Infusing grandeur into otherwise drab Monday mornings with five things/ideas/events for the week:

I. I’m obsessed with these gorgeous oversize umbrellas by Kerry Cassill. The yellow zebra is going to look ridiculously chic in my mother’s backyard this summer.  Snap one up for your beach days! 

II.  With barbecue season upon us, I’m grilling these lamb burgers this week.  The addition of homemade harissa aioli and mint yogurt sauce make this one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted.

III.  On the topic of grilling, a friend brought this charming hostess gift to a barbecue fete over the weekend.  The simplistic elegance stood out among the standard bottles of wine that everyone else arrived with.  Follow suit: copper Smith & Hawken planter, succulents, and fresh lemons.

IV.  My friend Darya, neuroscientist and author of Foodist, recently put together ten simple kitchen tips that you wish someone told you earlier.  Check out the super helpful list and her healthy eating blog Summer Tomato.

V.  It’s Dine About Town in San Francisco until June 15th.  Take advantage of the prix-fixe three-course menus across the city and try new restaurants!  A few of my favorites: La Mar, Absinthe, Cafe de la Presse, Isa, Luella, and Spruce.

Have a wonderful week!!  xx tt