pink rickshaw

indian inspired cheese plate

Sweet dreams are made of cheese
Who am I to diss a brie?
I cheddar the world and the feta cheese
Everybody’s looking for stilton
-A  perfectly cheesy parody of this classic song

A good cheese plate is a go-to staple when entertaining or even for a simple night-in. But where I have been stumped in the past is where is the easy cheese plate equivalent when serving an Indian meal? (Note: Indian hors d'oeuvres are typically as labor intensive (if not more) than the entrees themselves and therefore the last thing I want to make in addition to the meal.) To remedy this, I put together an Indian inspired platter that is still a basic cheese plate but incorporates in some Indian flavors and items. What definitely made this a bit more challenging is that cheese is not typically a part of Indian cuisine (with the exception of paneer..more on that later), so it does take a little bit of creativity and a few specialty items.

Like with any cheese plate, you want to stick to your basic cheese board principles by including a variety of textures and flavors which typically includes: one aged cheese, one soft cheese, one firm cheese and one blue cheese. Then you can add in your various accompaniments which include seasonal fruit, sweet preserves or honey and savory snacks like nuts or cured meats. Here's what I tried, but really there are endless possibilities.

art: dallas art fair preview

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."-Thomas Merton

The Dallas Art Fair returns for its seventh year this weekend and the event has steadily grown in both international recognition and local popularity. GOOD magazine probably put it best saying that the contemporary art fair is "the newest in a series of international art events vying to become the next Art Basel Miami Beach." And the event may get there soon with its increasing ability to attract some of the best and established contemporary art galleries from all over the world. This year's fair has over 90 galleries exhibiting from Latin America, Europe, the U.S. and Mexico. And to add some local flair, renowned and newer galleries from Dallas and Houston are also in the mix. Here's a look at some of the offerings from a few of the galleries. 

 1 and 2. Artist Despina Stokou (Derek Eller Gallery, New York)
The Derek Eller Gallery is doing a solo booth of Stokou's work which utilizes "cyber language" in her works. In her painting on the left, gallery Director Brian Faucette told me that she googled the word "avocado". She then incorporated the html code of the google results into the work (which is the lettering that you see). 

3. Artist Carlos Cruz-Diez (Sicardi Gallery, Houston)

4. Artist Lauren Luloff (Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton)

5. Artist Manolo Valdes (Marlborough Chelsea, New York)

6. Artist Keith Mayerson (Marlborough Chelsea, New York)
Ok, just when you were starting to get all arty and take yourself too seriously.. how great is this Miss Piggy? 

7. Artist Jesus Rafael Soto (Galerie Perrotin, Paris, Hong Kong, New York)
Galerie Perrotin has one of the most anticipated exhibits of the fair with works from renowned artists like Venezuelan Jesus Rafael Soto (who passed away in 2005) and Daniel Arsham. Arsham (his work is pictured above in the title picture) casts materials such as volcanic ash and glacial rock dust into objects like laptops, cameras and musical instruments. Collectors of his art include JayZ and Pharrell.  

home: globes

"I promised her the world, but instead I bought her a globe."-Jarod Kintz

It is funny that the more our lives are enhanced by technology, the more nostalgic we are for those obsolete objects that have been replaced (Q: If we think it is cool to have a vintage typewriter or rotary phone as decor today, will our grandkids be decorating with iPhones?)

One home accessory that has somewhat stood the test of time is the trusty globe. Sure, you probably have more updated means to get your geographic information , but isn't there just something magical about having a tangible, mini-Earth in your hands? Beautiful globes have long been a staple accessory in home decor adding a bit of gravitas to any room. (How can you not look scholarly when you have a globe on your desk?) I absolutely loved the big globe my parents had in our study growing up. My brother and I would close our eyes, spin it, and play "Where will you live?" landing on an unknown, exotic place we had never heard of (or the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.. which thankfully, granted you a second spin). Even today, whenever I spot the globe in my own living room, it is such a great reminder to plan that next trip or read about a new place. If you are feeling truly nostalgic, the best source for a good vintage (and inexpensive) globe is often flea and antique markets and garage sales. But lately, I have noticed several high and low end home decor sources all carrying interesting, new  globes and a plethora of cute, globe DIY projects around the web. Here is some decorating inspiration and sources for globes.

If you are wanting to start a collection, vintage globes are pretty easy to score at flea markets (and online) but there are also a wide variety of new ones at retailers right now. (I found the vintage inspired globe shown above in the title picture at Home Goods for less than $20). Here are a few more from around the web.

india fashion week: part 2

"Every day is a fashion show and the world is your runway."-Coco Chanel

Closely following Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai, fashion lovers' attention quickly turned to the ramps in New Delhi last week for Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015. (It was the first year for Amazon to be the title sponsor so it will be interesting to see if next year the models are replaced with drones. What? You know I had to throw in at least one lame Amazon joke.) On a more sartorial note, the fall lines are the most anticipated and well-known names like JJ Valaya and Namrata Joshipura did not disappoint. It was also a great showing for up-and-coming designers. Here are some of the best looks from the runway.