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On The Way To Istanbul
With 5 hours to kill before our flight to Istanbul, we opted to take the tube into London. Strangely, I'd never been to The Courtauld Gallery. Here lives Manet's Le Déjeuner sur l'Herbe, along with many other art history book icons and classics including Van Gogh's last painting, Peach Trees In Blossom.
Link to painting: Van Gogh's Peach Trees in Blossom (detail), 1889
Dinner Fit For A Queen
Dinner in Arundel, England. I highly recommend The Townhouse - small and super-chic with coffered ceilings, crisp linens, and a view if the Arundel Castle walls. I opted for the local Lobster Thermador - a divine and rich treat. The Townhouse also offers rooms to let, which is worth exploring...another trip!
PS I love the simplicity, unisex wording, and British charm of...the LOO!
Cake to Write Home About
What better treat after a castle visit than to have tea and cake? Not far from Arundel Castle is the fine food establishment of Pallant, with a menu of scrumptious cake choices created by The Farmhouse Cookery. Rhubarb and ginger? Chocolate? I settled on the orange sponge cake - a layer cake infused with orange oil, a marmalade and cream layer, and topped with orange frosting!
I bought the entire cake and took it to go to sit riverside with coffee and companion on a spectacular summer afternoon. We ate half the cake in one happy sitting - I pronounce it The Best Cake I've Ever Had!
A Castle with a View
A lovely day...visited Arundel Castle overlooking the river Arun in West Sussex, England, which was founded in the 12th century, and has expanded and evolved over the years. The castle has been the family home of the Dukes of Norfolk for nearly 1,000 years, and most recently was the backdrop for the film The Young Victoria…
Walking with Wildflowers in Sussex, England
Enjoying a lovely long weekend in Sussex, a guest at a beautiful home in the heart of the English countryside; rolling green hills in all shades of green, massive stands of pine at the ends of barley fields, and hedgerows bursting with an astounding array of plants, bushes, vines and flowers acting as fencing for fields of baying lambs!These photos are of wild flowers from our morning walk on paths maintained by the National Trust.
Sundown Wine Tasting at Lafond Winery
Jewels From The Nile
From Kim:
Pictured above is a luscious Lotus Essence, housed in a precious glass vial. The scent is dreamy on everyone who wears it. Just arrived from Cairo, it is pure and enchanting. The plants are pressed to release the essence; there are no other ingredients.
The lotus is one the most revered flowers in all the world. Its beauty, colors and life have been of huge inspiration in art, philosophy, religion, cuisine and culture for eons.
We are lucky to have our own Lotus Land, Ganna Walska's beloved gardens and estate in Montecito. As much as I enjoy a great lap pool, I love that the swimming pool of the estate, built in the 1920's, was later utilized as a home for numerous varieties of the namesake lotus flowers.
Pictured to the left, somewhere in Ho Chi Minh City, float artfully worked lotus flowers, drifting in a huge brass pot. While the flowers are used decoratively, the roots are used in cooking. One of the most refreshing and delicious salads I've ever had in my life was a lotus root salad in Hanoi. There are so many aspects to this amazing plant! While I've not tried this recipe for lotus-root-salad, it sounds délicieux!
From Paris With Love
From Kim:
The lovely tree lined Place des États-Unis (of the 16th arrondissement) is not on the main tourist track but definitely worth the trip while in Paris. Here, two of my favorite Parisian retailers have teamed up to create the most extraordinary exhibit. ”Plus Vrai Que Nature” – Truer Than Real Life – is presented at Maison de Baccarat in the former mansion of art patron Marie-Laure de Noailles who used to entertain the likes of Man Ray, Cocteau and Dali.
Seemingly, the spirit of these surrealists lives on here. Philippe Starck created the interior design and is a master at conserving the grand historical aspects of the building, while interjecting his trademark flair of theatrical decor, elegance and unexpected chic.
Musée Baccarat’s show highlights the incredible range and virtuosity of Baccarat’s crystal creations inspired by nature, in concert with numerous birds, butterflies and creatures from Deyrolle. The blue morpho butterfly poised on the lip of a hand cut, hand painted turn of the century Baccarat vase is a breathtaking example of both man and nature’s most sophisticated and beautiful creations. Take the time to book ahead for lunch or tea in the Cristal Room housed in a fantastic salon of contrast; raw brick walls, crystal chandeliers, pale pink banquettes – it is fantastique!
For Mom With Love
From Kim:
Note the mirror above, one of many exquisite mirrors, doors, tables and textiles I found recently while in Morocco. Marrakech in particular, has long been a destination of chic Parisians and other savvy travelers seeking a unique and intriguing culture with sublime architecture, decorative arts and cuisine.
Most recently I stayed at a small charming riad called talaa 12, located on the north end of the main marketplace. I found it via Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a travel company I highly recommend out of London. After hours of shopping in 90 degree heat, amid bustling crowds, the calls to prayer and the tens of thousands of things to see, this room was a true oasis. Opening onto the central interior garden, this magical room was a quiet and serene haven in the midst of a vibrant and ancient city.
As Seen in Veranda Magazine – Outdoor Lighting
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FROM KIMBERLY
There is something so enchanting about dining al fresco, surrounded by trees, flowers and the open sky. This is easy to do in Santa Barbara, even if that means wearing a down sweater and UGG boots for an evening supper.! Not long ago I met a friend for dinner near her apartment at Gramercy Park. We dined at Gramercy Tavern. It's a classic and has been around a long time but I had never been before. I loved the ambiance the moment we walked in. Huge plate glass windows, high ceilings and larger than life floral arrangements with tree branches and flowers greeted us. A sideboard, pictured here, was layered with masses of roses, daisies, mounds of squash, piles of miniature clay pots and a large glorious cheese board. Our table had tiny vases filled with rosemary arranged in a wooden tray and even the "toilette" was festooned with numerous floral arrangements. A city style al fresco experience in the heart of New York!
