Creative Q&A: Laura Wright
Name, Location, Occupation
Laura Wright
Niagara region of Southern Ontario
Recipe Developer/Food Photographer/Hospitality Professional/Author of The First Mess
The First Mess
Please describe your workspace:
In progress. I do any and all creative work from home and my partner and I bought a 100 year old house last fall. Every day there's a surprise in terms of renovations/things that need some TLC. We completely gutted the kitchen, which was a painful process to deal with for a few months--these things always take longer than you intend them to, especially if you're doing the work yourself. I still have the tiles waiting in the basement for a rather large, all-encompassing backsplash (beveled white subway tile if you were curious) and I need to paint the window and door trim that we had restored over a month ago, but it's Summer and I'm fine to carry out with the rustic vibe a bit longer. We created and planted a bunch of gardens this year, so it's all flowers, vegetables + herbs everywhere. We're also the only people on our street with a wraparound porch, and it's easily my favourite part of the house. The light is just right at almost any time and the breeze always blows through. If I'm at home working on something, I'm generally there.
What are you working on right now?
I'm always working on my blog, and as of this moment I'm searching out some designers/web developers to revamp my online space. I also have a book proposal in the works and I just finished up a superfoods-themed recipe development job--lots of goodies with chia seeds, turmeric, basil, blueberries and ginger. Oh! And I just perfected my raw and vegan fudgesicle recipe recently--that was a good day.
What has been your most rewarding project to date?
Just seeing the evolution and change of my style on the blog has been pretty rewarding. Also, I get a lot of really encouraging emails from readers every week because they've tried a certain recipe or they've gained more confidence in terms of feeding themselves well. The power of food! It's really something.
Who are you inspired by?
Almost any living entity provides me with SOME kind of inspiration. But to name some names of people who just get me amped on creating and working and BEING out there: Alice Waters, Terrence Malick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Rene Redzepi, M.I.A., Ditte Isager, Dr. Andrew Weil, Barbara Kingsolver, Tamar Adler, Dave Eggers, Gabrielle Hamilton, Haruki Murakami, Cheryl Strayed, Jonathan Franzen, Anthony Bourdain, Jeff Bridges, Neil Young, Isabel Marant, Mara Hoffman, Garance Doré, Emmanuelle Alt, Grace Bonney...
Has there been a defining moment or turning point when you realized what you wanted to do for a living?
I think when Saveur Magazine editors selected The First Mess as a winner for their Best Food Blog Awards this year, my mind shifted away from leisure activity, and over into the idea of possible career a bit more. It was a nod of recognition that I haven't taken lightly. This isn't to say that I want to blog for a living, but the skill sets and ways of communicating that I've practiced through the blog have definitely given me more insight on what I'm capable of achieving.
What do you think is the most difficult aspect of your work?
Responding to emails and other administrative sort of bits. I gravitate to the outdoors by nature, so it's hard for me to hunker down over a computer for longer than an hour. Just any of the more clerical ends of things tend to lead to a certain mental fog/resistance on my part.
What are you reading at the moment?
Boozehound by Jason Wilson
What websites do you visit for inspiration?
There are many, but some of my all time favourites are: Garance Doré, The Selby, The Glow, Apartment 2B Baking Co., 101 Cookbooks, Manger, Local Milk, Wit & Delight, and A Restless Transplant
What are your simplest daily pleasures?
Coffee is the simplest and most thoroughly enjoyed pleasure in my day to day. It punctuates a morning/day of work with some percolations, steam, aroma, and--with varying degrees of necessity--it demands pause. Also, I spend at least 20 minutes a day puttering in my garden. Nourishing plants to fruition is a hobby/way of life that runs deep in my family, so fortunately there's plenty of wisdom at my disposal. I find it relaxing more than anything else.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Definitely in a house in the country with more space and room for a little garden shed-style kitchen studio. I'm thinking I'll have authored a couple books by this point and I'll either be running a community food-centred education project OR a small whole food take away/café/juice bar-ish place tucked within a large roaming nursery/greenhouse/outdoor living concept shop. Also hoping my man and I will have a couple little ones running around by then. Lastly, a little vacation studio-ish space of my own in a tropical locale wouldn't be out of the question either.
Summer Cocktail
A lovely summer cocktail recipe from our recent First Ladies Club in Victoria, BC. Thanks to Bash Specialty and Rock Paper Square for hosting such a great evening.
The Molly Jane
1 oz Victoria Gin
1 oz Gifford's Grapefruit
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 oz lavender simple syrup
Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Pour into glass. Garnish with lavender sprig and sage leaf.
Lavender Simple Syrup
Boil equal parts sugar and water (adjust the sugar to taste). When boiling, add 2 teaspoons lavender buds. Reduce for 30-40 minutes. Pour through fine strainer to remove lavender buds. Refrigerate to store in a sealed container for up to three weeks.
Photography by Kelly Brown
Creative Q&A: The Cook's Atelier
Name, Location, Occupation
Marjorie Taylor and Kendall Smith Franchini
Beaune, France
Co-Founders, The Cook's Atelier, an epicurean center, cooking school and wine shop in Beaune, France.
Please describe your workspace:
The Cook's Atelier is an epicurean center in the center of historic Beaune, France run by a mother and daughter duo. Our epicurean center is housed in a 17th century building and includes a wine shop, a retail space as well as our teaching kitchen and dining room. The Cook's Atelier is a place for locals and visitors alike to come and participate in special events around local food and wine. We wanted to create a space that was convivial and inspiring. The Cook's Atelier is really something special and we love sharing it with others.
What are you working on right now?
In the height of the season, we are busy with cooking classes, private dinner parties and winemaker dinners. Currently, we are busy working on our online shop, The French Larder at The Cook's Atelier, which we hope to launch in the next few weeks. This has been a big project as it will include everything we have in our brick and mortar shop in Beaune as well as some very special vintage finds. The French Larder showcases our favorite cook's tools and provisions as well as vintage items and French copper. It is a cook's dream. The shop includes everything we love as cooks and everything is beautiful as well as useful. An upcoming cookbook is also in the works.
What has been your most rewarding project to date?
It is difficult to choose a specific project. We are fortunate to be able to create a business around everything we love in France. We still pinch ourselves everyday!
Who are you inspired by?
We are inspired by the idea that you can make anything happen! For us, it is about pursuing your dreams and jumping right in. That has worked for us and we are forever grateful. Whether it be food, photography or lifestyle, we are inspired by others who follow their passions and pursue their dreams.
Has there been a defining moment or turning point when you realized what you wanted to do for a living?
For us, Kendall was the Francophile and she has pursued the lifestyle of living in France for as long as we can remember. She studied French and Art History in University and has lived in France for 13 years. For me, I realized that after visiting Kendall for many years when she lived in France that this was not a short term problem, but a long term problem. It occurred to me that she was never coming home! Being a very close mother and daughter team, we decided to combine our two passions, wine and food, and create The Cook's Atelier. So, I decided in 2007 to make the leap and follow my heart. Turns out, my hunch paid off. She did find her very own Frenchman and I have two sweet grandchildren, Luc et Manon.
What do you think is the most difficult aspect of your work?
French bureaucracy!
What are you reading at the moment?
Marjorie: Michael Pollan's: Cooked plus a stack of cookbooks.
Kendall: Since my little ones are tiny, I read mommy blogs!
What websites do you visit for inspiration?
We love Remodelista, Mrs. French at Bliss Blog and TED talks about sustainable agriculture.
What are your simplest daily pleasures?
Our first cup of tea in the morning.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Enjoying the life we have created in France. Family dinners. Picnics and enjoying meals around the table with family and friends.
