Sayaka Minemura's Breakfast

I already decalred how much I love pretty breakfasts here and here.
Sayaka Minemura (of the beautiful blog Life in the Slow Lane) got a full photography project on the subject. Her breakfasts looks simple, minimal yet delicious and her styling is superb and sweet.

I should take these photographes as a reference when I make breakfast for my little miss. She might eve start eating, an activity she's not that fond of usually...

Check out the whole project here.



Via Booooooom

Keep calm and eat your breakfast

Since I first shared with you the beautiful photos of Dear Oly's breakfast I've became quite enthusiastic about what other people eat first thing in the morning.
I collect my favorite photos on my 'A Photogenic Breakfast' Pinterest board and now, as my collection is quite big, I found two interesting patterns to the breakfasts I like - I prefer sweet breakfasts (ie toast & jam or simply cakes!), and, the simpler it looks, the more delicious it seems!

I thought it's a good time to talk about breakfast as we are all very busy these days, getting ready for the upcoming holiday, but it's a good habit to have a relaxing slow morning and start it with delicious, sweet happy breakfast. So here's a little reminder and inspiration for you my darlings!

How do you like your breakfast? Have any photos to share?

Sources: Joy the baker /// Jen Louveciennes /// Lottie Grace Coe \\\ Lotte Janssens

What Katie Ate

My dear friend Hadar just reminded me how much I love the adorable foodie blog What Katie Ate. I thought it would be only fair to remind you too!

The perfectly photographed and beautifully written blog features what's hot and tasty within the Sydney and Australian food scene and also offers tips and links to Aussie and world-wide food publications, food packaging, markets, wineries, gourmet stores, restaurants, bars and cafés which makes it not just a feast for the eyes but also a wonderful foodies travel guide.

Bon appétit my friends! (as I'm sure you're about to make yourself a nice dinner soon after you'll visit this site... These photos are mouthwatering!)

Some people's breakfast...

... Is a work of art

Dear Oly is one of them.

Van Gogh's Table at the Auberge Ravoux

As a "Always a traveler" as he wrote to his brother Theo, Van Gogh spent a lot of his time in hotels, inns and cafes where he enjoyed the companionship of fellow artists and meet new people who later became the subject of his drawings.

At the Auberge Ravoux in Auvres-Sur-Oise, A small artists' village about 30kms from Paris, Vincent Van Gogh found a measure of peace in an otherwise ill-starred life.
He arrived in Auvres on May 20th, 1890. He took room no. 5 for three and a half French Francs per day.
The little Auberge Ravoux inn was his last home and where he experienced a burst of creativity, producing numerous magical art works and letters and the only etching he ever did.



The beautiful book Van Gogh's Table at the Auberge Ravoux is a tribute to the incredible painter and the café life that inspired him. It consist of two parts:
"A Private Life in Public Places" by Dr. Fred Leeman, The former chief curator of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, who explore the world of Cafes, restaurants and auberges and their influence on Van Gogh's life and work, and "Recipes from Van Gogh's Table" by Alexandra Leaf, an American culinary historian and authority on nineteenth-century French cuisine.






This book is a charming combination of a cookbook and art book that offers a rare opportunity to understand and sense Vincent van Gogh's daily life.
It includes more than 50 traditional recipes, ranging from hearty to refined, and 100 photographs, paintings, sketches, engravings, and letters, some never before seen in book form.







I love the unique idea of giving attention to the mild daily existence of Van Gogh's through meals with friends and neighbors.
The photography is perfection and the recipes are mouth-watering and sophisticated yet {look} simple to make.

My first French cooking challenge will be the menu for Sunday, 8 June 1890 named "A day in the Country":
~  Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
~   Fillet of Striped Bass with Panfried Leeks and Beurre Blanc
~   Roast Duck with Chanterelle and
~  Cherry Clafouti (these are the last days of the cherries season!)

Oh! Can't wait!
I promise to share my dinner with you through photos!

{-- This post is dedicated with love to my mother in law who spent wonderful 2 weeks with us down under. 
During these 2 weeks we shared thoughts about Van Gogh and many many conversations about cooking and the art of eating well. This book will always remind me of our time together!  --}

*** All photos were taken by me and are from the book Van Gogh's Table at the Auberge Ravoux,
copyright © 2006 by Artisan.
Written by Alexandra Leaf, Fredéric Lebain, Photographed by Fredéric Lebain.

The Art of Bento

Recently,  I got hooked with the concept of Bento.
I am familiar with the idea of Bento for a long time, but apparently, I got it all wrong!
I was sure Bento is just a form of a takeaway meal bought in a restaurant, and, even worse, I was sure Bento is a kind of synonymous tn Japanese to fast food...
My bad, I'm so ashamed of my mistake!

So what is Bento after all? Bento (written 弁当) is the Japanese word for a meal served in a box. Beyond that basic definition though, just about anything goes as to what kind of box or container is used, as well as what is put inside that box (Thanks Just Bento for the clear description!).
And as in many other Japanese concepts, when making Bento, you care about its aesthetics at least as you care about the quality of the food.

The result is a box of magic! Healthy food served in the most wonderful appealing way.
Here are some beautiful examples of Bento meals:

Miso marinated pork + using up leftover bits from decorating bentos by Just Bento





Kimbap Bento and Bijou Toddler Bento by sherimiya


Lunch box by FromEast2005


Kindergarten Bento #278 by Wendy Copley

In the great site Just Bento you can find many tips of making your Bento meal with healthy recipes and many great inspiring photos.
I would try this out in the next weeks. Of course, now my only obstacle will be to find a nice Bento box. But I tend to relate to this kind of obstacles as a real treat! Hmmmm... can't be that bad - the search of the ultimate Bento box!
Hopefully I will have some Bento photos of my own to share with you soon.

In the meantime Happy Australia Day Aussie fellows and have a great Tuesday all of you in the rest of the world!