CITY
STYLE AND LIVING FOOD | FASHION | TRAVEL
PARTY COCKTAILS Get in the spirit of the season with these sippers
BALLETCORE HAIR
The perfect updo for your next occasion
*Harvest Yountville Season in
California Wine Country WINTER 2023/2024 $5.50 CAN citystyleandliving.com
GET YOUR
PRINT ISSUE TODAY
A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON ALL THE BEST IN LIFESTYLE
Y L N O * A
$1.50 H T MON
Featuring the hottest local, national, and international content in: Food, Fashion, and Travel PLUS We’re a Proudly Green Magazine *This is $18.00 per yearly subscription. Shipping costs not included. Price in Canadian dollars.
ATTENTION READERS!
Get the print edition. Email: subscribe@citystyleandliving.com or visit citystyleandliving.com/subscribe
CITY
CSL
WINTER 2023/2024 | Volume 17 Issue 1 | Contents
ON THE COVER Mount Victoria, Lake Louise.
STYLE AND LIVING Pattern Recognition A striking mini zucchini tart is a showstopping appetizer
CSL LIVING
9
GARDENING You asked, CSL answered all of your home gardening questions CSL FOOD
13
FUSION Breakfast done right, how to use koji and champagne gold plus much more
14
KITCHEN The prettiest apple tart. The Zucchini Table: how to make the most of this perennial favourite CSL FASHION
24-26
COURTESY TOURISM QUEBEC, Hamelin, Jean-François
STYLIST Nailing the perfect celebration outfit CSL TRAVEL
Cover Stories
18-20 IMBIBE
3 Awesome cocktails to get your night going
23 HELEN OF TROY
How to achieve a sleek bun, inspired by the barre plus how to do latte makeup and more
34-44 TRAVEL
28-33
A serene wine-soaked harvest season in Yountville, Napa Valley
OKI LETHBRIDGE Discovering this hidden gem in Southern Alberta IN EVERY ISSUE
6 FROM THE EDITORS 45 FINAL THOUGHT
CSL GREEN TIPS Homemade hand sanitizer: add 10 drops tea tree oil and 10 drops lavender essential oil to 2/3 cup aloe vera gel, mixing well. Add 1 cup grain alcohol and stir. ›› 3 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
CityStyleandLiving.com FOOD | FASHION | TRAVEL | LIFESTYLE | THE EDITORS NOTEBOOK | BLOG
DON’T MISS
NARS AT RIXO
NEWS, STYLE, BEAUTY, RECIPES TRAVEL & MUCH MORE!
FOOD
FASHION
TRAVEL Publisher K & S Media - Earth is a Beautiful Heaven
Designer Chris Schultz
Editors-in-Chief Kailash Maharaj and Shivana Maharaj
Managing Editor/Director of Advertising Dr. Rookmin Maharaj
Editorial Assistant Emily Hunt Creative Director Georgina Wong
Contributors Amber Alent Marc Duncan Arianna Grace James S. Sinclair
Photo Director Darrel Mellow
Advertising Inquiries advertise@citystyleandliving.com
Fashion and Beauty Editor Shivana Maharaj
Subscription Inquiries: subscribe@citystyleandliving.com ISSN 1913-892X
Food & Travel Editor Kailash Maharaj Production Director K & S Media Assistant Production Manager K & S Media Art Direction and Design K & S Media Deputy Art Director Keith Moon 4 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
LIVING
Steven Busch Natalie Fox Genvieve Magbi
Publications Agreement No. 41599042 City Style and Living is published four times each year. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means in whole or in part without the prior written consent of the publisher. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy, K & S Media cannot be held responsible for any errors, or omissions that may occur. The magazine assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material. All rights reserved 2023-2024. A proudly Green Magazine.
FROM THE EDITORS
WELCOME The Great Plains
O
ne of the quirks of the English language is that Britons use the word wigwam when actually referring to a tipi. It is particularly confusing for anyone born and brought up in North America and most especially within the context of construction (Britons will sometimes say, ‘make a wigwam’ when they really mean ‘make a tipi shape’). This linguistic quirk came as a surprise when I first heard it, not least because it did not make any sense to me (having been familiar with First Nations culture since birth). Not only is a wigwam not even remotely a tipi in shape, the words are removed geographically by thousands of kilometers at least, not to mention they belong to divergent linguistic groups. A wigwam is a rounded shelter used primarily by Eastern tribes while a tipi is a conical nearly triangular shaped portable dwelling used by Plains peoples. Why not use the correct word? It occurred to me, that perhaps, this error was a little more than just a quirk of language. Indeed, it is entirely possible that it is a strange vestige of history showing through the vehicle of language. That is to say, long ago when the English first encountered First Nations peoples, they were tribes of the 6 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
Eastern seaboard. Those tribes did indeed use wigwams and possibly that is how the word came into the English language. It was only in the 19th century that any real, substantive encounters between Western tribes and settlers of European origin began to occur. North American English was updated to reflect the rich culture and language of First Nations, but in Britain the old word stuck. Only now, the meaning had changed, and it was referring to the wrong thing. Britons already had the word wigwam and they liked it as a word, but they were getting stories and images of tipis and thought it was the same thing as the wigwam that early colonials had encountered centuries before. It's only a theory, but it seems plausible. The point is that the English language contains both borrowed words. What has stuck though, on either side of the Atlantic, is the image of the tipi. A circle of poles draped in hides, often decorated, with a small opening for the smoke from the resident fire to escape. Standing before an ocean of blue Prairie skies, high atop the cliff where generations of bison jumped to their deaths through an ingenious system of grateful deception
devised by Plains First Nations people, it struck me just how much of North American consciousness was shaped by this very place. Most everything we now associate with First Nations culture is a product of this place – tipis, moccasins, the powwow. Indeed, many of the most searing images of First Nations culture involve the icons of this land in particular – the bison, the medicine wheel, pemmican. That is not to say that these things are exclusive here, but the particular inflection of the Prairies, the Great Plains are what has become most evocative of First Nations culture today. One of the things most people remark upon when they visit the Great Plains is the endless ocean of blue sky. In a landlocked place, this is significant and points to one of the unique features of a tipi, the opening for the smoke to reach the sky. It is a symbolic link between the earth and the cosmos. In this way, a tipi is not merely a tent to camp temporarily and take shelter from the elements but a place to participate in the unfolding of the ever-present mystery of life and our connection to it. CSL – KAILASH AND SHIVANA editors-in-chief
DR. ROOKMIN MAHARAJ
An undecorated tipi stands on the Great Plains of North America.
#CITYSTYLEANDLIVING stay connected with @citystylemag, follow us at: TWITTER @CityStyleMag
PINTEREST pinterest.com/citystyleandliving
INSTAGRAM @CityStyleMag
K&S MEDIA (3)
KISS NAILS AT LOVE SHACK FANCY
FACEBOOK facebook.com/citystyleandliving
get inspiration! 7 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
city style and living
Living
Keeping It REAL
K&S MEDIA
Bring a little bit of the outdoors in this winter with gardening tips sure to turn those blues to green.
8 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
GARDENING Q& A FLORA, VEGETABLES, FRUIT, TREES, SHRUBS, TOOLS, TECHNIQUES AND ALL THINGS PLANTS!
West Coast Seeds Anemone Pastel Mix, 5/pk, $7.99 (not pictured); Anemone Carmel White, 5/ pk, $8.99; westcoastseeds.com
Help! I bought fall bulbs and forgot to plant them.
Most fall bulbs need a period of cold to stimulate growth the following spring when they produce gorgeous blooms. Don’t fret if you have not put them in the ground yet. There are a few options to salvage them. Either cover the bulbs in peat moss, bury them in vermiculite or place them in gravel – anywhere that they will be kept dry and dark over winter. In late March or April plant them in the ground. CSL had wonderful results with spring planted anemones. Another option is to plant them in containers filled with soil and stored in your garage. Place the containers outside after the May long weekend. (A variation is to place the containers outside during winter. As the snow piles up keep shoveling it onto the bulbs. Plant the bulbs in the ground in spring.) The third option is to plant them outdoors even as late as February and even as the ground is frozen.
Home Hardware Pure Life Soil Organic Worm Castings, 20 L, $25.99; homehardware.ca
COURTESY CRATE AND BARREL
How do I use worm castings?
Worm castings are essentially the manure produced by worms. As they break down organic material, worms create this nutrient-rich waste. In the simplest terms, it is worm excrement (“worm poop”). There are 3 primary ways to use worm castings to benefit your plants. First, mix 1 part worm casting to 3 parts water and leave it to steep overnight. Water plants (including houseplants) as normal with this mixture. Second, mix 1 part worm casting and 1 part compost (or potting soil). This mix is ideal for starting seedlings. Third, simply apply worm castings as mulch to your plants (including houseplants).
What is the best way to decide what to plant in spring?
The best way to keep track of your garden successes and failures is through a garden journal. The act of writing it down will help you plan, analyze and organize and makes for easy reference. Winter is the perfect time to begin. Take an inventory of your existing seeds, trees, and bushes. Draw a sketch of your garden layout. Then, make a wish list of plants you would like to grow in your zone and for your upcoming growing season (the time between the last frost to the first frost) and sketch how you would like your garden to look including colour, fragrance, fruit, vegetables and blooms. Every time you plant a seed, prepare the soil, or make any adjustments, note this is your daily journal. Next to each plant, jot down your observations: what type of soil it likes, how much sun it needs and any other pertinent growing information. This will allow you to track the progress of your plants throughout the season and decide what to plant the following year.
AT-A-GLANCE DayMinder 2024 Daily Appointment Book Planner, Black, Small, 5" x 8", $33.00; 2024 Weekly Appointment Book Planner, Black, Medium, 7" x 8 3/4", $34.00. Both, ataglance.com, accobrands.com.
West Coast Seeds Fritillaria Red Beauty, 1/pk, $9.99; westcoastseeds.com
Q
CSL
Any suggestions for a deer and squirrel-resistant fall bulb that will look great in my garden?
One of the most spectacular spring flowering bulbs is Fritillaria imperialis. Part of the lily family, the plant exudes a foxy scent that may deter deer and squirrels. Native to Iran, Turkey, India and Pakistan, the bowing heads and rich red of these flowers makes for an unusual sight in the home garden. Although it is slightly more expensive than better-known bulbs like tulips and daffodils, it is certainly a conversation starter. West Coast Seeds Sprouting Jar with Metal Lid and Seeds, $26.49; westcoastseeds.com. Now Foods Zesty Sprouting Mix, $12.79; nowfoods.ca
How can I grow fresh vegetables during winter? Sprouts are one of the best ways to continue indoor ‘gardening’ in winter and grow your own nutritious vegetables. Begin by filling a mason jar with boiling water to sanitize. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, then drain and allow to air dry and cool. Place 2 tablespoons sprouting seeds in the jar and cover with water until a quarter way full. Cover with metal screen and ring. Leave for about 5 hours. Drain water through screen and refill with fresh water swirling the seeds. Flip the jar upside down to drain thoroughly. Using a rolling motion, separate seeds while adhering them to the sides of the jar. Place jar in a bowl at an acute angle (45-degree). Keep jar out of direct sunlight. Repeat refilling with water and draining twice a day for 4-6 days or until sprouts fill the entire jar. Sprouts will keep in fridge on kitchen towel for several days. How can I have a beautiful garden on a budget?
Pick cold-hardy perennials, that is, plants which you only have to buy once but which return year after year. Choose native plants – those that occur naturally in your region. They are more likely to thrive in your micro-climate without much maintenance or watering. They are also better for local wildlife and pollinators and help preserve the balance of the natural ecosystem. Look for deals as many nurseries and home improvement stores offer end-ofseason sales on landscaping essentials. *
79%
*
of you see your yard as an extension of your home * According to TurfMutt Foundation. Survey commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation and conducted online by The Harris Poll among over 1,000 Canadian adults.
9 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
10 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
Share A Moving Moment Adopt-A-Manatee®
1-800-432-JOIN (5646) adoptamanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte
11 | WIn WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
city style and living
Lobster & Champagne The season calls for this combination. An easy to prepare pastry appetizer paired with champagne, see next page.
12 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
COURTESY TERRA DELYSSA
Food
ACE IT! Got an occasion that calls for something special? Lobster and champagne are the ultimate combination. THE FOOD Lightly season lobster with white pepper and salt, encase in puff pastry and serve with a French vadouvan sauce tinged with tarragon. It’s an easy to prepare pastry appetizer (or main, depending on the size). THE CHAMPAGNE CSL paired the dish with Champagne Armand De Brignac Gold. A complex but sharply focused brut with a lovely density, tight bead, creamy texture, and a long finish. This champagne loves food. Made by a staff of eight in Chignyles-Roses, France, it has been owned by the same family since 1763.
Easy Weeknight Supper
▶ Montreal-made spice blends in fashionable black packaging. Lightly pound the salted peppercorns in a mortar and strew through pasta and cheese for a delicious cacio e pepe. Kanel Spices Fresh Salted Peppercorns, 70 g, $13.99; kanel.com
COURTESY QUalIFIRST; IFIRST; K KanEl; BOB'S RED MIll; nUD FUD; K&S MEDIa a (2)
3 parts oil 1 part vinegar Salt, pepper, flavourings to taste
Usually, mould is frowned upon in cooking, but many of our favourite eats have some form of culture – think yogurt, cheese, bread. This particular rice, inoculated with a
Japanese mould, aspergillus oryzae, delivers amped up umami, (the 'meaty' flavour that can found in mushrooms and soy), and is the key ingredient used in miso, amazake (a sweet rice beverage), shio koji and even sake. Finely
crush the grains, and use as a marinade for meat or fish, or as a salt substitute.
Epigrain Koji Dried Rice, 454 g, $25.94; qualifirst. com
WHY IT WORKS Balanced acidity and notes of brioche marry well with the lobster. To temper the spices and offset the zesty notes of the champagne we used butter and a dash of cream in the vadouvan.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
QUICK VINAIGRETTE
Koji Koji Koji
Vinegar can sometimes be the unsung hero of the kitchen, though the acidity is perfect for pickling, white vinegar can be hard to balance. That's why chefs are obsessed with Spanish sherry vinegar– it's complexity and round flavour is also super versatile. This chardonnay vinegar is made in the same process, using oak and chestnut aging, resulting in a more complex final product that can be used in vinaigrette or a gastrique, a tangy-sweet reduced sauce that can accompany meat dishes. Boulou Chardonnay Vinegar 500 ml; $29.53; qualifirst.com.
Breakfast Done Well
It's flannel weather and that means Saturday morning pancakes. Rather than use the boxed stuff, try a few tablespoons of buttermilk powder to your standard mix. The difference? pure sweet cream buttermilk is rich and the powdered formula does not add any extra moisture to your baked goods, so no need to worry about a gummy dough. we love adding to biscuits, for the most tender, flaky crumb. bob's Red mill Sweet Cream buttermilk powder, 624g; bobsredmill.com
Give It a Boost Hint: this blend is not just for bagels! Sprinkle on fish before grilling, grind with nori to make a quick furikakeinspired topper or place alongside olive oil and balsamic as a dipper for bread. Nud Fud Everything Bagel Spice Blend, $12, 225g; nudfud.com
CSL GREEN TIPS Bring a reusable cotton or heavy-duty fabric bag with you when grocery shopping for packing away goods. ›› 13 | WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
KITCHEN DELICIOUS RECIPES TO TRY AT HOME
▼ EASY PARTY FOOD
one tart wonder APPLE FLOWER TART It looks magnificent and it’s easy to make! ICE, ICE BABY Prepare an ice bath. Place 2 lemons cut into half into the bath. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. AN APPLE A DAY Core 4 Granny Smith apples. Slice each apple in half. Use a mandoline to thinly slice into half-moon shapes, one half at a time. As apples are cut, place into ice bath to prevent browning. Once finished, remove slices from ice bath and place on a paper towel to soak up excess water. APPLE OF MY EYE Meanwhile, remove a finished apple custard tart from refrigerator. Cut a strip of parchment paper to the size of the inside circumference of the apple tart tin. Lay parchment paper vertically and arrange apple slices, slightly overlapping one over the next. Continue until parchment is covered. Carefully wrap parchment lined with apples into a circle and place over tart. Carefully remove parchment paper.
K&S MEDIA
FLOWER POWER Cut progressively smaller circles of parchment and repeat process. The circles of apple will form a flower pattern.
14 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
The new
zUCCHINI FARE » Why not make this vegetable
the centre of the show? These picture-perfect dishes are easy to make ahead of time.
K&S MEDIA
THE BEAUTY OF THIS VEGETABLE Though typically at it’s peak
during summer, zucchini is available all year round. The versatile vegetable (that everyone loves), can be used in a variety of party-friendly dishes. 15 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
FEED A CROWD
SERVE HOT an instant escape to Italy. Try these herb and ricotta stuffed zucchini blossoms (plus, they’re cheaper than airfare)! We love filling them with luscious, creamy ricotta, dipping them in a light batter and frying. They actually have no real ‘floral’ flavour, but the crisp exterior and soft interior is addictive. They’re not burnt. Although some prefer a light, tempura-style, we fry our zucchini blossoms to a golden crisp by using a touch of sweet paprika in the batter. This will give it a darker colour, and also adds a faint smoky flavour. For one dozen flowers, combine ¾ cup flour to 1 cup sparkling water until some lumps remain. Add ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, and salt and pepper to taste. Make the Filling. Combine ½ cup ricotta, 1 tablespoon cream cheese (or fresh farmer's cheese), ¼ cup Asiago cheese, grated, 1 tablespoon granulated garlic, ¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley and basil (or mint), 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste. Stuff inside flowers. Meanwhile, heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat until a small spoonful of batter sizzles in oil (about 350°F). Coat flowers in batter and gently place in oil. Fry until golden brown, turning to ensure all sides are evenly brown. Drain on kitchen paper and serve. No flowers, no problem. It can be tricky to buy zucchini flowers no matter the time of year. In winter, with the growing season over, adapt the recipe by selecting small zucchini. Slice in half lengthwise, scoop out most of the flesh on either side using a melon baller or spoon. Fill one side with ricotta mix (above), and place remaining half on top. Dip in batter and fry. 16 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
FINE FLOWERS
In summer, we normally harvest only the male flowers, which don’t have ‘fruit’ attached. Harvesting the flowers will not impede your plant’s growth, in fact, it can help the plant put its energy into making bigger fruit.
ZUCCHINI RIBBONS
Orzo, Zucchini, olive and Feta SALAD (Serves 4) Using a vegetable peeler, make ribbons from 3 zucchini and set aside. Cook 1 ½ cups orzo according to package directions; drain, reserving ½ cup (125 ml) of the pasta water. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat, sauté 4 shallots, sliced, 4 cloves garlic, minced and ½ teaspoon (2 ml) oregano for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden. Add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, as necessary, stirring to scrape up any brown bits. To skillet add orzo, 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon zest, ¼ tsp (1 ml) ground black pepper, salt to taste and toss. Serve orzo topped with ribbons of zucchini, ½ cup (125 ml) crumbled feta, ¼ cup (60 ml) olives and ¼ cup (60 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved. Serve with lemon wedges.
Lighter than typical winter comfort foods, the freshness of this vegetable sings in these dishes. Make them the centerpiece of a dinner party, or serve as side dishes.
1
TARTLET FILLING 3 WAYS
Crab, citrus and fresh herbs An indulgent mix of sweet, delicate crab (tinned or freshly picked), lemon zest, freshly chopped parsley, finely diced shallot, finely diced sweet red bell pepper, and salt and pepper, is always a classic. Top with a spoonful of caviar, or tobiko to take it over the top.
2
Ricotta, mint and asiago This is a super quick mix that can be whipped up in minutes (when unexpected guests arrive), but delivers in flavour. Fresh mint adds an herbaceous note and just enough lightness. Combine 1 cup ricotta, ¼ cup mint, ¼ cup Asiago, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.and salt and pepper to taste.
3
Sun Dried tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil pesto The Italian flag in a tart! Season and slice the fresh mozzarella with salt and pepper, dice a few jarred sun-dried tomatoes (in oil), and drizzle home made basil pesto for a hit of freshness. This can be made as a starter for vegetarians, or as a large tart cut into slices. It’s a time-honoured flavour combination that works. 17 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
WINTERS SIPPER
IMBIBE
WHAT’S NEW AND GREAT IN THE WORLD OF WINE, SPIRITS AND NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Lillet is having a moment. A fortified wine with hints of citrus and herbs, the French aperitif is versatile. Include in cocktails or sip on its own over ice.
▼
•A wINTER TAkE ON A
ClASSIC SpRITZ, ThIS vERSION DRAw DRA S ON ThE CRISp ShARpNESS OF ApplE whICh plAy AyS Ay yS NICEly wITh ThE DEEp EARThINESS OF CINNAmON
Serve in coupe glass SPARKLING LILLET
2 ounces Lillet Blanc 1 ounce apple cider 0.5 ounce cinnamon simple syrup 2 ounces soda water 1 1 2
T E L L I
SIMPLE SYRUP
cup water cup granulated sugar cinnamon sticks
1. Simplify Make the simple syrup by combining ingredients in a pan over medium heat until simmering. Strain cinnamon stick, cool and reserve the syrup. 2. Chill Out Fill glass with ice cubes to chill. Remove ice cubes and drain any excess water. 3. Get In the Mix Add Lillet Blanc, cider and simple syrup. 4. Top Up Top with soda water. Stir and serve. Garnish with edible flowers.
L G LIN
K R A SP
PHOTOGRAPHY K&S MEDIA
18 | WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
>> An equ equALLy deLicious ALternAtive – swA sw p perry (peAr cider) And nd st stA r Anise simpLe syrup in the recipe. it’s something different but with hoLidAy vibes ALL the sAme.
For extra pizazz rim the glass. First moisten with agave and then dip in tajin.
▼
>> try this recipe with different types of chiLies u jiLLo uA in the simpLe syrup. guA wiLL round out the smokiness of the mezcAL with A fA f int sweetness, chiLe e de árboL árbo wiLL Add An n intense piqu piquA ncy whiLe A jALA j peño or thAi chiLi wiLL Add freshness And Lingering heAt. fresno chiLes A re miLd enough to impArt A sLight zing, but not offensiveLy hot.
Serve in rocks glass MARGARITA
2 ounces pomegranate juice 2 ounces mezcal 1 ounce triple sec 0.5 ounce lime juice 0.5 ounce chili simple syrup 2 dashes of bitters
M O P MY
M O P Y C I P S M PO
•SOmETImES ThE wEAThER JuST CAllS FOR A DARk AND bROODINg DRINk. EvEN bETTER, A SmOky ONE. ThIS DRINk IS buIlT ON ThE bACkbONE OF A mARgARITA, buT RElIES ON SEASONAl FAvOuRITE pOmEgRANATES TO gIvE IT ThAT wINTER FlOuRISh.
1 1 4
SIMPLE SYRUP
cup water cup granulated sugar Fresno chilies, chopped
1. Simple Win Make the simple syrup by combining ingredients in a pan over medium heat until simmering. Strain chilies, cool and reserve the syrup. 2. Great Combo Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half filled with ice, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. 3. Serve Strain contents into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a chili and wedge of lime.
19 | WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
>> goLden rAspberries Add A boost of ttA rtness to this white sAngriA bAtch tch cockt cocktA iL.you you y ou c cA An switch up the fruit with Anything you Like, but, As A wise person once sAid, sAngriA sAngriA is is 'not 'not AA fruit fruit cockt iL' ', so stick to 3-4 fresh cocktA fruit, At most.
Whole golden raspberries freeze well. Pop them in the pitcher as an alternative to ice cubes.
▼
Serves 12
•
kICk OFF ThIS TImE OF yEAR wITh A FREShER, lIghTER COCkTAIl bATCh mADE mEANS EASy TO whIp up. TO Amp up ThE FlAv A OuR OF ThE FRuIT Av AND mAkE EACh glASS FEEl SpECIAl, wE ADDED A TAblESpOON OF ThE gOlDEN RASpbERRy puREE.
½ ½
2 ½
N E d GOL ERRY b P A I S R A R ANG S 20 | WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
SANGRIA
cup fresh golden raspberries cup fresh peaches cut into slices ½ lemon cut into slices ½ orange cut into slices a few sprigs mint ½ cup chilled white port 1 bottle (750ml) chilled white wine ½ cup chilled triple sec GOLDEN RASPBERRY PUREE cups golden raspberries cup sugar
1. Pump Up the Jam In a pan over medium heat, add sugar and raspberries to make the raspberry puree. Bring to a simmer on stove until reduced and thick. Strain through sieve to remove seeds and for a smooth consistency. Chill until ready to serve. 2. A Smooth Mix Muddle mint in a large pitcher. Add fruit, wine, port and triple sec and stir. 3. One By One Add 1 oz. of raspberry puree to your preferred glass (we love a coupe), top with sangria and serve with a fruit and flower garnish of your choice.
city style and living
Fashion Edgy Grace
COURTESY KISS NAILS
“This collection is a nod to the 90s supermodel, a celebration of evening wear, and a proud showing of a Brazilian hand craftsmanship,” says Patricia Bonaldi of PatBO.
21 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
HELEN OF TROY LAQUAN SMITH
LAQUAN SMITH
WHAT’S NEW AND GREAT IN THE WORLD OF SKIN, BEAUTY, MAKEUP AND WELL-BEING
Kaja Eye Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trio, $35.50
LATTE
MAKEUP
Hot right now, this trend refers to soft, shimmering bronze skin, eyes and lips in a subdued colour Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt palette of earth tones (think shades of brown and gold). To achieve the look, begin with a clean, fresh Shaping Stick, $41.00 face. Apply a moisturizing primer. Blend tinted foundation into your skin with fingertips. For the eyes, choose a brown eyeshadow palette with Lawless Forget the three progressively darker shades that start at Filler Lip-Plumping the lid and end at the outer crease. For LaQuan Line-Smoothing Satin Smith’s show, Huda Kattan created a bold graphic Sephora Cream liner to emphasize the eyes. Next, apply a copper Collection Lipstick, $41.00 bronzer to cheeks. To really glow, add highlighter to Eyeliner cheekbones, brow bone and the tip of your nose. Pencil To Go, Finish with a creamy lipstick in a warm tone. $8.00
TAKE A GLAM
ADEAM
ERDEM
BLACK MAGIC
“This season my inspiration was music,” designer Hanako Maeda said backstage right before the Adaem Fall 2023 show, “most specifically the music I was listening to in my childhood,” she added, explaining that as we’ve seen Y2K exhaustingly bleed into the runways and people’s closets, she was curious about what culture she was consuming during that time. “My childhood was a lot more punk or emo, I listened to pop-punk like Blink 182 or Green Day, so a lot of the textiles and silhouettes come from that subculture of fashion.” Other inspirations include Harajuku and the gothic face of Lolita style.
CSL GREEN TIPS Opt for soap instead of plastic bottles of body wash. / Make a scalp scrub by combining 1 part coarse salt, 1 part lemon juice and 1 part olive oil. ›› 22 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
COURTESYK'PURE; TRESEMME; KISSNAILS; CAUDALIE, NARS
For the ultimate fresh-face, once-a-week remove dead skin and clogged pores with an at-home alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) facial – no appointment needed. Targeting dullness, dehydration, and hyperpigmentation, your skin will be baby smooth!
ADEAM
RODARTE
ANGEL SCHLESSER
cOACH
CHANEL
Indie Lee AHA Exfoliating Solution,125ml, $52 USD; indielee.com
BA R E BE AU T Y
LolaCasademuntbyMaite
RISK
Wear an outré lipstick in gothic shades: blue, burgundy, vixen red. Even nude can be gothic if worn matte and with a blue undertone. The key to pulling off this look is full commitment. Go with dark rimmed eyes, chunky earrings, or ear cuffs – make it known that you intended to make a statement.
How to Do Balletcore Hair
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO
Tutus, pastel bodysuits, flats tied with ribbons – all old school ballet aesthetic. Balletcore takes these essential items and modernizes them for today’s fashion crowd. CSL has 4 ways to get the look, plus a breakdown of the iconic ballet bun.
WAY
2 RODARTE
(Swan Lake) Gothic Fairytale Create a centre part using a pintail comb. Separate two sections on each side of the middle part. Create a thin, loose flat twist framing the face until the twist is hidden behind the ear and secure with an elastic. Add additional hair accessories once complete.
WAY
1
The Rosie Twist “[We created] a rose-like twist, with a "stem" of hair weaving down the crown of the head, meeting the rose-like bun in the back," says Lacy Redway, Unilever Stylist & Celebrity Hair Artist at Christian Siriano.
WAY
LAQUAN SMITH
3
Shiny and Reflective Ponytail Part a large section of hair back to the crown of the head. Clip this section away. Gather the remaining hair into a low ponytail at the nape. Secure with an elastic. Release the top section and with a wide tooth comb create height. Use a second elastic to secure this section into the ponytail.
PRO TIP
Use the top of the ear as a guide for ponytail placement on the back of the head.
WAY
CourtesY TRESEMME
GET THE LOOK
According to Lacy Redway, for the quintessential balletcore look, the tight bun, begin by applying balm from roots to ends to smooth, protect against heat, reduce frizz, and boost shine. Before blow-drying, apply a handful of mousse, for maximum hold and control, around the perimeter of the hairline and brush into hair. Blow dry the rest of the hair away from the hairline, pulling it into a tight ponytail at the center. Once hair is tied into a ponytail using an elastic, begin twisting small sections onto themselves using a figure eight motion, pinning each section to the base of the ponytail. This will help create the look of rose petals in the bun. Secure with hair pins and finish the look with hair spray.
JASON WU
4
Classic Ballet Bun: Sexy, Cinematic Part hair far to the right side of your head. Apply smoother and oil for shine and hold. Pull your hair back and secure it at the nape of your neck. Next, add serum to recreate wet hair. Twist the hair and use a pin to secure a tight bun. 23 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
STYLIST!
HOW TO STYLE YOUR FAVOURITE OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIES
MICHAEL KORS
Deepa gurnani Czar Imitation pearl headband, $276.40.
Mach & Mach medium edium Samantha Double bow ow Top handle bag, ag, $1,284.22
Dodo Bar Or Sequined maxi dress, $748.
LET'S
PARTY!
The Holidays are the perfect time to dazzle. We love these three going out looks.
24 | WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
ROUGE & READY
Nothing says the holidays like a bit of sparkle. So, choosing an embellished dress in the colour of the season – statement red – is a no brainer. With all that glitter, keep ac accessories minimal, like a simple headband or handbag. Put on a pair of heeled knee-grazing boots in a complimentary shade to complete the look.
COURTESYMICHaEl KORS; STUaRT WEITzMan; DODO BaR; MaCH & MaCH; DEEP DEEPa g URanI
Stuart Weitzman 5050 bold boot, $1,025.
CHANEL
Vaincourt L'ingénieuse leather Corset belt, elt, $351.83 Adriana Orsini Taylor Small vine 18k gold-plated & Cubic Zirconia Chandelier Earrings, $170.59 Paco Rabanne scalloped lace maxi dress, $890 (uSD).
Aritzia babaton abaton slip satin midi skirt $98, aritzia.com
SNOW WHITE MUSE In a sea of drab greys, plain browns and brooding blacks, winter white cuts through the moodi moodiness with uplifting precision. It’s a reminder of drifts of snow, skating rinks and snowflakes tumbling down. Best as a head-to-toe shade including accessories.
cult gaia Sirena Clutch, $550.
25 | WIn WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
DARK ANGEL
Sometimes, during festive season, you want to tap into your dark side with vixen lips, gothic eyeshadow, and plenty of liner! Choose a sheer gown or one with nude panelling to keep it on theme and sexy nonetheless. Platforms are a must, but keep the accessories metallic or dark stones.
Max Mara Prosit floral silk maxi dress, $2,190
Sydney Evan Evil Eye 14-karat gold multi-stone bracelet, $2,035 (uSD).
Sydney Evan Evil Eye 14-karat gold multi-stone bracelet, $2,035 (uSD).
MAKE uP FOR EVER Rouge Artist lipstick 222 brave blue.
When It’s All Over
Intimissimi Silk Satin pajama pants, $139.00; mannishCut Jacket in Silk Satin, $159.00; intimissimi.com
26 | WInTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
After a night out, or to celebrate a night in, slip into a silk pajama set and take time for yourself. As the fabric is so soft and luxurious, you can also pair the pants with a sheer top and strappy heels for a comfortable and stylish ensemble.
Aritzia babaton liteluxe cashmere rib beanie, $60; and luxe cashmere rib mitten, $58; aritzia.com
STAY COOL AND KEEP WARM
Chilly nighttime temps can make you think of dressing like the Michelin man – not so cute. To look chic (and block the chill as much as you can) grab a pair of stylish cashmere gloves and matching toque.
city style and living
Travel
Pelicans and seagulls feast on the nutrient rich sea life in these waters.
Somewhere Out There On the Bodega highway, the Sonoma coast with its pampas grass and Pacific Ocean comes into view on a foggy morning.
CSL GREEN TIPS When on vacation, plan to commute before or after rush hour. / For your next destination, book a small, customized cycling trip. ›› 27 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
CSL GOES LOCAL
oki
LETHBRIDGE A group of farmers, small business owners, attractions and producers reveal an appreciation for the southern Alberta land that provides so much, and has for centuries.
COURTESY SANDMAN/Northland Properties Corporation; sandman
BY KAILASH MAHARAJ PHOTOGRAPHY BY K&S MEDIA
28 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
SEE THE CITY
CSL and local businesses share our faves. CSL Watch the sun set with the backdrop of the railway trestle bridge (Lethbridge Viaduct/High Level Bridge) over the Oldman River – iconic! The Lilac Row We love visiting the Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation in Coaldale every summer, where you can get nose to beak with a variety of birds and support an amazing rehabilitation and educational facility! MILKMAN MILK BAR We are 1 hour away from an amazing national park with breathtaking mountain views: Waterton Lakes National Park!
NO.
1
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Crystal Springs Cheese A range of European-style dairy products (cheese, milk, sour cream) made by the Beyer family since 2005, are on full display at their shop including the tangy-creamy feta that has won numerous awards, the stellar gouda, refined and creamy, available in a variety of flavours, and, sister company, Bles Wold’s, yogurt and cultured butter. All the artisan cheese is made from A2 milk which lacks the sometimes tummy-troubling A1 beta-casein, but does not affect the taste. “The taste of the cheese comes mainly from the [cow’s] feed,” explains Harvey Beyer, distribution manager, whose brother, Theo, runs the family’s dairy farm, while another brother, Jacco operates the cheese factory. Snack on fries while taking a peek at production, or opt for a factory tour. This is cheese you’ll crave and you will be treated like family.
LITTLE GEM WINERY An industrial-chic tasting room offering light fare and haskap wine in a convivial atmosphere is the brainchild of brothers Joel and Rick Mans and their friend Jordan Sinke, who produce a range of unique sippers from haskap cider (blended with apples from BC), to oak aged reserve red haskap wine (similar to Pinot). The purplish-blue fruit is grown on the Mans’ Phoenix Farm along with potatoes, canola, triticale, and peas. Sinke credits the region’s irrigation system as key, “without that we would be just a dry Windy City.” Established in 2020, it is the only winery of its kind south of Calgary. “The majority of people had never heard of [haskaps]. We decided to make wine to sell our berries. Our goal was to make a distinct wine simply. We didn’t want to make a sweet fruit wine, as is often the assumption, we wanted a wine, similar to grape wine, but made using only the lowest intervention wine making methods,” explains Sinke.
Broxburn Vegetables & CafE Paul de Jonge started farming in Lethbridge in the 90s. Today the farm, and greenhouses have expanded exponentially producing everything from Romanesco cauliflower, fresh tomatoes in every shade imaginable, sweet (or spicy) peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, onions and much more.You could spend hours picking fresh berries in the fields, watching kids play on the slides or just relaxing at the café which serves delicious home-made fare, using produce from the farm. Supplying to local customers, restaurants and groceries, the farm is spread across 80 acres. “We don’t use chemicals, so it’s manual labour,” says Daniella de Jonge, marketing manager, referring to the way crops are grown in the greenhouses. “Paul always says he’s never seen an aphid outrun a ladybug.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The range of haskap wines and cider at Little Gem Winery; Harvey Beyer of Crystal Springs Cheese; the precipice at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site.
29 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
THE LOVE OF SHARING
"Growing up around the passion and love for food led us down a natural path... Our goal was to open a place where people could feel welcome to gather with friends and family, just as we did with our family in our own kitchens."
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Milkman Milk Bar owners Ashley and Braden Ohno showcase their ice cream cones; Detail view at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden; haskap bushes grow at Prairie Hill Farms; a glass of haskap wine at Little Gem Winery; Charlyn Collins and Jessica Oddan, co-founders of The Lilac Row; buffalo skulls at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site; Prairie Hill Farms owner, Rex Vandenberg.
RESOURCE GUIDE The Lilac Row, thelilacrow.com Cafe Noir, cafenoiryql.com Milkman Milk Bar, 1522 9th Ave South Holiday Inn Express Lethbridge Southeast, 217 41st Street South Little Gem Winery, littlegemwines.ca Crystal Springs Cheese, crystalspringscheese.com Broxburn Vegetables & Cafe, broxburn-vegetables.com Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, nikkayuko.com Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, headsmashedin.ca Prairie Hill Farms, phfhaskap.com 30 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
NO.
NO.
2
A thriving food community from ice cream, coffee and bagels to haskaps.
Lethbridge has a rewarding food landscape with many local shops that utilize and promote local goods. “Since opening the shop we have seen how strong and close knit the small business community is,” say Milkman Milk Bar’s founders.
3
The Lilac Row
Try the most ‘Magnolia-esque’ romantic, floral U-pick experience at this charming third-generation, Coaldale farm. Clip stems directly from neat garden rows and proceed to create your own floral arrangement. Choose from dozens of varieties, including pert, neon zinnias, lacey statice, fragrant dots of sweet Annie and, of course, dahlias (their specialty) which come in every shape and size from dainty single petals to gigantic dinnerplates. Or, pluck fresh blossoms from the stocked mobile flower truck. Dreamed up by sisters, and cordial hosts, Charlyn Collins and Jessica Oddan, the cutflower farm focuses on unique, sustainably grown "florals" and immersive agritourism experiences. “Like many next generation farmers, we were looking for a way to continue our farming legacy in a way that was reflective of the current and future agricultural climate.” Begun in 2020, they supply to local events and weddings, offer flower subscriptions, seasonal bouquets, and welcome guests for bespoke experiences (workshops, classes and u-pick). “The Lethbridge area is the sunniest in all of Canada, which makes it an ideal place for growing.” Arranging blooms with music playing, string lights flickering and sun going down – the idyllic setting is the ultimate escape. “Our farm, in both name and history, is a continuation of a multi-generational love of all things that bloom and grow.”
THE DETAILS
120 rooms, 24 suites.
Milkman Milk Bar Pick up a few pints of small batch, old-fashioned style ice cream or opt for house-made waffle cones from the adorable, local, brothersister duo behind Milkman, Ashley and Braden Ohno. After an eventful roadtrip where ice cream was the snack of choice (‘weird, I know’ quips Ashley), the pair thought, ‘oh, we could make that’ and, after extensive experimentation, launched a bricks and mortar shop in 2021. “Our family had also always gathered and shared love around food…Our goal was to open a place where people could feel welcome to gather with friends and family, just as we did with our family in our own kitchens.” Milkman offers unbelievably delicious flavours, many locally sourced. “Tried and true” flavours like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla are available year-round, while seasonal, “just because” flavours rotate monthly inspired by the season, celebrations, events or the duo’s heritage. What sets their ice cream apart is the clever combination of nostalgia and innovation. Take their malted strawberry – a deeply comforting background note of malt mellows the tart sweetness of strawberry. You’ll revisit childhood at each lick.
Free parking, pool and fitness centre. Breakfast included. Pet-friendly. Meeting space.
NO.
4
CAFE NOIR Pick up a few chewy and delicious Montreal style bagels or bagel sandwiches (we love the everything, and jalapeno cheddar) and a chilled Turtles Macchiato ice coffee at Cafe Noir, located inside the Herbal Apothecary. The combination, is anything but run of the mill – the bagels are house-made and the coffee is a custom blend, made in Alberta in an antique roaster. Established in 2020, as a small 60-square foot space inside a multi-business building before moving to its current location, the ethos has remained the same. "We wanted to create a cool, trendy coffee spot that all the coffeeholics in town would look forward to going to and sharing with their friends and to create that sense of community that exists only in the atmosphere of local coffee shops that we all love," recounts owner, Amber Morrow. Part of Café Noir's success is due to its Lethbridge location. "Lethbridge really is the definition of community over competition...Everyone from customers to other local businesses want to see each other thrive because, as every other business owner in Lethbridge says, ‘all ships rise with the tide.’”
PRAIRIE HILL FARMS “Prairie Hill Farms was established in 2020 to share the goodness and nutrition of haskap berries,” says Faith Perez, media specialist. Resembling elongated blueberries, with a skin like a concord grape, haskaps have a pleasantly tart flavour and are full of anti-oxidants (making them good for you). They grow especially well in southern Alberta, long considered the breadbasket of the province. Out in the fields, owner Rex Vandenberg, who has been farming since 1991, shows off rows upon rows of haskap shrubs growing toward the sun. “A lot is done by hand and we have one harvest in June,” says Vandenberg who does not like to use chemicals on his 40 acres of haskaps, planted a decade ago. Inside the farm shop you’ll be tempted to give this superfood a try in everything from haskap juice, to healthy ‘powershots’, frozen haskaps, spreads and even barbecue sauce. Many of the products are made at the onsite food plant and manufacturing facility (which processes, freeze dries, grinds, packages). Haskaps may be new to some, but here they are celebrated, as, what the Ainu of Japan call, the elixir of life.
WHERE TO STAY Holiday Inn Express Lethbridge Southeast This quick service hotel is upping its game: airy lobby, friendly staff who seem genuinely interested in helping you, and great amenities (including an in-room a microwave and refrigerator setup that is practically a wet bar). An onsite pool, fitness centre, and meeting space means that breakfast brings out large families preparing for a celebration, couples with dogs (permitted in only certain rooms) and business people. It’s lively and the chattering continues between bites of waffles, oatmeal or eggs. Whether you want to visit nearby farms, stroll downtown or see Lethbridge’s attractions, they’re all easily accessible via the highway nearby. The 120-room, 24-suite hotel opened in 2019 and leverages the best aspects of small city living. Like the best starred properties across the world, it boasts a welcoming staff, the one thing that makes a hotel. 31 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
SEE THE CITY
NO.
CSL and local businesses share our faves. CSL Experience sunset at the Coulees. Spot wildlife like deer amongst these spectacular 'rolling hills' in a sea of prairie gold. The Lilac Row We love Lethbridge’s proximity to both the prairies and the mountains, which makes it a unique starting place for so many outdoor adventures. CAFÉ NOIR Go floating down the river in the summer time! MILKMAN MILK BAR Lethbridge has an up-andcoming food scene, whether it’s a cup or coffee from Cuppers Coffee, a slice of pizza from Two Guys and a Pizza Place, sushi from Lighthouse, or a delicious tasting menu and wine from Steel and Vines. CAFÉ NOIR Visit the Oldman dam and see the modern marvel of the irrigation system that feeds Lethbridge.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The Pavilion and pond at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden; Daniella de Jonge at Broxburn Vegetables & Café; A bagel sandwich from Café Noir; Joel Mans, one of the owners of Little Gem Winery. OPPOSITE: Rows of greenhouses framed by asparagus at Broxburn Vegetables & Cafe.
OPPOSITE:
Rows of greenhouses framed by asparagus at Broxburn Vegetables & Cafe.
LITTLE GEM WINERY PAIRING GUIDE Oak Aged Reserve: Grilled steak, smoked fish, grilled lamb. Classic Red: Chicken, pasta. Rosé: Pan seared fish or grilled vegetables Apple wine: Lobster, crab, bbq pork chops.
32 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
5
WHAT TO DO Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site Learn about the significance of this UNESCO site to First Nations Peoples and all Albertans. Set atop sandstone cliffs, surrounded by prairie in every direction, this is where cascades of buffalo plummeted to their death in a ritual hunt. Blackfoot peoples honed their skills over thousands of years by learning from other animals, responding to their environment, and observing the weather. They became keenly aware of buffalo behaviour – the animals’ vision mistook stones and branches for great walls, and their herd mentality meant that they protected the feeble – the resulting, fatal stampede, fed tribes during the winter. You’ll imagine the Great Plains as they once were with millions of roaming buffalo, and you’ll realize their bond to humans and this land – willingly accepting their slaughter, only to return again, year upon year. Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens Take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful-any-time of year gardens established in 1967 to 'recognize contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to Lethbridge’. The city has the third highest proportion of Japanese Canadians or “Nikkei” in Canada, after Vancouver and Toronto. Japanese workers settled in Southern Alberta beginning in the early 1900s to work in the coal mines and on the railways. “During World War II, the population increased further due to the forced relocation of Japanese Canadians from the West Coast by the Government of Canada,” says Eric Granson, marketing manager. Today, the gardens incorporate native, endemic and non-native plants and all the major structures came directly from Japan. “During the construction of the Garden, pieces of the Pavilion and the Bell Tower were constructed and then deconstructed in Japan and shipped to Lethbridge to be re-assembled by the same craftsmen.” Each vista is carefully crafted so that the visitor has, not just the most pleasing view, but the most resonant with meaning. At times, neighbouring Henderson Lake frames the internal water features, in spring, bright pink crab apples blossom, before being swept away by the wind and, in winter, 170 000 lights twinkle beside ice sculptures, and wagon rides. Don’t forget to ring the bronze Friendship Bell for luck and wishes of peace. CSL
"Lethbridge has one of the most supportive communities I have ever seen... Everyone from customers to other local businesses want to see each other thrive because as every other business owner in Lethbridge says "all ships rise with the tide."
33 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
BREATHE IN
BREATHE OUT
The tiny Napa Valley town is a well-established, glorious, profusion of food, wine, and art, that comes alive especially for harvest season. Its best-kept secret? Though most visitors come for only a few hours, those that stay longer, will be rewarded by its boundless clarity. Words and Photography By Shivana Maharaj
YV OI UL NL TE
I PREVIOUS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: E-bikes
are a popular way to explore downtown Yountville; The grape harvest at Hotel Villagio at The Estate Yountville; Morning view at Hotel Villagio at The Estate Yountville; Sumptuous scallops over risotto at Bottega.
I consider myself a hopeful-cynic. I’m not sure my selfdiagnosis is a real affliction, but, after years of unanswered questions, stressful lifestyle and sense of bewilderment, I err ever closer toward the latter. So, when I receive an email from a friend (who’s been trying to lure me to Yountville for over a decade), with eight simple words, “you should come to Yountville…it’s harvest season” I embrace the opportunity, albeit with a healthy dose of skepticism. Food, wine, and California: three of my favourites. For all its superlatives (“culinary capital,” “worldclass”) as I drive off highway 29 onto Washington street into downtown Yountville greeted by a swath of stillblooming rose bushes, olive trees and the gentle bustle of pedestrians and cyclists – it’s surprisingly restrained. You won’t find billboards emblazoned with “Michelin star restaurant, this way” or plaques dedicated to famous chefs (though there is an apropos bronze sculpture). Instead, its unassuming appeal unveils slowly. At one and a half square miles, Yountville is infinitely walkable, coaxing you to yield to its pace. Over the next several days, I am lulled to its rhythm. If Yountville is the heart of Napa Valley, The Estate is one of its main arteries. Centrally located, the “village” is set across 22 luscious acres, comprised of a vineyard, two hotels (Hotel Villagio and Vintage Inn), “Vintage 1870” V Marketplace, and three restaurants (Bottega, ottimo, Coqueta) all in the historic 137-yearold Groezinger Winery complex. The dreamy setting regularly features as the site for magazine-worthy weddings and special events. Hotel Villagio, the 113-room boutique hotel where I am staying, is near capacity with harvest season in full swing. A trussed roof enhances the soft grey exterior to achieve the embodiment of sleek, modern farmhouse. The lobby feels as if you’ve stumbled into someone’s elegant study; leather and velvet chairs, industrial gold light fixtures, and dark walls, add a rich masculine touch. The cohesive colour palette is echoed in rooms, where an (ornamental) fireplace, and Carrara marble bathroom with standalone tub enhance the laid-backluxe vibe. The overall result is polished sophistication with down-to-earth appeal. This extends to its brigade of hotel ambassadors (preppy-clothed young men who politely ask if you need anything – shuttle ride, water, help with the e-bike), and to details like a snack table, comforting house-made breakfast (the scones are a must) and picnic-to-go packs which make the property
36 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
feel anything but cookie-cutter. “We’re siblings – I’m Jerry, that’s Joanna, we’re celebrating a few birthdays,” a friendly man wearing a blue, Hawaiian-print shirt and thick southern drawl, tells me when I ask what has brought him here. Young families, couples celebrating anniversaries, girls’ getaway types and business retreat alums round out the majority of guests. It’s October and, though winemakers are praising the soaring temperatures, (well into the 30s), I choose to beat the heat, opting for a brief shuttle ride from the hotel to The Napa Valley Museum. “The museum is actually right next to the veterans’ home, which is about one third of the population here. You’ll see them all around town, riding their motorized wheelchairs,” Marc, the driver, says as he drops me off at the front entrance. Tiki Dreams: From FarAway Fantasy to Pop-Culture Phenomenon, is a riot of colour and artifacts dating to pre-WWII. It tells the story of soldiers who brought back souvenirs from their time serving in Polynesia and the South Pacific, which, in turn, inspired Tiki bars and lounges in Northern California, eventually spreading to create the unique cocktail culture we know today. An apt way to immerse myself in the California dream. Undeniably, most visitors come to Yountville for the food. While some seem drawn only to the bragging rights of spending four figures on a single meal, I opt for a less reductive approach. Restaurants, largely fall into three broad categories: classic French, hyperlocal, and ItalianAmerican. Over the coming days, I hone in on some the best in town, where menus seem dedicated to local farms and producers – graciousness and connection that doesn’t feel gimmicky. My first stop, The Restaurant at North Block, newly renovated in spring 2023, feels light, thanks to a seamless indoor-outdoor dining. Executive chef Juan Cabrera’s menu highlights California’s varying regions, from valley to coast: Buttery charred octopus is gently smoky set atop Rancho Gordo gigante beans, and sungold tomatoes; a bordelaise accompanies well-seared Liberty duck breast, contrasted by sweet shallot marmalade and figs; and, a yielding caramel budino (a set custard) is accented with Macallan whisky – a great nightcap-style dessert. Ciccio, owned by the Altamura family, had been a popular restaurant since 2012, closed in 2022 and, in early 2023, turned to new “caretakers” Chris Kostow and his wife. He was of course, a three-Michelin-star chef at the now-shuttered The Restaurant at Meadowood. Kostow’s characteristic style of cuisine draws a crowd – it’s a Monday evening, and I can barely hear over the loud chatter in the dimly lit main dining area. The menu is succinct yet deliberate. The deceptively simple tomato pizza – which I watch being made in the open kitchen by cooks artfully spinning well-fermented dough in the air before tossing
The Mayacamas Mountains as seen from a residential street in downtown Yountville. 37 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Dinner at Ciccio;
Artist Gilberto Romero’s Serenade 11; Two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon at a Hestan Vineyards' tasting; A man sits outside of Bistro Jeanty; Sweet treats at Kollar Chocolates; The bread and butter tasting at Handwritten Wines; Bob Binder in a tasting room at Silver Trident winery; A luxurious room at Hotel Villagio at The Estate Yountville; The yellowfin tuna tartare at The Restaurant at North Block; The famous Ding’s crispy chicken sandwich at R+D Kitchen. 38 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
39 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
into a wood-fired oven – features a red sauce with fresh oregano and stracciatella supported by a puffy crust and thin base. It makes a wonderful match with Frank's negroni, a gutsy twist made with Hendrick's Gin, Torino Vermouth and Nonino. Sweet bites, like an ultra-nutty hazelnut ricotta cake tastes like Sundays at your grandmother’s house, and, nothing screams produce-drivenswagger more than Emerald Beaut plums (the sweetest you’ll ever taste) as a stand-alone dish on the dessert menu. On another scorching day, I sit at an outdoor patio under a bright red awning at Bottega, one of three, Michael Chiarello restaurants, munching on the ideal antipasti – an addictive salad featuring finely shaved brussels sprouts, lightly coated in a Meyer lemon dressing, strewn with crunchy marcona almonds, sieved egg and Pecorino Romano. Chiarello’s “Italian influenced wine country cuisine” is rustic and craveable. The ricotta gnocchi della nonna, which I still dream about, is sheer perfection. Heftier than most, it’s billowy despite its size, as if the centre is filled with ricotta (a quick online search uncovers the secret – gently folding the dough with a bench scraper). It comes with old hen tomato sauce – neither too robust nor acidic. Even the bread and dip showcase the exquisite simplicity of a few ingredients: olive oil, garlic, parsley and chopped Parmigiano Reggiano. As someone who regularly watched Easy Entertaining, glued to Chiarello’s easy-going persona, it's bittersweet to be dining at Bottega, just a few weeks after the chef's sudden passing. It’s not challenging to find exceptional food and wine at every turn, but what I didn’t know until visiting, was that for all the galaxy of stars in its roster, there is a more casual side to the food scene and it’s equally delicious. Mustards Grill, helmed by Cindy Pawlcyn, is an institution for many reasons including pioneering wine country cuisine and establishing itself as one of the first in the area to serve produce plucked straight from their garden. The design is understated: a black and white checkered floor, chalkboard displaying daily specials, wooden chairs, and white tablecloths. This is contrasted by quirky winks on both the menu (“Truckstop Deluxe: Always meat, often potatoes, rarely vegetables”) and wide-ranging wine list (“way too many wines”). The food is delectably approachable – a mounded platter of shoestring onion rings with house made tomatoapple sauce arrives at my table accompanied by a juicy Umpqua lamb burger. This year marked its fortieth anniversary humbly serving, “deluxe truck stop classics.” Judging by the packed tables, little has changed, and shouldn’t. When I arrive for dinner at R+ D Kitchen, a cadre of wait staff is efficiently attending to patrons, many of whom seem to be regulars, like a table behind me,
40 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
chatting about baseball. Banquettes and a handful of bar seating makes for a genial atmosphere. My order is promptly served – chicken meatballs in ochre mole amarillo (a lighter version than the dark and earthy mole negro) snuggled in polenta. Cucumber and avocado sushi is remarkably tasty for something so straightforward, and the legendary Ding’s crispy chicken sandwich with baby Swiss and spicy slaw are fantastic. A skyscraper carrot cake is punchy with warm spices between floors of mascarpone frosting. Both restaurants, I observe, are packed with locals. As it turns out, there is a lot of dining nuance to this town. That evening, as I walk back to my room, an invitation from the hotel is wedged into my door. “It’s time! Our winemaker has decided the grapes have reached their peak…come join us for the harvest in our vineyards... Gloves and pruners will be provided.” Picking grapes during harvest season? What a dream. There are dozens of hotel guests in the vineyard at pre-dawn and a palpable buzz. Every few minutes, a gigantic white crate emblazoned with a gothic “G” is filled with hand-picked grapes. After splitting my time between reaping and snapping dozens of photos, I’m famished (those trays are heavy!) and walk a few paces back to the hotel to enjoy breakfast. Drawn to the vineyards again, I whip out my camera for the umpteenth time. “Getting some good pictures?” a soft spoken voice behind me asks. “I hope so. The light is so beautiful over the vineyards this morning, it’s gorgeous,” I answer. Glancing behind, I’m greeted by a goodlooking man with sandy blond hair and blue eyes, wearing a light brown teddy fleece jacket and jeans – the epitome of sunkissed California je ne sais quois. This morning’s harvest of merlot and cabernet sauvignon, he tells me, will be whisked away, immediately pressed to retain the integrity of the fruit, and transformed into The Estate's blend by the Napa winemaker du jour. After chatting for some time, he asks if I’ve taken the hotel’s e-bike out for a ride. “You can take the vine trail just behind the hotel, but I would go all the way down Washington, turn right onto Madison...,” he pauses for a few seconds, contemplating the route in his head, then continues, “then left, on Yount, and just keep going,” he suggests, emphatically. A packed schedule means this will have to wait for another day. But first, wine. In the late 1800s, frontiersman Ernest C. Yount planted Napa Valleys’ first vines in the area, so, to get up close with the noble berry, I visit a trio of boutique tasting rooms. “This is our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Benevolent Dictator,” Bob Binder, co-founder of Silver Trident winery (who also co-founded Oceania Cruises), cheerfully announces upon entering the tasting room. Crunching down on Zapp’s Cajun dill chips alongside the garnet liquid in my glass may seem an unconventional pairing, but it’s part of the winery’s “potato chip extravaganza” –
K&S MEDIA
In the air with Napa Valley Aloft, vineyards come into view as the sun rises.
41 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Hot air bal-
loon pilot Ferrel of Napa Valley Aloft; A bird’s eye view of Hotel Villagio; Harvesting grapes at The Estate’s Hotel Villagio; Onion rings at Mustards Grill; Tiki Dreams, a cocktail exhibit at Napa Valley Museum.
42 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
an approachable pandemic pivot from small bites which has proven popular with wine lovers of all stripes. The boutique winery produces approximately 4 000 cases each year made by winemaker Kari Auringer, a Wisconsin native (Silver Trident also sells olive oil and proprietary coffee). “How do you like the décor? It was designed by Trevor R. Howells and exclusively furnished with Ralph Lauren Home. That chair you’re sitting on is actually an old menswear suiting fabric. That detail on the light is a women’s bracelet,” Binder, tells me proudly, before pouring two more glasses of bold Cabernets for comparison, Twenty Seven Fathoms and Friends & Family. “The difference is the type of oak barrel – from one of the most esteemed cooperage families in France. You can taste the terroir of the French wood,” asserts Binder. I notice a display of brilliant, leggy, ruby gladiolus jutting out of a vase. “Our floral arrangements are all one colour,” whispers Binder, pointing out little details I missed. Ever the amiable host, he knows just how to make guests feel as though they’ve entered his home. At Hestan Vineyards, a trio of friends in their mid20s are standing at a tasting table when one asks, “So, when do you add sugar to the wine?” Elsewhere, an eyebrow might be raised, but without a whiff of sass, wine ambassador Paul Hahn patiently explains the wine making process. The glamorous tasting salon is fit with large windows displaying glistening copper pans, acacia wood bowls and other gourmet culinary items. Its no wonder that the estate winery is owned by Stanley Cheng, founder of Meyer Corporation U.S., whom you can thank for inventing and patenting Circulon, the first hard-anodized aluminum nonstick cookware. In 1996, Hestan Vineyards (a mashup of his and his wife's Helen's names) was born, growing 110 acres of the principal Bordeaux varietals. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Browns’ 2017 Meyer Vineyards and 2017 Hestan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon are exceptional representations of his craft. Hahn, perceptively susses out, that I will prefer their concentrated fruit and depth based on my preferences throughout the tasting. “I used to work at a high-volume winery, but wanted a change of pace. I wouldn’t be able to sit down and chat with people, like I can here,” discloses Hahn. Indeed, the intimate tasting room makes for a personalized experience that forges a sense of place. A 70s pop-rock track is playing softly when I arrive at Handwritten Wines. Carefully curated open shelves are filled with plants, leather bound books, ink and fountain pens and the written word abounds. “Shall we start off with some bubbles this morning?” proposes Mary Kate Fitzpatrick, wine ambassador. Her youthful, engaging and conversational energy belie the fact that she knows her stuff. A New Jersey native, Fitzpatrick travelled through Europe learning about wine and history, poetically reminiscing about her time there throughout the tasting.
“I can’t wait till you try this cheese. The melt-in-themouth texture and subtle nuttiness goes so well with the tannin of the wine. I love it so much,” divulges Fitzpatrick, motioning to a wooden charcuterie board with three neat quenelles of French butter, a rosette of Tête de Moine cheese, and an elegant Laguiole knife. Naturally, she’s right, and I reach for several more smears of the delicious butter and cheese. Sweet against the 2014 Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon, packed with red fruit and subtle spice, it is a scrumptious morsel. “With wine, there are so many extensions – from art and culture, to music and literature. It draws you in,” she affirms. To immerse myself further, I spend another afternoon on an Artwalk stroll led by Jim McDonald, former Yountville Arts Commission chair. Now retired, he spends some of his time writing poetry, occasionally, performing it at live reading events in town. Outdoor artwork in Yountville is abundant with 35 pieces by an array of artists displayed from north to south, most on a rotating basis, with a handful of permanent pieces purchased by the town. A downloadable audio tour is regularly updated with information about each piece and its inspiration. As we walk downtown, he points out the social-media, pandemic-famous, Sidewalk Judge, the metal origami-style of artist Bruce Gueswel, and colourful Dancing Butterflies, before pausing at a giant orb in the centre of town. "The Yellow Sphere is one of my favourites. The light changes depending on the time of the day – they even light it up during the nighttime. Sometimes, at just the right moment, you can get sun beams going through the open holes, it’s quite special,” he notes. From one art form to another – I step inside Kollar Chocolates for a taste of edible works of art. An enticing kaleidoscope of bonbons glisten in the glass showcase at the award-winning artisanal chocolate shop which also sells an array of treats including chocolate bark, truffles, dark hot cocoa mix and unique specialties like malt balls. A one-two punch of savoury culinary chops and local inspiration has propelled Kollar to create uncommon flavour marriages like fennel pollen with milk chocolate and Napa zinfandel with dark chocolate ganache. There’s no more iconic way to commit Yountville to core memory than by hot air balloon. I’ve chosen Napa Valley Aloft, one of the original hot air balloon companies to offer aerial tours. It’s pitch black in the parking lot behind V Marketplace, the launchpad for the four balloons that will take off sequentially. I climb into the enormous basket, together with nine strangers, and though I have a fear of heights, barely notice when we’ve lifted off the ground, easily floating through the warm autumn air. Pilot, Ferrel, has been flying balloons for more than thirty years, everywhere from Africa to Cappadocia, and on this clear day, takes time to point out the outline of San Francisco on one end and the Sierra Nevadas at another.
43 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
At 3 000 feet, you can truly appreciate the remarkable beauty of the ever changing landscape. Rows of closely planted vines resemble a verdant cable knit sweater, and sunrise casts the brooding chiaroscuro of an Italian painter over the gently sloped hills. The calm is infectious. Over a too-brief three days, the allure of Yountville becomes clear: its quietconfidence reveals itself as more spellbinding
than quaint, more hypnotic than sleepy. With this in mind, on my last day here, I decide to follow the recommendation I had received a few days earlier. I wander through a quiet residential neighbourhood, charming houses embellished with rose bushes, lemon and olive trees. As I turn onto Yount street, I smile. The picture is impeccably framed: an embracing view of the Mayacamas mountains where neat rows of golden-green vineyards highlight the foreground. I savour every last drop.
For all its prestige, Yountville is best kept as a place to breathe in life’s simplest pleasures: the tranquil beauty from high in the air, the consummate bite or sip, celebrations large and small, the connection to a piece of art, the mesmerizing sepia glow of the morning sun dancing atop grape vines during harvest season. Another visit, perhaps? I exhale. One can always remain hopeful. CSL
Resource Guide: Yountville WHAT TO DO Tiki Dreams, Napa Valley Museum The latest exhibit, Tiki Dreams, is a colourful display of Cali cocktail culture. 5 Presidents Cr., napavalleymuseum.org Yountville ArtWalk Fun, outdoor display of 35 sculptures (permanent and rotating) throughout town from various artists. Yountville Visitors Center, 6484 Washington St., yountville.com Napa Valley Aloft Balloon Witness sunrise over the gorgeous vineyards. nvaloft.com WHERE TO STAY Hotel Villagio California farmhouse vibe. Inviting, sophisticated and absolutely beautiful at every turn – you'll want to visit again and again. 6481 Washington St., theestateyountville.com EAT AND SIP North Block Restaurant Charred octopus and Liberty duck breast with mission figs are just some of the delicious
bites from Executive Chef Juan Cabrera. 6757 Washington St., northblockyountville.com Silver Trident Winery Don't let quirky names like, Benevolent Dictator, fool you. These are seriously lovely wines and the tasting room is an interior design dreamscape fit with Ralph Lauren home furnishings. 6495 Washington St., silvertridentwinery.com Mustards Grill Classic "truck-stop" celebrating 40 years. Order the piled-high onion rings and milehigh lemon-lime pie. 7399 St Helena Hwy., mustardsgrill.com Ciccio Napa Valley Newly re-vamped collaborative menu from "caretaker" and chef extraordinaire Chris Kostow. You can't go wrong with a Frank's negroni and wood fired pizza with fresh stracciatella. 6770 Washington St., ciccionapavalley.com
Bottega Napa Valley Fresh, bright, rustic Italian fare from late Chef Michael Chiarello: pillowy ricotta gnocchi della Nonna and brussels sprout salad says it all. 6525 Washington St., botteganapavalley.com Hestan Vineyards The tasting room features an array of cooking vessels (eye candy for foodies). Great 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. 6548 Washington St., hestanvineyards.com R&D Kitchen Who knew the American and sushi menu combination would be so addictive? Well-prepared sushi and the crispy chicken sandwich is a must. 6795 Washington St., rd-kitchen.com Kollar Chocolates Chris Kollar's award winning shop at “Vintage 1870” V Marketplace is ultra-chic. Pick up chocolate-nut bark and an assortment box. 6525 Washington St., kollarchocolates.com
Handwritten Wines The bread and (French) butter pairing is exquisite, and the Los Carneros Cabernet Sauvignon delightful. 6494 Washington St., handwrittenwines.com
THE RIDE
2023 HYUNDAI Tuscon PHEV This 261 horsepower SUV has both a Smartstream turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 13.8-kWh battery powering an electric motor, making it easy for drivers to who want the convenience of gasoline for long road trips and a plug-in electric option for shorter jaunts. Although I did not use the electric charger for this long road trip through California wine country, it was useful to know that it would automatically turn to gas when the battery runs low. With a whisper start, six-speed automatic transmission and spacious interior, the Tuscon has great fuel efficiency – I drove 1200 miles and spent $120 on gas. I fit three large roller suitcases in the trunk and a few handbags. I was
44 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
also able to store a soft side cooler with drinks and a few more carry-on pieces in the back seat. Many features, that come into play automatically, are either: useful (seats adjust to driver); safety-based (surround view camera) or helpful (back windshield is adequately large to see other vehicles and the wiper cleans very well). The Tuscon is a smooth ride especially on the tricky turns of Trinity Road and despite the shadows cast by the live oak trees. The only downside was the navigation system which, though responsive to missed turns by quickly recalculating an alternative route, did take me to the wrong destination on more than one occasion. Hyundai. ca; hyundaiusa.com.
“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?"
― Mary Ann Evans As George Eliot 45 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com
46 | WINTER 2023/2024 | citystyleandliving.com