necessary for all oenophiles in the recession...

oe·no·phile

Pronunciation: \ˈē-nə-ˌfī(-ə)l\

Function: noun

Etymology: French œnophile, from œno- (from Greek oinos wine) + -phile -phile

: a lover or connoisseur of wine

Wine which has been allowed to breathe tastes better. As wine breathes, it opens up, and releases its intended aromas and flavors. Traditionally, decanters were used to aerate wine. However, decanting is time consuming, cumbersome, and inconvenient.

I love wine.  There.  I said it.  I love browsing the aisles of wine shops, looking for that perfect gem to accompany my dinner or my quiet time in the bath.  I love finding that little wine shop, usually in an unexpected place, that really knows their wine and don't turn their noses up to you when you tell them your sometimes miniscule budget.

One of my favorite boutique wine shops is du Vin in Los Angeles.  du Vin is tucked away off the street in a brick building covered in ivy a stone's throw from the Pacific Design Center (PDC).  One of my favorite memories of du Vin was after I got into a teeny bit of hot water with my boss and wanted to find an adequate peace offering.  The owner, René, greeted me and asked how he could help.  I told him that I was in the "dog house" with my boss, and I would like a Piemontese red that would get me out of the "dog house" and not break the bank.  He laughed and quickly produced three bottles, all under $25, that would do the trick.  I purchased the bottle that he gave the highest rating, and as luck would have it, my boss invited me to enjoy the peace offering with him and it was divine.

But I'm getting way off-point here.  The recession stinks and what really stinks is that I need to be a little more frugal in my wine purchases.  Sometimes my adventures on the wine aisle, looking for that perfect sub-$10 bottle is a success.  Other times?  Not so much.  What is a stylish oenophile to do?  Buy herself an aerator of course (who has time to decant?  not me).

Since I purchased my Vinturi Perfect Wine Aerator all I need is my Black Box Wine and I am good to go!

Vinturi's patent pending design speeds up this process with ease and convenience. Perfect aeration in the time it takes to pour a glass.

But don't think that I've given up on my wine store strolls....

Christmas in Paris

L’Internaute.fr | Le Site de L’Evenementiel.com

The lovely ladies over at Haven in Paris (HiP) posted a fantastic article on Christmas in Paris and I thought I’d share it with you!:

Although Paris is a fantastic city to visit at any time of the year, it is particularly magical around Christmas. Whether it’s the twinkling street lights, the holiday markets or the smells of delicious rich foods escaping from apartment and restaurant windows, it’s hard to ignore a holiday spirit that revolves (refreshingly) more around food than around the piggy bank.

For many, Christmas celebrations in France are centered around a heaping family meal served as dinner on the Eve, or as lunch on Christmas day. Oysters and champagne, foie gras and roasted capon, smoked salmon and Buche de Noel… Many figure-conscious Parisians will diet before and after les fêtes simply in order to make room for all the delicious yuletide specialties. Not partaking in the seasonal gluttony could be interpreted as a lack of joie de vivre; in order to save yourself from this fate worse than death, we recommend putting all thoughts of régime off until the New Year!

Read the full post here

Elle Décor Does Denver

How excited was I when I received my December 2009 issue of Elle Décor and saw that Denver was featured in it’s monthly travel guide!?  You have no idea.

illustration: elle décor

Writer Amanda Faison opens the piece with a nod to one of Denver’s more famous residents, Jack Kerouac:

“A gray shroud fell over the city.  The mountains, the magnificent Rockies that you can see to the west from any part of town were ‘papier-mâché’”

photo credit: © Blaine Harrington III/Alamy

Faison raves about David Adjaye’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and refers to it as a “smoked glass jewel-box on the edge of downtown”.

photographer: © Dean Kaufman


She of course also mentions Denver’s dedication to public art, although I’m not sure the “dancing aliens” at the Performing Arts Complex, the giant 40-ft tall blue bear that peers into the über-modern conference center, or the blue mustang of the apocalypse outside DIA should be recognized, but that’s just my opinion.

photo: doubtingthomas.blogspot.com

photographer: Rodney Tanaka

photo:misfitcameras.com

Of course you can’t talk about Denver’s architecture and public art scene without mentioning Daniel Liebeskind’s Frederic C. Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum.  The building has no, that’s right — ZERO, 90-degree angles in the 146,000 sq ft space.  Every time I visit the museum I feel for the builders on the project.

Photographer: Steve Crecelius for Visit Denver

Faison closes out the article by saying:

“And at its core, Denver is both Western and modern. The intersection of these two ideals—and the distant mountains—infuse it with an optimism that permeates every facet of life. ‘We can build the world afresh,’ the MCA’s Lerner says. ‘That’s the spirit of Denver.’”

I was beyond excited to see that Faison mentioned some of my favorite Denver spots which include:

The Curtis Hotel, which boasts very cheeky interiors that appeal to your more playful and irreverent side.  Definitely pop by The Corner Office bar —the drinks and bar apps are delish!

image courtesy of root down


Root Down, a former service-station, now serves eclectic organic fare.  The chef adheres to a “field to fork” mentality, which results in very creative natural, local and organic dishes.  The food is impressive, but don’t pass up the totally original cocktail list; The Pepper Blossom is divine! { St. Germain elderflower liqueur, Prarie organic vodka, muddled fresh basil, lemon, jalapeno and agave nectar. Fragrant and light with a little kick at the end}

Composition is located in Belmar, which is a little out of the way, but it boasts the most complete offering of my beloved Russell + Hazel products — definitely a dangerous place for the paper-obsessed.

photographer: Tiffany Rose

Hermès in Cherry Creek — um…duh!  Have you read my blog before?

{Inspiration: The Hermès Website} {You Can Learn A Lot From Your Clients' Closets} {How Do You Define Luxury?} {Fall Has Arrived!} {From the Runway to... Your Sofa?}

photo: lee alex decor

• Lee Alex Decor is by far my favorite vintage furniture shop in the city.  It boasts a wide array of well-priced mid-century pieces and has a great selection of vintage barware, costume jewelry and cufflinks.  And the lamps!  Oh my god, they have the best lamps.  I need to go to Lamps Anonymous because of Theo {the owner}.  Be sure to chat up Sherry when you go in — she has stories that would make Howard Stern blush.  For reals.

image: denver post

Faison, however, failed to mention one of my favorite Denver restaurants — Table 6.  The ever-changing menu of seasonal flavors never disappoints, and neither does the wine list.  Be sure to ask nattily-dressed owner and sommelier Aaron Foreman to recommend a bottle from the eclectic and reasonably priced wine list.  No one does duck like Table 6 — take my word for it.

If you are thinking about making a visit to the Mile  High City or are currently a resident, read the full Elle Décor article here: Elle Décor Goes to Denver

I ♥ The Barefoot Contessa!!

Photo: the perfect pantry

When it comes to cooking, I'm the type of person you would rather have set the table rather than take one step too many towards the stove.  It's not that I don't like to cook, it's just that as a single girl I don't have much occasion to don an apron and do my best Julia Child impression, because, let's face it -- cooking for one kind of sucks.

My step-mother bought me Ina Garten's latest book "Back to Basics" in her never-ending quest to make a cook out of me, and the recipes are so fabulous that the two times I've cooked using the book, my guests have cleaned their plates.

My new go-to meal, courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa is French Bistro Steaks with Provençal Butter and Oven-Roasted Vegetables:

French Bistro Steaks with Provençal Butter

For the butter:

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon capers, drained

2 tablespoons minced chives

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) salted butter, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon herbes de Provence

For the steaks:

4 teaspoons herbes de Provence

kosher salt and coarsely cracked black pepper

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 hangar steaks, 8 to 10 ounces each

For the butter, put the garlic, capers, chives, thyme, zest, and pepper in the small bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine.  Add the butter and process until completely mixed.  Transfer butter mixture to a piece of parchment paper and roll it into a log, twisting the ends.  Store in the refrigerator.

Heat a gas or charcoal grill.

Drizzle the steaks with olive oil and sprinkle each one with herbes de Provence and salt and pepper.  Let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to take the chill off the meat.

When the grill is hot, grill the steaks for 4 to 5 minutes on each side (for medium rare).  Place the steaks on a platter, cover with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.  Skice the meet crosswise diagonally and serve hot with one or two pats of the prepared butter on top.

Oven-Roasted Vegetables

2 small fennel bulbs, tops removed

1 pound fingerling or small potatoes (I used Yukon Gold)

1/3 cup good olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound French string beans, trimmed

1 bunch thin asparagus, ends removed, cut diagonally into 3-inch pieces

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Cut the fennel bulbs into 6 wedges each, cutting through the core to keep the wedges intact.  Place on a sheet pan.  Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and place them on the pan with the fennel.  Drizzle the olive oil on the vegetables and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.  Toss with your hands.

Roast the vegetables for 25 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender, tossing once while cooking.  Toss the string beans and asparagus with the roasted vegetables and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes until the green vegetables are tender.  Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese and roast for another minute or two until the cheese melts.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Set the table, light the candles, put Carla Bruni on the stereo and it will feel like you are in the charming corner bistro in Paris of your memories (or your imagination!)

Salut!

Latest Obsession: Jonathan Adler Pop Rocks Glasses

I am totally in love with this cheeky glassware (much like Adler himself!) Add these brightly colored glasses to your summertime table and brighten up your bbqs and outdoor soirées. These cuties are good for more than just holding your cocktail -- use them as vases and add a short, tight arrangement of blooms for some more flair! Mums, Carnations, Gerbera Daisies, and many others would look fantastic (and not break the bank!) (via Jonathan Adler)