Bourbon Barrell Foods

Today is my last day of shooting Life After Top Chef for Bravo. I've been following chef Richard Blais around Atlanta for the past two months and the entire experience has been incredibly fun. He has taught me the importance of making simple, delicious food, which seems to always come back to proper seasoning. Salt, pepper, acidity... So in honor of our last day on set, I decided to post about a company who knows all about good seasoning, Bourbon Barrell Foods of Louisville, Kentucky. 

The creators of Bourbon Barrell Foods follow one mantra when making their high quality products; slow, small and simple. All of their products utilize ingredients sourced locally from Kentucky farmers as well as their infamous spirit- bourbon... straight from Bourbon County. 

Their sauces and marinades would make a great addition to your Memorial Day festivities. These include worcestershire sauce, which uses sorghum for sweetness; Kentuckyaki, which is their Kentucky style teriyaki made with bourbon, sorghum, ginger and garlic; And their popular Bluegrass Soy Sauce that is microbrewed in small batches. As stated on their site, "it's smoky and brothy with hints of oak and a mild sweetnesss reminiscent of fine Kentucky bourbon." 

If you're a man who likes good food and good bourbon, these products are a safe bet. Click here to see a full list of goods and here for a bevy of tasty recipes created by founder, (and a chef himself) Matt Jamie. And happy Manly Monday...

Photos: Bourbon Barrell Foods    Content: Sweet Peach

Wonder of Nature

I'll be leaving the country for the month of June to shoot a show for MTV. I'm happy to go ...but quite sad to miss this natural phenomenon I had no idea existed until a few weeks ago. It entails a rare species of fireflies that blink in unison during their mating season. It happens in only two places in the world- in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee and in Malaysia. 

These fireflies blink in sync for just two weeks in mid June, starting at dusk each night. As stated on the Glenstone Lodge site, "This species of firefly (Photinus Carolinas) has a special sensor inside their heads that lets them know when a nearby firefly has illuminated, in which they respond by flashing their own light as quickly as possible." About a 1000 people a night gather in the Tennessee park to watch the spectacle (just southeast of Knoxville) and man, I wish I could go. Next year, I'll be there...but I encourage you to make the trip- and please, tell me all about it! 

Photos:  insidegatlinburg.com;  Judd Patterson    Content: Sweet Peach

Three Trees Bindery

Journals are a weakness of mine. I have way too many scattered about the house and if I stumble upon a new one in a store that catches my eye with a great feel and design, I often just buy it. Binding books is a passion of artist, Michelle Skiba of Charlotte, North Carolina. As she states, "For me, the making of a blank book is only the beginning of the creative process. I am one thread in the fabric that will continue to unfold as the books fall into the hands and lives of others." 

One of my favorite features is the visible stitching. This book, with wood covers antiqued in shades of black and cream, can be custom made for your wedding or special event. Michelle will personalize the book with names and a date, hand stamped on a silver, brass or copper plate. Thread colors and end sheets can also be customized with the colors you desire. 

Her wood covers are really special as they are made from cuts of black walnut, cherry, mahogany... sturdy and full of character and natural detail. These are journals to last a lifetime. 

Check out Michelle's Etsy shop, Three Trees Bindery when you get a chance to see all of her lovely handwork. Thank Michelle... 

Photos: Three Trees Bindery     Content: Sweet Peach

Sideshow Sign Co.

I got an email the other day from Jasmin Kaset and her husband Luke Stockdale. They're the creators of Sideshow Sign Co. in Nashville, Tennessee. Jasmin thought their salvaged creations may make a good fit for Sweet Peach and I'd say she's absolutely right on that...

They specialize in throwback prints and light up marquee letters. On first glance you may think their wares are vintage finds but in fact, that's just the inspiration. Luke makes everything himelf. As he states, "Everything I make is carefully aged and expertly wired, made from fine art canvas or salvage wood and bent steel, speed rusted and banged up proper." 

I really love this idea and his prices are great for the meticulous effort he puts into making these. The Eye Exam print it $90 and the Hand Shadow Puppet print is $140. Either would look amazing in a kid's room. 

The great thing is Luke can customize any type of letters you're looking for- with choices on wood and color. I like the idea of a simple word like MILK above the fridge. It' a quick way to add one of a kind style and flair. 

The Twin Brothers print is a 1950's reproduction that I love as a gift idea for a guy's office (who happens to be a twin)...  and it's hard not to love the museum regulation sign. As Luke says, "For hosting those raised in a barn, it may oddly come in handy." 

Custom words and lettering are Luke's specialty. Reliably stylish and fun, the large letters can work well for either your home or business decor. It's Sideshow's 'homage to diner culture and ghost town salvage.' 

We've all seen growth charts in people's homes but I've never seen one quite like this. It's 100% accurate to the measure, made of sturdy canvas and "hung with banged up wooden rods on the top and bottom, giving them the old school room finish." I love, I love... See all of Sideshow's fabulous creations here.

Photos:Sideshow Sign Co.   Content: Sweet Peach

Mason Jar Labels...

Pickled fruits, curds and jams are one of my favorite gifts to give all summer long...so I was happy to see these adorable, homespun mason jar labels from the Etsy shop, Mud and Twig. 

Each label is made freehand ensuring no two will be the same. They include machine stitched lines for naming your jars and little wool felted images like peaches, apples, acorns and strawberries. 

The labels are sold in packs of 12 and come in two sizes, regular or wide. Peruse the dozens of mason jar labels at Mug and Twig's Etsy shop...and happy canning! 

Photos: Mud and Twig   Content: Sweet Peach

Solitude...

Complete soitude is something I crave from time to time. And if I had an address and an invite to this one room abode, I'd be in my car and on my way in ten minutes. This is The Shack, located on South Fork Mountain in West Virginia. Created by Broadhurst Architects of Washington D.C., it's beautifully designed, well thought out and has a certain manly, rugged appeal, don't you think? 

If you're looking for HBO or a wireless internet password for your laptop, you won't find it here. As they state on their site, "This fundamental shelter has no electricity. Oil lamps provide light. Heat is provided by a small wood stove, which is also used to heat water that is delivered to the 'kitchen' sink by a gravity system." Rusticity never looked so good...

Situated on 27 acres, The Shack is propped up from ground level to help deter mice, snakes and the occasional curious bear. I would love to see that sky on a clear night and hear the noises that fill it up. I bet it's sublime...

The Shack was built as a family retreat for clients and not available for rental. But, because of its popularity, the one room structure inspired the masterminds of Broadhurst Architects to create a prefab version that can be delivered to your door with directions to assemble. It's called The Crib and I want one...

The Crib comes in three sizes; basic, full and extended. The way it works is you or your contractor build the foundation according to their specifications and then they'll ship all the materials you need by truck. Assembly takes just a few days. And voila, your very own Crib. It's instant, low maintenance cool. Gotta love that...

Photos: Broadhust Architects, Anice Hoachlander    Content: Sweet Peach

Strawberry Mint Julep

My dad and I had a bourbon cocktail together the other night and it was just another reminder of my love affair with bourbon. So when I saw this recipe for homemade strawberry infused bourbon to make a Julep, I was smitten...and inspired.

I'm a bit overloaded with work today, so just wanted to link you directly to the recipe from the fabulous Cookie and Kate blog. As soon as I get my hands on some fresh strawberries, I'm going to make this. Yummy! Enjoy your weekend everyone. 

Photos: cookieandkate.com     Content: Sweet Peach

Bexar Goods

In the heart of the Texas Hill Country, a small group of craftsman are busy creating quality leather goods that showcase style and substance, function and form. 

Guy Rubio, Christian Craft and Falcon Craft-Rubio of Bexar Goods (pronounced Bare) don't just want you to buy a bag- they want you to buy an experience. Their leather goods are meant to be carried from home to work... from work to the airport...from the USA to a river in Tibet, a mountain in New Zealand, a meeting in Hong Kong. As they state, "We believe in ruggedness, simplicity, durability and timelessness."  

Their totes are offered in a bevy of color options and materials. The left tote is made of duck cotton canvas which is both water repellent and lightweight. The right one is waxed canvas which is water resistant and durable enough to stand on its own. 

Who doesn't love a well made inside pocket? Especially one that looks spacious enough for your iPad and important papers. 

Click on their site to see the entire collection of totes, backpacks, belts and more...

If I had to pick my favorite item of theirs, it'd be this gorgeous market bag. And it's on sale, yay! The iPhone sleeve and wallet has two pockets and tons of time. It'll last you a lifetime... 

Photos: Bexar Goods     Content: Sweet Peach 

Suite One Studio

I've had Suite One Studio on my mind for a while so I'm excited to finally blog about it. Lindsay Emery of Greensboro, South Carolina is the artist behind these beautifully crafted tableware pieces- the kind of pieces where you'd like to say, "I'll take one of everything please." 

As Lindsay shares on her site, "All work is made by hand from start to finish without the use of molds, making each piece completely original." Find the salt & pepper porcelain bowls here and the half dipped aqua porcelain cups here. 

I love the soft lavender and gray color of these sturdy and rustic stoneware bowls. The interiors feature a soft glaze while the exteriors remain unglazed but are sanded to a smooth finish. 

Lindsay's piece are a play of various textures, color and contrasts. This look has become part of her signature- for every time I peruse Etsy, I know exactly when it's a Suite One Studio piece. Brand recognition is a good thing...

The Mulberry Porcelain serving bowl is too pretty, especially with that gorgeous tea towel beneath it. Perfectly complementary...

Photos: Suite One Studio    Content: Sweet Peach

Machine Shop Lighting

It's fun to write about an indulgent piece of home decor once in a while. I have lots of them bookmarked on my laptop, including this recent addition of handcrafted light fixtures from Machine Shop Lighting in Austin, Texas. 

With a background in construction, architecture and engineering, Marc Knight creates lights that he himself would like to own- lights of superior quality that have personality, style and clean lines. Like all of the lights Marc makes, the Lawrence Pulley, pictured above, is made using A36 raw steel and a glass cone that is crafted from 3/8" thick Pyrex glass. 

This is the Haegglund. I want two of these lights placed on either side of my back porch door. They'd look so great amongst my black and white decor...

The Harrison Pulley is much like the Lawrence except it affixes straight to the wall. I love how these pieces are as functional as they are pleasing to the eye. The detail work is impeccable...

As the Machine Shop crew state on their site, "Our glass is made the way it should be. Hand shaped with distinct lines, strong and clear." All the metal for the fixtures are precisioned machined and fitted. The entire process places quality above all other criteria and the results speak for themelves. Truly stunning...Learn more about Machine Shop Lighting here. 

Photos: Machine Shop Lighting   Content: Sweet Peach