LA Foodies want to know, what does Plant-based Honey Pair Well With?
You keep reading about plant-based honey. The environmental story, the nutrition. But how does it taste? What can you pair it with? Let’s find out in an exclusive interview with Mellody Food’s Darko Mandich.
Darko Mandich is a food entrepreneur in San Francisco. After spending almost a decade in the European honey industry as a business executive, Darko committed to reimagining the honey industry to become sustainable. Darko immigrated from Europe to California to launch Mellody, the world’s first plant-based honey brand. Darko is an advocate of saving the bees and wild pollinators.
Recently, I had a chance to talk with Darko.
You said you are a foodie. What are some incredible food pairings that you recommend with this honey?
When I like to talk about food, I always like to join food and beverage.
I’ll start with beverages first. I think this honey is perfect for mocktails and cocktails. It gives just enough of sweetness that someone is looking for in their alcoholic cocktail or non-alcoholic cocktail.
In terms of food, I would split it into savory and sweet. Sweet applications are my favorite, I just have a sweet tooth. My favorite dessert is Baklava because it comes from the part of the world where I come from. My wife, who’s a home chef, [used our honey to make] baklava and it was amazing.
We did an amazing collaboration with an upscale Italian plant-based restaurant in San Francisco Baia. They created this amazing, vegan panna cotta with our honey on top. It was culinary mastery developed by Chef Joshua Yap, who started working with Chef Matthew Kenny, who is also a well-known, plant-based chef.
In terms of savory applications, that opens a whole new world of opportunities. How we interact with stuff like pizza and honey, burgers and honey. Obviously honey and vinaigrette and olive oil, used as a dressing for salads, honey mustard, just name it.
What’s next for Mellody? What are the next steps out there for you?
Getting into as many restaurants as possible in this country. People are inquiring about the standalone product [separate from the speciality box] get it very soon at Eleven Madison Home.
Working on getting this product to as many people as possible, and just to invite everybody to participate in this mission of creating the sustainable future of honey.
I’m just excited about every tiny step in this journey until melody becomes the word for honey.
Is the honey currently available at Eleven Madison Home?
Yeah, the honey is currently available. The Specialty Tea and Honey Box launched for the Mother’s Day collection and Earth Month.
It’s a specially curated box of artisanal teas coming from different parts of the world with honey and also amazing, shortbread cookies. All plant-based, also made with our honey. That’s available right now
Sometime very soon a standalone jar [of honey] will also be available to Eleven Madison Home.
Tell us again what’s available, how to find it; and how to follow you and support you.
Yeah, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at MellodyFoods
In terms of purchasing, head to ElevenMadisonHome.com and you can purchase it there.
Saving the bees is learning more about them. Learning more about pollinators and you can do that on our social media.
And finally, if you’re equally passionate about bees and plants as we are, ask your favorite restaurant to reach out to us to offer Mellody in your favorite restaurant. It can be a vegan restaurant on non-vegan.
We are gonna work with all the restaurants that reach out to us where people ask to see our product offered, either on the menu, either within a meal, or just if you order a cup of tea and you want a side of Mellody.
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Jérôme Peschard Leads Vietnam Art Renaissance, Launches Art Exhibition at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City
Jérôme Peschard Launches Art Exhibition at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza in Ho Chi Minh City
For the past 60 years, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts has epitomised the essence of French art de vivre across the globe. As 2024 heralds its Diamond Jubilee, commemorated with a series of exclusive events at Sofitel properties worldwide, Sofitel Saigon Plaza, the paragon of French hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City, proudly inaugurated an extraordinary celebration of art.
On the evening of June 21st, the Sofitel Saigon Plaza was the scene of a glittering event, marking the launch of a collaboration with the internationally renowned French Pop Artist, Jérôme Peschard.
The hotel’s lobby served as an elegant backdrop for an array of Peschard’s stunning oil paintings on recycled corrugated metal, showcasing his inspiration from French Indochina.
The event attracted an illustrious group of attendees, including Mrs. Sarah Hooper, Consul General of Australia to Vietnam; Mr. Daniël Stork, Consul General of the Netherlands to Vietnam; Mrs. Milena Padula, spouse of Italian Consul General Enrico Padula; and Mrs. Lê Hạnh, CEO of TVHub Vietnam. Distinguished guests also included Michelin Starred Chef/Owner Peter Cong Franklin of Ănăn Saigon, totalling one hundred and thirty of Ho Chi Minh’s leading tastemakers.
Guests enjoyed a selection of exquisite canapés, fine wines, and champagne while admiring Peschard’s captivating works. Adding to the allure, music by DJ Edge Pamute filled the space, and trendsetters Tracie May and Nykky Domodelled custom-embroidered Áo Dài, the national costume of Vietnam, designed by Peschard and couturière Giao Basson. A pop-up retail store showcasing Peschard’s merchandise collection also opened to the public, featuring a curated selection of home decor, limited edition numbered and artist-signed lacquer replicas of paintings, and an array of gift items. Both the boutique and the art exhibit will grace the Sofitel Saigon Plaza throughout the summer, concluding in early September.
This premier event highlighted the vibrant intersection of art, culture, and gastronomy, celebrating a unique fusion that will enchant visitors throughout the season, encapsulating Sofitel Hotel and Resort’s world of prestige and luxury.
“I’m deeply grateful to Sofitel Saigon Plaza for granting me such a fantastic platform to showcase my art. Although I am French, my heart is Vietnamese, and I’m thrilled to share my homage to Vietnam with their guests and visitors during the 60th Anniversary celebration of Sofitel Hotels and Resorts.” – Jérôme Peschard
“Marking 60 years of exceptional hospitality, we take pride in being a part of a legacy that consistently sets the standard for excellence in Asia, providing a unique experience for all modern travellers to explore Ho Chi Minh City through a French-inspired perspective.” – Mario Mendis, GM, Sofitel Saigon Plaza
ABOUT SOFITEL SAIGON PLAZA:
Sofitel Saigon Plaza harmonises the sophistication of French art de vivre with the vibrancy of local Vietnamese culture, delivering a luxury hospitality experience enriched by genuine heartfelt service. Conveniently located in a tranquil enclave on Le Duan Boulevard, Sofitel Saigon Plaza places you in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s business, cultural, and shopping district. The hotel boasts 286 rooms and suites adorned with refined décor and deluxe amenities, a fitness centre featuring advanced exercise equipment, and an outdoor swimming pool with breathtaking city views. Sofitel Saigon Plaza also features five dining establishments serving local and French cuisine, seven polished meeting rooms, and an opulent ballroom equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the ideal destination for business, leisure, meetings, and gatherings.
ABOUT JÉRÔME PESCHARD:
Dubbed the “Gauguin of Vietnam,” Jérôme Peschard is a self-taught artist whose work reflects a life richly lived and creatively charged. His art bridges the past with the present, blending East and West, while drawing profound inspiration from his adopted home of Vietnam. Characterised by the use of oil on rusted corrugated iron sheets salvaged from local construction sites, his pieces reflect the very essence of Saigon – its history, development, people, culture, and vibrant spirit. Peschard’s unique fusion of Western pop art with Asian influences, inspired by comic book legend Jack Kirby and modern art icons like Basquiat and Warhol, continues to evolve as he explores new themes in his storytelling. In the dynamic energy of Vietnam, Peschard not only found his place in the world, but also his distinctive artistic identity.
Join Us MidTown NYC for An Incredible Prosecco Experience: Taste and Discover with Wine Expert Alan Tardi Wed June 26th at New York Wine Studio
Join Us for An Incredible Prosecco Experience: Taste and Discover with Wine Expert Alan Tardi Wed June 26th at New York Wine Studio
Prosecco has gone from a little known mountain fizz to a vinous superhero, overtaking Champagne (and every other sparkling wine out there) and enjoyed by wine drinkers throughout the world, as the base of a cocktail or an everyday quaff.
But despite its huge popularity, most people don’t know much about it.
And there is much more to Prosecco than many people are aware.
”My objective is to
clarify the critical differences
between the original ancient Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco and
the DOC Prosecco that was enacted in 2010.”
Alan Tardi
New York Wine Studio
Prosecco is produced only in Italy, in the Northern regions of Veneto and Friuli, and there are three official Prosecco appellations.
Prosecco DOC
One of them, Prosecco DOC, was created in 2010. It occupies a huge, mostly flat area encompassing almost two entire regions and accounts for most of the 700+ million bottles of Prosecco produced each year.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG is a tiny area in the foothills of the Dolomites consisting of 15 small municipalities in the province of Treviso. This is the ancient winegrowing area where Prosecco was born and made a miraculous comeback in the aftermath of World War II.
Besides its pedigree, there are numerous factors of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene enclave that distinguish it from any other winegrowing area in the world: complex and diverse topography, variety of soils, native grape varieties, distinct sub-areas, ancient history, and varied typology—bubbly, fizzy, and still; secondary fermentation in tank or in bottle, leaving sediment in the bottle (known as Ancestral Method) or removing it (Traditional Method).
In this class—which takes place right in the middle of National Prosecco DOC week—we will discuss the origin and evolution of Prosecco in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area. We will also examine the two additional Prosecco appellations created in 2010.
But most of the time will be devoted to exploring and tasting Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco through a lineup of 8 exceptional terroir-driven wines, in a variety of styles, that demonstrate the unique characteristics, complexity, and diversity of the original Prosecco.
Participants will also learn how to say “CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE” like an Italian!
Alan Tardi has arranged a fantastic lineup of unusual and exceptional wines (half of them are coming directly from Italy) which demonstrate the various factors that characterize the complexity and uniqueness of Conegliano Valdobbiadene: Different production methods (“Tranquillo” i.e. still, Martinotti, Classico/Traditional, Ancestral); frizzante, spumante; single vineyards, Rive, native grape varieties; diverse, soils, terroirs and topographies.
List of Wines
- Prosecco Tranquillo DOCG “Il Canto Antico” — BORTOLOMIOL*
- Colli Trevigiani IGT Verdiso Frizzante Sui Lieviti — GREGOLETTO
- Progetto 5 Varietà Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG Brut — MARCHIORI*
- Conegliano Prosecco Superiore DOCG Rive di Ogliano Extra-Brut — BIANCAVIGNA
- Superiore di Cartizze Brut DOCG — RUGGERI*
- Superiore di Cartizze DOCG “Private” Rifermentato in Bottiglia 2014 — BISOL
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Rive di Carpesica “S.C. 1931” Metodo Classico — BELLENDA*
- Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Asciutto, Rive di Colbertarldo, Vigneto Giardino — ADAMI
- Torchiato di Fregona Colli di Conegliano DOCG “Ciàcoe” 2016 — CA’ DI RAJO*
*Shipped directly from the winery in Italy
Find more information and buy tickets at New York Wine Studio or at the link below.
https://www.newyorkwinestudio.com/original-prosecco
Cocktail magic, competition, celebration: Vietnam Cocktail Festival 2024 at iconic Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel
Cocktail magic, competition, celebration: Vietnam Cocktail Festival 2024 at iconic Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel.
MC Petey Majik hosted the 2-day Vietnam Cocktail Festival 2024 June 14-15 celebrating with flavor, masterclasses, magic, competition. Tracie May captured it all.
Photos courtesy of Nick Middleton @glam.foodbev
A spectacular 2-day summer celebration, welcomed over 1000 cocktail enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike to the iconic Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel.
The vibrant cocktail carnival featured a dazzling array of over 130 cocktails from 36 premium global spirits, liqueurs and mixer brands.
A gathering of Vietnam’s top mixologists, innovative concoctions were expertly mixed by a combination of the country’s most respected bartenders and up-and-coming talents.
Cocktail Carnival part of Vietnam Cocktail Festival 2024
At the heart of the festival was a showcase of Vietnam’s craftsmanship and creativity, where seasoned mixologists flexed their skills to craft tantalizing libations.
From classic cocktails with a Vietnamese twist to avant-garde creations pushing the boundaries of flavor, each drink was a testament to the artistry and innovation within Vietnam’s ever-growing cocktail scene.
For guests inspired to continue the cocktail adventure at home, Mercantile Vietnam provided the option for attendees to purchase a bottle of their favorite brand from the event and have it shipped directly to their door.
Entertainment Extravaganza
The event’s charismatic MC Petey Majik led the carnival atmosphere and captivated the audience with a spellbinding magic show accompanied by igniting cocktail flaring performances from the talented Chương and Phước.
On Friday, the stage was taken over with a charismatic live performance from Vietnam’s premier DJ and saxophone duo Omar and Pierre. The party continued Saturday with the contagious energy of DJ PIA.
Interactive Masterclasses and Exclusive Tasting Room
For spirits connoisseurs the festival also offered a wealth of knowledge with 4 optional interactive masterclasses hosted per day, where industry experts from Lady Triệu, Bruichladdich, Jose Cuervo, Highland Park and Lý Gia Viên shared their craft and insights with eager participants.
Luxury spirits aficionados could enhance their experience further and purchase tickets to enter the event’s Exclusive Room, featuring personalized tastings from 8 of the world’s super and ultra-premium brands, with a combined retail price of over 600 Million VND.
Competitive Spirit
One of the highlights of the festival was the highly anticipated Best Cocktail, Best Bartender and Best Brand Competitions with guests encouraged to vote for their favorites.
Bartenders from across the country battled it out for top honors.
With precision, flair, and a dash of showmanship, contestants dazzled spectators with their signature creations, showcasing the ingenuity and talent within Vietnam’s cocktail community.
On Saturday 15th June, the 2024 winners were announced: Mai Thanh Phong’s “Banh Mi Saigon” cocktail, made with Matusalem Rum, won Best Cocktail.
Nguyen Tuan Cuong, who works at Yugen Bar and is sponsored by Shanky’s Whip, was named Best Bartender. Also, Jägermeister was awarded Best Brand of the event.
Cultural Fusion
Beyond the cocktails themselves, the festival served as a social celebration of cultural fusion, from modern Vietnamese influences to global trends, the event highlighted the diverse tapestry of brands and the pioneering people shaping the country’s dynamic cocktail scene.
Vietnam’s Cocktail Revolution
As the final glasses were raised and the last drops were savored, the Vietnam Cocktail Festival 2024 left an indelible mark on the hearts and palates of all those who attended. With its vibrant energy, innovative spirit, and unwavering passion for mixology, the festival has undoubtedly cemented its place as a must-attend event on the global cocktail calendar, promising even more excitement and inspiration in the years to come.
Cheers to the next chapter of Vietnam’s cultural cocktail revolution!
Awards were announced on Saturday, June 15th, at 8 PM
Best Cocktail of the Event 2024
- Cocktail Name: Bánh Mì Sài Gòn
- Bartender Name: Mai Thanh Phong
- Brand Name: Matusalem Rum
- Bar Name: Madam Kew Bar
Best Bartender of the Event 2024
- Bartender’s Name: Nguyen Tuan Cuong
- Brand Name: Shanky’s Whip
- Bar Name: Yugen Bar
Best Brand of the Event 2024
- Brand Name: Jägermeister
Participating Brands:
- Large Exhibitors: Lady Triệu, Jose Cuervo, Cointreau
- Medium Exhibitors: Bushmills, Naked Malt, Kaibutsu, 1800, Campari, RCR Crystalleria Italiana.
- Small Exhibitors: Kurayoshi Matsui, Duncan taylor, Lark Distillery, Hangar 1 Vodka, Maestro Dobel, Bruichladdich Distillery Company, Passoa, The Botanist, No3 London Dry Gin, Dictador The Arthouse Spirit Brand, Colombian Gin, Stranger & Sons Gin, Fernet Branca, Espolon Tequila, Michter’s, Shanky’s Whip, Gran Centenario Tequila, Jägermeister, The Kyoto, Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Matusalem, Brookies Byron Gin, Ly Gia Vien, Torani, Fentimans, Mercantile.
Participating Bars (in collaboration with brands):
- Kraken x The Dot Bar
- Sexton x Dram Bar
- Wild Turkey x Lost Birds Bar
- Glenrothes x Firkin Bar
Master Classes: Lady Trieu, Bruichladich, Jose Cuervo, Ly Gia Vien, Highland Park
Photos courtesy of Nick Middleton @glam.foodbev
About the Author
Joe Wehinger (nicknamed Joe Winger) has written for over 20 years about the business of lifestyle and entertainment. Joe is an entertainment producer, media entrepreneur, public speaker, and C-level consultant who owns businesses in entertainment, lifestyle, tourism and publishing. He is an award-winning filmmaker, published author, member of the Directors Guild of America, International Food Travel Wine Authors Association, WSET Level 2 Wine student, WSET Level 2 Cocktail student, member of the LA Wine Writers. Email to: Joe@FlavRReport.comYou Might also like
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The view! The tastes! Visit La Barca Cantina, NYC’s floating Mexican restaurant on the Hudson River
Get a taste of La Barca Cantina, NYC’s floating Mexican restaurant on the Hudson River
On May 4, La Barca Cantina, NYC’s only Mexican restaurant on a boat, re-opens to the public with a summer street food-inspired menu for you and your friends all summer-long.
Taste through the yummy flavors – refreshing agave-based spirits and tasty tacos served onboard the three-story boat in the Hudson River.
La Barca Cantina’s boat embarks at Pier 81, next to its sister-restaurant North River Lobster Company.
La Barca Cantina’s layout
La Barca spans three levels with a spacious outdoor top deck that has a bar and table seating, a bi-level interior space with two bars, table seating and booth-like tables — large groups are welcome.
La Barca Cantina’s cruise offers stunning NYC views
The floating restaurant takes short cruises multiple times per day, five days a week, offering up sweeping views of the NYC skyline. Imagine cocktails at sunset with that view.
The cocktail menu, created by Craig Kanarick and Wesley Rincon, the beverage director for New York Cruise Lines, features agave-based spirits, such as mezcal, tequila, sotol and racilla, with a diverse bottle list and flights for sampling.
Most cocktails can be served in large format to be shared among couples or groups.
The menu is full of crowd-pleaser items like tacos, the grouper ceviche, the four-cheese quesadilla or a “Fiesta Platter,” which comes in two options: the Pollo Barca Fiesta (Mexican-spiced fried whole chicken, chorizo empanadas, chops, yuca fries, jalapenos, onion rings and salsas served on a little boat) and the Tower of Tacos Fiesta.
You can add a margarita pitch for $50.
La Barca Cantina, located at Pier 81 at 41st Street and 12th Avenue will be open five days a week, Thursday through Sunday. It sets sail Thursdays and Fridays at 4, 6 and 8pm; Saturday at 2, 4, 6 and 8pm; and Sunday at 12:30 to 2:30pm for brunch with regular dinner sails from 6 to 8pm.
Tickets go on sale on April 3.
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NYC is getting a Coffee and Margarita Upgrade! Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Reveals Tasty New Flavors in Exclusive Interview for ExpoWest 2023
Yum! Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Reveals Tasty New Flavors in Exclusive Interview for ExpoWest 2023
Say yes if you love coffee. Say yes again if you love cocktails. Say yes a third time if you love ‘em, but wanna be healthier and save some money.
If you said yes to *any* of the above, you’re going to want to listen, because we just had twenty minutes with the woman who makes all those things happen for you.
This week at ExpoWest 2023 Jordan’s Skinny Mixes has a lot to share!
Their Naturally Sweetened line of margarita mixes is made with real lime juice and sweetened with agave and contains 75 % less sugar and calories than other leading brands. The four margarita mixes flavors are Classic, Peach, Spicy, and Strawberry Key Lime, and they do not contain any artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors.
Their natural line of skinny syrups is available in 4 guilt-free flavors, including Vanilla Bean, Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Dolce, and Chocolate Mocha, for your coffee, tea, protein shakes, baking, or just about anything.
Jordan’s Skinny Mixes was founded in 2009 by female entrepreneur Jordan Engelhardt. The beverage brand was created with the simple desire to enjoy a margarita that wasn’t loaded with sugar and empty calories. Now with over 100 products, this female-led team is on a mission to craft beverages that cut the sugar and keep the fun from coffee ‘til cocktails.
Skinny Mixes can now be found in over 13,000 specialty retail locations across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, including Target stores, Skinnymixes.com, and Amazon.
Jordan Engelhardt is an impressive person, so when I had the chance to meet up and have a conversation, it was an easy yes.
Just to give us some background, what were you up to before launching back in 2009?
Back in 2009 I was a recent college graduate working in real estate as an appraiser. I launched this product [Jordan’s Skinny Mixes] right when the recession was basically at its peak. It had just started and the market crashed pretty heavily in Florida where I was living at the time.
So I found myself without work, and this idea that I felt pretty strongly about.
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve navigated in the industry over those 10 years?
Oh, there’s been a lot. The world has evolved much more to natural products, which is why we’re here at Expo West as we just have launched our new natural line so this is pretty big for us.
Also, the customization of flavors over the years have just gotten more and more prevalent.
Millennials, and the population in general, really like the variety of flavors, and being able to customize everything. And then Covid really drove at-home consumption of coffee. So I think all of those trends over the last 10 years have really helped drive this company’s growth.
When Covid forced everyone to stay home, did that become a “lucky opportunity” for the business and boost at-home coffee drinking?
It was certainly fortunate in some ways, but in many other ways [not as much]. We were selling to many grocery accounts. We’re selling to a lot of specialty stores which had no choice but to close their doors. So we lost quite a bit of distribution during that time, but were able to make up for it online [with website e-commerce]. So [with market] penetration and trying to drive consumer growth, in that capacity, yes, it was fortunate. But it was also a little bit scary [for us], like many other businesses at the same time.
What is the biggest misconception in general about skinny mixes?
People don’t necessarily understand the versatility of our syrup and how you can not only use it for coffee, but you can use it for baking and protein shakes, and just anything.
Flavored syrups are great for iced teas. You can simply just add a dash to water and transform your water.
Once we got the samples this week, the amount of random things we’ve tried [the skinny mixes] with just to see how it’d go.
I love it! It’s part of the fun and part of the great relationship we have with our consumers. They
have so much fun experimenting and making these recipes, and then including us on that.
So [experimenting with the syrups on different foods] just became a benefit over the years. It’s certainly something we think about now.
We have this really amazing closed Facebook group that has really active members. It’s called “Skinny mixes. Share your recipe”. You can see the amount of creativity that our users come up with and then they share their recipes.
One person put it with sweet potatoes, they used it on egg sandwiches. Interesting wild things that you would never think about.
Can you share a little bit about the inspiration behind the line and how you develop the flavors?
Yes, of course. We have a great relationship with our consumers, and they asked for it. When they ask, we listen. We do a lot of innovation. We launch a lot of flavors.
So that’s where it came from and it’s really done. We’ve gotten into Target with this line. We take a lot of pride in listening to what our customers want, and this is what they wanted
What’s the development process like for these flavors?
We have several partnerships with different food labs and beverage labs. We start by verbally explaining to them what we’re looking for. We have a big panel at our company and we just do a lot of tasting. It often takes quite a bit of time because we take a lot of pride in making sure it tastes exactly what we were visualizing.
We can come up with anything from “Mermaid” to “Unicorn”. The different food labs across the country are amazing and they make it happen.
It’s a slow, methodical approach. Then we have a larger tasting panel and we keep going until we find just the right mix.
That’s incredible. What’s the timeline from concept to finished product?
It varies widely. It could take a couple of months or it could take over a year. Probably on average, about 4 to 6 months.
Do you ever try to create flavors and they don’t end up working out?
Oh, it happens all the time, especially in the beginning. We’re innovating constantly. Trends change fairly quickly. We’ve been fortunate with a robust website where we can test things quite easily and pivot.
Are there any teases as to what flavors might be next?
Well at the show we’re launching our naturally sweetened flavors. French vanilla, caramel, peppermint, mocha and pumpkin spice. Maybe some new seasonal offerings after that. We’re constantly innovating, constantly looking at new categories.
Switching over to coffee, what inspired you to launch coffee syrups?
12 years ago the company started with cocktail mixes. With the popularity of Starbucks and people going through the drive through and having what they thought was guilt-free drinks but was not necessarily guilt free.
They didn’t realize how many calories they are consuming with their Frappuccino or their latte.
It immediately seemed like another way to really help people not have such a sugar laden beverage every single day.
That’s why the coffee syrup was developed. Since cocktail mixes are so seasonal, coffee syrup is something that consumers consume daily. So it was a natural extension for the product line with the coffee syrup
You have some new coffee flavors launching as well
Listening to the trends and looking at the popularity of the most popular flavors just through our [tasting] panel. and you know, just having a great team that’s out and about, and looking at menus, and using some common sense, if you will, and reading up on trends, it’s then a 3 prong process.
You’re getting a lot of positive attention at ExpoWest. What in your opinion, makes for a successful trade show?
Taking the step to take the risk to be there and have your branding there; and be open to meeting consumers and buyers in the trade. We try to make it fun. So we serve cocktails, and we’re going to be serving espresso Martinis today. Yesterday we served Margaritas, and we had a speakeasy happy hour. It helps people really understand the brand, and come by and see us. I think that’s most important, really put your brand out there and your brand’s personality and just have fun with it.
Can you talk a little bit about the mission behind Jordan’s Skinny Mixes?
Our mission summarized is crafting beverages that cut the sugar and keep the fun for a healthier, more flavorful lifestyle and to make everyday moments simply sweeter.
What is your biggest call to action for the audience?
I’d love the consumers to experiment at home. I’d love for them to make their latte at home. Make that morning coffee at home. So many people will say it’s going to be a better experience.
Try our products. You’re going to save calories. You’re going to save time. You’re going to save money.
Shop Jordan’s Skinny Mixes products online and view recipes at https://www.skinnymixes.com/
Check out Jordan’s Skinny Mixes latest and greatest recipes by following on Instagram – @skinnymixes, Facebook- @skinnymixes, TikTok – TikTok , and Pinterest – @skinnymixes
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America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Annc’s 2022 Awards — ‘Casa Susanna’, ‘How to Save a Dead Friend’, ‘ Fragments of Paradise’ –
America’s largest documentary festival DOC NYC Announces Jury & Audience Awards For 2022 – ‘Casa Susanna’, ‘How to Save a Dead Friend’, ‘ Fragments of Paradise’ among the winners.
DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, revealed the 2022 award winners for its juried U.S. Competition, International Competition, Metropolis, Kaleidoscope, Shorts, Short List: Features, and Short List: Shorts sections, as well as the #MyJustice Film Award. The Festival’s Audience Award winner was also announced.
A complete list is below.
The awards announcement comes after the conclusion of the in-person portion of the festival’s hybrid 13th edition.
DOC NYC’s online screenings run through November 27, with some 90 features available to stream across the United States, including 7 award-winning features; more than 100 of the festival’s short films, including all 5 shorts award winners, are also available online.
For a full schedule of available films, see www.docnyc.net
Ticket and pass information is below. For DOC NYC’s competitive sections, five juries selected films from the festival’s U.S. Competition, International Competition, and Kaleidoscope sections, as well as its long-running Metropolis and Shorts lineups, to recognize for their outstanding achievements in form and content.
The Short List: Features program—a selection of nonfiction films that the festival’s programming team considers to be among the year’s strongest contenders for Oscars and other awards—vied for awards in four categories: Directing, Producing, Cinematography, and Editing, with a Directing prize also awarded in the Short List: Shorts section. The Short List awards were voted on by two juries of filmmaker peers.
JURIED AWARDS, FEATURE FILMS U.S. Competition: The jury selected from among eleven new American nonfiction films in this section.
Grand Jury Prize: Casa Susanna, directed by Sébastien Lifshitz and produced by Muriel Meynard. (U.S. Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Casa Susanna is a beautifully crafted film featuring hauntingly exquisite archival footage. Both cinematic and intimate, it offers a unique way into the trans experience by contrasting nostalgic and past stories through contemporary characters. This approach allowed us to understand how laws and perspectives have changed over the years. What’s more, multi-generational characters helped uncover complexity in the stories and surprising nuance. The film’s narrative elegantly captured the subjects’ resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The Casa was a compelling place of safety, warmth, individuality and camaraderie. The film’s archival material puts you into that world and serves as a time capsule to this moment in time.”
Available online through November 27.
Jurors: Jessica Harrop (Filmmaker, Sandbox Films), Justin Lacob (Head of Development, XTR); Tina Nguyen (VP of Programming, HBO Documentary Films)
Films featured in the U.S. Competition section: 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted a Culture, 26.2 to Life, The 50, Cabin Music, Casa Susanna, Coldwater Kitchen, Dear Thirteen, Dusty & Stones, Loan Wolves, Love in the Time of Fentanyl, Who is Stan Smith?
International Competition: The jury selected from among twelve new international productions in this section.
Grand Jury Prize: How to Save a Dead Friend, directed by Marusya Syroechkovskaya and produced by Ksenia Gapchenko, Mario Adamson. (U.S. Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “For the International Competition prize, we recognize How to Save a Dead Friend as a truly exceptional film.
Marusya Syroechkovskaya’s first-person tale of punk love in Putin’s Russia shines an urgent spotlight on a forsaken generation condemned to a seemingly endless cycle of drug addiction, mental health crisis, and suicide by the repressive structures of the regime. This fiercely candid and moving portrait of two lost individuals who, caught in a spiral of depression, found themselves in each other, begins as a straightforward memoir of a tragic relationship and soon blossoms into an expansive, archival mosaic of Russia’s restive and stifled youth.” Available online through November 27.
Jurors: Edo Choi (Associate Curator of Film, Museum of the Moving Image), Sarah Colvin (Manager, Acquisitions and Business Affairs, NEON), Jonathan Schaerf (Head of Documentaries & Strategic Partnerships, Propagate).
Films featured in the International Competition section: African Moot, Big Fight in Little Chinatown, Children of Las Brisas, Closed Circuit, Destiny, Fati’s Choice, Girl Gang, The Hamlet Syndrome, The Hermit of Treig, How to Save a Dead Friend, Ithaka, Lazaro and the Shark: Cuba Under the Surface.
Kaleidoscope: The jury selected from among seven films in this section, which showcases essayistic and formally adventurous documentaries.
Grand Jury Prize: White Night, directed by Tania Ximena and Yollotl Gómez Alvarado and produced by Julia Cherrier, Mónica Moreno, Julio Chavezmontes. (U.S. Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “We’re pleased to award this year’s Kaleidoscope prize to White Night for its patient, yet urgent emphasis on exhuming buried histories. Poetic pacing, resplendent sound, and expressive cinematography underscore the filmmakers’ thoughtful approach to wrestling with the nuances of community healing in the wake of natural disaster. We found ourselves struck by the intimacy of the relationship between the filmmakers and their collaborators.”
Available online through November 27.
Special Mention: Mother Lode, directed by Matteo Tortone and produced by Alexis Taillant, Nadège Labé, Margot Mecca, and Benjamin Poumey. (North American Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “For its atmospheric clarity and attention to the human costs of extraction, the jury recognizes Mother Lode as a special mention. Stark neorealism blends seamlessly with flashes of the surreal and extra-reality, inviting the viewer to sit with the claustrophobia of capitalist precarity.”
Available online through November 27.
Jurors: Sally Berger (film and media curator); Jon Dieringer (founder and editor-in-chief, Screen Slate), Dessane Lopez Cassell (editor, writer, curator).
Films featured in the Kaleidoscope section: Dark Light Voyage, For Your Own Peace of Mind Make Your Own Museum, I’m People I Am Nobody, It Runs in the Family, Mother Lode, Our Movie (Nuestra película), White Night. Metropolis: The jury selected from among five films in this section, which is dedicated to stories about New Yorkers and New York City.
Grand Jury Prize: Fragments of Paradise, directed by KD Davison and produced by KD Davison, Elyse Frenchman, Leanne Cherundolo, and Matthew O. Henderson. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Fragments of Paradise provides an intimate and intense portrait of an artist whose legacy is intrinsically intertwined with New York. The film offers an immediate and immersive experience of the inner life and history of the late artist Jonas Mekas. Viewers are given a chance to commune with this figure to whom independent cinema is so indebted, and despite covering decades of his life in art, the immediacy of his presence is so rich throughout the film, it almost feels like it’s in the present tense. A poetic film about a poetic artist, Fragments of Paradise twins its subject to great effect.”
Special Mention: In Search of Bengali Harlem, directed by Vivek Bald and Alaudin Ullah. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Films that reveal hidden histories, especially of a metropolis as well-plumbed as New York City, deserve to be celebrated, and In Search of Bengali Harlem is such a documentary. This film is remarkable in the way it tells the decades-long story of the Bengali community’s integration in Harlem, and the way Black and Brown people found each other, peeling back layer after deeply personal layer of one subject’s life. With a charismatic lead and beautiful musical accompaniment, this film provides a unique perspective of the immigrant experience and honors the singular place New York City has held throughout America’s history. ”
Available online through Sunday, November 27.
Jurors: Opal H. Bennet (Co-Producer and Shorts Producer, POV), Molly O’Brien (Head of Documentary, NBC News Studios), Joseph Patel (filmmaker).
Films featured in the Metropolis section: Fragments of Paradise, In Search of Bengali Harlem, Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, Queen of the Deuce, Roberta.
AUDIENCE AWARD
The Audience Award goes to 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted a Culture, directed by Sharon “Rocky” Roggio and produced by Roggio and Jena Serbu. (World Premiere)
Available online through November 27.
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order): 26.2 to Life, directed by Christine Yoo and produced by Yoo, Carolyn Mao, Sara Jane Sluke, Hella Winston (available online through November 27); Gumbo Coalition, directed by Barbara Kopple and produced by Kopple, David Cassidy, Williams Cole, and Ray Nowosielski; Lazaro and the Shark: Cuba Under the Surface, directed by William Sabourin O’Reilly and produced by Bryan Bailey (available online through November 27); and Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, directed by Jennifer Takaki and produced by Takaki and Linda Lew Woo (available online through November 27).
SHORT LIST:
FEATURES AWARDS DOC NYC’s Short List for Features puts the spotlight on 15 documentaries representing the best of the year.
Directing Award: Descendant, directed by Margaret Brown.
Jurors’ statement: “Descendant is about finding Clotilda, the last ship that carried Africans to the United States after slavery had been abolished. In Margaret Brown’s hands, this story comes into full fruition. Committed to giving the descendants of the survivors of Clotilda the space not only to tell their story but to ponder and ask questions out loud, you feel their trust in Margaret – and in return, we put our faith in her too. This collaborative spirit between the seer and the seen bears witness to past horrors while connecting it to present injustices. ”
Producing Award:
Retrograde, produced by Matthew Heineman and Caitlin McNally. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “When almost every producing decision has life or death possibilities, when everyone is rushing to leave Afghanistan, and your film crew is rushing in, yet in spite of these dangers the the producers of Retrograde bring us into the war rooms and out onto the battlefield in a way we will never forget.”
Editing Award:
Fire of Love, edited by Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput.
Jurors’ statement: “A wealth of archival riches detailing the professional and personal passions of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Kraft is handled with deftness and discipline by editors Erin Casper and Jocelyne Chaput. The awe inspiring footage comes together seamlessly with narration and sound, with a rhythm and pacing that leaves the viewer with the sense of the Krafts in communication and relationship with the volcanoes that were the loves of their lives.”
Available online through November 27.
Cinematography Award:
All That Breathes, cinematography by Ben Bernhard, Riju Das, and Saumyananda Sahi.
Jurors’ statement: “The cinematography in All That Breathes is the foundation for a film that feels both expansive and intimate. It is a bellwether for an impending apocalypse and an intimate exploration of two brothers’ commitment and care for living things amidst an existential climate threat. Through the unflinching and patient lens of cinematographers Ben Bernhard, Riju Das, Saumyananda Sahi, we are called from the very first shot to bear witness and not look away.”
Special Mention:
The Janes, directed by Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes, produced by Emma Pildes, Daniel Arcana, and Jessica Levin
Jurors’ statement: “For exceptional editing in making the historical reach of The Janes connect to and shed light on the present day fight for reproductive rights. In spite of women dying and going to prison fighting to get abortions, The Janes celebrates a culture of resistance that can be a winning strategy for us today.”
Jurors: Traci A. Curry (filmmaker), Ramona Diaz (filmmaker), Pamela Yates (filmmaker).
SHORT FILM AWARDS Shorts Competition:
All new short films playing at the festival were eligible for the Shorts Grand Jury Prize, with the exception of DOC NYC U showcases and Short List: Shorts selections.
Grand Jury Prize: Holy Cowboys, directed by Varun Chopra and produced by Anna Hashmi and Varun Chopra. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Holy Cowboys stands out in terms of urgency and craft in filmmaking. The documentary brings to the fore how, under the guise of protecting cows and maintaining purity, acts of violence are used to terrorize a minoritized community. The jury commends Varun Chopra for his courage in making a film that is tragically universal.”
Special Mention: Will You Look at Me, directed and produced by Shuli Huang. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “An emotional montage of nostalgic ramblings and parental verbal abuse, the latter sometimes laid over images of happier family memories and beautiful portraits of his mother to devastating and disarming effect.”
Special Mention: Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles, directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk and produced by Daniel Lombroso. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “Through liturgy, trauma and the works of mercy, the movie provides a window into the invasion in Ukraine where sculptors build anti-tank defense as the war rages in their country.”
The 2022 winning Short film qualifies for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the annual Academy Awards ® without the standard theatrical run (provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules).
Holy Cowboys screens online as part of the Shorts: Animal Farm program; Will You Look at Me and Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles screen online as part of the Shorts:
Process program; all are available through November 27.
Jurors: Jose Hernandez (producer/programmer/curator), Aaron Hunt (VP, dedza films), Poh Si Teng (Executive Editorial Producer, ABC News Studios) Short
Short List: Shorts: DOC NYC’s Short List for Shorts highlights 15 documentary shorts that the festival’s programming team considers the year’s leading awards contenders. Directing Award: As Far As They Can Run, directed by Tanaz Eshaghian, produced by Tanaz Eshaghian and Christoph Jörg. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “The sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the families in this film showed tremendous directorial vision and perseverance. The story gives agency and voice to the participants who have long been marginalized by society. It was also empathetic to the caregivers and the incredible challenges they face. We found the exceptional directing in this film to be deserving of the Grand Jury Prize.”
Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: Our Family Portrait program, through November 27. Special Mention: Anastasia, directed by Sarah McCarthy, produced by Sasha Odynova, and Sarah McCarthy. (NYC Premiere)
Jurors’ statement: “We award special mention for Anastasia’s beautiful and intimate camera work and its observational approach. The film provides a badly needed perspective: the human side of an important political story.”
Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: Migration Stories program, through November 27. Jurors: Julie Cohen (filmmaker), Geeta Gandhbir (filmmaker), Deborah Shaffer (filmmaker).
#MyJustice: DOC NYC partnered with Odyssey Impact® to present the #MyJustice Film Award to Long Line of Ladies (NYC Premiere), directed by Rayka Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome, and produced by Garrett Schiff, Zehtabchi, Sam Davis, and Pimm Tripp-Allen. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize and an Odyssey Impact National Social Impact Campaign, and is made possible with generous support from Paramount/Content for Change Academy.
Odyssey Impact® Statement: “For a female-directed, short documentary giving viewers a rare and stigma-breaking glimpse into a revived indigenous tradition of celebrating and normalizing period conversations of its young women coming of age. This story uplifts the Native American Karuk tribe of Northern California’s multi-generational community and, takes a significant step towards understanding Indigenous Rights and the worldviews of Native and First Nations Peoples. The film shines a much-needed light on the urgency of women’s equality for all.”
Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: Our Family Portrait program, through November 27.
SPONSORS
The festival is made possible by: Leading Media Partners: New York Magazine; The WNET Group Major Sponsors: A&E IndieFilms; HBO Documentary Films; NBC News Studios; Netflix Supporting Sponsors: discovery+; National Geographic Documentary Films;
SHOWTIME® Signature Sponsors: Amazon Studios; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Consulate General of Canada in New York; Frankfurt Kurnit; Hulu; National Geographic; NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment; Participant Signature Media Partners: The New Republic; WNYC Event Sponsors: Cinepolis; 30 for 30 / ESPN Films; Firelight Media; Fox Rothschild LLP; Impact Partners; JustFilms | Ford Foundation; MTV Documentary Films; Odyssey Impact® , Inc.; Reavis Page Jump LLP; SVA – MFA Social Documentary Film; Telefilm Canada; Wheelhouse Creative Friends of the Festival: Agile Ticketing; CineSend; Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY; DCTV; Essentia Water; Fever Content; Kickstarter PBC; Ptex; Shiftboard.
DOC NYC is produced and presented by IFC Center, a division of AMC Networks. To inquire about sponsor or partnership opportunities for DOC NYC, contact Executive Director Raphaela Neihausen at raphaela@docnyc.net.
TICKETS AND PASSES: Festival screenings continue online through November 27.
Tickets and passes may be purchased at docnyc.net/tickets-and-passes.
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