A Day To Us

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Cool Texas spring weather has a way of drawing even the most hermit of characters out of the confines of their home.  It’s the sense of guilt one can feel if they don’t take advantage of the limited season, if you want to call it a season.  Spring in Texas doesn’t stay cool and beautiful for long—summer has a way of coming early.  It’s like a 6 month stint on Mercury-hot and dry as you know what!  So when Spring calls, you go out!

The hermits I’m talking about are us—yes, the *Traveling Pear*. A contradiction to our name I know, but  recently we’ve done our traveling behind the glow of our laptop screens.  Searching for Paris apartments and Google Earthing (that’s an Elissa word) the streets and neighborhoods we will soon call home.  Not to mention the hours of college work we’ve been doing.  All will come to pass soon enough and we’ll live up to our name *The Traveling Pear*.   

Since the hunt for an apartment in Paris is over (we found a place for now) and college assignments were done, the *Pear* braved the traffic for an hour drive into Houston to:

 1. Meet with our advisor from the American University Paris.

2. Have lunch at one of Houston’s most hip new restaurants —Philippe’s Restaurant and Lounge.

3. Feel like part of the world again.

The Chef finished his externship a few weeks back with Chef Philippe and had been waiting for an opportunity to take me to the new restaurant.  Even though I had not been, I felt as though I had through the many pictures and stories I had seen and heard.  Nevertheless, anticipation swirled within. The restaurant’s theme is French and Chef Philippe had affectionately named a room *Marie Antoinette*.  Combine French food, fine dining and a room called Marie Antoinette; I would have to be comatose not to agree! 

Notice the Eiffel on the register...

 

So there we were amid a mixture of French furnishings, photographs (some of which are from the Shaw collection) all fused with modern clean lines and a touch of fur and chiffon.  Matt took me behind the scenes to where the magic takes place—a room filled with rows of stainless steel, sharp blades, hot pots and a lot of hustle.  My natural instinct was to flee immediately back into the pretty atmosphere I had stepped from.  This however, is a playground for my Chef, so I agreed to stay and meet the ones he admires the most.  We found Chef Manuel Pucha, the Chef de cuisine, and the *star* of the show–Executive Chef Philippe Schmit, a very charming individual, like his restaurant.    

Chef Philippe

Back at the table Matt and I almost forgot we were still in Texas.  While sipping my rose champagne and nibbling on scallops and risotto I hummed along to a tune by Carla Bruni Sarkozy, the model, actress, singer and first lady of France!  It was the most enjoyable lunch we’ve had in quite some time. 

Jasmine crème brûlée

Back in Galveston we hopped on our beach cruisers and went for ride to enjoy the last few weeks we have in this little beachside city.  A treat to ourselves for the many weekends we’ve spent confined to our apartment while the world went out to play.     

no this isnt our hermit hole but it sure was cozy

The Journey Back

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Thursday was one of those rare days; a day that many individuals only have a few times in their life.  This was a day when part of the *Pear* was placed into the spotlight, while the other half took happiness in the admiration of the other.

A few weeks ago the Chef found out he had been selected as a scholarship recipient by Culinary Institute LeNôtre for his appreciation for the culinary arts, in addition to his pending staging opportunity in France.  Now, those close to the Chef know he is more comfortable behind a stove than a podium delivering an acceptance speech.  I too was going to be part of the speech, but only minimally.

During our hour drive we rehearsed what we would say and such, but decided to just “wing it.”  We would tell about our journey from 2001 to 2011.  From the initial search I did to find the culinary school to his café, then time spent in the military to my obsession with French history and then find our way back to the Chef entering the Culinary Institute LeNôtre once again.  It would ultimately end with our next adventure—Paris!  When the program began (it was done entirely in French until our part) I felt very confident, maybe a little over confident—maybe it was a little  ignorance, considering our comprehension had holes in it.   I imagined the Chef and I would do our spiel, they would hand us the lottery size check, do a photo-op and we’d be done—on to the wine!  It went very much like that, except we really didn’t say anything we had rehearsed!  In fact, I don’t even know what I said, other than I had a liking for Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie Antoinette and I was going to school, oh and I think I threw in that my ancestry was somewhere in between French royalty and peasantry—complete mindless gibberish!   More importantly however, I do remember the Chef being very poised and fabulous, more with it than I ever thought about being.  It was all about him anyway, which was perfect because it took the light off of me–hopefully!

So when the train wreck of my part of the speech was over and we had done the smiles and *thank yous* it was on to the free-flowing wine and what I like to call a “couture styled buffet” in the newly named restaurant located on the lower level of the culinary school—Bistro Kris.

Attendees made their way into the school’s kitchen, which by the way was a scene straight of Ratatouille minus the rat of course!  To greet us was a table decorated with the best part of any French meal—the bread!  Glorious baguettes, pain de champagne, pain d’épices, pain aux raisins and my personal favorite—brioche with golden raisins and sugar!  Give me a tub of butter and call it a night.    It was hard to move forward, but move I had for the rest of the kitchen held an impeccable array of culinary delights.  Chefs and students buzzed here and there holding delicately prepared “amuse bouches” that were blooming with color; it was if spring had arrived in the kitchen.

With bread and about three plates of various savory items in hand we made our way to a table. In the company of our *French* friends Elyse and Jean Luc, we enjoyed each and every bite; made even better as a lively array of French accordion melodies danced throughout the room.  For a moment, I thought we had been transported to France, without the jet lag and pat downs!

However, the pièce de résistance was about to come—the desserts.  Before the event even began I had spotted the elaborately decorated dessert table.  Almost instantly I had a vision of myself in the scene from the Marie Antoinette movie when she and her friends go feral over plates and plates of petits fours, macarons and chocolate truffles.  Seems like everyone else thought they were in the movie, as I was almost too late—most of the precious darlings were gone!  I have no idea what each of them were called that I did eat; only that they tasted like something a Greek Goddess might enjoy—velvety white and milk chocolate, vanilla crème and puff pastry, raspberry flavored candies—my palate was intoxicated with sweet goodness.

So the evening which started out a little stressed ended in absolute pleasure.  I had forgotten about my babble from the hour before and instead enjoyed the company of new friends, the French culture and my talented husband the Chef.  For his journey back to the world of culinary arts has started on an avenue filled with endless possibilities!

History Repeated

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Somehow during my busy work day I had the opportunity to actually read for pleasure (translates to: some aspect of history).  I thank my colleague Jeff for that one!  It was an informative/entertaining article–well at least to my dorky self.  I understand sometimes my pleasure reading isn’t like most of my peers, as I find anything having to do with European history utterly enchanting.  There is the occasional period when I find a VOGUE or PEOPLE  magazine to be what my overworked brain needs–time away from critical thinking and graduate school words ( some of which I had no clue existed).  Perspicacity, alacrity, swarthy….yeah grab a dictionary, unless you’re a *word* kind of person.  My IPhone Scrabble friends will like those.  I must add…this may be the only time I use them.  

So in that glorious 5 minutes of spare time I came across the article 1848 vs. 2011 by Kurt Anderson.  Most Americans may not even realize what happened in 1848 and how it relates to 2011.  But then again, why would they?  That’s 163 years ago!  Since I’m at the end of a degree in European History it registered immediately–we’re living during a time when history is actually repeating itself! How could I be so blind?

For those who are world history challenged–this is the short version of 1848–basically with *alacrity* revolutions began taking place all over Europe.  The end result–monarchies tumbled.  France, again the instigator of revolutions, started it by disposing King Louis-Philippe and replaced him with my dear Napoleon’s *perspicuous* nephew, Louis Napoleon III.

So here we are in 2011…and instead of France igniting the revolutionary fire (thank you baby Jesus)  it’s the Middle Eastern swarthy monarchs and authoritarians that are taking the plunge into exile (some with a fight others not so much). 

 

There are many parallels to each of these periods in time.  The underlying tenet is that human history will invariable repeat if we don’t heed the messages that history so desperately tries to impart on mankind.  As Americans let’s hope the messages left by our predecessors have been heard.   

So if you are interested in reading about 1848 vs. 2011 you will find the article here: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2058092,00.html

Even for those who aren’t into history there’s a nice graphic to look at!

Fashion Bliss

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When designer Carmen Marc Valvo comes to town there’s only one place you’ll find me…Neiman Marcus!  Who better than to accompany me than my fashion conscious partner in crime-my dear mother of course!

I first fell head over stiletto heels for Valvo’s designs at a fashion show at the Dallas Market in 2004 while scouting dresses for the Miss Texas pageant.  Later that year I was fortunate enough to meet Valvo at Neiman Marcus in Houston.  Never could I imagine how down to earth and so very helpful he could be.  He’s not your typical celebrity by any means, very real and charming.  He makes you feel important, no matter if you’re a VIP or a girl from the country like me!

  The first time I met him I spent the day trying every dress that Neimans had in his evening wear collection, that is until he decided I needed to meet his couture line.  Can you say fashion bliss? I can!  I walked away with a pink chiffon and beaded skirt paired with a pink top that was embellished with silk chiffon roses.  I also found the dress I had dreamt about since the day I spotted it on the runway in Dallas. It’s the only piece of clothing I own that has its own name! I call her “Flowy” because of the way the fabric seems to flow and glide like the wind.  It’s still my personal favorite alongside my wedding dress, which was another piece Valvo had a part in.    “Flowy” along with my other Valvo dresses  are kept hanging inside their own garment bags awaiting my return for what Valvo calls ” many more red carpet moments.”   Let’s hope!

 

Carmen Marc Valvo is an avid supporter of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance.  Proceeds of his new book, The Art of Dressing For Your Red Carpet Moments, go to colon cancer research and awareness. 

Dressed to Perfection: The Art of Dressing for Your Red Carpet Moments

What’s the value in going to the movies?

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Is a movie ticket really worth the $7.50 or more you paid for it?  I guess it would depend on if you were moved by it, or maybe if it changed your life in some way.  If one considers the movie choice, that $7.50 could be priceless.  If you’ve read my History page then you’ll know my opinion on this subject.  If anything they can let loose the travel bug.

There are probably tons of people who have sat through a movie, dazzled by its setting and thought “I want to go there.” A movie set in a mystic paradise or far off country entices the nomadic instinct to leave the familiar behind and set out to find adventure, new people, food and cultures.  Just in the last decade more movies have inspired people to ditch their realties behind to see for one’s self what the world truly has to offer, if only for a week or so.

Consider the following:

The Tourist 2010 Two Hollywood super stars combined with a backdrop of Paris and Venice.  So where did I place my passport?

the tourist - the-tourist wallpaper

Mamma Mia 2008   Even though the singing made me crazy, the Cerulean blue Aegean Sea, baby powder white houses, effervescently colored Bougainvillea and a dancing Colin Firth were all it took for me to say “pass the pita and hummus…and oh yeah, when’s the next flight to the Greek isles?”

View Image

Pirates of the Caribbean I, II, III    A trip the Caribbean doesn’t need an explanation!

  

 The #1 movie for travel….It’s also the movie that I think can make one question their life’s choices or at least wish they had (read end note).

EAT PRAY LOVE 2010 Of all the locations in this film, Bali has captivated me the most.  I’ve made it my personal mission to one day visit Ubud.  The tranquility that surrounds this mystical village is intoxicating.  No wonder Elizabeth Gilbert made it her final destination.  If only I could find the villa Roberts used in the movie.

 

On a side note…Matt and I were, no kidding, the youngest couple in the movie theatre the first time we saw it.  Everyone and I do mean everyone, was pushing the retirement home or already there, as the lady next to me needed an oxygen mask to breathe, poor thing.  It made us question, what’s the real message of this movie going to be?  Was it to travel? That would be too easy of an answer. While it does make you think about your next vacation the real answer was bit more complex.  This movie deals with the realities of life and forces one to look inward.  What have your choices and actions in life lead you to?  Have they been something you’re proud of?  Do you have regrets? Are you really fulfilled spiritually and emotionally?  Apparently, from the scope of the age group we found are self amidst, they had not found the answers to those questions and had been searching way too long.  Possibly, they needed a confirmation, who knows.  It was just interesting to see the age difference between us and our fellow movie goers.

This is just the cusp of what movies  can inspire.  They can help you find harmony or simply do their job of entertaining.  For others, they open doors to entire life changing realities, detour college or career goals or simply help find that missing spirituality.  They can take you anywhere in the world, whether from your couch or in person.  So the value of that movie ticket really can be priceless!