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Whether it’s cold-cut sandwiches for a beach day or an outfit for a picnic, Rebecca Firkser is very good at compiling components into visually pleasing (and in the former case, delicious) results. The recipe developer and food writer is based in New York, where she’s an expert in creating tasty, budget-friendly dishes like tuna toast with spice-dusted tomatoes, pita chip salad with chickpeas and stone fruit, and fancy tinned fish meals for publications like Food52 and Bon Appétit. She’s also a food stylist, so it makes sense that she knows a thing or two about what looks good. Her personal approach leans on linen jumpsuits, vintage scarfs, and comfy clogs.
We called her up to learn more, and to ask for her cooking, hosting, and packing tips. Find Rebecca’s work here and follow her on Instagram.
How would you describe your style? How has it evolved over the years?
My style has evolved so much. I used to be so invested in looks with like 15 different pieces. It was very uncomfortable. I would tuck in shirts and wear really small vintage shoes that I was obsessed with, but that were definitely not comfortable for walking. I also wore a lot of patterns, especially polka dots. Very Zoey Deschanel vibes in the early 2000s, like the 2012 Manic Pixie Dream Girl kind of vibe. I do the opposite of that now.
Right now for me is all about comfortable silhouettes and fabrics. I wear a lot of linen and wasteless jumpsuits. I love high-waisted denim that's maybe a little bit too big. I have a lot of vintage dresses and pants and shoes. I also really love a white t-shirt. My hair is actually a really big part of my style, especially now that I've embraced my natural curl and wear curly bangs. And I love a clog. Last weekend, I was in this airport nightmare adventure of a four-hour delay and I was wearing my Beklina clogs. It was kind of an accident because I went from a wedding brunch to the airport, but I realized they’re the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.
What do you wear and what do you bring for picnics in the park?
I love a park picnic, a rooftop picnic, a beach picnic. And it's always the same outfit: a tank-sleeve Ilana Kohn linen jumpsuit. I have three of them. I wear them several times a week, they’re absolutely the best. And then my food is always the same: sandwiches. Sandwiches are possibly my favorite food. I'm from New Jersey and I'm Italian and Jewish—and sandwiches are always at every event. I'll get a bunch of cold-cut meats and make sandwiches with shredded lettuce and red wine vinegar and oil. But then I’ll also do a veggie sandwich with marinated tofu, cheese, and greens. I bring all of my condiments to the park (or my roof) for people to slather on all the different mayos and mustards, kimchi, and cornichons. I have six different kinds of chili crisp that I really like. A beach picnic is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I am very weird in that I actually like when sand gets in my sandwiches—it’s kind of salty and delicious.
It’s apéro hour. What are your essentials for having a successful one?
I would definitely say having at least one bottle of vermouth in the fridge already, as well as a red bitter. I think Campari is the best because you can buy it anywhere. Lots of fresh citrus. Individual cans of seltzer are a huge thing for me because bottled will go flat after a few hours, even in the fridge. And then snacks: potato chips, marinated olives, or a baguette and jazzed-up tuna fish. I love setting out different snacky things that you can just grab.
My glassware and my serving vessels are also very important to me. Everything I have is mismatched. I’ll either pick them up at a vintage shop or if I’m buying new stuff, I’ll just buy one cup or one plate. I don't do sets. I also love enamel trays and cups for outdoor hosting. I have a couple of items from Hay and Bornn. I use cloth side towels as napkins, like those from Dusen Dusen. I get much more bright and eccentric in my home and in my tableware than I do with my clothing.
Let’s talk about the color palette of your closet!
If I’m wearing a jumpsuit or a dress, I like to do a bright color like a blue or a yellow, but I'm mostly just an all-white kind of gal. I have a Tide To Go stick in every room in the house because sometimes I forget to wear aprons when I’m cooking. I'm not a big pattern person because I’m still recovering from all the polka dots I wore in high school.
You recently took a trip to London. Do you have any packing tips for travel?
I used to be such an over-packer, but now I’m very specific about bringing one blue jean, one black pant, and some white t-shirts or basic cotton turtlenecks to go under my jumpsuits. Walking shoes are very big for me. I’m so grateful that sneakers became fashionable again because sneakers (or a clog) are also my kitchen shoe. Usually, if I’m traveling it’s to a city where I can eat and shop, and I’ll just walk from one restaurant to the next. Blundstones are usually my travel shoe because I know that they'll be really comfortable.
My sister actually just taught me this really incredible packing tip where you fold around your hand so it's flat. I always thought you were supposed to roll into balls to keep things uncreased, but [with this method], everything fits more neatly in the luggage and doesn’t get too wrinkly. I do travel with a steamer as well, for all that linen.
If you were a sandwich, what kind would you be?
A classic Italian sandwich, but vegetarian. The Court Street Grocers’ Vegitalian is my soul in a sandwich. It’s roasted butternut squash, thinly sliced cheese, some sort of olive-y tapenade, and mayo. It’s perfect. I need them to give me the recipe.
Do you have any sentimental pieces?
My aunt has this incredible collectsion of big silk scarves. She gave me 10 of them when I was 15 years old. Even though my style has changed so much, I find that they have managed to stay really relevant in my closet. Every time I pull one out, I think of her. I used to tie them around my neck, but now I like to wear them tied as shirts, especially now that it’s so humid outside in New York. You don’t want to wear any real clothes because it’s terribly hot. I always keep one in my bag.
Shout out your favorite designers.
I realized I have quite expensive taste, even though I’m extremely on a budget all the time. I think this is an important thing to shout out because, just like the reasoning for my budget recipe column at Food52, I feel very strongly about being able to do cool things, whether it is eating certain styles of food or dressing a certain way, on a budget. It's totally possible and it doesn't have to all be thrifted. But here they are: Ilana Kohn, Nomia, Black Crane, Nikki Chasin, and Beklina.
What would be your dream food + fashion collaboration?
I've gotten really into Rudy Jude lately. Judy, the designer, she dyes everything naturally with plants. I think it would be so much fun to cook a big meal with similar berries and plants and leaves that they use to dye the clothing. My mom was a textile designer and she did a lot with natural dye. I was a costume design major in college and thought I was going to go into fashion. I love that kind of natural aesthetic of using food items as a source of clothing dye, so I think that could be an incredible little collab moment for a big dinner.
