Tuesday, July 26, 2011

My Adventures with Tarragon Dressing

I decided to make the wonderful tarragon dressing which is served at the House Without A Key restaurant. I checked three supermarkets and couldn't find the ready made Tarragon vinegar so the next option was to make the vinegar from scratch.  I google-d "how to make tarragon vinegar" and this is what came up. I'll let you know the results.


Devoid Of Culture And Indifferent To The Arts: Gardening & Recipe: Homemade Tarragon Vinegar: "Ah me! Love can not be cured by herbs. – Ovid The star of this post (centre). Photo: apple_pathway, Flickr ccl File this under 'news yo..."

After shopping for fresh cut tarragon at various supermarkets and discovering that it was an outrageous price (something like $45/lb.) about $2.20 for a tiny packet, I decided to look for a plant.  The recipe did not state what kind of Tarragon to buy.  So I looked up a few more recipes which said to use French Tarragon but if not in season, you could sub Mexican Tarragon.  The Mexican variety was the only kind I could find at Lowe's. I believe this 4" plant was only $1.40 and I have a plant leftover!

I used the entire bottle of white wine vinegar which came out to be approximately 1 2/3 cup.  I put it in a sauce pan and brought it almost to a boil, then turned off the heat.

The recipe did not state whether one cup of tarragon was with the stem or without but when I looked at the picture, the stems seemed to be still attached so I left  them on and pat them dry...sort of.   It was too hard to measure out 1 cup of tarragon this way so I just eyeballed it.

I placed all of the stems into the sterilized jar, bruising some with a wooden spoon before pouring in all of the heated vinegar.  Then I jumped back on the computer to see if I was supposed  to cover it while it was still hot or wait till it cooled down.  I had to google another recipe to find my answer and it was to cover while still hot.  This second recipe says to let cool for 2 hours before placing in fridge for 1 week.  I think I'll do that instead of leaving it in a dark cupboard for 2 - 3 weeks as stated in this recipe.  I'll let you know how it tastes before turning it into the Tarragon dressing.  I can't wait.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

2011 AIFD Symposium in San Francisco, CA

If you missed the AIFD Symposium in San Francisco, here are some of the highlights.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Michelle's bouquet

Michelle's beach wedding was held in July on the island of Oahu.  She wanted white lilies and green cymbidium orchids with a hand tied look.  A detailed ribbon treatment was added to the handle.


Ribbon treatment

Side view

Michelle and Alex


Closeup

Closeup photo by bride

Monday, June 20, 2011

Rene's Bouquets for Brides book promo video

This is the video promo for a  new book by René van Rems and 25 designers who came together in January to create a floral/fashion experience which was recorded by Jake Tison and his fabulous camera crew.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

"Dance Video" from Rene's master wedding symposium

We had the most fun making this video at the conclusion of our week long event.  All of the participants grabbed a bouquet, lined up and hammed it up for Jake, the cameraman.  Lois Hiranaga and I are near the end of the video dancing together with our shell bouquets. 

Friday, May 13, 2011

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii



Lei day is celebrated every May 1st in Hawaii.  A lei contest is held at the Waikiki shell for anyone who wishes to enter and all the leis are put on display for the public to see.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Rene's March Wedding Workshop

René offered a two day wedding workshop in March and I felt that I had to take it because I had missed much of the hands-on aspect of the January symposium by working behind the scenes.


Posters in front lobby for the new book.


Some of the product awaiting students.

Class begins with a demo on how to cover the handle of the bouquet holder.

Creating a faux hand-tied gerbera bouquet.

Tropicals in background courtesy of Green Point Nurseries,  Hilo, HI

How to knot ribbon for a handle treatment.

Completed bouquet.

How to make a spiral hand-tied bouquet.



Beautiful ranunculus, stock, roses, agonis foliage, and alstoemeria in this hand-tied bouquet.

Entry to the studio was displayed with exotic product from Green Point Nurseries and Rudvalis Orchids.


Day 2 begins with a demo for a bear grass handle.

Oasis pearl beading added to the handle.

Completed bouquet with matching boutonniere.


Cascade/pendulum bouquet incorporating a white crown flower lei from Hawaii.

René uses Hawaiian dendrobium orchids on bear grass to create a cascade.  Hawaiian dendrobiums courtesy of Oahu Flower Mart, Honolulu, HI.

Bouquet in progress.

Addition of more dendrobiums and fern. 


White anthuriums and lycopodium courtesy of Green Point Nurseries.

The completed bouquet works well as a free standing arrangement too!

My projects included this mini cymbidium bouquet.

My version of the cascade/pendulum bouquet.

My spiral hand-tied bouquet packed away in my suitcase, waiting to go home.

Mahalo nui loa to René for another informative, inspiring workshop and for his generous hospitality.  Now to put all of this knowledge to good use!!




Friday, March 4, 2011

Workshop with Tomas De Bruyne

One day workshop with Tomas De Bruyne, of Belgium, in Camarillo, CA