Serves 6
In a bowl, combine the raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Let macerate for 30 minutes to tenderize the fruit. Mash berries with a fork or puree in a blender to desired consistency. Keep refrigerated until used.
In a bowl, combine the whole milk and gelatin. Set aside and let bloom for 5 minutes In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract, and place over low heat. Stirring frequently, slowly bring up the temperature of the milk until it begins to bubble around the edges of the saucepan, then remove from heat. While stirring, slowly add the bloomed gelatin to the cooked cream until fully incorporated. Divide the mixture among the ramekins and refrigerate until set. Serve panna cotta in ramekins or remove and serve on a plate topped with raspberries. To remove panna cotta from ramekin, set ramekin in warm-water bath for a few seconds, just enough to release it from the sides. Remove from water bath, place a plate on top and flip over the ramekin to turn out the panna cotta onto the plate. Serve chilled, garnish with lemon zest, fresh mint, and whole raspberries if desired. RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTEL MATOUSEK WWW.PHOTORICALFOOD.COM Serves 6Macerated strawberries
Place cut biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush biscuit tops and sides with milk and sprinkle with raw sugar. Place biscuits in oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until they begin to brown. Let cool to touch before serving.
As biscuits cool, prepare the whipped cream. Whip the heavy cream with a stand or hand mixer. As cream thickens, add vanilla extract, then slowly add the powdered sugar to stabilize. Whip to desired consistency. If overwhipped, whole milk can be stirred in as needed to thin and remove any clumps. Serve biscuits whole or cut in half. Top with whipped cream and strawberries. RECIPE AND PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTEL MATOUSEK WWW.PHOTORICALFOOD.COM A Bay Area Bedroom Gets a Dreamy MakeoverWRITTEN BY VICTORIA HITTNER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY YONI SAMBOMost couples spend the day after their wedding on a honeymoon. Sacha and Melissa Leclair spent it redecorating their home.“After showcasing our space online, friends started asking us for help,” says Sacha Leclair. Pro bono work led to paying clients and eventually, the establishment of Leclair Decor, the couple’s Ottawa-based design firm that serves North America. With a particular focus in new builds and high-end remodels, Sacha and Melissa were the ideal team for this San Francisco Bay Area refresh. The homeowners were a young family looking to add both personality and functionality to their space—basically, says Leclair, “make it feel like a home.” It was imperative the redesign fit the family’s active lifestyle while leaving room for growth.
The sandy, neutral palette is a nod to the project’s location, coupled with easy-to-care-for natural fibers and textiles befitting a beachy abode. Wool, for example, pops up frequently throughout the home. “It’s the most luxurious material,” explains the designer, “[and] it’s natural and offers tons of textural interest.” “We wanted to highlight the coastal aesthetic without going too far in that direction,” notes Leclair. “To achieve that, we juxtaposed those coastal touches with clean, modern lines to create a balanced, inviting space.” And while the Leclair team’s work can be seen throughout the entire house, the primary bedroom suite showcases the best of their vision: a cozy, sophisticated retreat with room to relax and recoup. The home is shaped like a U, curled around a central courtyard that links the primary bedroom to both the dining room and family room. Existing architectural elements like vaulted ceilings and expansive windows begged for an airy, organic aesthetic. In the primary suite, this meant maximizing the view and placement of the French doors leading to the courtyard. The designers strategically placed a seating area looking outside, providing the perfect spot to savor a morning coffee or sip a nightcap. “We love creating different zones with furniture to really maximize the use of space, like the seating area that floats at the foot of the bed/bench,” explains Leclair. “The key to making that work is to align your zones [with] one another.” The Leclairs created that balance by centering the seating area with both the bed and entry door. An oversize wool rug from the couple’s own retailer, LD Shoppe, visually links the sleeping and seating areas together. Focal pieces like the made-to-order headboard and frame from Restoration Hardware and textured-wood side table from LD Shoppe help anchor the individual areas. “Everything in our projects is hand-selected by our design team and comes from all over the world,” says Leclair. Many of the standout pieces featured in this Bay Area design, like the large area rug, came from their own inventory. The eye-catching Mollino chandelier suspended between the sleeping and seating areas—a team favorite “for its plaster, textured finish and soft glow”—is one such piece. “Lighting is a huge part of all our designs,” notes Leclair. “Our focus is on layering lighting to suit a space’s many functions.” With plenty of natural light, the designers needed few fixtures to brighten the bedroom. The room’s earthy tones keep the space feeling airy, while greenery ushers the serenity of the courtyard beyond the French doors. To prevent plants from overwhelming a room, the designer recommends mixing a variety of natural elements like dried branches and flowers, in addition to fresh sprigs, like the seeded Eucalyptus seen on the curved side table. A shiplap wall adds depth and dimension without compromising the urban, beachy feel. The space’s cool aesthetic is carried behind the wall and into the en suite bathroom, where a black-and-white wallpaper—Enso Waves by Eijffinger—adds a splash of coastal sophistication. Modern prints and metallic finishes complement the mirror and artwork found in the primary room. It’s that careful attention to detail that makes the suite feel elevated, yet practical enough for everyday use and enjoyment. Ultimately, Leclair and his team created a space that became home. “We want our clients to feel inspired every time they walk into their door,” he says. “Everyone’s home should be a space of calm, peace, and rejuvenation, and a beautifully designed, harmonious space can help achieve that feeling.” FLORENCE, ITALYWRITTEN BY HEIDI SIEFKASThe capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, Florence (Firenze) is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, but also the best of today’s culinary creations. If you desire a dose of culture, history, and edible works of art, Florence is an ideal vacation locale—and the dream of many. Although you could do Florence in a weekend, you would only scratch the surface. We suggest a week, spending the majority of the time in the city and a day or two touring the Tuscan countryside for wine tastings and the postcard-worthy cities of San Gimignano and Siena. Get ready to embark on an Italian adventure of food, art, architecture, shopping, and beautiful vistas—all in one spot. Andiamo! Exploring the narrow streets of Florence is like strolling through pages of a history book. Il Duomo is the focal point for navigating Florence and a highlight of most visits; its terra-cotta-tiled dome is spectacular, but don’t forget to tour inside to witness the Renaissance masterpiece on the ceiling. Enjoy la dolce vita by sampling local cured meats and artisanal cheeses paired with a Tuscan vino. Florence is best discovered via a small moped, bicycle, or on foot. City Center. Without a doubt, the top destination in Florence is the Santa Maria del Fiore or il Duomo; the cathedral is located in the city center—an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This terra-cotta–tiled dome cathedral is one of the largest in the world, bowing to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The construction of il Duomo lasted from 1420 to 1436, and today the engineering feat is admired by visitors and locals alike. The cathedral’s creation included valuable contributions from the Renaissance’s most prominent artists—Michelangelo, Donatello, and others. Entrance into the cathedral is free, but if you want to tour Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the Opera del Duomo Museum, you’ll need tickets. For the adventurous, il Duomo presents a challenge: climbing to the top. It is a tight spiral staircase, but the views are worth every step. Plus, you can reward yourself with tasty Tuscan delights when you return streetside. Fine Dining. If Italy is known for one thing, it’s food. Some traditional dishes not to skip are ribollita (a hearty bread, bean, and greens soup); bistecca alla Fiorentina (typically served rare); and lampredotto (offal, yet delicious, sandwich). You can pair all of these with the local, bold red wine, Brunello di Montalcino. A great stop for any foodie and even the pickiest eater is the Mercato Centrale. This market is a combination of food stands with local cheeses, olives, oils, and breads as well as restaurants with plenty of room to sit and enjoy multiple courses. Save room for exceptional desserts, such as Florentine chocolate or zuccotto (a chilled, dome-shaped dessert similar to tiramisu). Jewel of the Renaissance.Florence is an art lover’s paradisical visit. Although there are masterpieces of art around every corner and in every piazza, it would be a shame to miss Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation” at the Uffizi Gallery. Those, along with Michelangelo’s “David” in the Galleria dell’Accademia are the classics trifecta in the city of lilies. Other must-sees, particularly for shutterbugs, are il Porcellino—a bronze wild boar statue that promises good luck for those who rub its snout—and Piazzale Michelangelo for the best panoramic view of it all: il Duomo, Ponte Vecchio (medieval covered bridge), and the Arno River. If you love to shop or just want to pick up a few souvenirs for you or someone special, Florence is famous for its leather craftsmanship (think gloves, jackets, handbags), gold jewelry, and pottery. Head to Mercato Nuovo/Mercato del Porcellino (an open-air market where you can also find the bronze boar) for one-stop souvenir shopping. Florence has a way of captivating your senses. From the aroma and taste of a glass of Tuscan Brunello to the intricate details of “Birth of Venus,” Florence rekindles an appreciation of natural and manmade beauty. Experience la dolce vita—the sweet life—with a trip to Firenze. travel tips.When to Go:
May through September are popular, but also busy. Some savvy travelers suggest shoulder season (April or October) when there are fewer tourists and mild temperatures. How to Get There: Fly into Rome (FCO) and take the fast train (for 1.5 hours), or fly into Pisa (PSA) and drive (for approximately 1 hour). What to Try: Take an authentic Tuscan cooking class Climb to the top of Il Duomo Touch the snout of Il Porcellino Book a wine tasting in Tuscany Visit neighboring towns such as Siena and San Gimignano |
Robin CushingA top producing REALTOR® with over a decade of experience in the real estate industry. Archives
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Robin Cushing - REALTOR® - Established 2010
Victoria BC Canada
Coldwell Banker Oceanside Real Estate
Victoria BC Canada
Coldwell Banker Oceanside Real Estate