Innehållsförteckning för May - June 2014 från Victoria

I have always been what people call a “book learner.” Not only do I grasp concepts better when they are in print, but sometime early in life, I sensed that anything I needed to know could be found within the pages of a book. (This probably explains my adolescent hobby of reading encyclopedia entries.) And so, at the tender age of 13, when I decided to return to the study of ballet after a few unsuccessful years of piano lessons, my first thought was likely something along the lines of I need a good book on the subject. So I walked around the corner to a small bookshop in a local mall. I selected from the Performing Arts shelf a slim paperback titled Barefoot to Balanchine: How to Watch Dance,…

“Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward.” —TERRI GUILLEMETS See Recipe Index, page 85, for recipe information.…

There is much more than meets the eye in the quaint French city of Lyon, situated at the convergence of two famed rivers, the Rhône and the Saône. Layers of history intermingle with progressive urban development here. A visit of several days affords an opportunity for numerous excursions to ancient cathedrals, newly designed public spaces, historic homes, and noted museums. With origins dating back to its days as a Roman outpost, Lyon celebrates its past, from the Middles Ages through the Renaissance, while showcasing its contemporary riches. High atop a hill, the imposing Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière towers over the town. Created to honor the Virgin Mary for protecting Lyon during the Franco-Prussian War, the awe-inspiring church was constructed by renowned architects Pierre Bossan and Louis Sainte-Marie-Perrin from 1872 to…

As a senior vice president for a national commercial real-estate developer, Kathy Delgado graced magazine covers and was listed among the most powerful women in her profession. But even though the Los Angeles– based executive had attained wealth and numerous accolades, her daydreams carried her far from her competitive business environment. During weekend escapes to Europe, Kathy indulged her passion for romantic French ambience—exploring Parisian flea markets and pausing to savor buttered croissants. One day, she got lost and entered a small antiques store to ask for directions. Without success, she tried to communicate with the Frenchspeaking owners, pointing to the address in her notes. To Kathy’s surprise, the older couple took her hands and gently led her from the shop, pausing to turn the sign on the door to…

BERRY SPLENDOR Begins on page 29 Roasted-Strawberry Salad with Grenache Vinaigrette p.29 Makes 4 servings 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced lengthwise and stems removed 2 stalks rhubarb, sliced 1 (5-ounce) package spring-mix lettuces ½ cup goat cheese, crumbled ¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted Grenache Vinaigrette (recipe follows) Garnish: edible flowers 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; spray with cooking spray, and set aside. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add strawberries and rhubarb, stirring to coat. Arrange strawberries and rhubarb in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. 3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes,…

Sunnyside was an old farmhouse with many stories to tell. We would lurch up to it in our family’s wood-paneled Country Squire station wagon, emerging from a dirt road edged in shadows into the light of a clearing where the house sat, shimmering, atop a small rise. Its front porch entwined with wisteria and its foundation edged in Queen Anne’s lace, it vibrated with what can only be called “presence.” As a child, I fancied that I alone heard the tales that emanated from its walls: stories of long, hot days spent behind a plow; of tiny stitches a needle pushed up and down through a linen sampler; of blueberries gathered and boiled into jams on the cast-iron stove. Sunnyside had no electricity. Nor was there indoor plumbing—only a faded…

A Taste of the French Wine Country Centuries-old family vineyards, magnificent châteaux, and quaint hamlets draw visitors to the illustrious province of Beaujolais, France, above. Historically acclaimed for wine making, this picturesque countryside also merits exploration for its world-class cuisine and affable spirit. Walk the fields alongside passionate artisans who follow the footsteps of previous generations that labored among the vines, and discover the incomparable ambience of this spectacular region. A Bevy of Blooms Glorious vistas await plant enthusiasts at Canada’s Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. Expanding the area’s prolific horticultural heritage, Kingsbrae blends traditional and modern styles to maintain a 27-acre oasis that flourishes with an assortment of flowers, shrubs, and trees numbering in the tens of thousands. Ranging from the distinguished beauty of a formal…

“I would not exchange my leisure hours for all the wealth in the world.” —HONORÉ GABRIEL RIQUETI, COMTE DE MIRABEAU “That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful.” —NINON DE L’ENCLOS…

Formal splendor and casual charm converge in a living masterpiece of more than seventy thousand flowers, shrubs, and trees at Canada’s Kingsbrae Garden in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. Home to a spellbinding array of themed gardens, it showcases a wealth of displays designed to inspire spectators’ own outdoor havens. “What’s special about our garden is its common touch,” says Andreas Haun, director of horticulture. “Visitors feel a kinship to it because they feel like they can re-create many of the ideas. We encourage them to step on the grass and interact with the garden.” The 27-acre oasis is situated on what was once several grand old estates with a long history of botanical riches. In 1996, John and Lucinda Flemer graciously donated the property to the province. The horticultural…

Happiness is the settling of the soul into its most appropriate spot. ” —ARISTOTLE…

Tradition and innovation converge on the gently rolling slopes of Burgundy’s wine country—the setting for Château de La Chaize in Odenas, France. Constructed for François d’Aix de La Chaize, captain of the Lyon Regiment and younger brother of the father confessor of King Louis XIV, the seventeenth-century castle was inspired by drawings from the architect of the Palace of Versailles. Remarkably, the estate has remained in the same family since 1667. When the property’s current successor, Marquise de Roussy de Sales, took ownership of La Chaize in 1967, she found the grounds a shadow of their former glory. She resolved to refurbish the declining villa, update insufficient winery operations, and restore the formal gardens. Within five years, the home, the landscape, and the wine cellar were designated as historic monuments.…

As he helped me on with my coat after a school concert, my dad stood alone. Even when I was 11 years old, it impressed me that only this quiet man could make his awkward adolescent daughter feel like a princess. Fifty years later, he continues to offer counsel and support in an unobtrusive manner. Not a teacher, he left my driving and swimming instruction to professionals. His lessons were more subtle and substantive. Employed as a mechanic for the Ford Motor Company for more than five decades, he set an example for his three daughters by never missing a day of work unless seriously ill. In retirement, he built furniture for all our homes, providing the gift of his talent and fine woodworking skills. At age 90, he crafted…

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