My Prize

Lovely, Laurie Lenfestey from Bittersweet Designs, held a drawing and I won!! Woohooo!!
I mean, I never win anything.  I never win at bingo, lotto, guess my age at the State Fair or cakewalk at church.  Never. Ever.  So what a pleasure to get a facebook message from Laurie asking for my address.
It just arrived and is fabulous.  Check it out!

Laurie is one of those women you meet and make into a friend as soon as possible. She was the first "cover model" for Country Living's Women Entrepreneur special issue so I've been a fan for awhile.
She started her business by writing notes/collages to her children EVERY SINGLE DAY in their lunch box.  Watching her kids grow up, she wanted to make things to mark the passage of time.  Each piece is unique, one more yummy than the next.  Her items are almost as special as she is.

Look at this wonderful pic from Laurie's site. I mean, could the family BE more attractive? and classic Laurie to layer necklaces to perfection. She is the definition of boho chic.

If you are ever in Santa Fe, pop into her shop and browse her lovelies.


Thanks, Laurie, for the treat. It made my day!

Live Large,

Frances

Brunch for One

Like most New Yorkers, I eat out a lot. I have friends that use their ovens as shoe storage and have many really good friends whose home I have yet to see after ten years here.  Unlike the burbs, this city just isn't geared to home entertaining too well.  It's done,  every few months I cram sweet friends in my tiny abode for dinner but meeting up in restaurants is more par for the course. We follow chefs and the restaurant scene like some guys follow sports.  But after one too many meals out and a few days of travel where I was eating way too much "blah" food, Saturday I craved something fresh and really good.

Now I love to cook but low on funds and food, I headed to the Green Market to be inspired by the ramps, rhubarb, spring lettuces and herbs sold by the vendors.  With some rustic tomato and basil bread, fresh farm eggs, green onion and a whole bunch of different baby lettuces in hand, I headed home.   Craving something simple yet satisfying, I slow poached the egg then topped it on a slice of bread which rested on lettuces tossed with a simple vinaigrette of olive oil, vinegar and shallots (Tip: soak the shallots in the vinegar for a few minutes to really enhance the flavor.)  Topping it off with a few cherry tomatoes left in the fridge, it was delish.   It was perfect for brunch, like breakfast bruschetta.  And the whole thing took me maybe 7 minutes.

Take that McDonalds.

The other green market inspiration came from my final purchase-rhubarb.  Having never cooked with it, I opted to make a strawberry and rhubarb crumb using spelt instead of white flour. It was delicious.   Spelt was easy to work with and is the ancient cousin to wheat flour.  Pick some up, I think you'll enjoy.

Live Large,

Frances

Cool things to know about

Woolly school garden  is a program that creates outdoor classrooms for schools.  Sign up a school or to donate.   They sell woolly pockets that are" soft sided, breathable, modular pockets, made in the USA "that are used to create a plant "oasis."

Woolly pockets aren't just for schools, however, as they'd give anyone with limited access to square (dirt) footage a place to grow green stuff.   

Storycorps is one of those organizations that I wonder, why didn't I think of that?  If you love history, memoirs, hearing about other people's journeys, then you'll dig this group.   In fact, you might have heard one of the featured stories on Morning Edition on NPR.  Buy a kit to record your own story or someone else's.  Helping others record in their own voice their story is magical.   They even have their own app so you can listen to stories on the go or share yours with others. 

Join Million Trees NYC is help plant 1 million trees in NYC by 2017.  While a lot of folks take trees for granted, New Yorkers do not.  Help add a bit of green to this concrete jungle. 

Have a great weekend!

Live Large,

Frances

Chicken Coop Urban Tours

I have a secret obsession. I love chickens And their lovely coops. 

My namesake lived on a rural farm in NC and raised chickens who produced the prettiest bluish green eggs which I loved as a child. Maybe it's something in the DNA or maybe it's the utter enjoyment of farm fresh eggs from factory knockoffs but I am a convert.  

Chicken coops are now popping up everywhere in Brooklyn backyards to suburban cul de sacs.  Here's a list of a few happening around the USA.  Hope one is near you:

Tour d'Coop in my hometown, Raleigh-May 15, 2010

Backyard Chicken Coop Bicycle Tour , Alameda (San Francisco) near their great flea market!!-May 16, 2010

City Chickens Coop, Tuscan-May 23, 2010

Slow Foods Coop Tour, Spokane-June 6, 2010

Tour de Coops, Salt Lake City-June 27, 2010

Tour de Coops, Portland- July 24, 2010

City Chickens Coop Tour, Seattle-July (Date TBA), 2010 

Funky Chicken Coop Tour, Austin -  This just passed but earmark it for next year. I have found that whatever Texans do, they do it fully.  April 3, 2010

Chicks in the City Tour, Atlanta-April 25, 2010 Ditto for Georgians.   Expect big hair & big coops on this tour. 

Here are 2 coops designs that I love. 

From Chicken Cribs, love the fun colors and modern design but it doesn't feel too modern.  $439 and up. 

From Handcrafted Coops, this is a cool space efficient coop made from sustainable materials.  $499 and up. 

For NYC dwellers, check out the City Chicken Meetup Group for helpful info & commandry.  

Live Large, 

Frances 

10 things I love today.

Central Park on 4/5.  Who knew this was NYC?

Sweet Pea Soup from Jean-Georges.  Spring in your mouth. Prix Fix 3 course lunch is only $26. Run. 

Sunbrella roller shades from Les Toiles du Soleil. 

Sunset colors in a silk pillow from The Silk Trading Company. 

Grass house numbers at LA garden dream store, Potted.   

Paul Smith dandy shoes for spring.  

John Derian's perfectly proportioned banquette seating (his other pieces for Cisco are amazing too) at ABC.  

This American Standard taken up a notch with the wooden lid at Waterworks. 

Farrow & Ball's Lotus wallpaper in blue.  

Perfect for either a sandbox or lounging set up in the backyard.  Stacks and stacks.

Live Large, 

Frances

Ode to Alice

No. Really.  I was a late convert but am fully indoctrinated.  Three years ago, I spent at week for work on a press trip hosted by Scharffen Berger Chocolates.  The owner, John, spent a week with editors taking us to his favorite places in Berkeley and San Francisco area. It was a dream week.  We stayed at the Claremont resort, had cooking lessons from Elizabeth Falkner at Citizen Cane, had a tasting menu from the famed Ferry Building and of course, toured the Scharfenger Chocolates Headquarters.  

On my last full day, I wanted to venture over to Chez Panisse to see if it lived up to the hip. My expectations were low.  There were grumblings that Alice Waters had taken too much credit for her work bringing organic food to the masses and some mentionings that her food was "average".   Besides, there weren't any new stories as the restaurant was 36 years old at the time and while the star was still in the sky, it didn't shine the brightest.   I stumbled upon her when a family friend went to work with her foundation, The Edible Schoolyard, featured on a PBS show.  Impressed, I found my car driving that way on that hot June day.  It was late and I passed it 2x before I realized that the famed restaurant was indeed that slightly Asian, faded spot that was Right There.  I entered and was quickly seated without reservations.  Feeling like this was an ominous sign, as most NYC restaurants, even bad ones, require a reservation.    The waitress was a doll and walked me through the American fare menu based on local ingredients.  I asked her what she'd recommend to someone who most likely would only eat there once.  She quickly said the simple garden salad and baked chicken were as good as it gets.  

True to her word, the salad was impeccable.  Fresh butter lettuces perfectly dressed, as only French housewives seem to know how to do. The chicken (usually considered v. boring) was The Most Delicious Thing I Have Ever Had (till I ate another bird this past summer in Paris that just might have surpassed it.) All this to say, it was the most pleasant hour and 1/2.  The staff was lovely; no pretention in sight and the food was out of this world.  I had no thought she would be in the kitchen but she was and that was a treat indeed.  

So loving her restaurant, impressed by her work getting intercity kids into the kitchen and garden, I bought a book thinking it'd be good to support her.  Little did I know this book would come close to changing my life.  It is my go to book for cooking. It's genius.  Her method is simple.  Learn several key ingredients for every course as your building blocks then she shows you how to change those up and add some new ones.  How this book gave me more than I paid for but I should have expect such from the Chef who founded California Cuisine and is known (like Madonna, Julia) by her first name. 


My favorite of her books....

Two weeks ago, I read that she was going to be at a fantastic book store in Brooklyn for a free lecture on her latest book, tk, that resulted from the first American's Slow Food gathering in San Francisco two years ago. I came close to going to that event so it saved me a plane ticket.  She signed it (oh my) and was generous in her praise to others like Jamie Oliver who is trying to fight an important and maybe losing battle with kids' obesity.  




Her latest which showcases favorite recipes from top chefs.....

Oh Alice.  Thank you!

Live Large,

Frances 

My new French Obsession

Move over Catherine Denveuve and  Carla Bruni. My new French Obsession is a small store that has just opened up in Soho-Comptoir Des Cotonniers.  It's downtown ware that makes me feel my age rather than I  raided a high school kid's wardrobe.  Fav picks:

This jacket seems vintage in person. 

While I'm not usually one to advocate for a jumpsuit, this appeals.  

They have the slouchy boot down.  

Till we meet again, fabulous French clothes. Next time, let's meet up on the Riviera... say Le Club 55??

Live Large,

Frances

From seeds to something

This Christmas, I received a lovely package of heirloom seeds and after admiring them, promptly put them away.   A few weeks ago,  when the gray looming skies from winter continued over the City, I pulled them out, itching to move spring forward.  Having never planted seeds outside of elementary school, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. The seeds were given as a gift and didn't have any planting instructions or even what they were but I was game for trying.

I googled "starting with seeds" and found out that I was suppose to put them on top of some dirt then cover and let germinate in a dark, warm spot.  I had just made deviled eggs so I filled the egg carton with dirt, put seeds on top, covered with the egg carton top then put on top of my refrigerator where I immediately forgot about them.  The night before Easter, I am pulling out dishes and find this strange item with green leaves sticking out.  I couldn't believe it-the germination part had worked.  (Why had I thought this was so complicated?)  The same excitement I got in grade school returned, giving me a ridiculous sense of accomplishment.

My window sills have always had some assortment of herbs but I did it the lazy (more expensive) way and bought mature plants.  I get northern light which lasts a good portion of the day so replanting the seeds into a pot with more room and hope for the best.  It's joining a few other plants- lemon balm, mint and basil  in the window sill plant party and  I am rooting them on!

Still unsure what is coming but the anticipation can't be beat.


Wish  me luck as my thumb is only pale green.

Live large,

Frances