My Lunch at Chez Panisse

 Chez Panisse

It's every "foodie's" dream to dine at Chez Panisse. 

It's hard to believe that I'm an East Bay native and had never dined at Chez Panisse.  Turns out, I'm glad I waited.  Last week I had the pleasure of lunching with special friends at Chez Panisse . 

My friend Catherine has been anxious for me to meet her daughter who lives in Paris.  I finally had the chance to meet her.  My friend's daughter just happens to be... Meg Zimbeck.

Meg is a food/travel writer and food critic living in Paris.  You can imagine how excited I was to finally meet Meg.  I love Paris, I love food and I love to travel.  Meg filled me in on all three over lunch with her Mom at Chez Panisse. 

 Farm to Table

I love the Chez Panisse story. 

Proprietor/chef/author Alice Waters visited France in 1964 and fell in love with the French way of life.  In 1971, she started a food revolution when she opened Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California. 

Waters is credited with pioneering the California Cuisine movement.  Her philosophy:  fresh seasonal foods produced locally. 

I love the farm to table approach to food.  Upon our arrival, just before the lunch hour, we saw a produce van delivering farm fresh produce and the Acme Bread truck driving away. We enjoyed both with our lunch!

 Baked Goat Cheese with Garden Salad

I tore out the recipe for the Chez Panisse Baked Goat Cheese Garden Salad in the September 2010 Wine Spectator magazine.  So you can imagine my delight when I found it on the menu at Chez Panisse. 

Fortunately for you, Alice Waters recipe is now on Epicurious.  Just click here for the recipe.

My review:   my salad had the tenderest salad greens I have ever tasted.  I loved the subtle surprise taste of  the fleur de sel (sea salt) seasoning as I enjoyed my salad.  Hint, hint...that's not in the recipe so be sure to add a bit of finishing fleur de sel on your salad greens just before serving. 

The Main Event

We unanimously agreed that Meg's entree was the best.  She took the waiter's advice and had the Soul Food Chicken Leg Confit with Creamy Corn and Wild Rocket.   Catherine had the Tomales Bay Clams & Spicy Pork Sausage entree and I enjoyed the Casarecce Pasta with Pesto and Sliced Heirloom Tomatoes. 

Over lunch Meg introduced us to Francois Chidaine, a lovely French wine from the Loire Valley. 

I really enjoyed my lunch and can now say that I have dined at world-renowned Chez Panisse.  The best part though was lunching with my good friend Catherine and her adorable daughter Meg.  Meg's conversation about Paris just makes me want to go back to Paris even sooner. 

I asked Meg what seemed like a million questions about  Paris and she generously answered them all for me. 

If you love Paris, food and wine like me...be sure to read Meg's personal blog and  Paris By Mouth (she's the editor).  For foodies, Meg has a Ceviche recipe in Dorie Greenspan's new cook book Around My French Table.   

You can also spot Meg in Paris, with her cheese knife, giving French food tours.  Contact Meg for tour information.  I can't wait to take one!

Mulberry for Target!

 Had to Have It!

I adore British High Street fashion! 

I just found out a few days ago that there is another British fashion invasion at Target.  This time it's Mulberry! 

I am normally "in the know" and one of the first shoppers to hit Target when a British Design collaboration launches at Target.  Somehow the Mulberry brand snuck by me. 

Luckily I saw a Mulberry for Target handbag in a magazine the other night and hit my local Target the very next day.

 Nearly Sold Out!

I was so disappointed when I arrived at Target just a few days after the official Mulberry launch only to find the shelves just about empty. 

Being the determined shopper that I am...I hit a few more Target stores.  My mission... to snag a Mulberry Pink Leopard Bag.

Mine, Mine, Mine!

Mission accomplished!  Luckily for me...
I finally found the bag I wanted after visiting four Target stores.

For those in the know...leopard is the "hot" print this fashion season.  I normally don't go for pink but I just know this bag will be a real head-turner! 

A real High Street Mulberry bag like their Bayswater model  (made in leather) would sell for around $1,200.00  to $2,600.00 depending on the print.   Knowing this, I am now a fan of pink leopard and love my High Street knock off bag for Target! 

 So if you want to be carrying some British Mulberry style this fashion season,

I suggest running not walking to your nearest Target store. 

You just might get lucky, too!

Let Them Eat Macarons!

"Let them eat macarons!"

Thinking of having a little tete-a-tete or a French tea party? 

Well then, perhaps you're searching for that perfect plate to serve your French macarons?

Well, look no further...

The perfect macaron plate! 

My latest find at Anthropologie is this Ladies-in-Waiting plate by Parisian artist Florence Balducci.  

Is it my imagination or does this French noble lady look a bit like Marie Antoinette?  I love the plate and love that the pretty French lady is holding a cup of tea!

It's a dinner plate but I think it's simply perfect for serving macarons! 

Paulette Macaron  

I'm all set now for having a little French themed tete-a-tete and I didn't even have to fly to Paris!

Luckily for me, I can get Parisian style macarons and French  Mariage Freres tea now just a few hours away at Paulette Macaron in San Francisco. 

Update: 

Paulette Macarons is now Chantal Guillon with even more macarons and more Bay Area locations!  I still shop at the Hayes Street location:  

Chantal Guillon 

437 A Hayes Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 864-2400

(In the photos:  Ladies-in-Waiting Plate from Anthopologie, Rose, Violette Cassis & The' Earl Grey macarons from Paulette Macaron.)

A Taste of Autumn

Autumn Tea Time

Thank you for stopping by for Tea Time Tuesday.

Today we are celebrating the arrival of autumn with one of my favorite autumn recipes...

my Grandmother's Pumpkin Bread.

Autumn Tea Bread

There's nothing like a tasty tea bread to enjoy with a cup of tea in the afternoon!

For a taste of autumn, my Grandmother's Pumpkin Bread is wonderful paired with an apple, cinnamon spice blend, Constant Comment or pumpkin ginger flavored tea.

I do hope you'll try it with your favorite autumn tea blend!

Here's my Grandmother's recipe:

Emma's Pumpkin Bread

Cream together:

1- 1/2 C. Sugar

1/2 C. Canola Oil

2 eggs

Stir In:

1/3 C. Water

1 C. Canned Pumpkin

Sift & Stir:

1/2 t. Salt

1 t. Nutmeg Ground

1 t. Cinnamon

1 t. Cloves Ground

1 t. Baking Soda

1/2 t. Baking Powder

1- 2/3 C. Flour

Add:

1 C. Chopped Pecans or Walnuts

In a pre-heated 350 degree oven, bake in a greased loaf pan for 75 to 90 minutes. You can check for doneness with a toothpick test in the center of the bread. When the toothpick comes out clean it is ready. Do not over bake.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful tea bread with your favorite "cuppa"!

My Mother loves to serve it with cream cheese and chutney.

(In the photos: Antique Wedgwood Creamware Cup & Saucer, Antique Wedgwood Golden Ivy Bread & Butter Plate & Pumpkin Linens from Home Goods. )

End of Summer Tea!

Lavender Tea Time!

So glad you stopped by for Tea Time Tuesday.

Today we are celebrating the end of summer with Earl Grey Lavender Tea.

The calendar may say autumn but it's still summer here in California. Last weekend I trimmed down my lavender shrubs and it inspired me to celebrate the end of summer with lavender tea.

So let's have a cup!

Revolution Earl Grey Lavender Tea
Today's sampling is Earl Grey Lavender Tea by Revolution Tea. They are a US premium tea company founded in 1998 in Phoenix, Arizona. They offer a wide assortment of teas yet I am only familiar with their Earl Grey Lavender tea. It used to be difficult to find but now their teas are widely available in most major grocery store chains.

Let's open up the box of tea. The first thing you notice is how fragrant the tea is. You can really smell the Earl Grey blend! This Earl Grey blend features full-leaf black teas flavored with oil of Bergamot and blue lavender. I really like their resealable foil bag that helps keep your tea fresh!

Let's Have some Earl Grey Lavender Tea!
When given the choice, I prefer to drink loose tea. A tea bag though is often a convenient way to drink tea. This is one tea company that I don't mind drinking tea from a bag.

Revolution Tea has designed their nylon tea bag to be a flow through infuser. They fill it with twice as much tea as an ordinary tea bag. Their flow through infuser allows the tea leaves to expand and infuse the tea much like loose tea does.

This is a lovely tea to drink in the late afternoon. I enjoy this tea sweetened with wildflower honey. Lavender and honey are such a wonderful combination.

Lavender Iced Tea
Revolution's Earl Grey Lavender Tea is perfect for making iced tea, too.

While trimming my lavender shrubs this past weekend, I was inspired to add lavender buds from my garden to enhance this tea with even more lavender flavor...I loved it! Here's my recipe:

Lisette's Lavender Iced Tea

10 Cups Water
5 Earl Grey Lavender Tea Infusers
* 1T. Organic English Lavender Buds
Wildflower Honey to taste
Lavender Sprigs

Make hot tea in a pot just as you normally would.

Add Lavender Buds and Wildflower Honey to taste. Steep for 4 minutes.

Remove Tea Infusers. Strain Lavender Buds. Stir Well.

Serve in a tall ice-filled glass and garnish with a sprig of lavender.

* or 1 t. for a lighter lavender flavor

Relax and enjoy the end of summer!


(In the photos: Vintage Wedgwood Sandon Tea Pot, Tea Cup & Saucer. Vintage Wedgwood Bee Hive Honey Pot. LaRochere Napoleonic Bee Footed Goblet, Vintage hand embroidered linen.)

Still Too Few!

Still Too Few

Thank you for dropping by for a cuppa!

Today I'm taking you across the pond and showing you the inside of a real old fashioned English tea room. It's not a fancy tea room by any means but it's my favorite little tea room whenever I visit Notting Hill in London.

Portobello Road

If' it's Saturday and I'm in London...you'll find me with my husband hanging out on Portobello Road. Portobello Road is the largest antiques market in the world held every Saturday.

There is nothing quite like a London Saturday strolling Portobello Road. We actually plan our London stay around this incredible market. We always arrive early with Starbucks in hand and when we're ready for a lunch tea break, we always "pop into" Still Too Few.

Home Made Cakes

It was by chance that I found this darling little tea room, Still Too Few. My husband and I were antique shopping along Westbourne Grove (just off Portobello Road) when I spotted their tea pot sign. We popped in for a spot of tea and have made a tradition of visiting this tea room ever since.

Still Too Few feels as authentic as a little English Tea Room should feel to me. The tiny tea room is below street level in the basement of the owners antique shop. The tea room has a quaint, cozy feel with neat vintage advertisements and memorabilia adding to its British charm.

Tea Time at Still Too Few

My favorite Tea break :

Tea in a Brown Betty pot

Scones with Currant Jam & Clotted Cream

Tea sandwiches

All served on pretty Blue & White English China


The last time I was at Still Too Few was in May 2006. My husband and I hope to visit London next year and my fingers are crossed that this little gem is still there!

If you love antique shopping and tea time...

I hope you get to Portobello Road and Still Too Few!

Still Too Few
300 Westbourne Grove

Notting Hill, London

Crown & Crumpet Tea Room

Crown & Crumpet

Today, I would like to share with you the adorable tea room Crown and Crumpet in San Francisco, California. I must say, this is probably the cutest tea room I have ever seen!

I not only love this tea room...I love the story behind it!

Owners Amy and Christopher Dean met in London. Amy, a native San Franciscan, worked in London in the antiques trade for Ralph Lauren. Enter Christopher, a London gentleman, who was also in the London antiques trade. They fell in love, married in England and opened an antiques store in San Francisco. Next with their love of design and tea parties, they cleverly came up with Crown and Crumpet.

Stepping into Crown and Crumpet is almost like stepping into a London Cath Kidston shop. Cath Kidston's vintage inspired fabric prints adorn the tea tables and vintage upholstery throughout the tea room. It's no coincidence...Amy and Cath just happen to be friends!

Let's Enjoy Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea for Two

Tea for Two

Selection of eight tea sandwiches

Four warm house-made scones with clotted cream, jam & lemon curd
Two toasted crumpets with butter
Eight house-made sweets & treats
Two large pots of tea

Tea Blends
Crown and Crumpet offers 38 types of tea.

Marie Antoinette is my tea of choice (a blend of bergamot, blue mallow and roses) whenever I have afternoon tea at Crown and Crumpet. According to Crown and Crumpet:

"Rumour has it this was Marie Antoinette’s favorite blend and the perfect tea for eating cake!"

The Tea Room

Update New Location:

Crown & Crumpet Tea Stop Cafe
1746 Post Street
 New People Building in Japan Town
(located between Webster & Buchanan Street) 
San Francisco, CA 94115

(415) 771-4252