City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008 - (Page 24)

We don’t particularly remember the brand of Champagne or what else we did that day, but one thing stood out - the memory of our senseless, silly, splurge. Champagne, long revered as being an ultimate luxury, an indulgence, had become a way to turn around what was a rather dull, nondescript day. When it comes to Champagne, there are NO rules, NO regulations. You can chill the bottle in the fridge for a few hours, or even speed up the process by plunging it in your freezer for twenty minutes. You can pair it with any and every delicacy from woodsy truffles and Russian caviar to down-to-earth Luxury, perchance, is sublime simplicity - allowing us to indulge in the most banal activities that we deny ourselves. Sleeping in on Sundays, colouring outside the lines, eating another few caramels or even enjoying a rustic home - made pizza with a glass of our beloved Champagne. Profiter. CSL Clockwise from left: Baskets of grapes ready for pressing; bubbly ready to serve; French workers at the vendanges (harvest) 24 | WINTER 2007/2008 | citystyleandliving.com TOP, CLOCKWISE: CLAUDE ET FRANCOISE HUYGHENS DANRIGAL, COLLECTION CIVC, FRANÇOISE,PERETTI ,COLLECTION CIVC, JOHN HODDER , COLLECTION CIVC It was late one rainy afternoon in September, when, picking up a few items at our local wine store, we glanced over at the aisle of golden Champagnes, longingly, as we usually did. This time though, with boldness and with no occasion in mind, no birthday, no anniversary or special celebration at all, something inside made us reach for the bottle and gently rest it in our basket. Arriving home late that evening, with no plans about what to cook for supper, we looked through our fridge to find three lonely ingredients: fresh mozzarella, basil pesto and a few button mushrooms. Thinking on our feet, we come up with a quick pizza, using a few slices of store bought whole wheat bread. meals like Asian takeout, pasta Bolognese or simple roasted meat. Of course we have had Champagne to commemorate anniversaries, to toast a newly minted graduate, and to wish many happy solar returns to a birthday girl. But the secret pleasure of Champagne is something more. We were reading through an article recently, asking movie stars and fashion designers to name their favorite luxury, and to explain what the term meant to them. Among the responses- 800 thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets, couture gowns and sumptuous face cream. Upon reflection, we thought, surely there is more to luxury than expense, and pomp and circumstance. Perhaps Champagne, has been keeping a secret all of these centuries. The famous little drink with the tiny bubbles has more cause for celebration than there are holidays or birthdays to celebrate- there is a Champagne for every taste, every mood, every moment, every whim. http://citystyleandliving.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008

City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008 Contents Editor’s Note Website Behind the Cover Contributors The District Calgary’s Holiday Storefront Windows: Through the Looking Glass Need it Want it Fusion Culinary Adventure Champagne 101: Tiny Bubbles Covet Prêt-à-porter Fashion Adventure Resort Wear Enchanted Evening Passport 24 Hours in Paris Anatomy of... Costa Rica: In Search of the Resplendent Quetzal Final Thought

City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008

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