At Home in The Whole Food Kitchen

I had the great pleasure of meeting Chef Amy Chaplin a few weeks ago at a book signing for her wonderful book - At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen.   The event was hosted by an excellent home store called Hammertown Barn - this location in Pine Plains, NY.  There are two smaller locations of the store in Rhinebeck, NY and Great Barrington, Ma.   The owner Joan Osofsky is quite renowned as she has an incredible eye for curating this collection of all things home and garden.  Pines Plains is a charming little town near Millbrook, NY.  That town is known for its rolling hills and upscale horse farms and second homes of the rich and famous. *Definitely worth a visit on a weekend drive from NYC - about 2 hours each way.  I was there over Thanksgiving weekend Joan had several events happening and the Barn and main house on her extensive property were bustling with customers.

Amy Chaplin is a celebrated Chef (James Beard Foundation award winner) with a head chef tenure under her belt at the extremely popular Angelica Kitchen in the East Village in NYC.CHEF AMY CHAPLIN - PHOTO- JOHNNY MILLER   Chaplin has spent years as a private chef (several celebrities can't live without her daily creations) and at long last released this book - At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen.  Growing up in rural Australia, Amy spent her childhood watching (and helping) her parents create every meal they ate - from scratch.   With the nearest store 30 miles away, one can only imagine the creativity it must have inspired.   The book explains how to create healthy, fullfilling dishes for every occassion.  It feels like a relaxation experiment just looking at the beautiful photos by Photog Johnny Miller of vegetables and natural ingredients.   I happily bought he book and intend to spend the holidays experimenting with this masters recipes.    Buy one for the cook in your life, and buy one for yourself as well.  It's one of those books that should be in every kitchen - as a reference and also as a guide.   Be sure to visit her excellent website for recipes, inspiration, and more know-how than you can imagine! 

Click images or links for more info about Amy and Hammertown, to buy the book, and visit Amy's website. PHOTO - JOHNNY MILLER from AT HOME IN THE WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN by AMY CHAPLINPHOTO-JOHNNY MILLER from AT HOME IN THE WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN by AMY CHAPLIN

Pancakes by Hayden Mills = Perfect Sunday Morning

With all the crazy things happening in this world.. a very quiet Sunday morning in the country was just what the doctor ordered.  I was looking forward to cracking open a new box of Hayden Mills #PurpleBarley Pancake Mix from Arizona.  The company uses #heritagegrains and are yet another amazing brand Made in the USA and part of Martha Stewart's #AmericanMade program.   Adding to the delicous factor was the little bottles of pure Canadian Maple Syrup I stocked up on when in Vancouver last year!  Needless to say - they were delicious!  Served on my Royal Boch plates and eaten with La Guiole cutlery.. always makes me smile.   More coffee please!!

Easy #sundaymorning in #sharon06069.. What's for breakfast? Purple Barley #pancakes from @haydenflourmills from Arizona and #siropderable from #canada #hmm #thankyou .. #haydenflourmills #laguiole #royalboch #coffee #smile #heritagegrains #ancientgrains @americanmademsl #americanmademsl #purplebarley

A photo posted by JasonJobson (@jasonjobson) on Nov 15, 2015 at 10:04pm PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Le CREUSET

The French cookware company that changed the way we cook turns 90 this year!  Le Creuset are arguably the most famous pots in the world.   Their famous cast iron cookware are classics.  They last forever, are almost indestructible, and just so chic.   Ninety years ago the original orange glossy finish was shocking in a world of gray and black.   Today, millions of cooks, hLIMITED EDITION COCOTTE - BASED ON THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FROM 1925omeowners, and apartment dwellers turn to Le Creuset as the ultimate items to have in the kitchen.  The pots are a status symbol, and as decorative as they are functional.

Gracious Home, the famous home emporium on New York's Upper East and Upper West Side of Manhattan are known for carrying all the must-have items for every room in your house.  The store carries a wide range of Le Creuset, and just had special events celebrating the 90th anniversary.   The store hosted an open house in both locations with other French brands on hand to share the celebration.  Le Creuset Cookware, Briochin household cleaners, andTHE LOVELY OPHELIE FROM BRIOCHIN Breville applicances had representatives on hand demonstrating their wares.  French artisan Christophe Pourny was also on hand signing copies of his best selling book - The Furniture Bible, and demonstrating his all natural line of serums, waxes, and furniture tonics.

To mark this special occasion, Le Creuset has created a limited edition "cocotte" exactly like the original from 1925.  The house will only make 1,925 of the pots worldwide ($500.00).   At the same time the company has launched Black & White Pots - not seen before at the house of all things color.

Click images to find out more and shop these amazing, quality cookware items.  If you try them once,  they are sure to be a staple in your kitchen.   When your not cooking in them, you'll be decorating with them!

Happy Birthday Le Creuset!!