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Organic design meets culinary art

Aerial view of Doolittle house in California
Logo for the MICHELIN Guide.

The ‘A Taste for Design’ series event launched with the premiere video screening of ‘Organic Design Meets Culinary Art’. Following the screening, a live panel discussion provides insights in organic architecture, timeless design and fine cuisine, hosted in partnership with Pirch.

Portrait of Chef Niki Nakayama

Chef Niki Nakayama
2 MICHELIN star restaurant, n/naka

For chef Niki Nakayama, the art of cooking all comes down to feeling. Born and raised in Los Angeles, chef Nakayama embarked on a three-year working tour of Japan immersing herself in the deeply nuanced methods and art of traditional kaiseki. After eight years, the chef branched out to host chef’s table dinners that resulted in chef Nakayama’s modernized kaiseki dining experience, which has become the signature cuisine of n/naka. n/naka was awarded 2 MICHELIN stars in 2019.

Portrait of Gerard O’Brien

Gerard O’Brien
Expert in California Modernism

Los Angeles based art dealer, owner and collector, Gerard O’Brien has an innate interest in modern American furniture and art, particularly mid-century. This interest has culminated in Reform, O’Brien’s gallery on Melrose place. Reform displays works by the most seminal and sometimes underappreciated designer craftsmen from these movements. O’Brien is also the curator and owner of The Landing, a fine art gallery specialising in historically significant 20th century post-war works, with an emphasis on those crafted in California, and works by contemporary artists.

Portrait of Steve Smith

Steve Smith
President and CEO of PIRCH

Steve took over the helm of PIRCH in 2018 and has directed the company’s growth by leveraging his extensive background in the retail home improvement business. Steve’s career in store management and merchandising started when he was in college and spans across multiple companies and all home product categories.

Portrait of J. Michael Welton

J. Michael Welton
Architecture Critic, Editor and Publisher of Architects and Artisans

J. Michael Welton writes about architecture, art, and design for national and international publications. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Dwell, Metropolis, and Architectural Digest. He is the author of “Drawing from Practice: Architects and the Meaning of Freehand,” and publishes and digital design magazine at www.architectsandartisans.com.

Collage of Chef Niki Nakayama cooking in the Doolittle, California

Ingredients

1 pc 2-3 lbs of Snapper or white fleshed fish gutted and cleaned

Using a knife make 3 shallow scores on the skin on both sides

1 cup Sliced onions

1/2 cup Carrots

4 Cloves of garlic crushed using a knife

4 Slices of lemon

Small bunch of dill and Italian parsley

1 Tbsp Butter cut into cubes

2 oz Olive oil

1 oz Soy sauce

1 Tbsp Salt

1 tsp Course ground black pepper

Method

Preheat oven at 400 OF. In an oven-proof skillet/cast iron pan/or baking dish, put onions and carrots into the pan. Stuff the fish’s stomach with butter, garlic, lemon, and herbs. Lay fish down into the pan and pour soy sauce and olive oil around fish and vegetables, season the fish with salt and pepper. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes or when thermometer reads 150 OF. The skin should brown just a bit.

For accompanying vegetables

1 cup Whole shiitake mushrooms cut into quarters

1/2 bunch Asparagus cut into 3 large segments

1 1/2 cup Mixed baby potatoes cut into halves

2 Cloves garlic minced

1 cup Campari tomatoes quartered

2 oz Olive oil

1 oz Soy sauce

2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

In a bowl, place all vegetables toss with olive oil, soy sauce, salt, pepper. Place vegetables into a roasting pan. Put into the oven with fish at the same time. Use a toothpick to test the potatoes doneness after 20 minutes when you’ve removed the fish. Turn oven to broil and cook for 5 more minutes. Serve alongside roasted fish.