• Blawg
  • Recipes
  • Catering
  • Baker's Wife
  • Contact
Menu

Arielle Giusto | roaming chef, baker's wife, outdoorswoman |

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
| roaming chef, baker's wife, outdoorswoman |

Your Custom Text Here

Arielle Giusto | roaming chef, baker's wife, outdoorswoman |

  • Blawg
  • Recipes
  • Catering
  • Baker's Wife
  • Contact

On Inspiration - Life Inside and Outside of Restaurants

April 14, 2018 Arielle Giusto
IMG_7977.jpg

I sit here still buzzing from a week spent in LA cooking with my friend David Wilcox at his restaurant Journeymen. The time away came right on the heels of the 21st anniversary of my mother's death on April 1st, and it turned out to be one of the most difficult April 1st's in recent memory. A few days before I unearthed a pile of letters she had sent to her parents between ages 19-25 and reading those brought out an intensity of the depth of loss that I had yet to experience. She wrote from the beach of Montauk, about how she got her first job as a cashier in a restaurant run by "two of the biggest queens around". I had never heard these stories, never even knew she had lived in New York or what her first job was, and with her gone by the time I was 13 there was still so much to talk about. It hit me like a gut punch how much had been lost, how much about her I would never know.

IMG_039.jpg

My eyes still puffy and emotions very close to the surface, I flew in to LAX to start my weeklong stay, cooking and hanging at my friend's restaurant. It was perfect timing really, I was grateful for the chance to throw myself into a project and focus on something outside of myself for awhile. I prepped all day with David and his crew - made duck liver pate and stuffed morcilla blood sausage, braised flageolet beans, cleaned artichokes, made dressings and sauces - and ate there at night with friends. I had a studio rented one block from the restaurant and for that week my life felt very basic and very simple - no errands, no plans, just cook.

IMG_7945.jpg

I went to be re-inspired by cooking. My many years at MH had been incredibly rewarding and incredibly draining. I had turned into more of a manager of people and less of a creator of food. I wanted to feed off of the relentless drive and passion I have always known in David. He runs a tight ship but one that also feels very comfortable and not harried. Just put in the time, get your work done, do it right. I was surrounded by new dishes, flavor combinations I had never thought of, and an integrity of work that shone through every aspect. He sources each and every vegetable and fruit in the entire restaurant at the farmer's market. No back up produce company, nothing. Inspiring to say the least.

IMG_8195.jpg

In the end, the trip left me feeling slightly confused. I have been very clear with my decision to leave the restaurant world. So go figure that it turns out to be the environment where I am the most confident, a space that I know how to navigate, a place that feeds my excitement and inspiration, a home away from home, a community of people, my people, who work incredibly hard and the best of whom can maintain integrity of the vision under the stressful conditions that are always present. It is not a lifestyle that has ever truly been sustainable for me, but I felt so alive this past week that damnit if I can't help but wonder if I will be able to find that buzz outside of that place.  Maybe I never will, maybe I've just got to get used to a whole new set of feelings.

← Japan - a trip begets an obsessionSunday Supper - KUKU SABZI →

Gram on It

It was really and truly a feast to be remembered.
Prep game looking strong this morning.
A peak into our garden. Posted before and after photos at ariellegiusto.com.
Today got a little brighter: @ngiusto and I have finally arrived. We have a pizza named after us! Thanks @hailmarypizza
Kitty’s sweet reminder to be simply content.
Becks and Posh wishing you a happy Sunday.
This guy rode 395 miles on a motorcycle to eat dinner with me on my birthday. So much thanks @davidgrahamwilcox and crew at @hailmarypizza for not burning down in his absence.
#Repost @ponsfordsplace with @get_repost
・・・
Mermaid dishwasher Arielle #nickygiusto #theartisanbakingcenter #ponsfordsplace
Dia de los Muertos with our main squeeze.
Took a leap today, woke up at 4:45, dressed like a pirate, got on a boat, did some yoga and then danced with my friends. All before 9am. Thanks @dybrkr for an epic start to a beautiful day. Pretty inspiring and healthy party concept.
One day old and four day old Cassidy Flynn Pardi! Love and nourishment for my dear Samara, stocked the fridge with warm broths and teas inspired by the beautiful book @thefirstfortydays...what a wonderful season to be a newborn!
I just love this guy, if you have not seen his phots they are magnificent!  Repost @tanaka_tatsuya with @get_repost
・・・
.
10.19 fri “Fiery Autumn Leaves”
.
秋はきても飽きのこない景色
.
#唐辛子 #紅葉 #楓
#RedPeppers #AutumnLeaves #Maple
#インド #India
#カレーといるとホットする
.
───────────────
《EXHIBITION info》
.
【MINIATURE LIFE展 in 名古屋】
MINIATURE LIFE EXHIBITION in Nagoya
10/5 fri - 11/25 sun
.
#MINIATURELIFE展 #ミニチュアライフ展
Please look at the Instagram story’s highlight for more information.
.
Someone is not pleased.
HBD to this stud.
Another one from last night. Feeling exhausted and buzzed from it all! 
#Repost @vinoforbreakfast
・・・
What mountaintop dinner party dreams are made of... 💫 🍷 ❤️ .
Highlight of the night? James of @sophiejameswine turning all the lights in the house off so we could look at the stars 😍
What a night!! #Repost @sophiejameswine
・・・
Thank you to everyone who joined us tonight for another ✨magical✨ evening on the mountaintop🧡🧡🧡 A huge high five and thank you to the ultimate dream team of @ariellegiusto and her wonderful husband @ngiusto and the rest of the team for making tonight so incredibly delicious and FUN 💛🧡💛🧡💛
Damn I love this fella. Coming in on the weekend to bake bread for my big dinner tonight. And being cute! Custom bread and sweets for this chef.
Prep colors! Can’t wait to serve another dinner on the magical Sonoma mountain top of @sophiejameswine tomorrow.

Subscribe

Sign up with your email address to receive new posts to your inbox!

We respect your privacy.

Thank you!

Latest Posts

Featured
Feb 13, 2019
Perspective Change
Feb 13, 2019
Feb 13, 2019
Jan 31, 2019
Mesa Refuge - Point Reyes
Jan 31, 2019
Jan 31, 2019
Nov 17, 2018
Outdoor Spaces: Creating my garden, start to finish
Nov 17, 2018
Nov 17, 2018
Aug 8, 2018
Tiny Kitchens of Japan
Aug 8, 2018
Aug 8, 2018
Jul 23, 2018
Naoshima - Island of art and barnacles
Jul 23, 2018
Jul 23, 2018
Japan - a trip begets an obsession
Jun 29, 2018
Japan - a trip begets an obsession
Jun 29, 2018
Jun 29, 2018
Apr 14, 2018
On Inspiration - Life Inside and Outside of Restaurants
Apr 14, 2018
Apr 14, 2018
Mar 30, 2018
Sunday Supper - KUKU SABZI
Mar 30, 2018
Mar 30, 2018
Mar 24, 2018
On Teaching - Central Milling's Artisan Baking Center
Mar 24, 2018
Mar 24, 2018
Feb 28, 2018
Last of the Season - Whole Pumpkin Soup
Feb 28, 2018
Feb 28, 2018

Blawg RSS