Photo courtesy of Homestead Modern
goop 15
Brooklyn’s Best Doughnuts, Less Clutter, and Upcycled Silks: What We’re Talking about This Month
In partnership with our friends at Comvita
At goop, we’re always looking for perfect gifts to buy, great places to eat, and under-the-radar brands to shop. So when it comes to what’s new or the cool and obscure, we often turn to our coworkers for their advice and brilliant recommendations. Each month, we share the fifteen best things the goop team is currently loving, including the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, and the voices we’re listening to.
1
GOOD GARMENTS
“This year, I’ve made it a goal to start putting more of my dollars into the pockets of sustainably minded lines. My friend and designer Jacqueline Rabot became so turned off by how wasteful the fashion industry was that she decided to launch her own responsibly made line of cool, vintage-y shirts and dresses: Rabôt. Everything is made to order using deadstock fabrics in LA. And she turns whatever scraps are left over into chic, silky face coverings, so nothing goes to waste. For each face covering purchased, she handwrites poems for caregivers and hospital patients who can’t have visitors—how cute is that?” —Alyssa Nelsen Geiger, senior editor
2
Photo courtesy of Jenny Huang
SAUCY
“A year into pandemic living, I not only have serious cooking fatigue, but I also feel pretty uninspired. I’ve been ordering in, and I’ve also been leaning on simmer sauces to make low-lift dinners—most of which are underwhelming flavorwise and need some doctoring up. Omsom meal starters might have single-handedly cured my culinary ennui. Sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham are the founders, and their mission was to give bold Asian flavors a regular spot in your pantry—no more compromising on taste if you don’t have all the right ingredients. I got the full sampler, which included everything from their Southeast Asian and East Asian line. Each sauce comes with a recipe card that has simple instructions, and since they’re so versatile, there are suggestions for making each recipe a few different ways, plant-based options included. Everything has been delicious with serious flavor, so I don’t need to doctor them up at all. I made salmon bowls with the sticky sweet Japanese Yuzu Misoyaki and used ground turkey for the spicy Thai Larb. I think I’ll try the Chinese Mala Salad next for that addictive tingly Sichuan spice.” —Caitlin O’Malley, food director
3
A SPRING (AND 2021) MUST-READ
“Infinite Country is my favorite novel of the year so far, and I will very likely be saying the same thing in December. In less than 200 pages, Patricia Engel tells the urgent story of a mixed-immigration-status family as they navigate their lives together and apart. It’s a masterpiece.” —Kiki Koroshetz, editorial wellness director
4
SUIT YOURSELF
“I’ve spent most of the winter, as I do every winter, impatiently waiting for spring. Somehow, in that impatience, I convinced myself I’d be lounging at a swanky hotel pool soon, which led me to start collecting the kind of swimsuits you get just to show them off. My favorites are from Léa the Label—these suits give me major ‘on a boat off the coast of Capri’ vibes. They’re elegant and sexy. And they’re made with recycled materials. When COVID is over, you’ll find me in the Pelagia suit on a pool deck somewhere. Until then, I’ll be hanging out in these at home, catching some rays from my apartment’s teeny back deck.” —Kelly Martin, associate editor
5
HIT PLAY
“My main source of income in college was babysitting for families in town. Spending countless hours entertaining kids gave me unique insight into what truly makes them happy: imaginative play. Rose & Rex was founded on the idea that play is what helps children’s minds create and develop skills. Encouraging play is why this female-founded company curates purposefully designed toys selected by education professionals and child-development experts. On International Women’s Day this year, Rose & Rex launched doll-and-me mask sets with Royal Jelly Harlem to encourage the exploration of mask-wearing through imaginative play, while sustaining social and emotional growth. Not into dolls? Matching crown-and-mask sets are also available. Five dollars from each purchase of a mask set is sent to WomenOne, a nonprofit devoted to increasing quality education access to women and girls all over the world.” —Nia Harris, editorial intern
6
KEEP ’EM COVERED
“These days, having a favorite face covering is like having a favorite bra or T-shirt. Requirement: It has to be soft and comfortable. I was searching for one that I could use on both casual walks with my dog and hikes through Los Angeles. I am obsessed with breathable, moisture-wicking fabric and truly comfortable, adjustable ear straps and nose bridge on the Inex Gear face covering. I also love the beautiful muted colors and the fact that it is machine-washable. It’s the simple things that bring me excitement these days, and a comfortable face covering is at the top of the list.” —Katie Posocco, associate director, experiential marketing
7
DESERT DECOMPRESS
“I love a good road trip. Recently, my boyfriend, my dog, and I drove out to Pioneertown, California, for the weekend. It was my first time staying in the High Desert, and I completely fell in love. Homestead Modern made our stay feel homey and relaxing. The house was an oasis tucked in between beautiful rock formations and native Joshua trees. The company has more than forty properties within a twenty-mile radius of Joshua Tree National Park, all with high-end luxury amenities like private chefs and personal sound baths. We also got to meet the founder and co-owner Dave, who has given such attention to detail in each of the properties. I cannot wait to go back and visit.” —Juliette Favat, associate photo editor
8
CLUTTER CLASS
“Some would say I take minimalism to an extreme, so when Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up first came out, I read it at night like a lullaby. So, no surprise, I completely geeked out over the news that Kondo launched a digital course called the Fundamentals of Tidying. The ten-episode video series, hosted by Kondo, will be a deep dive into her method, filled with plenty of visual inspiration and all her tips on defeating clutter and discovering what sparks joy. Anyone who’s been to my apartment would say it’s crazy that I think I can declutter any further, and they are probably right. But will I still be the first one to sign up for this course? You better believe it.” —Cait Moore, senior programming manager
9
ALL ABOARD
“After decades of staying on solid ground, I picked up skateboarding again as my quarantine skill. I was never any good, and truth is I never will be. But you know what is good? Empowering Indigenous youth and promoting inclusivity by developing and nurturing skateboarding skills. The Diné Skate Garden Project is slated to go in Tóhaaliní, a remote community located in the Two Grey Hills chapter of the Navajo Nation. And while most of the work for the skate park—planning, design, construction—will be done by professional volunteers, they need our help to get the funding. This initiative is a collaboration between Orenda Tribe, Jewel’s Inspiring Children Foundation (yes, that Jewel), and Wonders Around the World—all incredible, all worth exploring.” —Kate Wolfson, VP of content
10
SEND NOODS
“I’m beyond tapped out with cooking and trying the latest food trends on TikTok, so I ventured out (or in) for NOODS, a modern Asian-inspired food delivery concept from the creators of Crustacean in Beverly Hills. All the menu items are so flavorful, and they’re customizable based on dietary needs. I highly recommend An’s Famous Garlic Noodles (I got them gluten-free) topped with the citrus teriyaki fillet. I also added the vegan fried wonton Ninja Stars, which was a good move on my part and the perfect starter for my first NOODS experience. Another bonus is the cute packaging and the thoughtful instructions you receive when the food is delivered. This to-go service is now in my permanent meal rotation.” —Alexis Antoniadis, senior manager, social media
11
THE ELEPHANTS AND THE BEES
“On my last excursion to Kenya—with best-in-the-biz safari designers ROAR Africa—I met the inimitable zoologist Lucy King, PhD. Raised in Lesotho, King’s saturated-in-wildlife childhood spurred a career in holistic conservation with Save the Elephants. In a bid to peacefully halt the escalation in human-wildlife conflict, King was inspired by a local legend detailing the elephant-repelling buzz of bees. As a trial, she and her team strung honeybee hives along the perimeter of small local farms regularly trampled by crop-raiding elephants. It worked. For approximately $150 a fence, you can contribute to the award-winning project and help save this gentle and essential species. Plus, the sale of honey uplifts local communities and diversifies income sources in places where climate change is having a very real impact on agriculture. To learn more, watch King’s TED Talk, comb through the information-packed Elephants and Bees Project site, or go to Tsavo, Kenya, to see it for yourself.” —Rachael McKeon, travel editor
12
SWEET LIKE HONEY
“I avoid the word ‘superfood’ because I feel strongly that it’s rarely actually earned. But manuka honey—a monofloral honey produced from the nectar of the flowers of manuka trees in New Zealand—might become my exception to this rule. Compounds in manuka honey, in particular methylglyoxal (MGO), have been shown in cell studies to possess antimicrobial and antibacterial activity. The key is to find sources of manuka honey that are certified for the presence of MGO and leptosperin (a compound unique to manuka honey). Which is where this particular jar comes in: Comvita Mānuka Honey is tested and certified to ensure that it meets specific quality standards for manuka honey. The Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF) rating you see on the jar—5+, 10+, 15+, 20+—is assigned based on its levels of MGO and leptosperin. I like to eat a spoonful straight, but you can also apply it as a single-ingredient face mask.” —Jessie Geoffray, senior editor
13
BOOT RX
“I couldn’t bear the thought of throwing away my favorite boots even though they were pretty worn out. When I heard about the Cobblers’ sneaker rescue and leather works there was nothing to lose and a lot to gain. My years-past experiences with talented cobblers had been great, but all of the artisans trained in old-world craftsmanship seemed to have disappeared. With the Cobblers, you place your order online, specifying exactly what you’d like done—cleaning, repairs, protection—and they mail you a prepaid shipping box, so it’s easy to get going. My boots came back after their spa treatment looking shiny and revitalized with new soles, heels, and polish, and it was clear that this was no amateur job. I love that a new business is focusing on upcycling and reusing instead of making disposable products. The Cobblers do handbags and wallets, too. Refresh your closet sustainably!” —Gerda Endemann, senior director, science and research
14
GLAZY DAYS
“It was a lazy Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn, and we were standing in the sun, masks lowered, eating—relishing—the best doughnuts in the world. ‘You’re only as good as your plain glazed,’ breathed my friend, biting into a luscious halo from Fan-Fan Doughnuts. (I’d been thinking the same thing, and I was mad he said it first and could lay claim to such a brilliant axiom.) Fan-Fan is an epic little bakery in Bed-Stuy; you’ll know you’re there when you see the line snaking down the block (it goes fast). They bake their perfect doughnuts in small batches throughout the day, so whatever you order is out-of-the-oven fresh, supple in that sublime way of exquisite baked goods, and stop-time delectable. There’s Valrhona chocolate, Mexican cinnamon-sugar, yuzu meringue, passion fruit, and the magnum opus, vanilla glaze. Even if you’re like me and a yuzu or passion fruit doesn’t knock your socks off, I encourage you to give the weird ones a whirl: Everything here is incredible. Just promise me you’ll throw in a few glazed, too.” —Megan O’Neill, senior beauty editor
15
SNACK HERO
“Not everyone has the time or the gumption to participate in a climate march, but anyone can nosh in the name of environmental stewardship. That’s the wisdom behind Moonshot Snacks: climate-friendly (and delicious) crackers made with regeneratively farmed Edison wheat. From ingredients to shipping to packaging, the company is dedicated to carbon-neutral operations, and it’s BIPOC- and woman-owned. Founder Julia Collins also runs a sister organization called Planet FWD, a platform that links brands to regenerative farmers. For a planetary slam dunk, pair with your favorite natural wine and vegan cheese.” —Andrea Arria-Devoe, contributing editor
We hope you enjoy the products recommended here. Our goal is to suggest only things we love and think you might, as well. We also like transparency, so, full disclosure: We may collect a share of sales or other compensation if you purchase through the external links on this page.
