Dizzy Swallows

Bricco and Efeste

June 15th, 2011

On Sunday, Jacob and I embarked on a culinary and vinous adventure at one of Queen Anne’s neighborhood wine bars, Bricco. Accompanied by two of our dearest friends, Hannah and Will, we were feasted with appetizers and five courses of sinfully delicious food, all paired with wines from Washington winery, Efeste.

Appetizers included a selection of salami and prosciutto from Salumi, pride and joy of Seattle’s artisan cured meats community. I give them the high praise of making the best prosciutto I’ve had outside of Italy. We washed the cured meats and soft, fragrant cheese down with a bit of champagne. You know, to start things right.

The menu was certainly meant for carnivores, but was well moderated by in season, local produce.

The first course consisted of buttery-soft albacore. Seared with a grainy crust of exotic salt. Served on a billowy bed of cucumber, crème fraiche … Continue reading

Little Bits for a Monday

May 30th, 2011 2 Comments

Happy Memorial Day chicklets! I trust we are all still enjoying a well deserved cold beverage and kicking up our feet, yes? We certainly have had quite the weekend thus far, and I have a big fat juicy blog coming your way on Wednesday about a certain something new. Today, however, I think we all need some little bits in our life.

Ben Harper’s latest album Give Till It’s Gone has earned nothing but praise. Though I have yet to hear the entire album, I must say my excitement at the return of a long-loved (musical) friend was dampened with the release of the album’s first single: “Rock and Roll is Free”. It is nothing short of appalling. And very un-Ben. I offered up prayers of gratitude, therefore, when I heard the wonderful track “Don’t Give Up On Me Now”. The video isn’t much to write home about but … Continue reading

All You Need Is Love

April 20th, 2011 6 Comments

My darlings, today’s post will venture into a subject that can at times be polarizing. I ask you as my readers to keep an open heart and an open mind. I would love to know your thoughts on this subject, but please keep comments respectful and kind.

As I’ve mentioned, this past weekend we had the pleasure of attending the wedding of two very dear friends. Which happened twice. Why you may ask? For the simple reason that the couple just so happens to be two males. The commitment ceremony and reception took place in Santa Monica, CA, with the official vows held two days later in Vancouver, B.C. While it saddens me that a loving and devoted couple must leave the country to make their union official, this had the happy silver lining of allowing both a huge wedding party and an intimate ceremony.

The afternoon before the wedding, … Continue reading

Par Avion

April 9th, 2011

What’s this? A package? For moi? One look at the envelope, boldly stamped with a queenly visage and the words “Royal Mail”, was enough to tell me who this goodie was from.

Indeed, my darling Rachel had triumphed against the terrible demons of the post – who had managed to derail her first attempt at sending me a birthday pressie. All the way from jolly old England at that.

And what lovely presents they were, too! With great delight I peeled back the robin’s egg tissue to reveal a diminutive set of cookie cutters. How did she know I’d been mooning over this recipe and just needed the proper tools?

If that wasn’t enough to convince me that someone knows me too well, the second half of the package clinched it. Thank you my dearest, what a wonderful gift! Kick that dissertation’s butt and come home to us soon.

… Continue reading