Stuff and Things

I haven't posted for a while and I have quite a few 'this and that, stuff and things' sort of info to share with you that are food related in some bizarre ways, so here goes:

I was in Minnesota for a conference and had several wonderful food encounters, including this fantastic painting by Severin Roesen at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. He is one of my favorite painters and I'm not sure why. I'm not a big fan of still lifes, but there is something about the way he depicts all of the fruits and vegetation. And I love the way he hides his signature in the tendrils of grape leaves. Amazing.

They also had this fantastic coffee service on display. I desperately wanted it! I love the long spout, almost like a watering can, so you wouldn't even have to reach to refill your guests cup.

And this china from Sèvres is my new favorite. I'll take service for twelve. The original, hand-painted set had almost 400 pieces in it. And those are scattered in museums and private collection around the world. The object at the back of the arrangement is for serving ice cream and everyone knows how much I love a food-specific serving piece.

Here I am at the sculpture park by the Walker Art Center, with Spoon Bridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in the background. I love their work and while this isn't my favorite sculpture they have ever done, it's is quite brilliant and has become an icon for the city. On the other side of the park, you get a great view of downtown.

I didn't just look at food art and antique serving pieces, I also had some good things to eat in Minneapolis/St. Paul, including this green coconut curry with mock duck at a little Thai place that was just down the street from my hotel. It was just spicy enough and made me very happy! You should definitely try Ruam Mit Thai if you are in St. Paul.

I had one of the best breakfasts ever at the Downtowner Woodfire Grill which is also right by the hotel. This is a breakfast place, per se, but a very nice restaurant that also serves a very excellent breakfast. I had the veggie version of Moe's Cajun Breakfast which was sauteed onion, pepper and mushrooms topped with hash browns topped with cheese topped with an egg over easy topped with their special Hollandaise sauce. This is a HALF order. Honestly. It was so good.

Back to Terre Haute, we had a lot of fun with Shane and Melissa who were visiting from Kentucky so she could help out with a program the Swope was holding. It also happened to be Shane's birthday, so we picked up a guitar-shaped, Elvis-bedecked container of popcorn from Big Lots. It's also a coin bank once you eat all of the popcorn! No joke.

Jonah made Shane a birthday cake: carrot with cream cheese frosting. We went with a big group to Mogger's for dinner and a few drinks, which was a lot of fun.

Of course, seasonal change means it's time to change up the bar and make it ready for fall. I had the worst time trying to decide to what to use, but eventually decided on the pheasant ice bucket, the Georges Briard glasses with gold leaves, a mix of cocktail glasses and some other gold accents.

And fall also means it's time to tea, so I made the first pot on Tuesday after I caught a chill.

Last night we went to Jimmy and Ellie's for dinner and to watch Top Chef. Jimmy made two bowls of Asian deliciousness, including giant rice balls that were super yummy--and spicy!

Great, now you're all caught up.

A Butter Dish for Captain Ahab

Last week in Wichita, I finally had the opportunity to stop by my friend Emily’s fabulous store, Frank & Margaret. Her lovely space is filled with some of the best things you could want for your table or home, plus those unique gifts everyone is looking for this time of year. If you’re in Wichita, I suggest you make a trip, because I know you’ll find something you love.

As part of her eclectic inventory, Emily has a wonderful selection of whimsical offerings from Jonathan Adler, ceramicist and provocateur. Adler has a fun style which he offers up on TV, in his stores and his fantastic book, My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living. I love his designs, especially to give as gifts…but hadn’t seen the new, mod butter dish in the shape of whale. It was like we were meant to be together. And when I saw the matching pitcher on his web site (Do I need another pitcher? Who cares!), I knew we were all three meant to be together. Of course, the butter dish couldn’t be used for everyday. And I don’t really serve bread at meals that often, but it doesn’t matter because it will look great in my china cabinet. Or yours, ne serait-il pas?

Time to Entertain?

It's that time of the year again, when all the cooking magazines on the newsstands are covered with turkeys, cakes and other holiday treats. How are you doing on serving pieces? Do you have enough platters, bowls and accoutrement to handle your guests and hosting obligations?

If not, can I make a few suggestions? (I promise I won't subject you to a parade of all of my serving pieces, which could take all day...)

Williams-Sonoma (not Williams and Sonoma...) has some great new platters available. They come in two different sizes and are very flat, with just the tiniest lip on the edge. Since these don't curve up on the sides, service space is maximized allowing you to pile hors d'ouevres, cookies or candy as high as you like.

The Leo all-purpose glass from Crate and Barrel is affordable and slightly different than many of the wine glasses on the market. These would be perfect for your holiday bar, but also for serving dessert. Think: individual trifles, piles of chocolate mouse or scoops of ice cream. Multiple uses means you can easily justify the purchase, but at $1.95 per glass you don't really need to!

Aluminum serving pieces from West Elm would brighten up any holiday table. Each of these pieces would mix in well with just about any table setting and could be used to stack bon bons, sweets or creme puffs to majestic heights.

Ever affordable, IKEA has a variety of bowls that would be perfect for mashed potatoes, salads and side dishes. Mix and match colors, textures and styles loosely for a table that is warm, welcome-y and homey.

One of my ugliest predilictions is for salad servers, I can't stop buying them! How many sets is too many? I have several vintage sets, in addition to ones I've picked up at Crate and Barrel, Bloomingdale's Home and elsewhere. This olivewood set from Sur la Table is truly covetable, though, and if you don't have a nice set of servers I suggest you splurge on these. They are made in Fraaaaance.

Happy Holidays!

Looking for a new Creamer/Sugar?

I'm not, I have creamer and sugar sets coming out my ears. Colorful plastic fifties ones. A silver-plated deco set. A Russel Wright set. Sets in both of my china patterns. A spare set I picked up at the thrift store that has a bowl and platter to match. Odd cream pitchers that don't match any sugar bowls, but still look great, especially the one from Rosenthal (My only piece, so I treasure it. Pronounce it 'ro zen tall' if you want to be snooty, like me.) If you don't have that perfect creamer and sugar set, that one that really says something about who you are and where you fit into the world, might I suggest the following?

This bunny service, adorned with roses, could really mix in with any china or silver service easily. Traditional, modern, simple, or ornate. It would convey to your guests (or reiterate to yourself, if you're using it for toast and tea at a solitary repast) that you are a positive person, with a bright outlook on the world. Likewise, the adorable guys definitely assert confidence in a design aesthetic on the part of the owner. They really SAY something...

And now, a PARADE OF SUGARS AND CREAMERS for your pleasure and amusement!

This wonderful design by Russel Wright is ingenious, with the creamer acting as the lid of the sugar bowl, nesting neatly on top.

This set says: I have a small table and need something economical, space wise. Plus I revere classic, American design.

A similar design and thrift store find, this piece is a silver-plated deco set by Napier.

This set says: I'm traditional, yet slightly funky. My walls are covered with Erté prints.

Temporama by Canonsburg. My favorite pattern. The dishes I use in all of my dreams. The accent pieces in this set are that wonderful robin's egg blue that I love, but the under plate shown here is actually something new from Crate and Barrel. Perfect Match!

This set says: I'm funky. I wear vintage, fifties glasses. Atomic forever!

The 'good' china, some of what I own was a thrifted gift from the playwright and actress Helena Hale, who is no longer with us. The pattern is Shoreline by Metlox and all of the colors were named for the California coast. The color I collect is called wet sand. So dramatic.

This set says: Simple, elegant design is timeless and without compare. California pottery has no equl in the world of vintage china.

This set sat at the thrift store forever, so I finally picked them up for a song along with a matching bowl and platter. They are by Studio Nova from the very 80s Color Threads line. I would consider this to be my 'everyday' creamer and sugar, the one that is on the kitchen table.

This set says: I will never get over the passing of the 80s.

Finally, a mismatched ménage à trois. From the left, a rustic creamer that was a gift from Danette who has no use for creamers as she doesn't drink coffee and rarely entertains (never on a grand scale); the adored Rosenthal, with odd wings on the lid that make it very sculptural; and lastly, a petite creamer by Frankoma, pottery of the promised land--Oklahoma.

These say, from left to right: I make my own pottery. I'm a hippy; My grandmother was a minor, German aristocrat who lost everything in the war and this is the only piece she escaped Europe with; I'm from Oklahoma.