. . . sunny april days always feel like a celebration in and of themselves, and even more delightful with cake & champagne, [as most things are], and especially today, for today, we are celebrating not only the blossoming trees of springtime, but also the winner of the most recent give-away . . . and so, delightfully excited to announce that the winner is . . .
. . . and before we are whisked away to this week's exotic and impossibly romantic {take me away} location, first, a stop by 'london's prettiest cupcake café', the peggy porschen parlour, in belgravia; the stunningly pretty pink exterior is like a beautiful daydream, and inside, an array of freshly baked cupcakes, cookies and exquisite confections await . . .
. . . while can never resist a towering pastry stand, especially one that is filled with beautifully decorated and delectable pastries, it is the tiny flower arrangements that have fallen quite in love with—little sprigs of pale pink hydrangeas placed in sterling silver egg cups—isn't it a most lovely idea? . . . and in perfect time for easter . . . previoustable for two articles:
Hong Kong, a magnificent city of brilliant lights, culture, beauty, magnetic energy, and possibility . . . Part of the People's Republic of China, this labyrinth is situated on China's south coast, encompassed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea. Hong Kong is renowned for its incredible harbour, expansive skyline and its easy accessibility. It is also known for its glamour, as a shopping destination, as well as for the ever-growing sights to see [both new and historical], things to do, exciting views, and emerging design.
Though considered younger than Shanghai, there are over 5,000 years of Chinese tradition in Hong Kong, set in beautiful contrast and communion with the western world. As a city, it is divided into four main areas : Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and the Outlying Islands [there are 236 in total]. Kowloon, and the New Territories are both located on a peninsula of the Chinese mainland, on the northern side of Victoria Harbour. While Hong Kong Island is on the southern side of the harbour facing Kowloon, the city itself is centred around the world-renowned and breathtaking Victoria Harbour.
To offset the ever-growing population of nearly seven million people , the city has taken shape vertically, making for a striking vision of fascination and wonder. And with a multitude of things to see and experience, places to visit, and so much to take in, a visit to Hong Kong is most certainly a must . . .
. . . and having been forever in love with love, and forever ever in love, it's no wonder that valentine's day is very nearly a national holiday around here, and perhaps the very best thing about it falling on a tuesday, is the chance to celebrate again, for there are dinner reservations also for the weekend, and for tonight, there will be champagne and other perfectly wonderful things, and however you celebrate, or not at all, wishing you so much love—the kind that overflows on everything and fills the air . . .
happy, happy valentine's day! hope it's sweet & sexy and positively filled with beautiful things, —roséline xo
. . . some may remember the recipe for lavender hot chocolate not too long ago, and amazingly, happened across this recipe for chocolate lavender pie only yesterday, and of course, simply could not resist . . .
. . . tasseled drapes and soft lighting, tufted settees and silk cushions, crisp white table cloths and silver-rimmed china, salmon pasta shell roll, served with toast, lox and caviar, freshly backed biscuits with clotted cream, tea and delicate pastries and it's champagne afternoon tea at the dorchester . . .
. . . at this moment, writing to you in a near sugar-induced coma, and after all the cheesecake and häagen-dazs, swiss chocolates and french chocolates and caramel-drizzled sticky toffee pudding, it's safe to say that time at the gym is on the new year's resolution list once again this year -- but oh, it was so deliciously worth every single bite . . . hope you're having a wonderful last december week, and enjoying every single last moment, roséline xo
{p.s.} the final {take me away} article of the year to follow, with many more to come in the next x
No winter evening's rendezvous on the Champs-Elysées, with its glittering shoppes and glistening holiday lights is complete without a stop at our most favourite "fabricant de douceurs & gourmandises": Ladurée, in all its gilded grandeur.
In the early 1900s, Pierre Desfontaines, cousin of Ladurée's founder, Louis Ernest Ladurée, took two almond meringue cookies and joinied them with a divine ganache filling, creating the macaron as we know it.
Prior to that, macarons were simply cookies, which were first brought to France by Catherine di Medici and her pastry chefs in 1533.
These little round cakes, which made their onscreen debut in the film, Marie Antoinette, are crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, and are made every morning by Ladurée’s pastry chefs who measure precisely, the required amounts of almonds, eggs and sugar, and a touch of magic . . .
Ladurée, which began as a tea room near the Place de la Concorde in 1862, has since expanded within Paris, then to other parts of the world, including England, Monaco, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the Arab Emirates, and its most recent location, in New York's Upper East Side, where we met Ladurée's owner, Elisabeth Holder, who is also the sister of the Chairman of the company.
The NYC shop, located just down the street from Dior and Chloé, is a jewel box of pastel green, displaying traditional decorative accents, busts, mirrors and classical paintings, showcasing chocolates, crystallized flower petals and of course macarons, all imported from Paris each day.
Elisabeth, who began her career working in the fashion industry for the likes of Hermès, moved to New York recently to run the affairs of the newest Ladurée boutique.
Elisabeth has said that "The macaron is a grand classique of the pastry arts -- it's not an accessory. It's an experience of pleasure." And so, during our meeting with her, we just had to ask for her:
. . . helsinki-based photographer & vegetarian, lakshmi wennäkoski-bielicki's, portfolio is so captivating, it is enough to make one regret not being even slightly proficient in the kitchen -- the light and utterly lovely photographs are every bit as stunning as the dishes featured -- delectable things such as pulla, a finnish sweet bread, handmade pasta with sage & pinenuts, and fig tart with frozen pecan pudding . . .
Movies have been made, novels have been written, and even songs have been sung about chocolate—celebrating its tradition, its magic and its wonderment.
And whether you prefer creamy, milk chocolate as smooth as silk, or enjoy the stark bitterness of a deep and intensely flavored dark chocolate, some say chocolate preferences can say a lot about a person. For whosoever has a love affair with chocolate, shall always . . .
If you plan to travel to Paris, Cannes, London, New York, Tokyo, or Hong Kong, you might make a stop at the legendary chocolatier, Robert Linxe's La Maison du Chocolat.
Originally founded in Paris, and "with over thirty years of expertise and ever evolving creativity", some might say the perfection of Linxe’s creations is unrivaled, and that the experience alone is worth a trip.
Made only of the purest, freshest ingredients, legendary chocolatier Robert Linxe's mouthwatering confections are noble, artistic creations that capture the essence of chocolate in its truest form and exalt its taste in every exquisitely memorable bite . . .
