Soup on Sunday: Thai Coconut

Alfresco dining at a Vietnamese restaurant in Berlin

Walking through Berlin it is hard to believe that sixty years ago it was a pile of rubble, and that twenty years ago a 103 mile wall divide the city.

Even ten years ago, what was considered a wasteland is now dotted with impressive monuments and well-designed buildings*. The city has managed to rebuild itself in a remarkably short period of time and the culinary scene is no exception.

Being a pescatarian however, I was leery of my options. My concern was certainly unfounded and faded the moment we hit the ground. The streets are teeming with cafés, bars and sleek eateries. Much to our surprise and delight Berlin is a haven for Thai and Vietnamese food. Even better, dining in Berlin is relatively inexpensive.

I have been craving Thai soup since returning home and found the perfect recipe. It is an adaptation of a Thai chicken coconut milk soup. Guten Appetit!

4 ounces cellophane noodles
6 cups vegetable stock
2 red Thai (or jalapeño) peppers, seeded and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon grated ginger
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon (or lime) juice
4 tablespoons Thai fish sauce, divided
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, sliced (3 cups)
1 pound prawns
1 cup coconut milk
2 cups baby spinach
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Place noodles in a bowl; add enough warm water to cover and let sit until soft, about 15 minutes. Drain. Combine stock, pepper, garlic, ginger, lemon zest, lime zest, lemon juice and 3 tablespoon fish sauce in a medium saucepan.

Season with salt. Bring to a simmer, add noodles and cook 3 minutes more. Using tongs, transfer noodles to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm. Add mushrooms to broth; season with salt, if desired; simmer 3 minutes more.

Add prawns and coconut milk and simmer, stirring, until prawns are just cooked, about 3 minutes. Stir in spinach until it begins to wilt, about 1 minute. Add chopped cilantro and season with remaining 1 tablespoon fish sauce. Using tongs, divide noodles among 4 bowls. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with sprigs of cilantro and slices of pepper.

Serves 4
adapted from epicurious

*Can you spot what is different about this Berlin building?

Shopping on Saturday: Archie Grand

I am in love with these Archie Grand notebooks. These cheeky little notebooks are great for lists, doodles or secrets. They have a matte satin cardstock cover and 160 blank pages of Lessebo Linné paper.

A few clever titles include DESIGNERS I Meet and Liked, ACADEMICS I Meet and Liked, LONDONERS I Meet and Liked, PUBLISHERS I Meet and Liked, WIVES I Meet and Liked, PACIFISTS I Meet and Liked, GALLERISTS I Meet and Liked and of course, SANTA CLAUSES I Meet and Liked.

More Bedrooms

More beautiful bedroom entries. A huge thank you to Country Living magazine for 'tweeting' about the contest!

Ron van Empel The Netherlands

Emily Johnston Dallas, Texas

Mrs. Limestone Brooklyn, New York

Please note that any inclusion of photos on All the Best does not indicate being shortlisted or any form of winnings. All photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduce without written consent.

Profile: Dee Dee Taylor Hannah

To simply state that I have a new ‘design’ crush would be to underestimate grossly the talents of Dee Dee Taylor Hannah. Not only is Dee Dee an interior designer, she is also an accomplished architect. Most recently she completed a line of jewellery entitled Maison de Blossoms with Myles Mindham, a Toronto based fine jewellery designer.

Graduating with honours from University of Toronto Architect School, Dee Dee creates timeless and elegant rooms with a touch of femininity. She particularly excels at reinterpreting classical forms with a contemporary identity.

In addition to interiors and design she has hosted HGTV’s Love By Design, the Canadian HGTV Designer’s Christmas Special and has appeared on numerous televisions and radio shows, including three visits to The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her writing credits include her column for the National Post newspaper entitled “Constructive Criticism.”

Talk about an impressive vita—Dee Dee Taylor Hannah is certainly one to watch and admire.


With which iconic interior decorator or architect do you most identify?
I love Dorothy Draper’s work. She wasn’t afraid to be bold. Her designs were heavy and distinctive and made a statement in the days when women just didn’t do those sorts of things.

I also think Tony Duquette because he was just over-the-top and staged his life and work. I actually started out as a set designer early in my career so it’s something I appreciate. His designs were so whimsical and ethereal.

What inspires your creativity and designs?
Beauty and history are the creative forces behind my work. Looking back to history and reinterpreting the past is a methodology I use when working on all of my projects. This creative process will be explored in my upcoming book Timeless: Style Redefined and showcase to readers how adapting classic designs for today can yield timeless designs.

Which talent would you most like to possess?
I would love to have a fabulous singing voice and perform country rock.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My family is my biggest pride and joy but career wise, being able to design, build and decorate my own home was extremely empowering. Being on Oprah was also a huge highlight – I really admire the empire she has created.

What is your most prized possession?
My children Jake and Rachael… they are technically not possessions but they are the most precious things to me in the world. They are true gifts.

What is your favourite luxury in life?
Time! As the president of a full service firm and mother of two kids I am truly never alone. I cherish time with my family and friends as well as a little time avec moi.

Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?
I would have liked to have worked with British architect Edwin Lutyens. I am amazed at how his work is timeless and still has a modern edge in a traditional setting.

Who are your style icons?
Karl Lagerfeld and Valentino are true visionaries whose work has changed the way people think about style. They are real style makers. Because they are bound to create many collections per season, there is a constant flow of creation.
What books are currently on your bedside table?
The Age of Innocence is a classic I return to time and time again. I find Edith Wharton’s depictions of early New York society enlightening and very humorous. Paris: From the Ground Up By James H.S. McGregor is a wonderful piece of historical fiction I am reading now and Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello was absolutely hilarious. You’ve got to love how Tonello brought home the cash by peddling a brand.

Who would you most like to meet and how would you spend the day?
Charles McKim, William Mead, and Stanford White. Together they formed McKim, Mead, and White, an architectural firm in New York in the early 1900s. They specialized in high end residential building for high society. They would give me a tour of their buildings – lot’s of great work and great gossip and scandal. I’d have to travel back in time but the scoop would be good!

Profile by Ronda Carman
Photography by Philip Castelton

All the Best Bedrooms

The All Best Bedroom Contest is well underway and I am in awe of the talent that exists amongst readers. Wonderful entries have come in from around the world from both professional designers and design enthusiasts alike. The contest closes on September 25, 2009, with the winners being announced on October 5, 2009. Each winner will receive beautiful gifts from SFERRA.

You can read the rules here. Over the next 9 days I will post a selection of bedrooms for you to enjoy. Check back to see more photos and be sure to enter your own work as well. Good Luck.

Terri Symington Brenham, Texas

Julie Massucco San Francisco, California

Heather Garrett Durham, North Carolina

Amanda Talley New Orleans, Louisiana

Amie de Toro Vancouver Island

Please note that any inclusion of photos on All the Best does not indicate being shortlisted or any form of winnings. All photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduce without written consent.

You Made My Day

A sincere thank you to Toma Haines (The Antiques Diva) and Franki Durbin (Life in a Venti Cup). Your kind words and praise truly made my day! You are the best!
All the best,
Ronda
xoxo

Congratulations!

To introduce my partnership with SFERRA and to promote the 'Lose Count' campaign we are hosting parties in NYC and LA this October. The LA event will be at Nathan Turner's shop with Kelly Wearstler as our special guest. The NYC event will be at Todd Romano’s exquisite showroom, housed in The Fine Arts Building.

Congratulations to the following readers who will receive exclusive invitations from SFERRA. I can't wait to meet you all in person.

Los Angeles
Nancy Corradini
Santa Barbara, California

Elizabeth Lynch
Chicago, Illinois

Katrina Mosher
Glendale, California

Jill Seidner
Beverly Hills, California

Nancy Evars
Menlo Park, California

New York
Laura Stoll
Chicago, Illinois

Nicole Steinthal
Port Chester, New York

Claudette Marasigan
New York, New York

Amanda Reid
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Jennifer Lynch
Locust Valley, New York

Due to space limitations both events are strictly by invitation only. Invitations are non-transferable and limited to the named guest only.

All the Best Podcast with The Antiques Diva

Over the weekend my husband and I had the privilege of spending time with Toma Haines and her husband (a.k.a The Antiques Diva and The Wine Guy) in their beautiful Berlin apartment. On Saturday Toma sat down with me to record the second All the Best Podcast. She shares her fascinating stories of moving from rural Oklahoma to Europe and staring a business abroad.
Listen Here
Toma Haines peddling through Europe

The Antiques Diva's home office is a great mix of antiques and modern pieces

We were treated to a seven course dinner prepared by Toma

Hor D'oeuvres included: Herbed Olives with South African Pepperdew; German Caviar with Blini, Crème Fraîche and boiled Quail Eggs; Grilled Crostini with red Tapenade and Bruschetta with Gorgonzola and Sundried Tomatoes

The beautifully laid table was visual feast complete with Toma's own antiques and cutlery

Guten Tag! The First All the Best Podcast

The very first All the Best Podcast from Berlin. I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

All the best,

Ronda

Listen Here

Beautiful Berlin

Two more days in Berlin before we return home. Berlin just might be my new favorite city. The architecture, art and museums have made this city a culture capital. And, like the city itself, Berliners continue to reinvent themselves, pushing the boundaries of art, fashion and design. With so much to explore and create, the city never sleeps. I will do a proper post(s) in just a few days. Until then enjoy the photos.

A huge thanks to Toma (The Antiques Diva) for playing tour guide yesterday. Now we are off to Potsdam...

A hole in the Berlin Wall
Memorial to the Murdered European Jews by American architect Peter Eisenmann is colloquially known as the Holocaust Memorial

The Berlin Wall East Side Gallery

The Berlin Wall


Berlin Wall, East Side Gallery: Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev's passionate kiss with East Germany's leader by Russian artist Dmitry Vrubel

Off to Berlin + Contests Galore

I apologize for the short post today. I am packing for Berlin and finishing a project. I will post again in a few days. I am so looking forward to seeing the city, taking in the arts and experiencing the culture. I hear from everyone that Berlin is übermodern with a great nightlife. Thank you for all of the emails and suggestions!

I adore this photo of Keira Knightley, photographed by Mario Testino, in a Louis Vuitton chiffon dress. Featured with Keira are a cross-section of the artists who currently make Berlin the epicenter of the art world. From left to right: Thomas Zipp, Thomas Helbig, Andreas Golder, Markus Selg and Andro Wekua.

You can view "Wanderlust" featuring Keira Knightley photographed in the German capital on Style.com. The complete story appeared in the September 2008 issue of US Vogue.

And Don't Forget...

Mr & Mrs Smith Global Shortlist
Next Monday (September 14, 2009) we will giveaway a copy of the fabulous Mr & Mrs Smith Global Shortlist book. To enter send an email to [bestsmithhotels@googlemail.com] subject line: 'giveaway'

Invitation to New York and Los Angeles Events
Ten (10) readers will be invited to join me this October, along with a roster of who’s who, to celebrate my new partnership with SFERRA.

Five (5) people will be drawn at random to receive an invitation to the LA event at Nathan Turner with special guest Kelly Wearstler and five (5) people will be drawn at random to receive an invitation to the NYC event at the Todd Alexander Romano showroom.

To enter for a chance to have your name added to the guest lists (sorry travel costs are not included) please send an email to [allthebestevents@gmail.com] with the subject ‘NYC’ or ‘LA’ depending on your geographical location. Only one entry per person. Due to space limitations invitations are strictly non-transferable and limited to the named guest only. Invitees will be announced September 15, 2009.

Bedroom Contest
The All the Best/SFERRA Best Bedroom Contest is well under way. To enter, submit clear, unpublished (in any printed periodical) photographs.

You can submit up to a maximum of five photos of one bedroom designed by you to [allthebestcontest@gmail.com]. It can be your own personal bedroom or a bedroom designed by you for a client, just as long as it is your OWN work. The contest is open to both interior designers and design enthusiasts alike are eligible.

Contest ends at 11:59 p.m., E.T. on September 25, 2009. Winners will be announced on October 5, 2009. Read all of the rules and details here.

So Long Summer

Summer actually ended for me a few weeks ago, but with the celebration of Labor Day in the States, it now officially comes to an end. The truth is I love autumn. September is one of my favorite months, one that I associate with fresh beginnings and exciting opportunities. Cooler temperatures and falling leaves both comfort me and ignite a feeling of exhilaration. Enjoy the last day of summer knowing that new opportunities lie ahead.

Who Needs Outer Space 1970
Copyright © George Daniell

Soup on Sunday: Southwestern Yellow Split-Pea

Susan at the Fat Free Vegan is my go-to-girl for healthy recipes. Vegan or not her recipes are always healthy and super delicious! This main-dish soup is comfort in a bowl!

1 large onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound yellow split peas (or chana dal)
1-2 teaspoons canned chipotle pepper, minced
7 cups hot water
1 cup sliced carrots
2 teaspoons mild chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons Mexican oregano
1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (or 1 roasted red pepper)
salt to taste
ground black pepper, to taste
chopped onions, tomatoes, jalapeño pepper for garnish

In a pressure cooker, sauté the onion in a little water until translucent. Add the garlic and cook one more minute. Add the split peas, chipotle, water, carrots, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Seal the cooker and bring to high pressure. Cook for 9 minutes at high pressure. Remove from heat and allow pressure to come down naturally.

(You can also do this in a regular pot--just cook until the split peas are tender.)

Open the cooker and add all remaining ingredients except garnish. Taste and add additional chipotles, chili powder or other seasonings as needed, and add additional water if it seems too thick. Cook uncovered on low for at least 15 more minutes. Serve in bowls with garnishes on top.

Makes about 8 servings. Each serving (using 1 tsp. salt) provides 258 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (4% calories from fat); 16g Protein; 49g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 293mg Sodium; 17g Fiber

Eric Cohler Design

The weather today is a pretty miserable, even by Scottish standards. However, it's the perfect day for putzing around the house and catching up on 'research' and reading. I have spent a good deal of the afternoon going through the portfolio of Eric Cohler Design. The infusion of traditional forms with an unexpected mix of contemporary design is brilliant. I especially love the tablescapes and placement of artwork. Enjoy the photos.

Save La Ronda

New Update: Thank you for all of your emails. The 'reported' new owner is Joseph D. Kestenbaum President and Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Marsh Hawk Capital Management, LLC. I can not confirm this to be true, only hearsay.

UPDATE - You can also email admin@savelarondanow.com Also an interesting article.

For months I have been following the fate of La Ronda, a Spanish Gothic mansion and the final work of architect Addison Mizner. Located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, La Ronda is a grand example of Mizner's work, not often found in the northeast. It seems that La Ronda is the latest victim of the tear-down-build-big-using-labor-saving- techniques trend, and I for one am just sick over this travesty.

The 18,000-square-foot mansion was sold by Arthur Kania this past March to a 'nameless' owner for $6 million. The current owner of La Ronda plans to demolish the historic mansion to make way for a contemporary home.

Yesterday a permit was handed over and demolition is set to begin in 30 days. Benjamin Wohl, a 41-year-old Florida developer offered the owner a 6 figure sum to buy the mansion and move it to another property, but the offer was refused.



Last week, the building's previous owner, Arthur Kania, emerged to claim inside salvage rights to the building. Kania, who retains salvage rights to the contents of La Ronda, will now begin removing valuable materials from the house. Please encourage Mr. Kania to negotiate a deal that would transfer his salvage rights to Benjamin Wohl. This may be the last hope for saving La Ronda.


To learn more visit the Save La Ronda website. I have no problem with someone building a new 'contemporary' home, but I do have a problem with destroying historic property. Perhaps, we as a community, can help in some small way. Direct comments to savelaronda@yahoo.com. All comments will be forwarded to Mr. Kania.