Style Sheet, the blog of HGTV.ca, published my latest guest blogger post this morning.

I went on a hunt for three desk chairs that would look great in a home office.

I selected three styles that suit three budgets from home furniture stores across Canada. If you enjoy, leave a comment on Style Sheet.

If you wonder, I sit all day on an Aeron chair by Herman Miller. I felt for this icon ergonomics chair ten years ago. I feel that it is money well spent since I passed long hours at my desk.

Via Style Sheet

Originally tian refers to a classic ceramic gratin dish than is frequently used in French Provencal cuisine. With times, it moves to what was inside the dish.

A tian is always made with sliced vegetables arranged in altering rows. Meat can be used to accentuate the taste.

A tian dish always looks inviting. It is comfort food at its best that can easily feed a large group. The tian recipes scream alfresco dinner.

The July-August 2008 issue of Saveurs features 4 tasty tian recipes. For a twist, they propose an entre version of tomatoes, goat cheese and pine nuts. The classic Provencal tian is made of tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, anchovies, olives and fresh rosemary.

Tomatoes, Goat Cheese And Pine Nuts Tian Recipe

Recipe by Valery Drouet translated from Saveurs

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 4 tomatoes
• 8 ounces (250 grams) of lightly dried goat cheese
• 1 tablespoon of fir honey
• 4 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 ounces (60 grams) of pine nuts
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to prepare the recipe:

1. Heat on the stove the honey and olive oil with some salt and pepper.
2. Slice the tomatoes and the goat cheese. Aim for a regular thickness.
3. Preheat the oven grill
4. Place a sheet of parchment paper (waxed paper is not oven-proof) in 4 individual oven dishes. Layer the tomatoes and the goat cheese in an altering pattern. Sprinkle the pine nuts and pour the honey-olive oil mixture.
5. Put under the grill for 8 to 10 minutes
6. Serve immediately with a mesclun salad and a white Bellet wine, if you can find one of the oldest vineyards in France.

It is hard to find a bottle of Bellet wine outside France since it is also one of the smallest French appellations. The Bellet vineyards are located next to the city of Nice. The main grapes are Rolle (80 to 90%) with a hint of Chardonnay. Honey and bananas are the main aromas.

The last two pictures illustrate the charms of using vintage metal pots to serve family-style your meals. Take advantage of the Labour Day weekend to prepare a similar setting.

Calling for Help

If you read French, I encourage you to find the July-August 2008 issue. There is also an interesting article on ice cream. I regularly buy this magazine since it is widely available in Montreal. I am not sure if you can find it on specialty shops across North America. If you know a source in English Canada or the United States, share it by commenting.

SOURCING:
+ Saveurs
+ Tians photographed by Valry Guedes, Styled by Valry Drouet for July-August 2008 of Saveurs pages 26-27
+ Bottom pictures photographed by ric Fnot, Styled by Delphine Brunet for July-August 2008 of Saveurs pages 56-57

This is my daily collection of noteworthy stuff that I saw online.

+ The Archimede Laptop Caddy designed by Leonardo Rossano in 2006 would be handy when I blog in front of the TV. I am tired of putting my laptop on lap. Unfortunately at $950, it is too expensive for my needs. Via Los Angeles Times

+ But the new Ebony Ribbon Storage Box from Martha Stewart Crafts collection is an affordable indulgence. Via Los Angeles Times

+ Rediscovering the simple pleasures of tailgating when it did not meant a large BBQ on a stadium parking. Photos by Studio Dreyer Hensley. Via Sweet Paul

+ notNeutral Transport Ceramic Snack Set is another kid dinnerware set that is neither in melamine nor in vibrant colors. notNeutral sells the 3-piece set for $32. It is more than double the price of Bodum Kids dinnerware set I showed you last Sunday. There is a market for something else than the big movies theme in kid tableware. Via Ohdeedoh

+ I like the German-made Weck Canisters available at Heath Ceramics. Via Hoping for Happy Accidents

+ Pretty amazing of shots from the Beijing Olympics that you never seen. The gallery contains 150 captivating pictures. Via Twitter

Last Saturday, a friend hosted his annual epluchette de ble d'inde (corn on the cob party). This a familial outdoor party where we eat freshly picked corns cooked in boiling water. It is a tradition here in Quebec.

I decided to order two dozens of creative cupcakes from Clever Cupcakes. The first batch was vanilla cake. The second was a more daring flavor; I opt for a chocolate chili cake. The icing was vanilla in both cases. I can vouch that the cupcakes are as good as they look.

Michelle of Clever Cupcakes is easy to deal with. We talked on the phone and by email. We selected together the items she will do in 3D. The second patch has the classic red and white tablecloth or napkin. The pictures do not show well the French words that were imprinted. I selected beurre (butter), sel (salt), pi de mas (corn-cub), bl d'inde (corn), pluchette.

My girlfriends asked me where I got my cupcakes. Everyone was in awe with the design. I will definitely order from Michelle in the future.

As for the event itself, the weather was fabulous. The food was delicious. Everyone had a lot of fun and we look forward to next year event.

SOURCING:
+ Clever Cupcakes

September is almost there. We feel the colder air here in Montreal this morning. Therefore, we will be slowly moving towards autumnal hues for our tablescapes.

My first compilation for fall 2008 is from the latest tableware additions at Williams Sonoma.

I would like to get the pewter and ceramic bowl with handles. A bowl like that looks so chic on a table. And the model at Williams Sonoma is about half the price of the handmade Convivio centerpiece bowl with handles by Match.

The Dashboard Trays & Coasters are now available in glass instead of wood surface to add more sparkles to your events. The high gloss wood grain model reminds us of the vintage roadsters and 1940s speedboats.

Williams Sonoma describes its pear tureens as a natural for serving poached pears. It only works if you serve cold poached pears. In reality, this tureen will be more useful to serve hot and cold soups, stews, oatmeal and fresh fruit salads.

SOURCING:
+ Pewter & Ceramic Bowls price: $125 bowl, $225 bowl with handle
+ Glass Dashboard Trays & Coasters price: $88-$198 USD
+ Dashboard Trays & Coasters price: $88-$225 USD
+ Pear Tureens price: $18 small, $48 large
+ Autumnal Plaid Table Linens price: $52 for 4 napkins or 4 placemats, $48 for table runner
+ Match Convivio Centerpiece bowl with handles price: $400 USD