Bon Appetit: The Walrus + The Carpenter

One thing I wish Rockford Illinois had more of is great restaurants. We have a handful but this city of mine hasn't quite mastered the importance of good food and ambiance - it's generally one or the other. Which brings me to the sharing of the Walrus and the Carpenter oyster bar in Seattle. It's the perfect blend of industrial and comfort decor. The grey, white and yellow is super charming.


Now if anything could make me eat an oyster it'd be those yellow stools and that handlebar mustache. All of it is lovely.
images are from stephmodo // w + c site // the new york times

Look At This: Food Trucks

Well. It had to come to an end I suppose. This week (actually in four days) I leave Australia and my brother and sister-in-law and all of my friends and family here. It sounds awful (and it kind of is) but it's also really exciting. After I leave here I'm going to spend a week and a half in Ventura, California with some dear friends soaking up some sun and enjoying some of the American things I've missed (Target!). That said, I have no idea what this week is going to look like on the blog. I really need to leave some space for good-byes and packing and then jet lag on the other side (on top of continuing to do some design work). So, when I post this week they'll probably be much shorter than normal. Thanks for your encouragement and understanding these past few weeks! Once I'm settled back in the states things'll be back to normal. Promise!
Now, for today's post!
Have you familiarized yourself with this food trend: food trucks? Well, from what I can gather they're making quite a stir in the foodie world. Not only are they fun and summery and unique, but apparently they're also delicious offering everything from all-beef hot dogs to mexican to korean bbq. Inspired Mag recently presented an infographic from Mashable that put together chronicling the rise of the social food truck. Very interesting (and pretty).

And just to give you a glimpse into what some of these beasts look like, here are a few images featuring some of the "favorites" listed above.

images from top left: spencer on the go // border grill // kogi bbq (both)

Thirty-One Birthday Goodies

Well my dears, tomorrow I'm the big 3-1. Can you believe it? Me either. To celebrate my birthday (since tomorrow's "Listen To This" and I don't want to mess with that) I thought we could drool over some lovely birthday treats today (31 birthday treats to be exact). You wouldn't object to that would you? I thought not.






Any other birthdays out there this week/month/season? Well these are for you too! Happy (my) New Year everyone! Can't wait to see what we get up to! xo
images from top: flags // coconut // mini-wedding cakes // heart // bunting // flowers // donuts // ice cream // iced bundt // marilyn // lamington on teacup stand // bunting no. 2 // black + white // me! // brownies // cake parade // strawberries // pink + black // german chocolate // white // swans down // deer // elephants // circle // cupcakes in cups // stripes // berry // painting // pie // balloons // poured chocolate

Cake Opera Co.

There's been a resurgence lately (or at least I'm beginning to notice this trend) in creating truly breathtaking cakes—with shows like Cake Boss and the Ace of Cakes and Food Network design challenges where you have to make a cake that spits fire. I think that it used to be if you made a sugar flower or used a basket weave technique you were considered a cake genius. But now, oh boy. Now these cakes are literally works of art, created by degreed artists who've studied in Paris and Milan and New York and go through the same sort of apprenticeship that a fashion designer would. I'd like to introduce you to the Cake Opera Co which consists of Alexandria Pellegrino (the artist) and Jessica Smith (the pastry chef). The two lovely ladies (see them below) met in Le Cordon Bleu in Ottowa and started the Cake Opera Co in Toronto in 2007. I love that they are not only committed to making beautiful cakes but are as equally committed to making them taste good. As Jessica's bio says "nothing is more tragic than a cake that looks breathtaking but tastes uninspired." Agreed. Knowing that these cakes taste as good as they look makes me want to hop a plane.


I love the sketches and the shop itself looks stunning. Anyone near this place? Get over there!

Pretty Tables: Thanksgiving

I’m sure you’re thinking this (as I certainly do every year!), but I can’t believe it’s already Thanksgiving. This year it’s probably even more unbelievable to me since I’ll be spending it in 80 degree weather on the other side of the world. No matter. It's still Fall in my heart and I'm glad to share these lovely table decorating ideas. What will you be doing this year?



Images from: MySticKitchen // BlogNTell // Anne Sage // Kitchen Daily // Sunset

Sydney Picnic Company

Don't you wish you could just make picnics all day? And people would pay you for them? Well, I do. And so did the cutest couple around: Simon and Natalie. They've started a picnic-for-hire company in Sydney (Australia) and for a smallish fee you can enjoy gourmet food (they try to be as local and organic as possible) packed sweetly in a wicker basket with cutlery, dishes and lovely little extras like handcrafted menus and banners. You can also get blankets and cushions. Geez. Maybe they franchise.


Visit their site to see more pictures and learn more about their sweet company. Be warned, if you weren't hungry before you visited their site, you're going to be once you read all of the delicious foods they offer!
Through the Sydney Picnic Co blog I discovered these vendors for traditional wicker baskets and adorable vintage plate cake stands, and these super fun and super eco-friendly picnic boxes.


Baskets and cake stands are from Life's a Picnic and the boxes are from Boxsal.

Oh Amelie!

There's a sweet french movie called "Amelie" that you + I really love (or at least I do and you will). It's subtitled but a delight to watch and listen to and the soundtrack is gorgeous. As is the cinematography (how could it be anything but with Paris as it's backdrop?). Design*Sponge does a fun feature called "living in..." where they take screen captures of different films and then feature different housewares and fashion items that represent the film. They recently did one for "Amelie" you should definitely have a look.
Obviously the movie has inspired quite a few talented artists and in the June 2010 issue of Nonpareil magazine, a handful of creatives got together to create a party based on the movie. It turned out really nicely.



See a fun little video of the party here.
I've been waiting for the perfect post to incorporate these lovely designs from Emerson and I think they have that certain je ne sais quoi that goes quite well with this French party. They're really fantastic and Emerson herself (the blonde is her) is really quite funny. Go visit her.


Darling aren't they? I love the stripes with that big red flower! Perfect outfit for croissants wouldn't you say? Oui!

Delicious Delights

What's more lovely than cakes and bakery counters and gumballs? Paintings of such goodies of course. Wayne Thiebauld painted some really beautiful desserts in the 60s. He reminds me of Edward Hopper in his technique and in the overall feel. The paintings, although quite charming, have a sense of loneliness and want in them. But they are delightful aren't they?

If you thought those were sweet (pun intended obviously), you're going to love these dessert drawings from Mr. Andy Warhol. I've loved them for awhile and am glad to finally share them with you!

I love his quote on that glorious yellow cake "Food is my great Extravagance". Somehow I doubt that to be true, but it shows you how much he really loved the things he drew.
Who wants cake?
Sources: Artchive // IN // World Gallery

Cheers!

Time magazine online did a little gallery of "what booze looks like under a microscope". The alcohol is allowed to crystalize and then is magnified over 1000 times under a microscope. Amazingly this is what you get.




Lovely aren't they? See more here and here.
Have a good weekend! Cheers!

Sweet sweets

I have always loved a beautiful table. One of the first things I really remember admiring in a Martha Stewart Weddings issue was this gorgeous photo shoot that centered around an amazing strawberry cake table. I couldn't find the image to share with you, but I found plenty of other inspiring dessert tables. This is such a great idea for a wedding or a shower or an afternoon tea with the ladies.

Aren't they so fun? I love the vanity with the tiny fruit desserts and the wedding cake with the paper banner and macaroons. I think it's such a good idea to do a dessert table for your wedding instead of just the one cake. Then people can enjoy their favorite dessert - not everyone loves cake you know!

Images from Hip Hip Hooray // Swanky Tables // Amy Atlas

Sunday Suppers

Sunday Suppers is this amazing, lovely event that happens once or twice a month at a beautiful downtown loft in Brooklyn, New York. Fourteen to twenty strangers get together to learn from a local chef how to cook a meal using market fresh, organic ingredients. After the cooking, the group sits down to enjoy the meal together. What a great way to make new friends!




Oh boy did I have a hard time stopping with the graphics on this one! Sunday Suppers was started by photographer and stylist Karen Mordechai so of course all of the images on the site are beyond enchanting. The event encompasses my favorites: beautiful food, styling, decor, paper goods, aprons. And would you just look at how sweet Joanna Goddard (of a cup of jo) looks with her pregnant belly wrapped in a lovely apron. Gorgeous. Visit Sunday Suppers for more stunning imagery and delicious recipes.

Illustrated Recipes

Today we combine two of my favorites: fun illustrations and recipes. I don't actually do a lot of cooking, but I love cookbooks and recipes and beautiful photographs or illustrations of all that goes into creating in the kitchen. This is why I got so excited when I found the British blog recipe look. The creator of this resource invites anyone who has a recipe to share to illustrate said recipe and it'll get posted to the site. Fun huh? And you haven't even seen the products yet!

I've had this beautiful blackberry pie recipe for quite some time. It originally came from design*sponge. Aren't the colors glorious? I had it as my desktop background for awhile, but I got hungry every time I looked at my computer (which is ALL the TIME) so I had to change it. But it's gorgeous and worth sharing.

And then I found this charming "Chai Tea" recipe from a funny little lady named Lucy (I found this via greenwala though). Read it, it's clever.

Speaking of clever and things you must read, look at these funny little "recipes" from Laura George. Recipes for enjoying a banana and relieving stress. (If you can't read it let me know and I'll translate. So. Stinkin. Cute.)

Chocolate Bar Packaging

I'm a sucker for good packaging and for anything sweet (you too?) so these chocolate bar wrappers are right up my alley.

I was very disappointed in my planning this morning: that I didn't have any chocolate in my house when I sat down to put this post together. Hopefully you won't be in that same situation (although I must say the exceptionally sweet and delicious watermelon I settled on was delightful). Most of this chocolate can be purchased online if you can't find it near you. Sources: sweeteeth // askinosie // theo // rococo // eugene and louise // fling // alice // mast brothers

Outdoor Dining

After a long (cold!) midwest winter, I want to do everything I can outside. Which includes battling the bugs and the wind and the occasional raindrop to enjoy the company of friends around a nice meal. As of yet, I don't have any way to do this in my back yard. But I hope that will someday change and I'll be able to play hostess in a space like this.


(sources: from top left and clockwise— design*sponge, tec pataja, once wed, rightbank, better homes and gardens, domino via rightbank, once wed) I'm a "goes-together" but doesn't perfectly match kind of gal and I adore (and own) all types of random dishes, so this aesthetic really appeals to me. I love the different glasses and plates and containers of flowers. There's such freedom in simply putting down your mix of dinnerware and calling it done. Trust me, if you believe they coordinate, so will everyone else.

Use what you've got, but if you need some additional pieces or are new to this idea, check out some of these lovelies. Wouldn't that owl pitcher (01) be fun with lemonade or pansies? The cutlery (02) from modcloth is sold as a completely random assortment (and is always out of stock because of it's fabulousness) but doesn't it give you the justification you needed to pick up that random spoon you loved at goodwill or a tag sale? To me, plates + bowls (03, 05) are the easiest and most fun to collect—there are so many charming prints. Outdoor dining is incomplete without candles, and these jars (04) hang easily from trees and look like little fireflies. Why don't I already own these stumpy salt and pepper shakers (06)? They'd be right at home with my other silly shakers. An outdoor friendly side table (07) is nice because you aren't constantly running inside to grab things. And if it's filled with lovely glasses like these, (08, 09, 10, 11) what could be better? Now, go plan a menu...