MY DREAM HOME: CHEF'S KITCHEN

I haven't done a 'My Dream Home' post in a while and I thought I would revisit the series in full force: with my dream kitchen! I really enjoy cooking and, while I love our NYC apartment, the vision of cooking in a kitchen someday that isn't approximately the size of a postage stamp sends thrills of pleasure down my spine. Here is a round up some kitchen ideas I would love to incorporate into my 'someday' home . . . 
(FYI, all links are listed top to bottom with descriptions of the images)
above | A white color palette with light marble/stone countertops. I know this will sound crazy but I love the clean aesthetic of white on white in a kitchen, particularly if you can pair them with dark floors. I'd actually rather be able to see the mess I have to clean and clean it than hide it on dark counter or cabinets.links | wooden floors, wood breakfast bar stools, cookbook shelf and potted plants, stainless steel appliances, bird sculpture, farmhouse sink, vase of tulips
Click through the link below to see more of my picks!

PATRIOTIC PASTA

What a cool idea! The Australian advertising agency WHYBIN\TBWA created this smart campaign to promote the Sydney International Food Festival. It consists of popular foods from 17 different countries  laid out to resemble their nation's flags. France is made with bleu cheese, brie and grapes; Greece consists of feta and olives; Japan has tuna sashimi and rice. The whole idea is simple yet well-executed—just as smart graphic design should be!

Check out more great examples here.

Still hankering for something to do over this long and potentially-rainy weekend? Here are some links to tide you over.

Four Steps to Better Photos.

I think these tips will prove useful for my trip next month.

Anthony Weiner needs more friends.

Thinking about heading up here this weekend.

This would be a lovely anniversary present.

Ununpentium—there's got to be a better name than that.

I am planning my Dad's 70th birthday party and these would be fun to have on hand!

What a useful (if nerdy) list.

I wish I had been able to see this.

Maybe this guy isn't such a dumbbell after all.

These are perfect for dinner parties, water cooler talk and networking.

This is one sophisticated first birthday party.

R.I.P. Gus.

"Trying to lift things" is this little man's only worry at college. No frat parties for him!

A cuter (but perhaps no less slobbery?) pope, ha!

I feel queasy just looking at this monstrosity.

In keeping with my post earlier this week, only clear skies from here on out.

Thanks, Miley, for degrading the foam finger. 

Have a great weekend!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: GOODIES FOR FOODIES

Are you a foodie? I like to think of myself as a gourmand, but sometimes its hard to keep up! I read Bon Appetite and the occasional NYTimes restaurant review, but mostly I like to have pretty things strewn around my kitchen for when I actually am inspired to try out a recipe or two and pull out my good plates for a dinner party.

So here's a little gift round up—just in time for you to make your holiday wish list—of all kinds of beautiful things for the kitchen. These goodies happen to be from Terrain—a shop full of lovely things and the perfect place to start your holiday shopping.

one...................languiole coffret breakfast knife set, $128

two...................12.5 ounce weck jar set, $18

three.................black hawaiian flower sea salt, $12

four..................yarrow skimmer, $42

five...................enamelware pie set, $128

six....................chalkboard labels, $9

seven................dip-dyed baguette board, $128

eight.................little flower sea salt caramels, $8

Which would you pick up? Discover more gorgeous gifts at Terrain here.

LOTTA JANSDOTTER: GONE FISHIN'

             


I have written about Fishs Eddy before—its a fabulous store filled, literally from floor to ceiling, with fun and practical dishes and serveware—and thought we were overdue for an update. I popped into the store a couple weeks ago only to discover, to my delight, that they have a new line of products out. Namely cups, mugs, and linens designed by the wonderful Lotta Jansdotter. Who is Lotta Jansdotter you say? She is an incredibly talented (and beautiful!) designer whose creativity (and book production) knows no bounds. I have had this book on my shelf for a while now and anytime I need a jolt of inspiration I flip through it; it hasn't failed to get my creative juices flowing yet.

Check out the full line of products by Lotta at Fishs Eddy here and check out her full website here.

THE WEDDING FILES: REGISTRY REDUX, KITCHEN

I am back after a fabulous, relaxing weekend with my favorite ladies. Just what I needed with less than two weeks left until the wedding! Eek!

Speaking of weddings, I thought it would be fun, over the next couple of days, to put together a guide to wedding registries. These will be my favorite picks for practical, beautiful, and fun wedding gifts that the happy couple will use for years to come. Without further ado, here is a list of the best wedding gifts for the kitchen, all cherry-picked from my favorite culinary superstore Sur La Table.




Perfect for a wedding shower gift or a multi-part gift, these Joseph & Joseph tools are pretty and practical. $49.95




This 14-cup food processor from Cuisinart has been a work horse in my mother's kitchen for twenty years. It can do pretty much anything, so for $199 it is a bargain.




Everyone needs a good baking dish or two. This set covers all your bases, from bread loaves to cupcakes. $149




Just like the food processor, a Kitchenaid stand mixer will last your entire life and will repay its investment time and time again. So bring on the cookies, cakes, and baked good batters get a group of friends together to buy them this beauty. $349




Doing double duty, this brilliant pan has both a griddle and grill surface that fits right over your stovetop burners, making Sunday morning  breakfasts (read: pancakes and bacon!) a cinch. $60




Get them a beautiful Le Creuset french oven. It's always a hit, because they last forever, come in amazing colors, and can tackle everything from a casserole to a saute dish. $305




When in doubt, stick with practical. Even grooms will appreciate this badass Wusthof seven piece knife set, and it will be put to good use in every meal. What more can you ask for from a gift? $150




While less frequent in the cooking rotation, I am totally in love with this roasting pan. Perfect for your first holiday feast together! $200




Also a bit less frequently used but no less beautiful or practical, this marble pastry board, not only works on pies and pastries but would also double as a lovely cheeseboard or serving plate. A good engagement party gift, no? Particularly if you paired with a pretty pie plate or rolling pin. $40




I don't drink coffee but even I know that this Bodum chambourd french press makes some damn fine tasting brew. We figured it was a good space saver if you didn't want a coffee pot hogging precious counter space and registered for one to soothe or coffee-crazed parents. $30 - $60 (depending on size)


That's all for today! Stick around for other registry-oriented posts on table and serveware, electronics, and homegoods later this week!

GIRLS LIKE GUYS WITH SKILLS

Numchuck skills, bow hunting skills . . . knife skills (I am not crazy, this is a reference to this movie)! How are your knife skills? Despite thinking of myself as pretty handy in the kitchen, my knife skills are a bit weak. I can never seem to remember quite how to hold the knife and what differentiates a julienne from a batonnet. Enter Heather Diane, the amazing California-based illustrator behind the blog Illustrated Bites, who put together this brilliant visualization of all sorts of knife knowledge. Super helpful, right? You should also check out her other posts where she illustrated recipes, different varieties of vegetables and much more! It's information at its most artistic.



    


So what do you do with your new knife skills? Use the clever 'OCD' cutting board above to make sure you get all your cutting measurements correct, pick up this interlocking knife set to find the right blade for the job, all while wearing this fabulous cut-resistant glove to keep from nicking your pretty little fingers!

Still need some more cutting-edge guidance (get it?)? Check out Martha Stewart's Cooking School; it's a super helpful book that walks you through everything from chopping and dicing to sautéing and icing.  And get cooking!

UNDER MY TREE?

Here are a couple things that I am hoping my show up under my tree this year—a holiday wish list of sorts. Hope you like it!





A saucy dress from JCrew, $188, perfect with a black cardigan







An iPad, starting at $499, because, well, it would be so fun!







A pair of shiny red Hunter Rain Boots, $125, because they would making splashing in NYC puddles actually enjoyable!







This beautiful farmer's market porcelain basket, $14, because it would just make everything you serve look straight out of a food magazine.







This tiered dress from Anthropologie, $188, because it is supposed to be cozy and super flattering and don't we all need more clothes like that?







Anything from lu lu lemon, because their stuff is the most comfy and sexy work out gear I have ever seen.







This newest book from Sue Grafton, $14 on Amazon, because I am obsessed with Kinsey Milhone and love getting engrossed in a good book over the holidays.


What's on your wish list this year?

COOKING WITH SKY, EMERALD, CERULEAN

I have been quite enamored with the kitchen offerings over at Anthropologie right now. They have lots of products that are both practical and beautiful—my favorite combination!


Here are some of my top picks, any of which would make a great holiday gift!


—1—Kitchen Magic Twisty Whisk, $8
—2—Verdant Canister, $78
—3—Pure & Good Hand Soap in Rosemary and Mint, $22
—4—Paint Can Ice Bucket, Large, $68
—5—Balloon Red Wine Glass, $16
—6—Staub La Cocotte, Oval, $298
—7—Farmer's Market Basket, Large Square, $20 (love this!)

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

A while back my friend David pointed me towards this crazy thing: a new concept refrigerator designed by Electrolux. The idea is that the appliance would have this odorless, residue-free gel that you could sink your food into, allowing you organize your space however you want. I am not sure how practical it is, but it sure makes for an amazing video!

Check it out and learn more here.

HOT OR COLD: TRIVET ROUND UP

This post is about trivets. Kind of random, I know. But recently I have stumbled across a couple of great designs and let's face it: trivets are one of the most practical and multi-functional items you can have in your kitchen. Why not have one that also makes you smile?

top to bottom, left to right:

Chef's Resource, Chef'n The Burner Silicone Trivet, $9.99

Chilewich, Dahlia, $8

MoMA Store, Propellor Trivet, $32

MoMA Store, Colorful Rings Cutting Board, $28*

*I have this and can swear that this does triple duty: cutting board, platter and trivet.