October 30th, 2019
ChezHelvetica’s first experience with Cranberry Beans, also known as Borlotti, opened a new world in dining. Sensuous in their curved shells, these beautifully pink-speckled oval beans added creamy, delicious flavor to a Tri Color Barilla Pasta dish, nestling on Earthbound Farm Organic Baby Spinach. An Epicurious recipe for the fresh beans (purchased at the VA Farmers Market ) heightened the taste of the Penne, already bathing in homemade Almond Pesto.
Grated Parmesan-Reggiano Cheese showered the Pasta Salad, studded with Baked Apricot Chicken. Empire Kosher Chicken Breasts roasted in my sister’s delicious Apricot Glaze, Lemon Juice, Garlic and Dijon Mustard, then topped with Dried Apricots. An elegant dinner for a Wednesday night!

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Tags: Barilla, Empire Kosher, Epicurious, PCFMA, VA Farmers Market
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September 29th, 2019
Tags: Del Monte, Divinia, Edna Valley Vineyard, Empire Kosher
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September 4th, 2019
From Black Rock City, Nevada to ChezHelvetica at Land’s End, a Burner returned to Welcome Back feasts and Tide. (Lots of Tide/three loads). The day’s first repast, a collaboration, featured an Organic Arugula Salad with homemade Apricot Salad Dressing, Marin Gourmet‘s delicious Aubergine Dip with Lemon Crackers and Black Bean-Vidalia Onion-Cheddar Cheese Wraps punctuated with stories of incredible art, desert challenges and dust. Dinner included Oven-Roasted BBQ Chicken Breasts smothered with Cremini Mushrooms, Onion, Garlic and TJ’s Organic Kansas City Style Barbecue Sauce, accompanied by Veggie Sauté. 
Farmers Market Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Garlic and Onion sizzled in Stonehouse Extra Virgin Olive Oil, then accented with fresh Basil. Husked Sweet Corn wrapped in damp paper towels, microwaved for just five minutes, then dipped in butter and salt. Mouthwatering delight! This year on Saturday the Burning Man, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colorful mutant vehicles and fireworks, incinerated in a huge flash and fell over almost as quickly as the corn cooked – about seven minutes. Yet there are more beautiful Temples to burn, with Sorrow and with Joy! 🧨🔥

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Tags: Burning Man, Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, Marin Gourmet, Stonehouse Olive Oil, Trader Joe's
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June 14th, 2019
Blue and Yellow > In the spirit of the Golden State Warriors, also the ChezHelvetica table setting! The players: Whole Wheat Rotini Frittata and Roasted Asparagus with Capers and Lemon. Three pointers here on the delectable mixture of Eggs, Ricotta and Parmesan Cheeses, Basil and (leftover) Pasta accompanied by Asparagus Spears enlivened by Red Pepper Flakes –
thanks to inspiration from long-time coach Martha Stewart. As the game played out, attention darted back and forth between incredible plays to injuries and fouls, to the delicious food in front of us. When the final game of the NBA concluded, the Toronto Raptors (dressed in red uniforms) were the champions. Coincidentally, sweet red Strawberries were the winners in the end here too. Congratulations to all! 🏆

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April 25th, 2019
Why is this night different from all other nights? The answers to this age-old question had fresh answers at ChezHelvetica’s saffron-scented Seder. First, in keeping with young female leaders prevailing in today’s world, our leader was my 25-year old niece, Aliya.
Second, instead of the traditional Four Sons, we discussed Four Children – an activist child, a skeptical child, an indifferent child and an uninformed child – and how we answer their questions on ways to pursue justice in our time. Then, instead of filling Miriam’s (sister of Moses) glass with water, it was filled with wine just like Elijah’s. Family and friends from near and far sat where indicated by the artful suede placecards, handmade by Mom, to follow the exotic culinary journey to Persia – Charoset (Haleg) filled with Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Dates, Raisins, Apple
and Banana, Matzo Ball Soup with Cardamom, Tumeric and Lime, Saffron Quinoa with Dried Cherries and Almonds, and Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad with Herbs and Pumpkin Seeds. Organic Rosie Chicken bathed in Stonehouse Blood Orange Oil, Lemon and Tangerines delivered mouth-watering Persian Roast Chicken. At first beautifully veiled bottles, Persian Tradition Isfahan Chardonnay and Shiraz accompanied the sumptuous dinner. Delicious Flourless Almond Cookies with Cardamom, Orange Zest and Pistachios, Organic Strawberries and Mint Tea concluded this heartfelt evening as a Silver Dollar was gifted to Josh for finding the Afikomen! Next year in Jerusalem?!

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Tags: Epicurious, Persian Tradition Wine, Rosie Chicken, Stonehouse Olive Oil, World Jewish Congress
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March 25th, 2019
ChezHelvetica celebrated Pi Day on 3/14 (the first significant numbers of the mathematical constant π) along with others around the world. Some aficionados count digits while some eat Pie to celebrate the occasion. With infinite choices and recently made Lemon-Garlic Turkey this evening’s selection was a Food Network recipe for Turkey Pot Pie.
Executive and Sous Chefs chopped, sautéd, stirred, crowned with pie crust and baked. Voila’ – a delicious dinner took centerstage on this special day!
 Chopping onion, celery, snow peas, parsley
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 Sautéing all ingredients in butter
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 Adding chicken stock, flour and wine
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 Cover with pie crust brushed with egg and bake
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Tags: Epicurious, Food Network
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February 4th, 2019
Tags: House of Bagels, La Marca, O Organics, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Yumly
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November 27th, 2018
Thanksgiving at ChezHelvetica let things take their own course, one delicious dish after another.
A nod first to the exquisite table setting art directed by Mom using menus from the upscale Red Coach Grill in Cleveland, Ohio as place settings, with each guest name written on hand-cut suede. (These almost-antique menus show The Traditional Pilgrim’s Fare dinner price at $5.45, with $2.50 for children.) This evening’s bill of fare, labeled Three-Hour Menu For 6-8 by Epicurious, more realistically could have been called 23-Hour Menu with everyone’s contributions. However, it was glorious!
From the Kale and Brussel Sprouts Salad bursting with Sliced Almonds and Pecorino Cheese to savory Roasted Delicata Squash with Sweet Potatoes and piquant Cranberry Agrodolce, traditional Garlic Mashed Potatoes, mouth-watering Turkey with Lemon-Garlic Butter to Sage-accented Skillet Stuffing filled with Wild Mushrooms. Rive Sud Pinot Noir Rosé from France perfectly complemented our feast. Intense Chocolate Fudge Brownies á la mode with Roasted Pecans made giving thanks with dear family and friends the sweetest possible!

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Posted in Blog Post | Comments Off on A Laissez-Faire Thanksgiving