Saturday, September 15, 2012
Curing Myself
I went swimming this morning but had to give up after 1.5 km because I felt dizzy. Remembering that on the farm we used to give cows, who just gave birth a bottle of wine to give them strength, I concluded that this must solve the problem:
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Daylight Carbs
Trends are there to be obeyed and so we finally cut back on carbs after dark... but there are the occasional daylight meals.
So later today we are invited to a birthday tea. Since we have never been to such an event we have no clue what is being served, we thought stocking up on carbs for lunch might not be the worst of ideas...
So later today we are invited to a birthday tea. Since we have never been to such an event we have no clue what is being served, we thought stocking up on carbs for lunch might not be the worst of ideas...
Penne with broccoli topped with cherry tomatoes slow fried in sage and butter from milk of Piedmontese cattle.
Sunday, August 05, 2012
5 on the Fifth - Summer Special
The final '5 on the fifth' was last December - but Stephen Chapman has decided to resurrect the old idea for a one-off summer special. So I don't want let him down and participate.
The rules are: "Take 5 photographs on the days leading up to the 5th and publish those on your own blog and then add the link to my blog so that others can find your images. You can either take 5 random pictures or follow this months theme: Summer." Well, here we go:
August 1, 2012
Celebrating Swissness with breakfast on the balcony on the 721st birthday of Switzerland.
August 2, 2012
Champagne o'clock with the swimmers (and boyfriends)
August 3, 2012
Quiet lunch break at MFO park.
August 4, 2012
Our first summer holidays had been on balcony, though this time we are heading abroad. Our first leg brought us to Savoy, where we stayed the night near Aix les bains.
August 5, 2012
About to Cross the Viaduc de Millau on our way to the winery Mas du Soleilla near Narbonne. It's the highest bridge ever built by mankind. Lord Norman Foster did it with unmatched elegance.
I hope you get the chance to enjoy your summer as well.
The rules are: "Take 5 photographs on the days leading up to the 5th and publish those on your own blog and then add the link to my blog so that others can find your images. You can either take 5 random pictures or follow this months theme: Summer." Well, here we go:
August 1, 2012
Celebrating Swissness with breakfast on the balcony on the 721st birthday of Switzerland.
August 2, 2012
Champagne o'clock with the swimmers (and boyfriends)
August 3, 2012
Quiet lunch break at MFO park.
August 4, 2012
Our first summer holidays had been on balcony, though this time we are heading abroad. Our first leg brought us to Savoy, where we stayed the night near Aix les bains.
August 5, 2012
About to Cross the Viaduc de Millau on our way to the winery Mas du Soleilla near Narbonne. It's the highest bridge ever built by mankind. Lord Norman Foster did it with unmatched elegance.
I hope you get the chance to enjoy your summer as well.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Chez Toño
About a year ago, Toño started a new job as wine buyer for a posh wine seller. Toño is responsible for all Latin countries except France, Quebec and Louisiana. This was a dream come true for Toño and he is very happy at his new post
The buyer team at his new firm has this tradition to invite each other home for a fine dinner and so tomorrow, they will drop by at our residence for a little soirée.
It is not that you cook and they have to eat what you serve them... far from it, every tiny little detail is discussed in the team and (luckily for our household budget) they also contribute some of the wine.
To cut a long story short, here is the menu they came up with:
L‘apéritif
Tricolore di Focaccia
Le vin
Champagne André Clouet brut Rosé
Première entrée
Terrine de foie gras
Alternative végétarienne
Terrine de légumes
Le vin
Champagne Roederer Cristal 2002
Deuxième entrée
Médaillons de thon sur tomates mondés Cuore di Bue au basilic avec huile d’olive extra vergine
Alternative végétarienne
Tranches de Mozzarella di Bufala sur tomates mondés Cuore di Bue au basilic avec huile d’olive extra vergine
Les vins
Puligny-Montrachet 2009, Domaine Leflaive
Ermitage «de l’Orée » 1991, M. Chapoutier
En plat principal
Rôti de veau à la sauce au vin rouge avec de pommes de terre et de carottes jeunes
Alternative végétarienne
Rôti de Tofu à la sauce au vin rouge avec de pommes de terre et de carottes jeunes
Les vins
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru – Les Champeaux 1999, Domaine Denis Mortet
Crozes-Hermitage « Les Varonniers » 1995, M. Chapoutier
Le dessert
Charlotte russe
Le vin
Château Rieussec 1989
The buyer team at his new firm has this tradition to invite each other home for a fine dinner and so tomorrow, they will drop by at our residence for a little soirée.
It is not that you cook and they have to eat what you serve them... far from it, every tiny little detail is discussed in the team and (luckily for our household budget) they also contribute some of the wine.
To cut a long story short, here is the menu they came up with:
L‘apéritif
Tricolore di Focaccia
Le vin
Champagne André Clouet brut Rosé
Première entrée
Terrine de foie gras
Alternative végétarienne
Terrine de légumes
Le vin
Champagne Roederer Cristal 2002
Deuxième entrée
Médaillons de thon sur tomates mondés Cuore di Bue au basilic avec huile d’olive extra vergine
Alternative végétarienne
Tranches de Mozzarella di Bufala sur tomates mondés Cuore di Bue au basilic avec huile d’olive extra vergine
Les vins
Puligny-Montrachet 2009, Domaine Leflaive
Ermitage «de l’Orée » 1991, M. Chapoutier
En plat principal
Rôti de veau à la sauce au vin rouge avec de pommes de terre et de carottes jeunes
Alternative végétarienne
Rôti de Tofu à la sauce au vin rouge avec de pommes de terre et de carottes jeunes
Les vins
Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru – Les Champeaux 1999, Domaine Denis Mortet
Crozes-Hermitage « Les Varonniers » 1995, M. Chapoutier
Le dessert
Charlotte russe
Le vin
Château Rieussec 1989
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Urban Green
In the age of sustainable living, the path to happiness goes through home-grown outdoor plants. This especially applies for townsfolk as we are. Thus we also avoided to be offside, followed the Zeitgeist and invested all our energy (and a lot of our money) into the plants on the balcony of our residence.
Of course, wreckful hailstorms are also a part of the Zeitgeist and of them met our geraniums a week ago. And meanwhile a fungus seize the opportunity and settled in with them. Though we are certain to overcoming this adversity as well.
Of course, wreckful hailstorms are also a part of the Zeitgeist and of them met our geraniums a week ago. And meanwhile a fungus seize the opportunity and settled in with them. Though we are certain to overcoming this adversity as well.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
The Upholstering Job
We have got two settees, which each of us brought into the marriage. The one from me was designed by the late Hannes Wettstein and it is one of my most esteemed possessions. I remember bringing a sample of the hardwood floor along to the shop to get the perfectly matching covers. Well, after about 12 years, said covers became a bit threadbare and something had to be done.
The first attempt was to go to the shop where I bought it. Apparently, the couch is no longer being produced but the fabric for the cover is still available. The shop was happy to provide an offer within a few weeks: 16'000$
That was slightly hard to swallow, not only considering that this was more than twice of what the couch cost in the first place...
Luckily there are alternatives like the upholstering shop in the village I was born and bred. They did it for a tenth of that price and even suggested a bolder fabric which now also matches with the painting above.
We are very happy with the new look.
The first attempt was to go to the shop where I bought it. Apparently, the couch is no longer being produced but the fabric for the cover is still available. The shop was happy to provide an offer within a few weeks: 16'000$
That was slightly hard to swallow, not only considering that this was more than twice of what the couch cost in the first place...
Luckily there are alternatives like the upholstering shop in the village I was born and bred. They did it for a tenth of that price and even suggested a bolder fabric which now also matches with the painting above.
We are very happy with the new look.
Location:The Upholstering Job
Friday, June 08, 2012
Cucumber Salad
It is close to bed time and this is usually the time I am brushing my teeth, floss and so on... and the time I am reflecting on the day that just passed. Well, looking back on today I have to admit that I have not achieved much for my caring employer. Never mind. Though the thing I can truly be proud of is that cucumber salad I came up with as side for the slice of tuna Toño made for dinner.
I was torn between crème fraîche and yoghurt as base for the dressing and luckily sided for the latter. It was refreshing and went perfectly well with the tuna as well.
I mixed a plain yoghurt with some apple vinegar and seasoned with sea salt and black and red pepper. Before adding the dressing to the pitted, quartered and finely sliced cucumber, I sprinkled them with chopped dill.
Dinner was served with a Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner Tradition 2010.
I was torn between crème fraîche and yoghurt as base for the dressing and luckily sided for the latter. It was refreshing and went perfectly well with the tuna as well.
I mixed a plain yoghurt with some apple vinegar and seasoned with sea salt and black and red pepper. Before adding the dressing to the pitted, quartered and finely sliced cucumber, I sprinkled them with chopped dill.
Dinner was served with a Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner Tradition 2010.
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Eiertütsch
Eiertütsch is a good old Swiss Easter tradition. A kind of an affair of honour. It's about breaking each other's eggs. The challenged can choose the type of weapon - that is, if he prefers to go for little egg's endian versus little egg's endian of big versus big. The loser usually has the right to regain his honour by asking for a return match with the other endians. We are very passionate about this. Well as passionate as Swiss can get.
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