Issue No. 12
Welcome to The Flairhunter Edit, where I share all the flair on my radar each month. If you love what you see, forward the flair to a friend!
Hey, Fellow Flair Lovers!
With my travel schedule and living between homes in CA and UT, people are curious if there is a thread of continuity between my days. While no two days are ever the same, there are similar elements, no matter where I am.
So, with that said, let's dive into what my mornings look like - at least until 9 am, because from then on, my days become like the Wild West - an adventure of attending meetings, problem-solving, engaging in focused design work, staff management, and home administration tasks. And, lately, on top of that, I've added organizing and box packing because we are moving not only our home but also our offices again. But that's a whole other post…
First, let's talk about sleep. I don’t. Much. And not for lack of wishing or trying. I typically wake up in the dark, and just before looking at my clock, I pray that 5 is the first number. As in 5 am. Because that or later feels like an hour that sane, healthy people would intentionally wake up to start their day. But, alas, most days 4 is the first number, and more recently, even a 3. When that happens, I lie there alarmed, anxious, annoyed, while alternatively - depending on the day - attempting yoga breaths, listening to a not-too-interesting audiobook set to a timer, or staring at my phone reviewing emails, messages, or social media posts. By 4:30, I say F*** it, and I’m up, out of bed.
I always make a single espresso pod with equal parts steamed half and half. And, a pretty glass filled with Topo Chico with a splash of fresh orange juice over pebble ice. It’s my morning mocktail treat that makes me happy. Then I putter around organizing any household chaos. This helps me gain control over the myriad of thoughts in my mind. I call this my moving meditation - it's soothing and helps get my head into personal or work responsibilities.
Wherever I am, home or traveling, I sit on the floor and embrace the dark quiet, surrounding myself with my phone, laptop, journal, and a little old-school notebook where I write to-do lists and organize my day. This is like a critical roadmap that I can’t live without. On days I don't have these things with me, it’s like I can’t remember what I’m supposed to be doing, and the whole day feels reactive instead of intentionally creating agency over my time.
By then, I've changed into yoga wear. I stretch on my mat or a towel while writing, listening, and making lists, so I call this my intuitive yoga practice. Wearing my noise-canceling headset with a playlist is essential. My sister and I joke that the headset feels like it holds our brains and thoughts in, helping us focus. I organize my Today page into quadrants with headings: Do, Go, Contact, Design. I’ve found that all tasks can pretty much fall into one of those categories. I’ve done this for decades.
By 9 am, I'm showered and dressed. I try not to schedule external meetings before 10, but with various time zones for projects and travel, I frequently need to break that rule.
After 4 pm, I’m usually out of words, or, as I like to say, I'm 'Done People’ing.' I change back into sweats; the jewelry, makeup, and even the bra (!) are off. The slippers are on. I have a glass of wine, and if I'm not traveling, my husband and dogs are nearby. I'm focused on cobbling together dinner and binge-watching Netflix. If I can stay upright until 9 pm, I feel victorious!
Now, this is your cue to send any suggestions for how to sleep past 3:30 am, and if it’s ‘Don’t stare at electronics,’ please know I'm already aware of that tip! Do you have any tricks for staying asleep until the sun comes up?
Home With Flair
It’s time to give your garden a glow-up just in time for the warmer weather! You can add flair to your outdoor spaces with unique accessories that deliver style and function. Whether decorative planters, chic lanterns, or extra greenery, these touches can transform any garden.
Design Tip: Don’t be afraid to mix textures, colors, and even different heights to create layers of interest and dimension. Adding personal touches like cozy seating or a statement piece makes the space your own!
planter / 2. buddha / 3. gardening seat with tools / 4. sun hat / 5. gardening gloves / 6. lounge chair / 7. decorative garden seat / 8. console table / 9. succulent / 10. fish planter / 11. rustic planter / 12. bench / 13. lanterns / 14. wine barrel / 15. tree
Travel: Flair in the Air
Hamburg, Germany
Recently, I spent three nights in Hamburg, Germany, for an international aviation design convention and to soak up the local culture in general, as a byproduct. And boy, was I pleasantly surprised by the city’s charm. I anticipated the history, industry, and culture, but was surprised by the charm. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in various parts of Germany over the past 15 years, for leisure and as part of a momtourage following my former professional snowboarder son there for international competitions in Europe.
Recommendations, should you find yourself in Hamburg, are below, and I hope you do find yourself in Hamburg! It’s well worth the trip. It’s famously known as a Venice of the North due to its extensive network of waterways and canals, spanning over 2500 bridges!
Where to Stay
Side Design Hotel - A stylish, centrally located, and well-designed place to stay. Top notch for business or leisure travel.
Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten - An epitome of European Grand Hotels since 1897, charming luxury and elegance, it’s close to several cultural and architectural sites.
Reichshof Hotel Hamburg - Historic, and loosely art deco. You can’t beat the central location!
Tortue Hamburg - This lovely, historic, five-star hotel is close to architectural and historical sights and has Michelin-star dining.
Where to Eat
Hamburg's culinary scene is diverse, reflecting its status as a global port city. You’ll find everything from Michelin-starred fine dining and modern German cuisine to cozy places serving fresh seafood. Here are a few not-to-be-missed restaurants.
Haebel - Only 16 seats and a Michelin star! The food is delicious, and the presentation is gorgeous.
The( M)eatery - Carnivores, lean in. Vegans beware. From their slabs of raw beef hanging in a window display, they are clear about what they are serving. No, but seriously, we were with some non-meat eaters, and all of their vegetable dishes were just as wonderful as their steaks and pork. The restaurant is in the Side Design Hotel, but visitors come from everywhere.
Bistro Carmagnole - The best artichoke I’ve had in my life and maybe the best steak tartare as well. Unpretentious and casual, almost a hipster vibe with friendly, easy-going staff. I will be back!
Das Dorf - One word. Schnitzel.
What to Do
Hamburg bursts with charm, history, and unique experiences. From intricately crafted miniatures and indulging in decadent chocolates to uncovering the vibrant Reeperbahn nightlife, there’s something for everyone. Here are some highlights to inspire you.
Miniature Museum - Fascinating and kind of hilarious! Meticulously crafted tiny items and entire cities. Not to miss!
Chocolate Factory Tour - During my stay, I was the lucky recipient of chocolates that others created on their tour. But this is on my list for next time!
Red Light District touring Reeperbahn - The Hamburg Reeperbahn has a variety of tours that explore its famous nightlife and red-light district, offering insights into the city’s history and character. You can take a walking tour led by local guides to pub crawls, and they often include visits to iconic locations like the Herbertstraße, Davidwache police station, and the bar "Zur Ritze"
Shop in the Neuer Wall - Upscale luxury stores set in charming buildings with architectural details. Best place for retail therapy!
Bridges and Rivers - The perfect way to end the day, with an evening boat cruise at sunset to see the lights and historical sites from the water.
Wear Your Flair
I have a crush, and her name is Yellow. Yellow always makes me smile. She seems to be popping up everywhere this season, and I love her! Here are a few favorite pieces I’m adding to my closet from head to nails.
hat / 2. readers / 3. skirt / 4. sneaker / 5. nail polish / 6. shorts / 7. jeans / 8. lounge set / 9. dress / 10. tote / 11. sandal
Spotlight on Flair
Spotlight on Flair is a feature where we shine a light on inspiring innovators, change-makers, and creators from diverse backgrounds. Each month, we offer a personal glimpse into the minds of those who embody that undeniable flair factor and individuality with a few fun Q&As.
This month, our spotlight shines on James Beard award-winning Chef Galen Zamarra. Galen is a culinary visionary whose journey spans continents and Michelin-starred kitchens.
Switzerland-born, California-raised Galen Zamarra was destined to be a chef. In high school, he attended culinary classes at the local community college and spent nights working in local restaurants. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he moved to New York City to work for acclaimed chef David Bouley. He later relocated to France to work under some of the most celebrated chefs in the world, including chefs Georges Blanc, Michel Bras, and Alain Passard. When Galen returned to the United States, he became chef de cuisine of Bouley Bakery at age 24. In the kitchen of this New York Times four-star restaurant, he was able to breathe life into his own style of cooking: American, but with distinctly French technique. In 2001, the James Beard Foundation awarded him with Rising Star Chef of the Year.
In April 2004, Galen opened his first restaurant, Mas (farmhouse), which received immediate critical and popular acclaim. In 2016, Galen launched the renovation and opening of The Halyard and the Sound View Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island, and, in 2019, he launched the culinary operation at the Lodge at Blue Sky, Park City’s newest luxury resort, including its signature restaurant, Yuta.
Today, he is the Co-Founder, along with his wife Katie, of The Galen Hospitality Group. They manage food and beverage offerings for Marcella, including their luxury residences and golf course, as well as the Main & Sky Hotel, Le Depot Brasserie, and Union Patisserie.
*(click here to read full Bio)
Now, let’s dive into some Q&A to get a taste of Galen’s personal flair…
Favorite three foods. Steak. Bread. Cheese.
Most unexpected job from your past. It wasn’t very unexpected, but I took a break from cooking and worked in a cheese shop in NYC. It was a fun experience, and I learned so much about cheese, which is something I take with me to all my restaurants.
What you’d tell your 25-year-old self. Save money. I look back at that time and how I just worked hard and partied, basically spending every penny. I never saved anything. Back then, working in restaurants, things like benefits and a 401k were never offered. I was in my 40s before I had a job that offered anything like that. I wish I had known to invest in IRAs or other options. To save for retirement and a house. I make it a point now to explain to the younger workers how important it is and how easy it is to save when the job includes those benefits.
What profession would you be if you weren't a chef /restaurateur? My other loves are baseball and the ocean. So, either a NY Yankee or a Marine Biologist. The latter is something I could potentially make a living doing. The baseball thing is a silly pipe dream.
If you could only cook with three ingredients for the rest of your life, what would they be? Steak, butter, and fleur de sel.
Do you have a morning routine? I wake up at 6:30 and make sure the kids have food and get off to school. Then, if I had any discipline, I would work out. Katie wakes up later; I make her coffee, and we have “coffee talk,” where we discuss the day or whatever. Recently, that includes reading something motivational to start the day.
As someone who has owned and run restaurants, how late do you go to bed, and when do you wake up? When I was younger and a chef, it was late, after 2 am. Well, when I was in my 20s, it was more like 6 am when we went to bed…
Restaurants in NYC finish late, and when you get off work, you are very amped up, so there is no way to just go to sleep. Once I had kids, though, the mornings were the only time I saw them, so I would wake up early for breakfast, regardless of when I went to bed. These days, I don’t work late, and I have found I am, in fact, much more of a morning person and more productive during that time of day.
What’s your favorite drink of choice? Champagne or Negroni. And I really love Campari, so even Campari soda.
Worst kitchen nightmare or disaster you've personally experienced. Having restaurants in NYC basically means you are in a constant fight against pests. One of the major challenges you face is that, no matter how clean a restaurant you operate, your neighbor may not be. Once, the restaurant next door was shut down by the health department due to a cockroach infestation. They decided to fumigate their dining room and basement at 7 pm on a Saturday. We had a packed dining room, and not only did it fill with the gas and chemicals from the fumigation, but also all of the roaches fled their restaurant and invaded ours, by the thousands. Roaches climbing the walls in the dining room. It was an absolute horror show, and every guest had to leave. Thankfully, they understood it was the other restaurant’s fault.
If you could have dinner with three people, either alive or someone already passed, who would they be? My mentor, Chef David Bouley. He passed last year, and it would be nice to have dinner with him again.
My Grandfather, Ed Wasko. I spent a lot of time with him, and he cooked a lot. I loved hearing his stories, especially of NYC back in the day. I miss him. And, I bet Guy Ritchie or Quentin Tarantino would be fun to eat with, too.
Favorite color or design pattern for a restaurant. It depends on the concept/ theme, but generally I like toile, and I like blue. People used to say blue doesn’t go with food because there isn’t any real blue food. So blue plates, etc, were a no-no. I always thought that was horseshit.
Favorite junk food or movie snack. My favorite movie snack is bourbon.
Flair for Wellness
Jones Road Bronzer - for when my face craves a sun-kissed glow but I don’t want to inflict any more sun damage. It’s silky, buildable, and adds the perfect healthy-looking warmth!
Culture & Media
Sharing a favorite podcast that’s always in my queue. The Business of Home is all about the interior design business and how it works behind the scenes. Dennis Scully talks to top people in the industry about their stories, the latest trends, and what it takes to make it. It’s a great listen if you love design and want to learn more about the business side.
My Flair Mix
Set sail with flair! This Yacht Rock playlist blends soft rock, mellow tunes, and nostalgic anthems. I crank this in the car during a weekend drive or while relaxing after dinner on the patio, enjoying the longer evenings.
The Cult of Flair Podcast
We’re on a recording hiatus, but will return later this summer with new episodes. In the meantime, here’s the link to catch up on any you may have missed!
Five O’Clock Flair
May officially kicks off watermelon season. This refreshing fruit will be on repeat for us all summer, and it’s the star of this easy appetizer. With Memorial Day Weekend just around the corner, we’re swapping our usual featured cocktail for these Watermelon Feta Basil Bites! Juicy, salty, and finished with a tangy balsamic drizzle, these bites are healthy, colorful, and perfect for serving to a group or just as a snack.
Makes: 20 bites
Ingredients:
2 cups seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup feta cheese, cut into small cubes or crumbled
20 fresh basil leaves
Balsamic glaze
Flaky sea salt (optional)
Toothpicks or small skewers
Instructions:
Layer each bite: Start with a cube of watermelon, add a folded basil leaf, then top with a cube or crumble of feta. Secure with a toothpick or skewer.
Arrange on a platter and lightly drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt for a savory kick (optional).
Serve immediately
Bon Appétit!
Oh i know hahah so many others saying same @Susie! It's a viscous cycle of awake too early, asleep too early.
Great post. Go to bed later 😉