the house that love built...

So you may have guessed it, though you could never tell, but I have a new thing in my life...and its called love. Hmmm, granted not love just yet, but pretty darn close. The funniest part, is that it got dropped on me as if by a baby stork. Like a Thanksgiving dinner delivery, literally. We'll call him L for now (L&L so cute, I know!). And yet I've lied again...the funniest part is actually this...my mother fixed us up. On what planet that actually works, I have no idea, but its true! She had a little twiddle of her thumbs at the art of matchmaking last year when she was in town and I invited her for her first ever margarita (another story entirely). She said she wanted to bring along a friend, and over dinner, whilst watching their marriage-like banter back and forth, I had imagined later on she would tell me that she had gone cougar on me and that he was her new lover. But in fact, she had brought him for me. Brought him to be shown off like a clean cut doxin at a dog show. Oh nice ears. Very slender calves. Nice trot. Unfortunately, at that moment, he was not my cup of tea in physical attraction or mentally, as I was still depressed and clinging on to the fleeting memories of my ex fiance.

Fast forward a full year, and she invites him to meet me for Thanksgiving. Knowing I would be all alone, it was actually a nice surprise to see him again. A year sure did do his body good, because he looked good enough to eat! I almost did. I had been intentionally starving all day to pace myself for all the calories awaiting me on Thanksgiving night. He invited me to the movies. We went. I had a drink. Or two. I was tipsy, and so my lips perhaps might have tipped themselves right over onto his face. He didn't seem to mind. We talked on the phone the next day. We went to a party and danced the night after. We spent this whole past weekend together too. I don't know what the heck is going on, but it makes me believe in reincarnation. How we can just click like we have known each other for light years, its unfathomable. Soul mates is too cheesy, kindred spirits doesn't fit either, but there is something there brewing, and I'm just so thankful. For someone who thought she would never find such happiness again, its the best Thanksgiving gift ever. Love is the best cure to loneliness.

But my only problem is this! The inevitable comparisons to my ex. I keep doing it! Does anyone else do that? My ex was amazing in that he literally found all my life dreams and ambitious quirks to be appealing. If I told him one night I wanted to buy a vintage RV, paint it all pink, set sights across the country, and just cruise for months selling cupcakes at boardwalks or buy a run down cabin in the middle of the forest, paint it all white like a fairytale palace, use it as a bed and breakfast while we sleep off in a streamer somewhere, he would have been waiting with our bags packed when I got home. So what do I do now...starting from scratch..with the same dreams and quirks. I want to live in a gingerbread house just like this, in the forest with the owls and the wood nymphs and light fairies, where the wind sings and the moon glows and the river runs through it like a harmony. Will I have to do it alone, give up the dream, or have my cake and eat it too? I wonder...

images here from this amazing NY Times article here via Concrete & Honey

an american in paris interview part 1...

Woah, what a week! How was everyone's holiday? Scrumptious I hope! I have so much good news for you that I don't know where to start. While I catch my bearings, no place better to start than the beginning right? Well, I have a real treat for you. Shelley, of Franish Nonspeaker, one of my fave foodie blogs, has been gracious enough to let me interview her. This is something I have wanted to do for months, but like I told her, the timing couldn't have been better. I am waist-deep in planning my future, and I have a hunch that attending the prestigious world famous Le Cordon Bleu might be in the stars so that I have a real classical training to my name before I go on with this tea part business. Shelley has been there and back, and will indulge us in all the adventures. Below is part one, and look forward to part deux on Monday. Tomorrow will be all about me and the goodies I've got for you!

xoxo

1. What were you like growing up? What did you do, dream of becoming, and will be remembered for by friends and family?
As a child I was a total book worm- always with my head in a book. I’ve never been very sporty or team oriented so reading was the perfect hobby for me. Still is! I would read anything I could get my hands on. After I tired of the youth selections at my school and local libraries, I started making my way through my Dad’s books. I was probably the only middle school kid in my town who had read the entire Leon Uris collection.

I guess all those books I read on various and sundry matters formed impressions. My Mom says I was the perfect child until I turned 13 and developed opinions! That might be my most defining characteristic- for better or worse, I usually have an opinion on a matter and am more than willing to share it. Aside from being remembered for being vocal, I think I’d be remembered as a loyal friend and a good listener (when I’m not running my mouth) who always lends a shoulder to cry on.

This may sound a little crazy, but I picked my occupation from a book. I was in a Robin Cook phase in high school and became fascinated by a story about an epidemiologist who tracks down a killer who is infecting people with a fatal disease. It was the first time I had ever heard of epidemiology and I found it so intriguing. Still do. After finishing up a BS in Biology I immediately started grad school and completed a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology. I’ve worked in public health since and while I have to admit working for a large bureaucratic machine (I work for the State of Texas) isn’t nearly as thrilling as stalking a disease spreading killer, I do find it rewarding. I don’t work as an epidemiologist now but the background helps with my current focus on program planning and coordination. I found that my real love in public health is finding a gap and helping to develop and implement a program to address the need.

2. When did food enter the picture? In what capacity?
Food was always in the picture. I grew up in a Southern family amongst women who were either in the kitchen cooking or at the table eating.

3. What are some of the career paths you've had in life?
I’ve always worked in public health but I’ve worked in a few different capacities. I started out in a research lab in CA working on clinical trails. That wasn’t a good fit for me so I changed directions when we moved back to FL and for a short time actually worked in epidemiology tracking HIV infections. I loved the intensity and passion of the people I worked with in HIV and soon I was hooked and became just as passionate. So much of HIV prevention and care is about advocacy and I loved that the spectrum was so broad- it covers health systems, politics, sociology, psychology. The work was invigorating and exhausting. After 8 years, during which time I went from an entry level field epidemiologist to managing a 4 county HIV service system, I was burnt out and needed a change. So we packed up and moved to TX where I currently work with programs that provide services to the child Medicaid population. I work on special projects and help to coordinate activities across programs.

4. Did you go to cooking school, or study something else only to realize you wanted to learn about baking later on?
Yep, exactly. I didn’t get bit by the baking bug until I was in my early 30’s. I was always interested in food and had married a chef but I was more interested in eating food than in making it. I always had a killer sweet tooth though, and one day I decided to make a cake. Ever since then, I’ve been baking up a storm.

5. Tell us about how you chose LCB in Paris, as opposed to CIA here in the US or any other local program.
I went to a one week Intro to Baking and Pastry class at the CIA campus in Napa, CA. CIA is amazing and I would have loved to have attended their program. Le Cordon Bleu won out for practical reasons. Well, practical reasons and Paris!!! The CIA pastry program is a 9 month program that you must complete from start to finish. I would have loved to drop everything to move (back) to CA but that just wasn’t financially feasible. LCB is structured into basic, intermediate, and superior patisserie sessions - once all three are completed, you’re awarded the Patisserie Certificate. I was able to take 5 weeks off from my job to attend an accelerated, intensive course at LCB - that way I got to keep the job that allowed me to pay for the training. I’ve finished the Basic session and, as God is my witness, even if it takes until retirement, I will finish Intermediate and Superior one day!

I looked briefly at a local program but came away with sticker shock. Pastry or culinary school is an expensive proposition, no matter where you go but if you’re going to spend that kind of money, go to a good school with a decent reputation. Having a pastry certificate or culinary degree barely gets your foot in the door of a kitchen these days so choose wisely if you plan to make the investment.

6. Did you go alone? What was the experience like prepping to leave?
I did go alone. I didn’t know a soul in Paris or at the school and had never even been to France. Prepping to leave, other than trying to tie up loose ends at work, was a breeze because I was so excited. I thought I was going on a 5 week vacay to Paris and would do a little baking on the side. Man, I was so woefully unprepared for the rigor of LCB’s training. Besides not being mentally or physically prepared, I arrived two days before classes began and had heinous, hallucinatory jet lag for a good week or so.

7. What was the first day like in Paris?
I had been traveling for almost 24 hours before I arrived in Paris so my first day was emotionally and physically exhausting. But also exhilarating- here’s a recap.

8. What did you notice right away about Paris compared to the many stories and hype us Americans are used to?
First and foremost, Paris is a large city and in many ways is like any other large city.

And yet… it’s also so many other things. It’s an ancient (well, really old, at least) city and yet a modern, bustling, crowded metropolis. It’s crazy diverse and yet still manages to retain that old world, stereotypically French feeling Francophiles long for. Basically, it’s a total contradiction. I could be on a busy street and easily forget I was in Paris- many parts of the city one could totally mistake for NYC. And then I’d round a corner and see a church that was built almost a thousand years ago and there’s just nothing like that in the US. I remember getting caught in a crowd attending a parade in the Bastille District. The marchers were dressed in bright feathers and headdress and there was a brass band playing. Could have sworn I was in New Orleans at a Mardi Gras parade.

9. How did you spend the little free time you had? Was Paris easy to navigate as a tourist speaking little French?
Sadly, I seemed to spend a lot of my free time doing mundane things like running to the market or the endless laundry required to have a clean uniform every day. I also spent a bit of time commiserating over LCB’s rigor with my fellow classmates over wine in cafes. But I did try to get out and explore as much possible when I wasn’t bone tired from long days in the kitchen. I really wanted to get out in the neighborhoods of Paris to see how Parisians actually live. I think I did a decent job. I saved up all the touristy spots for when my Mom came to visit.

The Metro and bus system make it really easy to navigate the city. In the touristy areas, almost everything is in English as well as French so no problems navigating or communicating there. Even out in the neighborhoods, I found that many Parisians spoke English much better than I speak French. Once I would make a pained attempt to communicate in French, they would generally take pity on me and respond in English. I can’t say I had any real communication issues. Besides, you bump into Americans everywhere in Paris in the summer and they’re a great source of information.

11. What is the food like in Paris?
Amazing to mediocre. Mostly amazing but you have to be judicious. Stay away from tourist area food joints and don’t hesitate to stop at the small ethnic eateries that line many neighborhood streets. Also, take advantage of the grocery stores and markets. Even supermarket brand French butter is to die for… beurre de sel is totally not to be missed. I didn’t cook much and was usually too tired to stop in a café after school so I lived on baguettes from my local bakery (Arnaud Delmontel makes fabulous bread) with cheese and beurre de sel. But, as much as possible, do get out and explore the cafés and restaurants and especially the bakeries and patisseries!

j'adore sunday suppers...

...just a peek at what's been inspiring me so far this week, and if you think this looks good, wait until tomorrow's post! Indulge yourself here.

follow the leader...

Where did everyone go? Perhaps my obsessive tea party rants have scared you away? Please come back! I come bearing cupcakes. Hmmm, maybe I should start blogging about politics. That sound better? But really mes amis, what could be better than pie? And not just any pie...mini pies! The perfect size for tea parties. But I need your help. This is a family business and ya'll are my family whether you like it or not. So besides pumpkin pie in the fall and apple pie a la mode during the winter, I'm not much of a pie girl. Gasp, I know. But its just never been my thing. It could be that it was never part of my childhood or that I never had a life altering pie tasting experience. Have you? If so, please do share! Because I am knee deep in chapter two of this biz planning, and its all about developing menus. I went on a hunt for competitors and found Pie House. They have blueberry pies, cherry pies, banana cream pies (my specialty as you well know) and that's just the tip of the iceberg. And while they are all good enough to drool over, its nothing awe inspiring. So what's a gal to do. I need creative out of the box ideas! I'm thinking caramel apple crumble or even smores peanut butter for the kiddies. And don't get me started on pies a la Francais!

What I did love about Pie House is their mantra on fresh and healthy ingredients. Who knew people took their baking so seriously! But its definitely a nice concept, and something I'm always conscious about, but know nothing of. I should take some vegan baking courses. What do you think?

At Pie House We:
Whipping CreamJust say no to plant-based whipped "cream" that's too sweet and that leaves an ugly tang in your mouth long after you're done eating. Cream comes from a cow. Period.

FruitWe peel and slice our fruits fresh. Who wants to eat something that's been bathing in a can of preservatives and sugar for months or even years? No one, that's who.

VanillaWe make our own vanilla extract for flavoring our puddings and creams! We soak real vanilla beans in alcohol for months and wait patiently for it to achieve that ever-so-distinct flavor of non-artificial vanilla.

ChocolateOur dark chocolate has 72% cocoa content and is imported from France. Our white chocolate is imported from Belgium.

chart farm and cape town dreams...

All this tea business has not overshadowed my dream of owning a quaint Bed and Breakfast one day, so don't get all huffy puffy. I know some of you fantasize of rolling hills and lush summer English gardens as much as I do. A quiet bungalow by the sea, a country cottage in the South of France, a lovely villa in Tuscany...it haunts my dreams. And doing tea parties is like laying my dominoes one at a time until I reach the end and can knock them all down. Imagine all the 'ladies who lunch' clients we might get. Ahh, I can almost smell the croissants and jam butters now. So if I get lucky, and we strike it rich, I'll have all I need to move to France where by B&B awaits. Until then, let's ogle at this luscious daydream getaway. Chart Farm in Cape Town, Africa popped onto my radar whilst browsing this past weekend. Its a farm-style retreat from the city that actually lets you pick your own roses. Heaven on Earth if you ask me. Their Coffee Terrace serves teas, cakes, breakfasts and lunches with magnificent views of the Constantia valley. Anyone want to meet me there in say...oh, an hour? One can dream...

xoxo

SPOTTED recycled paper cake stands...

Busy browsing around leisurely before I get back to the tedious task of business plan writing. I'll be back later with some updates of the crazy research binge I've been on all weekend, but for now you absolutely must check out these adorable cake stands from Hello Nana. They are made from FSC-certified recycled paper. What can be better than saving the Earth while celebrating indulgently? Nothing, that's what!

xoxo

friday pot luck...

vintage LOVE plates via Eat Drink Chic

I know, I know...I missed Friday by like, oh I don't know, twelve hours! But hear me out, and all shall be forgiven. I have big plans for this blog. Did you notice the new header! Oh and maybe take a peek at all the renovated pages above. This is a visually stimulating blog I like to think, so I've done this just for you! You can now browse my ongoing recipes, fave shops, eatery reviews...among other things, all with images! Nice right? And I am working to bring back oldies but goodies like Breakfast Club Mondays and 5 Ingredient Recipe Wednesdays, as well as instating newbies, like Friday Pot Luck. So now do you forgive me? I had this great idea, but it came too late. And really, its nothing new, all the great inspiring blogs do their weekly roundups, but I just never thought it was for me. Well, thanks to peer pressure, conformism and utter unoriginality, I now do them too! But here is what I love about this idea...I finally have a way to catch up on my fave blogs. Don't you just find that between work, school, kids, life in general..it leaves so little time for things you love? I honestly have no idea how I managed to pass a French exam, launch a business idea, turn in assignments to Dujour Mag, and find time to eat, all in this one week! Now every Friday, I'll find myself doing a little "me" time. If you do something similar, let me know! Would love to see your inspirations for the week. So enjoy the gift of pretty. Until next week...

xoxo

• I love voting. I love winning even more. So go enjoy these fabulous Red Rose Tartlets that I voted for, by the beautiful and talented Dani of Paris Pastry. Recipe here.
• Loving everything about this snapshot from House of Turquoise via Ada & Darcy. The striped Louis chairs (my fave!!) the bucket of hydrangeas, the hint of turquoise. Ahhh.
• The first time in a long while I read something and acted on it asap! The Anthropologie catalogue looked oh so beautiful on Lovely Morning, that its now on its way to my abode. Order yours here. Perfect for a lazy Sunday with hot cocoa.
• I've been seeing gorgeous...I mean gorgeous floral arrangements all over the blogosphere, and surprise surprise, turns out they are all made by Saipua, an NYC based floral company. You must see all the beauty! Anyone have local floral faves?
• Peanut butter and chocolate mousse cake over at Spicy Ice Cream. Honestly, it doesn't get more heavenly than that. Go here for full recipe and story...
• There really just aren't words to describe this orgy of choux pastry love. Just please, go see for yourself all the goodness at Rose Tea Cottage.
  

SPOTTED princess tea set...

tea and saucer, $32, 5gardenias

Wouldn't beautifully floral patterned tea and saucer with gold trim and abstract handles like this be so perfect for the beginning of my china collection for the tea party biz? But here's the downside to having a blog with the personality of a passive gossip girl- I find uber gorgeous knick knack paddy whacks and I just want to share it! But dear me, if anyone so much as breathes too closely to their screen, or makes any sudden movements, or even involuntarily finds themselves gravitating towards adding this beauty to their shopping cart before I do...well, I will track you down, I will find you, and I will...I will...okay I got nothing. I failed Be Intimidating 101 in hard knocks school. But please, just admire, and if you really do end up buying it before me, you know the drill. Tea party invite!

xoxo

cupcake a day...

cupcake via bellacupcakes

Wowza! I bet you can tell how many exciting things are going on these days. I go from neglecting this poor blog for a week...to not being able to stop myself from posting every hour. But just a snippet of what updates I have to share with you guys- I totally have gone all Einstein ambitious on my French extra credit assignment and decided to take the food critic idea to a new level, so look forward to my rendition of what a NY Times foodie review looks like, and thennn, we are going to learn all about high tea and what makes it so damn special (including the adorable petit fours), thennn I'll be announcing the sister project I've created for WHIPPED, but of course I can't forget inspiration from bakeries and shops all around the world that I have been researching like crazy (ahh competition schmompetition...we're all one big tea loving family). For now, let's just take a breather, enjoy the rowdy autumn night, and drool over this cupcake.

xoxo

a holiday cookie exchange...

Its about to get real festive on this here blog, so hopefully you've got a hold on your boot straps and are ready to roll! Last week I mentioned my idea to do a holiday cookie exchange, which, after most of you got over licking your computer screens, took the time to comment that you thought the idea was a good one. So with Ayu as our swap hostess and Mandy as the Bonny to my Clyde on this mission, it should be a real treat (literally speaking!). I'll get to organizing our swap page with Ayu, but in the meantime, everyone please go create an account on SwapBot so that we will be ready for lift off once our custom page is done. SwapBot works in the simplest of manners. All you have to do is sign up, join a swap (which is what we are making this week) and then you receive the info on your swap partner including their snail mail address. Our swap page will have all the details on deadline, tips, rules, etc. But don't get all huffy puffy, just think of it like Secret Santa, but much more kickass. And if you are into stalking, here is my SwapBot profile. Please, no autograph requests...you can see my agent for that!

All jokes aside, time for a ittle inspiration (because what would this blog be without the overdose on visual stimulation right, right?). Above images are found thanks to Mandy. How perfect that her GoogleReader decided to deliver this to her inbox via ApartmentTherapy. Looks like we've got some cookie angels on our side. Let's not let them down.

PS- Does anyone else have ideas they have seen that they want to share...maybe from a fave blog or even Martha Stewart?

xoxo