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.
Special thanks to: @coastmodern, @lunareececeramics, @theurbanspring, @dperlof, writer + poet Nick Banning, @mymiddlenameisstarr, @housebeer & photographer MBMaher.com
On a super fun lark at Coast Modern in Seal Beach On a super fun lark at Coast Modern in Seal Beach Good (& delicious) times on a lark at Coast Modern in Sunset Beach Super fun times on a lark at Coast Modern in Seal BeachHouse Beer meets Natalie Martin on a super fun lark at Coast ModernMenu illustrated by Emily Boelsems of @mymiddlenameisstarr + poem by Nick Banning
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.
Coast Modern
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.
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. 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.
Bryce + Cecilia Cole of Coast Modern in Seal Beach
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.
These gorgeous hand made ceramics by Andrea Luna Reece adorn our communal tables
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.
Chef Daniel Perlof A native of Tustin California, learned his way around the kitchen at a young age partaking in the creation of family meals with his Grandmother and Father. Outside of the home, he studied Spanish and found this to be helpful in various kitchens and catering roles – always seeking to help talented crew members overcome this hurdle when expressing their talents with mostly English speaking managers. Chef Daniel recently took a leap of food and faith to expand this concept of elevating others by opening his own catering company Rhyme and Reason Catering. With lark #39 at the gorgeous Cleobella being his official âlarkâ debut, we canât wait to see what this eager and passionate chef has to offer.
Q & A
Which living Chef do you most admire?
Argentine Chef Francis Mallmann is absolutely fascinating. He emphasizes learning and a communal approach to the kitchen, which I love and respect. Also, he uses fire for everything, and Iâve always been a bit of a pyro.
What is the quality you most like in a meal?
Balance.
What do you consider your greatest culinary achievement?
Having my father tell others that I had surpassed his culinary talents.
What is your most marked characteristic?
My sense of humor.
What is your motto?
âFortune favors the bold.â
Can you share a life changing culinary experience?
I had the fortunate opportunity to go on a post-graduation trip to Europe, a guided site-seeing experience over the course of three weeks, that took us to Rome, Florence, Paris, Interlaken, Bruges, and London.
In Rome I experienced veal for the first time in my life, something I didn’t foresee (but as they say, “When in Rome!”). Walking around the Forum and seeing the relics of that ancient world, I wondered to myself how the Romans must have eaten way back when those sites were first being developedâ alongside of what would later come to be known as the “Western” world.
In Florence, I enjoyed prosciutto with cantaloupe for the first time, and had pizza for four days in a row.
Paris demonstrated to me the theatricality of cuisine, and I ate escargot in the Spanish Quarter one sweltering hot afternoon, after a long morning of touring the vast and vibrant city. In the same city on the Fourth of July (how American?!), our group ate at a restaurant that was cave-like in setting, and the appetizers and salad consisted of a large basket of cheese, cured meat, lettuce, and vegetables, with a knife so that every guest could take whatever they please, and pass the basket on to their neighbor.
In Interlaken, nestled between two crystal-blue glacial lakes, I learned that I have somewhat of disdain for white pepper, especially on my eggs.
A day later, (and one wicked Swiss hangover later), in Bruges, sitting underneath a centuries-old castle, I ate authentic Belgian waffles, with crisp, sweet strawberries, and the seemingly airiest whipped cream on Earth. Also, I became aware of their hip-as-could-be street vendors who almost exclusively sell potato friesâ something oft attributed to the French, but originated in Belgium.
Finally, in England, I had pub food for the first time after crossing the English Channel into Canterbury, and was overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Brits, with an elderly couple inviting us to sit along side them at their table in an otherwise full restaurant. On a day-trip to the Windsor Castle, I ate fish and chips, skin-on and bone-in, with probably the blandest coleslaw in all the land, and washed it down with a delicious blonde ale.
All in all, the experience taught me so much about myself, and about how different foods and cultures can be from place to place. My appreciation for the adventure of food grew exponentially. The gastronomy of a locale is what sticks out the most to someone who loves food. I felt, and still feel, so lucky and grateful to be able to create these memories. My trip to Europe was an incredible adventure that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
