Category: Reviews

Ever since world cuisine opened America’s eyes to a whole new culinary realm, Italian food has been one of the most ubiquitous choices in everyday home cooking. Adored by cooks and consumers alike for ease of preparation and vibrant, fresh flavors, these dishes are so versatile that they can be modified to accommodate almost any dietary need. Unfortunately, the communal feasting often ends as the last savory course is polished off, as most traditional Italian desserts are impossible to recreate without copious amounts of eggs or dairy. Take gelato for instance- Rich and creamy, you would never think that this frozen confection could ever be any good in a vegan-friendly format… until now. Raising the bar for vegan products to a whole new level, Blackwell’s seems to have come along at just the right time, riding the wave of increasing interest in animal-free foods, and offering some relief from this sweltering summer heat.

Noting the wide selection of enticing flavors listed online, I could barely contain my excitement as I waited for that fateful FedEx delivery. While this brand is sadly available in only a very few stores at the moment, having that heavy cardboard box arrive at my doorstop was admittedly very convenient. No need to venture out into the heat and humidity when this delightful treat will come to you instead! Quickly unloading the contents directly into my freezer, the sheer number of pints that kept coming from this single package was jaw dropping. No less that eight different flavors in all, four of which being the innovative gelato that had so tickled my curiosity, and another four flavors of their other Italian-inspired sorbettos. Most curious about an eggless, dairy-free gelato, those pints were the first to be opened, and promptly emptied.

Beginning with the basics, it only seemed right that I sample the Vanilla first. Often disregarded as a bland flavor, vanilla is actually amazingly complex, so it’s a good indication of whether or not the producer knows their beans. It is also usually the base of any other ice cream flavors, so you can get a good idea of what to expect from the rest of the line by just this one simple offering. Instantly setting eyes on those beautiful, bountiful flecks of real vanilla bean in this pint, I knew I was in for a treat.

Forcing a spoon into its frozen depths, it seemed a bit hard and icy at first, but given just a moment to thaw, it became the creamiest, dreamiest concoction I could have hoped for. Melting smoothly over my tongue, the vanilla notes were so intense; it was honestly like nothing else I had ever tasted. Forget what you think you know about vanilla before approaching this rendition- This is an entirely different animal altogether. Sweet and decadent but still cool and refreshing this creation does the humble bean justice at long last.

After demolishing that previous pint unaided, I was ready to move on to the next enticing flavor in my frosty freezer. Reaching in and pulling out the incredible indulgent-sounding Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl, this pint practically leapt out on its own, begging to be eaten. Lifting the lid with high hopes, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed to see a spare, uneven dotting of chocolate, not the grand swirl that I had envisioned. Nonetheless, smelling strongly of peanuts, it was no surprise that its intense nutty flavors shone through brightly. Not so sweet, but as rich as pure frozen peanut butter, deeper roasted notes added to the myriad of complex nuances throughout this sophisticated gelato. With just enough fudge mixed in to add variety, it was easy to just continuously down spoonful after spoonful without tiring of the flavor. My only reservation is that I wish it had a slightly saltier hit, as I simply love a little salt in good peanut butter.

Moving back to the classics, Chocolate was next on my hit list. Uncovering a deep, dark, velvety brown color just beneath the plastic seal, I’m sure my eyes grew to the size of saucers, marveling at the incredible treat that was sure to come. Scooping out with the texture of chilly ganache, standard ice cream, vegan or not, couldn’t even put a finger on the consistency of this stuff.

Quickly spooning a serious mound of it into my mouth, it took me a moment to consider this creation. For once, I wasn’t struck with feelings of adoration for the flavor, and it was hard to pin down exactly what to make of it. An undeniably intense cocoa flavor permeated through every last molecule, but all the same, it seemed a bit… flat. Lacking the round, well-developed components of solid chocolate, there wasn’t any sweetness I could detect, giving it a more 2-dimensional taste, much like plain cocoa powder. Don’t get me wrong, it was still quite good and the pint was finished off all the same, but I might have appreciated a slightly more balanced flavor profile, and just a little bit more sugar.

Finally approaching my usual favorite, I simply couldn’t hold back any long when it came to tasting the creamy tan contents of the container billed as Coffee. As an unapologetic lover of all things coffee, I knew that this would be an instant winner, but it turned out to be so much more than I had anticipated. Mellow enough that those not so fond of the stereotypically harsh flavor would also be able to enjoy it, this was better than any ice latte a coffeehouse might serve. Nothing like the bitter black cups of mud brewed daily, it had a very sweet and almost milky slant to it. As someone who make their coffee with about 1/3 cup of grounds to every cup of water like myself, I found this was still an incredibly delicious departure from the regular morning wake-up call, worthy of the dessert plate even without accompaniment. Although my taste test was a fairly large portion, I found myself instantly going back for more, craving that amazing coffee goodness.

Delicious, cold, and intensely flavored overall, these Italian-inspired frozen desserts were just as amazing as I had dreamed. However, I’m not entirely sure that they are quite as rich as authentic gelato, lacking the thick, heavy texture that is synonymous with cream and egg yolks. That said, it’s definitely in a whole different category from you average soy ice cream, and no matter what you want to call it, the bottom line is that it is damn good.

Stay tuned for notes on the sorbetto, coming soon!

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

Some sweet pantry staples are so ubiquitous throughout the world that they need no introduction or explanation, and the famous Oreo cookie definitely gets the honor of such an assignment. With nearly 5 billion of the black and white sandwiches made every year, it’s no wonder that they’ve become such a facet of not just midnight munchies, but our pop culture too. After such a long, successful run on the mainstream market, it was inevitable that spin offs became vast and varied, finally moving into the realm of wholesome ingredients at long last. We owe a great debt to the original for the concept, but not so much for the content- Only some versions are vegan, and it was a short four years ago that trans-fats were painstakingly removed. Luckily, there’s no reason to dally over the questionable intentions of mega corps when compassionate companies such as Late July have taken their own stab at this sweet treat, with no ulterior motives than making a superior cookie.

Attractively packaged with enticing graphics and even more alluring names, I was already quite taken with this product before I had even had a taste. Available in big boxes and small 4-cookie packs, Late July can suit all your needs, whether you want to grab a portion-controlled snack for a packed lunch or stock up on a box for baking. Made with whole grains, all organic, no trans-fats on top of all that, they sounded too good to be true. Even a bad sandwich cookie is usually okay, so I dug in without reservation, reaching first for the double threat of cocoa-goodness offered by the Dark Chocolate cookies.

Smelling strongly of chocolate from the moment I ravenously tore one out of the protective packaging I had earlier admired, it was difficult to stave off my hunger while photographing these beauties. Coated with a light dusting of cocoa powder on the delicately patterned cookies, every single aspect of these sweet morsels simply screamed of chocolate. Although I can’t say I’m a chocoholic by any stretch of the imagination, I found myself chomping at the bit to chow down.
Picking out the closest cookie and cleanly pulling the top off, I first began by sampling the plain wafer, solo. Crisp but not hard, I was pleased to taste a nice cocoa flavor that wasn’t the least bit sweet, as I expected the filling to more than make up for any lack of sugar. Seeking confirmation, a cautious lick of the crème center proved me only somewhat correct- Instead of the tooth-achingly sweet filling that I had expected, the most incredibly rich chocolate ganache met my tongue. Perfectly smooth and creamy, I couldn’t believe that something tasting so over-the-top decadent might actually be a new incarnation of the humble snack I once knew as a kid. Like a more mature, adult version of an Oreo, I’m sure that even those who aren’t crazy about “children’s desserts” would still go wild over these – I know I sure did!

Still spinning from the fantastic first taste, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe I ate these in the wrong order, as it would be hard to top that amazing confection. Reading the title of Vanilla Bean with Green Tea, I had hope that if anything could surpass the previous, it could only be this classy if untraditional combination. Especially excited about the green tea component, being an unapologetic lover of all things involving matcha, I got so antsy to sample one that I actually ate the subject before I secured a decent shot! The final picture was taken after the fact, but do me a favor and pretend they’re all there, okay?

For all intents and purposes looking exactly like the original with chocolate wafers and a bright white crème filling, I was rather skeptical at first. However, after twisting off the top cookie and revealing black flecks of genuine vanilla bean embedded in the creamy center, my heart was instantly won over. Only recently have I been able to afford my first real vanilla bean, so I know how expensive and clearly superior in taste they are. This was the best thing I could hope to see in a commercial product. Offsetting the same cocoa cookie was this intensely sweet frosting, boasting incredible vanilla flavor but also incredible amounts of sugar. Super smooth and soft like no other Oreo could dream of achieving, it was the first time I could ever call a packaged baked good “fresh” tasting, and eaten in conjunction with the crunchy wafer was the perfect contrast of textures. While I’m still a bit disappointed that the green tea wasn’t used as a flavor, but more as a nutrient (antioxidants), this sandwich cookie is nothing like any Oreo I’ve ever had- It’s immeasurably better!

I’m usually a big believer in the saying, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” but in this case I’m grateful that someone believed there was room for improvement in something that already seemed perfect. As the original fast approaches its 100th birthday, it’s high time that it began to grow up, and Late July has done just that- Created a more sophisticated and grown-up version of that childhood favorite that absolutely everyone can appreciate.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

After my most recent debacle with raw food bars, any person in their right mind would assume that it would be a long time before I tried to navigate such unpredictable and often unsavory waters again. Of course, my curiosity will clearly be the death of me, because hardly a week after that first disastrous trial, I discovered a “Ginger Snap” Smart Monkey bar on a road trip… To much the same results. And considering I paid $3 (!!!) for that one mound of unpalatable mush, I simply couldn’t allow myself to leave it in the trash, suffering through every last bite. Honestly people, it was so depressingly distasteful, I was afraid I might have a reversal of fortune right then and there.

Is there no hope for raw food bars?, I couldn’t help but wonder as those vile materials churned angrily in my stomach. I knew in my heart of hearts that there was some company out there who could make this concept work as intended- Seriously, how hard is it to not process fewer than 7 or 8 ingredients in a tasty way? Fearing that this mission to discover the full potential of raw food bars would lead me on a wild goose chase to even more dangerous culinary territory, I jumped on the opportunity to try a brand that I had heard good things about already: Larabar.

Feeling like a kid in a candy store upon seeing the rainbow of colorful wrappers that belong to 12 different flavors, I selected a small sampling of three with high hopes.

The cross section of each of these bars is basically the same- A thick, dark paste of dates holding together a copious amount of nuts. This one pictured right here happens to be the Cinnamon Roll flavor, which I grabbed right away simply thanks to the imagery of the title alone. I positively adore cinnamon, so to open up that shiny wrapper and inhale a plume of the spicy scent was the best first impression the bar could have made. Yielding easily to the teeth, it had a wonderfully soft, tender texture, accompanied by the delightful contrast of crunchy nuts. This time, instead of the off-putting bitterness that I had found in the other raw food bars, there was the most amazing sweetness that seemed to wrap around my entire tongue and tickle my taste buds. It was simply unbelievable that there was no sugar added, but it really was just the perfect amount of natural sugar to enhance all of the other components as well. After getting halfway through the bar, I swore that I really could taste the pastry of its namesake, too! How on earth they created the flavors of that decadent dough in only 6 unprocessed ingredients is beyond me!

Encouraged by such a delicious offering in a category that was looking more and more dubious by the minute, I couldn’t wait to chomp right into my next bar, this time snapping up the Apple Pie flavor. Tinted a slightly red color thanks to the pigment found in apple skin, the smell of cinnamon also wafted up from this bar, albeit slightly more subdued. Lightly fruity and mildly spiced, I’m sure that fans of the previous flavor would also enjoy this one, as they were really quite similar. The occasional large almond chunks were wonderful surprises though, and the mellow apple overtones were enough to give it character all its own.

Finally, as if I weren’t already convinced that these bars were worthy of the hype I had heard, I still had the Banana Cookie bar to win me over. So simple but so good, this combination of bananas, raisins, and walnuts tasted just like… Well… Bananas, raisin, and walnuts! A beautiful thing indeed, it was a delight to have real food in a compact form, shelf-stable and easy to grab on the go. Again, the sweetness was really incredible but still entirely natural, like a banana so ripe that it must have sported a solid black peel, but without any of that unpleasant mushy texture! Needless to say, I just loved this flavor.

I can only imagine that the remaining 9 flavors each hold just as much promise, not just nutrients and fuel, but a truly tasty snack. Food should not be some bitter pill meant to be swallowed just to keep one’s energy up, but really a thing of pleasure. Healthy food is by no means exempt from this definition, and these are the bars to prove it. As they say on their website, Larabars are both “satisfying and nourishing.”

Whether you’re trying to slim down in a hurry, or just in a hurry, nutrition shakes are extremely popular these days. Precisely calibrated for perfect proportions of fat, carbs, and protein, they take the worry out of what might be the “healthiest” choice on a dubious menu, and are very convenient no matter how many activities you have on your plate. With these powerful drinks sounding like the cure-all to health woes, you might wonder why everyone isn’t guzzling these by the gallon. Well, the reason for reluctance is simple; The best options usually taste as good as chalk mixed into soured milk. Besides, who would really want to forgo so many delicious foods for a substitute that you can’t even chew? Since I’m no diet guru, I certainly can’t give you any further knowledge about the best way to get in shape, but I can tell you how I feel about incorporating such vitamin slurries into a standard lifestyle.

Since I’ve been swamped with work lately, it’s true that my meals have become progressively simpler, lacking proper time to assemble a complex feast. Eating basic fruits, veggies, and beans in their natural state is no problem with me, but snacks are another story. All too often I end up reaching for some sugary granola bars or greasy chips instead of something that might actually keep my focus at 100%. That’s why fortified shakes like Nutiva have begun to sound increasingly enticing, especially with a label that rattles off only organic, natural, and fair trade ingredients. This particular product comes in powder-form, with three different flavors to choose from, but for a little trial run, I was only able to investigate the Chocolate flavor. Delighted to have such an easy reference to less-than-invigorating but delicious shakes in this classic flavor, it would be easy to gauge the success of this healthful beverage.

Straight out of the package, I had high hopes for the dusty brown powder, already smelling strongly of cocoa. Stirring it into a cup of my trusty almond milk, I began to encounter some problems early on. Many dry powders have difficulty producing a smooth, lump-free drink, so I wasn’t surprised that this was an obstacle for Nutiva as well- Accepting that this was the way that most mixes work, I broke out the wire whisk and whipped it good. Working up a good froth, it didn’t take long for all of the bubbles to pop, and after sitting a mere 15 minutes or so to take a few beauty shots for posterity, the mixture had thickened to the viscosity of wet cement. No longer could it support light air bubbles even with the most vigorous stirring, but it certainly wasn’t watery.

Finally taking my first big gulp, it was almost jarring to discover that despite all the good smells it had earlier produced, the shake itself was shockingly bland. Only mildly flavored with something reminiscent of chocolate and not the least bit sweet, it was nothing like I had imagined. I felt like this huge glass before me was like bitter medicine disguised as something supposedly delicious, just like those “grape flavored” chewable tablets that really taste like chemicals and chalk. The grittiness imparted by the flax seeds didn’t help it one bit, either; While it should have felt smooth going down, it tickled my throat and left some residual grit on my teeth.

As unpleasant as it was, I can’t help but wonder if it could still be manipulated into a more palatable state. Perhaps if you were to use a different non-dairy milk, and add more sugar, and a bit more cocoa… But then again, you could just combine those three ingredients alone and end up with something perfectly refreshing. If you’re more interested in the nutrition values it has to offer then it still does have potential… But it’s really not something that suits my tastes, especially at the retail price of over $2.00 per packet.

Ask and you shall receive, as has been advised by so many before me, but only now do I believe that such a simple and obvious statement might actually be valid. What seems like years ago now, I had the luck to stumble upon some delicious pudding made by ZenSoy, and investigated some of their other products to round out my review. Offhandedly citing my find that their website mentioned an enticing cappuccino drink, I never dreamed that I might taste such a delight, as to my dismay it was no where to be found in local stores. Now, seemingly out of the blue, the director of marketing himself contacted me and offered free samples. Surprised but ecstatic about this sudden opportunity, I jumped at his offering, scarcely believing that such a serendipitous event could truly happen in real life. Seriously, I couldn’t have made this story up and sounded the least bit convincing, but there you have it!

Mere days later, a box so heavy that no amount of strength on my part could have lifted it from the ground arrived at my doorstep. Weighed down with pounds of soymilk, the most I could muster was a good drag through the house before giving up and opening it on the spot, revealing an amazing bounty within. Not only had a full case of my long sough after Cappuccino drink been included in this cardboard treasure chest, but also a half case of both Vanilla and Chocolate Soy on the Go. Deliriously happy, I paraded my loot straight into the freezer to chill as fast as physically possible, craving a taste right then and there. [For future reference, I might suggest they reside in the fridge for long term storage- My cartons only sat there 15 or 20 minutes, but much longer and they could very well explode, as I’ve seen many other bottled liquids do.]

Starting with the least alluring flavor so as not to set my standards too high, I reached for the frosty carton of Chocolate soymilk, straw ready to slurp. Now it may surprise some chocoholics that I might find this one the least enticing, but in my experience, chocolate drinks are either hit or miss. It’s just all too common that they become gritty, artificial-tasting, watery, or some unfortunate combination of the three. With some trepidation I swallow my first mouthful… And was so startled by the taste that I nearly spilled it all over my already messy keyboard! Never before had I experienced such a delicious cocoa soymilk; creamy and smooth with the perfect viscosity, it felt substantial enough to be satisfying without being the least bit unctuous. Distinctly cocoa-tasting, artificial flavors can’t even touch this sort of authentic sweetness.

On a whim, I popped a glass of this auburn beauty into the microwave for a minute or two, wondering how it might taste as a convenient, pre-mixed hot cocoa. Burning myself on the steaming liquid, the experience was perfectly reminiscent of childhood experiences. Just like the cocoa I remembered from even before my days as a vegan, this was sure to be the perfect remedy for a cold and wet winter day. Although I would never normally pick something like this off the shelves, I will definitely have to stock up when the snowy months roll around!

Plucking a chilly box of Vanilla out of the fridge, memories of less than appealing products haunted me once more. Although it should be such an easy flavor to replicate, vanilla is actually terribly complex, and it’s all too easy for companies working in huge batches to get the formula disturbingly wrong. More often than not, “vanilla” soymilk is almost indecipherable from the standard plain, but then there are also variants that take it way too far, making the flavor so intense that it tastes like you’ve just swallowed a full bottle of extract, artificial additives and all. Vanilla is truly a delicate thing, often drowned out by excessive sweetening, but even one whiff of this brew convinced me that ZenSoy would not make this the case. Light and refreshing, a sip lingered on the tongue just long enough to make a case for the flavorful bean, never overstaying its welcome. Miles better than I could have even hoped for, I would happily include this in any bowl of cereal or baking application. Surprisingly, I found that the carton was drained before I even concluded writing my tasting notes!

Having saved what I was hoping would be the best for last, I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer and finally plunged my extended plastic straw through the seal of the Cappuccino flavor. Taking a good, long swig, I must have lost myself in the moment, because it seemed as though I guzzled down half of the container before coming up for air! Lightly flavored with just a hint of coffee, I wished that there was a more robust flavor, being that I’m such a coffee addict. However, that faint whisper only made me want to drink more to chase that flavor down, making for a quite addictive beverage itself. A serious contender to real coffee house creations, this creamy drink is sophisticated enough to suit more mature palates, but I’m sure it’s light enough that even kids would be able to enjoy it as well. In sum, I absolutely adore this stuff, and I may just have to order another case or two soon!

Now, bear in mind that I almost never drink soymilk straight-up. Sometimes I’ll use it in my cereal, but more often than not even that job is done by almond milk, so soy usually is only found in my baking. Considering all of that, this is some high praise coming from my lips, but it really does deserve recognition. Not only is it a perfectly portable and even nutritionally sound refreshment, but there are few products on the shelf that could rival its incredible taste. If you’re looking for single-serve packages of soymilk, search no further – ZenSoy On the Go really is “the soy you enjoy!”

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

All things considered, I’m fairly easy to please when it comes to food. New, unusual, and even ugly food excites me, and very few flavors strike my palate as terribly adverse (with the exception perhaps of natto, which will never again be within a mile of my mouth.) Eating adventurously requires more than just an open mouth – An open mind is perhaps the most important utensil you could eat with. More over, I really don’t like speaking negatively of anyone’s long-labored creation, even if it were a machine doing the heavy lifting. Certainly I wouldn’t lie to please a chef, and you would be sure to know what I saw as its shortcomings, but I still feel that there are always redeeming qualities to be found in any dish if one looks hard enough.

If only the same could be said for this raw food bar I just sampled. Upon first viewing them from afar on their quaint little website, they seemed to simply overflow with potential. Eating raw really fascinates me, so much so that I would love to experiment more with it, since I eat a large amount of just plain old fruits and veggies every day. The only catch is my love of baking, not to mention the desire for hot food during cold months, so I would never be able to fully commit to such a diet. All the same, it has a wonderful premise and is clearly made with only the best intentions towards wellbeing. Not a questionable ingredient to be found on the label, and hardly any processing is involved either. Arriving in a neat little package on my doorstep, I was thrilled to dive into this healthy fare.

Their clean, plain, and thoughtfully designed little labels gave them a homemade sort of appeal, and I was ready to fall in love upon first bite. Sure, they didn’t look like the most inviting treat to ever grace my table, but appearance is ultimately of little consequence; I try not to judge a book by its cover. I opened up the Goji Berry Spice bar without missing a beat… And unleashed a terror the likes of nothing I had ever tasted before

Indescribable but intense, it was like someone had just set off a bomb of cinnamon and vanilla right in my hands, although the vanilla was so strong that it tasted more like alcohol than sweet, fragrant beans. Expecting to find a texture similar to Nectar bars based on their base of mashed dates, I was unpleasantly surprised to discover no chew at all, as dry crumbs seemed to just fall apart at the smallest persuasion. For some reason, all of the textures seemed to be at odds with each other, battling within the very brick itself; The sprouted quinoa was definitely the most aggressive though, as the tiny grains continued to find themselves lodged between my teeth in gritty protest. Additionally, because it was composed mostly of dried fruits, I had it in my mind that this would be at least somewhat sweet, but how far this was from the truth. Not a hint of sweetness was to be found, and instead a mild rancidity lingered on my tongue as I searched for any reassuring flavors. This was not the enlightening, healthy bar that I had hoped for, to say the least.

Reluctant to try the next flavor but determined to give this product a fair once-over, I moved on to the Spirulina Chocolate flavor, hoping against hope that things would improve. Unfortunately… They didn’t. If anything, this concoction was even more insufferable than the first, now sporting appallingly fibrous lengths of algae. If this was what they called chocolate, I definitely did not want to see what they would try passing off as a dessert, either. Unlike any sort of “chocolate” I had ever tasted, it wasn’t even as good as an artificial cocoa flavor! After the first bite, I stopped mid-chew and honestly had to ask myself, “What on earth am I eating?” Comparable to a clod of dirt covered in lawn clippings, I would rather go suck on gym socks than try this bar again.

And still there remained one final flavor, begging for one last chance. As your humble reviewer, who am I to refuse this poor, misguided product anyways? So down the hatch it went, and luckily the Green Tea Blueberry Mango bar, although long-winded in name, proved to be the most edible of the batch. Sporting relatively large chunks of dried fruit, there was less actual bar to get hung up on, and the fruit was able to speak of its own naturally delicious flavors. Still, the same alcoholic vanilla was present, as were those pesky mismatched grains and fillers. Compared to those other criminal creations, I guess I would have to say that this bar was my favorite, even if that isn’t very high praise considering all of its drawbacks.

I am really, truly saddened to have to write such nasty words, and I really tried to be as gentle as possible… But it clearly didn’t work out, and for my harshness I do apologize to the creator. Although they were made with only the best ingredients and intentions, something seriously went wrong in the execution. I just hope that this isn’t the full potential of the raw foods movement, because if it is, then I might have been sorely mistaken in believing it had real possibilities.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]