Posted by La Dolce Diva on Dec 16, 2010 | 3 comments
I love me some hot chocolate, yet somehow the thrill of it is so fleeting. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to consume an entire pot and live to tell about it.
Mulling over the morning paper with a toasty mug of hot chocolate, perusing magazines in the afternoon — who am I kidding — guzzling while reading the online gossip sites is just not that enjoyable for more than a few seconds. Hot chocolate is made for drinking; not mulling, lingering or sipping.
read more
Posted by La Dolce Diva on Nov 22, 2010 | 3 comments
It’s sad that that such a wonderful food item such as bread is relegated to carbs= bad. I love bread! Not all kinds, just most. I know they are not entirely healthy for me..but everything in moderation — even moderation!
Bread signals the beginning of a wonderful meal with friends or family, hence, “breaking the bread.” It is a true symbol of hospitality and good will.
Bread is the perfect accompaniment to a cappuccino the mornings of a beach vacation or before you set off for the day down the Via Veneto.
But I’m not going to wax poetic about breads, I’m here to set the record straight on some controversy surrounding two of my favorite bread items: Bruschetta and Croissants. I choose to capitalize them because they are just that important to me.
What could possibly be the issue with these 2 delectable items? One savory the other sweet? Calories– who cares! Carbs-pshaw! No my fellow foodies– it’s how you pronounce them.
There are generally 4 schools of thought on inserting the regional pronunciation of a foreign word when speaking your native tongue; 1– pronouncing a foreign word with the regional accent is elitist (in a bad — over-educated kind of way), snobbish and superficial; 2– pronouncing it in the anglicized accent is clumsy and elitist (in the –we’re in America– speak “American” kind of way): 3– Like to think they don’t care but are aware when people pronounce the opposite of what how they do; 4– Self– conscious either way.
I fall somewhere between 2 and 3, mostly 2 if I’m honest. There are times I contradict myself and fall into category 1, but we’ll stick with bread here.
read more
Posted by La Dolce Diva on Nov 17, 2010 | 2 comments
This is the time of year we all need quick, easy and delicious recipes that give the illusion of culinary mastery and good taste.
Well, you’ve come to the right place. Not so much for a fine dining experience, but if you’re looking for delightful nibblies to serve with drinks and more drinks…I’m your Diva.
I won’t overwhelm you with my hors d’oevre artistry all at once,
I will roll out the recipes like exquisite pearls of caviar. Too much smeared on a toast point all at once will dull the senses and bruise the caviar, no, I will gently spoon them out in small dollops.
The first is a new discovery, Formaggio di Capra.
Or…Goat Cheese Log. Boor-ing. Yawn.
How about Goat Cheese Log Rolled in Dried Pomegranate Arils. Yum.
read more
Posted by La Dolce Diva on Nov 8, 2010 | 0 comments
My sister and I were spending the weekend together and decided to catch a quick breakfast at my local bagel place. Who am I kidding, there was no other option for breakfast unless we wanted black coffee and month old English muffins in my kitchen.
I go to said bagel place fairly often and don’t think twice about it. There’s always a line of people from varying demographics; running buddies, young families, coffee klatches, pajama clad teens from a slumber party etc. Again, I don’t think anything about it. My sister actually commented about how the economy didn’t seem to be affecting the bagel biz. Thinking more about it, we decided that it was still realistic for a majority of peeps to run out for a meal for less than $5.00, spend some time with the neighborhood folks, even if you didn’t know them, and just hang out.
Is grabbing some coffee and a bagel with a schmear a necessity? No. Yet, way less expensive than an evening meal at the local steakhouse and more fulfilling than a quick trip through a drive-thru or even eating inside a fast food place.
It got me to thinking about my business, La Dolce Diva. Honestly, soap is a necessity for most people. Soap wrapped in leopard skin paper selling at a local boutique is not. One fulfills a need for personal hygiene, the other provides an experience that satisfies a need to treat ourselves and others..and it also fulfills the personal hygiene bit. We definitely fall into the the “luxury” category…but an affordable one.
I think it’s very important to live within a budget and really define the difference between need and want. But don’t make the “want” side of the list the enemy. To quote one of my favorite designers:
If I had 2 euros left to my name, I would spend one on bread the other on flowers. One feeds your body, the other feeds your soul ~ Valentino
read more
Posted by La Dolce Diva on Jan 31, 2010 | 2 comments
If there’s one thing in life I hope I never learn it’s the amount of tortilla chips I’ve consumed.
After years of study around the world, I think I’ve found the perfect chip. Light, crispy, just the right amount of salt and oil, able to hold salsa and/or cheese dip easily. Ahhh.
This may sound like a description of any chip from Doritos to the best Mexican restaurant chip you’ve ever had. Semantically, yes, but to a true tortilla chip aficionado, these words have a much deeper meaning.
On a good day, the finest chips I’ve had are from Pappasito’s Cantina, who are also the purveyors of the finest Margaritas this side of the Rio Grande, but that’s another post.
Typically I have 2 favorite supermarket brands of chips, Mission and Santita.
- Missions are a “gourmet” –read expensive- tortilla chip; medium-thick chip, can be heavy, good crunch, oil and salt, about $4.00 a bag.
- Santita are the best chip for the price; medium-thin crispy chip, slightly dry, slight salt, $2. per bag.
However, today my friends, I will share with you Holy Grail of tortilla chips. Restaurant taste and quality right in your supermarket.
Xochtil, Totopos de Maiz (white Corn Chip) by Salsa Xochitl.
Xochitl {so-cheel} was queen of Tollan, lived in the 11th century Mexico. She was the daughter of Papantzin, a noble in King Tepacaltzin’s court. Xochitl, whose name means “flower”, is credited with inventing pulque, the fermented juice of the agave plant, and and an early forerunner of tequila.
I was all set to buy my usual Santitas, when I saw the Xochitl. They were new to my Publix store since the new reset. Being the aforementioned “chip aficionado” I felt it my duty to check them out.
I opened them as soon as I got to the car. Manna from heaven. Just like my beloved Pappasito’s chips.
The downside is that they are not cheap. They are priced up there with the gourmet chip– $3.99– $4.25. But they are worth it.
Don’t waste them on amateurs. Save them for yourself, when you can enjoy every last snappy CRUNCH!
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0
read more
Posted by La Dolce Diva on Jan 30, 2010 | 2 comments
If you’re like me and my BFF, you’re always looking for a nice bottle of wine to crack open and enjoy in the evening. Not for a special occasion, not for an evening with friends, not to enjoy with a special meal. No.… just because.
Having a glass of wine “just because’” really is about enjoying the Sweet Life. Something as small as this is a celebration in itself. The problem is, most of the time a decent bottle of wine is at least $18 — $25 a bottle. That’s not a lot when you’re out with friends at a restaurant, but when you’re at home, that’s not a casual price.
I’ve found the answer — how does $10.99 sound?
Yes, you can truly buy a nice bottle of wine for $10.99. To top that off, it comes with a delightfully charming name and label; Cupcake Vineyards.
Don’t just take my word for it, The Wine Spectator gives the Chardonnay 88 points.
I’ve tried the Chard and the Cab. Both are very good and I highly recommend them.
What’s even better is that you can give this as a nice host/hostess gift and it’s classy and reasonable.
Give it a try — what have you got to lose?
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0
read more