Holiday Coffee Cocktails with Nespresso

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Tis the season, as they say. With all the up coming parties and family get togethers, I thought it would be fun to do a classic twist on the simple pleasure and ease of  Nespresso coffee as either a sweet delectable treat or seasonal cocktail to keep the party going. Whether it’s through holiday entertaining in good taste among family and friends or savoring a moment alone on the couch, these are great ways to be a stylish host without too much effort but maintaining the best quality. 

The new VertuoLine Evoluo Machine creates both a splendid cup of coffee or shot of espresso with Nespresso’s signature layer of naturally-formed crema. My friend Molly who is a food writer and stylist developed two holiday coffee cocktails based on these functions of our machine. Of course, it would be a great idea to gift an Evoluo for the holidays and break in the machine with a fun treat like these! 

Hot Mocha

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1 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1 shot Nespresso espresso

handful marshmallows, to serve

dusting of white sparkling sugar & edible silver stars

to spike (optional)- add a shot of whiskey or bourbon

Heat the milk, cocoa and sugar in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat until steaming. Whisk to combine. Make a shot of Nespresso espresso in a large mug. Pour hot chocolate mixture over the espresso and top with marshmallows. Serve immediately. *Makes 1 Holiday_Coffee_Cocktail_Nespresso_03 Continue reading “Holiday Coffee Cocktails with Nespresso”

Coffee Rituals with Nespresso

Trying out the new Nespresso VertuoLine as part of my coffee ritual

For the launch of the “Experience a cup above” with a great new campaign with George Clooney, Nespresso asked me to talk about what my daily coffee routine is and try out the lastest VertuoLine machine, Evoluo. So we packed it up and took it to the house upstate this past weekend.

I never really think about how important coffee is in my life even though it’s one of the great constants to my daily routine. In fact, considering I’ve been drinking coffee since I was a teenager (much to the disapproval of my parents I might add) I’d say on the record it is my longest dependent relationship. There was that one week I tried to quit caffeine but considering how well I did NOT handle that let’s just say I won’t be experimenting like that again. As you guys know here, nothing about my day-to-day life is constant, be it waking up in Paris or on a train to Machu Picchu, but without fail, I have to start my day with a cup of black coffee.

In the city, my husband makes me a cup of coffee every morning. It’s one of those small, sweet things that are what life is about. I sit in bed and spend about an hour “checking in with the world”. I listen to NPR, I read The Skimm and Business of Fashion and take a peek at my email before I decide it’s too overwhelming. If for some reason I’m up and about before he wakes up, he’ll always refresh my cup for me when he does emerge. There is nothing like the smell in the early morning light of that earthy, stark, foggy, richness of coffee.

On the weekends when I’m at home I’ll indulge in a second cup while I scroll Instagram or try to sit still to read a book. Trying the Nespresso was a fun experience with all the different blends and roast options and I learned that only the top 1-2% of the worlds coffee is chosen for the Nespresso Grands Crus and that gorgeous silky crema on top is in fact a sign of high quality coffee. I loved how beautiful the machine is, smaller than I was expecting which I like. I chose red, I love red in a kitchen, and according to Kevin it’s psychologically the most appetizing color. Or I just like the way it looks. They have a great recycle program too, something that is important to me. As a busy New Yorker, I do like to make things simple, less cleanup, less hassle, less time but not creating so much waste.

So that’s my coffee story. I’ve done it all from deli cups in New York to silver tray service at the St. Regis to coffee with ginger in Bali and everything else in between. But at home… this is how I like it- simple and lovely.

Trying out the new Nespresso VertuoLine as part of my coffee ritual Trying out the new Nespresso VertuoLine as part of my coffee ritual Continue reading “Coffee Rituals with Nespresso”

A Cointreau Summer

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 Recently we shot a cinemagraph series for Cointreau, an orange-flavored liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, France, which brought in a flurry of butterflies and easy summer cocktail recipes into the studio. Light, simple and delicious I found them to be the perfect charming drink to serve your guests and friends this summer holiday weekend without finding yourself spending too much time crafting a cocktail. 

THE ORIGINAL COINTREAU RICKEY

– 2 oz Cointreau

– 1 oz  fresh lime juice

– 4 oz club soda

Pour Cointreau and fresh lime juice into a glass and add ice. Top with Club soda and stir. Garnish with a lime and orange zest. 

 

{styled by Kelly Framel || model by Karolina Wallce || Hair by Casey Geren || Makeup by Porsche Cooper || Manicure by Angel Williams }

More entertaining ideas and inspiration here

HUSK

Charleston's newest popular resturant HUSK.

Talk about COMFORT FOOD. Husk is Charleston’s perfect combination of modern day sophistication and down-home goodness. The second you walk onto the double-front porch and feel the coziness of being home, it’s like the whole experience has you wrapped in a cashmere blanket. The board on the foyer wall lists all the local farms, fishermen, growers who supply your food. It feels like one big Southern family here with roots that extend for generations. On the drink menu they serve things like cider made from the same recipe as its creation 100 years ago  or house-made soda concoctions and old classics like Cheerwine Soda from Salisbury, NC, the old soft drink company still run by the same family. With a menu that changes twice daily, it’s so hard to decide what to order! As far as the classics on the menu go, I’m always a sucker for southern catfish, which is outstanding here, but word has it they are the best burger in town. So add it to your must-eats list and feel free to take me with you when you go….

PS- the pig ear lettuce wraps are DELICIOUS, the selection of Madeira wine is fantastic, and their pimento cheese crostini haunt my dreams…

Charleston's newest popular resturant HUSK. Charleston's newest popular resturant HUSK. Charleston's newest popular resturant HUSK. Continue reading “HUSK”

Champagne Dreams…

Yesterday marked the 230th anniversary of the 1st shipment of Veuve Clicquot Champagne to the United States, which was first ordered by a Frenchman living in Philadelphia who was familiar with the excellent sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France… what else would you expect from the French?! 

To mark this special occasion my darling friends at Veuve Clicquot along with Kelly Framel, Mat Sanders and Kevin Burg boarded a train from Penn Station in New York to Philadelphia, our port of call. A quick little trolly to a historic ship and then the Veuve Clicquot champagne began to flow!

As introduced by Veuve Clicquot’s Cellar Master Dominique Demarville, we sipped on a vintage Rosé from 1989 with hors d’oeuvres, Cave Privée Vintage from 1990 with appetizers, my favorite and a very special treat with the 1978 vintage pared with our main courses, and finishing with a lovely demi-sec and dessert.

I think it’s safe to say we dreamt in Champagne dreams and bubbles of beauty last night…

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BBQ at its Best

Tucked away in a gas station in Kansas City, KS is Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ– named by Anthony Bourdain as one of the 13 places to eat before you die which is exactly what I want to do from happiness when I gobble the pulled pork sandwich in a dizzy frantic craze. This is the only time I’ve ever had the control to snap a few photos before the feasting began… but come on- how good does that look?!

Continue reading “BBQ at its Best”