Food: Chocolate at the Langham

I love chocolate. Adore chocolate. Worship chocolate. Swoon over chocolate. I know what you’re thinking… you too. You must (and I mean MUST) make a reservation for the Chocolate Bar at Café Fleuri at the Langham Hotel in downtown Boston. Julie Shamrock, The Langham’s Communications Manager, so kindly invited me to check it out last year. (I love you Julie!) I brought my foodie friend Tanya, and we indulged very, very happily. On Saturday we were invited back, for the bar’s 21st season.

The theme this year is “Boston’s Chocolate Trail” with table after table of decadent treats arranged by neighborhood. There was chocolate pizza and pasta plus mocha tiramisu and zabaglione in the North End, chocolate and mango sushi in Chinatown, flourless chocolate stacks and pumpkin milk chocolate tortes in Beacon Hill, cranberry white chocolate buckle and Indian pudding at Faneuil Hall, chocolate covered peanuts, caramel corn, and cotton candy at Fenway, and many more outrageous creations. i ate a lot. Too much. I skipped the chocolate martinis, but indulged in the yearly crepe festivities, ordering up a chocolate crepe with strawberries, bananas, dark chocolate and Grand Marnier (fire, baby!) topped with creme anglaise and whipped cream. After all that, Julie presented us with pink gift bags with cupcakes to bring home.

I’m hardly a skilled food photographer, but I hope these pictures will torture and entice.

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Deal Alert: Juliska at Rue La La

Rue La La, a members only sale site like Gilt Group, mainly features amazing deals on cute clothes and accessories (think C&C California, Theory, J Brand), but once in a while they offer up home furnishings too. Today’s boutiques include tabletop line Juliska. Here’s a sampling of wares for sale. If you aren’t a member, email me (stylecarrot [at] gmail [dot] com) and I’ll send you an invite. The sale lasts two days, though a couple of items are already sold out. Happy shopping!

Picture 1Juliska Berry & Thread Scalloped Pitcher, $39

Picture 2Juliska Berry & Thread Vase Trio, $39

Picture 1-2Juliska Octavia Set of 4 Mugs, $49

Picture 3

Juliska Petit Singe Set of 4 Leaf Dessert Plates, $49

Flowers and Food: Truro Agricultural Fair

Last weekend, the last of summer 09, was also the first for the Truro Agricultural Fair. Truro is a tiny town on the Outer Cape. “Town” consists of a general market, a post office and a fish shop. Oh, and the Green, where there’s a bandstand for Thursday night concerts and a croquet set for spirited games between older folk. The town is full of artists, trees, and beaches. It’s quiet, needless to say, and pretty low key. I’ve never seen as many people in town as I did last Sunday, for the first Agricultural Fair. There weren’t all that many attractions, but the day was gorgeous and the small town feel-good feeling was out in full force. Along with locally grown flowers and vegetables, bunnies, and hens.

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Ag-signAg-bunniesAG-Sirnonie-Henfiddler

basket produce

peppers

marigolds

macs

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Covet: Missoni Rugs

A brightly patterned rug is a quick and easy way to spruce up a plain space. I’ve been coveting the swirly Paul Smith design by The Rug Company for years, but its sky high price tag makes it the stuff of dreams. Last week I heard from Caroline Morson of the impeccable, high end Boston furniture showroom, The Morson Collection, about her fab finds at the Milan Furniture Fair this spring – the new collection of rugs by Missoni Home. They are insanely colorful and outrageously fun. And, yes, pricey too, though some more than others. Still a splurge, but a do-able one. I found a few additional styles from the collection at other online sources too. Thou shall covet. And cover thy floor.

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Shopping Guide

Fleury, $7,725
Maracaibo, $ 2,870
Kalahari, $2,645 – $3,890
Kochi, $2,330
Roseraie, $1,165
Liuwa, $3,560 – $5,505
Palm Beach, $2.800
Kerem, $2,645 – $3,890
Jefferson, $6,470
Witchita, $1,020 – $3,430
Kong, $2,645
Janauba, $5,175
Botanica, $890

Nature Trip: Audubon Society in Wellfleet

No time to blog about indoor beauty today.  Too busy trekking through the woods and marsh on a “Seashore Ramble” at the Mass Audubon Society in Wellfleet Bay.  It was a gray and misty day, but the water was warm and the creatures were out and about.  Just call me Nature Girl. Ha.
MassAudubonThe Nature Center and the lovely flower gardens.

treesAlong the trail.

frogFrog on a lily pad.

grassMarsh grasses.

horseshoeHorseshoe crab molt and snails. Would have made a nice addition to the mantle, but not allowed to remove anything from the sanctuary.

boysGone nettin’.