At Home with Kim Vallee

ENTERTAINING, HOLIDAY entertaining | April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

I wish you a wonderful Easter Day! We bought our Easter eggs and animals all wrapped in cute baskets this year. I will try to take pictures but I cannot promise I could resist eating it right away. In case I cannot resist the temptation, I gathered nice images from Chocolats Geneviève Grandbois. This artisan chocolate [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | March 7, 2009

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Be in a Better Mood with NEWTREE’s Alpha Chocolate

I love dark chocolate. So I am looking for good reasons to eat a few bites. I discovered the NEWTREE large chocolate bars at a local fruit and vegetable shop. The NEWTREE Alpha collection is available in 3 tempting flavors: pure, chili pepper and the exquisite thyme. It is made with 65% dark Belgium [...]

DINING, EATING out, TABLEWARE | February 12, 2009

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Max Brenner’s Specialty Cups for Hot Chocolate

There are two shops of Max Brenner in New York City. The place looks pretty cool. The signature Hug Mug at Max Brenner is ideal to drink hot chocolate because you hold the cup from both sides. This enables the liquid to stay warmer. I want those cute cups shaped as a cacao bean. The Suckao at [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | February 12, 2009

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Hot Chocolate done the European Style

I love hot chocolate so much that I bought last year Bodum La Chocolatiere. I also gave one to my young brother as a memory of our youth. He used to drink lots of chocolate. Some people worry about the froth. But the true secret for success rests in the recipe. On our last trip [...]

DINING, DISHING tips | July 24, 2008

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Be the Star with Vanille’s Chocolate Soufflé

I cannot resist this amazing dessert by Vanille of At Down Under. It is not simply beautiful dished, the soufflé mixes chocolate and pistachios, An origami box gave Vanille the inspiration to reinvent the individual cake pan with parchment or waxed paper. I am impressed! It is so original and lovely. If your guests are not be [...]

ENTERTAINING, HOLIDAY entertaining | March 23, 2008

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Happy Easter!

In this fabulous sunny day, I wish to wish to everyone who celebrates it a very Happy Easter! For the rest, I hope you indulge in a nice piece of fine chocolate. I found the lovely Oeuf Maisonnette Easter Egg at Chocolate Trading Co. UK. It is so cute. The Chocolate Filled [...]

ALL occasions, DINING, FOOD + drinks, GIFT IDEAS | March 6, 2008

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A delectable indulgence with Christopher Elbow

After a visit to the fantastic gallery style shop Rose and Radish in San Francisco, I spot one or two street corners later another retail delight for the senses. This time, it was the shop of the artisanal chocolate maker Christopher Elbow located on Hayes Street. It was the fashionable design of [...]

CAKES and baked goods, DINING, ENTERTAINING, FOOD + drinks, HOLIDAY entertaining, TRENDS | February 11, 2008

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Treats for Valentine’s Day | Tastespotting watch

If you are still looking for inspiration to compose your mini menu on Valentine’s Day, I spotted some pretty romantic recipes on Tastespotting. Start or end the day with a Hot Chocolate If you are in New York City this February, schedule a stop at for their famous Hot Chocolate Festival. I wrote [...]