After much dreaming, scheming, and increasingly breathless emails back and forth, we are beyond thrilled to be bringing the brilliant voice, mind, and words of our long-time Foundry friend, thoughtful chronicler, celebrated poet, and all-around excellent human—G.E. Patterson—to this space. Look for more under his byline in the future and for now, G.E.'s meditation on a dear humble companion: The Washing-Up Whisk.

As any well-heeled 8 year old will tell you, there will never be a time that a classic Shirley Temple is not a great thing. Bubbly sweet, subtly golden yet with the ascendant whirl of ruby red at the bottom giving it the sophisticated air of a potion, something specially "prepared", a tiny cocktail straw, occasionally/best served with TWO maraschino cherries PERHAPS interwoven with a sinuous orange slice and MAYBE (if the place has really got it together) these items speared through by... A TINY SWORD.

When life gives you lemons...make a cocktail?

With the days warming, the early offerings of peak season harvests juuuuust beginning to appear at the farmer's markets, and the golden hours beckoning us all away from our screens (and our ovens), this is the time for salad.