Building a Platter with Halley Zelicoff

FORMULATED is a journal about the rituals we create around the home, the objects that bring us joy, and the stories behind how things are made.

Building a Platter with Halley Zelicoff
Charcuterie served on the Tortuga Forma Kaolin Platter or "Cheesier said than done" @halleyz

Chef and food stylist Halley Zelicoff arranges sumptuous platters, starting with a carefully chosen ceramic dish. Inside her 21 x 33" workspace (a kitchen countertop), she makes food come alive on the plate. Our favorite @halleyz Instagram moments find uni nestled in pairs on a hand cut bed of tartare, crab claws reaching outside the edges of a dish. In one, an extra long octopus tentacle infinitely spirals inward hugging chunks of grill charred blood orange. We sat down with Halley (pronounced like the comet), over a vermouth to chat about food, ceramics, the magic of small kitchens, and her love of puns for Instagram captions.

What makes a generous and beautiful platter? What’s your starting point?

A beautiful and generous platter is comprised of lots of texture and color. I like my platters full, where everything is edible. It’s generally one particular ingredient that sparks the desire to create a platter, then I fill in with supporting characters to achieve something beautiful and bountiful. 

"Shucking delicious" @halleyz
I always keep fresh herbs in my fridge and when it’s warm enough I try and grow all my herbs and edible flowers in hanging baskets on my fire escape.

What’s an object that you love in your home? Can you describe the rituals and things you do with it?

My ceramics cabinet. I bought a used mid century modern cabinet from Bedford Galleries to create a space for my monstera who is taking over my living space (she’s my pride and joy); I was unable to walk past her without brushing up against the leaves so I wanted to get her off the floor. This piece fits perfectly in the space and has become my bar cabinet, and the place where I store my more delicate ceramics and objects.

I store my delicate, showy pieces that deserve to be on display in my ceramics cabinet.

Can you share highlights from your personal collection of plates and why you love them?

I collect ceramics wherever I go, they hold many memories of travel and experiences I’ve had. I generally lean more towards neutral, earth tones, and light blues and greens; I find these colors to be really food friendly, especially with natural light. I look for varying shapes, sizes, and textures in my ceramics and love to mix and match.

I love all of the texture, color and movement in Cara Janelle's work. She creates pieces for restaurants around the world.

Can you speak about your workspace? How do you use this space to work, reflect, and/or play?

I live in a small one bedroom with very limited kitchen and work space. Keeping things relatively minimal, and very clean and organized are the only ways to make this space functional for me. I pride myself on creating magic with 21 x 33" of counter space. I have built shelves in my kitchen to create practical storage space where I can store my ceramics collection in the open and also try to create functional storage with my furniture.

Can you share your guilty food indulgences? Are there dishes you enjoy consuming that have nothing to do with how appetizing they look?

Nachos! They are textural perfection and I love all the different toppings; my ideal nachos must have queso. Congee and Pastina are two foods that I love but often don’t look particularly appetizing. I love how simple they appear while being extremely comforting and adaptable. 

I have extremely limited space so I try to keep things really tidy and practical.

Serveware

  1. Read more: Pillow Talk - Under the Slip Cover
    Pillow Talk - Under the Slip Cover

    Pillow Talk - Under the Slip Cover

    We believe that every element of the home deserves thoughtful consideration—even what lies beneath the surface. When it came to our throw pillows, we dove into the world of pillow inserts to ensure that comfort, sustainability, and aesthetics were all in harmony.

    Read more 
  2. Read more: The Shape of Stories - Inside the Dumbo Bookend Campaign
    The Shape of Stories - Inside the Dumbo Bookend Campaign

    The Shape of Stories - Inside the Dumbo Bookend Campaign

    In our latest campaign, we return to the essence of the Dumbo Bookend—a study in balance, structure, and color. Photographed by Sarah Forgie, this series captures the quiet interplay between soft, draped papers and the rigid geometry of steel forms.

    Read more 
  3. Read more: How Tariffs Are Reshaping Home Goods
    How Tariffs Are Reshaping Home Goods

    How Tariffs Are Reshaping Home Goods

    For small businesses like Tortuga Forma, every decision—where and how we produce, which materials we source, and how we price our products—comes with careful consideration. We don’t just manufacture; we honor craft traditions, working with partners who bring generations of expertise to our collections. But the recent tariff changes will affect prices across the home goods industry...

    Read more