Coquette

Book Review: The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo

I have lived with my French man (aka my husband) for nine years. I now understand the nuances of French cooking which I have learned from both my husband and my in-laws, on our many travels to France. French cooking isn't as complicated as most people think. Their dishes incorporate lots of healthy vegetables and stews.

This is why I love Rachel Khoo's new cookbook The Little Paris Kitchen: 120 Simple But Classic French Recipes ($19.88 on Amazon), published by Chronicle Books. First off, who can resist a stylish Brit who sautés while clad in red lipstick looking like she jumped out from an Anthropologie catalog? The Le Cordon Bleu pastry chef grad who has her own BBC cooking show of the same name, cooks her French cuisine in her teeny-tiny Paris kitchen with only a mini oven and two gas rings. It makes you amazed that if this young gal can cook in such a small space with limited equipment, I too can whip up French fare in my "big" (compared to hers) apartment kitchen.

(Photos: Chronicle Books)

Rachel brings in the home-style of French cooking but brings in her own twists which I love. Pot au Feu is an essential soup in our household. We have it a lot in the winter or when someone in the family is sick. Usually by the third day of the big pot of beef soup, we devour it on the first day and by the third day, everyone is over it. Rachel provides some fantastic additional recipes such as sauces and a fajita recipe for the leftover meat and veggies. There is also a classic ratatouille recipe that most will love. For me, it's a great way for me to get my daughter to eat veggies. (I also love how she tries to teach me how to say "ratatouille" in a perfect Parisian French accent.)

Since Rachel is a trained pastry chef, dessert recipes are included in the book, but for me the main entrees and side dishes make this a must have book for everyday cooking. I have read this book cover to cover which I can't say I do for most cookbooks. (The photos of her around Paris are divine!) A lot of the wisdom that Rachel brings in her book, I can hear my father-in-law, Jean-Marie say as well. But I love how Rachel brings her own voice to this with a touch of originality by suggesting or adding other ingredients to create a different twist. My advice to you is to start with some of the stews, seafood and veggie dishes in the cookbook. You definitely won't go wrong. Then work your way up to the more advanced recipes featuring meats and the desserts.

(Photo: EasyLiving UK)

My first recipe I tried from this book was the Spring Lamb Stew (Navarin d'Aagneau Printanier). I know it was delicious because everyone in my family devoured it without saying a word.

The next recipe I am going to try is this Cassoulet Soup. Watch the video above from BBC Food.

I also love what Alexis Watts of Chronicle Books is doing on the Chronicle Books blog. She's trying out recipes from The Little Paris Kitchen over the course of the next few months just like the Julie/Julia project.

#CoachPreview: Coach Fall Preview 2013

(Photos: Courtesy of Coach)

It's still Winter in NY, so heading to the Fall 2013 Preview at Coach headquarters made we covet even more all of the stylish warm hats, scarves and gloves to help brave the cold. I loved everything in the Fall collection, even the Mens items. The Fall handbags are a diverse mix of new styles and the classic Coach design. I really liked the purple envelope clutch pictured center above, a nice modern update to the classic Coach bags. The 2013 handbags are dressier and would make the perfect bag for a night on the town. Available in both leather and suede and in every fabulous Fall color.

Also featured were items from the Coach + Billy Reid Collection, a collaboration with designer Billy Reid featuring rich leather satchels and soft suede bags. I must have the blue suede bag and the portable bar set would make a great gift.

Here are more highlights from the Coach Fall 2013 Preview:

(Photo: Instagram @Coach)
At the event, there were yummy treats to take home to help cure the Winter doldrums.

~Leigh

Ga Ga for Superga Sneakers

Superga is an Italian brand of sneakers that has been getting a fashion boost here in the U.S. thanks to our favorite fashion twins, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. The duo are the co-creative directors and are responsible for developing the creative/marketing as well as retail channels. They have even merged some of their luxe styling with their The Row brand by updating the classic sneaker with fine fabrics such as Italian linen and cashmere. I love the Superga Classic Sneakers ($65 at Zappos) in their multitude of colors. It's affordable and a classic sneaker that will look perfect with jeans or a dress this spring and summer. The Superga Linen Sneakers ($80 at Zappos) come in soft pastels and neutrals. Alexa Chung was last summer's campaign model who also styled the photo shoot.

Watch Alexa's photo shoot video here:

Coach Shoe Boutique: Shop Spring Shoes from a Covetable Closet

I love the peeking into celeb closets (who doesn't?!) and the new Coach Shoe Boutique goes one step further. Coach showcases their latest spring shoes, along with some cool accessories peppered in, all beautifully laid out on a wall that I could only dream would be my shoe closet. Gals, zoom into the photo and move around to see all the pretty shoes up close and personal. Then just click on the one you like to find out more about it and add it to your cart.

Thanks to this shoe closet I'm coveting the (top row) denim Dani Heel ($198), the tan and leather woven Leela Heel ($228) and the burst of florescent yellow in the Lana Heel ($178) all in just one glance. Don't even get me started on the row below those shoes. It's going to be fun to figure out how I fit all these new Coach shoes into my existing closet.

Shop the Coach Shoe Boutique now. I dare you to just get one pair because I just don't think I can!

Susie Ghahremani's Keeping Tabs Productivity Portfolio + Forest Animals Journal

I first fell in love with the little birds and owls by Susie Ghahremani almost eight years ago when I was working in the DIY world at MAKE/CRAFT. (I still sport the starry owl t-shirt I bought from her many years ago!) This spring, she's got a new crop of paper goods from Chronicle Books that I am absolutely in love with. First off is the Keeping Tabs: A Productivity Portfolio ($11.01 at Amazon) that has been my lifesaver in terms of keeping me organized. It comes with to-do lists (two designs), sticky notes, and sticky flags that are perfect to note special pages in my cookbooks, magazines, notebooks and more. The whole thing is packages so perfectly in the thin portfolio and I like the circle tab closure. There's nothing like seeing the cute little birds to jump start me to start cracking down my to-do list!

I also adore her new Forest Animals Journal ($9.31 on Amazon) that is the perfect place to write any kind of notes you need and to carry it along with you in your bag. The notebook also comes with the most adorable animal shaped sticker tabs that can help mark a special page you need to flip back to. I use this journal to hold my notes for the day and I love that each page features a scene of a forest animals(foxes, birds, squirrels, beavers, and bunnies) that seem to play along with you on each page.

You can see more of Susie Ghahremani's beautiful paper goods with Chronicle Books here. Visit her site boygirlparty.com for more info about her artwork and crafty goods.

Susie did this beautiful illustration of my daughter Chloe and my pom Lulu together back in 2009. (My daughter was almost 1 year old at the time.) I love that she captures the essence of their adorable friendship.

Denim Jackets: A Fresh Look for Spring

This week the weather's been warmish here in San Francisco and the one thing I noticed I've been wearing more often is my denim jackets. I have a few and in my book, you can never have too many. They are perfect for that easy breezy casual feel and can keep you warm from the light cold. This spring, you can stick with the classic blue denim or go for something different like color, special sleeves or a different cut. My favorite is the classic style with the two front pockets (extra bonus if there's an interior pocket inside too like my Levi's one.) The two pictured above are classic and very affordable. Left is the Two by Vince Camuto Jean Jacket ($99 at Nordstrom) and at right is the crisp white denim jacket by KUT from the Kloth($69.50 at Nordstrom).

Here are more of my favorite denim jackets:

Blank Denim Denim Jacket ($79 at Piperlime)

Rhyme & Echo Ellie Denim Jacket ($89 at Piperlime)

Steve Madden Colored Denim Moto Jacket ($98 at Nordstrom)

BCBGeneration Cropped Denim Jacket ($108 at Piperlime)

kate spade new york 'broome street' denim jacket ($228 at Nordstrom)

Clarins Spring 2013: Age-Defying Lipsticks + Intense Color & Shine Gloss

Clarins brings some new colorful bursts to lips this spring. With their first age-defying lipstick, Clarins Rouge Eclat ($26) comes in 15 different shades that covers the spectrum from nude to deep reds. This lipstick features an innovative combination of 100% plant waxes - mimosa, jojoba and sunflower – and unsaponifiables of cocoa. Phytosphingosine reinforces the skin’s protective barrier, protects against dehydration, boosts collagen synthesis and fights the appearance of fine lines. The lipstick glides on with a feather-light satin feel and the color is vibrant. I am wearing Pink Berry 05 (left) on a daily basis and just love the vivid color on my lips. For evening, I love Red Wine 07 (right) as it gives just the right shade of bordeaux I want for an evening out.

Here are all the shades of Clarins Rouge Eclat:

Clarins Gloss Prodige

For lip gloss lovers (and who isn't one?), there's a new limited edition shade for the Clarins Gloss Prodige in Vibrant Rose ($22). The lip gloss has a sweet light fruity smell that just wakes up my senses for spring. Trust me, I don't usually like scented cosmetics but this just feels and smells so darn good! I promise that you will find yourself opening up the gloss just to smell it! The gloss gives my lips a very pretty rosy hue matched with lots of shine that doesn't feel overly sticky when it's on your lips.

Both the Rouge Eclat lipsticks and the lip gloss tubes are compact and light in weight making it easy to carry these around in your smaller cross body bags or clutches when you are on the go or out on the town.

Note: Review products were provided by Clarins.

Crafty DIY Roundup

Spring will be here soon and the weather isn't quite warm yet even though I keep wishing it will be. I love keeping cozy with a cowl and Stephanie from All About Ami has crochet patterns on her site to make this long double crochet cowl. She also has a pattern for a smaller chunky double crochet cowl that looks wearable for me in the chilly SF summer months!

Update your bedding for the spring/summer season with your own one-of-a-kind DIY painted pillows by Alicia of Whimseybox.

I just finished this Cloverfield Cardigan knitting pattern by Vickie Howell for my 4 year old daughter Chloe. Find out more about it on my mom style blog, Coquette Maman.

Now I am starting the Miette cardigan by Andi of Untangling Knots. It's the perfect little sweater to wear over spring and summer dresses. I'm knitting it in Blue Sky Alpacas cotton yarn in this wonderful tomato red.