san francisco

the view from alcatraz. the morning fog that covers not only the city, but the redwood forests that continue from washington down the coast. the magazine, gift, & floral selection at birch in hayes valley. the new orleans iced coffee from blue bottle.
those hills--dang. finally getting to explore the mission-- an iced latte from four barrel coffee. a new food journal from pot + pantry. the bizarre garden and taxidermy emporium that is paxton gate. paper goodies from voyager, located next to four barrel. finally getting to my cookbook favorite, tartine, for the best pan au chocolat ever. period. anything and everything from the slanted door, but especially the imperial rolls, the papaya salad, the caramelized tiger prawns. my favorite bakery for cookies and little sweets, miette, located in the the ferry terminal building and its packed farmers' market on saturdays. the summer collection from heath ceramics--bright coral and tan.




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lemon ginger madelines

black and white packaging design here and here
floral packaging parts one
two
some more black and white packaging design from graphic designer, ashley r. tipton
a coffee shop website
one last designer a series of black and white business cards
black and white branding with a pop of color.

lemon ginger madelines
1 1/2 sticks clarified butter
3 lemon ginger teabags
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon brandy
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon peel
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
You will need a madeline pan for this recipe. I prefer not to use the non-stick type, as this is more authentic, but do what you can.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Once melted, place teabags in butter and steep for 20 minutes and allow butter to cool. Heat eggs and sugar atop a double broiler until lukewarm; stir constantly. Remove from heat and beat until thick but light and creamy. When cool, sift and gradually add the flour, melted butter, brandy, vanilla, lemon peel, then juice.
Grease and flour a madeline pan, bake for about 8-10 minutes. Cool on a rack, shell side up.



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orange buttermilk cake

a house/apartment like this one.
this artist, anna wili-highfield.
this graphic designer, Jens Nilsson.
this magazine, plaza




adapted from bon appetit

orange buttermilk cake
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons grated orange peel
3 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
3 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

orange glaze
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
3/4 cup powdered sugar
Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with. Beat sugar, butter and lemon peel in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice. Sift flour, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Stir dry ingredients into butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer pans to racks and cool. Turn out cakes onto racks and cool completely. Once cool, prepare glaze by combining juice and powdered sugar. Pour over cake evenly.


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Olga's Cup + Saucer

This last weekend I got the opportunity to go to brunch at a place here in Providence that has been on my list for a while, but I just hadn't gotten to yet. I was really excited to go here, and the excitement grew when we pulled up and I found that Olga's Cup + Saucer was as cute as I hoped it would be. It was a gorgeous day outside and we had a bench table outside on Olga's spacious patio that has beautiful little gardens along with trees providing some needed shaded for when it gets warmer. I first discovered Olga's while reading Edible Rhody, which is a small publication put out each season about the food scene in Rhode Island. I read Edible Seattle while at home, and was pleasantly surprised to find that Rhode Island also had an "Edible" magazine. I picked up the Fall issue a while ago and saw an advertisement for Olga's a continued my research. I later found them at the Providence/Pawtucket farmers' markets, and I knew I had to visit the cafe.


They serve New Harvest Coffee at Olga's which is by far my favorite coffee in Providence, although hard for me to get to sometimes. From the Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, we got the following things with no complaints from any of us: sourdough waffles, huevos rancheros, french toast, omelette (mushroom, cheddar, bacon), and the mayan chicken salad sandwich. The inside of Olga's is cafe seating along with their bakery where you can purchase baked goods and coffee. They have a great selection of cakes, cookies, breads, rolls, pastries, tarts, and anything else you could possibly want.

Olga's Cup + Saucer
103 Point St
Providence, RI 02903
401.831.6666


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Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

For my design class, we were recently assigned a project to do an animation. At first, I was at a bit of a loss. My teacher showed us several examples of techniques we could use; many of them involved hand-drawing several hundred minutely varied frames. I tried to think how I could make this project something I was actually interested in, as many assignments during the foundation year at RISD are meant to be more skill-building and less interesting. However, I found a way to make this project one of my favorite things I've done this year because I got to combine my passions with my schoolwork. I actually did a little too much and have been assigned a second video to complete for two weeks from now, when this video was supposed to be due, but I finished far too early. It felt so great to be back to doing some food styling and photography. Even though this wasn't baking, I was back in the kitchen and it felt comfortable. Next year I will have all my supplies with along with a full kitchen, so expect a lot more posts next year. I know Pâtisserie Natalie has changed a lot over the years, but I think it will get back to some of its roots quite soon, which I'm excited about. But without further ado, here is my first ever recipe video, done in stop-motion animation. I had a blast making it and plan on making more in the future, along with perhaps some traditional videos. I look forward to exploring this new media, as well as getting back to some photography. I've missed it so much this year. Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

1 cup fresh lemon juice (6-8 lemons)
1 12-ounce package frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1 1-liter bottle sparkling water, chilled
Ice cubes
Fresh raspberries

Grate lemon peel and juice lemons.
Combine frozen raspberries, sugar, and 1/2 cup water in medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and berries thaw. Increase heat and boil 3 minutes. Strain raspberry mixture into bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids in strainer. Mix lemon peel into raspberry syrup in bowl. Chill until cold.
Stir raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water in large pitcher to blend. Fill 6 glasses with ice cubes. Pour raspberry lemonade into glasses. Add fresh raspberries to each glass, if desired. Garnish with lemon slices and serve.
please view the video in fullscreen and HD if possible








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