If there's one thing we hold dear it's being able to hold our own in a conversation surrounding food and, more importantly, drink. How do we do it? With the help of a lot of research that involves on-site investigations—cocktails don't just drink themselves!—and the many friends of ours who document this stuff for a living to help point us in the right direction. One of our favorites? Claire Thomas, whose LA-based Kitchy Kitchen blog keeps us up to date on some amazing food happenings out west and some even better DIY cocktail recipes. We asked our newest Friend of Kanon to give us a look at what a typical day is like for a girl whose life is quite literally consumed with food, and here are the mouth-watering results. Spoiler Alert! She even created her very own Kanon cocktail recipe. And it's delicious.
8:30 am: Every Wednesday morning you can find me tasting my way through the farmer's market in santa monica. This is my happy place where I go to check out what's in season and have my pre-breakfast oysters. Yeah, I get strange looks for this morning ritual but that cold ocean taste and shot of B-12 wakes me up better than the strongest cup of coffee.
9:30 am: Next I pop by Huckleberry with my dear friend Laurel, a character straight out of Anne of Green Gables (seriously! look at the ribbon in her hair). She is a come to life Gibson girl and usually has a bun haphazardly piled on her head we've named the "cinnamon bun." Speaking of baked goods, Huckleberry has the best breakfast in town, without a doubt. Their apple turnover is so good it's a little depressing. I always buy a second one to bring home for my brother, and then sort of black out and wake up covered in flakes before we pull in the driveway. I think I have a problem.
10:30 am: I head to my house to shoot a 30 second video with Yayo, my friend and DP. My entire family works in the commercial or advertising industry, so I was indoctrinated with brevity at an early age. I especially love the 30 second format when it comes to food; you're forced to think of it simply and viscerally, breaking it down into essentials. Best moment with Yayo: We're shooting a lookbook, and I keep directing the model, "Look at Yayo." She looks around nervously. I direct her again, and her eyes keep moving randomly. Finally she stops and asks, "What's a Yayo?" So now I'll just pepper my conversation with that, "Yayo, what's a yayo?"
12:30 pm: Midnite, the family cat, distracts me from color correcting photos and writing new recipes. If I have a computer on my lap, my lap is all of a sudden the best real estate on the entire couch, and considering I spend several hours a day with my computer on my lap, writing posts, editing my videos, uploading photos, Midnite can be quite the adorable nuisance.
2:30 pm: Lunch at Reddi Chick with my little brother, Henry. I live with my family, and since I'm freelance I'm the family chaffeur, dropping off and picking Henry up from school until he gets his license, a day I'm dreading as I love our drives together. If he gets out early we head to lunch and it's always one of two things: chipotle or reddi chick. Today we went with Reddi Chick, a mom and pop institution that makes the best rotisserie chicken and fries. It's covered in this secret seasoning salt that I have deduced is Lawry's laced with god knows what. And yes, Henry brought his own barbecue sauce; he is randomly fastidious with food items, root beer being another one he maintains a very strong opinion about (Frostie's is his favorite if you were wondering).
3:30 pm: Josh and Zoe Loeb are my favorite restaurant couple in the city, so when Sweet Rose Creamery opened around the corner I cleaned out my freezer in anticipation. Henry usually goes for the hot fudge brownie sundae and even though I taste what's new, I more often than not order the mint chocolate chip. The ice cream is bright and herbaceous, with generous chunks of homemade chips. Absolute perfection on a freshly pressed cone!
5:00 pm: I head to Hollywood to shoot an event for Refinery29 at Space 1520. I've been working as a food photographer and writer for two years, so the fact that I'm part of a fashion team is a fun twist. My sister Amanda is a brilliant jewelry designer and has worked in the fashion industry for years, so when I started making my couture dollycakes, she'd always bring one into work. Kate Mulling was in her office at the time, and when she headed up Refinery29 LA I kept offering myself as her blogger girl friday: lifestyle articles, street style shoots, event coverage, recipes, whatever was needed and whatever I could throw at her. After a few months I snagged a spot as a West Coast Contributor, lead photographer, and major Kate Mulling fan. She always has on the perfect shade of red lipstick, and that alone earns my respect. Getting in some sisterly bonding time in, Amanda helps me pick out what to wear to these events and joins Kate and me in the fun.
7:00 pm: I speed down the Glendale freeway to the Verdugo Bar to join in on the Hot Knives and Bruery beer and cheese pairing. The Bruery is my neighborhood alehouse, even though its all the way in unfortunately named town of Placentia. Their Belgian style beer is delicious, nuanced, and surprising all at once. Patrick, the owner, likes to have fun with his brew and recently knocked my socks off with his kaffir lime and galanga brewed Gunga Galunga, which tastes eerily similar to a dark and stormy. The guys at Hot Knives paired it with a red curry date filled with bleu cheese, yum!
8:30 pm: Next is a late dinner with the boyfriend, Peter. Italian and hungry, he was the perfect mate for a fledgling chef just learning how to put together a meal. My official recipe tester, sous chef, dish washer, and all around wonderful person, I don't know what I'd do without him. Or if I tried, it would be a hell of a lot messier and more disorganized. Pho Cafe is one of our favorite spots for a cheap dinner, and their pho tai is beyond. Spiced with cinnamon, star anise, coriander, and the rest they won't tell me, but I don't really need to know, it's just delicious and perfect split for two.
9:30 pm: Yayo joins us for drinks at my new favorite spot, Cana Rum Bar. It's a members only bar in the parking lot of the Doheny Hotel and has a fabulous outdoor patio with a roaring fireplace. The boys smoke cigars while I bug Rhachel, the bartender, to show me the drinks she's been working on. We usually play a few rounds of "celebrity" and sip a Day and Age before we're ready to call it a night.
9:30 pm: But if, in a choose your own adventure way, I didn't feel like going out later that night, I would just mix a cocktail for Peter and me at home and catch up on 30 Rock. I love herbaceous and bright notes in drinks, so to play off of Kanon's smooth flavor I made a twist on one of my favorites, The Bite. So I give you The Bitten, a combination of Kanon Vodka, Rosemary infused syrup, Green Chartreuse, Lemon, and a touch of absinthe. Fresh, vegetal, and a little spicy, this is all things refreshing. Enjoy!
The Bitten
2 oz Kanon Vodka
1 oz Green Chartreuse
1 oz Lemon juice
1 tsp. rosemary infused syrup (just equal parts sugar and water with a sprig of rosemary simmered until incorporated)
1 dash absinthe
Combine everything but the absinthe in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. Spray or coat a cocktail glass with absinthe and strain the contents of the shaker into the glass. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary or lemon peel and Enjoy!
