Romaine, Pepperoncini, Cherry tomatoes, blue cheese and soppressata

Irene Neuwirth’s Chopped Salad

NOTES

This is a great casual salad for lunch, best made with romaine hearts. Romaine from the farmers market is an entirely different beast than the plastic bagged kind you get at the supermarket. Give it a try. I suggest using a crumbly, dry blue cheese with a lot of stink, like a Gorgonzola.

Irene kept the dressing on the side, just the best olive oil and balsamic vinegar you can find. Each guest can dress their salad for themselves.

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop romaine into 1/2″ thick strips, add to a large bowl.

Halve cherry tomatoes, slice soppressata and pepperoncini into 1/4″ strips. Cut cucumber into quarters lengthwise and chop into 1/2″ pieces.

Toss all ingredients together in the bowl with sea salt and black pepper, top with blue cheese and serve with oil and vinegar on the side.

RECIPE

DIFFICULTY

EASY

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SERVES

6

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PREP TIME

10 MINS

Salad

  • 1  
    head  
    romaine lettuce hearts
  • cup 
    heirloom cherry tomatoes
  • small 
    English cucumber
  • 1/2  
    cup 
    whole pepperoncini
  • 1/4  
    lb 
    thinly sliced soppressata
  • 1/4 
    cup 
    crumbly blue cheese

Dressing

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    balsamic vinegar
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    extra virgin olive oil
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    maldon salt
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    cracked black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop romaine into 1/2″ thick strips, add to a large bowl.

Halve cherry tomatoes, slice soppressata and pepperoncini into 1/4″ strips. Cut cucumber into quarters lengthwise and chop into 1/2″ pieces.

Toss all ingredients together in the bowl with sea salt and black pepper, top with blue cheese and serve with oil and vinegar on the side.

Jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth was born and raised in Los Angeles, and it shows. Her Beverly Hills store showcases her red carpet approved  jewels with the ease and comfort of a perfect LA domestic space, replete with shaggy Moroccan rugs, artist monographs, and a eat-in kitchen. I didn’t expect the woman behind some of the most coveted jewelry in Hollywood to show up for a photo shoot without an ounce of make-up, or even a single piece of jewelry on her body. Irene has managed to successfully remove all the pretension and formality from the high-end jewelry experience; you can imagine oggling the colorful gems on view with empty pockets and without feeling like a total chump. Even Irene’s salad was the right kind of cool – perfect for a large group, casual and no-fuss, but made with the highest quality ingredients. If I dared to propose that one’s salad is an apt reflection of one’s ethos, this would be a case in point.

I don’t often covet material things. My favorite piece of jewelry is a brass medal my grandmother won in an art competition in 1924, and it suits me just fine. But an afternoon with Irene and her lovely team had me reconsidering my priorities (I am opening a savings account to work towards one of her custom dog portrait pendants; it was Lucy’s idea, not mine). Irene produced her first line of one-of-a-kind pieces just out of  college. That small collection was immediately picked up by Barneys, and the brand has grown significantly since then. This Spring she deservedly won the CFDA Swarovski Award for Accessory Design, prompting her to open up her first flagship store. If you are out in LA, I suggest you go and check out the space around lunch time — whether or not you are in the market for fine jewelry, you might be lucky enough to catch a bite.

Irene Neuwirth in Her Own Words

Julia Sherman: You have said that your mom, painter Geraldine Neuwirth, has been an inspiration and influence on your designs, how?

Irene Neuwirth: I am inspired by the way she uses color and mixes different mediums and colors in her artwork. When I was a little girl, she always dressed me in mixed patterns. I remember the wallpaper she chose for my room: one wall was pink and white bunny rabbits; another was stripes; another, polka dots. There was something whimsical and playful about it, and it looked great. I carry that in my designs.

JS: Where else do you look for references and inspiration?

IN: I am always inspired by the women who collect my jewelry … My collection evolves by designing pieces to fill in the gap in their “jewelry wardrobe.” I am constantly look to the natural beauty and landscape of California – I’m a southern California girl at heart. I also travel and my heart remains in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I have been going there for 15 years. The colors there are like nowhere else.

JS: Pet pendants are very different from your other pieces: how are they made and how did they come about?

IN: I am obsessed with my dog, Teddy – just look at my instagram! I decided to make a pet pendant for myself, I did not think of how it would be part of my collection but I am so happy there is a market of pet lovers out there. These pendants are whimsical but very fine. They are just so unusual, which I love – something fine with a sense of humor.

JS: Take me through your design process: do you start with the stone and design from there, or do you buy the gems to fit into pieces you have already mapped out?

IN: I start with the raw stones and lay them out, it’s very old fashioned.

JS: If you could design something besides jewelry, what would it be?

IN: I recently remodeled and designed my kitchen. The hand painted tiles on my wall may be my favorite part. I always dream of getting into homeware.

JS: What do you make these days apart from jewelry?

IN: Food! I also love to draw. Oh! I also made Teddy a bejeweled dog collar, but I guess that falls under jewelry.

JS: What inspired you to put a full eat-in kitchen in the jewelry showroom? It’s unusual for a retail space to have such a laid back and domestic vibe. I felt so comfortable, I could have slept over!

IN: I wanted my jewelry store to feel like the anti-jewelry store. I love to entertain, and I always love having my clients over for dinner. It is easier to communicate an understanding of myself and my brand through a meal. I also figured that everyone I like wants to hang out in a kitchen, so why not put one in the store? I love how it gives the store an approachable and warm feel. We have hosted a number of dinner parties for friends and clients here, and some post-dinner dance parties! I’m looking forward to hosting more parties this year.

JS: You entertain a lot, do you do the cooking?

IN: Yes I do! My go-to party dishes are grilled lamb chops, pasta with delicious vegetables and a big salad. And Casa Dragones tequila!

JS: Your work and face are all over the pages of fancy fashion magazines. Why did you want to be in Bon Appetit so badly?

IN: Because I love food! I cook and entertain all the time, it’s my favorite way to relax and unwind. I’m always looking through Bon Appetit for new recipe ideas. I love how they have been combing fashion and food. I am honored to be included.

JS: You are a friend of the arts and recently auctioned off a $60,000 skateboard for LAX Art? Where did it go?

IN: It went to a very happy home, I couldn’t be more pleased!

JS: Do lunch and massive jewelry purchases go well together? In my fantasies, I buy your jewelry with a salad and glass of champagne on hand.

IN: I think so, don’t you? Why not?