*NOTCOT in roundup -

NOTCOT.org + Tasteologie Roundup

roundup notcotorg #59459 notcotorg #59419 notcotorg #59413 notcotorg #59422 notcotorg #59427 notcotorg #59436 notcotorg #59446 notcotorg #59444 notcotorg #59416 notcotorg #59453 notcotorg #59426 notcotorg #59424 notcotorg #59462 notcotorg #59449 notcotorg #59411 notcotorg #59451 notcotorg #59430 notcotorg #59431 notcotorg #59455 notcotorg #59439 tasteologie #72789 tasteologie #72720 tasteologie #72792 notcotorg #59448 tasteologie #72777 A taste of this week’s inspiration over at NOTCOT.org and Tasteologie! Click the pics to find out more.

*NOTCOT in food+drink - 03.29.15 -

Flor de Lis Restaurante - Guatemala City

flor0.jpg The ultimate meal isn’t just about the food. It’s about the flavors, the plating, the ambiance, the decor, the company, the conversation… and it all came together perfectly at Flor de Lis. Though, you know what’s impossible? Taking photos that do it all justice while armed with just an iPhone and bouncing between great conversation and delicious bites you need to taste as soon as they reach the table. So consider this post a teaser of the reality of a meal at Flor de Lis… but honestly, you need to get to Guatemala City to properly experience it for yourself (or if you’re lucky, we can get them to come do a pop up in LA! or NY? or Miami?)

Backing up a moment - i’ve shown you our amazing Guatemala adventures as well as the story of Flor de Lis’ Pingüi and our Puma Penguins… so you’ve seen peeks of Flor de Lis, but a proper post is definitely overdue! The plating is so stunning! And it all tastes… SO GOOD. To be honest, when Harold reached out about the penguins, with our few hours in Guatemala City, I had to find my way to Flor de Lis, so of course we happily accepted when Harold invited us to dinner with his fiancè and Chef Diego Ruben Telles. Chef Diego is originally from Guatemala and after cooking in Spain and training in Denmark at NOMA, he’s returned to experiment with modernized Guatemalan cuisine.

I’m not kidding when I say the meal was one of the best i’ve had in some time. Situated in Guatemala City’s modern Paseo Cayala (think mini city with-in the city complete with private security - it reminds me of a huge Santana Row with luxury shopping, homes, offices and more which will continue expanding the next few years) - Flor de Lis is a delicious modern twist on traditional Guatemalan flavors and ingredients. While Chef Diego often described the plates as ‘simple’ with regards to the minimal ingredients used, the way he transforms a single ingredient (like a carrot!) into multiple textures (think charred, powdered, saucey) on the same plate is a masterful transformation that i’d consider molecular gastronomy. In addition to using local ingredients (as local as the plants growing right next to our table!) their stunning plating includes traditional Guatemalan pottery, wood, ceramics and more in a whole new context. They want you to truly experience and enjoy the food - so while the plates may look too pretty to disrupt at first, the smell will pull you in, and once you grab a piece with your fingers and taste the sauces, the ultimate compliment is for the chef to see you licking up every last drop! Flor de Lis serves up a delicious, relaxed, beautifully modern experience all around that can’t be missed if you’re in Guatemala City. See the iPhone pics of our experience on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in home+decor - 03.26.15 -

KETTAL Cottage by Patricia Urquiola

cottage0.jpg I’ve been researching far too many decks, patios, gazebos, hammock structures, mesh pavilions, building codes and more as of late… i guess i’m itching for a new LARGER design project to toy with, as well as an excuse to spend more time lounging in the yard. On fun inspiration, currently loving this new KETTAL Cottage by Patricia Urquiola! In some ways it feels like an old school platform tent you can rent at some camp sites, in other ways it’s like a mini house/cabana to chill poolside. What’s especially nice is how versatile your options for the side panels and roll down covers are! Also thinking that Bucky would totally try to hop in and splay out taking over the whole thing… perhaps a mini or a platform attachment for the dog would be a fun add on. Take a peek at far more pictures on the next page.

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*NOTCOT in design - 03.23.15 -

Buster & Punch LED Buster Bulb

buster0.jpg Here’s the latest from NOTCOT’s London-based editor and resident zoologist, Justine Aw!

Last week we made our way out to the new London Bridge showroom of Buster and Punch for the launch of their new designer LED Buster Bulb. We first met Massimo and the team at Clerkenwell Design Week where we loved their heavy metal light switches. This time, they have announced a stunning designer LED bulb that is 2 years in the making, and designed to look as attractive off as it does on thanks to the metallic sheen! In addition to mood lighting, it also shoots a brighter spot down making it restaurant/desk perfect. Take a look at the stunning display and our first look at the LED Buster Bulbs up close on the next page.

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*NOTCOT in roundup - 03.21.15 -

NOTCOT.org + Tasteologie Roundup

roundup notcotorg #59396 notcotorg #59377 notcotorg #59350 notcotorg #59406 notcotorg #59319 notcotorg #59351 notcotorg #59354 notcotorg #59329 notcotorg #59367 notcotorg #59393 notcotorg #59321 notcotorg #59357 notcotorg #59317 notcotorg #59331 notcotorg #59325 notcotorg #59390 notcotorg #59398 notcotorg #59385 notcotorg #59389 notcotorg #59337 tasteologie #72270 tasteologie #72533 tasteologie #72410 tasteologie #72538 tasteologie #72501 Inspiration roundup! A taste of what is keeping me giddy and excited over at NOTCOT.org and Tasteologie the last week! Click the pics to find out more!!!

*NOTCOT in travel -

Laguna Lodge: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

laguna000.jpg Sometimes you need a place to truly relax, hide away, and gather your thoughts. Since we were in Guatemala for Jackson’s wedding, we decided to add on a few days to do just that… and Shawn found the eco-luxury 6 room resort and nature reserve, The Laguna Lodge at Lake Atitlan - the perfect getaway add-on to our Antigua plans. Since the lodge is in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, on the western highlands of Sololá, you take a car to Panajachel and then hop on a boat for about 10 minutes. To get anywhere from the lodge you can either hop on another boat, or walk along the pathways along the lakeshore. Though, I honestly can’t tell you much about waving down the boats to hop from town to town, since once we were situated, we realized the ultimate break was really to just hide out at the lodge, explore the 100 acres of nature reserve, delicious locally grown, organic, vegetarian fare, and watch the sunsets over the volcanoes and the lake! Of the 6 suites, the majority of couples we met did seem to be American 20-30 somethings as well - but this was the part of our trip that was more about a stunning oasis tucked away from the chaos of everyday life. Two nights at the Laguna Lodge, and we were feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and ready to get back to reality! Take a look at the stunning space on the next page.

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*NOTCOT in design - 03.20.15 -

Pingüi of Flor de Lis, Guatemala City

pinguino00.jpg An incredible thing happened when i was in Guatemala. While there for the wedding, i received the most intriguing @NOTlabs Instagram comment - from a long time NOTCOT reader, who is not only an old school friend of the bride, but also such a fan of the Puma Penguins i shared back in 2009, that when he couldn’t find any, he started to sculpt his own inspired by them! … and even made a red one the mascot of his new restaurant in Guatemala City, Flor de Lis (which also happens to be #1 on Trip Advisor currently.) And with a few hours to spare in Guatemala City before heading home, we were lucky enough to meet up! So before i get into the delicious restaurant, or more of the things we found in Guatemala… first things first… the amazing story of Pingüi! The mascot of Flor de Lis! And it goes even further… Chef Diego even has the penguin tattooed on his forearm! And they are even making more mini penguins for the upcoming wedding!

So. WOW. I still can’t believe all of this has been inspired by spotting some penguins in Puma window displays way back in 2009. Puma, if you’re listening, THANK YOU! The penguins are still inspiring people around the world! Take a peek at Pingüi and the story on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in travel - 03.19.15 -

7 days in 50 Instagrams: Guatemala!

gua0.jpg WOW. What an adventure our week in Guatemala has been! Headed down to Antigua for our Tasteologie editor’s wedding, so of course we had to explore a bit while there, but the amount of different experiences we’ve had still blows my mind. From landing in darkness at GUA and watching the sunrise (and volcano erupt a little) on our drive to Antigua, to exploring (and tasting) Antigua, to the beautiful wedding and before/after events… to heading out to Lake Atitlan and the stunning waterfront, super-eco, all vegetarian Laguna Lodge on 100 acres of nature reserve… to a pit stop at Iximche ruins… back in to Guatemala City, where we end up getting an amazing look at the city thanks to one of our long time readers (and old friend’s of the bride!)… from a peek at the older city center, to the newest city within a city, Paseo Cayala… tasting award winning Guatemalan coffee and even more fantastic food at Flor de Lis… before heading back to LA.

OH! And there are penguins! You know our Puma Penguins (from 2009) - they inspired Pingüi, the mascot of Flor de Lis! Which is even tattooed on the chef’s forearm! But more on that later…

So first things first - here’s a look at our quick, epic Guatemalan adventures in 50 @NOTlabs and @RShawnSims Instagrams as it all happened in real time. My head is still spinning from how many different things we’ve seen and experienced - and HUGE congrats to Jackson + Tish on their special super-pi-day wedding! Yay for 3.14 15!

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*NOTCOT in travel - 03.16.15 -

Guatemala - BRB

backsoon.jpg Hi! We’re currently in Guatemala the last few days with minimal internet… but back super soon! To see what we’re up to while exploring Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Guatemala City, take a peek at the @NOTlabs Instagram! … and adventure/inspiration updates coming here soon of course!!!

*NOTCOT in roundup - 03.07.15 -

NOTCOT.org + Tasteologie Roundup

roundup notcotorg #59256 notcotorg #59268 notcotorg #59292 notcotorg #59265 notcotorg #59289 notcotorg #59293 notcotorg #59278 notcotorg #59276 notcotorg #59266 notcotorg #59272 notcotorg #59291 notcotorg #59294 notcotorg #59301 notcotorg #59280 notcotorg #59300 notcotorg #59277 notcotorg #59275 notcotorg #59284 notcotorg #59281 notcotorg #59304 tasteologie #71813 tasteologie #71864 tasteologie #71774 tasteologie #71926 tasteologie #71826 A taste of some of the many things inspiring me this week over at NOTCOT.org and Tasteologie! Click the pics to find out more - and feel free to submit what inspires you to any of our sites too!

*NOTCOT in design - 03.03.15 -

Unfinished Business Movie Stock Photos

unfinished0.jpg HA! I couldn’t stop giggling when i saw these over at Adweek … In a brilliant move, Twentieth Century Fox and iStock by Getty Images have created a set of 12 stock photos featuring the cast of Unfinished Business - including Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, and Dave Franco. How much do you want to bet that you’ll start seeing these guys pop up in generic pamphlets, website placeholders, and unknowing poorly designed official looking company paraphernalia? I’m almost surprised there isn’t a lorem ipsum generator that is the story of the movie in pig latin to to pair with the stock photos for mock ups. They are releasing a few a week for free download, see the rest of the set on the next page.

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*NOTCOT in travel - 03.02.15 -

11 days in 100 Instagrams: Winter in Alberta

winter0.jpgThis post is part of our special NOTCOT Alberta Great Escape series thanks to our friends at Travel Alberta. In Part I, we roadtripped up from LA for a fall adventure. In Part II, we are experiencing all that Alberta Winter has to offer! Follow the series to see what inspires us along the way!

First things first - THANK YOU, Travel Alberta! I’m sad to say our Alberta adventures have come to a close. It has been a fantastic journey - exploring incredible places, meeting amazing people, doing new things, and road tripping to clear our minds, and get reinvigorated for the second decade of NOTCOT! Shawn (and Bucky) and I had a blast - with amazing animal encounters, feeling tiny amongst the stunning Rockies, climbing walls of ice, and so so much more… So a huge thank you, for helping for me to step out of my comfort zone, and get out of my head a bit while still simultaneously working. It has been so much fun to explore and share it all as we went! And we’ll definitely be back! (Canmore, Jasper, and one day catching those northern lights are on my list…)

So while there are proper feature posts on our adventures - for the super preview with all the crazy little details and inspiration along the way - see it as we shared it in real time on the NOTlabs Instagram. You can see Part I rounded up here - 8 days in 100 Instagrams - Alberta Summer, and Part II - 11 days of Alberta Winter in 100 Instagrams on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in design - 02.28.15 -

Parks Canada Logos - Cave and Basin

cnplogos0.jpg This post is part of our special NOTCOT Alberta Great Escape series thanks to our friends at Travel Alberta. In Part I, we roadtripped up from LA for a fall adventure. In Part II, we are experiencing all that Alberta Winter has to offer! Follow the series to see what inspires us along the way!

Going through tons of pictures from our Alberta winter adventure the hardest part is deciding what to share! So many stories, so many things we’ve seen and done… so using my fall back question for post decision making: “Would I want 90 year old me to remember this?” - I have to share this amazing wall of Parks Canada Logos i saw at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, the birthplace of Canada’s National Parks! I love a good logo, especially simple animal ones… and their evolution of their current beaver is fascinating! There are also some great mountain goats, big horn sheep, bears, bison, mountains, and more… check them out on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in travel -

Operation Window Seat: LA + NOTCOT HQ!

home0.jpg The YYC - LAX flight had a gorgeous path through the rockies and cruised the coast along LA. This last trip, i had some stranger LA questions than usual - hearing “Is this your first time in snow?” and “Do you live downtown/in the city?” and “Do you like ocean or mountains?” I’ve also had so many people assume that NOTCOT is based in NY, SF, LONDON, and so many other places over the years…

So to set the record straight - NOTCOT is based in LA! I’m a born and raised LA kid who has bounced around all over and landed back in LA the last few years (it really is my favorite home base to live in and travel out of!) And as for LA - for those who looked at me perplexed this last adventure - you can see within minutes you can run up mountain trails or roll down to the beach… and see snow on the mountains in the background!

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*NOTCOT in food+drink - 02.27.15 -

Ice Screw Apple Corer + Apple Ribbon Galette

galette00.jpg On random inspiration from our Ice Climbing Adventure in Johnston Canyon last week - i feel ridiculous saying this - but when i was playing with the ice screws that we were hanging from, all i could think was… APPLE CORER! The one i’d been using previously was hard to aim accurately (honestly, most apples don’t have perfectly vertical cores!), sprayed a mess of juice all over, and were hard to get the cores out of. The ice climbing screws are precision engineered to make a perfect hole and displace the ice out of the center. The Black Diamond Express Ice Screw even has a little crank knob that flips out to make it even easier once you get it going. Inspiration comes from everywhere, right?

I’ve also been experimenting with different things i can do with my Benriner Spiralizer - mostly because it’s so fun, and its fascinating to see how a recipe changes when you alter the form of the ingredients! So coring the apples, then using the spiralizer to slice the apples into ribbons (basically take out the blade with teeth), creates a delicious pie filling! Much more tender than the usual chunky apple slices, yet they still hold their form nicely. I love the way it tastes and feels! (You’ll understand once you try it!)

So freshly home, and catching up - I had to make an Apple Ribbon Galette inspired by our Alberta Winter Adventures! So the apples are cored with the ice screw from ice climbing in Johnston Canyon, Banff, they were sliced up on the cutting board i made with Oliver Apt, Edmonton, and spiced with apple pie spice from Silk Road Spices, Calgary! Check out my Apple Ribbon Galette recipe and more on the next page!

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