charlotte

Gosh, it's been awhile hasn't it?
I didn't mean to take such a big blog break, but stuff just kept - well - getting in the way.  And the longer I waited, the bigger the bar became for what I should post about when I finally emerged from my blogging burial ground.  

But today is a day worth reemerging for.
Because today marks the birthday of my very best friend: Miss. Charlotte VanWagenen.

char at range

While I couldn't be with her to celebrate the big day today, I was lucky enough to have her come visit for an entire weekend a few weeks ago.  If you know her, you know she is the absolute easiest guest in the entire world.  She is game for anything (any activity, any restaurant, any schedule), she is totally fine sleeping on the couch (which she had to do because our air mattress has gotten in the habit of deflating over the course of a night leaving its inhabitant waking on the ground), and she's the definition of easy going.  

So easy going in fact, that when our bathroom tub decided to clog while she was here (and by clog - I mean, to the brim, not draining one little bit), and we had to spend 2 hours on Saturday waiting while a heavy-duty plumber snacked out our drain, she pretended as though the event was the most exciting and fascinating thing that had happened to her all year.  (She leads a very adventurous, travel-filled life, so I know it most certainly wasn't.)

Thankfully, the plumber sorted it out and we were able to take showers and get on with the rest of our weekend.  Stefan managed to finagle an appointment at A. Rafanelli - one of our absolute favorite wineries that is close to impossible to get into.  While their wines are out of this world and could easily go for $150+ a pop, they refuse to raise their prices, leaving their amazing Zinfandel at the absolute bargain price of $30.  While that's awesome if you can get them, their wine club has a multi-year wait list and requires you to hand write them a letter requesting to be put on it.  Luckily, our time had come so they were willing to let us new wine club members come show "our extra special guest" what they were all about.

After some decadent tastes, we opted for a European-style picnic overlooking the nearby Sonoma Lake.  

Char carried the essentials:

wine and water that is

We sat and chatted and ate and drank and before we knew it, it was late and time to head home.  The weekend was over before it felt like it had even started - a common occurrence with Charlotte.  Even though she lives in New York while I'm in SF, she's the type of friend who I can not see (or even talk to) for weeks, and then when we get together, it feels like not a single second has passed.  You know: the type of friend whose presence alone rejuvenates you.

Happy Birthday Char! Hope you're being spoiled rotten.

xoxo
KK

sunny switzerland

This past weekend, Stefan and I headed to Switzerland for his dad's wedding.  I was quite apprehensive about the event (particularly what I was to wear), after being scarred from a previous Swiss wedding we attended about a year ago.  For that celebration, I opted to wear a bright red dress (which I thought perfect given Switzerland's faved colors) only to discover that everyone else was wearing greys, browns, and beiges.  I did not go unnoticed.  (Nor untalked about.)  Let me save you some trouble: it is always best to try your hardest to blend in with everyone else when wedding-bound in die Schweiz.   

This wedding - having learned my lesson - I went for a simple black dress with peplum and black tights. 

here

As I was trying to not stick out (especially as the only American in attendance), I opted to not bring my extra large camera nor iPhone to take copious photos.  You'll just have to trust me that the event (and my dress) were a success.

Saturday, Frank and Marlene - two good German friends of ours - drove down from Munich to visit.  They also got married last summer and honeymooned in Hawaii before heading to San Francisco for our nuptials.  The last time we had been together had been the decadent dinner out we enjoyed immediately post nuptials as our wedding presents to each other.

As it was dreary and gloomy that day, we decided to take a trip up a nearby mountain to try and break free of the copious cloud cover.  I decided to embrace my American heritage and bring along my big camera to document the day.

Not the nicest of weather

I was skeptical as we boarded the cable car and moved into the sea of white.  How could we possibly see the sun on a day like today?  After a few minutes, however, the white thinned and we suddenly emerged from the blanket of white.

We were thrilled to be able to explore the mountain top (and enjoy the spectacular views) in the gorgeous sun.

After a lot of walking (and even more picture taking), we opted to lounge on the deck to enjoy some apple wine and strudel.

The only thing that could make the day more perfect was a fondue dinner at home.  With lots of wine and lots of cheese.

Frank slicing up perfectly proportioned bread,

Stefan chopping up garlic for his cheesy blend

And we finished it all!

Sadly, the weekend was short and after a big brunch of Swiss cheese and fruits Sunday morning, I had to hop back on a plane to head home.  We're already counting the days until our next visit.

xoxo
KK

feb 19

Yesterday was my birthday.

I've had a history of some pretty sensational celebrations,
(last year my sister, two best friends, and all of their SOs came out to visit for a weekend of wine-tasting, 
the year before that Stefan whisked me off to Verbier for a weekend of sensational Swiss skiing)
so Stefan had quite some work cut out for him to out-do himself this time around.

To add to his pressure, I have parents who completely spoil me (in the BEST possible way) with a plethora of perfect presents (think: 3-months unlimited yoga, a new KKF Tiffany's key chain, and 6-months laundry service - just to name a few).   

Yesterday, however, Stefan totally hit the ball out of the park.

I was instructed to be home in our apartment at 7pm, "elegantly dressed" and ready for the night.  There, Stefan was waiting with an apero - one of my most favorite Swiss traditions that has become a special event for the two of us whenever we can fit it in.

He had picked up the most delicious fresh bread along with some perfectly sliced prosciutto and two right-up-my-alley cheeses.

  
He popped some champagne...

We made cheers...

And then I opened some sensational presents from my fam...

 

Some stylish travel supplies from 

my adorable little brother Sam

(who clearly has impeccable taste)

We then headed out to our mystery dinner locale - Stefan not sharing a peep.  As he drove us in all sorts of misleading directions, he asked me what type of cuisine I was hoping for.
"French!"
Not only do the French prepare the most decadent dishes, their restaurants tend to be the most romantic and cozy - perfect for a chilly, February birthday.

As luck would have it, Stefan had booked us a table at chapeau! - a little French secret in the Richmond, a neighborhood we had yet to explore.  The place was packed (especially for a Tuesday night at 8:30pm) and they led us to a lovely table tucked between two other couples.

But Stefan knew we could do better.
He made fast friends with the French owner and head chef (who was charmed by Stefan's superior French skills - oh the joys of having a husband who speaks every language) who escorted us to the restaurant's best table.

The intimate round beauty where we could sit next to each other 

in a luscious leather booth and spy on the rest of the restaurant 

while we sipped our wine and ate our butter-laden bread

They had an option for a 3-course or 4-course meal so we opted for both (Stefan with the 3, me with the 4) and ordered a variety of different tantalizing options to share.

The meal started with a creamy cauliflower soup amuse-bouche.

Then moved onto veal sweetbreads and a trio of salmon to start.

A pan seared scallop with pesto risotto as a second. 

Then a maple leaf farms duck breast and bouillabaisse for mains.

And then french toast with hazelnut ice cream and nuage de noix for dessert.

 

with a candle of course!

But that wasn't all Stefan had planned.  He then whipped out my present:

 

An unassuming jar apparently used for making confit...

 

Filled with vouchers for all the weeks of a 12-week intensive cooking course!

For us to do TOGETHER!

Not only does the course teach you all the basics for getting around in the kitchen (knife skills, braising, roasting, sauces, etc), Week 12 is an Iron Chef Mystery Basket competition where you compete against your fellow classmates to see who has mastered the skills the most.  I could not be more pumped.  

Best. birthday. ever.

xoxo

KK

 

a long weekend on gasparilla

So despite a mother on the mend (what is it with the flu this season?  terrible!) 
and weather like this:

 

Of Stefan's four trips to Florida, 

we've had bad luck every time!

Stefan and I had a wonderful time visiting my grandparents and parents on Gasparilla Island.

The weekend was extra special as two of my favorite high school teachers (who happen to be very good friends of my mom) were also down visiting.

 

Mrs. Lyons - English teacher extraordinaire (top) 

and Mrs. Morse - USM's Spanish guru (bottom)

on our make-your-own-pizza night

Despite the lousy weather, we did lots of island walking (bundled up of course!), 
lounged around hearing about Poppy's extraordinary cane collection (you haven't seen anything like it), 
indulged in decadent dinners in and out, 
caught up on Downton, and 
spent leisurely lunches sipping beers and coloring at Miller's Marina.

By far the pinnacle of the weekend, however, was the men's midnight fishing trip.  After dinner on Sunday, Stefan, Poppy and my dad headed out into the cold for a late night attempt at catching some marlin. 

(For those of you who know about as much about fish as I do, marlin fishing is considered the pinnacle of game fishing due to the size and power of this beastly fish and the extreme rareness of the species.)

Hemingway and his family with 4 marlin in 1935

(picture and info on marlin from wikipedia,

because I obviously don't know a thing)

Poppy told Stefan he'd buy us a house in San Francisco if Stefan pulled in one of the breed.

After awhile of no luck catching a thing, Stefan tossed in a live-shrimp-bated hook.

Pops muttered to Dad, "This one will be our last.  The chances of us catching a thing are next to none."

After a minute or two, however, Stefan felt a pull, "I've got something here!"

Knowing Stefan loves a good joke, they peered over at him skeptically.

"No really!  I do!  I can't pull it in!" he hollered as he struggled with his pole.

Pops quickly ran over to help him reel in his catch.

A big, meaty snook!

While not quite a marlin, the snook is also a renowned game fish, known for its superior fighting capabilities (which the men experienced first hand).  

While Stefan didn't end up with a house, he went home with a book all about his catch (with a hand-written note from his fishing mentor Pops) as well as a new nickname: "The Fischerman."

How was your long weekend?

xoxo

KK

happy valentine's day!

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?  

We're not huge V-day people around here (there's something not-so-wonderful about a jam-packed yet under-staffed prix-fixe-only restaurant with tables topped with red roses - or worse: pink carnations).  Still there's something really lovely about the day - an excuse to celebrate (and spoil) the ones you love.  So I obviously couldn't go without doing a little something for Stefan, especially for our first one as husband and wife.

The other day, a friend was telling me about the 5 love languages - have you heard of it?  It's an interesting way to figure out which language of love you (or your mate) "speaks" so you can each do a better job making each other feel loved.  Stefan and I are both high on the Words of Affirmation scale (meaning we both like to be told nice things), but we also rank very high on Acts of Service and Quality Time (meaning we like to DO things together).  

With that in mind, I prepped a little bag of treats:

    -A certificate for a Thai Couples Massage workshop next weekend

    -A voucher for a KK-home-cooked Boeuf Bourguignon (one of our favs!) with a bottle of Bordeaux

 
    -A box of Whole Foods dried mangos - Stefan's absolute favorite 

Early this morning when I snuck out to the gym (and Stefan was still in bed), I left the bag of goodies where I knew he'd find it:

Still need some ideas for something to do for that special someone?

Make them a steamy cup of hot chocolate, 

with a pair of floating marshmallow hearts

from martha

 

make some heart shaped soft pretzels

with pink salt

from two blue lemons  

 

paint some empty matchboxes with chalkboard paint 

and fill with red hots

here

 

make a food passport for all the places you want to try

more details here

 

download these free printables to dress up an otherwise dull chocolate bar

Or my fav idea of the bunch:

(that I stole from a fabulous friend who is surprising her man TONIGHT)

cook him a three-course meal

with an appetizer from the city where you met

the entree from where they went on their honeymoon

and the dessert from where the live now

pic from here

Any big plans for tonight?  

Stefan and I are hopping on a red-eye to Gasparilla Island to spend the weekend with my fam.  We couldn't be more pumped to see them and spend some time soaking up the Florida sun.  Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

KK