Simply, Sandy, Me

自己做鹽麴 / Shio Koji at Home

May.17.2012

ingredients for shio koji

在日本風靡全國的鹽麴, 其實做法真的很簡單, 但麻煩的是找到好品質的米麴。米麴帶有活菌, 是製作醬油,味噌，日本甜酒及許多不同日常廚房佐料的酵母。

The greatly popular condiment in Japan, shio koji, is extremely simple to make, the hard part is to locate great quality koji. Koji is fermented rice, a live culture, and the base of soy sauce, miso, amazaki and many other everyday condiments.

brown rice koji from South River Miso

米麴有分普通白米麴或玄米麴。我去年在Whole Foods發現了在美國麻州利用古法製作味噌的South River Miso後, 就持續的購入他們的味噌。但後來發現原來還可以從他們的網站購買玄米麴, 我便馬上下了訂單。

Koji is usually made with white rice but it could also be made with brown rice. I discovered South River Miso last year at Whole Foods and found out that they follow the real traditional methods in making miso with superior quality ingredients. I have been a huge fan since. I then later found out that they also sell brown rice koji through their website so I placed an order right away to get some koji on hand.

1 oz. natural sea salt

在家裡煮食與外食最不同的地方便是每一道程序及每一個醬料你都能自己掌控。所有由口入胃的料理都會影響我們的生理及心理狀態。因此在家煮食時在食材上澆滿了加了味素及複雜化學成分的市售醬汁, 和外食其實是沒有差別的… 自己想辦法用簡單的醬油醋香料及薑蒜調出最合家人胃口的醬汁, 才是王道。因為理解這點, 我連鹽都堅持只用海鹽, 玫瑰鹽及灰鹽。

The difference in cooking at home and eating out is that you could decide what to do every step of the process and select all of the ingredients yourself. All bites that are going in our mouths could affect our physical and mental conditions. So if you cook at home and still doused the food with store bought MSG and chemical-filled sauces, it’s pretty much the same as eating out… Figuring out how to make condiments and sauces that fit the palette of your family is really the way to go. Because I understand this, I insist on using only sea salt, himalayan salt or grey salt.

fermented for 7 days

找到了好品質的玄米麴和鹽, 鹽麴的做法就真的再簡單不過了。因為第一次試做所以我做了非常的少量, 但我家兩口子也用了超過一個半月了。找一個容器(我選擇用最衛生乾淨的玻璃罐)加入100克的玄米麴, 30克的鹽, 搓揉混合約5分鐘後加入100cc的溫水, 接下來就等它在常溫中發酵完成了（請看分解步驟)。蓋上容器蓋子時記得留一個小縫隙讓空氣能混合入內幫助鹽麴製造好菌。每天都要充分混合一次, 約7天到10天就會熟成, 我是在初春製作, 那時還有一點涼所以熟成花了8天。鹽麴熟成後就可放入冰箱冷藏保存。完成後鹽麴應該會融化開來米的形狀看不太見, 也會有很棒的穀香及少許酸酸的養樂多味道。因為我用的是玄米麴所以熟成後還是有點米粒的形狀, 檢討後發現下次製作前先研磨一下可能會讓鹽麴質地更細緻。

After acquiring the brown rice koji and salt, it’s time to make some shio koji, and it couldn’t be simpler. Because it was my first time so I made a very small batch, but the two of us have used it for over a month and a half. First decide where you’d like your shio koji to ferment and live, I picked a Weck glass jar because it’s the most sanitary. Add to the container 3 oz. of brown rice koji and 1 oz. of salt, mix it together with your hands for 5 minutes, rub them together so they mix well and even break down a little. After 5 minutes, pour in 1/2 cup of luke warm water and that’s it!(see clear instruction here) Keep the container in room temperature with a lid but leave a sliver of opening for air to go in the shio koji and help with the fermentation process. Mix the shio koji thoroughly once everyday until it’s done fermenting. It takes about 7-10 days on the counter to be fermented depending on the temperature. I made it in early April and the weather was still a bit chilly so it took my shio koji 8 days to finish fermenting. Once it’s done fermenting, you could close the container and move it into the fridge to keep. When the shio koji is done, the rice bran should have broken down a lot, to a point where the shape of rice grains is almost gone. And it’s as if the grains dissolved a little, the shio koji would smell almost like yeast bread, yogurt and delicious. I used brown rice koji so even when it was done the grains can be seen quite well. I’ve searched for solutions and decided that in the next batch I should coarse grind the koji a bit before fermentation just so I could have a smoother consistency in the shio koji.

sweet spinach, mushroom, and ramps soba noodles

鹽麴是活的, 所以熟成後放入冰箱可以用非常的久, 但也請不要放個兩年都沒有用。怎麼用鹽麴呢? 平常煮菜你在哪裡用到鹽都可以用鹽麴代替。我發現鹽麴讓簡單的炒青菜都變的好甜, 也能在煮飯時加一茶匙入飯裡讓飯更香, 其他還有各種食譜例如麵包, 醃漬, 醬汁, 任何可能性都有。

Shio koji is a living condiment. After fermentation, it would last for a very long time in the fridge, but please don’t make it and forget it in the fridge for 2 years. How do we use shio koji? Whenever you need to add salt to your dish, replace it with shio koji. I use it a lot in stir-fry because it makes the vegetables taste super sweet. Some people add a teaspoon to cooking rice to make the rice more flavorful. There are also tons of recipes such as adding it in bread, pickles and sauces. There are endless possibilities.

enoki, rainbow peppers, asparagus and ramps stir fry over rice.

我瘋著做鹽麴真正的理由其實很簡單, 我們人體的免疫力70%來自腸道健康。這也是為什麼近年來酵素及益生菌這麼的火紅, 但與其一直依靠藥粒, 其實在生活中就可以天天都加入天然的益生菌。它可以來自任何發酵的東西, 醋, 鹽麴, 泡菜, 天然優格等等的。這幾年在廚房玩出了強大的興趣, 我也認為能照顧好我家兩口的健康比工作上任何的表獎更來得優成就感, 畢竟健康才能做更多的事。寫著寫著發現鹽麴快用完了, 該是重新製作新的一罐啦！

The reason for me to rave about shio koji and decided to make it myself is really simple – 70% of our immunity comes from our intestinal health. That’s the biggest reason why digestive enzymes and probiotics are this popular lately. But instead of relying on pills, we can add probiotics to our diet everyday. It could come from anything naturally fermented, such as vinegar, shio koji, pickles/kimchi, dairy or non-dairy yogurt, etc. I’ve been having so much fun in the kitchen the past few years, I just see it as my playground now. And I actually think being able to take care of our health is more satisfying than any awards on a job. Because staying healthy allow us to do more things and dream bigger. And yup, I just realized the shio koji is running low, time to make a new batch!

Bloomingdale’s Big Brown Bag

May.17.2012

[設計 / Design]

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今天我替Bloomingdale’s設計的手機APP, Big Brown Bag上網了, 好開心喔!今天iPhone版本的先在iTunes開放下載, Android的部分這個週末也會在Android Market開放。

The e-commerce app I designed for Bloomingdale’s is launched today, yay! If you use iPhone, get it on iTunes, if you use Android, please wait until Friday to download from the Android Market.

做這個設計有非常多的小細節及頁面, 還必需要完整的顧全到所有使用者不同螢幕大小, 因此常常一個頁面要做出四個版本。

There are lots of tiny details and pages in the design, we were also covering different resolutions and screen sizes in different handheld devices, so lots of times I had to design 4 versions of 1 page.

這是Bloomingdale’s內部第一次設計APP, 看似是非常簡便畫面的Big Brown Bag, 可是我花了七個月的時間與所有Bloomingdale’s內部的組員大家一起合力完成的。

Big Brown Bag is the first ever app from the Bloomingdale’s internal team, it looks like a simple clean app, but from design to development, it took the entire hardworking team 7 months to complete. It was a huge team effort.

Big Brown Bag不但讓所有愛Bloomingdale’s的大家都能隨時購物, 這個APP也有一個非常特殊的功能, 那就是”禮品註冊”。在國外, 要結婚及生baby的小夫妻都會先把家裡需要的物品在他們喜歡的店家進行禮品註冊, 而想要祝福新人及准爸媽的就可以從這個註冊清單中購物及送禮, 非常類似台灣的紅包。傳統的方法是在店家利用他們的條碼掃描器一一掃描並和工作人員確認, 回到家上網才能更改數量及細節。這次Big Brown Bag結合了手機相機的條碼掃描功能, 讓新人及准爸媽能在店裡看到什麼就能用自己的手機加入清單, 還可以直接在APP裡變更數量, 顏色及大小, 非常方便。

Big Brown Bag allows everyone who loves Bloomingdale’s to shop through their phone right away, but what sets it apart from the other e-commerce app is its Registry functionalities. For couples who are creating a bridal registry, they could skip the step of building the list with a scan gun at the store and then head home to edit the entire registry list online. Instead, they can leverage the barcode scan technology from the smart phone camera and build their list in the app and have the list portable with them to edit anytime they want. They could change the color size and quantities of the items they’ve scanned, it’s super convenient.

我非常開心這次接了這個案子。其實設計方面二月就已經收尾, 所以我現在也在做新的案子了, 但第一次親手領導整個APP的設計方向我學到了非常的多, 也因此認識了好多絕頂聰明的朋友。

I was really glad to have worked on this project. The actual design phase for this actually ended back in February and I’ve already moved onto other projects. However, it was my first time leading the design for a multi-platform app and I’ve learned so much. On top of that, I’ve also met some REALLY smart friends.

以一個設計師的角度來看, 這個APP有絕對的進步空間, 但它能以現在漂亮的姿態上市, 我已經倍感驕傲!

From a designer’s point of view, there is definitely still room to improve. But it could launch and look the way it does now, I already feel extremely proud!

紐約瘋什麼 / New York Raves No.6

May.13.2012

[紐約瘋什麼 / New York Raves]

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農夫市場的豔麗牡丹，帶回家了！Gorgeous peonies brought home from farmer's market!

母親節到了, 在這一天, 有沒有想好要怎麼回報媽媽的辛勞或是怎麼體貼另一半呢? 若是在紐約, 晚春初夏天氣宜人, 這次除了推薦幾個可以閤家一起參加幾個非常有趣的戶外活動外, 也帶給各位一些寵愛媽媽或寵愛自己的好地方。

Mother’s day is here, have you thought about how to treat your mom or your better-halves? If you’re in New York, the late Spring weather is perfect for long strolls. For that reason, I’m going to recommend a few outdoor activities along with some classic treats that you could consider to spoil the moms and yourselves.

在四季分明的北美東部, 一年只有六個月溫暖的時間, 這段時間內便有很多的市集可以走逛。

In the Northeast, there is only about 6 months of warm weather, and during this time, there are a lot of outdoor markets and street fairs to visit.

1. Hester Street Fair
Essex Street, New York, NY 10002

Hester Street Fair是在紐約很潮的下東城每個星期六開市的二手/手作市集及吃食市場。4月28日開幕後, 一直到10月27日在每一個週六都會讓下東城熱鬧非凡。這是一個非常適合與家人渡過熱鬧歡樂週六日的市集, 有得吃也有得逛, 順便去找找送給她的特別禮物也是很不錯的選擇喔。

Hester Street Fair is a weekly flea/food market that’s located in the trendy lower east side in Manhattan. The market season began on Saturday 04/28 and will continue to bring festivities to the LES every Saturday until 10/27. This is a street fair that’s great for families to go together on a weekenedsince there is shopping to be done and bites to be had. Stopping by the fair alone to look up a special gift is not a bad idea either.

2. New Amsterdam Market
224 Front Street, New York NY 10038

New Amsterdam Market是一個週日農夫市集, 位於曼哈頓南端的South Street Seaport(原本是紐約最活躍的漁港), 和Hester Street Fair一樣也是在溫暖的季節才會開市。但它特別的是幾乎週日都會有獨一無二的活動, 例如4月29日開市時就有一個知名麵包師傅完全利用當地穀類麵粉烘培的麵包祭, 在今年的母親節也會有一個漁市集重生的特別企劃。加上周邊非常特別的店家及餐廳, 在紐約的話適合週日閑逸的散步, 順便買些當季食材給家人做頓飯吧。

New Amsterdam Market is a weekly farmer’s market that happens on Sundays. It’s located at the south east of Manhattan in South Street Seaport, which in the old days used to be one of the most active seaport and fish market. Just like Hester Street Fair, New Amsterdam Market only opens during the warmer seasons, but it’s unique because of the special events. On the opening day of 04/29, the Bread Pavilion was presented along with the usual vendors. The Bread Pavilion gathered 15 local bakers to present unique loaves of bread made with the flour from locally grown grains. And on Mother’s day, there is a fish market revival special event to bring back the old soul of the seaport. Along with the cafes, restaurants and boutique stores, the market is really perfect for a Sunday afternoon. And perhaps you could pick up some ingredients and make a meal for the loved ones.

3. Smorgasburg
27 N. 6 St. (btw. Kent Ave. + East River), Brooklyn, NY

Smorgasburg位於布魯克林的威廉堡(Williamsburg)區。一週一次, 大量的飲食攤位聚集在這個河邊的戶外空間, 很多的攤位都是別的市集找不到的, 愛吃的人不能錯過。威廉堡是紐約現今年輕才子才女都為之傾倒的潮流聖地。近幾年好逛的小店, 手工食品店及一些非常棒的餐廳一一開張。所以除了Smorgasburg外, 帶著心愛的人走走, 不一定能一起發掘屬於你們的驚喜。

Smorgasburg happens in Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Once a week on Sunday, large number of food vendors gather in the outdoor area by the East River. Many of the these food items can only be found at Smorgasburg, if you love food, definitely don’t miss this. Williamsburg is also the most happening area right now for creatives and fashion-seekers. Boutiques, specialty food stores and incredible restaurants opened by the dozens in the past few years. So besides stopping by at the Smorgasburg, walk around Williamsburg as well, you might just find an adventure together.

想要以比較傳統的方式寵愛家中最重要的人嗎?

Wanna spoil your loved ones with some classic treats?

1. Le Labo
233 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012

有什麼比擁有屬於自己的香水更特別的呢? Le Labo除了能當場調製一瓶印上你的姓名的經典香水, 還可以和你討論並研發出完全屬於妳的香氛。所有的香水都是收到訂單或與你當場對談後才製作, 香水也是要講新鮮的, Le Labo這點堅持非常令人佩服。一起去替她製作一瓶專屬香水吧。

What’s more special than owning your personal fragrance? Besides mixing the ingredients to make some Le Labo classic scent with your name printed on the bottle, you could also request a personal consultation to invent your own mix. All of the perfumes are mixed after the orders or the special requests are in because perfumes need to be fresh as well. The respect Le Labo have on perfume is admirable. Bringing her to Le Labo to create her own fragrance would definitely be a real treat.

2. Underground at Le Parker Meridien
119 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019

Le Parker Meridien除了知名的Norma’s早午餐之外, 去年底在旅館的地下室打造了一個美容空間叫Underground。在Underground有吹出完美髮型的drybar, 臉部護膚療程的Moonshine, 手足彩繪的10 | 10, 有機健康輕食的Petit Bluedogcafe, 當然為了母親節也有四個店家都能享用的特別組合, 讓一整年辛苦的家人好好享受被呵護的感覺。

Le Parker Meridien has a famous brunch place called Norma’s. Late last year they also opened a all-in-one beauty floor called Underground. There is drybar that give you a killer blowdry, there is Moonshine for some heavenly facial, there is 10 | 10 for beautifying your digits, and there is Petit Bluedogcafe for some healthy organic juice, salads and light meals. On Mother’s Day, there is a special offer to enjoy all four places. Take advantage of this and spoil your mama!

3. Saipua
147 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Saipua是布魯克林有名的花藝坊, 除了美麗但不造作的花束之外, 也生產了一系列的香氛肥皂。不想只買一束一成不變的康乃馨? Saipua絕對可以替你打造獨一無二的花束, 配上香皂或你親手挑的禮物, 讓她有被珍惜的感覺。

Saipua is a darling florist in Brooklyn. Other than the unpretentious beautiful bouquets, they also produced a line of fragrant soaps. Don’t want to get the same old boring carnations? Saipua would definitely be able to help you make a unique floral arrangement, along with their amazing soaps or any special gifts you’ve picked out, mom would feel special for sure.

除了以上的推薦之外, 喜歡享用大餐也可以造訪料理鐵人的餐廳Morimoto享用主廚推薦餐點, 在「頂尖主廚」評審Tom Colicchio的Colicchio & Sons試試充分融入當季食材的新美式料理, 或是選擇超健康養生的Pure Food and Wine試試全素食的魔力。當然, 母親節最棒的禮物就是一聲感謝, 一張手寫的卡片及幾個小時不受干擾的交心闊談。這些小舉動有時比什麼樣的禮物都來得昂貴。讓身邊的媽媽分享你人生中的喜悅, 讓這個全世界最重要的人心滿意足以你為傲。

Besides the above recommendations, do you prefer to go out for a nice meal? Try the omakase at the Iron Chef restaurant Morimoto, the seasonal New American cuisine at Colicchio & Sons by “Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio, or the health-focused raw vegan magic at Pure Food and Wine. But of course, the best present on Mother’s Day is a persoal thank you. A handwritten note and a heart-to-heart session beat any expensive gifts. Let mom in on the happy things in your life, let the most important person in your life feel proud and content on this special day.

此系列的文章是與台灣(Malin＋Goetz)及10/10 Apothecary合作連載
Collaboration with (Malin+Goetz) Taiwan and 10/10 Apothecary for the entire series

我♥星期五 / I ♥ Friday : No. 14

May.11.2012

[我♥星期五 / I ♥ Friday]

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I ♥ Friday : No. 14

Gingiber的拼布狐狸繪, 配色線條及拼接圖案都好漂亮。

Quilted Fox Print by Gingiber, exquisite color palette, lines and patterns.

I ♥ Friday : No. 14

雖然我沒有戴著手錶的習慣, 但看到精簡設計的錶還都是會忍不住倒抽一口氣, 例如這支UniformWares胡桃色皮帶的250 Series。

Though I usually don’t wear a watch, but a simple refined design on a watch still always takes my breath away, such as the walnut leather 250 Series from UniformWares.

I ♥ Friday : No. 14

Fideli Sundqvist的紙雕精緻盛宴, 非常的有氣質。

A delicate paper meal from illustrator Fideli Sundqvist, a delightful find.

I ♥ Friday : No. 14

超華麗夢幻的造型與手中的無助仔貓仔犬形成強烈的對比, 畫面也非常漂亮。這一系列的作品是由攝影師Nick Knight全數用Instagram拍的喔。(via This is Glamorous)

Ultra glam style with the helpless kitten and puppies in hand created a powerful contrast and a gorgeous scene. This entire series was shot by photographer Nick Knight with Instagram only. (via This is Glamorous)

在Miniluu看到的自由手繪家族木偶, 可以自己選擇家人的組合還有造型, 太有趣了。

Paint-Your-Own Doll Family Kit as seen on Miniluu, you could customize the combination and design a individual look for each doll, too fun!

I ♥ Friday : No. 14

英國夫妻檔 Rog 和 Cat How一起開的網路商店有好多可愛的小東西。分享四樣讓我笑容滿面的物品: 紅白塑膠袋的皮製版, 線條簡單的鮮艷鳥吊飾, 狗造型檯燈, 還有覆盆子女孩夾式耳環。其他的就請各位慢慢在Howkapow上逛囉!

British couple Rog and Cat How’s online shop is just darling! Here are four items that made me smile: classic disposable bag made into a reusable leather version, simple lines and shape on the colorfulsongbirds mobile, dog lamp, and berry lady clip earrings. Take a look at the rest of the merchandise at Howkapow!

I ♥ Friday : No. 14

Ariel Gordon纖細且浪漫的戒指, 就算不是婚戒平常配合服裝配帶也非常的棒。

Delicate and romantic rings from Ariel Gordon, even if you don’t have them as eternity rings, they look really great as everyday rings as well!

義大利裁縫名匠Brioni替Wallpaper打造的”完美西裝”, 好逗趣。

Check out this video of how the italian tailors of Brioni created the “perfect suit” for Wallpaper, so playful and lighthearted.

Spasso

May.10.2012

[大肆談食 / Food Talk Thursday ]

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自從在電視上看到廚師作家Mike Colameco介紹這家在西村的Spasso後, 我倆就非常希望能去試試這家自己手作義大利麵的小餐館。

Ever since we saw the chef/writer Mike Colameco’s visit to Spasso on his PBS show, we’ve always wanted to visit the little Italian restaurant in the West Village that makes their own fresh pasta.

Spasso

特別喜歡新鮮淡菜的我們, 決定先來一道白酒蒸淡菜。來自淡菜的海味湯汁, 非常順口。用麵包蘸到吸滿湯汁一起食用, 好享受!

We love mussels, so we decide to start our meal by sharing a bowl of mussels steamed in white wine. The natural juices and flavors from the mussels made a great broth, toasted bread dipped and soaked in the broth was absolutely heavenly.

Spasso

我幾乎從來都不敵墨魚麵的魔力所以選擇了一道海鮮墨魚麵。雖然前菜已經吃了貝類, 但最終我還是選擇了這道麵食, 蛤蜊和淡菜不一樣嘛。果然手工的麵非常好吃, 義大利手工麵最忌諱的就是不彈牙, 這點Spasso做得很好, 我的墨魚麵有彈性不軟爛且充分的混合包裹住醬汁。

As usual, I couldn’t resist the squid ink pasta. Even though we already had quite a bit of shellfish for appetizer, I still caved and ordered this seafood squid ink pasta dish. Clams and mussels are different! I was really impressed with the handmade pasta. The one thing about handmade pasta is how chewy and al-dente they can be, Spasso did a really great job. My pasta was definitely al-dente with a bite to it, not soggy, and coated the sauce expertly.

Spasso

牛奶選擇了一道菇麕迷迭香義大利麵疙瘩, 有濃稠但爽口的起司醬, 非常好吃。而佐菜是兩人分食了一道烤野生韭蔥。野生韭蔥是這個季節我最愛的蔬菜。每個星期去農夫市場是大把大把的買回家料理。這個香氣十足的韭蔥在我家取代了青蔥也成了非常清淡的蒜苗。在Spasso看到我還是忍不住嘴饞, 一口接一口, 季節性時蔬真的很迷人。

Milk chose a mushroom rosemary gnocchi dish, it came with a savory but light cheese sauce, very tasty. For the side, we shared a grilled ramps dish. Ramps are my absolute favorite vegetables for this season. I’m picking up bunches and bunches of ramps at the farmer’s market every week, I use it almost everyday in my cooking. It has replaced scallion and garlic sprouts for me this season. But seeing it at Spasso, I couldn’t resist, what can I say, I love ramps! And seasonal produce is just irresistible.

Spasso

甜點我們簡單的選擇了餐廳自製的新鮮香蕉冰淇淋。通常香蕉冰淇淋因為都是使用加工過的食用香精, 所以吃起來都有嚴重的不自然香水味。但Spasso的香蕉冰淇淋有新鮮香蕉的淡淡甜味, 不過甜, 味道也非常柔順。

For dessert, we shared a house-made banana gelato. Generally banana ice cream is made with processed banana essence, so it always tastes fake and almost like perfume. But Spasso used fresh banana, you could taste the soft sweetness from the gelato, it wasn’t overly sweet and the flavor is very mild and soothing.

Spasso

驚喜的在洗手間看到愛牌之一的(Malin+Goetz)萊姆洗手乳。

Also happy to see the (Malin+Goetz) lime hand wash in the restroom, one of my favorite brands.

Spasso

走之前順便去看看廚房, 忙碌的廚師們把一道道美食盛盤送至客人桌上。肚子很飽了但還是看到了好多很想嘗試的誘人料理, 相信這不是我們最後一次來Spasso!

Before we left, I swung by the kitchen. The chefs were really hard at work in cranking out these excellent dishes, I saw a number I wanted to try even with a full stomach. I’m sure this won’t be the last visit to Spasso!

Spasso

我♥星期五 / I ♥ Friday : No. 13

May.04.2012

[我♥星期五 / I ♥ Friday]

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I ♥ Friday No. 12

沒有後院？在充滿陽光的窗口種菜苗也是好的選擇。(via Sprout Home)

No backyard? Growing micro greens on the sunny windowsill is also a great option. (via Sprout Home)

Whit & Whistle的七彩龍麟筆記本, 帶在身邊心情也會好起來。

Colorful dragon scale jotter from Whit & Whistle, just carrying this around would probably make me happy.

I ♥ Friday No. 12

龜和兔是我最喜歡的兩種動物。所以每一次聽龜兔賽跑的故事, 雖然我懂故事的隱喻, 總還是希望龜兔雙贏。這個Uncommon Goods的瓷器龜兔撲滿讓兩個我最愛的動物和平相處且階位同等, 太好了。

Tortoise and rabbit are my two favorite animals. Every time I’m hearing the tortoise and hare story, despite the fact that I fully understand the underlying message of the story, I always hope for both parties to win the race. This set of turtle and hare porcelain banks from Uncommon Goods allows my two favorites to co-exist in peace at the same ranking, awesome.

I ♥ Friday No. 12

從Anthology看到德國設計師Dietlin Wolf用花做成平面但有立體感的版畫, 好美, 太適合這春暖花開的季節。

Saw the beautiful, full of texture collage made with real flowers by German designer/stylist Dietlin Wolf on Anthology. It’s gorgeous and suitable for these blossom-filled days.

Heidi Merrick的春裝。這一季, 讓我們擁抱鮮艷的色彩, 把陰暗顏色的衣服先暫時收起來吧。

Spring dress from Heidi Merrick. It’s the perfect season to embrace the bright colors, put your dark garments away for a bit!

I ♥ Friday No. 12

我真心極愛這頂Coco Flip的白色及原木Coco Pendant燈罩。

I absolutely adore the white Coco Pendant from Coco Flip.

I ♥ Friday No. 12

最近手癢癢的想開始認真學習裁縫技術, 看到這盒Merchant & Mills設計感百分百的裁縫箱, 忍不住希望自己已經是裁縫天才了。(via Old Faithful Shop)

Lately I’ve been seriously considering picking up sewing techniques. When I saw this well-designed sewing kit from Merchant & Mills, I really wish I was already an expert seamstress. (via Old Faithful Shop)

強尼‧戴普和娜塔莉‧波曼替保羅麥卡尼的My Valentine MV 帶來低調的浪漫氛圍。

Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman brings some subtle romantic magic to the music video of My Valentine by Paul McCartney.

紐約瘋什麼 / New York Raves No. 5

May.02.2012

[紐約瘋什麼 / New York Raves]

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私心推薦Nolita / Personal Favorites in Nolita

New York Raves No. 5

來到紐約, 除了尋找美食之外所有旅客的最大任務應該就是流行大採購吧。紐約雖然不大, 但每一個區域都有不同的風情及店家。Nolita(諾麗塔)區一直是我最喜歡的環境前三名之一。這一區的地理如其名是位於小義大利區的北邊 (NOrth of LIttle ITAly), 緊連著Soho(蘇活)區, 有著漂亮如歐洲的石子路。Broadway(百老匯)把Soho及Nolita一分為二, Nolita在東Soho在西。Soho有著Prada, Chanel, Longchamps, Burberry, Kate Spade, Anya Hindmarch等知名大品牌的旗艦店及幾家知名精品旅館。而Nolita有的是設計特別數量少件的潮流物件還有口味獨特座位不多的精緻餐廳。在Nolita除了Steven Alan出名的格子襯衫, Ciao Bella的義大利冰淇淋, 之前介紹過的Gimme Coffee, 布魯克林潮牌Built by Wendy, No. 6的木底鞋, 集結獨立品牌的Creatures of Comfort, 紐約披薩元祖之一的Lombardi’s, 還有這兩年風靡紐約的Ed’s Lobster Bar之外, 好店好食數之不盡。

Visiting New York, besides some real fine dining, most people probably spend a huge chunk of time shopping and browsing the city. Although New York is not huge, there are some really interesting little pockets of areas that are unique and adorned with independent boutiques and stores. Nolita has always been top three on my list of areas to get lost in and it’s definitely unique. This area, just like its name, (NOrth of LIttle ITAly), sits directly north of Little Italy, right next to Soho, covered with beautiful cobblestone roads. Broadway sits in between Nolita and Soho like a river, Soho in the west, Nolita in the east. In Soho, there are flagship stores to designer labels such as Prada, Chanel, Longchamps, Burberry, Kate Spade and Anya Hindmarch. There are also a number of very luxurious boutique hotels. But in Nolita, there are a bunch of tiny little independent boutiques that curate stylish garments and accessories. There are never too many of these stylish objects in stock, so if you’re lucky, you would be the owner of some truly unique pieces. Nolita is also packed with small but high-quality restaurants that you would visit again and again. In Nolita, there are the famous plaid shirts from Steven Alan, gelato from Ciao Bella, Gimme Coffee (I’ve mentioned in a previous article), Brooklyn fashion from Built by Wendy, clog boots from No. 6, the mecca of independent labels – Creatures of Comfort, one of the oldest and best pizza joints Lombardi’s, and Ed’s Lobster Bar that has come into fame in the past couple of years. But of course, this is only a small portion of what you would see in Nolita.

住在紐約這麼久了, 也盡我所能把能認識的區域都逛過好幾遭, 因此這次想和各位分享我在Nolita的私心欣賞店家, 希望下次各位來紐約朝聖Soho時, 別忘了往東邊走五分鐘, 逛逛這可人的Nolita。

Having lived in NYC for almost a decade, I’ve tried my best to get to know the city as well as I could. So this one is about sharing my favorites stores in Nolita. The next time you’re in New York, besides the obviously must to visit Soho, I hope you don’t forget to walk eastward for five minutes to visit the darling Nolita as well.

New York Raves No. 5

圖片來自Clic Gallery網站

1. Clic Bookstore & Gallery
255 Center Street, New York, NY 10013

Clic是一個集結藝術、書籍、物品, 並保留白牆及空間讓藝術家展示攝影畫作的好店。除了在紐約有兩個展示空間之外, 在法國也有兩個分店。這個有獨特風格的書藝廊是由波希米亞風格品牌Calypso的主人Christiane Celle成立的。藝術為本底的風格與Calypso的服飾店及家飾店雖有所區別但相輔相成。

Clic is a store that incoporates art, books and found design objects. It also doubles as a art gallery. Here you can find some rare photography books and great art pieces. The gallery is cozy yet airy. Besides the two locations in New York, Clic also has two sister stores in the south of France. The independent bookstore/gallery is found and curated by Christiane Celle, the owner of luxurious bohemian brand Calypso. Clic has a much more astute atmosphere compared to Calypso, but the two could almost go hand in hand to complimate each other.

New York Raves No. 5

圖片來自Canvas網站

2. Canvas
199 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012

Canvas在Chelsea(雀兒喜)有一間比較大的店面, 但其實物品相同。Canvas的家飾理念是簡單但高品質的, 我個人非常鐘情於所有的木造及玻璃物品。所有的物件顏色都不鮮艷但卻有大氣之風, 擺入各種風格不同的家中都不會突兀, 反而非常有存在感。而最近發紅發紫的原因也是因為台灣設計師Jason Wu與此品牌合作設計了一系列的美麗家飾。

Canvas is a home furniture/style store, all of the objects are simple, clean-lined and of great quality. There is a another location in Chelsea, it’s a much bigger store, but the objects they have in both stores are identical. Out of everything from Canvas, I personally scream for all the wooden accessories and glassware. Everything from Canvas is in muted colors but they are not timid. They would fit into different home environments and still stand out. This minimalistic brand has gotten a lot of press lately because Taiwanse-American designer Jason Wu just collaborated with them for a series of gorgeous homeware for Spring.

New York Raves No. 5

圖片來自MiN網站

3. MiN NEW YORK
117 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10012

MiN是一個以舊式風格裝修, 銷售來自不同國家高級梳化保養品的藥妝店。這家店進去後如果荷包沒抓緊心沒控制好的話是非常容易大失血的。每一樣東西都很特別, 幾乎在別的店家都找不到。平常需要跑歐洲好幾個國家才看得到的精品香水, 乳液, 蠟燭, 男性用刮鬍用品, 裝飾小物, 還有MiN自己研發的護髮用品, 在這裡都找得到也非常吸引顧客的目光。很想多試幾種香味但不想花大錢買一整瓶的香水也可以要求買一小罐sample喔。在MiN還有一個特別的收費服務項目: 一小時的私人諮詢讓專業的香氛護理師推薦屬於你的香氣及護膚護髮用品, 寵愛自己的過程簡單化也個人化, 非常貼心。

MiN is an apothecary that carries a selection of carefully curated beauty items from all over the world. The store is nicely decorated in a vintage-inspired theme. Stopping by MiN, if you’re not determined enough, it’s really easy to just go all out and spend quite a bit of money here. The reason being everything is unique and you probably won’t find them in another store. There are perfume, moisturizer, candles, accessories and men’s grooming products that can only be found in Europe, but MiN gathers them under one roof and saves you a few hop-around in Europe. MiN also developed its very own collection of haircare line. Want to sample some of the stuff before you make the decision to shell out the money? Ask for viles of samples to bring home, they will be happy to oblige. There is also a unique service at MiN, a one-hour personal consultation with an aromatherapist in the store. They can help you create a simple personal care plan, from fragrance to skincare to haircare, completely personalized routine. Their motto is you don’t need a ton of products, but you can use the few right products that suit you, how true.

New York Raves No. 5

圖片來自Shoe網站

4. Shoe
247 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012

在紐約想要買名牌的鞋子及包包非常容易, 只要荷包夠深, 往Barneys或是Bergdorf Goodman一定找的到。但這家非常低調的Shoe販售著來自加州品牌Cydwoq簡單線條的成品, 不管是包包、皮質小物或鞋子都是由高品質的牛皮製作而成。在這裡非常容易找到獨一無二的設計, 沒有logo但不會過時且越用越有風味的皮質包包。想從紐約帶回和其他人不太一樣的皮質品, 別忘了逛逛Shoe。

It’s easy to get brand name shoes and bags in New York, as long as you have bank, a trip to Barneys or Bergdorf Goodman will get you some awesome designer accessories. But there are other options. Shoe is a low-key store tucked in a corner of Nolita that sells simple leather accessories from California brand Cydwoq. From bags to wallet to shoes, everything is hand crafted in the finest leather with clean details, it’s really easy to find one-of-a-kind designs here. There are no huge logos on the bags, and with wear and tear, the leather on these items would just look even better. Want to bring a nice bag from New York home and use it for years and years? Definitely try to stop by Shoe.

New York Raves No. 5

襪子及襯衫圖片來自The Sock Hop網站

5. The Sock Hop
248 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012

櫥櫃裡都是無聊顏色的襪子嗎? 襪子永遠都是藏起來的配件嗎? 來逛過The Sock Hop後你一定會仔細思考襪子到底要怎麼配怎麼顯露出來才好看。從許多鮮艷圖案的男士襪到女用絲襪, 褲襪, 半透明的短襪, 整片蕾絲的及膝襪, 所有的襪子幾乎都只有一雙。這是一家秉持著襪子也是個性配件的店家, 除了非常有特色的襪子之外, 還有量身定制的襯衫服務, 喜歡合身襯衫的男生非常有福。The Sock Hop也是少有對男女生都有吸引力的獨立小店。

Do you only have boring socks? Are socks always supposed to be hidden under anything you wear? You will change your mind once you’ve been to The Sock Hop. You will start to think of ways to show off those incredible beauties from this store. There are colorful patterns and textures on men’s socks. There are intricate stockings, tights and transluscent ankle socks with beautiful details and fully-laced knee high socks for women. You will probably only see one pair of any socks you have your eyes on. This is a store that believes in socks being the most important accessories to any outfit so uniqueness is key. But besides these gorgeous stemwear, The Sock Hop also offers customized shirt tailoring. To guys who just screams for nicely fitted shirts, you’re in luck. This is one of the few stores that caters equally to both male and female clients, what a gem.

New York Raves No. 5

圖片來自Thomas Sires網站

6. Thomas Sires
243 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012

Thomas Sires是一家清爽乾淨的潮店, 一走進去很難馬上走出來。除了設計精緻的衣服之外, 還有店家親自採購的雜貨。例如得過獎的備長炭空氣清淨小箱, Yellow Owl的文具紙類, 晚安抱枕, Saipua的香氛肥皂, 每一樣都很特別也會讓你細細研究。除了替自己採買衣物外, 更會想好好替家裡或工作的空間加入新的點綴。

Thomas Sire is a refreshing store, it’s hard to just go in and out quickly. Besides their own line of incredibly stylish garments, the store also carries a carefully curated line of home accessories. For example, the award winning bichotan air freshener block, the stationary from Yellow Owl, adorable lounging pillow/cushions, beautifully fragrant soap from Saipua, everything will make you stop and take a second look. At Thomas Sire, besides shopping for clothes, you would also want to bring back some new lively elements to your home or office.

New York Raves No. 5

圖片來自Modo網站

7. Modo
Modo選擇性的與幾個知名設計師品牌的鏡框和墨鏡, 例如3.1 Philip Lim, Jason Wu, Derek Lam及7 For All Mankind。所有的鏡架幾乎都是在日本以很高的標準生產, 非常漂亮。但Modo品牌中最有名的應該是他們自己旗下的Eco。Eco所有的鏡架都利用95％的回收資源, 而且公司訂下了售出一個鏡框便栽種一棵樹的規則。這樣保育地球環境的想法讓很多名人都願意支持這個品牌。美國越來越多把生意與善舉結合的品牌, 非常值得關注。

Modo collaborates with a few selected designers for sunglasses and glass frames, such as 3.1 Philip Lim, Jason Wu, Derek Lam and 7 For All Mankind. All of the frames are manufactured in Japan with the highest attention to details, these frames are flawless. But what’s most well-known about Modo is their green brand Eco. All of the frames from Eco are made with 95% recycled materials, and there is a one-frame-one-tree rule in the company. When a pair of glasses is sold, the company will plant a tree on earth. The environmental friendly and giving approach won them tons of celebrity supporters. The direction of a business giving chunks of their profits to do well for the environment is a huge trend in the US right now, and definitely one to watch for.

New York Raves No. 5

8. Cafe Select
212 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012

逛街逛累了, 在Nolita一樣吃得到到底的瑞士料理, 經典的乳酪鍋, 德式香腸, 香煎牛小排還有德國麵疙瘩(Spaetzel)都是值得一試的道地風味。但使用當地食材的沙拉, 燉飯, 還有德式甜點都不容錯過。不管是親密的晚餐, 迅速的午餐, 還是同樂的週末早午餐, Cafe Select都能滿足你的需求。當然一杯好咖啡及飲品也是讓我著迷於這個小餐館的原因之一喔。

After all the shopping, it’s time to eat. In Nolita, you can have some pretty authentic Swiss cuisine. The classic fondue, bratwurst, weiner schnizel and spaetzle can all be found at Cafe Select. Besides the familiar dishes, salads and rissoto that incorporate seasonal ingredients or swiss/german desserts are also incredible. It doesn’t matter if you’re here for a intimate dinner, a quick lunch or a joyful brunch gathering, Cafe Select can probably always cater to your needs. And of course, great coffee and drinks are reasons enough for me to fall head-over-heels for this little dining spot.

小提醒: 來逛街的美女們請把細跟的4吋美鞋留在家中, 輕便的涼鞋/布鞋絕對更舒適。

Tip: To all girls, please leave your 4 inch heels at home when coming to Nolita. You will be thankful after a long day of walk in your flat sandals/casual shoes.

此系列的文章是與台灣(Malin＋Goetz)及10/10 Apothecary合作連載
Collaboration with (Malin+Goetz) Taiwan and 10/10 Apothecary for the entire series

Jaime Hayon × Kutani Choemon

Apr.22.2012

[收藏星期一 / Monday Archives]

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Monday Archives

日本丸若屋是一個有雄心壯志的品牌, 它的理念在於把日本原有的傳統技術與現代的視覺概念融合打造出獨一無二的產品。2009年丸若屋邀請西班牙視覺設計師Jaime Hayón與日本上出長右衛門窯合作生產一系列的九谷燒陶瓷。Hayón設計過很多不同的生活用品, 但日本食器的設計可是頭一遭。因此設計前他非常努力的學習了日本的文化及生活習慣, 之所謂體會使用者的心情才能以他們能最方便使用的方式提出解決方案。

Maruwakaya is a visionary brand in Japan, its mission is to combine the Japanese traditional craftsmanship with contemporary concepts to produce unique products. Back in 2009, Maruwakaya invited Spanish designer Jaime Hayón to collaborate with the Japanese porcelain master shop Kutani Choemon to come up with a tableware collection. Hayón has designed many lifestyle products, but Japanese tableware was a definite first. Before proceeding with the design process, he studied the Japanese lifestyle and culture very closely so that he could understand the users and provide the best design solutions.

Monday Archives

雙方緊密合作下在一年後的2010年生產出這一系列Jaime Hayón x Kutani Choemon的精緻作品。不但傳承了日本傳統工藝的細膩手工, 也完整的傳達了Hayón的活潑意念及大膽線條。簡約中明顯多了頑皮的元素。

After working closely for a year, the lovely Jaime Hayón x Kutani Choemon was born in 2010. The collection not only inherited the delicate Japanese traditional craftsmanship, it also fully incorporated the lively and bold elements from Jaime Hayón. A simple collection with a touch of fun.

在一個月前, 終於看到了這個幕後製作的短片。我驚嘆於一件件手工拉胚手工繪製的成品, 也看得到日本傳統陶藝的用心與堅持。多虧了丸若屋的理念, 讓這兩個品牌合作激盪出這樣精彩的火花。我真希望件件瓷器都能好好收藏呢。

One month ago, I finally saw the short documentary to show their production process. I was in awe with the ceramic-throwing and hand-illustration techniques and thoroughly impressed with the spirit from a traditional Japanese shop. These two brands met and created some beautiful sparks thanks to the vision of Maruwakaya. I personally wish I could collect every single piece.

我♥星期五 / I ♥ Friday : No. 12

Apr.20.2012

[我♥星期五 / I ♥ Friday]

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I ♥ Friday : No. 12

在Grey Area看到的Abraxas Rex仿和服罩衫, 加上一本書及一杯茶, 很適合放空的日子。

Mock Kimono Tunic by Abraxas Rex as seen on Grey Area. With a good book and a cup of tea, it’s perfect for the relaxing days.

I ♥ Friday : No. 12

Merchant No. 4的Kuro備長炭的方磚, 以整潔的外表替你清理冰箱的雜味。

Kuro cube from Merchant No. 4 is made of bichotan (cleansing coal). This beautiful little cube will help you clear the gunky air in the fridge.

真的非常喜歡Becca Stadtlander的插畫。

I just love Becca Stadtlander‘s illustrations so much.

J. Crew適合春天的耳飾, 幸運的瓢蟲。

The oh-so-very-spring earrings from J. Crew, lucky ladybugs.

I ♥ Friday : No. 12

舊式鉛筆嗎? 再看一次, 是日本北星鉛筆製造的自動鉛筆喔。

Old style pencil? Look again, it’s a wooden mechanical pencil from the Japanese company Kitaboshi.

在英國BBC的新節目The Little Paris Kitchen由Rachel Khoo主持, 我喜歡她傳達就算在不大的空間中也能做出法國料理的觀念。只要技巧對了, 空間不一定是問題喔。

A new show, The Little Paris Kitchen, on BBC is hosted by Rachel Khoo. I like how she talks about space not really being an issue in order to cook great french food. Once you got the techniques down, space is not necessarily a problem.

特大號的愛心十字繡, 這是Jessica Decker替一對新人的婚紗照設計的, 太可愛了!

Giant heart cross-stitch from Jessica Decker, it was customized for a wedding photo shoot, how very adorable!

看看繁複但迷人書本製作過程, Glen Milner之”一本書的誕生”。

Take a look at the complicated but lovely book making process, “birth of a book” by Glen Milner.

壽司之神 / Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Apr.19.2012

[大螢幕 / On Screen]

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三個禮拜前我們去看了紀錄片-[壽司之神 Jiro Dreams of Sushi]。無論你是否喜歡壽司, 只要你對壽司製作的藝術有一點興趣的話, 你一定能真心的欣賞這部影片。片中沒有複雜12種食材的花壽司, 只有好米煮出的好飯配上專門打造的醬汁與上等的生魚片。

Three weeks ago we went to see the documentary – Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Whether you like sushi or not, if you have a slight knowledge of the art of sushi making, you would appreciate this film. there is nothing fancy like the 12 ingredients rolls, Jiro only makes simple well cooked rice and pair it with high quality sauce and exceptional seasonal raw fish.

大螢幕

本來就期待會看到令人垂涎的壽司, 但沒有想到的是我看到一個職人認真的講述工作的藝術還有他對食物的理念。對於壽司, 次郎師傅只願意提供客人用當季且最高品質食材作出的成品。每一位來用餐的客人都只能點主廚推薦的壽司。而每一天的壽司清單取決於當天在魚市買進的鮮魚, 每一天都不同, 每一個節氣魚類也不同。因此不管食用次郎師傅手捏的壽司多少次, 享用的食材也一定不會相同。在片中他也提到在當壽司職人的數十年內, 他看到了不少種類的漁獲絕跡, 而這些魚類也自然從壽司清單中銷聲匿跡成為傳奇。魚群從海洋中消失其實都是我們人類造成的, 太多品質參差不齊的壽司餐廳及海鮮餐廳都需要大量的漁獲, 而這樣持續貪心的過度捕魚造成海洋生態不平衡, 很多魚類因此絕種。這樣的話語讓我非常認真的考量某些食材應當作奢侈, 偶爾食用就好, 絕對不應該成為天天上餐桌的料理。為了我們的下一代和他們的下幾代思考的話, 我們應該更愛護這個地球。

I expected to see mouth-watering sushi in the film, but what I didn’t expect was a man talking about work ethics and his philosophy about food. Master Jiro believes in serving the best and he believes in serving within the season. Every customer who dines at Jiro’s will only be able to order the omakase(chef’s recommendation) set. He builds the menu around what is available at the market, so every visit would be different. He mentioned in the film that throughout his career, he’s seen certain variety of fish disappearing from the market and has to ultimately be removed from his menus. It is the result of over-fishing and our great demand. Because of the popularity of sushi and seafood restaurants, over-fishing has become a real problem for the healthy life-circle in the ocean. It made me think seriously about treating certain food type as occasional luxury instead of regular dishes on the dining table. We’ve got to think about our next generation and their future generations, we’ve gotta save the earth for them.

大螢幕

這個紀錄片讓我學了很多, 包括了對職業的堅持, 永遠給客人最好的體驗, 還有不過量但精挑細選的吃好。雖然都是基本的理念, 但這部片又敲醒了我內心的鐘。還沒看過的朋友們一定要去看, 它令人無限感動。

＊順便附上2011年Cool-NY採訪導演David Gelb的好文。

This was such a great documentary, I learned what it means to have persistence in a profession, to bring best experience to the customers and to eat well but sensibly. If you have not seen this documentary, go see it, I was utterly inspired.

＊Also take a look at a 2011 interview Cool-NY had with director David Gelb.