Turntable Tuesday :: Love Dies Pizza is Forever

New Year upon us and I got to check-off the list for 2013 pizzeria ALLA LETTERA in Turin. The restaurant is dedicated to typography and in particular the typeface BODONI by Italy’s famous type designer, punch cutter and printer GIOVANNI BATTISTA BODONI. Alla Lettera's mission is put simply (like any good plate of food), “"alla lettera" significa anche "fare bene le cose", con qualità e nel rispetto della tradizione” -- “”to the letter” also means to “do things well”, with quality and respect to tradition.

Turntable Tuesday : In the Kitchen Playing, Baking and Printing

I am in the kitchen baking today. Found a terribly easy and SURE SHOT PIE RECIPE by top chef JACQUES PEPIN. Thought it would also be a great moment to then play around with food/typography and “print” a Christmas greeting. HERE are pictures of the final result.

Turntable Tuesday : Affordable Foodie Ideas for Christmas

I can’t get over the truism of the statement, "It’s the thought that counts”.
Turntable Tuesday muses over Christmas gift ideas. Final top of the list choices include food poems to memorialize our tastebuds, possible collector products or/and sad jokes to share (this one’s without a doubt).

This weeks NY MAGAZINE mentioned beloved American foods going, not necessarily out of fashion, but perhaps suffering cultural (or elbow grease) amnesia. In Vanishing: The Endangered Foods of New York and Where to Get Them While You Still Can, The Brooklyn Seltzer Boys are featured among select goods/companies which remain, small, under the guise of “old fashioned” and independent. 

Images 2&3 VIA AUTHOR WEBSITE. N.1 VIA Brooklyn News 12

Turntable Tuesday :: Keep It Seasonal, Stylish and Offbeat

Turntable Tuesday: recalls RITZY ALL BOY AMERICAN HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, plans on a SEASONAL SWEET RECIPE, adds a STYLISH WOMEN’S FOOD MAGAZINE on the Christmas list, and maybe A TOTE TO PUT ALL THE GOODIES INSIDE.

Probably wasn’t a tradition for most people, but a uniquely AMERICAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION at the RITZ CARLTON (which I might add, once included its own print shop). This ESSAY from 1956 by LOUIS DIAT, fabled head chef, writes in graphic detail how to insert truffles just under the skin of a bird (among other other classic recipes), and the atmosphere that pervaded like men only allowed in the Oyster room after Sunday mass.

"Members of head chef Louis Diat's kitchen brigade at the Ritz-Carlton New York, show off three of the hotel's celebrated French dishes: Terrine of Duckling Rouennaise, Aiguillette of Duckling Montmorency, and Pâté de Foie Gras Strasbourg.”
IMAGE AND QUOTE ACCREDITED TO GOURMET.COM

SIMPLE APPLE GALETTE RECIPE My tendency to make this has mostly everything to do with the baker’s dedication to creating delicious baked goods and amazing film photography of her work.

CHERRY BOMBE new to the scene and stylish food magazine featuring food loving women.

FASHION TOTE Belgium based designer MICHAEL VERHEYDEN quotes himself some edgy ideas on a bag.

ALL IMAGES VIA AUTHOR WEBSITES

Christmas Puppy Love Affair :: Letterpress Cards

Had a busy week last week printing up some Christmas cards. My illustrative animal doodle was realized into a three color print. The initial idea was “COSAS BONITAS” -- pretty things. Instead of flowers, I thought of puppies. Friends have them and I can see how much joy they bring to their homes.

 

I put a christmas hat and scarf on him and he’s all dressed up for the holidays! I digitally printed out a copy for myself as visual and color reference. My digital printer was running low on magenta and turned out a cool palish oatmeal yellow on the hat trim. I went with it.

The challenge and excitement of printing really gets going once it’s time for registration and shape takes form--one color at a time. Falling in love with this puppy!

I made flat and folded cards and circular coasters meant for hanging christmas decorations. I think he’ll bring some joy into someones home too!

Turntable Tuesday :: Raw

TURNTABLE TUESDAY thinks about what’s tasty, wearable and good to read for the holidays.

GENO’S FOTO VIA COOKING LIGHT, OTHERS VIA AUTHOR’S WEBSITES

CHEESY ART: This guy knows his cheese! MIKE GENO paints "seductively tasty” hyper realistic food oil paintings. Good enough for me as I go gaga for anything cheese.

T-SHIRT:  Gotta love T-shirts and can’t ever go wrong with good ones in your closet.  You can wear them with jeans or a skirt--trainers or heels! This one is molto cool: VIOLENT ELEGANCE by Two Points

BOOK: Peter Moruzzi’s CLASSIC DINING: DISCOVERING AMERICA’S FINEST  MID-CENTURY RESTAURANT sounds formidable. These tales would surely inspire anyone, including my own martini and steak affair. DINNER PARTY DOWNLOAD’S Rico Gagliano had a jokily interview with the author and delved into a little of what mid-century American Continental cuisine must have been like--like patrons partartaking in uber classic cocktails and flaming meat prepared at your table. 

Sounds like a RUSH.