Closets & Pantries: Dose Market’s Emily Fiffer & April Francis

Emily Fiffer and April Francis are two of the four “Dosettes” taking Chicago by storm since launching Dose Market this summer, a food and fashion market that sets up one Sunday a month spotlighting a meticulously curated group of entrepreneurs and artisans who work and live in Chicago. Every Dose features new vendors so each month the market is different, making it a unique shopping experience every time.  Their goal for Dose is to be a destination for shoppers once a month, a place for people to discover the best of the best.

I’ve attended a few Sundays at Dose Market and have had a blast experiencing what Chicago has to offer in food and fashion.  I wanted to know more about the Market as well as what Emily and April have in their pantry and closet, respectively.  Here’s what they had to say:

DOSE MARKET

What was your impetus to start Dose Market?  When did it officially launch?
The seed of Dose began when April watched great boutiques and independent designers struggle or shutter as a result of the recession. A friend had approached her suggesting she start a market at the River East Art Center and she thought, why not create a once-a-month, highly-edited market where truly talented entrepreneurs and designers could sell their wares?  April mentioned this idea to Emily, who in turn had been batting around the idea of a food market with Heather Sperling. The three met a week later and Dose became even better, a hybrid food/fashion market supporting the very best of both worlds. Jessica Herman was called up to help on the fashion side and the first market took place June 5.

Who are your other business partners and how do you all split up the responsibilities?
There are four of us, The Dosettes. April (founder of the Haute Closet, AF and The Cited) is an organizational guru. She is the one who works behind the scenes doing a million things in order to make Dose run as smoothly as it does. She is also one half of the fashion team, and works with Jessica to provide a dynamic set of vendors each month. I (Emily) am one-half of the food team. I work with Heather Sperling (Chicago Editor, Tasting Table) to bring in the best of the best to eat at Dose. Jessica Herman (Associate Shopping Editor, Time Out Chicago) works with April to bring in fashion vendors. We all split up work on our blog, social media and press outreach.

What are both of your “day” jobs?
EMILY: I’m the Chicago Editor of DailyCandy and have been for five years. I’m responsible for finding, editing, and writing stories. Chicago is a small, tight-knit community, and five years in, I’ve made some amazing connections to people in the food and fashion world. Dose feels like a natural extension of what I do every day and DailyCandy is the reason I’m able to do what I do for Dose.

APRIL: For me, every day is different, juggling the responsibilities of three different companies, Dose, Haute Closet and AF. Haute Closet is my personal, commercial and editorial styling service, with an irregularly updated blog and a set of musical mixes, The Haute Closet In Your Head. With HC I work with big companies needing styling services, magazines producing editorials and individuals needing help making the most out of their personal wardrobes. With AF, I work as an independent identity and communications consultant for global business, small luxury shops and young designers, providing full-service consulting on product development, brand messaging and sales and marketing strategy.

Is there anything coming up for the holidays at Dose?
Dose December 4 is going to be a holiday bonanza. We’re pulling out all the stops, bringing together the biggest number of Dose vendors yet. The selection is going to be centered around holiday entertaining and gift-giving. We’re working to make it a one-stop shop for holiday gift-buying and we’ll have a gift wrap booth with all proceeds going to charity.

EMILY FIFFER (on Food)

What are three must-have items in your pantry?  Fleur de Sel, slivered almonds, anchovies. And jam. Sorry, that’s four, but I am a jam addict. I eat it with a spoon. Food for Thought from Michigan is my favorite.

What is your favorite kitchen tool?  My immersion blender! I am a soup fanatic, especially in the winter. I would sleep with that blender under my pillow if I could.

What spice do you use most often and how?  I won’t count salt and pepper, but I use those judiciously – every day. Another spice I often go to is probably paprika. I have smoked and sweet versions, both of which add so much depth to a dish. I sautée the smoked variety into onions and olive oil and throw it in with roasted cauliflower; I sprinkle the sweet over hummus and white bean dips. And both are great in roasted nut mixes.

Favorite storage tip?  I put everything in clearly labeled Ball jars. Nothing spills, and it looks pretty.

Best advice for home entertaining?  Don’t try too hard, and stick to what you know. Taking risks is more fun (and less stressful) when you’re not expecting 10 people to show up and enjoy a meal. Just because something is in your repertoire doesn’t mean everyone is going to be bored by it. Also: dimmed lights, great music, flowers. And always make room for a dance floor.

How does cooking fit into your lifestyle?  I lived by myself for four years before recently moving in with my boyfriend, so I’m used to cooking for one. I love it – anyone who says cooking for one isn’t worth it hasn’t really tried it. Cooking dinner makes me extremely happy. It relaxes me, and it’s so satisfying to sit down to a meal I’ve spent an hour cooking. It doesn’t have to be complicated – just delicious. I work late, but no matter how tired I am, I never settle for cheese and crackers for dinner. I’d rather cook a dish at 10 p.m. than cobble something together and feel unsatisfied when it’s over.

What are your favorite food markets?  Green City Market changed my life. Before I started to really cook, I shopped exclusively at grocery stores. When I got more comfortable in the kitchen and started to create recipes of my own rather than from a book or blog, I found it was more fun to let the seasons be my guide. Out of state, I love New York’s Union Square Market and San Francisco’s Saturday market at the Ferry Building. Oh – and Dose, of course! Dose is full of great pantry staples (BLiS maple syrup and tuna, Rare Bird Preserves, Spices of Lezzet spices) and food to eat on site. If you love food and live in Chicago, it’s a total treat.

Cookbook(s) you couldn’t cook without?  The Breakfast Book by Marion Cunningham, How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman, Sustainably Delicious by Michel Nischan, and Bouchon by Thomas Keller (okay, I don’t cook from that one – but I thumb through the photos all of the time).

Favorite food site(s)?  My name is Emily, and I am a food blog addict. The Wednesday Chef, Orangette, Lottie + Doof, Sprouted Kitchen, 101 cookbooks, Saveur.com, Smitten Kitchen, Sassy Radish, Dana Treat, David Lebovitz, Healthy Green Kitchen, Sunday Suppers, and so many more it’s embarrassing.

APRIL FRANCIS (on Fashion)

How would you define your style?  Directional and succinct. Directional, interpreted as a reflection of my desire to wear things that aren’t topping current trend lists and succinct, meaning I like to keep it tight, i.e. adding extremely versatile pieces to my wardrobe that work as staples, pieces I can wear over and over again, providing a signature (even if they are red and feathered). These are the through lines that keep me looking like me. The succinct part governs my work for Haute Closet clients, especially.

How does your personal style reflect the way you entertain at home?  I like to make it super easy for guests to enjoy themselves, creating a spread that all works together. It’s about being comfortable and having fun, always.

Any favorite collections for Fall?  Mine. I think the thing about being a stylist is that the clothes and collections and vintage and creations of your own making are all part of an ever-evolving palette – if you get stuck on one thing, you lose the opportunity for possibility and discovery. I will admit that I have been in love with a set of French designers for about a year, but their Fall collections left me in the cold. Looking forward to Spring.

What’s your favorite item in your wardrobe currently?  Everything! This season I’ve picked up a fantastic sweater dress from Robin Richman, a great neon yellow leather bag from RSVP Gallery and absolutely perfect oxblood Celine booties from Ikram.

Whose style to do you admire and why?  I admire those who wear whatever they want yet always look themselves in an outsize way. People who do this are found all over the place: Kate Moss, Jack White, Anna Wintour, not-so-famous people I know.

Best fashion item ever invented/designed?  The Dose Tote. I discovered the tote body (a 100% recycled plastic yet lux fabric made in Japan and sourced from a Chicago company) via the ladies at chalk boutique and Emily came up with the slogan, ‘Totes ♥ Dose’. Too cute and a great color scheme in red, black and white. The tote is the perfect size and the foundation for one of my most useful styling tips: when going out in the evening and wearing a coat, stash the compacted tote in a small handbag and, upon arrival, throw your coat in. This way, you don’t have to leave your Alaia with coat check. Bonus! Works like a bumper at crowded concerts. Essential: they’re only $5 at Dose.

Favorite shops?  In Chicago, see: The Definitive Guide to Shopping in Chicago

In NYC, I am very loyal to Opening Ceremony. In LA, Curve. In Tel Aviv, Sharon Brunsher. Basically, the first thing I do when I travel is seek out independent boutiques. I love walking into a well-put-together boutique with a clear sensibility about it.

Favorite fashion site(s)?  I get fashion inspiration from everywhere other than internet fashion sites.

Share this post:

Other Posts From OnMyPlate: