Bistro Chic

Happy New Year from Bistro Chic!

As Americans get ready to ring in the New Year with Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest, let’s check out how our friends across the pond are celebrating…

Britain – Many British still keep the age-old tradition of first footing, a practice whereby the first visitor (preferably a tall, dark, and handsome man!) enters a New Year’s gathering bearing gifts. In order to ensure luck for the New Year, the first footer must enter through the front door and then leave through the back. Only question I have is – do they let him back in?

Wales – In complete reverse of the Brits… on New Year’s Eve, the Welsh open the back door of the house when the clock strikes midnight, signifying the end of the year. This is followed by the opening of the front door to welcome in the New Year. They really take the phrase out with the old, in with the new, literally.

Spain - Spaniards eat 12 grapes at midnight to secure 12 prosperous months for the coming year. 

Denmark – Throughout the year, the Danes save their old dishes, only to throw them at the houses of their friends on New Year’s Eve. A household that receives an array of broken dishes come January 1, will be a household full of friends and good relationships in the coming year. You really know if you have friends when they help you clean up the mess!

Portugal – Children go door to door singing carols known as Janeiro’s. These old songs are said to bring good luck in the New Year and children are given treats and coins in return.

Finland and Russia – The Finnish and Russian people are accustomed to ringing in the New Year by taking a bath at their favorite sauna. Hmm…not too different than any other day of the year. However, this year, the Russian government is encouraging citizens to enjoy their sauna before they pop open the bubbly. Apparently, drinking and sauna-ing don’t mix.

France - Aside from eating, drinking, and traditional merry making with close friends and family, the French also end the year (actually on January 6) by cutting and enjoying  la galette des rois, a round, sweet puffed pastry cake with a tiny king, queen, or other figurine baked inside. The person who finds this figure, or une feve, is said to have luck throughout the year. Sounds just like the King Cake at Mardi Gras! I wonder if that’s where the French got the idea

See you in 2010!

Growing up in a largely Polish-American family, I was accustomed to having great amounts of Polish food at our Christmas and New Year’s gatherings. You could always find stuffed cabbage, Polish sausage, and wafer cookies that were dusted with powdered sugar. The stuffed cabbage was always made by my Aunt Flo, while the Polish sausage was brought by my father. And the cookies….well, I ate these cookies for many years, savoring their buttery, sugary taste, never knowing their true origin or what they were called.

POLISH OR ITALIAN?

But, one year, these special cookies just stopped appearing at our holiday gatherings and I had no idea why. Many years later, I began wondering what happened to those waffle-like, butter cookies with the powdered sugar. When describing the cookie to my father-in-law, he recognized the cookies as the world-renowned pizzelles, an Italian cookie.  But how could this be? As a girl, I just assumed that these cookies were Polish, considering the background of my relatives. It turns out, that the cookies were actually made by my one Italian aunt – Aunt Florence – (married into the family) who has long since passed, along with her wonderful cookies. 

PIZZELLE ORIGIN

The pizzelle, comes from the Italian word pizze, meaning round and flat. Pizzelles are believed to be the oldest cookie in history, first made in the 8th century in south-central Italy. The traditional pizzelle cookie is made from a sugar/butter-based batter that is pressed between two hot irons, usually sporting a design. Centuries ago, the families would have pizzelle irons specially made with family crests, special dates, or other celebratory designs. Although once enjoyed at annual festivals, these cookies can now be found at nearly every holiday celebration, in Italy and beyond. 

A PIZZELLE IRON OF MY VERY OWN

Last year, I received a post-Christmas surprise gift from my Father-in-law – a pizzelle iron/maker.  The iron has a simple, flower or snowflake-like design, perfect for any celebration. But the design really didn’t matter - I was simply excited to finally have the means to make these cookies in my own home.

I carefully followed the step-by-step basic pizzelle recipe that came with the iron – although I now realize that there are countless other quality pizzelle recipes available – even lemon and double chocolate!

It took me several tries to get the cookies just right – at first they were undercooked to the point of mush, then overcooked to the point where they crumbled. When I finally mastered the pizzelle iron’s temperature changes, I made my own light and airy cookie worthy of any Polish family function. The trick is to watch the time carefully and use quality flavoring, such as anise, almond, or vanilla.

This year, I once again made the pizzelle cookies using the basic vanilla recipe. And, once again, it took me several tries to get the cookies just right. But, I also opted to go a little fancier shaping the warmed wafers into flute-like rolls. They can also be made into cones for ice cream or little cups for specialty dessert holders. As you can see, the possibilities for this perfect little cookie are endless.

Whether you prefer chocolate or vanilla, rolled or flat, this centuries-old cookie will no doubt be made by many more generations to come. No Italian heritage necessary.

Feliz Navidad everyone! Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas Eve. Although I’ve been off work for the entire week, I feel like I’ve had little time to relax or to have some quality me time. But thankfully, I was able to take a few minutes to enjoy a little bit of chocolate – Barcelona style!

A few weeks ago, I stopped into our local gourmet market and saw a whole row dedicated to chocolate. And, it was not just any chocolate, but fancy chocolate from all over the world. One particular chocolate bar immediately caught my attention – Vosges Barcelona Bar. At nearly $8 per bar, I was a little leery about spending that much money on what was essentially a candy bar. But, my love for European things got the better of me!

Although Vosges is not a European company, they do specialize in haut chocolates. Plus, their chocolatiers get their inspiration from all over the world. The Barcelona Bar is reminiscent of the flavors of Spain, including sea salt, roasted almonds, and deep milk chocolate. With just one bite of the little chocolate square, I knew this candy was worth every penny. The salt combined with the chocolate was just heavenly and the almonds added great flavor and a bit of a crunch.

Plus, how cute is this imprint on the chocolate? So chic! A word of caution though, I thought I could eat one or two squares and put the remainder away for another day. I ended up eating more than 1/2 the bar! Now I understand why the chocolate is so expensive – it has to be or else I would be buying – and eating – this every week!

I highly recommend this chocolate, especially if you’re in the mood for something decadent. Just keep in mind, the price tag is not for the faint of heart. 

Buenos Noches!

1. Be a Water Girl: Drink water all day long. Not flavored water, not sparkling water, just plain old water. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day can help you feel full, which can help stop unnecessary eating. 
2. Run, Run, Rudolph: MOVE! This can mean going for a run a few times a week, practicing yoga, or taking an extra few laps around the mall while shopping. The key is to do something active everyday, above and beyond your normal activity level.
3. Au Natural Choices: When given a choice in dinner foods or even appetizers, go for the natural foods first. Natural foods are those that most resemble foods in their original state, like cheese (not cheese puffs) with a slice of bread, raw veggies with yogurt dip, and fresh fruit.
4. All things in moderation: If you do choose to eat foods that are less natural, such as your aunt’s casserole, take one small scoop and enjoy. After all, science has shown that even our favorite foods lose their luster after just a few bites. By eating indulgences in moderation, you can savor each bite knowing that you’re consuming fewer calories. 
5. Picky Indulgences: During the holidays, when there’s more than enough food to go around, choose your indulgences wisely. It’s true that the holidays are a time of celebration, but why overeat on average foods, like chips and store-bought cookies? Save your appetite and calories for top-quality foods and/or foods that you can only get this time of year.
6. Plan of Attack: Whether it’s the office holiday party or a New Year’s day football extravaganza, come prepared with a party plan. If you know the fiesta will include high-calorie appetizers that you just can’t resist, scale back the day before and/or day of the party. Focus on eating foods that are high in nutrition but lower in calories, like salads and broth-based veggie soups. 
7. Back Up Plan: If your indulgences do end up getting the best of you, spend the next week (or even month) getting yourself back on track. Make adjustments to meals by swapping in healthier foods, or eliminating unnecessary snacks. If this doesn’t seem to be working, modify your exercise routine for a week or two by adding an extra day at the gym or taking a few extra walks with your friends. By making these small adjustments, you should be back to your old self, and weight within a few weeks.

Joyeux Noel Everyone!

There are many European Christmas traditions that I admire, such as lighting the yule log, leaving your shoes out for St. Nicholas (Holland), and attending midnight mass. And then, there are traditions that I find just plain strange, like giving someone a fruitcake for a gift and hiding all of your brooms for fear of Christmas witches (Norway). But the most bizarre custom that I have encountered has to be from Spain – the Catalan region of Spain to be exact.

Caganer: An added figure in the Catalan Nativity Scene

Like most Christians around the world, those in Northern Spain love to celebrate Christmas with the universal symbol of the nativity scene. However, along with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, all of the animals and shepherds, and wisemen, there is another figure that pops into the nativity quite often. This figure can be a man or women, old or young, and can look like celebrities, politicians, or other public figures. But, one thing all of these figures have in common is that the figure is always shown squatting as if they are – to put it politely – going to the potty. And you thought Mr. Hankey was bad!

That’s right, whether it’s a man or woman, President Obama or a Nun, these figures are portrayed dropping their drawers for all of humanity, complete with the end product of their behavior (please don’t make me spell it out for you).

Caganers line the holiday shelves in Spain.

Although mainly scene in Catalonia in Spain, this potty crasher, known as a caganer, has been a part of culture since the 17th century. It is not known the exact reason why people started adding this party pooper to their holiday decor, but wikipedia offers several fun explanations, including: 

• Finding the Caganer is a fun game for children
• The statue is seen as fertilizing the Earth
• It represents the equality of all humans
• It reinforces that Jesus was human
• It’s just sick humor

Originally portrayed as a peasant in a red hat, the modern-day caganers have been modified to resemble the likeness of celebrities, famous or infamous political figures, and specific professions, such as doctors, priests, etc.

And, surprisingly, Spain is not the only country that finds this little mooning man humorous. Similar figures can be seen in France, Holland, and Germany.

Thankfully, this European tradition has not made its way to the South Park and Family Man-watching United States – we do have our standards after all.

And the winner of the Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway is….

#2 Shaunah, aka Blackbird Running, who wrote: I love the La Source shampoo, conditioner and hand soap. I was treated to hotel-sized versions on vacation once, and can’t get enough!

Congratulations Shaunah! Please email your address to jennifer@bistrochic.net so that I can send you C&E’s awesome hand cream

Photo courtesy of Crabtree & Evelyn Web site

Five Fabulous Facts (FFF) about Crabtree & Evelyn:

1. C&E was founded in 1972 as a small, family business specializing in fine soaps from around the world.
2. C&E, the company, was inspired by John Evelyn, a 17th Century Englishman, who was one of Europe’s first naturalists and conservationists.
3. John Evelyn’s motto, Explore Everything. Keep the best., has served as the company’s inspiration since its inception.
4. C&E’s symbol of the crabtree is native to Britain and is prized for its lovely form and its usefulness in the home apothecary.
5. C&E has modeled its image off of the early home apothecary, or still room as it was called in England, where fresh flowers, fruits, and herbs played an integral role in life. This image can easily be seen in the company’s inventive and garden-inspired luxury bath items.

 Happy Holidays!

Bonjour! Only one more day to enter my awesome Crabtree & Evelyn Giveaway! Just look what you could win…

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Recovery

Yes, that is right! Crabtree & Evenlyn’s Citron, Honey & Coriander hand recovery cream makes my Christmas list. But, seeing as it’s Christmas, I’m feeling rather generous and want you to enjoy this great hand cream too!  To enter the giveaway, read my Favorite European Things post from Monday, and follow the steps for entering. You have until Sunday, December 13 at 9 PM Eastern to enter. Good luck everyone!

Ciao

Have Yourself a Merry Victorian Christmas

When I was a little girl, I remember watching Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with my father. I think I watched every version with him – my personal favorite being Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

Mickey's Christmas Carol - A Victorian Christmas

Each rendition of the story brought it’s own unique quality. Likewise, each seemed to hold true to two things: 1) the basic story line of the redemption of Scrooge and 2) that each took place in Victorian England. Back then, I didn’t understand the storyline much, but loved to listen to the beautiful English music, listen to the “foreign” accents, and watch the gorgeous Victorian scenery we’ve all come to know and love from Dickens’ novels. 

Christmas in Victorian England

But what makes a Christmas Victorian? Many of the Christmas traditions we still observe today, even in the United States, were actually started or at least popularized in the Victorian era. In fact, if

Victorian Christmas Tree

it weren’t for Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, we may never have known the Christmas that we do today – the one with Christmas trees, Christmas cards, and even Santa Claus.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Christmas was hardly celebrated in England, with many business not even considering it a holiday. In the mid-19th century, an illustration of Victoria and Albert showed them standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Soon British families embraced this new custom as well as many more that we see today. Through these royal-inspired traditions, Christmas, a day that was once insignificant in England, quickly become the largest annual celebration in the country.

But, aside from decorating the Christmas tree and  giving Christmas cards, there are several other distinct traditions that truly make a Victorian Christmas:

Victorian Christmas Traditions

Decorations: The Victorians loved to bring nature inside, especially during the Christmas season. They would spend hours creating lavish displays with greenery, holly berries, and pinecones. Christmas tree also were decorated with dried or sugared fruits, cinnamon sticks, and berries, along with candles and small toys hung from the tree.

Gift Bags: At Christmas, Victorians spent a great deal of time making fancy papers, boxes, and bags to hold small gifts that could be hung on the tree.

Wassail: The wassail punch, a mixture of fruit, cider, and spices, was served to carolers who went from door to door singing holiday songs and church hymns. As was the custom, carolers were invited in to drink from the wassail bowl, before heading back outside to the cold.

Christmas Pudding: This is the traditional dessert served during Victorian era Christmas. The “pudding” was often made from boiled fruit (although some included meat) and resembled a dome-line cake. 

Christmas Crackers: Invented in Victorian England, these small, twisted paper ornaments were filled with small toys, trinkets, and candy. When snapped, they would burst open with a “popping” sound, revealing their treats.

Parlor Games: When families and friends gathered on Christmas, it was customary to retire to the parlor after dinner to play games. These were not the typical board or card games of today, but ones that involved creative interaction from everyone in the group, similar to charades or “20 questions”.

To this day, I am fascinated with Victorian England, but Victorian Christmas most of all. I still can’t watch any version of A Christmas Carol without getting sucked into the story and the Victorian beauty. One day, I hope to have a true Victorian Christmas in my own home, complete with parlor games and presents hung on the tree. Until then, I’ll be a making a nice hot cup of wassail. Cheers!

Last night, while enjoying an exceptionally tasty French dinner at a local bistro, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas. We had just ended a 7 hour shopping spree, buying holiday gifts for everyone (including my husband) – everyone but me. So naturally, when he finally asked moi what I wanted, I stopped for a second – ok it was more like an hour – to think about all of the things I wanted this year.

Typically, I don’t ask for much, if anything. I can usually buy most things I want throughout the year, so asking for something specific at Christmas doesn’t seem necessary. I’d actually rather give gifts than receive them (funny how things change when you’re an adult!).

But then, I started dreaming of a trip to Paris, London, and/or Barcelona. However, because neither of us has the time nor disposable income for this, my dream was shattered or at least put on hold. I began to think more in terms of what things we could actually afford but would still bring a little bit of Europe into my life – because, as you all know, that is the reason for the existence of this blog.

When thinking about all of the European things that I love or things that remind me of Europe, a few little lovelies immediately came to mind. So, the list below goes out to my awesome and very generous husband, but it can also be used as a reference for anyone who wants to enjoy the small, but very European things, in life, without taking out a second mortgage.

A Few of My Favorite European Things 

• Tea: Harney and Sons is my favorite tea brand – Paris or English Breakfast anyone?
• Fancy Chocolates: I love truffles and other fancy chocolates but rarely buy them because they are so expensive. What am I thinking? It’s Christmas! Bring on the Vosges!
• French Macaroons: Oh my, what I wouldn’t give to find a super easy and failsafe recipe for French macaroons! But, until then, I’ll take a few from Vanille in Chicago. A perfect stocking stuffer, don’t you think?
• English Toffee: There are numerous kinds of English Toffee on the market these days, but the best English toffee I’ve ever tasted was from Enstrom. It absolutely melted in my mouth and left me wanting more – and believe me, I DID eat more! 
• Cookbooks: My husband and I love the Williams Sonoma cookbook series. I would love to add the French and Mediterranean books to our collection – hint, hint…

And last but not least...

• Bath and Body - I just love the French bath and body products from L’Occitane, especially its verbena hand creams and hand soaps. But I would love to try their new Savons de Provence. As for my love of all things British, Crabtree & Evelyn products are at the top of my list! One of my favorite things to do when holiday shopping is to walk into a C&E store to browse all of their latest collections, and savor my favorites, like the citron, honey, and coriander products. This collection fulfills two of my musts in body products: they are naturally made and smell of honey and lemon – perfection!
  

  Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Remedy

Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway!

And, speaking of gourmet English gifts, the team at Crabtree & Evelyn was nice enough to send over a few samples of their holiday collections for me to try…

Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate Hand Care Caddy: Noel Collection

C&E’s Noel Collection was designed with the idea of a traditional English Christmas in mind. The infusers, candles, and scented scented oils are a perfect blend of mulling spices, cranberry, orange, and balsam. In a separate holiday line, the Windsor Forest collection leaves you with the scent of a fresh Christmas tree in the air – what could be more festive than that?

Crabtree & Evelyn Windsor Forest Candles

And if reading about all of these amazing products wasn’t enough, I’m giving away one of Crabtree & Evelyn’s classic hand creams! After all, ’tis the season for giving!

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Recovery

One very fortunate reader will receive C&E Hand Recovery cream from the citron, honey, and coriander collection. This cream is perfect for extra dry hands. And, with all of the hand washing going on these days to protect us from the flu and other illness, I’m sure all of our hands are a bit dryer than normal. I’ve tried the sister product, the Rejuvenating Hand Remedy, which left my hands feeling extremely soft and smelling of lemons – loved it!

Directions for Giveaway Entry:

1. Visit the Crabtree and Evelyn site AND
2. Leave a comment on this post telling me either a) which C&E product you like the most (assuming you’ve used the products before) OR b) what it is you MOST want for Christmas. 
3. US or Canadian Entries only, please.

Yes, it’s that simple!

Please send me your comments by Sunday, December 13, at 9 PM Eastern and I’ll announce the random winner on Monday, December 14. OK, ready, steady, go!

So, now that I have my list set, it’s all up to good ‘old Father Christmas and Pere Noel – wink, wink!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Hey Bistro Chic Readers! Be sure to stop by on Monday, December 7 for details about my first ever giveaway…a special holiday giveaway from Crabtree & Evelyn!

In honor of the giveaway, I thought I’d share some news about a fellow apple…

Have you heard? A Swiss apple a day, may keep the wrinkles at bay ….

….or at least reduce the ones that you already have.

The benefits of eating apples and other fresh fruit have been engrained in us since we were children. Science has even shown apples can help with the prevention of diabetes and obesity – two very real chronic conditions facing many Americans today. That’s quite impressive for such an ordinary fruit.

The “Secret” Life of Apples…

But, new research about a specific kind of Swiss apple may have many adults, particularly women, singing the praises of this portable powerhouse. In a new study, published in the Journal of Applied Sciences, Swiss researchers found that the rare Swiss apple, known as Uttwiler Splatlauber, may hold the secret to wrinkle-free, youthful skin. I’ll take 10 bushels please!!

This rare species of apple first gained attention because, unlike most apples, it was known to go for months without withering. Recognizing the apple’s potential benefits on humans and their skin, the Swiss research team studied the apple and found that it contained PhytoCelltec Malus Domestica, a “rock star” in the world of stem cells, known for its long-living tissue. To determine the benefits of this specific apple-based stem cell, scientists tested a cream enriched with the powerful stem cell on 20 women who used the cream twice daily. Results showed that crows feat was reduced up to 15 percent after 4 weeks.

Apples Are Celebs BFF

Not surprisingly, these results have impressed cosmetics companies enough to have them create their own skin care lines using the extract from the apple. According to the Daily Mail, Helen Mirren and Jennifer Lopez are fans of the apple, while even First Lady Michelle Obama is said to use a costly serum that includes the apple extract. Hey, if it’s good enough for the First Lady, it’s good enough for me!

It is not known whether just eating the apple can help prevent or lessen the effects of wrinkles. Yet, if this apple extract really does work – you can forget the diamonds because apples may just be a woman’s new best friend.

Ciao!