Luna's Pick of the week: Pinky Vodka

I have to admit that Pinky Vodka was a bit of a challenge for me. The flavors were not quite what I was used to. I tried it over a scoop of fresh Peach sorbet, which was delicious.



I couldn't think of a what to combine it with, so I decided to call in the big guns. The flavor is unusual, wth roses, violets and other botanicals. I went to the Ruby Room where Sascha came up with a lovely cocktail that I think compliments the vodka nicely!

Ruby Fizz

In a rocks glass over ice:

1 pt Pinky Vodka
1 pt grapefruit
simple syrup to taste
splash lime
splash grenadine
splash soda water

This is a refreshing drink with just the right amount of fizz. A votre sante!

Rayun Syrah '08 Chile

The bottle says notes of cherry & blackberry w/vanilla & mocha. I spent $8 @ the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant.

My take: It has a light, floral bouquet, a flavor that compliments spicy lentils and a gently jammy mouthfeel. Medium bodied with a sexy purple color & light tannins. A great bargain! This is one I will certainly pick up again.

Foodzie - Taste Something Different

Meet Foodzie, the San Francisco purveyors of Artisan products that would not otherwise have wide distribution.

I had the chance to sit down with Emily Olsen to find out more about the company and its offerings.

You can see my review of Aequare and check out DAS Foods Lollipops who's Ginger Lollipop was a Luna's pick of the day on April 24th.

Foodize is doing a wonderful thing by helping artisans to reach the people who would love to enjoy their products! Check them out and all the wonderful artisans they work with: Foodzie

Luna's Pick of the Day: Ravenswood '05 Zinfindel

Juicy mouthfeel, not too fruity, well balanced.

We enjoyed this wine w/bbq chicken sandwhiches and the combo was perfection!

The berry adds a light sweetness that is pleasant. This is one wine I will certainly enjoy again!

Ravenswood Winery

Luna's Pick of the day: Julie & Julia

Julie and Julia

I knew from the first chapter that I was going to love the book. It turns out that Julie & I have quite a few things in common: PCOS, a love of vintage clothes and a man who loves us (and is loved by us) beyond all reason.

Setting out to cook 524 recipes in 365 days is no easy feat. Such a challenge is issued to someone who is clearly mad. Or just really in need of a change.

Julie Powell is funny, charming, a little crazy and always interesting. She may not have intended for their to be a morale to her story, yet there is one: sometimes you have to move past your comfort zone to achieve what you really want.

There are moments when she wants to quit, moments when it all seems to much. Yet there is so much love in this book, as her friends and family rally around Julie’s ‘insane’ project, even when they don’t quite understand it.

From her copious use of the ‘f’ word, to the gimlets, page 1 starts off well and keeps you interested to the very end.

I loved every minute of this book, and if you happen to read this, Julie, you made me actually crave liver for the first time in my life!

I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who loves food, and be sure to catch the movie!

Luna's Pick of the day: Aequare 70% Ecuadorian Chocolate

Aequare 70% Ecuadorian Chocolate

I got this as a gift from Emily over at Foodzie, and this chocolate is truly a gift. 8 squares of high quality dark chocolate, holds a bit of fruitiness, a hint of coffee, very subtle vanilla flavor. I like the fact that unlike many 70% chocolate, it melts slowly in the mouth to release the flavors.

Luna's Pick of the Day: Cha Cha Tea!

Cha Cha tea invites you to “discover the world of tea on cup at a time.” Therefore, I did!

Lychee Red Tea 1 tsp steeped three minutes: the color is a lovely red, very light bouquet; the Lychee flavor is mildly sweet with a clean, soothing swallow.

Organic Passion Fruit Rooibos 2 tsp steeped 3½ min: the lemongrass and licorice smell are very overpowering at first but dissipates quickly. The same two flavors are what stand out the most. There is a lot going on here, Rooibos, hibiscus, lemongrass, rosehips, orange peel, passion fruit, mango and clove. The clove is subtle and the passion fruit gets lost.

I like this tea, but I would have loved to have more of a Passion Fruit flavor.

Vanilla Coconut 1 tsp stepped 3 minutes: this little bag holds so many of my favorite scents all in one place: Rooibos & black teas with apple, vanilla, chocolate and of course, coconut. I rather swoon a bit every time I smell it. The fragrance is still lovely when steeped, though not as strong.

The flavors meld marvelously together, and this would make a scrumptious base in place of coffee in any dessert recipe….

Organic Celebration 1½ tsp steeped for 4 minutes: this is some sexy smelling tea! Currants, hibiscus, cinnamon and licorice root with plum, Celebration is a luscious treat that the creator Maleah says is perfect paired with bubbly. This is so bewitching an idea, I think we should go try it….

www.chachatea.net

Luna's Pick of the Day: Cucumber DRYsoda

I came home one evening to a marvelous treat: my sample of the brand new Cucumber Dry Soda.

I should start with this: I love these people! I discovered DRY at the store when they were doing a tasting. I came home that day with a four pack of Lavender soda. Since then I have tried every flavor, and I will freely admit that my favorite changes frequently. I have also had the pleasure of meeting the crew, so I am happy to support such charming & friendly people.

I like the Juniper and the Kumquat on their own. Lemongrass is ideal for spicy food. Lavender is perfect with a little bubbly, and the Rhubarb is a fantastic compliment to a well cooked burger. I have special plans for the Vanilla Bean the next time I get some: float. Maybe a bit of Passion Fruit or Lime Sorbet. Or both! OOOOhhhh!

I gave up soda years ago because of the garbage inside. So this product, to me goes beyond mere soda, it is four divine ingredients which create enchantment.

The first sip made my eyes pop open. The second sip lingered, fresh, light…I really do love cucumber…. This my friends, dances on the tongue as a fizzy drink should, instead of assaulting your palate with sugary horror. A fantastic balance of sweetness, clean freshness & bubbles, Cucumber DRYsoda is sure to enrapture anyone with taste buds.

www.drysoda.com

Luna’s Pick of the day: Coco-Zen!

I bought a chocolate lip balm and it was alright. Then I got my hands on a Coco Zen lip balm and discovered what I had been missing!

In so many fabulous flavors, Chocolate Chai, Chocolate Coconut, Chococlate Cappucino, Chcoolate Mint, Chocolate Orange Blossom and Chocolate Strawberry, my lips were feeling pretty good. Then I tried it: the ultimate lip scrub…cause its edible!! Oh yeah, I kid you not! And my lips have never been softer, sweeter or tastier

The best thing to do is order this: A lovely Lip Duo as it will allow you to get a great deal on the scrub and your favorite balm. Here is something else really cool: it is safe for your kids, too!

How good is this stuff really? My friend Chris was complaining about having dry lips. I, being the always prepared Aunt type, whipped my Chai Lip Balm from my pocket and presented it to him. He rubbed some on his finger, sniffed & rubbed it on his lips. This was followed by a happy smile.

So there you have it, loved by a woman who didn’t know she was craving edible lip scrub and enjoyed by a young man. A true crossover product. Even funnier? Thus far, my favorite lip balm is the Cappucino! Wonders never cease! Oh yeah and Joyce & Co are committed to using Fair Trade and Organic products, as well as being local to the San Francisco Bay Area.

So go to the website: Coco-Zen and don’t forget to follow Joyce, the one and only Coco Zen Mama on Twitter!

Luna's Pick of the Day! Loft Liqueurs

Lisa @ Loft has unveiled the latest flavors to her standing trio of Ginger (my own personal favorite, a zingy & well balanced masterpiece), Lemongrass and Lavender. Her first seasonal flavor, Tangerine is just the right sweet and sour combo of orange goodness.

So how could she top them? Well she couldn't. But she could match them!

The brand new Blueberry is perky and way better than any of the Blueberry Vodka's I have had the misfortune to encounter, so I would really rather have some good vodka and this yummy stuff in my glass.

The second new season flavor is Raspberry and it is wonderful. It tastes like Raspberry! I think I may have to mix it with the Ginger and see what comes up....

Luna's Pick of the Day! Sacred Chocolate

Sacred Chocolates is Raw, Vegan, Organic and Kosher! After trying them the other day the SF Chocolate Salon, I can confidently say I am a fan! I look forward to trying the rest of the flavors.

The flavors that stood out for me were the White Passion (lemon Flavored White Chocolate), India Sunset (chai and curry in standout combo!), The Purple Sage (Rose Geranium and Purple Sage) and my favorite, Wild Fire Rose (Rose, almond, nutmeg w/red chili)
www.sacredchocolate.com

Luna’s Pick of the Day: Fentimans Soda

Oh how fun! That is just what this soda company is! This a great group of people with a wonderful product. With six brilliant flavors (plus Tonic) there is something here for everyone. Choose from Ginger Beer, Victorian Lemonade (boasting 1 1/2 lemons per bottle), Mandarin & Seville Orange, Shandy (a tradtional brew with 70% beer) and my two favorites, the Curiosity Cola and the Dandelion & Burdock.

I found the Mandarin a bit on the bitter side for me. The Lemonade is very refreshing and the Shandy was a very interesting drink. You sort of expect it to taste like beer, instead of a cool light Lemonade. Curiosity Cola, to me, tastes as I imagine it did when my dad was a kid. Since he was born in 1917, that was a long time ago! The Dandelion & Burdock satisfies my taste for the unusual and the old fashioned.

Napoleon Veltri was nice enough to give me an interview, so I hope that you enjoy it! This product should be hitting shelves within the next month, so remember, you heard it here first!

http://www.drinkfentimans.com/

Where to buy:

Amazon

Luna's Pick of the Day: Marshmallows a Deux

I have an obsession. It stems from childhood and became worse the first time I discovered I could make these amazing, fluffy pillowy squares myself. In childhood, these things were white and sometimes had a slightly tough consistancy. I never cared about that.

For me, be it marshmallow frosting or gooey in ice cream, the flavor is something that beckons me from sad to happy in an instant.

Plush Puffs come in six flavors. My favorite: the Lemon Meringue. Lightly toasted over an open flame, I am entranced by the magical soft puffing, the scent of lemons and the feel in my mouth both hot and tender. Ah.....this is starting to sound a bit pornographic!

I actually liked these as much as the last ones I reviewed, so there you have it. I cannot and will not choose between them....tell you what we'll get both and just have some s'mores!

Plush Puffs

Luna's Valentine's Day Pick: Coco-Luxe

Ah what ever will we get our lover for Valetine's day? Lingere? Dinner? Wine? Well, my Valentine is getting chocolate from Coco-Luxe. Champagne, Rose with White Chocolate, Devils Food Cake? Hell yeah!

Not to mention that I got to try the Butter Caramels (oh heaven, thy name is caramel.) Stayed tuned as next week I will be doing an interview with Stephanie, the owner and creator of Coco-Luxe. Until then, jump on line or check them out at the Boutique. You will be glad you did!

Tell 'em Luna sent you!

Coco-Luxe