At Home with Kim Vallee

HOME + GARDEN, HOME decor | September 17, 2009

Housewares for Fall at Habitat UK

Every season, I check what is new at Habitat. I still hope for the first North American store. Fun everyday items caught my eye. They are coming later this fall. This post is about laundry, a good cup of coffee and cute serving trays. It is not everyday that a laundry bin made it to At [...]

DINING, TABLEWARE | September 8, 2009

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Garçon, one red Francis Francis X7 please

I am French Canadian, not Italian. I used to make a bowl of latte every morning topped with cinnamon. Then, my old espresso machine broke. That was a few years ago and I never sent my espresso machine to the repair shop. The main reason was that it was white, which did not work well [...]

DINING, TABLEWARE | August 12, 2009

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Handcrafted Coffee and Tea Sets by a.j

I first introduced the work of a.j creation as a gift ideas for last Christmas. a.j is the crafted work of two Montreal-based artists: a ceramist and a glassblower. I am happy for them that more retailers have picked up their wonderful products. Coffee Cups and Saucers The first thing that caught my eyes this morning were [...]

ENTERTAINING, SPECIAL occasions | July 31, 2009

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Rustic Decor Ideas from Starbucks 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea

Many people, including couples who are getting married, opt for a rustic party theme. These are good reasons for that. It is style that is inviting, that feels warm and cozy. You may have heard that Starbucks opened a new store concept, the 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea. Despite the design controversy, there are decor ideas [...]

COOKING tools, DINING | July 27, 2009

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What’s Hot in Teakettles: Color and Water Temperature Gauge

When it comes to kettles, you first have to decide if you are looking for a stove model or an electric model. My preference goes to a classic teakettle that you put on the stove. I own a beautiful Italian design stainless steel whistling kettle. Many friends told me over the years that my kettle looks [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | March 3, 2008

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The siphon bar makes the best coffee in the world

I saw the Blue Bottle Coffee kiosk with its long line of customers while visiting the Farmer’s Market. At their kiosk, they prepare coffee with the beehouse ceramic drippers. You can tell that people love the coffee of this artisan micro-roasting company. But I resisted the temptations because I wanted to try their [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks, TRAVEL | February 17, 2008

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Spending time around Chelsea in Manhattan

Yesterday, I went to Chelsea because I wanted to taste a fresh-brewed cup at Grumpy Café on the 20th Street in Manhattan. After reading the January 23, 2008 article on the New York Times, savoring a coffee made with the $11,000 Clover 1s machine was on the top of my list. [...]

DINING, FOOD + drinks | July 12, 2007

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Become fluent in the ways of serving coffee in Italy

I learned today that I drink my coffee at home like a true Italian. I even got the Oslo Demi-tasse / espresso and Cappuccino cups by Bormioli Rocco. By the way, these clear glass cups are great for serving desserts. The handle can be removed if you want a different presentation. I learned all that and [...]