Charlotte Druckman is a celebrated food writer, author, and cultural commentator based in New York City. Renowned for her influential books Women on Food and Skirt Steak. A valued member of the Kemi Telford community, Charlotte shares her love for the brand in her engaging blog post, where she highlights her favourite Kemi Telford pieces and offers readers a glimpse into her carefully curated wish list. She also curates the popular Substack blog, The Sweethearts, where she continues to inspire with her thoughtful reflections on food, fashion, and culture. For those visiting New York, Charlotte's recommendations of her favourite local spots—from must-visit bakeries to literary hideaways—offer a unique insider's perspective.
With love,Yvonne x
Discovering Kemi Telford
I wish I could remember which of your dresses first caught my eye and compelled me to hit the "FOLLOW" button on Instagram, but once I went to the website, I knew I had to have at least one. The one I chose is my beloved Benin Drawstring Dress.
The Kemi Telford Addiction: Hard to Stop at Just One
But as anyone who wears Kemi Telford pieces knows, once you start, it's hard to stop. They're all so different and each is so special. It can become a problem -- and not just in the sense that it's impossible to own let alone buy that many, but also in the sense that it's so hard to choose and you know that you may fall for one, only to see another one a couple of weeks -- or days -- later that you are just as crazy about.
My Kemi Telford Wish List: Top 4 Dresses
I deal with this by having a little wish list in my mind. It's like a virtual mood board. For the last few months, these have been the 4 I've come back to again and again, and coveted:
Malia Free Midi Dress
I'm not sure if it's the shape of this one or the color that got to me first, but I just like to visit this dress on the site from time to time. It buoys my spirits. I am a small-framed woman, who stands 5'6" tall and has curves but tends to gravitate to oversized pieces. My goal is to be simultaneously comfy and chic at all times. This can be tricky when you have narrow shoulders, and you like exaggerated shapes; if you're not paying attention to proportion and scale, because you can end up looking like you're a child playing dress-up in her mother's closet. But this dress nails it. And that GREEEEEEEEN! My inner preppy loves the bright Kelly green and the detailed simplicity of the geometric pattern.
Limited Edition Damilola Geo Maxi Dress
Ayodele Belted Dress
Cha Cha Belted Dress
God help me when the kaftans drop. I have a feeling the mood board in my mind is going to get unwieldy.
My Favorite New York City Spots
And now, in no particular order, here are some spots in downtown Manhattan where I live. I like to walk my dog over to as many of them as possible, as often as I can. Most of them are food-related; chalk it up to a professional force of habit. (For more recs, especially for the sweeter things, you can subscribe to The Sweethearts, a new newsletter I just launched with my friend Mia Wiston.)
ALF Bakery
This is currently the best bakery in New York City. I'm not entertaining any opinions to the contrary. Amadou Ly is simply operating on a higher baking plane than the rest of us. If you have an abiding love of bread and Viennoiserie and you come to this city, and you don't go to ALF? You failed.
Té Company
Elena Liao opened this quiet, diminutive oasis of a tea shop in Greenwich Village nearly 14 years ago, and those of us food media types proceeded to lose our minds. She is an expert of Taiwanese oolong and visits the related tea farms regularly to select which strains and buds to serve. Her husband, Frederico Ribeiro is a chef with a scarily impressive CV and he is responsible for the food, all of which is snack-sized and designed to complement the tea. You can order oolong online to brew yourself, and some of Fred's greatest hits, like his pineapple linzers and Taiwanese mooncakes are also available for national shipping.
Three Lives Bookstore
A West Village stalwart, this is a haven for all booklovers and some of the most talented local literary figures have been known to drop in for readings. What makes it special is that the staff actually read the books and can give you advice on what to read or whether or not you might like a title based on your preferences.
Confectionery!
This whimsical, welcoming shop is a collaboration between a vegan bakery (Maresa Volante's Sweet Maresa's) and a vegan chocolatier (Lagusta Yearwood's Lagusta's Luscious). I am no vegan, and I am hooked on this place for both its baked goods and its bonbons. It's a destination no matter what your dietary restrictions or preferences. And if you're in the States, both businesses ship nationally.
Stick with Me Sweets
While we're on the subject of chocolate... Susanna Yoon's bonbons are bite-sized, fully composed desserts enrobed in chocolate. Just exquisite. She also ships nationally, and this is one of those small luxuries you'd never think to buy for yourself but wish someone would give you. So, it's perfect for gifting.
I Sodi
If it wasn't so hard to score a reservation or as expensive as it is, hit-making chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams’ gem in Greenwich Village would be my canteen. As it is, it's my favorite restaurant in town. There's nothing on the menu that isn't worth trying, but the pastas are essential (if you go during the summer and there's pesto Genovese involved, sign up immediately).
Zero by Maria Cornejo
I've been wearing Maria's clothing for nearly 20 years and she continues to amaze and inspire me with her designs. Her flagship in Nolita is one of my happiest places to visit. What I love about her work is how in-tune she is with the female body; she understands that we like to feel confident in our own skin, and clothes -- to move in them, and to feel sexy at the same time. Everything is comfortable, most things have pockets, and all of it is distinctly cut with her signature draping. She has been a champion of using sustainable fabrics for years -- well before it became a noted "trend" in the fashion industry. Best of all, her pieces are timeless, and they all work together, so I could pair a piece that I bought 15 years ago with one I bought in the fall and they'd totally work together, and you'd have no idea which was the older of the two.
Wu's Wonton King
Chinatown is full of culinary treasures; there are the places you go for steamed rice rolls, for xiang long bao, for Pekin duck, for hand-pulled Lamian noodles... Wu's Wonton is where I go when I'm not sure what I want, I just know I want it to be good. But if I'm being honest, it's hard for me to go there and not order the wonton soup or the shrimp fried rice. (If you're there with a group, the live king crab is a showstopper. NOTE: if you want wine, it's BYO)
Che Li
Sometimes, I desperately crave crunchy, sweet fried eel. And this is where you have to go if that's your plight. It's like eating savory candy. Everything at this Chinese restaurant on St. Mark's Place is pretty awesome, though.
Partybus Bakeshop
My #1 cinnamon bun lives here.
Red Gate Bakery
My #1 cake lives here (any flavor they're slicing up is one to try). On the weekends, they also make very good cinnamon buns and most of them aren't made with cinnamon, like, for instance, the recent peanut butter & chocolate or yuzu & raspberry.
Oroboro
This is where I go to see some of the international brands I'm fixated on in person (instead of simply drooling over them online). The shop also stocks the scented candles produced by local wax artist, Keetja Allard of Photerian, who makes the most incredible sculptural candles along with the ones that smell so amazing I can't live without them.
Raf's
Probably my top new restaurant of recent years, Raf's is women-owned and -run and its doors are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. None of these meals is to be missed there. Camari Mick starts your day with her formidable pastries, and Mary Attea has quickly mastered wood-fired oven cooking, savory side. There are too many things to list as recs here. So I won't bother trying. I'll just tell you to go and, while you're at it, enjoy the room; bathed in a warm, peachy glow, it makes you feel pretty without being fussy.
King
Here's another women-owned and -run spot that's bathed in light and serves up what some might describe as "lusty" food, although I'm never totally sure what that means. (Related: I can't abide "cozy" as an adjective used to describe food.) It's hearty, rich, flavor-forward, unabashed in its ample amounts of butter, olive oil and/or cream; it also prioritizes seasonal produce. It's only open for dinner, except on weekends, when it's open for lunch. That's when I like it best. Go for Saturday or Sunday lunch. Save room for dessert.
Golden Diner
The diner is an American institution. The New York diner is its own version thereof. The original stalwarts are a dying breed, sadly, but a crop of modern iterations has grown out of the rubble in the past few years. Everyone has their go-to; mine is Golden Diner. What's so wonderful about this place is that if you ask any of its fans, we all have different must-order dishes. That's how you know it's all good. For me? The cheeseburger with mushroom gochujang sauce and/or the pancakes with honeyed maple butter.
Dame
It's a bold assertion to declare the fish and chips at this small modern British seafood restaurant "the best" when addressing an audience that's presumably made up mostly of Brits. You probably have many examples that are as good if not superior. (Although, do note, the chef and co-owner Ed Szymanski is a London native.) Suffice it to say, it's the best version you'll find in New York City. But you could easily dine here and skip the fish and chips entirely, and still walk away singing Dame's praises. If I had to impose a few dishes on you, I'd say the squid & scallion skewers, tuna tartare, grilled oysters with chartreuse hollandaise and kedgeree rice are all essential.
Penny
More seafood! I'm pretty confident that this will be my pick for favorite restaurant of 2024, although it's still summer and there are always a ton of openings in the fall. If I could eat here multiple times a week, I would. It's that kind of place--a long wrap-around counter at which the freshest catches seem as though barely fussed with, and an impressive wine list. You may never taste a shrimp cocktail this good. You may also find you've eaten the entire loaf of housemade bread yourself, and that you want to order another. Just make sure you have room for the espelette-stained octopus atop an irresistable heap of potato salad.
Recent Reads
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Almost English by Charlotte Mendelson (and I can’t wait to read Wife)
NOW READING & WHOLLY ENGROSSED: Liz Moore’s God of the Woods
Music I'm Listening to A Lot Right Now
Japanese Breakfast (I’ve been revisiting all three albums: Soft Sounds from Another Planet, Psychopomp & Jubilee)
Kendrick Lamar (revisiting his albums, too—good kid, M.A.A.D City; To Pimp a Butterfly & DAMN.—and enjoying the Drake dis tracks)
St. Vincent’s All Born Screaming
Meshell Ndegeocello's The Omnichord Real Book
A Taste of Charlotte's Kitchen
If you enjoyed exploring Charlotte's favourite Kemi Telford pieces and New York City spots, you'd love what she's cooking up next! Head over to our next blog post, where Charlotte shares one of her beloved recipes—perfect for anyone looking to bring some of her culinary expertise into their kitchen.
You can connect with Charlotte on Instagram.
Her Substack is here