The City Bakery

I was in New York City for ICFF recently and have just now started to get around to posting some of the places I ate!  The City Bakery (in the Flat Iron district) was recommended by a friend (thanks Nicole!) that used to live in the city.  I think it is a great little find and have enjoyed it both times I went, but be aware your eyes will definitely be bigger then your stomach in this place as everything is very rich in tastes.  http://www.thecitybakery.com/index.html

Love the graphics and material used for the cups

Once tasty marshmellows strung from the ceiling

View from the upper berth

Hot chocolate waiting for consumption

Breakfast of champions!  Thick hot chocolate (the European kind) and massive chocolate chip cookie...don't miss
these cookies!  You can buy them and they keep for at least 3-4 days.

  

Italian design

This post is for my husband, who is Italian.  (And not just one of those first or second generation Italian Americans with the gold chains [you know what I mean,]) he was born and raised in a little seaside town in Tuscany, Marina di Massa.  He is always telling me that because he is Italian by virtue of birth there are things that are in his blood, food and design are two of these things.  (Did I mention my husband is a designer, as am I which makes for lively conversations and debates as he tries to win all the time with the phrase "I am Italian therefore I know.")  Don't get me wrong a part of me agrees with this arrogant way of thinking, it can just be frustrating sometimes.  

I read this article from the June issue of Dwell and thought it gave a tiny taste of just what my husband is always trying to explain to me.  Enjoy!

All American tarte

A week ago I tried this blueberry tarte as our studio had some designers from Korea visiting.  I thought this would be a great treat to serve them that embodied "Americana."  Basically this is the same crust recipe as the earlier post "Tart'em" but using a sweet filling instead of a savory one.  Try raspberry, strawberry or cherry for different flavor but the same delicious results.  Happy Memorial Day to you!

Filling ingredients mixed: blueberries, corn starch, lemon zest and sugar

Filling in bottom crust

Before baking

After baking

Best eaten warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Pasolivo

We are in Paso Robles for Memorial Day weekend, hitting all the wineries and of course the olive oil tasting rooms.  This is one of our favorite local olive oils, Pasolivo.  Not to mention design and packaging of the products is well done, (the materials used are both eco friendly and keep the olive oil fresh.)  We purchased the Segereto (means secret in Italian) made from Tuscan olives grown in Paso Robles.  It is quite "peppery" and to me strong, but will be great drizzled on caprese.  More to come from Paso Robles...

Candy almonds that look like olives!

You can try the trial sizes of the olive oils for $6

Good overall but slightly greasy

Fresh....literally

I absolutely love Fresh products.  I started using them about 6 years ago starting with the hair products.  They just smell so wonderful, you feel like you are at a spa (even if you are stuck in your tiny apartment with road construction going on outside your window!)  I saw this small spread in the June issue of Marie Claire (have I said before I like this magazine...well I do.)  Anyways it features one of the co-founders of Fresh products, Alina Roythberg and her bathroom (obviously filled with Fresh products.)  But it is interesting on the second page she recommends some other beauty products....will be sure to check out her recommendations.

I about cried when they discontinued the "Soda" shampoo but this and the "Soy" work well too

I have friends who swear by this lip scrub

Not my current Fresh fragrance (am using the Love and Eat from the Eat, Pray, Love collection) but very good

These little babies are great for gifts

Pumpkin donuts

This is a tried and true recipe for me.  These little muffinos are best warm out of the oven (imagine a warm cake donut.)  They are not too sweet but you can control the sweetness level by how much sugar coating you roll them in.  (Recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food.)

Mixing pumpkin puree with other ingredients

Before baking

After baking

Rolled in sugar and butter coating....I left out the cinnamon because my husband doesn't like cinnamon, but you should add it

Kayo Korea

I saw this great article in again, the Delta Sky Magazine...who knew?  I ripped it out immediately because I wanted to blog and comment about it.  As many of you know I have been to Korea way too many times so I know a few of the places the article mentions.  One recommendation is for the Foodie.  I love food and consider myself to have an "open palette."  However, the food in Korea is not for the weak.  It can be very spicy, challenging to eat (literally) and sometimes too different for me to consider trying.  (Not to say I have not had good meals there, but they were mostly in Seoul thus a kind of western-Korean mix fusion.  And I must give props to all the bakeries as they produce not too sweet bits of beauty for the eye and palette.)  But for design and shopping well that is a totally different matter.  Korea has really great shopping, period.  And I am constantly delighted by product designers who hail from Korea, they always have clever affordable solutions for everyday problems, objects, etc.  As well as fashion designers who are making clothing with great cuts that are sexy but not trashy.....Hello Donatella not all clothes have to show 75% skin to be sexy!

  The article mentions Doota, a kind of shopping mall, well this place stays open 24/7 so if you want to shop all night you literally can.  You used to be able to bargain for items in Doota, but I am not sure you can anymore.  The Take Urban lunch spot is also good.  The building is really beautiful and every time I see it I always take a second look.  And there are other lovely buildings here too, the first that come to mind are Phillp Lim's flagship (all white) and Ann Demeulemeester's grass covered store, but there are many more.  If you are interested in Korea check out this travel and culture blog : http://discoveringkorea.com/