In honor of Springing Ahead today, I want to share with you a few things that have been inspiring my kitchen.
• First, Oaktown Spice Shop. If you have ever shopped at The Spice House on Old World Third Street in Milwaukee, then you will recognize the vibe of this new Oakland, CA shop where all the spices are stored in apothecary jars and the proprietor (John Beaver, pictured above) is very knowledgeable, patient and helpful. I bought some Mediterranean Oregano there a few weeks back and I'm slightly addicted, sprinkling it into almost everything, especially if it has garlic.
• I have a secret crush on Margo and Fergus Henderson so The Selby's visit to Rochelle Canteen, Margo's lunch spot in a converted bike shed in an old Victorian boy's school in London, was a thrill. Be sure to listen to the audio clip of Margo's thoughts on having lunch and how she and Fergus met.
• Have you been accused of being an elitist because you try to eat local, sustainable food? Farmer Joe Salatin gives you some pretty intriguing ways to respond in the article Rebel with a Cause: Foodie Elitism.
• St. Jude's Harvest Hare Wallpaper (pictured above) is tucked into my virtual hope chest for the day when I have my own kitchen and can cover one wall (or maybe even the back of a cabinet?) In Corn or Blue Slate, £60 a roll.
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a film about a tiny sushi bar in a Tokyo subway, is being released this month. An astonishingly beautiful examination of passion, the search for perfection and what it means to completely dedicate your entire life to one thing.
• And finally, I'm not the only one who is finding inspiration in the kitchen! Here are a few ideas for your springtime bonnet.
Related: Weekend Meditation: A Short List of Delights and Inspirations
(Images: Dana Velden and St. Jude's)
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Fun!
Oaktown Spice Shop is an inspiration for me as well. I'm glad to see it starting to get the press it deserves!
Oaktown Spice Shop looks great! I dream of having a kitchen that looks as homey and inviting as that, with the same apothecary vibe. I will have to visit next time I cross the bay.
Also, I have to say that I find your posts incredibly comforting and inspiring. I've been unemployed this winter, and have turned to the kitchen for solace, meaning, and meditation. I appreciate how you've helped me see these things. Plus we have the same name, and live in the same city!
Nice Read!!!
What a beautiful shop...It looks os comforting and inviting, like grandmothers kitchen...
Beautiful!!!
Thank you, Dana B. The appreciation is mutual!
That elitist article is so hypocritical. If anyone wrote that article about veganism, those foodies would be up in arms. Give me a break.
I'm from Milwaukee, and The Spice House is exactly what I thought of when I saw this photo (before I started reading). I cherish that place. Oaktown is lucky to have one of their own.