American Antiques

There is a roadside antiques mart on Highway 67, in in a little place called Rainbow, Texas. A few weeks ago, en route home from a visit to Fossil Rim in Glen Rose, I stopped in. Here's my bounty, all of it purchased for just under 80 bucks. It jibes perfectly with the found furniture / antique-y / cottage-feel that I envision our new house will take on. The place is called American Country Mall (ignore the political propaganda on the right side of the page!). Now for my finds:

Kree-Mee Yellow American Spread

I couldn't resist this case for early Velveeta-like "cheese"

Piece of An Old Door

&

Rough Wood Frame

I love the key that's attached in the center of this worn out door panel. 

I replaced the photo and mat in the frame.

"Hopeless" Hope Chest

It needs a good scrubbing - and a new fabric lining. 

I'll mount it on the wall and use it as a storage cabinet, or set

in on the floor and use it as chest.

Pretty Thursday

Today was a very good day in ALI LAND. Anticipating two full days of work at Molto Formaggio, I vowed to make the most of a sunny, 65-degree Thursday. After a run on the Katy Trail and tackling the obligatory chores at home, I headed to my soon-to-be-home, Henderson Avenue. Starting at the Wooden House and moving eastward, I ventured in and out of all the shops I'd never been in (and some that I had) between 75 and Bonita. Then I headed north to the new Whole Foods on Park Lane and discovered that my go-to bottle of screwtop red not only earned 90 points from Wine Spectator but is also going for a mere 10 bucks a pop (I usually pay 12 at Sigel's). Get in the know: it's the 2006 Monte Antico, a Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Tuscany. Oh, and the bulb that my grandmother gave me two years ago has bloomed into a sexy trifecta of flowers. Now, for the photo montage:

I'm The Chill Bride

Last weekend at our friends Chris and Elena's wedding in Belleville, New Jersey (number one of five weddings we'll attend this year), we got to catch up with our friends Mary and John, who are getting hitched in New York in June (yahoo! another excuse to go back!). Since they got engaged, Mary's been blogging. Turns out she posted about our wedding! The title of the post? Lessons on Being a Chill Bride. Yes, it's true—all of the mishaps she tallied actually happened on our special day. And she didn't even mention our cake leeeeeaning over—the result of the cake baker having to slam on the brakes en route. With a wedding underway, you don't really have an option other than to roll with it. I had a blast!

My Yellow Wedding: Mary's blog
 All you brides, do yourself a favor and follow it. 
She's got some great tips!

And for our wedding album, click here.

Living La Vida Local (and Grass-Fed)

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, from the movie Food Inc.

(this guy rocks!)

As you know (or maybe you don't) I haven't eaten meat in 14 years. I began eating seafood a year ago, and I do it responsibly, only ordering and buying fish that's not over-fished. (the easiest way to do this is to carry around Monterey Bay Aquarium's pocket-sized safe list, which you can print out here).

I recently watched Food Inc., which was was nominated for Best Documentary Feature in the Academy Awards. And even though I'm 100% nuts about the seafood I put into my body and the beef, chicken, and pork that my husband buys, and I avoid high fructose corn syrup and processed foods as best I can, I confess, I don't always make the trek to the farmers market for fresh produce.

Seeing the movie reminded me about the effects mass-produced meat and produce has on our bodies and on the globe. Even more, it uncovers what's wrong with the industry of mass-produced food. It's all fresh on my mind, so I'll try to make it fresh on yours too.

There are a number of respected books on the issue. I'm ashamed to say that I've only read Fast Food Nation - the others are The Omnivore's Dilemma and The China Study. A third, more recently published book that's on my reading list is Growing Good Things to Eat in Texas, which profiles eleven Texas farm families.

Today, while reading Edible Dallas & Fort Worth magazine I discovered even more resources:

• Eat Wild is fantastic place to source your next food purchase. It's "the source for safe, healthy, natural and nutritious grass-fed beef, lamb, goats, bison, poultry, pork, dairy and other wild edibles," and will lead you to responsible farmers.

• Rusty's Grass-Finished Food is a grass-fed beef farm in East Texas.

• Sloans Creek Farm raises grass-fed beef, lamb, goat, and pastured pork, 75 miles north of Dallas.

Right here in the city, Dan goes to VonGeertsem Butcher Shoppe on Oak Lawn Ave. Greg, the butcher is a jolly fellow who will hook you up and answer all your questions (and supply you with some damn good steak, according to Dan).

Of course, there's the Dallas Farmers Market, and I swear I will go there more often. And up until last fall, Celebration Restaurant had a farmers market (it was stopped by the city due to some crazy regulations - follow that story here).


But you can get more local that growing your own greens, which we've been dying to do. After the move on April 1, we finally can!

World's Best Brunch?

My very good friend Krystal, just back from a long weekend in New Orleans with her beau, emailed this morning to tell me about her trip. It was everything you expect from a dreamy weekend: "saw some jazz, went to a museum, took a cemetery tour, walked a lot, and relaxed" plus one delightful superlative: "We ate realllllly good food (including the best brunch I have EVER had)"

The spot was Dante's. From Krystal: You take the St. Charles streetcar all the way to the end. It was delicious - we had the best iced coffee, biscuits, and shrimp and grits. Now, if I can just get to New Orleans!

I'm a long-time fan of brunch, especially the under-$20 sort that starts around 1 p.m. and includes endless champagne. In New York, our friend Meg would coordinate a group most every Sunday for hours of boozing over frittata and French toast. I used to keep a list of her favorite spots, but (dang!) I lost it. (Meg, an update, please!).

In Dallas, I've done brunch at Breadwinners (wesome upper level patio; super-savory eats; baskets of fresh-baked goodies; slightly overpriced drinks) and Nick & Sam's Grill (reasonably priced entrees; $6 bottomless blood orange mimosas). In San Antonio I experienced the most beautiful and most decadent brunch buffet I've ever witnessed at the Omni La Mansion Del Rio. Seriously, I have never seen so much food. You'd think overflowing bounty would translate to poorly prepared fare. Au contraire. It's some of the best fare I've tasted, and the spread goes way beyond typical brunch fare (eyeball the menu here.) The champers is unlimited, and, yes, it's the good stuff!

Friends here and afar, what's your favorite brunch spot?