Minimal Masterpiece

I am blown away by the new cookbook that Ikea just came out with, “Hembakat är Bäst” (Homemade is Best). The styling was done by Evelina Bratell and the photography is by Carl Kleiner. I have a decent collection of cookbooks and even though I don't have room for any more in my apartment, I might have to make an exception for this one. I'm used to seeing a very organic, lush manner of food styling. Leave it to the Swedes to come up with something so quietly beautiful. When I think about the Swedish aesthetic I think of modesty, practicality, and accessibility. These qualities manifest themselves into work that is timeless and elegant. Not only is it stunning to look at, but it's so much easier to follow when you have such clear visuals guiding you.

Eve-il

How to persuade a package-design loving female to buy a pack of cigarettes.

Exhibit A:



If I was a young woman in the 1970's, this pack of cigarettes would have really appealed to me. The early days of targeted marketing:





You're not going to be beautiful if you smoke those cigarettes!

When it all went downhill:

Golden Glow

I was scrolling through a slideshow of art-inspired wedding cakes on the Martha Stewart Weddings website and this Gustav Klimt-inspired cake really caught my eye. The pastry chef, Wendy Kromer, did a great job of distilling the Klimt aesthetic into an edible work of art. Klimt paintings carry a feeling of opulence that could easy be overwrought when interpreted in another medium. There's something really striking about the delicate nature of gold leaf.



Over the past year I've been really drawn to gold, a warm golden glow can be so visually captivating. A more ephemeral example of this is Horsetail Falls, a natural wonder that can only be described as sublime and luminescent.



Gold is ubiquitous. It can be used or interpreted in a myriad of ways; symbolically, decoratively or naturally.

I'll end with a little more golden eye candy below..

Where Has the Time Gone?

It's been a long time since I've posted, the whole summer in fact! Summer is usually my favorite time of year, and this summer had some major highlights. But one can only handle so many 90-something degree days in a three month span, until you're just ready for fall. I'm ready for fall foliage, homemade apple pie, new exhibitions at my favorite museums, and more blog posting!

*Timeless Watch by Rogan

PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT









Tobias Wong was one of the most talented conceptual artist/designers in recent years. His death will leave a huge void in the art + design community, as Julie Lasky articulated so well in her article for Design Observer. I first learned about him during my first year in New York, 2004. I wanted so badly to see his installation that year at Terminal 5 in JFK, but unfortunately it was closed early as a result of vandalism during the opening party. I later became more familiar with his work when the MoMA featured his work in the 2005 exhibition “SAFE: Design Takes on Risk”, specifically his Bullet Proof Rose. His pieces ranged from playful to subversive, and were always an intelligent comment on today's consumer culture.

I am oddly excited about the new food hall opening, in the old Plaza Hotel.
It instantly reminded me of La Grande Epicerie in le Bon Marche in Paris.



Culinary works of art and beautiful food packaging, I could spend hours just looking at everything. Perfect for a (fancy, special occasion) picnic in Central Park.

The Dirty Dozen:
Peaches, Apples, Bell peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries,
Cherries, Kale, Lettuce, Imported grapes, Carrots, Pear



The Clean Fifteen:
Onions, Avocados, Corn, Pineapples, Mangoes, Asparagus,
Sweet peas, Kiwifruits, Cabbages, Eggplants, Papayas,
Watermelons, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Sweet potatoes



It's next to impossible to eat 100% organic, but I try to buy it as much
as possible. Unfortunately, I always forget which produce is more
important to buy organic. These two images from Martha Stewart Living
are great visual reminders. I always love good food styling, even more
so when it illustrates something informative. They could be printed out,
pocket-sized, and stored in your wallet. The two lists were compiled by
the Environmental Working Group.