Índex per April 2018 a Sunset

We’re loving the clean-lined throwback to tradition spotted all over this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. Here are four of our favorites.…

Sunset contributing market editor Cat Dash recently took her husband and their pintsize Papillon, Lulu, on a 10-day drive from Arizona to West Texas, spotting some seriously groovy stuff along the way. “The landscapes are the main attraction, and it’s clear that the local makers and shop owners agree,” she says. “You can see the desert’s influence on the products they create and the spaces they design.” Here’s what she loved. TUCSON MAST “Inside the Mercado San Agustín complex, look for pillows made by Mark Mitchell out of West African fabrics and metallic leather fringe.” ilovemast.com. DESERT VINTAGE “Like an approachable gallery for vintage clothing.” shop desertvintage.com. EXO BAR Coffee joint Exo Roast Co. opened something unique last May: a mezcaleria with several rare varieties on the menu and specialty…

There are few things more bucolic than a farm stay: romantic old barns, lazy country roads, and good, rich earth underfoot. But what if you were surrounded by something more sweet-scented than vegetables and chicken coops? At Rose Story Farm (from $1,429; rose storyfarm.com) in coastal Carpinteria, California, owner Danielle Hahn grows more than 200 cultivars of the property’s namesake plant and rents out guest rooms in the meticulously refurbished 1890s country house. Once you’ve sniffed your way through row after row of sensory delight, relax in the cooling lap pool or tinkle the ivories on the downstairs piano. In more of a mountain mood? In the high desert just outside Albuquerque, a private residence built in 1934 by John Gaw Meem—otherwise known as the father of Pueblo Revival architecture—lives…

Perched atop high mesas, Los Alamos entered the public consciousness with a bang—literally—with the deployment of the first atom bomb developed at what is now known as Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Today, the formerly clandestine community feels like a brainy slice of mid-20th-century America teleported into the 21st. Downtown, you might overhear PhDs discussingMartian rocks over craft beers. And while the bunkers and buildings where much of the early fission research took place are still off-limits, the secret is already out on the town’s winning mix of science, history, and magnificent canyons and buttes. 8:30 A.M. Centuriesold Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings dot towering bluffs in Bandelier National Monument (nps.gov/band), about 12 miles outside of town. Explore them via ladders along a short trail that loops past petroglyphs and over…

NORTHWEST Your CHECKLIST PLANT Set out seedlings of broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsley, spinach, and Swiss chard. Also plant seed potatoes and rhubarb. Sow arugula, beets, carrots, cilantro, peas, and radishes. Bring out angel’s trumpet, dahlias, fuchsias, and pelargoniums that overwintered indoors. Plant dahlia tubers right away. Repot others, keep them in a bright, protected place, and plant out after frost danger has passed. Bedding plants make maximum impact when they’re massed. Cool-season classics include calendula, English daisy, Iceland poppy, pansy, snapdragon, stock, and sweet alyssum. Repair lawns by roughing up bare spots with a rake, overseeding, covering with a quarter inch of planting mix, and keeping it all watered well. Check nurseries for favorite perennials such as basket-ofgold, bleeding heart, columbine, Corsican hellebore,…

Simplicity is beautiful. Cooking doesn’t need to be complicated if your ingredients are exceptionally fresh, local, and seasonal—just let them shine with as little fuss as possible. Or so I thought as a young culinary student, having thoroughly internalized Richard Olney’s classic book Simple French Food. Back then, I gave spring vegetables the Olney treatment, cooking them with care; draining them well; dressing them with balanced, thoughtful sauces; and adding only what was necessary. But over time, asmy tastes, needs, and habits have evolved, my perspective has shifted. Now, I appreciate complexity and the way one or two ingredients can change a dish, elevating it from flat to transcendent. (Even the smallest elements of surprise—from toasted grains to the salty tang of preserved lemon—can turn a bowl of simple salad…

GRILLED HANGER STEAK with PARSLEY-GARLIC SAUCE SERVES 4 / 25 MINUTES The long, narrow cut from the underside of beef is equally flavorful and less expensive than rib-eye. It’s delicious grilled, as we’ve done here, then folded up in soft flatbread with a garlicky yogurt sauce. 1½ lbs. hanger steak, trimmed4½ tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided2¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided1¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper, divided1½ cups tightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves, divided1 garlic clove, smashed⅔ cup full-fat Greek yogurt1 tbsp. lemon juiceLavash or other soft flatbread 1. Heat a grill to medium-high (about 450°). Rub steak with 1 tbsp. oil, then sprinkle with 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until charred and internal temperature registers 125° for mediumrare, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer steak to a…

Beyond bunnies Hosting Easter this year? Kick things up a notch with our DIY egg-decorating tutorial, elegant spring tabletop ideas, easy succulent baskets, and delicious recipes for your holiday gathering: sunset.com/ easter. Richmond night market We recently spent a day in Richmond, B.C., home of one of the continent’s largest and most impressive outdoor markets. Go on an extended tour of its offerings at sunset.com/richmondmarket. Floral arrangements Turn seasonal blooms into stunning decor: sunset.com/arrangements.…

When architecture and interiors photographer Ben Rahn traveled the country capturing 17 distinctive residences for The Modern A-Frame (Gibbs Smith, 2018; $30), one thing quickly became apparent. “Nobody boring lives in an A-frame,” he says. “They all have interesting stories, and they’re all doing interesting things.” Whether it’s a luxe lodge in Beverly Hills built from a Sears kit in 1963 or a more unusual adaptation that floats off a dock in Seattle, many of the houses he profiles in this shelfie-ready volume are rooted in nostalgia. “What I came to realize is that owners had some sort of childhood connection to A-frames,” Rahn says, be it a cherished vacation rental or a home they watched their father build by hand. “In some cases, they hadn’t even realized it.”…

On the University of Arizona’s Tucson campus, undergrads gather in a courtyard that mimics a Southwestern slot canyon with rustred terraces and desert vegetation. It’s a beautiful space—and a resonant one. Carved by floods and seared by heat, the region’s slot canyons are a reminder that the West is a place of extremes. Studying those extremes is Gregg Garfin, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment. One aspect of his work is trying to understand how a warming planet will impact this part of the country, and that quest has taken on sudden urgency this past year. “Wildfires are the most visceral and visible way we experience climate change in Arizona,” says Garfin. His point about his home state echoes this past fall’s disastrous California conflagrations—Napa and…

YOU’VE PATIENTLY WAITED out winter, and now that April’s here, it’s time to break out the compost, bury dahlia bulbs, admire French tulips, and scatter the earth with seeds. On the other hand, maybe it’s also time to hit the road. More than ever, flower farmers are throwing open the gates for in-depth workshops, dinner parties, and sweet-scented sleepovers that will have you dreaming in color. The action starts as the first daffodils explode out of the dewy greenery and lasts all the way through the chrysanthemums’ end-of-summer coda. You can camp out in a rose-filled forest, get a primer on harvesting squash blossoms, or run your fingers through vast, fragrant fields of lavender. The best part as a visitor, of course, is that you’re just passing through and get…

ROSE CREEK RETREAT Rosburg, Washington THE DIGS A cluster of three secluded campgrounds ($33) at the mouth of the Columbia River. WHAT’S GROWING Thirty kinds of wild roses flourishing amid native trees and huckleberry bushes. FRINGE BENEFIT You might see eagles swooping overhead as the sun sets over the water. OZ FARM Manchester, California THE DIGS A 1960s meditation retreat revamped as a rustic campsite ($75) inside a redwood grove. WHAT’S GROWING An apple orchard full of delicate blossoms, and 15 varieties of cut flowers. FRINGE BENEFIT To sleep indoors, opt for one of the funky cabins (from $125) scattered around the property.…

Former prime minister Pierre Trudeau once described his vision for Canada as a mosaic of creeds and ethnicities coexisting side by side without sacrificing their distinct identities. That ideal plays out in Richmond, just south of Vancouver, where generations of families from all over eastern Asia have made their homes. It’s a Pacific Rim smorgasbord, with restaurants preparing everything from Shanghai soup dumplings to housemade Korean tofu. Alongside the incredible food scene are ornate temples, a quaint fishing village, and a futuristic-looking shopping center straight out of Blade Runner 2049. Culture vultures, you’re welcome. 10 A.M. It might seem odd to start your day in a glassencased mall, but you’ll find some of the best dim sum in town at Fisherman’s Terrace (604/303-9739), on the third floor of the Aberdeen…

RUSTI PORTER AND MARTIN GERAGHTY were prepared to be disappointed when they made the 50-mile trek from Alameda to Sonoma, California, to tour a midcentury ranch as a second home. “The house had been on the market for six months,” says Porter, whose first impression of the online photos was that the brick-veneer home possessed the characteristics of a prison. “We almost didn’t go look at it.” Once inside the 4,600-square-foot Ushaped home, the two split off to take the tour. By the time they met in the middle, they shared their surprising feedback. “We’d fallen in love with the house and knew we had to buy it,” says Porter. For all that drew them to the 5 ½-acre property, the couple’s relentless careers in sales and marketing kept them…

There are biscuits and then there are Avery Ruzicka’s biscuits: towering, extravagantly layered squares reminiscent of puff pastry or croissants. The secret? Five sticks of butter per batch. “There’s no shortage of butter in this recipe!” says the owner and head baker of Manresa Bread in Los Gatos and Los Altos, California. The biscuits are something of a sleeper hit, since they’re actually only available to the public at The Bywater, a sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred Manresa, and at local coffee shop Verve Coffee Roasters. Plenty of butter isn’t Ruzicka’s only secret. Careful attention to temperature, technique, and even choice of flours (three kinds!) transforms the often-humble quick bread into golden, flaky layers that are impossible to resist. “Yes, they’re rich,” says Ruzicka, “but they’re so delicious you just…

SERVES 6 / 1 HOUR, PLUS 45 MINUTES TO STAND Warm, richly spiced fruit served over a cool, creamy base makes a sweet ending to a brunch. And it’s simple: All you do is infuse the pineapple with seasonings and rum, then roast it in a hot oven until the juices are caramelized. Many markets sell precut pineapple spears, which makes the dish even easier. 3 tbsp. gold rum6 whole star anise pods1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces4 whole allspice berries¼ cup packed light brown sugar¼ tsp. ground mace or nutmeg⅛ tsp. each ground cardamom and allspicePinch kosher salt1 large pineapple (about 4½ lbs.), peeled, cored, and cut into long spears about ¾ in. wide; or use 2 lbs. precut pineapple spears and slice ¾ in. wideButter for the pan3…

IN THE SMALL BOTTLE SHOP in downtown Napa’s Compline restaurant (complinewine.com), you’ll find hardly any Cabernets from the region the eight-month-old store serves—though they do show up on the adjoining wine bar and restaurant’s menu. What you will see on the shelves is a $9 bottle of Montepulciano. In fact, most of the wines are tagged between $10 and $35, and the majority of Napa Cabs simply don’t make the cut for that price range. Instead, master sommelier Matt Stamp and business partner Ryan Stetins stock labels that let you take a chance on something new without a lot of risk—the vino buyer’s equivalent of a trust fall. To offer such affordable discoveries, Stamp and Stetins are clearly smart shoppers. Here they suggest three strategies for anyone looking to punch…

TIP: To achieve this level of texture, apply two layers of rounded X brushstrokes over a coat of verticals. Utah stylist and interior designer Meta Coleman became besotted with the mottled, cloudlike finish of limewash after visiting a friend’s home in Sweden. The traditional European wall application made of lime putty, mineral pigment, and water is earthkind and chemical-free. “There’s richness, depth, and dimension to it,” says Coleman, who chose a salmontaupe hue to add warmth and to complement her home’s vintage decor. “It spreads on easily and dries fast; even the accidental drips blend in a little bit. It’s just part of the charm.” To get the look, she applied three coats of Domingue Architectural Finishes in Dusk (from $26/liter, 713/961-5270). DIGITAL BONUS See the step-by-step process in action…

Don’t have five months—or the cardio regimen—to hike 2,650 miles? Here’s a book that tells you how to tackle the epic Pacific Crest Trail, which turns 50 this year, in two-to nine-day doses. In Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California (Mountaineers Books, 2018; $25), author and photographer Philip Kramer uses his 2013 start-to-finish PCT trip to focus on backpacking the celebrated route, covering the 740-mile Northern California section from Tuolumne Meadows to Donomore Pass. The final in a series of four titles encompassing the entire trail, the book details particulars such as top campsites, water sources, noteworthy side trips, road access, permits, gear, and views—with 150 full-color photographs you’ll wish were poster-size. For daily inspiration (and motivation) follow @hikethepct on Instagram.…

The Original Los Angeles Flower Market (originallaflowermarket.com) is one of the city’s most underrated—and, at $2 admission, cheapest—attractions. Combined, this and the market across the street make up the largest wholesale flower district in America, home to 100 vendors specializing in everything from orchids to bouquet-friendly greenery like leatherleaf fern. The market operates on a different schedule from much of the city, opening as early as 6 a.m. (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays). Time it right, and you can get in your day’s eye candy.…

Beyond the reach of Sacramento’s eastern suburbs, Auburn has long been a folksy foothills enclave where kids pan for gold and grown-ups rummage through dusty antiques. Continuing to embrace its 19thcentury origins, the town’s saloons and blacksmith shop look much like they would have in the 1860s. But behind many vintage façades you’ll now find chic shops that wouldn’t be out of place in San Francisco, selling housewares and sleek handmade jewelry. Speaking of jewelry, there’s still gold—not much, but a little—in them there hills, and the supply store will happily hook you up with the right tools if the fever strikes. 10 A.M. Start with a cappuccino at The Pour Choice (thepourchoice.com) before exploring Old Town, and let the brass-accented interior put you in a vintage mind-set. 11 A.M.…

“MY garden is this tiny, controlled environment,” says Flora Grubb. With confident strides and expansive hand gestures, the muchlauded owner of Flora Grubb Gardens (floragrubb.com), the groundbreaking nursery in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, moves through the grounds of her Berkeley home, pointing out missteps one minute (alas, the blighted boxwood she had to replace) and highlighting successes the next (a rare Acacia spectabilis that’s grown to 16 feet in two years). “I’m able to create and maintain something beautiful through hard work and force of will. Psychologically, that’s really gratifying when everything seems out of control.” The chance to organize chaos was a big motivation for Grubb when she moved into her cottage home four years ago with her son Greyson. She was recently divorced and grieving the death of…

Kaleidoscope wallpaper, colorful lacquered furniture, hip-hop lyrics made into artwork: For Paul and Mikaela Hayama, these design details work harmoniously in their custombuilt modern home. “A monochromatic, neutral, soft palette was an absolute no-no for me,” says Mikaela, a legal-operations director and mother of two in Manhattan Beach, California. “With young kids, we wanted our home to feel energetic and alive. It just made sense to embrace big bold colors and textures.” To pull off this overachieving color agenda, the couple teamed up with architect Jonathan Starr of Starr Design Group and interior designer Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design and promptly let loose with some daring decor decisions. “Our whole idea was to go modern but approachable, livable, and warm,” says Paul, a partner at a private debt firm.…

MAKES 1¼ CUPS / 30 MINUTES Try this sweet, gently spicy spread with sharp cheddar or beef too. 2 large red bell peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped1 jalapeño chile, seeded and coarsely chopped1 fresh, mildly hot or hot red chile such as Fresno or cayenne, seeded and coarsely chopped½ cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar1 tsp. fine sea salt⅔ cup cider vinegar2 tsp. Sure-Jell original pectin 1. Pulse bell peppers and chiles in a food processor to finely chop, then transfer to a 4-to 5-qt. pot. Add ½ cup sugar, the salt, and vinegar. Bring uncovered pot to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until three-quarters of liquid evaporates and mixture is the consistency of loose jam, 15 to 18 minutes. 2. In…

NEW TWIST Garden fresh You might already grow a patch of cheery nasturtiums, using the peppery flowers to add snap to salads. But did you know that the leaves—even the big, extra-spicy ones—make an excellent pesto for pasta? Like many fiery greens, they mellow when they hit heat. NASTURTIUM PESTO PASTA SERVES 2 TO 4 (MAKES 4 CUPS) / 20 MINUTES In a food processor, whirl 2 tbsp. roasted salted pistachios and 1 small garlic clove until chopped. Add 2 packed cups large nasturtium leaves and tender stems, 6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, ½ cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese, and a pinch of kosher salt. Pulse until coarsely puréed. Toss with 8 oz. orecchiette pasta (cooked per package directions). Just before serving, fold in 1 packed cup small nasturtium leaves…

AND OTHER GOOD STUFF TRAVEL DESTINATION: PACIFIC NORTHWEST 101 Black Butte Ranch 102 Central Montana 103 Explore Fairbanks 104 Explore Kirkland—City of Kirkland Tourism Department 105 Grant County Tourism Commission 106 Gray Line Alaska 107 International Selkirk Loop 108 Ketchikan Visitors Bureau 109 Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce 110 Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce 111 Rosario Resort and Spa 112 San Juan Cruises 113 Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat 114 The Cannon Beach Gallery Group 115 Visit Port Angeles 116 ALASKA 117 Ketchikan Visitors Bureau 118 Visit Sitka ARIZONA 119 Tempe Arizona BED & BREAKFAST INNS 120 Sorensen’s Resort—Hope Valley BRITISH COUMBIA 121 Marine Link Tours CALIFORNIA 122 California State Parks/CSPF 123 Fairfield—Gateway to the Napa Valley 124 Solvang Convention and Visitors Bureau 125 Stockton Visitors Bureau 126 Trees of Mystery 127…