COLOR! FLAVOR! TEXTURE!
As an homage to both the sunshine state (I spent the past 10 days in Miami) and to the phenomenal salad I have feasted on, and swooned over, many times at Franny’s; here is my version of the perfect transitional citrus salad to take us from winter to spring.
So beautifully vibrant in color and absolutely yummy; pulling out all the stops that please my palette….sweet, refreshing, bright in flavor, crunchy, salty, spicy, and clean tasting!
Although this looks like a summer salad it is in a fact a winter creation since citrus is bursting & abundant from November to April.
I chose to use a pink grapefruit, navel orange, blood orange, and clementine’s….but feel free to substitute any citrus you love and can get your hands on.
I love the mild, crisp, and briny flavor these Sicilian green olives add to the dish when paired with the tart sweetness of the citrus, the punch from the raw red onion, added nutty crunch of the pistachios, and the clean herbaceous quality of the parsley that harmonizes so beautifully with the other ingredients….this salad is just brilliant!!
Athena’s recipe
1 pink grapefruit ~ slicing off top and bottom; removing peel and pith with a chef’s knife; and slicing ½” thick rounds…..you should get 6 slices
1 navel orange ~ slicing off top and bottom; removing peel and pith with a chef’s knife; slicing out each segment between the membranes
1 Blood Orange ~same as grapefruit / 4-5 ½” disks
1 Clementine ~ simply peeled and separated
arrange all citrus in layers on the plate
Juice remaining citrus and reserve for dressing.
5-8 sprigs of fresh Italian flat leaf Parsley; rinsed, dried, and coarsely chopped
1 medium red onion halved and sliced thin
¼ cup Castelvetrano Sicilian green olives, halved
¼ cup of pistachios
teeniest amount of diced habanero (optional)
Arrange the above ingredients on top of the citrus
I drizzled some EVVO and used the remaining juice from the citrus to make a lite dressing
To finish….a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt, fresh ground blk pepper, and i zested some citrus rind atop
enjoy ; )
Palette Swoon!
I am continually blown away by the natural colors our mother earth offers us. Both deep & rich while also being soft & subtle, and always an inspiration to pull from for interiors.
There is just something so soothing and chic about the fusion of an alge like blue green, in varying tones, coupled with a sandy or blush pink hue. We look to the sea, sky, and to the earth time and time again to see this amalgam in its magnificence!
I suppose i was always drawn to this pairing; when I was a 12 year old teenybopper my bedroom had a wall covering that was teal and pink, though more driven by Miami Vice than the beauty of nature. Ha!
You can take this color union literally and choose to paint your walls the palest shade of sea green like Benjaman Moore “come sail away” or simply in the flowers you choose…like pale pink peonies. Another way to reflect this beautiful shade in your home is to chose a rich teal tone for the upholstery on your sofa or chair…even in your pillows or art! Painting an accent wall in a shade like Benjamin Moore “largo teal” can reflect a bolder interpretation that makes a statement!
Sometimes its challenging to take risks with color….but a glimpse at your immediate surroundings, to the palette found naturally in the trees, waters, and up above, can aways guide you!
Benjamin Moore
tropical sand ~ 2101-70
largo teal ~ 742
come sail away ~ 846
Versatility is me!
Pesto, salsa verde, chimichurri, herb sauce, salmoriglio….call it what you will. All I know is that this zippy bowl of yumminess always resides in my fridge and is used multiple ways throughout the week.
Without fail every trip to the market results in a handful of the brightest and freshest herbs I can get my hands on. Basil (in summer), mint, & Italian parsley are definitely staples in my home and in the food I create.
Chopping up these fine ingredients with mashed garlic, sea salt, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest gives me the comfort of knowing that, in a pinch, I can throw together a variety of weeknight meals that are flavorful, healthy, and quick!
Tossed with pasta with the addition of pine nuts and pecorino, I have a perfect pesto for my son. Marinated with pork, lamb, or steak provides a delish & flavorful protein. Drizzled over fish or shrimp can elevate a dish to restaurant worthy accolades. Crank your roasted potatoes up a notch, wrap some inside an omelet, use as a salad dressing, spread it on a sandwich, or simply drizzled over some fresh ricotta to dip with toasted bread.
With this one stop yummy shop you are guaranteed a meal or snack you will love and that is SWOON~worthy!
You could even combine with unsalted butter to create a compound butter to sever atop a steak……yummmmmm!
Get creative and versatile! Customize your ingredients by swapping or adding to you liking! Substitute cilantro and jalapeno to go Mexican, go briny with capers, or try sage, thyme, arugula, even kale! Once its mixed & mashed together with the trinity of goodness….extra virgin olive oil, garlic, & lemon….your paste takes on a zippy life of its own.
Make it in a food processor or in a mortar and pestle, and to your taste…there is no recipe or right or wrong here.
Best part about it…..you can store it in the fridge for well over a week….just keep it air tight and add some EVOO on top. Or put the paste inside an ice cube tray and make individual frozen servings to thaw out as needed.
Every culture expresses their own interpretation …..Italian, Argentinean, Mexican…..find your unique use for this versatile kitchen staple!
**Tip ~ never heat or microwave an herb sauce, it destroys the flavor….always best and brightest in it natural raw form
Be Bold!
When I design a room I always try and find one particular place where I can conjure an element of surprise. It could come in the form of color, texture, or taking a risk using a bold pattern that will create the {{{ WOW }}} upon entering a room.
In my son’s room in Brooklyn I worked with Kamp Studio’s and created an interlocking cylindrical wall mural. I used a super vibrant yellow paint juxtaposed upon a solid graphite wall.
My approach was bold, on bold, on bold, since my son was at the “I want a crazy cool room” age. But…..you can still create a sophisticated & elegant room using a strong pattern by dialing it down to a more subdued palette.
In the downtown NYC hair salon of Ric Pipino I created a modern twist on the classic black and white checkerboard floor. I chose an alternating zigzag pattern of black and white onto the otherwise traditional herringbone wood floor.
Another subtle but equally effective use of pattern can be the addition of Ikat pillows or Moroccan tiles….both bring forth a playful flair of ethnicity to a room.
I also looooove how Jenna Lyons and Kelly Wearstler played with a punch of color and pattern, unexpectedly, on the ceiling!
Let these images spark you imagination on how you can incorporate a fun pattern in your home!
Whistler Wonderland!
Last week I went on holiday with my family to snowboard in Whistler. This has been a yearly tradition for the past 10 years. There is something about being in the mountains that is a complete escape from the realities of city life…..you breathe better, your connected to nature, you slow down with ease, sit around a fire, you certainly eat indulgently (or at least I did), and you feel connected to your self and to the people you love. Let’s be honest….it’s also AMAZING as an adult to fall, tumble in the snow, and get back up again and laugh it off. It’s such a PURE trip to remind you what’s most important. Or at least this was my experience…..
So EVERYONE that works in Whistler is uber nice….i don’t mean annoying passive aggressive New York style phony nice…..i mean honest, I want to make your experience a better one, nice! Time and time again I was blown away by how much these people whole-heartedly care.
After our first, action packed, day of snowboarding my husband and I promised our son we would go tubing! This meant walking up the steep hill (a total of 10 times!!) dragging a heavy black inner tube…….remember already exhausted from a full day of boarding! With no time to spare we headed straight to dinner…still in full layers from early morning….thermals, boots, boards, helmet’s, goggles…etc! What were we thinking??
Anyway, the meal we had was the ideal indulgence after a draining day! We ate at Sidecut, a steak house at the Four Seasons Hotel. I knew they were doing it right when they severed a bread basked of mini warm biscuit’s, petite corn muffins, and little puffs of cheesy deliciousness!
And then, the main event……I cannot quite describe how unbelievably delicious our NY Strip & RibEye steaks were! Mouth watering, flavorful, perfect marbleization and cooked to perfection.
The best part of the experience, taste, and presentation were the sauces that were served along side the steak. This is what really excited me because they combined design and taste in a unique package. 9 sauces in total, each with their own label, were displayed in small, old medicinal style, glass bottles with cork stoppers. The bottles were placed inside a beautiful honed walnut wooden block, that was routed out to specifically hold each bottle. Just brilliant!
My favorite sauce was the wasabi, which gave the steak that spicy bite I love….and the yuzu sauce, which added a tart citrusy brightness!
Another Whistle favorite, which has become quite the family tradition that I NEVER eat otherwise, is caramel apples dipped in crushed almonds from Rocky Mountain Candy. Located right in the heart of Whistler village and soooo naughty & yummy! I think I trick myself into believing it’s a healthy snack.
On our last day we awoke up to a blanket of fresh snow which continued to fall the entire day….27 hours of heavy snowfall in all! We could barely see on the mountain that day but the conditions were absolutely sublime with lots of laughter, falling, and a few snowy face plants!…..a perfect ending to a beautiful and FUN holiday!
Weeknight A Go~Go
Simple ~ Healthy ~ Yummy = loved by all
Cooking fish in parchment is probably made in my household at least once a week. Its definitely one of those…no brainer, quick, flavorful, weeknight meals. Sealing the fish within an envelope of parchment steams the fish and infuses it with whatever flavors you choose to incorporate.
I chose to cook my gray sole on a bed of lemons, a layer of fresh thyme, and an assortment of briny olives….i added a drizzle of olive oil and salt & pepper before sealing it up.
One trick I learned from sitting at the chef counter at Dell’Anima, is to precut your parchment into a heart~like shape. You basically begin with a large rectangle of parchment and then fold it equally in half, then using a scissor begin cutting at the top of the folded edge and cut a semi circle that ends in a point at the bottom folded edge….this should look something like a half a heart when folded and a full heart once opened. Place the fish on half of the heart and begin making tiny folds all the way around the fish until you get to the tip & twist to seal. i’ve attached a link to a visual tutorial.
Pop your little package of goodness onto a baking sheet and place inside a preheated 375 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish…mine was super thin and delicate so it cooked rather quickly
While the fish was in the oven I chopped up some fresh herbs, mashed up some garlic, added some shaved lemon rind, olive oil, salt & pepper, and made a quick salsa verde to brighten & finish off my fish once out of the oven. (I used Italian parsley & mint…but any herb would work…..oregano, basil, rosemary, tarragon, etc.)
The absolute best part about cooking your fish this way is the natural juice that’s created from the lemon, olive oil, and herbs….so delish and packs a punch of flavor.
I always change the ingredients i accompany with my fish….sometimes its cherry tomatoes, fingerling potatos, grilled artichokes, asparagus, red onion, fennel, or capers….you name it, it works….give it a go!
*tip - if you add the salsa verde to the fish prior to cooking, the herbs turn a muted tone and it lose their vibrancy…in both color and taste. Better to add to the fish just before serving or in small bowl table side.
** This is also a great make ahead no fuss meal when your having guests ~ the fish packages can be pre made in advance, on a baking sheet sitting in your fridge…just pop in the over and serve!
***My favorite cooking tool ? definitely my Microplane …. used for zesting lemon and sometimes orange….i’d be lost in the kitchen without it!
Black Beauty
I’m going through a “paint everything black” phase. I can’t help it….everything seems to elevate to a chic sophistication in this saturated hue.
My grandmother’s very traditional sideboard (1st image) was once a very drab medium brown oak tone. I saved it from the dumpster with a fresh coat of matte graphite paint……it currently resides in my foyer and happens to be one of my favorite pieces in my home!
The simplicity of a black palette can completely transform a room, table, dresser, walls, floors, mantel, even stairs…..Creating a moody elegance!
A can of paint is a wonderful reminder that good design doesn’t have to come at a lofty price….we can make furnishings our very own by simply scurry through our families attic or at our local flea.
Veggie Tales
Roasting seasonal vegetables is something I do at least 4-5 times per week. It’s super simple, healthy, and yummy! Roasting to the point of crispy caramelization brings out the natural sweetness in these 2 particular veggies! A drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of s & p, a parchment lined baking sheet, and a pre set oven to 400 degrees….your good to go! There is something so special and architectural about Romanesco. A hybrid of cauliflower & broccoli and the most gorgeous shade of chartreuse. The natural design is honestly breathtaking, which is a quite odd way to describe a vegetable but really, I think I can create a room inspired by its precise pattern within a pattern….its almost mathematical. As I write this I’m surprising and giggling at myself with my visual adoration of this veggie…hehe! Anyway, I love the taste too…especially when it gets golden on the edges…absolute perfection! I chose to prepare my romanesco with some capers and intended on some finely chopped fresh parsley but sadly forgot to add it to the plate before serving…it was great none the less. The second dish was very much inspired by the roasted squash that Chef Dan Kluger sent over the last time I was at ABC kitchen for lunch. I make roasted butternut squash often but what elevated his dish to a supreme “party in your mouth” was how it was finished with the brightness of some grated lemon rind, coupled with the crunch of roasted pepitas, and a hint of heat with finely diced habanaro. Or at least that is my interpretation of his brilliant dish! I’ll mostly serve these veggies as a side to a protein for dinner but I’ll always nibble the next day on the leftovers or toss then into a grain or green salad for lunch. You can also add either of these veggies to pasta for a quick weeknight meal.
Bring it on!
New York Fashion week was particularly hectic for me and I LOVED every bit of it! I tried on many different hats…..stylist, interior design, set designer, model, blogger…all the while negotiating the sale of my bklyn apartment, meeting with a new design client, planning for my son’s 9th birthday, seeing some shows, and going to the many social events that took place.
There were a few moments I worried I was spreading myself too thin and was super close to sliding down that slippery slope of self doubt and uncertainty BUUUT…. instead I chose to plow through and not over analyze as I normally do. *Note to self, this is a much healthier and productive approach when overwhelmed : )
My dear friend Leilani Bishop asked that I style a photo shoot for her new fragrance campaign and though professionally I am not a fashion stylist I accepted the challenge with open arms and had a blast doing so. I pulled some spectacular gowns from Zac Posen, some sexy basics from The Reformation, but mostly from my own closet… slouchy sweaters & classic Dolce Gabanna archive pieces. I had such fun on set with a team of my closest girlies…brilliantly produced by Tali Magal, photographed by Chloe Crespi~whose true talent is making woman look absolutely beautiful, and gorgeously modeled by Leilani.
There is nothing better than collaborating creatively with friends and was honored when another friend, Jeanann Williams, called upon my services to help design a room for True Religion at Milk Studios for Made Fashion Week. True Religion sponsored Milk Made and was asked to transform the Jam Room, in the basement of Milk, into a spa/recharging suite for editors to visit between shows. The challenge was to take a grungy boiler room that is strictly used as a gritty rock n roll infused space and elevate it for day time usage so that editors can relax comfortably in their designer digs. I did however have to respect the natural habitat and not make it look too precious while also making certain we had the proper furniture and equipment for the various services being offered. Minx manicures, Ric Pipino salon services, facials, eyebrow shaping, psychic readings, and a boost of energy from Kind Bars & Organic Avenue juices!
This felt a bit more like set design and merchandising, pulling furniture from the True Religion showroom and renting some incredible vintage flags and patchwork indigo denim tapestries for added layers and textures. I also strung up some burlap drapery to create privacy barriers for the editors during services. I slapped up some True Religion campaign posters, brought in some magnolia branches, scented candles, TR product, and created a unique space that was an escape for the editors. The room was raw and undone in perfectly juxtaposed opposition to the polished fashion shows that were happening upstairs. Special thanks to the team at MILK and True Religion!
Just one day after the Jam Room spa opened at Milk Jeanann also asked me to model in a shoot for True Religion as a part of their True Identity series. The goal was to showcase normal woman rockin’ their TR jeans in every day life. Again pulled together by a team of extraordinary woman and friends, the photography was shot by the lovely Raegan Glazner….the shoot was fun & natural, taking place in and around my home in Brooklyn
This all happened during one weeks time and as each endeavor passed I did feel a bit of weight lifted…..by Thursdays modeling shoot I was able to fully exhale yet had a surprising amount of exuberant bubbly energy! I rewarded myself that evening with a delicious dinner at ACME followed by an epic performance at Milk by the Wu Tang Clan!
