Lillet Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows are an airy sweet treat. For a little twist, this recipe uses Lillet Blanc instead of water. Lillet is a French aperitif flavored with Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueur. The flavor gives a tangy pop to these fluffy clouds of sugar.

Lillet Marshmallow Recipe

{adapted from Gourmet Magazine}

2 1/2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (2 tablespoons plus 1¼ teaspoons)
3/4 cup Lillet Blanc
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
2 large egg whites
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch

Spray a 13x9” ceramic baker with cooking spray. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup Lillet; set aside and allow to expand. Attach a candy thermometer to a large saucepan. Combine remaining 1/4 cup Lillet, 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, and corn syrup. Over medium-high heat, cook without stirring until temperature reaches 260°, about 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in softened gelatin; mixture will foam and then dissipate.

While sugar heats, in a medium bowl, beat egg whites, vanilla, and salt at high speed until foamy. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and continue beating on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually pour in gelatin mixture, beating until thick and glossy, about 3-4 minutes. Pour mixture into prepared baker. Cover with plastic wrap but don’t allow it to touch marshmallows. Chill 6 hours or overnight.

When ready to cut, remove marshmallows from refrigerator. Combine powdered sugar and cornstarch on a cutting board. Place marshmallow slab on cutting board. Coat with additional sugar mixture completely. Slice into 1” squares with a dough cutter or large knife. Coat all sides of marshmallows with sugar mixture. Enjoy an elegant twist on a sweet confection.

Mistinguett

I love the vintage French charm of these Mistinguett giclee prints by Charles Gesmar {she was a French cabaret dancer and singer at the Casino de Paris and Moulin Rouge in the early 1900s). The hypnotic orange stripes on the dress contrast effortlessly with the exaggerated sea blue hat feather. It hangs dreamily in my hallway. I'm searching for the perfect lucite console table to pair it with for some modernity.

If you're looking for something more glam, this blush-toned print showcasing a scalloped ballgown should do the trick.

Chain Mail

From blush-toned chiffon skirts to menswear-inspired jackets, it's easy to draw from fall style inspiration. Even with a ladylike look, a standout necklace can add a bit of edge. I'd like to pair this Dannijo Stella Necklace with this Joseph Vanessa Dress and Proenza Schouler Suede Ankle Boots.

Or maybe this TomTom Legacy Necklace with Zara Pleated Capri Trousers, a Helmut Lang Ember Crepe Blazer, Zara Silk Blouse, and J Crew Greer Platform Heels.

Dolce Vita

Torta della nonna at Robiglio

My beloved sweets, there’s no shortage of desserts in Florence. A few standouts were the caramel gelato at Perchè No!, the torta della nonna at Robiglio, and the profiterole at Rivoire. And don’t rule out the savory bistecca Fiorentina, a savory t-bone steak that melts like butter in your mouth. The best specimen can be found at Il Latini. For added atmosphere, a meat slicer is on display in the center of the dining room, where a waiter slices paper thin prosciutto for every table. Don’t worry, they won’t run out, there are plenty of cured pork legs hanging from the ceiling.

Profiterole at Rivoire

Cantinetta dei Verrazza

Tank: Tibi

Skirt: 3.1 Phillip Lim

da Rocca food stand at Mercato Sant'Ambrogio

Il Latini

Florence Sweets
~Dolceforte for Amadei chocolate, Via della Scala 21
~Perchè No! for caramel gelato, Via dei Tavolini 19r
~Rivoire for hot chocolate, profiterole, and zabaglione pastry, Piazza della Signoria 5r
~Robiglio for biscotti and torta della nonna, Via dei Servi 112r

Florence Eats
~Mercato Sant’Ambrogio for lasagna at the da Rocco food stand, Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti
~Cantinetta dei Verrazza for potato rolls, Via dei Tavolini 18r
~Forno Sartoni for arancini {fried rice balls} and sfogue {spinach and ricotta puff pastry}, Via dei Cerchi 34r
~Trattoria Mario for pasta and bistecca, Via Rosina 2r
~Il Latini for prosciutto, bistecca, and house-made dessert wine, Via dei Palchetti 6r
~Il Pizzaiuolo for Napoli-style pizza, Via de’ Macci 113r

Market Day

Mercato Centrale

Outside the Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

View from the Ponte Vecchio

Silk geometric blouse from the Prada outlet

If you have the time to spend the day taking the train 45 minutes from Florence to a nondescript building marked “Space” in the small town of Montevarchi, the payoff of shopping at the massive Prada outlet is worth the effort. From the Montevarchi train station, just ask a taxi driver to take you to the Prada outlet; it’s only about a 10-minute drive. You will be overwhelmed with last season’s lambskin leather handbags, silk printed blouses, jewel-toned patent sandals-need I go on.

Inside the city, there's an abundance of markets and shops. My favorites are the Mercato Centrale for Alimentari olive oil from the Baroni family and the Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for magnolia lotion made by Dominican monks. Here are some of my other picks.

Florence Markets
~Mercato Centrale for a wealth of foodstuffs and perfect gifts for foodies
~Mercato Cascine for pottery {Tuesdays only}
~Mercato di San Lorenzo for leather goods

Florence Shops
~Ditta Luca della Robbia for hand-painted pottery, Via del Proconsolo 19r
~Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for lotions, perfumes, and soap, Via della Scala 16
~Raspini for Italian designers, Via Roma 25r
~Ponte Vecchio for glimmering windows of gold and cameos
~Via de’Tornabuoni for luxe designers

Ode to Florence

Duomo and Battistero

Florence holds a special place in my heart. I spent a semester there studying architecture during undergrad. So when I return to the city, I seek out old favorites. Whether it’s a café seat to admire the Renaissance buildings {and a bombalone donut} or an outdoor flea market with hand-painted ceramics, everything brings back memories. Here are some of my favorite sights {and tips for easy access}. I’ll share more on Florence this week.

Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti

Loggia degli Uffizi

Santa Croce

Bargello

Florence Sights
~Bargello for Donatello’s bronze David
~Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti for expansive views of Florence
~Galleria dell’Accademia for Michaelangelo’s Statue of David
~Galleria degli Uffizi for Botticelli’s Primavera
~Santa Croce for the tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli, Dante, and Michelangelo
~Santa Maria del Fiore for the iconic Duomo, Campanile, and Battistero

*Tickets for the Bargello, Accademia, Uffizi, and Medici Chapels can be booked directly through the Florence Culture Ministry official website

Basta Pasta

Princi

Tank: Claudie Pierlot

Bag: Chanel

Pasta is not in short supply in Italy; it is often eaten as a primi {first course} before a secondi {second course} of meat or fish and contorni {vegetables}. From ricotta-filled mushroom ravioli or penne Bolognese, each offered a distinctive flavor combination. For lunch, I took a detour to Princi, where marinated chicken salad and colorful vegetables took center stage. Then for a sweet treat, there were plenty of traditional desserts. I took my time sampling the dainty butter cookies {biscotti} from Pasticceria Marchesi.

Ristorante Papa Franceso

Pasticceria Marchesi

Milan Eats and Sweets

Eats

~Luini for fried panzerotti {similar to a calzone} with tomato and mozzarella, Via S. Radegonda 16

~Peck for gourmet deli items, Via Spadari 9

~Princi for fresh lunches cafeteria-style, multiple locations

Sweets

~Pasticceria Marchesi for Panettone and butter cookies, Via Santa Maria alla Porta 11a

~Laduree for a macaron fix outside of France, Via Spadari