Enchanted Glass is no exception to Diana Wynne Jones's general rule of using, and possibly abusing, folklore and fantasy for her own splendid ends, mixing the spectacularly ordinary life of a university town satellite village with everyday magic, and a potent dash of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
From splendid mansions that mix Gothic windows and Victorian towers to places that look like the decaying remains of a megalomaniacal mad scientist, Kazanjian's creations look like they come from an alternate universe where safety and function have given way to imagination and fantasy.
A visit to this splendid village that mixes thatched-cottage charm with sophisticated lodging, good shopping (from antique and handicraft stores to galleries and boutiques) and great opportunities for riding you're in the heart of horse country, so pack the Jack Murphy tweeds, Barbour jackets and riding boots will make you feel as if you've stepped into the pages of Country Life magazine.
Distributed by Public Radio International, "The Splendid Table" is a mix of the savvy and the soporific.
Actually, no additional opener was needed because every entree price included a splendid house salad, a mix of farm-fresh greens topped with marinated red onion and a well-balanced vinaigrette.
However, there were more dazzling pink pyramidal orchids in the mix, and even a splendid, but late, early purple orchid.
But the three partners — Italian-American, German-American and Cuban-American, hence "Mix" — have done a splendid job of resurrecting their old ruin.
The saris and gowns bring a splendid colour, and I find it an inspiration the way the children mix happily.
Two specials were splendid: grilled halloumi cheese with a flavor-packed fig jam, and a pungent mix of sautéed mushrooms with smoky paprika, spring onions and a poached egg.
Paired with rigatoni, duck ragu was a splendid alternative to classic bolognese, but large shards of dried, stringy meat found their way into the delicious mix, an anomaly, we suspect.
