So, okay, we may not all have houses in the Hamptons and we may not all be married to a famous-beyond-famous designer. But that doesn't mean we can't at least dine like Mrs. Ralph Lauren does. The ever-gorgeous Ricky Lauren just published The Hamptons: Food, Family, And History, and in it, she divulges some of her so-good family recipes.

As foodies, fashion-lovers, and Hamptons enthusiasts to boot, we obviously needed the exclusive scoop. So, we dove head first into the cookbook for three tasty recipes (a breakfast, an entrée, and a dessert) to serve up this weekend (whether we end up pool-side in the Hamptons or not). Plus, since these babies are technically healthy (yes, even those rum-infused brownies), we should all feel no shame in mastering these dishes before bikini season...right?

Click through for some famous eats to serve up this season.



Recipes from The Hamptons by Ricky Lauren are used by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 2012; Photos: Courtesy of Ann Stratton

If you ask us, no one is heating up the S.F. culinary scene quite like Thomas McNaughton of Flour + Water, Central Kitchen, and soon-to-open Salumeria. He’s taking over our city’s resto turf by storm (he landed a spot as one of our hottest chefs under 30) with his three-restaurant empire, and this weekend he’s lending his skills to the unique traveling pork-themed event Cochon 555.

The innovative, multi-city food fete features five winemakers, five chefs, and five pigs. Thomas will be on-site competing against local chefs like Anthony Strong (another chef to make our list) to concoct the perfect meat-filled meal using all parts of the assigned heritage pig. We caught up with him ahead of the event to talk pork, partying (or the lack thereof), and his pet piggy Kona.

Can you tell us a little more about the event?
"It’s a great event. It promotes bringing back heritage pigs. The one that was given to us is called the Red Waddle. Of all the breeds, it was probably the closest one to extinction. It’s promoting small farms and producers who are really trying to bring back these once-lost pigs."

How did you get involved with Cochon 555?
"Brady, the founder of the event, knew that we only used whole animals at Flour + Water and that we go through many a pig a week. He reached out and contacted us, so we did it a couple of years ago and are doing it again this year. It’s a really unique event: It’s five pigs from five farms and five winemakers. It’s a competition, but it’s not a competition."

If you could pig out on any meal what would it be?
"My favorite meal in the world is an amazing bottle of wine, cheeses, homemade salumi, nuts, almonds, and fresh fruit. But it’s funny because since we just opened up Central Kitchen and we're about to open up Salumeria soon — there is zero food inside my kitchen. But I really love eating at home."

Speaking of your home, would you say you’re a pig or are you the tidy type?
"Well, I own a pig. I live right above Flour + Water and she has a large deck. She’s house trained and uses a kitty litter."

What’s her name?
"Kona. She’s an awesome pet, and ridiculously cute. I describe her as the worst girlfriend in the world. She’s the most needy animal I’ve ever met in my life. If I’m sitting on the couch, put her in the other room, or come home late — she’s squealing. She’s very sweet though."

Any plans to get her a companion?
"It’s actually too late. I really wanted to, but at this point the bond with their owners so strongly, that if I were to introduce another pig it wouldn’t work. She gets along really well with other animals, but if I were to bring in another pig they wouldn’t get along."

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re off work?
"I just opened up Central Kitchen about eight days ago and we are about to open Salumeria, so I probably haven’t had a day off in two months. But if I did have a day off, I’d probably go for a hike or a sail or go outside and adventure a little bit."

Can tell us a little bit about the upcoming cookbook?
"Well, we built a test kitchen above Flour + Water, where there are also two apartments — one I live in, and the other one is for our offices. We built a massive test kitchen. This is where we are testing all the recipes for the cookbook and it also has a library for all the cooks."

Which chef are you looking forward to going up against this weekend?
"I’d say Traci [Des Jardins]. I think we’re most excited to up against her because she is probably the biggest challenge and is one of the most respected chefs ever."

Photographed by Molly DeCoudreaux

If you’d ever seen the flurry of thrown elbows that comes along with every fresh cupcake delivery to the R29 office, you’d never doubt our love for them. But even we acknowledge that America may be too cupcake crazy. Proof positive? The cupcake sausage, which is, perhaps unfortunately, precisely what it sounds like. A frankfurter crafted the old-fashioned way (with an animal-intestine casing) the cupcakewurst is packed with batter, grilled, then served on a doughnut bun with raspberry “ketchup.” What would Betty Crocker think? (Incredible Things)

L.A. is a city built on lunches. Come one o'clock, practically every seat from the beach to the Rose Bowl is filled with finance kids negotiating, agents powerbrokering, actors reading scripts, and even us plebs just looking for a yummy meal. But, what do you get when you don't want to brown bag it, but also don't need to walk away with a $50 check? You turn to your trustiest lunchtime staple: the sandwich.

And in this city, you won't be stuck with ham and cheese or turkey on rye. To mix it up, we've rounded up the most unexpected and hunger-inducing combos that exist between two slices of bread. Whether it's a deli classic, a local vegetarian specialty, or a spicy number hailing from Spain, these delicious options have you covered from Santa Monica to Glendale. Just don't let food coma (or carb overload) take you down—there's still work to be done, kiddos!

Our favorite way to wrap up a long week? A tall glass filled with a chilled, potent concoction — preferably one that actually tastes like summer. And when we're the ones pouring the drinks for our pals, we want to make sure to serve them something that's fully in the spirit of the season.

So, to master the summer cocktail, we tapped bartender Brad Witucki of Old Town Alexandria's Virtue Feed & Grain to give us the skinny on his favorite seasonal sips and show us how to concoct them at home. He let us in on one of the biggest warm-weather trends in mixology — beer cocktails. Dubbed "hoptails," these concoctions are light, fizzy, and refreshing, while still delivering layers of flavor. So, gather up some fresh citrus and a few bottled brews, and follow these recipes to make some seriously cool summer libations.

New Yorkers are used to instant gratification — we want our coffee served before we can say "with room for milk," we need a cab the moment our arm reaches its full extension (unless, of course, it's the dreaded 5 p.m. shift switch), and we'll be damned if we've got to wait more than 20 minutes for an outdoor table at a popular restaurant during brunch hours. But our fast-fix obsession doesn't mean we're looking to skimp on quality. And we've found the perfect solution in five beloved NYC food trucks — quickly served gourmet dishes that aren't short on flavor but also don't break the bank.

Sure, you've probably seen our favorites — Dosas, Milk Truck, Comme Ci Comme Ça, Taïm, and Frites And Meats — on the block, but we've upped the ante with insider pics and the super-secret scoop on some of their tastiest and most popular mobile plates. From grilled cheese to Indian food to the "best falafel in NYC," these dishes have us wishing it was lunchtime all the time. But hey, there's no rule against that. Now, about that line…



Click through for some foodie-truck favorites and snack-time inspiration. 

Yikes! Candice, a 31-year old New Yorker went out with a man she met in a Williamsburg bar (red flag number one—kidding!), didn't love it, and went on with her life — kind of. The date, who showed up to The Avengers wearing a fedora (red flags two and three, respectively) sent some enthusiastic texts soon after, and was kindly brushed off by Candice. However, Mr. Fedora refused to take "no" for an answer. In increasingly rude SMSs, Mr. F escalated from, "I don't want to waste my time," to the classic "your loss," to an outrageous message "meant for someone else" calling Candice a "5.5 out of 10" and bragging about another promising date with "Nancy." Candice didn't respond, resulting in Mr. F letting her know the message was "not about [her] at all" and that he hopes she is well.

Naturally, Candice sent screen shots of the offending texts to Gawker (thank you technology!) and now we can all get a virtual taste of the wonders and perils of NYC dating. But really, what are we supposed to do with the other six days Girls doesn't air? (Gawker)



Photo: Courtesy of Gawker

Some call it SoFi, others say it's the muted response to the chaos on the northern half of Miami Beach, but no matter how it's named, the area south of Fifth certainly feels luxurious. Right on the tip of the city and with views to die for, now there is a reason besides lush scenery to venture, well, south of the Fifth Street border. Opening next Wednesday (which means this is a sneak peek!) La Gloutonnerie is not just a new French bistro, but it's cuisine from Français via Mexico City, of all places. In fact, the French flavors here have a very particular twist, combining the Gallic taste for a touch of Mediterranean with a cozy Mexican vibe. Think fine dining, but with a casual, breezy interior.

Fans of rich French delicacies will be thrilled: The menu includes items lobster risotto cinque terre, steak tartare, rich beef cheek stew, and dozens and dozens of wines (hence the "glutton" in the resto's title). In fact, fans of La Gloutonnerie are encouraged to take the experience home with an in-house market teeming with artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, foie gras, and caviar — meaning patrons can leave with their favorite decadent nibbles.

When it comes to your ensemble, Instead of going all Marie Antoinette, bring a little Left Bank to the point of South Beach. A breathable, bright blazer over a clean and summery white keeps things super smart and ultra chic. Show of your mid-May tan in some adorable and femme tap shorts, but make sure to keep the material luxe so it doesn't look like you're wearing an undergarment. And, while you might be dining in the more refined SoFi, you are still in South Beach: Add a punch of bright aqua to tell the world of your joie de vivre.

La Gloutonnerie, 81 Washington Avenue (at Commerce Street); 305-503-3811.

J. Crew Factory Cavalry Twill Blazer, $125, available at J. Crew, 726-728 Lincoln Road; 305-673-9806; Topshop Sleeveless Lace Insert Blouse, $64, available at Topshop.com; Michael Kors Astor Hoop Earrings, $75, available at Neiman Marcus; Elizabeth And James Katia Flared Silk-Chiffon Shorts, $295, available at Net-A-Porter.com; BCBG Max Azria Harlow Metal-Plate Clutch, $128, available at BCBG, 744 Lincoln Road; 305-673-9997.

Photo: Courtesy of Tara, Ink.

With a rare heat streak blanketing San Francisco, those year-round layers are finally coming off. Which means, we're thinking about our bodies a little bit more, especially with bikini season firmly on the horizon. One solid way to start rethinking the way we eat and kick-start weight loss? That'd be a cleanse (as long as you don't go back to the Oreos right after you finish).

And with our local focus on amazing and organic produce, the juice cleanse companies bubbling up in the Bay Area are obviously top of the line. To help you figure out which you should invest in (if any at all), your trusty R29 staffers took it upon themselves to swear off solids for three days at a time and put these four locally crafted cleanses to the test. Read what we thought about each, and get tips on some of the cool new cleanse-friendly spots about to pop up around town. Now that's juicy!

Photo: Courtesy of Juice To You

With the economy slowly improving, it’s never a bad idea to start considering (okay, dreaming) about what to do with that extra disposable income. Nest eggs and mortgages aside, we’d like to think that food is one thing you should seriously consider splurging on — after all, you are what you eat. If you feel the same way as we do, check out our guide to luxe eating all around New York. From classic culinary locales pushing the envelope on taste and top-notch service, to the scene-y (in a good way) newbs serving some of the most delicious food in town, these picks are definitely worth the extra moolah and we think your taste buds would agree. Plus, with hot spots (and dishes!) like these, if nothing else, you'll put all those foodie-centric Instagrammers to shame.

If your mom is anything like ours, she's kept you fed and happy for over a decade, at least. Now we think it's time to repay the favor, especially with Mother's Day right around the corner. For those of you who are staying local for the ultimate maternal holiday this weekend, we've done the work for you, picking three solid restaurants that both you and your momma will love.

From the yummy soul-food palace that is Brown Sugar Kitchen (for East Bay fams) and elegant-cool Beretta in the Mission to our favorite beachside hangout and bread-lover's hotspot, Outerlands, we've got some stellar Mother's Day brunch option that'll please both generations. Bonus: We've also compiled three killer outfits for celebrating the ultimate woman in your life...and this ridiculously amazing weather.

Sure, there's a whole lot of pretty happening in wine country, but we'd have to say that one of the most inspiring spots we've laid eyes on is Sonoma's relative newcomer, Scribe winery. What cultish Four Barrel is to the local coffee scene, that's pretty much what Scribe has become to the wine world in just three short years. It's a place where young folks flock for a country-cool adventure, complete with rope swings overlooking palm trees and vines, chic dinner parties catered by some of the Bay's finest, a 100-year-old hacienda to explore, and a host of stylish staffers to make every amateur oenophile feel at home.

For a virtual tour of the dreamy property, we tapped three of Scribe's PYTs who help run the digs. And trust: They're all as fashionable as they are talented. Take a look, and schedule your next road trip accordingly.

Photography by Molly DeCoudreaux