Kitchen

In Good Taste

Nutritionist and Food Network Host Ellie Krieger Dishes on Kitchen Essentials, a Favorite Michigan Shop for Cooks, and More

While renowned cookbook author and Food Network and Cooking Channel host (Healthy Appetite) Ellie Krieger was in Michigan recently visiting family (her husband grew up in the Lansing area), she found a few minutes to chat with Detroit Home. Here, a dash of insight on her new cookbook (Weeknight Wonders, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and practical-but-pretty kitchens. We also “tag along” with Krieger as she reminisces about summer vacations in northwest Michigan’s Frankfort area.

Tools for the health-conscious cook: “A large, good-quality, nonstick skillet … you’ll use a lot less oil. (Krieger is all about health and holds an MS in nutrition from Columbia University). You can make full meals in one skillet with protein, veggies, et cetera. Also, a 10-inch cast iron skillet that goes from stove to oven (recipes using these pans are featured in Weeknight Wonders). And don’t forget a salad spinner!”

Gas or electric stove? “Gas. I find it easier to control.”

Open or closed kitchen? “I love my open kitchen at home (Manhattan, N.Y.) and at my test studio. I never want to be ‘trapped.'” Krieger’s home kitchen has granite countertops with “green speckles,” cherry cabinetry, and a Mexican tile backsplash.

Plate-pleasers: “I need new dishes like a hole in the head, but I recently purchased Williams-Sonoma’s plain white dinner plates. I also like a smaller dinner plate — you put less food on it, but are psychologically satisfied.”

Take-alongs and must-do’s when vacationing on Lake Michigan: “A nonstick skillet and knives for cutting tomatoes and bread.”

Favorite kitchen shop: The Ideal Kitchen in Manistee (northwest Michigan). “Cute and curated with a good selection, the Ideal Kitchen is a gourmet, boutique experience.”

Tile

On the Wild Side

Motawi Tileworks of Ann Arbor added new designs based on the work of wildlife artist Charley Harper. The tile motifs include a squirrel, owls, and koalas rendered in Harper’s enchanting style. The designs are licensed through New York-based designer Todd Oldham, a longtime admirer of Harper’s colorful minimalism. Oldham saw Motawi as a natural fit for the collaboration. “The tiles share a kinship with Charley’s flat canvases,” Oldham says. “The special techniques that Motawi can execute help bring the works to life in this medium.” (On tap for tile fans: Motawi Home Tour, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., March 29, motawi.com.)

Furniture

French Accent

A European Collection for Baker is Timeless but Steeped in Modernity

Jacques Garcia’s new designs for Baker weave bold, modern form and Old World craftsmanship for a timeless collection that’s sure to be forever en vogue. Drawing inspiration from historical styles, each form speaks to Garcia’s talent and expertise. The pieces reflect Garcia’s lifelong pursuit of collecting and preserving the art of French design.

“My style is not to economize with décor but to celebrate it!” Garcia says. Baker Showroom, Michigan Design Center. michigandesign.com

“There’s a certain duality between the past and present in me.” — Jacques Garcia