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Ice Cream Truck Provides Treats with Personality – Review of Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

July 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

BY BETH KAISERMAN

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck – various locations in Manhattan

It took a month longer than usual, but one summer trend has finally caught up with me. Every time I see an ice cream truck in Manhattan, I have to stop. But this year, it’s for a different reason. When I see a friendly white truck, there’s one thing I’m looking for: a rainbow cone painted on the side. The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is a New York City gem. It began in 2009, serving up cones with unique toppings like pumpkin butter, elderflower syrup, and toasted coconut with curry powder.

Yesterday my vanilla cone covered in wasabi pea dust caught the eye of jealous on-lookers in Union Square. People “ooh’d,” “ahh’d,” and asked questions as I indulged. The green-dusted ice cream cone looks like a Christmas tree and offers a serious crunch. (It really is crunchy. Be careful if you have weak teeth!) Its flavor is sweet and creamy with some spice. As soon as it gets too hot, you have the ice cream to balance it out. I decided to take it up one notch by having my cone lined with spicy peanut butter, one of the truck’s daily specials. All that jazz for just $4? This truck is worth seeking out for its awesome choices and the friendly banter of the owner, Doug. It’s just like being a kid again, adult-style. The entire experience will make your day.

You can find a schedule on the truck’s web site, or follow it on Twitter.

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Big Gay Ice Cream Truck on Urbanspoon

 

Filed Under: desserts, Food Trends, Food Vending Trucks, Reviews, Union Square Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Coolhaus churns out sweet and savory sensations: Review of Coolhaus Ice Cream Truck

June 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY BETH KAISERMAN

Coolhaus Truck Locations in NYC, the Hamptons, Austin and Los Angeles.

Coolhaus Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwich - Photo by Beth Kaiserman

Coolhaus is a gourmet ice cream truck offering delicious fresh-baked cookies with some interesting ice cream inside — not to mention an edible, calorie-free wrapper.

The magic started in Los Angeles with a Ginger cookie and wasabi ice cream — inspired by a meal of sushi. Roaming the streets of L.A., Austin and now New York City, Coolhaus utilizes natural and local ingredients, including hormone-free, sustainably produced dairy.

I caught up with the truck Sunday at Prospect Park’s Food Truck Rally. Though eager for the classic vanilla ice cream, I decided to take a leap of faith — with Brown Butter and Candied Bacon on a fresh chocolate chip cookie. This combo is insane: sweet, slightly salty, and smoky. It has everything you could possibly want out of life, all in one messy and wonderful little package.

It gets cooler. The sandwiches are influenced by architecture and architectural movements. Check out the menu and diagram here.

I love that we have the chance to experience an awesome brainchild of L.A. via an on-the-go truck. Stay rolling with us this summer for more food truck updates, and follow Coolhaus at http://twitter.com/#!/CoolhausNY.

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Filed Under: desserts, Food Trends, Food Vending Trucks Tagged With: , , , , , ,

92Y Chocolate Fest

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BY ERIN PALISIN

Assorted Cupcakes from Sweet Revenge

What better way to top off the weekend than indulging your taste buds at a chocolate lover’s tasting event? The Chocolate Fest : A Walk-Around Tasting, at the 92Y on Lexington Ave. served as a perfect “night cap” to a beautiful Spring weekend. A variety of local chocolatiers set up shop to display their treats and share their stories with the event’s attendees. Although none disappointed, a few chocolate experts set themselves apart in my eyes.

every vendor offered a variety of tasty samples, and  had a unique offering to compliment the actual product. Tumbador Chocolate offers several uniquely flavored treats including a twist on a classic American childhood “ring-ding” treat. In addition to their delicious treats, Tumbador also specializes in customizable packaging options for customers. If you are looking for a unique gift or party favor, look no further than Tumbador Chocolates.

Enjoying the event’s wine tasting and chocolate pairing feature

Sweet Revenge takes the sweet tooth addict’s experience to a new level by boasting New York City’s only cupcake, beer and wine bar. You need not feel guilty for indulging here, where fellow patrons and owner/founder Marlo Scott will also be relaxing and enjoying life’s simple pleasures (in the form of inventive cupcakes and sweets). The desert bar is also now serving brunch, which is where you might find me next weekend!

If you are looking to ease some of the guilt of your calorie conscience, visit the ladies at the online bakery, Baking for Good. 15% of each purchase of these all-natural, made-to-order treats go towards a cause of your choice!

The highlight of the event for most people seemed to be the chocolate tasting and wine pairing hosted by Gotham Wines & Liquors; where attendees could easily have ate and drank their money’s worth ($39 a ticket) at this station alone. Participants were able to sample eight featured wines and one vodka accompanied with a recommended chocolate pairing. The featured wine was the romantic Rosa Regale whose fruity, sparkling flavor serves as a versatile desert wine. Legend has it that Cleopatra herself used this wine, local to the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, to successfully seduce Mark Antony.

Aside from the obvious perk of getting to eat chocolate treats to your heart’s content, perhaps the best part of this event is the opportunity to interact with a group of unique local companies and inspiring entrepreneurs all together in the same venue. After all, who says you can’t satisfy your sweet tooth for a living? Say no to “the man”, and say yes to The Chocolate Fest!

For a detailed description of the annual event along with a listing of additional presenters, please visit http://www.92y.org/shop/event.

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Filed Under: Chocolate, desserts, Food Events, Informational Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Beyond booze and beads: the Tastiest Gems in New Orleans

November 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY BETH KAISERMAN

Meltdown Gourmet Popsicles
508 Dumaine St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 301-0905

meltdown_1(1)

Photo by Lindsay Clendaniel - Taken from examiner.com/dessert-in-new-orleans/meltdown-popsicles-serves-up-gourmet-treats-to-fq-visitors

Though the draw of Halloween in the city is huge, this past Halloween weekend I opted for a family adventure – to the sunny, wholesome town of New Orleans.

I was with my college roommate, her parents, and a bunch of their neighbors – all of us Pittsburghers there on a weekend when the Steelers played the Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. Needless to say, there was a good deal of booze involved. In particular, I was attracted to the varieties of the local beer brand Abita on tap throughout the land. I was also overwhelmed by the food; it was my first time experiencing true Creole cuisine. When the weekend began with me in a bib peeling humongous BBQ shrimp at Mr. B’s Bistro, I knew I had just entered a food lover’s dream.

But only one particular food was captivating enough to seek out three times that weekend: popsicles. Meltdown Gourmet Popsicles, 508 Dumaine St., is a small, plain room filled with edgy, all-natural popsicle flavor combinations. Avocado was my first, and after that, I was hooked. Then came rosewater saffron and pineapple cilantro. While I usually loathe pineapple-flavored things, this was like having real frozen pineapple on a stick, with a delightful cilantro sensation as its supporting teammate. I’d choose Meltdown’s pumpkin pie popsicle any day, even if a freshly baked pie was looking me in the face. Yes, it’s that good.

I miss Meltdown. I miss people staring in jealousy as our popsicles dripped off the stick in the New Orleans sun. I miss the thrill of capturing that last sensational drop of fun before it hit the cobblestone.

These popsicles bring back memories of childlike innocence, but with adult-level flavors. If you need a break from the boozefest of Bourbon St., head on over to Meltdown for a memorable treat. While you might regret – or forget – that fifth Hurricane, Meltdown only offers more childlike excitement that keeps you coming back again and again.
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Filed Under: American, desserts, Food and Travel, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Sweets on the go – Review of Dessert Truck Works

September 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY STEPHANIE AMY COLLAZO

DessertTruck Works
6 Clinton St.
Lower East Side & various locations along 3rd. Ave., Manhattan
dt-works.net/

Dessert Truck

Dessert Truck

One night after a long walk through the city a friend and myself stumbled upon the Dessert Truck parked on 3rd and St. Marks Pl.  After a quick glance at the menu we decided it was imperative we order at least two tasty treats off of the inventive menu.

The dessert list of alluring sugary concoctions included goat cheese cheesecake, pavlova and warm chocolate cake.  I made up my mind after learning their chocolate bread pudding with bacon crème anglaise was a winner on Throw down with Bobby Flay.  While our second dessert choice was the vanilla crème brûlée.

Chocolate bread pudding with bacon crème anglaise and whipped cream

Vanilla crème brûlée

The chocolate bread pudding can be ordered with either vanilla or bacon crème anglaise.  The bread pudding was both warm and gooey.  The bacon crème was smooth and added the perfect hint of porky goodness to the bread pudding.  I could have done with out the whipped cream, though it was tasty, and the decorative burnt piece of bread (or at least that’s what it looked and tasted like) besides that this was my favorite of the two desserts.

Vanilla crème brûlée

Chocolate bread pudding with bacon crème anglaise and whipped cream

A freshly burnt sugar crust topped the vanilla crème brûlée.  The crackling sound that came from cutting through the beautifully browned sugar crust made my mouth water at the mere thought of what was to follow.  The crème brûlée was made with Madagascan vanilla beans and had a delightfully rich flavor and texture.

Most of the desserts on the menu were reasonably priced at $6 each and if my stop at the dessert truck was any indication of what should be expected, the other desserts on the menu are guaranteed to be amazing.

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Filed Under: desserts, lower east side, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Van Leewen Artisan Ice Cream- the gourmet ice cream truckPH

August 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY STEPHANIE AMY COLLAZO

Van Leewen Artisan Ice Cream
Various Locations in Manhattan:

8am- 6pm 5th Ave @ 15th Street
Panda:      8am-10am 6th Ave @ 22nd St
10am- 4pm 23rd @ 5th Ave
4pm-6pm 5th ave @ 22nd St

8am- 6pm 5th Ave @ 15th Street
8am-10am 6th Ave @ 22nd St
10am- 4pm 23rd @ 5th Ave
4pm-6pm 5th ave @ 22nd St

718 701-1630 / vanleeuwenicecream.com/

* New store now open in Greenpoint, Brooklyn: 632 Manhattan Ave.

Close up of the Van Leewen Artisan Ice Cream Truck

Close up of the Van Leewen Artisan Ice Cream Truck

We’ve all had our love affair with Mr. Softee, spending summers running up to the truck ordering soft serve ice cream covered in rainbow sprinkles, but now that we are older and no longer transform into rabid beasts over the sound of an ice cream truck approaching, Van Leeuwen’s Artisan Ice Cream Truck is supplying us ex-Softee lovers with a more adult appropriate menu.

[Truck photo: Van Leewen Artisan Ice Cream Truck]

The buttercup yellow Van Leeuwan truck’s can be found at various locations throughout the day, serving up their frozen treats made from locally sourced organic milk, cream and eggs.

Van Leewen Truck menu

Van Leewen Truck menu

The menu includes gourmet flavors like red current, ginger hazelnut and giandujia as well as old favorites like vanilla, chocolate and pistachio.  But this isn’t your run of the mill vanilla ice cream, Van Leeuwen’s Tahitian vanilla ice cream is chock full of fresh vanilla bean flavor.

Medium giandujia ice cream

Medium giandujia ice cream

While on my way home I passed by one of the Van Leeuwen trucks and decided to see what all the fuss was about.  Since it was late in the day, they had already sold out of a few of their more popular flavors, like hazelnut, but there was still quite a  selection available considering it was well after 8 p.m. On my visit I decided to order a medium giandujia ($5.75) to split with a friend.  The giandujia is a blend of their Michel Cluizel chocolate with rich Piedmont Hazelnuts.

The ice cream was light and creamy.  Neither of the flavors were too strong, comparable to the flavor of nutella.  Although some reviews I have read have complained about the portion size to price ratio I found that a medium was a large enough portion for two.

While the ice cream is a little expensive, the quality of the ingredients makes it well worth the price.


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Filed Under: desserts, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just Sweet’s not so sweet opening

August 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY STEPHANIE AMY COLLAZO

Review of Just Sweet Dessert House
83 Third Avenue, (Corner of 3rd Ave and 12th Street)
East Village – NYC
212-388-1380 http://justsweetnyc.com

Just Sweet had its grand opening July 16th, and as one of the 50+ dining options on Third Avenue it is sticking out for all the wrong reasons.

A few weeks prior to the grand opening of Just Sweet I passed by the store and quickly wrote down the name and location, positive that only something good can come of a place with such a name.  After a friend notified me of his visit to the dessert only restaurant I quickly made plans to go there a week after the opening.

Bubble Tea at Just Sweet

Bubble Tea at Just Sweet

When you arrive to the restaurant you can’t help but become excited by the bright colors and promising menu rife with numerous Asian-inspired desserts.

There are crepes with green tea ice cream, shaved ice topped with fruit, ice cream sundaes, tong shui (a sweet soup), bubble tea, sweet sticky rice and an array of special dessert drinks.

Mango Sticky Rice

Mango Sticky Rice

On my visit I ordered the mango sticky rice ($5), toast with condensed milk ($3) and taro milk tea with lychee jelly ($4).  While my companions ordered the chocolate castle sundae ($7) and strawberry delight shaved ice ($5.50).

Strawberry Delight Shaved Ice

Strawberry Delight Shaved Ice

Chocolate Castle Sundae

Chocolate Castle Sundae

The waitress was quick to take our order but the kitchen was slow to deliver.  It took over 10 minutes for the kitchen to produce my taro milk tea, it was delicious nonetheless, but a beverage shouldn’t take as long as the meal to be delivered.

Along side my long awaited bubble tea was the mango sticky rice.  Mango slices and a white sauce, which I’m unfamiliar with, topped the sticky rice.   The dish was beautifully presented in a clear square bowl.  As soon as I took my first bite my expectations plummeted, though it looked beautiful it was terribly bland, the only thing sweet about it was the slightly mushy mango.

Next was the toast with condensed milk, which I waited over twenty minutes for only to be notified that they were out of bread.

After being terribly disappointed with my own order I went ahead and tried my friend’s desserts.  The Strawberry delight, which was shaved iced, topped with strawberry syrup, strawberry slices, mixed jelly and a scoop of ice cream that cost a dollar extra, was actually really good.  The flavors and textures mixed really well making their shaved ice the perfect summer treat.

The chocolate sundae was nothing special, chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup, crushed oreos, cornflakes, and banana.  It was good and the cornflakes added a nice crunch but for at $7 I’d say go to the super market buy all of the ingredients and make these at home.

Although the service was terrible I will probably return to Just Sweet for the shaved ice, in hopes of an improvement in service.

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Filed Under: desserts, East Village, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just Sweet's not so sweet opening

August 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BY STEPHANIE AMY COLLAZO

Review of Just Sweet Dessert House
83 Third Avenue, (Corner of 3rd Ave and 12th Street)
East Village – NYC
212-388-1380 http://justsweetnyc.com

Just Sweet had its grand opening July 16th, and as one of the 50+ dining options on Third Avenue it is sticking out for all the wrong reasons.

A few weeks prior to the grand opening of Just Sweet I passed by the store and quickly wrote down the name and location, positive that only something good can come of a place with such a name.  After a friend notified me of his visit to the dessert only restaurant I quickly made plans to go there a week after the opening.

Bubble Tea at Just Sweet

Bubble Tea at Just Sweet

When you arrive to the restaurant you can’t help but become excited by the bright colors and promising menu rife with numerous Asian-inspired desserts.

There are crepes with green tea ice cream, shaved ice topped with fruit, ice cream sundaes, tong shui (a sweet soup), bubble tea, sweet sticky rice and an array of special dessert drinks.

Mango Sticky Rice

Mango Sticky Rice

On my visit I ordered the mango sticky rice ($5), toast with condensed milk ($3) and taro milk tea with lychee jelly ($4).  While my companions ordered the chocolate castle sundae ($7) and strawberry delight shaved ice ($5.50).

Strawberry Delight Shaved Ice

Strawberry Delight Shaved Ice

Chocolate Castle Sundae

Chocolate Castle Sundae

The waitress was quick to take our order but the kitchen was slow to deliver.  It took over 10 minutes for the kitchen to produce my taro milk tea, it was delicious nonetheless, but a beverage shouldn’t take as long as the meal to be delivered.

Along side my long awaited bubble tea was the mango sticky rice.  Mango slices and a white sauce, which I’m unfamiliar with, topped the sticky rice.   The dish was beautifully presented in a clear square bowl.  As soon as I took my first bite my expectations plummeted, though it looked beautiful it was terribly bland, the only thing sweet about it was the slightly mushy mango.

Next was the toast with condensed milk, which I waited over twenty minutes for only to be notified that they were out of bread.

After being terribly disappointed with my own order I went ahead and tried my friend’s desserts.  The Strawberry delight, which was shaved iced, topped with strawberry syrup, strawberry slices, mixed jelly and a scoop of ice cream that cost a dollar extra, was actually really good.  The flavors and textures mixed really well making their shaved ice the perfect summer treat.

The chocolate sundae was nothing special, chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup, crushed oreos, cornflakes, and banana.  It was good and the cornflakes added a nice crunch but for at $7 I’d say go to the super market buy all of the ingredients and make these at home.

Although the service was terrible I will probably return to Just Sweet for the shaved ice, in hopes of an improvement in service.

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Filed Under: desserts, East Village, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A sweet patch in Soho – Review of Baked by Melissa

July 20, 2010 By 1 Comment

BY STEPHANIE AMY COLLAZO

Baked by Melissa
529 Broadway
Soho - Manhattan
(Spring between Mercer and Broadway)
212-842-0220 / http://www.bakedbymelissa.com

Photo by Stephanie Amy Collazo

Photo by Stephanie Amy Collazo

Tucked away among the big name shops and restaurants, that makeup the bulk of Soho, is a little cupcake sanctuary.  On Spring Street, just West of Broadway, is Baked by Melissa, a tiny kiosk serving up miniature cupcakes for approximately a dollar each.

Photo by Stephanie Amy Collazo

Photo by Stephanie Amy Collazo

Baked by Melissa has a fairly original concept, mini cupcakes that come in about 10 creative flavors.  Each cupcake is about the size of a dollar coin and most have frosting inserted directly in the middle forming a perfect balance between cake and frosting. [Read more...]

Filed Under: desserts, Reviews, Soho, Trendy Spots Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The something for everyone Memorial Day dessert

May 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With so much emphasis on what goes on the grill, what to serve for dessert for Memorial Day Barbecue can be a challenge to anyone who wants to venture beyond the ready-made stuff?

A slice of this quick-and-easy-to-make peanut butter cup and pretzel terrine, courtesy of Real Simple Magazine will be a cooling crowd-pleaser.  Sweet and savory, it’s sure to satisfy the range of palates and to be a hit with the kids.

Peanut Butter Cup and Pretzel Terrine - Courtesy of Real Simple

Peanut Butter Cup and Pretzel Terrine - Courtesy of Real Simple

Click on the image above for the amazingly easy-to-follow directions on how to prepare this delicious treat. Oh, and Happy Memorial Day weekend to all!


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Filed Under: desserts, Informational, Recipe Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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