As a nationally recognized voice in the style space, I live a fairly glamorous life. So when I heard my apartment bell ring the other day – quelle surprise! – it was a hand delivered pint of Chozen Ice Cream, to whom it’s handler had the unfortunate experience of finding me in my most bewitching ensemble to date: my robe. At 3pm in the afternoon. Very glamorous…

I had been anticipating its arrival and since I’ve been living milk-, cheese- and butter-free for close to four months now, I wasn’t sure how I’d react to its sitting on my kitchen counter. The packaging is cute and further tempted my interest. Using the traditionally Jewish blue and white colors, the pint reads what it means to be “Chozen“: that is, kosher, all-natural, ultra-premium ice cream inspired by Jewish holidays and traditional desserts, like Matzoh Crunch, Rugelach and Chocolate Babka. I was handed their latest Espresso flavor, aptly titled “Coffee Talk.” I couldn’t resist. I ripped open the lid and nibbled a spoonful. Then another. And then some more. I don’t know if it was that I’ve been off dairy for awhile, or if the product is THAT good, but I can deem it one of the creamiest, dreamiest ice creams I’ve tasted to date. Buttery, delicious, with the espresso flavor perfectly pronounced. To further prove its deliciousness, my lactose-intolerant boyfriend schlepped home from work to finish off the whole pint in one sitting. Now, that’s what I call chutzpah.

With the recent jelly craze raging abroad, it seemed inevitable that someone would endeavour to bring it home to us closet jellymongers and wannabe gastro artists the world over. Luckily Milan’s crafty Nobody & Co has done just that with it’s cheeky set of Il Buddino pudding molds adorably shaped as portion sized Buddhas. Available in a range of food inspired colours from pistachio to burgundy wine and blood orange, these jiggly icons of spirituality are sure to awe and delight your next dinner guests. And they’ll likely charm their palates too thanks to such suggested recipes for filling it’s quivering limbs like lemon, coffee and cinnamon layered pudding to mango coconut parfait and vanilla panna cotta. Who knew the path to nirvana would be so wobbly?

It’s getting cooler over here in the Northwestern hemisphere and so it seems our bellies are turning faithfully to those luxuriant hot cuppas to take off the chill…be it hot cocoa, café mocha, apple cider or best of all, mulled wine.

And what could be more comforting than your favourite morning brew combined with the sweet spices of mulled wine? Not much, or so we at The Urban Grocer think, which is why we will happily divulge that the latest limited edition bottle of mulled wine from Swedish-based company Blossa has dropped. And this year it’s boasting even greater appeal with the addition of Arabica bean infusions.

If the image of deeply aromatic coffee swirling into cloves, cinnamon, and orange and steaming forth from your warmed cup of glögg hasn’t won you over already, then the bottle will. The stout bottle with its bold type and seductive burgundy hue permeating through frosted glass will surely enhance your dining table, and enrich your guests. Skål to that!

What do you do on a sunny and hot day in San Francisco with 5 hours to kill? You eat and you drink – coffee, that it is. A lot of coffee. And this is precisely what I got up to last week as I traipsed around the rising and falling hills of this urban foodie hotspot. By the day’s end I was schooled in this city’s café culture and was more than a little worn out from a caffeine hangover. Still, it was worth every last inky drop.

Embarking on a San Francisco coffee tour meant starting with a legend: Blue Bottle Coffee Co. With a small network of cafes, an espresso cart, and a coffee kiosk, Blue Bottle has been microroasting fresh, organic, sustainable brews that’s kept the city hooked – and bushy-tailed – for years. My first introduction was a hole in the wall – literally – off an alleyway where I opted for their infamous New Orleans Iced Coffee. Cold brewed coffee is poured over chunks of ice, mixed with a touch of sugar, and a twist of milk, to create a perfect combination of sweetness and complexity with a tantalizing buttery finish. If I could drink it everyday, there’s no question that I would.

Next it was onward to The Summit SF. Step into this behemoth loft space and the grandiose high ceilings, natural wood paneling, and walls covered in art will strike you. And then there are the dozen+ kids sipping on Americanos at large communal tables while scribing away on their Macs. While Summit doesn’t roast their own coffee – though they do brew Blue Bottle – their artisan approach to modern café culture makes you wish it were on your corner. This art-space-cum-gallery-cum-café also hosts start-ups, entrepreneurs, and telecommuters who call Summit their working home. And with a space this cool, you would too.

Back on the road, it was time to hit up two spots known for their sustainable sourcing and in-house roasting. At Four Barrel and Ritual Coffee, creating direct relationships with coffee producers is as high on their list as their pursuit to perfect the art of roasting. At Four Barrel, they’re on a mission to create the best cup of joe in town and while their iced coffee was pretty solid, it was a bit too acidic for my taste. Still, the space was cool and their roasting machine that stole center stage even more so. But if it is espresso that you’re hankering for, make a beeline to Ritual Coffee where their seasonal and single origin espresso are as well-known as their intensive barista training program.

So whether your poison is an espresso, cappuccino, iced coffee, or latte, San Francisco has more than a few stunning café options that’ll keep you on a caffeine buzz until it’s time for that other favorite, local ritual – dinner.

The Urban Grocer hits up the coolest spots in Buenos Aires on the Cooking Channel TONIGHT. Check out a full list of air times here & be sure to set your DVR to record series! Next cuppa, on us.

Some people (read: you) are just built for loving coffee. You join an esteemed group of folks that commonly congregate around Sensory Lab locales. Meet their newest collaboration, Plantation – superior specialty coffee beans packed or brewed for your instant caffeine gratification in an exciting and experiential encounter…smack dab in the convenient heart of Melbourne Central’s Dining Hall but with all the love of your local coffee haunt.



Here, along with Plantation’s range of gourmet coffee beans, organic panela cane sugar and their famous cold drip bottled java you can even find coffee-infused cocktails. The glass cloche jars invite a sensory experience. Yes, go on and lift those lids. Now smell and appreciate the nuances of each blend. 


Extra crema, please.

Like what you’re reading? Catch The Urban Grocer hit up the coolest spots in Buenos Aires on the Cooking Channel throughout October. Check out a full list of air times here & be sure to set your DVR to record series! Next espresso on us.

Located in an off-the-beaten-path sort of spot in Singapore, Papa Palheta specialty coffee boutique is churning out quality brew to an increasingly coffee conscious crowd. Here, sustainable beans sourced from around the world are roasted in-house then served in the boutique’s chilled interior or laid back courtyard. And if you’re in the market to purchase a bag of the locally roasted good stuff, Papa Palheta offers free tastings so you can swirl, swoosh, and examine that cuppa before committing. Though for now the space is dedicated solely to coffee and roasting – and not too shabby latte art – a proper café is due to open up in the months ahead, so stay tuned.

Papa Palheta
140 Bukit Timah Road Singapore, Bukit Timah
Singapore, Singapore
+65.9799.0420

Picture this: a cozy café that’s so inviting you’ll want to linger over your morning cuppa well into afternoon tea. Now imagine this space is completely and utterly sustainable. Enter Slow Poke Espresso.

Everything at this recently opened café in Fitzroy – a popular suburb of Melbourne –is organic, sustainable, recycled, and reused – and we mean everything. Timber offcuts made of local furniture creates a puzzle-like 12 metre-long wooden wall that runs the length of the café. The tabletops are made from recycled floorboards, the signage is charged by a solar panel sitting atop a recycled wooden toolbox, and most of the building materials – from tiles to lamp shades – were locally sourced at neighborhood flea markets. Even the business cards are made from handcut recycled cardboard packaging. Of course, the food too, is local, organic, biodynamic, and free range. Word on the street is that it’s delicious too.

Between the gorgeous eats and welcoming space, Slow Poke Espresso will surely tempt you to slow down.

The Urban Grocer hits up the coolest spots in Buenos Aires on the Cooking Channel throughout October. Check out a full list of air times here & be sure to set your DVR to record series! Next Malbec on us.

Knitting and crochet can be a divine way to DIY your mind into peaceful meditation – which is exactly what you’ll need after your third cup of morning coffee. That’s why we’re loving this cute mug cozy from New Jersey designers, KnitStorm. The hand knit cool pink crochet cozy promises to not only to add some warmth to your caffeine fix, but to keep your cuppa hot all morning long. Perfect for a sluggish Monday morning.

There’s something deeply satisfying about swigging a drink straight from the carton – especially if that drink happens to be ice-cold, creamy coffee that’s been sweetened with just the right amount of natural brown sugar. So we can totally understand why Jimmy’s Iced Coffee – the latest Java-based drink to land on supermarket shelves in the UK – has been such a hit. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the tasty beverage comes dressed up in a charming and clever little package (brought to you by Interabang, a new London design firm). There’s even a sneaky moustache printed on the back of each carton. Swig worthy? Oh yes indeed.

Happy? Moody? Sleepy? How did you roll out of bed this Monday morning? Whatever your take on the day, you can find a mug to match your mood thanks to the folks over at Thabto, a London design firm that specializes in ‘quality, quirky gifts’. And these cups are more than just a pretty face. With their super thick insulation, Thabto’s ‘Mood Mugs’ are sure to keep your coffee piping hot as you enjoy your morning muesli. Plus, they don’t even need a handle, so that means more room for all of those champagne glasses in your cupboard. And who knows – drinking from the Happy cup might even be enough to put a smile on your face. Take that, Monday morning.