Star Kitchen: Jet and Ali Tila
Step into the stunning new space that the couple cooked up.
Jessica Sample
When it came time to renovate the kitchen in their new home in Calabasas, CA, Jet and Ali Tila had some negotiating to do — with each other! Jet, cohost of Halloween Cookie Challenge, successfully lobbied for a 48-inch, six-burner cooktop; Ali, a pastry chef who has appeared as a Food Network judge, needed a dedicated baking zone. "And we both wanted more storage and a bright space with a modern farmhouse feel, which is where all the white and marble comes in," says Jet. They added upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling and a giant 5-by-10-foot island where their children — Amaya, 9, and Ren, 7 — often hang out. "Life can feel like a circus sometimes," says Ali. "But when our kids are sitting at the island and telling us jokes and stories while we cook, Jet and I feel like we’ve won the day."
Gold Pendants: "We wanted something a little flashy against all the white," says Jet. The gold ties in with the cabinet hardware.
Deep Drawers: Jet and Ali stash bulky Dutch ovens and other cookware in the roomy drawers, which have a soft-close mechanism.
Marble Backsplash: "Scrubbing dirty grout on the old tile backsplash became a huge pain," Jet says. "A solid slab of marble makes cleanup so much easier."
Ali’s Pastry Corner: "I definitely roll a lot of dough here," says Ali, who regularly tests recipes and bakes for her kids.
Mortar and Pestle: This set belonged to Jet’s Thai grandma, who used it to make salads and pastes. "I remember cooking alongside her while she was using it," he says.
Charcuterie Board: Jet’s custom maple board, from 1ofAKindLiveEdge, holds plenty of appetizers when guests come over: At 5 foot 7, "it’s as tall as me!" he says.
Credits:
Photograph by Jessica Sample for Food Network Magazine.
Text written by Monica Michael Willis for Food Network Magazine.
Related Content:
