Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Restaurateur Gerard Craft is often inspired while working in his kitchen at home. The room was designed by Sasha for S. Aleksandr Malinich, who also orchestrated the interior at the original Niche and The Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co. Culinary mementos from Craft’s late grandmother, Eileen Ford, the modeling agency pioneer whom he affectionately refers to as Gong, are scattered about the room, embodying his love of food and family.
Fresh Herbs
“The best way to get really intense flavors is with fresh herbs and spices. I grow most of them here at home in our back yard. I have been cooking a lot of Brazilian food lately; it was the cuisine I grew up with as a child. I had a Brazilian nanny, Dia, who was like a second mother to me. She cooked all the time. Dia’s Bread at Niche is an homage to her.”
Christian Dior Dishes
“They were a gift from my grandmother Gong. They’re gorgeous and very heavy. The wheat is symbolic in a way. I’ve been studying the effects of gluten and wheat fermentation and experimenting with ways to produce breads for people with gluten and celiac issues.”
Coffee Mugs
“I like to drink black coffee from Sump or Blueprint. I’ll go out of my way for a good cup. [My family] has a set of mugs with our initials on them from Anthropologie.”
Butcher’s Block
“This handmade butcher’s block was a gift from my friend David Stine, who built all the tables for Niche. He named a line of tables for me.”
Tattoos
“I lived with [my grandmother] in the summer when I was younger and had just started getting tattoos. Worried she would freak out, I kept myself covered at all times. But when the Food and Wine cover came out and showed the tattoos all over my arms, the secret was out.”
