Consolations

Williamsburg, 2014

Whenever I lament my declining domestic prowess (seriously, I think I peaked at around 26) and feel like I should be making cakes or Pinterest-worthy something or others while looking after the babes, I remember that I live within dangerously close range of some of the best bakeries in New York.

Seriously, why not leave it to the professionals?

11211 Love

Coffee and chocolate are serious business in Williamsburg.

The other day I popped into the newly expanded Mast Brothers shop on North 3rd Street and saw the chocolate makers hard at work preparing and packaging these lovely bars.

You can test a number of varietals and chat to the shopkeepers about how chocolate is made. I think it would make a great little excursion with kids (and don't you think their packaging is lovely?)

V-Day!

Peonies at the Georges V, Paris, 2010

This Valentine's Day is not likely to include Champagne or chocolate (primarily because Will made an insanely good flourless chocolate cake this weekend, using chocolate chips from Mast Brothers, and we've been ODing on it ever since.)

Instead, we're thinking of going to Roberta's for some of their very excellent brick-oven pizza and, er, some lemonade. Home by 10, no doubt.

This, incidentally (with the addition of plenty of wine) was how we celebrated Valentine's Day two years ago, after Will googled "Is it cheesy to propose on Valentine's Day?" and decided that it was, in fact, cheesy. He delayed for three weeks and we had a mellow night instead. Last year, we drank Champagne, ordered Vietnamese food, and watched Let The Right One In. Not big prix fixe, foam tasting menu kind of people.

I hope you guys will have some vino on my behalf, however.

Istanbul, 2011 (Have some for me...)