Après-Ski, Calligraphy, and a Perfect Lasagna

What’s on the menu for December

I kick each month off with a little life update by way of a Sample Platter: What I’m reading, something I recently bought, something I’m looking forward to... An amuse bouche to set the tone for the next few weeks.

House I wish was mine: When I was a kid I loved the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street for a lot of reasons: Elizabeth Perkins’ bouncy, shiny hair; Mara Wilson’s matching beret and swing coat; the duo’s premium view of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from the bay window in their living room… But most of all, I loved the dream house that the magic of Christmas brought them to at the very end of the movie. We didn’t have snow-covered anything in my southern California neighborhood, so traditional homes like this were, to me, peak holiday.

And apparently they still are, because I have found myself completely obsessed with Sycamore House, designer Josh Young’s country home in Middleburg, Virginia. I mean, just look at it:

Images via Josh Young.

Is that not the most idyllic display of Christmas spirit you’ve ever seen? The little matching wreaths are so simple but so perfect.

The house was built in the late 1700s, so it doesn’t need much to exude charm. The stone facade, nine original fireplaces, and endless crown moulding make my heart ache a little. I think it’s my dream house, so if Santa is listening, I look forward to being gifted a free country house à la the Walkers of 34th Street in a few weeks’ time.

Recently purchased: Speaking of snow, I took a single ski lesson earlier this year after decades off the bunny slopes and now my entire personality is après-ski. In the final few hours of Black Friday madness I bought a ski jacket from Half Days that I am so excited to wear this winter when I pick lessons back up again. (People said that muscle memory would kick in and reader, it did not. But I’m ready to try again!)

Me, someday. Via Peter Beard for Vogue, November 1964.

On my wish list: I’ve had the same simple, white Crate and Barrel dinnerware set for 10+ years. It’s served me well as a blank canvas to go with all of the fun dessert plates and handmade bowls I’ve collected over the years, but after years of chips and accidents, I’m down to my last few pieces from what’s now a discontinued line.

So I’m on the hunt for a new dining set! I’ve said over and over that I don’t save my fancy dishes for special occasions, but I do like having a sort of foundational set of dishware that isn’t as precious and can be replaced as needed.

I’m just stumped on what I should get. I want something white, classic, sort of special looking but not fancy, and at a price point that won’t make me cry every time I drop a bowl in the sink. Any ideas?

A dish collection to aspire to, via Astier de Villatte.

Something I’m looking forward to: I have a busy few weeks of festivity ahead: latke night at Jessie’s, a trip to my hometown mall (for nostalgia purposes) with Kay, Jordy’s iconic Christmas party… I’ve been working really, really hard this year and haven’t spent as much time with my friends as I would have liked, so I’m really excited to change that this month.

The latkes I make every year.

What I’m eating: The day after Thanksgiving I made The Big Lasagna (gift link!), Samin Nosrat’s famously rich pasta dish that definitely shouldn’t be consumed following a night of mashed potatoes and stuffing. But alas, I spent five active hours in the kitchen whisking béchamel, grating mozzarella, and layering noodles—and I didn’t even opt to make my own tomato sauce or sheets of lasagna. It was worth it! This is the best lasagna recipe on planet Earth, partly because it’s a total labor of love to make and partly because each layer is more indulgent than the next. It’d be the perfect thing to make for a dinner party or Christmas dinner, if you’re looking for ideas.

An artist to know: Or, I guess this is an artist to not know, because I can’t find a single shred of information about them. But regardless, meet @tv_calligraphee, a calligrapher I stumbled upon via Instagram whose work I’m just mesmerized by. Like many of you, I’m sure, I find it’s a fine line between beautiful, intricate hand lettering and that sort of mid-2000s-wedding, Home-Goods-coffee-mug style of calligraphy that usually says something like “In this house, we live, we laugh, we love.” This is not that!

Be sure to follow @tv_calligraphee, whoever they may be, on Instagram for more.

On the bulletin board: A few things!

1. I’m going live on Substack with Chloe Walsh on Monday to talk all things holiday parties! Chloe is the best cook I know and the ultimate host, the type of person who invites dozens of people to her house at once and manages to make each of them feel equally cared for and well fed. And as you know, I consider myself something of a hosting connoisseur myself, so we’ll be answering questions about food, decor, drinks, host gifts, party looks, and how not to lose your mind about having people in your home. Tune in on the Substack app on Monday at 4 pm PST/7 pm EST! If you have a question for us, reply to this email or leave a comment and we’ll answer it live.

2. I’ll be at Bucatini’s holiday market in LA tomorrow, December 7th, slinging Bucatini Girlfriend hats and Pasta Club gift boxes all the livelong day. If you’re in the vicinity, stop by between 11 am and 5 pm to say hello and shop our collab!

   bucatini

   

   A post shared by @bucatini

3. Thank you to everyone who came to my holiday party last night at Tilda! I’m so grateful and my heart is so full.

x

Ali

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