fête à fête

Satisfy your giant sweet tooth with Jill O'Connor's Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey, the bible for all sugar fiends. Adorably styled and beautifully photographed, this collection of desserts presents over 75 recipes that range from a decadent Chocolate Caramel-Pecan Soufflé Cake to a Sticky Toffee Pudding. I love the Chewy Lemon-Pistachio Financiers.

The author also shares useful tips and techniques on using phyllo dough, toasting and blanching nuts, and making a ganache that will make you swoon. Yum....Happy Baking!

Photo Credit: Leigh Beisch

www.chroniclebooks.com

-Tami

Tagged as: baking, book, cake, chocolate, cookbook, cooking techniques, dessert, pastry, pastry art, pastry chef, recipes

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fashion Contest Alert!

My dear friend Stevie is having a fabulous contest on her blog www.LA-Story.com, and you get to show the world how glam you really are! Submit your photos online to Brickfish.com and tell all your friends to vote for you. It's that easy!

The person with the most chic photo will win some pretty sweet Marc Jacobs accessories (leather handbag, cashmere glove/hat set) that retails for almost $1 K. The most viral entry (the person who has gotten the most views – and spread the word on the net) wins a $250 scholarship or cash. Not bad for just submitting your photos.

For contest rules and info:

www.la-story.com/events/lastorycom_wants_to_see_your_chic_fashionable_selv/

-Tami

Tagged as: clothing, fashion, fashion design, Handbags, Shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Looking pretty doesn't mean you need to compromise your health. For those who are concerned with the amount of synthetic ingredients in their makeup, you might want to consider a lead-free lipstick formula from Canadian makeup artist David Scott. Made with high-pigment minerals and enriched with grapeseed oil, his long lasting lipsticks come in 40 moisturizing matte or pearly shades.

www.davidscottcosmetics.com

Tagged as: cosmetics, lip color, lipstick, makeup

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a great tiramisu recipe from AllChocolate.com, the online resource for all things chocolate. It has tips on how to do wine-choco pairings, plenty of tips on how to cook with chocolate, and much more. Check it out!

Chocolate Tiramisu

4 ounces DAGOBA 59% Dark Chocolate, chopped*

3 large eggs, separated

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream

Pinch of salt

1 cup espresso or very strong brewed coffee, cooled

About 20 store-bought Italian ladyfingers

Directions:

Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of about 1 1/2 inches of nearly simmering water, whisking until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the egg yolks and sugar in a large deep bowl for about 8 minutes, until thick and pale and the mixture forms a ribbon when the beaters are lifted. Add the mascarpone and vanilla and beat on low speed just until light and fluffy. Add the cream and beat on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture is doubled in volume and still loose. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate.

With the clean beaters of an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the egg whites and salt in a medium bowl just until the egg whites form soft peaks when the beaters are lifted. With a whisk or a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, one-third at a time, just until blended.

Pour the espresso into a shallow bowl. Dip 9 or 10 of the ladyfingers, 2 at a time, into the espresso for about 30 seconds, or just until saturated; if you leave them in too long, they will fall apart. Arrange them in an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish, cutting or breaking them to cover the bottom. Cover the ladyfingers with half of the chocolate mixture. Repeat dipping the remaining 9 or 10 ladyfingers into the remaining espresso in the same way, and arrange on top of the chocolate mixture. Spread with the remaining chocolate mixture. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 8 hours, or up to 2 days.

Spoon into bowls and serve chilled.

Serves 6 to 8

www.allchocolate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: baking, cake, chocolate, dessert, entertaining, holiday, recipes

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another great stocking stuffer, Lou Seibert Pappas' The Christmas Cookie Deck is a great way to celebrate the winter holidays with friends and family. Handy and convenient, it includes 50 easy-to-follow recipe cards that include many classic holiday favorites (Gingerbread, Frosty Snowmen, Lebkuchen, Florentines). The Persimmon-Date Cookies and Embossed Macadamia Stars are also tempting recipes to use for gift bags and party platters. Try the Springerle recipe below - your warm kitchen will be filled with a festive scent of spices...

Springerle

This centuries-old German cookie is stamped with a carved wooden mold to create an embossed design.

2 eggs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tsp. baking powder
Dash salt
Aniseed for coating
Baking sheet

Using an electric mixer with a whisk beater, beat eggs in a bowl at high speed until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until very thick, about 5 to 10 minutes. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat well. Place in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.

Dust baking sheets lightly with flour and sprinkle with aniseed. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 3/8-inch thick. Dust surface of dough with flour and smooth with fingertips. Press the mold into dough and lift up. Using a knife, cut out cookies and lace on baking sheet. Let dry overnight at room temperature; do not cover.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until white on top. Transfer to racks.

Store in an airtight container up to 2 months.

Makes about 2 ½ dozen.

www.chroniclebooks.com

Photo credit: Frankie Frankeny
Recipe used with permission from Chronicle Books.

Happy Holidays!

Tami

Tagged as: baker, baking, confection, cooking techniques, dessert, entertaining, gifts, holiday, recipe box, recipes, Winter

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Special Beauty Event Alert!!

Come meet Gina Brooke, Artistic Director of shu uemura at this special Atelier Artist event! As a sought-after celebrity makeup artist to the stars (Madonna, Gisele Bundchen, Eva Longoria, Cindy Crawford), Gina will be at the SF boutique for one day only to create a new custom look for you.

This is truly a rare opportunity to learn a few industry makeup tricks from the very best authority in beauty and skin care. You can also check out her great Muse holiday collection for more inspiring holiday looks!

Schedule your appointment today by calling 415-395-0953.

Friday, December 28
11am - 7pm
shu uemura SF boutique
1971 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

www.shuuemura-usa.com

-Tami

Tagged as: blush, cosmetics, events, eyeshadow, false eyelashes, lip color, lip gloss, lipstick, makeup, Northern California, San Francisco, San Francisco event, skin care, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm usually a staunch bake-it-from-scratch kinda gal, but the new Williams-Sonoma holiday baking mixes have convinced me to bend the rules a bit. They are so well blended that no one will really know (unless they're the secret baking police) that you didn't really make it from scratch. Best of all, they are also easy to use. It's like fun baking, minus a few tedious steps!

The buttery Classic Sugar Cookie Mix is a great standard mix. No holiday party would be complete without a plate of these treats, whether they're decorated or simply sprinkled with colored sugar. Created by the award-winning Dancing Deer bakery , this all-natural mix is easy to prep – just add butter and eggs. It yields a lot of cookies (about five dozen), so you can decorate them to your heart's content. They can also be stored in the cute old-fashioned decorative tin.

Inspired by the traditional holiday drink, the Eggnog Poundcake Mix has a nice eggnoggy taste, but it's not too rich at all. In fact, you'll be eating more than one slice. Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, ground cinnamon and nutmeg are added for an extra holiday oomph. Just add water and butter, and voila! Instant elegant dessert. Great by itself, with hot cocoa, or tea. Or, you can slather on a thick layer of fudgy choco sauce for an ultimate indulgence. Go ahead, you've been nice all year, treat yourself...

www.williams-sonoma.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: baker, baking, baking mixes, cake, dessert, entertaining, food, holiday, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I love rocky road and was lucky enough to discover the latest local artisan confection Droga from Good Addiction. Founder Michelle Bordin has refined her 25-year-old family recipe so perfectly that these hand-made chocolate treasures are flying off the shelves in gourmet shops.

Definitely not your average rocky road - it has fresh dry-roasted and salted peanuts wrapped in rich milk or dark chocolate. With that lovely salty/sweet flavor combo, you're gonna float on cloud nine with each bite. Yum! They also feature single-serving mini boxes for party/wedding favors or corporate events.

Available at Whole Foods (Northern CA), specialty gourmet shops (see www.goodaddiction.com/instores.html) and online: www.goodaddiction.com

Photo credit: Aya Brackett

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, confection, dessert, food, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday, Northern California

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seductive and provocative, Kismet is the latest creation by celebrated San Franciscan perfumer Yosh Han. A gorgeous melange of narcissus, Roman chamomile, osmanthus and boronia, it contains layers of cedar and frankincense. Hay, dill, tumeric and ylang ylang dance throughout, teasing the senses. Truly a twist of fate with the natural world and its hidden mysteries...

Available exclusively at Barneys New York (New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and San Francisco).

www.eaudeyosh.com

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, beauty, essential oil, fragrance, gifts, perfume, San Francisco, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stuck on holiday gift ideas? Check out Christmas Sweets, Georgeanne Brennan's latest book for elegant gifts and entertaining recipes. The notable food author shares over 50 of her favorite holiday recipes, from festive candies and cakes to gorgeous centerpieces.

There are many easy and creative gift ideas (Candy Acorn Kissing Ball), along with decadent holiday treats (Chocolate Fudge, Christmas Petit Fours, Eggnog Ice Cream Profiteroles) that will please everyone. Filled with so many inspiring ideas, you friends and family will be absolutely charmed with their gifts.

Try the refreshing and cheery Peppermint Ice Cream recipe below. It is guaranteed to put you in the holiday mood...

Peppermint Ice Cream

Children—and adults too—are fans of peppermint ice cream. Colored palest pink and dotted with bits of peppermint, the scoops can be served in cones or bowls.

This is especially good with chocolate cake.

2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
4 ounces hard peppermint candies, crushed into small pieces

In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the cream, milk, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-heat and cook, stirring often, until the sugar has dissolved.

In a bowl, whisk the yolks together until they change to a lemon color. Gradually whisk about 2 cup of the hot milk mixture and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Add the peppermint extract, stirring well. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When the ice cream is partially frozen, stir in the candies. Makes about 1 quart.

Recipe used with permission from Chronicle Books.
Photo credit: Richard G. Jung

www.chroniclebooks.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: baker, baking, Books, cake, chocolate cake, confection, entertaining, gifts, holiday, pastry art, recipes

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The venerable chocolate artisan Valrhona is offering several new items for the holidays. Whether they are given out as gifts or for your own enjoyment, the exquisite flavors will satisfy any chocolate connoisseur. The new ballotin assortment box includes 30 of their most popular bonbon flavors, including Palet Or, Ganache Moka, Caraffruti Abricot (simply divine) and Rinette Ivoire.

Available to the US market for the first time, the Les Exclusives line is a pair of specialty confections: the Orangettes (candied orange peel covered in Valrhona dark chocolate), and the Mendiants (milk and dark chocolate disks studded with apricot, hazelnuts and pistachios). These delicacies are traditionally made in French households during Christmas.

Available at: www.chocosphere.com/Html/Products/valrhona.html

www.valrhona.com

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, confection, food, gifts, Gourmet and Gourmand, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Holiday Shopping Alert!!

Shu Uemura is having a FRIENDS AND FAMILY SALE starting tomorrow 12/13 - save 20% off all items on their website! Just enter the promotion code HOLIDAY07 at checkout (www.shuuemura-usa.com)! Don't miss this great opportunity - stock up on your favorite eyeshadows, the legendary facial cleansing oils, fabulous lashes, and the new pretty lip glosses!

This great online sale is only valid 12:01am EST on Thursday, December 13th through 11:59pm EST on Monday, December 17th (offer is NOT valid on the purchase of gift certificates, taxes, shipping & handling, and in shu uemura boutiques).

Best of all, FREE shipping is available on purchases over $75! Just register online - when you spend over $75, your shipping is on the house. You will also receive advance notice of new product launches, get a shorter check-out process, and all exclusive online promotions (deluxe samples, product offers, in-store events, etc.).

www.shuuemura-usa.com

See you at the makeup counter!

Tami

Tagged as: Cleanser, cosmetics, eyeshadow, holiday, limited edition makeup, lip gloss, lipstick, makeup

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Having a major headache on what to get for your loved ones? Here's a list of holiday gift ideas to help you get through the holiday retail madness:

Vosges Haut-Chocolat has a cute Mini Exotic Candy Bars set that will impress the pickiest chocolate connoisseur. Features nine of their most popular Exotic Candy bar flavors: Red Fire, Black Pearl, Gianduja, Naga, Creole, Barcelona, Oaxaca, Woolloomooloo & Macha.(www.vosgeschocolate.com)

Feed Your Soul cookies lets the gift giver customize the entire process - choose the packaging, then pick the recipient’s favorite cookies, add an inspirational quote and finally pen a personalized note. They will even donate a portion of the proceeds to the charity of your choice. I love the tasty holiday flavors: Gingerbread, Chocolate Chip Mint, Pumpkin Pie (yummy!), S’mores, Chocolate Brownie Chunk, Strawberry Linzers, and the new White Chocolate Cherry Jubilee. (www.feedyoursoulcookies.com)

Recchiuti Confections has a lovely holiday collection of burnt caramel chocolates. Trust me, whoever gets this will LOVE you. The festive winter designs were created by Dave Braden of The Engine Room, a local San Francisco design firm. (www.recchiuti.com)

A celebrity favorite, Lily Lambert created two lines of sensual perfumes - The Master Number Series and The Spectrum Collection. The Spectrum's E perfume is particularly complex, with notes of cocoa, opium, rain, and musk. The #33 in the number series has an ethereal scent of green African musk, Tunisian musk, French vanilla, and sage. (www.lilylambert.com)

Fun and whimsical, Crazylibellule and the Poppies has an intriguing line of solid perfumes that will delight everyone. Worn alone or layered, the Shanghaijava collection includes the following scents: Musk & Patchouli, Ginger & Coconut, Mystic Incense, Litchi Blossom, Spiritual Lilac, Blue Orchid, and Ananas Imperial (my personal fave). (available at: beautyhabit.com, lacremebeauty.com, and b-glowing.com)

For the natural beauty addict, Sundari has two holiday sets that will satisfy any skincare fiend. The healing body care set contains the best-selling Neem and Manuka Body Cleanser, Neem and Blood Orange Body Lotion, Neem and Triphala Body Oil, a votive candle and matchbox, while the skin care contains the Neem and Burdock Cream-Gel Cleanser, Neem and Avocado Balancing Moisturizer, Neem Night Cream, and Neem Eye Cream. (www.sundari.com)

For your special guy, the Sothys Homme Revitalising Hair & Body Care is a great two-in-one hair and body product. Great for travel and the gym, it contains d-panthenol and silicones to ensure healthy, shiny hair. It's also gentle enough for sensitive skin types. (www.sothys-usa.com)

Another worthy men's gift idea is the deluxe Kiehl's Ultimate Man Collection . Perfect for both manly and metro types, it features the Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, White Eagle Shave Cream, Ultimate Man Scrub Soap, Lip Balm #1, Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, and Facial Fuel. (www.kiehls.com)

Happy Holidays!
Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, gifts, holiday, moisturizer, pastries, perfume, seasonal, shopping, skin care, skin care products

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's that special time of the year to sparkle, and NARS has the arsenal to pull your glam holiday look together. Their new 2007 Holiday Collection is full of shimmery plums and glittery silver, along with pretty crimson shades for the lips.

There's a lot of fun colors to play with for the eyes. The Violetta duo eyeshadow contains a smoky lavender and a soft metaillic violet, allowing you to go for a soft and elegant look, or you can layer for a more dramatic effect. The Cheyenne duo is another winner with a metallic sienna and a gothic plum. I also love the sparkly glints in the Night Rider single eyeshadow.

The Luster blush is a nice golden apricot, imparting a warm glow that will work on most skin tones. For lip color, the Viridiana lipstick is the perfect burgundy shade to carry off the Old Hollywood flair. My favorites are the new Rose Gitane and Bad Education lip glosses - sheer sangria and crimson shades that are just gorgeous. Your lips will be saying 'kiss me!' with these colors.

Another new item to note is the Lip Gloss/Lip Stain Gloss collection. Combining a long-lasting color with a high-shine gloss, these duos create the ultimate sexy pout. Worn separately or together, you can layer the shades to your individual taste. Or get them all to mix and match! The Sandpiper/Daredevil (shimmering amber coral and scarlet red) and the Turkish Delight/Sayonara (pink sorbet, rose petal pink) duos are expecially lovely.

www.narscosmetics.com

See you at the makeup counter!

Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, blush, color, cosmetics, eyeshadow, holiday, lip color, lip gloss, lips, makeup

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

San Franciscan spa addicts are always raving about the stellar services from BellaPelle Skin Studio, and it's no surprise why. Owner Shelley Costantini's vision is to provide superior skin & wax care by using the latest skin care technology. Their very own line of skin care is amazing, and so are the brow waxes. Check out their December Beauty Break promo - 15% off their Cherry Antioxidant Peel!

To combat dry winter skin, the Limoncello Body Smoothing Lotion is wonderfully hydrating, sloughing off layers of dead skin cells. It has a nice, luxurious feel...plus you smell like a lemon drop!

www.bellapelle.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, lotion, San Francisco, skin, skin care product, spa

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The holidays just got sweeter with the new 2007 Holiday Truffle Collection from Joseph Schmidt Confections. Beautifully decorated, the new exotic flavors include the yummy Sea Salt Caramel (organic caramel with a hint of sea salt), Mexican Chocolate, Mandarin Zest, Vanilla Cognac, Meyer Lemon, and Pomegranate. The tart citrus flavors are refreshing, balancing out the rich ganache. A great stocking stuffer for sure!

Available online: www.jsc.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate truffles, chocolatier, confection, gifts, holiday, Northern California, San Francisco

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now that your social calender is jam-packed with one holiday soiree after another, you need to put your best face forward. Instead of slapping on the concealer to hide those dark circles, try the new Eminence Organics Eye Quattro treatment. The active organic ingredients in these four amazing proucts will banish the panda eyes, boost hydration levels, exfoliate and de-puff.

As the first step, the gentle Naseberry Eye Exfoliant is excellent at smoothing out the wrinkles. Wild Black Carrot helps diminish fine lines while Green Apple and Calendula infuse antioxidants to the skin. The Raspberry Eye Masque provides intense hydration with 16 vitamins and herbs to improve elasticity. The area around my eyes were so nice and dewy after using these two products. It is like an instant eye-lift. For maintenance I follow with either the Cucumber Eye Gel (instant de-puffer) or the iron-rich Wild Plum Eye Cream (targets dark circles). All of these may be used individually or together as a four-step treatment.

There is a holiday gift with purchase - buy any 2 Eye Quattro products and receive a lovely special edition ornament filled with travel size minis of the entire eye care collection!

For more winter protection, definitely get the creamy Linden Calendula Treatment or the Rich Black Perlette Grape Moisturizer from the Tradition Series (a group of favorite products with extra rich formulations). Super potent with active anti-aging ingredients, these will be a surefire way to prevent the cold weather dryness. Folks will be wondering what your secret is to fabulous skin!

www.eminenceorganics.com

-Tami

Tagged as: antioxidants, beauty, exfoliation, eye care, eye cream, moisturizer, organic, organic ingredients, product review, skin care

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)