South America’s most renowned chef, Francis Mallmann, has three phenomenal restaurants, two of which are in Argentina and one in Uruguay. Patagonia Sur, at left, is located in the funky neighborhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires. With five tables and a menu that changes daily, it is one of the most atmospheric – and romantic – spots to be found on any continent…just the kind of place we all wish were in our own neighborhoods. His second restaurant, 1884, is located in the city of Mendoza and, though much larger, also offers Mallmann’s unique aesthetic and superb food. Hotel & Restaurant Garzon lives in the general store Mallmann transformed in Pueblo Garzon, Uruguay. One block from my own house, it is my neighborhood haunt for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No one could be more fortunate, and better fed, than I!
Three months ago Francis published his latest cookbook, Seven Fires. Within 24 hours it had become Amazon’s #1 selling cookbook and since has sold some extraordinary number of copies. Well worth purchasing, it is as much fun to read as a travel book (highlighting Mallmann’s beloved Patagonian landscapes) as it is to cook from. The recipes all reflect his passion for barbecuing – the 7 fires are the 7 different ways of cooking with fire – and, while the outcome will probably never have the same magic taste as his own, if cooked with Francis’ love and respect for the ingredients, the result should be delicious.
John Derian is a treasure. It's not that there aren't many with talent and vision because there are, the world over. But Derian has other attributes that make him so beloved. His eye is unerring, his sense of scale is perfect, he layers cultures and eras seamlessly in a room. And he is accessible in brick and mortar. His two shops on East Second Street have been haunts for years. One carries the decoupage he designs and constructs locally (and that make the best gifts ever) along with the coveted ceramics of Astier de Villatte. The second Dry Goods store next door showcases quirky antiques, an assortment of vintage furniture, stacks of heavy french linen, Moroccan rugs and soft cotton Indian clothing. Both are small, but intriguing and interesting enough to seduce you on a journey of the senses.
And now, Derian has opened on Christopher Street in a double-windowed storefront of a two-story 18th century house. It's like walking in to another world. Traditional Astier, and the later Derian/Astier collaborative pieces, line the walls from roof to floor of the front room. The back room, wallpapered in his new cabbage rose design and lit by beautiful Balthus-designed standing lamps with parchment shades, offers a living room in which to settle in, thumb through books and albums, and rest the soul.
So, go to shop, or simply go to travel in spirit to another place and time.
https://www.johnderian.com/pages/our-locations"
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