December 16th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Fran’s Chocolates has friends in high places. How high?
According to The Huffington Post, our chocoholic in chief treats White House visitors to the milk chocolate and smoked salt caramels from Seattle-based Fran’s. The first lady prefers the gray salt ones.
And top chef Bobby Flay raved last month to People Magazine that Fran’s coconut gold bars “are the best gourmet candy bars ever. Hands down. No competition.”
That’s how sweet it is these days for Fran Bigelow. For more than 30 years, this master chocolatier has been setting candy trends. She was selling miniature chocolate bars and elegant truffles before they became ubiquitous.
Fran’s passion for chocolates began with her first taste of French confections in 1969. The rich and delicate flavors captivated her senses unlike anything she had experienced. In 1982, she opened Fran’s Patisserie and Chocolate Specialties in Seattle, finding special satisfaction in sharing the pure joy of chocolate with her customers.
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December 10th, 2014 at 8:00 am
If a trip to the Netherlands or Belgium is in your future, this guide is for you. When many people think about a European vacation, the fantastic sightseeing and many historical locations may quickly come to mind. But to really get an authentic experience, you’ll want to do so much more.
This article will help you find the sanctuary of quaint, enclosed communities, discover the revered cuisine, find the best beer in the world and give you the lowdown on the best way to get around town. Stop and smell the tulips, but don’t miss out on the other wonderful activities this part of the globe can offer you! (more…)
November 26th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
1. The FareTrade
Locals Max Block and Jake Ahles started this new kind of curated food subscription basket. The boxes are brimming with with chef-selected artisanal and small-batch goods from around the country, plus recipes on how to use them (and great video tutorials on the website from chefs like South Bay Top Chef Brooke Williamson). Filled with sauces, spices, pestos, pastas, shrubs and more, each handsomely packaged basket is delivered to members’ doors for $65 per month.
2. Salted
Don’t leave the comfort of your own kitchen with this new online video cooking school. A subscription allows access to video tutorials on everything from grilling pineapple to butchering meats from more than 50 of the country’s best chefs, including local culinary heroes Roy Choi, Bestia’s Ori Menashe and Rivera’s John Sedlar. $9.99 a month.
November 19th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Author: Carita Rizzo
Photography provided by: Diana King/CPi Syndication
Information provided by: Angeleno
When Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul accepted his Best Supporting Actor Emmy last August, he more than remembered to thank his wife; he caused her website to crash. “Thank you for dedicating your life to spreading kindness across the world,” gushed the actor. “If you guys don’t know what she does, look up Kind Campaign.” Well, thousands did.
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November 18th, 2014 at 10:00 am
Known for its luxury home furnishings, lighting, textiles, bathware, outdoor and garden items, as well as useful gadgets, Restoration Hardware is out with print and online versions of its Holiday Gift Guide and Baby and Child catalog.
The carefully curated catalogs contain “a wealth of new ideas culled from our exclusive partnerships with the world’s most renowned artisans, allowing us to showcase their unique products, passion and vision.”
With offerings for almost any budget, the holiday catalog includes everything cashmere from the ground up: slippers ($79 and up); robes ($249 and up); scarves ($79 and up); and even hot water bottles ($59 and up).
For holiday decorating, there’s Victorian glass snowflake ornaments ($10 and up); vintage handblown glass ornaments ($20 and up); and for the ultimate in lazy lighting, remote-control indoor wax and outdoor resin flameless candles (each style $15 and up).
Stocking stuffers tilt toward electronics lovers, including a zoom lens and tripod for iPhone 4/4s/5 ($49); FlashBoom Bluetooth speaker/microphone plus super-bright LED for bicyclists to mount on handlebars ($69); and pop-up flashlight lantern ($18).
The baby and child catalog offers personalized knit stockings ($26) for hanging above the fireplace; printed canvas teepee tents ($179); and plush upholstered bunk beds ($2,599-$2,899).
Get your hands on these gift-alicious goodies and more at Restoration Hardware retail locations, or order online, before Santa snaps them all up.
Southern California Locations:
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