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New Year’s With a French Twist

December 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

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Bonjour everyone! The end of 2011 is just days away which means planning for New Year’s celebrations is in full swing. If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve Party or a New Year’s Day brunch, why not give your soirée a French twist? And before you roll your eyes at this Francophile post, I am not suggesting you rush out to buy Eiffel Tower cocktail napkins or a velvet beret. Rather, I’m suggesting you incorporate the simple elegance of French entertaining through these easy strategies…..

Less is More – Although Christmas decorations can help prolong the festive feel of the season, do as the French do and showcase your “best” holiday pieces for all to enjoy, including a beautifully decorated tree, mirrors topped with hollyberry wrapped candles, and nearly anything that shines or sparkles. Store everything else – including the singing snowman and laughing reindeer – until next Christmas.

Silver and Gold – New Year’s is such a magical time – and  silver and gold accents seem to emulate this magic. Now is the time to serve your tapas on your great grandmother’s silver tray and get those gold-trimmed crystal wine glasses out of storage.

Le Food - You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen sweating over a fancy French meal to serve your New Year’s guests. Simple French standards will set the tone and keep guests from overindulging (like many have done leading up to this point). Lighter options include bite-size quiche, cheeses paired with nuts, fruit, and baguettes, while a carved meat or petit croque monsieur (1-2 bite ham and cheese sandwiches) paired with grainy French mustard provides a little more substance. If your budget and number of guests permit, avoid serving your food buffet-style – it is very American, less personalized, and definitely low on the “elegance” list. Instead, serve or pass small trays of hors d’oeuvres or strategically set the trays around the room  - which also encourages movement and mingling.

A Bit of the Bubbly - What would New Year’s be without Champagne? How convenient that Champagne (or anything sparkling) is très French as well. Keep glasses of Champagne chilled in the fridge or a large silver ice bucket. For a true NYE event, serve the bubbly straight up in your best stemware (no plastic or paper please!). For a daytime event, pour in a splash of orange, cranberry, or other juice for a sweeter cocktail. To add a bit of panache, drop a strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry in the glass just before serving.

Sweet Sounds - Having the right music playing as guests arrive really sets the tone for the whole event. Although classical and jazz are great options for a daytime event, an evening event may call for something a little more funky. And, to keep with your chic French theme, you really can’t go wrong with Pink Martini, Gipsy Kings, or Paris Combo.

Bonne Année!

 

 

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Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: An Elizabethan Christmas

December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Two years ago, I wrote about the Christmas traditions of Victorian England. Although Victorian England is one of my favorite eras, Elizabethan England – the time of Shakespeare – is a close second (minus all of the torture and head chopping). So, as Christmas is less than one week away, I wanted to share with you some of the traditions of a true Elizabethan or Tudor Christmas…..

During the time of Shakespeare, a Christmas full of overindulgence was the norm. How elaborately you celebrated Christmas often reflected your wealth and status or what status you wanted people to associate with you and your family. The mark of an elaborate Christmas was judged by the extravagance of the meal you served and the decor – how you presented the meal.

The Meal: Main dishes included wild boar, goose, turkey, and/or beef. Accompaniments to the roast meat included plum porridge, mince pies and frumenty, a pottage made from boiled, cracked wheat.  It is also possible that those who lived during the time of Tudor England also enjoyed brussels sprouts and a Christmas pudding made of meat, spices, and oatmeal. All of these delicacies would be washed down with ‘lambswool‘, a drink made with hot cider, sherry or ale, spices and apples, which when hot, exploded to create a white ‘woolly’ top. Spiced wines, wassail, and beer were also popular as the water was often not fit to drink.

The Dessert: Sugar, which was very expensive at the time, was a key ingredient of the Christmas dishes of this era. Collops of bacon, made from ground almonds and sugar, were popular, as were walnuts and other items made from sugar-plate, a substance of egg, sugar and gelatine which could be moulded into different shapes.  Leech, a milk-based sweet made with sugar and rosewater, was also a favorite; it was cut into cubes and served plain or gilded, arranged as a chequerboard.

The Decor:  Great pride was taken in how the meal was delivered to guests and attention to detail in the decor could not be overlooked. Wealthier homes would display swans, peacocks, or a boar’s head as centerpieces. Even small flourishes were important – fruits were not presented plain, but rather crystalized to enhance their colors. Gold leaf was added to lemons, other fruits, and gingerbread to deepen the richness of the occasion.

As you can see, Christmas during the time of Elizabeth I was truly a time to eat, drink, and be merry!

Happy Christmas everyone!

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Christmas Sleepover in Chicago

December 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Bonjour! My husband and I and our two small children returned yesterday from a lovely, albeit whirlwind trip to downtown Chicago. Although we have stayed overnight in the city many times, this was our first annual Christmas sleepover in the Windy City.

Prior to our weekend getaway, we planned out the many things we would do as we played “tourist” in our own city. We did hit a few of the big sites – Water Tower Place, Michigan Avenue, American Girl, Macy’s, etc., but it was really the little things that made our stay memorable.

For instance, if you ever have the opportunity to stay overnight in Chicago, I highly recommend the Hotel Palomar – a fairly new hotel to Chicago, but a pro when it comes to the “little things”.

After looking at several hotels, we decided on the Palomar – a boutique hotel that is part of the Kimpton Hotel line. Having never stayed at a Kimpton Hotel, we were not sure what to expect, although the many amenities mentioned on the site had us very excited. Upon check-in, we realized that we were not staying at your basic hotel chain. Our children enjoyed hot chocolate and marshmallows in the lobby while I was at the front desk – so simple a gesture, but a huge bonus for kids who are chilly. The kids also received their very own goodie bags, complete with a winter activity book, pencils, a kaleidoscope, and more. And for the adults….. I was informed that because I was a Kimpton In Touch member, I could “raid the mini” bar (keeping it under $10) for free. This little amenity would prove to come in very handy at the end of our stay when only an $8 bag of gummy bears would suffice to calm slightly wild children.

The room was quite modern and well-appointed with very comfortable beds and….a goldfish? That’s right, we were very surprised to find a little friend in our room, a goldfish on loan from the hotel, that my children affectionately called “goldie”.  The excitement grew as we opened the closet only to find animal print bathrobes for the whole family. Yes, there is nothing like seeing your children in leopard print robes, with goggles and flip flops on as they head to the pool. And speaking of the pool, the desk staff had the foresight to give us a room on the same floor as the pool, only a 20 ft walk from our room! They really must be mother’s helpers or Santa’s elves.

After walking all over the city in 25 degree temps, we were thrilled to find steaming cider back in the hotel lobby along with little bowls of specialty candies – lemonheads, jawbreakers, etc. Although we were not able to partake, the hotel did host a wine tasting reception in the early evening – which I’ve heard also include hot toddies and kiddie cocktails. There’s always next time, right?

The cold and endless walking finally got to us and we decided to have dinner in our room. And, because I said the secret password upon check-in (sorry, you’ll have to like them on Facebook to learn the secret word!), we were all treated to complimentary freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and milk in our hotel room at night. This was not only clever but a very thoughtful treat for an exhausted family.

At breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant Sable Kitchen & Bar, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast. But more important than the food, was the wonderful gesture by one of restaurant staff. After I returned from taking my 4 year old to the bathroom, I stopped in the lobby to grab two complimentary hot chocolates – one for me, and one for my daughter. Big mistake – my son was disappointed that I did not get him a drink as well and began to look very sad. A staff member, who was not our server, must have noticed my son’s face, when he appeared with an even bigger cup of hot chocolate with a marshmallow just for my son. The man said that he had a brother too and knew how important it was for brothers and sisters to have the “‘same” treats. Voila! That was all it took to put a smile on my son’s face and I didn’t even know the man’s name.

And so, with our luggage and a bag of gummy bears in hand, we headed down to retrieve our car from the valet. As the doormen opened the door for my children, one man smiled and said “well hello princess” and asked my daughter and son if they had fun during their stay. The smiles on their faces were answers enough – I was smiling too, all the way home.

 

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Christmas in Washington

December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Yesterday I returned from Washington, DC, after spending 3 days there for what will probably be my last business trip of 2011. As I mentioned before, I’ve been to Washington many times, mostly on business. However, this was my first time visiting the Capitol during the holidays. After spending a day and a half in meetings, I determined to see something – anything – Christmasy, and not just the decorated tree in the hotel lobby.

First stop, Le Pain Quotidien, a cute little French cafe where my colleagues and I were in search of a snack and something warm to drink before we embarked on our Washington Christmas adventure….

Next, it was about a mile walk to view the National Christmas Tree, standing in front of the White House Ellipse. Although the tree and decorations were a bit underwhelming, it was quite festive to listen to Christmas Carols and watch the toy trains go round and round.

We then headed to a holiday tour of historic homes, which included Anderson House, a beautiful turn-of-the century mansion.

All four of the houses we toured were decked out in period holiday decor, live festive music, and light refreshments. Woodrow Wilson House also showcased an interactive exhibit featuring artifacts from the early 1900s, including an old radio microphone, period clothing, and a vacuum cleaner.

My personal favorite was a photo of King Edward VIII (ie. the English King who abdicated his throne to marry an American divorcee a la King’s Speech)…

As most of you know, I love all things Victorian/Olde English, yet seeing the historic homes made me even more nostalgic for an era that I will never see. It also let me experience Washington in a way I never had, which made my holidays and my business trip seem a little brighter – even without the snow.

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A Capitol Christmas

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Fresh off of my trip to Maui, this Bistro Chic girl is headed back to the friendly skies later (with status!) this week for my second Fall/Winter excursion and my 12th trip of the year – this time to Washington, DC. Although I’ve been to the Capitol many times, I’ve never visited DC during the holidays. Like any big city, Washington, DC, has many holiday events and sites for locals and tourists to enjoy. Yet there are also a few distinct experiences that lend themselves to our beautiful Capitol city.

The National Christmas Tree - In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge was the first US President to light the 48 foot National Christmas Tree located in the Ellipse, a short walk from the White House. After 89 years, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a tradition that still remains and is one of the most memorable moments of the holiday season in the US.

Zoo Lights at the National Zoo - The National Zoo displays thousands of sparkling lights featuring sculptures of many of the Zoo’s most popular animals, including giant pandas, Asian elephants, and a sea lion. Visitors can also enjoy winter-themed crafts, ice sculpting demonstrations, choral groups, and storytellers. Best of all – the zoo and the lights festival are free!

Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes - Visitors can stop by historic homes, including Mount Vernon and Montpellier Mansion, for a candlelight tour, festive holiday decor, carol singing, and more.

Learn more about holiday events and experiences in Washington, DC.

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