Red Penguins, Cooking, Friends & Iron Chef

I have returned from my trip to GE Monogram's Experience Center and wow what fun.  Not only did I have the pleasure of being GE's guest at their state of the art Monogram Experience Center, I had the distinct honor to share that experience with my Dream Team friends.

 When I arrived in Louisville, I never expected that any part of my trip would involve Red Penguins.  Though it was clear when we pulled up to the 21cHotel and I saw the large Red Penguin's lined up along the hotel roof that my experience in Louisville was not going to be what I had expected. 

There was a car walking down the sidewalk, a stretch limo totally bedazzled in red marbles and the interactive falling letters in elevator lobby and that is but a glimpse at the spectacularly designed 21c Museum Hotel.  

It was so seriously cool to be sleeping in a building filled with art, I had to pinch myself to be sure it was real. 

 
The first evening in Louisville the GE Monogram Team treated hosted a meet and greet dinner and drinks in the 21c hotel exhibition space.  During our visit we had the pleasure of viewing their current Cuba Now installation.  It was a wonderful evening reconnecting with The Dream Team and meeting some soon to be new Dream Team members.  What an amazing group of talented industry professionals and designers.

For the next three days we were whisked away to the sprawling land mass known in Louisville as GE’s appliance park, so large they have their own zip code – virtually a city within a city. We spent time learning about GE Monogram Appliances and more importantly we spent a majority of our time in their state of the art cooking facility with GE’s very own world class Chef Brian Logsdon and Chef Joe Castro.  

Basically we listened, we learned, we cooked and we ate – over and over and over again.  And let me say I am looking forward to sharing Chef Joe and Chef Brian’s recipes with you; every spoonful in each meal we prepared and ate was spectacularly tasty and aromatically mouthwatering with every bite.

And the highlight of our trip was our very own Iron Chef Breakfast competition among each of the 5 kitchen’s.  We were to create a meal with the remaining ingredients from the week and would be given one mystery ingredient to incorporate into our meal.  We could only use the ingredients that were available and we had to prepare the meal on the fly and were given 45 minutes to complete. 

We were to make one plate for each member of our team, one plate for the judges and our kitchen area needed to be clean.  As part of Team #1 I had the pleasure of cooking each day with Michelle Jennings Weibe, Jonathan Legate, Deb Corning and Meredith Heron.

The mystery food was unveiled – LEMONS! And the competition began.  So off we were to gather our provisions and cook up a meal - Our meal was Croque Madame (“Southern Style” as Jonathan would say), micro greens with a lemon oil, Dijon, and apple cider vinaigrette and a warm Lemon curd on a cashew graham crust.

At the end of 45 minutes each of the five teams presented their meal, and wow I have to say it was truly amazing what everyone had prepared in such a short time.  It was sure to be a close call and it was up to the chef’s to determine who the winner would be.  

We all sat down to enjoy our meals as the chef’s stayed in the kitchen to sample the meals and determine who the winning team would be.

And the Winning Team Was!!!!! 

TEAM #1  WOO HOO!!!!

Thank you GE Monogram for a wonderful experience! 

What is #GEJune?

For the past month or more I have made reference to #GEJune, and I apologize for not giving you the 411 earlier.  #GEJune is in Twitter land a Hashtag that was created to designate an elite group, selected by GE Monogram, myself included, to attend a 4 day session at the GE Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

The week will consist of in-depth, hands on training sessions at GE's state of the art  GE Monogram Experience Center, headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.  As a kitchen designer and a cooking enthusiast the highlight of my trip is sure to be meeting the GE Chef's, Chef Joe & Chef Brian. 

Chef Joe Castro & Chef Brian Logsdan

I am anxiously looking forward to all the culinary tips and tricks they will be sharing during our hands on appliance training at the GE Monogram Experience Center's live kitchen training facility. 

GE's long history speaks for itself and when I found this video it reminded me that GE is one of the ICONS in our appliance history.

And the super cool part is I will be joined by many of The Dream Team members whom I also shared my Brizo Fashion Week Experience with.  So excited to be selected for this amazing experience and how great to reconnect with my new global friends.

The Dream Team w/Jason Wu

Bracelet Became a Lamp...

For some time now I have found myself specifying Light Fixtures from a very stylish and contemporary line of light fixtures from Minka Group - George Kovacs.  I have had the pleasure of using George Kovacs fixtures on multiple jobs and the sophisticated timeless style is a compliment to a multitude of design situations.

During my visit to NYDC, during Blogfest2011, one of the stops on our tour was at the Metropolitan Lighting Fixture Company, where I was immediately drawn to this fixture.

I thought to myself, out loud, "wow that reminds me so much of the George Kovacs Light fixtures"... The words had no more than come out of my mouth when I heard a voice confirm that yes in fact I was getting a sneak peak at the newest collection added to the George Kovacs Line.  Much to my surprise I learned that those words were spoken directly from the Designer herself Alecia Wesner.

With an Architectural and industrial design background Alecia found her calling when she became Design Director for the George Kovacs Company.  She pursued her own artistic talents as a silversmith and jewelry designer.  This amazing bracelet was the inpiration for the Alecia's Necklace collection. (How the Bracelet Became a Lamp! - so cool!)

 

I had the honor to meet Alecia Wesner and it only further inspires my admiration for the George Kovacs Modern and Contemporary Light Fixtures.  Bravo Jewelry Designer Extraordinaire Alecia Wesner and kudos to George Kovacs Company! 

NYDC Scavenger Hunt / Blogfest2011

photo courtesy NYDC

One of the many events scheduled while attending Blogfest2011 was the New York Design Center NYDC where, during our tour of the building, we were given a Scavenger Hunt.  We were asked to find items inspired by each of the 12 clues we were given to doucment our findings and create a blogpost of our discoveries.  During my time spent at NYDC this what I found and how it inspired me:

CLUE Description 1 - Find an item reminiscent of this famous New York City Landmark The Chrysler Building which can be seen if you look up Lexington Avenue from the Front Door of the NYDC building.

CLUE Description 2-  The Blogfest2011 hosts, showroom is always a destination for the NYDC.  Currently decked out in colors that will make you smile, find your favorite texture and hue from Kravet's new Modern Colors Collection.

CLUE Description 3 - Central Park serves as a backyard to all New Yorkers and is the most visited urban park in the U.S. Find an item that would fit into one of the parks 250 acres of lush green lawns.

CLUE Decription 4 - The New York Design Center was built in 1926.  Find an item that represents the 1920's glamour that could have been shown when we first opened 85 years ago.

CLUE Description 5 - They say "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!" Find an item that represents the glittering lights of Times Square.

CLUE Description 6 - The Brooklyn Bridge is the Oldest Suspension bridge that connects NYC to uber stylish Brooklyn.  Find an item that reflects is architectural splendor.

CLUE Description 7 - This line of custom lamps "Petal Pink" Collection benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  Visit this 5th floor showroom and take a shot of the color you would choose for your creation.

CLUE Description 8 - While this bird is not native to New York City, we love seeing its colors and motif explored in this 6th floor showroom.  With over 4,000 pieces introduced each year, Global Views is full of incredible treasures.  Take a shot of your favorite item.

CLUE Description 9 - Sometimes when visiting NYC, you need a little assistance getting around, information on what's happening and insight into all the city has to offer.  The NYDC's new Access to Design program allows both designers and consurmers to navigate the NYDC and learn about design.  Stop by our brand new office on the 4th floor and take a shot of your favorite component of this revolutionary new program.

CLUE Description 10 - Take a shot of the "Sweet Endings Event" special A-List guest.

CLUE Description 11 - Find something that represents your experience at Blogfest2011 (with brief explanation).

CLUE Description 12 - Strike a pose in front of the Blogfest2011 Step and Repeat Backdrop.

New York, Blogfest2011

All packed and off to Blogfest2011 in NYC and so excited to spend three days with other like minded interior design bloggers.  I am so excited and feel so privileged to be a part of this amazing group.

My Home, My Time2Design

I just ordered this lamp for my Living Room... Love it!

 

 I am starting a series of post as they relate to my personal home and products I have personally purchased.  In October 2011 I will be participating in ASID FWC Designer Digs Event and the countdown is on to complete many projects at my home.  The deadline is a good motivator for me to get all those loose ends finished up and get some rather large projects started and finished.  Some of which include - exterior painting, landscaping, kitchen cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, appliances, window treatments, patio furniture, and various other things that honestly are to numerous to list.  So check back occasional and see what new thing is happening with My Home, My Time2Design.

This lamp is available for purchase from Time2Design Retail, Price $338.00, mention this post and receive 15% off.