Pop-Up Social Dining + Marketplace
Come on a lark with us!
We are grateful to have the opportunity to share a more intimate perspective of lark with the multi-talented + multi-faceted Gabby of @Gabacci!
We hope it inspires you to chase your brightest light! xo~l
Because, when on a lark, fashion +food go hand in hand. We are thrilled to share this bit of Q+A with the inspiring Isabella Davidson, owner of Kindred Boutique in the seaside town of San Clemente; where we will kick off lark #46 with delicious food, wine & conversation on Friday 5/3/19!
Q. What is your idea of a perfect outfit?
A. The perfect outfit is something you are comfortable and confident in.Â
Q. What, when outfitting oneself, do people consistently overlook?
A. Having fun with it!!! Your outfit reflects your personality, so let it shine!
Q. Fashion school or apprenticeship?
A. I believe education is important, but being coachable and having experience is more valuable.
Q. Do you cook?
A. I LOVE cooking, it’s therapeutic for me and allows me to disconnect and turn my mind off.
Q. What is your favorite food?
A. Pizza is my weakness, but i also love anything spicy.
Q. What is your most memorable dining experience?
A. My most memorable dining experience are my family trips to Mexico. Sharing laughs and delicious food together will always be some of my favorite memories.
Q. If you could dine with anyone dead or alive, who would that be and what would you wear?
A. Anthony Bourdain hands down. I would wear something loose and comfortable because we would be drinking and eating until we were sick.
Q. Which talent would you most like to have?
A. I wish I could communicate with “spirits” or that I was a backup dancer.
Q. What question do you love to ask people?
A. Where’s your next travel destination?
Q. What is your most marked characteristic?
A. I’m bitesize.
Q. Who or what currently inspires you?
A. My business inspires and encourages me to always give my best, and pushes me to do things even if they make me uncomfortable.
Q. What is your motto?
A.”You are the carrier of the light inside of you” & “If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.”
Friday, February 22, 2019–We were thrilled to lark with husband & wife team Cecilia + Bryce Cole, co-founders of the locally loved Coast Modern in Seal Beach, whose highly intentional lives project the high impact of their design experience from graphics to textiles to architecture.
We are thankful to all our friends, old and new, who came a little closer to share an an amazing chef crafted meal, wine pairing & conversation! The warmth of the space filled our bellies and our hearts.
MENU:
1/mac + cheese brûlée
2/smoked heirloom tomato in clear tomato broth, micro greens, rosemary bread grilled cheese, truffle salt
3/smoked brisket w/braised collard greens, pickled black eyed peas, charred lemon grass + pistachio romesco {veggie option: sub brisket for smoked purple sweet potato boat}
4/pecan pie, mascarpone + goat cheese affogato
Special thanks to: @coastmodern, @lunareececeramics, @theurbanspring, @dperlof, writer + poet Nick Banning, @mymiddlenameisstarr, @housebeer & photographer MBMaher.com
Modern. Organic. Inspirational. Social Dining. Come on a lark with us!
Meet husband and wife Cecilia + Bryce Cole, co-founders of the locally loved Coast Modern in Seal Beach, whose highly intentional lives project the high impact of their design experience from graphics to textiles to architecture.
Q.. How do you know each other?
A. We met while Bryce was designing a menâs clothing line and I worked for the agent who was handling the manufacturing.
Q. What is good design to you?
A. Good design is pleasing to the eye, functions well while being simple and in some cases elevates your consciousness.
Q. What is better living to you?
A. Everyday of our life we are dependent on products, systems and structures that were designed and created by someone, those designs when good, make our life better, good design can improve the quality of our life, that is why we say âGood design for better livingâ.
Q. Why the name Coast Modern?
A. We both love architecture, we would go to architectural tours often and even lent our home for one many years ago. We also had the pleasure of seeing and meeting Julius Shulman a few times and saw many architectural documentaries, Coast Modern is one of them and we thought the name made sense being two blocks from the beach and represented our passion for mid century art, architecture and design.
Link to trailer: Coast Modern Documentary
Q. What is your most memorable meal together?
A. Our first date. We went for a drink while waiting for a table and realized more than an hour later that we had forgotten we were waiting for a table or that we were hungry. We have been together ever since.
Q. What is your most prized possession?
A. We are grateful for our home and the furniture we have been able to collect. Yet, the memories of our time together, traveling, doing home projects while listening to music, watching our son grow up and turn into an adult we are very proud of. Those memories and the time we get to spend together and with the people we love are priceless.
Q. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A. Traveling.
Q. What is your greatest extravagance?
A. I think for myself (Cecilia) my extravagance is shopping at the Farmerâs Market in Orange, the kombucha bread is phenomenal, though not economical and the cheese is addictive, the celery looks like a flower arrangement and the rest of the fresh produce are just as lovely. Bryce seems to never have enough mechanical pencils and notebooks.
Q. If you could change one thing about how people approach design what would it be?
A. From Bryce: To Keep it simple.
Q. What designer inspires you?
A. Bjarke Ingels for me (Cecilia) for Bryce: Paul Smith , Craig Elwood + Alexander Girard.
Q. What words or phrases to you over use?
A. âClear accounts, long friendshipsâ though, Bryce says I use the âFâ word the most, ha ha ha !!
Q. What do you hope to accomplish in life?
A. Be of contribution to others and if we can make a difference in the world, it will make us very happy.
Q. What is your motto?
A. Be kind to others and be kind to yourself too.
We are thrilled to have Coast Modern open their doors to our next communal dinner party with the talented Chef Kyle Powers!
Their Mid-Century Modern vibe at their Coast Modern home is intimate, well curated, and with its smart use-of -space, warmly reminds us of our favorite meals enjoyed in the cozy restaurants of Japan.
Join us as we gather to partake in cocktails and mingling leading up to a chef crafted menu + wine pairing….. all while enjoying {the rediscovered art} of conversation.
Come on a lark with us on Friday February 22, 2019! Tickets $125 per person includes good vibes, four course meal + wine pairing curated by Chef Kyle Powers.
Purchase Tickets: Let’s Go On A Lark!
Friday, January 25, 2019. Lark #44 Where Fashion Culture meets Food Culture, the photos say it all. We had the most amazing time on a lark at the super hip fashion house of Costa Cabana in East Side Costa Mesa enjoying the tropical vibe, food, drinks + {the lost art of} conversation.
Here we collaborated “hand in hand” with the talented and passionate chefs of L.A.’s rctngl {the shape of a table} who shared their version of “Asia meets L.A.” delicious Kamayan experience; where we all enjoyed eating with our hands!
We are grateful to all the beautiful people who gathered to make this a memorable & magical evening. Special thanks to Chef Andrew Marco+ Chef Ralph Hsiao of @rctngl, Lauren Flores of @costacabana, @stylingbyjo, @lunareeceramics, @frenchbuckets, @housebeer, @theurbanspring, @maysonhauck, Daniel Perlof and our forever curious + adventurous guests!
Menu crafted by @rctngl:
INATOG/corn, calamansi butter, palapa, red onion, cilantro
BROKOLI/broccolini, pinakurat aioli, fermented fresno, palapa
INIHAW NA BABOY/pork jowl, banana ketchup marinade, garlic
PINRITONG MAYA MAYA/red snapper, soy, lemongrass, garlic, ginger
INIHAW NA HIPON/shrimp, crab fat, lemongrass
ADOBONG PAKPAK/chicken wings, sorry, vin, garlic
LUMPIA SHANGHAI/eggroll, pork, carrot, onion, peas
LECHE FLAN/creme caramel, raspberry, Japanese shiso, caramel shards
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Modern. Organic. Inspirational. Social Dining. Come on a lark with us! Next up, 2/22/19 at Coast Modern in Seal Beach with the talented + self-taught Chef Kyle Powers.
Photo credit to our favorite foodie + conversationalist MBMaher.com
Q. How do you know each other?
R: We met in college at UCI.
M: :we’ve been roommates, co-workers, business partners, and cooking buddies since our college days.
Q. What made you take “the leap” in pursuing your passions full time?
R: To be able to work for ourselves and enjoy what we do. Our passion will never reach its full potential if we don’t put our all into it
M: you can’t fight that feeling of wanting to do something you really love for very long.
Q. Why the name RCTNGL?
rctngl came about while we were sitting around our table brainstorming ideas for a name. we thought about how we started with hosting pot lucks at our house to stay in touch with our friends. we threw around ideas until we looked down at the table, a simple rctngl.
far more than a ïŹat surface upon which to dine, the table can be the heartbeat of a family. itâs a place to gather, to talk and to reconnect. the dining table has always been a symbol of many things: the place where we nourish ourselves, where we come together, celebrate important milestones, share experiences, and create new understandings. it is a place often associated with the word conviviality; a word that means festivity, joviality, cordiality and friendliness.
regardless of other differences, all cultures across the world (and through time) view the dining table with the same significance.
Q. What is your most memorable meal (one you made or one you’ve had)?
M: oddly enough, it was a meal in Italy. long story short, before we had any direction of how or what we wanted to cook, we cooked anything and everything.
we traveled to Italy for a friend’s wedding and had amazing food; pastas, charcuterie, wine, everything was amazing. however, if someone were to ask us what the nuances of a dish was or what differentiates this from the other, we wouldn’t be able to truly say anything because it’s not something we had a deep connection to, it’s not what we grew up eating.
it was at that moment that we both realized we need to pull from the things that are authentic to us and who we are, and thus turned into the food we make for rctngl.
Q. What is the most exotic thing you’ve ever made?
M: i wouldn’t say it’s exotic, but I would say that it’s adventurous, we ferment a lot of ingredients that we showcase in our dishes.
the funkiest ferment that we’ve made but yielded the most amazing flavor was a ferment of a mushroom called Lion’s Mane. Raw, it tastes briny and almost seafood like, when it ferments it picks up the scent and flavor of a nicely aged cheese.
Q. What is your most prized ingredient?
R: Love…haha…
M: vinegars, that stuff runs through my blood
Q. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
R: Taking care of my family and loved ones. doing all that i can to make sure they are well and healthy.
M: sharing meals with strangers who then become friends.
Q. What is your greatest extravagance?
R: My toy and sneaker collections.
M: anything related to food, my budget is like 20% rent, 80% things that go into my mouth.
Q. What do you find yourself saying when people ask what it’s like to be a chef?
R: I’m not a chef. just an avid home cook.
M: be prepared to wash a lot of dishes.
Q. What is your current state of mind?
R: rctngl
M: same as Ralph’s state of mind
Q. If you could change one thing about how people enjoy food, what would it be?
R: I wouldn’t. that’s the beauty in all of us. We are all individuals with our own experiences and tastes. That’s the challenge. To create and share food that all people can experience.
M: i would say to be able to try to understand food contextually and out of your own opinions of it. food is an expression of the person cooking it. it may be a reflection of an experience of growing up, or having a meal in a different country, each dish has a semblance of history with it. know that with each bite, you’re stepping into their world and why they want to share it with you.
Q. What chef inspires you?
M: at this moment, I would say Rene Redzepi. he released a book last year in October and it’s changed the way I think and prepare food when it comes to fermentation. he really teaches you not only how to preserve foods, but to take a single ingredient, apply time to it, and make it taste so much more complex.
Q. What words or phrases to you over use?
R: I don’t know because I probably over use those same words and phrases haha.
M: “Fair enough.” a go-to phrase that makes sense in all conversations.
Q. What do you most value about food culture?
R: Food is most often times the first barrier of entry into another person’s world. another person’s culture. you literally get a taste of what that culture is. If we are open to eating new and different foods, we can be open with each other. Food can cultivate connection, which can lead to evolving culture. The diverse Los Angeles food scene is a perfect example of that.
M: i agree with Ralph. we’re living in a very special time, people are more adventurous to traveling to different parts of town just to eat food. not only are you possibly indulging in another culture’s cuisine, you’re going to new parts of town that you haven’t seen before. we’re getting out of our bubbles, whether it be by location or by taste.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish in life?
R: Leave our mark in the city we love, Los Angeles.
M: being able to make LA as proud of us as we are of it.
Q. What is your motto?
break bread with us.
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Come on a lark with us!
Join us for a welcome cocktail + mingling leading up to an amazing chef crafted Kamayan dining experience all while enjoying the {rediscovered} art of conversation.
1686 Tustin Avenue
Costa Mesa, California 92627
(cross streets: 17th & Tustin)
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Friday, January 25, 2019, 6:30pm-9:30pm
$95. per person, all-inclusive Kamayan style dinner + house beer
Purchase Tickets*: Letâs Go On A Lark!
*Non-refundable/absolutely transferableP
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It was summer, lark was growing and our biggest challenge, TIME, becoming more challenging. We had thought about “the leap” a thousand times, even writing our perfect life scenario: time for all the things that make a life well, a life. The day arrived. Courage, confidence and faith showed up and swept fears aside.
I had worked at Concept Studio Inc. for a little under two years. From day one, I always felt it was informing me with its character, dedication and beauty. My co-workers were more like family with a colorful and inspiring history. A pretty bow on everything. A shiny and evolving showroom gleaming with style and beauty. But, it was time.
My voice cracked when I shared the news, an emotion over took me-completely by surprise. I really felt for the people I worked with and cherished the relationships and I was sad to leave them behind…but then a funny thing happened. A real life best-case-scenario. They were sticking with me after all. They supported and encouraged me. They rang with ideas and excitement. All of which I am so very grateful. It was therefore an honor to create a special lark holiday, just for us.
Popping up in a home brings a certain intimacy and this beautiful space was no exception. We dined outdoors (yes, we are in California) with a view of a gorgeous kitchen on one side-to enjoy prep + plate-and a well manicured garden on the other, twinkle lights all around. Wine poured, candles burned, music played all while enjoying the lost art of conversation.
Menu curated by the talented Chef Kyle Powers of
Fork In the Road Catering
1/mushroom toast crispy mushrooms + white kimchi
2/pearl couscous, roasted winer squash, spicy pear, fennel + golden peppadew dressing
3/short rib stew w/roasted carrots + melting potato: <vegetarian stew alternate>
4/pear pudding crumble
5/purple sweet potato pie, salted peach coating candy, root beer custard
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Modern. Organic. Inspirational. Social Dining. Come on a lark with us!
Imagery captured by our favorite foodie + conversationalist, Mitch Maher of MBMaher.com
We are so honored to share our collaboration with local artist Andrea Luna Reece whose gorgeous (and yummy) plates + bowls adorn our communal tables and where each handmade piece carries the passion and love she has for her craft.
Style. Beauty. Function.
www.lunareece.com | @lunareececeramics
November 13, 2018
Many thanks to the VoyagerLA for reaching out to us and sharing our story!
Here is a link to the article:
http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-lisa-gutierrez-martinez-lark-huntington-beach/
We hope to see you on a lark soon! xo~l
Friday, October 19, 2018
Our return to the DTLA loft of Lawrence Fodor was warm and welcoming thanks to the generosity of the artist in residence and the gorgeous people who gathered at our communal table.
We loved sharing with our guests how this talented artist recreates allegorical masterpieces from the past and transforms them into gorgeous relevant abstract visual paintings that translates to the modern world.
Chef Kyle Powers put all his good energy into a phenomenal menu – it helps to have an actual kitchen!
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MENU by Chef Kyle Powers:
1/buzz button tea 2/split pea soup w/langostino mouse, smoked ham + korean pancake 3/Beef carpaccio salad w/avocado-cauliflower puree + caper berries 4/Braised black cod, crispy black rice, kimchi tomato sauce, pickled fennel chutney 5/coffee flour pancake, whipped chocolate maple butter, salted pumpkin seed brittle
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We are grateful to have Wine Aficionado Tyler Rodriguez helping with plate + pour to keep all the good vibes flowing.
We also are thankful Alex Samples help us rock the entire event from gates to freight elevators to plates in/out and final wrap – in this stunning outfit.
Special thanks to: @lunareececeramics, @frenchbuckets, @hartleycashhaus, @theurbanspring, @bodylanguageyoga, @thestorytellerstudio. Photo credit goes to Mitch Maher of MBMaher.com who is also our favorite conversationalist. Create + Collaborate + Elevate
Modern. Organic. Inspirational. Social Dining.
Next lark Thursday 11/15/18 at The Hangout on 4th Street’s “Retro Row” in Long Beach. Grab your curious + adventurous friends and come on a lark with us!
xo~l