Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/602007
photography by Matt rainwaters (sMith Ford); Michael chao (Kelso) An Austin resident for just over a decade, Lauren Smith Ford has written for Esquire, Glamour, and Elle, among other publications, and she lives in West Austin with her husband and two young daughters. She penned two style pieces for this issue. What's best about Austin fashion in the winter? Winter in Austin is too short! I love seeing motorcycle jackets come out for a brief debut. Top trend this season? Fringe jackets. They are a perfect ode to Austin's long-standing hippie-meets-rock 'n' roll vibe. What's your favorite holiday tradition? My mother is from a family of seven siblings, so every Christmas Eve, we all gather at my vibrant 85-year-old grandmother's house for dinner, singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and a gift exchange with 15 cousins. What did you learn while writing Arbiter of Taste (page 29)? I was inspired by Maureen [Staloch's] story. She dreamed of opening a store for years, but always pushed it aside when people told her why she shouldn't [do it]. She finally made it happen and couldn't be happier. It made me think harder about pursuing some "crazy" ideas of my own. Stirling Kelso writes about travel and food for Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, Money magazine, and Cooking Light, among other publications. When not on the road, she's exploring Austin's hip neighborhoods, dining out, and comparing pillows in the city's new hotels. What did you enjoy most about writing about Cantine and Austin's Italian restaurants (page 67 )? I appreciate the opportu- nity to chat with veteran restaurateurs like Austin's Lisa and Emmett Fox. I'm also excited about the Italian food movement here in the capital. I've always been a fan of Austin's creative, cutting-edge restaurants, but I'm thrilled to see this wave of chefs that are honoring classic cuisines. How would you rate Italian food in Austin? With a few exceptions, Austin's Italian food scene is just starting to blossom, so the city's restaurants are more ref lective of contemporary Italy than the older American-inf luenced trattorias that you find on street corners in other cities. And a number of Austin's chefs make regular trips to Italy to educate themselves on the Boot's farm-fresh cuisine and slow-food philosophy. What are your holiday plans? My little boy, Thomas, was born in June. So far, he's been a tremendous travel (and dining!) companion, so we're spending the holidays in Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende. Lauren Smith Ford writer StirLing KeLSo writer 2900 West Anderson Ln. | 512.452.6491 | Benolds.com Having great taste can make holiday shopping challenging, unless of course, you shop at Benold's. Never one to gift the ordinary, you relish the meticulous attention to detail, the subtlety of true craftsmanship and the timelessness of classic design. Benold's - where your penchant for perfection is appreciated.