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Blog Joie de Vivre

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Passaporto Italia

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Everyday Joie, Travel

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Tags

Central Market, Italian cheese, Italy, oyster stout, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Passport Italy, Texas, truffle honey

I was recently honored with an invitation to attend an absolutely delightful “media preview day” on behalf of this little blog, BlogJoieDeVivre.com!  Yes, I’ve attended many events such as this before, but they were always on behalf of other media outlets I’ve written for:  in college for The Daily Cougar, on the ‘other side’ as a PR rep at Weber Shandwick, and over the past year for InFluential Magazine.  This, however, was my first time to attend a media event on behalf of my very own web site!  Guess I’m a legit “media” outlet now, y’all — lol!Central Market's Passport Italy event

But seriously, it’s so wonderful and gratifying to not only have people actually READ this outlet for my writing, but to now get attention from P.R. agencies seeking my reviews & coverage of their products, ideas, and events.  I’m quickly learning one has to draw a hard line and keep true to yourself & your passions in order to maintain authenticity.  I reply “thanks, but no thanks” to PR pitches literally every day but luckily, a few story opportunities come along that are right in line with the interests of myself & my readers.  As such, Central Market‘s media preview day for Passport Italy was right up my alley!  Complete with samples, sips, an Italian opera singer, and even a live human statue (he was so good — a complete surprise!) the event was very well done.  How could you not enjoy yourself diving into this glorious spread?Italian cured meats & cheeses at Central Market's Passport Italy

Throughout my travels, I’ve truly never tasted better food than while dining in Italy.  France was a close second, but I feel their claim to fame lies more in the gourmet preparation & presentation of cuisine.  Every country has signature fare to boast about, for that matter, but there is something about Italian food that takes the cake.  From the pasta, pizza, wine & cheese, I would love to eat my way through Italy Eat, Pray, Love-style.  This is why I was intrigued to hear about Central Market’s Passport Italy concept:  Starting tomorrow through May 13th, your local (if you live near one of their Texas locations) Central Market will showcase traditional Italian foods & ingredients, along with hundreds of new imported items such as gelatos, breads, pastas, cured meats, wines, cheeses, and olive oils.  It’s a taste of Italy without ever leaving Texas!  And everything’s bigger in Texas, even the Parmigiano-Reggiano presentations:Parmigiano-Reggiano display for Passport Italy at Central Market

Did you notice they’re serving honey with the cheese?  I always forget about this complementary combination!  It wasn’t just any ol’ honey, mind you — it was Italian TRUFFLE honey!  Anything with truffle is guaranteed to taste good, right?  They paired various types of honey with all the different cheeses, actually, truffle (seen below) and even lavender honey.  –What a unique ingredient to serve alongside the cheese tray at your next gathering!Truffle honey at Central Market's Passport Italy

Another unique product showcased during the event was an Italian craft brew called Birra del Borgo “Perle ai Porci” Oyster Stout.  I’ve never had an oyster stout before and was surprised to learn they’re made by actually adding oysters into the mix during the brewing process.  It was described as tasting like a saltwater tootsie roll.  Another cool aspect of the standout flavor born from all that oceanic originality is that the drink actually pairs best not with seafood, but with pork dishes.  I could totally see it working marvelously with a honey-baked ham, for example.Birra del Borgo Perle ai Porci Oyster Stout from Central Market

Check out these fun products over the next couple weeks during Passport Italy — a larger-than-life two-week immersion in the food, wine, and culture of the country.  Top-flight culinary superstars including chefs, vinters, and cheese makers will travel to Texas to share their knowledge of Italian culture and cuisine.  Their prized products and presentations will imbue your regular grocery shopping scene with authentic Italian flavors at all Central Market stores across Texas.  Enjoy all that fresh-made pasta and hand-stretched mozzarella, friends — Ciao Bella!

Life[style]: April

14 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Life[style]

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Tags

April showers, Bluebonnets, Cle de Peau, Concealer, espresso machine, espresso maker, Game of Thrones, good TV shows, homemade lattes, Lemon & Herb Pearled Couscous, May Flowers, Nespresso, Orphan Black, Side Dish, Spring, The Walking Dead

I sit here this morning with a decaf latte and wrapped in my fuzzy blanket…the perfect accoutrements for a rainy 46-degree day.  We are in full-on April Showers-mode, right?  I actually like that capricious nature of Spring, though:  it’s sunny and in the 70s/80s one day, but grey & windy with a slight chill in the air the next.  The tough transition out of winter (it’s like Old Man Winter does not want to let go!) exudes a renewed feeling, a metamorphosis…all the fresh green leaves & baby birds — this is really my favorite time of year.

1.  Nespresso:  Speaking of that latte I’m nursing, I wouldn’t have been able to make one for myself so easily without our neat little espresso machine.  For our new home, we sought out a high-end espresso maker but at the same time, were so used to the ease, convenience, & individual serving of a pod-system device.  I had ruled out the popular Keurig K-cup brewing system (as one of my designer friends perfectly describes it, “their coffee tastes like plastic”) but my husband didn’t think he’d have the patience so early in the morning to put in the steps involved with a traditional espresso maker.  So, we did our research, and landed somewhere in the middle:  the Nespresso Citiz Espresso Maker from Williams Sonoma.  It won out because according to the reviews, user comments, & blogs he read, it’s considered the best of the “pod” devices.  Nespresso somehow managed to maintain the integrity & quality of the espresso grounds within their single-use capsules.  We threw in the milk frother, too — here’s the exact model we chose.  Now, I press a single button to make lattes & espressos right at home…I adore this little touch of something ‘gourmet’ in the mornings!Nespresso espresso machine from Williams Sonoma

2.  Orphan Black:  Now that we’re past last night’s epic “Purple Wedding” on Game of Thrones, allow me to recommend a new show for you to watch this week:  Orphan Black on the BBC America network.  Seriously, now that The Walking Dead is done until next year, this is the second best show (behind GOT) you’ll find on airing television at the current moment.  They’re marathoning all the episodes of season 1 throughout this week, so set your DVR’s to binge-watch them all before the season 2 premiere this weekend!  Orphan Black returns April 19th at 9/8c.  It’s a little bit sci-fi/detective-thriller with a touch of romance & comedy.  Plus, it’s refreshing as a female-led show and the lead actress –Tatiana Maslany– is so talented it’ll blow your mind.  The writing is exceptional (you NEVER know who to trust!) and the series moves fast throughout the plot with lots of twists & turns.  Trust me, you’ll be hooked just three minutes into the pilot episode!

New show to watch:  Orphan Black on BBC America

Photo courtesy of BBC America

3.  The best concealer money can buy:  As a daily user of concealer, I use it in several ways:  to brighten under-eyes, to conceal redness from a breakout, and to camouflage dark purple spots/scars from previous breakouts.  I get frustrated many MANY times with various concealers on the market that I’ve tried…the liquid ones are easily spreadable for under-eyes, but they aren’t concentrated enough to cover a singular spot.  The solids, however, tend to look caked-on when covering spots and also leave creases in my under-eyes…bah! –I just can’t win!  I finally read enough positive reviews on the Cle’ de Peau Beaute’ Concealer that I caved in and purchased a tube from my favorite sales guy at Nordstrom.  First off, I can’t believe I spent this much money ($70) on basically a lipstick-sized tube of concealer BUT this one by Cle’ de Peau is what make-up artists refer to as a “holy grail” product.  It truly is the best concealer I’ve ever used…it works great for every need, is a solid but never cakes, and covers like magic.  I wouldn’t recommend springing for it if other well-reviewed concealers, such as those from MAC & Laura Mercier, are working for you.  However, it’s nice to know the solution’s out there because although expensive, it is the most effective & long-lasting concealer on the market.Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer the best concealer money can buy

 4.  New fave side dish:  Although I’m currently transitioning into eating meat again, my last six years as a pescetarian still dominate my dinner choices.  I’m pretty great at preparing fish (or so my husband says), a choice most people find fickle & too delicate for regular rotation.  I had to learn to cook it out of necessity according to my dietary preferences, so now I’m proud to count seafood as something I’m good at, in addition to egg dishes & pastas.  We’re having fresh Gulf shrimp from Central Market for dinner tonight, in fact.  I’ll be pan sauteing them with an organic coconut spread I’ve found that’s a great butter substitute…the faint coconut essence tastes great on toast & other breakfast pastries and works well with tropical warm-water seafood, especially shrimp.  Anyway, one of my favorite side dishes to serve with seafood is this couscous from Whole Foods.  The Garlic & Olive Oil kind is easier to find, but the best-tasting variety is their Lemon & Herb.  The lemon flavor is an obvious go-to choice for rounding out all my seafood entrees, ya know?  This organic easy-prep couscous paired with fish & a veggie side makes a great meal that my husband loves, too.  Lemon herb couscous from Whole Foods5.  May Flowers! (in April):  Fresh-cut from the florist or growing wild on the side of the highway, I love all the floral bounty of Springtime.  Here’s a couple recent snapshots I’ve captured of flowers that just…make me happy.  Love those Texas bluebonnets!  I try to take a pic in them every year…  🙂pic in the Texas bluebonnets

fresh cut flowers

Day at the Arboretum, Night at the Museum

11 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Everyday Joie

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Arboretum Cows, AZIZ Salon, haircut, hill country views, modern art museum, Paolo Soleri, perfect weather, The Arboretum, The Contemporary Austin

Every once in awhile, Austin –which is overall a great place to be all the time– will give you one of those days that is just exceptional.  You can’t plan or predict them, they just unfold on their very own.  Fueled by perfect weather, these days all have one thing in common: time spent in the great outdoors.  The memory of my first day like this is quite vivid:  the husband & I rode our bikes to lunch, took ’em off-road to explore the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail, followed by a quick stop to wade in Barton Springs, then dinner at henri’s, and ice cream at lick.  I remember arriving back at home that night, reflecting on the day, and concluding that it was my best, most favorite day in Austin thus far.

Today was simply splendid, too.  We had a quiet morning but left for a quick lunchtime workout at our gym.  I got in 30 minutes on the treadmill, a set of tricep presses and a set of calf raises.  Any day that I make it to the gym is a win, in my book!  It’s like, I almost NEVER want to get off my butt and go, but I always feel so energized & accomplished afterward.

We took the top down for the drive home — love me some convertible weather!  After a quick shower, I was off to the Arboretum area for a haircut at AZIZ Salon.  There was a $20 gift card in my goodie bag from the last Austin Beauty Guide event I attended, so I took it as a sign to go ahead and book a fresh cut for Spring.  Their downtown location is so much closer to where I live, but the Arboretum salon looked so pretty & tranquil online.  Plus, I don’t mind driving a few extra miles in the aforementioned convertible weather!  I like to explore new areas of Austin and I’m not super familiar with all that’s in & around the Arboretum, so I though this was a good excuse to get out there.

Split-end free, I left my visit to AZIZ happy with my bouncy new blown-out hair.  Do you like???New spring haircut from AZIZ Salon at the Arboretum

This #selfie was snapped at a little park I stumbled upon right outside the salon.  The weather was ab-fab and I couldn’t help but take a few minutes for some time under the trees.  The bench I’m sitting on is at the end of the park (also utilized as The Arboretum’s ‘food court”?) and has a panoramic hill country view.  There’s also these life-size marble sculpture cows in various natural colors, aptly called “Arboretum Cows” by Harold Clayton. "Arboretum Cows" by Harold Clayton

There’s also a magical gazebo there that looks straight out of a fairy tale.  Gazebo at The ArboretumGazebo at The Arboretum

Once back home in South Austin, I quickly freshened up to meet up with a friend for a rooftop film at The Contemporary Austin, our modern art museum.  They screened a documentary on “architectural futurist” Paolo Soleri, entitled The Vision of Paolo Soleri: Prophet in the Desert.  “The story of an unprecedented artistic quest, exploring Paolo Soleri’s legacy as an architect, environmentalist, and philosopher.”  The piece was informative, but was a little long (for a documentary) & indulgent to me.  However, it’s good to attend cultural events such as this and support museum exhibitions, even if they don’t turn out to be exactly your taste.  The setting, though, was gorgeous…couldn’t have asked for a better night for an outdoor movie!Rooftop film series at The Contemporary AustinRooftop film series at The Contemporary Austin

 

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