features 51 Katie Lee
features 53 Zest for Life By Devorah Rose Photography by Gian Andrea Di Stefano kitchen is the heart of a home. The best kitchen is a delectable realm of cupboards filled with homemade jams and A treats, and a place where potted herbs sit on a sunny windowsill. Add to this, simmering pots filling the air with the aroma of spices, and bowls full of mixtures promising soul-warming meals to come like chocolate fudge, apple pie, stuffed turkey, creamy mac and cheese, and braised chicken. And isn t there something magical about a grandmother s kitchen? Hers is the place where most of us discovered that food is so much more than the food itself it s a memory of love. What we ate, where we ate it, and with whom we shared meals is something we carry within us for the rest of our lives. For so many the experience of food is interwoven with the experience of self it s a memory of our family, our heritage, and our friends. Katie Lee comes from a family of food lovers: they are big eaters and exceptional cooks. She grew up in her grandmother s kitchen in Milton, West Virginia. In this small town of only 2,200 people, Katie watched her grandmother whisk, chop, measure, and create delectable meals with fresh ingredients from her grandfather s garden. By helping her grandmother cook whatever was in season, Katie learned the true meaning of farm-to-table cooking. She honors this family tradition in her new book, Endless Summer Cookbook. Inspired by her love of summer and fresh ingredients, Katie s new cookbook is filled with easy, simple recipes that are fun to make on your own or with friends. A special section focuses on Katie s love of entertaining family and friends. Growing up with her grandparents down the street and her great aunt next door, sharing food with loved ones is not just a passion for Katie, it is intrinsic to who she is as a person. Yet there is a lot more to Katie Lee than cookbooks. Katie was taught to relish life and always pursue her passions. While other kids had parents who forced them to stick to one thing, my mom really wanted me to figure out what made me happy. She always encouraged me to figure out what I wanted and to try new things as well as to move towards those things that sparked my interest. I literally tried and quit everything, from sports to musical instruments, you name it. Some may view that as a problem, but I think that s what allowed me to discover exactly what it was that I liked and gravitated towards. Perhaps growing up with such a supportive and closely knit family is what has given Katie the courage to take calculated risks and embrace adventure. Once afraid of water, Katie decided that her fear of the sea had to be resolved by learning how to surf. Turning her weakness into not just a strength, but a passion, Katie is now an avid surfer. Although Katie doesn t consider herself an actress, and she shied away from public speaking, she decided to try something outside of her comfort zone by auditioning for Nora and Delia Ephron s Off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Notably, she got the part and went on to work alongside veteran film and stage actresses Veanne Cox, Lillias White, Eve Plumb, and Nancy Dussault. This adventure was especially meaningful to Katie because she was so fond of Nora Ephron. Yes trying new things that scare her seems to be something that Katie Lee is drawn to. And so, the day of our shoot, when Ring by Bibi van der Velden
55 we asked her to explore a sexier side of herself, Katie was up for the challenge. The focus of our cover shoot was to create a sexy retro 1970s Ali McGraw vibe. At the beginning of the shoot I was actually terrified. I usually do photo shoots wearing casual clothes and holding a cooking spoon. This was very different from anything I ve done before. I was nervous at first but the set was very relaxed and the photographer was so helpful and a great director. I ended up having a lot of fun on set, Katie shares. On set I notice the name Fionula tattooed on her foot. When I ask her about it, Katie laughs, Oh that s my pug. She is the snobbiest dog and difficult too! She isn t friendly at all and sometimes I feel like the parent of a brat who watches her child wreak havoc, yet thinks everything her child does adorable. But Fionula may not be the only love in Katie s life. When I asked Katie to tell me about the fun single life of an It girl in the city, she blushed and confessed, Well... I m not really single. Although she doesn t like to talk about her love life she did share with us: Fionula approves and that s my litmus test. After the cover shoot it s back to the Hamptons for Katie. She considers the Hamptons her true home and few know that her first years in New York were actually spent on the East End. She lived in Sag Harbor from 2003 to 2009, when she moved to Sagaponack for three years. Now she resides in Water Mill. She has always enjoyed the Hamptons year round but the summer will always have her heart. In the summer I love going to local farm stands. The farm stand I usually go to has been in the same family since the 1600s. I ve always wondered what master chefs keep in their refrigerator and when I ask Katie she confesses that It s usually pretty empty. That s because Katie goes to the farm stand every day for fresh ingredients and, like her grandmother, uses everything she has to cook a fresh meal. And the next day she repeats this over again. Right now, farm-to-table cooking is what everyone seems to be doing, but I think Katie Lee has been an authority in this field for quite some time. If you want to dabble in fresh food and need easy-to-follow recipes for soul-warming dishes, Endless Summer Cookbook should be on your kitchen shelf. The cookbook will certainly make any cook a fan and eager to watch Katie Lee create new recipes alongside other chefs on The Kitchen, which airs Saturday mornings at 11 on the Food Network. When I ask Katie what s next, she smiles and says, I like to look at the short-term not the long-term. If you would have told me ten years ago who I would be today, I wouldn t have believed it. I like seeing where things will go. And with such a positive attitude, love of life, and love of food, the journey will certainly be delicious. Creative direction: Devorah Rose Photography: Gian Andrea Di Stefano Executive Assistant to EIC: Rebecca Rose Wardrobe Stylist: Rachel Wirkus Hair stylist: Johnny Lavoy Makeup artist: Robin Fredriksz for Nars at TraceyMattingly.com A very special thanks to Leslie Sloane and her lovely team at Vision PR. Much obliged to Jessica Pierson and Jami Kandel Thank you Elyse Zaccaro and Tommy Del-Zoppo for lending your gorgeous 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom loft style triplex. Featuring 2 additional powder rooms, this is the perfect balance of style and sophistication, complete with private outdoor space. Listed by Dana Power and Susan Green, TOWN Residential Dress by Zimmermann
Dress by Zimmermann Dress by Cushnie et Ochs
Dress by Cushnie et Ochs
Ring by Bibi van der Velden
Rings by Bibi van der Velden