4 Tasty Finds that Food Fans Will Love

It’s always exciting to discover a new product, flavor, or ingredient combination. You feel like you’ve walked over a bridge and entered an entirely new realm of culinary enjoyment and creativity. What is also exciting is wanting to share those discoveries with a friend or family member. That’s how we feel right now, with these four tasty finds that food fans will love that we are sharing with you.

FABRIZIA LEMON BAKING COMPANY

For the fans of limoncello, that delicious liqueur made from fresh lemons, there is now an option to enjoy its taste in baked form. That’s right, there’s an entire line of biscuits, biscotti‘s, cookies, brownies, and other tasty items that are all flavored with limoncello.

The Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company is a family owned business which incorporates award-winning Fabrizia Limoncello into each and every one of its baked goods. After launching Fabrizia Spirits (the leading producer of limoncello in America) in 2008, brothers Phil and Nick Mastroianni longed to share another cultural aspect of their upbringing, in other words, food.

Says Phil Mastroianni, “Growing up in an Italian household, food was always a big part of our lives and we wanted to share that in a unique way…with a special Limoncello twist. We import all of our lemons directly from Sicily and they are the ONLY thing that provides our Limoncello with its flavor and color. That Limoncello is then used as the foundation to our cookies, biscotti, lemon loaves, blondies, cake jars and whoopie pies.”

The TasteTV food editors, all citrus fans, had the enviable opportunity to review some of these items and found that most of them were extremely popular among the testers. The baked goods captured the taste of a real limoncello without being overly sweet or heavy. In fact many of the options were quite light in texture, and we found that the cookies and biscottis in particular were hard to keep in stock. Everyone loved them.

If you are a person who likes the tart flavor of fresh lemons and citrus, this might not be for you. Although made from lemons, most limoncello brands by nature are not tart. In general they have a sweeter profile that is balanced with the alcohol. If you are a true limoncello fan however then the Fabrizia Limoncello product line of baked goods is perfect. You can get any of these products individually, or as an entire gift set. You can also have sets that include the actual Fabrizia Limoncello included for sipping, or to mix it with your favorite cocktail.

Visit http://www. FabriziaLemonBakingCo.com

 

MIKE D’S BBQ SAUCE

Every region and every city has its own version of barbecue sauce, kind of like everyone has their own version of chili, spaghetti, and gumbo. Mike D’s BBQ sauce comes from North Carolina and is quite delicious, regardless of the region that you prefer. It is smooth and tangy with a bit of a citrus element that goes well on any protein you can want, including chicken, beef, pork, and even fish. Not to mention on fries.

Mike D’s BBQ is an award winning family-owned line of BBQ Sauces and Dry Rubs based in Durham, NC. They say their sauces are a twist on the traditional BBQ sauce with some unique seasonings and spice levels inspired by Mike D’s African American and Latino heritage. Their BIG Sauce is the mild/medium sauce and has won many awards, such as 1st for Medium BBQ Sauce in the 2021 International Spicy Flavor Awards and 3rd place for Kid Friendly BBQ Sauces in the 2022 Scovie Awards.

One TasteTV editor remarked that it reminded them of a “high quality mumbo sauce.” If you be don’t know what that is (or “Mambo sauce”) then that is an entirely different BBQ sauce discussion.

If you prefer your barbecue with a rub, Mike D’s barbecue also has a Sweet & Spicy Rub that has won several the competitive food awards, such as 1st place in the 2021 International Artisan Flavor Awards for Rubs and 1st place in the 2022 Scovie Awards in the Dry Rub/All Purpose Category. The Sweet & Spicy Rub presents taste elements such as brown sugar, honey, and chili lime to give your recipes just the right pizazz.

Visit Mike D’s BBQ, at http://www.mikedsbbq.com

http://www.facebook.com/mikedsbbq

CHILI SAUCES FROM CHINA LIVE

Restaurateurs George Chen and Cindy Wong Chen originally conceived of China Live as a Chinese version of the multi-level and multi-location Italian food emporium known as Eataly, but they have long surpassed that vision to become a true dining destinations in the city of San Francisco and the Bay Area. China Live in San Francisco has won numerous awards for their food and their restaurant design, and they have also won many awards for their line of sauces and spices. This includes their spice and sauce sets that come with different condiments selection, all created from proprietary China Live recipes.

According to OpenTable, “When China Live opened in 2017, it was unlike anything else in San Francisco, let alone the United States. Sprawling over 30,000 square feet, the space is ambitious in its scale and offerings, with a sit-down restaurant, marketplace selling Chinese pantry items and home goods, a cocktail bar, tea counter, and more. And while much of the space remains closed, fortunately diners still have ways to sample the restaurant’s stellar Chinese menu.”

China Live’s Signature Chili Bean Sauce was a finalist in the 2022 Good Food Awards, presented by the Good Food Foundation. The sauce is mildly spicy with a rich umami flavor, and the perfect addition to your favorite dishes. Another Good Food Awards finalist Chef Chen’s Famous Chili Crisp, which George Chen says “is a delicious topping for almost anything, and a must for your Asian pantry.” It is made with carefully selected ingredients such as rice bran oil, dried chili flakes, broad bean paste, fermented soybeans, Shaoxing rice wine, and paprika. We’re sure that you’ll find a lot of uses for either of these sauces.

Visit: https://chinalivesf.com/

AUSTIN EASTCIDERS SPICED PEACH

Hard cider continues to grow in popularity every year, and each region that makes it tries to outdo the others with their creativity and product sources. Austin, Texas for example, or specifically Austin Eastciders, has a limited release of spiced peach cider that is sure to have anyone with a thirst trying to snatch them out of the refrigerator without being noticed. California, Washington State, Oregon, and New York are all well-known for their ciders, but with their new spiced peach cider that reminescent of a delicious cobbler, Austin definitely holds its own.

Brittnay Perlo, Master Cider Maker at Austin Eastciders says, “Now what is better than the perfect combination of fresh peaches, crisp apples, and mulling spices? You will taste notes of ripe juicy peaches, and undertones of orange, cinnamon and nutmeg.”

Adds Dave Rule, VP of Marketing at Austin Eastciders, “Spiced Peach tastes like we threw some of your grandmother’s Peach Cobbler in the fermentation tank. Blending mulling spices with apples and apple cider is a long-standing American tradition. It reminds us of football season, tailgating, getting together with old friends and family and huddling together to stay warm.”

Austin Eastciders’ Spiced Peach is made with real fruit, no artificial sweeteners, and is gluten-free. The Spiced Peach is available in 12-packs as part of Austin Eastciders’ Winter Variety Pack, and on draft. Visit https://www.austineastciders.com/ to learn more.

 

Working from Home Gets more Stylish and Comfortable with the WorkRobe

Working from home is here to stay for many professions and careers. Along with it, work from home attire is now a permanent yet new wardrobe issue. You can’t lounge around in sweatpants and sweatshirts every single day, especially when you spend most of the day still communicating online with colleagues via Zoom or WebEx. Plus, it’s hard to be motivated all of the time when hanging out in a Justin Bieber, Coldplay or Doja Cat t-shirt. As they say, “Dress for Success.”

With that in mind, you need something that you can slip on at a moment’s notice that will look totally professional and appropriate, yet if you happen to wear it all day will be casual and comfortable. It needs to not be wrinklable when you are working, and able to be worn while you’re not working and not feel constricted. One answer now on the market is the new WorkRobe.

The WorkRobe is an innovative collection of Webex and Zoom-appropriate robes that are specifically designed for women working from home. The top part — the part seen on a remote call or meeting — is chic and professional. The rest of the robe is as comfortable as it sounds… it’s a robe. For personal and professional use it is as versatile as you can imagine.

The brand WorkRobe appears to be a clever solution to the idea that you need a “Work at Home Wardrobe,” hence “WorkRobe.”  (We wish we had thought of that)

The Comfort Suite “C-Suite” collection of WorkRobe™ includes two different styles:

  1. The Button Down Robe, a cozy oversized stretch poplin tunic with fleece lining, gives a polished look on the outside and pure comfort on the inside;
  2. The Blouse Robe, a stylish, incredibly soft, flattering french terry wrap that can be worn anywhere in complete comfort with a sophisticated sash closure. Both are available in black and white color options.

The entire WardRobe collection is now available online at http://www.MyWorkRobe.com.

 

TasteTV’s TASTEABLE Journal Volume 3 Debuts with Commerce, Culture, Concepts and Cuisine

TasteTV’s TASTEABLE JOURNAL, VOL. 3 is here!

This stylish publication provides a curated collection of insightful content on Culture, Concepts, Commerce and Cuisine. This issue features a photography exhibition of recent PHOTO AWARDS Finalists, as well as one on one interviews with personalities such as Chris Knight (CEO, Gusto TV), Rocco Gaglioti (Founder, FNL Network), Podcaster Yorm Achuaku, Ian and Ana of The Other Side Vlog, Michelle Harris (Alive & Well TV), Darley Newman (Equitrekking and Travels with Darley), Dandy Wellington, Diane Kochilas (My Greek Table), Lisa-Renee Ramirez (Recipe.TV), and up and coming musicians Jon Mullane, Mavenne, Harrison Tinsley, the Christopher Brothers and Nathan Witte, plus chefs, restaurateurs, artists, perfumers, and wines.
TASTEABLE is a bi-annual and annual journal that presents a curated collection of insightful content on Culture, Cuisine, Commerce, and Concepts as reported by TasteTV and TCB-Cafe Publishing and Media. Includes celebrity and leadership interviews, delicious recipes, exciting tech, cutting edge fashion, well-known tastemakers, successful entrepreneurs, tasty wine picks and the year’s best chocolate and other culinary finds.

Available everywhere on Amazon.

REVIEW: Keanu Reeve’s Matrix Resurrections Movie Trailer Promises Stylish Production and Plenty of Action to Come

It was inevitable that with the exponential success of Keanu Reeves “John Wick” movie series, someone in Hollywood would decide that now is the perfect time to re-launch him in the Matrix movie series. In the Matrix, audiences were blown away not just by the movie making technique and special effects, but also by the mind-bending story premise that we are all living in a virtual computer simulation. What was worse was that the simulation was run by robots who had conquered the human race and used our brains for computing power.

The Matrix ran for three movies, and sort of lost firepower progressively. The last one was definitely considered “Meh” by many people.

The good news is that the Matrix 4 trailer for “The Matrix Resurrections” seems to be making up completely for that decline in quality. It is tight, it is intriguing, it is action packed, and it is cohesive. Did we say there’s action in it? Yes, apparently a lot. There are new players and new characters, as well as some very familiar faces like Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity. Not to mention, a ‘Young Mobius’ avatar filling in for Laurence Fishburn (apparently Laurence was not invited to be in this production). Keanu even looks age-appropriate.

Other talent includes Neil Patrick Harris (“Gone Girl”), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (TV’s “Quantico,”), Christina Ricci (TV’s “Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story,” “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles”), Telma Hopkins (TV’s “Dead to Me,”), Eréndira Ibarra (series “Sense8,” “Ingobernable”), Toby Onwumere (TV’s “Empire”), Max Riemelt (series “Sense8”), Brian J. Smith (series “Sense8,” “Treadstone”), and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Angel Has Fallen,” TV’s “Gotham”).

All we have to say is if filmmaker Lana Wachowski’s “The Matrix Resurrections” delivers at least 75% of what the trailer promises, then “We Are Here For It.”

PRODUCTION:
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents, In Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, In Association with Venus Castina Productions, “The Matrix Resurrections.”

Apple’s iPadOS 15 Finally Delivers an Exciting New Feature for Instagram and TikTok Users

Apple’s iPadOS 15 has a number of fantastic new features. It has been redesigned and amped up to make it even more useful as a laptop replacement for both business and personal use. 

However, one of the most exciting features is one that is way down the list, you won’t even find it if you don’t look hard for it. That is the new option that allows Instagram app users to be able to view the Instagram window in Landscape mode.

Previously on iPads an Instagram user would see the app image in only in vertical portrait mode, they could not turn it sideways while using a keyboard, and there was a lot of extra unused space. Chatting or commenting was almost impossible. It looked like the app was broken or fake, and not at all as attractive as on a phone or desktop. In sum, it was not a good user experience, very awkward.

Why didn’t Instagram make a version that fixed that? That has been the $100,000,000 question.

Fortunately now iPad owners with iPadOS 15 can view Instagram in landscape mode, aka horizontally, which means that they can see it as if it is on a laptop, or on a desktop. Plus, if they are using a keyboard add-on then they can type and post to Instagram without flipping the iPad between vertical and horizontal views every five seconds. The same is true for other popular social media apps like TikTok.

Exciting, no? Definitely time saving!

www.Apple.com