Everything you think you know about pumpkin pie has changed thanks to chef Simon Davies of Chicago’s Alinea restaurant. He has transformed the classic Thanksgiving dish into something that seems familiar, but is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It has the same golden crust and dab of whipped topping, with one big difference—the filling is clear. Yes, you can see through the normally-orange puree, from one side of the pie piece to the other.

So, how did Davies’ create this unusual food? It’s thanks to science; he used a rotary evaporator machine that’s popular in molecular gastronomy cooking. The device creates a liquid distillate of a chosen flavor—in this case, pumpkin. It (supposedly) tastes like the real thing, too.

Molecular gastronomy-style dishes—such this pie—are known for exploring and reinterpreting existing foods and recipes in unexpected ways. Davie’s twist on tradition certainly does that; all that’s left to do is grab a fork and take a bite.

Chef Simon Davies of Chicago’s Alinea restraunt has created a clear food that you’d never expect.

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He has taken pumpkin pie—a classic Thanksgiving dessert—and made it see through!

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Simon Davies: Instagram
h/t: [Mashable, BuzzFeed]

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As Halloween fast approaches, you may still be on the look-out for the perfect costume. Whether you DIY or purchase store bought ensembles, don’t forget that dressing up isn’t just for humans; Halloween simply wouldn’t be complete without adorable pet costumes. Every year in Covington, Kentucky, dogs and their owners gather to debut their canine costumes at the MainStrasse Paw-Rade. This year, there was one pooch who stole the show.

Meet Keki, the Hungarian Puli whose owner utilized her naturally shaggy look by dressing her up as a mop. This breed’s distinct rope-like corded coat already closely resembles the cleaning tool, allowing this hilarious costume idea to earn top prize at the event. Complete with a yellow bucket, her owner wheeled her through the streets, as she delightedly mopped up the attention.

They may not look it, but Hungarian Pulis are very fast and agile. Fun fact: during ancient times, the breed was used as working sheep dogs. When wolves attacked the livestock, their thick, shaggy locks acted as protection from bites.

Keki the Hungarian Puli dressed as a mop for the Halloween MainStrasse Paw-Rade in Covington, Kentucky.

The hilarious costume won top prize at the event, as well as online attention.

Shut it down. #Halloween has been won: This dog went as a MOP https://t.co/ljDdw4ERZa http://pic.twitter.com/gPzDgN0VdI

— Eric Mark Do (@EricMarkDo) October 29, 2017

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halloween dogspotting is giving me life in these dark times http://pic.twitter.com/l6oKXs93cF

— ♡ KILL DANA ♡ (@soft_gradient) October 22, 2017

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my name is mop
i am not dog
pls dip me in
the soapy sog

i wish to clean
ur messy floor
i am not dog
i’m mop for sure http://pic.twitter.com/quxqimYggb

— Kate Gray (@hownottodraw) October 23, 2017

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h/t: [boingboing]

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Whether you love living off the grid or are a camping aficionado, chances are you’re searching for a way to cook a good meal quickly and efficiently. And what better heat source than the sun? GoSun, a leader in solar grills, has recently come out with a new model designed to allow for portable and economic solar cooking anywhere you go—even on a cloudy day.

The GoSun Go is a durable, portable solar cooker that can do everything from boil water to roast vegetables. The company has taken to Kickstarter for the product launch, which is where their original solar grill took off in 2013. Now, they’re back with a 2-pound grill that folds up into a sturdy case and heats up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius).

The GoSun Go reflects direct and indirect sunlight—allowing you to cook in cloudy conditions—into a double-walled vacuum tube, where light is converted into heat. The vacuum layer allows for extraordinary insulation, keeping food hot while leaving the exterior cool to the touch. GoSun also states that their solar vacuum tubes are more efficient than most solar panels, getting up to 80% efficiency thanks to its special absorbing surface.

There are a myriad of uses for the portable solar stove. It can boil liquids in 30 minutes, letting you sterilize water, make coffee or tea, or rehydrate foods. You can also steam, bake, and roast food in the 14-ounce tube, more than enough space to make a snack or meal for one.

With its unparalleled insulation, it’s no problem to use the GoSun Go in cold conditions, too. Whether on a snowy mountain or sun-soaked beach, the solar rays heat the tube just the same. And because the tube stays cool, the company points out that its a perfect solution of cooking on a boat or other small spaces where there’s a risk for fire hazards.

Through their Kickstarter campaign, the first round of GoSun Go solar stoves are selling for $99, with estimated delivery in April 2018. Even better: each stove comes with a recipe booklet to inspire your next solar meal.

The GoSun Go portable solar cooker can lay flat for cooking meals or stand up for boiling water.

Its incredible absorption surface and extraordinary insulation mean it can work even on cloudy days and in cold environments.

Whether you like living off the grid or are searching for a portable camping stove, there are endless uses for the product.

Learn more about the GoSun Go, which is now available via a Kickstarter campaign.

GoSun: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Kickstarter

All images via GoSun.

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First designed in 1963, the Portland Japanese Garden was declared “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan” by Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan. Today—after three years of construction—the 9.1-acre garden has been expanded by a further 3.4 acres, thanks to the work of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Working together with the garden’s curator, Sadafumi Uchiyama, they designed a new “cultural village,” comprising three green roofed structures.

The cultural village imitates a traditional Japanese Monzenmachi—a gate-front town surrounded by sacred temples. The three structures, situated around the Tateuchi courtyard, were designed with nature as their focal point. Kuma explains that he “aimed for a cultural facility like a village, suitable for a human city integrated with nature.”

The largest of the three buildings—the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center—is home to a library, gallery, gift shop, and classroom, all of which provide a place for visitors to immerse themselves in traditional Japanese arts and culture. The second building—a garden-house—offers horticulture workshops, while the third—a hillside café—provides an extra place to relax, with a spectacular view of Mt. Hood.

With an environmentally conscious mindset, Kuma and Uchiyama have introduced hundreds of new plants, as well as living roofs to absorb rainwater. To minimize pressure on the city’s sewage system, a stone creek channels waste into a holding tank, which is then slowly released into the sewer. The entire cultural village is heated by 24 geothermal wells, 300 feet below ground, which boost energy efficiency and reduce costs.

The Portland Japanese Garden’s new extension is now open to the public.

Nestled in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon the Japanese garden overlooks the city and provides a tranquil oasis for locals and tourists.

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has recently expanded the garden with a new “cultural village.”

The living roofs soak up rainwater and help minimize pressure on the city’s sewage system.

The new structures provide a cultural centre, a garden studio, and a café.

Kengo Kuman: Website

All images via Kengo Kuma.

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When we think of art, we might picture the likes of the Renaissance Masters whose iconic works still wow us today, or contemporary artists whose cutting edge techniques are simply awe-inspiring. Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Michaelangeo’s David are just a couple of important works from the canon of art history, but there are so many other artists who are creating compelling masterpieces of their own. While many of these creatives are formally trained in their chosen media, there are others whose talents exist outside of the realm of conventional art education. This is known as folk art or outsider art.

What is Folk Art?

Folk art is broad term that describes a variety of media and techniques. From painting to sculpture, these pieces have defining characteristics that are not style based (like line art or hyperrealism) or necessarily influenced by the likes of academia. One aspect is often rooted in traditions of a community and/or culture. The piece (or pieces’) aesthetic often expresses the identity that comes from these places, rather than of the individual artist.

“Many of the artworks come from before the rise of the middle class, before the rise of mechanization,” Stephanie Knappe, curator at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art explained. “It really is about carrying on and carrying through tradition during a time of great change. There is a stability to be found in traditions and keeping the past alive.”

But that’s not to say that all artists work like that. There are some extraordinary makers who feel compelled to make art as a way to express themselves in ways that they couldn’t otherwise.

Because folk art is so open in terms of its appearance, it’s hard to find common themes or styles. In this case, it’s helpful to look at some of the most famous folk artists whose work continues to captivate us today.

Here are some of the most famous folk artists whose work continues to awe and inspire in different ways.

Ammi Phillips

Born in 1788, Ammi Phillips was a prolific portrait painter who was said to have produced as many as two thousand paintings in his 50-year span of creating art. Considered to be self-taught, he still pursued a career in art and became well known for works that feature plain backgrounds and flattened, almost stylized figures.

 

Leonard Knight

You might not recognize Leonard Knight’s name, but you might’ve heard of his greatest accomplishment—Salvation Mountain. Made from adobe, straw, and a lot of paint, the immersive visionary landscape is located east of the Salton Sea in California. The hill is adorned in vibrant colors and sprawled with Christian messages and Bible verses.

During his many years at the mountain, Knight lived in the back of his truck and kept the company of many cats. “If somebody gave me $100,000 a week to move somewhere and live in a mansion and be a big shot, I’d refuse it,” Knight said. “I want to be right here. It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

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Henry Darger

A reclusive writer and hospital custodian living in Chicago, outsider artist Henry Darger is best known for his 15,145-page manuscript called In the Realms of the Unreal. It’s bound in 15 volumes and includes several hundred scroll-like watercolor paintings. The book features many themes, some of which include idyllic scenes of children playing in flowery landscapes, while others are much darker and feature terrifying situations.

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Based in Sussex, England, artist Gill Bustamante creates large-scale, ethereal landscape oil paintings. Often working with a vibrant color palette—ranging from a rich turquoise to fiery oranges and deep reds—Bustamante describes her style as “a fusion of Expressionist, Impressionist, Semi-abstract, Art Deco, a little Art Nouveau and whatever mood I’m in that day.”

Inspired by “the patterns of nature and the energy, colors, and spaces of the landscapes and animals” around her, the colorful paintings depict mystical forest scenes. In many, the focal point is an animal who poses in stark contrast to the abstract, psychedelic woodland scenes. These animals include birds, big cats, deers, and stags, who live among vivid, elongated trees that look as though they’re dripping off the canvas. Bustamante’s aim is to provide her viewers with a world to “escape the manic pace of life and imagine themselves somewhere better–even if just for a little while…”

If you’re enchanted by Bustamante’s paintings, you can buy them on Etsy and Saatchi Art.

Gill Bustamante’s psychedelic oil paintings depict animals set within vibrant woodlands.

From big cats perching in trees…

…to stags and deer peering out from the shadows…

…and birds soaring through tree tops.

Gill Bustamante: Website | Saatchi Art | Etsy | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
h/t: [L’acte Gratuit]

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Gill Bustamante.

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