Tagine tidbit

I know you think I'm obsessing over the Tagine (see below and below) but it could be worse (I could be fixated on ABBA memorabilia.) But yesterday, I was ignoring a deadline doing some vital research and came across a factoid that I am compelled to share. The conical shape of the dish, which allows water to condense and fall back on the meat during cooking, is directly related to the geography of North Africa, from where the Tagine originates. Water was often scarce in the region, which meant there wasn't much available for cooking. Using steam makes maximum use of a precious commodity.Now that's fascinating, is it not? Tomorrow, an ode to preserved lemons, a common ingredient in North African cuisine. Can you stand the wait?

Kanye West - design maven

You may look at my picture and decide that I'm a slightly frumpy middle-aged mom type. Not true - I'm actually an incredibly style-savvy, culturally literate women of a certain age who's totally in touch with pop culture. Why else would I have been lurking aorund Kanye West's website? Yes, I was too! While there, I learned - much to my surprise - that the dude is a design hound! It just goes to show - you shouldn't judge people by their appearances. Check out his blog. Just try to ignore the pics of young ladies in their underwear. (I wouldn't mine so much if the eye candy was equal opportunity - what about a pic of Daniel Craig in his tighty-whities?)

A tale of two Tagines

I’m a woman torn between two loves. Last week, I was infatuated with Trudeau’s sexy Tagine dish (see below). But I just got my hands on the enamel cast-iron Tagine from Le Creuset, and am falling hard. This beauty has a shallow black enameled dish with a rolled edge and a conical lid, the colour of which graduates from a smokey red to a ripe tomato hue. It also comes in acid green, yellow, and light and dark blue. At $205, it costs about twice as much as the one from Trudeau. But it is magnificent. I’m so conflicted. Maybe I could hang on to both of them, using one for weekday cooking and sneak in weekend rendezvous with the other? And if I keep them in separate parts of the kitchen they need never know about each other, right? I just don’t want anyone to get hurt. P.S. The guy who sells me meat at the Persian butcher store at the end of my street says I should add pomegrante molasses to my next Tagine dish. I will, and promise to report back...

Roll over, Rover

You love Rover, but hate the way his fur gets onto everything, including your new charcoal grey sofa (BTW, good choice - grey is our favourite new neutral). Cope humanely with the situation by using Dyson’s latest hand-held vacuum, the DC Animal 16, which is specifically designed to remove animal fur from upholstery. It’s not only got super-hero strength suction, it’s also very pretty to look at, with a metallic champagne sheen. Available at Sears, The Bay, Future Shop and www.dyson.com for about $230. (Yes, dear, that is a lot of money, but I'm increasingly of the opinion that you really do get what you pay for.) I never thought I’d be asking for a vaccum cleaner for Christmas, but I’ve got to admit, after living for 11 years with a Siberian Husky, I’d be delighted to find the DC Animal 16 under the tree. Please, Santa? The dog and I have been arf-fully good this year.

Good news/bad news

Here’s the good news. The Tagine cooker from Trudeau makes an absolutely delicious braised meal and is both beautiful to look at and to serve from. As soon as I got mine, I ran out to a little Persian butcher at the end of my street, and bought lamb shoulder and herbs. After pan searing the meat, I stuck it in the tagine with some veg and broth and let it cook in the oven on low heat for a few hours. The cooking aroma was heavenly, the cooked meat was like butter, and guests raved about the sculptural look of the black cast-iron base and the fluted triangular white stoneware top, the shape of which causes steam to condense and drip back onto the meat, hence the incredible tenderness. Here’s the bad news — supplies of the product may be limited. For now, William Ashley William Ashley, 55 Bloor St. W 416-964-9111, Ashton Green Ltd., 1960 Ellesmere Rd., 416 431 2280, Kitchen and Glass Place , 840 Yonge St., 416-927-9925 and Jolanta Interiors, 2368 Bloor St. W., 416-762-9638 should all either have it in stock or be able to special order it in. It costs about $100. Get yours now. Go on, get moving – you won’t be sorry....

Best of blogs

What the heck?! Domino magazine has just published its list of 12 best design blogs, and mine’s not listed? How can that be? Okay, I admit, the competition is pretty fierce, and the bogs they list do have great design and decor stuff...but I’m just sayin’. Check them out anyway, loyal readers.

Natural woods

The re-emergence of natural woods in decor, coupled with a growing taste for hand—crafted pieces, means that custom furniture is very hot. If you can’t afford to plunk down a wad of cash for a bespoke chair or table, maybe you can learn to create your own while taking a woodworking course - all the rage these days.

To be taught by one of the best, sign up with Rob Brown, who under the name Equinox Interiors, makes lovely Asian-inspired furniture, much of which incorporates beautiful hand-made papers and features traditional joinery methods.

He began giving woodworking lessons this fall, and the response has been huge — Brown has had interest from across the country. So if you're yearning to release your inner furnitur-ista, sign up for course of classes. And if you’re really are all thumbs, consider treating yourself to one of Brown’s exquisite pieces  - you'll be right on trend AND investing in a future family heirloom.

Delicious Danish

As if you need another reason to check out the AGO redesign by superstar Frank Gehry! Besides the fact that admission is free on the opening weekend, which kicks off Nov. 14, you won't want to miss seeing the several parts of the gallery that have been furnished with pieces by 16 Danish companies, including design giants Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, and Georg Jensen. The Danish presence is the result of an offer the Danes made two years ago — one the AGO couldn't’t refuse; significant discounts on works by some of Denmark’s biggest design names. To get the look at home, search out great Danish design at several Toronto stores, including Kiosk,  Plan B  and Bergo. 

Dear Anti Martha

My holiday party is just three weeks off, and I’ve realized there’s no way all the renovation and decorating I had planned will get done in time. So 50 of my closest friends will soon know that my house is a wreck. Short of cancelling, is there anything I can do?

Harried Hostess

Dear Harried Hostess

Frankly, Anti Martha’s idea of inspired entertaining is to invite some pals over for cheesey weiner wind-ups and beer while the hockey game is on (go, Leafs, go!). So I asked my friend, William Macdonald, a society designer type who gets invited to a lot of lah-dee-dah parties, about what to do. Here’s his advice:

1) Remove clutter from shelves, tables and mantles and put it in a box. Hide the box in a closet. If you forget about it for a year or two, that's a good thing.

2) Clean the house – especially the bathrooms. Dust the lampshades – if the party gets going, they may end up on someone’s head.

3) Stock up on the fixings for great cocktails (be responsible, now!) and terrific nibbles. For ideas, check out the LCBO. Burn some great CDs. Make room for dancing.

4) Before guests arrive, turn the lights down low. Light lots of candles. Put flowers in vases.

5) Enjoy yourself. And DO NOT apologize for the way your house looks. If anyone says anything (and they won’t — see tip number three), smile and say something about how you’re really into a mid-century, down-at-the-heel vernacular – but in an ironic way.

Definitely not a turkey

When I first got the Black and Decker InfraWave oven, which cooks using infrared light and is supposed to get food from freezer to fork 50 per cent faster than a conventional oven — and use about 35 per cent less energy than a traditional toaster oven — I didn’t actually think I’d use it much.

Then I found myself frantic — at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Monday — unable to fit the extra turkey breast I’d bought to feed unexpected guests into the oven with the big bird.

So I bunged it in the Infrawave (no preheating required), and had a perfectly roasted breast within an hour. Used it since then to quickly roast small potatoes (about 15 minutes), bake a salmon steak, re-heat pizza and cook chicken wings.

My son James (aka the boy who never stops eating) can also use it by himself to make after-school snacks, such as fries and pizza pockets.

I haven’t even begun to explore all the 50 pre-programmed settings. There are two sizes; the smaller sells for about $140, while a large format model goes for about $190. I think I’m a convert – at least until the next gadget comes along!