Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Friday, November 28, 2014

Thanksgiving Prep

Nineteen people were seated at our Thanksgiving table this year, meaning that we had lots (and lots!) of prep to do in the kitchen.

Equipment for rosemary-scented dinner rolls
Golden creamed onions in the making (click here to view my earlier post on perfectly peeled onions)



Future stuffing


Tablescaping
The bird

Monday, November 24, 2014

I ❤️ New York

One of my oldest and dearest friends was married on Saturday at a beautiful site in Beacon Falls, NY called The Roundhouse. We decided to take advantage of the location and turned the weekend into a proper Hudson Valley getaway. Here's what we did:

Friday
Morning: Storm King Art Center. It was cold, but well worth it.
Afternoon: All-natural comfort food at Woody's in Cornwall, NY
Evening: Movie date followed by a lovely Italian meal at Il Barilotto in Fishkill, NY, where our hotel was

Saturday
Morning: Walkway Over the Hudson, an incredible pedestrian bridge spanning the Hudson River
Afternoon: Brunch at Cafe le Perche in Hudson, NY and perusing the wonderful shops that line the main street (Warren Street) including one of our favorite design havens: Lili and Loo
Evening: Wedding!

Sunday
Morning: Coffee along the banks of the Hudson in Cold Spring, NY
Afternoon: Delicious late lunch at The Tavern at Croton Landing in Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Evening: Impromptu visit with my parents in Mamaroneck, NY as they were beginning their Thanksgiving preparations

Sculpture at the Storm King Art Center

View from the Walkway Over the Hudson

Main Street in Cold Spring, NY

Cold Spring, NY

Cold Spring, NY

Detail of my farm fresh Caesar Salad at The Tavern at Croton Landing

Thanksgiving Preparations

Monday, November 17, 2014

Fall Feast

Inspired by the seasonal selection in my local grocer's produce aisle as well as all the fun new kitchen equipment we received for our wedding, I decided that a dinner party was in order. On the menu was slow-cooked chicken, which I seasoned inside and out with only Lawry's Seasoned Salt cooked and served atop a bed of root vegetables.





Ceramic serving dish purchased in Nabeul, Tunisia, where we honeymooned

Slate cheese board from ABC Home

Silverware: Duna by Cutipol; Chargers: Williams-Sonoma; Napkins: Pottery Barn; Runner: Pottery Barn; Stemless Wine Glasses: Williams-Sonoma; Dishes: Ripple; Silver Serving Bowl: Nambé; Ikat Serving Bowl: C .Wonder (link to similar); Ice Bucket: Georg Jensen; Pitcher: Ciovere


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Stone Barns

A sunny Saturday adventure on the farm at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, NY.




With Thanksgiving approaching, Sam has dubbed this photo "Death Row"





Monday, October 20, 2014

Autumn in New England

October this year came with a heavy heart. The beginning of the month brought the passing of a beloved matriarch, and then came a series of not-so-good medical reports from relatives. Needless to say, family time became this month's primary focus. The silver lining (there is always one), is that our visits over this past weekend allowed us to experience a truly seasonal New England autumn.

Walking through a nature preserve in Little Compton, RI


The perks of being an insomniac: sunrise over Edgartown Harbor (Martha's Vineyard, MA)
Morning Glory Farm's annual pumpkin festival (Martha's Vineyard, MA)


Martha's Vineyard beach walk
And what would a beach walk be without a #beachselfie?
A contendor for the junior title at the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Adventures in Tunisia

Sam was in charge of the honeymoon-- an wise division of labor because it is unlikely that there are any other circumstances under which it would have occurred to me to visit the incredible place that is Tunisia. Laden with wedding-induced exhaustion, we spent the first few nights at a full-service resort in Tunis called The Residence. Feeling rested and adventurous after a few days, we relocated to Nabeul, a town known for its skilled ceramic work, where we had the extremely good fortune to stay at a spectacular boutique hotel called Dar Sabri. We then stopped in Madrid for two nights before heading home to New York.

The Residence, Tunis
From sea to shore: beachside fresh uni


Phoenician and Roman ruins in Carthage
View from our room at Dar Sabri
Pool at Dar Sabri, Sam sporting his favorite Glass NYC swim trunks
Learning to make Couscous Tunisienne

A walk in the park in Madrid
Stocking up on espadrilles at the world famous Casa Hernanz (Madrid)