Musings
The C&C Holiday Gift Guide
Friends and the like always consult me around this time for gift ideas and so, this year, here you have it! I am a believer in little luxuries. Gifts don’t have to be grand or uber expensive, but well considered. Personally, I am also interested in the maker and materials behind each product.
Below, I’ve included a little round up of some of my personal favorites…
Send me a message if I can help in any way: Caitlin@citrusandcedars.com
Brass & Light Blue Bowls found at Anyon Atelier — see HERE.
I have a collection of these and think they are so chic and fun. Use for office bits & bobs, matchbook collections or beautiful holiday candies. Alternatively, simply leave empty on a coffee table. They are made by Denmark-based artist Louise Roe Copenhagen, available at Anyon Atelier in San Francisco.
Small Mid-Century French Lamp found via Live Auctioneers — see HERE.
Our little pantry in Vermont that is underway needs a tiny light and I love this Mid-century darling.
Brass Pepper Mill via Cook’s Atelier — see HERE.
What would one NOT lust for on this site! I love gifting “sweet” little kitchen accoutrements from Cook’s Atelier. This brass pepper mill is on my list. Jewelry for your spices!
Rattan Ottoman by Franco Albini via 1st Dibs — see HERE.
Rattan is ALWAYS in. I may have already put the sleigh before the reindeer and purchased one of these for moi, but I love all of the pieces re-produced in the manner of Italian Neo-Rationalist designer Franco Albini.
Cire Trudon “Ernesto” Candle — see HERE.
I’m not a big scented candle person — it reminds me of being in a Victoria’s Secret or Yankee Candle (YUCK!), but Cire Trudon is a sure thing. Ernesto is a recent scent I discovered when a dear client gifted it to me — and my husband LOVES its notes of leather, cigar and tobacco. I always light it before he comes home from work.
Poplin London Silk Nightshirt — see HERE.
I love a good monogrammed nightshirt and silk is always comfy and luxurious. Poplin London is so accommodating with bespoke orders. Their silk colors are so decadent and unusual.
Spalted Salad Bowls via Hudson Grace San Francisco - see HERE.
I am obsessed with these salad bowls. We have them in various sizes at home — the 11” for just meals for two, and the 13” for when we are/(were!!) entertaining. I love that they are made from a fallen tree by a craftsman in Massachusetts. (View Spencer Peterman’s work here). If not for the holidays, put these on your registry!
French stone garden urns — see HERE.
I adore all of Carol’s products she thoughtfully procures for her antiques business, Gray Antiques. Why not dress the garden this winter with some gorgeous 1940s stone urns? Forever pieces!
Gucci Fair Isle Sweater — see HERE.
Consignment is COOL! I love the Real Real! Give a little mohair and wool while recycling some haute fashion!
Party Pooper
One of the things I miss the most from all of this Covid nonsense is parties. Parties in all forms. Casual backyard rendezvous. Milestone celebrations. The kinds of parties that make your jaw drop. The homes where the hosts have clearly gone to such thoughtful great lengths to delight their guests in such an intimate way. The wedding that made your heart sing. The kind of bash you’d fly across country for because you know your dear friends will be there.
When this is finally under wraps (hurry up already!!) I know we will all come back with a much greater appreciation for the company we celebrate with and the measures taken to be joyful in those moments.
When I think about glamorous, whimsical, decadent parties that ooze with old-school hospitality, I think about Van Wyck & Van Wyck.
Enjoy a sampling of their work, here.
Hopefully we’ll get our party on again very soon…
A New Orleans wedding by Van Wyck & Van Wyck
A moment from a New Orleans wedding by Van Wyck & Van Wyck
A Weekend Well Spent
My husband and I had a lovely getaway in Litchfield County, Connecticut over the weekend. The past few weeks have been exhausting for wonderful reasons, but it was time to take a healthy pause.
The weekend was a little slice of happiness — and a welcomed distraction, as we were footloose without baby, exploring a few places we have had on our list for some time.
First, was New Preston to check out Plain Goods Shop, followed by a cozy and casual lunch at The Owl, a wonderful recommendation from Carol Vargo of Gray Antiques. My encounter with Plain Goods Shop was a lovely reminder of how a shopping experience should be, in my opinion. Every product was thoughtfully procured and presented whilst beautifully styled amongst juicy Autumn dahlias, resting on antique furniture pieces with a perfect patina — all ready to enchant the customer.
Just across the way, lunch at the The Owl was fantastic and with the raw New England air, it made for the perfect respite. The menu was simple — mostly pizzas and salads, all fashioned with seasonal ingredients, accompanied with fantastic wine and beer selections. The decor, matte black bistro tables and chairs adorned with local blooms, was uncontrived yet well considered.
Though there were other highlights of course, one of the main reasons we road tripped was to see The Mayflower Inn after its chic face lift by Kemble Interiors. Our experience did not disappoint. Dinner was prix fixe, and with all the hype about their new in-house chef April Bloomfield, I can genuinely say, it was impressive and delicious. As far as the interior, Kemble Interiors truly did a remarkable job with the project. My favorite room, the parlor, was adjacent to the chic gift shop (a fun collab with the ladies of The Huntress), playfully swathed in bold fabrics, Green Vase paper florals, abstract art (to include one of Gary Komarin’s iconic Cake Paintings), and trimmings for the perfect fireside cocktail experience. I highly recommend a visit, even if just for a drink!
Here’s to savoring new experiences and hoping 2021 will make way for more adventures…
A snap from our stay in Litchfield County.
Old World Italian
My copy of Mimi Thorisson’s new cookbook, Old World Italian, arrived yesterday and it has me excited for a cozy weekend of recipe reading and testing. We are headed up north to our tiny cabin this evening, a place where I love to cook, so the timing could not have been more perfect.
I’ve followed Mimi for years, since her idyllic days in Médoc living in her family’s farmhouse and now, I look forward to reading about their new adventure in Turin, Italy.
Admittedly, part of what first drew me into her work was the photography. Her husband, Oddur Thorisson has been capturing her culinary travels and recipes since the beginning. There is such depth to her work — her authenticity and passion comes alive in the imagery that feels so uncontrived yet seductive in color, texture and mood. And yes, there is indeed an element of “Old World” to her spirit and philosophy that I find incredibly alluring. She is perhaps one of the royal members of and advocates for the Slow Food movement that captivates many of us.
From foraging in the fields for mushrooms, to the best duck with green olives in Paris, to her favorite local markets in Bordeaux, Mimi has always been a go-to source of mine when I’m scheming up special meals, and even influenced our restaurant selections in Paris last fall and on our honeymoon in Italy.
I highly recommend following Mimi on Instagram, and welcoming her cookbook to your kitchen.
Now, I’m off to find some Oxtail Stock…
ABOVE & BELOW: Snippets from Mimi’s new cookbook, available for order on Amazon — or, better yet, call your local bookstore to see if they will order for you.
