Red Berry Bliss
Simply stated, I Love Strawberries. Any kind of berry for that matter, but there is something so satisfying about seeing the first crates of the season start to appear…the taste of a fresh market strawberry in season is no less than a gift of summer.
So here, I will gift to you the sun kissed berries I recently savored, which thankfully made it home without bruises after a rather bumpy ride in my bicycle basket- it’s always more fun to share…
….elsewhere featured on Tutus&Tea during last summer’s Farmer’s Market Finds, and end of season Strawberry Cake, and more recently, Variations on a Grain…
Bon Appetite!
p.e.
Strudels & Symphonies
Have you ever been to Vienna, Austria?
Home to Waltzes & Wolfgang, Brahms & Beethoven, Strauss & Schubert…Apfelstrudel & Sachertorte…This darling European gem has a plethora of art, culture, sights and scents to discover.
For one last weekend euro-jaunt before I returned to a summer in the States, my aunt & uncle took me to this hub of classical culture not a two hour plane ride away…Think horse & buggy filled side streets, historic cathedrals & street markets, statues & the Sound of Music…
Apart from their famous desserts & fancy façades, my favorite experience was undoubtedly the full orchestral symphony we listened to at the Golden Hall ~ complete with many-a-mozart, playing the likes of every Amadeus masterpiece…I sat there, brimful of Viennese sweets, soaking in every last note.
Shall I let you in on the melodic memories…?
Carriage transport outside of St. Stephen’s Platz
Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel) at the Grand Hotel Wien
Museum of Art History, Vienna
Street Market outside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral ~ The vendor of chocolate covered fruits..
Sachertorte at Demel (a famous Viennese bakery): A Traditional Ganache topped chocolate cake hiding a thin layer of raspberry jam
Choice Chauffeurs.
Golden Hall – Classical Concert
Moved by Mozart~
p.e.
p.s. apologies for the lack of recent posting…in lieu of writing I’ve been packing, flying, unpacking, photographing, ‘dream posting’, packing, unpacking….I promise more frequent recaps of summer’s sweetness soon to come!
Blues & Reviews
Last week here in Copenhagen was perhaps the sunniest we’ve seen all year…temperatures climbed to the mid 70′s and more people filled the parks than you can imagine ~ myself included :) It’s thrilling how quickly this city comes to life as soon as a triumphant sun lingers for a little longer than usual…
Needless to say, the hours that aren’t spent in the studio or on the stage are enjoyed by soaking up the rays of warmth so long anticipated in Scandinavia.
If you’re thinking iced coffee & rhubarb crumble in the park you’re on the right track…throw in a sprinkled cone of Vanilla soft serve overlooking the canal and you’ve hit the target my friends. One particularly lovely day last week I met a friend for lunch in Kongens Have (the King’s Garden). We sat their enjoying the fresh grass between our toes and the crisp breeze that cooled the sun on our faces…absolument joie de vivre! Afterwards we made our way to my favorite produce market, Torvehallen, where select boxes of blueberries literally stopped us in our tracks — Perhaps the largest blueberries I’ve seen to date. Now there is only one thing to do in this scenario and I’ll tell you what it is. 1. Taste said blueberries with enthusiasm 2. Question their magical origin (sunlight-exposed Spain in this case) & 3. Purchase as many cartons as you might be able to fit into your bicycle basket…and that is just exactly what I did. After a roof-terrace photo shoot to capture their sizable beauty, I can assure you they did not last much longer… :)
As for our recent premiere, I am thankful to report mostly positive reviews. It’s interesting to see the different responses of our audience to more contemporary programs, seeing as how this city is so deeply rooted in more traditional, story ballets…I find the Playhouse theater to be a perfectly intimate venue to get viewers in touch with less classical expositions of art & dance. A few more performances & alas, we’ll succumb to Summer!
The picture below graced the ‘Culture’ section of our big Newspaper here…Want to see a Trailer of the entire program? It’s All the Rage!
…a little peak into the Textile & Paint Workshop to see the making of our costumes for Yuri Possokhov’s Narcissum.
Blueberries, Rays & Reviews~p.e.
Variations on a Grain
Quinoa (keen-wa). I’m sure you’ve heard of this super star grain alternative by now…one of the healthiest, protein packed power options that never fails you a nutty bite.
As a dancer.. health nut..foodie enthusiast… I thought it might be a fun undertaking for recipe experimentation. Sweet in a breakfast oatmeal…? Savory in a ‘veggie burger’? Quinoa is both versatile and palate friendly ~ so feast your eyes & feel free to send me your favorite variations on a grain to add to my routine :)
Served here as an ‘oatmeal’ alternative, see my recipe on Pointe Magazine’s Blog!
A savory twist? Try combining cooked quinoa with minced veggies, bread crumbs, and an egg to make a veggie ‘pattie’. Sautée until brown and crisp on both sides, serve on a bed of greens and add a poached egg for a little protein kick!
Feel free to browse some of my other Pointe Magazine publications below…
“Eat like a Pro” (scroll to bottom for recipe)
…or perhaps a little ballet fix is what you need?
“Preparing your European Audition Tour”
“Dancer Spotlight: An American in Denmark”
recipe revelry ~ p.e.
Very Berry Ice Cream
Do you know what I love about Sunny afternoons…? Strolling down Nyhavn to the buzz of café life, the smell of waffles & most importantly, the cones of ice-cream cradled indulgently by locals & tourists alike. If the weather is anywhere over 50 here in Copenhagen, it is reason enough to break out the scooper and head for the sun. Naturally, I have no objection.
What better way to prepare for summer’s finest then lovely bowls/cones of homemade Ice Cream in the Spring??
…my sentiments exactly.
So, now that my little ice cream machine is on a churning roll, I’ve decided to embrace fresh berries, cold cream, exotic spices & all of the freedoms that come with personal flavor favorites…This week’s Scoop du Jour? A Very Berry Ice Cream that I saw the likes of here ~ a twist of blackberries & raspberries did the trick for this roomie-approved recipe which brought back the sweetest memories of after school stops at Big Olaf Creamery…think blackberry sherbet and you’re right there with me ;) Ready for a visual…? I can personally tell you that one bowl is never enough.
Here’s to Sunlight Sweets & Cold Midnight Treats.
berries & bliss ~ p.e.
Blueberry Sundays
There are times when cravings strike and are best not to be ignored…. I love when these particular cravings come on a Sunday…especially when I’m still in my pajamas, and happen to have all of the ingredients they may call for on hand..It’s like a spectacular twist of culinary fate.
As such…. Sunday morning I woke with the sun, joined some friends to see the worldly documentary, One Day on Earth, which was entirely worth a Sunday outing…and came home to make these cupfuls of joy…
These Lemon Poppyseed Cupcakes with Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting that I originally saw here (exnay on the lemon curd…) decorated the windowsills of my apartment long enough for a quick photo-op, before mysteriously disappearing…I”m afraid this recipe is a new staple in my book of sweets.
Here’s to earthly perspective, Sundays to rest & cupcakes to create…
documentaries & blueberries~p.e.
Stravinsky & Saffron
With only two performances left of the lavish Lady of the Camellias, the moods, melodies & melodramatic scenes at the ballet have taken quite a turn ~
…think ‘leotard ballets’ and the refreshing (albeit slightly stressful) counts of Stravinsky’s score, as we prepare ourselves for friday’s premiere of the Balanchine & Stravinsky program ~ a fantastic trio of George Balanchine’s Apollo, Agon and Symphony in 3 Movements.
I think we are all enjoying the contrast of these two programs which exemplify, almost comically, the antithesis of each other by every means (costumes, sets, music, time periods…) I find and love that the complexity and extravagance of one leaves you humbly content with the simplicity of the other ~ a huge plus of dancing in a Company with diverse repertoire…
…and speaking of diversity….my dear roomie just returned from a trip to India where I humbly begged her to find me a Spice I have long coveted… can you guess? If it starts with Saf and ends with Fron, you guessed right! I recently stumbled upon this recipe (from Tartelette) on Pinterest for Saffron Cardamom Ice Cream.
….are you drooling???…well given my nightly indulgence of such creamy goodness & my recent acquisition of Saffron, I thought it was merely a test of fate. In no time the magical flavor combination was churning away…it was all I could do to photograph if before sitting down to a bowl… or two ;)
…oh the sweetness of exotic Spices & Stravinsky…
are you smiling?
saffron simplicity~p.e.
p.s. the precious ice cream bowls pictured above are from the most adorable atelier in Paris…a little treat I bought during our tour there in January…
Hot Cross Buns & Tea.
Well, yes I’m admittedly 10 days late with an Easter recipe, but I”m afraid it’s never too late to try something new :)
…This past weekend I took it upon myself to throw a well overdue Tea Party. A simple, cozy gathering of great food and even better company..So Sunday I rose with the sun, put on some inspiring melodies and took to the kitchen. Recent produce indulgences resulted in a menu of Lady Finger Sandwiches—a repeat recipe from this baby shower–a thinly sliced combination of flavorful heaven. A Citrus-Mint Salad of sliced oranges & grapefruits (both from Florida!) marinated in lemon juice and sprinkled with fresh mint…A celery snack which I like to think of as a more urban version of ‘Ants on a Log‘ (think almond butter and dried cherries)….and the real star of the show, my first attempt at Hot Cross Buns.
The most familiar I’ve ever been with this Easter treat was its namesake nursery rhyme I learned as a child, but after seeing these pictured abundantly across favorite blogs, Pinterest, etc… I thought I should give them a go. Hot Cross Buns are a sort of sweetly spiced bread roll , usually speckled with a dried berry of sorts, and topped with a piped ‘Cross’ just before baking~ believed to be a mark of the Holy Cross as these are eaten mainly on Good Friday. After stumbling upon this post on Mowielicious, I was kneading, crossing and baking before I knew it…
….slathered liberally with butter and my new favorite Black Current Jam (a pøj pøj gift from a dear friend…), served warm out of the oven ~ you can bet that Tea time will be nothing but sweetly successful…
…..and speaking of berries…Check out this great recipe of mine for Muesli Muffins featured on Pointe Magazine’s Blog! Original blog post Here :)
What are your Easter kitchen traditions…?
Hot Cross Bun-filled Bliss~ p.e.
England Encore.
Well Easter has past, Spring has sprung, and alas the Sun is here to stay…It’s been a little while since my last post, and I have to say I’ve seen knew sights, enjoyed new tastes and savored new experiences since. How was your Easter..?
I’ll leave you a little gallery of favorites to sum up a 2 day tour-de-force of London with my Mother and Cousin ~ who graced me with their presence to see Lady of the Camellias just before our holiday began…Speaking of the ballet…The demand for tickets has been so high, I am pleased to announce that we have added a performance on April 25th! If the next 6 (sold-out!) audiences are any bit as generous as last night’s, we could ask for little more … :)
Enjoy! I look forward to hearing from you…
Big Ben
Covent Garden Food Market- "Eton Mess"
Buckingham Palace Gardens
Fabergé Easter Eggs in Covent Garden
Crepes on Portobello Road
London Eye
Buckingham Palace, Changing of the Guards
….and re-caping pre and post Holiday Stage Time….
Photo Credit: Jan Christensen
Photo Credit: Jan Christensen
Here’s to the exhilaration of Holidays, traveling, performing and soaking up the Sun~
so good to be back…p.e.
April Showers.
…a little note hoping that April Showers will bring May flowers.
…one more sneak of Costume Room magic.
…and a premiere curtsy to her majesty, The Queen.
rainy days…impassioned displays..
p.e.
Jam Cookies & a Photoshoot
Fragrant Red Roses. Early morning Sun. Timeless classical melodies. Jam Sandwich Cookies. Photoshoots…on either side of the lens.
Here’s a little love list to kick off the Spring Season…For me there is nothing more promising than the smell of fresh flowers and being awoken by a bright blue sky..no matter how restless a night’s sleep, sunshine always seems to be the ticket to start the day with a smile.. Especially after a long, Scandinavian winter.
Speaking of sun, while at home in Florida over my winter break, I teamed up with my talented friend & photographer, Tutti del Monte. It was her brilliant idea that we do some sort of Dance Photoshoot around the city, inspiring locals and tourists alike to support Art at it’s purest: A collaboration of time, creativity and a wee bit of sunlight stretching, and we turned out with quite a good number of prints, available for sale to support the various charities we’ve set up in my Aunt Donna’s name. I couldn’t think of a better reason to dance than for a cause…
Here’s to embracing Seasonal Sweetness & Giving Back.
You can find the recipe for these rather delicious Jam Sandwich Cookies here…I used Fig jam only because it’s my absolute favorite…Enjoy!
p.e.
Savory Bites & Spools
Happy first day of Spring! At last we have escaped the excuse of winter weather in high hopes of longer days and warmer rays.. It’s times like these I like to be more spontaneous.. enjoying a coffee in the sun, appreciating the smell of grass and the first sight of budding flowers. Spring produce is always tempting my palate at this point and I try to get more experimental. Recently I tried on a new recipe for size, a combination of specified ingredients and random additions that resulted in a version of Eggplant Parmesan. Rather delicious if I don’t say so myself…
Among other delights I decided to highlight one of my personal sources of daily happiness (…other than Chopin melodies, humorous colleagues and dancing for work & play…) Each day on my way to and from certain studios I stall while passing the Costume Room at the Royal Theater… A vast array of fabrics, threads, and seamless talent that make-up the magic, so crucial to telling the tale of a ballet. Recently the windows have been chock full of jewel tones, extravagant capes & ruffles and spools of silk & string. Our current production in the works–Lady of the Camellias, requires the outfitting of 19th century France…endlessly grandeur & beyond humble realms of beauty. We have the fortune of borrowing a majority of the costumes from the Paris Opera Ballet, whose stage we graced earlier this year…However the principal costumes have been created from scratch, and I am simply lost for words in attempt to describe them. Alas, photos will have to suffice..
Here’s to Spring Fever, alas awakened.
Bows & Upcoming Shows.
p.e.
Ginger Banana Bread & a Screenshot
As athletes, dancers are always looking for the latest and greatest in healthy alternatives…Other than rest, ice, compression & elevation (the RICE method of preventing and/or treating injuries or inflammation), I prefer to answer my body’s aches & pains with nutrients. Potassium in bananas or melons helps with cramping muscles…antioxidants in berries and spices…Omega 3 oils in salmon and flaxseed…but among all of these, perhaps my favorite ingredient to incorporate in my cooking, baking, eating routine is the powerful natural painkiller and anti inflammatory known as Ginger. Ginger tea…grated Ginger in stir fries, apple sauce…even my latest obsession of crystalized Ginger merits bits of my daily happiness…
So you can only imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon this recipe for Banana Bread with Crystalized Ginger and a Cardamom Crunch Topping. What more could you ask for than a loaf of healthful happiness, sparkled with potassium, inflammation fighting ingredients, embraced by a crunchy layer of antioxidant filled spices? Much to my satisfaction, it came about better than I imagined and is now a staple amongst my power-ingredient-ginger recipe collection.
I might add that due to a shortage of ripe bananas, I took it upon myself to throw in one very ripe avocado for color and an extra Omega kick…I might recommend you do the same :)
To wrap it up, I thought I’d leave you with a little screenshot— taken this evening whilst updating my portals of passion…
Here’s to Baking with Benefits & a shot Behind the scenes…
~p.e.
Lemon PoppySeeds & Sunlight
I’m not sure if my recent winter escape to Florida has inspired a strong yearning for sweet summer (or even spring at this point…), but ever since my return to the nordic I’ve been craving citrus. Anything bright, juicy & refreshing, but namely lemons & oranges. A little zest here… a little fresh squeezed juice there…I can’t get enough. So, in all of my effort to run with cravings when they strike, I decided on a new recipe for Lemon Poppyseed Muffins. Though slightly time-consuming, the egg-white whipped, yogurt spun batter is the perfect sour compliment to a sweet lemon glaze.
Sprinkled with poppy seeds for texture, it’s safe to say these will satisfy….Mind you it’s still cold here in Copenhagen, but there are little glimpses of the warmer seasons ahead…starting with a dozen or so of these citrus-inspired treats.
Here’ to anticipating seasons with sunlight!
Lemons & Limes~p.e.
p.s. for a simple glaze, add 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar. Whisk until smooth, and drizzle atop sweet subjects. Bon Appetite!
February Firsts
Can you believe it’s February already! A plethora of pinks, reds, and spicy, dark chocolates decorate the City in preparation for the upcoming holiday… Excuse my lack of posts as traveling, photographing and a wee bit of dancing has kept me somewhat at bay during our 3 week break at the Royal Danish Ballet…
I currently write from the Upper West Side where I’ve had the pleasure of visiting my closest friends and sister, delving into the sweet realms of all that is Manhattan. Between dreamy cups of tea, afternoon cupcakes/scones/cookies and sinful midnight snacks I’ve managed to enjoy the talents of my former schoolmates, who now grace the stage in New York City Ballet…squeezing in weekday brunches and wine after nine…
One thing I love about February is the excuse to indulge ~ not that I need an excuse any other month of year ;) So alas, after a two week hiatus, I leave you with my first Love List of 2012 ~ Here’s hoping these captures will leave you less tired & more inspired…
Chocolate on Vanilla at the Original Magnolia Bakery, nyc
Vintage Cups & Maps
Golden Smiles
Darkest Chocolate Gelato
Ethereal Advertisement...Repetto (online inspiration)
Pain au Chocolat...on Silver Platters
Captivated Cake Slicer: My father, accompanied by his younger brother back in the day...Sources of my inherited Sweet Tooth? Je pense, Oui.
Next week will take me back to the dropping temperatures of Copenhagen, and the second half of our 2011-2012 Season …
Stay tuned for more adventures on the other side of the Atlantic, Happy Valentines Day!
Daily Indulgences & Delight, p.e.
Palais Garnier another Way
Last Christmas, as you may recall from Palais Garnier & Gratin, I had the luxury of spending the holiday with friends in Paris, France. We ate our hearts out, indulging generously in Foie Gras, Pain au Chocolat and the like and everything was precisely as it should be… I even witnessed my first live performance of the Paris Opera Ballet on the grandeur stage of the Palais Garnier Opera House. I sat there in tears as the most breathtaking dancers ate the stage with delicate fury and made a secret wish that someday that just might be me.
Well… Here I am. One year later, and I can proudly, albeit humbly tell you that the opportunity arose. Quell Surprise!
The Royal Danish Ballet just completed our week long tour to Paris, where we brought August Bournonville’s (adapted by Nikolaj Hübbe) Napoli to life once again…From Copenhagen to Costa Mesa, Washington D.C. to Pareeeee….We took on the Phantom of the Opera-inspired palace with honor & gratitude.
Here’s a sneak peak into the city of towers & truffles, croissants & crepes, velvet seating & magical studios…
Here’s to fresh encounters & a welcome rendezvous…
Bisous. ~p.e.
Best of 2011 & a Birthday
The year passed in a flourish of toile and perhaps one too many cookies….I figured since Birthdays only come but once a year, it was an appropriate time to post from a one-year-wiser perspective…
It was about this time last year that we at the Royal Danish Ballet were preparing for Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, fantasizing about the warmth of summer and the magic of a good love story…
It was just before a snow-covered february, speckled with Monstrous Madeleines and articles for Pointe on Truffled Trolls…
…Which shortly preceded my invitation to represent our company in the Erik Bruhn Prize Competition held in Toronto, Canada where a sweet colleague and I danced Bournonville’s Flower Festival.
Much did I anticipate a run of Folktale at the Opera upon returning to Copenhagen, and an impromptu Easter holiday spent in bella Roma…
…Onto May with a hometown Season round up & packing for our month long tour to America where we brought such classics as Napoli & La Sylphide to California, Washington, D.C and New York City...
August Bournonville's Conservatoire, corps de ballet
….Savory Sundays melted into a hot summer at home where I enjoyed making/photographing/eating such glorious culinary confections as farmer’s market fresh Caprese, blueberry ganache tartelettes and homemade Ice Cream & Crumble among others…
….This was all long before I hiked the 5 cities of Cinque Terre and hostel-hopped through Italy with my sister & best friends, celebrating my one year Blogiversary and even challenging myself to teaching ballet classes for the Jose Correno Festival as summer came to the sweetest close…
Cinque Terre
September taught me a few Lessons, including how to cater a baby shower while October flashed glimpses of Broadway…
Well into November did I dive into my own website, Galas & gourds… and preparations for a monthly dose of December’s Nutcracker…
…A year in the making…long while it lasts, short when it’s over…and now for 2012.
365 days more experienced, challenged, older & hopefully wiser as I approach the next… Twenty One and touring to Paris in the morning, a tummy full of good red wine, Italian Pizza & the finest of Affogato’s to reflect and relax into the sweetest slumber, one more year under my belt.
birthday magic & memories ~ p.e.
Top Dance Blog 2011- Final Vote!
To my lovely loyal readers, friends & family… I am proud and humbled to announce that thanks to your generous comments, Tutus&Tea is among the top nominees considered for the title, Top Dance Blog of 2011! Naturally, I am mildly ecstatic and super duper appreciative for your time, thoughts and support :)
I have just one more favor to ask.. The Final Voting Round has begun and closes on January 4, 2012! With only a little over a week to vote, it’s important that we don’t delay and spread the word to guarantee our ranking :) Find the polls at Dance Advantage’s website where you can VOTE HERE under the 1st and foremost category : Top Dance Blog, and a little further down under the categorized listing of “Dancer Musing Blogs“…
Kindly VOTE for Tutus&Tea as the ‘Top Dance Blog 2011′ :)
I promise to keep my tales of bun-headed bliss & culinary creations coming well into the New Year & beyond!
Every click counts… xoxo
~p.e.
Glimpses & Glimmer
Last night the Royal Danish Ballet concluded the Christmas Season with our final performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.
18 glimpses of magic—created by collaborating such creative geniuses as Tchaikovsky and the choreographer himself, brought to life by the ardent characters portrayed by true artists. It has been a pleasure to dance as a part of this production, new to the Old Stage of the Royal Theater. Watching it grow from rehearsals to stage calls to ethereal scenes of sugarcoated splendor.
To my colleagues, I thank and admire each of you more and more each day. To the audiences that shared with us such enchantment, a final bow. And to my readers, who have loyally followed TuTus & Tea from Whoopie Pies & Stormy Skies to this very last post of 2011 ~ I wish you all the Merriest Christmas … May the magic of the season inspire you well into the New Year!
Here’s to a year of Opportunities that inspire Strength, Challenges to grow by and Memories to Savor…
And now…leaping into a New Year.
Peace & Pleasure, p.e.
Scones, Clementines & Cookies
I just love the sweetness of clementines this time of year… there is nothing better than finishing off a plate of (one too many) cookies with the refreshing taste of lingering, sweet citrus…A recent trip to the Torvehallerne markets reminded me of a particular Dried Cherry Clementine Scone recipe I tried out about a year ago, & remembered it too delicious to ignore…I thought I might give it a little ‘re-visit’ here on Tutus&Tea, along with the Mexican Wedding Cookies that you’ll enjoy just as much as winter’s first snowfall.
New in the kitchen are my favorite Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, glazed with a royal icing and your favorite sanding sugar for that last bit of sweet crunch. Sure to be Santa’s delight with a small cup of milk… or glass of red :)
All classic recipes that I’ll be sure to re-vive in years to come…sprinkled between rehearsals, costume fittings and the marathon called Nutcracker which continues to light up the Royal theater this December.
Here’s to winter fruit & reviving the Classics.
~p.e.
Nutcracker Toppers & Treats
At last, a long November has come to a close and we greet the coziest month of the year with all of the traditional deliciousness that December promises.
The theater has been quite colorful lately, sparkled here and there with remnants of Party Scenes, Snowy Forests, and Lands of Sweets…This season’s production of The Nutcracker is one of my personal favorite version’s choreographed by one George Balanchine. The old stage is being graced with brand new sets and costumes to tell the magical tale…a riveting, vibrant collection of scenes to dream of.
I, for one, have been particularly captivated by the detailed hair accessories that adorn each dancer’s head with a playful twist & topper. The ‘cherry on top of the cake’ if you will… One, I naturally can’t ever resist :)
A cup of Chinese Tea…
A glimpse of Mother Ginger in the making…
Swarovski-laden Snow Flakes…
Spanish Chocolate bobbles…
…and leaving you with my last inspired contribution of simply irresistible Chocolate Chai Cupcakes for Sunday night’s Dinner Party :)
Here’s to innovative confections of sweetness and the beginning of December’s Delights.
See here for a web exclusive sneak-peak into the making of Nutcracker!
Sweet Toppers & Treats ~ p.e.
Sweet Gourds & a Gala
This past weekend the Royal Danish Ballet played host to the likes of several world-class dancers of our generation…Alina Cojocaru, Nehemiah Kish, Johan Kobborg, & Tamara Rojo of the Royal Ballet of London, Marcelo Gomes of American Ballet Theater, & Nina Ananiashvili among others graced the stages of Gamle Scene for the Dancing for Unicef Gala ~ An unforgettable evening of bountiful, artistic generosity in it’s highest form, completely orchestrated by two of our own, Sebastian Kloborg & Ulrik Birkkjær.
To say this experience was unforgettable is no less than an understatement. The energy at the theater was seemingly palpable all day as the royal halls, studios and balconies filled with anticipation & talent, preparing for an evening of seamless fantasy & selfless perfection…in the name of such a good cause. From tear jerking pas de deux’s to playful violin virtuosos, breathtaking portrayals of love, life & death, the night’s repertoire was awe-inspiring. The Royal Danish Ballet concluded the evening with Harald Lander’s Etudes, one last flip of the black & white tutus that decorate the ceiling of our costume room on their time off….
In all of my post-gala excitement I woke feeling utterly enlightened and appreciative to work amongst such generous, talented individuals that I am honored to also call my friends. As a celebratory, seasonal effort, I whipped up a Pumpkin Pie…a pre-Thanksgiving notion of giving Thanks.
Here’s to sharing time, talent, love & laughter in more ways than one…Celebrating life & Giving back.
I would like to thank everyone involved in this memorable event…
Dexterity & Charity ~ p.e.
p.s. The pumpkin pie recipe was none other than Martha Stewart’s…are you surprised?
Find the goodness here & do your best to avoid canned Pumpkin, you’ll appreciate it that much more :)
Spiced Granola & a Website!
Happy November! We are now moving officially onwards to thoughts of Turkey, stuffing & my personal fave— green bean casserole— as fall foliage starts to drop from the looming weight of winter…I thought it a novel idea to whip up this delicious spiced granola seeing as how this is the season for spices & what’s better than quenching your sweet/salty/crunchy tooth all at once?
My recipe for this one is posted on Pointe Magazine’s blog, which can be found here, so go check it out and let me know what you think! ….and on the note of a little self-promo, I thought I’d formally introduce the new website I’ve been working on..a collaborative portal of my passions, life & work, found with the convenience of one click…
To a month of giving Thanks…Spices & Spirit.
~p.e.
Recipes for Pointe
Every now & then I find that specific recipes or pictures just beacon to be shared…they’re too perfectly pretty or flavorful to be kept all for myself.. Such was this recipe for Avocado-Egg Salad open-faced Sandwiches that I developed as a before/during/after performance snack ~ ideal for it’s generous protein-carb ratio and power packing nutrients…See the October/November issue of Pointe Magazine for recipe details!
Photos featured…
Napoli, pictured here with Charlie Anderson
Power Snacks & Timeless Acts~p.e.
