A rainy day at Terrain
Lunch at Terrain at Styer’s
I have been so inspired by rain lately. The moody blue colors that come from that light.
The saturation.
I spent a few days in New York and Pennsylvania recently. During that trip I visited Terrain at Styer’s in Glen Mills- a wonderland for lovers of all things home and garden. The buyers at Terrain curate the most amazing vintage finds, home goods and books that I have coveted for years now. Always spot on, which makes me really excited as they are now selling my book “Small Plates and Sweet Treats”. Was so happy to see it on the shelves next to other amazing authors.
The mushroom hut
I arrived at Terrain on a dark and rainy afternoon. The autumn decor and the bounty of heirloom pumpkins simply made it even more magical. “Rain, mud and an English garden”, I thought. Some of my favorite things.
I toured the gardens, the magical Mushroom Hut and joined the team for a fantastic seasonal endless-course dinner at the restaurant on site. Chef Keith Rudolf wowed me with his menu – bread in a pot, the artisanal cheese plate, pumpkin and apple soup, lobster with Brussels sprouts, chanterelle risotto, hanger steak with sweet potato mash, pumpkin pots de creme, gelato and chocolate mousse.
And so many gluten-free options.
Heirloom pumpkins at Terrain
The next day, I wandered the grounds with a latte in hand.
The rain lingered. Just as I hoped it would.
I took my time photographing corners and people.
I caught a glimpse of the floral and event styling team getting ready for a wedding that evening. How they set up the walls, the tables, the lighting… Sort of a secret garden. Megan working on her terraniums.
I wandered some more until chef Keith made lunch for me again. This time poached pear, Brussels sprout and gorgonzola salad and halibut with root vegetable hash. Perfectly ready for my return flight to Seattle that afternoon.
Another latte in hand.
The Cafe
Halibut with roasted root vegetable and Brussels sprout hash
Poached pear salad
Thanks to the entire Terrain team for hosting me this time. You can see some of the photos on their journal as well.
Hope you can visit.
Oh I’ve been missing your posts Aran! What a gorgeous place/ food/ day (even rainy!… love this light too!) And, oh, I’ve seen on twitter that you moved to a new studio: congrats!! I am also looking for one studio here in Montreal… wish me luck!
Oh Christelle… I miss you too and thank you! I know I have been slow posting. Life has been crazy so many moves back and forth. Yes, I found studio and so excited for you too! I know it will be gorgeous and tres cool. Ya sabes que puedes venir a visitarme cuando quieras y quien sabe, a lo mejor ahora que Arcade Fire ha sacado album buevo, ire a Montreal a algun concierto. Besos!
Ahah los tíos de Arcade Fire me han dicho que tocaran en mi futuro estudio! (A girl can dream, right? ;)) Te esperamos. Besos! xx
I will be right there!!!
Aran! So great to read about your trip and see your beautiful photos! Only you can portray rain in such a magical fashion!
I hope life is treating you well? BTW, my plans for Spain are materializing for early next summer – after Barcelona I’ve got San Sebastian on the list!
Oh, and I finally got my portfolio site live – I often credit your workshop for giving me the push to more seriously pursue photography. My first photo in a print publication is on newsstands in November! Thank you!
That’s wonderful! Congratulations Giulia! And how great about your upcoming trip. I think you will love it.
Wonderful rainy weather clicks and fabulous food!
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa!
Guztiz zoragarrie… horrik koloreak… argazki guztiek enmarkauko noazan.
eskerrik asko Itxaso!
Loving all of the pumpkins/squash. How picturesque! Out of all the food blogs I follow (and that is a lot) you have by far my favorite food photography. Thanks for all of the inspiration Aran!
That is so kind Mallory. Thank you!
This space is magic, amazing, breathtaking… would love to have something like that in Lisbon and…be owner of it if possible :-))
I think every it’s should have a place like this. Thanks Sanda!
OMG! I loved this post! Amazing pics! You’re super talented :)
So kind. Thanks!
An unforgettable experience in an amazing site! Thanks for sharing with us!
Your blog fills me with joy. I have made most of the recipes in Small Plates & they are have been sublime. Some more recipes on your blog please! …..even better, a new book. ( a little less of the yummy sweet baked goods, & more foodie recipes. Have a wonderful autumn
That’s so wonderful Sue. This year has been so insanely busy that it has been hard to blog. Thank you and shall be back with recipes!
What a lovely place!
Beautiful pictures, excellent post and the food….mmmmmm looks delicious
thanks for sharing.
Thank you Alfredo.
There one also, in Westport, Ct, that I would go to almost daily in June and July.. Just a wonderful magical place… I would love to see your cook book there.
xoxo
melissa lee
I believe they do Melissa but now I’m curious too. Let me know if you see it! Thanks!
Wow, you lucky duck! Looks like such a beautiful setting. Absolutely gorgeous images as always, Aran. I LOVE the one of the birdcage with candles in it, and that gorgeous warmth beside it from the glass and that orange flower… simply wonderful.
Yes, I feel lucky! They were so generous at Terrain. Thank you!
I just wanted to say that the photography here is just FABULOUS!! So is the food styling. Incredible!
Hi Aran,
gorgeous, beautiful photos. . love all of them.. I love that you find the beauty in everything. . the rain. . and you even make pruners look beautiful! :)
I love rain so it’s not hard for me! It’s the Basque in me! :))
This post is absolutely amazing. I love all the pictures.
So beautiful! I also love those days when you can wander through the rain and mist–thanks for capturing so beautifully!
Una maravilla de fotos Aran ! que espectaculo, las miro una y otra vez….y no me canso. Tienes mucha sensibilidad y las fotos transmiten mucho! da gusto ver que quedan sitios autenticos y llenos de belleza en el mundo.
El menu tiene muy buena pinta!! Gracias por la inspiracion!!
So beautiful!! And feature a few of my favorite things!! =) I love rainy days, too, and the inky blacks of the wet world and the twinkle of lights through it all. And all of this is achingly beautifully autumnal!
And, I am so in love with your cookbook!!!! I have been having so much fun with the recipes and have started calling it fairy food – it’s so ethereally delicious and, yet, never ever heavy – only wonderfully satisfying. I’ve thought this so many times but have just had another wave of appreciation and thought I should tell you!
AND! ;) One other thing…. I live in Vermont but am originally from California. We have some long time and very dear family friends who came to visit us two weeks ago and she has been severely gluten intolerant for a couple of decades, now. (Don’t mix the eggs with the spatuals used to flip the pancakes or she’s out for weeks!) She’s given up on food, really, I think. Since I’ve been enjoying your book, I thought that making a lovely and delicious dinner was a perfect way to serve and bless her – a gift that I could give to her and, of course, I used several of your recipes and could adapt another because of what I had learned from your book! It was a sparkling and absolutely DELICIOUS dinner – one of the best I’ve ever made – and a beautiful, beautiful time visiting!! and, you were very much there in an odd abstract way! ;) Thank you so much!!! =)
xxo
It’s so incredibly gorgeous there. Truly lovely scenes you captured. It’s a good thing you’ve become inspired by rain, now that you live in Seattle :)
Gorgeous pictures! Very inspiring… thank you, thank you!
The rustic scenes, the effect of the rain on everything; i can almost smell the wet wood and soil. What are those bluish-purple giant leaves around the little white pumpkin? Never saw white pumpkins before. Beautiful leaves.
I love the photographs of the poached pear salad and the hanging slabs of wood. Beautiful shots and ideas — Thanks for sharing!
http://www.thecultureofdesign.com
Hola Arán, me encanta tu blogg, no sé a través de quién lo descubrí pero lo tengo ya en mis favoritos. Son unas fotos preciosas y me encanta la manera de presentar los platos. Se vende tu libro en España?.
Gracias!
Hola! Sí, a través de Amazon.
http://www.amazon.es/gp/aw/d/0316187453/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1382618347&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
Wow!! Charming place….y exquisitas fotos como siempre! Felicidades Aran
This place is like heaven on Earth!!! You captured the beauty of this place fantastically !!
I love all those fall squash varieties all piled up – beautiful!
beautiful nd haunting pics. greetings from very rainy ireland!
Hi !
I’m a french blogger and i’m in love with your univers?
I’ve been writing an article about my favourites IG accounts and I’m talking about your’s !
If you’d like to see it: http://www.asaline.fr/mes-11-comptes-instagram-chouchous-du-moment/
Have a nice day ♥
{ Asaline }
the light in your photography is simply amazing. Love it!
Sounds like you had a good time at Terrain despite the storm that night. You truly captured the essence of this beautiful place and the rain certainly add a magical tone to your stunning photos! I just stopped by Terrain this week for lunch with my girl-friends and could not resist picking-up one of their pretty heirloom pumpkins of course.
I love your blog. I’m looking for Thanksgiving recipes. I was told “Cooking With Mr. C.” on Facebook, dedicates the month of November to Thanksgiving recipes. I just “Liked” the page and came to check your blog out. Erin
Lovely as always! I will add it to my list of places I must visit soon.
I love your blog especially i love your recipes..Thanks for posting..Really amazing recipes.You have done really fantastic work…
Hi Aran,
I love reading your blog, and am very happy that you’re doing what you do… teaching people to cook with healthy ingredients is so important in fostering a healthy life and more importantly a healthy future. Today I am contacting you because I too am trying to do my part in getting people to eat and live healthier. In 2008 I set on a quest to look for the ideal cooking pot, one that would give me all the nutrients from the food being cooked without adding its own ingredients or contaminants. It was a personal happening that led me to do this and all my research pointed out in one direction — Pure Clay. After several years of research and travel I set out to make my line of pure clay cooking pots and their made in the USA. I had benefited so much from cooking in these pots that I had to share it with the world.
We choose to keep our raw material pure because the health benefits are overwhelming this way and greatly surpass that of cookware made from other kinds of manufactured clay like ceramic etc. I have come to read and love your blog greatly and would like you to consider taking part in our Affiliate Program so we can together promote this extremely healthy way of cooking to all your readers. You can find all the information about our cookware at miriamsearthencookware dot com or PureClayCookware dot com and sign up for the affiliate program by clicking on the affiliate tab on top.
And oh by the way we’re giving out pots to those who sign up early and the list is quickly filling up, I really hope you can be a part of it. We need your help in bringing back to life this beautiful, healthy, extremely eco-friendly method of cooking, it goes so well with your theme of helping people eat healthy, so do consider joining us.
Good luck with your blog.
Miriam Kattumuri
Breath-taking pictures! I’m glad to see more entries from you again. Certainly a joy to read :-)