The force of nature that is Martha Stewart swirled through Chicago Thursday, boosting her new, very comprehensive Martha Stewart’s Cooking School ‘‘how to’’ cookbook, but also further reinforced the lifestyle guru’s far-reaching brand.
In a chat with the Sun-Times, Stewart shared some secrets and scoops:
†While her many products already are sold in Macy’s, Costco and Kmart, ‘‘I long have dreamed about having free-standing Martha Stewart stores. ... and we can easily fill a store with all the products we make,’’ said Stewart.
While no locations are set, ‘‘I would love to have a store on Michigan Avenue...that would be great,’’ said the queen of crafting, cooking and raising the bar of American’s taste levels.
‘‘Though that concept may first be launched internationally.’’
†Not only is Stewart staunchily supporting the candidacy of Barack Obama, she didn’t flinch when asked if she would consider serving in an Obama Adminstration.
‘‘I think I’d make a perfect secretary of agriculture,’’ zinged Stewart, with a twinkle in her eye — but with a look that said she wouldn’t shy away from taking her skills as an organic farmer to a higher level.
†For today’s Halloween episode on her daily show (11 a.m., WMAQ-Channel 5), Stewart revealed ‘‘it’s all about marble’’ — as in ‘‘living statues’’ of famous historical or mythical figures. Martha herself will be costumed as a statue of the goddess Medusa, complete with ‘‘the most amazing snakes headress.’’
†Stewart said, ‘‘I’m constantly amazed by the power of the Internet.’’ At her first booksigning at a mall in Short Hills, N.J. last weekend she was delighted when long-reclusive singer Lauryn Hill, ‘‘joined by four of her children,’’ stopped by to by Cooking School.
‘‘I put the photo of her and me on my blog and suddenly it made big news!
All these music websites got so excited and starting linking to it, since no one really knew where Lauryn was. ... I hope she’s not mad I blew her cover,’’ laughed Stewart.
†Though currently single (‘‘My boyfriend of 15 years is no more.’’], entertaining is still central to Stewart’s life and ‘‘my totally redone new version of my Entertaining book will be out within the next year to 14 months.’’
