Chris Nordquist
When I picked a jar of smoked paprika out of the spice drawer in our New York apartment and noticed a sticker that read “Best before 2/2007,” I realized I had, as they say, an opportunity for improvement. Our spice drawer was a messy jumble of mismatched jars and tins, most of which I had […]
We’re on vacation this week in Brasil, and I never appreciate this great piece of gear more than when I’m on the road. We’ll be away from an internet connection for a couple of days, but when we return to Rio, I’ll update you on some of our experiences in this beautiful country. Originally posted […]
‘Tis the season to find quick, delicious and special little snacks for Holiday entertaining. Here’s one. One of the best things about living just off 10th Avenue in New York City is our proximity to Tia Pol, a tiny, cozy, crowded and wonderful restaurant specializing in tapas and wines of Spain. If I’m in the […]
Julia’s been on tour — last weekend in New Orleans with David to see his family and this week in Tacoma to see mine. We’re all having a ball. Here’s a repost of a Holiday favorite, a traditional Norwegian Christmas cake that I make for family and friends during the Holidays. It looks like something […]
A couple of months ago, David gently led me into the living room in Southampton and said “I’ve got something I’d like to talk to you about.” I don’t like our pillows anymore.” After a few seconds of denial, a little annoyance, a bit of bargaining (“All of them?”) and momentary sadness, I accepted, after […]
It’s a little crazy, but it’s become a tradition. Every year in mid-December (or sometimes a bit later) David and I run a cookie-baking marathon and then pack up hundreds of Holiday cookies to send to friends and family all over the country. Last year I also started decorating the plain tins that we buy […]
“Lil’ trees!” is what Julia said when she saw these on the kitchen counter. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but I’ve always loved the sight and scent of evergreens, and I’m eager to bring them indoors in the wintertime. I bought these lil trees in the plant and flower district […]
One of our purchases last week in Kappabashi-dori, Tokyo’s amazing kitchen supply district, was a small set of leaf shaped pasty cutters. Inspired by the beautifully crafted seasonal sweets we saw in Japan, I thought I would use them to bake some autumnal cookies to have around for our houseguest Craig this weekend. (Craig himself […]
I’ve spent nearly a week exploring this sprawling, crowded, orderly, clean and eminently civilized city, and I feel like I’ve barely begun to find what Tokyo has to offer. Every time I emerge from the city’s extensive (and amazingly clean and efficient) subway system it seems like there’s another delightful cultural, commercial or culinary surprise […]
We’re still exploring Tokyo, but, in the meantime, here’s a repost of a piece about a great way to keep the house cheerful as the weather gets gloomy. I’ve never been very enthusiastic about houseplants, by which I mean those species of plants meant to live indoors indefinitely. It’s just a matter of personal taste, […]
