Too Many Cooks: Our Satellite Office in California

You'll be hearing from the staff at FOOD52 every week in Too Many Cooks, our group column in which we pool our answers to questions about food, cooking, life, and more.

This week, among other things, Amanda saw patterns in the strangest places, Christina gave homage to Julia Child, and Kristen abandoned us for the West coast. (Don't worry, she's coming back. We think.)

This week, my theme is patterns. My husband Tad matched his shirt to the tablecloth at PokPok in Red Hook. (If you come to NY, and you like Southeast Asian food, it's a must! And show up early. And have the jelly beer. And the catfish laab. And... And!). We also ventured to Reynard's in the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg for a burger. Liked the pattern on the floor."
- Amanda

"I'm working from L.A. this week, sometimes in hammocks. Ergonomically speaking, they seem perfect for laptopping (FOOD52 office planners, let's do this!)"
- Kristen

"Tapenade on the way."
- Kristy

"I spent my Saturday lending a hand at the Yale Sustainable Food Project, where I used to work. We make New Haven's best pizza (really!) in our handmade, outdoor wood oven. The dough is made outside too -- here I am kneading it very early in the morning while we got the fire going. All the toppings come from the farm: on this day, we had sliced radishes, broccoli rabe, turnip greens, and scallions, in addition to the local ricotta, mozzarella, and homemade tomato sauce we use. I always forget that cooking outdoors is the best thing ever."
- Nozlee

"Mastering the art of Julia Child's Salade Nicoise as part of the JC100 celebration."
- Christina