shesamazingnyc's Profile
Kombucha starter wanted!
Here's a link to a good source of info. I used these directions and have been growing a terrific culture. It started out as a really feeble lumpy mass and in a few months, it became the thick, creamy, even mushroom you see in the photos people post. Good luck!
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=428983
Does ANYONE else like kombucha?
A little late to the party, but I have to chime in. I love love love my kombucha. After paying for GT's a couple of times, I started brewing my own. What a difference! My home brews are light and fabulously fizzy and delicious. I don't think they cure cancer or whatever, but I believe they are detoxing and refreshing and of course, probiotic, which is an immunity booster. Regardless, I love the taste (I flavor mine with ginger).
I would encourage anyone to do their own brewing. The only investment I've made is a large jar to brew it in, a huge box of organic green tea and sugar. And a bottle of GT's, which I used as a starter culture. It's easy and delicious. There are lots of warnings about bacteria, but I'm very careful.
How do you Fage?
Mmmmm, Fage. FWIW, New Yorkers, Trader Joe's sells it for a dollar less than Food Emporium. Naturally, the big tub works out to be cheaper than the little single-serving containers.
I buy the full-fat and sweeten with a little honey and mix in fresh fruit. My 1.5 year old loves it plain! I've also used it as a dressing (with a little mayo) for curried chicken salad. It makes a great marinade for chicken.
Also: mix it with mayo (half and half), add crushed garlic, miso paste and a lot of parmesan, slather on chicken breasts. Roll in bread crumbs and bake. TO DIE FOR.
I think they mean you shouldn't stir the whole container if it's the larger size. But if you have the single-serving containers and plan to eat it at once, in one sitting, of course you should stir it.
Kombucha starter wanted!
Ian, I noticed you're in NYC. If you haven't gotten one by now, I'd be happy to donate one. (I'm on the Upper East Side, but hubby has an office in Union Square and you could pick it up there, if it's more convenient.) It'll only cost you subway fare!
I've got a nice strong culture now, which I have nursed along from a GT's bottle. It's been making lovely, hearty, fizzy brews. If you're still interested, e-mail me at: shesamazingnyc@yahoo.com
Pink Kombucha
Pei, I just checked out your website and it rocks. This is probably not the place to praise you, but whatever. Awesome.
Pink Kombucha
I love to flavor mine with ginger. I grate a tablespoon per Grolsch bottle and also put in a few slices. So far, I've tried lemon, apricot and some strawberry puree. All good, but ginger is my favorite. I've considered using peach-flavored black tea, but I haven't found one with natural flavors; it's all artificially flavored. Must check the health-food store...
I get super-fizzy batches by bottling in Grolsch bottles and only filling them to the point that the neck begins. I had been using those French lemonade bottles with the stoppers, but the fizz isn't half as good as smaller bottles, like the Grolsch ones. My latest batches have been so fizzy, they overflow when opened, like a fine champagne!
Hibiscus sounds terrific - will try that next. Thanks for the good idea!
And lastly, I concur with everyone else - homemade is the BEST. There's no comparison.
Where to buy Coca-cola (without high fructose corn syrup)?
I asked about this at Park East Kosher on Second Avenue and 83rd Street. The man there said they can special order it for you around Passover and I think also for the holidays in September. If you want to order a case or whatever.
Kombucha starter wanted!
Hi there! I love GT's kombucha, too, but it's way too expensive. I started my own little experiment using the SCOBY from a bottle of GT's as a starter. It does seem to be growing in the two days it's been floating in my homemade brew... If you do a little googling, you can find directions for using a bottle of GT's as a starter. Good luck!
Pinkberry frozen yogurt [moved from Manhattan board]
Tried Pinkberry at the new UES location last night. Usually when I pass it in the morning, they're not open (they open at noon). It tasted exactly as I expected, as others have described. Light, tangy, refreshing, clean. A little icy, but I was expecting that, so it wasn't a bad thing. I had a small plain with blueberries and raspberries. Each berry was perfect and sweet and fresh, and went perfectly. (I tried the green tea flavor and it just didn't do anything for me.)
It was a little pricey, but I would spend the $5.22 if the craving hit me hard in the future. However, I have been playing with my new ice cream maker, so I kind of doubt I will be going anytime soon. As I was eating it, I was already trying to figure out how to duplicate it at home.
Canceling a Reservation
When I was an executive assistant at an IB, I used to make (and cancel!) reservations all the time.
Some $$ restaurants used to take the credit card number as a guarantee - if you didn't cancel the reservation and wound up as a no-show, they would charge the card. I think the fee for a no-show was $25. (This is in NYC).
Unfortunately, that's one way to solve the problem!
Pesto ideas
I love putting pesto on tuna/salmon salad sandwiches. Sounds odd, but it's heavenly...
Donuts
Okay, I have to chime in on the donut thread. I wasn't crazy about the Donut Plant donuts. I found that the grease gathered on the roof of my mouth.
The BEST donuts I've found are Dreesen's in East Hampton. If you've had one, you know.
Found: Pinkberry location on UES
Posted on the other Pinkberry thread, but wanted to share in general. The new Pinkberry location on the UES is going to be on Second Avenue at 82nd Street. Should be open in a month (supposedly).
Pinkberry frozen yogurt [moved from Manhattan board]
Oh, and there's one coming to Nolita, too.
Pinkberry frozen yogurt [moved from Manhattan board]
Aha! The UES Pinkberry is going to be on Second Avenue at 82nd Street (I think between 82 & 83) on the west side of the avenue, next to La Brea. I popped my head in and asked the construction crew when they'd be finished. Supposedly in a month.
Pinkberry frozen yogurt [moved from Manhattan board]
I could SWEAR there's one opening on the Upper East side. I know I saw the name and logo in a storefront being renovated somewhere. I remember noting the empty storefront, which I think was a Tasti-Delite type place, and thinking that when I got home I'd google "Pinkberry".
I'm expecting it to be something like Bloomingdale's (Mmmm!) or Yogen Fruz (whatever happened to that place?). I'll be passing the location where I think I saw it, and will post back later.
