Food & Wine. Art & Food History at Abi's Farmhouse Kitchen
One of the more poignant lessons I’ve learned as a haole newbie to the Polynesian Triangle, is the lessons in Aloha. It’s been a cool word to use as a tourist to say “hello” or “goodbye” but Nana sent me a link to a tutorial when we first properly moved here and it stuck. You […]
If you had told me in January that our little six month adventure to Hawaii would end in a global pandemic, sheltering in place along with 100s of millions of fellow people, day drinking, binge watching, and scrolling News endlessly, I would not have believed you. If you had told me we would be moving […]
I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU: 2020 HAS BEEN *AHEM* CHALLENGING. What a Shit Show. I’ve learned I am nowhere near as patient and my family nickname is now “The Beast.” I’ve fully remembered how teachers don’t get paid near enough. That after this stressful year of SIP and staying close to home, I married really […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
