I’m coming down from a sugar high after last night’s launch party of The London Candy Company’s Knock-Offs cake line. The cakes will debut in the New York store today. Thankfully, there were also some savory food treats at the party to (somewhat) neutralize all of the delicious cake samples!

The new line of British candy bar-flavored cakes was inspired by those prepared by the mother of the shop’s owner Jig Patel when he was a young child. When I first read the descriptions, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy them. (I have simple tastes.) However, I was pleasantly surprised that the ones that I tasted were amazing! Cake highlights from pastry chef Khahlidra Levister include the following:

-After Eight – Chocolate cake layered with peppermint fondant and covered in dark chocolate

-Topic – Chocolate cake with homemade nougat and hazelnuts (This was my favorite!)

-Blackcurrant – Fruit pastille-flavored cake

-Terry’s Chocolate Orange – Chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate orange ganache and covered in dark chocolate

-Coconut Bounty – Coconut cake layered with coconut cream and covered in milk chocolate

Although The London Candy Company shop has only been open for ten weeks, it is already a favorite of British candy lovers. I asked Howie, the store manager, to share the top five candy bestsellers. (That way, you will know what to pick up while you’re getting your cake!) Here they are…

1. Maynard wine gums - There is no wine in the candy. Rather, it’s a British version of gummy candies.

2. Crunchie bar – This chocolate bar is similar to the texture (not taste) of a Butterfinger, but it is lighter.

3. 70% Dark Chocolate Kit Kat – Initially, they were 65%, but were changed to a higher percentage of chocolate. They constantly sell out.

4. Curly Wurly – These lattice-shaped chocolate and caramel candies are delicious. (I sampled one.)

5. Flake – Howie described this as the “gateway” candy for Americans to start eating British candies.

5. Smarties – Don’t confuse the British smarties with the American ones. Rather, they are chocolate. They are like M&Ms but each one tastes different. Fruit and vegetable concentrates are also used for coloring instead of artificial ingredients.

As you can see, there was a tie for #5. Howie also shared two honorable mentions:

1. Turkish Delight – British customers love this candy. Also, this candy is apparently mentioned in The Chronicles of Narnia, because many of the book/movie fans come in asking for it.

2. Minstrels – These candies are also like M&Ms, but they have a thicker shell. (You can microwave them for a few seconds – the shell will remain crisp, while the chocolate inside melts a bit.)

In any event, that is enough sweet talk for one post. I definitely recommend that you stop by the shop if you can. I enjoyed myself so much that I’m actually going to write a second post tomorrow regarding how to throw a sweet Wimbledon-themed party at home like the one that they hosted. Meanwhile, you can see some of the photos that I took last night:

The London Candy Company
1442 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10128
(212) 427-2129
www.thelondoncandycompany.com

Thanks to The London Candy Company for hosting such a fun party!

This is a fun week over at the Coleman household. On Wednesday, Reggie and I will celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary and Father’s Day is on Sunday. I ran the Father’s Day pitches from various companies by Reggie. He wasn’t interested in the typical tools, ties or whiskey/drinks. In fact, I only accepted two items to review at his request. We kept one (American Living polo shirts) and returned the other (the Motorola Xoom).

The Motorola Xoom was the first item that I reviewed (in over 6 years) that both my husband and sons gave me grief about returning. “Don’t you miss it?” Sean asked the day after I sent it back. When I responded, “No”, he pressed on…”Not even a little bit?’ Well, even though it turns out that I am not a tablet computer fan, Reggie and the boys quickly grew attached to the Xoom. While Reggie would have loved to receive a Xoom for a gift, I can’t justify spending $599+ on something that he primarily used to play Angry Birds!

Rather, I bought him the Samsung GALAXY tab for a combination anniversary/Father’s Day gift. I wouldn’t be writing this if he didn’t already know his gift. I really tried to keep it a surprise. I opened a separate Verizon account when I ordered it. I even had my doorman cover for me when a delay in shipping was going to cause the delivery to come during my short trip to Cape May, NJ. Alas, I came home to find out that the mystery no longer existed. (The company called my home phone twice while I was away to make sure that I was happy with my purchase. Of course they were very specific and named my exact purchase both times! Oh well….

American Living also sent my guys some cute little polo shirts to wear to an event that they sponsored at the Big Apple BBQ Party in Madison Square Park. My guys tend to dress in a classic style (we all do), so the polos were a great fit. Several of the American Living polo shirts are on sale for $19.99 (down from $45), so they would make a nice, reasonably-priced Father’s Day gift. My guys are wearing their polo shirts in the post image…

In any event, if the fathers (and father figures) in your life are like my husband, then they would enjoy receiving a Motorola Xoom or American Living polo for their special day. Since my gift pickss are out of the way, I just need to learn how to make a lemon meringue pie – but that is another post!

Last week I went to see Sister Act on Broadway with a dear friend. Originally, when I won the tickets at Mom’s Nite Out, I planned to take my husband Reggie with me, but he was kind enough to let me have a ladies night out. When I returned home, I told him that Sister Act was my favorite Broadway play of all time. “You like it even more than The Lion King?” he asked. It really is hard to compare, because they are such different plays. I answered “yes” though, because Sister Act was more of an uplifting production. I looked around as I was leaving and everyone that I saw had big smiles on their faces. (Of course that might have something to do with the fact that the closing number that was performed by the cast was “Spread the Love Around”!)

As soon as I entered The Broadway Theatre, I thought “I love the theater!” There is such a great medley of people. (For instance, there were two gentlemen with paisley brocade jackets – one in burgundy and the other in gold – who sat next to me. We became fast friends and shared our commentary with one another during the various breaks in the show.) Of course the production has to be great too…or the whole “loving the theater” mindset would disappear. Sister Act did not disappoint. Actually, I thought that it was better than the original movie. There was a lot of smart humor and a couple of sub-plots that were original…unless I totally missed them in the movie version. Take a peek at the musical for yourself:

The one minor hitch in the production was technical – the microphones dropped the sound of a few of the nuns’ dialogue during a couple of brief segments. The only other thing that was weird to me was that there was a giant Mary on the stage. At one point, she was draped in sparkly colored glitter as the sculpture swirled around the stage! (I know that Mary plays a huge role in the Catholic faith, but that huge one was freaky.)

Anyway, the musical grabbed my attention from the very beginning. “Use of recording devices is a sin. For heaven’s sake, turn off your phones. Can I get an Amen?” Those first three lines set the tone for the entire laughter-filled production. Some of the things that especially stood out to me because they were different than the movie included the following:

1. Deloris: Whoopi Goldberg did a great job in the original movie, but Patina Miller took the role to a more fabulous level. Ms. Miller reminded me (not her physical appearance but her performance) of a mixture between Beyonce and Tina Turner. She was very high energy and extremely talented. When she sang (I’m) “Fabulous, Baby!” the audience agreed.

2. Curtis Jackson: In the Broadway production, the villain is Black. (It took me a moment to figure out which character he was supposed to be playing!) He also has a nephew who is portrayed as a little “slow” socially…but the nephew is hilarious.

3. The monastery residents: They are much funnier on Broadway. Mother Superior had several one-liners that had the audience laughing out loud. The actress who played her also had really great timing with her delivery. Her “God loves us when we sing…even like that” line comes to mind. (That was Mother Superior’s commentary on the initially painful sounding nun choir.) One of the elderly nuns was rapping. They even had a “pope” sighting at the end!

4. The good cop: I might have to go back and watch the movie again, but I don’t remember there being a love interest between Deloris and the cop (Eddie) who was trying to protect her from Curtis. The play gives them a back-story. He’s this awkward (his nickname is “Sweaty Eddie”) guy who has had a crush on Deloris since high school. He definitely becomes more confident over the life of the play. He might even end up with the girl…

5. Mary Robert: Once again, it has been a while since I saw the original movie, but I don’t remember her questioning the choice to be a nun. (She’s the tiny nun with the beautiful, big voice.) In the Broadway version, she does wonder what it would be like to live the life that she never gave herself a chance to explore. It’s a very powerful sub-plot. (Then again, don’t we all have moments when we question the roads that we didn’t take?)

In my opinion, the differences combined to make the plot of the play even better than the move. The excellent acting, music, set design and choreography also all contributed to make Sister Act on Broadway fabulous (baby)!

Post Image courtesy of Sister Act on Broadway

One of the reasons that I’m excited about launching Foodie City Mom next month is that I like options in every area of my life…including the food that I eat. In addition to sharing the best recipes for a variety of dishes, I also want to share about the best prepared food items that I buy when I don’t have the time (energy, or desire) to cook from scratch. That’s why I was intrigued when TheMotherhood asked me to be a part of a project with Marie Callender’s Pot Pies.

Recently, Yahoo! Shopping included Marie Callender’s Frozen Chicken Pot Pie in a post by a Bon Appetit guest blogger. The post was titled “8 Grocery Store Products that are Better than Homemade (really)”. A snippet of that section says, “The pastry puffs right up, and the ingredients are perfectly cooked and surprisingly fresh-tasting.” Well, I was asked to write a post answering the question, “Does a Marie Callender Pot Pie taste better than homemade?” If you assume that my answer is “yes”, because this is a sponsored post, then obviously you don’t know me that well

It has been years since I last ate a frozen pot pie, so I really didn’t have any expectations when I redeemed my coupon for the pot pie. The first thing that I noticed when I opened the package was that the pot pie was larger than the pot pies that I ate as a campus student many moons ago. (I won’t name the various brands that I used to buy. Just think “campus student budget” when cost was the primary deciding factor!) I put the pot pie into the oven and patiently waited around an hour for it to bake, because I don’t like cooking this type of food in the microwave. Finally, it was time to eat it.

The pot pie was really good. The crust was how I like it – flaky, but not too crumbly. The chicken, peas, celery and sauce all tasted fresh. (I didn’t eat the carrots though. I rarely ever eat cooked carrots. I prefer raw or steamed ones.) I missed having potatoes in the pot pie, but all in all, it was a filling meal.

Now, back to the original question…did it taste better than a homemade pot pie? I’m sure that it tastes better than some homemade ones, but it was not better than the homemade pot pie in my personal frame of reference…my friend Rasheda’s homemade pot pies. Whenever I think of a food, I immediately think back to the best version of it that I have ever had. Many years ago, I had a dear friend named Rasheda who made the best homemade pot pies ever. Most pot pies have similar ingredients, so I don’t know what made Rasheda’s version so especially wonderful. She never told me her “secret ingredient”, but it is the definitive pot pie in my mind. (The chicken pot pie served at NYC’s “Friend of a Farmer” runs a close second. It is the best chicken pot pie from a restaurant that I have ever tasted!) I also imagine that if I ate one that my friend Jennie cooked, it would be in my top three – simply since she made a zucchini bread that my kids couldn’t stop eating. If you can make zucchini taste good, then you’re a cooking genius! Thinking about Jennie’s cooking leads me to one last point about frozen versus homemade items. If you’re watching your diet, you have more control of the ingredients and salt when you cook dishes. Chicken pot pie isn’t a diet food for most people anyway, but be sure to look at the calorie and sodium levels of the Marie Callender pot pies before you purchase them. Personally, I think that it’s fine for an occasional treat, but (just like any other frozen food!), I would recommend against having them as menu staples.

Anyway, I digress. I share all of that to say, “No. Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pie isn’t better than the homemade one that is ingrained in my memory.” (Maybe the answer is that it depends on whose home the comparison pot pie is being made!) It is the best frozen/grocery store pot pie that I have ever tasted though. So, if you don’t feel like making homemade pot pie and you don’t live near Rasheda, Jennie or Friend of a Farmer, then Marie Callender’s Frozen Chicken Pot Pie is a tasty, satisfying option that you will enjoy.

I’m curious…are there any grocery store products that you think are definitively better than the homemade option?

Disclosure: I have been financially compensated by Marie Callender’s and TheMotherhood to write this post but the opinions are (obviously) mine.

When it comes to food, I like options. Take cupcakes for instance…sometimes I just have a taste for a cupcake. My friend Beth sold these really cute “I don’t do cupcakes” tees. My variation is “I do cupcakes, but not from scratch.” (Yes, Duncan Hines is my friend in a pinch. I still agree with what I said to Woman’s World.) After taking a class at Butter Lane last Friday, my new cupcake motto is “I do cupcakes from scratch…sometimes!” (I have to be honest with myself…if I’m in a time crunch, I will still use a boxed cake mix!)

The Butter Lane Cupcake Class ($50) is so informative and fun. If you are visiting or live in the NYC area, I definitely recommend that you take one of their baking classes. In fact I convinced a couple of people who had poked their heads into the class at the end to sign up for one. They were shocked when I took my things and left, because they thought that I worked for Butter Lane. (It’s funny how I hate “sales”, but I have no problem enthusiastically sharing about things that I sincerely think are great!) Anyway, I’m so glad that Butter Lane Cupcake’s community manager invited me to cover this class. (Since I was there as a writer, I get to share everything – including the recipes – with you.) Today, I’m going to share a general overview. On Wednesday, I will walk you through the details of how we made the cupcakes. On Thursday, I will share the details of how we made six frostings and learned to decorate the cupcakes. Several of my classmates asked how to make a red velvet cupcake. Since that wasn’t shared in the class, I will share the recipe for my favorite (to date) red velvet cupcakes that I have eaten (courtesy of a church friend). Do you like cupcakes? If so, you will want to stick around…it’s cupcake week over here at Mom in the City !

The class started off with us getting a chance to sample a tray of Butter Lane cupcakes. I have no idea which one I picked, but it was delicious. After making sure that the participants didn’t have any food allergies, our (hilarious!) teacher Joe split us into three groups. Each group made one cupcake (vanilla, chocolate or banana) and one frosting (vanilla, cream cheese, or chocolate). After being taught to make three additional frostings, we frosted our cupcakes, boxed them and took 11 of them home.

Here’s the thing…I get to share the three cupcake and frosting recipes with you:

(Actually, Butter Lane is kind enough to share their recipes and a lot more information on their Facebook page. If you like cupcakes, you might want to “Like” it.)

You definitely want to come back to this site for the rest of the week in order to get the various tips and details of “how” to make the recipes become the best cupcakes possible. (I can easily follow recipes, but I really learned so much more about the “how” of making cupcakes and frosting. That’s what takes your cupcakes to the next level.) Also, if you prefer cakes to cupcakes, that is fine. All of these cupcake and frosting recipes equal the ingredients for a three-layer cake. Last of all for today, you can see some of the photos that I took regarding what happened during the Butter Lane Cupcake Class.

Last night, I attended a TomTom Cocktail Event held on the Empire Hotel’s rooftop. CEO Harold Goddijn met with a variety of media to talk about TomTom’s GO 2535 M LIVE GPS ($349.95) with their new HD Traffic technology which provides real-time traffic information on both main roads and secondary roads. (Last week, I had mentioned to Consumer Reports that my mom wanted a GPS for Mother’s Day. Although my husband wants me to keep the TomTom that attendees were gifted to experience HD traffic, I will be giving it to her after we review it!)

Technology can be “hit or miss” for me. (Honestly, I think that some technological advances are just new distractions/time wasters.) However, there are many tech products that I think are helpful. The TomTom’s HD Traffic technology falls in the latter category. I enjoy being around visionary people, so it was great to hear from both Tim Roper, the president of TomTom, and Harold Goddijn. As the CEO spoke, I was mainly impressed by the fact that including traffic information in GPS technology is just plain helpful. Although I love being a mom, the biggest challenge for me is time. I often have to wait for my husband to get home before I can go where I want/need to be. When he gets caught in traffic, it totally throws my plans off. Also, when we are all traveling together, I am constantly checking my cell phone to see the time. (As I just wrote that, I’m struck by the irony that I can be time-obsessed, yet I rarely wear a watch!) Anyway, I really like to be places on time, so traffic has the potential to stress me out. Traffic really does affect all of us! Obviously, this new HD Traffic technology can’t solve everything. However, it can help drivers more effectively plan their trips by taking less congested roads. Anything that helps people to be more efficient with time is a plus in my book!

Some notes from the presentation that impressed me include the following:

- The GPS gives high accuracy information (including the exact location of traffic jams) with their TMC (traffic messaging channel).

- TomTom has a 2 minute response time for automatic system updates versus the 15 minute industry standard.

- They use a variety of different sources to give drivers the most effective route to their destinations.

- Ultimately, I like that this product helps to save time. (Less time spent in traffic equals more time spent doing the things that you enjoy!)

There was also time for a Q & A session. The highlights:

- Will there be a licensing program for the HD Traffic data? Yes. Mobile phone makers and other will have access.

- Will uncongested roads become congested by the data re-routing drivers? No. The system is dynamic and the information is constantly being updated.

- For urban areas (like NYC) will the system recommend mass transit options? It’s possible over time. However, it presents challenges, because that type of information is not standardized.

- How much is the annual subscription for the HD Traffic navigation data? The first year is free (with the GPS purchase). After that, it is a $59 extension fee.

- Is the HD Traffic information available for existing TomTom devices? Yes, but only for those with a built-in modem.

- Do you anticipate this technology causing more distracted driving/an increase in accidents? No (in principle). Research shows that GPS use reduces stress and causes more focused driving.

- Will this work on a portable basis? Yes. The GPS with the HD Traffic setting will work on a portable basis for up to 4 hours. There will also be a Smartphone app utilizing the HD traffic data.

To end, I took pictures of the various slide presentations. It really is intriguing to see visuals regarding how traffic works on a larger scale and how much time can be saved by avoiding traffic jams. Take a peek:

What do you think about GPS technology? Do you think that this new traffic technology will be helpful?

Earlier today, I attended the Time to Play Spring Showcase, one of my favorite toy showcases each year. Every season, there are a variety of toys that are included on their “Most Wanted List” and that are featured throughout the showcase. This year, three things stood out to me:

1. Let’s hear it for the boys! There were a lot more toys that were geared towards boys than in the past. In fact, all of the toys (but one) on the 2011 Most Wanted List were geared towards boys or unisex. (Mattel’s Monster High Dawn of the Dance was the only traditionally “girl” toy that made the list.) Squinkies has even come out with a boy-themed Marvel line (that my boys happened to love!)…

2. Movie tie-ins are major. There are several movies that will be in the theatres this year. The accompanying toys are already here. There were a lot of promotional links to Cars, Green Lantern, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stronger Tides and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The Smurfs and Kung Fu Panda also had some related merchandise…but to a lesser degree.

3. Small is the new big thing. Many brands are coming out with small products and/or are making tinier versions of their original products. This makes the toys less expensive. As a result, they are more collectible and easier to trade with friends. Gomu erasers, Squinkies, Sqwishland caps, Hasbro’s Cyberverse (smaller action figures), MEGA’s Microdragons, miniature PetCakes and even Razor Pocket Scooters are just some of the items that fall under this trend. Mini is major. (Personally, I would be very wary of having toys that are smaller than the opening of a toilet paper roll around if I had very young kids. I would be concerned about choking hazards!)

In any event, below are photos of all the toys that I took. There is also a short video clip that I took of the toy that stood out the most to me: the Cars 2 Finn McMissile Zero Gravity car. It literally rode up the wall!

(Thanks to Time to Play for the showcase and the gifting suite where several of the smaller toys were distributed for review purposes.)

I skipped Toy Fair this year because I was going through toy overload after the holiday season. (I’ve recovered though and I will be attending the Time to Play spring showcase next week.) Even though I didn’t make it, many companies offered to send me toys to test out. The only offer that I accepted was from Corolle dolls.

I remember seeing the Corolle dolls at a prior toy showcase. I remember the dolls, because I thought that the brown ones were so cute. Although I have two sons, there are many little girls in my life including many nieces and daughters of family friends. Since I think that it is important for little girls to have dolls of all skin tones (including their own!), I agreed to review the Corolle dolls.

I was sent dolls for two different age ranges. The Calin Naima baby doll from the Mon Premier line (for little girls aged 18 months and up) looked just like my first niece did many years ago – a cute little bald-headed chocolate drop. Really – my niece didn’t have hair until she was almost 2! (She is now a college graduate and mom herself.) Besides the appearance, I also really like that the body of the doll is soft and snuggable. Both of the Corolle dolls also have a very pleasant scent. (I can’t really describe the smell, but I know that I like it!) You can see the Calin Naima doll at the top of this post.

Cecile from the Les Cheries line (for girls ages 3+) was another hit. Two things stood out about this doll: 1. She was dressed oh so fashionably. 2. Her curly ‘fro hair. Unlike the typical straight black hair found on most dolls of color, Cecile’s hair actually looked like some little Black girls’ beautiful hair. Actually, this doll’s hair looks like a longer version of my son Michael’s hair when he was a baby. No wonder random people constantly asked to touch his hair (?!) Suffice it to say, the little girl that received Cecile loved her. I’m sure that they will have a lot of fun times together.

In any event, Corolle dolls are a great option for the little girls in your life. They are award-winning, quality dolls at reasonable prices – a combination that cannot be beat!

Stationery is one of my favorite things. I could spend hours getting lost in a stationery store – exploring all of the different designs, textures and such. With technology though, I now find some of my favorite stationery sources online. Although it takes a bit more time for my desired products to reach me, their unique nature makes ordering online worth the wait. As Mother’s Day is approaching next month, I want to share two of my favorite online card companies of the moment… Posh Peacock and Tiny Prints.

Posh Peacock:
True Confession: I don’t especially enjoy receiving birth announcements. I just don’t know what to do with them after I look at them. It seems wasteful to throw them in the trash bin. However, when my friend Christine (whom I usually mention in association with her Boston Mamas site) sent me the birth announcement for Violet, the newest addition to the Koh family, I liked it so much that I framed it!

Not only does Christine produce super cute baby girls, but she is also a very talented designer. The purple flowers and color scheme fit perfectly with her daughter Violet’s name. I also like the way that she had a photo of the baby, the siblings and the entire family. Perfection. Definitely visit her Posh Peacock site where the focus is “chic and modern graphic design”.

Tiny Prints:
I have mentioned Tiny Prints many times in the past. They simply produce consistently superior stationery products. My business cards that I received from them are constantly noted. I have also bought holiday cards from this company in the past. Recently, I attended an editor’s Mother’s Day event that they were hosting in the city at Friend of a Farmer. While there, I was able to see a variety of their spring offerings and to make a customized Mother’s Day Card for my mom. Below is the inside of the card. I think that she will love it. Don’t you?

This year, Tiny Prints also has a series of Mother’s Day Cards designed by celebrities. The image at the top of my post, Georgina, is especially chic. It is designed by Baby Buggy for Tiny Prints.

In any event, you can’t go wrong by choosing either Posh Peacock or Tiny Prints for your Mother’s Day cards, birth announcements or any other stationery needs. The only thing better would be if there was a collaboration between the two. I could see a “Christine Koh for Tiny Prints” section. In fact, I would be first in line to place my order. (As usual, I’m just thinking aloud…)

Things surely do change from generation to generation. When I think of Bazooka candy, I think of the gum with the little comic strips that I ate when I was a kid. After an event that Michael and I attended on Sunday, my son will think of Sweet Tweets when Bazooka is mentioned.

We attended a lunch box clinic that was sponsored by Bazooka Candy Brands in order to introduce us to Sweet Tweets – a new candy with an emoticon design that comes attached to a little note. (What area of life hasn’t Twitter impacted?!) As Anthony Trani, a Sweet Tweets rep spoke, he made it clear that the goal is to keep people connected…and smiling. “We’re all about making people smile.”

Since parents are separated from their kids during the school day, one potential use for the cards is to place them in lunchboxes. You can write a little note on the card and stick it right in their bags or boxes. (As a mom, I wondered aloud regarding giving kids sugary candy during the school day. My initial concern was decreased due to the fact that the candy that comes with each card is only around 3 calories.) To illustrate the lunchtime appeal, we were treated to a lunchbox making class by Taste Buds. I’ll compose a future post about Taste Buds and their Bento Box Basics classic. (I shot a video that I need to edit.) However, I just wanted to let you know about these Sweet Tweet notes with candy for now.

From Michael’s response, I think that these little notes would make great occasional treats for special times when parents want to be connected with their kids. On our way home after the event, Michael smiled and said “I like the Sweet Tweets. It’s like candy and a note. Can you put one in my lunchbox one day?” I can definitely see myself sending a note to school with Michael on days that he is having a big test or just when I think that he needs some extra reassurance that I love him and that I am especially thinking about him for whatever reason. You know…I would use Sweet Tweets to put a smile on his face (again).

Photo of “worn out by the week” me and happy Michael by our wonderful hostess, Beth. (She also took the top post image.)