Author: La Vie Partagée

Styling: Coffee Table

You finally found the perfect coffee table and now you understand how a painter feels staring at an empty canvas. Where do you start? 1) Start with the geometry What shape or shapes do you have?  If it is a rectangle, many designers suggest dividing it in three.  If it is a circle, divide it in four.  There is no real rule but this is a good start. 2) Play with materials If your table top is wood, give it a contrast with a different type of wood, or even better, metals, stones, acrylics or glass. 3) Elements that work -Trays -Books and magazines -Flowers and plants -Sculptures, vases or bowls -Candles -Collector elements You can even add table games or interesting objects bought in museums or antique stores. 4) All about balance Start with a balanced layout. The largest object will dictate most of it. Decide if it is going to be asymmetrical or symmetrical. Will it part from the center? Are you highlighting the corners? Bright colors or neutral? 5) Don’t forget what …

Thạch Dừa / Coconut Jelly

When the weather is hot and humid, there is nothing like a refreshing bite of coconut jelly.  We all grew up with some sort of gelatin desserts.  In the US, it was Jell-O.  In Vietnam, it’s coconut jelly or thạch dừa.  This dessert is usually made with fresh coconut juice from the abundance of coconut trees in the country.  Luckily, coconut juice has gain tremendous popularity in the US with many different brands that are easily accessible at the supermarket.  I tried this recipe with Zico water and found that it works just as good and without the hard labor of opening coconuts!  You can use any coconut water as long as it is natural without any added sugar or preservatives.  In this recipe, I demonstrate how to create the coconut jelly the original way and the new way with Zico water. This recipe is rated easy and serves 1-2 coconut or 8 servings of 6-8 oz jars. Ingredients 2 cups of coconut juice (use either Zico coconut water or fresh coconut juice) 1 teaspoon of agar agar …

Restaurant Review: Townsman (Boston, MA)

Having been spoiled by the never ending high profile restaurants in NYC, I never thought I would be wowed by a restaurant in Boston. I lived in Boston for 4 years and visited the city a few times each year after I left. I never experienced a restaurant that left a lasting impression. While visiting my sister in Boston one weekend, we all decided to try out a buzzy new restaurant on the outskirts of Chinatown called the Townsman. This is the first time in a long time that I was going to be “that” person photographing all the dishes.  This review was not planned. I had such a memorable time and was inspired by the food that I had to write this review. Decor:  4 out of 5 I was struck by the decor which had a wonderful modern New England style that comprised of Shaker style benches and chairs and a lot of rustic industrial decor.  When we walked in, we were greeted by a large bar that encompasses a large portion of the …

My Favorites: Knobs

I am obsessed with pretty and whimsical objects, especially knobs.  They are an inexpensive way to upgrade IKEA-like furniture by jazzing up any furniture or room. For my own apartment, I used modern brass pulls and knobs to customize my kitchen.  Here is my current selection of favorites. 1)  Anthopologie Anthropologie is a great source for colorful and unique knobs and pulls.  You do have to pick and choose because the quality of these items vary.  Their current line is inspired by equestrians which would fit right into any country style interiors. It will even bring a bit of warmth and personality to a modern interior that can come off cold. Crystal Bar Knobs $18/each Tanga Toggle Knob $18/each Santiago Horseshoe Pull $2.95/each Gramercy Knobs $10/each Telescope Knobs $10/each Swirled Geode Knob $24/each 2) Nest Studio These knobs are like jewelry, expensive but worth it.  The style is  modern and veers toward geometric lines. Brass and acrylic handle $80/ piece Octogonal pull $90/peice Hexagonal bar pull $80/each 3) Edgar Berebi This line is more ornate and …

Ech Chien Bo (Fried Frog Legs Tossed in a Butter Sauce)

Ech chien bo or fried frog legs is a classic accompaniment for late night drinking in Vietnam.  You can usually find this dish in any countryside or city sidewalk cafes.  I have a theory that this dish came about because frogs were abundant back in the day and chicken was more expensive.  Frog legs are eaten in France and many other parts of the world, but not necessarily in the US.  Additionally, frog legs tend to have higher water content than chicken, so they will keep the moisture better during cooking. I know my fellow Americans will likely be turned off by frog legs, but give them a try and you will be pleasantly surprised with the burst of flavor.  Alternatively, you can also use chicken for this dish. This recipe serves 2 people and is moderately difficult. Ingredients: 1 lb of frog legs (about 6 frog legs or 3 pairs)  You can buy this at a Chinese market or Chinatown.  Alternatively, you can also use chicken or pork. 1/2 cup of diced onion ¼ …

Weekend Unexplored: Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard is a day trip away from Boston and has been on our list of places to explore.  We never seem to find the time to take the trip.  There have been the usual excuses that the traffic to the Cape is insane to brave the crowds on the island for a 1 day trip is too short to justify the long round trip, etc.  Finally, on a beautiful Saturday in June, my husband and I decided it was now or never and went for it. Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful pristine island off the coast of Cape Cod.  The white houses with shutters and colorful hydrangeas lining the street look exactly like the images in the magazines and movies (probably because these are the houses they filmed!).  The island is dotted with sandy beaches along the coastline and serene vistas. Martha’s Vineyard has different areas to explore: Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Chappaquiddick, Katama, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Menemsha.  You can drive around the entire island in one day! GETTING TO MARTHA’S VINEYARD: There …

Bathroom Style

When we are designing our home, usually the bathrooms and powder rooms are left until the end.  However, this doesn’t mean we should not design them.  A beautiful and organized bathroom will help us relax. 1) Let’s pick a concept. Do you want it contemporary, eclectic, minimal, rustic, retro or classic? 2) Take your time to pick the fixtures. Options can include chrome, mate, golden or even black.  3) Lighting  Sconces and wall lamps bring a lot of life and “coziness” to the bathroom. 4)  Floors can be made of stones, tiles or even wood. Here are some inspirations. 5)  Add art!  Framed art brings a new life to the space. A bathroom is not an exception. I would recommend exploring more options than the typical “sea-themed” bathroom. 6) Mirrors Love the “mirror over mirror” concept .  The idea of multiple mirrors in an area works great as well. 7)  Consider wallpaper In the case of powder rooms or bathrooms that have good humidity control, you can add wallpaper to make an impact. Start making some plans and think …

Phu Quoc’s Razor Clams in a Tamarind Sauce

Another fantastic dish that takes me back to the beach is razor clams sauteed in tamarind sauce.  This dish is sweet, sour and just finger licking good.  We used razor clams for this dish but you can use any large shellfish. The trick is to get a type of shellfish where the shell will hold the sauce.  For every bite, you get both the sauce and the meat.  You first saw this dish in our Weekend Unexplored: Phu Quoc’s post. Today we will recreate that dish for you. This dish serves two people and is rated easy. Ingredients Protein: A dozen clams of your choice Sauce: ½ cup of wet tamarind paste (tamarind paste is usually sold in blocks at any Asian supermarket.) ½ cup of rough chopped Thai basil, culantro, cilantro mix (reserve some for garnishing) 4 red whole chili peppers for flavor (leave them whole as the seeds will increase the spiciness level) 3 cloves of garlic minced ½ cup of can pineapple chunks ½ cup of water 3 tablespoon of pineapple syrup juice …