sharing time with nikole herriott & friends at sunday suppers

 

a few weeks back i had been invited by aran to attend Nikole Herriott workshop at Sunday Suppers in ny, i was so excited for nikole esthetics and her way of life had been something i admired for so long.
i have never had so many photographs on a post before and i could have kept adding to it that is because the beautiful studio that karen created was perfect, mix that with props and goods by herriott & grace nikole shop well one could not help themselves.

Nikole is everything i had hope for,  that what i found beautiful and simple on her blog and shop would be present at the workshop and  it was. nikole is the real deal, she puts you at ease, makes you laugh and wow's you all at once. I was so happy, it was so refreshing to have someone so passionate about what they do and that their talent is not only in what they create but in how they make you feel while viewing their work. I was lucky to also meet Michael Graydon ( nikole's beau) i have been an admire of his work and to be able to take time to chat and talk about his shooting methods was very enlightening as well.

Nikole along with a wonderful group of attendees baked, iced and styled some of her legendary cakes. then a wonderful lunch was prepared and eaten as stories were shared by everyone. The highlight for me was to actually meet Nikole and feel a kinship ( not just because we are both canadian) but also because we are living a life that is in our very core way beyond trend. also that as the workshop came to an end, Nikole, Karen, Aran and i were able to help prep for the following days  Sunday Supper while exchanging thoughts, laughers and all this is such a beautiful well executed space that karen has so thoughtfully created. that truly has my creative friends from all over the world drooling.

thank you for letting me be a part of it aran! see you in Tuscany Nikole & Micheal! ( rolling my pennies as we speak)

* i will share an instagram post of my stay NY with Aran at a later time, it was so much fun.
* also i just came back from whistler bc and hope to share with you soon.

food & freedom holiday in montreal

i have been home for a few days and that is how long it has taken me to calm down after my withdrawal from montreal, i had that good of a time.

( i hardly picked up my camera but i got a few shots)

it started when Tzurit picked me up on the hill, i love how much she loved the animals, it was the first time we met in person and i was nervous a little but as soon as she said can i pet the dogs i knew we would be alright. as we set off for montreal she put two maybe three huge brown paper handle bags from her amazing bakery in my lap, i was clearly going to start my food and freedom trip before we even left the driveway.

we drove through the  vermont country side as we chatted about our lives each asking one another questions, laughing, pondering and more laughing. we arrived in montreal and went up to our hotel room, then quickly set out for dinner the first night was one food disaster after the next but we still smiled, after all we where in montreal! the next morning we headed to Le Cartet for breakfast, i having my first baguette or bread of any kind since march and i enjoyed it fully! then on our way out Tzurit picked up chocolate since Le Carter has walls & walls of chocolate. she bought enough to to feed an entire nation but in her words, in case we are ever stranded on a highway  do you see why i love her so!  from there we went to Olivier Potier i spoke about this bakery before, we ordered our coffees, picked out many things from the bakery shelves and sat outside. the staff that took care of us was the sweetest guy he treated us like royalty and we kinda felt like we were for a moment. we sat outside tasting everything from financiers, almond croissants, apple tartatin and more, when i went inside to ask for a bag for what we did not eat, our kind waiter  shared such kind words with me to the point i hardly made it back to the table before big tears fell as i recounted to tzurit what he had shared with me. from there we decided to walk stopping in and out of stores before sore feet has us looking for a metro and when we did it turned out to be a maze, the longest subway station walk, we laughed so hard, took pictures. we stopped in more bakeries and stores before heading to the hotel room for a quick rest before going to Tzurit birthday dinner at Laloux, which was beautifully and simply decorated.

The next morning we started out at Olive Gourmand, one of my favorite places, can i just say how delicious everything is, Tzurit, loved it as well proof is we ate there two more times.  one afternoon, Aran who had just flown in for a workshop joined us along with mayssam the workshop organizer.  Tzurit and i headed to Mile End to look around and shop, we stopped into montreal famous bagel shop
St- Viateur and had bagels right from the wood fire, then coffee at Sparrow, okay there was a cast iron apple crumble too and a stop at my favorite vintage store Citizen vintage ( posted here before) where Tzurit scored a great jacket! then we discovered a little drogheria fine, a woman with an italian old world sexiness to her, a small kitchen with large pots creating her own sauces, olive oils and such, so perfect a place both in conception and details. That evening we had dinner with aran, mayssam at 400 coups it was delicious, i had a fresh cucumber soup i will never forget and the very talented pastry chef  Patrice Demers and owner spoiled us the restaurant it self is gorgeous! it was so great seeing aran in my hometown i think we both felt a freedom we are not used too because  usually we have a schedule & work to keep.

the next morning i picked up my mum and brought her back where she got to meet aran & tzurit what a treat this was. we had breakfast at  Le Carter, my last toasted baguette and more chocolate purchases by aran, my mum and tzurit.

I had one of the nicest times, felt very honored to have been invited by Tzurit, to be able to get to know her while having  big belly laughs, genuine moments of conversation.  instantly before we had even met in person felt like we where good friends and now i know for sure. Oh and incase you are looking for the bakery of your dreams Tzurit  has created it, twice-Tatte & Tatte Two

A Harvest Brunch

our harvest brunch took place. I would like to start by thanking my mum for all her help.

there was a lot to do to make the house and the farm ready, not to mention taking care of

about sixty animals of all kinds. K was away and so are our neighbours. we cleaned prepped and 

baked.

The weather was beautiful, hope you guys have had the loveliest of weekend sun. I would like to thank all my friends for coming. my friend sheila who i love so much was sick but she sent her husband roger and their beautiful five month old baby Rowen( i have kept him all to myself dear readers, will share soon) along with tiny muffins. my friend catherine came looking beautiful, what a surprise to see her escape the farm stand the place where i got most of prevision and gourds do to her amazing generosity! There was the handsome Bills, they just get better looking every time i see them, one brought pumpkin cheese cake the other blueberry pie! (by the way prince william of kingston I am so proud of you) Jessica and her husband chris were both delightful and happy newlyweds who showed up with the most gorgeous homegrown bouquet and delicious strata! Laura & leo who are kindred spirits when it comes to architecture and animals brought a box full of gourmet treats for the dogs not to mention a cheddar and ale soup, i loved it so much that it was all i ate!

the menu

was a cheese and bread table

olives, hummus, a variety of cheeses and speciality salami

savoury strata

sweet strata

apple smoked, jalepeno, sundried tomatoes sausages

roasted potatoes & butternut squash

arugula, cranberry walnut salad

cheddar ale soup

apple tarts

meringues

caramel apples

brownies

blueberry pie

mini cup cakes

pumpkin cheese cake

I took the guest for a tour of the farm, introduced them to cows, goats, pigs, ducks, chickens and horses, ponies donkey and ponkey. we chatted, walked then ate, so delicious. Then little nicholas came, he was eager to show the guest the hen house so we gave them all tiny baskets for them to gather some eggs to take home. then we went to visit the cabin and took the opportunity to go for a stroll in the woods which was a highlight for me. nicholas who is only seven is the most delightful and charming mini gentlemen, he won over the hearts of our guest. we came back and it was dessert time. nicholas wanted to show his driving skills and took some of the guest on a ride down the road on the gator. We chatted some more prepared some take out pastry boxes for everyone to take home. i had put apples in basket wrapped them and labled sweet or tart for our guest to take home from the orchard. thank you all for coming as you found out this city girl is now a country girl with hay in her hair and designer purses in a box somewhere!

we missed you k.

happy canadian thanksgiving, i have a lot to be grateful for.


*pictures are a  bit blurry do to mosaic. if your in need of sharper images please let me know.(guest)

a good friend

yesterday k and i headed into the city. we ate falafel's, hummus, got a mocha, stopped at ben & jerrys for k's. favourite ice cream and cuddled bellow the avon cinema sign waiting to see "babies". my friend sheila pregnant seven days past her due date surprised us along with her husband roger by excepting our invitation to the movies! can i just tell you how wonderful & kind she is not to mention how radiant she looks. i am really at awe and how lovely she has carried her first baby and now as she waits for her little boy who seems to want to linger in her belly just a little longer i am reminded how lucky it is for me to be able to call such a wonderful person a dear friend. i could not help but wonder what a mum and dad to be was thinking and feeling when watching " Babies" such a wonderful documentary following the lives of four babies from different corners of the world.

p.s. little guy you will love it in the embrace of your mom and dad so whenever you are ready i know they will be.

* photographs a shoot i did with sheila last year in my studio

happiness is

Hi everyone! let me start by saying thank you for all your b-day wishes really touched my heart. Now for the snow it was truly a special gift, it snowed a lot more that night but unfortunately i did not take more pics( but winter is coming) and i want to enjoy the fall a little more:)

I would like to share with you a few things, such as our day in NY, but i thought i would start with our harvest thanksgiving dinner party. It was wonderful, what i mean is i enjoyed it very much. Our friends arrived, some i have not seen in far too long( thank you for coming) they toured the house, warmed up by the fire, nibbled on hors d'oeuvres; such as warmed goat cheese roasted tomatoes and garlic, muhammara, olives, cheese and breads. then we headed out on a sunset walk minus the sunset(cloudy) . we walked out to the pastures where we got to see deer and the ponies. we went to meet clarabelle the cow and mike the horse, you must get a lick from clarabelle or the tour would be incomplete! then we headed to the corn maize where six adults managed to get lost, maybe the fact that it was dark helped, yes lets blame it on that! we also left someone behind:)! Then we headed back in, warmed up by the fire while we feasted on thanksgiving dinner. I loved having everyone here, to be able to share the farm house and a good meal with friends makes me so very happy! it makes a house feel like home and the fact that couples where arguing who will watch the house for us has to be a good sign right?!. we ended the night with apple crisps, pie, meringues and roasting marshmallow by the fire an experience my mum had never had and i am not sure she will ever have a smore again:)

thank you all for coming the friends that where with us at the farm and those who are visiting here!

*it was hard to pick up the camera and shoot but here is few from the evening!

ps. bill everyone wants your wing recipe!