15 cool things

Three handfuls of things I'm digging

Pre-order Ali Rosen’s delicious and romantic debut novel Recipe for Second Chances now!

Let’s do one of these every quarter, whaddaya say?

1. The English countryside. Charming and idyllic and civilized and casual and lovely. I want to move there. Most recently, I spent time in Somerset, but I’m open to Sussex and the Cotswolds, as well.

   

2. Baking and baked goods. I go through phases of motivation in the kitchen and phases of sampling the local fare. Which means I’m well-versed in both homemade cakes and those from many bakeries. Here’s what I like: Broadway Baker in Santa Monica, Ben’s Cookies in London, Artelice Patisserie in Los Angeles, CAR Artisan Chocolate in Pasadena; the NYT’s accidentally vegan ‘banana everything cookies’, every one of Odette Williams’ recipes in Simple Cake, David Rocco’s apple yogurt cake recipe, and my beloved year-round galettes.

3. Really fucking good candles, specifically the Jenni Kayne Topanga candle which I love and adore.

4. Vintner’s Daughter. I’m sorry. I wanted to discover that it’s overrated because it costs $200, but unfortunately it’s not. It’s wonderful. Which sucks.

5. Tennis. In the summer when I fling open the doors and have tennis on the TV at all hours, listening to the pop of the balls and the crowd’s reactions and John McEnroe’s distinctive voice. Ugh, I love it.

   

6. “Kinda sorta” recipes. This one is pretty niche, but I love it. Like Colu Henry’s pasta alla Norma Sorta. I love it for the simplification of a recipe for the purposes of getting the flavors together without necessarily staying authentic, which perhaps takes more time or more hard-to-find ingredients. Into it.

7. Ouai shampoo and conditioner. I’m a newer convert, but a convert nonetheless. Every Ouai product I’ve tried so far is amazing.