fête à fête

Cosmopolitan chic reigns in Guerlain's spring 2008 Fleur de Feu collection. Radiant pinks, berries, and ash grey combine to reflect the modern woman.

The black gold case of the Ombre Éclat eyeshadow opens up to reveal four shades stamped with a bright pink floral design. Whether you want sparkling turquoise, a sandy beige or silvery bronze, the matte and iridescent textures will result in the perfect wash of color.

The unique formula of the KISSKISS STICK GLOSS glides on with the convenience of a lipstick but finishes with a gloss' brilliant shine. Lightly flavored with hints of fruit, the colors of berry, cherry, pink and grape will paint the a portrait of feminine elegance.

www.guerlain.com

-Tami

Tagged as: cosmetics, eye color, eyeshadow, lip color, lipstick, makeup

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Sunday morning breakfasts suddenly got way easier with the Batter Blaster pancake and waffle batter. The ready-to-use organic mix is packaged into an aerosol can, so you can spray and cook in minutes. No more messy prep work- just aim the nozzle at the griddle and you're a-cookin'. Made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients, the batter uses certified humane, cafe-free eggs. I feel so healthy already. The propellant contains no CFCs and the cans are made of recyclable steel.

Available at Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, Lunardi’s, Andronico’s, Draeger’s, Smart & Final, Raleys/Nob Hill Foods, independent retailers, Costco’s, and Lucky/Save Mart stores.

www.batterblaster.com

See ya in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: breakfast, cooking, food, organic, organic ingredients

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Take the Juicy Tubes World Tour with London fashion designer Christopher Kane! Sought after by Kate Moss and Victoria Beckahm, Kane's energetic designs are now captured in the new Lancôme Christopher Kane Juicy Tubes.

Each of the nine new lip glosses are decorated with an illustration by Christopher. The shades, names and flavors were inspired by Kane’s fashion travels. Each captures the excitement of the hottest cities (Red Hot New York, Fifth Avenue Frosting, Copacabana Coffee, Rio Mango, Grand Café Crème Brûlée, Moulin Rose, Paris Bubbly, Tokyo Plum Blossom, and Peach Mochi).

The Lancôme Christopher Kane Juicy Tubes are available at lancome-usa.com, the five Lancôme boutiques, specialty stores and counters nationwide.

www.lancome-usa.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, cosmetics, fashion, fashion designer, lip color, lip gloss, makeup

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I love Italian cuisine. When Farina opened up in SF, I was excited to try the Ligurian menu. Unlike other places where they do a California-Italian twist, this is the real deal. With a chef from Genoa taking the helm, the result is an impressive feast any formidable Italian grandmother will approve.

The Parma prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella focaccia made my taste buds tingle. The heat from the lightly fried bread contrasted nicely with the fresh and cool cheese. They specialize in focaccia so definitely make a point of ordering one. The butterfish and black cod crudo was refreshingly simple with just a splash of citrus.

The pastas are just amazing. Handmade at the marble counter, this is some of the best and most authentic I've had in a while. I feel like I'm in Italy when I ate the airy Pansotti al Sugo di Noci (tortelli filled with ricotta and borage). The delicate walnut cream sauce complemented perfectly with the velvety ricotta. The Tortelli con castelmagno al burro e tartufo nero (torteli filled with castelmagno cheese, butter, and black truffle) was to die for. The pasta was so thin it melted right onto my tongue, exploding into a cheese lover's bliss.

For dessert, get the Latte dolce fritto (sweet milk fritters with citrus salad and blood orange vanilla sauce) and the almond semifreddo with orange caramel and creme anglais. The gelati and panna cotta looked good too, but we didn't have any more room to try another bite. Try their Tai Snapper recipe below - the easy seafood dish will transport you to a quaint Italian seaside town...

Farina
Focaccia & Cucina Italiana
3560 18th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 565-0360
www.farinafoods.com

Dentice alla Ligure con patate

Ingredients:

2 pounds of fresh Tai Snapper
2 large potato tournet, halved and cooked in boiling water
20 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons of Italian pine nuts
15 black Ligurian taggiasche olives, pitted
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove
Parsley, chopped
Sea salt
1 cup of Pigato wine ( Ligurian white wine)
1 cup fish stock

Preparation:

Clean and fillet the Tai Snapper in 4 filets leaving the skin intact.

Pan sear the Tai Snapper skin side first with 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. When the skin becomes crisp, turn the filet and discard the oil. Next add the cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, taggiasche olives, potato tournet, extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and one cup of wine.

When the wine has evaporated add the fish stock, garlic, and chopped parsley, and cook in a 500 degree oven for 3 to 4 minutes. When the fish is cooked, plate the potatoes and reduce the stock to a sauce like consistency. Plate the fish and finish with the pan sauce, tomatoes, olives, and pine nuts. Serves 4.

Recipe by Chef Paolo Laboa

-Tami

Tagged as: chef, cooking, food, food & drink, recipe, restaurants, San Francisco

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Since the launch of Emerson Hart's solo debut Cigarettes & Gasoline, the pop-rock album is still making waves with his stirring lyrics. The former lead singer of Tonic mines his painful past for inspiration and it shows. A couple songs I like are the accoustic "Green Hills Race for California," "Friend to a Stranger," and the title track "Cigarettes and Gasoline." Great lyrics in his work - all Tonic fans need to add this to their collection.

www.emersonhart.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, vocals

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Burberry's new perfume The Beat is a bright floral woody fragrance with notes of bergamot, mandarin, Ceylon tea, cardamom, pink pepper, bluebell, iris, white musk, vetiver and cedarwood.

The edgy bottle design is minimalistic, shaped like a trendy flask and etched with the iconic Burberry check. The scent is aimed at the ultra-cool hipster crowd, but no matter. You can create your own individual beat.

www.burberrythebeat.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, fragrance, perfume

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Leave it to Givenchy to create another playful makeup collection. The 2008 Denim Fétiche is inspired by the modern and sexy spirit of denim. The limited edition topstitched package design says it all.

Don't be fooled by the vivid colors. They're quite easy to blend and all the products complement each other. Denim blues and dark purples give a dramatic flair amidst all the lilacs and pinks that are normally offered in spring makeup palettes. I love all the Accessor’eyes Powder & Cream Eyeshadow Quartets and the Rouge Interdit lipsticks. Each is a beauty product and fashion statement all in one!

www.parfumsgivenchy.com/make_up

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, eye color, eyeshadow, limited edition makeup, lip color, lipstick, makeup

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The Domestic Goddess strikes again! Trust Nigella Lawson to deliver another sassy cookbook for the busy home cook. With time-saving shortcuts, the Food Network celeb's latest title, Nigella Express, will provide inspiring menu ideas for every night of the week. The gorgeous photos will have you drooling as you run to the kitchen to try out all 130 recipes.

Craving Italiano? Just flip to the Hey Presto section and you'll find lightning-fast and yummy recipes for Pollo Alla Cacciatora, Black Pasta with Red Mullet, and Budino Di Cioccolato. Feeling Frazzled? Head to the Instant Calmer chapter for Cheddar Cheese Risotto or Rapid Ragu. Unexpected guests? Not a problem - just make the Curry in a Hurry from the Storecupboard SOS chapter. Check out the Scallops and Chorizo recipe below - it's a pretty crowd pleaser.

Scallops and Chorizo

I’ve long been a fan of scallops and bacon and scallops with chile, and this is my combination of the two, using chorizo — the sausage, not the salami — to ooze its paprika-hot orange oil over the sweet, white scallops. It’s quicker than the speed of light to make and quite as dazzling.

4oz chorizo sausage
1lb small scallops (halve them to make 2 thinner discs if they are very fat)
juice of half a lemon
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Slice the chorizo into rounds no thicker than 1/8 inch.

Put a pan on the stove to get hot and then dry-fry (the chorizo will give out plenty of its own oil) the chorizo rounds until crisped on either side; this should take no more than 2 minutes.

Remove the chorizo to a bowl and fry the scallops in the chorizo oil for about a minute a side.

Return the chorizo to the pan with the scallops, add the lemon juice, and let bubble for a few seconds before arranging on a serving plate and sprinkling with lots of parsley.

Serves 4 as a main course with the chickpeas and arugula that follow; would be fine with just a little leafage for 8 as a starter.

Recipe printed with permission from Hyperion.

www.nigella.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, chef, cookbook, cooking, cooking techniques, dessert, dinner, food, food & drink, recipes

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Take advantage of the great Easter sale at Williams-Sonoma! Check out the darling Mini Iced Easter Sugar Cookies - once you munch on one, you can't stop! These tiny buttery cookies are baked in cute Easter shapes (bunny, egg, carrot, flower). They're so adorable that you don't want to eat them, but I still managed to attack a few. Prepared by a small family-owned Canadian bakery, these are made with real butter, fresh eggs, and are hand decorated with royal icing.

For a spectacular Spring centerpiece, the Moss & Strawflower Easter Basket with Chocolate Carrots will spark conversation at the table. The wire and sphagnum moss basket comes filled with six Guittard milk chocolate carrots wrapped in orange-and-green foil. The basket’s rim is also interwoven with marjoram and lavender stems and accented with sunny yellow strawflowers.

If you want to bake your own Easter goodies, the Williams-Sonoma Nonstick Goldtouch™ Insulated Cookie Sheet totally rocks. This baking sheet boasts a durable nonstick Goldtouch™ coating to resist scratches and peeling, while the insulated constriction ensures even browning. The two tin-free steel layers increases heat circulation, so cookies bake evenly throughout and emerge with a light golden crust. It won't rust or warp either. What a wonder baking tool.

www.williams-sonoma.com

Happy Easter!

Tami

Tagged as: baking, baking tools, confection, cookies, dessert, entertaining, food, shopping

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Polished and über sophisticated, Giorgio Armani's Spring 2008 colors are sleek, muted and fresh. To start, a light wash of color is imparted with the fluid sheer radiance (light sheer apricot #17 or vibrant pink #18). This is a nice contouring or hightlighting product. It can also be used as a blush.

The silky maestro eye shadow #13 is a fresh satin green that will make the eyes pop. I love how light and smooth the formula is, it glides on nicely and doesn't fade.

For the pale lip, apply the creamy and long-lasting armanisilk lipstick in beige #55 or soft pink #67. To add depth to your lips, layer with the #49 lip shimmer for a sparkly effect.

To get the look, see the master class here:
http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/_us/_en/advisor/spring_2008_1.aspx?

www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, cosmetics, eye color, eyeshadow, Giorgio Armani, lip color, lip gloss, lipstick, makeup

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

You don't need to host an elaborate Easter brunch to enjoy the fine confections from Vosges Haut Chocolat. The adorable Chocolate Easter Bunnies will make you smile - choose from the new Amalfi Bunny (lemon zest & pink peppercorn), or take home the Barcelona Bunny (smoked almonds & sea salt).

I didn't believe that pigs could fly...until now. The new Flying Chocolate Pig will make your taste buds sing. If you love the Mo's Bacon Bar like I do, you will appreciate this cute arrival. The solid chocolate pig combines applewood smoked bacon (yum), Alder wood smoked salt and deep milk chocolate (double yum). That's my definition of heaven.

If that's not decadent enough for ya, then go for Bapchi's Caramel Toffee. One of their top-sellers, the salty-sweet combo is a classic fave. I bet you can inhale the entire box in one sitting. The extremely addictive and oh-so-buttery toffee is sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt, then coated with deep milk chocolate. A coating of roasted organic walnuts and pecans provide the extra satisfying crunch.

The Exotic Caramel collection is becoming another favorite of mine. Not just your average caramel, these come in intriguing blends of Aboriginal anise myrtle, bee pollen, Tupelo honey, and blood orange juice. Your senses will be delighted with the whimsical flavors, all bathed in a luxurious layer of butter, sugar, cream, and chocolate.

www.vosgeschocolate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate bar, chocolate truffles, chocolatier, entertaining, food, gifts, seasonal, shopping

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The latest limited edition perfume from Lacoste, Dream of Pink is a vibrant exploration of passionate dreams and youthful energy. Floral and fruity, the perfume opens up with sweet berries, lengthening to a delicate rose and lotus center. Sandalwood rounds out the base, creating a seductive warmth. The long-lasting perfume is contained in a feminine curvy bottle, reminscent of a woman's waistline.

Available at Lacoste boutiques nationwide.

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, fragrance, perfume, shopping

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Another lush and ethereal release by glam electonica duo Goldfrapp, the fourth release Seventh Tree is quite a departure from the signature synth beats. Nevertheless, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory show off their music chops by reinventing themselves with slower, sensual, and accoustic melodies.

As they take us through another euphoric adventure, the listener finds him/herself dancing through Alison's dreamily hushed vocals. Dashed with hints of electronica, the mood is upbeat, to the point where you wonder if you should be frolicking through some meadows as you listen to "Caravan Girl." "Happiness" rocks with their tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and the hypnotic "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" is a nice reminder of earlier work in Felt Mountain.

Some fans might dismiss this album as it's clearly not Supernature Part II. But it will grow on you, as this is another brilliant evolution from a group that refuses to conform to commercial pop formulas.

www.goldfrapp.com

-Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, music, music review, vocals

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I love the new spring perfumes from Pacifica. Made with natural grain alcohol, the Malibu Lemon Blossom spray is sublime with notes of lemon blossom, lemon, angel's trumpet and litsea cubea. The Body Butter and Natural Soap versions also rock. Inspired by the place where founders Brook & Billy Taylor live, 5% of proceeds from the fragrance collection will benefit an environmental non-profit the founders have established (Ocean Liberation).

There are also three other new perfumes to layer with: Brazilian Mango Grapefruit (mango, spice and pink grapefruit), Hawaiian Ruby Guava (guava, pomelo, coconut), and my personal favorite Bali Lime Papaya (papaya, kaffir lime, lime blossom). Such fun and flirty scents to play with! It's like a tropical beach party.

The super cute line of solid perfume tins are made with a 100% organic soy and coconut wax base. Perfect for tiny purses or travel bags, the long-lasting vegan scents can also be combined to create multiple layers of olfactory bliss. They are also friendly for the earth; you can recycle the tins. They come in the following scents: Malibu Lemon Blossom, Brazilian Mango Grapefruit, Hawaiian Ruby Guava, Bali Lime Papaya, Tahitian Gardenia, Sandalwood, Mediterranean Fig, and Tuscan Blood Orange.

www.pacificacandles.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, fragrance, Natural, perfume

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Noted for their complex Sauvignon Blancs, the Langtry Estate 2006 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc "Lillie" is a fantastic addition to a lovely springtime picnic or chic luncheon. Crisp and vibrant, the wine shows off fruity aromas of grapefruit, fig, and melon. I'd get a few bottles for those unexpected visitors. They will be rather impressed with this selection.

www.langtryestate.com

-Tami

Tagged as: food & drink, wine

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you want a killer bod in a fairly short amount of time, try The Bar Method. Done three times a week, you will see results within a month. The exercise combines elements of yoga, isometrics, core strengthening, and ballet barre work into a unique body shaping class. The routine also improves strength, stamina, flexibility, and posture. Soon you will notice a tighter, more athletic appearance in the "right" areas - abs, legs, tush, and arms. This also created a devoted following amongst celebs like Drew Barrymore.

I like the new downtown SF studio, with its beautiful studio space, lovely locker room, and convenient location:

The Bar Method - Downtown San Francisco
Three Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level
415-956-0446
www.barmethod.com/sf-downtown.htm

See you at the barre,

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, fitness, health, San Francisco, workout

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Academy Award winner Frances McDormand and Academy Award nominee Amy Adams are on a mission to find true love - all in one day! In "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," the charming comedy promises lots of glamour, elegant fun, and snappy dialogue between the two leading ladies.

Set in 1939 London, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Ms. McDormand) is a middle aged governess who finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. Seizing an opportunity, she intercepts an assignment as “social secretary.” Miss Pettigrew is soon thrown into the glamorous and chaotic life of American actress Delysia Lafosse (Ms. Adams). Swept into a heady dream world of high-society, Mrs. Pettigrew helps Delysia navigate a love life and career, both of which are complicated by the three men in Delysia’s orbit.

Opens Friday, March 7th, 2008 (in select cities); Starring Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace, Ciarán Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong

www.focusfeatures.com

See you at the movies!

Tami

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, film, Film Stars, movie, movie soundtrack

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Drawing on the great multi-cultural history of American food, the editors of Saveur succeed in creating another gorgeous collection of delicious recipes in Saveur Cooks Authentic American. Filled with great photography and anecdotes of the recipes' origins, you will find traditional faves like meat loaf and apple pie, as well as matzo ball soup and carne picada burritos. From Italian family recipes in San Francisco to finger-lickin' ribs in Memphis, Saveur Cooks Authentic American is a tasty quilt of preserved tradition and culture.

White Beans with Linguiça Sausage

Portuguese fishermen and their families along the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coastline still prepare many traditional dishes from their homeland. This one is flavored with linguiça, a Portuguese-style sausage—but any dried, smoked pork sausage may be used instead.

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and minced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 ½ tsp. paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
½ lb. linguiça, sliced ¼” thick
¼ cup tomato purée
1 lb. navy beans or other dried small white beans
Salt
2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

1. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 20 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, then season with red pepper flakes, paprika, and black pepper.

2. Increase heat to medium. Add linguiça to onion mixture and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add tomato purée, beans, and 4 cups water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until beans are tender, about 1 hour (though some types of beans may take considerably longer, depending on size and age). Season to taste with salt and garnish with parsley.

Serves 4-6

www.chroniclebooks.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: Books, chef, cookbook, cooking, cooking techniques, food, food & drink, recipes

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