The Hot Cocoa Quest Continues With... Jumba Juice?

Mammoth. Milk. Disneyland. All places that have proven themselves to have amazing hot cocoa. But Jumba Juice? Although it doesn't rank among the greats it does rank amongst the 'good' in the quest for California's finest hot cocoa.

I came across Jamba Juice's hot cocoa by chance. When I bought a smoothie one day I recieved a coupon for a free hot drink. So why not try their hot cocoa? I was not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised when it was chocolatey and sweet. Just the way I like it. I didn't have to add sugar or sweetener, although be warned that it did not come with whipped cream. Still, it was better than I expected and quite pleasant.

Especially after chocolate store Leonida's closed, which was my go to hot cocoa in Santa Monica. Ironically Jumba Juice now vacates where Leonida's used to be. As there is a Jumba Juice just a block and a half from my office, and my apartment, they are my go to for a nearby hot cocoa. But the quest for the best hot cocoa continues...

International Malt Confectionary Battle

Welcome to our first taste test! Our blind-folded mission to seek out the most delicious in our favorite snacks. Our international panel of bloggers have come to discover that not only are all snack foods made the same, there exists a sometimes subtle, often times significant difference in the consistency and tastes of the same products from different countries! One of our first test features the malted milk ball, more specifically commonwealth confectionary treat: the Malteaser. The US equivalent of the Whopper was also brought in the underdog challenger.



This particular taste test took place on 2 coasts between 4 countries and 7 taste testers. New Zealand vs. Canada vs. UK vs. US. National pride was at stake!

Results as follows:
Josh - Canada
Lucy - Canada
Spoon - USA
Steph - USA
Gabe - Canada
Neal - Canada
Jo-Anne - UK



Apparently the great white north emerged victorious in this test, and all but Steph chose a malt ball origin other than their own. The shortly post-expiration date of the New Zealand Malteaser did not appear to be a factor in it's performance here. Next up: Doritos, Tic Tacs, Digestives and ???

Giada's Carbonara

Giada, she can do no wrong. Neither can you when you cook from her amazing book, “Giada's Kitchen”. Our search for deliciousness led us to Giada's Carbonara (pg. 115). First of all, who doesn't love a carbonara? Pasta + peppery cheesy basil aioli sauce + asparagus + ad hoc pancetta = ridiculously delicious. What's the only thing that could improve such a masterpiece? A fried egg of course! Slightly off course from the traditional carbonara with the sunny side up egg on top instead of raw egg mixed inside the pasta made it even more delicious in this eater’s opinion. Revisiting this book after it’s been sitting on my shelf for a year reminded how everything Giada makes is flawlessly simple and fabulous. Grab this book stat! You'll want to make everything in it, and you should! Yum!

Recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/giadas-carbonara-recipe/index.html

It's a flag! It's a cake! It's delicious!

It's our nation's birthday, the time to fire up those grills and light up the skies. Happy Birthday America! After filling up on burgers, hot dogs and endless savory bbq goodies, we need something sweet to bring us back to balance. Enter flag cake! Our nation's holiday gives us the chance to be extra festive with our desserts. What's great is that the ingredients are minimal, and the results masquerade it's quick and simple construction! America! It's what's for dessert!

Bundaberg Ginger Beer - Carbonated Deliciousness!

Diet Coke, Perrier, Sprite Zero, Sierra Mist - all amazing tasting bubbly beverages that are refreshing on a hot summer day. But there's nothing quite like Bundaberg Ginger Beer, a delicious sugary carbonated beverage with a gingery taste (and it's non alcoholic by the way).

Bundaberg Ginger Beer is found at all good grocery stores and convenience stores in New Zealand (and Australia, where the beverage hails from), but I had not found it in the US until last week when I found it in one of my favourite stores, Cost Plus World Market.

Cost Plus has many other tasty foreign treats which you will be hearing more about in posts to come. In the mean time pick up some delicious Bundaberg Ginger Beer from a Cost Plus near you, for the mere sum of $5.95 for four bottles. What a good deal. And what a delicious day!

www.worldmarket.com to find the closest Cost Plus store.

Hot Cocoa: the magical and the downright bleeegh...

Hot Cocoa… brings back memories of it’s warming, comforting rescue after trekking through snowy blizzards as a child… I imagine for someone who didn’t grow up in Glendale. As an adult, we’ve found it transformed from an instant powder beverage to perfect après snow creamy treat, but reader be warned: All cocoas are not created equal! So welcome to the first installment of Gabe and Spoon’s ongoing search for the world’s best hot cocoa. Eagle Lodge, located near our usual dwellings at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, sits as current reigning cocoa champion. Perfectly hot, steamy and sweet, topped with a generous dollop of equally amazing canned whip cream. (note to find brand and stock a barrel). It comes from the machine too, which brings us to the importance of a good cocoa producing machine! If it looks dodgy, so will your cocoa!

And where there are winners, there lays a anthill of those that don’t measure up. Our featured loser actually exists on the same mountain! Cocoa consumer beware! A last mountain souvenir forage led us to McCoy’s Station, at the mountain base Village. The friendly woman at the store described how her cocoa formula was different, and we were intrigued. Bad mistake! The cocoa was bland, too milky and not even worth the calories. The mediocre whip and chocolate drizzle could do nothing to improve it. Needless to say, it went to the circular bin outside after a few sips!

The hot cocoa on the mountain is not equal in deliciousness, so choose wisely. The cocoa challenge is on. Disneyland is apparently a worthy contender, so stay tuned!