When photographer Buff Strickland and I approached Commander’s Palace, we were greeted by two vivacious ladies in black pants and pink tops. Lally Brennan and “Ti” Adelaide Martin were the definition of New Orleans charm — impeccably put-together and disarmingly friendly. “Do you know what Ti means?” asked Lally with a devious smile. “That’s short […]
*editor’s note: I’ve known Shauna Sever, San Francisco-based blogger at The Next Door Baker, for a few years now, and I’ve long been a fan of her simple, crave-worthy recipes as well as her kind and fun personality. I couldn’t have been more excited to receive her newest book, Real Sweet, in the mail recently, […]
photographed by buff strickland We have to admit — as much as we’d like to claim scouting credit — that artist Miranda Lake fell into our lap by some sort of strange magic. We’d just been discussing reader comments in a meeting and lamenting that you (our lovely readers) were ready to see something different […]
Birthday cakes are the best. Is there anything that feels – or tastes – more celebratory and indulgent than a multilayered confection topped with a crown of flickering candles? For me, they also taste like love: every year since I can remember, my mom has taken requests to make whatever cake I want, and they’ve […]
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 […]
Marshmallows are, hands down, one of my favorite things to make at home. Try them once, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find even a trace of relation between the homemade version and the waxy, deflated ones you find at the grocery store. Don’t get me wrong, each has its place in the sun, and I will gladly […]
The ladies behind this Houston baby shower had the right idea. When asked what her number one rule was, co-host Megan Swartz Gellert replied, “If you have fun, interesting people in your life, every gathering will be a good time.” Combine that mentality with great taste, a gorgeous space, and this stylin’ Texas couple, and […]
Happy long weekend, darlings! The forecast is calling for a grey, rainy Memorial Day around here, but I don’t mind: all we have on the agenda is hunkering down with our new babe, visiting with family and friends who stop by, and probably binge-ing on our latest HBO addiction, Veep. This first week with Henry has […]
With the Kentucky Derby only days away, I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic for the Kentucky Derby celebrations of my childhood. When I was growing up, we often attended the home of my parents’ best friends for their annual Derby party. Having grown up in the Bluegrass State, they were deeply rooted in the traditions surrounding […]
photographed by Kate Zimmerman for Garden & Gun shot on location at the Texas Alpha Pi Beta Phi House We’ve never been to Churchill Downs, but we’re pretty sure that derby watching parties are neck-and-neck with the real thing when it comes to fun. This year we partnered with our friends at Garden & Gun to […]
Your inside guide to the hippest small town in Texas.
It’s always right around this time of year that I start craving desserts with fresh juicy berries and zingy citrus fruit — flavors that practically shout from the rooftops that Spring has arrived and it’s time to savor desserts with a lighter vibe. For a garden party I hosted in my backyard, I made this Raspberry […]
