A LITTLE INSPIRATION 

FOR A SUMMER COLLECTION

OCEANWAVES SANDYTOES GRILLEDFISH SEAWEED TURQUOISEBLUE SHELL

COLLECTING BALMYNIGHTS FIREFLIES ICECREAM SUNKISSEDTAN POOLDAYS

HONEYBEES LATEDINNERS HUMIDITY BOATINGONTHELAKE PALMTREES BEACH

VACATIONS FUNCOCKTAILS LAWNGAMES LEMONADE BARBEQUE SMORES OUTDOOR

CONCERTS FIREFLIES FISHING CUTGRASSSMELL GARDENRIPETOMATOES SURFING

OCEANSMELL BAREFEET CORAL ROMANCENOVELS HOTDOGS CAMPING WINE FLOWY

DRESSES JUICYPEACEHES COLDGAZPACHO AFTERNOONNAPS SUNFLOWERFIELDS

OUTDOORFESTIVALS LADYBUGS SALADS WARMBREEZES CHERRIES COBALTBLUE FIRE
PITS ESPADRILLES LIGHTHOUSES WATERMELON CLAMBAKES SAILING ROADTRIPS

PADDLEBOARDING LOBSTERROLLS FRUITYSORBET SANDCASTLES GOLF SUNBURNS 

PICNICS COLDBEER GRADUATIONS MARGARITAS SEERSUCKER HAMMOCKS BASEBALL

CAFTANS HAMBURGERS BAREFEET CEVICHE SUMMERFLINGS SOLSTICE BARE SKIN

SANDDOLLARS ICEPOPS TROPICALDRINKS TANLINES BEACHBALLS MOSQUITOBITES

CICADAS SALTYAIR MEADOWFLOWERS SHOOTINGSTARS BIRDSONGS BULLFROGSON GS

DAYTRIPS CRABCAKES STRAPPYSANDALS FLOPPYHATS RAWBAR CORNONTHECOB

FLIPFLOPS STRAWBERRIES CAPRIS STARFISH SQUIRTGUNS WATERBALLOONS ICEDCOFFEE HORSESHOECRABS SUNGLASSES BRAINFREEZE GRILLEDFRUIT WARMSUN FAMILY...

Retail Shop Spotlight - Bico de Obra

While I always enjoy the shopping in my home town of Valença do Minho, Portugal and look forward to supporting my favorite home stores, I was thrilled to find a new gem this summer while on vacation.

BICO de OBRA (which in translation means a "tricky task"), is a shop that specializes in the renovation of furniture pieces while also offering a large array of functional and decorative home decor. 

While only open for a bit over a year, shop owner Isabel has already gained a following with a mix of clients from both Portugal and neighboring Spain. They often come in to buy something for their home and leave only to return with an old furniture piece that they don't want to part with but don't quite know what to do with. Isabel works her magic and gives it a new finish (she admittedly gushes over the Annie Sloan chalk paints that she loves but can't always get a hold of) or finds a great fabric to reupholster it with. Either way her clients leave super happy that an old favorite has been repurposed and eagerly spread the word of Isabel's designer touch to their friends. Many treasures ready to be transformed are in her downstairs "warehouse" which serves as her studio, the place you will most likely find her if she's not helping a customer upstairs.




                     



I wandered the upstairs retail portion of the shop first in a bit of a trance as I do with any new home store. Her mix of vintage and new pieces in everything from wall mirrors, hand hooked rugs, terra cotta ceramics and old colored glass bottles kept me in the store for a good hour. Each eclectic vignette was carefully curated and merchandised with a new surprise around the corner. 










































Isabel has a great eye for color and design and I was not surprised when she told me of her art history and fashion background. I told her how at home I felt in her store due to the fact that I share a similar design esthetic and love for good portuguese design. No sooner was I telling her that I felt like I was walking into a mini Portuguese Anthropologie did she tell me she buys from the same ceramic manufacturers that they often source from! In fact that same supplier also sells to Zara Home and Pottery Barn. Clearly these home stores, Bico de Obra included, know where to find the best ceramics! 

If you should find yourself lucky enough to be traveling in this beautiful part of northern Portugal this little gem of a shop is not to be missed. Perusing the vintage furniture is enough to give you a lesson in portuguese history, one Isabel is well equipped to share.  What I really liked was that there seemed to be a story behind every piece she purchased or was lucky enough to have been given and that love and knowledge radiated from her out to her customers. There was a connection I felt from her and too often that seems to be missing from the shopping experience. 

Obrigada Isabel!

BICO de OBRA

Edificio Rio Coura, r/c, Favais

Arao - 4930-049- Valença do Minho

 email: bicodeobra@outlook.com 

facebook/bicodeobravalenca

FOOTBALL AND WINGS ... PORTUGUESE STYLE!


With Portugal making it to the UEFA Euro Final this Sunday, I'm inclined to fire up the grill and make my version of Piri Piri Chicken using wings.  A fan favorite at our house, the marinade is key in that you have to marinate the wings an ideal 24 hours in advance and constantly baste the wings as they slow cook on the grill.  This keeps them tender and saucy, a perfect marriage for wings that so often dry out.

Marinade Ingredients  (use 1/2 for marinade, reserve other 1/2 for basting - 24 wings)

12 fl. oz bottle of a preferred Tabasco sauce (I like Crystal Louisiana style hot sauce)
1/3 cup olive oil
Juice of 2 large lemons
Rind of 2 lemons, finely minced
5 cloves garlic finely minced
1 shallot finely minced
6 sprigs of thyme finely minced
3 sprigs of oregano finely minced

Marinade the wings 12-24 hours in advance making sure to keep all wings coated. 

Grill the wings on low to medium heat and cover (too high heat will char the wings outside and not cook them inside).  Check the wings often and baste with the reserved marinade as often as possible but especially when flipping them. Should take anywhere from 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. It can be time consuming but so worth it.  We like washing ours down with a crisp, cold beer.  :)

Enjoy and "Força PORTUGAL"! 

Honoring all of the moms out there.

Toughest job on earth but the most rewarding.

Cheers to all of you!

D'alma press in HOOK magazine!

I chose to place an ad in HOOK magazine because for years I've admired the high quality of it's content and because it reaches a great audience in the lower Hudson Valley region.  I was honored when they asked to feature two of my pieces for their Spring 2016 issue.

To view the entire issue of HOOK magazine click on:

http://janet.uberflip.com/t/96864-hook 

You can see more D'alma for spring 

by clicking on my logo to the right.

Wishing everyone out there...

PORTUGUESE COMFORT FOOD

January in New York has been very cold so far and Sunday was the perfect day to whip up a comforting casserole dish with my left over salted cod.  My rendition is a combination of two classic Portuguese dishes- Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa and Bacalhau com Natas. The ingredients are simple (cod, potato, onion, garlic, egg, light cream, olive oil, parsley, salt, pepper & nutmeg) and it really took no time to make. Served with a crisp glass of vinho verde, I sat by the fire and treated myself to a homey meal that instantly transported me back to my beloved Portugal and memories of cooking alongside my mom.   

I called her as soon as I poured myself a second glass...