Videos: A Preview of Amanda Hesser's "Food 52" Website, Plus a Tour of Her Kitchen
In May, there was a blip on the radar that former New York Times Magazine food editor (and current Recipe Redux contributor) Amanda Hesser—along with food writer and recipe-tester Merrill Stubbs—would be launching a new site called Food 52.
Looks like they're beta-testing now—and that you can sign up for an invitation once it launches: Food52.com.
But what really caught our eye today is that Hesser and Stubbs seem to have quietly started uploading to a Vimeo account, which is full of what appear to be test videos—along with a couple great nuggets: an introduction to the Food 52 concept, and a video tour of Amanda Hesser's envy-inducing kitchen—complete with the now-customary refrigerator-baring. Watch both, after the jump.
An Intro to the Food 52 Concept
Here's the way Food 52 works: There are 52 weeks in a year, and each week we're going to select categories that go into a cookbook. And then you'll send in recipes that fit those cateogries. We'll select the best ones and prepare them each week. Then, you'll choose among them, and the winner will go into the cookbook.
A Tour of Amanda Hesser's Kitchen
Nice touches include:
- A custom cutting-board countertop that's sized to Hesser's height—with a pullout trash drawer just beneath it that she can scrape scraps into
- A pantry that's more reminiscent of library stacks—complete with ladder to access top shelves
- A photo of the "Tripe Lady," a woman whose blouse sleeves are made of tripe
Oh, and there's the customary refrigerator tour.
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15 Comments:
After getting a tour of Amanda's kitchen, with the nice fireplace and custom cutting block and rolling ladder, I'm not sure I have much sympathy for "the bane of her existence."
klg19 at 2:14PM on 07/20/09
By the way, if anyone's curious about the Tripe Lady photo (or its photographer):
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/16/fashion/16DRES.html?_r=1
klg19 at 2:51PM on 07/20/09
I am having pantry envy. All those drawers and cabinets! Mine is no slouch, but Amanda, yours is better. Next time I have to redo a kitchen (not soon, I hope) I'm borrowing that pantry setup.
ekerekes at 3:34PM on 07/20/09
So, can I say that this gorgeous kitchen totally changes my perception of Brooklyn?
Why did I think that Brooklyn was all about hot dogs and roller coasters?
Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs make a great Laurel and Hardy in the kitchen -- and I totally mean that in good way. Can't wait to see more.
chefgwen at 4:22PM on 07/20/09
Food 52 looks totally cool and I can't wait to check it out!
DaleCruse at 4:41PM on 07/20/09
I'm curious as to how she determined what would be the right height for her counter. I have a small movable island that I would like to cut down like that, but I'm scared to have the cuts actually made until I'm certain it's going to be a good height.
cara_mia at 10:15PM on 07/20/09
Just as a curiosity, in addition to Pinar Yolacan (the author of the "Tripe lady") there is also Stephanie Diani (http://troppatrippa.com/articolo_offal-taste.php) and Susanne Wollowski (http://troppatrippa.com/articolo_inside-out.php). Both artists have used tripe to dress their models.
indro at 1:46AM on 07/21/09
What a silly concept. People don't even buy cookbooks these days. They download recipes online.
lisablock at 10:45AM on 07/21/09
The standard Kitchen counter top is 36" from the floor, a 34.5" cabinet and a 1.5" countertop. To find the optimal height for you bend you arms at a 45 degree angle with palms out flat and measure from your palms to the floor. That is the optimal work height for you. A prep island is a good place to adjust height as custom cabinets can get quite expensive.
NO_Pam at 11:01AM on 07/21/09
Well now, that was riveting... they have the same flatware OMG Tee hee hee.
freddy at 10:09PM on 07/21/09
Absolutely LOVED this sneak peek. Can't wait for the site to launch, and have HUGE kitchen envy. :)
jlaw44 at 1:28PM on 07/22/09
@NO_Pam - Thanks so much! (Custom cabinetry also doesn't help resale. I had a coworker who was over 7' tall, and his realtor took him to a house with custom cabinets built for someone who was around 5'. HA!)
cara_mia at 9:22PM on 07/24/09
Amanda's kitchen came with the apartment. The pantry, however, is new to the place. Fantastic idea! So far, I am loving Food52 - great concept.
rhonda35 at 1:04AM on 07/27/09
I am envious of that pantry, I can imagine all the stuff I could fit in there! Thanks for the preview, very cool.
passion4eating at 11:56AM on 07/27/09
"Never trust a skinny cook"!
By the way, lisablock, I was going to disagree with you about people not buying cookbooks these days, but I just remembered my once-treasured and now, largely neglected collection of dusty tomes and I think I agree with you! I love logging on and finding one-off recipes.
snowmoonelk at 10:41AM on 07/28/09