the aesthete and the dilettante

Two New Obsessions + The Perfect Summer Marinade

theaestheteandthedilettante — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:14:40 +0000

Last month I wandered into Williams-Sonoma in need of a new paring knife. The Shun’s unusual blade and gorgeous wood handle caught my eye, but I almost passed it by as the price was almost double that of the other paring knives. I asked the sales associate if Shun was really twice as good and she was emphatic about the quality. “Try it,” she said. “You’ll be back for the chef’s knife in a week.” She was wrong. I told my family I wanted it for Mother’s Day, so technically I waited two weeks. Not only do they feel amazing in your hand, they are as sharp as a surgeon’s blade. (So sharp, in fact, that after my first week with the paring knife I had Hello Kitty Band-Aids wrapped around three of my fingers.) Now that I have the chef’s knife, all I want to do is chop things. I literally cannot wait to make dinner just so I can get my hands on the knife. I’m obsessed.Weck Jars are my other new obsession. I’ve been stashing leftovers and decanting pantry staples into them, loving how they look stacked up and that they are dishwasher safe and chemical free. Yesterday I put the knife and one of my new jars to good use by making a favorite summer marinade. It’s a flexible recipe for just about anything you throw on the grill, and it does double duty as a dressing for simple greens or grilled veggies. Herbs are the only things ready to eat in my newly planted garden (the strawberries are close!), so I snipped basil, parsley and a smidge of thyme to use in the recipe, though most any combination of herbs would do.

Lemon Garlic Herb Marinade

makes 1 1/4 cups

2 lemons, zested then juiced (about 1/3 cup)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and/or parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon or thyme
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl or add all ingredients to a jar and shake to emulsify.

all photos via the aesthete and the dilettante

A Dessert First Kind of Day – Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

theaestheteandthedilettante — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:30:33 +0000

Both of my kids were having a crummy couple of days, so I surprised them by making dessert mid-week (something usually reserved for weekends) and having it ready for their after school snack as they walked in the door yesterday. As my grandfather wisely once said, “Life is too short – we should have dessert first.”

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp recipe found here. Make it now before rhubarb is out of season!

photos via the aesthete and the dilettante

The Trouble with Boyfriend Jeans

theaestheteandthedilettante — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:30:22 +0000

Several weeks ago I decided to break out of my skinny denim rut and give boyfriend jeans a shot. I don’t know about you, but trying on denim in stores is painful for me because (a) stores inevitably do not have the size you want (b) in the wash you want and (c) the sales people tend to be pushy about making you show them how they look but then are (d) completely incapable of being honest about how your backside looks. My way around this miserable situation was to order almost every make and model of boyfriend jeans available through the great online clothing mecca, Shopbop. The photo below shows only half of what showed up on my doorstep:

Several lessons were learned while trying on 30+ pairs and wearing the ones I ultimately picked (Citizens of Humanity’s Dylan Boyfriend). To save you time and agony, my unscientific but completely honest research is presented here:

Lesson #1: Order one size smaller than your usual – your normal size in boyfriend will swallow you whole. This finding was consistent with every brand.

Lesson #2: Stay away from the wildly distressed versions to avoid looking like you’ve just painted a house or laid asphalt. I remember reading in The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style half a decade ago that you can buy a pink jacket and you can buy a motorcycle jacket, but you should never buy the pink motorcycle jacket. In shopping lexicon that means one statement at a time, my friends. And I bet the denim sales associates would never tell you that.

Lesson #3: You may want to carry an emergency belt in your handbag as they seem to loosen up more than fitted jeans. I was literally – embarrassingly – centimeters from being in a low-rider situation on my way to lunch one day last week. And hiking them up only bought me a few strides before I had to do it again, and again, and again…

Lesson #4: Pair your new baggy denim with something a bit more fitted on top. The following is a conversation shared with my almost-11-year-old daughter on a recent Saturday morning while she sat on my bed as I dressed:

H: Um, what’s with the mommy pants?

Me: They are NOT “mommy pants” they are boyfriend jeans and they happen to be VERY popular.

H: Popular where?

Me: You see street style photos and pictures in magazines of women wearing them with their heels and blazers all the time.

H: Then you should put on heels and a blazer or change back into your skinnies because you’re looking a little…down on the farm in that button-down.

It may sound like I regret my baggy-denim purchase, but I really am loving the relaxed silhouette. And I confess to still wearing them with my button-downs, though only in our home or when well covered by a trench.

images 1 & 3 via tumblr, image 4 via Atlantic-Pacific

Sensual Beauty

theaestheteandthedilettante — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:18:05 +0000

This weekend during a trip to the Shedd Aquarium, I was struck by stunning visual similarities between a cluster of sea anemones and the peonies I had photographed just days before. Though one is rooted in earth and the other in water, one undulates with sea currents and the other on spring breezes, they share an astonishing sensual beauty.

all photos via the aesthete and the dilettante

Go See: Picasso and Chicago

theaestheteandthedilettante — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:06:29 +0000

“Nude Under a Pine Tree,” 1959, oil on canvas

ONLY SIX DAYS LEFT! Run to The Art Institute of Chicago to catch “Picasso and Chicago,” an expansive exhibit that explores the integral relationships Picasso had with both the city of Chicago and the AIC. Having interned in the museum education department during college (giving tours to school groups), I was aware of Picasso’s strong presence at the Art Institute, but did not understand the depth and breadth of their affiliation until I viewed this fascinating show last week.

“Bust of a Woman (Fernande),” 1909, bronze

From the Art Institute’s site:

A century ago, in 1913, the Art Institute of Chicago became the first art museum in the country to present the work of a young Spaniard who would become the preeminent artist of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso. This February the museum celebrates the special 100-year relationship between Picasso and Chicago by bringing together over 250 of the finest examples of the artist’s paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and ceramics from private collections in the city, as well as from the museum’s collection, for the first large-scale Picasso exhibition organized by the museum in almost 30 years.

The Art Institute of Chicago is located at 111 South Michigan Avenue

Open everyday from 10:30-5pm, Thursdays open until 8pm

Picasso and Chicago closes on May 12th

Happy Friday

theaestheteandthedilettante — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:24:24 +0000

“Do anything, but let it produce joy.” – Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Wishing everyone a relaxing, joy-filled weekend! Above, more images from last weekend’s trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden.

all images via the aesthete and the dilettante

The Bee’s Knees

theaestheteandthedilettante — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:00:11 +0000

Just when we thought Spring would never arrive in Chicago, it dropped in for a surprise visit yesterday afternoon. The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of our favorite places to explore during any season, is bursting with buds and flowers right now. I took these photos on a path winding through the Japanese Garden just as the sky shifted from overcast to this glorious blue.

all photos via the aesthete and the dilettante

Big Mac Throwdown

theaestheteandthedilettante — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:30:36 +0000

Last weekend during our outing to Little Goat Diner, Hannah ordered the All-American Burger – complete with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun. Everyone at the table tried it and loved it, so I decided to surprise them with a version we could enjoy at home. I started by Googling “Big Mac Special Sauce,” and there it was – the original recipe. But gack! It was pre-bottled, sugary, preservative-laden stuff. Consequently, I set about making a healthier version (and by healthier I do not mean low-fat, simply not so processed) that would still taste like the real deal.

My homemade version of a Big Mac.

My trip to the store was somewhat amusing because, I have to be honest, I was a little embarrassed to put iceberg lettuce in my cart. Seriously, when was the last time you bought iceberg? 1995? Not to mention American cheese! But with potential comments about inauthenticity looming in my mind, I did what any semi-rational/semi-ridiculous woman would do – I put the lettuce and cheese in the cart and buried them under oranges and bananas so no one but the check-out guy would see them. (I even felt compelled to explain to the check-out guy that I was trying to replicate a Big Mac so he wouldn’t be all judgy over my vitamin deficient lettuce. What is wrong with me?!)

Anyway, back to the burgers. I am thrilled to tell you that they received rave reviews and I even had requests for the leftover Special Sauce (recipe below) to be used on turkey sandwiches for lunch the next day. It probably didn’t hurt that I served the burgers with whipped cream-laden strawberry milkshakes and that I didn’t try to sneak veggies onto their plates save for the fries (which are loaded with potassium, are they not?).

Homemade Big Macs with Special Sauce

serves 4

For burgers:

1 pound ground chuck, gently formed into four patties
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, cut into shreds
1/2 small white or yellow onion, finely minced
4 sesame seed buns
4 slices American cheese
jarred pickle slices

For sauce:

1/2 cup Veganaise or Miracle Whip (I used Veganaise and it is worth seeking out – in the refrigerated section)
2 1/2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish (I used Wickles)
2 teaspoons finely minced shallot or use 2 teaspoons of the onion you minced for burger topping
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper

Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together.
Season the formed beef patties with salt and pepper and grill or pan fry to desired doneness. Melt cheese on burgers in last minute of cooking.
Assemble and enjoy!

Recipe and photos via the aesthete and the dilettante. Original Big Mac sauce recipe here.

Michael Smith at the Antiques and Garden Fair + Treasures from the Day

theaestheteandthedilettante — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:30:13 +0000

Image of Michael Smith via online.wsj.com

Michael Smith, one of America’s premier interior designers (and the one chosen by First Lady and President Obama to redecorate the White House family quarters), gave a fantastic lecture on Friday at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Antiques and Garden Fair. I’ve been a huge admirer of Smith’s work, particularly his ability to layer textures, ages, and cultures seamlessly throughout his interiors as well as his extraordinary attention to detail, but given his success and his rolodex of beyond A-list clients, I had preconceived notions of him taking himself a bit too seriously. Right? Wouldn’t you think? I couldn’t have been more wrong, and feel comfortable saying that everyone in the room fell in love with him and secretly wished he was their best friend, present company included. Not only is Smith thoroughly knowledgeable about art, history, and architecture (which I expected) and wickedly funny (which I did not expect), he is also disarmingly genuine.

Smith’s new book, available May 7th.

A big part of Smith’s lecture revolved around the upcoming April 23-24th Christie’s sale of a breathtaking Palladian villa he designed on the largest privately held piece of California coastline (click here to view the auction catalogue). He also documented this phenomenal home in the above book Building Beauty (click here to pre-order, available May 7th). Smith spent half a decade working on this house, searching the globe for treasures both humble and grand to fill the vast space. Upon completion, his clients inhabited the home for a short time until someone knocked on their door and offered them 70 million dollars, which they accepted. Thus the Christie’s sale. If you have the time, you really should look through the catalogue. Sure, there are exceptional pieces with exceptional auction estimates to match (including a to-die-for Helen Frankenthaler) but there are also several lovely objets d’art estimated at less than $1000. They may not sell for less than $1000, but a girl can dream.

After his talk, my friend Cynthia McCullough (who happens to be a brilliant designer in her own right) and I walked around and took in the booths of antique dealers from the U.S. and Europe. We almost lost our minds when we spied a vintage leather trunk trimmed in brass, painted one of my favorite colors, with the most outrageously perfect patina I have ever seen. I debated for less than a minute, knowing if I went home without it that I’d regret it for the rest of my life. It has taken up residence in the living room, adjacent to my antique Chippendale chairs that we had upholstered serendipitously in Michael Smith’s Grace fabric in Willow a few years ago.

This is my other treasure from the antiques fair, a great little crab-handled cachepot. How could I resist?

Strawberry Avocado Salad with Fennel and Mint

theaestheteandthedilettante — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:30:53 +0000

If you’ve been craving bright, fresh, seasonal ingredients that taste like Spring, I have the perfect salad for you. Sweet strawberries, creamy avocado and crisp shaved fennel are layered on delicate bibb lettuce leaves and dressed with a lime-ginger-mint vinaigrette. Finished with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of sea salt, this salad makes a light, satisfying lunch or delightful first course for a Spring inspired menu.

Strawberry Avocado Salad with Fennel and Mint

serves four

1/3 cup grapeseed or canola oil
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon honey, plus more for drizzle (replace honey with 2 teaspoons agave if making vegan)
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves
1 head Bibb lettuce, leaves torn into large pieces
1 small fennel bulb, fronds removed and shaved thin with a knife or on a mandolin
2 avocados, halved and sliced thin
8 ounces fresh strawberries, sliced

Whisk oil, lime juice, honey, ginger, shallot and mint together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Layer fennel, strawberries and avocado on lettuce leaves on four plates and dress with vinaigrette. Drizzle each salad with honey and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt. Garnish with fresh mint.

recipe and photos via the aesthete and the dilettante