Annouchka Engel-Vaillancourt is the elegant, bejeweled brunette behind the food and lifestyle blog, CulinistA. This frequent food52 contributor started CulinistA about a year ago so that her family (who live in France, Switzerland and Canada) could keep track of where she and her husband, DH, have traveled, which restaurants they frequent and what recipes they cook at their dinner parties. "I started CulinistA because cooking, eating and traveling have always been my passions and are for me so intertwined -- and because I am always making lists," she says. “I was also hoping to get my father to stop asking me over and over again for restaurant recommendations for his clients and friends.” Now, she simply directs him to her site.
The blog is a mish-mash of Annouchka’s favorite food and travel-related things -- and these are some very nice things. A recent round up of her favorite restaurants includes two in Geneva, the private NYC club Norwood, and the quaint West Village Market Table. An earlier New York City Guide lists must-hit shopping: Catherine Malandrino, Ralph Lauren and Henri Bendel.
Annouchka’s good taste extends from fashion to food, which is the heart of her blog. She lives by a strict food ethos: eat fresh, unprocessed and seasonal foods, little dairy and limited meat. The recipes, like her Grilled Halibut and Pea Puree and her Roasted Rack of Lamb with Mint-Yogurt Sauce, are pretty, light and simple and could be considered healthy food. But don’t be fooled. Her Spring Cake with Whipped Lemon Curd, while not over-the-top, is still one sweet treat.
27 Comments on CulinistA:
Congrats Culinist Annouchka!! I love your recipes and love your blog. I could easily live vicariously through you with the wonderful travel + cooking + eating + photography you do. Well deserved shout-out for you!
Thank you! That's so nice to hear!
Congratulations! Thanks for featuring my "Sara's almond tarte" (with a new name) on your blog!!
Thank you dymnyno for fabulous recipes!
Congratulations! A lovely write-up for a wonderful blog and blogger!
Thanks Dolcetto, you're a pretty great blogger yourself!
Your cake looks amazing, as does everything in your blog. Great to see it featured!
Thanks monkeymom! That's sweet of you!
Love your recipes, love the blog! So elegant.
Thanks Emily, love your blog as well!
Thanks that's so nice of you!
Congratulations, Annouchka! That's a really cool blog, love your recipes and your philosophy!
Thank you drbabs that's so nice of you!
Thanks monkeymom! That's sweet of you!
Congratulations! your blog is lovely and I envy all the wonderful travel you do- what fun!
Thank you Kelsey! I know I am so lucky to be able to travel so much!
Congratulations Culinista! And what a lovely blog!
Thank you Mrslarkin, and what lovely cookies!!!
Enjoyed your write up and your blog. Congratulations!
Thank you very much cfwg!
Beautiful blog...congrats!
Thank you WinnieAb, that's so nice of you!
Congrats!
Thank you! Very exciting day!
Thank you Food52, what a lovely write up!!
And well deserved - love your recipes!!!
Thanks that's so nice of you!
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