Liquid Nitrogen Milkshake at Flip

Did you know that there has been a surge in a food trend based on molecular gastronomy?

It plays with cooking techniques and pushes the envelope with presentation, food consistency (for example, a liquid sauce served as a solid, like tapioca beads) and the use of chemistry to alter foods safely and creatively.

When I was in Atlanta, I jumped at the chance to have a milkshake made with liquid nitrogen at Richard Blais' Flip Burger Boutique!

I ordered a "Turtle with Candied Pecans" milkshake and in addition to being icy cold, it was delicious!  The ice cream base and caramel swirl are poured into a thick glass.  Then the waitress pours liquid nitrogen into the mixture and it foams and freezes on contact.  So cool!  The whipped cream and frozen pecans add silky and crunchy elements to the dessert.  

Our waitress brought along an extra glass containing a bit of liquid nitrogen in it and we could see the clear contents bubbling and reacting.  She put a paper napkin, long spoon and straw into that glass and a smoky ice fog rose from the glass and was trapped in the folds of the paper napkin when I pulled it out.  It was interesting and beautiful.  And it felt like the whole process was sponsored by Houdini.

Would you ever try something frozen with liquid nitrogen?

City Series: Atlanta, Swan Coach House

While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, repetition is too!  A trip to Atlanta just would not be complete without a visit to my all-time favorite "girl's lunch" place - The Swan Coach House. 

I like to stay as long as possible, this is not an experience to rush.  The first thing I do is wander through the art gallery.  It has blown glass, pottery, paintings and sketches to help open your mind - I always feel inspired after a peek in there.

After that, I sit down for a leisurely lunch (see above!) surrounded by mothers, daughters and granddaughters in a pink, peach and white room that feels a bit like being part of a grand needlepoint scene. 

Now have you ever seen a prettier lunch?  The highlight this year was a chance to try their famous Strawberry Soup. I was in girl heaven. I am working on my own version of their frozen fruit salad (above left) and I will post the recipe soon. I am convinced that 0% fat Greek Yogurt will make a creamy, but far healthier frozen salad and I can't wait to share - stay tuned! 

I finish my visit by shopping in the Swan Coach House Gift Shop.   The multi-room store (it is set in a house, after all) has monogrammed cutting boards, silver cake servers, candles, bookmarks, cookbooks and serving pieces all there to inspire your next party.

If you are in Atlanta, you must indulge your inner girl and spend a few hours at The Swan Coach House.  It is an experience I know you will want to repeat.

City Series: Atlanta, Bella Cucina

It was a challenging week for the staff at Bella Cucina in the Virginia Highlands area of Atlanta.  I happened to visit the store in the last few days of packing up the current store and moving (only a few doors down) to a brand new location. 

They felt flustered, but I was having a wonderful time.  Boxes, sale signs and general commotion could not sway me from studying every beautiful product and making a few commemorative purchases. 

I bought a beautiful cherry wood spoon (you can see it above) and a glass container of Aromatic Savory Parsley and Porcini Salt (I used my last vessel of this salt on everything - yum). 

I love the Bella Cucina brand (especially their Artichoke Lemon Pesto - it is SO delicious, but better bought locally, than to try to fit in my suitcase!) and was happy to be able to visit in person again.  Remember my first visit?  I only wish I had come a few weeks later, so that I could have been able to see the new store.  But never fear, I'll be back!

Congratulations, Alisa Barry, and best of luck on your delightful new location!

City Series: Atlanta, Nicholas Kniel Ribbon

To say I was overwhelmed, would be an understatement.  When I finally found the Nicholas Kniel ribbon shop in Atlanta (a small shop tucked on the upper floor of an unremarkable shopping center), all I could think was "hidden gem!"

Twice, I had torn out a magazine article about Nicholas and his fine European ribbon collection (most recently here in Victoria magazine) and I knew that someday I would visit his shop in Atlanta, Georgia.

But nothing prepared me for the selection.  Nothing.  It is the finest collection of ribbons I have seen anywhere on the planet.  And you know how many ribbon resources I have seen in my day.  I actually asked the saleswomen if they provided oxygen for customers who felt woozy (she didn't get my humor), the collection was that gorgeous.

In the end, I settled on just a few yards to play with.  The pale coral print will become a watchband, to match a Summer sweater I love.  The narrow taupe and pink stripe is to make a ribbon-wrapped bouquet of pale pink roses and the mulberry plaid will become a ribbon-band bracelet with a crystal buckle cuff for the holidays.  After deciding all that, my mind exploded and I had to leave. 

To my great relief (and discovered just today), Nicholas Kniel offers most of his collection (by-the-yard!) online here, so I do not have to have any regret about "the one that got away."  Do you love ribbon too?

City Series: Atlanta, Flip Burger Boutique

I flipped when I realized that I was finally going to be able to eat at one of Richard Blais' (winner of Bravo TV's 2010 Top Chef All Stars) restaurants in Atlanta!

Known for his adventurous cooking style (and love of liquid nitrogen), the dishes he prepared on the show were always the ones I wanted to try.  And now I have!  I went to the Flip Burger Boutique and devoured a blackened shrimp burger with a fried lemon slice on top - yum!  I'd order again in a second.

And I couldn't leave without having a "Turtle" milkshake (with caramel ice cream) made when the waitress pours liquid nitrogen into the glass full of ice cream base.  It was delicious, of course, but the "dry ice" fog and the frosted nuts was what really made it.  Next time, I'll go for a complete sugar buzz and order one called "Captain Crunch."

If you get a chance to visit Atlanta (or Birmingham, AL) I highly recommend a visit to Flip. 

City Series: Atlanta, Ballard Designs

Oh, Ballard Designs...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...


One of my favorite furniture/design catalogs has an outlet store in Atlanta!  It was wonderful to be able to see some of the pieces "in person" and imagine new items mixing with what I already have.  


It is a moment like this that reaffirms my decision to decorate my house in neutrals.  It lets me reinvent the rooms over and over again by changing pillows, accessories and flowers.  I love this kind of decorating and it makes it seem like my decorating budget is far greater than it is.  


The principal design premise of Ballard Design seems to be the same as mine.  Neutral furniture, accent pieces in black or cream distressed paint, touches khaki (in woven rugs, coffee bean sack pillows) meaningful accessories.  Metal birds, terrariums, skirted tables and maps of Paris.  If this sounds good to you, be sure to visit www.BallardDesigns.com and order yourself a catalog.  


You are bound to be inspired to feather your nest.

Touches of Green

As the cold weather approaches, I shift my garden plan indoors. I think touches of green can do so much for the design of a room and I try to have a living plant in every room on the first floor.

But now that Christmas is coming, I am on the hunt for one of my favorite green touches...a rosemary tree!

I like to have a big one next to the sink in my kitchen. It smells like heaven, mimics the look of a Christmas tree and is fabulous in marinades! What more could a girl want?

This photo is of a gorgeous shop called Boxwoods Garden & Gifts. If I lived in Atlanta, I know that a good portion of my Visa bill would read Boxwoods each month.
I literally wanted everything in this greenhouse! This garden mecca would have a rosemary tree for sure. Where is your favorite greenhouse?

Bella Cucina

I have always been drawn to Bella Cucina products because of their beautiful packaging. I love the shape of their glass jars (with fancy paper lids) and coupled with a cherry wood spoon, they are the perfect hostess gift. You can shop for Bella Cucina online and in boutique shops across America.
I particularly like Bella Cucina's Meyer Lemon spread and Artichoke Lemon pesto.
So imagine my surprise when I was shopping a neighborhood in Atlanta (The Highlands) and saw the Bella Cucina store. I had stumbled upon the only retail location for the company!

It was gorgeous. Completely true to the design aesthetic of the company and I had a hard time tearing myself away. They had beautiful pesto cheese tortes to sample (yum!) and a darling salesgirl that really knew the product. Such a lovely place to shop. What did I buy? Well, among other things, I bought a Bella Cucina espresso cup. I have been drinking a shot of pomegranate juice every day and I thought a pretty Italian cup was the perfect vessel for it. Salute!

Drama Queen

We were headed to our reservation at Kyma in Buckhead (for a delicious Greek dinner finished with Olive Oil ice cream!) when I saw her.

The store (next to Kyma) had an all-glass front filled with mannequins dressed to the nines. Behind the party-girls, you could see huge racks filled with peacock-colored gowns. I had to take a photograph. When I approached the glass, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

This drama queen was guarding the front door. For a girl made of plastic, I think she looks amazing.

Girl Heaven

If I could imagine the perfect girl lunch, this would be it. After touring Swan House, I drove through the grounds of the Atlanta History Center and stumbled upon a tearoom, gift shop and art gallery called Swan Coach House (the building itself was the estate's former garage and coach house).

Heart-shaped timbales filled with chicken salad, frozen fruit salad and a basket of mini-muffins all served on Swan House formal china (see the silver swan on the aqua band of my bread plate - love it)

And to drink? Punch! Seriously, when do you ever see punch on the menu these days?

There were fresh roses on every table, fabric-upholstered walls, and the place was packed. I was lucky to find a spot among the grandmothers, bridal shower bunch and friends meeting for lunch.

As I sat at my little table soaking it all in (and inspiring the next table to also photograph their lunch), I reminded myself that this is delight.

Swan House

Ah, to walk out onto the terrace with your morning cup of coffee and see this view. Your first request of the day, "Jeeves - Turn on the fountains!"

I was able to take a private tour of the Atlanta Historical Society's Swan House when I was in town last week. Sweeping lawns, tables set with fine china and opulence at every turn. It was like walking around inside a dollhouse and I loved it.

Tomorrow, see what caused me to text: "I am in girl heaven."

Food Lovers Paradise

Would you believe that this is only one of three cheese cases at the amazing Star Provisions in Atlanta? What a beautiful selection.

This amazing space combines fresh artisanal foods (cheese, seafood and bakery) with specialty items (an entire cupboard of honey products), housewares (be still my heart) and a "Provisions To Go" cafe all under one roof. There was so much to see, I continually looped the store in slow motion.

My lunch (eaten at the window counter) was a Shrimp Po Boy sandwich. It was the perfect combination of fresh & hot - absolutely delicious.

I thought I had resisted the bakery when I heard one proud employee tout his favorite cookie: a Rose Water & White Chocolate macaroon. Did someone say macaroons?

I did a quick pivot and ordered a Pistachio French macaroon from behind the glass case. It was one of the best cookies I have ever had. Chewy, sweet and nutty with a meringue-like crunch. Exceptional. I ate it on the way to the car and by the time my seat belt was fastened I wanted to go back in for another. It was that good. Maybe I need to try my hand at macaroons...