After skipping last Friday due to a cold, Naturally Lean and Foolproof Freezer Cookbook are 2 Book Giveaway Number 5 lineup. Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring. First, plant based and gluten free recipes in Naturally Lean (Da Capo Lifelong, May 2016) by Allyson Kramer Secondly, Foolproof Freezer Cookbook (Kyle Books, 2011) by Ghillie James. -Question: Where is Ghillie James currently residing? First come first serve. E-mail your answers to: s.ls [at]... Continue reading

Don't drop the ball, lache pas la boulette, with this Shrimp Boulettes recipe from Mosquito Supper Club (Artisan Books, April 2020) by Melissa Martin. Shrimp Boulettes Shrimp boulettes, or fried shrimp balls, might remind you of Thai fish cakes or Vietnamese shrimp on sugarcane. The shrimp is ground up and fried without any flour or cornmeal (shrimp is sticky enough to bind the vegetables together, so you don’t need to add any filler). Eat the... Continue reading

When I start working with new clients, I like to meet with them prior to first assignment with my New Jersey Concierges service so I can assess their needs. I sometimes wonder if I am peppering them with too many questions. That is until the moment I realize I missed a very important one. Case in mind: years ago a client asked me to take his car for service. When I got to the car,... Continue reading

Higher service price does not always mean it is the most costly. To give you an example, a number of years ago, a client asked me to mail a somehow heavy box with printed matters. Person declined adding insurance to the shipping. A week or so later, I learned that the box had arrived not just damaged but empty. I then learned that box contained an original book in multiple copies put together by my... Continue reading

Holly holly, Best Food Writing 2016 and The Hungover Cookbook, make the cut for Book Distancing Number 4. Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring. First, all words, no illustrations, Best Food Writing 2016 (Da Capo Press) edited by Holly Hughes and featuring pieces by Todd Kliman, Dianne Jacobs and Oliver Sacks to name a few... Second, The Hungover Cookbook (Clarkson Potter, 2010) by Milton Crawford, title says it all Answer this question,... Continue reading

When in France and whenever possible, I like to visit the local 'Maison des Vins' to taste and select a dozen or so bottles from the local producers always at 'wine lover' friendly prices. My favorite so far have been the Gaillac and Angers outlets. Next on my list I hope, when I don't know, should be Maison des Vins du Minervois , 35 quai des tonneliers in Homps (Aude), near Canal du Midi. I... Continue reading

Working man street food in Morocco, Harissa Couscous with Pine Nuts and Fried Eggs recipe from Vegetarian Tagines & Couscous, 65 Delicious Recipes for Authentic Moroccan Food (Ryland Peters & Small) by Ghillie Basan. Harissa Couscous with Pine Nuts and Fried Eggs This is a tasty street dish, which is also popular in working men’s cafés in the markets and ports. It is great served for brunch or for a quick spicy snack late at... Continue reading

Stamp your heart for Valentine's Day with this Balmain 2017 St Valentin timbre, created by Olivier Rousteing. It was released on January 23, 2017 and withdrawn from sale on January 31, 2018 according to Phil-Ouest... Did not realize until today that I had something of a collectors item on my hands with this unused sheet of 10 or so stamps. Continue reading

When possible, meet cleaning person before first house clean up. It will make for a smoother start. For years now, I work primarily with the same 2 cleaning ladies. As with other service providers, I want to work with people (companies) that are reliable, show up on time and do the work right. Giving them repeat work allows me to call on them on short notice, when an emergency arises, and most often than not... Continue reading

Book Distancing Number 3, Friday Giveaway, Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring. Travel in pictures and Cheesy recipes today First, Paris In Color (Chronicle Books, 2012) by Nichole Robertson Second Grilled Cheese Please! 50 scrumptious cheesy recipes (Andrews McMeel, 2011) by Laura Werlin Answer 2 questions, and you win, first come first serve -Question 1: Wh0 can you associate with Chat Noir? -Question 2: What would you add to a Camembert and... Continue reading

Are you crepe ready? Chandeleur 2021 is Tomorrow February 2. Actually La Chandeleur always falls on February 2. I will make some for lunch, couples that it. Two crepes with in the middle (for me) a mix of cheese, eggs and ham. I make my crepe batter an hour ahead of actually making crepes to give the batter time to rest. Ham is not a pre-requisite so make your own version, vegetarian if you wish.... Continue reading

Don't wait for cold spell to have your yearly heat service! Like right before a snow storm similar to the one we are experiencing right now in the Northeast. You might land on a long waiting list. Schedule it in the Fall. No chilling out when house is chilly for Concierge Mondays #5 Continue reading

Van Gogh shadows and lights in the quarry, a multi sensory exhibit in Les Baux de Provence My July 2019 visit! Continue reading

Book Distancing Number 2, Friday Giveaway, Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring. Will it Waffle? by Daniel Shumski (Workman, 2014) The Italian Table by Ron Suhanosky (Kyle Books, 2011) Answer 2 questions, and you win, first come first serve -Question 1: What sauce do you need for a Croque-Madame -Question 2: What does Spiedini means? First come first serve. E-mail your answers to: s.ls [at] mediterraneanworkandplay [dot] com Continue reading

Fatty Flaky Hungarian Comfort Food, Cheddar-­Bacon Pogácsa from Baking at the 20th Century Cafe 'Iconic European Desserts from Linzer Torte to Honey Cake' (Artisan Books, October 2020) by San Francisco baker extraordinaire Michelle Polzine. Cheddar-­Bacon Pogácsa (Hungarian Savory Scones) This delicious yeasted “biscuit” is unique to Hungary, although similar pastries with similar names can be found all over the Balkans and the Carpathian Basin. Every Hungarian I have met has their own recipe for these,... Continue reading

The Sleeping Beauty was not there for my visit to Chateau d'Ussé in Rigny-Ussé. (On August 4, 2017) Continue reading

Trees can be the root of many homes plumbing problems. It is a more acute issue in some areas than others so keep that in mind when you look for a home to purchase. The age of the main drain pipes leading to the sewer might be the difference between this becoming your problem sooner than you think and would like. If you run into that type of problem, I would personally advise against using... Continue reading

Book Distancing Number 1, Friday Giveaway, Each Giveaway is a Twofer, book cleaning before Spring. Eat It Up! no fridge waste cookbook (Da Capo Lifelong, 2016) by Sherri Brooks Vinton Treats Truck Baking Book ! (William Morrow, 2011) by Kim Ima Answer 2 questions, and you win, first come first serve -Question 1: What can you do with carrots greens? -Question 2: On brownie sheet, do you prefer corner, center or side? First come first... Continue reading

I will be practicing book distancing with 2 Book Giveaway each Friday until I run out of giveaways. It will start tomorrow Friday, January 22. A 2 question quiz will determine each weekly 2 Book winner. Mary Kondo did not ask me to do it. Continue reading

Who is it For? What is the occasion? When? Budget? The 4 questions I ask before I get flowers for my New Jersey Concierges clients. Over the years, I have ordered and, in most cases, picked up and delivered many flower arrangements, mostly bouquets. When you add a vase to the mix, it raises the price significantly, so I often skip the vase. In a small number of cases, I had to place order with... Continue reading

Chicken-Dos, no weaves, V Comb to Buttercup, from upcoming Chickenology (Princeton Architectural Press, February 2021) by Barbara Sandri, Francesco Giubbilini, Camilla Pintonato (* Image above from upcoming 'Chickenology' courtesy of Princeton Architectural Press) Continue reading

After my last coffee maker died, I was planning to buy a new, better, fancier one, I had somehow settled on the Brewsly 15 Bar (at just under $200). Since it would take a week to 10 days for it to be delivered, I hit pause on my buy and decided to give the Chemex (6 Cups) Glass Coffee Maker a chance (around $45). It was in stock at my local Williams Sonoma so I... Continue reading

Take 5, Cheese Platters via A Field Guide to Cheese (Artisan Books, September 2020) by Tristan Sicard. Traditional Or Eclectic (*Excerpted from A Field Guide to Cheese by Tristan Sicard -Artisan Books- Copyright © 2020. Illustrations by Yannis Varoutsikos.) Continue reading

A painters note, paint builds up in corners. A blow dryer comes handy at times. Lesson learned overseeing a paint job last week. A new angle for Concierge Mondays #2 Continue reading

Follow the scent of these Cranberry ­Ginger Upside ­Down Cakes from Baking at the 20th Century Cafe 'Iconic European Desserts from Linzer Torte to Honey Cake' (Artisan Books, October 2020) by San Francisco baker extraordinaire Michelle Polzine all the way to the kitchen. Cranberry-­Ginger Upside-­Down Cakes These cakes have a warming, homey quality that fits perfectly into the Christmas season. With lots of spice from fresh ginger, bitterness from blackstrap molasses, and brightness from tart... Continue reading