{table for two: oceanside dreams}

. . . and now, only a matter of time before deliriously lovely hazy summer afternoons and wind-rippled sand, fluttery dresses and fantastical floods of light, languid laughter and champagne by starlight -- but until then, scallops and oysters and oceanside dreams . . .


p a n - f r i e d b u t t e r & t h y m e s c a l l o p s
2 teaspoons olive oil
20g butter
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme leaves
12 scallops, roe on, on the half shell
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped chives

heat a medium frying pan over high heat; add the oil, butter, garlic and thyme and cook for 1 minute; remove the scallops from the shells, reserving the shells; add the scallops to the pan and cook for 30 seconds each side; place the cooked scallops back in the shells; add the lemon juice to the pan and cook for a further minute, then add the chives; spoon the pan sauce over the scallops; serves 4





s c a l l o p s w i t h l i m e w a s a b i d r e s s i n g
& o y s t e r s w i t h c h i v e a n d w i n e v i n e g a r d r e s s i n g

s c a l l o p s
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/3 cup (80ml) lime juice
4 teaspoons wasabi paste
12 scallops, roe off, on the half shell
peanut oil, extra for brushing
3 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced
lime wedges, to serve

preheat a char-grill (broiler) pan over medium heat; heat a small saucepan over low heat; add the oil and garlic to the saucepan and cook for 1 minute, then whisk in lime juice and wasabi; set aside and keep warm; remove the scallops form the shell, reserving the shell; brush the scallops with the extra oil and char-grill (broil) for 30 seconds on each side; place scallops in the shells; top with dressing and green onion and serve with lime wedges; makes 12

o y s t e r s
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup (80ml) white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
12 shucked oysters

place the oil, vinegar, lemon rind and chives in a bowl and whisk to combine; spoon over the oysters and serve; makes 12

......................................................................................................

{p.s.} previous table for two features:
* le petit déjeuner
* meringue-encased lemon cakes
* home-made baguettes
* crab bruschetta


{images: scan by this is glamorous from donna hay's seasons}

{décor inspiration: wallpapered cabinets}

. . . isn't this the loveliest idea? . . . glass-front cupboards strewn with cole & son's classic and utterly delightful hummingbirds, and instantly, everyday items such as smokey quartz glassware and jadeite cake stands become little works of art . . .

{p.s.} also: a little romance


{image: photography by jon day for house to home}

{on the market: stockholm, sweden}

. . . there has been a warm and woodsy victorian in australia, a bright and modern apartment in sweden, and even a look at the differences between magazine and real estate photography for a townhouse in new york, but until now, there has never been such a perfect intermingling of the two . . . swedish real estate firm, fantastic frank, photographs homes for their listings in much the same way as interior design magazines; working with photographers who do not usually shoot houses, but work in fashion, art and architecture, they have developed a beautiful new photographic style that will forever change the way one thinks of real estate listings: for here, a light-filled home in östermalm, an upscale borough in stockholm, sweden, glittering with chandeliers and positively strewn with roses . . .























{images: photography by anders lindén for fantastic frank via trendey story}

{on the market: manhattan townhouse}

. . . shall always adore katie lee's ultra-chic four-story west village townhouse, famously decorated by nate berkus a million years ago, in 2006; first seen in domino magazine and still an all-time favourite, the 4000 sq ft home, which includes 3/4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4 fireplaces, an elevator, a landscaped garden, matchbooked marble detailing, and antiqued gold-leafing, is now on the market, and it is always interesting to compare how the real estate listing shots, often taken wide angles, differ from the rich, more detailed shots published in magazines; and so, a glimpse . . .



the living room, as it appeared in the real estate listing


the living room, as it appeared in domino magazine




the kitchen, as it appeared in the listing


the kitchen, as shot for by paul costello for domino magazine




the dining room, as it appeared in the listing


the dining room, with katie lee, as shot for domino magazine




the stunning gold-leafed dressing room, as it appeared in the listing


the dressing room, as it appeared in town & country magazine




the upstairs den, (cropped) as it appeared in the listing


the den, as shot by paul costello for domino magazine




the master bedroom, (cropped), as it appeared in the listing


the master bedroom, as shot for nate berkus (from a previous post)






top & above: the living room, as it appeared in the listing


the living room, as shot by paul costello for nate berkus


an all-time favourite shot: the living room, as it appeared in domino

***

{p.s.} previous on the market features:
* a grand victorian, australia
* a swedish apartment

{images: prudential douglas elliman real estate, photography by paul costello for domino magazine, nate berkus, simply smitten, a previous post; discovered via haute design}

{thoughts for a new week: toast & tea}

"time for you and time for me, and time yet for a hundred indecisions, and for a hundred visions and revisions, before the taking of a toast and tea"

~ from the love song of j. alfred prufrock by t.s. eliot

{image: flickr}

{table for two: crab bruschetta}

. . . this week's table for two is a beautiful {& stunningly delicious!} starter made by p over the holiday weekend, crab bruschetta, from donna hay's seasons -- the subtle tastes and textures were exquisite . . .


{crab bruschetta}

4 thin slices sourdough bread
olive oil, for brushing
2 tablespoons whole-egg mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons finely grated lime rind
sea salt and cracked black pepper
400g cooked crab meat
1 large mild green chilli, sliced
2 green onions (scallions), sliced
lime wedges, to serve

Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F). Brush the oil and place on a baking tray. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until crispy and golden. Set aside. Place the mayonnaise, lime juice and rind, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk well to combine. Add the crab and toss to combine. Spoon the crab mixture onto the bread, top with the chilli and green onion and serve with the lime. Serves 4.


{image: iphone photography by roséline for this is glamorous}

{table for two: the rose martini}

. . . nearly always prefer champagne, with the exception of a mango or french martini every once in a while, however, the discovery of the beautiful and utterly romantic rose martini may shake things up a little . . .

{ingredients}
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1 oz. white crème de cacao
1/4 oz. rosewater
small pieces of turkish delight or rose petals to garnish
1 drop rose food color

1. fill half of a cocktail shaker with ice
2. add liquids
3. shake
4. pour
5. garnish

{images: photography by jacinta moore via design*sponge}

{holiday inspiration: gold flatware}

... after a weekend spent on cozy velvet cushions in front of the fireplace, dinner reservations and shopping, and a countryside dinner party on sunday evening {homemade french onion soup and chicken & bacon pies} things are beginning to feel wonderfully festive . . . and since have been on the topic of tabletop inspiration, could not think of anything more beautiful for the holidays than gold flatware {although must confess, adore gold any time of year}, and am positively smitten with the italian-made brushed gold linea ice oro five piece setting {above} and the insanely elegant and ultra-stylish midas golden cutlery set {below} from the conran shop . . .




{p.s.} the fun & festive napkin holders were created from strings of sequins & paillettes wrapped around styrofoam spheres

{image: 1 - gretel via apartment therapy; 2 - iphone photo by this is glamorous, photography by pia ulin for martha stewart living december 2010}

{travel inspiration: tinos, greece}

. . . rounded edges and a soft, charmingly uneven texture that catches the play of light and shadows, and shall never look at walls the same way again . . .

{images: photography by yiorgos kordakis via simple blueprint}