HAVE YOU TRIED NYC'S MOST MAGICAL CINNAMON BUN?

Hey guys! I'm currently doing an urban education internship in the city, looking at charter and consortium high school curriculum. Go check out my idea for BASP (Brooklyn Sustainable Agriculture Program) in my previous blog post!  I know- what you really want to hear about is the damn cinnamon bun to the right of this text- yep that beauty. I'm going to share the  euphoric experience that is Bread's Bakery, give it an honest review, and make you so hungry that you'll want to make it yourself.

An open air bakery with an ajoining cafe's, Breads Bakery in NYC is heart-central is Union Square; yet it is the cozy, warm spot, and inviting spot that is features locally-sourced ingredients. Don't you love NYC? I got the delcious, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon bun that was beyond delcious. I ordered a capuccino, which did not need sugar. It was an almond milk capuccino! There is level of care going into each and every ingredient here that is astounding: although most baked goods ARE NOT VEGAN, they are transparent about what goes into their food, and where it comes from. And that is everything in my books. 

There is a fine selection of pastries: from chocolate and almond croissants, their world famous chocolate Babka which I plan to get before I leave NYC, plain croissants, fancy French cheese sticks, flourless chocolate cakes, apple tarts, to rouglash. They also feature homemade breads such as kosher challah, French baguettes, and focaccia loaves. 

Upon my walk back to school, I decided to take an extended route to walk off the sugar I had just ingested! I came across a spraaling set of branches, weaving intricately over a brownstone. This image has encapsulated my experience in NYC so far: weavy, nuanced,  and deeper understanding of what life's all about: love and to be loved.  

 

Breads Bakery was a five out of five stars for me: a perfect way for a mid-afternoon snack, close to work and Union Square subway, and a little bit of my foodie home in the Big Apple. I recommend it highly for a cup of coffee, and pastry after work. Love Love Love!
  Look out for more reviews to come from my NYC adventure! 

Namaste,

Zoe

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The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Hey everyone! It's ThinkZoeBoost back at it with some fabulous goodies! I was recently on a break from university, and in coming home- I was greeted by these sweet treats that never fail to liven the taste palates. Crumbly, gooey, chocolaty, sugary, melt in your mouth, delectable, small, boom- pow flavor-ville things ever- not to mention I LOVE the sugary stuff. So ENJOY! Descriptions of each pastry are beneath each photo!These following pastries are simply....

THE BEST THING(S) I EVER ATE. PERIOD. 

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE FLOURLESS CAKE 

This has been my birthday cake for years. So gluten free y'all- but not forsaking any texture or flavor profiles! This small portion allows you to indulge without guilt. The gooey texture and melt in your mouth chocolate overload got me like OH MY GOSH! Fabulous, perfection my darlings!

LEMON TART WITH GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST 

You need this in your life. LIKE NOW. This is a purse your lips kind of lemon tart with a buttery, crumbly graham cracker crust. I love a good lemon tart, and this just crossed all t's and dotted all my i's- if you'll excuse the pun!

SEASONAL PUMPKIN TART 

The meringue is ever so delicately balanced, and the pumpkin tart never loses it spices: all-spice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. So perfect for fall- and great for entertaining as well! A welcome dessert for those holiday celebrations coming up. 

DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES. 

To die for. A staple for me when I am vegan, these delectable small minute yet blissful bites allow me to fulifll that guttural chcolate craving we all have, while still staying vegan! LOVE IT! 

Zoe's Quick Tip 

The box of heavenly delicacies is perfect for entertaining or a hostess/host gift. Bring these or a selection of baked goods to your next company or holiday party, and you'll be the life of the party! You won't know where the treats have gone...

*Namaste,

Zoe

*Thank you all so much for reading and enjoying ThinkZoeBoost. If you enjoyed this post and others, feel free to like, follow, and contact us on Facebook, Email, Twitter & Instagram for more recipes, life-hacks, and inspiration. 

Le Petit Café - I'm In Bliss

Hey everyone! After last week's emotional and raw bitch session (a great, poignant one I hope though) I treated myself with some decidedly non-vegan treats at a fun and cute french cafe in my hometown. It was exactly what I needed to sit back, relax, and marvel over something as wonderful and awe-inspiring as a key lime tart! Enjoy:) 

As beautiful and saliva inducing as it looks, this key lime was even more perfect in person. A crunchy graham pastry shell, sweet, with moist creamy unfiltered lime filling. The meringue was "parfait"- a whippy white cloud that satiated my appetite. A delight to look upon and feast upon.  I also threw in there a cheeky dark chocolate truffle. Unbelievable. A ++++

I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW GOOD THIS F**KING IS. I JUST CAN'T.  A freshly squeezed, perfect tangy pomegranate ice tea perfectly rosy in complexion, with the best baguette I've ever eaten. This eatery makes all its own bread, and the yeasty, crunchy exterior with warm buttery interior was heavenly with melted brie, arugula basil mixture, and a raspberry compote. TO DIE FOR.

The soup here is always superb, but this lentil vegetable set the bar high, with a lovely tomato base, and roasted corn, zucchini, and eggplant to highlight the richness and quality of the lentil beans, this was fantastic.

A fabulous way to cap off the adventure with a decaf skim milk cappuccino. The BEST CAPPUCINO EVER. Frothy, rich, yet not-too sweet, this cup of deliciousness brought the afternoon to a close, with a final au-revoir:)

Love you all, and Namaste,

Zoe

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THE BEST ILLEGAL PANINI YOU'LL EVER HAVE (LUNCH WITH THE FAM)

Hello everyone! I went out to a lovely lunch with my mum and sister a few days back, and we so enjoyed this new farm to table cafe called Mockingbird Cafe. We sat outside in the sunshine and the food, atmosphere, environment was outstanding. #THEBESTMEAL I'm a foodie, and I appreciate when meals are well-crafted, thoughtful, and maintains its integrity to the ingredients. So, here a tidbit about THE BEST PANINI IN THE WORLD (LUNCH WITH THE FAM). ENJOY!

THE BEST PANINI ON PLANET EARTH! It should be illegal it is so freaking delicious. Zucchini, artichokes,tomato, pesto, & succulent goat cheese on toasted buttered ciabatta. My mouth just watered to an extent I did not think possible. Absolutely visionary, beyond belief. A vegetarian panini to marvel at! 

A fresh side salad with balsamic blueberry reduction, romaine, and grape tomato came with the best panini on our blue and green planet. The tomato was so ripe, it tasted all the more loved and beautiful in its fresh state.

My sister's lunch, not vegetarian, but she swears it was absolutely divine! A artisan turkey club with cranberry aioli with a chicken Ceasar salad to die for. I tasted the croutons- the most crunchy, decadent buttery things your little hands will ever come across. Just an orchestral meal. No words!

A spicy cold Gazpacho soup! Shared with three people, this more than cleansed our palates between each bite of delightfulness. Super easy to make, and wonderful on hot summer day! Gorgeous, healthy and tasty! A winner in my books every day. 

Thank you for all responding, commenting, and loving my posts! If you enjoyed this post or others, make sure to go follow me on Twitter and on Instagram!

Namaste,

Zoe

SAVORING ITALY! (THE DINNER OF A LIFETIME)

      Today is a little bit of a different kind of blog post, however it combines both lifestyle and vegetarian food!! In spirit of National Sibling Day, I thought I would detail one of my life-inspiring moments in a slow food/Italian dinner which occurred just yesterday, with my best friend and twin sister Izabella.  I'm so lucky and grateful to have her in my life, and as my constant rock and support network. I love you babe! 

     For four months now, I have been taking a Savoring Italy course where I have learned about the various food and cultural foodstuff of Italy and its many provinces. In course of this class, we have learned about the slow food movement, which began in Italy with Perini in 1986: promoting sustainable food and agriculture of local small businesses. Perini focuses on specifically living a slower paced life and an age of constant growth, change, and technology. It is a cultural shift towards living life more mindfully, and listening to one's body processes and desires: self-care is so essential. 

On the right: Where some of our food came from, veggies from a local Slow Food farm in Massachusetts. 

       Italian food contains absolutely no-GMOS, as per governmental regulation, and it is not composed of typical heavy, dairy ridden dishes and heavy marinara that we associate with Italian-American food. Rather, authentic Italian food is served family style, with large bowls of food placed in the center a table, and each person gets a small portion in five courses. Of the courses, I had an entirely vegan Italian dinner. How do you ask?

Here is a look at our third course: chicken for non-vegetarian, beans, roasted vegetables, and homemade focaccia bread with olive tapenade. I'm a happy camper! 

      Our professor guided us, in this amazing dinner, to eating slowly; to simply taste and experience our food one bit at a time using all our senses.  It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life: one of the most fulfilling spiritually in feeding my soul and body food that fuels goodness and is healthful and kind to the earth. 

       Let me tell you about this food, I was crying. Full-out tears were pouring out of my eyes, as I savored the amazing delicacies that were before me.

This bean dish made me cry tears of joy. 

Then, something even more incredible happened; we were situated around a table with complete strangers, however we were chatting away like old buddies. 
Due to this proliferation of incredible, mind-boggling good food, conversation swelled: laughs and jokes were shared in a matter of minutes. In "breaking bread", we were breaking down barriers in our two hours dinner. 

No one left after two hours; we simply stayed for another two, with amazing cappuccino and homemade cannoli to celebrate this amazing communion of energy, flow, and mindfulness. My sister and I had one of the most meaningful conversations we have ever had, while sipping and savoring delicious food that is not artificial, non-GMO, hand-made, and organic. I can't find a better excuse to eat pasta? Can you? 
Love you all, and wishing you a peaceful week full of yummy food that fuels your soul and body!

Namaste, Zoe

Namaste,