Monday, April 23, 2012

{vaca}

I'm not leaving for San Francisco until Thursday, but I'm taking this opportunity to hang low for a few days.  Rest assured, I will be back with plenty of goodness to share next week and will be instagram'ing away at @RobinWest in the meantime.


Friday, April 20, 2012

{fresh}

This weekend was the perfect time to head outdoors and walk around the neighborhood to see what I've been missing.  My destination was the Jackson Heights Farmers Market, and though it's year round, I just hadn't made it over there yet. And, wow.  I walked away with some amazing local products - the farm eggs, mushrooms + Vermont maple syrup marshmallows - along with the normal produce.  Those marshmallows are still rocking my world.

As soon as I walked into my door, those maitake mushrooms, arugula and potatoes accompanied some feta I haven't used for a stone pizza.  Talk about farm-to-table.


Photos: Robin West

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

{in my kitchen} Nana's matzo meal pancakes

It makes me sad to say, but I don't remember my relationship with my Nana growing up, other than the memory of her matzo meal pancakes.  Yes, the final product was incredible, but it was more about the time I spent standing next to her in the kitchen, her arm around me and my hovering over the stove that I cherish now and think about every time I cook this delicious recipe on Passover.  It is even something that my mother and I now share together, though we tend to burn ourselves on the pan much more than she ever did...

It's our little way to create a new family tradition and make sure it's around for years to come.  Even though we are the ones making it now, we definitely still taste her love in them.

Nana's matzo meal pancakes
*1/2 cup matzo meal
*1 tbsp sugar 
*3/4 cup water to start
*3 eggs
*stainless steel pan
*butter for cooking 
First thing to remember is that it will take some time perfecting this.  You will need to add water often to keep the batter very thin.  The stainless steel pan is going to be key and the longer it's heated with butter batch after batch, the better they will be!
Mix the matzo meal, eggs, sugar and water.  Butter up your pan and start frying (this is how they looked after the 2nd batch).

DO NOT STACK.  Sprinkle sugar over each pancake immediately after removing from pan.  You can be fancy and use a fork, but what I love to do is roll them up and eat them with my hands while I cook more (that's how Nana taught me).


Photos: Robin West

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

{side by side} patterns


image 1, image 2

Monday, April 16, 2012

{good eats} Blue Bottle Coffee Siphon + Toast Bar


Blue Bottle Coffee recently opened up a quaint little outpost in West Chelsea to serve their fresh goodness to Manhattanites.  What REALLY makes this spot extra special is their intimate second floor Siphon + Toast bar.  With only 6 stools, you get a front row view of the barista making your made-to-order coffee with thermometers, scales and brewed on a halogen powered burner - a technique straight out of Tokyo.

Was a little reminiscent of watching Bill Nye the Science Guy.


Photos: Robin West, taken at Blue Bottle Coffee's Siphon Bar in Chelsea

Friday, April 13, 2012

{style} disco ready


What's that you say? Bold colors, sparkles, prints, leopard, spikes AND gaudy cocktail rings are too much unless you are under the age of 8?  I think not!  While your head just imploded at the thought, mine got giddy with glee.  

It all started with wanting to make this short sleeve sequin shirt more casual-appropriate. To no avail, every shirt I put under it, the long sleeve/short sleeve proportion just seemed off and a bit too weird [note to self, try it again]. So when I saw one of my favorite fashion girls over in San Francisco make it work with a denim jacket, I jumped all over it.  With the extra coat. And the purple pants. And the leopard shoes. You see where this is going...

Oh, and don't be alarmed, I do actually have a head, I just don't like to focus on it.  The clothes ARE the most important after all.


also, gaudy rings can be used as weaponry [the shoes too, actually]...just in case.


Military jacket, bedazzled top and ring [rawr] - H&M; Gap denim jacket; J.Crew printed blouse; Calvin Klein Jeans skinnies; Chelsea Crew flats: heirloom gold necklaces [worn here as bracelets]

See more STYLE posts here

Photos: Robin West [multi-tasking at it's highest]

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

{Hanami Cherry Blossoms} BBG

A friend and I went to see the Hanami Cherry Blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden a bit too early, but that doesn't mean that we weren't able to take in some of the other beautiful blossoming flowers.


Photos: Robin West, taken at BBG

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

{snack'd} Doughnut Plant NYC pt 2

I have stopped at Chelsea's Doughnut Plant time and time again [first seen here] for their Creme Brulee doughnut, but this time, their Hazelnut special jumped out at me.  And boy am I glad it did....


Photo: Robin West

Monday, April 9, 2012

{good eats} One Girl Cookies

Fresh baked cookies, whoopie pies and salted caramel buttercream cakes all located in a quaint little bakery called One Girl Cookies in Brooklyn.  The treats may be small, but they are packed with flavor + delight.


Photos: Robin West

Sunday, April 8, 2012

{hip hop}

Happy Easter! 

My plan was to see if I could be my 5 day run of staying Kosher for Passover and failed miserably on just my second meal.  Brunch has that affect on me.  On the bright side, now I can eat up all of my Starburst jelly beans!



Wednesday, April 4, 2012

{leave ego + fears at the door}


Photo: Robin West, taken at StyleCaster offices

Monday, April 2, 2012

{good eats} Lobo

Lobo in Cobble Hill was a pleasant surprise - fresh ceviche, cold sangria and a waiter with humor + a smile that can warm any heart.


Photos: Robin West