Last Friday I had the honor of attending, photographing, and baking a cake for a not-quite-an-elopement-not-quite-a-shotgun wedding. After a lovely brunch at Café Luxembourg, the bride, groom, mother-of-the bride, two friends, and my husband, daughter and myself headed to Bethesda Fountain in Central Park.
Upon a quiet stretch of grass on a hill just up from the fountain, my husband officiated (he became ordained through the Universal Life Church just for this event!) the simple, beautiful ceremony. Afterwords, we ate Flourless Chocolate Cake topped with Coconut Maple Cream, eating slices with plastic spoons off of coffee filters (a trick I devised when lacking plates to serve a cake at work. My boss calls them Plapkins as they are a cross between a plate and a napkin).
To end it all, we walked around enjoying the beautiful weather and the splendor—and wackiness—of this city’s great park.
Pipes on the ceiling of Keens.
Lunchtime dessert at the superb Hudson Clearwater: Honeycrisp Apple Tart Tatin with Sea Salt Caramel and Chantilly Cream, and Meyer Lemon Bar with Graham Cracker Crust, Fig Compote and Lemon Créme Fraîche.
I want to live in your house.
42 Bedford Street, Manhattan
Cursory NYTimes archive research did not reveal any crazy stories, but I did read that the house once held a restaurant called Mary’s. In a February 5,1971 review Craig Claiborne gave it two stars. Back then, the dinner menu ranged in price from $2.80 to $5.50, and you could dine in the private room decorated in tribute to Angie Dickinson. Random story, but in the early 60’s my maternal grandparents lived in the same apartment building as Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson. As the story goes, my grandfather used to ride the elevator up and down waiting to see Angie. Not sure if my grandmother stalked Burt, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did!
From the top: a slice of Mondrian Cake snagged from the Modern Art Desserts event at Story in Chelsea; me humbled to be amongst the stupendous trifecta of Caitlin Freeman, Rose Levy Beranbaum, and James Freeman; a table of Mondrian Cakes; Caitlin had a personalized embossing tool made to add a message to signed books.
Why I want to drink with Allison Robicelli:
This rebuttal to the death of the cupcake press and this bit on trying to sell her book proposal.
Allison, let me buy you a whiskey!
Photo snagged from their tumblr About page
Very much looking forward to the May 7th release of Emily Matchar’s Homeward Bound.
I’m not sure I have ever been more excited for a food-related book in my life. That might sound dramatic, but Modern Art Desserts by Caitlin Freeman is the synthesis of two of my great loves: art and sweets. I screen-grabbed the TOC to illustrate just how amazing her work is. The book comes out on April 16th.
I can’t stop thinking about Joy the Baker’s Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Cake.
Avoid all of the unnecessary ingredients in commercial honey nut cereals and make your own using just four: cereal of any kind, milk (dairy or non-dairy), a tbsp. or so of slivered or sliced almonds, and honey syrup* to taste (which mixes much easier with milk than plain honey).
*Bring equal parts honey and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Turn off heat and let cool completely. Store in the fridge for a up to a week.
Two Cheese Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Fresh Garlic
Layer all ingredients. Cook on stove-top over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes. Slide pan into a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or so until it looks and smells like pizza heaven.
Pizza dough recipe is from King Arthur. Makes more than enough for one super-crust cast iron pizza.
Thanks to our friend Tom for planting the seed and to the blog A Beautiful Mess for cultivating the desire.
Crunchy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Recipe from BAKED ELEMENTS. Beyond delicious.
