curi·ous {Old French curios} Drawn to investigate, prick up the ears, ponder for the sake of pondering. Enticed by mysteriously labeled bottles.
vo·luptu·ary {Late Latin volupturius} A lass devoted to the pursuit of pleasure. An unabashed epicurean, hedonist, libertine, sensualist, lotus-eater.
A bit of foray into the new neighborhood (Richmond) in search of vittles and hardware uncovered many intriguing shops, including today’s favorite: New May Wah on Clement Street. One side is miles of aisles of everything candied, fishy, fungusy or ready to be wokked. Next door is an equally large shop with every kind of [...]
The ladies spent two nights at the oldest spa in Calistoga, Indian Springs. We enjoyed volcanic ash mudbaths (my first–divinely primordial) and the general Zelda Fitzgerald ambience created by fellow guests playing badminton and croquet in spa robes while proffering invitations to the “inhalarium.”
We toured a handful of wineries in St. Helena, Yountville, Napa– two [...]
Last night in New York as a resident. Friends braved the 102 heat and introduced me to El Quijote, an old-school Spanish place tucked under the Chelsea Hotel thats been serving fresh seafood, tall cocktails, and superb flan since the 1930s.
Tim, Katherine, Harry Smith, William S. Burroughs and Andy Warhol at the Quijote.
Goodbye to all that!
Temporal Sluts was what it said on the poster outside the ladies room. It was a band flyer, but well describes our current state of mind and being. Above is the chandelier outside Cookies Cream, a hidden, secretish (how secret can you be with a write up in the NYT?) vegetarian restaurant in Mitte where [...]
We spent the afternoon on rue Montorgueil, the oldest market street in Paris. Elements of a salad Niçoise were purchased, as well as yet more foie gras (Alfonso is anticipating our departure, it seems), and another small Galette des Rois. Delicious cake (puff pastry and frangipane) with a surprise inside (une fève), what could be [...]
New Years Eve! A Blue Moon! Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (New Years Eve feast) at Bistrot Paul Bert! A relatively quiet and very tasty evening of foie gras (Alfonso), truffles (Kim), and a splendid wine from Languedoc-Roussillon (Côtes Catalanes) winery Le Petite Baigneuse, Grand Largue.
Then the fire brigade, who have a station just down [...]
A pair of thirsty kids break up the workday with lunch at the always lovely Le Baratin. We had wanted to try the co-owner’s new Le Chapeau Melon, but food poisoning caused us to cancel our reservation Saturday, and Sunday the same caused the chef to cancel on us. Tant pis! They will remain closed [...]
A very extravagant Christmas Eve spent on the Rive Gauche at La Coupole, a brasserie that opened in Montparnasse in 1927. The mood was lovely, humming and old-school. A birthday was righteously celebrated with singing and sparklers, our waiter took my camera and photographed the entire restaurant for us, and when someone dropped a large [...]
For the child in us all, I offer pictures from the Art Deco Le Clown Bar (opened 1902), at once charming and creepy, with a superb wine list, and next door to Napoloeon’s Cirque d’Hiver (Winter Circus). Joyeux Noël!