Hot Chocolate Warm-Up at the Ritz!

Having been a little cooped up this past week, we relished our quick jaunt to the coast to check out the shore at Half Moon Bay. I wanted to see if the tsunami waves had washed up anything interesting... I think the most interesting part was that there were NO shells, and NO sea glass.  Usually we scoop up all kinds of flotsam and jetsam, this past Saturday the beach was wiped clean.

The tide was still pretty dangerous and more than a little ferocious. We still thought we might be able to get around one of our favorite points at Half Moon Bay. (where I usually find all kinds of purple sea urchins and periwinkle shells) Yeah....probably shouldn't have tried that, as we got a little bit soaked trying to out-run the sets of waves back to safer ground!

Still so much beauty. Sometimes it's just a matter of actually seeing it.  Look how these prehistoric-looking barnacles and dark blue mussels have clung to a crevice in a basalt beach rock just waiting for the tide to surge in.

Coastal flowers are beginning their annual show of color; dark fuchsia pinks, butter yellows....

Thank goodness the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay welcomes wet sandy beach combers to their outdoor patio! It's one of our favorite places to relax on a weekend (or weekday escape!) afternoon.   The patio at the Ritz faces the Pacific Ocean looking Northwest - perfect for watching crashing waves, swooping sea birds, and pink sunsets.

Awaiting guests on the patio, big round brick gas fire pits are lit with cozy fires, and surrounded by generous comfortable, Adirondack chairs.  We always meet interesting people gathered around from all parts of the world, simply enjoying the afternoon in the sea air. (The picture is from a previous trip)

The best part?  At 4:30 the Chocolate Bar is open on the patio!  Three choices of hot chocolate can be had - milk, dark or white.  Too many choices!  They even sell entire kits for roasting your very own S'mores over the fire, roasting sticks included. Yummy, ooey-gooey chocolate chunk cookies are always on the menu too.

Their  gourmet hot chocolate can be ordered with, or without your choice of liqueur, and then topped off with whipped cream, crushed coffee beans, white chocolate stir sticks, crushed cookies. Of course my particular favorite is always available- mini marshmallows!  I had a little Baileys and a little Frangelico, Tom opted for Gran Marnier.

Yes, life is good.


Shared on Savvy Southern Style - "Wow Us Wednesdays"


http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/03/wow-us-wednesdays-8-and-sisters-home.html

New Jersey Beach Girl - Susan Fairgrieve

The Coastal Collection... 

I'd like to think that Susan and I have become kindred beach girls, even though we live on two separate coasts.  She  has such a gift, using her camera lens to capture seashore details that the rest of us might miss.  

Susan is a life-long resident of the Jersey Shore,  practicing her graphic design and photographing talent while residing in the quaint harbor village of Atlantic Highlands, New Jerseywith her husband Scott.  Atlantic Highlands Marina is the largest municipal harbor on the eastern seaboard. The town of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey also has the distinction of having the highest coastal elevation on the eastern seaboard.  Susan sent me a map of her town and pictures, beautifully picturesque..I cannot  wait until we can go visit one day!

Student of The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for Visual Communications, Susan Fairgrieve majored in visual communications. 

Today,with over nineteen years experience in graphic design, advertising and marketing, learned skills as well as a trained eye come through in her work as a photographer.

We love Susan's detailed sepia toned coastal photography; nautical images, and beach-washed sea shells are just a few of the many sea treasures she has captured with her art.  We know you will love this collection too, perfect for just about any beach home!

I love the look of these gorgeous large prints of Susan's that were done for a new condo project on the New Jersey shore.  Simple, but so striking! 

Advertising layout and photography are both composed of design elements blended to achieve one goal—a visual creation for the eye to behold.

Possessing a broad spectrum of design sense from a graphic design background, this photographer designs through the lens. With gifts from the sea and nautical elements in her surroundings, her love for texture
and shapes comes through in this “Coastal Collection” series.  (Beauty and Braun)

From the shores of Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard to the Bahamian beaches, the collected elements for this series are very unique and beautiful—a guaranteed delight to the visitor of the Jersey Shore or any beach home owner with a love for coastal living. (White Mansions)

Fairgrieve is a collector of moon snails and colorful beach cruisers. At Caron's Beach House, we  love her moon snail portraits, here's a few samples of those images that we are very excited to present, these can be ordered in sizes up to 36" x 48". Think of a collection grouped together.... 

Broken Home (don't you just love the title!)

Round House

Moon Snail II

With coastal Monmouth County being her home, Susan spends her leisure time on or near the water. She embraces her love for the ocean and the beauty of nature in her surrounding environment.  Come see how's she's captured that  love of the sea! Caron's Beach House

Oscar Night Clam Chowder

C'mon admit it - we all watched the Oscars last night.  Who wore the best dress, which actor was the most handsome, who wore the worst dress... who looked fabulous on the red carpet.... glamour, glamour and more Hollywood glamour!  My fave?  To tell you the truth, I thought Anne Hathaway was the best!  She just looks incredible in anything, has such a wide range of talent,  and had such a fun time presenting and making the whole show fun.  (picture courtesy of Yahoo)

So that we wouldn't miss a single second of the show, I whipped us up some incredible clam chowder - not your average clam chowder.  Average, New England clam chowder would have been just too blase' for Oscar night!

Inspired by Hog Island's Manilla Clam Chowder, with my own twist... No flour added,  using only fresh clams and veggies.

Serves:  6-8
Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound bacon 
• celery - 2 cups sliced.  I tried "red" celery last night - wonderful addition!
• 1 med. yellow onion, sliced
• 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• carrots - 1-2 cups chopped
• 2 T. butter
• 6-8 medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered into bite-sized cubes.  DO NOT peel!
• 4-6 lbs of small Manila clams in the shell 
• 1 + cup Sauvignon Blanc white wine ( be daring like Julia!)
• 1 quart heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Wash clams in colander, make sure that there are no cracked or open shells.  Discard bad clams...

Step 2: Cut up potatoes, and place in stock pot with 5-6 cups of water - no salt.   Bring to a boil, cook until al dente.  Do not discard water!

Step 3: While the potatoes are boiling, in a second heavy-bottom pot melt the butter with the thyme. Render the bacon in the butter and thyme (over low heat, careful not to burn); once bacon is rendered add onions and celery, cook until vegetables are translucent. Add carrots and cook until bendable without breaking, then add the potatoes and 4 cups of potato water.  Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

 Step 4:  Add the Sauvignon Blanc (or other good white wine) and let simmer for just a few minutes for flavors to blend

Step 5: Add the whole, fresh scrubbed clams.  Put the stock pot lid on and simmer gently until the clams open.  

Step 6: Ladle into individual bowls and pour a little cream in each bowl.  Now you are ready to serve!

Voila'!  Pour a glass of the chilled Sauvignon Blanc and serve with a rustic loaf of bread 

and you have an elegant feast.  

Have a great Monday -