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Your Bubbie Would Follow Me...

Picking Up Hooker's In The Tenderloin

4/26/2013

8 Comments

 
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The Original, The Party Girl, and Brothers Not Lovers
"Sweet" is hardly the first word that comes to mind when talking about the Tenderloin.  But for the past three years, David Williams has been changing all of that, one sweet treat at a time. 

Healthcare professional turned graphic designer by trade (because that's a normal progression), David fell victim to the economic downturn in 2008.  Looking for that next step, he, "simply had a craving for caramels," and four months home experimentation led him to develop some killer recipes he felt proud to share.  When his two close friends started The Perish Trust, David's first opportunity to showcase his new creations presented itself at the opening party.  

People clamored for the candies, asking where they could buy more, and David thought more seriously about opening a spot of his own.  Having lived in the Tenderloin for a spell, he watched a "For Rent" sign hang for more than five months before he contacted the landlord, who loved his concept, and pulled the trigger.
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David "Hooker" Williams Turning This...
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Into These!
At any given time, David has about four different caramels, each of which has a fun little tounge-and-cheek story behind it.  The "Party Girl" is named for both an old painting of a woman he found and restored as well as for a friend in Reno who sends along party mix every Christmas.  Studded with toasted pecans, coconut, corn and oat cereal and pretzel bits, this caramel sits atop a smoked sea-salted dark chocolate base for the best-of-both-worlds sweet and salty combo.  The Brothers Not Lovers caramel is an ode to his close friends and Sightglass Coffee's Justin and Jerad Morrison, who were often confused as a couple instead of siblings, and contains the company's Owl's Howl infused inside.  As for the 3rd Nut Caramel, David just had trouble deciding on the third nut to use. 

Bread pudding is always on the menu, and was a no-brainer as an homage to his New Orleans roots.  Still using his mothers secret recipe, he tweaks the flavors based on the season.  When nothing is really shining, he falls back on his staples like banana salted caramel or bourbon chocolate chip, served warm from the oven, and smothered with a rich sauce and loaded with nuts.
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A Smörgåsbord of Sweets, Including Strawberry Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding
As for the name? It has absolutely nothing to do with the Tenderloin tenants - that part was just a (somewhat happy?) accident.  David's nickname is Hooker, which evolved, oddly enough, because he used to call his friends hookers when shooting pool.  Thus, he became "Hooker Dave," until people just dropped his real name.  
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Hooker Himself
I won't try and sugarcoat it - the TL is still somewhat sketchy with its share of crazies.  In fact, while chatting with Hook, there was a man doing his version of parkour (a.k.a. - jumping and spinning from the street to the curb...continuously).  But Hooker makes a great point by virtue of his success - when things seem at their worst, remember that we each have the power to actively make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of those around us by following our passions.  They radiate onto others, and can turn even the most uncertain futures (or neighborhoods) into something special. 

Trust me, brave the 'hood during daylight hours, snag a sweet treat, and get "hooked" on these mind-blowing caramels.  

After all, there are certainly worse addictions to have in the Tenderloin.
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Nosh on,
Josh
8 Comments

Marathon Monday - Boston and The French Laundry

4/17/2013

5 Comments

 
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Ten months.  It had been ten months since we had shown our families around San Francisco, taken them to Local Mission Eatery, and cycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.  It had been ten months since we had tried to redeem the certificate we were gifted as a an incredibly generous gesture of gratitude. Finally on Monday, after ten months, we landed our reservation at The French Laundry.

Monday was also the day that tragedy struck the Boston Marathon.

I awoke that morning giddy with anticipation of what was to be one of the greatest dining experiences of my life.  In an instant, that feeling was ripped away and replaced with gut-wrenching horror.  See, from the prospective of a marathon runner, there is no better feeling than seeing your family at the finish line, cheering your name with smiles 26.2 miles wide.  To think that someone was determined to take that away from me and every other racer made me physically sick to my stomach.  Paralyzed with fear for my sister, my friends, and people I didn't even know but for whom my heart broke regardless, I spent the rest of the day in bed, teetering between sadness and anger, refreshing my Twitter feed and listening to news for so much as an inkling of good news. 

Mere hours after the incident, we arrived at The French Laundry to a symbol of respect and honor:
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Flag at The French Laundry Garden at Half Mast
Because emotion plays such a vital role in the meals we consume, I was nervous that this gift that was given to me - meant to be enjoyed and savored - may have been tarnished in some way: that I would not have been able to fully appreciate the experience to the fullest.  Yet as I walked through the cottage-like doors to the very pristine dining room I had only dreamed of, a sense of calm overtook me under the wings of our server Angela and our sommelier Patrick (visiting from New York's PerSe).  For the next three hours, I was able to forget - or at least, push away - all of the bad in the world and simply enjoy an incredible meal with stellar people.
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Bouchon Bakery Brioche...
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...and Butter Buddies! Salted from Washington (Honeycomb) and Unsalted from California.
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"Oysters and Pearls" // Creamy, Custardy Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and White Sturgeon Caviar. There is a reason this is a staple.
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"Salade De Choux-Fleur" // Intensely Fresh and Floral Cauliflower, Sweet Poached Field Rhubarb, Split English Peas and Mint-Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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"Grilled Guinea Hen Ravioli" // Sprouting Spigarello Kale, Farm Broccoli, Cherry Belle Radishes and Black Winter Truffles (plus an extra dusting of truffles mid-plate!)
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Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny Blanc, Breze 2008 - Best White Of My Life
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Lopez de Heredia, Rioja Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1994 - Best Red of My Life
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"Atlantic Halibut 'Confit A La Minute' // Melt-In-Your-Mouth Halibut with Sacramento Delta Green Asparagus, Butter-Poached Morel Mushrooms, Pickled Ramps and 'Sauce Noilly Prat'
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"Sweet Butter-Poached Maine Lobster Fricassée" // Caramelized Green Garlic, Young Artichokes, Carrot Buttons and Barigoule Broth.
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"'Ballotine' of Four Story Hill Farm Poularde" // Moist, Tender Chicken with French Laundry Garden Beets, Celery Branch English Walnuts and Royal Blenheim Apricot Purée
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"Marcho Farms Nature-Fed Veal 'Calotte'" // Wrapped in Applewood Smoked Bacon, Romain Lettuce, Pickled Cucumbers, 'Bread and Butter' Turnips, Green Tomato Relish and Dill Jus
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"Herb-Roasted Elysian Fields Farm Lamb Saddle" // 'Panisse,' Marinated Jingle Bell Peppers, Eggplant Confit, Garbanzo Beans and Burnt Lemon Jus (Photo Credit: Jeff Solomon)
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"Salers Reserve" // Pickled Green Strawberries, Young Fennel Bulb, Piedmont Hazelnuts and Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette
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"Verjus Blanc" // Demi-Sec Grapes, Jasmine Tea Ice Cream and Caramel Crisp
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"Dark Treacle" // Devil's Food, Valrhona Chocolate 'Marquise,' Lyle's Golden Syrup and Marshall Farms Burnt Honey Ice Cream
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"Princess Cake" // Animal Farm Buttermilk, Navel Orange Marmalade, Toasted Marzipan and Cara Cara Orange Sorbet
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"Cappuccino" // Coffee Ice Cream, Milk Foam, Sugared Donuts and (not pictured) Candied Macadamia Nuts
And that is what dining among friends can be: a way to exist in the moment and be cognizant of the food we have, the company we keep, and the ability to enjoy experiences such as these.  I am so fortunate for the opportunities in my life, and Monday made me realize that fact perhaps more-so than ever before.  The dichotomy of the horrific morning counterbalanced by gorgeous evening - both unforgettable in their own respects - made me take a step back and truly appreciate the beauty of food, family and friends. 

We must move on, but never forget. We must live our lives normally, but as we do, occasionally take the time to recognize and be thankful for all that surrounds us.

Whether you dine at The French Laundry, your local coffee shop, an In-N-Out or in your mother's kitchen, be sure to thank someone involved for all that they do, because at any instant, it can all be taken away.
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Take-Home Truffles: The Inner Workings of the PB&J
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Tin of Shortbread Cookies for Breakfast
Nosh on,
Josh
5 Comments

Four Easy Steps - How To Picnic in NoPa

4/15/2013

4 Comments

 
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The Giuseppe, Modified on Josey Baker Bread...Bread
It's no secret that NoPa is exploding on the food front - both a blessing and a curse.

With great popularity inevitably comes longer waits and increased hassle: a rigidity that gives our once fluid, leisurely morning brunch unnecessary weekend structure.  The neighborhood's namesake restaurant sees lines around the corner come Sunday morning and patrons of The Mill mill about awaiting their tasty toasts.  

Luckily, all hope for a relaxing weekend meal is not lost just yet.

Having been graced with tremendously glorious weather and the company of out-of-town guests from chilly Chicago, I decided to put my professional picnicking skills to good use, take advantage of my up-and-coming surroundings, and show off my new and improved, four-step process for a successful Sunday sit-down in the park.  

Step 1 - Peruse the farmers' market at Grove and Divisadero for fresh, easily sharable fruits like strawberries and oranges.
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Oranges and Tangelos
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Strawberry Baskets Forever
Step 2 - Stroll back down Divis and enter the spacious, welcoming new Bi-Rite location for sandwiches, salads, and your bottled beverage of choice. 
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Sandwich Counter, Bi-Rite Market
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Wine Rack, Bi-Rite Market
Step 3 - Head one block east to Alamo Square Park, plop down your finest picnic blanket (or that spare bed sheet you just so happened to have lying around from college), and unload your bounty.
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The Feast is Ours!
Step 4 - Wrangle up a few close friends and remember why you wanted to picnic in the first place: to enjoy your company, both old and new.  To soak up the sun and breath in the picturesque city that surrounds you.  To be able to bring your dog along for the day and watch him frolic through the grass and make acquaintances when he isn't begging for food.  To have the freedom to kick off your shoes and run around - just because you can.  To look at the Painted Ladies and blast the theme song from Full House (not that anyone really does that).

We totally did that.

To break away from the formality, and from the lines in which we find ourselves standing both for food, and sometimes, in life. 
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Nosh on,
Josh
4 Comments

The Ultimate Nopalito (To Go)

4/4/2013

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Packaged Nopalito To Go
Contrary to popular belief, I do in fact have hobbies other than food.  I grew up playing every sport I could, majored in sport management, and competed in collegiate ultimate frisbee for three years at Michigan - not the hippie kind, but the, "We-were-all-athletes-in-high-school-and-want-to-stay-active-and-competitive-but-aren't-good-enough-to-play-at-the-NCAA-level" kind.  Joining that team was one of the best decisions I have ever made: it resulted in my traveling, staying fit, and meeting my three best friends.   

When I moved out here straight after college, I sought out a league in which to play with the hopes of meeting a similar group of people and starting my new life with fun new friends.  After the first game at the chilly, windy fields of Golden Gate Park, fellow teammates and competitors alike asked the same question:

"Going to the bar?"

One of my favorite parts of this league is the post-game bonding. Everyone, regardless of team, heads over to the Little Shamrock on 9th and Irving for a few pints.  As an added bonus, they allow you to bring food into the bar and since I hadn't yet eaten at the Sunset's Nopalito, the timing seemed ideal for a visit. 

Lindsay behind the bar walked me through my to-go order and steered me toward the Picadita con Suadero y Chorizo as an appetizer, while local patron and Sunset native John could not speak highly enough about the Birria Tradicional.

Sold.
 
Packaged perfectly and ready to devour, each aspect of my dinner was compartmentalized to preserve each food's flavor, temperature and texture. I dug first into the Picadita where black beans, braised beef brisket and chorizo sat atop a thick, round, pastry-like tortilla.  Spicy and filling, I could have eaten this alone and been just fine.  

But...I also ordered the Birria.

The short ribs fell off of the bone as I plucked them from the rich, complex, not-too-spicy sauce in which they swam and mixed them with the accompanying rice, salsa and a spritz of lime to stuff in my warm corn tortilla. But after the beers and the Picadito, I could only manage one.

Thought the leftovers made for a fantastic breakfast taco.
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Leftover Birria, Bacon, Fried Egg and Avocado Breakfast Taco
To Lindsay and John, thank you for your killer recommendations!

Nosh on,
Josh
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Passing Over Passover Night Eight at Ad Hoc

4/2/2013

3 Comments

 
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Seder Brisket
When I was a kid, my family always kept kosher for Passover: brei for breakfast, sandwiches on matzoh for lunch, and burgers sans buns for dinner.

We simply ignored the fact that our morning matzoh brei had bacon, ham and swiss were tucked between our oversized crackers at lunch, and the patties were in fact double cheeseburgers. It's no wonder that today I continue that tradition in full force:
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Bacon, Egg and Cheeseburger on Matzoh
...and by day four, it becomes necessary to find other ways to palate the cardboard tasting squares:
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We followed the "holiday" never ate leavened goods, but the traditional kosher aspect stopped when my grandfather, a kosher butcher, passed away.  For me, the many ancient rules of kashrut were created at a time when such measures were necessary, but today no longer seem relevant: the same logic applies for the eighth night of Passover. 

In Israel, Passover lasts for seven nights.  However, when Jews spread to the diaspora it was often unclear as to when the sun set in the holy land, so the rabbis determined that those outside of the holy land tack on an extra night: essentially, "Just in case."

Thanks to the wonders of technology, the weather channel, and text messages I know precisely what time the sun sets in Israel, thus I keep Passover for seven nights, and when my good friend Nefaur invited me to celebrate his birthday on said evening at Ad Hoc for fried chicken dinner night, I was pleased to oblige. 
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Baby Iceburg Wedge: Red Radish, Bread and Butter Pickles, Golden Beets, Shaved Rainbow Carrots, Caraway Dressing, Spiced Chickpeas
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Buttermilk Fried Chicken: (not pictured: Green Bean Casserole, Mushroom Veloute Crispy Shallots, Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes), Buttermilk Biscuits, Blueberry Jam in the background
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Shrimp and Grits Supplement Piquillo Peppers, Diced Ham, Parsley Vinaigrette
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Seascape: Wild Arugula, Palladin Toast Granny Smith Apples, Crushed Hazelnuts
Ready to dominate every wheat and grain product in sight, I was at first disappointed with the salad, but once I took a bite of the extremely well-seasoned lettuce surrounded by southern additions like chickpeas and pickles, all was forgiven.  The fried chicken certainly lived up to its reputation - not only for the incredibly crisp, crunchy coating, but more-so for the impossibly moist chicken itself that melted away with the chicken skin in my mouth.  Probably the least kosher aspect of the meal found creamy, cheesy grits as the bed for tender, juicy shrimp.  I wanted more tartness and acidity on the seascape: a cow/goat cheese served alongside butter toast with hazelnuts, apples and arugula.

But hell, it had bread. 

For the caliber of food served at Ad Hoc, it skyrockets on my list.  Solid execution of the staples, inventive twists, gigantic, family-style portions and a homey vibe made this the perfect night to celebrate a birthday the end of Passover.

Nosh on,
Josh

P.S. - The vanilla panna cotta topped with strawberries and accompanied by cinnamon shortbread cookies was the damn best I've ever had: a deep, rich vanilla custard that had an almost cheesecake-esq flavor, sweet macerated strawberries and butter shortbread left my sweet tooth beyond satisfied, though with no decent picture to share. 
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The Bouchon Bonus

3/26/2013

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My good friend Harlan introduced me to a concept called, "The Bonus."  

The idea is simple enough: on a long trip, each person brings along a little surprise to reveal at a time of his or her choosing.  It can presented after an arduous hike when the group needs a boost, or during a joyous moment to exponentially  increase the euphoria.  The bonus can be anything, from board games though food is generally the most well-received.

Having been in Vegas before my camping adventures in the Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park, I decided to pack a little bonus for myself at Bouchon Bakery in The Venetian hotel.  Sure, it sort of defeats the purpose, but the hope was to bury it somewhere deep in my pack, forget it was there, and stumble upon it just as the taste dehydrated food on which I was about to live became unbearable.

It lasted fewer than six hours.
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Carrot Cake "Cookie" Sandwich
But here's where it gets really fun.  The woman behind the counter met me with a bubbly personality that nearly matched my own: a rare occurrence.  We chatted for a bit, and she helped me pick my pastries.  In addition to my sandwich, I wanted to grab a macaron, but had an internal struggle between flavors: coffee or pistachio?  Coffee is my go-to flavor for nearly anything, but pistachio is just downright classic. Ultimately, I caved on my standard, rushed off to my car to start the drive, and was immediately met with buyer's remorse.  

Pistachio - the one that got away.

But as I un-crinkled the paper a few days later for my mid-morning snack...
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SHE BONUSED MY BONUS!

In my haste to begin my journey, I never felt the weight of the extra cookie, and the whole concept of the bonus was reborn.  There was no way she could have possibly known what she was doing, making my pistachio macaron that much sweeter. 

So, while she'll probably never read this: thank you, woman-behind-the-counter-at-Bouchon-Bakery-in-Vegas, for slipping an extra bonus into my bag.  You made me smile and you made my day, more than I think you realized.

Nosh on,
Josh 
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Los Angeles is the Bestia

3/25/2013

1 Comment

 
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I take my rivalries seriously - so much so that I own nothing red and refuse to utter the name of one certain pathetic excuse for a state.  Accordingly, It was a no-brainer that from the instant I called San Francisco home, SoCal was on my shit list.

Surfers. Hollywood. Fakes.  

On my recent travels through the southwest, curiosity got the better of me and L.A. was tacked onto the itinerary. My lovely tour guide (and lifestyle blogger extraordinaire) Anne Sage introduced me to the wonders of Proof Bakery, The Pie Hole, Intelligentsia and Shortcake LA.

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Canele and Hazelnut Croissant from Proof Bakery
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Early Grey Custard Pie, Pistachio Crumble, Whipped Cream at The Pie Hole
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Campfires Scone from Shortcake LA, Cappuccino by Intelligentsia
Through sheer chance, the two of us bumped into a few of her acquaintances: phenomenal food photographer, Bonnie Tsang and the owners of Poketo - Ted and Angie.  After chatting for a spell, they invited Anne and me to join in their pre-arranged dinner plans. 

No phone call to change the reservation; no heads up to the people they were meeting.  They didn’t so much as bat an eyelash, welcoming us if we no longer had a choice in the matter. 

Spontaneity struck and we were whisked off to Bestia - recommended to me originally by Jessica from Sqirl -  to join Matt Poley and Tara Maxey of HeirloomLA, and for the first time in recent memory, my phone remained in my pocket.  I let the conversation flow as smoothly as the inventive and delicious drinks went down (though for your photo fix, check out Bonnie’s shots of some pizza, cocktails, desserts and scenery). I learned of Matt’s tremendous work ethic and dedication, commuting from Arizona to California three times a week just to learn from a chef he respected and admired. I heard Bonnie’s transformation from wedding to food photography and had the pleasure of dining with her smart, adorable daughter Miss Venise. 

I learned that someone in the group once got drunk off of an overripe mango. 

As family-style passed plates whizzed passed holding some of the most delectable cured meats, pastas, pizzas, and salads, I could not help but be caught up in the moment - enthralled  by stories of passion, adventure and life and overwhelmed by a sense of community. It was only until much later that evening, after the food began to settle along with my thoughts, that I was able to fully appreciate what that meal meant to me. These wonderful people had taken a complete stranger into their world for a single, unselfish night and reminded me of the true power that sharing a meal possesses. 

Definitively, I stand corrected in my previous misconceptions about some of the truly remarkable people in Los Angeles. I was greeted with firm handshakes and bid farewell with firmer hugs. Food-wise, if Ori and the Bestia team are any indication of the culinary scene happening down south, there is nothing remotely fake about it.

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Miss Venise, Chef Ori, Chef Poley
Nosh on,
Josh
1 Comment

Non-Hipster Toast at Sqirl

3/8/2013

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Since the opening of the Josey Baker Bread and Four Barrel collaboration, The Mill, “Hipster Toast" has been leavened to a craft, cult status in San Francisco.
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Mountain Rye Toast and Cream Cheese, Other Things at The Mill
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Toast, Peanut Butter, Honey (Art!) at Trouble Coffee
So when an acquaintance directed me to Sqirl for toast with jam and G&B's pop-up coffee shop, I was hesitant - but hell, I already drank the Kool-Aid, so I might as well dive in headfirst.  

From the moment I entered, a calm overtook me.  A simple menu on the chalkboard, and friendly faces smiled and welcomed me.  The quaint kitchen and cafe in Wilshire Center certainly didn’t have the straight-edged, clean and pristine feel of The Mill, but had all the charm that only comes with the love and dedication to a lifelong passion.

I was pleasantly surprised to find delicious options aside from toast - a few sandwiches, a quiche, some daily specials - and extremely displeased that I wasn’t hungrier.  Meadow, who takes charge of the pastries, also tempted me with gigantic espresso-chip and molasses cookies.  

As a newbie, I was advised by Sumi (former Intelligentsia turned newly established G&B coffee man) to stick to simplicity: brioche with house-ground almond/hazelnut butter and Sqirl's strawberry/rose/geranium jam to accompany my shot of espresso.

Sitting there in the parklet, I couldn’t help but feel like a refined kindergartner with the classiest PB&J in the school.  The almond/hazelnut butter was so grown-up, and the jam was complex but familiar, all sitting patiently on buttery Proof Bakery brioche.  A feeling so comforting, so warm, brought me back to a time when I was a bit more carefree, a bit more relaxed.  I was a kid again. 

When Jessica Koslow tested the kitchen/cafe concept around her confitures, she wasn't quite sure it would work.  Now that she has proven it does, the plan is to remodel, expand and grow...as she told me with the ear-to-ear smile of a giddy child.
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Jessica and Meadow
Nosh on,
Josh
1 Comment

Slutting It Up With the L.A. Locals

3/7/2013

1 Comment

 
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Thee Slut: Coddled Egg, Potato Pureé, Chives, Grey Sea Salt, Toasts
With zero knowledge about the city of Los Angeles, it was easy to accept the recommendation of the ever-knowledgeable Anne Sage, in all her sage wisdom.  “Go to the Art District, you’ll love it.”

Apparently knowing me all too well, I frolicked my way over and after a brief shopping stint, proceeded immediately to Handsome Coffee Roasters where Anthony dialed in one of the most perfectly pulled shots of espresso my tastebuds have ever experienced.

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Empty, But Delicious
Running only on pastries from Proof Bakery earlier that morning, I was ready for some real food. As I stepped outside of Handsome in search of such sustenance, a truck had appeared - seemingly out of nowhere by some divine intervention - on the corner where once stood merely an open parking space. 

A food truck.

I was back to my roots, and immediately stepped in line, not bothering to Yelp, nor even take notice of the truck’s name. Perusing the menu, I realized that this was, in fact, an egg truck.

AN EGG TRUCK!

Egg Slut, run by chef Alvin Cailan, serves up a mess of eggcelent dishes: runny yolks in all their golden glory, scrambled to impossibly light and airy proportions, and fried onto burgers and breakfast sandwiches.  After several tense moments of contemplation, I decided upon, “Thee Slut,” a coddled egg atop potato puree, chives and grey sea salt with toast. With a twelve minute wait in front of me, I patiently paced on the sidewalk, until who walks up but none other than Anthony, who proceed to order Meat City.

“Going off-menu?” I asked nosily as yellow yolk dribbled off my spoon and down my sky blue sweater. 

Sure en-oueff, the locals know about Egg Slut’s secret menu. Meat City, I come to find, was created as the answer to the pleas of members from the CrossFit gym across the street seeking a paleo-friendly, post-workout meal. Three fluffy, soft-scrambled eggs sit high atop strips of rare skirt steak, a truck-made turkey sausage patty laden with sage and a hint of spice, capped with lightly dressed greens and just a sprinkle of cheese. 

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Meat City, All Day
Cailan also offers some other hidden items, of which my favorite description was the Ron Swanson (turkey sausage patty, bacon, honey mustard aioli, egg and Tillamook cheddar, drizzled with maple syrup on toasted brioche). You just have to ask nicely. 

These guys do eggs right, sticking to the traditional French method when it comes to cracking and cooking. 

Cold pan.  Butter. Egg. On and off heat.  Stirred with a spoon, never a whisk. 

In fact, they do everything right.  They pop-up at Handsome for a reason: not only do they support their community, but they refuse to compromise quality in both the food they serve as well as the businesses with which they associate themselves.  Forget canned sodas and bottled anything, you're going to get the best when you're around the Egg Slut. 

When in L.A., check ‘em out. They’re at Handsome Coffee Roasters M-Th., 12-4p and Sat-Sun 9a-1p and The Heart and the Hunter M-F 7-11a.

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Nosh on,
Josh
1 Comment

GoodyFoods For GoodyFoodies

3/6/2013

1 Comment

 
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GoodyFoods Muffins, Molly DeCoudreaux Photography
The more work I continue to do with kids in the food and education space, the more irked I become at the food industry as we know it today.  Recent reports from NPR and NYT highlight the manipulation of our taste buds by the food industry, as well as the overt marketing of processed junk food directly to kids had my hopes for the future of our health at an all time low.

Finally, someone is doing something about it - one snack at a time.

Allison Kim was sick and tired of trying to find nutritious, "clean” food she felt comfortable giving to her three children. Grocery store searches came up empty - empty carbs, empty calories, empty energy levels.

Fiber One? Kashi? Cliff?

Forget it: glorified candy bars.  

All laced with with innumerable ingredients nearly impossibly to pronounce, these treats all tout themselves as “healthy” by throwing around words like, “Whole Grain,” or “Low Calorie.” In reality, they use the same cheap garbage that we have grown to know as normal.

So Allison decided to make change. After some experimenting in her home kitchen, she managed to launch GoodyFoods with the goal of providing healthier options for her community as well as her family (all while taking on that small little job of being a loving mother).  Using alternative, more nutrient dense ingredients like almond and teff flours and healthy fats like nut butters, she produces muffins, cookies and crackers that would fool even the sugar obsessed.  Her only sweeteners?  Fresh or dried fruit, with the occasional splashes of honey or maple syrup, and since they are all preservative  free, her treats are as fresh as they come.  

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GoodyFoods Almond Hearts, Molly DeCoudreaux Photography
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GoodyFoods Granola Bars, Molly DeCoudreaux Photography
Yet she recognizes too the time and place for, say, a special treat from Tartine. While not a regular occurrence, pastries are an indulgence for both the body and mind.  In fact, that's what makes them so special - that they are not meant to be an everyday occurrence. 

Baked fresh Sunday morning and delivered Sunday night, each box arrives at your door with twelve servings to throw in a lunchbox, grab for breakfast on the run, or just nibble a nice treat for yourself anytime.  She even includes a little menu card, highlighting her process and inspiration for this week's offering. 

A special thank you to Molly DeCoudreaux for her stellar pictures! Check out her website, follow her on Instagram and Twitter, and hire her for photography things. She seriously rocks!

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    Author

    Writer, educator, and positive peer-pressurer. 

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    Rickybobby
    Ritual Coffee Roasters
    Satellite Republic
    Schmendricks Bagels
    Smitten Ice Cream
    Sqirl
    State Bird Provisions
    The French Laundry
    The Mill
    Trouble Coffee Co.

    Archives

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    Tweets by @josh_leskar
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