Gottegrisar, a LA Swedish Candy Institution!

When I was in the college I dated a lovely gentlemen from Sweden!  During our courtship my roommates were constantly buying me Swedish fish as a joke.  If only Gottegrisar was around then…

Gottegrisar is a Los Angeles based bulk candy store that sells quality confection made exclusively in Sweden to the US market.   And these aren’t America’s versions of Swedish Fish!  Gottegrisar Swedish based wares are GMO, transfat, and corn syrup Free. 

Choices at the Pico Fairfax location include Bildäck, aka salty and chewy licorice tires, Colabåta, aka Cola Boats, and Sorbisar, aka sour Licorice and Raspberry Gummies.

So if you’re looking to extend your world of Scandinavian candy beyond Swedish Fish Gottegrisar is ticket to licorice tires and cola boats!

Here’s to life being delicious and candy to always being exotic!

Salt & Straw Comes to Abbot Kinney!

 

National Ice Cream Day was last month, but for Los Angelenos the celebration continues because Salt & Straw, the iconic Portland-based, family-run ice cream purveyor known for its artisanal, chef-driven approach to an American classic, has just announced plans to open a new scoop shop at 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd!

Come fall Venice residents will be able to savor Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Stumptown Coffee & Compartes Love Nuts at Salt & Straw's new home on the corner of Abbot Kinney and California Avenue.  Yummm!  (With 3 Ms!)

"We've fallen in love with the food community in Los Angeles, and are so thrilled for the opportunity to serve our new neighbors on Abbot Kinney," says Kim Malek, Founder of Salt & Straw. "We are so inspired by the artistic and creative vision pervading the neighborhood, and are so looking forward to becoming part of the fabric of this unique enclave of Los Angeles."

Like Salt & Straw's first Los Angeles outpost which opened in Larchmont Village in September 2014, the Abbot Kinney shop will offer guests a taste of Salt & Straw's staples like Freckled Woodblock Chocolate and Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache; LA-specific flavors like Avocado & Strawberry Sherbet and Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese; and monthly-rotating specials from Head Ice Cream Maker and Creative Director Tyler Malek that reflect the dynamic SoCal food scene and its artisans, as well as seasonal produce from area farmers. Recipes are created with 100% all-natural cream from a local dairy in-line with Salt & Straw's philosophy to source the best possible products available, and all ice creams are churned in a local kitchen in Boyle Heights to ensure optimal quality and freshness.

Here's to life being delicious and every day being Ice Cream Day! ;-)

Fierce and Fabulous Skating at Rave on Wheels

Last weekend Edible Skinny got to experience Rave on Wheels aka Row!  Those crazy creative kids over at Re/creation Cafe took over Circus Disco in Hollywood and turned it into the best pre-Burning Man party on wheels! 

The theme was “We Are Animals” and guests were strongly encouraged to dress for the occasion to “unleash their inner spirit animal” (and in case you were wondering mine was a cat that night… it varies between that and a unicorn!)!

ROW had two stages with sexy electronic DJs mixing beats all night long (including the fantastic DJ Liquorbox), a bean bag lounge for those who chose to go sans wheels, cabanas (where Miss Jordana Reim of Let’s Go 180 and I did acro-yoga at 2 in the morning), and food trucks such as the super delicious Urban Pie.  We missed the free one-hour yoga session for the early birds, but Jordana and I still got our sweat on at their magical make believe roller rink zoo (seriously, there were unicorns, peacocks, and kitty cats whizzing by us non stop!).

Started by Nick Spano Re/creation is the idea that we recreate ourselves through play.  “When we are at play we are in a positive creative space that allows us to discover new ideas, and new ways of being, that help us to better connect with ourselves and with others.”  Re/creation’s goal is to grow a positive, open-minded community, through unique creative events that combine mind and body in a playful world.  Along with roller raves Re/creation has hosted events such as Paint Socials, Goddess Celebrations, Reiki Workshops, and Live Acoustic Jam Experience, where the artist's and the audience make the music together.

Here’s to life being delicious, taking time to just play, and your spirit animal being fierce and fabulous!!

Edible Skinny Does Asbury Park

Edible Skinny is in New Jersey this week!  And yesterday we got to experience a summer at the Jersey Shore with a day to the Asbury Park boardwalk! 

The Asbury Park Boardwalk is located on the shore in Central New Jersey, 60 minutes south of New York City.  This historic shore town features one of the best beaches in the state (but isn’t able to surpass our hometown of Long Beach Island, NJ).  Along with endless sand, great surf and unlimited fun, there’s a revitalized Boardwalk that’s better, and more eclectic, than ever.

The Boardwalk of Asbury Park has everything from waterparks to rollercoasters from a vintage kitsch bowling alley to funky restaurants.  And no Asbury Park experience isn't complete without taking in a show!  USA Today picked Asbury Park as one of the top ten places to listen to music.  The legendary Stone Pony, where Bruce Springsteen has made numerous appearances, is one of the world’s most famous music “scenes.”  Other venues like The Wonder Bar, the Paramount Theatre and Convention Hall have not only helped launch many musicians' careers but they also contributed to the creation of an entire music genre known as the “Jersey Shore Sound.”

Here’s to life being delicious and rock and roll down the shore! 

Something to Check Out: 5th Annual LA Food & Wine Festival

Movie stars in Los Angeles are a dime a dozen, but once a year the culinary stars from across the country descend on the City of Angels!  Edible Skinny is dusting off our shades the 5th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival.

Taking place August 27-30^th, the event is a star studded list of James Beard Award winners, and Food & Wine Best New Chefs including Tyler Florence, Curtis Stone, Thomas Keller, and Michelle Bernstein.  Produced by Coastal Luxury Management and presented with founding partners FOOD & WINE and Lexus

Our favorite event hands down is the Lexus Live on Grand featuring tastings from over 30 chefs and 100 wineries. This year Lexus Live will feature a live performance from The Roots, and later that same night the band will be joined by band mate Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson as the festival’s headlining musical entertainment.  Culinary icon Thomas Keller will also be on hand, making an appearance with Chef David Hands and Bouchon Beverly Hills.

Here’s to life being delicious and your food and wine being star studded! 

The 168-Year-Old Old Moisturizer with Thayers Natural Remedies

Edible Skinny LOVES unchapped lips!   We LOVE finding the perfect lip balm that allows our puckers to stay moist during these hot dry days of August, especially for those late night smooching sessions!  

So when we recently ran out of our standard Burt Bees chapstick and came across a product sample from Thayers Natural Remedies in our dresser drawer, by way of the Natural Product Expo in March, we were totally game! 

And all we can say is WOW!!!

Like an ice cream cone for your lips, Thayers Organic Vanilla Bean Slippery Elm Lip Balm offers creamy, dreamy protection against dry and windy weather, slaking your lips' thirst for moisture.  Slippery Elm's moisturizing power is a natural wonder-and your best friend in harsh weather (like August desert heat).  Certified Organic Slippery Elm speeds natural, hydrating relief to the most vulnerable skin on your face, healing chapped, cracked, peeling lips and restoring your radiant smile. 

Thayers Natural Remedies began in 1847, when Henry Thayer M.D., opened a laboratory on Main Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts to produce his newly developed line of herbal extracts for sale to the medical profession.  The company, prospered and broadened its line of products and has been described as the largest manufacturer of pharmaceuticals in America at the time of the Civil War.  The 168-year-old company is now the standard in the world of natural remedies.

Thayers throat remedies such as their Sugar-Free Dry Mouth Spray Citrus Flavor and Original Slippery Elm Lozenges have been a source of oral relief since 1847.  Their original Slippery Elm Lozenges deliver healing, protective, natural comfort to the throat and mouth without menthol (that are also vegan-friendly) have been used on television shows such as The Voice and American Idol and have a celebrity following including Justin Timberlake and Sting.

So if you’re searching for moisturize, either inside or outside the mouth look no further than the 168-year-old company of Thayers Natural Remedies. 

Here's to life being delicious and lips always being moist enough for puckering up!

Fine Quality Montepulciano with Talosa Wine at Shutters on the Beach

A little while ago, Edible Skinny was lucky enough to have an old world chance encounter with Talosa wine while at the always beachy classy (and super contrasting) Shutters on the Beach. 

 

Since 1972 Fattoria della Talosa has embarked on the quest for fine quality hand crafted wines.  Talosa started a trend which resulted in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appellation soaring to grand heights in the world of Tuscan and Italian winemaking.

And one of the only places to grab a glass of Talosa’s 90+ point wines is 6,270 miles away from its historic wine region in the lobby of Shutters on the Beach.  That’s quite a trip for an Italian to check out a Santa Monica sunset! ;-)

Located in the heart of old town Montepulciano, Talosa’s historic cellars dates back to the 16th century.  Located in an underground area between two of the oldest buildings in the city: Palazzo Tarugi and Palazzo Sinatti; its brick passageways contain a series of vaults and niches which are perfect hideaways for sleeping wine.  

Their huge oak barrels, each with a capacity of 115hl, have seen quite a ride as some of the barrels date back to Talosa’s inception 44 years ago!  Within these oak walls Talosa’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is aged for two years, or three years for the Vino Nobile Riserva.

During our chance encounter at Shutters on the Beach, our favorite Talosa wine was their 2010 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva, which got a whopping 94 Points on Wine Spectator and was severely underpriced for that rating (like less than $40, totally totally your gain!)  The 100% Sangiovese’s vibrant acidity and supple tannins paired perfectly with the Shutters’ Shishito peppers with lime salt & ponzu!  Yummm (with 3Ms)!!!

 

Here’s to Life Being Delicious and your Santa Monica sunsets having a taste of the Italy with some stellar Talosa wine!