2018 COLLABORATIVE HALLOWEEN PARTY
Despite the first nor'easter of the season, downpour rain and temps in the thirties, our 2018 Collaborative Halloween Party was filled with good people, good food, and good memories. With a stocked list of collaborators, our treat table was sky high and self-serve bar kept on pouring. Check out our favorite collaborators below and let me know if you test them out for yourself. A big THANK YOU to all of you superstars!
American Coney Island, a family owned & operated Detroit original, served their mouth-watering, Man V. Food featured Chili Dogs. High quality grilled hotdogs pair with the Keros Family’s secret Coney Island Chili Sauce and a steamed bun to create an unparalleled distinctive flavor. Need a testimonial? Ask one of the hundred twenty-something-year-old college mouths this Detroit favorite fed.
Check out American Coney Island’s direct website here, or have your own Coney Island Kit (feeds 12) delivered to your door directly from Goldbelly!
If you’ve never tried Cheryl’s Cookies, you’re living under a rock. For a pre-packaged treat, Cheryl’s is unbelievably fresh and some of the softest, sweetest cookies I’ve ever had. If you have a sweet tooth (a HUGE sweet tooth) these are for you. Their traditional cutout style cookie is topped with buttercream frosting, but their holiday-themed flavors are equally as delicious. Cheryl’s sent over a display of adorable pumpkin & ghost cookies as well as a mix of unique flavors, such as Salted Carmel Chocolate and Peanut Butter Frosted.
Mini Melanie’s Truffles are UNREAL. I’ve never had specialty truffles like this, but I can assure you I won’t be returning to your basic chocolate shop options. We tried out four of Melanie’s famous flavors – Harper, a salted caramel blondie, Kate, a cookies ‘n cream fudge, Alice,
a twist on a chocolate chip cookie, and Pearl, a red velvet. Each truffle features a hard shell of high-quality chocolate filled with a soft, rich center. The Harper is a salted caramel lovers DREAM and The Alice is BEYOND any chocolate chip cookie you’ve ever tried. Mini Melanie makes for the perfect gift (corporate too!) and she’s organized a SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE OF TRUFFLES. Looking for the way to my heart? Look no further.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for pickles – it’s like I was born with the cravings of a pregnant lady. So, naturally, I had to find a unique pickle distributor to send over some of their product.
The Pickle Guys, based out of New York’s Lower East Side, CRUSHED the pickle game. If you’ve never had pickled pineapple (I’m betting you haven’t) you are seriously missing out. The pineapple is infused with cinnamon flavor and hits every taste bud imaginable. We also tested out their full-size “new” pickles, “sours”, and “½ sours.” The “new” are almost a cross between a pickle and a cucumber. I’ve never tried something like this, but they were crunchy and refreshing! I’m into it. The ½ sour pickles are pretty self-explanatory; they’re approximately half as sour as their sour counterpart. Both versions are packed with flavor and a crunch.
Not only have they perfected their pickles, but their olives are equally delicious. If you like a kick, their jalapeño stuffed green olives are FIRE (literally). My favorite are their Pimento Olives; simple, full of flavor, and classic. Check out their website here – believe it or not they ship their pickles nationwide!
A one-woman shop, Jackie’s Sweet Shapes is one of my favorite types of collaborators to work with. Not only is Jackie an inspirational artist, she is a genuinely sweet businesswoman. Her handmade cookies are GORGEOUS! While she
currently sells through Etsy, you can find her on Facebook and Instagram, where she posts entrancing videos of her decoration process. Her Hocus Pocus Set expressed an intense attention to detail, and they tasted as amazing as they looked! I mean, how CUTE is the little mummy?? Based in Baton Rouge, Jackie is able to ship her creation to any of the fifty states. If you’re looking for custom designs to WOW your guests, I implore you to visit Jackie’s Sweet Shapes. HIGHLY recommended.
Exotico Tequila is a handcrafted tradition passed down for three generations in Jalisco, Mexico. The Gonzalez Distillery, a family distillery and one of Mexico’s most respected tequila makers, uses 100% weber blue agave, grown in the Highlands of Jalisco for anywhere from 7-15 years. Once the red clay of Jalisco gives rise to a mature agave, the hearts are steam-cooked for 16 hours to heighten their sugar content. A “Molino” process follows, in which the agave is shredded into small pieces and pressed to extract a sweet, amber agave juice, known as “agua miel.”
The fermentation process begins with the Exotico yeast family recipe and is followed with a double distillation. Exotico’s Resposado is stored in special white oak bourbon barrels, which enhance the flavor and transform the clear tequila into a rich, dark amber. Exotico matures in the white oak for at least six months prior to hitting the shelves.
Exotico crafts every bottle of tequila with purpose. Their brand mission is perfectly depicted in the colorful sugar skull décor on each bottle – “all good spirits and all good things shall rise. Every bottle is crafted with care as a way to honor all spirits unbound.”
Exotico creates two versions of their 100% Blue Agave tequila – Reposado & Blanco. As mentioned above, Reposado ages for half a year to mature the blend of vanilla, dry fruit, spices and oak. You’ll taste hints of caramel and cinnamon in every pour as well. Their crystal clear Blanco features a crisp, herbal aroma with spicy undertones, finished by a fresh wave of heat and a balanced spice.
We paired our Exotico with Owl’s Brew’s Watermelon Margarita Mixer. YUM. SO simple and SO good. More on Owl’s Brew and the mixes below.
While Exotico Tequila had the margaritas on lock, Don Q Rum BLESSED our spiked cider. Don Q sent over three versions of their rum, Coco, Pina, and Spiced. Let’s break down the flavors.
Don Q’s Coco Puerto Rican Rum is a tropical coconut blend aged 1 to 1 ½ years. Natural flavors are extracted from real coconuts, creating an on-the-rocks drink that goes down smooth. Sip as you may, this Coco masterpiece is also the perfect pair to literally EVERYTHING. We matched our Coco Rum with Owl’s Brew’s Chai Pina Colada Mixer. The combination of the subtly sweet chai tea with Don Q’s sweet coconut infusion creates a refreshing, balanced drink.
The same base rum but in the flavor Pina has a similar refreshing, tropical vibe as Coco. Natural pineapple is infused into this clear rum, which ages for 1 to 1 ½ years in American white oak barrels. Although this flavor is ideal to mix with a tropical juice drink, it’s also perfect paired with club soda and lime. If you’re looking for something a little less sweet than Coco, try out Pina.
Equally as delicious as Don Q’s clear rums are their warm, golden blends. The Oak Barrel Spiced is aged in American white oak barrels for at least three years prior to hitting your glass. Warm vanillas, caramel, and cinnamon flavors pair perfectly with a fall inspired drink (cough cough…apple cider). I’ve never been a dark rum kind of gal, but even I can enjoy this smooth, spiced beauty on the rocks.
As mentioned a few times above, we paired our Exotico & Don Q with Owl’s Brew Mixers for the night. Before we get into the product itself, I want to give a quick shout out to the two badass women who founded this unique company, Jennie and Maria. Self proclaimed tea and booze lovers, these two 30-something year olds launched the first ever tea blends crafted
specifically as cocktail mixers. THANK YOU, LADIES. Job well done.
With eight flavors, Owl’s Brew Mixers go well with virtually any spirit. We tested out the Chai Pina Colada and Watermelon Margarita. The mix is simple; 2 parts brew, 1 part booze. The Chai Pina Colada features fresh-brewed organic chai tea, pineapple, and coconut. Add in a splash of Don Q’s Coco Rum and DAMN. Not only do you have a refreshing, perfectly sweet glass…you made it in literally 30 seconds. Equally as simple is adding Exotico Tequila to Owl’s Brew Watermelon Margarita Mixer. Fresh-brewed organic white tea, watermelon, and pomegranate are the perfect combo with tequila, vodka, or champagne.
Following the success with their mixers, Jennie & Maria expanded their market to millions of beer-lovers. Radlers, the new addition to their product line, are what the ladies refer to as boozy tea. The creation is simple; a base of craft beer or cider with organic tea and botanicals, fresh-brewed from whole, real ingredients. Ready for the flavors? The Blondie: organic English breakfast tea, lemon, lime, and wheat beer. Wick Watermelon: organic white tea, watermelon, and wheat beer. That’s My Jam: organic Darjeeling tea, strawberry, hibiscus, and amber ale. Take your pick; you can’t go wrong.
Founded by Dan Cohen in 2010, Danny Macaroons is known for the best coconut macaroons around. Whether you’re biting into a chocolate dipped coconut, a salted caramel coconut, or your standard plain macaroon, you’re hit with a burst of flavor and unique texture – the increased texture comes from carefully sourced, premium flake, non-GMO coconut. These all-natural (and naturally gluten free!), handmade, bite-sized snacks are the perfect party treat. Danny customized an adorable fall-version, the Pumpkin Spice No Latte. They ship nationwide in ADORABLE Danny Macaroon gift bags. If you’re a macaroon fan (or a coconut fan) these are for you!
Ready to revisit your childhood? Gotta Have S’more brings back the magic of your traditional campfire s’mores in a bite-size piece of heaven. A chocolate-dipped graham cracker crust is topped with toasted marshmallow and a decorative, delicious slice of chocolate, caramel, or another customizable flavor. A perfectly handcrafted dessert, these unique treats are available for nationwide 2-day delivery and completely customizable to your needs. Yes, there is even a #SelfiesSmore for those of you who are interested in eating your own face.
I’ve been a strict vegetarian since the age of five and am a quick supporter of animal’s rights, so, when I come across a company who ensures their livestock is humanely raised and treated with respect, I applaud them. Lone Mountain Wagyu is the leading purveyor of all natural full-blood Wagyu beef in the United States. Located on a New Mexican ranch that’s been in the family for over 50 years, Lone Mountain’s award-winning cattle heard are breathtaking.
Committed to traditional, holistic, and sustainable values, Lone Mountain focuses on breeding, feed, the environment, and the treatment of their cattle. Following suit from Japanese tradition, Lone Mountain develops their herds by breeding various strains of Japanese Black Wagyu together. Their offspring are DNA-Certified 100% Fullblood Wagyu and are never crossbred to ensure the most authentic genetics possible.
Unlike conventional operations that induce rapid weight gain for a quick turnaround, Lone Mountain implements a slow-feed process that allows their cattle to gain weight at a steady and natural pace over the span of 500-600 days. Throughout their lifetimes, the cattle are subject to stress-free environments by way of weather, handling, fear, physical surroundings, and changes in their feed.
Lone Mountain’s cattle are never administered hormones or sub-therapeutic antibiotics. They spend their days roaming freely along the pastures and are treated with nothing but kindness and respect.
“The mission of Lone Mountain Wagyu is to produce the highest quality beef in the country. The other mission of this enterprise is to preserve and sustain this land. It’s one of the last large undeveloped pieces of land in this region between Santé Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. And it is home to so many species of flora, fauna, wildlife…we want to preserve and sustain this land, and cattle are a crucial part of that ecosystem. And Wagyu Cattle are the future for this land.”
– Griff Foxley, COO
“Wagyu are different because they’re so delicate, and it is like raising a thoroughbred racehorse. Attention needs to be paid to the tiniest of details. One of the most important of those details is stress - lack of stress. And how do you create a stress free environment? That is a big question.”
– Robert Estrin, President
I genuinely respect the family of Lone Mountain Ranch for their dedication to treating their cattle as more than a means to and end. Lone Mountain is passionate about their work and understands their actions impact the future ahead of them. In my opinion, we all have a responsibility to understand where our food comes from. We have a duty to our land, and supporting Lone Mountain Wagyu is one of the ways in which we can fulfill this duty.
Sweet and salty, Fatty Sundays puts a spin on the traditional chocolate covered pretzel. With a range of over fifteen flavors, their adorable boxes of pretzels are as pleasing to look at as they are to eat. Each pack holds three pretzels – the perfect individual size. We tested the Sea Salt Almond and Salted Caramel (two of my favorite flavors of all time) and loved the crunch & sweet v salty vibe. Next on our list to try are the pretzel bites! My only worry is devouring the entire bag.
Melville Candy sent over a mix of their most popular Halloween inspired lollipops. My first impression? SO CUTE. The mock fingers and decorative skull creations are the perfect addition to any display. While my favorite were the marshmallow pops, my mom stole the apple-flavored pops and went to town. My second impression? Delicious.
Call me crazy, but we obviously had to serve some sort of ice cream at our outdoor, November, New England party. Looking for a unique, handcrafted treat, I immediately though of Revival Ice Cream. Based in Monterey, CA, Revival can ship their dessert on dry ice to anywhere in the country. While striving to make the best ice cream possible, Revival promises to source their ingredients locally and organically, and commits to a sustainable business plan. Their goal is to support local non-profits and make a positive impact in our world, all the while making our taste buds dance.
We tried out the mini ice cream sandwiches in two flavors - chocolate chip with vanilla ice cream and their vegan, gluten free chocolate praline. The chocolate chip sandwich was your
your traditional, childhood ice cream sandwich, while the chocolate praline put a spin on any type of ice cream I’ve ever tried. The fudge-like cookie paired with an icy, light sorbet to create a dairy-free masterpiece. I am DYING to try out their Mint, Eucalyptus and Fudge and Apple Pie flavors!
Who better to rehydrate us than Trimino? Between the dancing, the sugar and the booze, we seriously needed a refresher. You guys know Trimino is my go-to protein water for workouts & daily sipping. As a CT native, this Connecticut based company holds a special place in my heart. 7G of protein & 28 calories? Yeah, I’m in.
Hungry yet? Our amazing treat & drink collaborators were met with a unique decorative store owner, Cardboard Safari. Sourced locally and 100% recyclable, these landscape-inspired works of art join imagination and fabrication to make beautiful, fun products that celebrate the world around us. From chevron printed elephant heads to customizable gravestones, Cardboard Safari's creativity is endless.
