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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Los Angeles

The last week of March I was lucky enough to go to Los Angeles to visit some family and friends for my spring break after going home for a few days. It was my first time there and I'm happy to say I truly loved it. I tend not to like hot weather being a native Seattlite, but it was gorgeous weather the whole time. I wasn't there for very long and I hope to go back soon and see a lot more, as I only got to Santa Monica, Venice, and a little bit of Downtown LA. I loved everything I explored. LA has that relaxed, west coast style that I am used to, but is quite a bit beachier than the Pacific Northwest, and even San Francisco. I'm used to living in an area surrounded by water, but less of the surfers and more of the caffeinated, patagonia-wearing types. It was just different enough to feel like I was somewhere new, but not so different that I was disoriented and uncomfortable. LA, I will be back. In Venice, there were some of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen. I was so jealous of the lemon trees growing in everyone's yards, also. Just a couple blocks from where I was staying was a great shopping street called, Abbot Kinney. On this street there was everything from clothing, vintage, restaurants, coffee, shoes, the list goes on. Unforunately, I shot a lot of film on this trip and I'm not sure if my camera is broken or if I did something wrong, but when I developed the film the role was blank, so I don't have a lot of pictures. So, I will just have to list a lot of my favorites below.
GJELINA, take-away and coffee. the cortados/dulces.
Intelligentsia Coffee, the venice location is unique. you are served individually by one of many baristas in a large, industrial space at a circular counter.
Colcha, home store, great textiles, books, furniture pieces. Alternative Apparel, male and female clothing in solid colors and basic prints. Super soft and well-made basics. Proof Bakery, also serves great coffee, this bakery is located in Atwater which is nearby Glendale; great tarts.
The Refinery, located in Santa Monica, this place had delicious coffee in a sleek shop. Everything had been designed down to the smallest detail.
Waraku, bizarre, hilarious, but still stylish Japanese versions of American shoes that you simply cannot find here in the States, except at Waraku. A unique store.
Daikokuya Ramen, authentic Japanese ramen in Little Tokyo, the pork cutlet bowl combination with extra soft noodles is the best. Expect a wait, it's very popular.


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The Walrus and the Carpenter - Seattle

Spring break could not have come sooner. I was really aching to come home, and while I was only there for a second, it was much needed and I got to see some friends and eat some great food. I'm now in Los Angeles and will have some new pictures and posts coming soon. While at home, I was really hoping to get to The Walrus and the Carpenter, one of Seattle's best restaurants that I just for hadn't been to for some reason. Located in Ballard, it's off of Market, in the more industrial part of the neighborhood, getting into the marina. The restaurant is truly centered around fish, starting with its location. We entered the restaurant through a long, dark hallway like ship's passageway to be greeted by a warm, bustling restaurant that was full to the brim. There will always be a wait and they do not take reservations. But it's completely worth it, just saying. Right next door is The Dutch Bike Co., which is a local Seattle bike shop that imports European city bicycles, but is also a coffee shop. Bikes + coffee = WIN. They also rent bikes for you out-of-towners.Everything at The Walrus and the Carpenter was truly delicious. The crab bisque, fresh chevre, smoked trout with lentils were my favorite things I tried, but the oysters were raved about also. This is serisously one of the best restaurants in Seattle, and not something downtown that's going to be everyone's list. Wild Ginger is a well known one that I really think has lost it. The last few times I've been there I did not think it was good at all. Go to Walrus over Ginger, for sure.

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Chicago Part Three

I've had a great time here in Chicago. I'm heading back to Providence to start my second semester at RISD. I definitely needed the break of winter session and seeing some friends before diving back into the RISD bubble. Chicago is a great city with tons of places to go & delicious places to eat. This post is a list of some of my favorites that I went to during my week stay here. They're all over the city, from downtown to up north, and the west side, as well. One of my favorite things about being in a city is just walking and exploring. Getting the feel for a new, or not so new, place. I've been coming to Chicago since I was very young, but I get to see new sides of it every time I come here. I hope anyone who gets the chance to visit this great city will visit some of these places I mention below and let me know how you like them. I have some stores, restaurants, and cafes. If you click the name, it will bring you to the website of the place.
Posh
Posh is fabulous store in River North that carries household items and gift items with a vintage influence and themed areas of the store such as, vintage America, vintage France, etc. I wish I could come back and decorate my first apartment with just items from this store because the owners have impeccable taste.

Haberdash
Haberdash is a men's store with several locations in the Chicago area. The stylish guys that run this store have very carefully selected clothing items, accessories, shoes, & apothecary items for guys (and girls!) that are follow the minimalist trends. I stumbled into one of their stores in River North that was having a moving sale a got a great knit scarf from Theory, so if you're in the area, I would check that sale out as soon as possible. It is a men's store only, but that's never stopped me before (seriously, they have great shoes.)

Greer
Greer is a stationary, card, and gift shop in Old Town that has been noted as one of Oprah's favorite shops. But more importantly, it's one of mine. I bought a great fountain pen there and a birthday card for my friend who I was visiting in Chicago. The people who work there are terribly nice and the store is as beautiful as could be. Don't buy Hallmark, guys.

Stitch
Stitch has furniture, gifts, bags, you name it. Just a sort of well-curated shop, it has beautiful sofas to gorgeous leather wallets and soft scarves. A great place to find a present for someone you really really like, or probably just yourself.

BHLDN
BHLDN is the new Anthropologie wedding store that has dresses, shoes, & decorations. The dresses were nice, but I was there for the decorations, and they were everything I'd hoped for. BHLDN has had a great online store for a while, but I was happy to see that their stylists had done an excellent job with BHLDN ("beholden"), as they do with the visual display in anthropologie and free people. free people is my favorite store and anthropolgie is my favorite store to go in and look at for visual display.
Grahamwich
Grahamwich is a gourmet sandwich shop in River North, directly next to Posh and a Haberdash location. Also featuring great sides such a truffle, parmesan, and black pepper popcorn and homemade vanilla bean soda. There's not much seating, so during the summer, it would be great to take to a park for a picnic. But we found seats relatively quickly and enjoyed our tasty sandwiches.
Newberry Library
I went to the Newberry Library to look at some artists book, but I ended up getting a great behind-the scenes tour about the Newberry Library's entire print and book collection. They have books back from Babylonian tablets to new artists books and prints beings catalogued today. I got to see a range from the ancient to modern, as well as hear the inside scoop about the book world from an expert. It was an opportunity that I was not expecting that furthered my excitement to major in graphic design.
Quimbly's Bookstore
Quimbly's is a zine and bookstore carrying hundreds of handmade zines and other books, mostly about graphic arts and comics. A bit of a find, if you ask me. Having just taken a class in bookmaking, I was happy to know that there were supporters of media such as these.
The Publican
The Publican is an outstanding restaurant featuring shared plates of meat and seafood in a highly-designed pub with closed-in booths and (also) shared tables. I noticed a trend of shared tables in Chicago, which is sort of looked at as an undesirable thing to Seattlites, who prefer to be sectioned off from strangers. But I suppose we will have to get used to it as it's becoming more and more popular. The Publican was definitely the most memorable meal of the trip.
Art Institute of Chicago
I don't have a whole to say about the Art Institute other than if you haven't been: go. They have some of the best art in the world. I was lucky to get to see the Irving Collection of Drawings and Prints which was one of my favorite exhibitions I've seen in a long time. I really amazing collection of pieces. I spent most of my time in the Modern Wing, the newest part of the museum.
Intelligentsia Coffee
Anyone who knows me knows that I love coffee--a lot. I was pleased to find that Chicago was a coffee city, which, unfortunately, Providence is not. As long as one coffee shop knows what it's doing, soon others will follow because they will realize what they are doing wrong. Fortunately, Intelligentsia is one of the Coffee shops that knows what they are doing. I went here several times for my morning latte. And sometimes for my afternoon coffee. And sometimes for my afternoon afternoon coffee. Many coffee shops advertise that they serve Intellgentsia coffee, and while none will serve it as well as they do in an Intelligentsia cafe itself, that's always a good sign. Another good local coffee is Ipsento. I never got to the Ipsento cafe, but I bought some for my chemex back at school and drank some at the Dose Market and it was great. I love my Stumptown, but I always like to try a local roaster.
The Girl & The Goat
The Girl & The Goat was a last minute restaruant choice. My mom and I went here and ate at the bar, as it is one of Chicago's most well known restaurants at the moment. It definitely lived up to its name. Everything we ate was delicious and slightly unusual in some way. Butternut squash ravioli with almost a thai curry sauce and hedgehog mushrooms was a memorable dish. Highly recommended, and a reservation is required if you want a table.

Milk & Honey Cafe
A great cafe serving breakfast until noon and espresso drinks (yay). Has a cozy vibe with a fire place and is family friendly, but also totally acceptable for something like a business meeting. Had great food and super cute business cards, which is always important!




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