Courtney Lewis

nunostudio asked: I really enjoy your lovely blog. You have a lightness and sincerity that is sometimes hard to find on the internet.

In any case, it seemed like you lived in a few different neighborhoods in Brooklyn before moving to the city. Do you ever miss Brooklyn?

Thank you Caroline for the kind words. I just clicked through and am loving your Etsy shop. Contemplating a set of the Wellfleets plates.

Now for the Brooklyn question. This is actually the first time in the 5 years I’ve been in New York that I’ve lived in Manhattan — and I’m definitely enjoying it. It’s convenient, allows me to be more serendipitous, and is full of new places to explore. I also love that friends drop by my house just to say hi. No big dinner party, no huge plan, just chatting over beers.

That said, I absolutely miss Brooklyn. I haven’t yet made a connection to my new neighborhood that matches what I felt for my various Brooklyn neighborhoods. My favorite brunch is still at Bocca Lupo. My favorite oysters and cocktails still at Marlow + Sons. My favorite Sunday afternoon spot still Gowanus Yacht Club. My favorite flowers still at Saipua. My favorite neighbors still in front of the Natty Garden. My bocce team still at Floyd. The list could go on.

I like to think of this time in Manhattan as my study abroad. Luckily, as I often swore to Manhattanites in the past, Brooklyn is just a few minutes over the bridge.

1 year ago -

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Hands Across the Sand, Southampton, NY.

1 year ago -

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In 2009, my family friend Dave Rauschkolb founded Hands Across the Sand to protest lifting Florida’s offshore drilling ban. In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Hands Across the Sand is organizing an international show of solidarity to say NO to offshore drilling and YES to clean energy. Participating is easy:

Tomorrow, June 26 go to your beach at 11am.
Form lines in the sand and at 12pm, join hands.

I’ll be ~~in Montauk~~ at Old Town Beach in Southampton, but there are various other places to join in New York (and worldwide) including the High Line, Pier 40, Coney Island and Jones Beach. Dave is also mentioned in this week’s NYMag.

1 year ago -

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I know I’ve gone a bit recipe crazy, but last night’s dinner was just too tasty not to share. Chilled Leek and Pea Soup with Mint, Beef Tenderloin with Mushrooms, Shaved Asparagus Salad, Quinoa and homemade Earl Grey Ice Cream with Berries and Cookies for dessert.

1 year ago -

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Last night, Chelsa and I took my new ice cream maker for its inaugural spin. The hot hot weather outside inspired us to try Jonesing For’s recipe for salted watermelon sorbet. Our fear that it was going to be grainy and weird was unfounded, it was delicious.

Salted Watermelon Sorbet
Makes 1 Quart

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
2/3 cup granulated sugar
5 cups seedless watermelon chunks
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel

Directions:

Make a simple syrup by combining the water and sugar in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the burner and let cool slightly.
Combine the simple syrup, watermelon, lemon juice and fleur de sel in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. [NOTE: The next step in the original recipe is to refrigerate the mixture for 2 hours until thoroughly chilled, but we skipped this part and it turned out a-okay]
Add watermelon mix to your ice cream maker and churn according to the maker’s instructions.
Once complete, transfer to an air-tight container and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic on the surface of the sorbet (to prevent surface crystallization).
Freeze for an hour or so to firm up the texture before serving.

(photo by taste tester Matt)

1 year ago -

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serenesammy asked: That's amazing that you get to travel to all these wonderful places! What is your job title?

I’m the Director of Strategy for a product design firm called Hard Candy Shell.

1 year ago