The California-inspired fast-casual rotisserie restaurant by former Sweetgreen and Starbucks’ culinary leader Ben Pote opened in Cos Cob last week.
The concept of this fantastic eatery, both in cuisine and design, is inspired by California with a thoughtfully curated menu that offers something for everyone.
Rotisserie chicken and slow-roasted cauliflower are at the heart of the menu, complemented by entree-style salads, plant-forward sides, and sauces that are made in-house daily, with thoughtful pops of flavor throughout. The chicken, for example, is rubbed with bay leaf, oregano, and fennel pollen, giving it an herbaceous, savory flavor, while the whole-roasted cauliflower is sprinkled with za’atar, a Middle-Eastern herb blend. Wildacre’s salads are hearty enough for lunch and dinner, or to eat alongside a whole roasted chicken or cauliflower. Guests can order a la carte or select a bundled meal, which offers the choice of either a rotisserie chicken or slow-roasted cauliflower main plus two sides and two sauces. Side dishes range from french fries to roasted brussels sprouts, and the majority of the menu is gluten-free. The California influence shows up throughout the menu, which features ingredients like fennel pollen, Meyer lemon, and avocado, and flavors inspired by the Mediterranean, Central American, and Asian cuisines.
Wildacre thoughtfully sources its ingredients. The rotisserie chickens are from Cooks Venture, which raises a slow-growth, heirloom chicken called the Pioneer, taking into account the health of the animal and the health of the environment. Core to their mission is advancing regenerative agriculture, and their chickens are pasture-raised, heirloom birds fed a diet of non-GMO feed. Other menu items will be local and organic when possible.
Like the menu, Wildacre Rotisserie’s design has a California flair. Crisp white paint and contemporary light fixtures give the space a modern vibe, and tiles in varying shades of green represent the different greens one might find walking through the woods. Throughout the restaurant are images of poppies – the state flower of California. These beautiful, delicate flowers turn the Pacific coast orange every summer and are a fixture of the brand design. Seating will be available indoors, where diners can take in the views of Mill Pond.
Pote has over a decade of restaurant industry experience and an extensive background in culinary operations and menu strategy. He has held leadership positions at a number of nationally-renowned food brands, including Director of Development at Souvla in San Francisco, Director of Culinary Innovation at Starbucks, and most recently Director of Culinary Strategy and Culinary Program Manager at Sweetgreen. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008, Pote cooked his way through the kitchens of multi-unit restaurant groups like the Hillstone Restaurant Group (Hillstone, Houston’s) and The Florence Group (led by the Food Network’s Tyler Florence), before graduating from the French Culinary Institute in New York City in 2010.
Pote said, “We’re thrilled to bring a taste of California-inspired cuisine to Cos Cob, and to become part of the vibrant Greenwich food scene. We’re reimagining the traditional rotisserie with thoughtful ingredients and unique flavor profiles to bring you food you can feel good about for any meal of the week.”
Guests will have the option to order and dine in, or order for pickup or delivery. The restaurant is located at 147 E Putnam Avenue and will be open Tues-Sat from 11am-8pm.
I hope everyone had a great 4th last weekend. I had such a good time celebrating with my friends and family. The one thing I noticed more and more was that dresses are more popular than ever for day and night and especially long dresses. Gone are the days when I would see a sea of white jeans. It’s all about the dress. And I love it. Here are some of my favorite choices. I am dying for #6. I love the high-low look. However, I am not ready to hang up my white jeans yet so I gave you a fab floral blouse as well…..Click on the numbers below for more information or to order!
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Hair styling is a rewarding career option, whether you join a salon or work as an independent artist. Although you may start small, the sky is the limit when it comes to growth. You can run a successful business by setting up a style studio, making good money working as an employee, or serving celeb clients. Whichever route you choose, the possibilities and earning potential are endless. But everything boils down to your skills, experience, and expertise as a stylist.
Of course, you must be passionate about making people look and feel beautiful. But formal training is essential to get a good start in the field. You cannot stop after the first step, as upgrading your skills takes you on the growth route. But most stylists get complacent about their careers at some point. They tend to stagnate without a vision to move ahead. However, you may end up losing your clients in the competitive space unless you ramp up your skills regularly. Let us share some proven advice to upgrade your professional styling skills.
Go back to school
Ongoing education can take you a long way in any profession, and styling is not an exception. Consider going back to school for additional programs and courses after passing out. There is always something new to learn with techniques in cutting, styling, and coloring. Check with your training school frequently to learn about new programs and courses on offer. You will probably find something interesting to learn and upgrade. Take time off from work, and invest in career development by joining a refresher program. The good thing is that you can even pursue programs online without interfering with your professional schedules.
Learn on the job
Nothing gets better than learning on the job as it lets you upgrade skills without spending a dollar. Instead, you make money by learning and earning. Moreover, you need not fit program classes into your tight schedule. Just watch experts, practice, and learn as you work for your clients. Joining a seasoned stylist is the best option if you plan to pick this skill development option. You can learn a lot by only watching them and following their techniques. Be confident as you work on different textures, techniques, and styles as it lets you get better with time.
Follow the trends
The styling industry has new trends around the corner at all times. Skill enhancement is also about staying on track with the latest trends in the domain. In fact, every trend brings something different to work with, so grab the opportunity and dive right in. You only need to be open-minded enough to switch to a new technique by stepping out of your comfort zone. The benefit of keeping pace with trends extends beyond upgrading. It keeps you relevant in the competitive industry as clients appreciate professionals who can deliver the latest and the best.
Upgrade your tools
Upgrading your tools from time to time is another way to ramp up your skills. The styling market is huge, and you can always find something better in tools and accessories. Using the latest ones lets you learn a new skill as a professional. An innovative tool goes beyond giving the best results for your client. It also eases your work and enhances your reputation. While switching to new styling tools is a great option to pick additional skills, most stylists will probably prefer to stick with “our favorite hair shears” when it comes to cutting. It is perfectly valid because quality shears last forever and work like magic over the years.
Attend events and workshops
Another good way to upgrade your skills as a hairstylist is by attending events and workshops. The beauty and styling industry is dynamic, so such events and workshops are always happening. Keep track of local calendars, and schedule for attending them. Traveling for a big one is worthwhile if you can see a celeb stylist in action. You may even get a certificate for attending these workshops. Another benefit of participating in such events is that you get to network and connect with like-minded professionals. You can share tips and tricks that let you get better at work.
Go through books, articles, and videos
Upgrading as a professional is easier than ever as you have access to endless learning resources these days. The internet has a treasure for anyone who wants to learn and upgrade. Utilize your free time to go through books, articles, and videos because they offer knowledge and guidance on new skills and techniques. Follow a celeb stylist page to see what’s hot in the fashion circles. You can even join an online community to interact with styling professionals and check what is trending in the industry. Besides utilizing these resources, practice the skills on dummies. You may even develop a new skill or technique for yourself with experimentation.
Stay motivated
Growing as a professional is also about staying motivated for learning and development. It is easy to stick to your comfort zone once you reach your career goals such as opening up your studio or working for high-end clients. But stagnation can kill your professional growth, so you must not stop learning. Push to learn more and get better because there is no limit to skill enhancement in the beauty industry. You only need to be open to the idea of learning and growing as a professional. Seek inspiration from a top stylist or find a mentor to go above and beyond with your career goals. Remember that you can always move to the next level.
Upgrading your skills as a hairstylist makes you a more confident professional. It also gives you a career boost for bigger and better opportunities. You stay relevant and competitive in the ever-evolving industry. So you must give your best to refresh and upgrade your skills as you go. Even experienced professionals should not stop learning because there is always something new to pick. Try these ideas to go the extra mile with your skills and capabilities in the long run.
Since we are kicking off the first full week of summer…There is nothing more that I love than a straw bag. I have received so many messages asking me for summer bag recommendations. Here are some of my favorites. I especially love the ones with fringe. Click on the numbers below under the image for more information….
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The tank top is one of the most versatile garments you can own, and it’s been a wardrobe staple for decades. Whether you’re looking for something to wear as a base layer or as part of a complete outfit, there’s no denying that this simple garment is an essential item in every woman’s closet.
The tank top comes in all shapes and sizes. From sleeveless to long-sleeve, form-fitting to loose-fitting, sustainable tank tops there’s a style to suit everyone. The key to getting the most out of your tank tops is knowing how to wear them properly. Here are some tips on how to style your tank tops:
Choose the right color
One of the most important things when choosing a tank top is choosing the right color for your body type and skin tone. Light colors are great for pale skin tones, while darker shades look better on tanned skin tones. You can also choose from prints like floral patterns or stripes that will add texture and interest to your look without being too loud or bold.
Accessorize boldly
When it comes to styling in a tank top, accessorizing is key. You want to make sure that everything is in balance; don’t go overboard with too many accessories or you’ll look like you’re trying too hard. The key is finding the right balance between the color of the top itself and the colors of your accessories.
Choose the right cut
A scoop-neck tank top works well with pretty much any style of clothing, but if you’re looking for something more interesting, try a V-neck or racerback tank. If you have short arms or are worried about showing too much skin, consider buying tanks in solid colors rather than prints—they’ll look more polished when paired with other pieces of clothing than printed ones would.
Try an athleisure twist
If you want to try something slightly different than your typical look, go for a more sporty look by pairing your favorite pair of jeans with a loose-fitting tank top and sneakers. You can also try this look with a pair of cropped pants and a cropped sweater.
Go work-friendly
Tank tops can be casual or dressy depending on your style and the occasion. If you’re going for an office environment that’s dressier, consider layering a camisole underneath or wearing a blazer over it for extra coverage. For more casual environments, try pairing it with jeans or shorts for an easy weekend look.
Go casual
If you’re going casual, this is where you can really have fun with your outfit! Rocking your tank top with any kind of bottoms – shorts, skirts or even jeans would look good with this simple piece of clothing. Throw on some shoes that match your outfit and add accessories like necklaces and earrings if you want to make your look even more stylish.
Conclusion
A casual top is budget-friendly and the perfect piece to create a fresh, summery look for a night out on the town or during your days off. There’s no need to shy away from it in the cold season either! Put on a tank top under a sweater and combine with jeans tucked into boots. The asymmetrical hem allows you to cover wayward knees and makes you appear taller.
We have decided on our shows for September and November and I am so excited to see both. On September 26th at 7 we are going to the Kite Runner and on November 8th at 8 we are seeing Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical. All seats are in the Orchestra and are $160 each. Email me to save your spot!! All of our shows have sold out so please do not delay!!!
The Kite Runner:
One of the best-loved and most highly acclaimed novels of our time, The Kite Runner is a haunting tale of friendship, spanning cultures and continents, that follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a divided country on the verge of war and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither of the boys can foresee the terrible incident which will shatter their lives forever.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical:
The story of the legendary Neil Diamond comes to life on stage in a gripping and uplifting new musical featuring his hit songs “Sweet Caroline”, “America”, and “Cracklin’ Rosie”. Directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), and written by four-time Academy Award® nominee Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Two Popes), Good times never seemed so good.
