slateblu

10th annual dine about town - garcon

I went to Dine About Sunday before last with my sister and a couple of friends.  We tried out Garcon.  The French food was good and enjoyable but I think I may have preferences over this one after dining here.

 
We started out with cocktails and wine

 
My beet salad with endive, watercress, goat cheese fondue, crispyshallots, and sherry vinaigrette

 
My summer fettucine, squash, mushrooms, sweet peppers, basil, almonds, and eggplant-garlic puree

 
Beignets...(not quite as good as the just for you cafe beignets)they were a little bit dense and hard.

 
Espresso pot de creme (this was really good!)

What I like about Dine About is that you get a 3 course meal for an affordable price.

fragrances...

Back in college I wore a victoria's secret perfume that was bottled in a gold and blue box.  This was way before they changed their image to "pink", etc. and created a new look for themselves.  It was a light sweet fragrance and I did get lots of complements on it.  I first smelled it on a paralegal at a law firm I worked for part-time during college.  I was intimidated to ask about her perfume but an aunt of mine was wearing the same thing one day and she told me where she got it.  For a few years, I would get that bottle of perfume from my aunt during birthdays and Christmas.  Then they stopped making it and I wanted a different scent.  I went with my cousin one year to buy her mom a limited edition (at that time) Chanel fragrance:  Gardenia.  The scent was really pretty so we both decided to buy one for ourselves as well.  It's a little stronger and it does have staying power I think.  It's a very sweet scent.

It was this trip that I learned about Bulgari's green tea scent.  We went to the store and the lady at the counter mentioned that it's very light and also noted that nurses like the scent because it's allergy-free.  You can apply and apply and the scent won't be over-powering at all.  This is the one I wear all the time now...

 
My collection of used bottles...makes for a nice display but I think I do need to start recylcling...

The other day, I went to Bloomingdales to pick up another bottle since I ran out and next to the counter was a Hanae Mori rep.  They sold me on the No. 2 scent.  It's also light though I think a bit stronger than my green tea scent.  I love the graphics on the bottle.

 
 
Bulgari's Green Tea is my all time favorite though.  I do prefer the cologne to the perfume.  There is a difference between the two when you compare them.

Do you have a favorite fragrance?

 

hearts, tags, and target

I'm getting a head start on my son's valentine cards. I'm using the same origami heart as usual. This one.

 
You can omit the sink fold in the instructions if you like.  It's actually easier if you do.

I decided to do a pop-out heart card.  It helps that this heart has straight ends so the fold of the pop out is crisp.

 
I made a little hut's simple gift tags.  I love them! They're easy, simple and creative all at the same time.  I have a butterfly stamp and used that to make these gift tags.

 
The stone colored paper I used for the butterfly matched the wrapping paper.

 
I'm off today to let my parents rest so I'm taking care of the kids today.  I have a couple hours until pick up time and homework.  I went to Target early this morning with Ava before she started school. Not sure about you, but EVERYTIME I go to Target, I get more that what's on my list.  I was good though and only picked up these Mossimo sandals (not on my list) in the olive color.  I think it was the 70 degree weather yesterday and the high 60's temperature today that possessed me to buy them.

 

 

Have a good week!

 

crown and crumpet

Last weekend my husband and son went snowboarding.  This left me with some girl time with my sister and Ava.  My sister hasn't been to Crown & Crumpet and has been wanting to go try this place.  She was famished and I had to warn her that this was a place that wouldn't actually fill her up.  Before leaving, she was reading my current issue of 7x7 (the top 7 carne asada burritos in SF).  Her mind was actually on a burrito after we left Crown & Crumpet...and filled her craving indeed.  As always, I have photos:

 
This was part of Ava's Nursery Tea.  She preferred the egg sandwich over the cucumber ones.

 

 
Desserts...

 
Candy displays...

 
 
A little rose display in a little mini living room setting that you can sit at towards the back of the tea salon.

 
A few little purchases to keep that sweet tooth going.

the best chocolate croissant ever...

This is truly the best chocolate croissant ever...

My cousin tried them a couple weeks ago and told me about them so last Saturday, we picked some up at DeLessio's.  Since we went right when they opened, we had to wait a bit.  We ate freshly made frittatas fresh out of the oven.  It was sooooo good.  Do go and try this croissant!!!

 

tartine gougeres

I ate my first Tartine Bread a couple weeks ago with my cousin while dining at Bar Tartine. It was good served sliced with butter as they usually serve you at a restaurant, but when we ordered the marrow appetizer with "grilled" tartine bread, it was much more delicious. We also tried the mini gougeres which were pretty good.  After dining at the restaurant I started reading my copy of Tartine Bread when I got home.  I think I'll attempt Chad Robertson's bread after the holidays since it looks like it does take some time.  For now though I did make the gougeres which were very easy to make and actually came out really well.

 

 
I made the 1 1/2 inch sized ones and it actually made quite a lot.  They easily pop in your mouth. You can find the recipe here or google it online.

dynamo donuts & giveaway winners

First off let me announce the winners of the handmade book giveaway.  I had another book that I had left over from our craft fair at work so I pulled two names.  I should say my kids pulled the names. The winners are Kim Parker and Sunny!  You can e-mail me your address [[email protected]] and I'll send this week.

One Saturday I woke up early to pick up Dynamo Donuts.  My husband made a list of what to get based off of their site but when I got there, they listed what they had available that day.  Of course we got their siganature donut, the maple glazed bacon.  We also got the vanilla bean, lemon pistacio, milk chocolate passionfruit, and chocolate almond. 

My son loves bacon but when I preseneted the maple bacon donut, he said "What's that?" -I said "Bacon! You love bacon!"  He said "...but not on my donuts!"....and gave the donut a disgusting look.  He had to settle for the vanilla bean which I thought tasted like a regular donut.  The maple bacon donut is good and of course, has to be eaten fresh.  The others were good too but I think if you're expecting a regular donut taste these aren't the ones.  My husband liked the maple bacon but with the other flavors, he said he prefers Krispy Kreme.  To each his own... 

Taking pieces of each one so we wouldn't get sick eating a whole donut at a time...

My little girl, not so little anymore, starts preschool today! Taking the day off so I can bring her on her first day! 

pictures of food...

My high school friends are trying to organize a reunion.  Six of us met up a few weeks ago for a meeting/get-together at Fresca in Noe Valley.  It was more like catch-up than planning though. Lots of talking about the past and what we're all doing now. We were there for 4 hours!  Food was delicious and so was dessert:

On the way home I bought some cupcakes for the kiddies.  Practiced some tabletop photography before we ate them:

Also took pictures of my favorite spring rolls from Out the Door.  It was for Nicole's class.

She wanted us to take a picture as if we were styling a cover for a magazine :

I modeled my picture after Sunset Magazine.

   
 

threads + wares

This past weekend I went to the Threads + Wares event.  Carol Gilbert of Yorktown Road sent me a postcard about this event.  I bought one of her lovely textured bags. This is the bag I got.

Before I arrived at her booth, I found a vintage Issey Miyake top. I couldn't belive the price so I snatched it.  This is how it looks:

It comes with this bag to store and keep the pleats of the piece.

The unraveling...

You can see the hand stitched detail at the hem of the shirt.  Beautifully made.

   

a candle and some tea towels

I'm home alone enjoying some peace and quiet and also getting some things done.  The husband and kids went to a picnic away from the city with family since I already had plans with one of my cousins.  We went to Perch for some quick shopping.  I bought a couple of things for the home: linen tea towels with a brown flower print by Flowie  and and lovely home fragrance candle from LAFCO.  The French lilac scent is light and refreshing. It burns for more than 70 hours and once it's done, you can use the glass, which is hand made and unique from all others, for cold drinks, pencils, flowers, etc.  We had planned for some pizza at Gialina but they don't open until 5:00 p.m. today.  We went to La Corneta next door instead.  

I've yet to post about Paris which I will do in days since I feel it would be too much for one post to write everything...so stay tuned =)