EATING
We went to the Farmers’ Market in Albany and bought these three small cabbages, a red cabbage, a savoy cabbage and a Chinese cabbage. They were very attractive.
I cooked the red cabbage in butter drizzled with apple cider vinegar. Crisp, crunchy and very tasty. Served with meatballs in a thick, garlicky tomato sauce. Delicious. I cooked the Chinese cabbage much the same way after I’d cut it in half longways and removed the very small core.
Removed the core from the miniature savoy cabbage and cooked it in olive oil with a splash of apple cider vinegar towards the end. I added it to leftover roasted pumpkin and sliced chicken breast to make a light lunch. The flavour of these small cabbages is very strong.
MORE EATING
Then on the weekend we ate at ANGEL’S HOUSE in Essex Street in Fremantle, run by Jeremy and Anthony Blanchet. We have eaten at Jeremy’s restaurants before and were always delighted at the food and presentation. The restaurant is located in a 1880’s heritage house and is fresh and modern. We were keen to try Angel’s House as soon as it opened. We were not disappointed.
Photo used with permission.
This French Bistro offers a small but perfect menu featuring classic French bistro food and both Australian and French wines. ( There is a new menu starting today, reflecting seasonal change) The dishes are beautifully prepared and presented and the wine list is varied and very good.
To begin we had French Onion Soup with Emmantal and Croutons and Salmon Gravlax with Celery Remoulade and Brioche Both were delicious. Followed up with Boeuf Bourguinon on Creamy Polenta and the amazing Cassoulet Toulousain. These were both hearty, traditionally prepared dishes, full of flavour and substance. Warm, tasty and delicious on a cold and windy day. Our lunch dishes were perfectly matched with Zarephath Pinot Noir and Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône.
Photo used with permission.
We ending this very satisfactory lunch with Poached Pear with Walnut Candy and Chantilly Creme and a Creme Brulée with Mandarin Confiture. My double espresso, the perfect way to finish a meal, was perfect! This is a gem of a restaurant. Highly recommended.
READING
So while we’re on a French theme, let me tell you about this gorgeous French magazine, My French Country Home.
This fabulous magazine about living in France is the work of the well known French based author and blogger, Sharon Santoni (here) and her team. I have read digital editions of the magazine and looked at subscribing but the postal charges to send it to Australian were a bit fierce! Then I asked my local library to subscribe and I get to enjoy the hard copy now. And I really, really enjoy it.
During this time when we have hard borders in Western Australia the magazine is a lovely glimpse into life outside our shores. The photographs are gorgeous, the stories engaging and the insight into life in France enticing. Now I just have to find an affordable way to have her divine seasonal French boxes delivered!
DECORATING
These pretty flowers are from the bok choy. It has gone to seed! So pretty, so I put them in a vase.
Some years ago I saw this mirror for sale in the eastern States. The cost, plus secure shipping, made it very expensive. I often thought about how much I liked it with is intricate, classic Chinese lacquer work. Then I was looking at an overseas decorator’s blog and saw it again. And really wanted it! Searched online for a few days and found it again, for sale, in the Eastern States.
Inspired by Chinese pagodas, it is carved from mahogany to look like faux bamboo and finished in a gloss black lacquer. It is heavy and large and joins three other mirrors in this room!
Ordered it at the beginning of the CV-19 crisis in Australia. Supply of so many things was disrupted so it took months to arrive. Now it hangs in our sitting room along with other Chinese influenced furniture and other decorator pieces, reflecting the years we lived in China. I love it!
Did you know September 1st was Letter Writing Day? Sending someone a letter takes effort. You need a pen, some paper and envelope and stamp and usually have to leave the house to post it. It takes days or even weeks to arrive at its destination. You consider the content more carefully than an email or quick text.
Letter writing was once the most common means of global communication. Apparently, the benefits of writing a letter include making the recipient happy, promoting mindfulness as you focus and consider what you write and generating self reflection. Time to write someone a letter?
Love watching sunset !