Hands down, no questions asked, I’m a foodie, continually inspired by food.  Besides my family, food is the singular thing I think about, ok obsess about, every minute of every day.  I get silly excited when that perfect combination of flavors hits my palette & most often I wrestle in my mind if I need order a 2nd (I usually do) or rush home, stopping off at the market, to buy the ingredients to re-create the dish on my own.

This was in fact the case recently when in LA dining with friends at Evaleigh. We ordered a buratta, spring pea & mint mash served with a perfectly crusty & golden piece of  bread. After that 1st dreamy bite I went silent, though in a food trance, then ooohh’ed & ahhh’ed to the point of annoyance. I cannot express to you how mind blowingly yummy & simple this dish was. The buratta was super creamy spread atop the warm & oiled crostini & elevated with the brightness of this seasons finest; spring green peas rustically smashed with fresh mint & a touch of lemon.The flavors were so delicate & complex simultaneously!

Needless to say we ordered another & once back in NYC I immediately created a swoon-worthy version for myself & my guys.  At the green market I snatch up some asparagus, mint, & fresh green peas….a trifecta of ingredients that scream SPRING IS HERE!  A hearty loaf of peasant bread and a quick stop at Whole Foods for the buratta and I had everything I needed.

Please hurry & make this perfect spring snack! The deconstructed presentation is quite pretty for entertaining & the lemony dressing is refreshingly tart, complimenting these springtime stars allowing the flavors to really pop! Warm weather fare at it’s best…fantastically healthy, bright, creamy, & crunchy!

SHOP  S W O O N

   Stainless Steel Sauce Pan                 Global Chef’s Knife                          OXO Silicone Brush          Olive-Wood Cutting Board        Charcoal Porcelain Bowls

Meeting the lovely & crazy talented Denise Porcaro, creator of  Lower Manhattan’s Flower Girl, was a chance encounter at a mutual friends Nolita boutique.  I was instantly captivated by this stunning creature with piecing blue eyes, a warm demeanor, & distinct style. Later that very evening I was smitten by the petite & artfully arranged florals that adorned the tabletop at an intimate dinner party. When I learned these whimsical arrangements that evoked a rustic yet elegant edge were none other than Flower Girl I thought… ok, well here’s a sign.

At that very moment I whipped out my phone ”….do you think Denise might want to collaborate on an EyeSwoon spring flower feature?”  And there you have it….that’s how magic happens!  I went from not knowing Denise, to having a full on SWOON feast! Spending the entire day together; first at the flower market, then moving on to her charming & perfectly curated Flower Girl storefront. Watching Denise in her environment; experiencing her palpable passion for florals & learning her brilliant & natural flower arranging tips just might have been one of my favorite days ever!

Flower Girl approaches flowers in a refreshing way….with an edge that adds personality & a juxtaposition that makes her stand out amongst the rest. Her aesthetic & unique style of combining unusual floral varieties, textures, & use of quirky vessels, gained her the respect of many top fashion brands she now calls clients.

Denise & I created two very distinct style floral arrangements, both jaw-droppingly gorgeous! Our concept for this feature was to show both super luxurious flowers you can only purchase at the flower market, to your basic pedals you can always count on finding at any corner deli.  I think we can agree that there is always a need for both the high and the low…what’s essential is making them both SWOON~worthy beautiful!

SHOP  S W O O N

Pruning Shears                                                 Ball Jar                                  Flowers by Irving Penn                        Flower Girl Apron                         Olive Bucket

Saatchi Athena Calderone

I get it, we all grow up….I need to accept that he wants to be with his friends at the skate park where noooooo kissing mama is allowed & that rough housing with dad  is more fun than reading with mom ; ((

There is one activity I will NEVER give up! Jivan & I have been creating together in the kitchen since he was an iddy biddy baby….it’s just one of our things! We bake cookies, make panna cotta, he’s the perfect veggie chopper at dinnertime, & he is an expert at making pesto.  So, when Jivan recently declared he would like to make homemade pickles, I jumped at the opportunity!  Pickles are a new acquired taste for Jivan & he has become quite the connoisseur….sampling all the artisanal varieties on our Sunday visits to the Brooklyn Flea & Smorgesburg.

I’d never made pickles before so I was excited to dive into this new endeavor together and see what we could conjure up. I explored numerous sites to gain an understanding of the process & we somewhat created our own non-recipe, not paying close attention to measurements & just having fun with my “guy”.  I was about to say “little guy” but perhaps “GUY” is more fitting for a double digit pre-teen….eeeekkk!

On this very special occasion, the tables were turned! I was Jivan’s sous chef….he did all the chopping, adding of spices, & even made the brine himself.  My little pickle is growing up!

SHOP  S W O O N

 Canning Jars                                     Global Chef’s Knife                          OXO Measuring Cup                  Magnetic Measuring Spoons            Acacia Wood Board

I first met the incredibly talented interior & prop stylist Kim Ficaro on the beach in Montauk. As we chatted, I was instantly aware of how at ease I felt as we both affirmed “it was our summer to surf!” Through sporatic run in’s at the beach we shared surf lesson tales, milestone, fears, & setbacks as though we were the oldest of friends.

Little did I know at the time, this was a woman whom I quietly admirded for many years. Kim was the style director at Domino, which I can attest was the magazine that initiated my love of interiors & design. I coveted each issue & in my memory have filed away specific shoots & design tricks. Domino & Kim somewhat schooled me in design…I still have every issue!

Later that summer, Kim came to scout my home in Amagansett for an interiors book she was shooting with Ditte Isager. Have you ever had those surreal moments when you take a step outside of yourself & realize – wow, without knowing so I dreamt this up….I set this intention & now its really happening!

The day they shot my house I had the opportunity to create along side two woman whose work I swooned over and admired for years & years! I was bursting with excitement seeing Kim in action, playing with & styling my things, as Ditta documented each moment so beautifully..…pinch me please!

The shoot was just magical and by the end of the day Kim & I both knew we would become fast friends, I felt as though I had found my kindred spirit! Kim embodies all the same passions as I do….a love of design, food, and making things beautiful.  She has such an incredibly refined eye and knows just the right mix of rustic & refined, how to create balance in a room, on a table, or in a photograph that elevates it to art – all the while remaining effortlessly layered with subtle complexities. I asked Kim if she would swoon with me and share her styling essentials, tips & tricks for creating a stunning tablescape.

SHOP  S W O O N

French Bistro Napkins              Duralex Picardie Rocks Glass      Chemex Drip Coffee Carafe      West Elm Scape Dinnerware         Riedel O Wine Tumblers

Safe to say that with the arrival of Spring, comes a very distinct excitement in the air.  Suddenly we are all walking about with coats off, sitting at outdoor cafes, & visiting the green markets to see a plethora of spring veggies!  At the first sign of spring one particular vegetable that makes its way to my families’ table weekly are sugar snap peas.

The key to maximizing flavor is to eat peas when they are freshest & that is NOW and throughout spring when they grow in abundance!

With their vibrant green hue, crisp snappy texture, & sweet clean taste… Sugar Snap Peas are the absolute perfect snack eaten raw or blanched, naked or dressed up….they are oh so snappy good!

One of my favorite ways to serve these peas is blanched & served atop freshly whipped ricotta. The brightness of the peas, with their punchy crunch, pairs so well with the creamy complexity of the ricotta.  Finished with a drizzle of evvo, squeeze of lemon, & plenty of chopped mint…doesn’t get fresher than this!

Months later when compiling images for a color inspired post, I began pondering how to create something unique. That same day I took a trip down memory lane viewing images from my wedding. My grandmother, a religious woman, was ill & it was unknown if she could attend. I represented her by placing her Virgin Mary at the end of the aisle surrounded by flowers. Since then the statue has sat in the back of my moms closet.

Then it struck me! I just LOVE when various isolated moments unite. I called mom to pull out Mary; she was getting a makeover! I do hope no one gets offended…the way I see it, I am elevating & modernizing Mary in an artful way while honoring my Nonna!

One of the dishes we feasted on was their beef & lamb kefte….and there it was locked in my consciousness. LAMB KEBABS…TZATZIKI ON EVERYTHING. NEXT EYE-SWOON POST!

After returning home from Miami I headed out to Amagansett for the first time since December.  The opening spring weekend and the unveiling of the grill after an annoyingly long winter had me chirping like the birdies.  As I have mentioned before and perhaps a given by now, cooking makes me happy, plain and simple…..and Mediterranean food makes me even happier….and grilling makes me the happiest!!  Needless to say I was swooning this spring afternoon…in my home, outdoors, laughing with family & friends, sitting at a picnic table on the lawn as the kiddies run about, doing what I love most.  Also, can we all agree that tzatziki makes just about everything taste better?

I have a distinct suspicion that Greek might continue make an appearance in my summer repertoire.  Its fresh, its light, herby, packed with flavor, tons of veggies, and all around swoon~worthy!  Summer is on the horizon swooners….

I’m not reinventing the wheel here.  What I’m offering is nothing new, however,  the addition of vintage Moroccan rugs is certainly a design statement I return to time & time again.  They continually add the vibrant pop of color, desired texture, & obscure pattern to an otherwise neutral room.  They also add history, warmth, & that rustic element I yearn for in the interiors I create.

The synthesis of rural, ancient rug designs juxtaposed against modern clean design makes for a surprisingly pleasing & well-matched combination. These polarizing opposites add intrigue & tension in a room…something I love!

My partner John calls me a sleuth. I am that gal who just does not like to hear NO or who is put off when things are challenging to find or too pricy. As a matter of fact it’s the challenge, the hunt of finding “it” that really incites a creative journey for me. I will spend countless hours pouring over the internet, tumbling through the portal of various sites that lead to another & another & another!

I do have a point here and I promise you will thank me for it!  When I was designing my DUMBO home I absolutely had to have a Moroccan rug for the entry.  I  specifically desired the colorful Boucherouite rag rug. Sadly, all dealers I contacted offered prices beyond my budget….so I sleuthed out and eventually found Jean Yves, a French Moroccan dealer, through Etsy.

After sifting through the Boucherouite site I ended up scoring 4 incredible rugs. All totaled less than a quarter of the price of the original rug I was eyeing! The process of seeking it out was somewhat thrilling (i know i’m a design geek) and was super simple. I sent a pay pal payment and 2 weeks later I had 4 gorgeous rugs!  Excessive, YES. Worth it, YES.  Am I swooning over my new rugs…INDEED!

Easter has changed a lot since childhood, I suppose as you grow older the magic disappears. But this year together with friend Erica Domesek, creator & genius behind P.S. - I made this, we brought back the enchantment of Easter.

Erica invited me over to her swoon-worthy gramercy park abode to organically and naturally dye Easter eggs using {{{genius}}} fresh veggies (beets & cabbage) and tumeric!  But no no no.…that wasn’t creative enough for Erica, she also dreamt up designing her own custom P.S. -  I made this / eye-swoon tattoo’s to adorn our stunning eggs.

The palette the natural ingredients imprinted onto the eggs were in hues of pale yellows, blues, and blushy dreamlike tones reminiscent of a perfect Ladureé macaron. Erica and I crafted, played, laughed, dipped, & dyed, and certainly nibbled on a peep or two!  Our arms also got to play “tattoo” dress up!  Essentially we engaged in some pure ps swoon~able DIY & DYE magic!  I mean who doesn’t like to get their craft on!

Kale and ripe avocados are also essential staples when I visit the market & always have a place in my kitchen, so this easy breezy lunch is an amalgam of the overtly obvious for me.

We all have an arsenal of fave recipes we pull from of our bag of tricks when in need of a quickie, inspired, inpromptu lunch.  This is hands down the dish I turn to most often when hosting family & friends out at my  house in Amagansett. It’s guaranteed to please…super hearty, & healthy!

Honestly, it’s just so easy to throw together & swoon~able. Trick here is a surplus of lemon, a touch of spice, maldon sea salt, and some great quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. My personal building blocks of flavor!

Bartending is what got me through my first few years of living in Manhattan. Now almost 18 years later here I am behind the bar yet again at Dell’Anima.  I love the nastalgia of it all….my life has changed so drastically since those early NYC days when I lived at the Breslin in a 350 sq ft apartment. (Yes, my first apartment is the now converted and much chicer Ace Hotel) Anyway I didn’t cook then, knew nothing about great food and wine, and I certainly wasn’t making Negroni’s behind the bar at the Tunnel & Palladium!

Dell’Anima in a way represents the new,”grown up” version of myself with a more refined palette!  I can probably say that partly through Joe Campanale’s restaurants I discovered new food and drink.  I began eating Octopus for the first time here at Dell’Anima, I tried my first sweetbreads, I found my obsession with Aperol through Dell’Anima, and I learned a lot about fine Italian wine through the guidance of Mr. Campanale and his passion & encyclopedia knowledge of wine!

Joe, who is a partner and holds the title of executive beverage director at Dell’Anima, is the most lovely & gracious guy who I have gotten to know well over the years though my many visits to his swoon-worthy establishments. I am soooooo incredibly thrilled that I had the chance to go back to my roots behind the bar and through Eye-swoon had the opportunity to make one of Joe’s favorite cocktails….Dell’Anima’s twist on the classic Negroni!

All images courtesy of Chloe Crespi, THANK YOU!

I have yet to visit Dell’Anima without savoring over the braised octopus, one of the dishes they are most renowned for! And rightfully so, this dish absolutely blows my mind with the punchy citrus flavor coupled with the bitter chicories, creamy beans, smoky & spicy chorizo…and then add the crispiness of the octopus….I mean {{{BOOM}}} this is an explosion in your mouth! Please promise me you will give it a try for yourself!

The captain of this ship, chef Andrew Whitney, embraced me with tattoo’d open arms into his teeny tiny kitchen, walking me through the process of their famous octopus from start to finish.  I thought my knife skills were pretty darn great until I witnessed a pro’s precision & speed at work….I think a knife skills class might be in my future.  I diced & chopped, seared & sautéed and LOVED every last minute of my sous chef field trip to Dell’Anima!

Through my consistent visits over the years (i’m a creature of habit) Joe Campanale, owner and beverage director, has become a friend and was kind enough to invite Eye-Swoon into his domain while also teaching me some of his master skills behind the bar. Keep your eyes peeled for the Dell”anima follow up post on ES!  **And be sure to check out Andrew’s hilarious Swoon-isms below!

A massive thank you to my girl, Chloe Crespi, for the incredible photography!

If I were to go to reform school I’d want Yael Aflalo to be my head master!  This fierce & fearless LA native is ridiculously smart, successful, stylish, smoking hot, & creative….plus she’s making bold and conscious choices about business, fashion, & our earth; Yael is my hero & her leadership is inspiring us all! Oh did I mention she is doing all this & looking damn cute while doing so!

Yael is the CEO & creator of The Reformation, a swiftly growing environmentally conscious fashion brand that every downtown fashionista adores. Yael is not afraid to break the mold when it comes to fashion & design….she is continually pushing herself to find ways for fashion, design, function, value, and sustainability to coexist.  Reformation, at its core, is a sustainable fashion brand that repurposes vintage and surplus materials to create a chic, limited edition collection. How smart is that!  Clothes that we can be proud to wear while also feeding our exclusivity needs! I mean who doesn’t like to wear one-of-a-kind pieces!

I was unbelievably swooned by her mind-blowing loft….I mean, it has it all; a massive duplex with crazy light streaming in from a killer skylight, patina’d brick walls, excessively high ceilings, & she’s curated a perfect mix of modernist & classic furnishings in a rich warm palette that’s sprinkled with eclectic antiques to boot!! Plus, I was schooled in how much excessive waste there is in the fashion industry and how Yael is making a difference!   *see the Ref eco fact sheet below