Food Therapy: Vietnamese Coffee

I like pho and pork chops with broken rice, but what I really like is vietnamese coffee.  It's a thicker, stronger coffee with just the right amount of sweetness (which means it's sweet!).  Vietnamese coffee is what gets me to a pho restauarant, not pho.

You can't replicate v-coffee at home with a regular coffee maker.  In fact, you can't even really replicate v-coffee with a Moka Express (see here for more Moka Espress info: Bialetti's Moka Express).  And I won't even bother trying with a french press.

The correct coffee maker to use for v-coffee is this little handy-dandy gadget that you put over a mug/cup:

Yes...it only makes 1 little cup of coffee at a time.  It's a kind of drip method that thankfully doesn't require paper filters.

You put coarse coffee grind (approximately 2 heapings) into the bottom of the coffee maker and then hot water over the grind.  The coffee then drips into your mug via the bottom/filter.

 
(I'd like to note as this point that this little gadget comes with a lid.  I've lost that lid so I can't show it to you.  Try not to lose the lid.  It's great to use as a "saucer" for the actual coffee maker when you're done with it.  It'll collect any remaining coffee drippings and keep your tabletop clean.)

The special ingredient in v-coffee is sweet condensed milk.  Once you get hooked on sweet condensed milk with your coffee, you can kiss milk and sugar buh-bye.  Thanks to its high viscosity, sweet condensed milk helps the coffee to remain thick rather than watered-down.  I use a small cup when I make v-coffee because...well...you can't really make much with the coffee maker.  I fill about 1/4 of the cup with sweet condensed milk.

V-coffee makes perfect iced-coffee.  Just pour the v-coffee (premixed with sweet condensed milk) over ice and you'll get sweet but strong iced-coffee!!

You can buy the coffee maker at any Asian grocery store.  I recommend using Cafe Du Monde coffee grind.  Enjoy!!

Uniqlo: Cozy In Velvet

Uniqlo is without a doubt a go-to brand for inexpensive chic basics.  Velvet by Graham & Spencer is without a doubt a go-to brand for comfy chic tops and dresses.  Put these two brands together, throw in some cashmere and what do you get? A cozy chic cashmere sweater/cardigan collection that kinda makes me yearn for colder weather.

Given that Vince cashmere sweaters are easily running $300+ these days, this lovely Di Cashmere Off Turtle Sweater in gray seemed like a sweet deal for $129.90:

The sweater is long than it looks...it easily covers the booty. I will be wearing it all winter long with long-sleeved shirts underneath.  Note the generous opening of the neckline.  Not the choking tightness of a turtleneck but not the dramatic looseness of a cowlneck.  It is a a very happy medium indeed.

I was eyeing the Di Cashmere Dolman Sleeve Sweater but I'm a practical girl, so I let that gorgeous sweater stay on the rack.  It looked great when I tried it on but due to the cut of the dolman sleeves, the sweater rode up (way up) when I attempted to put a coat over it. The Di Cashmere Stole Cardigan (cardgian with an open cascading neckline) was only $129.90 and if I didn't have so many similar cardigans already, I'd be snapping one (or two) up.

If you are looking for basic v-neck and crew neck cashmere sweaters, Uniqlo is offering them in various colors for only $79.90.  Basic cashmere cardigans are running $89.90.  If you're build up your cashmere collection or need to replace some articles, Uniqlo is a great place to start!!

The thing about Uniqlo is that if you see a top/dress/swetaer that you like, you have to buy it on the spot because it's a pretty good bet that it won't be there the next time you go.  They're great at stock new items but they don't really re-stock existing items - especially when it comes to pieces from a collaboration.  I made the mistake last year of not buying a sweater that I loved, hoping it would go on sale, and I never saw it again.