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...

A D'alma Wish

WISHING EVERYONE 

A VERY HAPPY 2016 FILLED 

WITH PEACE, HEALTH, LAUGHTER AND LOVE!

THE CHRISTMAS EVE MENU BEGINS WITH COD

The salted cod is cut and soaked first in water for about 2 days prior to using.


Bolinhos de bacalhau (mini cod cakes) are an absolute must especially on Christmas Eve when fish dishes reign supreme. I grew up making them with my mom and it's now a tradition I continue with my own daughter.  I love them and lucky for me she does as well.  As soon as they're out of the fryer she insists on eating the first one on the tray. Actually, once everyone starts to arrive on Christmas Eve I start frying them right away so it's generally the first hot hors d'oeuvre I serve up. No sooner am I removing them with a slotted spoon from the pan and placing them on the platter do they start to disappear.  This is why I try to make a big batch in hopes of having leftovers...but rarely do I ever have them.  Time to buy more for New Years Eve!

Great Memories

I've decided to highlight the remainder of my Portugal trip rather than blog day by day.  I must do this as I find that time is quickly getting away from me and the holidays are fast approaching.  I've been very busy in the studio (much has inspired me) and will have lots to share with you all soon.  

I hope that you've enjoyed hearing about my amazing journey as much as I've enjoyed telling it.
Thank you to my kids and dear, dear husband for their love and support because without them this trip could never have been possible, to my parents for their constant love, generosity and graciousness and to my dear friend Leigh for her friendship and enthusiasm during this memorable time that we shared.  After being around me and my parents in our country environment for a few days she said that she can now can see why I'm the person that I am and all that has attributed to me being that way.  Thanks Leigh, what an amazing compliment that I'll always cherish!

Viana do Castelo - 
Santa Luzia basilica & the view down to the Lima River Valley

Fresh seafood  = An amazing Mariscada dish 

(paired with the great Palacio da Brejoeira Alvarinho wine)

Valença do Minho (my birthplace!)

 Views from the old fortress part of town with Tui, Spain 

looming in the background.

Ponte de Lima - 

A sleepy town nestled along the banks of the Lima river.  

The pedestrian bridge dates back to Roman times and Saint Anthony's church from the 15th century.  On a rainy day the "oldest town in Portugal" was hauntingly beautiful.

The Antiques Flea Market along the sycamore tree lined 

Avenida dos Platanos where I find all of my treasures!  

Our final Sunday meal out in Ponte de Lima

(the perfect ending to the perfect trip!)

Pataniscas de Bacalhau - as opposed to the traditional 

"bolinhos de bacalhau" cakes made with cod and potato, 

these fluffy fritters are made with cod and flour and they 

absolutely melted in our mouths!

        

Arroz de Sarrabulho (the regional blood sausage dish shown in the center) with roasted and braised pork, chestnuts and potatoes, white rice and salad paired with a regional full bodied red wine.

Minho Region - Day 2 morning

Barçelos

This 20 foot sculpture welcomed us into the town!

The token figure of Portugal (the cockerel) can be see throughout the country in every tourist and non-tourist shop and outdoor market from north to south. Why?, you ask, is this animal so relevant? Well in Portugal, legends are a key part of it's traditions and this one in particular reigns supreme!

  

We visited Barçelos (an interior river town about 40 minutes south) on it's weekly market day (Thursday) which is well known for its' crafts and ceramics.  In my opinion, it's the best northern outdoor market that I have been to and it gives anyone visiting Portugal a great depiction of how lively and colorful a market day can actually be.  Here everyone converges to buy staples for the week and to catch up on the latest gossip.  Stall sellers yell at every turn trying to entice the passerby to take something home from their selection, whether it be the juiciest quince apples from the region or the best local red clay pottery...and even a colorful ceramic cockerel.  As touristy as they are they always make me smile. 

 

                  

After the market we climbed to the top of the medieval tower which has been turned into a folkloric art museum and gallery.  

Dozens of regional ceramic designs from local artists were on display inspiring me to build more one of a kind pieces when I return to my studio.  Also on display were festival masks and dozens and dozens of versions of that beloved national symbol.

 The view from the top of the tower overlooking 
the town market in the park and square.  

We said good bye to Barçelos after a much too quick morning, heading north on the local road to Viana do Castelo.  

Those adventures to follow very soon...

Minho travels - Day 1

As Leigh would be visiting the Minho region while in Portugal for the first time, I wanted to take her on a trip to one of my favorite places and introduce her to the great Alvarinho wine.   This white variety is grown specifically in Galicia and is a much mellower variety than the tart white wine "vinho verde or green wine" that most people associate Minho with.  Once we pulled into the massive driveway of the 18th century Palaçio da Brejoeira wine estate, visions of grandeur much like Downton Abbey, crossed our minds and we were transported back in time.

                             A panoramic view of the estate

Luckily we were the only two there so we received our very own tour guide, a young lady only 18 years old who was very eager to practice her English with us. While we allowed her to go through her usual tour "schtick", we often interjected with questions about any insider stories she may have heard and even made up our own along the way just to keep things interesting.   Not that the visuals weren't enough!   We were however sad to hear that the current owner, the sole heiress of the estate and 97 years strong and still living there, to our guides' knowledge never documented her life at the palace in any story form.  What incredible tales she must have, to think they may be lost once she passes is incredibly sad.  She never married and has no heir so it isn't even known what will happen to the estate once she does pass away.

We took plenty of photos where we could but were forbidden inside the incredibly decorated interior rooms which entertained kings, queens, dignitaries and dictators throughout the years.  Beautifully furnished rooms were filled with carpets from Persia, silks from France, furniture and porcelains from the Orient.  
Should you ever find yourself close to the town of Monçaõ, I'd highly recommend stopping by. You'd be traveling back in time and wishing you could have lived the lavish life.  But even if you can't,  the least you can do is treat yourself to a bottle of the estate's fantastic Alvarinho wine!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

The clouds have disappeared and the sun shines brightly on our last morning in Porto.  We take in the glorious view one last time before heading out for our morning coffee and pastry.  I order a queijada for us to try and it quickly becomes our favorite.  It has the consistency of a super moist sponge cake with a strong taste of vanilla and lemon. So good and I can't believe in the years I've traveled her I haven't discovered it before.  Always something new.

As we say good bye to Porto and head over to the Avenida dos Alliados to catch our bus north, we pass buildings both old and new, people both modern and traditional.  Porto is a great city that allows you to appreciate the beauty, culture and attitude that it has to offer.  We only experienced a fraction of what we could see in a small amount of time but we vowed to return with a new, more ambitious itinerary to conquer one day.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Mom and I get up early to meet Leigh at the airport.  From there mom will take the bus back to Valença and Leigh and I will go back to the city of Porto...but not before the ritual coffee first!

A quick nap and refreshing shower for Leigh at the apartment (not before an "Oh my God, that view is amazing!!!") and we're off.  The cathedral, pillory and river view are also first on the list along with the Saõ Bento station tiles.  

Many "OMG's this is so beautiful!" later we found ourselves ready for lunch.  I researched high and low and because we would be in the very hip Victoria neighborhood, I chose BOOK restaurant.  As the name would suggest, it was once an old bookstore so it had tons of vintage/mod character.  Even the menus were presented to us inside old novels.  It's a fairly new restaurant on the Porto food scene but it had already received accolades from the New York Times so I figured it should be a winner.   Happily, it did not disappoint!  Leigh had prawns with a squid ink pasta and I had the grilled octopus and it was complimented with a glass of the regional house Douro wine for each of us. Delish!  For dessert we shared a slice of the chocolate paõ de ló con frutos silvestres  (sponge cake with macerated berries) that the restaurant proudly boasted as the world's best and again, it was a real winner!  Welcome to Portugal Leigh!

A slow walk down the Galeria de Paris brought us to A Vida Portuguesa, a store offering a selection of popular Portuguese products, many that are well know everywhere - from Claus Porto soaps to Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro pottery.  It took up the second floor of another one of those jaw dropping, ornate but not over the top turn of the century buildings.  The hall wood staircase display of ceramic swallows in flight was my favorite.

And speaking of jaw dropping, over the top...down the street was the Lello & Sons bookstore.  Coined as the oldest bookstore in Portugal AND rumored as the inspiration for J.K. Rowlings' Hogwarts interior.  Did you know she was once married to a Portuguese man and wrote the first Harry Potter novel in Porto where she resided for a period of time?  It's true!  One look at my interior photo and you'll know why.  It's was very beautiful and very detailed, something to see at every corner.   We were glad to have visited it even if we did have to pay 3 Euro each as entry.  Tacky I agree, but a good (and probably necessary) form of crowd control!

At this point, full in the belly and a bit tired we make a loop back towards the apartment stopping by the Carmo Church and Clérigos Tower (249 steps to the top were NOT going to happen this time around!).

The later part of the day found us walking down the Rua das Flores (a beautiful pedestrian street full of great architecture, shops, cafės and restaurants). Remarkably hungry again we decided to eat a lighter dinner of the regional sausage, cheese, bread, olives and wine at the Mercearia das Flores.                     So good!

On our way down to the Baixa we stopped at MANY shops along the way.   I showed Leigh the bustling Baixa, Rio Douro, Ponte Luis I bridge and Port Lodges...not to mention the naked mannequin on the balcony (See Monday's blog ;)  

We ended our evening sharing churitos with Nutella (our girls would be jealous!) before passing out in sheer exhaustion.