I wish more people knew about Kinfolk magazine. Based in Portland, OR, this new indie magazine has a very unique theme: small, intimate gatherings. Good food, good company, good conversation, the passing on of recipes and home-related skill sets, exploration, travel, &c. It has a fantastic aesthetic - natural, rustic, simple, beautiful. The team of freelance photographers, writers, travelers, and filmmakers who contribute to each new issue come from all over the world. Their latest issue (#9 - they haven't been around that long!) has the theme of "defining your weekend, finding the right balance between work and play" and you can check it out here. Another cool element of Kinfolk is their monthly events, which are themed each month but which take place simultaneously in locales all around the globe. Take this month's "Preserving the Season" gatherings in Seattle, Mexico City, and Oslo, to name a few - all celebrating the harvest and teaching guests about canning, pickling, etc. Upcoming events are always posted to their website here.
This October, Kinfolk is branching out even further - they're publishing a cookbook! I had the pleasure to preview it, and it is really just fantastic. The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings is divided into sections by city/locale. From Brooklyn to Copenhagen, to the English Countryside, each sections includes profiles of a variety of individuals who have been discovered by Kinfolk over the years. Photographers, bakers, farm owners... they come from all walks of life, yet they've all welcomed Kinfolk into their homes and have shared their most precious recipes. Some are their original creations, and some are recipes that have been handed down through their families.
The cookbook is full of gorgeous photography, not just of the culinary creations included but also portraits of all the contributors, and even a great deal of photos of their homes, their kitchens, the small beautiful elements that make up their daily lives. The volume leaves you not only with the ability to make simply, healthy, delicious meals and desserts (such as Pasta with Wilted Arugula, Almonds, and Soft Goat Cheese or Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake), but also stories: of people, places, livelihoods... It's incredibly true to the magazine's mission, and is definitely a must-have for chefs, travelers, and all indie/hipster types. ;)
You can pre-order The Kinfolk Table on Amazon.
Release Date: October 15, 2013
$21.00 | hardcover
