The Selby Shoots: A.Wang's Office

Swing by Alexander Wang’s new downtown studio and you might focus on any number of things. Perhaps it’s the custom-made black goat hair sofa chair. Or the receptionist’s desk with giant shipyard chain-link legs. The Thirties brass theater lights. Maybe it’s even the colossal space itself; this TriBeCa office is nearly four times the size of his previous 2,000-square-foot Flatiron studio — not bad for a designer who, just four years ago, was pitching his debut collection from his apartment. The most telling of pieces here, however, Wang has hidden away on his office wall. It’s a large Juergen Teller photograph of a playful Kate Moss — with tousled pink hair — peeking out from under all-white bed covers.
- WWD, 2008

wwd

the selby

Pear Clafoutis

 {Pear Clafoutis}

I was inspired by this recipe I saw on Because I'm Addicted, and I'm so glad I made it because it's simple and easy and the end result looks totally professional and quite fancy if I may say so myself (I mean c'mon, it's French)!  I used pear instead of apricot just because I love pears.  Apparently the traditional french dessert Clafoutis, is made with cherries, but if it's made with another fruit it is called Flaugnarde instead.  However, it seems that most people call it clafoutis no matter what type of fruit they use--including Ina Garten.

The most intriguing thing to me about this recipe is that you literally just pour the mixture in the pan without actually making a crust separately, but when you bake it the crust expands like crazy and forms at the sides and bottom and is the best part of the whole dish!  I LOVE the crust and custard-like filling.

{in the oven}

Pear Clafoutis (recipe found here)

• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 3 large pears, peeled, cored, sliced
• Optional: powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter 9-inch-diameter pie pan. Beat eggs, 1/2 cup sugar and salt in medium bowl to blend. Whisk in flour. Add milk, butter, vanilla and lemon peel and whisk until smooth. Arrange pears in bottom of prepared plate. Pour custard over pears. Bake until clafoutis is set in center and golden on top, about 55 minutes. Sprinkle powdered sugar over and serve.

From Behind

{H&M sweater, Martin+Osa jeans, Via Spiga clogs, Rebecca Minkoff Belle croc clutch, Marc by Marc Jacobs watch and wishbone necklace, F21 layered necklace, assorted beaded bracelets, Ray-Ban Signets}

I am immediately attracted to any top or dress with interesting detailing on the back.  So naturally, my favorite part of this sweater is the criss-cross layering and peephole back. I wore this outfit on a laid-back Saturday of running errands and window-shopping.

Snail Mail

The other day I checked the mail and hidden in a pile of catalogs, junk mail, and bills was something that made my heart skip a beat...a Chanel mailer! I get quite excited when I see Chanel mailers, the Neimans Book, and my subscriptions to Vogue, InStyle, Bon Appetit, and Food Network magazine. I'm probably one of the rare few that actually get excited checking snail mail!

Chanel was quite creative this time around, packaging their mailer as individual cards inside of a cute purse-like pouch.

This mailer featured the Mademoiselle line ad campaign, for which Blake Lively is the ambassador/muse. While I like Blake Lively in Gossip Girl, I don't think she accurately represents the brand's image. But, I guess it doesn't really bother me since I think this particular bag looks like it would be worn by a 16 year old teenager and purchased from a secret back room on Canal Street.

Clever marketing idea? Have Chanel customers send their friends post cards of the ad campaign! Um...no thank you.

In all, this Chanel mailer was quite a dissapointment.

What's In Her Bag

{What I'm carrying today: my Rebecca Minkoff Darling}

So I guess I'm like the bag lady that carries everything but the stuff I really need. I'm constantly asking people if they have tissue (or using Starbucks napkins as kleenex--they're readily available considering the frequency of my Starbucks visits) and I'm always borrowing Mandy's hand lotion and/or pain killers. I do, however, carry cough drops with me and eat them like candy (they are conveniently dual-purpose)! I also end up holding B's wallet and phone for him whenever we go anywhere together. And yes, I'm that girl who loves to take photos of mediocre food and capture my daily amusements (life is worth documenting!), which is why I always carry my camera. And I think it goes without saying that poopie bags are a must, since we pretty much bring Poki everywhere we go.

{Marc Jacobs wallet/clutch, Blackberry, makeup pouch, Ray-Bans, Panasonic Lumix, keys, poopie bags, B's LV Taiga Leather card holder and Blackberry}

{In my makeup pouch: fresh Sugar lip treatment spf 15, Chanel Levres Scintillantes lip gloss in Giggle, bobby pins, rubber band, cough drops}

Sweets & the City: Doughnut Plant

I want to go to there.

{379 Grand St (& Norfolk), NYC}

{Back Row (L-R): Creme Brulee, Carrot Cake, Pumpkin}
{Front Row (L-R): Vanilla Glazed, Raspberry Jelly w/ Vanilla Glaze, Apple Cinnamon}

{Tres Leches, Carrot Cake, Vanilla Glazed}

30 rock
the culinary chronicles
food & the city

Bloomie's Booty

{J.Crew cardi/tank, AG Jeans, MMK Shoes, Rebecca Minkoff Darling, Ray-Bans}

So glad the Bloomingdales F&F sale is over!  If it lasted any longer I may have shopped myself into oblivion.  I wouldn't necessarily consider this outfit post-worthy, but I just have to share my Bloomingdales F&F impulse purchases: my new Wayfarer cat-eye Ray-Bans and AG jeans (these jeans seriously feel like leggings)!  Mandy and Shannyn already went through this already so I can, too-- I get to justify every indulgent purchase with the fact that this is my birthday month!  Thank the shopaholic lords for shopping excuses and justifications involving birthdays, bad days, PMS days, break-ups, raises, and tax refunds.  

Closet Newcomers

Recent purchases...

1.  Zara leather mini - $99

2.  Aqua Chain/Flower necklace - $28 (original price $78)

3.   Trouve Alliance bootie - $60 (original price $120)

4.  American Apparal Nail Lacquer - Office, Mannequin, Rouge - $15 for 3

5.  Living Doll sheer floral blouse - $38

6.  H&M double pocket blouse - $40 

Texas BBQ

The words Texas and BBQ practically go hand in hand. While visiting Jason's native Texas, we made a stop in Austin so I could sample real Texas BBQ. We went to two famous BBQ places, The Salt Lick, and Kreuz Market. Both are considered Texas BBQ but the styles are very different.

The Salt Lick's original location is in Driftwood, Texas...a short drive outside of Austin, Texas in the Texas Hill Country.

The original above ground open pit greets you at the door and fills the dining hall with aromas of smoked meat, sausage, and ribs.

We went with the family style option which is all you can eat of their main items, brisket, pork ribs, and sausage. The food was delicious! My favorite was the pork ribs...smoky and sweet...it was so delicious, I still dream about them. Good thing they offer mail order!


++++++++++++++

Kreuz Market has been around since 1900 and is about 45 minutes outside of Austin. It is nowhere near The Salt Lick. The feel was very different at this BBQ joint. They serve their BBQ the traditional way...on butcher paper with no forks, with slices of white bread and saltine crackers. Jason had mail ordered brisket and sausage from Kreuz Market before, but it's so different when you eat it right off the fire pit.

You order everything by the pound.

The smoking pit is covered.

Our order of brisket, ribs and sausage, served with white bread and saltine crackers. The BBQ at Kreuz Market is more peppery than The Salt Lick.

BBQ overload! We were defeated by the pile of delicious meat.

What's In Her Bag

 

{Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Groovee Satchel}

I am one of those people you would go to if you needed a tissue, bandage or pain killer, because I unashamedly carry around the contents of a small medicine cabinet in my handbag.  I'm actually proud of how much I can fit in a small pouch.  If I'll be out for more than a couple hours, a bottled water is an additional necessity.

 {Marc Jacobs Classic Zip Clutch, LeSportsac Cosmetic Pouch, Blackberry, Ray Bans, pencil case, knit cozy}

 {mini Swiss Army knife, strawberry Lip Smackers, H2O+ Hand and Nail Cream, eye drops, pain killers, anti-bacterial gel, bareMinerals lipgloss, mirror, Kleenex, Band-Aids, Altoids Smalls, gum}