Cherry Blossom Cooking Class - Park Hyatt Washington D.C.

Cherry Blossoms are a magnificent gift from Tokyo, Japan to Washington D.C. exactly 100 years ago.  Some are calling it a "once in a lifetime celebration"!  This centennial celebration of the beautiful cherry blossoms drew me in for a visit to witness our Nation's Capital in full bloom.  I found a very tasty and exciting treat when I learned the Park Hyatt Washington D.C. was hosting a Masters of Food & Wine cooking class with Blue Duck Tavern Pastry Chef Peter Brett.  It was time to put my culinary skills--or lack there of--to the test and create a cherry blossom treat to commemorate the Cherry Blossom Centennial!

"Once in a Lifetime Celebration" - Centennial Cherry Blossoms

Six brave souls gathered together to attempt to make Spring Rhubarb Tart with Almond Crumble and Cherry Blossom Sorbet--with the very close guidance of Chef Peter Brett of course!  I was a bit surprised when I saw that this was going to be a hands-on class but I figured what do I have to lose?  I learned a lot but a few things really stood out:

1. Rhubarb is not a giant stalk of red celery--hey, I am from Texas!
2. The pretty arrangement (see rhubarb picture) is NOT for decoration, it IS in fact the rhubarb we are going to use in the class.
3. Chef Peter Brett is extremely talented and super patient because my tart was a success and people actually ate it AND liked it!

THE INGREDIENTS

• Dough
• Frangipan
• Almond Crumble
• Rhubarb
• Cherry Blossom Sorbet
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Rhubarb, Raw Tart Dough Ingredients, Frangipan, Almond Crumble

MAKING THE DOUGH

This part was fun.  I really felt like I was doing something genius--doesn't take much to get me going!  It was so easy, I will never purchase pie crust at the store again.

METHOD

They called this part the "Method".  This is where your masterpiece really starts to come together.  In just three easy steps you are almost there.  All you have to do is: spread, chop and fold.

BAKE & SERVE

At this point everyone is excited and all we want to do is sample our creations!  Thank goodness the baking time is no more than 45 minutes and the Park Hyatt lets us pass the time with champagne.

ENJOY

Delicious!!  I can't wait to make this for my friends.  They will be so impressed.

Barroco: Old Fashioned Syle (French) - Montreal, QC

Laissez-moi vous présenter un charmant restaurant du Vieux Montréal qui s'appelle Barroco. Dès le moment où j'y ai mis les pieds, échappant pour un moment à la froideur de la nuit, je me suis sentie comme transportée à une autre époque. Comme si je faisais partie d'un conte du passé, une histoire de " l'ancien temps" et c'est ici que mon aventure commence!

LE OLD FASHIONED

Maple Cognac Old Fashioned

Il était une fois un cocktail appelé Old Fashioned. Certains croient que le Old Fashioned est le cocktail originel datant de la fin du 19e siècle. Mélange parfait de sucre, d'amertume, de spiritueux et d'eau, c'est un cocktail très sexy, le compagnon idéal pour ces vieilles pierres qui m'entourent et le décor vieillot de l'endroit. Dans mon verre, le cognac plutôt que le whisky rend les choses encore plus provocantes!

Barroco's Sexy Interior

Un cognac d'érable Old Fashioned, c'est le complément PARFAIT au Foie Gras à l'érable Osmose. Le foie gras provient de la Ferme Palmex Rougier, une ferme " canard friendly " de la région. L'assiette s'inspire de mon séduisant cocktail. Un mélange d'orange, de brandy et de gelée d'angostura; le foie gras repose dans le sirop d'érable, le sel et l'eau pendant 24 heures. Ça donne au foie gras une texture et un goût extraordinaires. Le pain de polenta et de mélasse est servi chaud et il fond littéralement dans la bouche.

Maple Foie Gras Osmose

LE BARMAN EN CHEF
Si le Old Fashioned n'est pas pour vous, ne vous inquiétez pas car le menu des cocktails chez Barroco est très varié- certains ne figurent même pas sur la carte! Tout dans cet endroit est provocant et je n'étais donc pas surprise de voir de l'Absinthe au menu. La présentation était superbe et le goût exquis-non la "fée verte" ne m'a pas fait halluciner, ou peut-être que oui? Peu importe, bois et réjouis-toi.

 

Absinhe Frappe

Je vous présente Max--"le Barman en chef"--l'homme le plus travaillant dans le Vieux Montréal. La première chose que j'ai remarquée quand je suis entrée dans ce restaurant, ce n'était pas l'encre colorée de son bras mais le superbe bar. Mon amie s'est exclamée: "Wow! Quel beau bar!"  Elle en avait le souffle coupé. Max s'est retourné et a dit " Merci, c'était beaucoup de travail! "

Max the Bar Chef

Avant ce soir-là, je n'avais jamais entendu l'expression "barman en chef" ou "chef de bar". Mais après avoir été assise avec Max toute la soirée, j'ai maintenant la foi. Il amène l'art  du "bar tending" et de la "mixologie" à  un autre niveau.

The Tools: Cadamom and Housemade Grenadine

Monsieur Max est très fier de son bar. De fait, il prépare beaucoup des ingrédients lui-même à la maison avant d'arriver au Barroco. Par exemple, il fait rôtir la cardamome et prépare aussi le ginger-ale et la grenadine maison.  Nous avons essayé de le convaincre de nous donner sa recette secrète mais il n'a pas bronché.

The Masterpiece called a Bar

HEUREUSEMENT EVE APRES

Une visite chez Barroco, c'était le point de départ parfait de notre visite montréalaise. Nous avons rencontré des gens extraordinaires, certains en avaient peut-être un peu trop derrière la cravate--une femme de Montréal trouva approprié, en guise d'au revoir, de me lécher le visage!

Mon aventure "Old Fashioned" se termina de la façon la plus parfaite en recevant une rose des mains de la merveilleuse dame que j'aime appeler "Jeanvieve". Un premier repas aussi bon que celui-là, il semble que je vais me payer la traite durant mon séjour!

Jeanvieve

Et nouos avons vècu heureusement jamais après! 

Gourmand Filles' Conclusion: 5 VIPs

Barroco Restaurant est notre plus haute cote de 5 VIPs.

Barroco
312 Rue Saint Paul Ouest
Montreal, QC Canada

Barroco: Old Fashioned Style - Montreal, QC

Let me introduce you to a cozy restaurant called Barroco in Old Montreal.  As soon as I stepped inside out of the cold night I felt like I was transporting to another time.  It was as if I was part of some story from long ago, an "Old Fashioned" journey which is where my tale begins!

THE OLD FASHIONED

Maple Cognac Old Fashioned

Once upon a time there was a classic cocktail called the Old Fashioned.  Some believe the Old Fashioned is the original cocktail dating back to the late 1800s.  With the perfect blend of sugar, bitters, spirits and water; it is a very sexy drink and I think it is a perfect accessory to the stone walls and antique settings of Barroco.  The fact that they use a cognac instead of a whiskey makes it even more provocative!

Barroco's Sexy Interior

The Maple Cognac Old Fashioned is the PERFECT compliment to the Maple Foie Gras Osmose.  The foie gras is from the "duck friendly" local Palmex Rougier Farm.  The dish was inspired by this seductive cocktail.  Created with orange supremes, brandy and angostura gelee; the foie gras rests in maple syrup, salt and water for 24-hours.  This gives the liver an amazing texture and taste.  The polenta & molasses bread is served warm and literally melts in your mouth.  

Maple Foie Gras Osmose

THE BAR CHEF

If The Old Fashioned is not for you don't fret because Barroco has a very extensive cocktail menu--some items are not even listed on the menu!  I am confident someone at the bar can create whatever your naughty mind can imagine.  Everything about this place is tantalizing so I was not surprised to see Absinthe.  The presentation was superb and the taste outstanding--no the "green fairy" didn't cause any hallucinations, or did it?  What the heck, just imbibe and be merry.

Absinthe Frappe

Meet Max--"Bar Chef"--the hardest working man in Old Montreal.  The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside of this restaurant wasn't the colorful ink on his arm--which happens to be Montreal--but the beautiful bar.  My friend said, "wow what a beautiful bar" breathlessly to herself and Max turned around and said "why thank you it was a lot of work!"

Max the Bar Chef

Up until that night, I had never heard the term "bar chef".  Mixologist yes; bar chef no.  But after sitting with Max all night I am now a believer.  He takes the craft of tending bar and mixology to another level.  

The Tools: Cardamom and House made Grenadine

Mister Max takes great pride in his bar.  He actually prepares a lot of the bar ingredients at home before he reports to Barroco.  For instance, he roasts the cardamom at home and also makes homemade ginger-ale and grenadine.  We tried to convince him to give us the secret recipe but he's not budging.  

The Masterpiece called a Bar

HAPPILY EVERY AFTER

Visiting Barroco was the perfect start to our Montreal visit.  We met some pretty amazing people, some had a few too many--a local woman decided it was appropriate to lick my face as a farewell gesture!

My "Old Fashioned" journey was truly complete when I was able to get a rose from the lovely lady that I like to call "Jeanvieve".  If my first meal in Montreal is this good, then I know I am in for a treat!

Jeanvieve

 And we all lived happily ever after.  The end.

Gourmand Girls' Conclusion: 5 VIPs

Barroco Restaurant gets our highest rating of 5 VIPs.

Barroco
312 Rue Saint Paul Ouest
Montreal, QC Canada

Ming Tao Xuan (French) - Montreal, QC

Après une journée reposante au possible, passée à recharger mes batteries au SPA SCANDINAVE, je décide de prendre une marche dans le Vieux Montréal et je tombe par hasard sur une charmante maison de thé, rue Saint-Sulpice, MING TAO XUAN.

Courtesy of Ming Tao Xuan

Cette sensation de calme bouddhiste, c'est comme débarquer dans une maison de thé quelque part dans un village chinois; on ne se sent plus dans une rue du Vieux Montréal. MING TAO XUAN veut dire " un salon confortable et accueillant où de bons thés peuvent être dégustés dans des théières en terre cuite ". Ce que tout cela veut dire- je n'en suis pas certaine- mais la sélection de thé est phénoménale. Il y avait tant de choix, je n'en revenais pas. Le menu me rappelait un roman de Sun Tzu!

Il doit y avoir plus de 100 thés différents! Ils offrent ces thés par catégories incluant:

• Thé Médicinal Chinois
• Thé Léger
• Thé Vert
• Thé Japonais
• Oolong Ti Kuan Yin
• Thé Taiwan Oolong
• Thé Wuyi Mountain Oolong-Cliff
• Thé Oolong
• Thé Rouge
• Thé Fleuri

 Il m'a fallu 20 minutes pour faire un choix. J'y suis allé avec le thé " Huit Trésors ". Ce thé fait partie de la catégorie " Thé Médicinal Chinois ". C'était délicieux. Je n'ai même pas eu à ajouter quoique ce soit! Une tasse de thé vraiment parfaite.

Avec des ingrédients comme ceux-là: pépites de sucre, lychee séché, ginseng, thé Long Jing, dattes rouges Chinoises, fleur de Chrysanthème, fruits de goji Chinois; on peut s'attendre à ce que ce soit délicieux! 

La Maison de Thé Chinoise Ming Tao Xuan offre aussi un petit menu dégustation végétarien:

• Brioches Végétariennes
• Rouleaux au Tofu
• Salade de Mangue
• Poulet Végétarien- Je me demande ce que ça goûte, je n'ai pas osé essayer 
• Biscuits
• Gâteau au Fromage

J'y suis allée avec l'assortiment de biscuits qui inclut: Raisin, Croustillants au Chocolat, Sablé de Cachou et Croustillants au Citron. Les Croustillants au Citron sont mes favoris.

Je suis si contente d'être tombée par hasard sur cette maison de thé.

Ming Tao Xuan Tea House - Montreal, QC

After an extremely relaxing day of some much needed R&R at Spa Scandinave I decided to take a nice walk around Old Montreal and came across a cute little Tea House on Rue Saint Suplice called Ming Tao Xuan.

Courtesy of Ming Tao Xuan

With an air of Buddhist serenity, it feels like you are stepping into a tea house somewhere in a Chinese village and not off the street in old Montreal.  Ming Tao Xuan means "a comfortable and welcoming salon where fine teas can be enjoyed in earthenware teapots".  What that actually means--not to sure--but the tea selection is phenomenal.  There were so many choices I couldn't keep up.  The menu reminds me of a Sun Tzu novel!


There has to be over 100 types of teas!  They have the teas broken into "Series" which include:

• Chinese Medicinal Tea Series
• Light Tea Series
• Green Tea Series
• Japanese Tea Series
• Oolong Ti Kuan Yin Series
• Taiwan Oolong Tea Series
• Wuyi Mountain Oolong-Cliff Tea Series
• Oolong Tea Series
• Black & Red Tea Series
• Red Tea Series
• Blossom Tea Series

It took me 20 minutes to finally make a decision.  I went with the "Eight Treasure Tea".  This tea is from the Chinese Medicinal Tea Series.  It was delicious.  I didn't even have to add anything to it!  Truly a perfect cup of tea.

Eight Treasure Tea

With ingredients like: rock sugar, dried lychee, ginseng, Long Jing Tea, Chinese red dates, chrysanthemum flower and Chinese goji berries--one should expect this to be delicious!


The Ming Tao Xuan Tea House also has a small vegetarian tasting menu:

• Vegetarian Buns
• Tofu Roll
• Mango Salad
• Vegetarian Chicken --I wonder what that tastes like, wasn't up for the tasting challenge
• Cookies
• Cheesecake

I went with the cookie sampler which include: Raisin, Chocolate Crisps, Cashew Shortbread and Lemon Crisps.  The Lemon Crisps are my favorite.

Cookie Flight: Chocolate, Lemon, Raisin, Almond

I am so glad I stumbled across this tea house.  I am always looking to add to my Par-Tea list!


Epicurean Girl’s Conclusion: 4 VIPs
Ming Tao Xuan Tea House gets our rating of 4 VIPs.

Valrhona Hot Chocolate - M Bar & Lounge (Boston)

When I heard M Bar & Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental Boston raving about their Hot Chocolate "Spaghetti" I had to pop in to try it.  Honestly it's just hot chocolate, how good can it possibly be?  Let me just state for the record--and you can quote me--"This is the BEST hot chocolate I've ever had in my entire life!"  That really means a lot--especially because it is my birthday week.  

Specialty Valrhona Hot Chocolate

The "Specialty Valrhona Hot Chocolate" really changed the way I view hot chocolate.  You have a selection of milk, dark or white chocolate "spaghetti" that brilliantly melts away when they pour the frothy steamed milk.  I chose the white chocolate and topped it off with a little Grand Marnier liqueur to create the ultimate hot chocolate experience.  The special lagniappe is the cute little coconut macaroons compliments of Chef Nelson.  One of the best things I ever drank-hands down!

White Chocolate Spaghetti & Milk Chocolate Spaghetti

Astor Court Champagne Tea - The St. Regis New York

It happened late one night while I was watching “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”—probably for the thousandth time—trying to get inspired for activities for the Gourmand Girls’ birthday month celebrations.  And then it hit me; Holly Golightly and “Fred” (aka Paul) spent an entire day doing things they had never done before and they appeared to be over-the-moon happy.  So I decided that the G. Girls would spend our birthday month—which runs March 1 thru April 30^th—doing things we’ve never done before.  The first idea that came to mind was having a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” themed event just for my girls in honor of the inspiration that Audrey channeled my way from heaven.  So I started doing a little research and stumbled upon the Tiffany Suite at The St. Regis Hotel New York!  Just reading about the room made me tingly all over!  For just $9,500 per night plus tax, my girlfriends and I could have breakfast, lunch, dinner and sleep in the Tiffany’s Suite!  Since this is an extended celebration, I felt it would be best to pace myself so I opted to have the Astor Court Champagne Tea at St. Regis instead since I’ve never done that before either!

Astor Court Champagne Tea

CHAMPAGNE & TISANE

“Great love affairs start with champagne and end with tisane.”  These are the words of Honoré de Balzac which gives you a proper greeting to the Astor Court Champagne Tea.  A true test of an afternoon tea is to look at the tea selection.  If you see Tealeaves or “T” then rest assured you are on the right path to having a lovely tea time.

Tisane

St. Regis has an amazing selection of one of my favorite teas—Tealeaves—with choices of Black, Green, Oolong, White, Herbal Infusions and Fruit Tisanes.  I typically go for a white or green in the afternoon but I decided to take my cue from Monsieur Balzac and pick a tisane.  How could I say no to “Old Blue Eyes” which is a whole fruit infusion tea or tisane.  It smells like delicious berries and when you sip it for the first time you are introduced to a hint of vanilla and caramel.  When I added my honey, I accidently moaned out loud because I briefly forgot I was in public—thank goodness for the harpist!

SAVORY

The Astor Court Champagne Tea has six tea sandwiches:

•  Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Bread
• Cucumber Napoleon, Mint Cream Cheese on Olive Bread
• Smoked Duck with Orange, Radish and Cilantro
• Rosemary Chicken with Shallot and Yellow Bell Peppers
• King Crabmeat Salad with Lemon and Grain Mustard
• Traditional Egg Salad on Brioche

If someone FORCED me to pick my favorites they would have to be the Duck, Crabmeat and Rosemary Chicken.  Really they were equally good but I have weakness for duck and crabmeat.

Savory Tea Sandwiches

SCONES & SWEETS

I recently attended a tea where I thought the scones there were the best thing EVER.  I now have a new favorite!  The Rum Raisin Scones with the Devonshire Cream were PERFECTION.  The cream alone was the best I’ve ever had.  As Holly Golightly likes to say, “cross your heart and kiss your elbow” seriously, I am not exaggerating.  It was light, fluffy and ridiculously fantastic.  I could have eaten the cream by itself with my spoon but that just wouldn’t have been proper!

The Cream and spoon I wanted to eat it with!

The best part of any meal for me will always be the sweets.  There is no difference here with choices like:

•  Milk Chocolate Mousse Tart
• Bittersweet Chocolate with Coffee Tart
• Lemon Meringue
• Almond Blueberry Financier

Of course my favorites were the desserts that had anything to do with chocolate.  I did not hold back at all.  I ate every single ounce of mousse in both of the tarts.

Bittersweet Chocolate w/ Coffee Tart

Milk Chocolate Mousse Tart

I have been to several teas, but something about the Astor Court Champagne Tea really stands out and left me wanting to come back for more.  I am very happy I chose this tea as my first activity on my birthday celebration “things I’ve never done before” list.  I am planning on trying the Caviar Tea for Two on my next visit.  I was able to add a second item on the list on this particular visit because my dear friends at The St. Regis New York were kind enough to let a birthday girl indulge and gave me a personal tour of the Tiffany AND Dior Suites!

Click Here to enter my “Virtual Breakfast at Tiffany’s Slumber Party”!

Click here to Enter: Virtual Breakfast at Tiffany's Slumber Party

Epicurean Girl’s Conclusion: 5 VIPs

The St. Regis New York Astor Court Champagne Tea gets our highest ratings of 5 VIPs.