Friday night date night took us to Old Town Orange this week.
I wanted a cool and casual look and feeland was quite happy with my evening ensemble consisting of my
Vince silk topdrapey pant by Trina Turk Palm Springs sandalslong knit vest from AnthropolgieSunnies from Readers.comandbracelets from Tamera Beardsley Design.
I just slicked back my hair into a pony tailand finished off the hair stylewith a gold ponytail cover from Forever 21.
The outfit was cool, casual and still perfectlypulled together for cocktails and shoppingsome great vintage stores that Old Town Orange is known for.
After cocktails we noticed a new store with a line continually out the doorso of course we went to investigate …
It ended up to be a new ice cream storea' la Minute Ice Creamwhich uses the new novel trend of liquid nitrogen for an instant ice cream freeze!
Inside the unusual flavors are hand written on butcher paper.The ambiance is organic and open.
With lovely finishing details on the community table.
After placing your order …
The magic is made!
My pick Beet and Goat Cheesewas actually a delightful concoctionwith a creamy texture and a gentle sweetness.
Jeff's pickChocolate Lavenderwas creamy with just a hint of floral.
The only down side to the liquid nitrogen freezewas the fact that the ice cream seemed to melt quicker than a standard freeze.
But the best part was really more the entertainment factorof the ice cream presentationmaking it a perfect date night finish.
Saturday Jeff and I had the pleasure of
lunching at the the fabulous
French Basketeer's home!
Visiting with Andrea
at her Laguna Beach home is always
a true treat!
Andrea is an exceptional entertainer
I first mentioned
her magic Here
when we had the honor of having dinner at her home.
Andrea has just recently added cooking classes to her site!
I for one will be there with bells on
to learn from such a skilled international artisan!
I am always happy with my food styling and presentation
but my expertise in actually cooking
can be improved
and
I know of no one better to learn from than
The French Basketeer!
Our first course at Saturday's lunch
Skewers of tomatoesmozzarella rasberriespeachessprinkled with tiny globe basil
andfinished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar!
Fresh summer appetizer perfection in my book!
Rissotto was skillfully madeand
artfully presentedalong with trussed chicken.
Frozen grapes were served with atasty breadand
cheese brought back from Andrea' most recent tripto France this July.
Then there was this beauty!
Molten chocolate cakefresh from the oven …
Cutting into the center revealsthe creamy chocolate molten interior.Andrea uses a recipe she learned while in Romeand
this cake is truly a memory maker!
It is ale oone of the reasons I will be attending
her cooking class on August 23rd!
It is recipes like this one I want to add to my entertaining repertoire!Ones heavy in gorgeous presentationabsolutely deliciousand Andrea says not even difficult …then adding into the mixa recipe with a story of a Roman historyDesert perfection!
Now if a perfect molten chocolate cake wasn't fabulous enough …it was served withhand crafted fresh fruit sorbet
one meyer lemon
the other grape.
So elegantly presented in vintage stemware …
but it got even betterwhen it was finished off with a drizzle of vodkaresulting in a combination of flavorsthat made for the most blissful, fresh and delicious desert ever!
This desert is already on our menu for our Monday night family dinner!
As always my friends
I wish you love and joyas you style your life
