Favorite Finds: Infatuation

Restaurant recommendations are tough, but there's one company, The Infatuation, that has become my absolute favorite app and website for finding new places to eat.

The Infatuation started in 2009 by two friends who found themselves being the constant source of restaurant recommendations for their friends, so they decided to build a website to help everyone find the perfect date place, the perfect place to take parents, a lazy brunch spot, etc.

Why I love The Infatuation: it's unpretentious and fun. They'll be honest and tell you that a trendy place has horrible food. You might find yourself laughing when reading one of their reviews. The Infatuation understands that food is meant to be fun and playful, and their tone and style resonate with any food lover. You'll get reviews on the restaurant as a whole, plus specific dishes, so you know what to order (and what to avoid!).

Who writes the reviews? The writers are exactly like you and me, and they don't receive any special treatment. Locals in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York,  and San Francisco cover restaurants for them, and they feature recommendations from public personalities like Product Hunt and James Freeman (founder of Blue Bottle).

Reviews on the site and app range from La Taqueria, a well-known and cheap Mexican spot, to Zuni, a high-end SF classic. Whatever the occasion, you'll find a perfect restaurant thanks to The Infatuation. They make it really easy to find restaurants by various categories like "Girls' Night Out", "Outdoor/Patio Situation", and "Cheap Eats".

Check them out here for more! 

Favorite Finds: Good Pops

Z and I have a routine at the grocery store, and it always includes a walk down the ice cream aisle. It's especially tempting because our local grocery spot has an amazing selection of treats, and always has a great sale going on.

I like to try out new flavors and products, depending on what's on sale. A few weeks ago, I was particularly intrigued by some amazing looking popsicles on sale, mainly because they came in a cute pink hue.

The popsicles, from GoodPops, did not disappoint! They had really authentic flavor, you could tell the ingredients were all natural. The watermelon ones even had watermelon seeds inside!

These are the perfect summertime treat--they were really refreshing and low in calories, which means you won't feel guilty eating them poolside. I tried out the dairy free flavors, but they also had some dairy flavors that looked amazing, like cold brew coffee popsicles and banana cinnamon. 

You can find Goodpops near you here.

Favorite Finds: Yummly

My work week is largely spent working in the field of data analytics. Rarely does food come into play--I'm often talking to e-commerce companies and other start-ups. But then I have those rare and wonderful moments when I get to talk to a growing and awesome food company, like Yummly.

I met part of the Yummly team at a work function, and I immediately went home to check out their site. Yummly is a way to collect and save recipes easily; it's better than bookmarks and more food-focused than Pinterest. I like Yummly because I can find a plethora of inspiration whenever I explore their site.

In particular, they do a great job of highlighting seasonal dishes and recipes recommended just for you!

I have started publishing all of my recipes on Yummly, and you can find the Hilary Stone Soup page here. You'll also find the Yum button on the blog, so you can can add my recipes to your own recipe collection.

Favorite Finds: Food Podcasts

Thanks to Serial and This American Life, I am now semi-addicted to podcasts. Even though my daily commute isn't that long, I enjoy getting the opportunity to learn and discover new things on my BART ride. In particular, I am loving food-themed podcasts (big surprise there, I know). If you are looking for a few podcasts to start listening to, these are my favorite!

Radio Cherry Bombe

This women and food podcast is an off-shoot of Cherry Bombe Magazine, another Hilary Stone Soup Favorite.  Julia Turshen, a fabulous food writer, interviews all of your favorite foodie ladies, like Ruth Reichl and Ina Garten. 

Burnt Toast

Food52 now has their own podcast, and though tthey are just a few episodes in, it's already pure gold. Expect discussions with thought leaders on food trends they love and hate. One of my recent favorite episodes had the founders of Big Gay Ice Cream, and I learned that Australia calls sprinkles "hundreds and thousands". How great is that?!

Chewing the Fat

Not surprising since this is an NPR podcast, Chewing the Fat has a strong bent towards topics like sustainability and food policy, though they cover all things food. Expect to hear conversations about reconciling pleasurable food with healthy food and picking out sustainable choices at the grocery store. 

America's Test Kitchen

I've always loved America's Test Kitchen (the greats behind Cook's Illustrated, Cook's Country, and more), but I only recently got into their podcast. The podcast feels similar to their TV show--they answer a couple listener questions, have a product review, talk through a recipe, and then interview a food thought leader. It's a great way to get a little bit of everything food-related in one 50 minute session!

Favorite Finds: Aprons

 For Friendsgiving, I invited some of my closest girlfriends over for a delicious meal. As everyone was sitting down to eat, I had a few things left in the kitchen to do (carve the turkey, heat up the gravy).

 Since I was wearing one of my favorite outfits (a black silk tank top with a lace covered pencil skirt), I pulled out an old terry cloth robe and threw it on over my outfit. I didn't want to get my outfit dirty, and I (embarrassingly) didn't own an apron. 

Needless to say, my friends made so much fun of me. I had a house full of people, I'm wearing a fancy outfit, and I threw on a bright fuchsia bathrobe to protect myself. I looked really silly. 

This year for my birthday, my best friend Viv put together an incredibly thoughtful gift for me. She works at Zazzle, which makes customizable products, and she made a Hilary Stone Soup apron for me, complete with the Hilary Stone Soup logo!

It was too cute not to share, and for those of you who need an apron yourself, below are two of my favorite picks.

I incidentally bought this Parisian printed apron ($17) the day before Vivian gave me the Hilary Stone Soup apron!

I love love love Hedley & Bennet aprons, and so do many famous chefs! This striped apron ($85) with a tie in the front is great for both sexes. 

Favorite Finds: Graduation Gifts

Graduation season is in full force, which means graduation gift-giving is as well! Zach's sister and cousin both graduated from college this year, so the topic has been on my mind lately.

Here are my favorite kitchen items for new grads. Whether the graduate in your life is a bonafide chef or just learning how to make pasta, you'll find a gift here!

Nutribullet, $105: This easy to clean blender is perfect for on-the-go smoothies before work. 

Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything, $20: This cookbook staple really does have a recipe for everything, and it features simple, classic recipes.

Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, $26: Ina's simple instructions ensures a perfect meal every time, and the recipes are perfect for new cooks. 

Cast Iron Skillet, $23: Cast iron skillets work on the stovetop and in the oven, plus they are easy to clean. They are perfect for one-pan meals!

Egg Tea Towel, $24: LEIF makes great home accessories, and this biology poster inspired tea towel will liven up any boring kitchen apartment. 

Favorite Finds: McClure's Potato Chips

I found them. The best potato chips in the entire world. Well, to be completely honest, my manager found them. And he know I would love them, so he brought them back from NYC for me.

The potato chips are perfectly crispy and thin, like every good potato chip should be. What really stands them apart from other chips though, is their flavor. You see, these chips are McClure's Garlic Dill Pickle potato chips!

 The garlic and dill flavor is subtle, and the pickle element adds a slight sour flavor. If you love sea salt and vinegar chips, you'll love the more subdued taste of this chip! And if you don't like sea salt and vinegar chips, you'll appreciate that this chip is less abrasive than traditional vinegar chips. 

McClure's potato chips are the definition of mouth-watering. They started out as a pickle company, and I love that they've expanded into potato chips. I can't get enough of them! You can either find them at these retail locations or buy them online here.

Photos from McClure's

Favorite Finds: Mother's Day

Today's Favorite Finds post is dedicated to the lovely woman who helped raise you, your mother! As many of you know, I lost my mother when I was young. Mother's Day is always a reminder of the that, but I also spend the day saying thank you to other wonderful women that helped raise me and shaped me into the woman I am today.

Here are my favorite gift ideas for this Mother's Day...

1) A tea subscription service, at just $20 a month, is the Mother's Day gift that will remind her every month how wonderful she is.

2) This beautiful necklace for $65 is a tribute to all of the cookies she made you growing up. 

3) Nothing like a great card to tell Mom exactly how you feel, for $4.50. 

4) She's already a great cook, but this cookbook, at $35, will inspire even more health and tasty breakfast ideas

5) Make your mum brunch with this delicious blood orange and vanilla marmalade, at $12.

Favorite Finds: AFAR MAGAZINE

When I was traveling back from Washington, DC, I stopped by the newsstand at the airport looking for my usual copy of Glamour, The Economist, and Porter magazine (great combination, I know), before heading onto my flight.

One magazine stood out though that isn't party of my usual selection. I heard about AFAR through Instagram actually, but I hadn't picked up a copy yet.

AFAR covers travel in a fresh perspective and feel. Expect them to cover the highlights of a particular city and country, but also expect off-the-beaten-path suggestions. AFAR has beautiful and inspiring pictures, pulling you into a particular locale. After reading the magazine, I was left wishing my flight was headed to Europe or Asia instead of San Francisco.




I personally loved their food content. When I travel, I admittedly am a little too focused on where I am going to eat each meal. AFAR's restaurant and food choices were a wonderful mixture of traditional and contemporary. Yes, I want to experience the traditional flavors and aspects of a culture's food, but I love the more modern interpretations of those flavors.

Next time you are at the magazine stand, pick up a copy! Also, their online content is equally great, and you can check them out here.

Favorite Finds: Linea Carta

I always walk into Anthropologie wanting to buy something. I'm such a sucker for the smell (Blue Volcano!) and the aesthetic. I walk in and I am practically begging them to take my money.

The truth is though, as much as I want to buy something, I almost always leave empty-handed. Something is always just not quite right. Often an item is too expensive or doesn't fit properly so I just give up. I'll wander around the store for a good hour or so, but then end up leaving when I realize there's nothing I actualy want. 

A few weeks ago, I was doing my usually lingering at Anthropologie when I spotted the perfect mug. It featured sketchings of San Francisco that had water color layered over on top of it. I was smitten. 

I fell in love when I realized there was a matching London mug as well. 

I didn't leave empty handed that day, but instead left as the proud owner of two very cute Linea Carta mugs. 

Linea Carta is a Bay Area based design company featuring beautiful (and eco-friendly!) stationery and gifts. While you can find some of their pieces in Anthropologie, Etsy also has a ton of their stuff!

Below are a few of my favorite pieces from them...

1) NAPKIN 

2) MUG

3) COASTER

Forage Family Meal

Forage is one of my favorite food companies--they deliver the ingredients to a delicious restaurant-inspired meal that can be made in under 20 minutes. You can read more about them here.

A few weeks ago, they invited my friend Meredith and me had dinner with the Forage team. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Forage and the cool stuff they are up to!

We met at their office, a commercial kitchen space in Dogpatch. We started the evening with drinks and a tour, including seeing all of the space they have for storing ingredients...so impressive!

After a tour, Executive Chef Stephen Beaumier (formerly of Cyrus, Quince, and Noma) walked through how Forage chooses meals and preps ingredients for all of their customers. I was so impressed by the quality of the meals--both in ingredients and in creativity.

Then, we split up into groups of four, and got to work cooking! Each group of 4 prepared a different Forage menu item. My group was in charge of vegetable ash carbonara.

When each of us wrapped up, we gathered around the table with each group's dish--potatoes stuffed with dried fruit and nuts covered in a delicious Indian sauce (thanks to DOSA), smoked soba noodles, delicious flatbread, and our vegetable ash carbonara.

We dug in to the delicious food, and then jumped into a great conversation about food. It was a wonderful night!

You can sign up for Forage meals here: https://www.forage.co/?ref=2f1aea4fdd

Favorite Finds: 2 Degrees Bars

Before flying out to Mexico, I met my friend M for dinner. We met at her work, where they have an amazing snack selection. Her office takes snacks to the next level--there's homemade nutella, coconut water, everything your heart could desire. 

Naturally, I stole a snack or two for the plane. I grabbed a 2 Degrees bar, which I had never tried before.

The next day on the plane, I unwrapped the 2 Degrees Chocolate Banana bar, and took a bite. It was so delicious! It tasted exactly like chocolate and banana, plus a nice crunchy contrast thanks to some chia seeds. 

If you're not a banana fan, there is also chocolate peanut, cherry almond, and apple pecan!

 

There's another reason to love 2 Degrees besides their tempting bars. For every bar you buy, they provide a meal to a child in need! I am a fan of the one-to-one model, and I love how 2 Degrees is giving back. 

You can give back yourself (or just try a tasty bar) by buying some here. 

Favorite Finds for Easter

To be honest, I feel very silly writing this post because I know almost nothing about Easter. Being Jewish, I've never celebrated Easter!

That being said, I still have a love for cute bunnies and anything in pastel, so here's a round up of my favorite things this year if I were celebrating Easter!

1) The cutest floral cupcake decorating kit {link}

2) A perfect addition to your Easter brunch table {link}

3) I am dying to add one of these Mosser Glass cake stands to my collection! {link}

4) Chocolate marshmallow eggs in the loveliest shade of blue {link}

5) Lusting after these dessert plates {link}

Favorite Finds for Passover

Hi everyone! Hope you are having a great start to your Monday. Today's post is dedicated to Passover, a Jewish holiday that starts on Friday evening. 

This spring holiday marks the remembrance of Jews leaving Egypt as free men for Israel, after being enslaved by the Egyptians for many years. It's the story of Moses and the exodus of Jews from Egypt. 

Jews celebrate Passover not only by avoiding bread and leavened food, but also by hosting Passover Seders on the first two nights. Passover Seders (seder means "order" in Hebrew) is a ceremonial meal where Jews retell the Exodus story and drink a lot of wine. 

I did a round-up of some of my favorite Passover-related items that I found on the internet...for when you realize your Bubbie's seder plate doesn't quite cut it anymore. 

Tomorrow, I'll feature some favorite finds focusing on Easter!

1) Seder plate

2) Matzah Cover

3) Magnetic Matzah Plate

4) Passover server 

5) A postcard to send home to your parents 

Favorite Finds: Brown Water Coffee

Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I am a coffee snob. Part of me hates the fact that I insist on non-Starbucks coffee and I have a preference for Blue Bottle over Four Barrel. If I am going to spend the money on coffee, I want it to be exactly to my liking!

Now, what if I told you that you could get coffee-snob approved beans in addition to helping someone get access to clean drinking water? It's a no-brainer, right?

Brown Water Coffee ships you coffee within 72 hours of roasting, so you get the freshest and best tasting coffee possible. I just ordered their Honduras San Vicente coffee, and I am loving the result. It makes my morning commute so much better to have a delicious and hot cup of coffee with me!

For every bag of beans that someone buys, they provide clean drinking water to an individual. I wish they had more details on exactly what their one-for-one model entails, but I do like their social mission. This year, they are working on a clean water project in Nicaragua. I take for granted that I have clean drinking water, and enough clean drinking water to make delicious coffee.

Check out all of their coffees here!

Favorite Finds: Forage

I feel really guilty. I've had a really good secret now for quite some time, and I haven't shared it with you yet.

You see, Z and I receive a bag of ingredients packaged in dry ice, along with instructions for making delicious meals. But not just any delicious meals....meals from places like Bar Tartine, Grammercy Tavern, Alta, and SQRL that can all be made at home in under 20 minutes!

Meet Forage. Forage takes care of the meal planning and prepping for you. Almost every meal in a restaurant can be made in 20 minutes, and they are making it easy for you to do this at home as well.

Overall, the food is amazing. They provide high quality ingredients paired with easy-to-follow recipes. Every recipe we tried met the "20 minutes or less" criteria, which is big plus during the work week.

Want proof the recipes are easy enough? Z actually made me dinner thanks to Forage! I was coming home late from work, and I asked Z if he could start dinner. By the time I got home, dinner was ready on the table.

Forage is certainly more on the high end ($15 per person per meal), but it makes for a fun date night. I love seeing what restaurant dishes I can make at home thanks to Forage.

Order Forage here: https://www.forage.co/?ref=2f1aea4fdd

All photos from Forage

Favorite Finds: Farmgirl Flowers

I typically try to stick to food-related items here on Hilary Stone Soup, but I have fallen so in love with this company that I decided to share them with you anyways.

I firmly believe in the power of flowers. Flowers can convey so many beautiful messages--love, friendship, empathy. But what happens if you intend to send a beautiful message of love, but you inadvertently send your girlfriend a dozen almost-dying flowers filled with pesticides?!

That's where Farmgirl Flowers comes in. They deliver only the freshest domestic flowers, in a unique bouquet that differs day in and day out. Their aesthetic is always organic and fabulous, but the flowers change depending on what is fresh and available.

Yes, it means you don't get a lot of choices--if you love red roses, this isn't the flower company for you. They sell burlap-wrapped bouquets and deliver them all across California. Bonus points: their flowers typically have 40% less waste than other companies.

For those of you lucky enough in the Bay, they will help you bring beautiful and local flowers to your events and weddings!

Order Farmgirl Flowers here!

Winter Fancy Food Show 2015: Favorite Finds

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have lovely plans for the weekend. I'm spending the weekend completely with friends--dinner on Friday, Napa on Saturday, and then galavanting around the city on Sunday. Follow me on Instagram for adventures!

In the meantime, check out my favorite products from the Winter Fancy Food Show. It's clear I have a massive sweet tooth! Check out below for descriptions and purchasing info on these amazing and innovative products.

1. Ludlow's, from the co-founder of Coolhaus (another Hilary Stone Soup favorite!), creates craft cocktail jello shots. Forget the jello shots of college, and try these 30-proof jello shooters with adult flavors like Old Fashioned, Meyer Lemon Drop, and Moscow Mule. You can purchase them at Fresh & Easy!

2. I am already a fan of Califia's almond milk for coffee and smoothies, so I wanted to check out their booth for new products. This chocolate, coconut and almond elixir isn't new (it's already out in stores!) but it is AMAZING. I don't even like coconut, and I want this in my fridge. This almond milk will take you straight to a beach in the Caribbean. You can find their products at Safeway and Whole Foods!

3. Jeni's Ice Cream, based out of Ohio, is constantly in our freezer at home. This coffee flavor though, with Intelligentsia espresso, is my new favorite coffee flavor. This is the coffee ice cream of my dreams. You can buy it online here.

4. Plush Puffs makes the most amazing marshmallows I have ever tried. They are good by themselves, in a cup of hot chocolate, or toasted for a s'more. What makes them different? All-natural ingredients, awesome flavors, and no corn syrup! You can purchase them here.

5. This last product is by far my favorite product. Il Morso makes coffee in a bar. You eat it like chocolate, but it's not chocolate...it's coffee! I think it could be the next big thing. Become a fan before the hype hits. Try it out!

Favorite Finds: Sugar Sugar

In the spirit of transparency, today's blog post is not entirely unbiased. I have had the pleasure of knowing and spending time with the owner of Sugar Sugar for close to five years now, and I just wrapped up a wonderful trip with her and her family. I was not paid to write this post, but I do have a special connection to the owner of Sugar Sugar and candy-maker extraordinaire, Shelley.

Z's mom, Shelley, started a high-end candy and chocolate company, Sugar Sugar, last year. From her kitchen in Dallas, Shelley makes delicious toffee, caramels, and chocolate bark that she ships to customers across the country. 

Everytime I see Shelley, she brings samples of her chocolates, and I continue to be amazed with the top-notch ingredients that result in scrumptious treats. Her chocolates and candies are the perfect gift, whether it's a birthday, Valentine's Day, or a get-well-soon treat.

In case you were wondering, these beautiful photographs of Sugar Sugar's confectionaries are from Evan Winslow Smith. 

You can order Sugar Sugar treats here!

Favorite Finds: McConnell's Ice Cream

I have pretty high ice cream standards.  Besides looking for natural ingredients (basically, ingredients I recognize and can pronounce), I look for a creamy and smooth base with spot-on flavors. 

Being here in San Francisco, I am pretty spoiled with good ice cream. Bi-Rite, Smitten, Humphrey Slocombe, and Double Rainbow are all within reach and have great ice creams.

But lately, I have been cheating on my local ice cream brands. McConnell's Ice Cream stole my heart earlier this summer, and I continue to be impressed with their ice creams.

First, let's talk about flavors. Their Eureka Lemon and Marionberries ice cream is the perfect summer treat. It's creamy and tart, with beautiful purple streaks of berries running through the ice cream. This flavor has converted me from a chocolate/coffee/caramel lover to a lemon ice cream lover.

Recently, Z and I picked up some of their Peppermint Stick ice cream, and we once again blown away by the flavor. It's the perfect way here in California to celebrate the holiday season--refreshing peppermint ice cream! It's even better than eating a peppermint stick, I promise!

You can find McConnell's ice cream in select grocery stores, or you can order online here!

All images via McConnell's!