Pantry Confidential

Michael Harlan Turkell, Photographer, Host of The Food Seen on HeritageRadioNetwork.org

2014-01-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

Michael Harlan Turkell, Photographer, Host of The Food Seen on HeritageRadioNetwork.org
Happy new year, Pantry Confidential readers! We hope 2014 brings you an abundance of happiness, health and opportunity. We're grateful to have such a dedicated audience and we'll strive to continue introducing you to exciting folks and the unique kitchens they call their own.

We're kicking off January with someone who can usually be found both behind the lens and behind the mic - Michael Harlan Turkell! The photographer and host of Heritage Food Radio's The Food Seen has his finger on the pulse of all that is percolating in the culinary world. Whether he's interviewing chef heavyweights, food artists, or celebrity heartthrobs with a passion for wine, MHT lends a laidback air - and his signature laugh! - that puts everyone at ease. Join us in his Brooklyn home where he brings to the fore cooking en papillote, a classic technique we can all benefit from in our busy lives as we start 2014 with a bang.

Read on to check out Michael's awesome homemade vinegar collection and to peep some unapologetic kitteh shots!

Yossy Arefi, Food Photographer, Food Stylist and Blogger

2013-12-12T11:30:00.002-05:00

Yossy Arefi, Food Photographer, Food Stylist and Blogger
The moment you step into Yossy's cozy Greenpoint home, you know you're in for a treat. Is it the welcoming waft of just brewed coffee hitting your nose? The plate of orange-tinged saffron shortbread beckoning for a taste? The soaring high ceilings rimmed with charm aplenty crown molding? Yes, yes and yes; but there's more to it. There's an easy, unaffected quality to Yossy's style, which fans of her popular Apt. 2B Baking Co. blog will quickly recognize; and it's exactly this quiet confidence that draws you into this baker's dreamy, sweets-filled world where simplicity and beauty reign.

Read on to learn how Yossy broke into the food world and tips to prevent pie crust shrinkage this holiday season!

Julia Bainbridge, Senior Web Editor at Bon Appétit

2013-06-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

Julia Bainbridge, Senior Web Editor at Bon Appétit
A girl on the go with singular style -- that's Julia in a nutshell for you. As part of the digital team behind one of the hottest food publications around, Julia tempers the pressures of her high-profile role by maintaining a deep sense of family, history and tradition. It's a quality that extends to her down-to-earth entertaining style (think more comforting roast chicken dinners than, say, splashy restaurant-style productions). In a world full of changing trends and fickle desires, it's refreshing to meet someone whose conviction is as decisive as her blunt 'do.

Read on for a gorgeous recipe for clams with chorizo and a peek at droolworthy objets d'art for days!

Olga Massov, Food Writer and Creator of Sassy Radish

2013-04-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

Olga Massov, Food Writer and Creator of Sassy Radish
Olga's story resonates with us on a number of levels. During a successful - but wholly unfulfilling - 10-year run on Wall Street, Olga would spend whatever bits of free time she had cooking and writing, tinkering around in her kitchen and sharing the adventures on her popular blog, Sassy Radish. Eventually, the Russian expat chose to leave the world of finance to follow her dreams full-time and so far, her gutsy move has paid off; her first co-written cookbook, The Kimchi Cookbook, came out last year and another one is in the works. Olga's writing, much like her food and cooking style, is full of wit, charm and humility, always leaving you hungry for more.

Read on for some candid advice for those looking to break into food writing and to get a glimpse of Olga's favorite sous chef - plus, a giveaway!

Seamus Mullen, Chef/Owner of Tertulia and Author of "Hero Food"

2013-02-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

Seamus Mullen, Chef/Owner of Tertulia and Author of Hero Food
It's not everyday we get to hang out with celebrated chefs, so when the opportunity to visit Seamus Mullen in his own home presented itself, we jumped at the chance. We'll be the first to admit going through a bit of a fangirl moment - after all, he's spent time in some of Spain's most renowned kitchens; has competed on The Next Iron Chef; and has a laundry list of celebrities passing through Tertulia, his first solo restaurant here in New York. He quickly revealed, however, just how grounded he is, always letting his ingredients take center stage (and demonstrating how very little can't be improved upon with a few shavings of buttery jamón). Seamus is a true devotee to his craft and we have no doubt it's his eagle eye for detail, evident in both his restaurant and well-appointed home, that makes him the great chef that he is. Get ready to be inspired.

Read on to learn how Seamus's love affair with Spain began and for an incredible - yet easy to replicate - recipe for truffle risotto. Plus, an opportunity to win a signed copy of his informative and beautiful book, Hero Food!

Mark Andrew Gravel, Independent Cook, Designer and Author of "Kill the Recipe"

2012-12-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Mark Andrew Gravel, Independent Cook, Designer and Author of Kill the Recipe
Mark's shoot couldn't have come at a better time. Without ever intending to, we realized we had featured only women here on Pantry Confidential since our first post a little more than a year ago (A year! Already!). It's high time we mix things up, wouldn't you say? And Mark couldn't be a better inaugural male subject - passionate about food, art and the wholly sensory experiences derived from each. His first book, Kill the Recipe, is an homage to beans and cooking locally, sensibly and economically. We totally fell in love with his pared down style, which is fully extended to his minimal cooking aesthetic. A laid-back man with an appreciation for beautiful art, delicious food and cleanliness... did we mention he's single?

Read on to find out the biggest misconception about beans and the best joint for dub reggae beats in Greenpoint - plus, a giveaway!

Susy Schieffelin, Director of PR and Marketing, KGNY Restaurant Group

2012-10-01T14:30:00.000-04:00

Susy Schieffelin, Director of PR and Marketing, KGNY Restaurant Group
The word exuberant doesn't fully capture Susy's energy. This girl is firing on all cylinders ALL the time, spreading her enthusiasm for all that she loves (great food, killer accessories, her precious pup) to all who surround her. It's no wonder she's gifted at what she does, heading up the press and marketing efforts behind one of the most renowned Austrian chefs in New York, Kurt Gutenbrunner. Susy epitomizes the ethos of working hard and playing harder, and when you see someone so utterly devoted to their work, you can't help but get a little swept up, too.

Read on for tips on how NOT to light your kitchen ablaze and to find out why Susy always got scolded in culinary school!

Mindy Fox, Food Editor of La Cucina Italiana and Author of "Salads: Beyond the Bowl"

2012-07-31T13:30:00.003-04:00

Mindy Fox, Food Editor of La Cucina Italiana and Author of Salads: Beyond the Bowl
Don't let that disarming megawatt smile fool you - Mindy means business in the kitchen and she's got the chops to prove it! After years of cooking professionally in restaurant kitchens, Mindy turned to publishing, gracing the general public with her flavorful and often Mediterranean-inflected cooking through titles like A Bird in the Oven and Then Some and Olives and Oranges. Her latest cookbook, Salads: Beyond the Bowl, explores precisely that, shaking up the paradigm of orthodox greens and infusing a fresh, delicious point of view - perfect for now, when the dog days of summer settle in and green markets really start to flourish. Meet this incredible woman whose love of good food is matched only by her passion for good design. A true fox! (Sorry Mindy, we simply couldn't resist!)

Read on to learn an easy technique for making garlic paste and to find out how to take stock of your fridge "bank account" - plus, your chance to win a copy of Salads: Beyond the Bowl!

Tamar Adler, Author of "An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace"

2012-06-27T12:30:00.001-04:00

Tamar Adler, Author of An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace

“There is a prevailing theory that we need to know much more than we do in order to feed ourselves well. It isn’t true."

The opening lines of Tamar's first book, An Everlasting Meal, speak to the heart of natural, resourceful cooking and eating that often gets muddled in this age of shiny tools and instant meals. She shares simple, but no less valuable, lessons in beautifully crafted essays that let you know she's equally adept with words as she is with ingredients. Having trained in the kitchens of Chez Panisse and Prune, Tamar provides thoughtful recipes (which don't often read like traditional recipes) that yield tremendously satisfying results, for both stomach and soul.

Read on to find out what irks Tamar in the kitchen and for your chance to win a signed copy of her amazing book!

Alaina Browne, General Manager of Serious Eats

2012-05-01T10:00:00.007-04:00

Alaina Browne, General Manager of Serious Eats
In this day and age, it seems just about everyone has a blog to call their own. The world of food blogging is especially active and we can thank people like Alaina for helping to create such an open, dynamic community on the web. She's most currently associated with one of our favorite sites, Serious Eats, but her work online is long and storied. We loved getting to know this down-to-earth talent, who's not only an inspiration for crafting her dream job, melding the arenas of tech and food, but an amazing wife (of another prolific online presence, Anil Dash) and doting mother.

Read on for simple Indian home cooking tips and shamelessly adorable photos of her son, Malcolm!

Marissa Lippert, Nutritionist and Founder of Nourish

2012-04-03T13:00:00.012-04:00

Marissa Lippert, Nutritionist and Founder of Nourish
Now here's a girl after our own heart! Marissa knows how to bring wholesome, satisfying fare to the table, without ever sacrificing full flavor and panache - you don't even realize how healthful her gorgeous meals are. It's easy to see why she's constantly voted one of the most popular nutritionists in New York, exercising perfect balance in a city that's known for excess. Currently, she's dreaming of a brick-and-mortar operation where can continue sharing her philosophy with a broader audience. Be sure to check out her Kickstarter page if you're interested in showing your support!

Read on for a rainbow of spices and tips for an easy boozy brunch with girlfriends!

Archana Rao, Pastry Chef/Owner, Love Street Cakes

2012-02-27T13:31:00.004-05:00

Archana Rao, Pastry Chef/Owner, Love Street Cakes
Imagine your days filled with sugar and flour, surrounded by confections so beautiful and unique, you're a coveted fixture on the New York wedding cakes circuit. On top of that, you also happen to be married to one of the most talented young chefs in town. Talk about a culinary power couple! Yeah, we'd say it was pretty much a no-brainer when our friend and formerly featured pantry, Jamin Mendelsohn, suggested we get together with Archana. When the pastry chef isn't busy whipping up gorgeous creations for couples and celebrities, she's generously lending her time baking for a good cause - in today's case, Jackson Pollack-inspired sugar cookies for a children's arts charity. So clever, no?

Read on for every baker's best secret and find out who really rules the kitchen in this household!

Amy Feezor, Copy Director for Real Simple

2012-02-01T09:00:00.004-05:00

Amy Feezor, Copy Director for Real Simple
Behind the enviable big city gig and Brooklyn street cred, Miss Amy is actually a lovely Southern lady at heart. The natural hostess makes you feel right at home in her well-appointed apartment, which is cozy and curated just so, in a manner befitting a design professional with a keen eye for detail. Amy brings some of this comfortable, unfussy aesthetic to her kitchen, where she's been spending a lot of time cooking her way through treasured family cookbooks - after all, what's a little shortening among friends?

Read on for retro gems and to see how Amy marries form and function in her home!

Christina Ciambriello, M.A. Candidate in Food Studies, NYU Steinhardt

2012-01-09T10:00:00.074-05:00

Christina Ciambriello, M.A. Candidate in Food Studies, NYU Steinhardt

Happy 2012, Pantry Confidential readers! The dawn of a new year often forces us to pause and reflect on our lives and the very busy world around us. With that in mind, we thought Christina would be just the right person to kick 2012 off for us. This food studies student has an incredibly thoughtful approach to the way she cooks and eats. We couldn't help but get swept up in her enthusiasm - for both food communities and great olive oil! - when we dropped by her bright and funky kitchen a few months ago. If you've resolved to eat better this year, you can learn from Christina, who shows us how inexpensive and easy it can be to eat conscientiously.

Read on to find out where Christina gets her fresh pasta and her single most important pantry item!

Dorothy Neagle, Co-Founder of Good Food Jobs

2011-12-21T09:30:00.007-05:00

Dorothy Neagle, Co-Founder of Good Food Jobs
Entrepreneur, mother, food altruist. Three equally important and weighty roles that our new friend Dorothy seems to manage with graceful aplomb. This Bluegrass State native, who incidentally owes her great eye to a background in interior design, found a way to share her love of food and community to an eager audience hungry for both when creating Good Food Jobs. Oh, and can we just take a minute to point out her insanely enviable Victorian era porcelain skin?

Read on to learn more about Good Food Jobs and Dorothy's favorite squash pie recipe!

Kristin Appenbrink, Associate Web Editor at Real Simple + Ice Cream Maker

2011-12-12T09:30:00.001-05:00

Kristin Appenbrink, Associate Web Editor at Real Simple + Ice Cream Maker
Kristin may just be the closest thing to a modern-day Girl Scout. Crafty, social and of course, always prepared, she espouses a 'can do' spirit that is downright infectious. It's no surprise, then, that this intrepid web editor has managed to turn her ice cream making hobby into a budding side business. When she's not busy creating cool new confections, she's likely connecting the many people in her life to one another - in our case, over a wonderful summer meal!

Read on for Kristin's favorite ice cream spots and her own 'real simple' pantry items!

Shino Takeda, Ceramic Artist + Manager at Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn

2011-11-22T10:30:00.003-05:00

Shino Takeda, Ceramic Artist + Manager at Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn
Have you ever wondered what it's like to have two artists in the kitchen? We didn't quite know what to expect when we visited Shino and her husband Jared over the summer, but we certainly left being blown away. They didn't seem to miss a beat in bringing creativity into their everyday meals - who knew homemade "sorbet" could be as easy as whizzing together a bag of frozen mixed berries and a bit of high quality olive oil in a blender? Shino recalled a childhood memory where her mother determined the meal after allowing Shino and her and sister to choose among a variety of plates first - a fun and carefree approach to food that Shino still follows to this day. I guess that's to be expected when you put paramount focus on both flavor and aesthetics.

Read on for Shino's most-trusted kitchen utensil and to peep her beautiful craftsmanship!

Tips for Stocking a Holiday Pantry

2011-11-18T15:30:00.001-05:00

Have you checked the calendar lately? We blinked and suddenly found ourselves with less than one week left until Thanksgiving! If you, too, feel blindsided, check out some of the quick tips and easy recipes we shared with Huffington Post for staying calm and organized this holiday season, all with a high priority on fun in mind!

Pantry Preview: Shino Takeda

2011-11-11T12:30:00.011-05:00

Our next pantry shoot was so chock full of goodies, we thought we'd post a small peek to - dare we say - whet your palate! Shino is a talented friend with firm holds in both restaurant and art worlds. You can feel her fresh, fun-loving aesthetic in everything she touches, in her food and especially in the amazing handcrafted vessels that she makes herself! We can't wait to share the rest with you.

PS: Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates. Happy Friday!

*Photos by Christine Han Photography for Pantry Confidential. All photos on Pantry Confidential are original and copyrighted. Please credit and link back to our site when using our images, thank you.

Jamin Mendelsohn, Documentary/Web Producer

2011-11-07T14:30:00.004-05:00

Jamin Mendelsohn, Documentary/Web Producer

It's important to possess certain qualities when you're responsible for leading the charge over a growing health movement. Great energy and an upbeat attitude are just two that Jamin seems to have in spades. If a loyal cheerleader's what you need, you definitely want her in your corner - whether the cause is green living, Brooklyn, or even the Mets. And that smile! If that doesn't get you pumped for life, we're not really sure what will.

Read on for Jamin's juicing essentials and her favorite vegetarian-friendly chefs!

Robynne Maii, Chef Instructor

2011-11-01T14:30:00.008-04:00

Robynne Maii, Chef Instructor
When we first got together with Robynne over the summer, it was pretty apparent just how passionate this girl was about her food - whether it was through the photos she shared of her recent Persian pilaf obsession, or the very patient way she handled her gorgeous apricot tart. One look at her meticulously organized cabinets (check out her freezer!) seriously had us itching to run home and clean out our own unkempt pantries. We couldn't be happier to have someone as knowledgeable and downright nice as Robynne kick off Pantry Confidential with us.

Read on for Robynne's trusted pantry items and which chefs she thinks "give a shit about their food"!