Mad About Charlyne

We all know and love Martha, but what some of us might not know is that Martha Stewart spends each and every day surrounded by creative, talented people who have contributed to the empire that she’s built.

At Mad About Martha, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to introduce you to some the finest minds in style, fashion and food.

Those of you who subscribe to Everyday Food know how convenient it is to have a one-stop resource for great recipes - from the weekly family dinner, to date night, to cooking for one. Everyday Food offers an index of recipes for all occasions and incorporates simple, fresh ingredients that anyone would love, whether you're an experienced chef or a novice home cook.

Today, we're introducing Charlyne Mattox, Senior Associate Food Editor, Everyday Food, whose love for the kitchen is evident not only through the amazing recipes that she writes and tests for her readers every day, but through her passion for cooking that she shares with her colleagues and readers. When she's not whipping up delicious Mexican dishes, Charlyne is hard at work learning about food and new cooking techniques - and will try just about anything in the kitchen, as long as you don't ask her to do the dishes!

Q: Charlyne, you must have such an exciting job. What's a typical day in the office like for you?

A: I arrive at the office, check e-mail, then get cooking! I typicall cook for about 5-6 hours per day. Other time is spend editing recipes, brainstorming recipes and story ideas and responding to reader queries.

Q. What's the best editorial assignment you've worked on at EDF?
A. I really loved developing the dark chocolate dessert story for the October 2008 issue. Besides loving chocolate, it was a real challenge and great learning experience.

Q. What's your favorite part about your job?
A. Cooking of course! I love to learn about food, from flavor combinations to new cooking techniques. And of course, I love eating.

Q. What is your favorite "Dinner Tonight" recipe?
A. I really enjoy the Provencal Chicken with Vegetables from the December 2008 issue. Roasted carrots are one of my favorites and mixed with tangy olives, it’s a perfect combination.

Q. Have you always wanted to work in the food/beverage industry?
A. Yes, I have. My mom encouraged my interest in cooking from a very young age. And when I got older it was perfect – I cooked while my sister did the dishes (which I loathe).

Q. How did you begin your career in publishing/food and beverage?

A. While working in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, I went to cooking school on the weekends. Luckily, shortly after graduation, there was an opening at Everyday Food that I was able to fill.

Q. What is your favorite dish to cook?
A. Tacos – any filling or topping. I love them all!

Q. What is the best recipe you've ever discovered working with EDF?
A. The Avocado Salad from the September 2006 issue is one of my favorites. The balance is perfect and it goes along with my love of Mexican food.

Mad About Debra!

We all know and love Martha, but what some of us might not know is that Martha Stewart spends each and every day surrounded by creative, talented people who have contributed to the empire that she’s built.

At Mad About Martha, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to introduce you to some the finest minds in style, fashion and food.

Those of you who enjoy your time in the kitchen as much as I do would undoubtedly recognize Debra Puchalla's name from the masthead of Everyday Food. Debra, the reigning editor-in-chief has spent the past decade in the Martha Stewart test kitchen honing recipes and sampling simple culinary creations to suit the tastes of every home cook. Debra and her talented staff are dedicated to making life - and dinnertime - easier with their blog Dinner Tonight. We decided listen to Debra dish out her favorite parts of being an editor at Everyday Food, both on and off the job, as well as some tips for staying on top on top of social media trends whether she's at home cooking with her three boys or out on-the-go.

Q) What's the best editorial assignment you've worked on at EDF?
A) About a year and a half ago, we were looking to respond to readers’ hunger for healthy recipes and created our Upgrade column. It’s just one recipe per issue but I love the idea behind it: take an iconic, notoriously indulgent recipe—think mac-n-cheese or artichoke dip—and tweak it to be almost virtuous by swapping in better substitutions. I love that it teaches home cooks how to cook smart without sacrificing what they crave.

Q) What's a typical day in the office like for you?
A) My best days include a mix of activities—some time at my desk, writing and editing stories; some time with colleagues, strategizing about how to make our content better and even more relevant as we shape future lineups; and some time in the test kitchen, tasting recipes that are in development and deciding what information about them is best shared with our fans.

Q) What's your favorite part about your job?
A) Years ago, I worked in news and found that I got home and wanted to learn about how to live a better life. Working at Martha Stewart has helped me do just that: I learn something new every day that makes my life even better. I’m fortunate that what I do helps shape the home life that my husband and I share with our kids.

Q)Why did you begin blogging with EDF?
A) We were finding with the magazine that we have a passionate audience who not only wanted meal solutions, they wanted to know the ones we (editors) choose to cook at home and why, and they wanted a direct line to our expertise. Food and cooking can be fun—why not celebrate this with our audience in print as well as on an ongoing basis online?

Q) A lot of your readers follow you on Twitter. What do you like best about social media?
A) That’s easy. Listening to what gets people excited, what they’re curious about, what they need.

Q) Have you always wanted to work in the food/beverage industry?
A) Doesn’t everybody want to work at a food magazine? I’m very lucky that I get to merge my love of smart writing, good cooking, and sharing information. I worked in restaurants in high school and college (a “fancy” German restaurant with a waterfall outside Hartford, Connecticut, pizza parlors, etc) but really wanted to be in political journalism—way led to way, though, and I came to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia a decade ago and never looked back.

Q) How do you manage to work full-time, blog and find the time to cook? A) We have three sons, and I think it’s important for us to have meals together. We don’t get to have dinner on weeknights all the time, but it’s a big priority for weekends. First, we cook together; the big guys, 6 and 4, are good sous chefs (though cookies are their specialty!) I have a laptop on my counter and I jot a few notes as I go.

We have friends over a lot too, who are my knowing test cases. I see what they like best and what pan empties first and try and write about that. My work is very important to me too. At Everyday Food, we’re helping people eat well without a lot of effort and I like being part of that.

Q) What is the best piece of advice you would offer to novice bloggers today?
A) Be honest, listen to others, and ask more questions than you intend to answer. Offer your true point of view and share your curiosities.

Mad About Eddie

We all know and love Martha, but what some of us might not know is that Martha Stewart spends each and every day surrounded by creative, talented people who have contributed to the empire that she’s built.

At Mad About Martha, we’re taking you behind the scenes at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to introduce you to some the finest minds in style, fashion and food.

This week, we’re talking to Eddie Ross, Senior Style Editor of Martha Stewart Living Magazine and his own style blog, eddieross.com. Eddie, who has a passion for fashion and an eye for design has been inspiring lifestyle in the pages of Living Magazine for 2 1/2 years.

Look familiar? You might recognize Eddie from Season 2 of Bravo’s Top Design.

With a degree from the Culinary Institute, Eddie began his career as a food editor on the television show Martha Stewart Living. After running his own catering company for two years, Eddie returned to publishing, landing at Living Magazine, where he spends his days flexing his creativity by styling the pages of Living for readers on any budget.

Q: Eddie, we all love Martha! What’s the best editorial assignment you’ve had working for Living?
A: This is a hard question, because I’ve had the opportunity to go to so many amazing places to look for great pieces, but I think my personal favorite is the first assignment I ever had at the magazine. I did a shelf bracket story in a September issue, and since it was my first piece I just really wanted it to shine.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a style editor?
A: In the style department, you have your hands in every aspect of the magazine. From crafts and decorating to cooking and gardening, there are so many different types of style out there. One of my favorite things to do is work on flower arrangements, but I also love that when I’m looking at furniture and antiques, there is really something for all of our readers, whether they like new or old items and no matter what they’re willing to spend.

Q: What’s a typical day in the office like for you?
A: Well, when we get to work in the morning we review assignments and then I spend most of my day on-the-go: visiting the marketplace and attending press events to pick up ideas for propping and styling shopping photo shoots for the pages of the magazine.

Q: When you were growing up, did you always want to be in publishing?
A: Absolutely. I’ve always wanted to work for a magazine. When I was in culinary school, I didn’t even know that a position called ‘style editor’ existed. I just think the idea of creating lifestyle is great.

Q: What do you hope Living readers learn from you?
A: Well, there are just so many resources out there for people who are interested I design. I like to spread the message that you don’t need a huge budget to create a beautiful lifestyle. Sometimes all it takes is a coat of paint to make a unique piece of furniture your own. My advice is when in doubt, just paint it.

Q: We’ve read your blog and know that our readers are dying to know, what made you start blogging?
A: My partner Jaithan and I started the blog after Top Design just as a diary of our weekend life. I love what I do and I hope my blog inspires people to live a better life. I love hearing feedback from readers about how they’ve been motivated by some of my ideas and designs.

Q: Eddie, what advice would you give to brand new bloggers?
A: Do what you love. Find something you’re passionate about and know that there are also other people out there who are interested in the exact same thing.

Not only is Eddie a genius behind the pages of Living, he’s an expert trend spotter. You can check out some of Eddie’s purchases in the “Object of The Day” column on his blog, where he highlights specific items that he’s found in his travels. I love the Wedgwood Tea Set from the Antiques Garage on 26th Street and just might have to pay a visit there myself.

What are some of YOUR favorite antiques?