Russia, by Way of Salem

Every now and then, Gk and I feel an overwhelming need to get out of Boston, experience a change of scenery, and breathe some fresh air.  A few weekends ago, we had such an urge and decided to take a day trip to Salem.  It was a great weekend to go, as we got to enjoy the crisp air and sunny fall weather while avoiding the tourist onslaught that is sure to befall Salem as Halloween gets closer and closer.  We started our holiday at the Peabody Essex Museum.  It was the last weekend before the closing of their Faberge exhibit, which GK and I had both wanted to see, so luckily we made it just in time.

I've always been intrigued by Faberge eggs and the tragic story of the last imperial family of Russia, so this exhibit spoke to every nerdy fiber of my being.  It started off with what, in my opinion, was the VIP of the exhibit, the Imperial Peter the Great Easter Egg.  Made in 1903 for Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra, this egg was made to commemorate the reign of Peter the Great, the first great tsar of Russia, and to draw comparisons between Peter and his descendent Nicholas, in an effort to glorify the current tsar.

Before seeing this exhibit, I hadn't realized that Faberge had been known for anything other than its famous Easter eggs, but apparently it enjoyed quite the monopoly on other luxury goods in Russia and even competed with the House of Cartier for the European market for a time.  Its picture frames, dishes, and animal figurines, made of precious stones and enamel were quite the prized possessions among the elite in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

What surprised me the most about the exhibit was the plethora of cane and parasol handles on display.  Apparently, during Faberge's heyday, high society men and women had a number of different cane and parasol handles that were made of luxurious materials, and they would swap out the handles based on their outfits for the day.  Who knew that parasol and cane handles were once considered a status symbol?  Oh how times have changed....

The exhibit flowed through three galleries, and in the last room, the grand finale awaited...three more Faberge Easter eggs, all of which had been made and presented to the Romanovs.  While these eggs were made of the most expensive materials, the rest of the imperial household, including every rank of servant, were apparently also presented with eggs on Easter as a token of thanks for their service.

I was blown away by the intricate detail and craftsmanship that went into the eggs, which made me wonder if we still produce anything now that will have such longevity and hold such fascination for future generations.  Would anyone take the time or make the effort to create something like these eggs today?

 

This lapis lazuli egg, made for Alexandra in honor of her only son Alexei, took Faberge craftsmen THREE years to complete.  THREE YEARS.  Does anyone have that kind of attention span anymore?  I mean, that's longer than most master's programs.  Sometimes, it's good to be reminded what people could accomplish if only they'd slow down and take pride in their work. 

After we finished ogling the eggs and daydreaming about the tragic romanticism of the Romanovs' story, our stomachs were starting to grumble, but we had to make one other pitstop in the museum to see a reconstruction of the first ocean-going yacht from the 1800s. GK was in heaven...she has a thing for sailors.

If you find yourself in Salem and you've had enough of all the witchy kitsch, I'd definitely recommend taking a breather at the Peabody Essex.  It really is a beautiful museum and I'm sure that it has many more secrets to tell beyond those of the Romanovs.

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The Painted Burro

While S and I have an undying love for Posto, we've decided that we should occasionally branch  out and try some new places around where we work.  So the last time that we got together, we chose The Painted Burro, a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar in Davis Square.  To be fair, it is owned by the same people behind Posto, but we're still going to pat ourselves on the back for trying something new.  Luckily, our sense of adventure was rewarded and the food was fabulous, and the atmosphere, chill and fun.  We started off with  margaritas and chips and guac, of course.

Is there anything that tastes better than a margarita after a long day at work?  Why, yes there is, thank you for asking, and it's a cucumber margarita.  So refreshing and crisp, and it counts as a serving of vegetables, right?  The Painted Burro has an impressive margarita menu, including the cucumber option, which I loved, and a spicy margarita, which S opted for.  That was also very good, but not for the faint of heart. When we had demolished a few buckets of chips (hey, they were small buckets, okay?), we moved on to the main event.  S went for the Baja-Style Fish taco and a kale salad, which was absolutely huge.  I was a good friend and helped her eat it.

I was in the mood for tacos, so I went for the Gulf Shrimp "Diablo Rojo" and the Pork Carnitas taco.

The Pork Carnitas, with picked red onion, poblano salsa verde, and Mexican crema, was a bit disappointing.  Overall, it just wasn't as flavorful as I had hoped and the meat was salty and a little dry.  The shrimp taco, however, was divine.  With guac and habanero and mango salsa, it was the perfect, punchy combination of flavors. We soon decided that we were in need of another round of margs, so S went for the Strawberry/Melon while I chose Mango.

This was the perfect dessert margartia...sweet and fruity and smooth.  However, I rarely only drink dessert, so S and I ordered some other sweet treats as well.  We decided to split the churros with chocolate sauce....

and the peach flan.

 I have a rather unnatural love for churros and have to order them whenever I find them on a menu.  They were good, but the flan was the real standout. It's creamy texture was perfect, as was its caramelly flavor.  It was a great finale to cleanse the palate after all the salty chips and spicy food.

If you want to try the Painted Burro and are planning on going during the weekend, I'd recommend making a reservation if you're going for dinner.  During the week, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting a table without one.  If you're more in the mood to just work your way through their margarita selection or are a tequila connoisseur, the bar area also has a fun vibe with bright red, comfy stools.  Go and have one for me!  On the rocks with salt, obviously. 

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Garlic Herb Braided Bread

I love to make bread.  Not only do I love eating the stuff, but the smell of baking bread is quite possibly the best thing ever.  It always gives your kitchen that homey, cozy feeling that I'm always craving during the chilly fall and winter months.  One of my favorite bread recipes is this garlic-herb braid recipe.  My mom and I first came across it a few years ago, and since then, it has become my go-to bread recipe when I'm craving a homemade loaf or want to add something special to a dinner party.  The combination of dill, garlic, rosemary and basil give it a burst of flavor that really sets it apart from that same-old, dry, store-bought bread, and it really doesn't take as long to make as some other bread recipes that I've encountered, so it will only look like you've slaved away in the kitchen for hours.

First, you'll need to gather your spices, add them to the other dry ingredients, (I used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose to make it healthier), and mix it all together.

Next, heat up your butter, milk, and water (don't let it get too hot though, or it will kill the yeast), add to the dry ingredients, and mix until just blended.  Beat in an egg and then add enough additional flour to give yourself a soft dough.  Knead for a few minutes on a floured surface until smooth and then cover and go read a magazine for 10 minutes.

Once you've finished dissecting the meaning of your horoscope, go back to the bread and divide the dough into 3 equal sections and then roll them into snakes of equal length (about 15 in.).  Put them on a greased or foiled baking sheet and then braid them.  Don't worry if you're not the most skilled bread-braider in town.  Mine always looks a bit wonky, but no one ever seems to notice and they are just delighted by the fact that you made a braided loaf of bread.

 

When you've finished braiding, pinch the ends together and fold under, and then cover and go back to the magazine for another 25 minutes.  When you've finished picking out your fall wardrobe, pop the baking sheet in the oven at 375.  After 20-25 minutes, take it out of the oven, brush with some melted butter, slice, serve, and enjoy!

Pair it with soups or pasta (if you're in the mood for lots of carbs) or make a sandwich or bruschetta out of it.  Or just eat it with a little butter or olive oil, all by itself.  Just look it at it.....how can you say no?

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