There is much to be said for the value of authenticity, especially when it comes to food. A few years back, Japanese Ramen joints were popping up in every corner of the city on the crest of a culinary trend. Unsurprisingly, few who sought to ride that wave remain. For ramen enthusiasts, however, there’s a new contender in town, ICHIRAN, whose commitment to serving authentic ramen goes far beyond a bowl of noodles in broth.
Do you like Tea? I sure do. Hot, Iced, Whatever; Tea is a marvelous drink whose appeal transitions seamlessly from season to season. Spring in NYC is a great time to rediscover your love of Tea, because there are chilly days when you want to warm up with a cup of hot tea, and a slow move to warmer weather that may have you craving a cold glass of freshly brewed iced tea. With Tea Drops, a delicious and convenient way to drink tea that takes the tea bag completely out of the equation, you can have both!
Food and Art go together; so what better venue could there be for throwing a cookie launch party than an actual art museum? We were recently invited to the Whitney Museum of American Art on Gansevoort Street to celebrate leading Japanese French-style confectioner Malebranche’s U.S. launch of its Maru Cha Cha matcha-based biscuits, and the evening was a terrific mix of food, art and Japanese culture.
Whitney Museum with the High Line in the Foreground
The event went beyond the traditional cocktail party to include not only cocktails and delicious passed appetizers, but also tastings of the unique Maru Cha Cha cookies, including an indulgent Trifle dessert recipe by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Anthony. Guests had the chance to meet and mingle with the Japanese brand-influencers behind Malebranche (a high end bakery in Japan) and to learn what Matcha — the key ingredient in the Maru Cha Cha biscuits — is all about.
