Tag Archives: Fruits

I scream ice cream!!!

August 19, 2017 Virginie the Frenchie 2 Comments

I know, I know… it is still winter in Australia, so an ice cream seems like the craziest idea. When all you want is to snuggle under a comfy blanket and just wait for summer… But sometimes, it is nice to remember that when it is cold here in the south hemisphere, there are some other parts of the world that are nice and warm and it means that soon it will be our turn 😉

So before I scream for summer, maybe I’d just scream ice cream, like a magic prayer, so it will make summer come quicker! And when you hear these mouth watering words, there is a special place that comes to my mind where you get the best ice creams you can think of. I am not even sure I should share this secret with you because it is such an enchanted place. Maybe I should just keep it to myself so it is mine forever… but that would not be fair. Little gems like Kem CoBa must be shared ❤

So if you happen to go someday to Montreal in Canada and it is one of those warm days… then go to one of my favourite areas : the Mile End, it is definitely worth the walk. There are lovely boutiques, with some good vibes and a really nice trendy atmosphere. Look for the little pink and green shop and the queue on the sidewalk, because here is Kem Coba and its delicious homemade ice creams owned by a charming couple.

Cute ❤ this one is called “La romantique” and acts like a love filter! Forget about the traditional roses bouquet, this ice cream says it all!

Those people know how to make your heart melt. Who said that an ice cream would make you cold. Those “crèmes glacées” are just pure sweet love. Imagine what happens when a cute vietnamese baker meets a French baker…. it is all hearts and ice creams!

Kem CoBa it s a bit like the Jacarandas in Australia announcing spring and summer! It is opened from May to September, best days in Montreal 😉

They are as beautiful as delicious. Besides they are all made with natural ingredients: so super healthy… well… as healthy an ice cream can be 😉 It is been years… but I still remember the lovely flavour of the Masala Chaï ❤ and I have heard that the “beurre salé” (salted butter) is reallyyyyy good too!

Dulce de leche and mangoes. Because in a perfect world, you don’t have to choose, you get both!

But the cherry on the ice cream is probably Kem CoBa’s famous “crème glacée molle” (soft ice cream). It looks like an italian ice cream to me with a torsade and double flavours and coulours! They have each week I believe a new combination: blueberries and honey, vanilla and passion fruits, dulce de leche and mangoes… I tried them all haha when I was in Montreal and I highly recommend to do the same. Besides trust me because normally ice creams are not my thing but Kem CoBa is the kind of place that turns a “never in my life” into a “normally not but this one is different”. Yes this is how good it is!

The soft vanilla from Madagascar allied to the exotic passion fruits because life needs this je ne sais quoi touch!

I could spend hours describing the vibrant colours, the exotic flavours of those sweet treats, the lovely texture, how they melt on the tongue leaving an exquisite taste but I guess the best way to really get the feeling is to go and try them all and tell me about it! So next time you go there, make sure to tell me what is your favourite!!!

Kem CoBa

Mile End

60, avenue Fairmount Ouest

kemcoba.com

Cash only

australia, food, lifestyle

I’m a blender girl in a smoothie world

March 14, 2016 Virginie the Frenchie 2 Comments

Lately I became addicted to those trendy and colourful beverages called : SMOOTHIES! Not only they are delicious but they are supposed to be healthy as well : perfect combo then, I’m all in! This is the perfect excuse for me to indulge myself with some nice and fresh fruits ❤

It all started with the purchase of a magic kitchen device : Mr Blender! Mr Blender has many qualities :

He is POWERFUL : he can blend anything !
He is CHARMING : nothing can resist him
He is JOYFUL : with his little yellow hat on
He is EASY GOING : dishwasher safe, space saver

And this is the part where I started to buy and blend many fresh fruits but also frozen ones to make refreshing smoothie bowls. I also started to be more and more interested in green juices and I purchased Kale, spinach, cucumber etc… I tried many combinations, but I have a sweet tooth so I must confess that I am more a fruity girl than a veggie one!

I think it is a good way to start the day with a smile on your face. Besides I like to have a bit of fun with my smoothie bowls topping them with superaliments and cool stuffs such as : chia seeds, sunflower seeds, linseeds, grated coconut, goji, almond milk etc… I am having also fun decorating them with layers so it looks like a landscape. I think it is worth it spending a couple of minutes on the decoration because you eat also with your eyes, don’t you?

Anyway, I am quite happy about all my creations. I like the texture and I like the colour, my favourite being anything involving blueberries, strawberries and vanilla soy or coconut milk! I have also a sweet spot for banana, milk and safran (or matcha) shake. It is easy to find on internet many recipes ideas but generally I prefer to follow my intuitions and what I have actually in my fridge and kitchen cupboard. You can’t go wrong with smoothies so let your imagination lead!

So next time, you are looking for ideas to brighten your breakfast, have a colourful smoothie bowl : it will cheer you up for the rest of the day 🙂

australia, food, lifestyle

You should drink more water!

April 16, 2015 Virginie the Frenchie Leave a comment

“No water, no life. No blue, no green” – Sylvia Earle

Forget about make-up, beauty creams, vitamins, miracle pills, fancy clothes, jewels to make you beautiful… because a girl’s best friend is closer that you think, it is actually: WATER!

Water has many virtues: it helps to digest, to regulate body temperature, to help with weight loss, to feel full of energy, to have a clearer skin, to stay fresh, to prevent headache, to beat colds, to think clearer! With all these benefits it should definitely be part of your beauty routine ❤

We are supposed to drink around 2-3 litres a day… which seems like a lot! But you can make it fun by adding cucumbers, lemons or fruits in your glass of water, to spice up things so it does not get boring! Here is a lovely article with 20 cool recipes and amazing pictures that will make you fall in love with your glass of water! http://www.diyncrafts.com/7075/health/20-delicious-detox-waters-cleanse-body-burn-fat

Water spiced up with mint, orange, lemon and cinnamon!

I personally adore tea so it is another disguised way to hydrate your body and feel splendid! My favorite time being in the afternoon while blogging and enjoying an homemade iced tea or a warm and comforting cup of my favorite blend.

Delicious mint and lemon iced tea at “E for Ethel” cafe

You can also make it trendy and healthy at home! In Adelaide we are lucky to live near Mount Lofty and its natural springs. You can enjoy pure and refreshing water for a really decent price and it is always nice to buy local! It is non polluted, it is natural, high quality and it tastes good! Here is my tip: buy a 10 liter Mount Lofty water pack (easy to find at Coles supermarket), it is convenient, cheaper and environment friendly! Then buy a beautiful bottle: I went for “Voss”, they have really stylish glass bottles but their water is so expensive because it comes from Norway springs! So now what I do, I fill my trendy “Voss” bottle with my “Mount Lofty natural spring water“, I place it in the fridge and I have always fresh and pure water to offer. I must say the bottle looks pretty cool on my table which is always a PLUS to feel good about yourself or when you have guests!

And now a funny story: I am going to reveal a little secret about Mount Lofty 10 litres pack that only Australian people know because they were born with it I assume. It seems that foreigners don’t know how to make the water flow from the box… My friend Nasim (from Iran) and I (from France) made exactly the same mistake, turning the plastic button from right to left and the other way around… we turned every part of it but nothing happened, not a single drop of water. One day Nasim’s neighbor (from Oz) paid a visit to her and Nasim asked her if she knew how to use the water pack! Her neighbor smiled and said, “Oh, it is easy, there is a little trick to know” and she showed her! Then it happened the same thing to me and I spotted that Nasim had a Mount Lofty water pack at home too, so I asked her to show me how to use it and she said, “it is easy, there is a little trick”… when thinking of it I feel stupid now haha… don’t turn the plastic bit, it won’t do anything! For god’s sake it is not a French wine barrel with a small pourer to turn on and off! So the technique is to lift the small plastic bit up or down like if you were switching a light on or off and the miracle will happen, you will have your own fountain of water springing in your home ❤ magic!