Spending a day in the City with Tara Thomas is pure joy. Walk just a few blocks and you will be immersed in her masterful dissection of the culinary scene realizing she is shaping hospitality on a much grander scale. She is effervescently cool and completely comfortable with her beautiful personal style. I deeply admire Tara's connection to her grandmother through cooking—honoring the inspiration of generational craft behind ARSHIE. We are grateful to feature Tara, among ARSHIE's first friends, in POCKET THIS.

—Nayirie K. Mehdikhani

I am Tara. I am a chef based in New York City and doing a lot of other things within the food sovereignty space making hospitality magic.

My personal style is calm, cool, and collected. I like to feel comfortable. I like to accessorize with items that make me feel present, everything I wear is a find!

What items do you carry in your ARSHIE Pocket that you cannot leave home without? Which objects make you feel prepared for whatever the day brings?

A pocket is sacred. It is the closest vessel to the body. What is contained is the most important: a grocery list, my charms, rings, magnifying glass, wallet.

Do you empty and fill your pockets each day, or let life collect in them?

I am definitely the kind of gal who lets things collect in her bag. A jacket and blazer is the same thing.

When do you wear your ARSHIE blazer?

This is the blazer I wear for business. . .a little play. . .

What is on your grocery list?

Ground cherries, carrots, greens, bread, and something to sip.

What are you carrying in your ARSHIE Pocket today?

A POCKET IS SACRED. IT IS THE CLOSEST VESSEL TO THE BODY. . . . A GROCERY LIST, MY CHARMS, RINGS, MAGNIFYING GLASS, WALLET.

Tara Thomas