**Welcome back to On the House. We hope you had a fun + restful long weekend. Today’s edition is the latest in our Taste Maker series — a micro-questionnaire featuring a New Yorker whose eye we admire and whose taste we want to learn from — in 10 questions or less. This week’s guest is interior designer Augusta Hoffman, who has one of the best eyes (and kitchens) in the city. But first…
Newsy Things This Week:
Big Easy, Meet Big Apple — New Orleans’ iconic Jewel of the South — one of the world’s 50 best bars — is popping up at Gramercy Tavern on September 9 (exclusively for Chase cardholders) and September 10 (open to the public) as part of its new Behind the Bar series. We’re surprised there’s a few last-minute seats available (but don’t expect them to last long).
Light + Space — Have you ever considered installing James Turrell-style light effects in your kitchen? We’re inspired by this design ⬇️ of The Dao Tea House in Ho Chi Minh City.
Seeing Stars — Danielle Newbold, creator of Table for Two on Substack, talked to a former Michelin inspector about distinguishing a 2- vs. 3-star spot and his single best restaurant recommendation (hint: it’s in NYC).
The Hot Seat — Been eyeing those rose-colored slipper chairs at the Fifth Avenue Hotel? Us too. Designer Martin Brudnizki of And Objects shared their origins with T magazine’s Tom Delavan. They have the ideal proportions for cozying up with a book + a cocktail. (PS: Last week, the Fifth Avenue Hotel was named the 78th best property in the world.)
Critics’ Picks — In the past week, The New York Times and New York mag both wrote about Somssi, the new Greenwich Village spot from the owners of Atomix, and the reviews range from good to outstanding. If you’ve been, let us know what you thought in the comments.
What We’re Buying This Week:
1. Timed to the release of Tony, A24 has introduced a coffee table book on Anthony Bourdain’s Provincetown years.
2. A round deep oven in Le Creuset’s latest shade, Onyx, because soup/stew season is right around the corner (and if you need inspo, this Alison Roman recipe is an oldie/goodie).
3. Pouches covered in artwork by Ruth Asawa, from Baggu’s new collaboration with MoMA. Yes to good-looking organization.
4. MADRE woven napkins in Butter, AKA a mini fall refresher for your linen drawer.
5. The Beast’s new-ish stainless steel blender, which has a plastic-free interior and keeps drinks/smoothies/etc. cold for hours.
Augusta Hoffman may be Dallas-born, but she’s spent enough years in New York that the city seems to find its way into every design. Smaller footprints, multi-purpose needs ("When designing a city apartment, you must accomplish a lot in a little space," she told Frederic magazine), gray/concrete views. She embraces these very essential quirks in all her projects, from a family brownstone in Carroll Gardens to the Danielle Frankel bridal salon in the Garment District. The resulting spaces feel special, lived-in, and inherited…even when they are completely new.
In 2019, after training at Parsons and working for AREA Interior Design, she launched her own namesake firm — one that crafts homes built for living as much as they are for entertaining. A consummate host, she considers how creativity can blend with tradition; she says it’s incredibly “important that gatherings reflect the space they take place in.” And all of that hosting starts in the same place.
“New York at its best,” she says, “has never tried too hard.”
For Hoffman, the kitchen anchors so much meaning in a home. She went to culinary school in her early 20s; she got engaged in the kitchen of her East Village apartment; she even launched a lemon verbena tea with Forgrave based on her own after-dinner ritual. (That passion shows up in her work, too: she’s created a camera-ready space for Today contributor Joy Bauer and even designed an entire apartment around a client’s love of eating ice cream in bed.)
Turns out someone who knows how to design a dream kitchen can also spot a good one out in the wild. That’s why she’s our latest Taste Maker.
Tell us your favorite food memory: “I grew up in Texas, so Mexican food is woven into nearly all of my childhood memories. Nothing felt more special than homemade enchiladas on Christmas Eve. My mom moved to Santa Fe about 10 years ago. Now we order “enchiladas Christmas,” smothered in both red and green chile, and silver coin margaritas from The Shed. We sit by the fire, surrounded by ristras and turquoise, while the snow falls outside.”
How about your go-to dinner party essential: “The people around the table. I have never once remembered a centerpiece more than I have remembered who made everyone laugh. I also always have some sort of entertainment — an adult version of a balloon twister, if you will. A game, a custom party popper complete with candy and paper crowns, fortune-telling fish…even the most elegant dinner parties need one element of playfulness. HOUSE & PARTIES is usually my first stop.”
Your hero condiment: “Chick-fil-A BBQ sauce.”
A New York City restaurant with the best interiors: “The Grill for nostalgia, Le Coucou for romance, and Thai Diner for a bit of kitsch.”
One dish you’ll always order if it’s on the menu: “There must be French fries on the table. And if a spot is known for escargot, that is my must-have.”
Share one New York food ritual that’s completely yours: “My husband, daughter, and I love to go to Il Cantinori on Sunday evenings right when they open for dinner service. It is just us and the very old school regulars. It is our happy place.”
The most New York restaurant you’ve ever been to: “Prune in the East Village (RIP). It was tiny, a little chaotic, deeply confident, and completely uninterested in trends. New York at its best has never tried too hard.”
How do you define taste? “Taste is knowing what to leave out. The most beautiful rooms, restaurants, and meals all have restraint. Confidence doesn’t need another layer.”
What’s something you genuinely think is perfect? “The first ice-cold martini on a Friday evening after work.”
Tell us about something you loved before everyone else: “Speaking of martinis…I love a lemon drop. People are finally catching on.”
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I still have a Prune matchbook...I should get it framed.
I’ve always loved prune pudding.