Indholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2020 i Sunset

Nobody used to come to the beach on vacation. At least not a century-plus ago, if the 1911 Sunset cover story “Sunshine & Seabreeze, Inc.” holds water. Thinly veiled tourism booster or rip-roaring yarn, the piece embeds us with “struggling” Tombstone, Arizona, attorney James Ross Jones and his family, who have cooled to the usual mountain retreats promising fresh eggs and croquet. James has come into some cash helping the copper mines, and he decides he’ll “be ding-swizzled if he doesn’t go somewhere and hook a fish that will fight.” Ding-swizzled, indeed. The Jones’ gambit? Visit the beaches of Southern California one-by-one seeking recreation, good food, and a site for an eventual family bungalow. This was in the early days of piers and boardwalks, when up and down the West…

PATAGONIA’S WORN WEAR INITIATIVE, established in and evolving since 2005, aims to keep gear in play for as long as possible by repairing damaged clothing, reselling returned items in good condition, and recycling garments at the end of their lives. Worn Wear’s newest effort, ReCrafted (created by Senior Designer Kourtney Morgan, who’s responsible for some of the brand’s most iconic gear), aims to answer the question of what to do with garments that can’t be repaired, resold, or recycled. According to Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia’s VP of Environmental Affairs, “the footprint on the planet of an apparel product like a jacket goes way down the longer that jacket is used and reused. And ReCrafted fits right into that whole idea.” Patagonia sends these jackets, shirts, vests, and bags not to the landfill, but…

Outer Limits Tattoo, which opened in Long Beach, California in 1927, is the oldest continuously operating tattoo shop in America—and the second oldest in the world. It’s the last remaining business from the Pike, which in the early decades of the 20th century became a legendary spot to get inked, shaping modern tattoo culture and turning out some of the greatest tattoo artists of the era (maybe ever?), including Bert Grimm, Bob Shaw, Lyle Tuttle, and Lee Roy Minugh. The Neon Boneyard at Las Vegas’s Neon Museum is a collection of more than 200 iconic vintage signs dating back to the 1930s, when the Strip was just gaining its debaucherous reputation. The non-profit museum collects and exhibits these signs—from hotels, motels, casinos and theaters—as a way to share and preserve…

For Alison Wu, spring cleaning isn’t seasonal. The wellness blogger and recipe developer (wuhaus.com) remodeled her kitchen in Portland with a focus on combining function and beauty. The result makes it easy to keep things clean and tidy. “My kitchen is essentially my office and also the heart of the house,” says Wu. “I wanted to create a space that’s welcoming, beautiful, functional, and inspiring.” Sinkside Swaps Upgrade your sink with these design-focused (and Earth-conscious) sponge and soap alternatives. For the ultimate in spring cleaning, make your own cleaner with only two ingredients: sunset.com/diycleaner…

HERBS If you’re only going to change up one thing in your kitchen garden, let it be herbs: They add tons of flavor without taking up much space. Best of all, most will grow like weeds. PERILLA (shiso; Perilla frutescens) is a slightly minty herb common in Japanese and Korean cooking; the frilly purple variety is interesting enough to grow as a foliage plant. It grows easily from seed, and makes a great wrapper for Korean lettuce wraps (aka ssam). LEMONGRASS (Cymbopogon citratus) is a robust plant that’ll bring your Thai and Filipino cooking to life. Find it in garden centers, and take a cutting to bring indoors over winter in areas that get frost. Slice it up to add to your favorite tom yum recipe; smash and smear it…

Revelstoke, BC hosts LUNA, an arts festival celebrating the darker nights by lighting up nooks and transforming the streets into a living gallery full of installations and performances from artists across Canada. Idyllwild, CA’s mayor, Max, is a golden retriever (Max is short for Maximus Mighty Dog Mueller II, if you were wondering). Carbondale, CO has a community bread oven and hosts bake days and potlucks; the town is also home to the greenest distillery in the U.S., Marble Distilling Company, a zerowaste business that recaptures 100% of its process water and reuses energy harvested from the distillation process to heat the facility. Winthrop, WA has held an annual Snowshoe Softball tournament for three decades, in which teams must have an equal number of men and women. Creede, CO puts on…

THE UPDATED CLASSIC This “super” version of the original iconic slicer from Japanese brand Benriner includes interchangeable stainless steel blades in three styles with adjustable thicknesses from 0.5mm to 8mm. Super Benriner Mandoline, $65; surlatable.com SMALL AND AFFORDABLE Kyocera’s simple, lightweight design is small enough to keep in your kitchen drawer without taking up a ton of space. It’s easy to clean with ceramic blades that the company promises will stay sharp 10 times longer than steel blades. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Adjustable Mandoline, $25; amazon.com BEST FOR BEGINNERS Ever slice your hand on a mandoline? You’re not alone. This tool stands out for its safety features, like a V-shaped blade for safe and even slicing, rubberized legs for stability, and a hand guard to securely hold food and protect fingers.…

LA TOURANGELLE ROASTED HAZELNUT OIL Add depth to salsa macha by substituting nutty, rich hazelnut oil for olive oil. It’s also a secret weapon in salad dressings or drizzled over roasted vegetables. $15; latourangelle.com SUNFOOD SUPERFOODS ORGANIC HEIRLOOM PUMPKIN SEEDS Not only are pepitas key to sikil p’ak, but they make great crunchy toppings for salads and can substitute for pine nuts in pesto. $15; sunfood.com RANCHO GORDO DRIED GUAJILLO CHILES Fruity and hot, these heirloom chiles from Napa’s premier bean and chile purveyor give salsas just the right zing. $4; ranchogordo.com…

THE SUNSET INTERNATIONAL SPIRIT AWARDS 2020 Our panel of judges gathered in Sonoma County last year to sample hundreds of spirits comprising the inaugural competition slate. Together, they arrived at a consensus group of winners, many of which you’ll see marked with the icon below. (For the complete list, and more information about our program, please visit www.sunset.com/spirits) Agave on Board Mexico’s national spirits are making a splash in the West. Roll them out on this ultimate party-ready bar cart. 314 HUELLAS BACANORA PLATA WINNER: BEST OF CLASS, DOUBLE GOLD This bacanora, a variety of mezcal from Sonora, balances spice, earth, subtle sweetness, and smoke, making it eminently sippable. $50 COMITECO D’ANTAÑO BLANCO Distilled from agave and cane, this bottling tastes like a cross between mezcal and artisanal rum. Ideal…

LPs and libations are coming together in a big way at restaurants and bars tricked out with turntables and deep record collections. Whether you’re looking for audiophile reverence with a splash of a rare Japanese whiskey, a raucous vegan party scene, or vino and vinyl with a Bix Beiderbecke soundtrack there’s a drink and a disk (and sometimes dinner) waiting for you somewhere. In Sheep’s Clothing, LOS ANGELES Modeled after the record-themed variant of Japanese kissaten (exquisitely designed cafes that serve as a “third place” away from your home and office), this hidden all-day arts district cafe and bar segues from hipster hang/co-work by day to an audiophile scene in the evening when itinerant DJs spin (one of the owners is a Hollywood music supervisor). Gold Line, LOS ANGELES LPs…

Taliesin West, Scottsdale AZ Frank Lloyd Wright’s picturesque winter home was built in the 1930s almost entirely by the iconic architect and his apprentices. Taliesin West manages to preserve a staple of Western architecture while simultaneously promoting its continued evolution and innovation at the on-site Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture (which sadly will close in July of 2021). Eames House, Pacific Palisades CA The home built by household names Charles and Ray Eames in 1949 is one of Southern California’s most beloved examples of mid-century modern architecture, as well as an enduring symbol of both functionality and innovation in post-World War II design. Georgia O’Keeffe’s Abiquiú Home & Studio, Abiquiú NM The legendary artist’s historic adobe home and studio, part of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (with sites in both…

All regions Springtime is for repotting root-bound houseplants. Give them fresh soil and an extra inch or two of legroom by upgrading them to the next pot size, and give the whole plant a lukewarm shower to wash off the winter’s dust and dolor. Before planting vegetable beds, turn soil that isn’t sopping wet, and give it a fresh dose of bone and blood meal. Add beneficial nematodes once danger of frost has passed, and consider adding plants for pollinator support early in the season—the Xerces Society has recommendations for every region (xerces.org). Northwest PLANT Plant summer/fall-blooming bulbs like blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), tiger flower (Tigridia pavonia), tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium), and pineapple lily (Eucomis spp.). Direct-sow greens, beets, radishes, favas, and peas. Sow warm-weather plants like nightshades and cucurbits…

When Chi Spacca opened in Hollywood in 2013, it wasn’t part of some grand expansion plan from chef and co-owner Nancy Silverton, but a happy accident that just happened to set the high bar for a modern California restaurant with butcher-driven impulses (what some might call a steakhouse). When a space became available next door to Silverton’s blockbuster Italian restaurant Osteria Mozza, Silverton and team used it as a hybrid food shop/cooking school/charcuterie lab before eventually arriving at the inventive, wood-fired restaurant it is today, known for its expertly executed meats, hefty seasonal salads, and whole-roasted vegetables. Though meaty, the menu doesn’t skew strictly steakhouse, nor, like Silverton’s other restaurants, is it strictly Italian. Silverton and Chi Spacca chef Ryan DeNicola drew upon their travels for the menu that ranges…

CUT ROUNDS Use the natural, circular shape of cucumbers, beets or radishes as a crunchy salad base or for scooping up an herby dip. SLICE RIBBONS Slice anything oblong like carrots, zucchini, or squash lengthwise. Ideal for adding to chilled ramen or grain bowls. MAKE MATCHSTICKS Ditch time-consuming knife cutting and julienne vegetables by shaving slices with a mandoline, stacking them, then slicing with a knife. (Depending on your model, many mandolines come with a special blade that juliennes with one swipe.)…

On the big screen, L.A.-born actor Danny Trejo plays a machete-swinging, motorcycle-riding bad guy. In real life only the last part isn’t true. The star of Spy Kids, From Dusk Till Dawn, and the Machete series is also a drug counselor, prison reform activist (he got sober in the penitentiary over 50 years ago), and now presides over the restaurant group Trejo’s Tacos, which specializes in modernized Mexican-inspired dishes with vegan and gluten-free options (margarita-flavored donuts included). His new book Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A. (co-authored with Sunset editor Hugh Garvey) is a love letter to Los Angeles and a blueprint for eating healthfully and deliciously. How did a guy like you end up with your mug on the side of a bunch of restaurants and a donut…

Just in time for cherry blossom season, Seattle-born, L.A.- and NYC--based Ace Hotel Group opens doors overseas in April with the new Ace Hotel Kyoto. The 213-room expansion of the historic former Kyoto Central Telephone Company by architect Kengo Kuma (designer of the 2020 Olympic stadium in Tokyo), alongside Commune Design, features rooms with soaking tubs, turntables, tatami mats, and futons. The hotel is an easy 15-minute walk to the Imperial Palace, home to one of the most stunning cherry blossom displays in the country. Turn the page for more floral exploration inspiration closer to home.…

Maurice Harris grew up in California watching his fashion-obsessed mother sew clothes and his grandmother craft church hats. “They taught me to have reverence for how I present myself, and to take pride in whatever I’m doing.” Being gay and black in a predominantly white neighborhood, Harris’s individualism was forced upon him from a young age, and he learned to embrace it early. It’s worked out well for him. In addition to opening Bloom & Plume–the only queer and black-owned coffee shop on the east side of L.A.–in the last year, Harris has been a featured artist at MOCA, has performed at The Broad, is debuting a show this spring on Quibi called Centerpiece (starring Maya Rudolph and Rashida Jones), and will be a judge on HBO Max’s new reality…

When temps go low, we go high; to the High Road, that is, our favorite stretch of asphalt from Santa Fe to Taos. The 56-mile route is dotted with historic adobe churches, pueblos, and chile stands, with wide blue skies overhead and the sparkling Truchas Peaks in the distance (some call it the Mountain Road). Don’t forget to look in the rearview as you climb for expansive views into the valley below. THE STOPS 1 DOLINA BAKERY & CAFE, SANTA FE Grab some coffee to go at this buzzy bakery, where locals meet to catch up over killer lattes and flaky pastries (maybe grab one of those, too). 2 TESUQUE VILLAGE MARKET, SANTA FE Indulge in some blue corn pancakes or egg tacos for breakfast, then stock up on provisions…

Work Smarter Garden better than ever with handy apps.…

Affordability is the difference between a dream town and a pipe dream. With incomes diverging and affordable housing a growing issue beyond big cities, balanced mixed-income communities are hard to come by. Though many smaller towns lack the resources and funding to adequately address the issue of affordable housing (i.e., through zoning reform or partnerships with housing nonprofits), many simply fail to make the effort. UCLA urban planning lecturer Joan Ling says that “most places don’t want affordable housing. It’s a losing proposition for them,” she explains, as many small town residents are already complaining about traffic and parking. Throw in a hefty bill and the stigma surrounding low income families, and local governments see little benefit to reap from affordable housing. Momentum for change is growing, however. Ben Metcalf,…

TRY THESE COMBOS BLUEBERRY GLAZE + EDIBLE FLOWERS “I like the rustic feel of seeing blueberry skins in the glaze, plus I love the pale lavender color it creates.” FREEZE-DRIED STRAWBERRIES + ROASTED PISTACHIOS “This is my favorite duo when I want a lot of texture and pops of color.” JASMINE TEA LEAVES + MEYER LEMON GLAZE “Tea leaves permeate into buttery dough and make the entire cookie aromatic.” Shortbread Cookies MAKES 16 COOKIES 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling½ tsp. salt12 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened⅓ cup powdered sugar½ tsp. vanilla 1. Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Whisk until combined. 2. In a stand mixer, cream butter and powdered sugar on medium speed with paddle attachment until light and smooth, about 1 minute. Add vanilla…

While salsa verde and rojo grace most tables in the States, the concept of savory salsas sans the traditional tomato or tomatillo base is gaining visibility in some of the West’s best kitchens. Sesame seeds, pepitas, peanuts, toasted chiles, and oils like hazelnut and almond are livening up everything from tacos to crudite. Here’s how chefs are eating and serving these craveable salsas: Sikil P’ak Though there are many variations, the requirements for this Mayan dip are pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sesame seeds, and a tomato, pulverized to create a hummus-like texture. JOSE FLORES, CHEF AT ELDA, SAN FRANCISCO “Pepitas and sesame seeds are the heartbeat of Mayan recipes. People really love that nutty, buttery taste. Habaneros are typically used in sikil p’ak, but we use Thai bird chiles and make…