AZ Tidbits

I swung by my local florist last week, the Camelback Flowershop, and saw something that made my heart flutter:

My initial thought was that I would take advantage of this the next time I host a dinner party on a weekend.  But, then again, why wait for a special occasion?  At 50% off, I want to treat myself every chance I can get.  La vida es corta. 

This lovely flower boutique delivers with over-the-top friendly service in a relaxed and hip environment.  It's fun to duck in here on a hot day to check out their succulents and fresh flower arrangements.

Camelback Flowershop

4227 E. Camelback Rd.

(602) 840-4646

 FnB

We met some foodie friends for dinner last night at the new location of Chef Charleen Badman's gastropub, FnB, at the southeast corner of Craftsman Court and 5th Avenue.  In sum, we had an outstanding meal.  The menu offers seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients that can be washed down with a selection of Arizona wines.  Yes, you heard me correctly, Arizona wines.  I kept an open mind, and it paid off.  We tried two of their wines on tap out of Cochise County, the Dos Cabezas rose and the Arizona Stronghold "Tazi" Blend.  They were perfectly enjoyable on the evening of April 28th, the first day of 2013 to hit 100 degrees.  It is estimated that wines by the glass account for 80% of wine sold in restaurants.  Some major benefits of keeping wines on tap, also known as keg wine, include the elimination of corking and bottle shock, as keg filling is a more gentle process than bottling.  In addition, offering wines on tap gives restaurants an environmentally friendly way of selling quality wines that do not put a hole in your wallet.

The appetizers we tried included the following: Spring Green Falafel with Lemon Tahini and Delfino Cilantro; Roasted Beets with Watermelon, Vadouvan and Pumpernickel Croutons; Braised Leeks with Mozzarella, Fried Egg and Mustard Bread Crumbs; and Lamb Manti with Yoghurt, Urfa Butter, Pinenuts and Cilantro.  My favorite dish was the roasted beets, but all the plates were winners.  Vadouvan was a new spice for me.  Apparently, it is all the rage now in gourmet cooking after having made its debut to North American audiences on Season 5 of "Top Chef".  Also known as French curry, or masala, vadouvan is believed to have originated in a French settlement in India.  It generally includes a combination of onions, shallots, garlic, cardamom and fresh curry leaves.

For the main course, I chose the fish of the day: Halibut with Cous Cous, Carrots, Fava Beans and Sauce Vierge.

Hubby tried the Grilled Half Chicken with Sherry Vinegar, Coriander, Basmati Rice and Cucumbers, a favorite I had read about on Yelp.  We were not disappointed.  The cucumbers were marinated escabeche-style and gave a nice vinegary zing to the dish.

Many reviews on Yelp mentioned that the veggie sides were worth the trip in and of themselves.  Most definitely.  In the foreground of the photo below is the Spicy Broccoli with Tangerine Aioli and Pistachios, a dish out of which I could have made an entire meal.  In the background is the Housemade Pasta of the Day with Asparagus, Snap Peas, Crispy Prosciutto, Morels and Pecorino Cheese.  Thank you, FnB...I am eager to return!

FnB

7125 East 5th Avenue #31

Scottsdale, AZ

(480) 284-4777

Viva Fiesta

This week is Fiesta in San Antonio, an event commemorating the fallen heroes of the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, the latter of which ultimately gave Texas its freedom from Mexico.  It was a brief 18 minute battle, occurring in present-day Harris County, just outside Houston, where the Texians, led by General Sam Houston, defeated the Mexican army and captured General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. 

To review a bit of history, the Battle of the Alamo took place between February 23 and March 6, 1836. After the attack on the Alamo, the Mexican army marched east to the fort at Goliad.  Realizing they were outnumbered, the troops at Goliad surrendered to Santa Anna, only to be taken to a nearby field and shot.  Santa Anna was intent on chasing what remained of the Texian army to the U.S. border.  But the Texians did not relent, and with the battle cries of "Remember Goliad!" and "Remember the Alamo!", they captured Santa Anna and won their independence.

The Battle of San Jacinto took place on April 21, 1836, and for the last 122 years, San Antonio has turned that week into one of the greatest celebrations of carnivals, street fairs, festive parties and parades.  It is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the US, with over 50,000 volunteers from the military and general public, and close to 100 non-profit organizations.  San Antonio has even declared the Friday of Fiesta week a holiday in honor of one of the main parades, the Battle of the Flowers Parade.  Interestingly, this is the only parade in the U.S. to be produced by women, all of whom are volunteers.

I am not in San Antonio this year for Fiesta, but wanted to share some photos of Fiesta past.

King Antonio kicks off the River Parade on Monday night

Confetti flying everywhere

The coronation of the Queen of Fiesta

Palominos at the Battle of Flowers Parade

El Rey Feo con sus aficionados

Fiesta "royalty" 20 years ago today

Remember Boston

It is with heavy heart that I write about celebrations in the wake of the tragedy in Boston.  As a mother, I ache for the victims and their families, and pray for the ones who are left behind.  It is a day the country will never forget.

Houston Antiquing

I just returned from a scouting trip to Houston, my second of (hopefully many) such excursions.  We have been designing, planning, and recently building a new home in AZ, and are finally at the fun part...decorating.  I met my designer extraordinaire there, and we spent two very busy and productive days hitting as many stores as time would allow.  She likes to stay at the Omni Galleria for its proximity to the decorative center on Woodway.  The rooms are comfortable, the staff is friendly, and our waiter at breakfast, Hector, was ever diligent at keeping our coffee mugs full every morning.  

Taken on our first trip, this would be great for a wine room

 

Also from our first trip, these mirrored nesting tables are so elegant for a bedroom

We saw lovely animal prints at Shabby Slips

On the first floor of the decorative center, we had to pop in to the Janus et Cie showroom

George Cameron Nash

Also at GCN, while Hubby was not wild about this chair, I think it is adorable

The Grey Door had some interesting chandeliers

From Watkins Culver Antiques, this is one of two matching Moroccan lanterns

At Scalamandre, a new fabric by Kathryn Ireland called Downton (love the name too)

We ate dinner downtown one night at Reef, a restaurant that has earned numerous culinary awards, including #1 Seafood Restaurant in the US by Bon Appetit Magazine, Best Chef of the Southwest in 2011 and 2010 (Bryan Caswell) and Top 10 Best New Chef in 2009 (Bryan Caswell) by Food and Wine Magazine.  I had to get my fix of Gulf Coast cuisine, and this was the perfect spot to do just that.  It was a cold and rainy night, so the lighting was not optimal for photographs, but I snapped a pic of my delicious entree, red fish on the "half shell" (crispy skin) with a brick of fried mac and cheese.  Red fish was all but depleted in the Gulf Coast due to the blackening fad of the 1980's, and their farm-raised relatives have recently made a comeback.  When I was little we would fish for them out of Port Aransas, and it was such a treat to hook one for dinner.  I still consider it a treat, and this one was of the best I have eaten.  I started off the evening with a margarita and a shrimp shooter, and I am eager to return.  Buen provecho!

Bright Shiny Things

While in Istanbul, I became fascinated with the Bohemian crystal chandeliers that seem to adorn many palaces, hotels, restaurants, and homes.  In the restaurant Pandeli, above the spice market, I spotted the first of many to be seen along my trip.

Notice the etched tulip-shaped glass globes.  The tulip flower originated centuries ago in Persia and Turkey, and played a significant role in the art and culture of the time.  I had read that the world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier hangs in the great hall of the Dolmabahce Palace.  The palace sits on the banks of the Bosphorus and was built between 1843 and 1856 by the Ottoman Empire's 31st sultan.  Western in its design, it is also where Mustafa Ataturk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, spent his last days.  The chandelier in the Center Hall was a gift from Queen Victoria to Ataturk.  The palace also boasts the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.  I had to go, but timing was tricky.  The palace was not on our itinerary and the only free time we could carve out at the convention was a three hour spot before a panel of speakers that included Tony Blair, Gerhard Schroeder, and George Papandreou, a must see as well.
Three hours should be enough, right?  We jumped in a cab.  After an energetic exchange with the driver over the proper pronunciation of Dolmabahce (the language barrier overall in Turkey was very difficult), we were on our way.
After having arrived at the palace, the grounds were stunning on the first sunny day we had in Istanbul.  

Buying tickets should be easy, right?  I only wanted to see the chandelier.  But the salesman did not speak any English, so to avoid any further delay, I just bought a full price ticket ($40!!) and ran to the entrance of the palace.  There was a long queue to enter, and after having waited some time, we came to find that you can only tour the palace with a tour guide, and the English tour didn't start for 30 minutes, and would last 45 minutes.  On top of that, photography is not permitted within the palace.  Factoring in the time needed to take a cab back (and don't get me started on what it took to find a cab back), we just didn't have the time.  I think I was just meant to return to Turkey another time.
Disappointed, I walked around the palace to catch a view of the turquoise waters of the Bosphorus and enjoyed some fresh air...

when I spied an open door into the palace.  I ran in and caught this pic before being ushered out by a screaming guard.  Good thing I couldn't understand what he was saying.

Photo "accidentally" taken by me of the infamous chandelier in the Center Hall

Here is a close up that was not taken by me...

Not to be disappointed for long, I had the extraordinary opportunity to see some other worthy examples.  The following two photos were taken in a palace attached to the fabulously grand Ciragan Palace Hotel during a lavish black tie party for 2,500 people.

Not sure what is prettier, the ceiling or the chandelier

In addition, we were invited into the homes of some Istanbul locals for dinner.  This incredibly chic home sits on the banks of the Bosphorus, and my only regret is not having seen it during the day.

Beautiful with the molding

Note the parquet flooring as well

Lovely sitting area to admire the view across the water to Asia

I recall that in my one of my favorite TV shows, Million Dollar Decorators, designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard redecorates his dining room with a Turkish-inspired chandelier.

Photo taken for Elle Decor

 Here's to wishing you a wonderful and bright start to your week!  Hasta luegito.




All photos taken by Marci Symington for texaztaste.blogspot.com, with the exception (alas!) of the Dolmabahce Palace chandelier, found at noordinaryhomes.com and the photo from Elle Decor of the home of Martyn Lawrence Bullard.  Many thanks to our gracious hosts, Tulu and Kaan Terzioglu, and for welcoming us into their spectacular home.

Bluebonnet Blues

As I was looking through some photos of past Spring Breaks, I realized that I am missing the blooming of the bluebonnets this year in Texas.  The desert in Arizona is starting to bloom, and I have begun to take some pics, but I am waiting until the palo verde and ocotillo bloom (and maybe the saguaro too) until I post the photos.  In the meantime, I will leave you with these images I took three years ago in the Texas Hill Country around Doss, Texas:

"On a cold winter night

'Neath the silver moon

I wished on a star

Had a dream about you

Dry the tears from your eyes

I'll be coming home soon

'Neath the wide open skies

Where the bluebonnets bloom

Like a blanket spreadin' out as far as I can see

When those flowers line the road

You can look for me

I'll be hangin' round your back door

Like an old familiar toon

I'll be there when the bluebonnets bloom"

--Robert Earl Keen