Patricia Arnillas (on the right) is a visual artist and the founder of Contraposto, a decorative art studio, based in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Born in Lima, Peru. After moving to New York in the early eighties, Patricia became a successful entrepreneur in the world of Interior Design, crafting custom-made decorative finishes for upscale clientele. Cooking became an extension of her art and a passionate hobby, which matured and evolved throughout the years. She combines Peruvian and European influences to make food that reflects her personality and cosmopolitan style: creative and dynamic dishes with a sophisticated palette and lots of soul. Patricia lives in Park Slope.
Natalia Margulis (on the left) is a Ceramic sculptor and an Art teacher. She grew up in Moscow, Russia, right before Perestroika, when resources were seasonal, and in the winter people stood in long lines just to buy frozen food; yet, during holidays, tables were overflowing with Eastern European and French fare, the result of many hours of improvising, savored by all present. Once she moved to Upstate New York in the nineties, she became engrossed in the healthy lifestyle of the Catskills: seasonal, organic, and mostly homegrown produce and all local meats. Now living in the city, Natalia strives to preserve the wholesomeness of fresh ingredients in her cooking and infuses her dishes with well-paired surprise ingredients from sustainable farms from around the globe. She lives in Prospect Heights.