Saturday, July 12, 2014

The Flowers of La Grenouille

One of my favourite books Clarkson potter 1994

It was only in March, that, after 40 years of devoted work, Charles Masson has finally left his family owned establishment.  I met Charles back in 1994 when he was promoting this small and very charming book of his. He was kind enough to autograph it too.  The book's full of useful information on the art of flowers- and living.  Click here  for a visit to this fabulous site for Grenouille.

Autograph
There has been some media drama surrounding his departure- read here - but, Mr Masson, being the gentleman that he is, has avoided it mostly.  As his late father had said so well "Bois de la vie" (drink life)  !

Anemones, my favourite flower

It seems that one day, after the paying guests had left, the Massons sat down in the dining room to have their own lunch, and Mr Masson, pere  noticed a ray of sun coming in and shining right in his face.  This is how he got the idea to make a huge arrangement for that window, thus solving the problem, and furthering the tradition of many lavish bouquets in the restaurant.

La Grenouille New York
The arrangement shown above has huge branches of quince that extend out over six or seven feet!

La Grenouille New York

According to Charles, the big secret about Grenouille, is that it's not this grand, haughty (his word) French salle a manger - but the most friendly and affable place in town!  That is one reason why he decided to translate the menu, and open the upstairs room to patrons with smaller purses.  He now plans to open a new place, what he calls the pret a porter to the couture of La Grenouille.  Bon chance Charles!  All the best to you in your new venture! ***** DF

Definition: The word Grenouille is the French word for frog, and in the culinary arts, the term Grenouilles refers to frog legs. The classic French preparation of frog ... 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Le Grand Vefour and the Velvet Slippers

Le Grand Vefour, 1st Arr Paris

My friend Troy is on his way to Paris for Bastille Day, so I recommended this very old, and elegant restaurant next to the Palais Royal, Le Grand Vefour.


My late mentor and friend, Tice Alexander often went there when he was in Paris.  Tice always preferred to stay at the Hotel Ritz, "on the Vendome side" as he would always request.


This languostine (lobster)  course is probably somewhere in the 112 to 119 euro range or higher- be prepared for the check to be in four figures! :) A BLACK Am Ex might be nice to bring along. Here is the menu click here ***** ( a simple lunch is offered for only 98 euro)

Pierre Casiraghi
This handsome devil is the son of Caroline, Princess of Hanover.  His grandmere was the American born Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco.  I spied him sporting a pair of Stubbs and Wooton "Screw U" velvet slippers, in the May 2014 issue of Town and Country.  I only had noticed this tiny detail because I was reading with a magnifying glass!  A new film about his famous grandmother was shown at Cannes in May.  Look for it in a theater near you!

Pierre Casiraghi
  I love that he is smoking a cigarette here.  Smoking, done by certain people, and in the right places, is still extremely elegant, in my humble opinion.  Check out these shoes he was wearing with a tuxedo.


How cool are these?  On him ! I saw these at the trunk show here that SW had at the Naples branch of Maus and Hoffman.  I think I prefer the ones below, called "Loyal"  (The screw U ones are called "College")

They are both the same price - ($495.00)   J Crew has some slightly less expensive ones, and a place in Dallas, called Stanley Korshak.  Wouldn't it be FUN to wear these to Le Grand Vefour, and dine with the Grimaldis, or maybe just Pierre?  Now, that would be a night to remember!  Just call me Walter Mitty :)
* * * * *
Here's a funny story for you before I turn back the Porthault.  I was boarding a commercial flight many years ago, forget where I was off to , probably L.A. - and I looked over and there was ROBIN LEACH !  Do you remember him?  He hosted an outlandish television program called ""Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"-
Well, I guess I didn't know that he hated gawking fans or the merely curious- since he stared holes through me with the most WICKED, hateful and baleful look I have ever seen on a mans face!  It was brutal.  He must have gotten bumped off of a private plane, and had to resort to flying COMMERCIAL.  Ghastly, simply ghastly!

Robin Leach
 Well Nancy, that's all for now.  If you happen to be in Paris, try and get a table at Le Grand Vefour.   I think even in the Summer you need to book far in advance.  And, if you are in Monaco, say hello to Pierre for me.  But, if you are in L.A., and see Robin, just stare really hard at him, will you? :)

Robin Leach
 This post is dedicated to Taki Theodoracopulos, author of Princes, Playboys, and High Class Tarts. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Dinner with Andre'

Dinner plate, Andre's 
Mary and I had such a good time tonight, chez Andre' - the premier gourmand* steak house of Naples- see the site here - it's a cozy place located centrally in the heart of Naples.

 *noun
  1. The definition of a gourmand is a gourmet, or a person who enjoys good food and drink.
    An example of a gourmand is someone who has no problem spending $200 for a meal at a Michelin star restaurant.

 


The first thing you see upon entering is photos of the owner, Andre', with Speaker John Boehner, and Marco Rubio....the bar is to the left.  The manager suggested a beautiful "house" Malbec- which I really enjoyed.  (The wine list is quite extensive)
Our dinner: Sliced tomatoes with onion and blue cheese, with a piquant sauce...followed by a medium pink Porterhouse for two accompanied by shoestring battered onion rings and fabulous double order of creamed spinach!  Finishing with- wait for it- PROFITEROLES !!! 


Andre's Naples
So good !  Mary had coffee with her half, and I finished off the dry and smoky Malbec, a lovely mate with the yummy dessert...notice the creme fraiche on the side- so good !  Mary also reminded me about one of her favorite blogs, called Manger, out of the Medoc region of France- check out Manger here it's pretty fabulous- anything Mary likes usually is.  Enjoy!  Mangia!  Cheers!  DF *****


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

New Shipment, Decoratives and More!

One of the things I'm most excited about, in my new partnership with MP Interiors, is our fabulous assortment of antique and vintage items- 
Bishops Chair, MP Interiors
I find the yellow in this original covering so interesting...

We also have this one MP Interiors
We love the idea of having simple, white slipcovers made for these chairs, which could then pass as a pair-

DFID
I wouldn't mind having them in my new flat, if I had the space!  

Pair Chinese chairs MP Interiors
Perhaps these child size chairs would be a better fit?  I love these for stacking books- or porcelain objects.

Fire screen MP Interiors
This hearth screen is just begging to go up to Cashiers or Linville Ridge... and very well priced too!

Gueridon MP Interiors
Notice the elegant inlaid woods on the top of this piece...

Shaped top gueridon MP Interiors
Pair cast brass lamps MP Interiors
This stunning (pair) of lamps makes a statement at 46" high

New Barroux chair FP Victoria
The lamps would marry beautifully with these "New Barroux" model chaises from famed F. P. Victoria, New York

Bas relief stag MP Interiors
We also have a pair of these very decorative framed pastorals

Jeffrey Bilhuber New York
This stunning showhouse room, by Jeffrey Bilhuber, is an excellent example of how antiques can be incorporated into a modern and up to date milieu...we particularly liked his use of Castaing blue on the Napoleon III chairs, and the (what appears to be) a teal horsehair on the small chaise placed ever so artfully by the fireplace.  The photographer caught a beautiful, ethereal quality of natural light here, image via AD.
Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF *****

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Andy Warhol Cow Print Wallpaper in "Milieu"

via Cote de Texas

If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, and there I am. There’s nothing behind it.
-Andy Warhol 
My former breakfast room, DFID
Once you ‘got’ Pop, you could never see a sign again the same way again. And once you thought Pop, you could never see America the same way again.
-Andy Warhol 

My former living room, DFID


It would be very glamorous to be reincarnated as a great big ring on Liz Taylor’s finger.
-Andy Warhol 

The famous installation
Isn’t life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?
-Andy Warhol 

via Andy Warhol museum, Pittsburgh


In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.
-Andy Warhol
via Cote de Texas

I’m afraid that if you look at a thing long enough, it loses all of its meaning.
-Andy Warhol 

While this image, above, is not showing a Warhol, 

it's from the same house in River Oaks that Joni 

Webb recently showed on her blog- from a new 

lifestyle shelter magazine- I really liked very much 

the decor of the house featured- click here to go to 

Houston designer Pamela Pierces site for her 

MILIEU magazine....ENJOY!  Cheers!  DF *****


Alexander and Misha, Warhol Museum 
20th Anniversary Celebration

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Celebrating Independence!

King Louis XV, by Hyacinthe Rigaud 1730




Fifteen years after the death of Louis XV (1789) the French revolted against the decadent aristocracy- storming the Bastille- in pursuit of freedom and independence.  Louis XV was the great grandson of King Louis XIV.  His legacy was thought to have weakened the nation- and perhaps demoralized the people.

19th century (1889) La Tour Eiffel on Bastille Day, Paris

I always love how the city of Paris has dramatic lighting for this iconic monument- in every colour of the rainbow !  They don't call it the city of light for nothing!

Louis XV family portrait
The blonde wigged man is his famous great grandfather, Louis XIV
who was married to Marie Antoinette, who also called the Palace of Versailles "home" 
Favourite mistress of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, by Boucher
She was also known as Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson
His (Louis XV) ill fated mistress Madame du Barry, by Le Brun

Louis XV -who assumed the throne at age five






Infanta Marianna Victoria of Spain, engaged to
Louis XV at age 7...a victim of age discrimination
she was rejected due to her youth. Louis XV then
married Marie Leszczynska (daughter of Queen Catherine
and King Stanislaw of Poland)









Bastille Day (July 14) is also celebrated in other european countries, including Hungary- shown above. I found these beautiful images most compelling- the opulence is staggering- and the pressures they must have endured are difficult to imagine in this day and age.  Celebrate the independence, and enjoy some wonderful French or California champagne- or a Spanish Cava !  Cheers!  DF *****    




2006 Sofia Coppola film











































Saturday, June 28, 2014

More Fantasy in Decoration

Carleton Varney Dorothy Draper



Rococo fauteuils

Bruce Weber
German Rococo

Rococo commode

Sanssouci

Doris Duke
Versace
What fun selecting more images for my current "mood board"...Enjoy!  DF *****