The Bedford Opening In Connecticut

Martha's famed restaurant in Las Vegas, The Bedford, which opened in 2022 at the Paris Hotel, will be opening its second location this fall in Mashantucket, Connecticut, at the Foxwoods Casino and Hotel. It will be located in the property's new Fox Tower. 

Continuing the concept of the original restaurant, the space will be designed to reflect the decor and style of Martha's 1925 farmhouse in Bedford, New York. 

"The Bedford at Foxwoods Resort Casino will provide diners with a glimpse into the way I entertain and host at my farmhouse in Bedford, New York," Martha said in a statement. "We have worked so hard to perfect this beautiful and inviting space, as well as curate a delicious variety of my most favored food and beverages recipes, which we are excited for guests to enjoy later this year." 

New to this location will be breakfast, brunch and lunch menus, something I'm excited to learn more about. The dinner menu will feature many of the original restaurant's most requested items, including the vegetable flatbread and her mother's recipe for pierogies. 

Stay tuned for more news about the restaurant, including its opening date!

Martha Stewart 2025 Book News!

Spring is just around the corner, and in just over a month, Martha's 101rst book will be on bookshelves! Martha's readers have waited quite some time for a new book on gardening, but that's the subject of this new, hardcover book: Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook published by Harvest, will be on bookshelves on March 18th. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target.

Harvest is the same publisher that produced The Martha Manual and her book Organizing. I imagine the book will have a similar approach and layout with gardening how-tos, planting schedules and design ideas. 

In other Martha book news, Crown Publishing will be reissuing Martha's first book, Entertaining, in October. It will not be any different than the original printing but it will be published on higher quality paper, according to the publisher. Interest from a new generation of fans looking to collect Martha's books apparently prompted the reissue.

Above is a photo of the cover of Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook and here is a description of the book from the publisher:

The first fully comprehensive gardening guide from the legendary Martha Stewart in more than 30 years, with everything you need to know to curate a beautiful, thriving garden

Master the art of gardening with Martha Stewart's Gardening Handbook: an in-depth guide that will teach you the knowledge and skills to cultivate a flourishing garden. From understanding soil composition to learning about different types of plants and gardening methods, you’ll discover the secrets to creating a stunning outdoor oasis.

From designing your garden to selecting the right varieties for your region, this manual has every detail covered. Whether you’re a green thumb or a gardening novice, this gorgeous book, filled with practical tips, stunning images (many from Martha’s personal gardens), and detailed explanations, will arm you with the knowledge to help your garden thrive. As Martha likes to say, gardening is a never-ending opportunity for growth.

Martha covers:

• the nuances of careful planning
• soil testing
• drainage
• watering and rainfall
• understanding plant hardiness zones
• the art of choosing the healthiest plants for your specific climate

Plus, all different kinds of plants like:

• annuals, perennials, and bulbs
• succulents and cacti
• vegetable and herb gardens
• trees and shrubs

A Nice Surprise from a Special Reader

A few weeks ago, I received a lovely surprise in the mail. It was from Amanda Graff, a former assistant chef, recipe developer and producer from Martha's television studios in Westport, Connecticut. Unbeknownst to me, Amanda had been following my blog and its companion Instagram account for many years and this was her thank you to me for the enjoyment she's received from the content I produce: a very fun Martha Stewart ornament designed by Cody Foster, which she sells on her website. I was so touched! 

Amanda received a diploma from the Culinary Institute of America in the 1990s and her first big gig out of college was working at the television kitchens of Martha Stewart Living! I remember seeing Amanda in a segment of the show making "Gingerbread People" with Martha to decorate the tree with. Today, Amanda is a mom to two young boys and describes herself as a shopkeeper, a cupcake baker and cookie decorator. Her store, CrankyCakesShop.com, is a curated catalog of tableware, baking supplies, party supplies, holiday decor and vintage finds. Her Etsty store has even more goodies, including this special Martha ornament. Thank you, Amanda, for your kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. 

If you'd like to order the ornament, click here! Amanda also ships to Canada!

Martha (is rarely) On The Mantel

 If you're on social media or involved in Martha's fan community, you will have heard about the fantastic new Christmas decoration taking the world by storm: it's Martha on the Mantel! (The spelling enthusiast in me needs to ask you to please take note that mantel is spelled with "el" at the end, not "le". Not even Amazon got it right!)

The toy, which is a spinoff of the traditional Elf on the Shelf has been extremely popular with fans who are reveling in the childlike enjoyment of watching their idol get silly around their homes, in true Elvish form. And she doesn't always act alone... Her sidekick, Snoop on the Stoop, frequently aids and abets Martha in her wily shenanigans. Always the activity-lover, Martha rarely sits on the mantel for long. Below are snapshots of Martha and Snoop making mischief in homes across America. 

Leading the pack is a favourite series of mine (with captions!), put together by my friend Brian Utz. 

Thank you to everyone on the Martha Moments Facebook Group for submitting your photos. They are so much fun!

Jennifer Butler Zimmerman

Chris Argiropoulos

Kevin Link

Mark Waldron

Anthony Picozzi

Bernie Wong

Dennis Landon

Paul Henneke

Jody Lunsford Mekanik

Austin Clark

May of Martha

May of Martha

John Roberts

Christa Trepke

Martha: The Cookbook, Out Today!

 Today's the day! Martha's 100th book is published. Martha: The Cookbook features 100 of Martha's favourite and time-tested recipes that she turns to again and again. And she hopes you will too! From the perfect roast chicken to her mother's pierogi recipe, from the perfect brownie to her daughter's famous chocolate chip cookies, the book has every meal of the day covered, including a section on Martha's favourite cocktails. 

Interspersed throughout the book are Martha's personal remembrances from her kitchens over the years, as well as cooking and gardening wisdom that makes the book both a learning guide as well as a journal of sorts. Beautiful photographs, including some from Martha's private archive, enrich the book with colourful memories. There's even a section in the book on how to organize your own recipes and some tips on writing a cookbook! Be sure to pick up your copy! It is available through Amazon or where ever books are sold.

Here's a full description of the book from the publisher:

Join Martha in the kitchen as she shares favorite recipes and invaluable tips along with charming photos from her private archives. Her most personal book yet, Martha: The Cookbook is a must for everyone who has ever been inspired by the one-and-only Martha. Learn how to cook her mother’s humble Potato Pierogi, her decadent Gougères, a comforting Apple Brioche Bread Pudding, and the famous Paella she makes for the luckiest friends who visit her in summer. You’ll find something to satisfy everyone’s taste, whether it’s a simple meal you make for yourself, a weeknight family dinner, or a special celebration, recipes range from breakfast & brunch to soups & salads, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, and of course dessert.

Like a scrapbook of Martha’s life in cookbook form, this is the ultimate collection for devotees as well as newer fans who want to become more confident in the kitchen and do what Martha does best: Start with the basics and elevate them. From timeless classics to contemporary delights, these recipes reflect storied moments from her legendary, trailblazing career.

A Chat With Eater.com

I was really honoured to have been featured recently on Eater.com as part of their weeklong celebration of Martha Stewart. Dubbed “Martha Week”, the editors of the famed foodie site spent the week reflecting on some of Martha’s greatest tips, greatest books and the influence she’s had on popular culture and food culture.

It was Nat Belkov who reached out to me. He is the James Beard Award-nominated design director of Eater. He was interested in doing a profile on me and the Martha Moments blog and community. I was so pleased to take part, and it was really nice to reflect on how I started the blog and how it came to eventually create a vibrant community of Martha Stewart fans from around the world. 

Click here to read Nat’s interview with me and be sure to read some of the other great features from Eater’s Martha Week series! Thank you, Eater, for the great feature!