Author: ChezHelvetica

Happy BirthTeas!

ChezHelvetica introduced Merrick and Kyoko to the pleasures of Afternoon Tea in celebration of their upcoming birthdays, with delightful mother Clare in attendance. Happily, the girls are still at the ages of innocence, yet filled with intelligence, humor and myriad talents.

In keeping with tradition, our first course included a choice of teas (Black, Green, Chamomile and Mariage Freres Wedding Imperial) and an assortment of tea sandwiches ~ Smoked Salmon with Dill on whole wheat bread and Blue Cheese, Apple and Walnuts on Buttermilk bread. Also the table favorite, Peanut Butter and Four Fruit Preserves on both breads!

The second charming course featured homemade Raspberry Scones (thank you for the recipe Martha Stewart) and Apple Toffee Sweet Scones from Jane The Bakery. Bonne Maman Lemon Curd, Honey mixed with Maple Syrup and Créme Fraiche accompanied this course.

Now for the crescendo of birthday cake, candles and wishes! Just Desserts Carrot Cake with luscious Cream Cheese frosting (first served to Merrick when she was 4yo) happily concluded our “Partea” !!!

Pass Over

“Why does this night differ from all other nights?” ChezHelvetica distinguished this celebration of freedom by passing over the ritual Passover Seder, yet honoring the symbols and special foods eaten on this occasion. The meal started with traditional Apple-Walnut Charoset and Horseradish on Yehuda Matzo, accompanied by roasted Mt. Lassen Trout. Steaming Manischewitz Matzo Ball Soup with fresh Dill followed. Our main course beckoned ~ Cinnamon Butter Baked Carrots surrounding Rotisserie Chicken and Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower fragrant with Onion, Garlic and Thyme.

Family embraced us from afar, albeit from another state or heaven, through their beautiful table setting gifts. All would delight in the dessert of Chocolate Decadence Flourless Cake from Jane, Noe Valley Bakery Macaroons and Strauss Family Creamery Vanilla Ice Cream.

The next day, Matzo Brei with Salmon, Dill Pickle, Fuji Apple and Medjool Dates, with a view of flowering blooms across the street at the GGNRA, solidified our Resurrection. Pesach Sameach!

A Sparkling Birthday Tea Party!

Wishing J♥️Y! ChezHelvetica hosted a very special Cava75 Birthday Tea Party with dear, artful friends ~ in honor of incredible Arlene! With the cork popped on bubbling Marqués de Cáceres Cava Brut, the party was off. An array of delicious Tea Sandwiches (Shrimp, Egg Salad, Boursin and Blue Cheese/Walnut/Pear) was the first course, along with a wonderful Mango Cole Slaw and an assortment of Teas.

Next the sweet course! Martha Stewart’s recipe for Raspberry Scones and Panettone with Devon Clotted Cream and Stonewall Kitchen Orange Cranberry Marmalade and Holiday Jam, as well as Local Honey and Maple Syrup.

Delightful gift opening followed and then the birthday candle was kindled. Delicious Black Magic Cake with Chocolate Fudge frosting and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream were the sweet crescendo of this heartfelt party. The bottom line on the cake reads “Prince (with Purple Rain)”, Arlene’s forever love!

 

Gratitude 💕

Thankful and appreciative only begin to describe this special Thanksgiving gathering at ChezHelvetica. Absolutely Amazing defines the Executive Chef, Niece Rachel, who first baked delicious Pecan and Pumpkin Pies, and then incredible Baklava.

Next, she prepared Acme Bread Stuffing, Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Acorn Squash and a Diestel Farms Organic Turkey. Talk about babysitting the roasting!

       

Green Bean Casserole and Sweet-Tart Cranberry Cherry Sauce, prepared in advance by Sous Chefs Helvetica and Freddy, accompanied the expertly carved Turkey with homemade gravy.

     

Our cherished family and friends were first welcomed with Thatcher’s White Cheddar/Truffle Oil Popcorn, Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider and rich Argyle Pinot Noir. A choice of delectable desserts concluded this heartwarming celebration.  Grateful Indeed!

Reunion, at Last

If you wait three decades, sometimes reunions can occur. Blue-eyed family traversed the country to a greeting of Sunday brunch at ChezHelvetica.  Barefoot Contessa’s Baked French Toast Casserole made with Challah and a Streussel topping, served as the centerpiece for our guests of German and Irish ancestry. Roasted Aidell’s Chicken Apple Breakfast sausage accompanied the French Toast, which was then doused with sweet Maple Syrup. Farmers Market Peaches were filled with a delightful mixture of Fagé Yogurt, Blueberries and Raspberries, adding an extra touch of joy to the meal.

    

Lively, heartfelt conversation about family matriarchs long gone, grand children (even great, great grand children) and current interests filled the afternoon, sweetened with delectable Chocolates from Bruge, Belgium. Then it was off to Golden Gate Park or Yosemite or Home, which we are so fortunate to have!

💕 In honor of Grace Hahne, Dolly McGarry and Edna Sentner

 

Hail to The Emperor!

Our dear friend, Mark E. Rennie, now resides with the Angels and Devils. We hosted a tribute dinner honoring him, with his sister Alice Rennie in attendance. Given Alice’s no cheese or cream dietary restrictions, ChezHelvetica’s Frittata this evening consisted of onions, assorted vegetables from the local VA Farmers Market, potatoes, eggs, non-diary almond milk and artichoke/garlic sausage.

We showed Alice the Schefflera plant he gave us as a housewarming gift 40 years ago, which is now 14′ tall. We call this plant “Mark&Minnie” since this was also a gift from the delightful Minnie who always asked “How are we going to make some money honey?“ We talked about Mark’s founding of the iconic Billboard Cafe and Club Nine at Ninth and Folsom (in South of Market SOMA, San Francisco) and his many art and entertainment involvements.

 

     

From the ArtSeder he co-hosted in the ’80s to our annual “Dock of the Bay” birthday celebrations for him, Mark was the Emperor. Hail to The Emperor!

Palm Sunday Passover

A virtual mini-Seder with family began this holiday with discussion of the Seder Plate and symbolism of its foods. Palm fronds, commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, shared ChezHelvetica’s tabletop with symbols of the Jewish exodus from Egypt on the journey to freedom. Matzah, or unleavened bread, first appeared in the savory, steaming Matzah Ball soup. Then in the main course with Charoset  (symbolizing mortar) and horseradish or Bitter Herbs, reminding us of slavery. The delicious course also included wonderfully seasoned Rainbow Trout, Baked Potato with Sour Cream and delectable Root Vegetables. Our cups of fragrant Pinot Noir were blessed by St. Francis!

   

As we told stories of freedom and action needed to resist inequality – now more than ever – Decadent Flourless Chocolate Cake and Macaroons concluded this very special occasion. Chag Sameach, Happy Holiday!

   

 

Chrismukkah! 🎄🕎

Inspired by the Greens Restaurant menu for Christmas and the first night of Chanukah, ChezHelvetica and dear friends created a feast for this merged holiday. Taking the challenge, a New York Times four-page recipe for Mushroom Wellington starred as our main course. Seared Portobello Mushrooms were layered with Apple Cider caramelized Onions, Shallots and sautéed Shiitake Mushrooms (seasoned with Soy Sauce and bolstered with Walnuts) and wrapped in Puff Pastry. A Port reduction sauce, flavored with Shallots, Garlic, Peppercorns and fresh Thyme from our garden, drizzled over the Wellington. NB| The Sous Chef also created the toilet paper seed menorah.

Potato Kugel and multi-colored organic Carrots in Balsamic Vinegar with Cherries were our delicious side dishes. Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider and Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir heightened the celebration.

Chocolate Babka and Jelly Donuts (Chanukah’s official dessert, called Sufganiyot) concluded this amazing, heartwarming gathering of family and friends. Now for the miracles of 2025! Peace?!

Rachel aka spacegirl1, Dr. LeCover PhD

Celebration time ~ Niece Rachel turns 33! Between rainstorms and flash flooding, the sun shined on this remarkable day at ChezHelvetica. Sunday brunch called for the proverbial Lox, Cream Cheese and Everything Bagels with Dill Pickles and an assortment of sweet Organic Berries. Crustless Quiche , oozing with Unexpected Cheddar Cheese, Carmelized Onions, Sautéed Broccoli and Italian Sausage, added a savory touch.

          

Then, a walk  through the natural beauty of the GGNRA to the Legion of Honor to see the exquisite Mary Cassatt exhibition and amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown San Francisco and Ocean Beach. Now it was time for Birthday Cake and Champagne!

       

Meet beautiful birthday girl Rachel and boyfriend Jordan! Black Magic Cake,  Haagen Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream and sparkling Korbel Champagne filled the room with Happiest of Birthday Wishes!!!

Honoring Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples Table SettingChezHelvetica hosted the incredible “Cava 5 Tribe” for a luncheon of Indigenous foods and PowWow on the influence of Native Indians on each of our lives. The gathering commenced with Debon Brut Cava and a savory mixture of roasted Peanuts, Walnuts, Pecans and Sesame Seeds.

Heartwarming “Three Sisters” (Corn, Squash and Beans) Soup and Pumpkin Cream Biscuits with Sage Butter followed. The main course featured Smoked and Sweetened Trout in Cornmeal Tortilla wraps and Wild Rice With Root Vegetables Salad. Blended Cranberries, Maple Syrup and Apple Cider Vinegar dressed this delightful salad.  Artisa Chardonnay and Seghesio Zinfandel paired wonderfully with this Indigenous food. The Crescendo: Delectable Indian Pudding Sundaes and Chocolate Obsession Cake, with The Blue Angels soaring in the sky!!!