Polka Dot Boxed Truffles from Three Tarts

via three tarts

Ho Hum.  With the holiday party season underway, what is a party-goer in demand supposed to gift the hostess?  I found a cute company in New York that I look forward to checking out this weekend called Three Tarts that is cooking up some cute gift ideas for the holidays.  Started by three culinary classmates nick named “three tarts” while in school, Sandra, Marla and Kiyomi seem to have a good thing going with their company.  Check out their stacked bios on the company website, you’ll soon understand why their gift ideas are so innovative and quirky.

I think the Polka Dot Boxed Truffles (above) from Three Tarts, would make a great hostess gift for the holidays.  The box is leather and lined with felt and is filled with 18 chocolate treasures!  Or the whimsical popcorn tub and its cute play on words would surely delight your business minded hostess/host. 

via three tarts

 Finally, if you are asked to bring dessert, why not offer a trio of mini parfaits in flavours chocolate banana, black and white rice pudding and pumpkin!  I want these at my next event.

via three tarts

BED: Matthew Robbins

Matthew Robbins is very deserving of a Beautiful Event Design feature on Out of the Event and is a name you should familiarize yourself with  if you are into learning from the best to inspire your own events.

A bit about Matthew: His educational background in art not only complements and illuminates his floral and event designs but has also helped him create the successful event design company which runs with a team stacked with talent in New York.  To highlight some of Matthew’s successes and accolades, Matthew is a regular contributor on the Bride’s Guide and has been featured countless times in Martha Stewart’s Weddings magazine as well as on the show and has worked on events around the US and the globe. 

To get some insight into what makes a great event and what inspires Matthew to do what he does, check out this great interview with Matthew Robbins on blog, The Bride Cafe here, or you can check out his posts on the Bride’s Guide here.   I have some pictures to share with you but they really do not do his work justice and I would recommend browsing his portfolio on the company website here.

via the bride cafe blog

via the last detail blog

via the bride guide by darcy miller

via the bride cafe

via NY Daily News

La Bergamote Patisserie

I was back in New York again for a couple days this week and while checking out the new High Line with my father (in the Meatpacking District),  I stopped by La Bergamote Patisserie for a cup of tea.  To my surprise, in addition to having a display case full of decadent french pastries and cakes, La Bergamote Patisserie also had macarons.  I sampled a bergamot flavoured macaron and it was so-so.  The outside case was a bit too chewy and the inside was over loaded with butter cream.  However, the bergamot flavour was excellent.

My dad also said he had one of the best latte in the city at the patisserie, and there is something to be said for that coming from someone who drinks three to four a day.  

Stunning Blooms on Cake

When I was living in New York two years ago after business school taking my 200 hour yoga teacher training certification with Yoga Works, every morning I would walk from the F train at West 14th and 7th avenue towards the studio at 19th and 5th avenue. 

On my way, I would pass this book store /cupcake shop that would catch my attention each time I walked to class.  The cupcakes and cakes on display were decorated with the most beautiful, colourful, rich, icing blooms I had ever seen. 

I’m talking intricately piped floral concoctions that brought the mini cakes to life.  No sprinkles or fondant here!  Pure technique. 

Anyway, I never got to sample the cupcakes because I would be walking by at 8am in the morning before the store opened.  Happily one of my last days in teacher training, someone brought in two dozen cupcakes from the Cupcake Cafe and I got to have a bite.  While the cupcakes themselves were a tad on the dry side, the icing more than made up for it. 

These cupcakes are truly picturesque and too beautiful to eat.

(photo via little views)

(photo via lunch studio)

(photo via carol toscano)

photo via colin baer events

Madeleine Patisserie

I was in New York last week visiting a good friend and taking another yoga teacher training certification with Yoga Works.   Before my course started, I had a good couple days to do some exploration as well as stop by some local favourites of mine (cupcake cafe, crumbs bakeshop, buttercup bakeshop, pinkberry).   

New and notable for me was my stop in at Madeleine Patisserie 

My macarons

on West 23rd street between 6th and 7th avenue where I couldn’t resist sampling some of their colourful macarons which drew me in from their window display.

A sampled macaron

I sampled the strawberry apricot and passion fruit raspberry.  Overall, solid A- macarons.  A bit on the soft side when you bite in but the balance between crispy exterior and chewy interior was upheld for the most part.  I took pictures of the macarons I tasted on my blackberry and I am excited because the shots look just as good as what I would take on my digital camera.  What an easy way to share an experience. 

two sampled macarons

I have included a picture of other flavours from Madeleine Patisserie and a shot of the display case in the bakery below.

Inside the shop (photo via alwayshungryny.com)

Madeleine Macarons (photo via stephanie does.com)

A Colourful Tea Salon

I have so much to catch up on about events.  The past two weeks have been crazy on my end and I look forward to having some time this week to bang out a couple posts on ideas/experiences about which I have made mental notes to write about.

I will be in New York next month to visit a friend and to take another yoga teacher training course and I am already making a list (long) of all the places I want to visit.

I have a couple tea shops I regularly visit when I am in New York, Alice’s Tea Cup, being my number one favourite- especially their brunch, granola and scones.  However, a new stop on my list this trip will be the Tracy Stern Tea Salon .  I purchased her cookbook  titled “Tea Party” last year and have enjoyed some of the recipes but I would like the entire brand experience, so I will be popping in for some tea at the store. 

I found a couple photos of her tea store in New York and the colour, design, tea and candy displays already have giddy with excitement (ahh the simple pleasures in life).

(photo via Yelp.com- Cynthia T.)