Apothecary Fox is back!!

I am really not sure how to start off this post..you see things have taken a major turn for me and my life and this little blog has born the brunt of it. If you follow Apothecary Fox you will know that I left the UK about 18 months ago in search of a different life. One less driven by the day to day burdens and stresses of a very fast paced and pretty stressful life in the hospitality industry, and more focused on exploring my love of the handmade life.
Wellllllll.....I made a U-turn. It wasn't that I didn't love my new found life of handmade loveliness or that of the peaceful Vermont life. It was more that I realised I wasn't ready to let go of my career in restaurants and that an opportunity to take on an exciting project came my way. I literally couldn't resist, but it did take about 6 months of back and forth chat with my old bosses to convince me that I was making the right decision. So, I am back in the UK (Glasgow to be precise) and have spent the past 3 months opening a monster of a restaurant. Here is the story in pictures...

I have always been up for a challenge and this one was too good to resist. The biggest opening my company has done in over a decade, and a new and exciting city to explore! What is not to love about all of that? Browns Glasgow has made quite a splash and we have been open less than two months. Read some of the amazing reviews to get a sense of what we have all achieved with a whole heap of hard work! The Daily Record, The Herald, The Glasgow Evening Times, Bite Magazine, Dram Magazine and more to come I hope!

Anyway, I am sure you can appreciate the time and effort it has taken to make this transition but I pledge to you all that normal service will resume shortly. I realised that I just could not shake my love of this crazy world of restaurants and bars and wasn't ready to slow down. My heart belongs to Browns. I might well have known that all along. But....I am passionate about all the gorgeous design-led beauties I see around me everyday so that will always be high on my list of extra curricular activities. This blog will just have to be the way I indulge my love of the handmade for a few more years to come.

I can't express my gratitude to you all enough, for sticking with me through the months of silence, for your encouragement and design tips, and for your like-minded  interests that keep stearing me to new discoveries. Stick with me, and we will continue this beautiful adventure!

Fox  xx

SIMPLY RHUBARB

Putney Mountain Winery based in Putney, Vermont is a small artisanal Winery specialising in hand crafted fruit based wine (i.e. not grapes!). All of the fruit used; apples, cranberries, pears, strawberries, rhubarb and blackcurrants, comes from Vermont farms, making this a truly home grown local production.

Producing just 1200 cases of wine each year, Putney Winery creates seasonal wine of which their Simply Rhubarb is simply the best, in my humble opinion. I recently attended a small tasting of their new fruit wines at their home on the ground floor of Basketville in Putney. Here you can not only taste their wares, but see their small production facility.

The Simply Rhubarb wine has a surprisingly tart edge, making it a perfect aperitif wine. Bursting with intense rhubarb flavours, it is not just fruity but also full of the green leaf smell and flavour so distinctly found in a rhubarb plant. This wine would be perfect with cured meat or cheese as an accompanying snack.

I am a huge fan of wine based cocktails and would recommend that this wine could be used in replacement of the Tokaji, in a fabulous cocktail called the Noble Europe. In addition to this change, swap out the OJ for pressed apple juice in this recipe, garnish with an apple slice and it is fabulous! There you have it, The Simply Rhubarb! Side note to this choice of cocktail recipe is that I was a General Manager for over 10 years for the restaurant and bar chain that was home to this creation in 2002, Browns Bar & Brasserie. Top notch bartenders who deserve a little shout out!

Anyway...Putney Winery's Heirloom Cuvee, produced year round, won a Gold Medal at the Big E Agricultural Expo's Wine Competition 2009, in West Springfield, Massachusetts. This Winery has collected a stash of such awards at this event over the years, competing against 50 or so New England Wineries. The history and continued success of the Big E is also well worth looking into. Have to put that on my to do list!

Meanwhile, I am determined to try out more of Putney Winery's creations. I have my eye on their Cassis for a delicious Kir once the weather warms up! Cheers!!

APOTHECARY FOX ON THE MOVE

I have never intended this project to get too personal. Obviously I talk about the things I love, but with the emphasis on highlighting other people's talent, through my own subjective stand point. The one exception will always be documenting my journey towards the ultimate goal...opening a boutique of lovely things, back in my other home of Vermont. So indulge me for a moment, while I break a rule.

I finished my full time job of Restaurant General Manager, for this lovely establishment, on Monday. I am officially unemployed, after 11 years with the same company! This job has truly been my entire life for as long as I can remember, and in order to get some of that back I just had to move on. My team of talented and inspired individuals have made it possible for me to leave with a sense of achievement and no regret (yet). These guys are truly amazing. The VERY best in the business.

My Management Team and I, indulging in some delicious Krug at my leaving party. Thanks to the guys from The Bon Vivant for giving me such a great send off.

Under the bunting (thanks Janey) with some of the gang.

I think having the Festive Season of Thanksgiving, Christmas and my Birthday all coming up in the next 6 weeks makes it easy for me to accept the time off. I hope to hit the ground running in the planning stages for my store in January. With any luck I can open up by the summer...fingers very tightly crossed. I can't wait to share my plans and the details of what will become Apothecary Fox, a kind of modern General Store of loveliness.

Anyway, the fun part of the move has been building up my Vermont-life essentials. It is going to be COLD! These are my purchases to fend off the snow and make the most of the winter in my new home. A while back I did a post about the ultimate winter boots, and finally decided on these.

L.L.Bean Boot, Shearling Lined, naturally!

L.L. Bean's Warm and Light Down Jacket, avoids the bulky look.

Hunter Huntress Wellington Boots, essential chicken coop-ware

Aigle's Lantaro Gilet (I cheated and bought it ages ago but now I get to justify the purchase)

And not forgetting the ultimate accessory, an Alexander McQueen wool skull print scarf. Surely the very best gift anyone could have been given for leaving a job. Adding a bit of glamour to the Green Mountains. Thanks guys!