dear new york

in , ,

Mindrelic - Manhattan in motion from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear New York, 

Things are good over here. I'm very well. But do you know that I really miss you? I wasn't ready to let you go when I left. I can say that now. And it's ok. Watching this killed me just a little inside. Yeah, there were tears in my eyes. That's all. 

I'll see you soon. Four more sleeps. 

Love always,
Catherine 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

a portumanian feast

in , , , , , ,

Amazing pond experience aside, last Sunday was really about the food. Two great chefs came together: one Panamanian (Rossy) and the other Portuguese (Paula). Together they lovingly prepared one fabulous "Portumanian" feast. Just looking at these photos makes me hungry all over again. 

Here was the menu for the day: 

ROSSY

Empanaditas de Pollo
Chicken stuffed mini Pastry Pockets

Ceviche Mixto
Lime marinated Mixed Seafood

Mariscos al Ajillo
Shrimp & Scallops in Butter & Olive Oil Garlic Sauce 
with Grilled Fennel & Smoked Tomatoes

Arroz con Guandu y Coco
Coconut & Pigeon Pea Rice

Ensalada de Palmito y Vegetales
Hearts of Palm & Vegetable Salad

Escabeche de Pescado
Pickled Fish

Crema de Mango, Gengibre & Lima
Mango Ginger & Lime Mousse

 

PAULA

Rissois de Camarão
Shrimp in pastry

Bolinhos de Bacalau
Codfish Puff Balls

Cataplana de Amêijoas
Clams in Cataplana

Asas de Galinha PiriPiri
Chicken Wings in Piri Piri Sauce

Porco Bêbado
Roast Drunken Pork

ChocoFlan
Chocolate Cake with Baked Custard
& Dulce de Leche

Bolos de Mel
Portuguese Honey Cakes

 

Thank you to Rossy and Paula for preparing such a gorgeous, delicious meal. And big hugs to our lovely host, Rossy Earle (above) for a beautiful day. I can't wait for the next one!!

 

 

a clean slate

in , , , , , ,

I can hardly believe that after the massive upheaval my life has undergone this past year, I have finally moved into my own Toronto digs. In more ways than one, this is my clean slate. It's the official start in my new city. What proved to be a stressful process resulted in a place that's precisely what I wanted (and more). It's all thanks to a fantastic real estate agent and serendipity. Not only is this condo/building brand new, it comes with great amenities, it's very close to work and it has the all-important ensuite washer/dryer. The space also has nice finishes. I love how sunny and airy the space is despite it's relatively modest size (under 600 sq. ft + 100 sq. ft of balcony). I now understand the draw of living up high. The big balcony is perfect for admiring the VIEW. And to my New York friends, it's for A LOT less rent than anything comparable in New York City or Brooklyn. Which is amazing. 

This blank canvas is already my newest design project. I cannot wait to decorate it. As you can see, I don't really have any furniture yet! Now that I've decided to start from scratch, the possibilities are endless. All I know right now is that I will keep things very simple and very comfortable. Stylistically, warm modernism is what I am most drawn to. The older I get, the more important quality and craftsmanship become, too. The challenge will always be finding a balance between quality and price. The task of careful furniture selection is probably what I'm looking forward to the most. It's so exciting! So there will undoubtedly be upcoming (fun) blog posts on home design :) 


The west facing balcony presents a view of the lake (to the left)...

...and neighbourhood views (and the sunset!) to the right

pond life

in , , , , , ,

When my friend Rossy told me she had a pond in her backyard, this was not what I expected. I finally got to see said pond this past weekend. It was part of a big feast prepared by two chefs. Rossy Earle, a Panamanian chef and, Paula Costa, a Portuguese chef joined forces to cook a huge Portumanian hybrid feast. I will blog about the food separately. I felt that this pond was worthy of it's own post. 

How beautiful is this?! This is where a big group of my foodie friends (and a few with dogs) came together and spent the day. I was stunned when we first drove into the sprawling property – approximately 45 minutes outside of Toronto. According to my friend Rossy, this is a natural pond that has had sand poured into it. It is aerated underwater via a windmill hidden behind the trees. On the property also sits a 6 bedroom house. I understood why Rossy chooses to live here and not in downtown Toronto. The temparature of the water was absolutely perfect and not too cold for this tropical baby. The colour of the water really does look this way in real life. I was in heaven floating peacefully in it – face to the sky. 

It was the best day of my entire summer so far. It was a much needed day of relaxation, sunshine, good friends (around 20 of us in attendance), great food, lots of laughs and even some good bubbly. What a beautiful day. I hope I get a chance to come back and do it again before the summer ends. 

Stay tuned for the upcoming post on this day's Portumanian menu :)  

 

lexie's seventh

in , ,

It's Lexie's 7th birthday today! She and I have been through A LOT together, she has been my trusty (and occasionally naughty) sidekick. I adore her beyond words. And who wouldn't? Look at that delicious face? I accidentally forgot her birthday last year. I missed it by a couple of weeks. It was during a very stressful time before my big move out of New York. I think I might buy her a hotdog this year and just let her devour it. That ought to make up for my birthday neglect last year!

We had a scare this weekend and thought she might be really hurt. So I'm thrilled that the her vet felt that she is fine (likely a sprain of some sort). I just need to keep my eye on her. It was a huge relief. 

This outtake from Lexie's photoshoot by my photographer friend Young Jung makes me laugh. She caught Lexie in the precise moment. 

Happy Birthday to the SWEETEST little dog in the whole world.

 

learning legacies 2

in , ,

My cousin Joel sent me this photo of my Lola (grandmother) and her kids that I have never seen before. Her name was Leonarda – Lony for short. Doesn't she look fantastic?! I love that she looks so relaxed and elegant. My mom is the one to the right of my grandmother. I've seen very few photos of my mom at this exact age. It inspired me to write another post about my family history as a kind of follow-up to my post last year. Another thing that inspired me today is a comment someone left on my old blog about my ancestors. It was nice to be reminded of your ancestry.

My Lola lost her husband, my grandfather Tomas, when he was only 51 years old. He suffered from severe asthma for years and eventually lost the battle. Back then, there were limited options for treament. I never actually had the chance to meet him. He probably took this photo, now that I think about it. My grandma was left to raise six kids on her own. From what I can recall, her family was fortunate enough to own several pieces of property in and around Manila. She earned a living collecting rent from tenants of several apartment buildings. I still remember going with my grandma to collect rent. Between raising six kids and managing property, she also spent a great deal of her time volunteering for an organization that helped the poor. I also remember accompanying my grandmother many times to visit the sick and the poor. Even as a child, I found this to be very humbling. She would always bring them baked goods that she made. She would sit, hold the hands of, and and talk with people who were sick. It was all very much a part of what my Lola was about. The Lola I remember was eternally (and fiercely) independent, generous, sassy and charming. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She had to. During the 60s until she passed during the 90s, she was on her own. It's also great to learn that she descends from a long line of strong women — matriarchs. This of course means that I, too, (along with my mom and her sisters) are part of this lineage. I realize that it's a big part of who I am, too. That's something that's to be proud of. 

 

a wedding was thrown in brooklyn

in , , , ,


I loved my friend Jacquelyn and Robert's DUMBO, Brooklyn wedding party this past May and loved the photos too. How adorable are they?! It was a fantastic and memorable evening (and week in New York) with my friends. What won't be posted here is the photo of my teary-eyed face after hearing the bride's twin's speech. To be clear, virtually the whole room was reduced to tears after that speech. It wasn't just me!

Congratulations, again to Jacquelyn and Robert! Much love and happiness to you both. x

All photos by Clean Plate Pictures. 

p.s. And what a coincidence: the bride and I had the SAME pair of shoes on! 

 

it starts now.

in , , ,

the view from the Porter Airline's runway from my iPhone – landing, May 2011

September will mark one year, the first, that I've (ever) lived in Toronto. The city, for the most part, has welcomed me with warmth and open arms. I have learned a great deal and have had a very successful year thus far with regards to all aspects of my work. I am immensely grateful for this and all who have been supportive. It hasn't been without it's challenges. One of which is figuring out my place in it in my own time. Quite distinct from trying to fit into someone else's expectation of what I will make of this new city (and inevitably disappointing them). I do believe that in order for me to truly make Toronto my own, to be able to carve out my OWN version of it, I need my own space. New York was easy to make my own. Perhaps that is the nature of the city. Perhaps it's because I didn't go into living there with someone else's preconceived version in mind. New York was all mine to carve out. I had nearly 12 years to do so. 

So the official hunt for my own Toronto digs is ON (not ready to own just yet, but to rent). Starting this weekend. It's all VERY exciting. 

My Brooklyn apartment building is over a hundred years old. I've had that place for eight years. There are things everyone is willing to give up to live in New York. I had a good amount of space in Brooklyn, so that wasn't an issue. I'm realizing (for reasons that include my age) that there are conveniences I am no longer willing to do without. Namely, an en suite washer/dryer situation. I loved the charm and character that my Brooklyn apt had. And perhaps down the line, I will be more interested in a fixer-upper, renovation project type of apartment or house. But for now, I want new(ish), clean, modern, bright and easy. Why not? Between my 9-5 work and freelance projects, it doesn't leave me much time these days. But I'm hoping it's doable (maybe with a little professional help). The idea of decorating a whole new space is BEYOND exciting. I can't wait. I will, no doubt, be documenting the process. Stay tuned and wish me luck!

 

food truck eats toronto

in , , ,

In an effort to promote better street food culture in Toronto as well as to urge loosening the very strict rules surrounding food trucks in the city, Suresh Doss, publisher of Spotlight Toronto (and friend), organized Food Truck Eats. It's the first of three gourmet food truck events happening between July and September. The overwhelming response to his proposed event from numerous chefs and food vendors in the city has extended the event to three separate dates. They're being held at the historic (and beautiful) Distillery District in downtown Toronto. I was asked to design a poster for the event (above!). You know where I will be on July 2nd. Check out the Facebook page for more info. Torontonians, come on down! 

meet belinda, my new bicycle

in , ,

The last time I had a bicycle to call my own, I was about 14 in southern California. I was in 7th grade. The kids at school made fun of me and my bike. They would sing the Pee Wee Herman theme song whenever I rode by. NO ONE rode a bike to school in my part of the world then. It wasn't considered cool then. But I really couldn't care less what other kids thought. I liked my bicycle. It was new, cream coloured and had a basket in the back. Fairly non-descript. I rode that thing to school until I started catching rides on the back of a friend's Vespa a year later. 

After I got a taste of cycling earlier this month, I knew I had to get one. I had planned to start off with a used bike but got a GREAT deal on this new one. It had very minor scratches. I knew I had to strike a balance between aesthetically appealing, modestly priced, easy/comfortable to ride. Theft is apparently rampant these days, so I invested in a good lock, too. This was perfect. As soon as I saw it, the afternoon of shopping was over. I had to have it. Of couse, my favourite part is the leather seat and handle bar covers (if there's a proper term for this, I don't know it). 

Eventually, I'd like to get a beautiful wicker basket similar to the one below by Nantucket Bike Basket Co. instead of the mesh one. The bike shop employee mentioned that the wicker baskets actually last much longer than the powder-coated metal ones. Who knew? They even have baskets designed for pets. Too adorable. 

I rode my new bike into work today and I love it even more. It was a summer defining move to purchase this gem. I'm calling my bike Belinda. For some reason, I heard Belinda Carlisle's singing one of the Go-Go's songs when I saw the bike. I have absolutely no idea why! So the name has stuck.

p.s. I don't plan to join any Toronto hipster cycling cults worthy of an episode of Portlandia. I'm still essentially that nerdy 14 year old just enjoying the ride and the sunshine. 

Cheers to summer!

 

papa's day

in ,

I love this photo of my dad. It was taken on our big island-hopping trip in the Philippines in 2006. That's my sister behind him, by the way. Not me. Our parents often can't tell us apart in photos and in sunglasses. 

Happy Father's Day, Pa! 

Love you. 

 

tasted toronto

in , , , ,

I attended my first Toronto Taste event this past weekend at the Royal Ontario Museum. It's the biggest fundraiser for Second Harvest (same idea as City Harvest in NYC – I sometimes volunteered my time to them when I lived there). Imagine 60 of Toronto's best chefs, 30 wine/beverage purveyors and 1500 people inside the museum and outside — in large white tents. It was amazing. I walked around with a plate (at one point, two plates!), a fork, a beverage and my iPhone. I somehow managed to take a few photos of the food. This event is not only a great cause, for someone relatively new to the city, it was a perfect way to sample the food from some of the city's best restaurants. I loved it! Although crowded at times, it was a festive event and the food was FANTASTIC. The dishes that had me positively speechless are below (tried as best as I could to remember the exact names). 

top left: Truffle Polenta from Scarpetta (NY/Toronto), top right: Lamb with Chocolate Nib and Raisin Tacos from Auberge du Pommier, bottom left: Chilled Strawberry, Rhubarb and Lobster Soup from Tundra, bottom right: French Onion Soup Dumplings from Forte Bistro and Hiro Sushi

behind the scenes at canoe restaurant

in , , , ,

This week I had the privilege of doing a photo essay of Canoe Restaurant's kitchen. I was kindly grated access to all the behind-the-scenes activity of one of the most highly regarded restaurants in all of Canada. Not only did I get to witness the flurry of fast-paced activity in preparation for yet another busy evening, I also got to sample the fantastic food I watched being prepared. I was honoured to be a fly on the wall of an incredibly busy and tightly run ship that is this kitchen. I had to quickly figure out the myriad of code words being exclaimed loudly by the staff to one another in order to maneuver themselves around the space with ease (and avoid accidents). Despite the very hectic atmosphere, it was very friendly and fun work environment. The friendly staff gladly answered any questions I had. I was able to document certain dishes from preparation to plate. I enjoyed hearing from Chef Horne the back stories of specific local ingredients – many of which are harvested specifically for Canoe's chefs.

The food was, needless to say, superb. The Chilled Asparagus Soup left me speechless. It was such a beautiful, fresh and delicate soup. Perfection. In addition, Canoe's sommelier Will Predhomme, paired delicious white wines with my dishes and graciously answered my queries about wine and wineries. It was a wonderful and fascinating experience – especially for someone who is relatively new to the Toronto dining landscape. It was an inspiration to not only see first hand Chef de Cuisine John Horne's passion for food and unique culinary perspective, but also skillful artistry and dedication in everyone who works there. The 54th floor views of downtown Toronto from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant are breathtaking and ensures the entire space is flooded with the day's changing light. 

Many, many thanks to: Executive Chef Anthony Walsh, Chef de Cuisine (and my host) John Horne, Sommelier William Predhomme and the wonderful staff at Canoe for the wonderful – and very informative – experience. 

Chef Horne's on-the-fly creations

Japanese Asparagus (foraged from the wild especially for the chef)

 

White Bean, Carrot and Ginger spread

Forming Lobster Salad

Yarmouth Lobster Terrine being prepped for plating by Chef John Horne

Yarmouth Lobster Terrine, Octopus, Pickled Cabbage, Squid Ink Mayo and Saffron Vinaigrette

Left to right: Wellington Beef Sliders, Hand harvested Spicy Asian Greens and a view of the kitchen from the chef's rail and my delicious glass of wine

Beautiful, buttery and crispy: phyllo pastry baked into spirals (for asparagus soup below)

Probably the best soup I've ever had in my life: Chilled Asparagus Soup, Phyllo Spirals with Elderflower Yoghurt Mousse, Chive Oil

My view from the chef's rail

Corn Nut & Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Cake, Caramelized Banana, Chocolate Sugar Crisp with Espresso Ice Cream

british style genius

in , , ,

An old friend sent me this BBC Series British Style Genius (from 2009) a week or so ago and I've been devouring every episode since. It is fascinating. It's an incredibly well produced, showcasing the most concise documentary on (any) fashion history that I've ever seen. I even love the title sequence design. Some of my favourite segments and episodes are below. 

The bit about the 60s Mod movement was of particular interest to me. I was hanging out in high school with a group of kids that revived this whole look/lifestyle in California during the late 80s. I also knew 20-something year old guys in Vancouver into the early 90s that (quite seriously) subscribed to the same look and lifestyle. It all centered around 60s, slim-fitting Mod suits, skinny black ties and creepers. One of my closest friends in high school, Barry, would wear Fred Perry shirts, skinny dress pants or jeans and dress shoes to school everyday. He also had the signature vintage Vespa scooter which I rode with him to school everyday. We listened to a lot of ska, Brit pop and punk. It influenced the way that I dressed then, too. I wore a lot of vintage and homemade 60s miniskirts (some tartan) with preppy sweaters, pointy patent flats — and yes, black TURTLENECKS (that's when the turtleneck love began!). Back then, I wasn't as aware of the whole history of the Mods. I didn't question it, I just enjoyed dressing up in the particular style. I still don't really know why the Mod look was revived then. It's interesting how it was (re)done the same way – but in suburban southern California. Perhaps it was a west coast thing. Does anyone know? We did feel that we stood apart from the popular fashion in high school back then (which at my school was comprised of Hyper Color cropped Tshirts, MC Hammer pants and lots of neon). I wish I had photos to share. So I loved seeing the way this documentary series illustrates and gives context to where/how it all began. It all makes sense to me now! 

One conclusion I drew from having watched the series in it's entirety: I believe that the days of such influential and distictive fashion "movements" growing from the streets is gone for the most part. The globalization of fashion trends is likely to blame. There is still a lot of street fashion that influence the styles that end up on the runway, but they don't end up evolving from movements with fiercely loyal followings (not unlike gangs) in quite the same way that it did back in the 60s. It was a time when younger generation made their clothes. New styles were created and evolved more organically on the streets. They weren't simply following what they saw on tv, music, magazines or celebrities (many of whom receive many of their clothes for free from fashion designers). I feel as though retailers like American Apparel and Urban Outfitters are the ones dictating the way young people dress these days. Hoards of young 'hipsters' are merely dressing in uniforms-of-the-minute as dictated by these retailers. That doesn't define edgy to me. I don't believe there is as much actual origination or innovation on the street nowadays — at least not as much as there was between the 60s-80s (and not in north America). So much of what's out there now tends to be an appropriation or remix of everything that has been done before — primarily from the 80s. 

If you didn't see this series the first time around and can get a hold of it, I HIGHLY recommend doing so. It's amazing and not to be missed. 

 

 

seasonal cycle

in , , ,

I went for my first bike ride in six years this past weekend. I have not been on a bicycle since my Paris trip in 2005! The weather could not have been more beautiful. It was a mostly a cloudless sky with a light breeze and no humidity. Perfect day for cycling. I had not visited High Park since the fall. The park and Grenadier Pond reminded me a bit of other parks I've spent some time in (such as Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Stanley Park in Vancouver, pre-1999). I was enjoying the first ride so much and didn't realize that I over did it. I ended up having to ice my knees last night after coming home. But all in all, it was a great day and a wonderful introduction to cycling in Toronto. It was topped off by a beautiful, grilled summer dinner with good friends. What could be better? 

I plan to relish the few short months of warmth in Toronto and explore the city some more this summer. Bicycle ownership is imminent. The numerous benefits of cycling are, of course, obvious. And I get why people are so passionate about it. It was exhilarating. It was the best way to see Paris, why not Toronto?  

make it real

in , ,

If there was a jewelry item that I become very attached to, it's rings. I purchased this ring last year and I've literally worn it to death. I call it my "lady brass knuckles." It's been commented on more than any other ring I've ever worn – particularly by men. I was getting it replated every few weeks at a local jeweler (for not much money) only for the it to fade not long after. This jeweler suggested I get the ring replicated in real gold. He explained that the reason the replating didn't last is because the ring wasn't made of real gold on the inside. He gave me a great price. Apparently, it's done with a rubber mold to precisely match every angle and crevice. It was a simple enough design. It was done in two days and the result is amazing! It looks FANTASTIC. Even the engraving on the inside was replicated. I love the idea of giving a favourite piece of costume jewelry and making it something I'll actually want to hang on to and wear for way longer than a season or two. I think I've outgrown disposable fashion. I just want to try to have less of it and just have more of things that endure.  

 

the museum of me

in , ,

I just caught wind of this Intel Museum of Me application/campaign this afternoon. I must say I'm thoroughly impressed. It takes your Facebook data to create a virtual museum exhibition about your life. The application walks through the museum when it's done gathering your information. It's amazing. It's spreading like wildfire on Facebook. This is a product of social media. It feeds our collective self obsessions that have been brought on by social media: the ME monster. It also feels like a post humous memorial and is, oddly, moving as a result. It's brilliant! 


my dad, birthday boy

in , , ,

This is a hand-tinted black and white photo of my father that I recently restored. I'm guessing he was in second grade here – his First Communion portrait. He looks so adorable here with that sweet face and that bow tie. And check out the very ominous looking shadow of a crucifix behind him. I like the unlit candle, too. Oh, Catholicism. I took liberties with toning down some of the colour – too generously and inappropriately applied in certain areas. I think my dad was pleased with the result.

Happy Birthday, Papa :)  
June 2nd