Zandra with a "Z'

She has a tiny tattoo of a lily flower on her thigh, occasionally sneaks a Mars candy bar, is thrilled being appointed a  Dame (DBE), and wouldn't be recognized without her pink hair. Zandra Rhodes, considers herself a "printer" but her immeasurable talents and artistic skills bring her quite further than that.

                   

                                                                                                              

Her colorful textile prints which evolved into floating fantasy clothes erased all the old fashion taboos regarding dress design. Her original creations have been seen at red carpet events, runways, and on celebrities throughout the world.  

Zandra Rhodes was born in 1940 in Chatham, Kent, U.K. She attended London's Royal College of Art and her first major area of study was Printed Textile design. When she discovered how beautiful the printed fabrics draped on the body, her artistic imagination began to really bloom. At first the fashion community considered her eccentric and extreme but in the late 1960's when "anything goes", her peers began to pay attention. 

Today Ms. Rhodes's original designs extend to handbags, bed linens, and five separate collections of jewelry. She finds inspiration everywhere she travels; India is a huge influence with it's bright lively colors. The name Zandra Rhodes is associated with color, though she has designed a line of black, white, and gray garments. Even the design of those creations vibrate with energy!  

When talking about her work, she is always saying, "We" instead of "I". She likes to surround 

herself with people who are as enthusiastic as she is. Ms. Rhodes likes working with a team of people and is generous with sharing her creative knowledge with young students.

The woman who walks confidently in high heels and never steps out the door without pink hair and full makeup, shares wise counsel to the novice: "Never give up ever, when people try to crush you." Along with, "No point in doing anything, unless you do it to the best of your ability."After five successful decades in the industry, Zandra Rhodes still loves fashion now more than ever!     

Zolo Grill

When it comes to some southwestern cuisine restaurants, the chefs are so proud of their red and green chile sauces, that the food is abundantly smothered in it. I usually scrape it aside with a spoon to see if there is a tamale or chicken thigh hiding beneath.

But this was not so at the Zolo Grill restaurant located in central Boulder,Colorado. Inside it felt like we were seated in a pueblo dwelling with long wooden branch poles hanging across the ceiling. The rustic contemporary art on the wall and the low cozy lighting made us feel comfortable in this southwestern ambience. Immediately we were able to determine that this was a friendly and casual place to be. Many of the employees have been there for quite some time; there definitely is a family feeling among them.

All the food, including the meats, ribs, dressings, chorizo sausages, sauces, and desserts, are made from scratch. The menu changes seasonally and many of the ingredients are sourced from local farms. Meats are brined and sometimes smoked for as long as three days.

The cuisine can be described as southwestern, upscale and gourmet but assessable to everyone. We tried the Queso Fundido appetizer, barbeque beef brisket, butternut squash poblano tamales, and the chicken enchiladas. The popular banana cream pie has been on the menu since their opening in 1994.
They sure are doing something right because after 21 years in business, the staff are now welcoming a second generation of loyal customers to Zolo Grill.  Not to mention, it was such a pleasant surprise to visually see the delicious food served before us!

Tour de Fat-- Too Much Fun

Just to further prove that our town of Fort Collins, Colorado, is a bicycle-friendly community, over 25,000 cyclists come together on one Saturday morning annually for the Tour de Fat  bicycle parade. This past weekend the free event occurred. I cleaned up my New Belgium  bike, ( that I had won in a contest three years ago) and checked the air in the tires for a smooth ride.

 Out came the box that stores my special Tour de Fat costume: black and white striped knee stockings, a black and white polka dot bicycle skirt, and a white t-shirt with "Tour de Fat" embroidered on the back. For a bit of  "bling", I wear long red feather earrings and my red helmet has strings of pearls hanging from the back.  Actually, it's a pretty conservative costume compared to the thousands of other participants. People come up with some very crazy outlandish outfits.

Even bicycles get decorated with crepe paper, colorful flags, streamers, plastic flowers, blaring music boxes and baskets holding dogs. Some very talented and skilled welders work on original home-made bikes all year just to ride and show off their new creations for this once-a-year festival.

Several streets along the route, in the downtown area of Fort Collins, are blocked off for the bike parade. Volunteers and police officers help safely guide the masses of cyclists along the right direction.  Everyone is in a party mood and lots of smiles can be seen. Even the folks watching on the sidelines  wear colorful costumes, pull out the barbeques, and cheer the riders on--even though this is not a bicycle race. In fact with so many bikes, the parade moves along quite slowly, which gives me a chance to observe all the creative costumes surrounding me.

At the end of the parade route, hundreds of rental bike racks are placed in a large empty lot but it's not enough to hold all the innumerable amount of bikes. Every available street light or pole will have several bikes locked up against it. Actually the whole downtown area becomes one big bike parking lot. Several music bands play rock music. Food vendors sell pizzas, hamburgers, veggie-wraps, and even Chinese dumplings. Long line of hungry cyclists start queuing up.

 At the end of the day prizes are given to the best costumes and unique bikes. It's just a really fun and unusual day, spent among thousands of bikes. I ride my bicycle home, take a well-deserved shower and pack away my costume into it's own special box until next year's Tour de Fat. Can't wait!

A Day in San Diego

We've all been there, done that, and some of us even "got the T-Shirt".....we helped a friend or family member to move their household to a new home. And when the work is all done, there is usually a celebration of sharing a large pizza, but in this case it was Mexican food.

I just returned from a trip in southern California to help my daughter, Erica, and her family, make a major move four hours away. There was a heat wave during the whole week that I was there. My packing of shorts and tank tops worked just fine.

I was raised south of the San Diego area and some of my family still live there. Over the years we took many trips to the usual tourist's spots such as Tijuana, Balboa Park and Sea World. My sister, Cory, asked me what I wanted to do with my one free day before the BIG MOVE.  " Oh, let's go to the beach, I haven't seen the Pacific Ocean for quite some time now," I replied. So along with my mother, we drove out to Ocean Beach. This was on the last weekend before school started. Seems like everyone had a desire for one last summer hurrah.

We could quickly see that there was not one single parking space available. Ditching that idea, Cory suggested Dog Beach, where "it's so entertaining to watch the dogs play in the waves." ( Dog Beach is the most popular canine hotspot in San Diego.)  Not only was there NO parking spaces , we got stuck in a line of cars trying to escape OUT of the parking lot.We then drove over to Shelter Island. After two minutes of gazing out at the San Diego Harbor, the heat wave forced us back into the air conditioned car.

One last effort was a short drive south to the Seaport Village area where The Headquarters is located. Yea! At last, we found a precious parking space! Presented in 2013, the open-air market offers a range of specialty shops and eateries. The buildings served as the headquarters for the San Diego Police Department from 1939-1987. Building began in 1937 and the architecture represents a  Spanish mission style along with a mixture of Ancient Greece and Rome Classical Revival. It is now on the National Registrar of Historic Places because of this eclectic gathering of architectual mode.

At one time the building housed a crime lab, five courtrooms, an emergency hospital, an indoor shooting range, and an extensive law library. Some of the original jail cells from the 1930's still exist. Of course, we couldn't resist playing jailbirds and had our photo taken. There is a Hall of History displaying original mug shots of men and women who also got their picture taken, but not happily. Adding to the historic value is the tower where the San Diego police officers watched the Pacific Ocean for enemy aircraft during World War II.  

Fortunately these lovely vintage buildings were not torn down but instead were refurbished into a center where art and music events take place all year long. We had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and topped it by sharing a piece of Salted Caramel Cheesecake. Excellent decision.

We drove back to my sister's house and I sat on her back patio looking at the Pacific Ocean in the distance with a cool breeze brushing across my sweaty face. Holding my glass of minted iced water, I was reminded of what I use to tell my kids when traveling: "Go with the flow!"  We did that on this San Diego Day and it turned out to be quite  pleasant after all.

Victoria, B.C and The Gentle Art of Afternoon Tea - Part II

"Thank God for tea ! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea."   Sydney Smith, "Lady Holland's Memoir"

For someone like me being from a small California town near the Mexican border, afternoon tea was a different and unique way of socially eating. As we continue here with the foods served at afternoon tea, a little focus on scones. Many Americans are familiar with the dry, crusty versions and tend to shy away from eating them. I always received favorable comments from the students in my tea
classes after sampling my take on scones.

There are many varieties of scones. Some are baked with currants, cream, sweet spices or savory with cheese. They come in different shapes; round, wedged or dropped-batter on a hot griddle. I suggest choosing one flavor and serve it with jam and cream. The secret ingredient is the buttermilk that keeps the scone moist. Even a low-fat buttermilk will bring good results.

                                             Cinnamon Buttermilk Scones  

3 cups all purpose flour 
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 3/4 cup butter, chilled cut in pieces  (1 1/2 sticks)
3/4 cup buttermilk
 1/4 cup milk (use to brush top of cut scones)
      
Topping: mix 1 tablespoon cinnamon with 1 cup sugar  (This will produce more than you need. Keep extra stored in a small jar with a tight lid.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir all the dry ingredients.
With a pastry blender or a fork, cut in the butter until it becomes crumbly.
Slowly add the buttermilk and gently stir with a fork. Form a large ball.
On a lightly floured surface, pat the dough 1/2 thick. 
Cut out the scone with a 2" deep cookie cutter.
Place an a greased baking sheet. Parchment paper can also be used.
Brush tops of scones with a little milk.
Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon topping.
Bake for about 15-18 minutes, let cool on a baking rack.   

Clotted cream can be purchased from a kitchen gourmet store. The clotted cream is skimmed from the top of milk; much like the cream that "floats" to the top of fresh bottled milk or yogurt. It is high in fat content but only a small spoonful is needed for those watching their calories. The small jars of cream can be a bit expensive if you are serving a large crowd of people as I was doing for my tea classes. So I came up with a thriftier version, a mock-clotted cream, that, although not authentic is quite tasty.   

My favorite part of tea are the "sweets". Sweets should be small and dainty. Pick three that vary in taste and texture. For example, lemon mini-tarts, two-bite brownies, and shortbread are a good selection. These can be hand-baked or purchased to save time. Again, three sweets are simple. Try to always include chocolate as one of your selections. 

                                              Mock-clotted Cream

          1 cup whipping cream
          1/4 cup sour cream
          4 tablespoons powdered sugar
          1/4 teaspoon almond flavoring
         
          Mix all ingredients in a deep bowl.  
          Beat with an electric mixer until thick.
          Refrigerate , covered, for 1 hour.  

Obviously, afternoon tea requires a good pot of brewed tea to compliment the food. The most favorable afternoon tea is Earl Grey. English Breakfast and Darjeeling follow in popularity. Herbal and fruit teas are not traditional but are perfectly acceptable at the tea table if that is what you prefer.

                                          How to Brew a Proper Pot of Tea  

 First, measure how many cups of water fill your teapot. Write the number on a small piece of paper and tape it on the bottom of your teapot. This will help you from having to re-measure every time you want to make a pot of tea. 

Fill the kettle with fresh, cold water.
Warm your teapot by filling it with hot water.
When the kettle water comes to a boil, empty the previous hot water from your teapot.
Fill your warmed, empty teapot with tea leaves. Use 1 teaspoon of loose tea per cup, adjusting the quantity to suit your taste.
Pour the boiled water over the leaves, cover with lid, and let step for 3-5 minutes.
Give the tea a stir to ensure an even brew.
Use a tea strainer placed over the teacup and pour the tea.
Serve with milk (not cream), or lemon and sugar cubes.   

I happily urge you to give afternoon tea a try. I know it will be the beginning of a wonderful tradition for you, your family and friends!
 

Victoria B. C. and The Gentle Art Of Afternoon Tea - Part l

 The Joy of Afternoon Tea

A few days ago I finished my chapter about afternoon tea for my upcoming book, "The Travel Writer's Wife". One may wonder, how does afternoon tea relate to travel?  Well...

#1. I taught classes on this subject for several years all around Colorado and Wyoming. Teaching these classes on my own time gave me the flexibility to travel with my travel writer husband, Ron.

#2. Wherever we traveled, if the opportunity arose, we would visit a tea room.

We have partaken of this lovely centuries-old ritual in Canada, Europe, and the United States. One of the loveliest tea rooms we visited was in Shreveport, Louisiana (the Glenwood Village & Tearoom). The decor was elegant and all the tea foods served prettily presented.

We had tea at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada, where our server was a very proper gentleman who had worked in the tea room for over 30 years. His serving and the tea itself was impeccable.

A unique tea was the Fashionista Tea At The Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London. All the tea foods served were designed with inspiration from London's fashion week's runways. Quite clever!

I was first introduced to afternoon tea when I was an art student in London, England. I was so impressed with the style and the distinctive foods served. To my young southern Californian eyes, afternoon tea was so unique and it was fun to share this tradition with my friends back home.

At the time, I was a single young working girl on a tight budget, so I would purchase my teapots, tea cups and saucers at thrift stores. A used and washed lace curtain made do for a pretty and elegant looking tablecloth. I sewed napkins from remnants of fabric and ironed them with a touch of spray starch. A few colorful silk flowers made a simple center piece.

As a result of serving so many teas over the years at birthdays, weddings, and baby showers, I was able to easily design a class on the subject of afternoon tea. I taught these classes over a period of several years. One doesn't need a special occasion to have a tea. Purchase a small list of ingredients, invite a few friends, over and put on a kettle of hot water.

Traditional foods served at afternoon tea include scones with jam and cream, dainty finger sandwiches, and sweets. Add a freshly brewed pot of tea to wash it all down. Finger sandwiches can be made with an assortment of fillings. Chopped crab-meat, egg salad or curried chicken salad are just a few choices. The all-time favorite is cucumber which blends well with a cream cheese and dill spread.

I suggest three different fillings for your tea sandwiches. Use soft white and brown bread; multi and whole grain breads are too thick.Tea sandwiches are always best made on the same day. Start making them early, they do take time. Bring the filling to room temperature for easy spreading. Spread the filling on a slice of bread, almost to the edge. Top with another slice of bread. Do not cut the edges off at this time. Place sandwiches on a large tray. Wrap securely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate. About an hour before your guests arrive, trim off all edges and cut into desired shapes. These are some of the shapes you can use:  

Ingredients

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
• 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into thin slices, patted dry with paper towels  

Directions

• Soften cream cheese, mix with dill, blend well.
• Spread mixture on bread slices.   Place one layer of cucumber slices on filling. 
• Top with another slice of bread. With a serrated knife, neatly trim off edges.     

The next blog-post, The Gentle Art of Afternoon Tea - Part II, will include my scone recipe that I served at all my tea classes along with a recipe for mock-clotted cream. Also simple instructions on how to brew a perfect pot of tea is presented.  Cheers!

Square Slices              Triangle  Slices                Finger Slices

  Tea sandwiches can be cut into any of these   

  three shapes.

 

Global Gumshoe investigates Saskatchewan, Canada

Ron recently returned from a trip to Saskatchewan. He wrote several articles, with different slants, and published them in a variety of outlets.

He also put together a video of his best photos and video and you can see it at his Youtube channel...or better still, right here!

And be sure to check out his blog: Original Global Gumshoe. Not to mention his website at GlobalGumshoe.com