Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1506595
C hef Jill Bates, once the right hand of culinary legend Dean Fearing, has one goal these days: the creation of the perfect croissant. The six dozen she sells out of by 3 pm on any given Saturday should be proof she's on the right track. Still, the pastry savant is up at 4 am, kneading, rolling, and laminating dough for the early-morning crowd at Sugar & Sage. "I want to master it. I'm going to win this," she says. Sugar & Sage founders Alison and Ashley Weinstein had interviewed several candidates for executive pastry chef for their neighborhood bakery and coffee shop, which opened in the spring. But Bates' salted chocolate chip cookie helped seal the deal. "Jill has been revered in the industry since her coming of age through the Dallas culinary market," Alison says. "She's the reason for the buzz here." Bates' pastry pedigree includes Fearing's Restaurant at The Ritz Carlton, Dallas; Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek; and Café Momentum. She collaborated with Michael Laiskonis, James Beard Award- winning chef and former head of the pastry program at the three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin in New York, to develop the Sugar & Sage menu and refine recipes, including pan au chocolat, everything bagel brioche, and kouign-amann. Texas roots means a cheddar, cream cheese, and roasted jalapeño Danish was up for grabs the day I visited — the sweet and salty combo emblematic. The bakery is a go-to among University Park families, who lounge on the turf- covered patio with strollers. That's what Sugar & Sage is all about: community, ease, and, of course, taste. Sugar & Sage, 4314 Lovers Lane, sugarandsagebakery.com. Dani Grande D a l l a s s o c i a l m e d i a style sensation Carla Rockmore has upped her game with a sculptural fine jewelry collection handmade from precious and semiprecious stones, which she calls mini future heirlooms. With her surname, how could she not delve into jewels. The Canadian- born designer spent 30 years in the fashion industry and traveling the world before moving to Dallas in 2012. Known for her style advice and the outsize p e r s o n a l i t y captured in her TikTok videos, Rockmore has amassed more than 2 million f o l l o w e r s since her online YOUR CLUBS ARE CALLING pandemic-induced debut just over a year ago. Soon she caught Vogue's eye, resulting in a bump in more followers from the fashion crowd. Rockmore is adored for her humorous, well- edited videos straight from her jaw-dropping closet — two stories tall, with spiral staircase and fireplace. With an uncanny ability to create mash-ups of seemingly irreconcilable pieces into brilliant ensembles, she cites fashion legends Iris Apfel, Diana Vreeland, and Diane von Furstenberg as her influencers — and m o s t - w a n t e d d i n n e r party guests. "Nobody told them how to dress," Rockmore says. "They all sit comfortably in their skin." For her fine jewelry c o l l e c t i o n , o u t s i z e d e a r r i n g s , r i n g s , a n d necklaces drip with moonstones, aquamarine, quartz, and black onyx, with flashes of diamonds — all sourced and handmade in Jaipur. As for leaning into a style silo, Carla says, "I might feel like dressing in a full flourish of embellishment on Monday, and a chic minimalist look on Tuesday." It's rare to see a social media influencer over 50. We had to ask: What's your one piece of style advice to the babes on TikTok and Insta? "Don't watch too much social media lol! Everybody becomes influenced by what they see. The less you see of what other people are doing the more authentic you will be to yourself, and therefore stand out. Be genuine. Trust your instincts." Our instinct is to move the Rajasthan earrings to our shopping cart. Carla Rockmore F i n e J e w e l r y Collection, $850 – $3,750, exclusively at carlarockmore.com. Katie Schumacher OBSESSIONS. DECORATION. SALIENT FACTS. TIKTOKER ROCKS more STEWART COHEN Carla Rockmore Star Bell earrings, $3,500 MARILYN HUE BECKLEY KINDA SWEET, KINDA SALTY Carla Rockmore Sugar & Sage 50