a lowcountry picnic + matchbook magazine.

I'm super excited to finally share this picnic a few friends and I put together for the July issue of Matchbook Magazine. We devoured berry shortbread bars, ran through dewy grass and drank fancy cocktails courtesy of Brooks' (the "spectacled gent with the boyish grin") Jack Rudy Tonic. The picnic was shot by Ben of course, which reminds me how lucky I am to call my favorite photographer a close friend.





I cannot thank Matchbook and the lovely Katie Armour enough. We had a total blast, and I'm still a little giddy about being included in this beautiful publication. For more photos and recipes, check out the article (page 100).

Photos by Ben Williams for Matchbook Magazine

summertime eating.

Summer is, and has always been, my favorite season. It's not only the ideal time for shenanigans like floating down rivers and sunset wine walks, but it's also the time for colorful, simple, and healthy (but still exciting) eating (peaches! berries! corn on the cob! watermelon!)*.








I mentioned that the beach house is the place where I fell in love with cooking, but I didn't mention that it came about by carefully observing my mom. I remember always being in awe of her ability to feed a house full of people beautiful food night after night. It was never a chore to her -- she would casually spend hours in the kitchen -- chopping and stirring and sipping wine -- and all of the sudden our table would overflow with the most delicious food. It seemed like magic.

We've only been here a few days, but my mom is already on a serious roll. (Although not pictured, crab cakes, butter beans, and key lime pie is our go-to summer meal.)

*Fish tacos and sangria margaritas are also essential to summertime eating.
**Summer grub from last year.

pond island (my happy place).

I could gush forever about our beach house on Pond Island -- how it's the place where I learned to ride a bike, had my first weak-at-the-knees crush (hi Jack!), fell in love with cooking, read every Harry Potter, slept outside just to star-gaze, had my first kiss with a boy who took me sailing and had lime green hair...

How, at the beach house, we gather around a big farm table and eat spicy steamer pots until our lips are swollen. How we boogie-board in groups of twenty and consciously watch every sunrise and sunset. How we swim in the ocean until our eyes sting from salt and our hands look like prunes. How it's the only summer I've ever known.

But when it comes to the beach house, words fail. Maybe I'm biased, but I think it's the most beautiful place in the world.

weekend.

The drive to our beach house is not one that I ever dread or try to rush; it's the perfect transition from normal life into beach life -- hot pink skies, marshes that seem to go on forever and epically fluffy clouds, where chic bars and French restaurants cease to exist and the sunsets make you wonder about the people who were here hundreds of years ago, watching the same glowing orange sun go down.

scenes from my empty apartment.

AND we did it. With the help of nice mover men and sangria margaritas.

Last night I sat in the middle of my empty apartment listening to Beirut and thinking about all of the beautiful memories I have in this place. It was the perfect goodbye -- I felt completely at peace, ready to pave a fresh path for bright new adventures. (Then I went swimming with friends until five in the morning.)

Au revoir for now, Charleston!

cupcake break.

I've spent the past couple days preparing for my move (into a storage unit) and I've come to the conclusion that I'm a terrible packer. I end up doing things like reading old journals cover to cover (hilariously fascinating), falling asleep when I think I'm folding clothes, and making strawberry coffee cake for no good reason.

Packing makes me terribly nostalgic. This apartment is the first place that felt like home to me in Charleston. I still remember how absolutely giddy I felt moving in -- I declared my love for it in a letter, spent weeks decorating my kitchen, hosted my first dinner party (and then went on to have a magical autumn garden party), spotted multiple rainbows over  Colonial Lake, and spent many rainy days in the kitchen pretending to be Julia Child.



Reasons I will survive packing: my mother (because she is doing most of it, bless her), the Amelie soundtrack, and these cupcakes from Sugar (my favorite bakery), brought by thoughtfully and unexpectedly by a sweet friend.

P.S. I'm glad I will always have this visual from my kitchen.

lunch at rue.

 Nothing better than white wine and a Niçoise salad (or Croque Monseiur) on a Monday afternoon with a dear friend (in the glorious A/C, since my car thermometer hasn't gone below 100 in days).

Sitting at Rue de Jean (which I do, often) I can't help but daydream of France. It gives me butterflies in the best way.

the belmont.

I'm so excited that my beloved Belmont was featured in the summer issue of Southern Flourish.  Beyond the stunning atmosphere (exposed brick! cloth napkins! old black and white films!), the drinks are super special, full of amazing ingredients like jalepeño honey and fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice (which I sometimes order plain because it is just that good).





The menu is ever-evolving, and Mickey recently added a drink to the menu inspired by the first legal drink I ever had -- a champagne cocktail with lavender lemon honey. It's divine.

Photos by Ben Williams for Southern Flourish Magazine.

weekend.

I had a weekend of movie watching that began with two Sofia Coppola films, Somewhere and Marie Antoinette. I found both absolutely stunning -- full of gorgeous, haunting visuals I can't stop thinking about. She's a goddess.

I went on sunrise and sunset bike rides and multiple walks to the water, included heirloom tomatoes in almost every meal, forced salted chocolate chip cookies on friends, spent a full day swimming in the ocean (followed by tacos and frozen sangria margaritas, obv), and continued to revel in Charleston's beauty during my last week here.

P.S. A friend recently introduced me to El Perro del Mar by showing me this video, and I am obsessed. Perfect summertime tunes.

a little film about june.

I decided to document bits of my last week in Charleston (for a while) on video for a change. I can't describe the past few weeks by any word other than magical -- a summer that I will undoubtedly look back on and get a little weepy (in the best way).


Music by Beirut.
More little films here.

salted chocolate chip cookie perfection.

With the exception of triple-stuffed oreos and flourless peanut butter cookies, I'm not crazy about cookie baking. Store-bought dough often tastes just as good and my homemade dough has been known to bake into one giant cookie, which leaves me with many moral dilemmas (Do I eat it and justify it by calling it one cookie? Do I put icing on it and call it a cookie cake?). In short, cookies just don't seduce me like other baked goods (read: caramel salted brownies).

However, I was recently reminded (at Baked) that nothing beats a good chocolate chip cookie. I started out with the Baked recipe, increased the amount of chocolate chips to an unreasonable amount, and generously sprinkled coarse pink sea salt on top. Warning: it's too easy to eat this dough by the spoonful.




The Most Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies (adapted from Baked)
2 1/4 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
24 oz semisweet chocolate chips (I told you... unreasonable)

Mix the butter and sugars with an electric mixer (or a fork if the butter is soft enough). Add the eggs and vanilla. Then add the flour, salt, baking soda, and chocolate chips last. Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough on parchment paper a couple inches apart, and sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt. Bake at 375 degrees for about ten minutes.




These wondrous little cookies will make your heart sing. I promise.

summer dinners.

Summer dinners should be all about simplicity  -- roasted vegetables with truffle oil and thyme, arugula salad strawberries and avocados, and to finish it off, banana cake with peanut butter icing. (Red wine and freshly-cut hydrangeas don't hurt either.)




Also, the summer issue of Southern Flourish is live today! Check it out here.