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Fino – Spring/Summer Collection from US and Europe

May 12, 2016 by Akiba 4 Comments

As Los Cabo continues to grow and acquire its own unique personality and global style, it holds its place as Mexico’s premier destination.  Fino Mex-US boutique at the Shoppes at Palmilla has a clothing and accessories collection that makes beauty effortless, stylish and easy.  Impeccable service and its refined modern setting reinforces the complete experience. You can shop for everything that inspires you and have that smug feeling that you are wearing something no one else has – this is fashion to help you stand out from the crowd.

Owner Marsha La Tessa is constantly keeping the pulse on the market and this is Fino’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection from US and Europe:

Dorit “Dodo” Bar Or is an Israeli designer with stores in Tel Aviv and an international following.  Dodo launched her brand a year a half ago at the Silencio club in Paris where she got great coverage from all the best magazines like Vogue Paris, Vogue Italy, British Vogue, Purple Magazine etc. Celebrities from all over the world love wearing Dodo Bar Or.  Dodo’s penchant for bohemian silhouettes and traditional Middle Eastern patterns is clear in her chic sexy dresses, funky flouncy skirts and long hippie draping gowns.  Think sky-blue peplum tops with matching trousers, floral blouses with criss-cross lacing and vibrant silk kaftans embroidered on orange, fuchsia and blue. Much of her new line is based largely on the fabric of a Palestinian Keffiyeh.

Crafted from breezy plissé cotton and intricately decorated with claret embroidery.

Dodo Mini Dress

Dodo mini dress It’s crafted from breezy plissé cotton and intricately decorated with claret embroidery.

Dodo Kaftan

Dodo Kaftan

Totême NYC is a refined yet casual luxury line established by a Swedish couple Elin Kling and Karl Lindman. It is inspired by classic American sportswear and timeless European minimalism with artfully disheveled tee’s made of cotton and cashmere in classic shades. Marsha is very excited about the women’s jeans which are crafted in Italy with a slim and skinny fit and a mid-rise waist.

Totême

Toteme Toulon Trousers

Totême Toulon Trousers

Totême Havana Dress

Totême Havana Dress

SUNO NYC – Kenyan born Max Osterweis joined forces with Erin Beatty, a designer for The Gap and Generra, to launch a high-end collection with a conscience. Since its inception, SUNO has evolved from its original African roots to include production in Kenya, India, Peru and its home base of New York. SUNO utilizes the local talent of each country it works with to create unique prints, textures and embroideries layered together to build a bright and modern wardrobe. SUNO is both quirky and practical, stand out yet measured.

Suno

Suno

Suno

Suno

0039 Italy has a rock star attitude and loving attention is lavished on every detail throughout the entire manufacturing process, from the design to the hand finishing. The fabrics all originate from Italy and are only ever produced in Italy and Portugal. The result is flattering, stylish and timeless pieces to treasure.

0039 Italy linen summer dress

0039 Italy linen summer dress

Flagpole Swimwear:  Flagpole’s co-founders, Megan Balch and Jaime Barker collection is all about the fit.  “The fit of a suit is everything. Color and novelty are important but the fit trumps everything. We wear our samples and test them over and over to make sure that the suit is comfortable and keeps its shape.” 

Flagpole Swimwear

Flagpole Swimwear

Whit is the brainchild of Whitney Pozgay.  Her clean shapes are energized by playful details, achieving an aesthetic that is both feminine and modern. She designs in New York and the production facility is across the street.  Marsha describes this line as “Urban Girly.” WHIT_SS16_SHOT12_GREG_VORE_1024x1024

Whit

14.8

Bluma Project is a Brooklyn-based contemporary jewelry and accessories company. While the collection is designed in Brooklyn, it is inspired by global culture and is produced by artisans in Peru, India, Guatemala and other developing nations.  Utilizing jewelry as an inspirational tool to spark social change, Beth Schaffer launched the Bluma Project, an initiative that was built on the mission to support women’s employment and empowerment on a global scale. Every time you slip one of these unique, custom designed bead creations around your neck or wrap them around your wrists, you are helping a woman earn a sustainable wage to support herself and her family.10730099_765764076793486_6462209667588615265_n (1)12729347_955723997797492_4164480638326356936_n (1)

Skin Organic – Tees, slips and undies made from soft natural materials and organic cottons.  Skin creates a defined wardrobe and fits like it was made for you alone. Skin Lookbooksslide5

Christina Lehr – From thoughtful designs to superior fabrics to the family-run factory in Belgium that manufactures her line, Christina Lehr’s line is always a cut above. “A perfect t-shirt is basic, timeless and clean,” Christina said. “I concentrate on fit and proportion, make them in beautiful colors from great fabrics, and wash them in a special blend of enzymes to give them a silky feel.”IMG_8017

Fino also carries shoes for every occasion, work out clothing, hats, bags and natural cosmetics.

Everyone wants to wear great clothes and it is a bonus to feel sexy and cool. With Fino Boutique, the details make the difference. From the beach to a casual cafe or elegant dining, Fino has you “covered”.

Fino is located in the Shoppes at Palmilla, San Jose’ del Cabo

Tel:  624 104 0103

U.S.:  011 52 624 104 0103

Posted in: About, Learn, Shop Tagged: 0039 Italy, Dorit “Dodo” Bar Or, Fino US - Mex, Los Tamarindos, Marsha La Tessa, Shrimp Curry, Suno, Totême

Chicken in Milk with Lemon, Cinnamon, Sage and Garlic

April 25, 2016 by Akiba 2 Comments

downloadI am a big fan of Jamie Oliver. I started following him when I was living in England in the early 2000’s.  His approach to cooking was so different than any cooking shows out there at the time.  Just the name, The Naked Chef, put a smile on my face and I was curious about who this guy was.  He cooked with abandon, minimum fuss and he made it all look like great fun.  Some of my favorite episodes were when he cooked for his girlfriend’s “hen” party and when he cooked for his mates in the early morning when they came in from the pubs.  He also did a series “Jamie at Home” where he is outside with a wood burning oven and takes advantage of his incredible English garden.

But Jamie also has a very serious side. He was a leader in improving the school lunches in England to healthy and wholesome food – a goal which ultimately led to a broader campaign to improve school lunches called Feed Me Better. He was voted the ‘Most Inspiring Political Figure’ for the ‘Feed Me Better’ campaign that worked toward cutting out junk food in the diets of British schoolchildren. The British Government pledged to spend 280 million on school lunches.

Jamie’s Kitchen’, a documentary series, followed Jamie as he attempts to train a group of fifteen disadvantaged youth. (I use the word “attempts because he was not successful with all the kids, many who were from very troubled backgrounds.)  The students who did complete the course were offered jobs at Oliver’s restaurant ‘Fifteen’.

A few years ago, I came across Jamie’s Chicken in Milk recipe and I was enticed by it because it was so completely unusual.  It called for roasting a chicken in a big pot with a pint of milk, a lot of lemon zest, a cinnamon stick, fresh sage leaves and unpeeled garlic cloves. Milk, cinnamon, and chicken were three things I wouldn’t ever think to combine.  The lemon zest splits the milk and creates a curdled creamy pan sauce that I have heard described as liquid lemon gold.  I’ve made this many times and besides being delicious, it is also fast and easy to prepare.  128_1_1438960145

Recipe:

Ingredients

  • sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • olive oil
  • ½ stick cinnamon
  • 1 good handful fresh sage , leaves picked
  • 2 lemons , zest of
  • 10 cloves garlic, skin left on
  • 565 ml / 1 pint milk
  • 1/5 kg / 3 lb chicken

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas 5, and find a snug-fitting pot for the chicken. Season it generously all over, and fry it in a little olive oil, turning the chicken to get an even colour all over, until golden. Remove from the heat, put the chicken on a plate, and throw away the oil left in the pot. This will leave you with tasty sticky goodness at the bottom of the pan which will give you a lovely caramel flavour later on.

Put your chicken back in the pot with the rest of the ingredients, and cook in the preheated oven for 1½ hours. Baste with the cooking juice when you remember. The lemon zest will sort of split the milk, making a sauce which is absolutely fantastic.

To serve, pull the meat off the bones and divide it onto your plates. Spoon over plenty of juice and the little curds. Serve with wilted spinach or greens and some mashed potato.

Note:

I use skinless chicken and it works well too.

Jamie leaves the lid off the pot when he cooks it.  I like to leave the lid on for part of the cooking and remove for the last half.

If you are confused about the metric system, this should help.

Conversion Tables:
1/5 teaspoon = 1 milliliter
1 teaspoon = 5 ml
1 tablespoon = 15 ml
1 fluid oz. = 30 ml
3.4 fluid oz. = 100 ml
1 cup = 240 ml
34 fluid oz. = 1 liter
4.2 cups = 1 liter
2.1 pints = 1 liter
1.06 quarts = 1 liter
.26 gallon = 1 liter

Weight
.035 ounce = 1 gram
3.5 ounces = 100 grams
1.10 pounds = 500 grams
2.205 pounds = 1 kilogram
35 oz. = 1 kilogram

Posted in: About, Eat, Learn, Recipes Tagged: Chicken in Milk, Conversion Tables, Feed Me Better, Jamie at Home, Jamie Oliver, Jamie's Kitchen, Naked Chef

Artist Jane Lillico – Birds, Beasts and Beings

February 7, 2016 by Akiba 6 Comments
Artist Jane Lillico

Artist Jane Lillico

The term “emerging artist” is too vague when describing Jane Lillico.  I prefer to describe her as a REAL artist growing in strength with a unique creative voice.  She is multi-talented with a substantial body of work under her belt.  Her love for nature, wildlife and people are reflections of her work.

Her mediums are sculpting, painting (landscape and architecture), freehand architectural drawings, mixed media using  found and re-purposed items such as sea shells, feathers, glass, pieces of wire and packing materials.  Jane  is also a writer, interior designer and she creates unique lighting sources, jewelry and embroidered tapestries.  One of her goals this year is to have her book of homonyms published: Too Bee Oar Knot Two B.

Freehand Architectural Drawing

Freehand Architectural Drawing

Jane employs an array of materials and mediums but in our conversation, she kept coming back to the versatility of the ancient art of papier-mâché, which is virtually unlimited because it is lightweight and airy and because of the unpredictability in the way it dries, it has its owns unique character.

Jane is particularly attracted to birds and her papier-mâché sculptures of pelicans, frigates and flying fish at the stunning Galeria de Ida Victoria in the Historic San Jose Art District, are airborne and soaring from the ceiling.

Flying Fish at Galeria de Ida Victoria

Flying Fish at Galeria de Ida Victoria

Working with recycled materials is a real joy for Jane because  it educates people to use something that is discarded and transform it into art. This is also about teaching the next generation about recycling.  When she comes across a unique shaped box or vessel of some sort, she knows immediately how it can be a base element for a sculpture.

Tribal Masks made from Recycled Bicycle Boxes

Tribal Masks made from Recycled Bicycle Boxes

Humor is vital to her creativity and reflected in her current work where exaggerated features are meant to put a smile on your face. Also the eyes of her subjects are super important – human or animal –  it develops their own individual personality.

Pelican in Papier-Mâché

Pelican Frank made of fibreglass and durable enough to remain outside.

Gift for Flora Farm

Gift for Flora Farm

Jane is currently developing her Suitcase Series which will be pieces that can be carried in a standard size suitcase.  Because some of her work has been so large scale, it can be a stumbling block because it is prohibitive to ship.  Her first foray into the Suitcase Series will be with Frigates, reducing the scale for manageable shipping to remote locations.

Pelicans and Frigates

Pelican and Frigates

Jane is very introspective and we talked about how she handles disappointment – she made me laugh with something she had read about the philosophy of a dog – if you can’t eat it or play with it, walk away.  But honestly, she told me if something does not work the first time, you have to find a way to make it work.  Her motto is, if you feel strongly enough about it, you will make it work.

Signature Initials for Eileen

Papier-Mâché Signature Initials – Jane uses the recipient’s signature for these magical pieces which make amazing gifts for any occasion.  They can be hung or freestanding and the approximate size is 16″ x 14″x 3″d.

papier-mâché

Jane Lillico has caught the eye of the art community in Mexico, Canada and the United States.  She is one of the featured artists in Arabella Magazine which will be released in Canada in March. Her unique creative voice is gaining strength, exposure and the recognition she deserves.

Triplicity in Papier-Mâché

Triplicity in Papier-Mâché

Some cultures believe birds are the connection between heaven and earth. The next time you are lounging around your house staring at your empty ceiling, imagine Trumpeter Swans, Canadian Geese, Pelicans and Flying Fish airborne above you and remember Jane Lillico and her amazing art.

Trumpeter Swans

Trumpeter Swans

 

Jane Lillico, www.janelillico.com

 

Posted in: About, Learn Tagged: Flora Farm, Ida Victoria Gallery, Jane Lillico Art, San Jose' Art District
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