If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

Lucian Freud Remembered. Images of (and links to) his Astounding Work.

above: Lucian Freud self-portrait (one of many), Reflection, 2005

British realist, figurative and portrait painter Lucian Freud, who was one of the greatest artists of our time, passed away at the age of 88 on July 20th.

I was seduced by the packaging of these beautiful maple syrups and vinegar tonics distributed by Seattle-based Mikuni Wild Harvest when I spotted them on GiltTaste.com so I researched them a little further.

According to an article by Janet McCracken for Bon Appetit, the Vancouver based tonics, have been popping up on the menus of chic restaurants and are favored by chefs like Thomas Keller and Mario Batali for their specialty produce.

The Noble Handcrafted Tonics, of which there are five thus far (rumor has it they will be introducing a molasses) are beautifully packaged in attractive glass bottles with cork stoppers, melted wax and labels reminiscent of Knob Creek Whisky.

The elegant package design was created by Graphic Designer and Wedding photographer Heather Nguyen of Vancouver.

Noble Tonic 01 -Tuthilltown Bourbon Barrel Matured Maple Syrup

NOBLE didn't choose just any bourbon to create the subtly spiked edge of Tonic 01. Tuthilltown Spirits is New York's first whiskey distillery since prohibition, distilling some of America's most prized spirits. Their handmade bourbons, produced with locally sourced grain and fruit farmed less than 10 miles away, contain no added flavor or color and are not chill or carbon filtered. Tonic 01, originally sourced from heritage sugar shacks in the ancient maple orchards of Quebec, has a hint of raw bourbon flavor thanks to 6 to 9 months spent in New York State's Tuthilltown Distillery's charred American oak barrels.

Bon Appetit says "Like we said, this is made for candied bacon. I would not say no to some corn johnny cakes with this, either." $20

Noble Tonic 02 - Tahitian Vanilla Bean & Egyptian Chamomile Blossom Matured Maple Syrup

To harness the unmistakable flavor of Tahitian Vanilla and the buttery, apple aroma of Egyptian Chamomile Blossom, the artisans behind NOBLE's Tonic No. 02 infuse maple syrup with the blossoms and vanilla beans. We absolutely love the floral aromas in this maple syrup with toasty corn bread, or as a substitute for brown sugar in cinnamon buns.

Bon Appetit says "This syrup is more delicate, and in order to taste the chamomile and vanilla, I would eat this on some plain greek yogurt or a simple waffle." $20

Noble Tonic 03 - Maple Matured Sherry Bourbon Oak Vinegar

This vinegar's truly unique flavor is developed while aging in bourbon oak barrels at Tuthilltown Distillery in New York State. For 6 to 9 months, NOBLE ages genuine Spanish sherry vinegar in bourbon barrels, received only one day after the bourbon has been drained.

Bon Appetit says "If you mix this with a terrific olive oil, it becomes a dressing for a Spanish salad of greens, marcona almonds, and manchego." $18

Noble Tonic 04 -Pharaoh's Heirloom Lemon Matured White Wine Vinegar

Tonic 04 is a 5-year barrel aged, white wine vinegar infused with organic, heirloom Egyptian lemon peel. The bright, sweet and citrusy flavors are balanced by woody, spicy flavors from NOBLE's barrel aging process at Tuthilltown Distillery in New York State.

Bon Appetit says "I really like the idea of vinegary beverages, like kombucha or Pok Pok's new drinking vinegar, Som, and this is so good that I would mix it with soda water and drink it like that. The lemon flavor is complex and spicy, and brings a unique brightness to the flavor." $20

Noble Tonic 05 - XO Aged Balsamic Vinegar

"XO" signifies refinement and age in the world of Cognac. This extraordinary vinegar is no different. Tonic 05 is a sweet, syrupy refined finishing vinegar. After aging for 3-4 months in New York State's Tuthilltown Distillery's Single Grain Bourbon barrels, the lids are removed and replaced with cheesecloth to allow for evaporation. This unique air aging process concentrates and enhances flavors of bourbon and vanilla.

Bon Appetit says "This splurge is on par with any good balsamic. We like to keep it simple, drizzled over asparagus or vanilla ice cream." $95

Buy them here or at GiltTaste.com if you are a member. If you are not, feel free to use my personal invite link.

photos courtesy of Gilt.com, Mikuni and Heather Nguyen

Cutest Smoke Detector Ever. The Chick-A-Dee Chirps You To Safety.

Smoke alarms, which are traditionally functional rather than decorative, are a vital tool to help protect your home and your loved ones. That's why the Dutch Association of Insurers held a competition to design fire prevention solutions, with entries from students taking various design courses in the Netherlands.

The Chick-a-Dee® by Louise van der Veld was the winning entry. The Chick-a-Dee is a well-designed smoke alarm in the shape of a bird.

The bird is perched on a branch, which also serves as a mounting system. The Chick-a-Dee ® comes in 5 color variations and can easily be fitted to the ceiling.

The Chick-a-Dee design is based on the clip-on birds one often sees as decorations on Christmas trees. The designer chose this shape because birds have always been known for their warning calls. It is a well-known fact that that birds warn each other of danger by calling loudly. In the previous century, miners used to take canaries in small cages with them into the mine, because these birds are sensitive to poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide. These gases are both colourless and odourless and can hardly be sensed by man. As soon as the canaries showed even the slightest sign of distress (by no longer singing and chirping) it was a clear signal to evacuate the mine as quickly as possible. The bird's presence gave the miners both a secure and pleasant feeling.

The Chick-a-Dee ® takes its name and appearance from the American Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla). This name is a tribute to its warning call, the phonetic Chickadee sound. At the smallest threat, the bird calls chick-a-dee-dee, and in more serious circumstances, the call becomes a loud dee-dee-dee sound. As soon as smoke is detected a 85 db alarm signal is activated. The alarm signals that the battery is dead by playing by playing the alarm signal. Under normal conditions, a control light flashes once a minute. The Chick-a-Dee can be tested by pressing the test button. The batteries are easy to replace.

The Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was specially designed for the Baby and Kids market. The Chick-a-Dee smoke detector is equipped with a 1.5 year battery lifetime and a three-year warranty. Dimensions: length 17 cm, width 17 cm, height 12 cm

images and product description courtesy of Chick-A-Dee and The Initiator and Company

Buy it here

Or buy it directly from Chick-a-Dee in various colors here.

Oreo Cream Centers Carved Into Cameos. Don't Dunk These In Milk!

Artist Judith G. Klausner is a Somerville MA artist, who in her own words, has with a love for small, intricate, and overlooked things. Her "embroidered toast" was featured on many blogs and sites last year, but she's really outdone herself with her latest series of carved Oreo cookie cream centers.

Working intricately on the cream centers of both traditional and vanilla Oreo cookies (not sure if they were Double Stuff or original) , she's created tiny sweet portraits in the style of classic and traditional cameos.