Estelle's Patisserie - Sacramento, CA

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

Last Saturday I went to Estelle's Patisserie with one of my friends, Traci. I read about this place in the Sacramento Magazine, and also from other people who said it was a very good place.

I love coffee, and as I stated in one of my early postings in this blog: "I always get seduced by Fine European Pastries".
This patisserie is very American-French, shabby chic. I can see the appealing of it.  It is spacious, with a lot of comfortable sitting, which reminded me of the Health Spas Sunrooms from the early 1900s. Very simple and elegantly decorated.

I ordered a cafe latte, a turkey and cheese sandwich to eat in the place, four strawberry macaroons and a lemon tart to go. It was very difficult to select one of the pastries, because everything looked delicious.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

The little details set the mood for the whole experience. These were my favorites:
♥ The Staff was very polite and courteous.
♥ The order is brought to your table.
♥ The cutlery is not plastic.
♥ The coffee cup is porcelain, very European style.
♥ The napkin very thick and elegantly decorated.
♥ The music is not too loud.
♥ There is plenty of seats to choose from.


My least favorite:
❀ Parking is challenging. There is one hour and two-hour street parking, and also the Capitol Public Parking a few blocks down the store, walking… between 5 and 10 minutes. My friend Traci phoned Estelle's, and they admitted that the parking was challenging. We expected it. 

I didn't use the ladies' room, and/or brought my laptop so I have not comment about them, but I would be very surprise if they don't have clean restrooms and/or free Wi-Fi.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

The Coffee and the Food:

Making coffee is an art… the coffee was okay, for being a cafe latte, slightly strong.

The sandwich was very tasty. I requested wheat bread, which was spongy and moist, normally with turkey, the sandwich might be dry, but this one was not.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserve

I like the look of macaroons, however I am not a huge fun of their taste, too sweet for me. I do think they look very appealing, don't they? 

The lemon tart was still too sweet for me, but this is not a flaw of the place, it is my taste. European pastries are not as sweet as in the United States.

The lemon tart was firm, and it  melted in my mouth, in an explosion of acidity from the lemon and sweetness from the sugar. I really enjoyed the crust. The pastry was light, but I would not recommend eating the whole thing in one setting. It has a very respectable size, and sugar overload might happen. I learned this… the hard way. Glutton me!! 

I personally would recommend this place. I had a really good time with Traci, chatting and eating good food in a very pleasant environment. A little taste of cottage charm in the middle of Sacramento. I will go back for sure.

À bientôt

xoxo

❤ Natalia ❤

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

Estelle's Patisserie
901 K Street
Sacramento, California 95814
(916) 551-1500
Hours:
Mon-Fri 7am-5pm
Sat 8am-4pm
Sun 8am-4pm

http://www.estellespatisserie.com/about-us-2/

Books for the month of June & July 2014

Essentialism - The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Essentialism is a way of life, having the discipline to say no, and doing only what is absolutely essential in order to put the effort in what really matters. 

Having standards, and selecting what/where/with whom you want to spend your time and effort  helps to have a more fulfilled life. 

Life Class Section



Thrive, The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington

I heard from this book in the OWN Channel, while I was watching Oprah interviewing Arianna. This book talks about Arianna's experiences, and how she discovered that true success not only comes from money and power, but also from a third metric, well being. 

How taking care of yourself, sleeping, eating healthy, exercising and living in the moment can give us a very successful lifestyle. 
Arianna went from a total workaholic to enjoying the little things in life, and helping her staff to do the same. I found this book very inspiring because quality of life is very important for me. Spending time doing what I love, and spending time with people I love is priceless to me. 

Life Class Section

Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton

I wanted to read this book since I heard she was writing it. It is a very long book, full of facts and descriptions of events that I watched in the news. I am sure there are a lot of details that have been omitted, and can not be declassified at this moment. 

This book was a little bit difficult to digest in one reading, too much data. I read each chapter or even half of a chapter in different days.

I found it very interesting, and It helped me understand how connected, and how much all the countries need each other in order to move forward and function. 

I would be interesting to read the book from the other two female US Secretaries of State to compare. 

Biography Section

Enjoy the reading!! 

xoxo 

❤ Natalia ❤

Tortilla de Patatas - Spanish Omelette

Bonjour!!

Every household in Spain knows how to prepare "Tortilla de Patatas". It is the easiest, tastiest and one of the most famous dishes in Spain. It is found in every bar as a pintxo, to take it for day trips, camping, excursions etc, and it is served for lunch and/or dinner. 

It has tons of variations. The recipe that I use is the basic one, however it can have vegetables, chorizo, ham and cheese etc. depending on the taste. 

I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Bon Appetit!!!

xoxo

♥ Natalia ♥

Tortilla de Patatas for two people

♥ 2 big potatoes
♥ 1/2 yellow onion
♥ 4 eggs
♥ Salt
♥ Olive Oil

Peel and cut the potatoes in small cubes. Peel and cut the onions into 1/4"pieces. In a non-stick small pan heat the olive oil in medium heat. I don't use a lot of olive oil, otherwise it is too greasy. I put the potatoes carefully evenly in the pan. Leave the potatoes in the pan until they are half way done, and put the onions in the mix. Be careful to make sure the potatoes don't burn.

Once they are done, remove them from the pan, and allow the oil to drain. I put them on a bowl over paper towels.

Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl, and beat by hand with a whisk or fork. Pour in the potato onion mixture.  Pinch of salt, and mix together with a large spoon

In the non-stick frying pan, put a little bit of olive oil in medium/low heat (otherwise the egg will burn). Pour the potato, onion and egg mixture evenly in the pan. Once the egg is slightly cooked around the edges, move the pan back and forth slowly in order to make the omelette without burning it. Check with a fork the bottom of the omelette to make sure is brown. It is time to cook the other side.

How to flip the tortilla:  To avoid making a mess in case this fails, it takes a little bit of practice, do it above the sink. Find a plate bigger than the frying pan, and place it upside down on top of the of the non-stick pan, and turn the omelette onto the plate. Slide the omelette back into the non-stick pan.

The best tortillas are the ones that inside are juicy, the egg not too overcooked, otherwise they are too dry. Tortillas can be eaten hot and/or cold. They are really good either way.

WFF - Women's Fitness Festival 2014

Bonjour!!

Back in January I posted my running goals:

♥ 5k  - Sunday 9 Feb 2014 - Davis Stampede
♥ 7miles  - Saturday 8 Mar 2014 - The Lucky Run
♥ 10k - Sunday 30 Mar 2014 - Girls on the Go
♥ 10 miles - Sunday 27 April 2014 - Capital City Classic
♥ 13.1 miles - Sunday 8 June 2012 - Women's Fitness Festival

I am very proud to say that except the 5K (I am too thrifty to pay $45 for a 5K), I accomplished every single goal. My PR has not improved much, however I am very happy that I trained, participated and finished every single one of the races. 

Yesterday I run the Women's Fitness Festival, and next year I am running it for sure. What a great event as the culmination of the first six months of the year training season. I trained with the Fleet Feet group in Sacramento, because of that, I was able to get into the VIP area. The best of the day, apart of running the race, I got to meet Deena Kastor, the Olympic Marathoner, and I was brave enough to request a picture with her, which I will cherish forever!!!. What a nice and gracious lady. Her energy is contagious. 

The race was fantastic!!! the route was very flat, which I do appreciate, hills are my enemy. We went through gorgeous neighborhoods, and there were tons of people cheering us up, and trying to cooling us off with their garden hoses and sprinklers. It was a hot day from the start. 

Mile 12 was the happiest mile for me… I had some ice to chew, the Fleet Feet trainers had it ready for us. Did I say it was hot??, and they also had the special cheerleaders volunteers outside the store. 

Whole Foods was there to feed us after the race. I got a water, banana and some granola with yogurt to eat. I had my medal around my neck, a cool T-shirt, and I was as happy as I can be. 

My hubby was waiting for me, and as always… "This is the last half marathon I run"… well… not so fast Natalia. I had signed up for the Urban Cow Half Marathon three weeks ago which by the way I am training with the Fleet Feet Crew. 

Motivation is what gets you started ♥ Habit is what keeps you going

More to come about my races. 

xoxo

❤ Natalia ❤

Deena Kastor and I
©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.



©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

The Lucky Run - 8th March 2014
©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

Capital City Classic - 27th April 2014
©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

Girls on the Go - 30th March 2014
©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

Vinyasa Yoga - "The Flow Yoga"

Bonjour!!

The gym that I go to offers Vinyasa Yoga every Sunday early in the morning. I enjoy this class because it sets the mood for the rest of the day. It helps stretching my muscles and my body after all the running, and weight lifting, which is honestly great because by Sunday I feel very stiff.

Vinyasa yoga is about moving continuously into different poses, matching them with the breathing. I enjoy this yoga because I find it very meditative and relaxing while having a lot of movement. The synchronizing breathing with the poses really helps to relax my mind. I can make the poses more challenging by modifying them to a higher level depending on my energy level during the class. The important thing to remember is to align the poses correctly to avoid any type of injury.

I have attached a 15 minute introductory video by Candance (http://yogabycandace.com/), and this very cute picture of the Yoga Bunny by Brian Russo

Namaste

xoxo

❤ Natalia ❤

 

Red Mosto Greip - The Liquid Gold

Bonjour!!

Saturday is the day that I have set up to skip my regular healthy diet to try a new dish, and/or to eat a wonderful desert. 

Today I am having "Mosto". It is the only sweet beverage that I truly enjoy. I cherish it like liquid gold. Last time I went to  visit my family in Bilbao, in the Basque Country, Northern Spain, I brought two bottles of "Red Mosto Greip", my favorite. 

What is Mosto? Mosto is made from pressed grapes before the wine process. It is not fermented, and put into barrels. The result is a full-bodied grape juice, which is available in two varieties: red and white. Mosto is served cold with or without ice. 

I have not been able to find this brand name of mosto here in the US. If anyone knows how to get it, please post a comment, and let me know. 

xoxo

❤ Natalia ❤

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

Grilled Lamb Chops With Garlic & Parsley

Bonjour!!

...and Happy Washington's Birthday!!!

One of my favorite meats is Lamb.  If it is your first time cooking lamb I would suggest using rosemary because it is one spice that truly draws out the flavor of the lamb. In this recipe I used the simplicity of garlic and parsley. It is a very quick and easy way to have a great meal without making it too complicated and time consuming.

RECIPE
♥ 7 Lamb Chops
♥ 2-3 gloves of garlic
♥ Handful of parsley
♥ Salt
♥ Olive oil

Chop the parsley and the garlic. Heat a grill pan over high heat with some olive oil until almost smoking, add the chops (with the parsley and garlic)  and sear for about 2 minutes. Flip the chops over and cook for another 3 minutes for medium-rare and 3 1/2 minutes for medium.

For garnished... I made some homemade French fries. I used a very small potato.

©2014 The Pink Macaroon. All rights reserved.

xoxo

♥ Natalia ♥

The Energizer

Bonjour!!
What a lazy day... Today it is Sunday. It is raining in Sacramento, and I have zero energy. It doesn't help that yesterday I had a facial and a massage (I will tell you my experience in another posting).I am still in the detox, relaxed mindset.

This drink is great to increase energy and alertness, which I totally need today. It is nutrient-packed, yet very low in calories. 

Why is this juice good? Because...
Carrots contain the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is converted into the body to Vitamin A (Essential for good vision, vitamin A also aids the body in the formation and maintenance of skin, teeth, skeletal tissue, soft tissue, and mucus membranes.). Note of caution: "Be careful eating too many carrots because they can make the skin to turn orange. We don't want to look like an Umpa Loompa".

How to pick a good carrot: carrots should be firm, smooth, somewhat straight and with bright color. The deeper the orange color the more beta-carotene they have. Carrots with larger diameters have larger core which means that they are sweeter because the sugar is concentrated in the carrot's core. Very important to look at the stem end. If it is darkish color it means that it is an aging carrot.

I took a picture of the juice before I drank it, and even though it doesn't look all that appealing, the carrot flavor is very intense.

RECIPE

♥ Handful of parsley

♥ 6 carrots

Bunch the parsley in your hand first, then place in the feeder of the juicer and push it through with a carrot (fat end first).

Approximately Nutrient Content
Calories 192, Protein 4.6g, Carbohydrate 45g, Fat 0.84g, Vitamin A 1,215RE (RE - Retinol Equivalent), Vitamin C 60mg, Vitamin E 3mg, Thiamine 0.42mg, Riboflavin 0.24mg, Niacin 158mg, Vitamin B6 0.66mg, Folic Acid 97mcg, Sodium 158mg, Calcium 140mg, Magnesium 74mg, Potassium 1,506mg, Iron 3.36mg.

xoxo

♥ Natalia ♥

Recipe from "The Complete Book of Juicing" by Michael T. Murray, N.D.

The Green Drink

Have you ever heard of the old statement, "When you are green inside, you are clean inside"? I do believe there is some truth to that statement. This is probably one of the healthiest juice recipes available.

The color of this juice is bright green, and it smells like grass that has just been cut, however it doesn't taste like grass. According to my husband is "blend", but that's because he likes really sweet juices.

If what you want to achieve is a very sweet green juice, use more apples. I don't because I don't want my sugar level to spike. Another note... be careful with the Kale, it has a bitter taste so the more you put, the bitter the drink will be. The recipe says two kale leaves, however I only put one. Play with the recipe to your taste.

RECIPE
♥ Handful or parsley or wheatgrass
♥ 2 Granny Smith Apples, cut into wedges
♥ 2 Kale leaves
♥ Handful of spinach

Juice the parsley or wheatgrass first, then one of the apples, the kale, spinach, and the second apple. That will allow for the juice to flow better in your juicer.

Approximate Nutrient Content
Calories 189, Protein 4g, Carbohydrate 47g, Fat 1.4g, Vitamin A 766RE (RE - Retinol Equivalent), Vitamin C 56mg, Vitamin E 8.4mg, Thiamine 0.13mg, Riboflavin 0.44mg, Niacin 1.1mg, Vitamin B6 0.6mg, Folic Acid 244mcg, Sodium 94mg, Calcium 145mg, Magnesium 104mg, Potassium 996mg, Iron 4.4mg.

xoxo

♥ Natalia ♥

Recipe from "The Complete Book of Juicing" by Michael T. Murray, N.D.

Omega Vert Juicer

Last year I became a vegan for approximately 5 months. The most difficult thing I have ever done, not only because I love dairy, especially cheese but because I was surrounded by people that were not vegan; great people who loved to bring amazing food at work ... however I could not eat any of it, because I was on a mission. 

There was something on my diet that was making the digestion of my food very difficult and painful. After watching a documentary called "Vegucated" I decided to clean my pantry, and try the "vegan thing" to clean up my system, and then... little by little introduce products to figure out what was making me totally miserable.

That's how I got introduced to juicing. I had a juicer at home, however it was painful to juice because of the mess it created, and the difficulty of cleaning the machine. I have a friend that juices every morning, and he recommended the Omega Vert. There are a variety of juicers to choose from, depending on the use, and what you are looking for. I decided to get the Omega VRT330HD Heavy Duty Vert.

The body of this juicer is heavy (weights 11lbs), be careful when you move it, for sure it could break more than one toe if it falls on your foot. 

The Omega Vert are not cheap (I bought mine in Amazon for $284) in pearl white. I have not regretted my decision. This machine is easy to assemble to start juicing and easy to disassemble and clean. The best part is.. it does not waste product, it really extract the juice out of the vegetables and fruits. The instructions are clear and to the point.

♥ It gives you the order to disassemble

♥ Use the brush to clean thoroughly after operating

♥ Do not use metal sponge to clean, it will damage the machine

♥ Do not use dishwasher to clean

♥ Do not rinse the base with direct water, use dry towel or wet towel to clean

♥ Please dry the attachments after cleaning.

Happy juicing!!

xoxo

♥ Natalia ♥