#liddabitsweets

[kathrynyu]

Liddabit Sweets is a candy company based in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in handmade candy bars, caramels, honeycomb candy, lollipops, and more.

Photographed for Open House New York.

[beingpollyanna]

#CHOICEEATS

One week ago, I had several (and I mean several) foodgasms at the Village Voice Choice Eats event. All I can say is, “Wow.” I lucked out by getting a deal on Gilt City, and so it only cost me 45 dollars to attend. After waiting on a long (but fast moving and totally worth it) line, Dee and I finally made it inside to our heaven. In fact, if heaven isn’t exactly like Choice Eats was, then count me out. My soul is going to Choice Eats A.D.

The scene: Picture a MASSIVE venue, filled with nothing but table after table, full of scrumptious offerings for you to indulge in as you please. You’re smelling a plethora of different aromas, and It’s all for you, and it’s all for the price of your ticket. Your heart is racing, beads of sweat are building on your forehead. Your only thought is, “where do I start?”

I spent the entire day fasting for this event, so it was obvious that I was reading to rip roar and EAT! There were lines, so it was clear that Dee and I were going to have to develop a strategy. “You wait on this li – OoH let’s get some of th – I’ll head ov -- YUM *stuffing face.”  There was no time to talk, there was no time to plan. The two of us just had to connect. Chew in line, and get to sample ALL OF THE FOOD!

Anyway, I am going to tell you about some of my favorite things, and new discoveries - thanks to Village Voice!

Oh, and the moral of the story? I NEED to start snacking in Brooklyn.

Robicellis: My goodness. Robicelli’s ignited my taste buds in a way that nothing, and nobody has ever before with the Mother cookie of all cookies. Get ready for this one:

        “Chocolate chip cookie, vanilla porter caramel, pretzels, ganache, sea salt.”

Its crunchy, it’s gooey, it’s sweet, it’s salty. It is satisfying in every way. I would trade many things to be able to have this cookie every day (particularly my girlish figure, but who cares?) Robicellis, I commend you. You made myself and thousands of others think twice about cookies. YUM!

  Liddabit Sweets: Liddabit sweets brought to the table another absolutely scrumptious sweet treat – salted caramel truffles with crushed pistachios and sea salt caramels. I saved the sea salt caramels in my purse for the next day (best breakfast ever!), but the pistachio truffles were absolutely delightful. Another perfect combination of salty and sweet, and the pistachio added such a nice touch. You may have seen my tweet – and it was true – these treats changed my life!

  OddFellowsNYC: When I arrived at Odd Fellow's table, the first thing I could think was, “how cute.” It had an old fashioned ice cream shoppe charm, with a pretty girl serving ice cream in an apron and cute hat. There was even a red and white striped table cloth to boot! The cuteness, however, was not the most charming aspect of the offerings – because their dish – creamsicle cedar ice cream stole the show (and my heart). At first, I was, like you, apprehensive about cedar ice cream, but my goodness. This ice cream was the creamiest, most delicious ice cream I have ever eaten.  It was a small taste, with a mini scoop of cedar ice cream, sitting in a bed of crushed graham crackers, topped with orange flavored foam. It was so amazing - I don’t know how the pretty girl serving it stays so thin!

  Chandni: Dee used to be so apprehensive about new foods. She was your typical Chicken fingers, grilled cheese kind of kid growing up and for most of our young adult lives. Since adulthood, though, she has been so adventurous, and often encourages me to try new foods! (I drew the line at rabbit tacos on this night, but she said they were good!) Anyway, this leads me to Chandni – also known as the best Indian food I have ever tasted. I had Channa Masala, an old favorite of mine, and it was so savory, so spicy, so absolutely perfect, that, as I write this, I know what I’m ordering in for dinner tonight. I would highly recommend it.

  I could go on and on about Choice Eats and all the amazing foods and drinks I got to sample. (Abita Strawberry lager anyone? SO GOOD) Other awesome places I had for the first time, but plan to return to are Copellia, a 24/7 Latin diner, Carlos Bakery, the cake boss natives, Edie and the Wolf, who also stimulated my sweet tooth and many more!

  I can’t wait for next year.

  Love a girl who loves her food,

Anna