Sip / Savor • CRAVE New York City • Connect. Inspire. Succeed.

Archive for the ‘Sip / Savor’ Category

An interview with Sweetriot

Friday, April 9th, 2010

From satisfying the CRAVE-ings of those who have a sweet tooth for chocolate to changing the world one cacao bean at a time, Sweetriot takes the concept of selling chocolate “peaces” to a whole new level. Sarah Endline, mastermind and chief rioter of Sweetriot, thought of such an amazing idea which inspired us to get to know her better.

How would you describe your business in exactly three adjectives?

Young. Vibrant. Natural. Sustainable. Stylish.

What are your most popular products or services?

Sweetriot’s original bite sized 100% dark chocolate ‘peaces’ (cacao nibs) dunked in 50%, 65%, or 70% dark chocolate and packaged in reusable, recyclable tins that feature original artwork by emerging artists. Plus they are only 1 calorie per ‘peace’.

People may be surprised to know…

Dark chocolate really comes from fruit – the cacao fruit. Due to its real origin, it is often compared with other super foods out there. In fact, there are many antioxidant charts that show the power of cacao and it’s stronger than blueberries and red wine!

Who is your role model or mentor?

It’s interesting, as I don’t believe there is one person or beacon that has guided my life. It’s really a collection of people and experiences, which have led me to founding Sweetriot. These range from my high school guidance counselor to an undergrad Dean to a former manager who founded a social enterprise to founders of other social mission businesses and more. There is wonderful diversity in these influences.

How do you spend your free time?

I read the New York Times religiously, and when the weather is nice, I love rollerblading through the streets of New York City, especially my Greenwich Village! Dancing, travel, arts and culture, and especially time with my French amour are all cherished.

What’s a place that inspires you and why?

One of the many reasons I love NYC is because everywhere you look there is something creative and inspiring whether that be architecture, fashion, graffiti, museums, or food. You are surrounded by new experiences which trickle into your business and life.

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

I am passionate about business for social change. I want to continue to create a sweet movement to fix the world, and we’ve started by sourcing and producing our cacao in Latin America to support the farmers and community. Our packaging is recyclable and reusable and features original artwork by emerging artist. Sweetriot only uses all natural, healthy ingredients to make yummy dark chocolate ‘peaces’ products.

So the next time you’re in the mood for some chocolate, stop by Sarah’s site at sweetriot.com where you can shop and indulge with a cause!

Tags: cacao, chocolate, natural, sarah endline, social business, social change, sweetriot
Posted in Interviews, Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Best Places for Doggy Dates!

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Taking your pup with you for a bite to eat?

With outdoor seating, dog-themed decor, and delectable healthy treats, what better way to spend time and show your love to “man’s best friend”–here are some of the hot spots we CRAVE for our doggy dates:

Café Nijasol (cafenijasol.com)

With an outdoor patio and cozy atmosphere, Mylene Martinez has created a CRAVE-worthy (and pet-friendly) café at Café Nijasol in East Williamsburg. It’s the perfect place to stop by when you’re looking to satisfy a small appetite, surf the net on their Wi-Fi connection, ignite a conversation with neighborhood people, or enjoy a peaceful brunch with your favorite four-legged friend on a beautiful day. Their menu satisfies all tastes. It is open seven days a week and is a delightful choice for a weekend brunch and fine-tasting organic wine.

173 Montrose Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 599-1612

Barking Dog Luncheonette

As dog lovers, we feel you can’t really go wrong with dog-themed décor and bathrooms labeled “Hydrants!” This delicious diner/restaurant (we’re not really sure) is the perfect place to enjoy a brunch date with “man’s best friend.” As the weather warms up here in New York, enjoy sitting outside with your furry friend and digging into a hearty breakfast or a tasty wrap. With the reasonable prices found on their menu, this will surely be a place you’ll want to frequent for your doggy dates!

1453 York Ave (between 77th and 78th St.)
New York, NY 10021
(212) 861-3600

1678 3rd Ave (corner of 94th St.)
New York, NY 10128
(212) 831-1800

150 E 34th St.
New York, NY 10016
(212) 871-3900

Buttercup’s Pawtisserie (buttercupspaw.com)

If you’re looking for something special for pup, then look no further than Buttercup’s Pawtisserie. Buttercup’s is a “gourmutt” dog bakery specializing not only in cute puppy puns, but also in freshly baked and all natural healthy dog treats. The storefront/boutique is sure to draw in any dog lover, and the treats look delightfully delicious, but paws off, they’re for the dogs only! With a passion for pups, and the cutest of treats, Buttercup’s Pawtisserie is a place we CRAVE to take our precious pooches!

63 Fifth Ave. (St. Marks Place)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 399-2228

Tags: Barking Dog Luncheonette, Buttercup's Pawitsserie, Cafe Nijasol, dog, pet-friendly
Posted in Pets, Sip / Savor | No Comments »

An Interview With Margaritte Malfey of La Palapa

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The passion that Margaritte Malfey exudes is absolutely inspiring! With a love and dedication to the restaurant business and providing customers not only with the freshest ingredients and the most delectable food, she is committed to offering an all around exceptional dining experience. This past week, CRAVE NYC’s 2nd Buzz Party was held at La Palapa, and we had the opportunity to sip on the most amazing cocktails and devour delicious food. With another great turn out of our most CRAVE-worthy women, we were thrilled that La Palapa was so generous to share in this experience and excitement with us. Check out the pictures and see what you missed!

New York City CRAVE Buzz Party at La Palapa

Learn more about La Palapa and what drives the Margaritte, a woman that we most definitely CRAVE!

What is your motto, slogan, or theme song?

I believe it would be “10, 5, 1st, Last”
I am a very service oriented person and believe that this is passed on to our employees…
At 10 feet make eye contact, at 5 feet acknowledge the guest, be the first to speak and the last to speak. I say this all the time, even to someone that has been with us for ten years. I will say “what is 10, 5, 1st ,Last?” Carlos always rolls his eyes and smiles!

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

When choosing a partner , do not choose a reflection or mirror image of yourself, choose the opposite. With that, all things are possible.

What’s a place that inspires you and why?

I’m inspired by a place called Isla Mujeres in Mexico. It is a beautiful island in the Yucatan between Cancun and Cozamel. There is a seaside restaurant called Picos that truly inspires me with their home cooking and fresh seafood dishes. The ocean there is calm on one side and wild on the other side. There is also so much history about this place. There is even a turtle farm where turtles lay eggs. (I guess I like this place!)

What’s a cause you are passionate about and why?

I am very passionate about children. I have two children and everyday they make me laugh and I enjoy their friends. I along with two others have done two benefits for The Children’s Home in Nepal. We have raised funds that go directly to the homes, and this has helped them greatly. People do not know much about Nepal, but it is one of the poorest countries in the world. Nepal is a special place for me. I would like to start a non-profit one day for this cause, I hope that I will be able to accomplish that.

In 10 years you want to be…

In ten years, I want to own at least 5 more restaurants!

What or who inspired you to start your business?

I inspired myself to start my own business it has always been my dream. I worked my first restaurant job in Junior High School and after so many years I realized that I could make this happen, it just took me some time to figure out how, but I did it! I still have the journal that I wrote in 15 years ago with my goals and I am happy to say that I have accomplished many!

How do you spend your free time?

I spend all of my free time with my partner, my children, two dogs and a cat!

What is your indulgence?

My indulgence would be food…I love all types and all kinds……eating it, learning about it, cooking it!!!

Visit La Palapa at their 2 restaurant locations!

77 St. Marks Place (East Village) or 359 Sixth Avenue (West Village)

Visit them on the web at lapalapa.com!

Tags: food, inspiration, interview, La Palapa, Mexican, passion, restaurant
Posted in Interviews, Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Hitting Happy Hour with Gal Pals

Friday, March 5th, 2010

After you’ve put in countless hours at work, there’s nothing you need more than the perfect happy hour to hit up with you and your girlfriends, right? Whether it be some fruity n’ frozen concoction or daintiest of cocktails–nothing quite beats a night out with the girls to blow off stress! Check out a few of the most CRAVE-worthy happy hours that we’re excited to hit up ourselves:

La Palapa (lapalapa.com)

At La Palapa, you’re sure to feel as though you’re relaxing under a palm thatch palapa – drinking a refreshing fresh lime margarita and savoring a handmade corn masa chalupa. This place brings forth the freshest and most vibrant homemade flavores of authentic Mexican cuisine – and quite an impressive selection of “sip-ables”.

Stop in Sunday through Friday from 4-7pm for 2-for-1 margaritas, sangria, draft beer and a peek at their special bar “antojitos” menu.

77 St. Mark’s Place
New York, NY 10003
212-777-2537

359 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10014
212-243-6870

Beauty Bar (beautybar.com)

Beauty Bar is the home of the original manicure happy hour. Often imitated but never duplicated, Beauty Bar was the first cocktail lounge to offer the luxury of sipping cocktails alongside a mani!

For just $10, indulge in one of their specialty cocktails, or a drink of your choice and the service is free. Perfect for parties of all types or just an evening out with the girls. Just make sure to call ahead for reservations for groups of six or more.

We CRAVE the Drop Dead Gorgeous cocktail (p.i.n.k. vodka, pineapple juice, rock star energy drink)!

231 E 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
212-539-1389

Katwalk (katwalknyc.com)

Hit up happy hour every Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 8 pm for specials on frozen drinks, domestic drafts, and premium wine and champagne. If you’re looking to satisfy that sweet tooth, try their signature cocktail, “The Katini” – a mixture of raspberry and vanilla vodka, Chambord, and raspberry puree. YUMMY! If you’re deciding to drink a little heavier, opt for a $15 open bar from 6-8 pm.

Every Wednesday from 3 pm to 8 pm, Katwalk plays your favorite Sex and the City episodes while you sip “Carrie Cosmos” or “Miranda Martinis”, or throw back some “Mr. Big Shots”. Go with a group of 8 or more girls and you get free appetizers for your party. 10% of all proceeds on Sex and the City nights are donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation – even more reason to make a stop at this spot!

2 West 35th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-594-9343

Tags: Beauty Bar, beer, cocktails, cosmos, happy hour, Katwalk, La Palapa, margaritas, martinis
Posted in Sip / Savor | No Comments »

Valentine’s Day – Pink Themed Recipes

Friday, February 12th, 2010

There are so many pros to going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day and we can think of a lot of cons to staying in and cooking. But with the following recipes, staying in and making a home-cooked meal with your sweetheart might just look like the best idea ever!

Rack of Lamb with Herb and Olive Crust
For a pink themed menu, let’s start with a delicious lamb recipe. It comes from Caroline in Chicago’s blog (hwhippedtheblog.com). Our mouths are watering already!

1/3 cup coarsely chopped olives – kalamata, picholine or Manzanilla
1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh thyme 2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
2 racks of lamb (7-8 ribs each, trimmed or frenched)
salt and pepper
3/6 cups breadcrumbs

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine olives, parsley, thyme, garlic and red pepper in a food processor or mortar. Make a rough paste. Stir in mayo. Set aside. Trim lamb so only a thin layer of fat remains. Heat a heavy skillet (NOT a nonstick) over high heat. Season racks with salt and pepper. Set in skillet fat side down and cook for about 2 minutes. Spread breadcrumbs on a plate. Coat the surface of the lamb with the olive paste then dip in the crumbs to coat. Put bone side down in a roasting pan. Cover the bone tips with foil so they don’t burn. Roast until instant read thermometer is 120-125 degrees for rare or 130-135 for medium. It will cook another 5 degrees when out of the oven. Let the lamb rest for 5 minutes. Cut apart between the bones and serve.

Strawberry Cupcakes
Amy Sherman, a San Francisco-based author, writer, and developer of all things food, shares an amazing strawberry cupcake recipe on her blog (cookingwithamy.blogspot.com). Cupcakes and strawberries are the key to any beau’s heart.

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 large egg
6 ounces Dannon® All Natural Vanilla Lowfat Yogurt (or any other fruit flavor of yogurt)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced

Frosting:
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 fresh strawberries, about 2 Tbsp. mashed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. With an electric hand mixer, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the egg, Dannon® All Natural Vanilla Lowfat Yogurt and vanilla, blending until smooth.
2. Measure the dry ingredients into the bowl and blend, then fold in the strawberries.
3. Divide the mixture equally between the 12 paper-lined cupcake cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
4. Beat together butter, powdered sugar, and mashed strawberry in medium-size bowl until creamy and smooth. Chill frosting for 15 minutes or until thick. Frost cupcakes with a spatula. Keep cupcakes in the refrigerator loosely covered.
Yield: 12 servings

French Kiss
To accompany your beloved meal (cupcakes are a meal, right?), the Wedding Paper Divas have some suggestions for romantically festive drinks (blog.weddingpaperdivas.com). May we recommend the French Kiss? It’s just the perfect shade of pink to match you cupcakes…we mean cheeks!

¾ oz Chambord
¾ oz Peach Schnapps
¾ oz Vodka
Splash orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice
Serve straight up in a martini glass

Tags: cooking, cupcakes, dinner at home, french kiss, martini, Rack of Lamb with Herb and Olive Crust, strawberry, Valentine’s day
Posted in Sip / Savor | No Comments »

The Best of Cupcakeries… just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

With Valentine’s Day at the end of the week, many of us are looking for sweet treats to give our beau. If you CRAVE cupcakes like we do, you might find the perfect gift for your sweetie this year in these CRAVE-worthy cupcakeries.

Kumquat Cupcakery (kumquatcupcakery.com)

Devouring eight mini cupcakes seems to make us feel like we are consuming fewer calories than if we were to just eat one normal sized cupcake, but with calorie counting forgotten, there is nothing that would prevent us from eating as many of these cute and tasty mini cupcakes as we can possibly get our hands on. Owner, Keavy Landreth, has made an impact on us with her cute little cupcakes with big bold flavors. We just can’t get enough of them!

What makes them unique? These bite-sized cupcakes feature a variety of unique flavors that result in a mind-blowing experience that leave your taste buds craving more. Not sure about maple bacon or coffee caramel bourbon cupcakes? Just pop one in your mouth and savor the sweetness because there will be no going back.

You can order Kumquat’s cupcakes online or find them every Saturday and Sunday at the Brooklyn Flea Market. If you’re planning on picking up a few for Valentine’s Day, they have a PopUp Shop open February 11th-14th at 170 Franklin Street (between Kent and Java) in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

sugar Sweet sunshine (sugarsweetsunshine.com)

With an idea in mind and a name that was taken from an etching on the cement that said “sugar Sweet sunshine, Love” in a big heart, this delectable cupcakery came to life. It’s hard to decide what we CRAVE more about these cupcakes—the light, fluffy, moist cake or the sweet, creamy, delicious icing? We’ve come to settle on the fact that it must just be the beautiful collision that happens when the two come together. They have hit the spot with serving up perfected recipes of the classic cupcakes that we all love!

What makes them unique? Set up more like your grandma’s cozy and out-of-date living room, sugar Sweet sunshine offers a comfortable and fun place where people not only pick up yummy tasting treats to go, but can hang out as if in their own space. Decorated with old furniture from the owners’ apartments and thrift shop finds, this cupcakery creates a cozy atmosphere that many shops in NYC miss out on.

126 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
212-995-1960

Sweet Revenge (sweetrevengenyc.com)

After being laid off from a job in the corporate world, Owner/Founder Marlo Scott got her sweet revenge by forgetting the life of working for “the man” and started a business that she could love and enjoy. With the unique concept of bringing tasty desserts and alcohol together, Sweet Revenge is not your granny’s cupcake shop.

What makes them unique? Aside from unique flavors and the wacky concept of a cupcakery and bar all in one, Sweet Revenge offers a list of beer and wine pairings to go with the cupcakes. You beau will be totally tantalized by the fact that he can have his cake and eat it too… and have a beer to go with it.

62 Carmine Street (Between Bedford and 7th Ave)
New York, NY 10014
212-242-2240

Tags: cupcakes, Kumquat Cupcakery, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Sweet Revenge, Valentine's Day
Posted in Sip / Savor | 2 Comments »

Rachel Ray, I’m not…

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

I don’t know if any of you are “culinaryily challenged,” but I sure am. I am obsessed with the Food Channel but don’t cook anything I ever see prepared on there. There is something soothing and brain numbing about watching them create, compete, build absurdly shaped cakes, and whip up mystery ingredients I have never heard of.

How about that Rachel Ray gal? She rocks it every night in less than 30 minutes. The big difference is when I go to my pantry or fridge I don’t conveniently have all the spices and sauces placed by the elves so my 30 minute meal turns into a frustrated 80 minute search for cumin, and a trip to the grocery store. (Consequently, I leave the grocery store with everything BUT cumin and swing through the drive-through window before returning home.)

When I do cook I seem to have portion control issues. I grew up in a big family so I assume spaghetti noodles come in “single serving” bags only. Needless to say, I have a lot of leftovers and anyone who reheats spaghetti noodles knows, they aren’t too tasty.

My Mom is an amazing cook and she knows how to put on a party with picture perfect hors d’oeuvres, now SHE could have her own Food Network show. I think I was busy outside shooting hoop when she was whipping up chef lessons. So the pressure to live up to that is huge. She would bring heaping scrumptious cupcakes to my class parties… with every child’s name monogrammed on them. I am lucky if I can pull off a drive by drop off of Oreos for the school Valentines Day party!

My southern Mother-in-Law once tried to help me out by buying me a southern cookbook. Every dang recipe started with “make a rue”…have you ever tried to make a rue? Well, it’s a special little concoction of flour and butter that you have to try not to burn. I never made a single recipe from that book!

I will have to say I have the “sipping” part of this sip/savor category down pat. Never met a cocktail I didn’t like and they seem to be MUCH easier to make. Although I recently tried a signature cocktail recipe and it actually called for pear sorbet…my Coors Light generally does not come with ice cream and- huge surprise- I didn’t have any pear sorbet in my freezer (unlike Rachel) so I skipped the garnish, the vodka tasted fine without it!

If your idea of comfort food is a large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos and you don’t own a food processor…you are not alone. Rachel rocks…me, not so much!

* a weekly humor post by Lynn Edwards

Tags: Crack-Up, food channel, lynn edwards, rachel ray
Posted in Crack-Up, Sip / Savor | No Comments »