Sarah Walker The Curated House, Author at The Curated House

Foodie Friday | Sea Asparagus

On a recent visit to the Farmer’s Market, my guys and I discovered a new-to-us superfood that had us totally intrigued. This delicate-looking sea vegetable packs a seriously nutritious punch, offering many health benefits.

Sea asparagus is loaded with Vitamin A, Vitamin B2 {great for energy}, Folic Acid and Vitamin B9 {good for stomach and skin}. Apparently this hydroponically grown sea vegetable even helps detoxify your liver and improve muscle function. And the best news? It tastes fantastic!

You can definitely just nibble on the sea asparagus raw for a crisp, light, super-salty snack {Noah loves it this way!}. It also makes a lovely and unexpectedly salty addition to a salad. If, however, you want to add it as a side dish to a meal, you will likely want to soak it to remove a bit of the salt content. Just soak for about an hour in cool water before cooking.

Then what? Well, we happened to purchase our bag of sea asparagus just as a Toronto restauranteur was purchasing it by the bushel-full for his new seafood restaurant. I can’t begin to describe his enthusiasm about this lacy little sea-wonder – he was practically giddy about it! He generously suggested just sautéing it with butter, shallots and garlic, so that’s what we did! It turned out beautifully and made for a gorgeous side with some broiled salmon. A light but very flavourful, super-food lunch!

INGREDIENTS:
2 c. soaked sea asparagus {soaked for 1 hour}
2 small shallots, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
Knob of butter
Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

METHOD:
Add butter and olive oil to a pan over medium-high heat. {The olive oil will keep the butter from burning.} Melt butter and add shallots and garlic. Cook until translucent. Add sea asparagus, tossing in the shallot and garlic butter mixture and sautéing until softened but not limp. Plate and top with a beautiful piece of broiled or grilled fish. Enjoy!

The season for sea asparagus is a short one, so be sure to get out to your local Farmer’s Market to see if you can find some! Local Toronto forager Jonathan Forbes of Forbes Wild Foods is currently selling it at these locations:

Mondays at Sorauren Farmer’s Market {3-7pm}, Tuesdays at Riverdale Farmer’s Market + Trinity Bellwoods Farmer’s Market {3-7pm}, Thursdays at Dufferin Grove Farmer’s Market {3-7pm}, and Saturdays at Evergreen Brickworks Farmer’s Market {8am-1pm}.

Happy foraging, and happy weekend!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 19th, 2013|2 Comments

Update 1 | Project Debonaire Young Sir

Having introduced you to my latest project a couple of weeks ago I thought it was time for an update. Remember the totally fabulous Tommy Smythe inspiration?

{Image via House + Home}

Well, it really is just my jumping off point, but there are a few details that I definitely want to include:

Antiques
Brass
Black
Graphic pattern

I also want to include some of Noah’s love for a more Scandinavian aesthetic {did I mention he’s rather sophisticated?} as well as a touch of whimsy. So while Tommy’s spectacular space is our jumping off point, I have no doubt we will land on something altogether different and uniquely personal to my Debonaire Young Sir.

Here’s where I’m at so far. I have ordered these gorgeous chevron bed linens from West Elm. Bit of a wait as they are backordered and being shipped to my girlfriend in Brooklyn once they are back in stock, but I love the graphic punch they offer and they feel like a good bridge between sophisticated and kid-friendly. I also love that they are made of organic cotton, and the sketched quality of the pattern softens the graphic punch just a bit. Noah loves to draw and sketch so there’s a subtle little nod to his passions right there in the bedding. Feels like a win!

I admit I have scoured the earth in search of an affordable pair of Louis Phillipe commodes – not for Noah’s room but for mine – and have come to realize that my taste often exceeds my budget. Le sigh.

So rather than searching for one for Noah’s room {I’m saving that splurge for mama’s room!}, I’ve decided to paint his existing dresser {project to come} and see what I could find in the way of French art deco side tables. And I totally scored. Found this pair on eBay and won the auction! Very, very excited as I think they’ll add the perfect touch of sophistication I was looking for. I love the mix of masculine and feminine in the curved doors and base and the rectilinear lines of the overall frames, not to mention that the walnut veneer creates a chevron pattern of its own. Have I mentioned I’m obsessed with all things chevron and herringbone? Like a moth to a flame…

Next on my list were the table lamps {I’ve been busy!}. I splurged just a bit on the side tables so needed something really reasonable to offset that cost…enter Nate Berkus and Target to the rescue! I’m getting that hit of brass I was looking for with this lovely little pair, and I love the rivet details. They feel very industrial modern and Noah loves them!

For the shades I went with black for a nice level of contrast {black drum shades are always a classic}. Although this photo doesn’t show it, they have a subtle but clearly visible herringbone weave to the fabric. *wink* Also Nate Berkus for Target, also trés reasonable. Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Berkus!

And that’s about it for now! Oh, except this very exciting little tidbit. I am beyond thrilled to tell you that the drywaller is finally coming today! {ahem…that bears repeating} The drywaller is coming today! Let the mudding and taping {and endless dusting and vacuuming} begin! Hoping by next weekend we’ll be moving on to the baseboards and crown. Then painting and then finally installing the gorgeous Cole & Son wallpaper in the bathroom! Oh friends. I can’t wait to share that glorious day with you! It cannot come fast enough. Plus I have a little surprise in store for the hallway. You’ll want to stay tuned. I just need to take my patience pill through this slower phase of things coming together. Good things do come to those who wait {and work their tails off in the meantime!}.

Happy Thursday!

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 18th, 2013|0 Comments

Update | Pemberton Cottage Landscape Project | Paeonia Gardens

It’s time to update you on the little piece of Pemberton paradise recently transformed by my friend Jenn Hembruch of Paeonia Gardens. Remember the befores? Well the afters are just gorgeous. Jenn did a beautiful job of respecting the broader landscape, as well her clients’ desire for a natural design that reflects the heritage and aesthetic of the 100 year old home. I love the mix of materials and the rustic modern details, like the combination of reclaimed barn boards and basalt stones Jenn used to anchor the small seating area above.

The stone retaining wall {above} looks as though it might have been there as long as the house, and Jenn’s choices for plantings reflect an indigenous beauty that is authentic to the area.

Jenn says, “Coastal cottage and native plants were selected in blues, pinks, purples, and whites, with punches of hot oranges for this garden: Lupine, delphiniums, wild geranium, hydrangea, yarrow, bee balm, and shrub roses. New hardscapes were installed to organize spaces within the landscape – a dry stack basalt wall with basalt boulders, a front ‘patio’ space inspired by Pinterest images using beams ripped up from the old barn on site and river rock, as well as a custom built BBQ space filling 2×2′ reclaimed wood ‘squares’ with river rock add to the country cottage vintage feel.”

“Nearby planted Rosemary makes it easy to add fresh herbs to outdoor fare. The front pathway guides you towards the house past the artist’s studio with a generous river rock and basalt slip path, edged with lavender and lavender cotton, spilling off into fresh soft turf, perfect for summer days and barefoot enjoyment. “

I don’t know about you, but I’m truly in love with their dreamy back porch. Can’t you just imagine many an afternoon spent here sipping freshly squeezed lemonade and savouring the spectacular views? Truly refreshing.

This delightfully ordered vegetable garden makes me wish for larger pastures of my own so I could do something similar. How decadent to harvest fresh herbs and vegetables steps from your kitchen? Truly farm to table.

Kudos to Jenn of Paeonia Gardens on doing such a beautiful job of respecting the natural beauty and heritage of this property while updating it and giving it a true sense of design, order and function. You’ve definitely inspired my cottage dreams, my friend!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 17th, 2013|0 Comments