End of the year

Dear Our House friends, we are leaving tomorrow on a holiday, Our House will be closed till 6thof january !
We wish you all a merry x-mas and a happy new year!
S+J

fa caldo

Tonight we are serving a vegetarian take on a Sicilian fishy spaghetti , without the fish off course. I'm making farfalle with saffron, capers, celery and raisins, surprising combination that results in a magically synchronised sweet, salty and sour flavour.
Join us for some Sicilian heat!

Alpine Dream

 Spencer Tunick

Last night we had some friends over that run a hotel in French Alps, talking about skiing, snow and all the pleasures and sorrows that a winter holiday can bring, altogether a very pleasant evening. My bad experience of walking down the slope with the skis on my shoulder couple of years ago, convinced me that skiing was invented for some other sort of people, who have, to me, incomprehensible urge of racing down the slopes faster then the average speed of a race car, bringing their and my life in danger. So I thought I will just stay away from those slopes, there are enough trees and innocent enthusiast that believe they will get infected by the same bug and next winter be the danger to others.
Not that I'm really a snow and winter lover, but there is something romantic and idyllic in staying inside of a chalet, warmed up, enjoying the hot chocolate, and browsing through Architectural Digest waiting for my man to return from the icy life threatening slopes.And if there would be a steaming hot outside pool, and a sauna, I would maybe even consider a ski holiday again once in my life.

bookshelf

Inspired by all this Alpine talk the choice fell on a Swiss recipe, noodles with mushrooms and savoy cabbage,  in a light white wine sauce, and served with some cherry tomatoes and plenty of smoked cheese. 
Join us for some Alpine dreaming!

bean necessity

Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate

All the snow outside reflecting the light, makes everything look so much brighter, bigger and more spacious.

Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate is constructed of highly polished stainless steal plates that reflect and distort the city's skyline. It was constructed between 2004 and 2006 in Chicago, and became one of the city's most prominent landmarks. Even though Kapoor's design was inspired by liquid mercury, it is popularly known as a Bean,  because of its bean like shape.

This evening we will be serving a heart warming bean casserole with ginger and lemon, on the side some grilled polenta cakes, and a beetroot, onion salad. Nothing distorting and reflective about it but still perfect for this perfect winter day :-)