Friday, February 28, 2014

 
To the Manor Born
 


Here at Cardinham | Killigrew we specialize in living life to the fullest.  Mixing modern culture and old-world style.  While we may have a boar hunt in Florida or jet off to St. Barths for the day the core value is to live in a very old-world style.  Artisan Cheeses, Rhone Wines, Quail Hunts, and Polo Matches.  The winter is dying down, but not without a fight.  She still may have a few gasps in her after all.  So, I think and prepare for my favorite time of the year.....Spring, Sumer and Fall.

I am preparing for festival season.  This is when I prepare to attend the Potomac Hunt, Middleburg Steeplechase,  Wine Festivals, and Point to Point Races.  My busy time.  Mixed in with business we have lots of pleasure. For example, I have to find a new fishing rod, thank you Cabelas.   I am looking for new wellies at a new favorite le chameau.  I prepare for wine harvest and bottling.

It's time to prepare for the fun in style.  I urge you to attend local equestrian and Polo events, get out and have fun.  In this I suggest a nice cocktail for that polo match.

The Polo Cocktail

  1. 1 shot of guava juice
  2. 1 sprig of mint
  3. top up with a nice champagne
Now, what post without the appropriate plug would be good.  Enjoy a martini in a bath that hold a very nice Vive la France! Bath Bomb by Cardinham | Killigrew.  Also, enjoy the new shave products for the proper gentleman.





Thursday, February 6, 2014

Long cold winter.....Perfect plan for a dreary cold and wet winter weekend.



So, we are having a bad winter.  We chug to work, scraping icy windows, warming up the car.  It's horrible, all we hear is complaints.  Hell, I was sitting under a palm tree last week, and will be again very shortly, but I enjoy my winters.  For some reason I get a bit "snuggly" when it comes to them.

Try this to brighter up your cold, rainy (or snowy) winter weekend.  Let's call this the French Weekend Winter getaway.  Sound good?  So, here is what you are going to do.

First, go to Cardinham | Killigrew and order 1...or 2 bath bombs.  Depends if you have a certain special someone you wish to do this with.  I suggest Vive La France Bath Bomb and a Champagne Bath Bomb.

Next start watching the weather for that perfect cold, dreary, snowy or rainy cold weekend.  Start your shopping on Thursday.  First, go to the wine store and buy a small bottle of nice Cognac, a bottle of Champagne or Sparkling wine, two bottles of nice red wine, and a desert wine like a French Sauterne.

Next hit the grocery.  Here is your list:

Beef Round Roast - Flour - Butter - Bacon - Bay Leaf  - Beef Broth - Garlic - Olive Oil - Yellow Onions - Thyme - Carrots - Mushrooms - Tomato Paste - Salt and Pepper - long Thin French Bread - Salted Caramel Ice Cream - Pick up a few nice cheeses from the cheese section (I recommend Gouda or Havarti) - some stone ground mustard - a small jar of blackberry jelly - Some Gourmet Crackers - in the Deli (1/4 pound of  Lorraine Swiss and 1/4 pound of Black Forest Ham) - An Italian bread. Some Pillsbury Croissants (in the dairy section), Also, have yourself some extra expensive and nice coffee, buy heavy whipping cream, and fresh natural sugar.  remember your treating yourself, so surge......

Ok, this seems like a lot but it's really not. - Welcome to your Rainy, wet, cold, Parisian Day!




Now.....Sleep in.  Hey, your in Paris now....relax.  As you feel you are slowly starting to make, run downstairs, fire up the coffee pot, heat the oven and put in the crescent rolls.  Set yourself an alarm in case you fall back a sleep.  Now, rouse yourself from your slumber...pour some heavy cream and sugar and coffee together, turn off your oven and have a croissant spread with blackberry jelly as you sip your creamy coffee.

Your lunch time has arrived, true Parisian style.  Takeout your Italian bread and slice off slices a little thicker then a normal sandwich slice.  Slather on some stone ground mustard, pile it with cheese and black forest ham. Now, butter (heavy) a frying pan.  Slowly fry the sandwich till the cheese is melty.  Enjoy your Parisian sandwich with a glass of wine.

Afternoon Appetizers, yes there is a lot of eating going on.  Stone ground mustard, Crackers, and your Havarti or Gouda.  Have some red wine.  Once we have completed our appetizers, we are going to prep dinner prior to our bath. 

The MAIN COURSE

Cube up the beef and remove any fat. Toss in Flour.  Set Aside
Chop onions and carrots into bite sized chunks.
Dice Garlic
Dice a side of Onion
Slice Mushrooms
Set out your ingredients and utensils.
Pop both wines and let them air.

Instructions: Be warned...you are dealing with hot oils...use your head. ;)

In a large pot - heated to a Hot-Medium. Cut up the bacon and sizzle in the pot.  Once its crispy and going nice, remove it and set aside. 

Add 1/4 cup of olive or vegetable oil.  Get it medium hot.  Drop in the cubed beef.  It should sizzle.  You are not fully cooking it, just searing the outside.  Let it sit for 20 seconds and then begin flipping the little cubes to sear the other sides.  This is also soaking up the bacon grease. Once done a minute or two later....remove them and set aside.

Toss in the garlic, onions, and carrots. Let them sizzle and par cook for a minute, stir, then let them sizzle a few minutes more.  Now the FUN...and Dangerous part.  BE CAREFUL!!!!!  Pour in a half cup of cognac and Immediately light with a long lighter.  STAND BACK!!!  It will flame up!  You will see a HUGE blue flame erupt from the pot...it will dies down after about 10 seconds.  This is burning off the alcohol and adding a beautiful flavor to the vegetables.  Now, once the flames begin to die, toss back in the cubed beef, the chopped up bacon, a little thyme, and a bay leaf.  Pour in a full can of beef broth, about a cup or so and add almost a full bottle of wine.  The liquid should just cover the vegetables and beef.  Stir in about a tablespoon of tomato paste.  Cover and put on low for about an hour and a half.


Bath Time. - Run a nice hot bath, put on some mood music, pop your bottle of Champagne, light a candle, and get into your bath.  Drop in your Bath Bomb.  Relax and enjoy your Parisian evening.




Sip your champagne, relax, catch a hint of the beef bourguignon simmering downstairs.  Listen to soft music while you relax.

Occasionally stir the simmering stew.

About an hour and a half later your beef bourguignon will be ready.  Taste, salt and pepper.  Server under candlelight with red wine and your French bread for sipping.  I suggest in large bowls.  Listen to soft music, sip your wine, enjoy your flavors, under the flicker of a candle.


 
Ah, Paris.  Once your meal is done. Serve up some of your caramel salted sea salt ice cream and sip the sauterne desert wine.  Your French evening is complete.  I hope you have enjoyed turning this dreary winter weekend into a special Parisian event.  It's all what you make it.....