The Fro Fro Blog

Quotes of the Day: Beat the Heat

Temps seem to be reaching record highs here in the Bay Area.  So this morning I perused the June 23rd issue of New York magazine to see if there was any advice about beating the heat. Those New Yorkers should know.  (Notice how I call them "those New Yorkers" as if I'm not one anymore? Sorry, Mom.)

Photo from BravoTV.com

At the 2008 James Beard Foundation Awards:

NYMag:  What should you make on a hot day?

Tom Colicchio:  Reservations.

Amen, crafty one!  That's a particularly good suggestion here in San Francisco, where restaurants are some of the only places that have air conditioning.

Further along in the issue there was an interview with Irvin Andrew, who bills himself as a "Maitre d' and Personal Concierge."  In the accompanying photos he's wearing a terrific outfit that includes a robin's egg blue blazer.

Photo from nymag.com

NYMag: What's with the blazer?  It's hot out!

Irvin Andrew: I was brought up by my great-aunt, who was an old white Jewish woman.  She stressed education, being well-dressed, and respecting everyone.  I want to look good no matter what.  I roll out of bed, I want to look good.  I go to the deli, I want to look good.

I wish more San Franciscans felt the same about their dress code.  Maybe I'm still one of those New Yorkers after all.

New York Minutes

Spent last weekend in New York, catching up on my favorite Big Apple activities: enjoying time with family, delicious food and one-of-a-kind shopping.  Here are some of the highlights.

Friday

Lunch at S'mac, where they make a myriad of mac and cheese combinations, each in its own personal skillet.  I went for the Four Cheese.  Best part was the crunchy top layer -- inside was creamy and yummy, but I prefer a lower sauce to pasta ratio.  Tony B., you're still my #1.  (S'mac, 345 E. 12th Street)

Walked uptown to the Manhattan Mall, which is filled with every (how do I put this nicely...) "mid-market" retail chain you can imagine: Aeropostale, Express, Strawberry, Wet Seal, etc.  Why, pray tell, did I make this pilgrimage?  To get Bitten, of course!  Sarah Jessica Parker's clothing line is sold by Steve and Barry's, and I just had to see it for myself.  Could she really pull off affordable fashion, or are the two concepts mutually exclusive?  I entered the store and SJP was plastered on posters and endcaps and TV monitors everywhere espousing her mantra that "Fashion is not a luxury.  It's a right."  And I have to say the clothes do look cute, but as you might expect, the fabric is thinner than SJP herself.  I love you, sweetie, but I have to trust that my top is going to make it through more than one washing.  I bought one for $10.99 and we'll just have to see.  It's gonna look great with my pink Prada flats, though. (Bitten at Steve and Barry's in the Manhattan Mall, 6th Avenue and 33rd Street)

Speaking of shoes, I decided I'd had enough retail slumming and headed further uptown to a new 'hood.  You girls know what I'm talking about.  The shoe department at Saks Fifth Avenue, which is so big it has its own zip code (10022-SHOE). Take the express elevator to shoe heaven, where the shelves are mirrored so you can see each heel without picking up the shoe.  As Carrie said, "Shopping is my cardio," and Saks gave me one helluva workout.   Next to the shoe salon you can recharge in the Charbonnel et Walker chocolate shop, where the pastries whiz by on a conveyor belt.  (Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue)

Saturday

Breakfast with Emma at Cafe Sabarsky, the authentic Viennese restaurant at the Neue Galerie.  They serve their deliciously potent coffee in the Austrian tradition:  accompanied by a glass of water to soften the blow before eating your soft boiled egg in a martini glass and marble cake with whipped cream. (Cafe Sabarsky, 86th Street at Fifth Avenue)

Afternoon visit to famed chocolatier Jacques Torres, a.k.a Mr. Chocolate.  At his Hudson Street store you can sip hot chocolate while you watch them make all kinds of delectable confections.  I stocked up on my favorite: Dark Chocolate-covered Corn Flakes.  Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, sister. (Jacques Torres Chocolates, 350 Hudson Street)

Any trip to NY wouldn't be complete for me without a visit to Marina at my favorite store, Nellie M.  If you've ever complimented me on my wardrobe, chances are Marina picked the outfit -- and she came through again this trip.  (Nellie M. Boutique, Lexington Avenue at 88th Street)    

Dinner with bro Jamie at Gari.  We surrendered to the omakase (Chef's choice) and it was outstanding.  I can only show you half of the 10 pieces since after I shot the first five, the waitress told us they don't allow photography in the restaurant.  This may be the last photo scoop you'll see in The Fro Fro Blog, so enjoy it, people. (Gari, 370 Columbus Avenue at 78th Street)

Sunday

Jets vs. Eagles at the Meadowlands.  Here I am with Dad: he's got his gear and game face on.  Dad and his friend Johnny have been ticketholders since the Jets were the Titans, so our seats are spectacular.  Too bad the team wasn't today; we lost 16-9.  Still had a great time, and the burger at Johnny's tailgate was delish.

Thanks for a great weekend, New York.  You're a helluva town! 

Nan Kempner: American Chic

"I want to be buried naked.  I know there'll be a store where I'm going."
-- Nan Kempner, socialite

Nan's private couture collection is on display at the de Young Museum through November 11.  Gorgeous pieces that are to die for, and so classic you'd wear them today. Nan said, "Fashion is a great deal of fun," and so is this exhibit.  Be careful, though -- seeing all those beautiful clothes makes you want to beeline straight to Neiman's.  You've been warned.

de Young Museum
(415) 750-3600
www.deyoungmuseum.org

More classic quotes from Nan and pics from the exhibit on Bits and Bobbins.

First on the Block: Reese's Elvis Cups and I'm NOT a Plastic Bag

When I was growing up, my Dad was a securities analyst covering consumer products, drug and entertainment companies.  In grade school that meant I was always the first kid on the block to try the new products that Dad brought home from his meetings -- like the Eraser Mate pen when it was first introduced, or a new cereal brand.  We always had lots of cereal in the house, and to this day I prefer to have at least two different kinds in my bowl at once.

So from a very early age, I was trained to crave the new new things.  This week, I was fortunate enough to get two of them.

Reese's Elvis Cups 
Hershey's is paying homage to the King's favorite sandwich with a limited edition Reese's cup featuring banana creme in addition to the peanut butter-in-my-chocolate, chocolate-in-my-peanut butter confection.  They go on sale in July, but I was able to order a tin of preview samples from Hershey's website, thanks to a tip from Candyblog.net.  I was excited to get them because not only do I love Elvis, I love banana and chocolate together, and I love chocolate and peanut butter together.  Therefore, due to the transitive property of trans fats, I should love the whole darn thing. 

So after inhaling the yummy peanut butter smell through the wrapper (like an oenophile prepares for  fine wine) I opened the package and took my first bite.  That first bite into a Reese's cup is always satisfying.  On the palate it's not too mushy and not too firm in front, and you've got the the signature ridged texture of the perimeter to enjoy in back.  I savor it for a bit, and then think....where's the banana?  I can see it in what's left of the rest of the cup, but I'm not tasting it in the bite I just took. 

The banana layer is almost the same consistency as the peanut butter, perhaps a bit more smooth.  However, it's only 1/4 to 1/3 the height, so the peanut butter really overpowers the whole thing.  Maybe the Reese's people need to talk to Daniel Patterson about banana essential oils.  I know, not likely. 

More info:
Review and great photos of the Reese's Elvis Cups on Candyblog.net
Buy a Limited Edition tin of Elvis Reese's Cups on HersheyGifts.com

I'm NOT a Plastic Bag
Anya Hindmarch is a British handbag designer who decided was high time to use high fashion to save our environment.  So she created an adorable canvas tote that you can take to Whole Foods to pick up your Amy's Meals, soy ice cream bars, dried mangoes, CLIF bars, whatever - and when they say, "Paper or plastic," you can say "No thank you!" and sashay out in style.

The bags were first made available in the U.K. and sold out almost immediately.  I've heard stories that they've been seen on eBay for 450 Euros.  Their arrival in the U.S. has been touted in all the usual rags (InStyle, et. al.).  Normally, Anya Hindmarch bags are priced in the $300 - $2,000 range, but these totes will only set you back $15 each.  That is, if you can get your hands on one.  They'll be available starting July 18th in select East Coast Whole Foods stores, but a limited number were being sold at Anya's stores this past Wednesday.

The minute I saw the bag I fell in love with it, and when I heard I could be among the first stateside to have one, I was determined to make it happen.  But what's a girl in San Francisco with no A.H. store in sight to do? The environment needs me!  Luckily, my devoted "Fro Fro Secret Shoppers" in New York City were ready to spring into action on my behalf.  I warned them how wildly popular the bags had been in England, and that they might have to wait in line, but they were not deterred.  Sure enough, when my Secret Shoppers arrived about an hour before the store was due to open, there was already a line half way down the block.  By the time they emerged, the line was all the way around the block, but their mission was accomplished and thanks to them and FedEx I have my bags in my hot little hands today. P.S. The 4,000 bags that went on sale on Wednesday sold out in 3 hours!

More info:
Anya Hindmarch I'm NOT a Plastic Bag FAQ
A first-hand account of getting the bag

Mark Your Calendar, Carrie!

SJP's fashion line, Bitten, hits U.S. stores on June 6: http://showbiz.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1263594,00.html

(courtesy of Britain's fantastic celeb site, Sky Showbiz.  Better news, better photos, better humor than People, Us or E!)

UPDATE: Reliable (but not quite as humorous) sources are now reporting that the launch date is actually June 7.  www.bittensjp.com

79th Academy Awards

Since the broadcast was so long, I'll keep this short.

Beauties:  Gwyneth Paltrow, Penelope Cruz, Reese Witherspoon, Diane Keaton (she's never looked better).  The Dreamgirls onstage.  Cameron Diaz (dress was a very nice recovery from the Globes fiasco, though I'm still not lovin' the hair). Helen Mirren. Hugh Jackman.  George Clooney.

Blunders: Naomi Watts, Meryl Streep (she's never looked worse).  The Dreamgirls on the red carpet (Beyonce's dress - yikes - and Jennifer Hudson's jacket should also be a Glamour Don't). 

Best Couple: Mark Wahlberg & Rhea Durham

Botox Overdose: Nicole Kidman, Leo DiCaprio

Better-than-the-usual-award-show-fare:  the Pilobolus Dance Troupe and the Will Ferrell/Jack Black/John C. Reilly number

Best Ad: Apple iPhone -- clips of people saying "Hello" in famous movies and TV shows, with a final shot of that gorgeous phone.  See it here: http://www.apple.com/iphone/hello/

Best Line:  "If there weren't blacks, Jews and gays, there would be no Oscars...or anyone named Oscar when you think about that." (Ellen)

UPDATE  Check out this hilarious play-by-play of the telecast from New York Magazine: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/02/fugging_the_oscars_1.html

Not So Desperate After All

Eva Longoria opened the world-famous annual Harrods sale today in a truly fabulous get-up: 

"I hope you're ready to shop!"

This is how I always look when I get out of bed.

Underneath that gorgeous Jasmine di Milo coat, Eva wore a Dolce & Gabbana LBD and Christian Louboutin stilettos.