'scuse me while i brag

I've been anxiously holding on to these bad boys for MONTHS waiting to unleash them and politely brag on behalf of my mom, designer Ingrid Leess. Behold...her new kitchen. Featured this month on the cover of Kitchens and Baths Magazine (A Woman's Day Special Interest Publication). Go out and get your copy! Now!

There's nothing I can really say other than this is, without a millisecond of hesitation nor ounce of doubt, the most beautiful kitchen I have ever laid my eyes on. It has been many, many, many, many, MANY years in the making, with drawing after drawing after drawing drafted by my uber-talented designer mother. Her eye and ability to see the beauty in nearly anything and everything just absolutely flabbergasts me. How lucky I am to have her, her impeccable sense of style, and this freaking phenomenal kitchen in my life.

You will never, ever again wonder why I so frequently run back home to Connecticut.

I will now shut up and allow you to enjoy these gorgeous photographs, photographed by the equally talented, Aimee Herring.

I mean....REALLY?!?! God, I love you, Mom.

amy's bread book signing

Last night I made the trip (down the elevator to the first floor of Chelsea Market) to Amy's Bread for a book signing to support my good friend, photographer Aimee Herring, who shot the new Amy's Bread Cookbook. The entire bakery was closed off to the public for the event and was serving delectable little hors d'oeuvres (gravlax and dill, goat cheese flatbread, and ham, gruyere and coarse mustard paninis, oh MY) and wine provided by Chelsea Wine Vault (had a great glass of this Gruner Veltliner). Although I'd never formally met Amy Scherber (seen above in white, seated), I frequent her Chelsea Market location almost daily (she mentioned I looked familiar, I most likely blushed with flattery). Her bread is superior to anything I've had elsewhere and her baguettes could not be any more authentically French. Not to mention the undeniable charm that all of her locations emanate. You absolutely feel transported when you walk inside. And the sweet smell of proofing yeast and warm, crusty bread never hurt anyone.

A lovely night celebrating lovely and truly talented people.

I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of the beautiful and wildly informative book here.

i embedded! HOORAY!

playing food stylist

So this past weekend, a good photographer friend, Aimee Herring, came up for the day on Sunday to shoot some food in the new tricked out kitchen for her portfolio. And who was to do the food prep? Well, none other than yours truly, my friends. Throwing everyone for a curve ball (including myself) I decided to try my hand at some Asian-inspired foods and settled on the following menu: Vietnamese Summer Rolls (shrimp, mango, avocado, cilantro, lettuce) with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce, Pan Fried Pork, Shrimp, and Leek Dumplings with a Cilantro-Serrano Dipping Sauce, Korean BBQ Beef Skewers served in Boston Lettuce Cups, and a Ginger-Mint-Lime Mojito to cool the heat and wash it all down. An Asian-style tapas spread, I suppose. Anyways, I really can't stop looking at the pictures in complete and utter awe. They're stunning and I can't believe how beautiful the food ended up looking. Hats off to Aimee for making my food look better than I could have ever imagined. (And for the record, it tasted pretty darn good too.)