Loving LA..

Ah Los Angeles..how I love thee.. First my dance card has never been so full. It’s a wonderous experience discovering this amazing city. Secondly, I don’t think i will ever want to leave! While there are most certainly asswipe drivers, it really is nowhere near as bad as New York City.

This is just a warm up to my new LeLumiere word press blog, celebrating all things about this city of light & diamonds.

I plan on blogging about food, wine & of course places I fall in love with. Eventually working up to my own special spot in LA. I am already scouting locations..so fingers xxxx.

to be continued.

The Morning After..

Thanksgiving on a Bun..

No, I’m not talking about the next day after partying too much, staying up to late watching old movies, or even a bad date. I’m talking about the day after Thanksgiving. You know, you have eaten yourself to the “I’m almost to full to move point”, tomorrow is Black Friday and do I go shopping or stay home. Plus you still have a house full of out-of-town family & friends. What to do?

You wake up  hungry as your food induced coma from the day before has worn off. Pancakes? French Toast? Omelets?  Nah, that all requires effort, something one is sorely lacking this morning.

No, what I think is the perfect “morning after” Turkey day nosh is what I call Thanksgiving on a Bun. While that pretty much describes it perfectly, there are a few guidelines to be followed. Sort of like a pirates code, but slightly more flexible.

To start: you need a sturdy vessel to hold all the ingredients, and while I have made do with a buttermilk biscuit in the past, my bun of choice is a toasted, buttered brioche roll. Perfectly toasted, golden & glistening with a nice smear of sweet butter. If alas, you have no access to brioche or cannot make your own, an english muffin will suffice in a pinch. Thomas’s only though please.

Next assemble the components. Fresh sliced turkey, white & dark meat is my choice, a tablespoon or two of cornbread stuffing ( no sausage or mushrooms, though onions are fine). Dollop of cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney, NOT the stuff out of a can, and a teaspoon or so of homemade sage mayonnaise. If you can’t make your own, Hellman’s / Best Foods will do and just stir in a chiffonade of fresh sage, dash of lemon & white pepper. Lastly some leftover turkey gravy, as much as your heart desires, to dunk in.

Build your sandwich: warm the turkey & stuffing. I do this separately. take the golden toasted bun. Layer stuffing on the bottom, top with turkey, then cranberry sauce & spread the sage mayo on the top half of the bun. Place the  top half on the bottom half.  Heat the gravy. Serve that in a small side dish for dunking. If your feeling indulgent its okay to add a sprinkle of durkees french fried onions to the works.

Feel free to eat this standing over the kitchen sink, with your bowl of dunking gravy next to you. Or make numerous sandwiches, awake your house guests, let them munch and send them out into the abyss that is known as Black Friday.

At least they will have sustenance to get them thru the day and they wont need a can of pepper spray. Or so one can hope. There is always the option of enjoying said sandwiches at home by the fire and shopping from ones’ laptop while the rest of the masses knock them selves out trying to nab the latest computer game. Let them be the stupid ones. This way you can always go back for seconds and even toss in a piece of pie. After all, Thanksgiving does only come once a year. Why not enjoy it!

Will upload a picture tomorrow. If that doesn’t inspire you I don’t know what will.

California Girls ~ Home at Last

Tiger Lilies in the kitchen

At last! Its happened. After numerous trips to Los Angeles we knew wanted to call it home. In August, on our last day here after a 2 week visit, I found it. The perfect house. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, huge kitchen, 2 fireplaces, and more storage space than one could possibly imagine. Even an “extra’ garage out back just waiting to be converted into a pool house, guest house or work studio. Enclosed landscaped backyard so we could even let Gordie out the back french doors without being on a leash. Something we could never do in CT.

Simply lovely. Wonderful little neighborhood called Cheviot Hills. Flanked by Fox Studios on one end & Sony Pictures on the other. Nestled between Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood & Culver City as our borders. Quiet, private, kind of like Wilton back in CT, yet about 15 mins to anywhere. Perfect.

After a whirlwind of packing and closing up the CT house Lauren, myself & Gordie hit the road on Sept 23rd for our trip across country. This is a journey I never want to make again, or at least I wont take 1-40 for over 80% of the drive. What a nightmare. Though we did think New Mexico was absolutely beautiful. Georgia O’Keeffe & Ansel Adams were certainly on to something. Its stunning stark landscapes will haunt you.

I will say that Winslow, Arizona was a complete bust. So much for the Eagles immortal song. Pfft. Nothing but fast food and heat. Landed in the city of angels on Sept 28th. Parked ourselves at the Residence Inn in Beverly Hills and awaited the arrival of all our worldly possessions. Gordie took to the city & the new house like a duck to water. We were amazed! The van arrived on Oct 2nd, and by the 4th we were in the house.  After a few trips to Ikea in Burbank we were all set. I don’t think we’ve stopped going since.

I had no idea that Lauren &  I would fall so deeply completely in love with the city. Going to see a show, Katy Perry at the Staples center, Sia, Ellie Goulding, at the Wiltern, Howard Jones at the Music Box, and numerous others is no longer a 2 hour ordeal. While we lived exactly 50 miles from mid-town Manhattan, getting in & out of New York City always takes longer than one expects. Since I have now been on & mastered every single freeway, discovered shortcuts & back roads, LA is, relatively, a piece of cake. Though as in any major city, it does have its moments. We have discovered the great Los Angeles secret, hardly anyone is out & about on the weekends! Virtually little to zero traffic. I think Sunday may be my favourite day to explore and be out and about.

Have had incredible meals at Spago, Hatfields, Mozza, Matsuhisa, Nobu, Jar, Natalee Thai, A-Frame, to name just a few & found some really great little spots. Robata-ya on Sawtelle ( bows to mako-san the chef), The Six on Pico, Royal T on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Pici Enoteca on S. Beverly, The Nosh in Beverly Hills, our local diner hangout (waves to Linda our fav waitress). Grub in Hollywood. Discovering the Kogi food truck parked on Olympic in front of the Goodwill in West La. The Misfit & Border Grill in Santa Monica. So so many others I have decided to start a blog devoted to my culinary adventures as I learn all the city has to offer. Details on that later.

Meeting a slew of the cities best chefs, farmers & purveyors at local farmers markets. My favourite being the Sunday Beverly Hills Farmers Market, where I have on occasion rubbed elbows with Wolfgang Puck. Made friends with the Smokin’ Mamas, 2 really cool ladies who have some great artisanal foods. I have been collecting their gourmet handcrafted salts every week. Their home cure jerkys are stellar. www.smokinmamas.com Not to mention the very good-looking mushroom guy, flower vendors, farm fresh eggs, herbs, all manner of produce, and the freshest fish in all of LA. I get inspired to create a fantastic sunday supper & fill my house with stunning bouquets of color popping blooms.

Been scouting sites for my own space. Cafe/ Patisserire/ Boulanger/ cool little hangout, serving what I love to cook and my friends love to eat. This will keep me occupied for the “winter” and I should have something in the works by spring. Stay tuned.

So its safe to say we aren’t going anywhere for quite a while. Maybe a quick trip  to San Fran or Hawaii or even Sydney, but this is home base central for now. New York will always be there and if I get the urge to see snow, or ski, Mammoth and Tahoe are a short distance away.

For now I’m content to get up, see the sun shining, make my cuppa tea and take it out to my back garden and revel in another day in LA and see what surprises are waiting for me, some maybe even just around the corner.

Have Food~ Will Travel

the haute dog truck

They are everywhere and in every city. No longer just a shiny metal box dispensing watery coffee and a cardboard sandwich at a construction site, nope the food truck phenomenon has taken the country by storm. In a world obsessed with food and all matter of it, it seems only natural that the things we love and crave would take to the streets.  Crepes ~ Donuts~ Cupcakes~ Hot Dogs ~ Burrittos~ BBQ~ Sushi~ Ice Cream ~ Cuban~ you name it, there’s one out there serving what you desire. Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘meals on wheels’. Mobile chef’s taking street food to a completely new level. What took so long?

While “pop-ups” continue to grow in strength and numbers, food trucks have a bit more longevity. And nowhere is that more evident than in Los Angeles. Opening a real restaurant can cost you millions and millions of dollars. A food truck can be had from anywhere from $30,000 to $150,000. Permits in LA run around $700. NYC is far more difficult as there is a cap on the number of permits allocated for a certain period of time. The one city they seem to be sorely lacking in is San Francisco, though the Onigri ( japanese rice snacks)  truck parked in front of the Ferry Market Plaza is worthy of a visit.

Also to be taken in to consideration is weather, parking ( think “turf wars”) , storage, pre-prep space , gas and the most important, location location location!  All are key to a successful food truck operation.

Twitter helped the Kogi LA food truck achieve a level of notoriety and cache previously unheard of  for an upscale mobile vending cart. The power of the Internet. Amazing. Another fledging company that could use help  get the word out is Cripple Creek Barbeque. A little company with a big conscience. Based in Colorado and owned by John & Stacy Lynch, they are on a quest to bring great BBQ to the masses. With roots in sustainable & environmentally friendly cuisine, this is a win-win idea.

To visit their website and make a pledge for their drive to raise money for a food truck and get some great offerings in exchange, please, they need you help to achieve their goal. Visit: http://www.cripplecreekbarbeque.com/index.html

You can also follow their progress in their quest on Twitter at @CrippleCreekBBQ  .. the pledges only work if they meet their goal. Lets help a foodie dream come true.

Now for some of my favourite Los Angeles food trucks to watch are as follows ~

Phamish ~ for Banh Mi

Buttermilk ~ for a breakfast biscuit

Flying Pig ~ for tamarind duck tacos

Iggys ~ for hot dogs

Raja Fries ~ for fries you never dreamed were possible

Seeing that LA has more cars per capita than any other city, the fantastic food trucks parked all over are no surprise! The best place to find some of these and numerous other trucks is Mon to Fri on Wilshire Blvd in front of LACAMA. Most move somewhere else for the evening hours. And of course visiting one of the best art museums in the states is just icing on the proverbial  ”cup” cake. You can get those across the street. LOL. Enjoy.

Lobsters ~ An Ode to the Sea

my lobster roll

Just a quick post inspired by the amazing amount of hits my Lobster Club picture has received on Twitter. So here’s an homage to the humble bug of the sea. So ugly yet so delicious. But first a bit of history.  Lobsters are part of a group of arthropods (crab/ shrimp/ krill) . They have an exoskeleton which they must moult in order to grow. They also have separate sexes and reproduce sexually. Try visualizing that one. Two lobsters hooking up. LOL. Little known fact, some can even change their sex during the course of their lives.  A transgender lobster. Who knew!

I personally love lobster. Succulent, moist, briny, sweet. They hit the mark on all taste levels. Dipped in melted sweet butter, drool worthy. Anyone who doubts that should Netflix the movie Flashdance and watch Jennifer Beals slowly savouring and sucking the meat out of one. Who cared if she could dance, that scene was quite simply, highly erotic. If you’re not dying to eat a lobster after watching that, then you have no libido. Okay, I digress. Back to the sea.

Lately lobsters have been a steal at my  market. My local fish guy (who happens to be a hottie) will give me a call when they are going on sale to give me a heads up (okay to flirt too). This past weekend they were $4.99 a lb. A veritable bargain. So I went and picked up a few of these beauties.

Now there are many ways to prepare a lobster, though most people over -cook theirs, but if you follow this simple rule you will be guaranteed melt in your mouth goodness. Everytime.

I prefer to quickly “steam” my lobsters. Get a very large pot, add barely an inch of water, and if you wish toss in a few peppercorns and a lemon slice. They wont flavour the meat, its more for aromatic purposes. Makes the kitchen smell nice. Put in the lobsters, turn on the heat, cover and steam for 10 minutes. No more. Lobster meat cooks quickly and can become tough and chewy when overcooked. If you plan on sauteing or grilling, steam them for only 3-5 mins, cool and proceed with whatever recipe you plan on using. Drain. Cool. Shell. Proceed to melt some butter, dip and enjoy. Nirvana has been achieved.

One of my favourite ways to enjoy a lobster is the classic lobster roll, Connecticut style. Take a brioche or Martini’s potato roll, butter and griddle it. Set aside. Coarse chop the meat, toss with some melted butter, spread the bun with a small amount of mayonnaise, top with the warm lobster meat and sprinkle of chives. Enjoy as the butter and lobster juices drip down your chin. Orgasmic.

Though if you want a more impressive dish with a wow factor this is something I made when I was Executive Chef of a Country Club in Darien, Ct. Most of our members worked in New York City on Wall Street and were used to 5* cuisine. They expected that same level of quality from me. It was a job I adored, but after 4 years and 80 work weeks, well it got tiring.  Though this recipe never does. It was a dish I could never take off the menu and ten years later it still rocks it out.

Lobster Mashed Potatoes w/ Seared Sea Scallops & Beurre Blanc

Make a batch of yukon gold whipped potatoes. Cook/ cool/ shell a lobster. Reserve the claw.  Remove meat & coarse chop. Stir the lobster into the potatoes. Panko crust 3 jumbo sea scallops. Pan sear. Blanch haricot vert or grill some asperges. Make a champagne beurre blanc. Place lobster mashed potatoes in center of a plate, surround with 3 sea scallops, the veg & drizzle with the beuerre blanc. Top with the lobster claw and a dollop of osetra caviar and garnish with a chive stuffed yukon gold potato “chip”.

So the next time you want to impress your better half, your  friends, your in-laws,  your boss, make this. You’ll be guaranteed a table full of smiles. And if it’s just you and your significant other your chances of getting lucky are 100%. Cause after all lobster is sexy. Just ask Jennifer Beals.

Short~ Sweet~ Savory & Stacked

No, not me! Though some would beg to differ.  I’m talking about pancakes. Or even better Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras. A precursor to what is other wise known as Shrove Tuesday. Though Fat Tuesday sounds like a lot more fun. And if you’ve ever been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans (or can at least remember it!) you know it’s all about wretched excess. But oh so enjoyable. So are pancakes. They satisfy on all levels of comfort and delight. Most pancakes are considered a quick bread, as they contain some form of leavening to help them achieve that light fluffy melt in your mouth texture. National Pancake week kicks off on March 1st. It also  heralds the start of Lent which officially begins on March 8th.

Shrove Tuesday’s original intent was to use up pantry staples that were considered rich or decadent. Sounds good to me. Which after indulging in, one was to spend the first day fasting and in prayer. I’ll just take the pancakes. Sweet or savory, for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a midnight nosh, there is no wrong time to whip up a batch. Delish! And im not talking I-Hop here. No way. Cardboard discs with whipped fake margarine belong in the garbage, not on your plate. So get out grandmas pottery mixing bowl, your whisk and a few simple ingredients and you are on your way to making your mouth really really happy. Not to mention your tummy.

So first, a tiny bit of history. Drum roll if you please. In Russia the pre-lenten pancake feast, known as Maslenitsa, is celebrated by indulging in thin buckwheat crepes known as Blini. Often topped with caviar, honey, jam, sour cream or butter. YUM -O! These are traditionally based on little symbols of the sun. Golden, round, warm, they signify the end of winter and the beginning of spring.  Hell Yes! After one of the longest and snowiest winters in the history of the east coast I am more than ready  for spring to arrive. In America the original pancake was called the “johnny-cake” and made from cornmeal. In France they are known as crepes. The Swedish make a pancake with rice & saffron and baked in the oven. In China, its “cong you bing” an incredibly popular street food otherwise known as a scallion pancake. You can make it sweet by adding red bean paste. Though my personal favourites being the Danish “Aebleskiver”. Little round puffs cooked in a special pan stuffed with jam & cream cheese. Heaven. I add a zest of lemon and warm brown sugar syrup. Fantastic.

Alright now for some ideas. Sweet. Savory. Short silver dollars, stuffed or dinner size plates, whatever stack you make will fit the bill. Some of my favourite combinations follow.  In no particular order. Just enjoy. Only try not to drool on your Mac. :O

Cheddar & candied bacon w/ whipped maple butter.

Lemon/ white chocolate & warm blueberry compte.

Cranberry & orange topped w/ duck hash.

Sweet potato & pecan w/ toasted coconut & melty marshmallows (homemade plz)

Apple & cinnamon w/ whipped cream & warm pomegranate syrup.

Dark Chocolate w/ sun-dried cherries & sweet cream butter.

Ricotta pancakes w/ candied ginger & lingonberry sauce.

Peking pancakes w/ duck confit/hoisin drizzle & scallion whipped cream.

Potato pancakes w/ sliced brisket & onion balsamic jam.

Poppy seed w/ lemon curd and fresh raspberries.

Pinneaple “upside -down” pancakes w/ toasted macadamia nuts &  coconut anglaise.

Cinnamon w/ carmelized bananas & carmel peanut butter sauce.

Scallion pancakes w/ sautéed shiitake & spicy short rib ragu.

Stuffed pancakes.. while the batter is on the griddle lay in a pre-cooked maple glazed sausage.  Cook. Roll. Top w/ butter & warm syrup. Nice.

You get the general idea. Let you imagination take you away.  Create. Experiment. Have fun! Cooking, if not fun, well then .. whats the point? We need to eat to live, yes. But hell why not have a good time doing so!

So to conclude my love of pancakes… I’m including my grandpa’s pancake recipe and one for all my gluten intolerant friends. Feel free to use what ever recipe that makes you happy, or has been passed down to you.

Grampys Pancakes ;

2 cups a-p flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sel

3 tbsp sucre

2 eggs

3 cups buttermilk

4 tbsp melted butter

mix the dry. add the wet. let rest at least one hour. have fun!

Okay for my celiac buddies : Gluten free pancakes!

1/2 cup oat flour

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 egg

1 cup soy milk

1/4 cup melted vegan butter

splash of vanilla & pinch of cinnamon.

Mix dry. Add wet. Let rest. Enjoy! No tummy ache !

*I owe the inspiration for this post to @fugimama ( Rachael) on twitter. Who got my creative juices flowing. ((hugs))

California Girls .. Part 2

Deciding that the end of January was a good time to escape the cold snowy frozen tundra that has become CT & NYC this winter..I booked tickets on Virgin America for the warm sunny environs of LA.  Since we’d had such a fantastic time in November, I wanted to be sure that moving (no pun intended) was the right move to make. It is. It will be. It can’t happen soon enough!

My usual limo driver Tony picked us up in the dark cold early morning light and we were at JFK in the blink of an eye. With a major snow storm approaching the east coast the airport was insane!  I got in trouble w/ TSA for taking an iPhone pic of the line of people at 6am. They were not amused. I was. Hahah. Lesson learned = keep the iPhone off. Flight was packed, but since I always buy an extra seat, lovey & I had plenty of space. First class on VA sells out very quickly!

Ipod on and b4 I knew it, we were at LAX. 78 degrees! It was -7 when we left NYC.  Same drill as last time, got picked up in a 2011 black bmw. Picked up my dusty blue mini cooper convertible. It had only 250 miles on it. Sweet! Put the top down and hit the 405. God I love LA!! The Mosaic has to be one of the best kept secrets in all of Beverly Hills. Quiet. Discreet. Private. Uber-Elegant. With a staff to die for. We were home.  ”Natalie.. at the front desk.. I love u!”

Zipped off to Whole Foods for waters & snacks and then down to Santa Monica to watch the sun set on the beach and have an impromptu picnic. Stunning. Back at the Mosaic, some parmesan truffle fries and watched  the Social Network. Asleep by 10.

Up early. Refreshed. Ready to take in all LA has to offer. Quick cuppa tea poolside and we hit the streets. Top down, Katy Perry playing we headed 4 Hollywood.  The Sanrio store was calling our names. The Rite was having a premiere that eve, so most of Graumans was blocked off. Love loved the “Black” Carpet.  Quite fitting. On to Amoeba Music. OMG what a store. The Industrial & Goth section had me swooning. 24 cds later lovey dragged me out of there. Zipped off 2 the Farm for Lobster Clubs and back 2 the hotel to get ready 4 Iron & Wine at the Wiltern. Laura Marling open and she blew me away. Concerts in LA are nothing like shows in NYC.  It was a “perfect” day.

Breakfast at John O’ Groats on Pico. Then wandered around the Century City Westfield Mall. I truly think I have died and gone to heaven w/ Karen Millen London & Betsy Johnson.  Late afternoon cocktail ( no booze 4 me)  and off 2 shop Melrose.  Dinner at Matsuhia. What a disappointment. $250 later. Meh. Nobu needs to spend more time at his ressies. This was prolly the one and only time I got attitude. And I gave it back in spades. Needless to say.. I won.

Watched Yes’Man in the room on DVD. Loved it. Breakfast at the Nosh. Once again so entertaining! 3 gentleman behind me talking about their wives.  Man #1..She makes me crazy, I’d pull my hair out if I had any. OMG! Man #2 I just pay the bills and ignore her. Man #3 Thank god I have a mistress.  I almost burst out laughing. Priceless. Who knew? I’ve never been married (nor want to be).

Went to The Grove. More shopping. Then Craig Ferguson Show at CBS. Met the Logans. A  truly lovely couple. I bagged the one and only late show t-shirt the warm up comedian throws out. Chucky “lobbed” it  directly at me. Sweet!  Score. Landed right in my lap.  The guest was Jim Parsons from the Big Bang Theory. A show I have been told I remind people of .. Sheldon’s character. In smarts, not looks. I’m kind of snarky in an over the top intelligent kind of way.  LOL.

Had dinner at Mako! OMG> This has to be the best ressie on S. Beverly. Fantastic meal.  Next day had lunch at Spago. Sherry Yard came & spent 20 mins talking 2 me. Signed menus. Cookie box to take with. Can I say I was over the top. We also packed in a trip to the Museum of Death. Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Griffith Park. Lacama. Amazing sandwiches from the food truck “Phamish”. YUM -O! Discovering Whimsic Alley on Wilshire, devoted to all things Harry Potter. TeaForte at the hotels “Hush” restaurant.

Holy shit.. drove down to the Shriners to see them setting up for the SAGS.  Shopped the new Santa Monica PLace Kitson 4 a $500 Marc Jacobs bag. Dinner at Hatfields. Meh.  Dinner at Mako again= YES!  Invited to Mako-sans other ressie.. Robata-Ya. 5**** treatment. Was perfection. In West LA.  I will sosoososs be a regular when I move.

Long story  short, I have not felt so “at home” in a long long time. I could go on.. The amazing dude at LaBrea Bakery ( wanted to touch my hair)  the Getty Center, Grammy Museum. And so much more.

I look forward to exploring all this amazing city has to offer. Warm. Sun. Sand. Surf. Smiling happy people. It will be a discovery. New doors waiting to be opened. New friends to be made. The riches and glory that is LA. I and my lovey can’t wait.

I can already feel the sun on my face and the warmth on my skin.  As I shed the east coast and move on. Heres to our next chapter.

High Time For Tea

Afternoon tea.  Your Grandmother’s lace tablecloth. Delicate bone china cups. Tiny sweet & savory treats. The essence of refined elegance. Classic. Timeless. Almost a lost art. The Brits had it right by having tea & a nosh in the late afternoon everyday. Sort of signals the end of another day. With the evening meal still impending, a nice way to segue from day to-night. Fill the tummy with something light and yummy until a proper meal arrives.

I think its high time  (no not the magazine, though it’s still an entertaining read :O) to bring back this little afternoon ritual. Though really tea can be served any time of day. Not a hurriedly gobbled lunch, nor a  show stopping dinner, or an over the top cocktail party, a “tea” falls somewhere in between. When one thinks of a tea, they almost always think of ladies. Not so anymore. Feel free to invite as many men as you’d like. Not only will the conversation  (and the company) be better for it, they too deserve a bit of pampering now and again. Trust me, they will enjoy it as much as your girlfriends, maybe even more. So dust off the china cups, polish the silver and press your best lace tablecloth and napkins and prepare to spend a leisurely afternoon returning to a time and place when the world moved at a slower pace. Just be sure to turn off the Mac & iphone.

So whether it’s a tea party in the garden, a cozy gathering around the fire or just quiet afternoon with friends here is my idea of the ideal tea. Grandma never thought tea could be like this. Though she might be pleasantly suprised.

Assemble a nice assortment of teas. My current favourite being Trader Joes Candy Cane Green Tea. Its yum! Though I had a tea in Beverly Hills at The Mosaic Hotel that was simply exquisite. When I go back next week I plan on asking them for some to bring back! The tea bag was in the shape of a pyramid with a small green leaf at the top. Not mention it was one of the smoothest english breakfast teas I have ever had. I digress. Heat or have a large kettle of hot water and a few tea pots or just individual cups. Set out lemon, sugar, honey and a small pitcher of milk. I am partial to soy milk myself. If your making tea in a pot, be sure to heat the pot under warm running water first, add your tea ball of loose leaves or tea bags. Fill with not quite boiling water and steep. A tea cozy serves the purpose of keeping the tea & the pot warm, so if you have one, by all means use it!

The goodies can be as varied as you’d like. A nice mix of sweet and savory works best. Forget the idea of cucumber sandwiches and scones this is a brave new world. New decade too, so get adventurous.  So here is my idea of the perfect afternoon “Tea”.

The Nibbles ~  The Savory

I like to start with a small “shooter” of a super smooth soup. In this instance a Fresh Tomato w/ a drizzle of basil oil. Gets the palate awake and ready for whats to come.

Tiny tea sandwiches of : Prosciutto/ Fig & Arugula w/ smooth and creamy goat cheese on baby brioche buns. I have also done the baby brioche w/ fig jam & a slice of foie gras terrine.

Stilton & Pear w/ sweet cream truffle honey butter on whole wheat.

Smoked Salmon & Asparagus w/ lemon mayo on crostini.

Baby Cheese Scones w/ watercress/ cream cheese & grapes

Tiny puff pastry rounds  w/ caramelized onions & sweet ham

Won Ton Chips w/ ahi tuna tartare/  avocado/ wasabi crema

The Sweet ~

Assorted Macaroons : chocolate/ almond/ vanilla

Summer Berry Tartlets

Dark Chocolate Coffee Truffles

Toasted Tea cakes w/ clotted cream & strawberry jam

Dark and White Chocolate Florentines

Pecan Tassies

Now you have the perfect assortment of savory/ creamy/ crunchy/ crispy/ smooth/ sweet/ delicate and rich. If that doesn’t guarantee a good time I don’t know what will. And lastly , always I repeat, always have a few bottles of ice-cold bubbly at the ready.  Splurge on the good stuff. Veuve Clicquot being a sure thing. It pairs perfectly with the sweets and it can only help to improve the mood! There doesnt it  feel good to pamper yourself and your guests. Just remember to put on your pearls.

Since to include recipes for everything would be rather tedious, I shall include my recipe for baby brioche buns. The rest being rather self-explanatory.

Baby Brioche Buns:

2 1/2 cups ap flour

1 tbsp gran. sugar

1/2 tsp sel

1 tsp yeast

3 eggs

1/2 milk

5 tbsp butter, melted and cooled

veg oil for greasing

Sift dry ingredients. Whisk together wet. Incorporate in to the dry. Make a soft dough. Knead 5 minutes. Use a little more flour if to sticky. Place in a greased warmed ( run under hot water first & dry) bowl. Brush the dough w/ veg oil. Cover bowl w/ Saran wrap. Let rise 1 hour.  Turn dough out and knead briefly. Form into 12 small ball. Lightly spray a mini muffin tin. I like to place a small piece of parchment paper in  each tin. Making sort of “cup”. Place dough balls in each tin.  Wrap w/ Saran and let rise 30 minutes.  Brush the tops of each bun w/ milk or cream .  Bake @400 degrees  for about 15- 20 minutes. Let cool. Split and fill. If you want to use them for something sweet .. sprinkle the tops w/ demarra sugar before baking.

You Know You’re A Supernatural Fan When ~

Okay this has nothing to do with food. Though it stars some pretty tasting looking “treats”. I’m partial to Dean or Castiel myself.  Season 6 has proved to be quite surprising. Sam has no soul. Dean is a family man. The Impala has been rebuilt. Cas is fighting a battle with the angels in Heaven and Crowley is in charge of Hell. And I’m still waiting for Bobby to Riverdance. Awesomeness abounds.  So for all my #Supernatural fans, this one’s for you.

1) Know that skin walkers can be anywhere.

2) Meg still kicks ass.

3) Want Castiel to win his war with Raphael.

4) Wonder if Chuck will reappear.

5) Are tired of Lisa.

6) Be wary of old men bearing rings.

7) Know about Sodom & Gomorrah.

8) Believe in Angels.

9) Don’t care for the Goddess of Truth ~ Veritas.

10) Miss Castiel as a hippie.

11) Knew Dean wouldn’t last one day as Death.

12) Exile on Main Street was a Rolling Stones song.

13) You subscribe to Readers Digest.

14) Think that Grandpa is not what he appears to be.

15) The truth can be cruel.

16) Twilight  & the twi-hards suck.

17) WTF is up with Sam.

18) Want Dean back to his philandering ways.

19) Never trust a shape shifter.

20) Being in the “family” business has taken on a whole new meaning.

21) Think Crowley is kinda hot, in a demon sort of way.

22) Remember Corin “Corky”  Nemic when he was Parker Lewis.

23) You’ve been to Hell and back.

24) Still want to see Bobby Riverdance.

25) Know that Elves are real.

26) So are Leprechaun’s and Tinkerbell.

27) Dragons have a thing for Virgins.

28) Still don’t sleep.

29) Cried when Jensen Ackles got married.

30) Want Ash back.

31) Know that a Vampire doesn’t have to bite you to turn you.

32) Love vintage motels.

33) Think Amber Benson needs to be back as the leader of the Vampires.

34) Wonder if Castiel will get a new wardrobe.

35) Think the Impala needs a GPS system.

36) Dont do shorts.

37) Don’t ever want to be 17 again.

38) Hope Dr. Sexy   (i.e the trickster) comes back.

39) Know that Dark Side of the Moon was once a Pink Floyd song.

40) Noticed that the movie marquee in ‘The End” was playing Route 666.

41) Cupid doesn’t really wear a diaper.

42) The Whore of Babylon has nothing to do with sex.

43) Googled “Mikes Travel Inn”.

44) AC/DC has you Thunderstruck.

45) Tried to book a room at the Elysian Fields hotel.

46) Had a cocktail at the Astro Lounge.

47) Downloaded “Oh Death” by Jen Titus and its in your iTunes library.

48) The voice says your almost out of minutes.

49) Just say no to being an angel condom.

50) Can’t wait til Friday Jan 28th when the boys are back.

The Little Blue Box

Those who know me are well aware of my obsession with Doctor Who, though this has nothing to do with the Tardis. Though I suppose Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space could be applicable to some of the rather bizarre food pairings going today. No, I’m referring to that ubiquitous little blue box. Childhood comfort food. Something your mum made when you feeling blue (no pun intended) or just needed a bowl of something warm. Soft. Gentle. Soothing for the soul. Yup, macaroni and cheese. There is something supremely satisfying in a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Tender little pastas,  rich golden cheesy sauce clinging to each and every bite. Ooey. Gooey. Creamy. Damn, this is sounding dangerously like food porn. LOL. Though food is an aphrodisiac and fills that basic desire to feel loved.

I can honestly say I tried Kraft mac & cheese once. Only once. At college. My stoner buddies swore by the stuff. So one night I made a box. The orange glop glowed in the dark. I was wary, but I gave it a shot. Ick was my basic reaction and I immediately set about making a pan from scratch. There was no turning back after that. I was hooked. Making mac & cheese from scratch is easy. After you master the basic sauce making , it can be whipped up in no time.  At first I stayed with the basics. As my culinary spirit grew more daring, so did my additions. Tiny cubes of ham and oven roasted tomatoes. Fresh herbs. Poached julienned chicken and asperges dotted with creamy goat cheese. Trio of wild mushrooms. Smoked salmon. Though my all time favourite being Lobster. Who doesn’t love lobster? Lobster mac and cheese just seemed a natural. And they were made for each other. Luscious chunks of butter poached lobster intermingling with tender baby penne. Lots of creamy cheesy goodness. Zest of lemon. Sprinkling of fresh chives. Crispy crunchy panko crumb crust. Drizzled with truffle oil. Or even better dots of truffle butter. If that’s not orgasmic I don’t know what is. Childhood never tasted like this. So here is my recipe for Lobster Mac & Cheese. Be prepared to be transported to a happier time and place.  The Doctor would approve.

Lobster Macaroni & Cheese

Cook 1 box of baby penne ( I like this because the slender little tubes hold lots of extra sauce)  according to package directions. Drain. Rinse. Toss w/ small amt of olive oil and set aside.

Sauce: this is a bechamel w/ cheese incorporated into it.

Melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter . Whisk in 4 tbsp flour. Cook for 2 minutes to remove the starch. Add 1 cup heavy cream. 1 cup chicken stock.  1/2 t sp sel. Pinch of white pepper. Pinch of nutmeg. Stir til smooth, thick and creamy. Set aside to cool.

Cook a 1 1/2 lb lobster. Steam in a small amount of water. Do not cover the lobster w/ water.  After 5 minutes remove from heat, drain & let cool. Remove meat from the shell. Chop in good sized chunks. Use all the meat. Tail/ claws/ knuckles. Warm a small knob of butter in a sauce pan. Add lobster meat. Remove from heat. Set aside.

To the cooled cream sauce add 8 0z shredded jack cheese, 8 0z shredded white cheddar. If to thick add small splash of white wine. Add the zest of 1 lemon. Sprinkle in fresh chopped chives.

Pour sauce over cooled pasta. Add cooled lobster. Stir. Spoon into 6 buttered individual  baking dishes. Top w/ a 1/2 cup toasted panko crumbs. Dot w/ butter. Use truffle butter if you have it. or drizzle w/ truffle oil.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes til golden and bubbly.

You can also bake in one large gratin dish.

Serve w/ a baby spinach/ cranberry & pecan salad. Light lemon vinaigrette. Crusty bread. Pop some bubbly and toast being a grown- up. Just watch out for a little blue box.  It may very well be The Doctor dropping by to pay you a visit.

** for the vegans .. you too can travel beyond the realms of  being deprived of this treat and find your childhood smile. Follow the basic recipe above, making these substitutions.

Cook 1 box penne. If your gluten intolerant, cook one of the many gluten-free pastas available today.

Make a bechamel : I use cornstarch & olive oil. Add vegetable stock & soy milk. Add the seasonings. Add  1 package soy-sation cheddar/ mozz/ jack cheese blend ( available at trader joes or whole foods). If you indulge in seafood, add the lobster. If you don’t, leave plain or add sautéed mushrooms/ or zucchini, or both.  Finish according to recipe and enjoy.