Rwanda Documentary & Blue Marble Ice Cream

The documentary Sweet Dreams premieres tomorrow at Quad Cinema. Sweet Dreams illustrates the remarkable story of Rwandan women who teamed with Blue Marble Ice Cream’s founders in pursuit of gaining financial independence. The triumph and entrepreneurial spirit of these empowered, industrious women is inspiring to any business owner.

After the 1994 genocide, Rwandan citizens needed to rebuild their sense of community. Rwandan theater director Kiki Katese founded Ingoma Nshya, the country’s first and only female drumming troupe. While drumming was an effective means of therapy, these women needed a way to support themselves financially. Consequently, Katese reached out to Alexis Miesen and Jennie Dunas of Brooklyn’s Blue Marble Ice Cream. From there, the Hutu and Tutsi women learned the ice cream trade down to cone.

Inzozi Nziza (“Sweet Dreams”) will be Rwanda’s first ever local ice cream shop. Sweet dreams is the heartening product of women helping women gain prosperity, independence and confidence on both a personal and business scale.

Food for Thought: Chipotle’s Partnership with Huffington Post

Two days ago Huffington Post launched Food for Thought, Chipotle’s latest brand marketing strategy. Food for Thought is a HuffPost section dedicated to promoting awareness about healthful habits and sustainability practices. Contributing writers from all walks of life including doctors, lawyers and food authors discuss everything from food legislation to finding seasonal produce. This strategic move on Chipotle’s behalf is timely considering the recent shift of priorities since McDonald’s was its major investor. Now more than ever Chipotle is making efforts to be an industry leader in sustainable, GMO-free fast food chains.

Mark Crumpacker, Chipotle’s Chief Marketing Officer, writes that “people are more aware than ever of the impact that food has on people, animals and the environment.”

Through this partnership, Chipotle hopes to change customers’ perceptions of them as the burrito joint that’s owned by McDonald’s, to the Mexican fast food chain that genuinely cares about the sourcing of its ingredients and our affect on the environment.

Restaurant Inspection Letter Grades Become Ubiquitous Online

Thanks to a savvy coder, the public no longer has to rely on only one source to view restaurants’ letter grades. Health department inspection grades and points are now available on several popular restaurant-targeted sites including MenuPages, Yelp, Seamless, GrubHub, Zagat and Delivery via Google Chrome. In just one click, viewers get the insider’s scoop on the most recently updated restaurant grade, last inspection date and score while simultaneously making reservations or ordering delivery online. The pressure for restaurant owners, chefs and management to comply with health department standards has never been greater since the launching of Google Chrome’s latest extension.

Keeping Your Customers Safe: Allergens Seminar Monday 10/28

The NYC Hospitality Alliance is hosting a seminar on food allergies.  This would be a very helpful seminar for operators in the area to attend.

When: Monday, October 28th, 2013, 9:30am – 11:00am

Where: Dallas BBQ Times Square, 241 W 42nd St, New York, NY

Cost: $20 member    $35 non-member

Over 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies and currently there is no cure. Reactions can range from mild to life threatening and can be easily avoided with the right precautions. Learn how to address this growing problem by effectively and confidently serving your customers with food allergies.

Please join Mike Spigler, Vice President of Education at Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), as he reviews and explains:

  • Common missteps restaurants often make when attempting to serve a customer with food allergies
  • How to communicate effectively with food allergic patrons before, during and after their visit to your establishment
  • How to tell the difference between food intolerances, Celiac Disease and food allergies
  • The emerging epidemic of food allergies and the financial potential associated with reaching out to this segment of the population
  • What the future holds for those with food allergies, including treatment and future research

Click here for more info and to register.

The Aussie Coffee Invasion Continues Strong in NYC

New York’s obsession with all things Aussie, at least retail-wise, is strongest in coffee, and getting stronger. With the large (and growing) number of Australian ex-pats that flock to these shores in finance and law, there are plenty of customers at the ready to sing their praises – when it comes to coffee, Australians believe they do it best.

The Wall Street Journal highlights the wave of specialty cafes opening across the city. One owner, Leon Unglik, is a former lawyer who named his shop, Little Collins, after a Melbourne street. He tells the WSJ that customers enter saying “Oh, thank God you’re here now, we can finally get decent coffee…We’ve got a very strong coffee culture back home,” he said. “In Australia, everywhere you go you can expect to get a decent coffee.”

An Innovative New Wine Book: Scratch and Sniff

Your book idea might seem far-fetched, but put the right team together and it will be a sure thing. Richard Betts did just that when he and Crystal English Sacca dreamed up The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert, one night over wine, of course.

Don’t Stop Shopping: Clothing Retailers Continue Trend of Food in Store

As we wrote earlier this week, clothing retailers are continuing to see opportunities in offering food and beverage in store. Why have them leave if they get hungry, or need a shot of espresso? Grub Street reports today on Saks Fifth Avenue, a store that’s always done well with the ladies who lunch, opening a chainlet, and Brooks Brothers’ entering the field with a preppy beef haven.

One Year Ago: NYC Business Reflect on Damage From Sandy

Serious Eats has posted a thoughtful roundup of many New York City businesses since Hurricane Sandy struck almost one year ago. In what is sure to be a month filled with similar articles (our own on a food centric local company will be published on October 15th) this is one that shouldn’t be missed. It’s comprehensive and gives many first-person accounts of how local businesses have fared, and in many cases, recovered, since Sandy took her toll on the city.

Urban Outfitters Opens Coffee Bar Today, More Planned

Urban Outfitters opens a coffee bar in its Fifth Avenue store today, working with specialty coffee roaster Kickapoo in a stylish setup.

UO has opened a few food outlets in its stores in the past few years, and plans to do so in the next NYC opening this winter. Their Philadelphia headquarters even opens to the public.

Crumbs Opening Gluten Free Outpost in Village

Just when you thought the cupcake craze might be dying down, Crumbs puts a new spin on things to urge the competition forward.

Today, Crumbs open an entirely gluten free shop in Greenwich Village, at 37 E. 8th St., between University and Broadway, featuring the same cupcakes, cookies, brownies and pastries that the brand is known for in gluten-free versions, all baked in a peanut-free and gluten-free facility.