Tag: bondi junction

Categories
Dining Kitchens Recipes

Foodie Friday: Spring veggie tart recipe

foodie friday logo

Welcome to our new series, Foodie Friday! Pop in each week for our latest easy and  delicious recipe. Today’s is from our friends at Williams-Sonoma.

Free for brunch this weekend? Try this easy Spring Veggie Tart.

Why not lift your brunch game this weekend by gathering a few friends at home and celebrating the new season’s bounty? Cafés are great, but don’t overlook the virtues of entertaining at home – especially when you’ve got little ones in tow. This easy, versatile tart base is easy to load with whatever vegetables are stacked highest at the farmers’ market. Here, it’s elegant leeks and vibrant spring asparagus paired with pungent Fontina. Fontina is an Italian cheese with a delicious strong flavour that melts brilliantly. It’s available at most supermarkets and delicatessens, but if you can’t find it you could easily substitute Gruyère or provolone. Serve the tart warm from the oven with the usual brekkie sides, such as roasted baby tomatoes, mushrooms, bacon and great coffee (Champagne cocktails optional).

WS_VOD_SprVegTart_0514-652x832

Styling tip: give your tart an extra glamorous edge by presenting it the same way the best food stylists do. Bring it to the table pre-cut on a generous, rustic chopping board lined with a piece of parchment or baking paper. Simple and chic. Just beware that your guests might show up again next week!

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, about 250 g, thawed
  • 1 cup (125 g) grated Fontina
  • 15-20 thin asparagus spears, ends trimmed (thicker spears halved lengthwise)
  • 1 small leek, white part only, halved and thinly sliced
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) full-cream milk
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Lay the puff pastry on the prepared tray. Fold over the sides to make a 2.5 cm rim, overlapping the pastry at the corners and pressing it lightly. Inside the rim, prick the pastry all over with a fork.

Sprinkle half of the cheese over the bottom of the pastry inside the rim. Top with the asparagus, laying the spears vertically in a row from one side of the pastry to the other. Sprinkle the leeks over the asparagus. Bake for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the eggs, milk, 1/2 tsp salt and several grinds of pepper until well combined. Remove the pastry from the oven. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the asparagus and leeks and sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let the tart stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 4.

This recipe is adapted from one in the Vegetable of the Day Cookbook by Kate McMillan. Head to Williams-Sonoma for lots more recipe inspiration, or book yourself into a cooking class in the stunning marble-clad Bondi Junction Cooking School!

All our recipes

Categories
Designers Expert Tips Furniture

Take 5 with Kate Pascoe Squires

Kate Pascoe Squires (left) and

Each week we shine the spotlight on some of Australia’s best designers, artists and stylists and have them share with us what’s making them tick; anything from their favourite cafe and shop to their favourite book and musician.

Today we chat to Kate Pascoe Squires, one half of the amazing Australian designed textiles and soft furnishings business, Kate & Kate.

Kate Pascoe Squires (left) and business parter and sister-in-law Kate Pascoe (right)
Kate Pascoe Squires (left) and business parter and sister-in-law Kate Pascoe (right)
1. What is your favourite cafe?  

The Cook & Baker in Bondi Junction is my second home – their food is incredible, everyone who works there is just so nice and their chai is my morning addiction. They make their own almond milk too, which I love. So good.

2. What is your favourite book?

The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton was a bit of a game changer for me.

3. What is your favourite shop?  

That’s a tough one… there are so many! I’m all about Ellery at the moment and am currently spending a lot of time in their Paddington boutique. It’s dangerous.

4. What is your favourite piece of furniture you own?

My Eames rocker gives me a lot of joy – so handsome in shape, he looks good at any angle. He also provides a perfect blank canvas for the endless blankets and throws on rotation in our home.

5. Who is your favourite musician? 
All time favourite? Would have to be Pearl Jam. Sorry, I’m a bit of a ’90s chick.
Categories
Homewares

Utopia Goods’ annual pop-up Sydney sale not to be missed

For those of you who are just too impatient to wait for the postman (that has to be the worst thing about online shopping, right?!), you can now pop into Utopia Goods’ temporary store in Sydney’s Bondi Junction.

IMG847_S4_223

And what’s even better, from 3 to 16 May, their handcrafted homewares will be on sale, with 20-to-50% off all stock, including limited edition fabrics, cushions, bed linen, tableware and accessories.

IMG870_S1_039_edit

The pop-up store will also allow local fans the opportunity to snap up Utopia Goods’ signature hand-illustrated prints, referencing Australia’s native bush flora and fauna in their full technicolour glory. Some of the best buys of the sale will be the contemporary Crimson Rosella printed quilts in 100% cotton — with a co-ordinating Vermicular Squiggle on the flip side — for $190 each and the languorous Laughing Kookaburra print splayed across a range of duvets, sheets sets and pillowcases in a rhapsody of rainbow hues (available in single, queen and king sizes) from $110.

IMG847_S1_022

Also available are tablet cases in Mountain Fern and Flannel Heath (perfect gift material) and kaleidoscope coloured makeup pouches and backpacks (ideal for shaking up the usual pallor-palette of weekender luggage), all at 50% off original prices.

IMG847_S5_281

The pop-up store, at 240 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, is open until 16 May. Opening times are 9.30am-to-5.30pm Monday to Friday, 10am-to-4pm Saturday and 11am-to-3pm Sunday.

For more information.

Categories
Designers The Block

Photos: Our Easy Luxury event with Darren Palmer at West Elm

Photography by Alex Jackson

We had a lovely time at our latest reader event with Darren Palmer at West Elm Bondi last week. Please click on the below images to see them larger.

There was a large queue of people getting The Block judge’s book, Easy Luxury, signed by the author himself. Some kept theirs while others put them aside for Christmas presents! We then had our usual vignette styling challenge, with one reader, Jess, winning a box of goodies from West Elm.

Huge thanks to Darren and Murdoch Books, the team at West Elm, Williams-Sonoma for the catering (especially the legendary peppermint bark and chilled mulled wine!) and all the readers who attended.

To be first to know about our next event, please make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter. The next 7 Vignettes Instagram challenge starts on Monday 1 December. We’re giving away a $50 voucher every day for seven days, as well as one overall winner prize of $250, thanks to our sponsor Domayne.

Categories
Designers The Block

Meet The Block’s Darren Palmer at our next reader event

Darren Palmer, Photo by Jacqui Turk for Interiors Addict

I’m delighted to announce that we have one more Sydney reader event before Christmas with Block judge, interior designer and most recently author, our friend Darren Palmer. The event will take place on the evening of  Wednesday 19 November at West Elm Bondi Junction.

DarrenPalmer_JTurk-13
Darren at home, as seen on Interiors Addict

Register quick for this one as places are limited and we expect it to be popular!

I’ll be interviewing Darren about his book, Easy Luxury, The Block, and his design work. Then we’ll set you loose on the store to style, arrange and rearrange to your heart’s content. You can photograph and share your vignettes on Instagram with one person taking home a prize on the night.

There’ll also be refreshments by Williams-Sonoma, drinks, a chance to meet fellow interiors addicts and, if you’re interested, yours truly! And you can buy and get your copy of Easy Luxury signed by Darren too.

Easy_Lux_Cover1-640x789

We respectfully ask that you’re sure you can attend before you register as last minute cancellations result in wasted spaces which could have been offered to someone else. Sadly, people often let us know when it is too late to offer their place to someone on the wait list.

When: 7-9pm, Wednesday 19 November 2014

Where: West Elm, The Exchange Building, 472 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, Sydney 2022.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW.

Categories
Interiors Addict

Meet Jason Grant and I when West Elm opens in Chatswood

Stylist and author Jason Grant

I am so, so excited! Not only are West Elm, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Williams Sonoma opening their second Sydney stores (on “my” side of the bridge!) in just over a week, but I’ll also be there helping stylist Mr Jason Grant celebrate the launch of his second book, Holiday at Home. We’d love you to come and join us for a book signing and I’ll be doing a Q&A with Jason too. Did I mention there’ll be ice cream? More on that later…

Stylist and author Jason Grant
Stylist and author Jason Grant

As part of its global expansion, America’s Williams-Sonoma Inc is opening stores for all four brands in Chatswood Chase on Thursday 28 August. Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn will be located on level one of the shopping centre, with Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm located on level two. The four stores will occupy a combined retail space of 1,716 square metres and employ more than 100 full-time, part-time and casual staff.

image_2

“We are excited to continue our global expansion in Australia at Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre,” said Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to sharing our exceptional home furnishings along with unique in-store experiences and outstanding customer service with customers on Sydney’s North Shore who want to decorate, entertain and live well.”

I can’t believe it’s been more than a year since Williams-Sonoma, Inc. opened its first Australian stores in Bondi Junction in May 2013. A Melbourne West Elm store followed in Chapel Street, South Yarra in September 2013. A further four stores for Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm will open in Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne later this year. Watch this space for more details on that opening!

image

While the Chatswood Chase stores open a week tomorrow on Thursday 28 August, there’ll be plenty of special events taking part over the first weekend of trading, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August:

Mr Jason Grant book signing and interview

Holiday at Home, out in September, published by Hardie Grant
Holiday at Home, out in September, published by Hardie Grant

Come and meet well-known stylist and blogger Mr Jason Grant when he unveils his second coffee table book Holiday at Home. I will be interviewing him about the book and would love to see you there! There’ll also be a chance to buy the book and get it signed by Jason. All are welcome to this free event.

When: 12pm to 2pm on Saturday 30 August.

Where: West Elm store on level two, Chatswood Chase.

Gelato Messina collaboration

In celebration of the Chatswood Chase store openings, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has collaborated with Gelato Messina to create a limited edition gelato collection. The ‘Welcome Home’ collection features four bespoke creations designed to match the individual personalities of each iconic brand:

Williams-Sonoma Choc-Chuck Cone  Reminiscent of Williams-Sonoma founder Chuck-Williams’ favourite flavour, this handmade waffle cone is filled with creamy Madagascan vanilla gelato then dipped in berry callebaut and 70% cacao chocolate.

West Elm NY Ice Cream Sandwich  Brooklyn-inspired Fair Trade espresso coffee gelato sandwiched between chewy white chocolate and macadamia cookies

Pottery Barn Welcome Home Gelato  Warming and comforting, this lightly spiced apple gelato is fused with an almond crunch and butterscotch swirl

Pottery Barn Kids Fairy Bread Popsicles  Velvety bread and butter gelato is coated in white chocolate ganache then dipped in hundreds and thousands

The individually handcrafted gelatos will be offered to customers as a gift with purchase (while stocks last) on Saturday 30 August, distributed from the Williams-Sonoma Gelato Cart outside the Williams-Sonoma store on level one.

Golden ticket giveaway

A Golden Ticket will be hidden in a shopping bag at each of the new Chatswood Chase stores. Simply be one of the first 200 people to make a purchase in any store for your chance to find one. Golden Ticket winners will receive a $100 gift voucher to spend at Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm or Williams-Sonoma. One of these Golden Tickets will also grant access to a cooking class for two at the Williams-Sonoma Sydney Cooking School in Bondi Junction.

Room makeover competition

To celebrate the opening of the new stores in Chatswood Chase, one lucky shopper will win $2,000 to spend at Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma. For your chance to win, head online. Competition ends on 30 September 2014.

 

Categories
Interiors Addict

Learn to make paper flowers at West Elm’s Etsy craft party

True to their promise to hold free events in-store, West Elm is hosting a free Etsy craft party on the evening of June 20. Join Sydney crafter and maker Kitya Palaskas and learn how to make beautiful paper flowers. These will then be collected up and delivered to the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. What a fab idea!

Continue reading “Learn to make paper flowers at West Elm’s Etsy craft party”
Categories
Interiors Addict

West Elm stocks Aussie Etsy sellers in Bondi store

One of the coolest things West Elm has been doing in the States for years, is supporting and selling the work of Etsy makers and sellers. And they’ve brought that to Australia, already stocking local Etsy sellers in the new Bondi Junction store.

west elm etsy

Not many mega brands would give indie crafters and artists shelf space in their stores and I think it’s awesome! Read more about West Elm’s first Aussie Etsy partners here or visit the store.

Categories
Interiors Addict

The day I’d been waiting for: the Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma preview

So, for several months now I’ve been banging on about the Williams-Sonoma Inc big four coming to Sydney. For the uninitiated, I’m talking about Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma. I’ll be straight with you, as a non-mummy blogger, I have little interest in Pottery Barn Kids and as a less than enthusiastic cook (I’m going to make a rubbish wife!) I had minimal interest in Williams-Sonoma. Pottery Barn and West Elm however, bring that on! I know you’re fans too because posts about these stores have been consistently in my most popular for months! And at yesterday’s much anticipated preview, I was definitely not disappointed.

20130501_113814

West Elm is SO COOL. I have to admit it’s my favourite. Who better than creative director Vanessa Holden, a Sydney girl who made the move to NYC (who I interviewed recently) to show us round? She talked about West Elm’s trademark eclectic, global mix of pieces which you’re encouraged to mix up as you wish with your existing pieces or family heirlooms to create your own, confident style at home, with the help of their friendly and knowledgable staff.

west elm 2

west elm blue

West  Elm is young and cool but not too hipster. It’s mix and match, laidback but not too casual. I just love it. Its pieces are more apartment-appropriate than Pottery Barn’s larger furniture and well, they just look look like they belong in a warm and comfortable, trendy, young space. You do feel like your parents could equally walk in and find something which worked perfectly with their much loved pieces. It’s just that kind of range, and the range will change frequently.

Continue reading “The day I’d been waiting for: the Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma preview”

Categories
Interiors Addict

Local ecommerce websites for Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma launched today

This morning I was very lucky to join a group of extremely overexcited bloggers to have a look around the four new Williams Sonoma Inc stores before they open tomorrow in Bondi Junction.

For those who can’t wait until tomorrow or who aren’t in Sydney, the great news is that the local .com.au versions of their websites launched this morning. They are as follows:

Continue reading “Local ecommerce websites for Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams Sonoma launched today”
Categories
Interiors Addict

Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma opening on 2 May

Williams-Sonoma, Inc today officially announced that its iconic brands Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm will open to the public on Thursday 2 May 2013 at the newly constructed Exchange Building in Bondi Junction. I may have mentioned the news of these stores coming to Australia a ‘few’ times already…

An artist’s impression of how the stores will look when they open in just 17 days’ time

“We are excited to announce we will open our first Australian retail stores on May 2nd,” said Laura Alber, president and chief executive officer, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. “The location at Bondi Junction gives us the opportunity to showcase all four brands together in a truly unique way. We look forward to sharing our exceptional home furnishings along with unique in-store experiences and outstanding customer service with Australian customers who want to decorate, entertain and live well.”

Continue reading “Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma opening on 2 May”

Categories
Interiors Addict

Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma to open in Australia in May

Excitement is building around the new stores in Bondi Junction

If I had a dollar for every person who had asked me when Pottery Barn and West Elm are opening in Bondi, I’d be pretty rich. I’m happy to tell you that the anticipated opening date is the first week in May, so not long to wait now!

Excitement is building around the new stores in Bondi Junction
Excitement is building around the new stores in Bondi Junction

American retailer Williams-Sonoma, Inc. signed a lease  in August for 2,040 square metres of retail space to house four of its iconic brands: Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and West Elm, at the newly constructed Exchange Building at Bondi Junction. The stores are the first outside of North America to be owned and operated by the retailer as part of its overall global expansion strategy.

Continue reading “Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma to open in Australia in May”
Categories
Interiors Addict

Papaya launches online store

Papaya is one of my favourite homewares stores in Mosman (they’re also at Bondi Junction) and they announced a new online store yesterday. It’s a great place to shop for beautiful, neutral, textural items for your home.

Check it out today! Papaya Online Store.