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DOC NYC 2023: Grand Jury Prize Winner ‘Total Trust’ Opens Theatrically Dec 8

By Contributor — 1 year ago

DOC NYC 2023: Grand Jury Prize Winner ‘Total Trust’ Opens Theatrically Dec 8

For two decades, China has implemented cutting-edge security and surveillance to monitor its citizens. In this fascinating and chilling documentary, Jialing Zhang (co-director of ONE CHILD NATION) immerses us in this daily reality: half a billion cameras pointed at the populace, invasive neighborhood watch programs (“Sharp Eyes”), employees monitored for stress levels, and a “social credit” point system that rewards for community service and penalizes perceived societal infractions.

With the assistance of dozens of anonymous locals, Zhang focuses on three courageous women fighting for civil liberties and justice, including independent journalist Sophia Xueqin Huang, one of the first Chinese reporters to investigate #MeToo accusations and subsequently arrested for “inciting subversion of state power.” A bracing portrait of a society for whom privacy is all but extinct and a warning for democracies employing surveillance tools in unprecedented ways.

Zhang is an Emmy-Award nominated independent Chinese filmmaker based in the U.S. She produced IN THE SAME BREATH in 2021 (Oscar® shortlisted); and co-directed/produced the 2019 Film Forum premiere, ONE CHILD NATION (Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, Oscar® shortlisted). Zhang was nominated for two PGA Awards for Outstanding Producer of Documentary and a DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary. She won a Ridenhour documentary Prize in 2020, a duPont-Columbia Award, and a Peabody Award in 2022.

TOTAL TRUST (2023)

Directed by: Jialing Zhang

Produced by: Filmtank (Knut Jäger, Michael Grotenhoff),

Saskia Kress, Jialing Zhang

Co-Produced by: Witfilm, Interactive Media Foundation, ZDF/arte, NTR Cinematography by: Cuier (Anonymous), RCS (Anonymous), J.V. Chi (Anonymous)

Edited by: Barbara Toennieshen

Genre: World Cinema/Documentary

RT: 97 minutes

Language: Chinese with English Subtitles

DOC NYC ANNOUNCES JURY AWARDS
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DOC NYC ANNOUNCES JURY AWARDS FOR 2023; Big Winners Mediha, Total Trust

By Katie Macken — 1 year ago

DOC NYC ANNOUNCES JURY AWARDS FOR 2023

DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, revealed the 2023 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 (complete list below). The festival’s Audience Award winner will be announced in the coming days.

TOTAL TRUST RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION GRAND JURY PRIZE

TOTAL TRUST RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION GRAND JURY PRIZE

The awards announcement comes on the eve of the closing night of the festival’s hybrid 14th edition. DOC NYC’s online screenings run through November 26, with some 90 features available to stream across the United States, including eight of the festival’s award-winners and more than 100 of the festival’s short films, including all six shorts award-winners. Many of the award winners also have in-person screenings in the final two days of the festival.

For a full schedule of available films, see www.docnyc.net. Ticket and pass information is below.

LUCHA: A WRESTLING TALE TAKES METROPOLIS GRAND JURY PRIZE

LUCHA: A WRESTLING TALE TAKES METROPOLIS GRAND JURY PRIZE

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 five categories: Directing, Producing, Cinematography, Editing, and Score, 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. New for 2023, the DOC NYC U film student screenings were restyled as a competition. 

ZINZINDURRUNKARRATZ WINS KALEIDOSCOPE GRAND JURY PRIZE

ZINZINDURRUNKARRATZ WINS KALEIDOSCOPE GRAND JURY PRIZE

JURIED AWARDS, FEATURE FILMS

U.S. Competition: The jury selected from among 10 new American nonfiction films in this section.

Grand Jury Prize: Mediha, directed by Hasan Oswald and produced by Hasan Oswald, Annelise Mecca, Fahrinisa Campana, Alexander Spiess, and Stephen Nemeth. (World Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “Mediha is a person and a film that you will think about long after it ends. Hasan Oswald’s portrait of Mediha, one of many women and children survivors of the ISIS orchestrated genocide against the Yazidis, is a truly collaborative project in which Mediha tells her own harrowing story, and finds her own activist voice in the process. The film shines a light on the trauma of war and the difficult struggle to overcome it, while exploring the psychological complications of captivity of these women and children. This extremely careful and nuanced portrait of the experience of different generations of women resonated deeply with us. We are proud to give the U.S. Competition Grand Jury Prize to Mediha, and we sincerely congratulate the talent and courage of the team in bringing this story to the world.”

Available online through November 26.

Special Mention: Happy Campers, directed/produced by Amy Nicholson. (World Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “Amy Nicholson’s Happy Campers is a truly cinematic film with a strong directorial sensibility and a genuine auteur’s stamp that celebrates, mourns, and memorializes a beloved working-class seaside refuge about to undergo redevelopment. The film beautifully captures the life, spirit, and charm of the Inlet View Campground. The U.S. Jury chose it for special mention as the film is a genuine delight to watch in today’s turbulent times.”

Available online through November 26.

Jurors: Violet du Feng (Emmy-winning filmmaker), Meredith Kaulfers (EVP of Current Production, Imagine Documentaries), David Winn (Head of the News & Documentary Emmy Awards) 

Films featured in the U.S. Competition section: 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime, The Cowboy and the Queen, Happy Campers, How to Come Alive With Norman Mailer, Mediha, Obsessed With Light, The Riot Report, Shaken, Taking Venice, and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow.

International Competition: The jury selected from among 10 new international productions in this section.

Grand Jury Prize: Total Trust, directed by Jialing Zhang, produced by Knut Jäger, Michael Grotenhoff, Saskia Kress, Jialing Zhang. (U.S. Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “Courageously told with spectacular access, Total Trust speaks to power in its story of the stifling effect that Chinese government surveillance has on its citizens–while also highlighting the voices of resistance. Though the film provides a wealth of new insight into the regime’s policies, the judges were even more captivated by its use of character and emotionally rich scenes to reveal the human consequences of surveillance society. They commended its delicate balancing of the personal and political, notably contrasted in the claustrophobic sense conveyed in the small spaces occupied by its characters and wide shots capturing the massive spectacle of state displays. This is a film that not only explores government’s monitoring as an issue, it skillfully demonstrates its repercussions, particularly on the children who will inherit its legacy. Citing its bravery and artistry, the judges bestow Total Trust with this year’s International Jury Award.”

Available online through November 26.

Special Mention: Al Djanat – The Original Paradise, directed by Chloé Aïcha Boro, produced by Frédéric Féraud, Aïcha Boro, and Faissol Gnonlonfin. (U.S. Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “Beautifully crafted and edited, Al Djanat – The Original Paradise, follows filmmaker Chloé Aïcha Boro as she returns to her homeland, Burkina Faso, after the death of her uncle. The judges praised Boro’s engaging and seamless tracing of conflicts—family, political and philosophical–in a story that’s both specific and personal yet deeply universal.”

Available online through November 26

Jurors: Michael Graversen (filmmaker), Ruchi Mital (producer and founder of Solani Media), David Siev (filmmaker).

Films featured in the International Competition section: Al Djanat – The Original Paradise, The Caravan, Dalton’s Dream, Dancing On The Edge Of A Volcano, The Dmitriev Affair, The Home Game, Le Spectre de Boko Haram, Neirud, Someone Lives Here, and Total Trust.

Metropolis: The jury selected from among eight films in this section, which is dedicated to stories about New Yorkers and New York City.

Grand Jury Prize: Lucha: A Wrestling Tale, directed/produced by Marco Ricci. (World Premiere) 

Jurors’ statement: “The story of four members of the Taft High School women’s wrestling team, the Bronx-set Lucha: A Wrestling Tale landed the Metropolis Award for its compelling characters, sense of community, and intimate, but not imposing, approach to the verite style. The judges were especially impressed with the way the film doesn’t shy from the difficult realities faced by the young women, who are allowed to struggle and show their flaws – making them more powerful. Director Marco Ricci follows the story over the course of three years, which allows us to witness the characters’ growth and change, but we never sense intrusiveness, as the film instead bravely lets its moments play out, even the toughest ones.”

Available online through Sunday, November 26.

Jurors: Giselle “Hush” Bailey (filmmaker), Julia Solomonoff (filmmaker and chair of NYU Tisch Grad Film), Amanda Spain (VP of Longform Acquisitions, MSNBC Films).

Films featured in the Metropolis section: Ashima, Confessions of a Good Samaritan, Diversity Plaza, Holding Back The Tide, Lucha: A Wrestling Tale, Nathan-ism, Psychedelicized: The Electric Circus Story, and Scooter Laforge: a life of art.

Kaleidoscope: The jury selected from among five films in this section, which showcases essayistic and formally adventurous documentaries.

Grand Jury Prize: Zinzindurrunkarratz, directed/produced by Oskar Alegria. (New York Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “In Oskar Alegria’s dreamlike documentary Zinzindurrunkarratz (a brilliant onomatopoeia word) we journey with the filmmaker through a Basque countryside that is transformed into a metaphysical landscape as he attempts to retrieve memories using an old camera. Alegria encourages us to contemplate the distinct dichotomies between past and present, rural and urban, haptic and cerebral. In this way, the film comes together somewhere amidst Alegria’s mind, the screen and our consciousness. In the process, we find ourselves in an ecstatic awareness of the way that silence, sound and image can be together and apart, always transforming. Both entrancing and poignant, Zinzindurrunkarratz made us ponder what constitutes a film, and closely observe our perception. For all of these reasons, we recognize it as the winning Kaleidoscope film at 2023 DOC NYC.”

Available online through November 26.

Jurors: Irena Kovarova (film programmer, producer and writer); José F. Rodriguez (senior film programmer, Tribeca Festival), Lynne Sachs (filmmaker and poet). 

Films featured in the Kaleidoscope section: Grasshopper Republic, Megaheartz, The Walk, A Wolfpack Called Ernesto, and Zinzindurrunkarratz. 

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: While We Watched, directed by Vinay Shukla.

Jurors’ statement: “This superbly crafted story of a broadcast journalist in India who is battling a tide of disinformation uses intimate cinematography to drive a gripping dramatic tension. The story is local and yet completely universal. As the film progresses we are reminded that struggles for freedom and protection of truth are occurring all around the world. For its elegant yet painfully perceptive storytelling, the Directing Award goes to While We Watched.”

Available online through November 26.

Producing Award: While We Watched, produced by Vinay Shukla, Khushboo Ranka, and Luke Moody.

Jurors’ statement: “This film seeks the truth behind the veil of politicized ethics, ideology and propaganda. Against the backdrop of a crumbling newsroom, we witness exceptional courage and perseverance day after day. Despite death threats and condemnation, we find a vulnerable and beautiful vision that holds both craft and story close. The Producing Award is presented to While We Watched.”

Available online through November 26.

Editing Award: Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, edited by Terra Long and Lawrence Jackman.

Jurors’ statement: “To bring the life, times and work of a fearless American original to the big screen, it takes a rich, deep and wild visual language. The unfettered imagination on display in this film’s editing beautifully evokes the vision of the woman at its heart. The Editing Award goes to Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.

Cinematography Award: The Mother of All Lies, cinematography by Hatem Nechi.

Jurors’ statement: “Shooting a tightly focused personal film about a family is difficult; capturing big political events in a compelling way is just as demanding. But when long-ago public crimes poison the home life of three generations, making the connection visible is a virtuoso achievement. For the evocative image-making—of faces, of memories, of re-created, revised and rebuilt history—that makes the political vividly personal, the Cinematography Award goes to The Mother of All Lies.”

Available online through November 26.

Score Award: The Eternal Memory, music by Miguel Miranda and José Miguel Tobar.

Jurors’ statement: “The heart-piercing and unforgettable score for The Eternal Memory exhibits the type of playful togetherness we imagine is at the core of all eternal romances. As we journey through this world, the score is one continuous movement and an expressive thread, crafted with intimacy and delicate respect.”

Special Mention for Editing: The Disappearance of Shere Hite, edited by Eileen Meyer.

Jurors’ statement: “This film weaves together a cinematic tapestry that is as elegant as its protagonist. The result is an immersive story that reveals the true story of a woman the patriarchy tried to erase. For its lyrical creativity, a special mention for editing is presented to The Disappearance of Shere Hite.”

Jurors: Su Kim (producer), Mary Manhardt (editor, professor and consultant), Dawn Porter (filmmaker and founder of Trilogy Films).

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: Mountain Man, directed/produced by Arun Bhattarai. (North American Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “The beautifully crafted, observational Mountain Man impressed the jury with its intimate and almost fable-like story of a glaciologist in Bhutan who regularly leaves his family behind to trek into the country’s sacred mountains to measure the rapidly melting glaciers. With a subtle approach, and an inter-generational lens to this one family’s tale, the jury noted how filmmaker Arun Bhattarai thoughtfully brings the audience a story about climate change and our global interconnectedness to this urgent issue.”

The 2023 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).

Special Mention: When a Rocket Sits on the Launch Pad, directed by Bohao Liu, produced by Bohao Liu and Gene Gallerano. (NYC Premiere)

Jurors’ statement: “Exquisitely shot and artistically styled, When A Rocket Sits On The Launch Pad earned the judges’ admiration for its insightful depiction of the hurdles and challenges that Chinese culture places in front of a typical teenage girl.”

Mountain Man screens online as part of the Shorts: Our Climate/Our Crisis program; When a Rocket Sits on the Launch Pad screens online as part of the Shorts: Changing Tides program; both are available through November 26. 

Jurors: Aurora Brachman (director/cinematographer), Nick Canfield (filmmaker), Debra McClutchy (filmmaker and archival producer).

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: Ayenda, directed by Marie Margolius, produced by Marie Margolius and Connor Schell. 

Jurors’ statement: “Thrilling but never sensationalized, Ayenda traces the story of the members of a girls soccer team who flee their home country of Afghanistan—and the Taliban—to continue their pursuit of the sport. The judges praised the filmmaking as elegantly observed and empathetic, commending director Marie Margolius for the intimacy achieved in her interviews, as well as their cinematic execution. The danger feels imminent, and the action unspools humanely, a credit to both the artistry and directive of Margolius and her team in crafting an honest testament to the girls’ bravery.”

Available online in the Shortlist Shorts: New Beginnings program, through November 26.

Jurors: Mark Becker (director, story consultant and editor), Katja Esson (filmmaker), Tyler Walk (editor).

DOC NYC U Competition.  DOC NYC U features ten short documentaries from students across the five boroughs. Restyled as a competition for the first time this year, this year’s program featured finalists from Brooklyn College, Columbia University, Hunter College, The New School, New York Film Academy, Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts.

This year’s inaugural competition was adjudicated by veteran documentary and TV series director and producer R.J. Cutler, founder of This Machine.

DOC NYC U Award: I Told You So, directed by Malak AlSayyad and Amaan Stewart, produced by Malak AlSayyad, Amaan Stewart, and Loren Townsley. (Columbia University)

R.J. Cutler’s statement on the selection of I Told You So for the DOC NYC U Award: “For its deep empathy, its boldly personal yet universal honesty, and its unleashing of the power of cinema verite storytelling.”

Available online in the Shorts: DOC NYC U – Portraits program, through November 26.

Special Mention: It Smells Like Springtime, directed/produced by Mackie Mallison. (Pratt Institute) 

R.J. Cutler’s statement on the special mention for It Smells Like Springtime: “For its poetic cinematic power, as well as its stunning use of visual and aural landscapes.”

Available online in the Shorts: DOC NYC U – Rebirth program, through November 26.

Subject Matter: DOC NYC partnered with Subject Matter to present a $20,000 grant from Subject Matter to 36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime, directed by Tarek Albaba, to support the film’s audience outreach and impact efforts, along with a corresponding grant of $20,000 to Our Three Winners, a nonprofit organization that is addressing the topics featured in the film. DOC NYC audience members joined Subject Matter in supporting Our Three Winners with over $4,000 in donations at the world premiere of the film.

#MyJustice: DOC NYC partnered with Odyssey Impact® to present the #MyJustice Film Award to Breaking Silence, directed by Amy Bench and Annie Silverstein, and produced by Amy Bench and Monique Walton. 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, by way of a healed relationship between a deaf father and hearing daughter, a unique insight into the incarcerated deaf community and an inspiring father’s quest to help others and reunite his family. The film reverberates with kindness and compassion that drive towards advocacy for the communication challenges faced by prisoners with hearing disabilities, gives hopeful opportunities for prison reform and healing for families and people carrying unresolved trauma. Breaking Silence’s urgent and uplifting delivery earned it top prize this year for a stand out social justice film with a clear call to action to inspire change.

“Breaking Silence” is available online in the Shorts: Inside and Out program, through November 26.

TICKETS AND PASSES
Festival tickets and passes may be purchased at docnyc.net/tickets-and-passes. 

In-person Screenings: 

Closing Night (South to Black Power) screening: $30 General Public/$25 IFC Center Members 

Other festival films: $20 General Admission/$18 Seniors & Children/$16 IFC Center Members, unless otherwise noted.

All screenings in the Short List: Features, Short List: Shorts, and DOC NYC U sections, as well as all Monday-Friday screenings starting before 5:00pm: $13 General Admission/$10 IFC Center members 

Online screenings: 
$13 General Public/$9 IFC Center Members  

Passes and Ticket Packs:  
Online Film Pass $250 
Grants access to all the films screening on the festival’s virtual platform, November 8-26. 

Online Shorts Pass $49 
Grants access to all short films screening on the festival’s virtual platform, November 8-26. On sale November 1. 

Five-Ticket Package for Online Screenings $50
Ten-Ticket Package for Online Screenings $90 
A package of 5 or 10 online tickets at a special discount price. 

DOC NYC PRO Day Pass $125 
Grants access to a single DOC NYC PRO day-long programming track, plus complimentary access, space permitting, to the Festival Lounge for that day, including the day’s Breakfast and Happy Hour.

SPONSORS

The festival is made possible by:

Leading Media Partners: New York Magazine; The WNET Group 

Major Sponsors: A&E IndieFilms; HBO Documentary Films; Netflix

Supporting Sponsors: National Geographic Documentary Films

Signature Sponsors: 11th Hour Racing; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Consulate General of Canada in New York; Frankfurt Kurnit; Hulu; NBC News Studios; National Geographic; NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment; Participant

Signature Media Partners: The New Republic; WNYC

Event Sponsors: Amazon MGM Studios; Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP; 30 for 30 / ESPN Films; Fox Rothschild LLP; Impact Partners; JustFilms | Ford Foundation; Kickstarter PBC; MTV Documentary Films; Odyssey Impact®; Portrait Creative Network; Prestige Custom Awards; Reavis Page Jump LLP; Screen Nova Scotia; Subject Matter; SVA – MFA Social Documentary Film; Telefilm Canada; Village East by Angelika; Wheelhouse Creative

Friends of the Festival: Agile Ticketing; CineSend; DCTV; Fever Content; Posteritati; Ptex; Shiftboard

DOC NYC is produced and presented by IFC Center, a division of AMC Networks.

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DOC NYC 2023: Shari and Lamb Chop World Premiere Nov 11

By Contributor — 1 year ago

DOC NYC 2023: Shari and Lamb Chop World Premiere Nov 11.

Shari Lewis was a dancer, singer, and magician but is best known as the ventriloquist behind sock puppets Charlie Horse, Hush Puppy and, of course, Lamb Chop. This lively doc charts the life, loves, and career hits and misses of this spunky perfectionist, who forever changed the face of children’s television. Featuring ventriloquists who she inspired and nostalgia-inducing clips, this upbeat portrait of brilliant Bronx native turned beloved TV personality brims, like Lewis, with warmth and charm. – Karen McMullen

The first screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Lisa D’Apolito, subject’s daughter Mallory Lewis, and special guest Lamb Chop. The second screening will be followed by a Q&A with Lisa D’Apolito.

This film contains the following accessibility options for viewers:
Closed Captioning for in-person screenings at IFC Center and Village East by Angelika
Descriptive Audio for in-person screenings at IFC Center and Village East by Angelika
Closed Captioning for online screenings

All in-person screening venues provide sound amplification headphones upon request with venue management. IFC Center can also provide a T-Coil loop for compatible devices.

Director: Lisa D’Apolito
Executive Producer: Nigel Sinclair, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Joseph Mellicker, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, Bob Valentine, Sophia Dilley, Wesley Adams, Michael Cho, Mimi Rode, Tim Lee, Caitlin Gold, Naomi McDougall Jones, Lindsay Lanzillotta, Carlene C. Laughlin, Steve Cohen, Paula Froehle, Benjamin J. Murphy, Robert Dietz (Co-Executive Producer), Scott Pascucci (Co-Executive Producer), Charles Hopkins (Co-Executive Producer)
Producer: Cassidy Hartmann, Nicholas Ferrall, Morris Ruskin, Douglas Warner, Lisa D’Apolito
Cinematographer: Anne Etheridge
Editor: Andrea Lewis
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Year: 2023
Sales Agent: CAA
Zayn Malik launches a custom Lychee Martini flavor, joins Mixoloshe
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Zayn Malik launches a custom Lychee Martini flavor, joins Mixoloshe as Chief Creative Officer and Co-Owner

By Katie Macken — 1 year ago

Zayn Malik joins Mixoloshe as Chief Creative Officer and Co-Owner

The global superstar launches a custom Lychee Martini flavor, with a unique can design inspired by his own tattoos.

The fast-rising, award winning non alcoholic beverage brand, made with clean ingredients and nothing artificial will make its retail debut at Walmart, launching across the US with the retailer by end of October

Mixoloshe, a female founded and award winning non-alcoholic beverage brand, announces its partnership with celebrated award-winning artist and entrepreneur Zayn Malik, who has joined the company as the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and Co-Owner. 

The partnership will center around reshaping the narrative of the non-alcoholic beverage industry, as well as deep creative collaboration on marketing initiatives and upcoming flavor launches. 

Additionally, Mixoloshe will launch in 500 Walmart stores across the country, marking the brand’s anticipated retail debut. 

Zayn’s first flavor launch is a non-alcoholic Lychee Martini, a refreshing and exotic drink, that is sweet, floral, and slightly tropical. The can design is also captivating and unique, featuring replica illustrations of his own most beloved tattoos.

Mixoloshe was founded in 2022 to redefine the booming non-alcoholic drink category with a clean, alcohol-free take on cocktails and premium spirits that taste like the real thing. 

Their collection offers a non-alcoholic range of popular cocktails, such as a Mojito, Old Fashioned, Gin & Tonic, and Margarita, as well as non-alcoholic Tequila, Whisky, and Gin, all made with real ingredients, and low in sugar, calories. 

 

Mixoloshe’s soft seltzers and non-alcoholic spirits have been recognized globally as best in class, and in 2023 they were honored with the Bartenders Spirits Gold Award, Ascot Award Gold for Taste, and the SIP Awards in Gold, Silver, and Bronze, to name a few. Their collection includes 8 canned non-alcoholic cocktail varieties, including the newly launched Lychee Martini flavor, and three bottled non alcoholic premium spirits.

 

“The non-alcoholic beverage market is ready for disruption, which can create immense growth potential. We see consumers already shifting preferences towards healthier and alcohol-free alternatives, which provides an opportunity for a brand like MIXOLOSHE to redefine this industry. I could not be more excited about the chance to make some noise in the category of non-alcoholic beverages and build one of the most talked about drinks in the world.” – Zayn Malik

 

“Zayn is a creative visionary both in music and beyond. His passion for innovation and his ability to captivate audiences will undoubtedly help us redefine the narrative around the non alcoholic beverage category, with a fresh perspective on making healthy lifestyle choices and living well, irrespective of your beverage preferences,” said Kristina Roth, MIXOLOSHE Founder and CEO. “I’m looking forward to working alongside him and shaping a future for this category where the glass is always half full of possibilities.”

Soft seltzers are available in a 12 pack, and retail for $29.99. Non-alcoholic spirits are available in a 750 ml bottle and retail for $29.99.

 For more information, please visit: mixoloshe.com.

Mixoloshe is a female-founded line of non-alcoholic seltzers and spirits that are formulated to taste and smell boozy without the booze. Whether you’re booze-free forever or just for the night, these drinks are the perfect inclusive answer to an age old question—what are we drinking? High in flavor and low in calories, MIXOLOSHE packs a party into every can of soft seltzer and bottle of non-alcoholic spirits. With a mission and ingredients that are anything but fake, the brand offers booze-free cocktail alternatives that taste like the real thing. Party tonight with no regrets tomorrow.

 

 

“Sip For Solidarity” To Support Israeli Wineries and Raise Money For Israeli Relief Efforts
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“Sip For Solidarity” To Support Israeli Wineries and Raise Money For Israeli Relief Efforts

By Contributor — 1 year ago

“Sip For Solidarity” To Support Israeli Wineries and Raise Money For Israeli Relief Efforts

The world of wine in Israel, perhaps the oldest wine-producing region in the world, has always represented a sense of peace and goodwill but has become collateral damage of the horrible atrocities that occurred on October 7th.

The world of wine in Israel, perhaps the oldest wine-producing region in the world, has always represented a sense of peace and goodwill but has become collateral damage of the horrible atrocities that occurred on October 7th.

To raise awareness and in support of Israel and Israeli wineries, the Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA), a trade organization promoting Israeli wineries through wine education and events, is asking consumers to “Sip For Solidarity.”

“Sip For Solidarity”

The massacre has had an immediate, concrete impact, particularly on picking, sorting and winemaking teams. Harvest had begun shortly before the attacks, which meant that the sorting, crushing and fermentation processes, were, in many cases, done under the constant threat of attack and bombardment.

For many wineries, production teams have been hollowed out as the young men and women who normally would be shepherding the crucial winemaking process have called up to help defend the nation.

“Winemaking has its own schedule, unlike other industries where you can pause production or run with limited staff. Grapes grow and ripen when they do; the winemaking process is very hands-on. Without staff, many wineries face an impending crisis.” said Joshua Greenstein, the Vice President of the IWPA.

“Additionally, wine is usually something enjoyed when you go out to eat or to a party, and people in Israel aren’t feeling particularly celebratory these days. It’s catastrophic not just for this years’ sales, but for the vintages harvesting now that won’t be ready for sale for years to come.”

 “Buy a bottle of Israeli wine.

…we’re donating 10% of every case shipped from November 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 to Israeli relief efforts.

Joshua Greenstein,

Vice President of the IWPA

Asked what people can do to help, Mr. Greenstein said:

 “Buy a bottle of Israeli wine. Not only will the purchase help the wineries, but we’re donating 10% of every case shipped from November 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 to Israeli relief efforts.

“…With the wine consuming public’s support, these challenges are surmountable, and wineries will still craft wines that accurately and deliciously reflect the character of the vintage and of Israel, just as they always have.”

#DrinkIsrael

Israel has been able to blend their ancient history with the most modern technology to produce some of the finest wines available and become one of the fastest-growing winemaking regions in the world.

The Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA) represents Israeli wines with a unified voice. To communicate, educate, market, and expose US customers and consumers to Israel as a world-class wine region. The IWPA represents 30+ Israeli wineries ranging from boutique to the largest producer. Follow @IsraeliWine for the latest from the IWPA.

Hunted Alba White Truffles -- Chilli No. 5 Unveils Limited Great Taste Award-Winning Hot Sauce
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Taste Hunted Alba White Truffles — Chilli No. 5 Unveils Limited Award-Winning Hot Sauce

By Katie Macken — 1 year ago

Hunted Alba White Truffles — Chilli No. 5 Unveils Limited Great Taste Award-Winning Hot Sauce

Chilli No. 5 launches a new batch of 50 bottles of magnificent White Truffle Hot Sauce to compete with Truff, the industry leader and USA truffle sauce master.

The only difference is Chilli No. 5 uses real white truffles from Alba in the Piemont and has won the Great Taste Award in 23.

Priced at £25/30€/$ per 100ml, it solidifies its position as one of the priciest and fanciest hot sauces in the global market.

 

Every October, Chilli No. 5 founder Rumble Romagnoli visits Alba in Northern Italy to hunt and handpick white and black truffles that are used to make a yearly batch of the Chilli No. 5 White Truffle Hot sauce.

Truffle Hunter - Renzo, and Lagotto Romagnolo truffle dog - Charlie

Truffle Hunter – Renzo, and Lagotto Romagnolo truffle dog – Charlie

The team has a dedicated Truffle Hunter – Renzo, and Lagotto Romagnolo truffle dog – Charlie to find the best truffles in the world. They also benefit from access to the truffle forest that has belonged to Renzo’s family for generations.

“Truffles are like diamonds. They cannot be made.

You have to find them.

Rumble Romagnoli

founder

“…Each one is unique. Close your eyes and bring the forest to life with this uber-umami white truffle sauce unmatched so far in the industry.” – Rumble Romagnoli founder says.

Romagnoli adds “You can understand that no expense was spared in sourcing the finest white truffles, carefully handpicked to ensure their unparalleled quality and aroma. Blended with a mix of fresh mushrooms such as Porcini, Ceps, Chantrelles, Girolles, and Morilles, this creation is a true culinary gem.”

According to the Great Taste Award Judges “It becomes clear very quickly that this sauce has been made with real skill. The truffle is very much present but tamed at all times. The additional mushrooms combine for a really characterful sauce that offers umami in spades but has some acidity, tang and sweetness too. On top of all this artistry, there’s the late and subtle arrival of chilli heat to round it all off. This is a very complex sauce, but very accessible too.”

This unique White Truffle Hot Sauce will be a versatile addition to kitchens, grills, and BBQs all over the world used not only as a condiment, but also as marinade, and a BBQ sauce. Traditionally, truffle is used on plain pasta, risotto, or grilled meats to enhance the complexity of this unique flavour. The intoxicating aroma and robust, earthy flavour of white truffles create a truly sensory experience that will transport you to a world of culinary luxury.

Chilli No. 5’s White Truffle Sauce is a limited-edition offering, available for a limited time as only 50 bottles are produced each season. This new batch left the Chilli No. 5 kitchens today, so don’t miss the opportunity to add this rare delight to your upcoming culinary repertoire.

Chilli No. 5’s White Truffle Sauce is the perfect choice for discerning home cooks, food enthusiasts, and those seeking to impress guests with a touch of decadence. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, hosting an intimate dinner party, or simply indulging in a gourmet home-cooked meal, this sauce will leave a lasting impression.

This limited-edition White Truffle Hot sauce goes with everything and is perfect for a chilli sauce gift in its designer sustainable packaging.

To explore the rich flavors of Chilli No. 5’s White Truffle Sauce and elevate your culinary creations, visit Chilli No. 5’s Website.

 

Legendary Restauranteur Joseph Costanzo Jr. Reveals all in Fine Dining Memoir "On The Rocks"
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Legendary Restauranteur Joseph Costanzo Jr. Reveals all in Fine Dining Memoir “On The Rocks”

By Contributor — 1 year ago

Legendary Pittsburgh Restauranteur Joseph Costanzo Jr. Reveals all in his Tasty Memoir with “On The Rocks”

On the Rocks chronicles the real-life journey of restaurateur Joseph Costanzo Jr., from his rise to success in the 1990s as a owner of the highly acclaimed Primadonna Restaurant, radio host, columnist, and aspiring politician to his sharp fall in the early 2000s, ending in an investigation and a stint in federal prison.

Costanzo is a complex character, whom readers will admire for his confidence and rebuke for his arrogance, will love for his generosity and despise for his egotism, and will learn from in both his attention to detail and lack thereof.

This driven, not-your-average-Joe is an unforgettable character who achieves the seemingly impossible but can’t help getting in his own way. Come along with Joe for a bumpy ride on the rocks

On the Rocks: The Primadonna Story, co-written by Maria C. Palmer and Ruthie Robbins is available now on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart, Target.  Signed copies at the Heinz History Center. Also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Today, we’re having a conversation with all three: Joseph Costanzo Jr., co-writers Maria C. Palmer and Ruthie Robbins.

The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.  Find the un-edited conversation on our FlavRReport YouTube channel.

Something that I find amazing, this book has been 17 years in the process. Is that an accurate piece of trivia?

Maria C. Palmer: 100%. Yes, that is a very accurate piece of trivia.

So way back 17 years ago, what sparked this for you?

Maria C. Palmer: A couple of things. I think that because the restaurant was such a significant part of our lives, and it was always the highlight of my father’s life. Once it went away, the spark kind of went away, too. And I wanted to bring that back in my Dad. So I started asking him lots of questions about his life. Specifically for a family history. At the time, being a writer myself, in addition to grant writing, I’m also a writer and I can really spot a good story that has commercial value.

On The Rocks co-author Maria C. Palmer

On The Rocks co-author Maria C. Palmer

There were just so many wonderful elements to his story. So I started recording some vignettes of different things that had happened throughout his life. But not really knowing and or intending at the time that it would be a book. 

But as we went on, I saw that the potential was there and I was lucky enough to still be in contact with my former teacher, Ruthie Dines Robbins and brought the project to her and asked her if she would be willing to work on it with me.

It was really from there that we decided it would become a book and that we would work together diligently for probably 10 years together.

Ruthie Robbins: I’m only 7 years.

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: They had it in Maria’s voice originally. Ruthie was in a book club and they said, “Put it in Joe’s voice and they had to go back and change the whole book.”  I watched 11, 000 emails back and forth. 

Ruthie Robbins: We were not primarily emailing. We were mostly talking and texting, and that year was the pandemic year. So I was off teaching that winter and the following fall.

 

Before we get into the restaurant itself, what was the writing process like?

Maria C. Palmer: I can speak to the family history and just the overall process of it. It was really challenging. Because whenever you’re writing a memoir or a biography, You’re not writing a Wikipedia page. So it’s not from the time somebody is born until the time that they pass away.

You’re picking the most poignant time in their lives. Not only cherry picking all the good things that happened during that time period, but you’re picking some of the challenges too, because that’s what makes a good story. 

It was challenging to figure out what the storyline was going to be and sometimes to tell those hard parts of the story.

What was even more challenging, was just the nebulous nature of the publishing industry.  I just thought you wrote a book, it’s on Amazon and then people buy it. And that could not be further from the truth. Query letters.  Polished one page, a 90,000 word manuscript.  A whole book proposal.  An entire business plan of why we’re writing the book and why it’s going to sell into the market. Requiring that much to not even get a thanks,, but just no response whatsoever.

Ruthie Robbins: Totally agree. The writing was not arduous part because Maria and I get along so well.. We’re real partners, but this publishing thing.  We really didn’t understand the process, so it is difficult, and especially in this genre, [competing with] the celebrities and athletes and reality stars who wrote memoirs.  They want a name on the shelf that someone will pick up in a bookstore. 

 

Mr. Costanzo, one of my favorite parts of this book is the wine mentions.  Tell us your “Pin on the wall” story.

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: Yeah we’re in a tough neighborhood, but we brought in a lot of people outside the area and upscale people,  limos, what have you. 

I had a bus boy and he was a really good worker. He became a server and he came to me after he got the drink order and said, ”what’s a pin on the wall?”

I never heard of a “Pin on the Wall”. So we went to the bartender. He didn’t know either.  We looked it up, nothing. 

So I went out there to ask the customers, so we could make it for them  – and one of the most mortal sins at the Primadonna was making Joe Costanzo look bad – I said, excuse me what’s in a Pin on a Wall and they all started laughing. The guy said, “Pinot Noir.”

They’re laughing at me.  That’s bad. So I went in and I really did a job on this kid.  My wife grabbed me by my tie and pushed me downstairs to my office.

I was in this kid’s face because he really wasn’t real serious about the situation.  If you’re going to be the best at what you’re doing, you can’t be messing up like that.

He ended up being great.  Chris, who was the server, became a maitre’d and a great employee of mine.  He was very loyal. I really went overboard with him and I did feel bad about it. 

 

Reviews are incredibly important.  The amount of work and effort you put in to get your Four Forks Review. Tell us a little bit about what happened.

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: Because the area was an old steel town which had a reputation of a lot of fighting, a lot of drinking, a lot of drugs, nobody would come into that area to eat.

I knew I needed credibility, and the only way I would get credibility was through the Pittsburgh Post, because the dining critic, Mike Kalina,  who was a syndicated columnist, had tremendous credibility. KDKA TV, Post Gazette, New York Daily News.

For two and a half years, I kept reaching out to him.  This is in a time before cell phones and emails.

But I knew if he comes down and gives us a good review, people from outside the area, from the upscale areas of the city are going to come in.  That’s what happened. 

But he did say to me, “You deserve four, but I’ll only give you three because you’ll never handle the business.” 

That Friday night, June 3rd 1988, he was 100 percent right. People were lined up at the door. I was used to doing 10-15 dinners a night. We did over 200 dinners that night and it was a total joke. People waited two and a half hours. When food came out of the kitchen, people actually applauded. People were begging me to get him a bottle of vodka because they couldn’t get a drink at the bar. 

We were short of service. We were short of bartenders. I made it all work in the next couple of weeks and I hired people.

 

I don’t want to ruin the upcoming movie or TV series, but when you trimmed it down, how much heartbreak was there in cutting out so many stories?

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: It was very tough. We had a book signing in August. I kept telling people they were in the book, and they were in the draft I read.  But there were final touches that I didn’t see and we lost a lot of names and alot of stories.  So I really felt bad. I found the actual early draft and sent copies to those people.  This should be in a book, but it will be in the movie, I guarantee you.

Ruthie Robbins:  It was so hard. We did a lot of fact checking when we wrote, because memories are so unreliable. We talked to people who were in the original book [draft] and they expected to be more.  And on top of that, you try to end the chapter on a cliffhanger.  When you take out a story that changes the number of pages in the chapter, it changes the pace of the book.  That was a terrible editing challenge.

Maria, what was that like for you as the author and the daughter?

Maria C. Palmer: Originally the book was written partially in my voice and partially in my Dad’s voice. It started chronologically for me in my twenties and [had] flashbacks because the story starts in 1986 and I was very young at that time.  It was confusing and it didn’t work.  Everything that I wrote and all that I put my heart and soul into  was all cut from the book. So now I have another book project that I’m working on.

But I will echo what my father and Ruthie said. It was hard because everybody did have a significant piece to the Primadonna story.  

 

Mr. Costanza, it would be an easy assumption to say you’ve lived a big life. Are there one or two things you would have done differently in the stories of the book now looking back on them?

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: Sure. When you are hitting all home runs, you tend to believe that everything that you do is gonna be a home run.  I had the most popular restaurant in Western Pennsylvania. Maybe I’m going to do something else, maybe I’ll go into politics.

I spent about $300,000 of my own money to put my name out there. Most people loved Joe Costanzo, but now when you get into politics it’s not that way. So that was probably my biggest regret.

My wife begged me not to do it. She said, Joe, we have a miracle here and you’re going to try for another miracle. And she was right. You may or may not like Joe Costanzo when you read the book, but you will love Donna Costanzo.

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: And that’s bottom line. Everybody says the same thing. Joe, it was great. What he did is impossible, but his wife was a saint for putting up with all this stuff that a restaurateur has to go through. 

The theme of hospitality comes out in the book, but you so clearly love people.  What has it been like getting all these people’s responses to this story?

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: This has been unbelievable for me. People are very happy that this all happened this way.  I treated people really well and people wanted to reciprocate.  So exhilarating to me. My life has been very boring, but now it’s really gotten to the point where it’s been great thanks to Maria and Ruthie.

Ruthie Robbins: It’s heartwarming. Especially from former students, the outpouring has brought me to tears sometimes.  It’s reconnecting with people over the book. That has really been so wonderful

Maria C. Palmer: This has been such a 17 year journey. I always believed that there was something special about this story.  Seeing that exactly what I felt in my gut for 17 years is actually playing out in real life.

Whenever we’re in Pittsburgh, it is almost surreal because people are talking about “On The Rocks and it’s really cool and crazy to know that something that you created means so much for people.

Joseph Costanzo Jr.: The big thing which is amazing to me is that the book came out August 8th, 2023. For two weeks, the book was the number one bestselling ebook on Amazon for culinary memoirs. Ahead of Anthony Bourdain’s, Kitchen Confidential and Stanley Tucci’s Taste “On the Rocks” for over two weeks was the number one overall best-selling ebook. Now that’s hard to believe because this was just a Western Pennsylvania thing and Bourdain and Tucci are worldwide known authors and entertainers.

Tell us where we can find the book and all the ways we can keep in touch with this story.

Maria C. Palmer: So the book is really wherever books are sold.  We’re on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart, Target. We’re also at most bookstores.   Also on Facebook and Instagram.

Ruthie Robbins: There’s also signed copies at the Heinz History Center. 

Big Apple gets to Celebrate Flavor and Elegance from French Bloom Sparkling
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Big Apple gets to Celebrate Flavor and Elegance from French Bloom Sparkling – Wine Review

By Joe Winger — 1 year ago

Big Apple gets to celebrate flavor and elegance from French Bloom Sparkling Wine.

You want to celebrate.  You want to “pop the cork”, enjoy the flavor, but you don’t want the after-effects.  The drunkenness.  Certainly not the hangover.  And women?  Of course there needs to be ways to elegantly celebrate even (and especially) during pregnancy.  Imagine a pregnant-friendly wine?

It’s a situation that should have been solved already.  But now it has and with style.  It’s a  subtle, elegant, flavorful answer.

French Bloom Re-Invents the Game 

Now everyone can share “moments of pleasure” as their website mentions.  French Bloom’s organic de-alcoholized chardonnay and pinot noir, alcohol-free French sparkling cuvées combine French tradition with innovation.

French Bloom Co-Founders Maggie Frerejean - Taittinger and Constance Jablonski

French Bloom Co-Founders Maggie Frerejean – Taittinger and Constance Jablonski

The Team Behind French Bloom

 

Maggie Frerejean – Taittinger and Constance Jablonski bring different and complementary skill sets.  Equally important, they bring the desire for the vision and the motivation for innovation. 

Through their innovative and female-founded brand, French Bloom gives an alternative and inviting drink to those wanting to celebrate elegantly and differently, making the most of the precious moments shared with friends and family.

If the names sound familiar, Constance is a globally-working fashion model you’ve seen representing Estée Lauder and countless luxury brands.  

Maggie is director of the Michelin Guide and married to Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, chief executive of Champagne Frerejean Freres. 

Carl Héline, the former head of Champagne Krug, joined French Bloom. 

Let’s Taste French Bloom

Le Rosé 

Pale pink in the glass.  Rose petals, freshly picked red currant, raspberry aromas on the nose.  Indulgent white peach notes on the palate. Elegant. The organic French grapes give a nice acidity.  Well-balanced complexity of minerality and freshness.  Tartness and a rounded balance on the finish.

Certified Vegan- Organic- Halal
0.0% Alcohol
Pregnant-friendly
Low Calorie
Sulfite-Free
No preservatives
No sugar added, 4,2g/ 100ml

A blend of de-alcoholized organic French Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, organic grape juice, Gensac spring water and natural organic flavors such as lemon. 

 

French Bloom sparkling Discovery Kit

 

Le Blanc 

Organic French Bubbly, 0.0% Alcohol

Medium golden amber in the glass. Minerality and pear aromas on the nose, that just keep opening and opening.  Pear, banana, melon, white flowers.  An explosion of complexity on the palate.  As the flavors open, Granny Smith apple, spicy citrus.  A full-bodied mouth with a luxurious, zesty finish that keeps going.

De-alcoholized organic wine, organic grape juice, French sparkling Gensac spring water, organic lemon juice, organic natural flavors.

Certified Vegan- Organic- Halal

0.0% Alcohol

Pregnant-friendly

Low Calorie

Sulfite-Free

No preservatives

No sugar added, 5,9g/ 100ml

Learn more: FrenchBloom.com

https://www.facebook.com/frenchbloomsparkling

https://www.instagram.com/french.bloom

 

Taste Howell's Standard Hot Honey, The Wellness Superfood Packed with Flavor and Family
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Taste Howell’s Standard Hot Honey, The Wellness Superfood Packed with Flavor and Family

By Contributor — 1 year ago

Taste Howell’s Standard Hot Honey, The Wellness Superfood Packed with Flavor and Family

Howell’s Standard provides raw, natural honey in its purest form, a variety of herb and fruit-infused honeys, and products from the hive. 

They are a small family-owned company in Northeast Maryland that appreciates the gifts of nature and artistic expression.  Find their website,  their Instagram and their in-person farmer’s market experience.

Howell's Standard Delivers Flavor, Family and a Healthy Flourish with their Hot Honey

Below, Alexander and Monica Howell visited for a conversation about family, flavor, health benefits and the magic of honey.

Howell's Standard Delivers Flavor, Family and a Healthy Flourish

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.  Find the full, unedited conversation on the FlavRReport YouTube channel.

 

My understanding going back to the beginning is, this whole company was a COVID baby, meaning the idea of it launched during the pandemic. Is that accurate?

 

Alexander Howell: So I’ll give you a bit of a backstory. We had, like you said, started around the boom of COVID. During that time with all the sickness going around, one of the things we decided to do was to figure out how we can stay healthier and keep the entire family more healthy during that entire time.

One of the things we decided to do was to cut out a lot of white and processed sugars because it’s the cause of a lot of health issues, cancers, things of that nature. After that we [realized] we can’t just not have any type of sweetener at all.  We’re not that strong. 

We went across a couple of different sweeteners. We tried agave, we tried monk fruit.  We tried all those, [but] they didn’t hit the spot for us. 

Then we were at a farmer’s market [and] tried some raw honey.  Once we had tried that, it’s like the entire world just opened up for us because.

We started researching it more and found out there were tons of health benefits tied into raw honey itself. 

Once we started consuming it ourselves, we felt the changes.  A lot more energy naturally, our skin started looking a lot better, our hair started looking better.  Then we decided instead of keeping this a family secret, we can share it with the world.

Monica Howell: So I’ve got a slightly different angle on it. Everything Alex said is definitely true. Pre COVID, I had always been an entrepreneur at heart, always dabbling in something, always doing a little side things.  They say you have to have multiple streams of income.

So I was always looking for the next best option. Prior to COVID, I was creating body butters and detox masks and sugar scrubs; and just looking for things that were positive for your skin in a natural manner. Honey was one of the ingredients that was always on my shelf. 

[Honey] is one of those ingredients. It’s a wonderful connector. I had really only ever thought of honey as this thing that was on aisle number eight of the grocery store always next to the maple syrup.  A condiment to get with your fried chicken.

But once I started having success with personal skin care, the products that were most sought after, that had the best outcomes for my skin all had honey in them. 

During COVID, we just really started to come together more, having more conversations. Bringing together the things that we were doing individually as a group and kind of figuring out 

We started minimizing ingredients.  Looking at that 20 line ingredient list on the back of everything and saying what can [remove]?

 

Something you both touched on was the zero to one aspect.  Talk a little bit about the process from idea to reality.

Monica Howell: So for me, it was checking boxes. Throwing something on the wall and seeing what sticks, that old spaghetti adage.

There’s so many layers, so many things that I wasn’t aware of honey as a whole.

Figuring out how we could integrate this into our lives, and then how we then convert that and transition that into something that was revenue generating, seeing there was a niche.

We started with friends and family. Letting people that would trust us, try things out.

A lot of the response was ‘I don’t like honey’ or ‘I already have sugar. I don’t need to do this.’

But we said, it’s open your mind, let’s look into something a little different. Let’s consider it in a different way and move forward from there.

One thing that I think stands out for us is the fact that everything that we do, all the honey options that we have available are all beneficial in some way, shape or form. You get the benefit of those things that are being infused into the honey. So everything is purposeful.

Everything added is to expand the benefits of the honey into something beyond. 

Each honey is different, with different infusions.  We call them varietals.  Essentially a varietal is a honey that the beekeeper and the farmer have integrated hives into that particular crop. The honey has a flavor and nuance.  Then we have our infusions. 

Local honey is where I go. That’s all I want.  Our local [honey] in Maryland is not the same local that’s in Texas. What’s local to California is not what’s local to Utah. What’s local to Utah is not local to Maine. But when you look at it, all those honeys have a slight variance and nuance in flavor because of what’s being pollinated.

Our plants aren’t the same here as in Hawaii. So when you say I enjoy wildflower, the enjoyment of your wildflower might taste completely different than what I’m used to because of the plants that are growing. It doesn’t necessarily all taste the same. 

 

When you started with this idea, were you aware of the different varietals, the regions and how that affected honey?

Alexander Howell:  We definitely didn’t know how intricate and how deep this kind of rabbit hole of honey goes.  It’s a very nice and very informative learning experience for two reasons. One, just so we are aware of the benefits and can tell our family, but also so we can now have those kinds of conversations with our customers.

Monica Howell: Even something as a variance from season to season.  Literally your spring honey can be a completely different product from your fall [honey] and your winter honey.

The amount of moisture that’s in the air, that can even be from location to location. April showers bring May flowers. Those April showers are happening, there’s a ton of moisture in the air. And then when you’re getting into the fall, you’re having the bees that are pollinated when you’re getting into the fall, there’s a variance in that same region.

That same area has shifted the temperature. You’re just coming out of 90 degree weather. There’s still flowers out. But the pollination process that’s happening, the bees are what they’re collecting now, it can be different. 

In the U. S. alone, there’s over 300 different types of honey.  Over the world, there are thousands.

The interesting thing is when we’re bringing those varietals together in one place, you actually taste them side by side, [you can taste and notice] there are definite differences that you may never [have noticed otherwise] .

Someone says, “I don’t like honey. I say, “Well you haven’t tasted my honey.”

They find out, they dont like wildflower from North Carolina, but they love sage from California or macadamia nut from Hawaii – it’s amazing.

 

You’ve both mentioned farmer’s market experiences, sampling and buying. Let’s talk a little bit about those experiences.

 

Alexander Howell: As far as farmers markets goes, we’ve gotten the entire spectrum of reactions – ‘Oh, this is some of the best I‘ve ever had in my life’, or ‘This is nasty’

I appreciate either side of the spectrum, it’s just very honest and blunt. In person, you get to actually see that emotion, you get to see that interaction, you get to not only see what they think but maybe they brought a friend or a family member of theirs – their husband, their wife, their kids, their dog.

We get to see what your dietary needs are, your favorite flavors, your favorite vegetables.  If you have a health issue, what type of things we have that could possibly help.

It’s even as simple as someone getting a gift for somebody who’s a pescatarian who likes to cook so, ‘What do you have for this?’

And I can then give them a whole range of stuff [to browse].

Monica Howell: We’ve been selling at farmer’s markets for 2.5 years. By far, it is my favorite. People who grew up going to farmer’s markets. Beekeepers that have grown up in their Grandma’s backyard.  

We always get somebody that says, ‘Oh, my grandma had honey. And I’m already familiar.’    I always challenge them to taste something that’s a little different, 

We get people who are extremely health conscious.  They are looking for natural options.

 

On your website, there’s a lot of products What are the major categories and what are one or two or three that you really want to highlight that are currently available?

Monica Howell: We do some switching out from season to season, but for the most part, 25 items. A combination of the varietals and the infusions. 

We’ve got an amazing macadamia nut honey that comes from Hawaii.  You get a honey that has a certain butteriness to it, a nice weight to it.  A little nuttiness at the end. It’s amazing in coffee. It’s amazing on top of a banana bread, really good in yogurt. Also good to cook with. 

Our blueberry is from Maine. A little bit of a nuance of that blueberry flavor. It’s a little sweeter than some of the other honeys. It’s amazing on bakery goods and breakfast. So instead of using traditional maple syrup, we’re using the blueberry honey on a Belgian waffle on a pancake. Amazing on yogurt and things like that. 

Then we’ve got our infusions. So the infusions essentially are different botanicals using a particular honey.

I’m using an extra white honey from Iowa. If you’re looking on the spectrum of honey, not only does honey change area to area, there’s water white honey, all the way down to your dark amber honeys.  So there’s an entire rainbow of different types of honey, based on what’s being pollinated and what’s growing. 

Your darker honeys have more of a molasses flavor, probably 10 – 20 x the antioxidants that you’re getting then like a water white honey. But when we’re considering what to use to infuse, I’m usually going with that lighter honey.

Our elderberry honey is super important.  We’re taking a ground elderberry from the actual berry, not the elderberry flower. And we’re grinding that up and then infusing that into honey over a period of time. That allows you to then take that elderberry on a regular basis, either in as a sweetener for your tea or actually adding it into a yogurt.

Alexander Howell: Some of the things that I like to highlight, because I’m a foodie, I’m always trying to find honey that would elevate the taste.

One of those is Hot Honey. Anything from chicken, to beef, to pork, to seafood, to shellfish. I love it all. One specific thing is strawberries. It sounds a little out there, but it’s amazing. 

And also the vanilla.  I love it on my baked goods, banana breads, cornbread, really good on cinnamon rolls. Instead of the sheet icing I’ll put the honey. Even simpler like a latte or a cup of tea.  Put some of your pancakes or crepes. 

It’s the two different honeys on two different ends of the spectrum, but at the end of the day they both serve their purposes 

Monica Howell: We are working with a few bartenders and mixologists that have taken our honeys and creating mocktails. Super fun.

 

One thing to acknowledge,  the audience is a large majority of our conversations are wine based. So it’s with winemakers and chefs.

Do any of these honeys pair better with any specific kinds of varietals of wine?

 

Alexander Howell: One of the best ways I do like to enjoy wine with honey is charcuterie. 

Monica Howell: Charcuterie and honey go hand in hand. It’s like a whole little puzzle of delicious-ness.

I like Merlot.  Something becoming more popular are meads. So mead is wine essentially made with the foundation of honey versus grapes.  There are a lot of brewers that are starting to play with mead. So you’ll find mead in all different varietals, some that very much tastes like wine and some that tastes closer to beer.

We’re not necessarily pairing the wine so much with the honey as helping the person that’s hosting the event, creating that perfect board, that perfect accompaniment to it.

What’s the best way to learn more about you? Website, social media? How can we follow you more?

 

Monica Howell: Definitely the website is the easiest way. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. The unique feature of what we do in-person. That’s the benefit of coming to see us at a farmer’s market.  We also are actually on a couple of stores in the local area, local by design, which is an Annapolis mall in Annapolis, Maryland, where our product is available on their shelves.

You can find gifting boxes and samplers on the website too. 

2023 NYC Halloween events: Check out the creepiest, craziest, tastiest
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2023 NYC Halloween events: Check out the creepiest, craziest, tastiest (Updated)

By Contributor — 1 year ago

Check out the creepiest, craziest, tastiest Halloween events in NYC.

It’s that time of year when NYC gets their haunted freak on.

Village Halloween Parade

Village Halloween Parade

1. The Village Halloween Parade

The Village Halloween Parade is NYC’s creative and spooky march in Greenwich Village and it’s coming back this year on Halloween, Tuesday, October 31.

Thousands of monsters, zombies, ghouls, witches take over the streets.  Whether you march or watch from the sidelines, don’t miss this iconic Halloween event, which is celebrating 50 years in 2023!

The Halloween Parade is a 0% tolerance for alcohol event.

2. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

Since 2005, more than 2 million visitors have been delighting in this walk-through experience, where thousands of hand-carved pumpkins in elaborate displays light up the night. Now in two New York locations, in Westchester at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson and in Nassau County at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage, this fun fall festival features larger-than-life installations, along with synchronized lighting, and an all-original soundtrack. It’s a magical, family-friendly experience for all ages.

Blaze is uniquely located at two National Historic Landmarks, providing hundreds of thousands of visitors the opportunity to experience these treasured sites and learn about the culture of the region.

Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

3. Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest

Now in their 25th year in Fort Greene Park, and sponsored by Fort Greene PUPS, the Great PUPkin is Brooklyn’s largest and most outrageous dog costume contest. 

Scads of dogs enter and ruthlessly compete for the coveted Great PUPkin rosettes for the top pups!

And remember, your entry fee is a tax-deductible donation to Fort Greene PUPS, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization! Your receipt will serve for tax purposes. Thank you for your support!

After preregistering, you will receive a receipt, which you should print or bring on your phone to check in starting at 11:00 a.m. on the day of event.

IMPORTANT: If you do not check in at the registration table located at Monument Plaza (top of stairs) by 11:45 a.m., your entry will be forfeited. Judging of all entrants begins at the bottom of the monument stairs at 12pm sharp!

The PUPkin is FREE to attend – registration is ONLY required if your dog is competing in the contest!

Special Thanks to All Ears Veterinary and support from Bond Vet

Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla

Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla

4. Central Park’s Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla

Each year, Central Park hosts a Halloween celebration on the Harlem Meer that’s perfect for the entire family.

There are a  variety of children’s activities, including crafting, storytelling, scavenger hunts, and a spirited Halloween parade.

At twilight, a procession of illuminated jack-o’-lanterns is guided across the Harlem Meer by a whimsical witch or mischievous goblin.

Celebrate Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 26th by watching the Harlem Meer light up with floating pumpkins. Feel free to dress for the occasion! 

If you would like to see your own jack-o’-lantern floating in the parade, improve your chances by entering a pumpkin that is approximately 8 lbs. after its been carved up (include the lid – think the size of a soccer ball) and make sure you don’t use any decorations that are unnatural such as paint, glitter, marker, food dye, paper, or plastic. You don’t want to pollute the Harlem Meer or harm the wildlife. Candles and lights to illuminate the pumpkins will be provided. 

Stop by the information table between 4:00 and 5:30 at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Plaza with your masterpiece and they will let you know where to drop it off. Space on the float is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 

You can reclaim your pumpkin at the conclusion of the flotilla at 7:00 PM. Pick-up is at the Harlem Meer Beach near Fifth Ave and E. 108th Street.

This event is FREE and weather permitting.

Halloween House at The Oculus

Halloween House at The Oculus

5. Halloween House at The Oculus

Halloween House is a completely immersive, one of a kind Halloween experience where you are transported to an all Halloween world.  Every one of our impeccably detailed, fully realized rooms is a different Halloween theme designed to make every Halloween lover’s experience unforgettable.

Visit the #1 ranked Halloween attraction for all ages!  If you love the decor of a haunted house, but don’t want the stress of being touched and scared, Halloween House is for you.  And if you do love haunted houses, you’ll love Halloween House too!

Halloween lovers unite! Our uniquely themed, fully immersive rooms include the one of a kind “Trick or Treat” Room, the “Glow in the Dark” Room, the Horror Movie Graveyard, our Vampires’ Lair, and more!

THE OCULUS 

185 Greenwich St, New York, NY 11006

(Main Level – in the corridor near Sephora)

You can get tickets at the Halloween House website; adult entry costs $40, while tickets for kids and under are set at $35. 

Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

6. Dreams of Dracula: An Immersive Masquerade Experience

Step into the Dracula universe retold as an immersive vampire theatrical play. Walk through the darkness of Castle Dracula, meet The Virgin and the Vampire.

Two floors and four rooms of the 25,000 square foot venue offer a choose-your-own adventure style journey through the intricate details of Bram Stoker’s original classic vampire novel.

You may engage with Dark Romantics, Lord Byron, John William Polidori, and Mary Shelley. Exchange a bon mot with Oscar Wilde in their famous salon, or step into the Alchemical Study of Sigmund Freud.

Be warned! Hypnosis, tarot readings, scary tales, darkness, flashing lights, thunder, and lightning will all be a part of this experience. You may be touched by our performers.

Attire Note: Your version of black tie is highly suggested on Friday and Saturday nights, but basic black will always get you in the door. For all other shows, all black attire is required for entrance.

Written and Directed by Jonathan Albert and Nicole Coady. Choreography by Arianne Meneses. Music composed by Dian Shuai.

Please find the digital program here.

The production opens on October 4 and runs through November 11 at Musica NYC in Hell’s Kitchen; previews begin September 22. Gothic and Victorian costumes are “very much encouraged,” event organizers say. 

Tickets start at $69 and are available for purchase here.

Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

7. Pumpkin Nights at the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Zoo Pumpkin Nights, an ALL NEW nighttime family Halloween event, will take place on select evenings this fall! Follow an animal-themed illuminated jack o’lantern trail and learn about animal behavior after dark, plus enjoy games and treats.

Pumpkin Nights will feature gorgeous scenes of more than 5,000 illuminated pumpkins, together with atmospheric sounds and colored lights, to provide a festive family atmosphere as you follow a half-mile trail to holiday excitement right here in NYC.

Pumpkin Nights will debut on Thursday, September 28 and run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, October 29 from 6pm to 10pm.

Tickets for Pumpkin Nights range from $26.95-$36.95 for adults; kids’ tickets range from $24.95-$26.95 for kids. 

In addition to the new Pumpkin Nights, the Bronx Zoo will continue the tradition of Boo at the Zoo, which will return on Saturdays and Sundays, September 30 through October 29, plus Monday, October 9. 

Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

8. Halloween Extravaganza and Procession of the Ghouls

The Cathedral’s beloved annual Halloween celebration returns for 2023! 

Following the film screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with live organ accompaniment, ghouls and goblins from the Mettawee River Theater Company emerge to scare and delight audiences. 

Mark your calendar for an evening of classic thrills, spooky chills, and autumnal spells!

Tickets are now available! 

Two viewings will be offered at 7 and 10 pm for the Halloween Extravaganza, with $40 tickets available on the cathedral’s website. 

Also on October 27 and 28, the cathedral’s famous Crypt Crawls will make their grand return from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm and from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, guiding visitors down into the rarely-seen depths of the Gothic building. You will hear stories of the entombed and learn the origins of Halloween as a Celtic New Year celebration and later transformation into All Hallows Eve. Grab tickets for the guided tour here.  

NYBG's Fall-O-Ween at the Botanical Garden

NYBG’s Fall-O-Ween at the Botanical Garden

9. NYBG’s Fall-O-Ween at the Botanical Garden

Make NYBG your pumpkin headquarters this fall! The tricks and treats of the season come to life with plentiful pumpkins, gourds, and ghouls—and all sorts of fun-filled activities to celebrate this season of frights and foliage! Day or night, there’s something for everyone as we offer special weekends of pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving face-offs, as well as the return of our popular beer sampling weekend, Bales & Ales! Evening events give kids (and adults!) the chance to show off their Halloween costumes in New York City’s most beautiful landscape, while you can savor the flavors of the season with artisan demos, food and drink talks, and so much more as autumn in the Bronx brings vibrant color to your backyard.

While you’re here, don’t miss your opportunity to capture picture-perfect fall photos at the Reflecting Pool and on the adjacent lawn, where you’ll find hundreds of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, sizes, and colors!

Tix and more info here – https://www.nybg.org/event/fall-o-ween/

"Hocus Pocus" at Rooftop Cinema Club

“Hocus Pocus” at Rooftop Cinema Club

10. Rooftop Cinema Club Halloween movies

Rooftop Cinema Club is screening rooftop movies this fall with a packed slate of films running all the way through October 31. 

Sip wine and eat vegan popcorn while watching classics like When Harry Met Sally, The Addams Family, Hocus Pocus and lots more this autumn. Tickets are on sale here.

October’s lineup include scary screenings such as Rosemary’s Baby, Paranormal, The Exorcist, The Shining, American Psycho and other cult classics as well as family favorites like Coco and Monsters, Inc. That all leads up to All Hallow’s Eve’s screenings of Hocus Pocus and Halloween.

For info and tix Rooftop Cinema Club

 

The Haunted Laboratory

The Haunted Laboratory

11. The Haunted Laboratory

Get in on the fun at The Drunken Laboratory, a bar in Brooklyn where you’ll wear lab coats and goggles for a night of sipping drinks and doing science. 

The bar’s Haunted Laboratory experience includes a ghostly drink menu, haunted decor and scare actors for a truly immersive experience

Tickets are on sale now starting at $45; the experience begins on September 22 in Bed-Stuy with dates running through the finale on Halloween night. 

Halloween Harvest at Luna Park

Halloween Harvest at Luna Park

12. Halloween Harvest at Luna Park

Experience Fall & Halloween themed activities during our 10th annual Halloween Harvest!  Halloween Harvest activities are FREE with your Wristband purchase, on our website or at our ticket booths, for park visits from September 22 through October 29.

The fun doesn’t stop there as we will be offering fall-flavored food items across popular dining options including Half Moon Food Court, Coney’s Cones and Salt & Sizzle. For all pumpkin-spice lovers, guests can indulge in Pumpkin Spiced Funnel Cake, Pumpkin Spiced Gelato,  Purple & Orange Halloween-themed Cotton Candy and more!

Halloween Harvest activities are FREE with Wristband purchases* valid for visits from September 22 through October 29.

The park’s Halloween celebrations kick off on September 22 and run through October 29 on weekday holidays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in Coney Island.

Pumpkin Point at Governors Island

Pumpkin Point at Governors Island

  1. Pumpkin Point at Governors Island

Pump­kin Point, Gov­er­nors Island’s annu­al free pump­kin patch and fall fes­ti­val, returns to Nolan Park for 2023! Vis­i­tors are invit­ed to pick out their own pump­kins (free with sug­gest­ed dona­tion) on the week­ends of Octo­ber 21 – 22 and Octo­ber 28 – 29, 2023, from 10am to 5pm. Come ear­ly in the day to make sure you have your pick of the pump­kin patch, and please lim­it pump­kins to one per per­son per household. 

Gov­er­nors Island food ven­dors will be on-site both week­ends with fall-themed food and drink avail­able for pur­chase, includ­ing Lit­tle Eva’s, Gov­er­nors Beer Co., Brigs Sweet Shop, El Toro Rojo, Deploy Cof­fee, Rosie’s Empanadas, and Fauzi­a’s Heav­en­ly Delights. 

Pump­kin Point is rain or shine. Please be advised, a large num­ber of vis­i­tors is expect­ed for Pump­kin Point, so leave extra time to board and ride the fer­ry. 

Click here for fer­ry sched­ules and tick­ets. 

Pump­kins left over from Pump­kin Point will be com­post­ed on Gov­er­nors Island by Earth Mat­ter, which runs a Com­post Learn­ing Cen­ter at the Urban Farm on Gov­er­nors Island.

14. Historical Hallowe’en Party

Happy Hallowe’en New York City! Get dressed in your Halloween best and come join us for our annual evening of hands-on games, spooky and silly stories, historical Hallowe’en crafts, and buckets of candy!

Have you ever heard of mourning jewelry? It was quite fashionable during the Victorian era. These sentimental keepsakes helped keep the memory of beloved family and friends close and included some unusual design elements, like real human hair! Learn more about this unique tradition and make a piece of mourning jewelry (with fake hair!) to take home. 

Discover the many ways clothing and accessories were used to show remembrance! Historical interpreters will share the meaning of their outfits, from widow’s caps and pins, to dress colors.

This is also the time of year Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is celebrated in Mexico and beyond by many families. Take part in this unique holiday by creating your own special offering to place on our communal ofrenda (altar). 

We’ll be playing Hallowe’en bingo, reading jack-o’-lantern stories, crafting costume accessories, and more!

For even more Halloween fun, expect hands-on games, Hallowe’en bingo, spooky stories, historical Hallowe’en crafts and buckets of candy.

This all-ages celebration at the Upper West Side museum runs from 4-6pm on Halloween night, Tuesday, October 31. Costumes are encouraged.

 

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