Bunny Love from Vosges Chocolate
March 13, 2008 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
Available at Lacoste boutiques nationwide.
-Tami
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.
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
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
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, Ciar√°n Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Mark Strong
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 ¬Ω 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
I like the Salted Sprouted Almonds and Berry Bliss Trail Mix. I already feel healthier snacking on these, as the active enzymes and micronutrients work their magic on me. The Tu-nut Pinwheel Sandwich and Rox Kremes look tasty.
Currently available at Whole Foods (wholefoodsmarket.com) and other gourmet markets in the Bay Area. For more information: 
Available exclusively at Sephora stores nationwide (www.sephora.com).
-Tami