Xmas Eve Oysters and Blinis

We were joined by our great friends Robert and Gerard for Drinks on Christmas Eve. The boys provided the caviar and blinis and Pip shucked a few dozen Malpec Oysters, bought at St Lawrence Market that day, while I concocted two shooters (stolen from Dinah Koo's The Cocktail Chef cookbook) and Oysters Rockefeller (inspired by oysters I had on the pier at San Clemente,Ca in May)

Pip believes Oysters are sacrisant and should not be buggered around with. I don't agree. I love them au naturel but every other way too!!

My oyster shooters were a huge success. Served in vintage pewter shot cups last used by my gandparents when they lived in Java in the 30's. They are definitely an instant party starter!! I had to adjust the recipe for just the four of us, her original for 12 shooters from each flavour is listed below.

Tangy Tomato and Beer Shooter (my favourite).

• 12 shucked oysters, one in bottom of each shot glasses
• 1/2 cup American Cocktail sauce with Horseradish (tomato and horseradish)
• 2tsp lemon juice.  
• 1/4 cup  beer. I used Leffe Brun (also my fav) which was rich and earthy with the horseradish and salty sweet oyster. Divine.
• Mix wet ingreds together and season to taste.
• Put 1Tbsp of mix on top of each oyster

Robert liked the Vodka, Cucumber mix better. He thought it was more subtle and I've gotta say it was very yummy too.

Vodka Cucumber Mix

• 12 oysters, shucked
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 vodka
• 3 Tbspn finely diced cucumber,unpeeled
• 3tsp horseradish, bottled or freshly grated
• 2tsp Dijon mustard
• 3/4 tsp salt to taste.
• Mix all ingredients and pour 1Tbspn into shooter glass ontop of  oyster

The Oyster Rockefeller recipe came out of my head and memory.  I dont use measures for bechemel because Ive always just made it by feel. Anyway it worked and we wished we'd made a whole lot more.

• 
  
  Shucked oysters, juice and shells reserved. Allow 2 to 6 per person depending on whether its a plated entree (appetiser) or canape.
• 
  
  Spinach sauteed in butter
• Bacon crisplyly fried and broken up
• Bechemel Sauce made with butter and flour roux, thinned with oyster juice, white wine and hafland half milk ( or light cream) seasoned with s and p and a touch of dijon mustard.
• Assemble a little spinach in each shell, nestle raw oyster next, top with bacon bits and cover with sauce
• Top with a dash of  finely grated cheese then place under grill until cheese bubbles and is golden.

 We drank a few different bottles of Prosecco and Champagne with our oyster feast and were totally tipsy when New Zealand called via Skype.. We were both able to see our families during their Christmas celebrations and it meant a lot to me to be able to see my parents and sons live on Christmas Day. Mum had a glass of bubbles in her hand as we spoke and I was thrilled to see how well she looked after her hip replacement in September. Although we were having fun at our own party New Zealand looked fresh and bright and wonderful and we both felt sad not to be there.

We managed to assuage those feelings with more champagne and my christmas cake which we cut later that night. The butter icing laced with Grand Marnier was too die for even though the cake itself was a tinsey bit on the dry side. It was thankfully saved by the plump fruit inside(cranberries, sultanas, christamas mince and chocolate.) The flavour reminded me, not of my mothers dark rich fruitcake, but of the paler cakes Doris Fulton and Val Thorburn used to make and a sultana cake my Dad and Vicky still make.

Julie’s Christmas Cake Frosting Secret!

This year I added chocolate bits and dried cranberries to my Christmas cake recipe, doused the cooked cake with Grand Marnier for a few days then frosted with Grand Marnier Butter Frosting. This frosting is rich and sinfully good. Slather over a store bought fruit cake and you will look like a gourmand! I top my cake with pohutukawa blossoms, the flowers of the New Zealand Christmas Tree.

Ingredients for Grand Marnier Butter Frosting

• 150g butter, softened
• 3-4 tbsp Grand Marnier
•  450g icing sugar
• Gradually beat the icing sugar into the butter, adding enough Grand Marnier as you go until the icing is pale, smooth and spreadable.
• Spread over the top and down sides of the cake, swirling it with a palette knife. Store in airtight tin.  

The weather god performed and we had flurries of snow during the evening which is always lovely and makes us feel very Christmassy!!

After swopping our secret Santa gifts ( I received a years supply of  tall candles for my antler candlesticks and Pip, a whole rabbit and the challenge to cook a rabbit feast for the boys)  Robert and Gerard left to take the subway home and we tucked ourselves up in bed with the thought of our duck dinner tomorrow night to dream about.

The next day dawned, Christmas day 2009, our third at home in Isabella Street. This year it didnt seem quite as exciting after NZ in 07 and Quebec in 08.

Dishing up a eggs Florentine for brekkie we felt a but flat after the fun and skyping of last night. Pip manages to crack me up though..so a merry xmas morning ensues as we open our antipodean pressies!

 It snowed a little and we walked with Mac then got the duck in the oven with all the trimmings. Deciding to do Bob Blumer's horseradish Snowmen was a little nuts but they looked so cute it was worth it to add a little whimsey to our evening.

Toronto: November 5 2009

Planning Xmas in the snow. Possibly Blue Mountain, possibly Tremblant but probably Quebec.

The Return of Toronto Pip October 27 2009

Fall in Toronto is gorgeous this year. Looking forward to Thanksgiving and snow falling after hot and busy summer of travels.

Juju reports on summer at Bay Head, NJ: August 2009

Its a long way from Toronto to Bay Head. This is the real Jersey Shore. I'm not sure if "Jersey Shore' the reality show has hit downunder but suffice to say it shows a very different side of this favourite beach destination for thousands of New Yorkers and Noo Jerseyites.

Bay Head has come to mean summer for us. Bay Head is a small enclave of charming homes near Pt Pleasant on the Jersey shore about an hour south of  New York city or Newark Airport. Think gracious cape cod style homes with porches and shutters, weathered timber shingles, white hydrangeas, rockers and boston ferns and gelato colored weatherboards. People take pride in these homes and there is a feeling of calm preppy chic.

Friends Linda and Alan invited us to stay for the weekend and join them at the Mantoloking Yacht club dinner and dance recently. Linda, a fashion stylist, nixed my long navy dress and heels because the dress showed too much heel!!!, luckily I'd packed back up and the orange number I'd bought for the Newport beach party in May got the good nod.

While we fussed over hair and heels, the boys cycled over on their comfort bikes ( the standard mode of beach village transport in these parts). We girls tooled over in the car protecting our do's! I had no idea what to expect, isn't that the best way to approach an evening because it turned out to be really super special.

The locals taught us a thing or two about how to party. The very Ralf Lauren preppy crowd was a true mix from teens to grans but everyone boogied the night away to an amazing band helped out by Bon Jovi's blonde keyboard player Dave Bryan. There was such a sense of  joie d'vie and I was just tickled pink to be part of such wholehearted fun and enjoyment of the moment. These people really know how to FUN!

The night was perfection, the sunset a pink pearl glory over the still waters of the bay,  the water lapping right up to the club house as we sat waterside for a dinner of  perfectly cooked beef filet. BYO was the order of the night and seemed to work really well, boys arrives with their chilly bins (coolers) stocked full of booze while the club provides mixers, ice and slices of lime and lemon. All very civilised really.

Later we piled back onto bikes and into cars and went back to Dave Bryans house for an afterparty. He rents a gorgeous old mansion in the dunes and once again it was fun to get to party in such a lovely home. Alans sister and the boys played Beer Pong....seems to be a ritual on the east coast.... a frat house hangover I think. You fill some paper cups with beer and try and plop ping pong balls into the cup. Jeez Wayne. I think you have to be seriously pickled to think thats fun but then I've never been much for party games. Needless to say we had fun and after a stint sitting out on the dunes in cap cod chairs we hit the trail back home. Still  fairly tipsy and in my very high heels, Pip slung me over the handlebars of his pink easy cruiser !! and doubled me home through the quiet streets of Bay Head, singing his heart out, much to Alan's delight and a local cops displeasure! Somehow we made it back to home and hearth, my high heels unscathed and without a citation.

Juju logs our trip to Maui: August 2009

Pip and I flew to Maui last Thursday to meet up with old friends Milson and Leigh Thevenard. Tim, one of Milsons brothers has lived on the island for 34 years. His home in Kuau just along the road from Paia in sugar cane country is just a stroll from some of the best windsurfing beaches on the Island. An old cane cutters house, Tim and wife Chris have renovated and added tropical plantings and huge veggie garden at the back. Orchids, plumeria (frangipani), palms and tieri (hawaiian gardenia) perfume the air.

The little store at Kuau introduced us to Poke (pokey)... raw tuna with a hint of seaweed with soy and sesame dip, Coconut sorbet in halved coconut shell and POG.... a great juice mixture made from passionfruit, orange and guava.

We spent the first and last days at Baldwins beach in Paia a long white stretch of beach scattered with coral debris and fringed by palms and acacias.

A lunch ritual was my Obama burger, Ahi burgers for the others from The Fish Market in Paia. The Obama burger was a grilled slab of Cajun Ono  (white fish) topped with Wasabi butter, slaw, cheese and mayo and was too die for. Paia had a real surfer hippie vibe with Mana foods being a mecca for all things wholesome and delicous. Latarte was a stunning boutique of resort wear, totally beautiful coverups that Leigh and I drooled over, but with price tags around the 200 - 300 mark these tops were not random buys. If I hadnt just purchased my summer gear from Lisa Curran back in New Jersey I might have splurged.

The white sands at Wilea just along from the 4 Seasons Hotel was our fav spot for turtle watching. The mound coral there was the softest green and although fish were not plentiful there were enough to satisty. A large turtle swam along the beach and popped his head up beside me. He was a shiny freckled brown with bright eyes and his beak looked a little dangerous. Milson and Pip swam with him for a while.

We discovered a cool Pupu lounge (apetiser or small plate) in Kihei  where we all tried different
 tropical cocktails. We loved the tiki lights and glasses and stayed for dinner there before heading back to put Tim's chickens to bed.

Most nights we grilled(bbq'd) fish back at the house which was fun. The air was fresher than we are used too and a little cooler than the humidity of NYC, it was a treat to sit outside each night by candlelight and enjoy the tradewind breezes the island is famous for. No need for aircon just a few celing fans ( which I've had to accept are the only way to go in this climate if you hate aircon...and I do) and many of the windows were just sliding screens left open all the time.

Honey girl, brownie and blackie were the reason Mils and Leigh were housesitting for Tim. Three chooks, Junior Boy the ginger cat and the veggie garden and newly landscaped front garden required a fair amount of daily effort. Honey girl was the star, laying one perfect egg per day in a little crate by the back door. Milson herded the three chooks nightly into their chook house and let them out again each morning. Leigh hand fed them with gourmet options daily...quinoa, shitake mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, couscous, oats and even raisins.

We took a trip to Lahaina and Kapalua to snorkle at spot X with the green gate..up near Honolua Bay.. sadly the fish had moved on and the coral was almost non-existant. My parents visited here about 20 years ago when the tropical fish were teeming in colorful schools right off the beach. Now just the odd grandaddy parrot fish floated around in an empty sea. The day was fun though and we checked out the famous golf courses at Kapalua, Kaanapali and Lahaina. We had happy hour $2.50 Mai Tai's !! at Lahaina by the water and bought some Ono and Poke from a local chap in the town which we grilled back at the house after stopping at our B&B for champagne and poke in the garden. Mils and Leigh gave me a gorgeous pink frangipani Lei.

The latest sports craze has revived the old Hawaiian sport of standing on a long board with one paddle and paddling along the coast. We watched each day as people paddled past in really choppy seas. The trades were blowing every day but it was obvious the locals were not put off by the conditions. Another idea we noted were the swim mits people were wearing ... with webbed fingers swimmers teamed these with short flippers and just took off along the coastline. Windsurfing and kite surfing were big there too. There really wasn't any surfable surf during our time but it was great to see people out enjoying the ocean again.

It was sad to leave after only 5 days but we felt like we'd had a good getaway and it was lovely spending time with old friends.

Juju flies to Newport Beach for Party

Julie headed west to Newport Beach, California, last week for a very special birthday bash.

Flying into Orange County, we hired a car and headed to the hotel, where we found lovely rooms with views down the river to the ocean.

We kicked off the trip with champagne by the pool that afternoon and a quick stomp through mall just steps away. Jennifer and I melted into Anthropologie and were tempted by summer tops at Forever 21!

Jennifer and Julie power toured the area. A whirlwind day was spent cooling off poolside at the Viceroy Hotel in Palm Springs.

With temps around 100 degrees we sipped Marks frozen mint and cucumber mojitos and snacked on frozen grapes. The south beach decor was luxe and tranquil, with yellow, white and black the predominant color theme.

 

Guests were mainly young couples enjoying a few days of pampering and relaxing in the revived oasis. Needless to say we loved it.

Later in the afternoon we drove over to the Parker Palm Hotel, recently refurbished by Jonathan Adler, eclectic potter and designer. The shabby chic seventies decor was amusing, the expansive gardens too die for.

Jennifer and I strolled amid towering banks of perfumed shrubs, the air literally liquid with delicious scents. An poolside mojito bar complete with cool misting spray was well patronised as were the pools scattered throughout. Giant chess sets, boule and other games were set in secret gardens. Fire pits and romantic corners all came into their own after dark when the lighting turns the estate into a magical fantasy. The spa was highly recommended but time was fleeting so we took tea in the lobby instead.

 

Images that stick in my mind are the vast valley of windmills on the drive into town, the snow capped mountains, the brilliance of the desert sky, the laid back glam of the modernist architecture. 

It's easy to imagine the Rat Pack cruising the palm lined streets back in the day! We took a ride on the gondola with its revolving floor to the pine scented coolness of the mountain tops above the town. Another world of green awaits, as does a fab view of the valley.

We drove back to the coast as the sunset to rescue Mac, then whisked him out for a great Mexican dinner.

Another day we drove down to San Clemente for dinner. Just a short drive south from Newport Beach it's a great place to wander the shops in the cute village and dine on the pier. Surfers do their thing just below you as you dine under umberellas on the deck. The seafood was as great and the Margaritas hit the spot as we enjoyed the evening sun. Jennifer spied lovely shell mirrors and artworks, while Julie and Mac checked out a cute old Porsche roadster. We'd noticed an abundance of beautifully restored classic convertible cars on the coast roads.

Laguna Beach is a cool village that spills onto the beach. Quaint houses step up steep little roads and flowering bourganvilleas and jasmines spill out onto the sidewalks.

Surfboards prop most garden walls and windows face the ocean views. Famous breakfast desination is Los Brisos on the cliff which offers the best buffet ever. We visited for Mothers Day, had a wonderful view of the coastline while the staff were cooked us mouthwatering breakfast crepes with a mexican twist amongst other delights. A walk along the beach sent Jennifer into transports over the glorious collections of kelp and seaweed washed ashore.

A short trip on the ferry from Newport Beach takes you to Balboa Island and another world of laid back beach living. Great seafood restaurants, stores renting bikes, selling icecream and seashells line the main street. We biked along the ocean for miles then wound our way through the streets lined with cute houses and gardens that perfumed the air. Roses were bursting into bloom everywhere along with jasmine and tropical climbers.

Corona del Mar is a mecca for art galleries and antique shops. There is a lovely little garden at the Sherman library and Garden, a small entrance fee allows you to wander the exotic gardens and have lunch afterwards.

Max Gimblett at the Guggenheim Museum, NYC 2009

Max Gimblett, the New Zealand Artist who has made New York his home for decades has a work in  The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia, 1860-1989 at the Guggenhiem, Frank Lloyd Wrights famous New York Landmark with its galleries in the round.

I was fortunate enough to be part of a small group of New Zealanders given a private talk by Max about his life past, present and future in front of his glorious work shown above.

I was struck by the pure joy Max exuded at being included in this wonderful exhibition where his quatrefoil work sits amongst the great and glorious of the american modern artists. He talked of his teachers, those who inspire him, time spent in San Francisco in his earlier days and his humble aspirations as a working artist.

It was great to see Helen Klisser at the event. Helen, a former kiwi ski racer and daughter of the famous Klisser family famous for Vogels bread, is now art consultant living in the US. Also present was Debbi Gibbs, daughter of Jenny and Alan Gibbs both art collectors and philanthropists of Auckland NZ, who lives in NYC these days.

Max recounted that Debbi's parents were first to buy his big works and how much he appreciated their support through the years.

view this link for a brief talk by the curator.

Julie Loves Quebec

Julie loves Quebec!

A visit to Quebec, just 6 hours drive from New York and 9 from Toronto, is like a trip to France. I spent last weekend there and just had to tell you about this fab province.

French is the first language but don’t be discouraged, learn to say ” parle vous anglais s’il vous plait”, “bonjour” and “merci” to everyone, ditch the burgers and fries then embrace tortiere, poutine and fois gras and make like a canadienne. Think divine pasteurized cheeses, french wines, Prince Edward Island lobster, oysters and mussels and pork, pork and more pork (they do it better than anyone), Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, maple syrup and Canadian bacon, french crepes with nutella and lots of snow!

Montreal, nestled at the base of Mont Royale on the St Lawrence river, is divine in the winter. Huge lit angels line the front of the Notre Dame cathedral in the Vieux Port (historic old port). Undulating streets are festooned in blue lights with bohemian flair not seen elsewhere. Stroll down Place Jacques Cartier, take in a fireworks display over the river, stroll along Rue St Denis or indulge at the Marche Atwater or Marche Jean Talon where you can purchase croissants and coffee amongst Montreal’s fav farmers market. European flair oozes from the funky boutiques on Rue St Denis or St Laurent. Dive into L’express or famous Au pied d’cochon for lunch or dinner. For seafood try Garde Manger in the old port.

US Skiers, drive up through Vermont, ski at Jay Peak then wend your way through the villages of the Eastern townships to Montreal, ski Mt Sutton or Bromont. Ontarians just follow the St Lawerence River north. Skiers and borders can choose from many resorts in the Laurentians but we love Mt Tremblant. Its super easy to get around, you can ski in ski out from great hotels and condos, dine and shop in the village, nibble beaver tails (delicious sugar coated pastry) on the slopes and enjoy the pretty scenery and lakes. This is a great family destination with European flair just on our doorstep.

Further north ski Mont Sainte Anne, thirty minutes north of Quebec city or Massif another 50 mins north on the river. Massif’s spectacular slopes mean you ski down to the river, (pack extra warm face mask and gloves as temps drop to -5 F in January!) buy a lunch voucher with your lift ticket and enjoy a luxurious, gourmet, silver service lunch overlooking the ski resort in chic surroundings. The experience is exhilirating all round.

My all time fav is Vieux Quebec, a two hour drive north of Montreal. We spent xmas there last year. It’s the only walled city in north America, this 400 year old fortified town was the birthplace of Canada and is truly French. Stay at the Chateau Frontenac or the Auberge St Antoine, sled down the cliff in front of the Chateau on antique wooden sleds, try frozen maple sugar rolled on a stick from a shack overlooking the mighty frozen St Lawrence River that dominates the landscape. The narrow cobbled streets, charming stone houses, pretty churches, impressive art galleries, funicular that connects the old town to the charming streets of the lower town make for a magical and romantic holiday destination. Visit the Musee du Fort, the kids will love the diorama that tells the story of the battles that won Quebec for the British in the 1700’s. Its a great story.

My outstanding memory of Quebec is that people look happy. Its freezing cold, you have to walk everywhere on slippery cobbles, but can skate under the stars and you feel apart of something old and precious. the locals race canoes across the frozen river, sleigh bells chime along with church bells. It’s extremely beautiful and everyone smiles. Vivre la Quebec!

This is a lifetime must do trip and its just across the Ontario or New York border!