ANNE ZIEMIENSKI: An Artist’s Kitchen

I want to be Anne Ziemienski when I grow up. For her sheer talent in salads alone. I know she’s famous for classic mosaics nation-wide and all that, but really, it’s her salad dressings that get me. Each artist finds their own path.  And Anne is no different. Some go to art school.  Some apprentice.  […]

Green Food

Driving “Green Bean” (aka our rented green minivan) back to the Portland, Oregon Airport… Me: “What do you want for dinner tonight?” Dean: “GREEN.” Me: “What? (laughing) That’s not a dinner!” “That’s a COLOR, Daddy,” Anni pipes up giggling. Dean: “Oh yes it is! After all the brown and white food we’ve been eating all […]

NICOLE STRASBURG: An Artist’s Kitchen

With so much of California’s natural beauty laid waste and charred this Winter, I took comfort in the beautiful Art works from friend Nicole Strasburg. In her celebrations of Nature’s most exquisite beauty! Nicole’s unique eye keenly appreciates atmospheric color, movement, and my personal fave, something I’ve come to think of as “coastality.” As in […]

Pulling Up Cooking

The Fires still rattle me. I haven’t written or painted since that first Monday night in October. We fled those 50-80 mph roaring winds. Pausing only in blackened intersections as we drove west, west, west.  Watching sprinting flames devour whole ridge tops and valley floors in our sweet corner of the wine world. Dean came […]

FLORINE STETTHEIMER: An Artist’s Kitchen (Jazz Age)

FLORINE STETTHEIMER Florine Stettheimer was FABULOUS. Unabashedly fabulous! A striking, major figure in American modern art that you’ve probably never heard of. (I hadn’t). Poet. Painter. Salonista extraordinaire. Purposefully unmarried. Intentionally beautiful. Vibrant. Female. Florine reveled in her carefully crafted, eccentric and very extravagant lifestyle — the glittering world of Manhattan’s elite. A realm she savored […]

Celebrate with MONET: The Artist’s Recipes

Author’s Note: Before we get to the Food, I want to thank Couleur Nature for sharing their incredibly lovely French tablelinens as backdrop for Monet’s Food. I remember seeing their tablecloths for the first time some 15 years ago. Before I could Cook, let alone make Cassoulet! I was “antiquing” with my grandmother, Mima, in […]

ROBERT TOWNSEND: An Artist’s Kitchen

FREE COLOR T.V. One perk as a painter, is genuinely appreciating other Artists. And sometimes, becoming really good friends. Robert Townsend is just such a person: stunning Painter — in a League of his own! — and solid family friend.  The fact he’s now a famed painter is just too fun. I met Rob back in […]

FRIDA: Her Food & Recipes

Mary Cassatt wrote that women must choose between Art or Family & Hearth.  That Mind and Soul cannot properly support both. As an early 20 something, I dismissed that as antiquated. Fast forward 20 years, to me as mother, cook, and painter, I understand. How the Heart and Mind struggle to create each side of itself equally. Frida navigated […]

Weeknight Lasagna

“SCREW IT. I’VE COOKED ENOUGH,” runs through my head this time of year…. But seriously, the holidays are winding down. You (and your Kitchen) likely need a break from nonstop baking, braising, and cooking.  Am I right? But you still need to eat. And celebrate our New Year!! So if you’re going out (or staying […]