Posts for August 8th 2012

Sugar Shout Out

Sugar Shout Out: Try Summer's Hottest Hair Trends

Try the season's biggest hair trends before it's too late Get the scoop on the best budget wines of Summer Tom Brady and pregnant Gisele kiss and cuddle with Jack and Ben 29 playdates to spice up your relationship Snuggle up in chairs designed with little ones in mind Revisit schoolgirl classics with a cool-girl twist This spirited home celebrates British patriotism and humour 2012 MTV VMAS: watch all the nominated videos Robert Pattinson preps for press and Bill Condon speaks out on Kristen's scandal Creative uses for tea and tea bags Weird Olympic sports that didn't make it to the finals CelebStyle: Miley goes grunge in ripped jeans and tan wedges Google maps takes a vintage turn

Wine

Wine of the Day: 2011 Eroica Riesling

I don't like to play favorites, but I can't help but gush over today's bottle, the 2011 Eroica Riesling ($22), a superlative vintage from Washington state.

I don't like to play favorites, but I can't help but gush over today's bottle, the 2011 Eroica Riesling ($22), a superlative vintage from Washington state. Begat out of a partnership between two prominent Riesling producers (Dr. Loosen of Germany and Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington state), this Washington-bred white marries the best qualities of the pair, resulting in a complex and eminently drinkable wine. Its intensely crisp and fruity perfume (think citrus and white peach) is well balanced by lingering minerality and moderate acidity on the tongue. While this bottle isn't cheap per se, it's an excellent value, and a bottle that I'd happily pay more than its moderate price tag for.

Truth be told, I could easily down a bottle of this wine solo (though I wouldn't recommend that), but I would wager that it would come to life when paired with spicy-sour-sweet Thai food or briny shellfish. I'll be sipping on mine while supping on fruits de la mer — specifically moules à la marinière.

Wine

Fill Your Wine Glasses With Every Wine We Tried Last Month

Suffering from empty wine glass syndrome?

Suffering from empty wine glass syndrome? We can treat that, no problem. This month we put forth our best effort to drink up and make a dent in our rapidly expanding wine collection by sampling one wine every single workday. As a result, we tried a little bit of everything, from German sparkling wine to Central California Riesling. Even though we managed to scale back our overwhelming stash, there is still more (much more!) to try; we'll continue to bring you more reviews, but for now, here's a glimpse at each wine we tried last month.

promo

See Our Cutest POPSUGAR Must Have Bag Instagram Pics — Share Yours and Sign Up!

Our inaugural July POPSUGAR Must Have shipment included the perfect Summer tote, among so many other goodies, and we've loved seeing you share all your pictures with the bag!

Our inaugural July POPSUGAR Must Have shipment included the perfect Summer tote, among so many other goodies, and we've loved seeing you share all your pictures with the bag! Whether it's by the pool, at the farmers market, or slung over your shoulder for a beachside bike ride, the classic design and useful details make it ideal for any outing. Share your pictures with us — just remember to use the hashtag #MustHaveBag on Twitter and Instagram — and we may feature you on PopSugar.

In case you don't know about POPSUGAR Must Have yet, every month, Lisa Sugar and the POPSUGAR staff will curate an exciting bag full of fun must-have products from fashion, beauty, home decor, fitness, and more. Our customized bag will include tried-and-true classics, celebrity favorites, and brands you've yet to discover. Sign up for POPSUGAR Must Have now in time for our August shipment!

party planning

Learn Proper Etiquette For English Teatime

For Americans, it's more common to slurp a coffee in a plastic on-the-go cup during a morning commute than to sit down with friends for a proper tea, so that explains why we don't know mluch about English tea etiquette.

For Americans, it's more common to slurp a coffee in a plastic on-the-go cup during a morning commute than to sit down with friends for a proper tea, so that explains why we don't know mluch about English tea etiquette. Some of the rules and behavior expected at afternoon tea are not intuitive, so it's necessary to learn them. While a few of these customs may seem silly, many serve the important purpose of avoiding spills and hot-water burns. If you find yourself sitting down to afternoon tea, whether in England or otherwise, then here are a few tea etiquette pointers.

let's dish

Let's Dish: What's Your Favorite Specialty Oil?

Even though they might cost a pretty penny, some specialty oils are worth splurging for in addition to your go-to vegetable or olive oil.

Even though they might cost a pretty penny, some specialty oils are worth splurging for in addition to your go-to vegetable or olive oil. Flax oil lends salad dressings or smoothies a nutty, rich flavor, while coconut oil has a high smoke point and also offers a tropical flavor to everything from fried tofu to vegan baked goods. Some oils like walnuts and pumpkin seed are best drizzled over finished dishes for a distinct roasted aroma. One of the most interesting oils I've ever used is La Tourangelle Avocado Oil ($15), which is surprisingly neutral and can be used in temperatures up to 350ºF. I love drizzling it atop black beans and in Mexican-inspired salads.

There are a plethora of oils to choose from beyond canola and olive, so tell us: what's your favorite specialty oil, and how do you use it?

Soup

Soup's On: Julia Child's Potage Parmentier

Francophile alert: if Julia Child, the grand dame of French cookery, were still alive, then she would be celebrating her centennial birthday in just one short week (on Aug.

Francophile alert: if Julia Child, the grand dame of French cookery, were still alive, then she would be celebrating her centennial birthday in just one short week (on Aug. 15). Naturally, it only seems fitting to crack the spine on her seminal masterpiece, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and get cooking, in honor of the auspicious date.

Not too surprisingly, flipping through the pages of pithy prose and detailed instructions provided ample inspiration — one could easily spend a year devoted to cooking from the hefty tome — but my penchant for anything and everything soup eventually led me to settle on her classic recipe for potage parmentier (otherwise known as potato leek soup).

Keep reading for the classic recipe.

savory sights

Savory Sight: Summer Coq au Vin

With its traditional heaviness, coq au vin may not be thought of as a conventional warm-weather dish, but PaprikaPinot has created a summertime variation of the French favorite.

With its traditional heaviness, coq au vin may not be thought of as a conventional warm-weather dish, but PaprikaPinot has created a summertime variation of the French favorite.

This chicken dish is rich in flavor yet surprisingly light. While red wine is used in the braising liquid, a lighter bodied wine like Pinot Noir is blended with chicken broth to make a lighter Summer variation.

For the full recipe, check out her blog, and be sure to upload your latest food-related obsessions with us in the YumSugar Community. If you're on Instagram, then join us by tagging your pictures with the hashtag #savorysight.