More commonly known as St. Barths, and most generally associated with the yachting, sweater over the shoulder crowd, who sip fine champagne, wear high heeled stilettos with their bikinis, and probably speak French – even if only to ask for la carte des vins. This exists here.
Being a native Angeleno, annual trips to Mexico were not uncommon given the close proximity from the City of Angels. My mom and I would venture to Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca, taking in the cultural revelry and chewing more chiclets than my mouth could fit.
They say everything is bigger in Texas—and for good reason. Dallas, in particular, is a sprawling, massive city filled with people with big hair and big personalities.
Just because you’re heading to Texas doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy a pair of Daisy Dukes or cowboy boots. Nor do you have to throw on a ball gown or start curling your hair like a debutante—in fact, Texas is the best of both worlds— casual, yet polished – relaxed, yet styled.
Every year, we all look forward to counting down as the ball drops, champagne glass in hand—all while looking impeccably dressed. But the problem year after year is figuring out exactly how to switch up your style routine as the 31st approaches, because wearing a sequined mini dress and heavy smoky eyes just isn’t going to continue to cut it.
Love at first sight. That’s what it was when I met Genevieve Hillis at Northwestern University many moons ago. She’s one of those people you trust with your life – not to mention with restaurant recommendations, the best spa treatments, hidden gems, and amazing music.
Hosting a dinner party is one of life’s pleasures I relish in most – the relaxed revelry, the inadvertent kitchen mistakes that your friends brush off like Bridget Jones’ blue soup, and the breaking of bread as a community – your close knit circle who opt to stay in vs going to a restaurant so you they laugh a little louder, help themselves to extra servings of (well) everything, and play late night poker with reckless abandon.
Friends first, food after. That’s how registered dietitian, Shira Lenchewski, and I could classify our relationship. She is one of my girls — grounded and ambitious, playful and quirky, and she peppers in sentences with the word “AB-soh-luuute-ly” with such an adorable intonation (syllables drawn out, eyes bright, with a slow nod for unintentional dramatic effect) that you will giggle.
Oh, Andy Chabot….my cup runneth over. Especially when he’s pouring. As sommelier and wine director of Blackberry Farm and recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program in 2014, this guy may know a thing or two about vino. And by “may” I mean unequivocally without a doubt, truly, madly, deeply.
When you spend your summers at Le Boudin Blanc, enveloped in the melange of smells that only French food can seduce you with – le beurre blanc browning in a pan, the crisp baguette being pulled from the oven, the sizzling escargots and simmering coq au vin – let’s just say, you don’t necessarily think of Alkaline eating.