Don’t forget the candles…

This sounds like a no brainer but I’m not talking about everyday candle lighting with your basic tea lights, I mean really putting thought into your candles, having lots and going big.

I catered a party this summer where interior designer Andrika Lawren(www.andrikalawren.com) was a guest and also helped with the set up. She did a great job with simple but wow worthy candle lighting.

Flowers are fine but they were all around the garden anyways. The best was that as the sun went down the candles when from pretty and warm to something really special and created  such a beautiful atmosphere.

Andrika used large glass candle holders some of which were about 3 ft tall, these also created a lot of interesting dimension and gave it a very urban feel.

Budget Friendly Ideas

Want to emulate the same idea but don’t want to break the bank? Hit your local Ikea and Dollerama to stock up on vases and candles.

This Ikea Vasen will do the trick. It’s the perfect price at $1.99 and runs  about 7 inches tall   .

 

Their  thick white candles candles start at $1.99 and some have a nice light scent.

 

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/00017133/

Happy Hosting!

- La Petite Chef

 

It’s a popular theme. Paris, I see it a lot for birthdays, bachlorettes and bridal showers. Perhaps it’s the “city of love” idea or the fabulous french couture and lest we forget the food, that makes this such an easy go to. How does one bring that feeling of that certain “je ne se quois” to their living room or backyard?

 

Here are a few ideas:

1.Start with a french inspired menu!

Ofcourse the food has to be the focal point and believe me if the French have anything say in this they would ask that you include 2 things cheese and wine. Do not go to your local Metro or Loblaws for this, you must partake in the whole experience to do this this right. Find a local cheese shop and start there. They will let you sample the cheeses, guide you in how much you should buy and give you the low down on the regions where they are from so that you can let you guests know. That is how the french approach cheese, It’s a ritual, slapping a wheel of brie on a cutting board does not cut it. Look for interesting textures, shapes and colours and don’t forget about the baguettes! Our favourite fromagerie is the cheese boutique in Toronto www.cheeseboutique.com

For the mains, our favourite combinations have been:

Steak Frites with roasted Garlic aioli and Frisee salad

Croque Monsieur  + Side Salad

French Onion Soup, Escargot, Coq au Vin

Beef Bourgignon

Check out our online menu for more French inspired foods.

Decor- It’s all about the little details

I loved the little touches Andrika Lawren (www.andrikalawren.com) and the host used for a french inspired bachlorette they were throwing:

Une Bicyclette: Equipped with picnic essentails and a french flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tico Food 

 My personal favorite, fried plantains. I love the caramelized version which was the most common way of serving them. Sweet, savory, succulent, and highly addictive. I couldn’t get enough, meals wouldn’t feel complete without them. I had them with grilled meat, with ice cream, with gallo pinto. I had them for breakfast or just on their own as salty plantain chips. Of all the dishes I tried, fried plantains are probably what I will miss the most since they are hard to come by in my neighborhood.

 

Gallo Pinto + Pulled Pork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh is the Best

Fresh salsa was a must with most meals and came in many different forms from the traditional tomato, onion, cilantro version, to pineapple, papaya, chilis and mango. Avocados made an appearance often as did potatoes, onions and squash. There were several varieties of squash that we don’t normally see here but are common in Mesoamerica like chayote and zapallo. The fruit was outstanding as it was simply picked and served. Fresh orange and guava juice were a morning ritual that I wish I could transport home with me.   

 Eating Local, no problem

Costa Rica is still an agricultural country, with more than one fourth of its population working in this sector. Consequently many items on the menu come from local farms, gardens, and plantations. The coastline provides and abundance of fish like Grouper and Red Snapper. Becoming a locavore is piece of cake here while in Toronto it requires far more of an active effort. I am jealous.

Coffee Culture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One can not experience Costa Rican cuisine without experiencing the coffee. Coffee production is huge to Costa Rica. It is their number one export and they take it seriously. F.Y.I there are few things better than trying freshly roasted and brewed coffee straight from the plantation. Jealous again.

Green Coffee

It was really great to see that Costa Rica is really transforming they way they produce coffee. They are very conscious of the environmental factors incurred by coffee production on their land and are trying to ensure that coffee production is made in the most natural way possible.

Shade plantations have been gaining popularity despite the fact that critics believed farmers would never agree to losing some of their yields in exchange for a better environment.  They plant banana trees with the coffee plants to create natural shade as well as serving as habitats for diverse populations of tropical forest species. In addition, farmers are starting to use the excess pulp to fertilize their fields instead of dumping it in the rivers. We hope to see this continue so that we can keep drinking that amazing coffee.

Costa Rica I miss you…