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Where Have All the British Accents Gone?

November 30, 2010 by

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Whenever I’m in London, I’m amazed at how many accents I hear on a daily basis. Everywhere I turn, I hear Australian, French, Nordic, German, Indian, Middle Eastern, and more accents. London truly is a melting pot for all languages and nationalities, almost to the point that you forget you are in London at all. Many people would say this is one of London’s best qualities, to which I would partly agree. But, quite frankly – where are all the British accents?

The British accent – or more specifically, the English accent – is one of my favorite accents in the world. The unmistakable accent conjures thoughts of James Bond, Prince William, Colin Firth, and many other handsome Brits. Yet the accent alone can be quite charming even for an average looking British man, making him seem 10 times more dashing than he really is, and all because he can utter phrases like “It’s a bit cold. I think I’ll head back for my jumper.”

Although British accents in London are hard to find sometimes, hearing the accent anywhere in England, or the UK for that matter, is rather expected. It’s only when I’m in the US, going about my daily American business, that I’m thrown completely off-guard by the British accent. I could hear it at a restaurant, store, or even at the market and my head will turn quickly but subtly trying to find the owner of the melodic tone.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy a good Australian or French accent – on any given day I would greatly welcome them – but the British accent holds a special place in my heart. I know I am far from being alone in my love for the British accent. In fact, the British accent was voted as one of the top 10 sexiest accents in the world by OnePoll. Surprisingly, the British accent only ranked #6 in the poll, beat by it’s close relatives – the Scottish and the Irish accents – which just happen to be my next most favorite accents.

Don’t worry Mark Darcy, your accent will always be #1 on my list.

Filed Under: Lifestyle

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 25, 2010 by

Happy Thanksgiving from Bistro Chic!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: ,

5 Essentials for Bistro Chic Travels

November 22, 2010 by

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This year has been the busiest travel year for me by far. By the end of the year, I will have traveled 14 times, visiting such cities as Vancouver, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. During this year’s travels, I have observed many, many other flyers traveling from one destination to the next. Although I spotted the occasional Jersey Shore-ette, I have to admit, most of the travelers looked rather unpolished to put it lightly.

I understand that it is important to feel comfortable when you fly, especially during the holidays. But seeing passengers who just roll out of bed makes me wonder what my late grandparents would say if they saw such behavior. Years ago, traveling used to be glamorous. During and prior to the Mad Men era, men and women would “dress up” when they flew out of town on business or pleasure. Just going to the airport was a special event and required extra attention to detail, making sure you looked just as good arriving to you destination as you did departing your home city.

I will be the first to admit that I do not dress to the nines when traveling, but I do try to wear something presentable, as if I’m going to lunch with a business colleague. After all, you never know who you will run into at the airport. When traveling, I try to follow a few style guidelines to keep me feeling fresh and fantastic before, during, and after my flight. So, what does a Bistro Chic kind of gal take on the plane with her to ensure a chic but comfy flight?

Aside from the obvious items, like license/passport, phone, and wallet, etc, I rely on:

  1. Polished Attire – Dressing down or dressing casual does not have to mean wearing your gym clothes or post-Thanksgiving pants. In fact, I don’t think I have ever worn jogging pants, leggings, or any type of stretchy pants on a plane. Tailored khakis or even nice jeans paired with a fun, climate appropriate top, seems to be my go-to style for flying.
  2. Easy Accessories – I never leave  home without my sunglasses, scarf, earings, clip for hair, comfortable but nice shoes (easy to slip on/off).
  3. Beauty Basics – When in doubt, it’s always better to carry a little somethin’ somethin’ to help you put your best face forward. I carry a small makeup bag with chapstick/lipstick, pressed powder, and a small hair comb/pick or brush.
  4. Much Needed Distractions – Sharing your life story with a stranger, or worse, hearing a stranger’s life story, is far from being chic. My advice, bring earphones, magazines, and a cute notebook such as Quo Vadis for capturing ideas on the fly and to give the impression that you are incredibly busy and important. Don’t forget a pen!
  5. Chic Carry-all – Looking weighted down by bags is NOT glamorous, even if your bags are made by Louis Vuitton. Limit your stash to one small/medium shoulder bag or one carryon roller bag.

Safe and Chic Travels Everyone!

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: , ,

The Art of French Window Licking

November 18, 2010 by

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French Phrase of the Day: Faire du lèche-vitrines

Last week, I was chatting with a friend from work about his plans for the weekend. He mentioned that he and his wife were going “window licking”. He could tell by the puzzled and surprised look on my face that he had caught me off guard with this unique phrase. He explained that he and his wife had recently been to France where “window licking”, or what Americans call window shopping, is quite popular. Whether it’s during a coffee break or on a weekend stroll through Paris, the French love faire du lèche-vitrines, which literally means “to lick the windows”, while browsing anything from department stores to patisseries.

Although this may seem like a familiar past-time to Americans, window licking could be considered a skill or even an art in France. It is also an art that lends itself to written and unwritten guidelines about window licking or full-blow shopping.

Travel writer extraodinare, Rick Steves, recognizes that window licking is an important part of the French culture. But he goes on to say that if you do actually take window licking to a higher level, keep in mind the proper French etiquette for shopping:

According to Steves, before you enter a store in France, you should keep in mind the following:

  1. In small stores, always greet the clerk by saying “Bonjour” plus their title (Madame, Mademoiselle, orMonsieur) and say “Au revoir, Madame/Mademoiselle/Monsieur” when leaving.
  2. The customer is not always right. In fact, figure the clerk is doing you a favor by waiting on you.
  3. Except for in department stores, it’s not normal for the customer to handle clothing. Ask first.
  4. Forget returns (and don’t count on exchanges).
  5. Saturday afternoons are busiest.
  6. Observe French shoppers. Then imitate.
  7. Don’t feel obliged to buy. The expression for “window-shopping” in French is faire du lèche-vitrines

Happy Shopping Everyone. Ciao!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , ,

Simple Mediterranean Recipes from Cooking Light

November 15, 2010 by

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From hummus to feta and olives to orzo, Mediterranean food is one of my favorite cuisines to eat. We all know by now that the Mediterranean diet is thought to be one of the healthiest in the world – which is a big reason why I like it. However, Mediterranean food is also extremely flavorful and easy to make.

If you’re still skeptical that Mediterranean food can be healthy, flavorful, and easy, just take a look at the Mediterranean recipes found on Cooking Light online. The online magazine has compiled a list of 26 tasty, healthy recipes from Greece, Morocco, Turkey, and other countries that span the Mediterranean. In this article, you’ll find such culinary favorites as:

  • Chicken Souvlaki – a mixture of chicken, yogurt, feta, and dill
  • Seared scallops with lemon orzo
  • Pasta with sun-dried tomato and feta
  • Lemon basil shrimp and pasta
  • Garlic rosemary and lamb pizza

All of the recipes use the very freshest ingredients, as is typical of Mediterranean cuisine, and they all take around 20 minutes to make.

The only problem now is trying to decide what to make first. Opa!

Filed Under: Food & Wine Tagged With: , ,
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