friends.
8. I just bought these, aren’t they great! I’m a bootie fanatic- what can I say. Budget be damned.
Ha. For those of you living in a cave who haven’t seen this, it’s now clear that Colbert has the most fun job on the planet. Seriously. I want to be in that writer’s room when somebody said, “We’ve got to get Kissinger!”.
Paris in China- hmm, this is kind of creepy and not in an EPCOT-creepy kind of way (which I actually kind of love). Seems the Chinese aren’t exactly nuts for it either, it’s a ghost town.
I love this look for less, I really love that the pants have an elastic waistband. Cute.
If you need a screenful of color, check out this tumblr page. Constant color inspiration.
Zwetschgendatschi! Yes, that’s the name of this little beauty, is that a fantastic name or what. For a few weeks at the end of summer, black plums are terrifically in season and this classic Bavarian tart sets them up beautifully- I love the celebration of a beautiful piece of fruit. This tart is not only pretty and delicious but so easy to make (easier than the baby casserole recipes a mom friend of mine sent me) and really satisfying. It just tastes like summer.
Pastry chef and cookbook author, Gesine Bullock-Prado recreates a German tradition from her childhood in her new book, Bake It Like You Mean It. Her mother, Helga Bullock was a noted German opera singer who apparently baked like she meant it and inspired her daughter to carry on the tradition. Ah tradition- I’m a sucker for it. It’s precisely the idea of starting a summer tradition- centered around food of course- that inspired me to try my hand at this little beauty. I have to say I was successful. It’s very easy and just right for these last dog days of summer. I imagine picking up a few pounds of black plums every early August and making this special treat for my family. How fun to look forward to the Zwetschgendatschi! The name alone generates excitement. The traditional recipe calls for oval Damson plums but I couldn’t find them so round black plums substituted quite nicely- juicy, pretty and delicious. I have adapted Bullock-Prado’s recipe below with a bit more salt and a bit less sugar as I like my desserts on the less-sweet side, more salty side. If you are a sucker for sugar, sprinkle a bit of raw sugar on top of your tart before you put it in the oven.
Disclaimer: I know my food photography leaves a bit (or a lot) to be desired- I’m working on it. Stay tuned for some progress.
Crust 1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup sugar (I actually used more like 1/6 of a cup- just a bit less than 1/4 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt and a generous pinch more for good measure
3/4 cup unsalted butter, very cold, cut into small pieces
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
non-stick cooking spray or butter
8 inch tart pan
Filling 3 pounds black plums or Damson plums if you can find them
What You Do:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. For the crust, using the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, pulse together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. (I don’t have a food processor, so I did this by hand- it worked great).
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Slowly add the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture while pulsing; continue until the dough just begins to come together.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it until the dry ingredients are fully integrated and the dough holds together, being careful not to overwork it.
5. Press the dough into a disk-shape and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
6. Spray an 8-inch fluted tart pan with nonstick cooking spray or coat lightly with butter.
7. Press the majority of the dough onto the bottom of the tart pan and up the sides so that you have at least 1/8 inch of crust all around. Set your extra dough aside.
8. For the filling, split each plum along the natural seam and remove the stone, leaving the plum still hinged on the backside like a little book. (mine didn’t lay out quite so bookish, but still looked awfully pretty just halved)
9. Arrange the plums upright on the uncooked dough, flesh side facing in.
10. Using your leftover dough, crumble it in small piece atop your plums.
11. Bake the tart until the sides of the dough are golden brown and the plums are tender, about 45 minutes. If the plums begin to brown before they are tender, carefully cover them with aluminum foil and continue baking until the juices of the plums start running.
Voila! Your Perfect Little Plum Tart
If you like black plums and are a sucker for food traditions, start this one in your home- you will not be disappointed (or put out- it really is easy).
My Perfect Plum Tart Pairing:
Surprised? Thought I would go for a port or Madeira? I could have but I wanted to stick with Germany. Dr. Loosen’s Spätlese late harvest Riesling is perfect. It’s lush with juicy stone fruits, refined lemon-lime citrus, beautiful floral and honeysuckle notes, plenty of slate-y minerality and a punch of exotic spice. It’s sweet but not too sweet- just like this dessert.
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese, $19.99.
I just love these. The Fifty United Plates project is flooding the blogosphere and Pinterest and I have officially jumped on the bandwagon. I backed these guys on Kickstarter because I absolutely love their work. Kaitlyn and Ryan Lawless are partners in life and design and have collaborated through their cottage industry ceramic and design studio, Corbé Company, to create these beautiful state-shaped plates.
How cute is a homemade pie baked in your home state plate or chips and dip in your football team state on Superbowl Sunday? I love it. Lots of us do apparently, as these guys rocked their Kickstarter funding seven times over. Good on ya.
I’m looking forward to my Virginia state plate although I am partial to New York, my former home and California, my former former home and then there’s Michigan, my college home (you get 2 for 1 with that state) and of course Florida, where I’m originally from and then there’s Texas, where my family’s from. I can’t forget Nevada, where I did a year-long stint as a Vegas showgirl- for real and New Mexico, where I got married. Hmmm. Forever the gypsy, I may just have to start collecting them.
Support The Fifty United Plates project here and get your state plate before anyone else.
How great is this photo- three of my best dancers making their way through the mean streets of NYC to their next dance class. These girls- Blair, Jenna and Sophie- are 17, 16 and 18 and loving every minute of it. They were in the city for a plié-packed week of dance classes and Broadway shows. With their topknots, leggings and backpacks, they are an adorable dancerly site to see. If you spend time between W. 42nd St. and W. 74th St. in Manhattan, you will undoubtedly have dancer spottings aplenty. That’s our corridor, yo.
I just loved this photo so much I had to share, they remind me so much of my younger self. Ah, those were the days- bolting up and downtown to take my morning ballet class at Steps, make a matinee with my half price tickets from the TKTS booth, and fit in that late afternoon jazz class at Broadway Dance Center (back when it was actually on Broadway). There’s nothing quite like a hot and sweaty New York City dance class in the middle of the summer. Strapping on your character shoes after warmup, making like Reinking or Rivera, dancing your guts out and peering out the windows at the people-filled streets below, dreaming of the day when the teachers (and the best dancers in class) know your name and you’ve earned your spot in the union. Nope, it’s never quite like that again. This photo takes me right back to it. Love.
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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