Pistachio Rose Tart

Text by Lacey Taylor and Photography by Brandon Harman

FOR LORI STERN, nature and art have always been intrinsically connected. The markers of her childhood in Ojai, California, are a big front yard, fruit trees, her family’s garden, and her very own tree house in which to sit and take them all in. Her first venture into the creative realm was through an easel her parents gave her as soon as she was able to reach the canvas. She would sit outside and paint for hours finding inspiration in, and often incorporating materials from, the natural beauty surrounding her. These days, you’re more likely to find Lori with her beloved chef’s knife in hand, whipping up a multicolored masterpiece with vegetables from a Southern Californian farmers market and exotic herbs from her own garden or scouring a Brooklyn flea market for materials to use in the upcycled crop tops she sews — her favorite creative outlet outside of the kitchen. But the bonds connecting Lori to the world around her are still very much present in her work. Just as important to her as the food she puts on the table is the impact her creations have on the earth and the communities to whom she’s serving. She prioritizes working with local farmers, using seasonal and organic ingredients, and implementing waste reduction and water conservation practices at every opportunity. She may no longer be surveying the world from her childhood tree house, but one look at the flower-covered cakes and vibrantly-hued meals she creates lays bare the fact that she is still taking it all in.