Places, Plates, & Cocktails

08/08/2025

A Taste Of Italy!

A Taste of Italy! No Passport Required!

Krispy Kreme unveils 'Passport to Italy' doughnut collection.
If you were hoping to take a trip to Italy this summer but couldn't swing it, Krispy Kreme is offering customers a sweet escape to the European country. Available through August 17,2025.

The collection includes:
• Cannoli Inspired Doughnut: An unglazed ring doughnut half-dipped in chocolate icing and cookie crunch, dusted with powdered coating and topped with a cannoli flavored buttercream dollop.
• Limone Delight Doughnut: An unglazed shell doughnut filled with lemon delight flavored Kreme, dipped in zesty lemon-flavored icing and topped with candied lemon.
• Tiramisu Inspired Doughnut: An unglazed shell doughnut filled with tiramisu flavored Kreme, topped with sweet creme flavored buttercreme and dusted with cocoa.

08/04/2025

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is Aug. 4.

What is the origin of chocolate chip cookies?
Ruth Wakefield, a chef who ran the Toll House Inn with her husband in Whitman, Massachusetts, is credited with inventing chocolate chip cookies in 1937 when she cut a semi-sweet chocolate bar into bits and added them to her Butter Drop Do cookies. She published a recipe for the cookies in 1938, and Nestlé began promoting the recipe on its packaging and in the company's ads.

See recipe below.

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

DoubleTree Signature Cookie Recipe
Makes 26 cookies
½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)
¾ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 ¼ cups flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch cinnamon
2 2/3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts

Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

Add eggs, vanilla and lemon juice, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl.

With mixer on low speed, add flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix.

Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.
Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.

Cook’s note: You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

07/30/2025

National Cheesecake Day is held each year on July 30.

Cheesecake has a long history, dating back to ancient Greece! These early cheesecakes, called “plakous” (meaning “flat mass”), were quite different from their modern counterparts. They were made with crumbled cheese mixed with flour and honey and then baked on a griddle. There’s even evidence that athletes in the first Olympic Games enjoyed these cheesecakes for energy!

The invention of cream cheese in the late 19th century revolutionized cheesecake. This new ingredient allowed for the smooth, creamy texture we associate with modern cheesecakes. Cheesecake continued to evolve in the 20th century, with bakers experimenting with new flavors and techniques.
Tips for Cheesecake Baking Perfection
So, you’ve picked out your perfect recipe … Now, let’s ensure your cheesecake creation is a success! Here are some helpful tips:
• Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh cream cheese, real vanilla extract, and high-quality fruits will make all the difference in the final flavor.
• Don’t overmix: Overmixing can lead to a tough cheesecake. Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined.
• The water bath is your friend: Baking your cheesecake in a water bath helps prevent cracks and ensures even cooking.
• Let it cool completely: Resist the urge to dig in right away! Cheesecakes need time to set properly for the best texture and flavor.

Pictured: Ina Garten's Mixed Berry Cheesecake.
Recipe link in the comments.

07/24/2025

Happy National Tequila Day!

Frozen Blended Watermelon Margarita
No simple syrup or added sugar in this recipe – just pure deliciousness!

Ingredients
2 cups of blended and frozen watermelon ice cubes
½ cup water
3 oz. silver tequila
1 ½ oz. lime juice
1 oz. Elderflower liquor
Pinch of salt
Lime slices for garnish

Instructions
Combine the watermelon, water, tequila, lime juice, Elderflower liquor and salt in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour into two chilled margarita glasses and garnish with lime slices.

Drink responsibly

07/20/2025

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Happy National Ice Cream Day! 🍦💛
Today is the perfect excuse to pause, smile, and share something sweet with someone you love.

A paleta is more than a treat, it’s a part of your favorite moments.
We hope today is filled with little joys, big smiles, and something cold and delicious to remember it by

📍Come find yours at our locations

-Aventura, FL
-Coconut Grove, FL
-Coral Gables, FL
-Hollywood, FL
-Orlando, FL
-Surfside, FL
-West Palm Beach, FL
-Wynwood, FL
-Forest Acres, SC
-Fort Mill, SC
-Huntersville, NC
-Raleigh, NC
-South End, NC
-New York, NY
-Rice Village, TX
-Sugar Land, TX
-Fredericksburg, VA
-Hoboken, NJ

07/11/2025

06/28/2025

Foodie Friday - Jamaican Hummingbird Cake History & Recipe

Foodie Friday - Jamaican Hummingbird Cake History & Recipe

Why is it called a Hummingbird Cake?
The original recipe for Doctor Bird cake was named after Jamaica's national bird, the red-billed swallow-tail or streamer-tail hummingbird (Trochilus Polytmus). Endemic to Jamaica, the bird's beautiful feathers produce iridescent colors. For years, the Doctor bird has been immortalized in Jamaican folklore and song.

What is the flavor of the Hummingbird cake?
Back in the 70s, Air Jamaica and the Jamaica Tourist Board promoted the recipe for Doctor Bird cake to showcase the island's tropical flavors and spices. Today, Hummingbird cake is still loved for its sweetness of ripe bananas and pineapple, moist texture, and notes of warming cinnamon.
Here's the original and official Doctor Bird Cake recipe, the Jamaican predecessor of Hummingbird Cake.

Doctor Bird Cake Recipe
Ingredients

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
1 8 ounce can crushed pineapple
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 cups diced bananas

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease and lightly flour the bottom and sides of a 3 quart bundt cake pan
3. Into a large mixing bowl sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar. Pour in oil and milk. Add pineapple and eggs. Mix well with a large wooden spoon or rubber scraper. When all ingredients have been combined, stir in diced bananas.
4. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 60 minutes. Test for doneness and if cake is not completely baked allow an additional five to ten (5-10) minutes.
5. Cool in pan on cake rack for 20 minutes before turning out onto serving platter. If desired, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar and garnish with slices of bananas and pineapple chunks. Cake will remain fresh for some time if wrapped and stored in refrigerator. Serves 12 -14.

06/19/2025

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/black-america-cocktail-culture/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=685434360c36c8000190961e&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7t0E7SJJp55karC_6eGpuqr5HhwZM9J6XmslTkBSwFCximvEYcalZh-hm_pw_aem_VlHU-UXqhTB3yoCuUz3sFA

Black Americans are responsible for creating and perfecting many drinks that define the modern cocktail canon, but too little credit is given to them.

06/19/2025

Ma Daisy's new restaurant and cultural center in Bluffton, SC, celebrates Gullah Geechee heritage through food, history, and community.

06/15/2025

In celebration of Juneteenth!

Join Chef Michael Twitty, a multiple James Beard Award winner and renowned Black food historian, alongside Chef Adrian Lipscombe for a deep dive into Black culinary traditions and the stories behind them.

In honor of Juneteenth, Michael will share powerful insights that celebrate the roots and richness of Black food culture.

RSVP now with the link below to secure your spot and upgrade your lunch hour with knowledge that matters.

https://shorturl.at/y3A0D

06/14/2025

Rosé All Day!

Held every year on the second Saturday in June, National Rosé Day originated with Bodvár, a Swedish Rosé House, to honor this delightful summer sipper. The first annual National Rosé Day was June 13, 2015, and the official celebration was held in the Hamptons. Since then, Bodvár has hosted official Rosé celebration parties in Los Angeles, Sweden, and France.

Pictured -Watermelon Rosé Fresca is made with just a few ingredients and packs a flavorful punch, making it the perfect cocktail for effortless entertaining. Recipe link in comments.