Cook Republic!

I am weak for food. All the time. And so naturally I love food and design blogger Sneh Roy at Cook Republic. Check out her blog and you'll see why I don't need to elaborate much on her at all. She is beautiful, brilliant, and above all the best blogger!









Enjoy!

Herb Signs

I am loving these. And ofcourse want them for my little herb garden.







Go get them for your little gardening soul. You deserve it.
Etsy Artist: vicandalbie Vintage inspired objects for home and garden.

Raw Butter!

I made raw butter at home and am so proud of it! Here's how I did it.



















This was truly a fun project and something my family will enjoy for years to come. :)

Spice Racks!

I've been obsessed with spice racks lately. But usually a rack is boring. Check out these new twisted uber modern spice storage designs from artists. It soo cool and functional! They make great gifts.

cookoutsidethebox's etsy shop


GneissSpice's etsy shop


GneissSpice's etsy shop


lovelywoodcompany's etsy shop


purposedesign's etsy shop


saltycityspice's etsy shop


saltycityspice's etsy shop


sittinginsawdust's etsy shop


Woodenbliss's etsy shop

Food is art too!

'A' for Akhil, is my husband. It's hard to describe him. But I think I can sum it all up in this conversation I had with him recently.

Preeti: I am so sad. I have been blogging, granted irregularly, for a year now but I only have 10 followers!
Akhil: Sweetheart, look at this. I have no followers. I don't even have a blog.
Preeti: (stares back blankly while suppressing a burst of laughter)
Akhil: You are doing this for yourself, remember, not others. All else will come.

I love that. That is Akhil in a few words. He is wisdom and simplicity all combined in one. Is that possible?

So I thought I'd dedicate a blog to a wonderful gesture he made recently.

A gently fruity german wine.
Gewûrz means 'spicy' in german. It is sweeter than Riesling and has an intense flowery bouquet. Though this wine pairs really well with curries, mexican dishes, or deserts, we actually tried it with a simple savory whole trout that he baked in the oven on a bed of herbs such as dill and parsley.

The fish was to die for. I wish I had taken better still shots. I am still learning. :)

All mine! :) Thank you Akhil.
Recipe: At 500°F, A, baked the whole trout on a bed of olive oil, red onions, parsley and dill after sprinkling kosher salt and pepper on the fish. Isn't that simple? Oh yes, slip in some lemon wedges inside the fish.

Taim

I am still going through hundreds of my NY photographs. Gosh! I didn't know how many I clicked away with that SLR.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd quickly sort through a particular series that my tummy thoroughly enjoyed. Taim! Deliciousness deliciousness. Located in West Village, under the shades of tree-lined paris-like streets of Waverly Plaza, an Israeli delicatessen extends personal invitation to realms of heaven with their generously stuffed pitas of hummus, tahini, israeli salad, hard-cooked egg, and fried eggplants (this that I have described is called Sabich). Coolly wash all of this down with date-lime banana smoothie and finally scent your buds with their sweetly sweet homemade baklawa.

They have mixed falafel and mediterranean platters too. Oh by the way, when have you ever been blessed with three differently flavored falafels? There's the Green traditional, with parsley, cilantro, and mint. The Red with roasted red pepper. The Harissa with tunisian spices.

Upon arriving back in Dallas, my mother-in-law who is here on a visit from India asked me, 'Why can't we email Einat Admony, the owner of Taim, to open in Dallas as well?' Sigh. If only...

I love their chickpea logo. How perfect!

Look at all the recognition.

Please enter the doorway one at a time. I advise from first hand experience.

Look at all the colors.

My father-in-law (left) and husband (right) eating away happily.

Clearly, my mother-in-law is here only to eat and has no time for paparazzi. :)



This is embarrassing to admit but my only regret is that I was in such a frenzy to eat that I never even photographed any food. :(
But courtesy and thanks to The Girl Who Ate Everything who took the most delectable photograph
of Taim's iconic falafel sandwich.

French wine and La Chocolatiére

I am surprised with a lovely gift from France. Here are some images for your eyes to feast on! Everything was delicately packaged. The aroma of chocolate tempts like a mistress when you open the lovely box.

And I just can't wait to sip this wine!

Bordeaux
This wine's popularity dramatically soared after the marriage of Henry Plantagenet and Aliénor d'Aquitaine. This alliance resulted in the province of Aquitaine English territory. Before this, France's vineyards and wine production were quite low as were their exports. It's the Romans that first cultivated extensive vineyards in France to provide sweet wine for their soldiers.

Husband tells 'Demi-Sec' means half dry-half sweet
'Douh' means sweet
and 'Molleux' means extra sweet

La Chocolatiére, Tours



There are 50 chocolates in this box.

I love the gold imprinted name

Close-up. Isn't it pretty!