(pictures from Lovely Package)

Coming from a family that makes french toast and pancakes that look like this, it becomes essential to buy, enjoy and appreicate maple syrup.  In honor of the fact that we are in the last few weeks of maple sugaring season, I thought I would share these beauties with you.

I love the small coincidences in life.  I came across these intricate and gorgeous terrariums at Paula Hayes’s studio on East 13th street in NYC.  When I went online to see more of her work, I discovered that in addition to her terrariums, bird feeders and silicone planters, she also happens to be a fellow Skidmore alum.

Paula has designed landscapes and gardens for a few lucky ones including renowned designer Jill Stuart and gallerists David & Monica Zwirner (who coincidentally represent Marcel Dzama.)

Enjoy the playfulness of Paula’s website here.

photo from We Make Money not Art

Last December, we were visiting our friends in Seattle when I came across a book that featured a number of pieces by Marcel Dzama, a Canadian artist who is probably best known for his figurative sculptures as well as his pen and watercolor compositions.  I find his work to be beautiful yet creepy. His characters and the environments he places them in are elusive, leaving me to dream up interpretations of what the stories he creates mean.

Since that weekend by the fire in Seattle, I’ve been drawn to his work so it was really exciting when I heard that PopRally, a program of events at MoMA that targets a younger, more hip audience, would be doing a special premiere of the video for Department of Eagles’ “No one Does It Like You,” which is directed by Patrick Daughters and Marcel Dzama. Dzama was also responsible for the costumes and sets. The video feels like Dzama’s illustrations and sculptures coming to life in a choreographed battle of women vs. men that plays itself out during the course of the song. Definitely worth a watch.

My dear friend Bryn over at paper tastebuds did a lovely post about Diana Yen and Lisel Arroyo, the masterminds behind The Jewels of NY, a blog that beautifully intersects their talents in cooking, photography, design and just overall gorgeousness.  Included with the photographs are recipes for those who want to try and create their magic.  Here you can find the recipe for the Chocolate Pots de Crème with Rosemary Whipped Cream pictured above  and below is the recipe for the beautiful Flatbread.  Enjoy!

Caramelized Fennel and Tomato Flatbread
Serves 2

1/4 ounce package active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/4 cup for kneading dough
1 large egg
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 to 4 campari tomatoes, sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 of a fennel bulb, sliced, reserve about 1/4 cup fennel fronds
2 cloves of garlic, mashed into paste
1/4 cup fontina cheese, grated
1 teaspoon lemon juice
zest of half a lemon
fleur de sel to serve

In a small bowl stir together yeast and warm water, let stand for about 5 minutes.

Beat together egg, 1 tablespoon of oil and salt, set aside. In a medium bowl, add in 1 1/2 cups of flour and create a well in the center of the flour. Add yeast mixture into the well then add the egg mixture. Using a fork or your hands combine mixture until dough forms. Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead until stickiness is gone and feels smooth and elastic, adding flour as necessary. Add 1 tablespoon of oil into a bowl, place dough in oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.

In a large skillet over moderate heat melt butter then add in the fennel, salt and pepper to taste. Cook and stir occasionally until tender and golden, about 15-20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375°F

On a floured surface, knead the dough and roll out to a 1/4 inch thickness. Roll the dough loosely around the rolling pin and unroll it over a 19-by 10-inch rectangle cast iron skillet. Brush dough with remaining olive oil then evenly distribute garlic paste, cheese, caramelized fennel, tomatoes, lemon zest, lemon juice and fennel fronds. Bake flatbread for 35 minutes until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle with fleur de sel and serve warm.

‘Creative Faces’ is D&AD’s way of highlighting talent in different regions producing great creative work.  They held their first event in Japan, while launching the D&AD exhibition at Advertising Museum Tokyo.   Akira Odagiri of Ogilvy & Mather Japan served as Chairman of the panel and then they invited 2 top creatives from Japan and 2 from the UK to select a creative team/person whose work exhibits some of Japan’s most exciting talent.

One of the judges was Joe Ferry, Head of Design, Virgin Atlantic.  He selected Hironao Tsuboi.

I think Tsuboi’s work is modern, accessible, simple and playful.

This is Joe Ferry’s description of why he chose Tsuboi as a ‘Creative Face.’

“Virgin Atlantic once ran an advertising campaign, with the strap line – ‘some say why, others say why not’. This expression could be used to summarize Hironao Tsuboi’s work. He has the ability to look at everyday objects in a completely new way….In fact making simple designs look good is one of the most difficult things to do. Who would ever have thought that a watch could become exciting if you entirely remove the watch face – this guy clearly did.

He turns a negative into a positive. Hironao Tsuboi’s glass design creates a beautiful detail from essentially a condensation drip. I feel this glass captures his positive take on life, which is both admirable and infectious.

By creating great designs that make people smile, Hironao Tsuboi is definitely a creative face of the future.”

See more Tsuboi’s work as well as the other ‘Creative Faces’ here

photo taken by Jen Maiser at the Santa Monica Farmers Market

I’m heading to LA today to visit some dear friends and take care of a few business meetings.  Every time I plan to travel, I spend far too much time researching new restaurants and adventurous chefs that are spicing things up.   We have so many great restaurants in NYC but, as it has been said many times before, there is just something different about California cuisine.

Here are some of the restaurants I’d like to try:

Rustic Canyon:  Their menu is Farmers’ Market-inspired dishes with ingredients that come from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen who practice sustainable agriculture.  I feel like we don’t have enough of these kind of restaurants in NYC.

Huckleberry Cafe:  I’d get the Cumin roasted baby carrot salad with avocado, mixed greens and a citrus vinaigrette

Animal:  Look at this menu.

Fig: On their menu they list what produce has “just arrived,” what’s “in peak season” and what is “coming soon.”  I’d sit at the communal table and order the local halibut with ramps, fava beans and a morel jus.

Lucques:  I think the Sunday Supper sounds like a perfect way to end the weekend and begin a week.

I won’t have time to visit all the places I discovered but they’ll certainly go on a list for the next visit.  However, one thing is for certain: a visit to the Santa Monica Farmers market.  They have the most amazing produce.  It makes me wish I had a farm, just so I could grow the beauties they do.

This is Dave.  Our pilot today on Virgin America flight 409 JFK to LAX.

About 20 minutes prior to boarding, Dave got on the intercom, introduced himself as today’s pilot, thanked us for flying with Virgin America and then kindly said he would come over on the other side of the gate to meet us personally and answer any questions.  Matt and I looked at each other and said, “is this a joke.”  I mean no offense Dave, but I’ve been flying for 25 years now and I’ve never seen a pilot reach out to his passengers in this sort of way.  At most, I’ve experienced a “hello from the cockpit, hope you are enjoying today’s flight.”

So it was an additional surprise when Dave did in fact come over to our seats to reintroduce himself and then proceed to answer several questions from passengers.  People wanted to know if food was served on board, how long the flight was, is turbulence dangerous etc… Each of his answers were thought out, genuine and more than anything, positive and reassuring.

I wonder, was this courtesy extended by Dave himself or perhaps a new marketing initiative that is being rolled out across Virgin America’s flights nationally?  Either way, Dave, I give you props.  Thanks for kicking off my trip to LA and my first experience with Virgin America in such an upbeat way.  I guarantee is this won’t be my last time on board.

P.S. Did I mention I’m writing this post at 25,000 feet over the fine state of Ohio using Virgin’s inflight Internet service?

It is very rare that a day goes by where I don’t feel blessed, fortunate or lucky.  It is only 3:28pm on this Monday afternoon and I have already felt that feeling a handful of times; it helps that I woke up to gorgeous sunny skies.  After opening the curtains, I made a delicious breakfast of fresh ricotta, thinly sliced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and a drizzle of aged balsamic on toasted whole wheat bread.
But I’m not here to tell you that I’m in a good mood or had what I deem the perfect breakfast.  What I’m here to write about is how damn lucky I am to have so many talented and amazing friends.  Tonight, after an event at The Eldridge with the Dining and Libations Society, I’ll make my way out to Williamsburg to cheer on Au Revoir Simone, an amazingly talented group of musicians.

Our friend, Erika, who plays in the band, graduated with us from Skidmore College and we’ve been fortunate to stay in touch with her since then.  Tonight they are surprising people and doing a small show in Williamsburg.  Then they head off to Europe to release their new album, Still Night, Still Light.

Congratulations lovely ladies.  This is an amazing journey to watch from the sidelines!

You can preorder the album here.