Jeni Britton Bauer has a thing or two to tell artisans who want to create and sell good local food. "Be a rock star. You have to go out there and go at it like you're trying to be President of the United States." In other words, you probably need to do what she did: Work 80 hours a week. Don't take a salary for years. Be on your toes every single day. This is part of Jeni's story, which has become a story of truly local food making good on a wildly successful scale.

We visited Jeni a few weeks ago to hear her story in person, and to visit the kitchen where all her delicious ice cream is made. But that's not all: She's working on a book, and we wanted a sneak peek of the goodies that home cooks are going to get when it's released next summer. More

Scott renovated his kitchen entirely on his own, figuring it out as he went along. You'd never guess it from spending time in this delightfully bright space, a classic with a modern twist. He's certainly made the most of this funky layout with the use of strategically placed pantries and a keen sense of organization. Scott is also one of the most inventive cake makers I've ever met. This man's got a gift and no friend's birthday is complete without one of his outrageous confections.

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Last week my husband and I bought our first house, and it's a real fixer-upper! We are putting in a new kitchen (watch this space for lots on the IKEA cabinet planning process!), and I find myself wanting white marble countertops very badly. Am I crazy? Read on for some of the pros and cons of marble countertops, and to add your own advice: I'd love to hear your experience! More

It's not every day you get to peek into a rock star's home kitchen — and it's not often you find a rock star like Neko Case, who lives in a 1787 farmhouse in Vermont, and who not only loves her homey kitchen, but keeps a piano there and composes much of her music right in the middle of the kitchen. Read on for a picture of her whole kitchen... More

Who: Marchi Group
What We Noticed: Most of the kitchen design at EuroCucina fell into one of two buckets: Sleek and minimalist, or over-the-top rococo luxury. So this showroom from Italian Marchi Group felt very different. These kitchens are like fantasy ideals of American and British kitchens, with casual details like chalkboard walls, faux-industrial pendants, and zinc tabletops. This showroom was absolutely packed with crowds every time I walked by! More

We don't have anything close to a wine collection; we keep perhaps three or four bottles around. So a wine cellar is quite unnecessary, but that doesn't stop us fantasizing about a dusty cellar full of old vintages. Then we saw the Spiral Cellar, and that romantic idea of a wine cellar was joined up with an even older fantasy: the trapdoor in the kitchen floor. More

Who: MK, Italian kitchen design
What We Noticed: I don't think of myself as a minimalist, but this hood and sleek wood island with integrated cooktop literally stopped me in my tracks at EuroCucina. In context it felt serene and quiet, unfussy and very functional. The white almost blends in to the ceiling, and the woods keeps it feeling warm. Nothing here is trying too hard.
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Who: Alpes Inox
What We Noticed: Italian company Alpes Inox makes really solid, handsome stainless islands and workstations for the kitchen (we already mentioned this smart combo unit that has a dishwasher, oven, and fridge inside). Here's a look at some of their other island units — many of them fabulously arranged with built-in bins, u-shaped drawers, and great sinks. More

Trend: Gas on glass stovetops
Where We Saw It Electrolux, KitchenAid/Whirlpool, Franke, Smeg
These stovetops were front and center all week at EuroCucina: All the easy cleanup of a glass surface, but the power of a gas stove. These sleek, beautiful, gas on glass cooktops we saw this week combine beauty and functionality in a serious way. I'm curious to know how the glass holds up to dropped pans and knives; does it chip or scratch over time? More

Who: Minacciola
What We Noticed: Everyone was talking about this articulating hood vent -- you can grab it and move it anywhere over the stove. I'm a bit perplexed as the advantages of a movable hood, but it looked pretty dang cool. Paired with the red spigot knobs on the range, this was downright steampunk. Also of note at Minicciola's booth: There was an entire wall built of crates full of real tomatoes. More photos below... More