Cooking

Neighborhood Open House

Autumn feels like a fitting time of year to reconnect with faraway friends, as well as the people who live right in our own neighborhoods. When I was growing up, my parents were always friends with our neighbors — we’d have dinner parties, leave baked goods on each other’s doorsteps, and when I was old enough […]

Football Watch Party

Call me a fair-weather fan, but I equate football season with one thing: parties! Whether you’re inviting friends to gather around the tv in your living room, or meeting people at a genuine pre-game tailgate, the common denominator is good drinks and really great food. A lot of you guys have been asking for menu ideas […]

Wowing Your In-Laws

Hey guys! I’m super excited about a new series we’re launching today called “Seasonal Menus.” It’s, well, exactly what it sounds like: I’ll be sharing the perfect menus for all kinds of occasions with the simple recipes you’ll need to prepare them  — some that we’ve posted on the blog before and others that are brand new. To […]

A Healthy and Decadent Dinner Party

*editors note: We’re big fans of all things Purely Elizabeth, the nutritional whole goods company pioneered by environmental activist, Elizabeth Stein. And since there’s nothing we love more than healthy, delicious recipes, we jumped at the chance to get a firsthand peek at a few dishes from Elizabeth’s new cookbook, Eating Purely: More Than 100 All-Natural, Organic, Gluten-Free Recipes For […]

A Clean Green Summer Meal

If you’re struggling to think of delicious, filling, yet healthy dishes that are easy to prepare, look no further. Today’s three-course menu from author, chef, journalist, and all-around lovely person Candice Kumai, is the answer to serving a nutritious summer meal at home. Tired of that same ole’ Caesar salad? Candice’s take on the classic gets an upgrade with apple, avocado, and […]

Gaby Dalkin

Gaby Dalkin is your quintessential California girl. From her sun-kissed complexion to her happy-go-lucky personality she positively radiates sunshine. I had the opportunity to meet her this year and after bonding about a shared love of California, Austin and Tim Riggins (Texas Forever!) I knew I couldn’t wait to feature her SoCal kitchen. Like a […]

Mrs. Lilien

Kelley Lilien, aka Mrs. Lilien, has been shaking cocktails since before she learned to tie her shoes. “I would often fix up my mom and grandma’s drinks,” she says. “Which is when I discovered the creativity in it. Years later, I drew the same discovery from cooking.” As an adult Kelley has parlayed these cocktail-mixing […]

What’s On Hand :: Amy Chaplin

Fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. This is especially true in the case of vegetarian chef, blogger and cookbook author, Amy Chaplin. As a young girl growing up in rural Australia, she enjoyed fresh vegetables straight from her family’s garden while learning the joys of cooking alongside her mother. “My Mother loved hosting large parties […]

What’s On Hand :: Sweet Paul

Paul Lowe, aka Sweet Paul, is certainly living the sweet life. He was born in Oslo, Norway and raised by his Auntie Gunnvor (Great Aunt) and Mormor (grandmother) who nurtured his love of cooking and crafting at an early age. With their impeccable tastes, but “not always so perfect cakes”, they also instilled the mantra […]

What’s On Hand :: Aaron Franklin

Aaron Franklin’s name is synonymous with great BBQ. This fact was most recently illustrated by the (hilarious) national attention given to Franklin Barbecue by Jon Stewart while filming the Daily Show in Austin. And even while being applauded on Comedy Central, and lauded as the King of smoked meat by BBQ elite, Aaron remains level-headed […]

Julia Turshen

Julia Turshen rocks my world. My copy of It’s All Good, the best-selling cookbook she co-wrote with Gwyneth Paltrow, is dog-eared, bookmarked and covered in curry from countless batches of my favorite Roasted Cauliflower + Chickpeas and Mustard. In addition to roasting vegetables with Gwyneth, Julia’s eaten kimchi with Jean-Georges and toured Spain with Mario Batali. […]

What’s On Hand :: Erin Gleeson

A husband and wife leave New York to travel West, and settle down in a little cabin in the woods. Could there be anything more idyllic? This is the real life story behind Erin Gleeson’s inspiring food blog and new cookbook, the Forest Feast. Each week, Erin creates simple yet delicious meals inspired by the seasonal […]

What’s On Hand :: Deana Saukam

It could be the Texas heat, but foodie Deana Saukam places the utmost importance on proper hydration. “I probably drink AT LEAST a gallon of water a day,” she says. “I think I was a fish in my past life. Or a mermaid.” Maybe so, but in this life Deana is the PR/Media/Events Director for […]

What’s On Hand :: Courtney McBroom

Foodie Courtney McBroom isn’t afraid to pour herself a glass of wine, throw on a record, grab a big old Japanese kitchen knife and start chopping. This is especially amazing because most people don’t even own a Japanese kitchen knife, much less possess the confidence to wield one after a glass of rosé. But Courtney […]

Artist Spotlight :: Ashley Woodson Bailey Photography

Flowers have such a fleeting beauty; we’re reminded as they wilt of how quickly things fade. Photographer Ashley Woodson Bailey is on a mission to remedy the petal problem, and she’s doing it with her camera. Enter flower photography, an art Ash  has been cultivating since she fell in love with les fleurs at age […]

Little Things :: Making Maracas

Springtime in Austin always means sitting outside listening to live music. SXSW comes and goes like a whirlwind, but really, this city is always about those things and in the Spring we just get to enjoy them more often. In the spirit of our musical town and the upcoming Cinco de Mayo festivities, I thought […]

A Whimsical Fantasy Feast

Alice in Wonderland meets Where the Wild Things Are — this is where inspiration for this kids’ fantasy land feast began. Floral designer Carly Blair of Margot Blair and photographer Carli Kiene of Inked Fingers teamed up to create and capture the whimsical wonderland. “I work a lot in the wedding industry, where the atmosphere […]