Greetings from Vancouver + Happy July!
Although I write a lot about home and garden, my professional world is centred in contract hospitality design. What is that?…people ask. I work with amazing designers and global carpet mills to create custom rugs for hotels, resorts and some private residences, which means I spend a great deal of time looking at materials and listening to ideas shaping current interior trends. One thing catching my eye lately is wood-panelled kitchens. They are a beautiful counterpoint to all-white kitchens and the cold marble features we’ve been seeing. I love the warmth of timber and the craftsmanship and skill involved in completing a panelled room. I don’t see timber kitchens often…..at least not yet, but I have a feeling that we will be seeing more of them in the years ahead.
Another random question I inevitably receive when travelling for work: "Is there still snow in Canada?" Yikes! I do try to have some compassion for the enquirer, as Canada seems to be a geographical mystery to many. Having six time zones and climate ranging from Arctic tundra to temperate rainforest, I guess it’s not surprising that some people imagine a blanket of snow across the entire country…. all year.
My husband walks the dog 365 days a year in shorts and flip-flops, claiming he is hot and needs to be comfortable. Now, I’m not suggesting February is balmy, but it’s manageable with a windbreaker and an umbrella. No winter coats required. Vancouver weather can be compared to London, Cornwall and parts of southern England. We have an oceanic climate: winters are damp, not cold, summers are warm but not oppressive, and yes……we have palm trees! We have one in our front garden and it transports my Spirit daily to the Mediterranean. Palm trees are magic.
Although we are a city of modern skyscrapers, visitors often say that English Bay has a Miami vibe. Peak visiting time is July: warm but rarely hot, the entire population is lives outdoors. The city is currently packed with FIFA fans and for the most part, Canadians are delighted to have guests. You should all come visit us!
PS: If you’re visiting, don’t buy an expensive umbrella. Umbrellas here are a communal resource. People generally leave restaurants with the nicest umbrella in the stand rather than their own crappy one. It’s completely normal. Also, tourists are easily spotted wearing disposable plastic rain capes. Please don’t. Bring a raincoat, buy a $10 umbrella, but don’t wear a plastic bag.
My husband gifted me three pairs of “good” jeans for my birthday last week. Now I understand that some may prefer fancier gifts, like designer handbags, but not me. Opening this gift made me so happy. If you’re familiar with the West Coast, you’ll understand that jeans are the “dress code”. This is a coastal town, like LA, and anything dressier can feel out of place. The trick to a jean-forward wardrobe is good fabrics and interesting cuts. Then you can mix them with blouses and blazers. The first pair gifted were white eyelet jeans from Citizens of Humanity, feminine enough to wear with a white blouse and leather slides.
The second pair are the most wonderful shade called Mint Cream from Agolde. They are a very comfy mid-rise waist with a relaxed wide-leg. I can already picture them with a navy blazer in September, but for now they work with a white t-shirt and sandals.
THE FLAVOURS OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA: TOMATINI
Jimmy Barrat was raised in the French Riviera and invented the Tomatini…. a cocktail inspired by juicy, sweet, summer tomatoes. His recipe combines muddled vine tomatoes, white balsamic vinegar, vodka, a teensy bit of sugar, salt and pepper. Tomatinis may sound odd but they are absolutely delicious and 100% more interesting than a cosmopolitan.
My sister, who has been in hospitality her whole life, taught me her version of this marvelous, savoury cocktail. In her version, you make tomato water.
Dice 3 large and very ripe tomatoes. Put the dice into a bowl, sprinkle with a little Worcestershire, add some basil leaves and a wee bit of salt. Let this sit for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Then put the entire mixture into a cheesecloth and let it gravity filter into a clean bowl in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight.
Use 1 oz of the mixture with 1 1/2 oz vodka. Pour into a martini glass and pretend.
I like my Tomatini very simple, I want to taste tomatoes. However, if you don’t have time to make tomato water, here is the original Tomatini recipe from Jimmy Barret.
In the Spirit of July, here here are a few things making my week better.
Ohhh, the perfect summer escape. I powered through this book in 2 days. A grand Rhode island estate, a wealthy and very dysfunctional family, lots of secrets and a very weird inheritance game. I could not resist.
Eue-de-nil coloured pepper grinders. Love the aesthetic and shape of these pepper grinders.
A new linen + cotton tablecloth
I love this white blazer from Zara Man. It reminds me of the jackets the servers and baristas wear in Bologna and Milano. I almost exclusively wear men’s blazers all year as I love the cuts and the un-fussiness. For example, last winter I wanted a blue velvet blazer. The women’s section didn’t offer this, but the men’s section did. When I go to a vintage shop, I scour the racks for mens wool blazers. I recently picked up a beautiful tweed blazer made in Ireland. I look for a small mens and this generally fits me in a slightly oversized fashion.
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I am so happy I bought these floursacks…. they are the best cotton drying towels for the kitchen and glassware. No lint. And they actually dry dishes without pushing the water around. And they are big. Most tea-towels are too small.
This woman is gorgeous and one of my favourite models
Sheer Floral Organza Raincoat style
Note to self: I should pot my lavender in baskets and give as gifts.
The perfect pink Merit Lipstick
Deborah wrote a great article on UTI’s, and US Healthcare vs the UK system.
This lady really knows how to make a bouquet. Using a beautiful vessel helps.
An interesting article about toxic Furosine in dried pasta
Colin Farrell’s crisp sandwich recipe
That’s it for today friends. Thank you for reading.
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