This is the thickest, creamiest yogurt I've tasted thus far...and when I say thick, I'm talking peanut butter thick, stick to the roof of your mouth thick, turn upside down and nothing comes out kind of thick. This Icelandic-style yogurt, also known as skyr, is made by incubating skim milk with live active cultures. Then the naturally occurring water, or whey, is strained away from the milk, leaving you with a protein-rich, low-sugar yogurt. Tip: A cup of plain Siggi's Skyr has 17 grams of protein while a typical cup has about 7.5 grams.
Siggi's is made in small batches locally in New York, where the cows are grass fed and the yogurt is sweetened with organic raw agave nectar (never high fructose corn syrup). This decadent treat comes in a variety of unusual flavor combinations like orange & ginger, pomegranate & passion fruit, açai and vanilla. But I'm partial to plain, and find it to be less tart then its Greek competitors. Mix it up with some honey, add your favorite seasonal berries or just enjoy it as is, Siggi's is my go-to Snack of the Day, everyday.
Vee-oh-nay. These are three syllables that everyone should learn to pronounce this summer. Well known for its floral and fruity aromas, Viognier
is a great alternative to Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc if you're looking for a great white wine to sip this summer. If you've never tasted it before, Arrowood's 2008 Viognier is a prime example of what makes this grape so good.
The wine has intense aromas of tropical fruit and lime blossoms, while on the palate it bursts with flavors of honeysuckle, light stone fruits and a touch oaky richness. The fruity flavors of the wine pair well with spicy Thai dishes, but the mellow oak flavor also makes it the perfect complement to semi-soft cheeses. Tip: For the best value, choose a California Viognier like Arrowood.
There's no shortage of good cupcakeries in Manhattan, because New Yorkers love these gourmet childhood treats as much as they do grumbling at pedestrians who walk too slow. But there's one downtown destination that stands out from the crowd, and this one couples cupcake eating with another New York pastime: imbibing.
Enter Sweet Revenge. Marlo Scott's creative Greenwich Village spot takes happy hour to the next level and sinfully pairs decadent cupcakes with wine and beer. Our favorites include "The Pure"—a vanilla cake made with Mexican vanilla buttercream and paired with Principato Pinot Noir or Belgian Kwak beer and "The Dirty"—a Valhrona chocolate cake with dark chocolate truffle, paired with Stormhoek Pinotage or Kopparberg pear cider. Trick: Cute and quaint, Sweet Revenge makes for a fun post-work date spot! So whether you're feeling naughty or nice, this cupcake, wine & beer bar will seduce you (and your sweetheart).
Tip: For sweet tips on baking these decadent bad boys and creating their signature frosted "mohawks", check out our video with Marlo.
Sweet Revenge
62 Carmine Street
NYC, NY 10014
212.242.2240
It didn't take long for me to spot sausage vendors on every street corner in Vienna during my travels abroad. So when I finally decided it was time to try this meaty wonder, I prayed the one selling the sausage spoke a tiny bit of English. And that he did. We discussed my options, as I wanted my first Bavarian sausage to be just right (who knew sausages came in such varieties?). He then pointed out that if I like cheese, I should go with the K__. Or at least that's the only part I understood from this enigma of a language. Luckily, he still picked a winner.
The Käsekrainer is a variation of Slovenian sausage that has now become popular in Austrian and German sausage stands. It can be boiled, baked or grilled and is served with either a big piece of dark bread, or on a hot dog. By hot dog, the Germans mean bun (go figure!). The bun is a bit shorter than a French baguette and is poked through the center to make a hole. The hole is then filled with sweet or spicy mustard and ketchup.
Tip: This sausage is served best with curry on top. If you're me, you'll enjoy the flavor crazed trio of curry, ketchup and mustard atop your juicy sausage.
About two months later, I found myself in Munich, Germany. This was even more of a sausage heaven. We made a stop immediately after arriving, and there was little thought involved. First stop, sausage stand. Excited and starved, we approached the first vendor. My friend got a curry wurst, but I was sticking to my new sausage love. I still didn't know how to pronounce the darn thing, but I sure could eat it. “Can I help you?” the vendor asked in broken English. I responded, “I'll have the one that starts with the K.”
When we wake up, it's essential that we get a good breakfast. It's an instinctual urge, and for many of us, it's become equally instinctual to grab what food we eat in the morning. Now, I'm no oat expert or anything, but when I think of Oats, I think of Quaker Oats. Ever since I was a kid, I could find endless packages of Quaker Oats in my pantry. Never once did I think I'd have to question the friendly looking Quaker man I've seen on the cover of my oats, rice cakes and granola bars. Never once...until now.
BetterOats is exactly what it sounds like. Better Oats. In fact, BetterOats was so confident their oats were better that they also sent me some Quaker Oats for comparison. I chose to compare both brands' Apple Cinnamon flavor, and before I even tasted the dish, I could notice a substantial difference in appearance. With BetterOats, I had an abundance of apples and noticeable specks of cinnamon sprinkled throughout. With Quaker Oats, however, the end result looked like baby food. Technique: To combat mushy oats, put them in the microwave for about 1:00-1:30 instead of the suggested 2 minutes.
Upon tasting, I could clearly identify the ingredients associated with BetterOats instant oatmeal. The texture and flavor of BetterOats was a refreshing change from my Quaker instant oatmeal. The apples still had a crunch, and the cinnamon was balanced perfectly. It wasn't too sweet, so I instantly knew this would be a sensation for the health conscious. However, for someone like me, I still appealed to the sweetness of Quaker Oats. All in all, I can confidently say BetterOats are better tasting, and better for you.
Subscribe to our Feed >
Join Our Facebook Group >
Follow us on twitter >
View our Flickr Photostream >
