Lara’s List: These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Craig Wilson is the editor of the Hill & Lake Press. He lives in Lowry Hill.

If you’ve ever paused mid-scroll because a dish looked so vivid you could almost taste it, there’s a good chance Lowry Hill’s Lara Miklasevics was behind it. A nationally sought-after food stylist, Lara’s work appears in campaigns for some of the country’s most recognizable brands. Her signature style — abundant, textural, irresistibly real food — has made her a quiet tastemaker in kitchens and studios nationwide.

When she’s not styling a photo set somewhere across the country, Lara is roaming Uptown, noticing details others overlook and championing the small businesses that give the neighborhood its creative pulse. This year, her holiday gift list draws from her favorite nearby spots — thoughtful, local and effortlessly stylish. Lara’s Uptown picks reflect exactly who she is: creative, generous and deeply rooted in the neighborhood she calls home.

Lara’s Uptown Gift List

Birchbark Books is guided by people who believe in good writing, handmade art, Native culture and the magic of intimate bookstores. From the acclaimed author, Sean Sherman, of “The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen,” “Turtle Island” explores the foods that have connected Indigenous peoples across North America for thousands of years. The book includes more than 150 ancestral and modern recipes rooted in place and culture. Lara served as the food stylist for the project, a role she is deeply proud of. She encourages neighbors to gift the book not as a nod to her work, but as a way to support Indigenous cooking, honor Native foodways and help keep these traditions alive.

Simply the best croissants, brioche breakfast sandwiches and more. The ginger snap banana pudding is, in Lara’s words, “to die for.” When you don’t have time to bake in addition to cooking, let the experts help.

Chic frames and exceptional design. If you want to keep up with what’s current in eyewear, this is the place. Lara says you can browse, but be warned: You will fall in love. Specs helps elevate your look, whether out in the world or reading your favorite cookbook.

Nature-inspired ceramics, home décor with personality, and exquisite taxidermy that turns a simple table into something cinematic. Lara adores everything in this shop but is especially drawn to Astier de Villatte, the Paris-based studio known for its milky white ceramics and distinctive incense. Try the Stockholm or Buenos Aires incense in a delightfully irreverent Marie Antoinette holder — a little wink of history perfect for 2025.

As a former florist with Brown & Greene in the 1990s, Lara appreciates their beautifully edited color palette and the option to BYOV — bring your own vase. It’s her go-to for arranging festive floral pieces for dinner parties and holidays.

A go-to for beautiful vintage cookbooks, art books and clever finds for the quietly sophisticated reader. Lara notes that “The Silver Palate New Basics” shaped her early development as a chef and stylist — and now it’s considered vintage. She encourages aspiring creatives to explore foundational cookbooks like these to broaden their palate.

Lara recommends a curated holiday gift package from her friend and creative collaborator, local chef Mohamed “Mo” Kobt. His Mazza boxes — named for the Egyptian tradition of small, shareable dishes — reflect his journey from Cairo to France to New York City to Minneapolis. Mo grew up along the Nile in a food loving culture where mazza is enjoyed with eish, Egypt’s beloved bread whose name means “life.” As he likes to say, what is life without good food and good bread? His Mazza packages bring that spirit of generosity, flavor and connection into any home.

Lara’s spot for home and fashion basics — and not-so-basics. Owner Michael Picket curates a relaxed yet sophisticated aesthetic embraced by the city’s creative class. Combine is known for clothing, but its home goods are equally strong. Lara’s staples include Dosa napkins, Ranger Station candles and Le Feu De L’Eau candles.

A modern coffee shop and retail experience celebrating Asian American and Asian culture. Beautifully designed and inviting for all ages. Come for coffee, boba or matcha; leave with K-beauty, kawaii goods, stationery or housewares. Lara loves their “Delight Box,” a custom curated gift based on your person’s vibe, colors and quirks — a magical, stress-free way to gift.

A holistic wellness spot offering organic meals, herbal remedies and a mind body-spirit approach to nourishment. Lara loves their Dr. Hauschka products — especially the hand lotion, which she says is essential for hardworking hands in the kitchen.