Your Coffee Can Make a Difference

The number one beverage in the world is certainly coffee, with over 400 billion cups consumed each year in different parts of the world. Having this in mind, it’s no surprise why certain organizations are trying to use coffee as a beverage that can change the world. Think about that when you start enjoying your next cup of coffee.

  1. Intelligentsia Coffee – Helping the farmers create a remarkable taste

The growth and the production of the coffee demands the proper environmental conditions, but most of the time, countries that have these exceptional conditions couldn’t reach the full potential of making remarkable tasting coffee. The reasons for this issue are usually insufficient funds for quality operations, inappropriate infrastructure or not enough technical knowledge. In order to help coffee farmers, Intelligentsia Coffee is working directly with them to provide all the necessary conditions for the production of remarkable coffee. The professionals visit the farm before the harvest in order to set up a strategy, during the harvest to monitor the operation, as well as after the harvest to summarize the outcome and celebrate the success. Personal engagement is stressed as a priority in each of these countries. Not only does the production quality improve, but with direct trade the economy in the region experiences a significant improvement as well.

  1. Laughing Man – when dreams become reality

It can be said that Australians are more than just coffee aficionados. They describe themselves as coffee snobs, and whenever they’re outside of Australia, they try to find the perfect place for their favorite flat white. Being an Australian, famous movie star Hugh Jackman truly understands the importance of exceptional coffee. As an Ambassador of World Vision Australia, he started the project, or rather foundation, called Laughing Man. Back in 1999 he travelled to Ethiopia where he met Dukale, a coffee farmer who was trying to lift his family out of poverty. His story inspired Hugh Jackman who launched Laughing Man Coffee. This project provides the necessary marketplace for coffee farmers in developing countries, and enables them to sell their products to US consumers. The Laughing Man foundation supports educational programs, the growth of entrepreneurship and small business projects, as well as community development across the globe. If you would like to learn more about this amazing partnership, please watch Dukale’s Dream, a story about new friendship and giving back.

  1. TOMS Roasting Co. – a coffee that provides water

Most of TOMS One to One products are mainly focused on aid. In order to enhance the economic development and help create jobs in the communities of countries in development, TOMS started making a clear strategy. The first thing that can be seen, as a part of the economic process, is the coffee farming. They realized that the best way to help the economies of these countries is direct trade and ensuring farmers that they will receive the best price for their goods. Moreover, the farmers can be introduced to new agricultural techniques in order to produce higher yields and reach their full potential. Since many of the countries that produce coffee don’t have enough sources of safe and clear water, TOMS started investing in water systems, which are making a great impact on the community. For every bag of TOMS coffee purchased, one week of clean water can be provided for a person in need. There are numerous TOMS Roasting Co. cafés across USA and you can even order the monthly shipments of coffee from different parts of the world, where TOMS do business. So far, TOMS has been implementing water systems in Malawi, Rwanda, Honduras, Guatemala and Peru.

Written by: Vladimir Zivanovic

BEST NYC RESTAURANTS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

Hi Friends:

We are a week away from Valentine’s Day and I wanted to share with you my top restaurant choices for the big day! NYC has so many wonderful restaurants so finding one you like should be fairly easy. I’m super excited because Thomas and I plan to go to Saul, a lovely restaurant inside the Brooklyn Museum.  I can’t wait to share photos with you all. What will you guys be doing for V-Day!? Leave me a message and tell me what your plans are. 🙂

 

il Mulino

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Il Mulino is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants in NYC. Thomas and I went for our first month wedding anniversary and we just loved it. The west village location is cozy and makes you feel like you are sitting in your Italian grandmothers living room. This location is not modern like the others in Manhattan but I sort of like that because I feel like it transports me back to Italy. So if you’re a foodie and really want to impress your significant other than take them here. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Il Mulino: 86 West Third Street, New York, NY

2. Maialino 

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This Roman-Italian eatery inside the Gramercy Park Hotel is a must. Maialino draws inspiration from the classic dishes throughout Rome and features fresh and seasonal food. The cozy yet sophisticated ambience makes this restaurant a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day.

If you are looking to keep drinking and need a hotspot to go to-check out the Rose Bar. This bar is one of my favorite bars in NYC and it’s also right inside the hotel. It is elegant and fashionable….don’t be surprised if you bump into a celeb or two, this bar is known to be a low-key hideout for them.

Maialino: 2 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York

3. Catch 

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Meatpacking seafood restaurant Catch has been a hotspot for quite sometime now. The space is rustic and inviting with large communal tables. Thomas and I went here for V-Day last year and loved it. The seafood is so great that we even decided to try caviar here for our first time! If you decide to go then you must try the lobster mac and cheese and the dessert called, “Hit me”! Afterwards, head upstairs to Catch Roof lounge for some dancing and drinking all while enjoying the panoramic views of the city skyline.

Catch21 9th Avenue, New York, NY

4. Antica Pesa

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I recently visited this restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and loved it. The service is top-notch! For those who appreciate true Italian cuisine and wonderful cocktails then this restaurant would be a great choice. You must try the Crudo E Bufala Croccante (prosciutto di parma cured for 20 months and fresh mozzarella) it was delicious and so fresh.

Oh, and if you’re in Rome be sure to check it out there-yes, the Brooklyn location is just an outpost of the original restaurant in Rome, Italy. 🙂

Antica Pesa: 115 Berry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

5. The House 

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What could be more romantic than taking your date to a 19th century townhouse for dinner? The House is an upscale charming New American restaurant in Gramercy that feels like you’ve been teleported to “old new york”. It’s the perfect date spot-the wine and lobster club are not to be missed.

The House121 East 17th Street, New York, NY 

V-Day Inspirations

Happy Friday!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful week! Valentine’s Day is less than a month away and this week I was inspired to make a V-Day mosaic for you guys! Valentine’s Day is a perfect day to go freshen up that lingerie drawer (or, closet!) and add new pieces. If buying lingerie is not your thing, then maybe a new sparkly necklace or a new outfit for the night out with your lover or bestie will work too! 🙂

I hope the photo clips from Pinterest will inspire you!  Aside from shopping for the special day, I really look forward to getting treated to a fabulous dinner in the city. Next week I will bring you my top 10 restaurants for V-Day along with lingerie pieces from my fave store in NYC. Excited! 🙂

Checkout my Pinterest boards @ http://www.pinterest.com/plsdotell/

Have a great weekend!

 

 

Coffee + Hugh Jackman

Hi Friends:

Yes, that’s right. Hugh Jackman is in town and has coffee for you.

I’m kidding. Maybe.

Well, his coffee shop is here. Not sure if you will catch him but hey, no hurt in trying. 😉

Laughing Man Coffee Shop was founded by Hugh Jackman as a way to bring local farmers to the market.  A few years ago, he went to Ethiopia with World Vision and met a farmer by the name of Dukale. Dukale was his source of inspiration because he was able to see first hand the limited opportunities for a farmer who produced amazing coffee but yet wasn’t able to show that to the world. So, this inspired Hugh to start this journey for Dukale and other coffee growers in the world that want fair trade price for their coffee.

You know what I love the most about this business model? Well, that as a costumer who walks into the coffee shop, I know for sure that my contribution is going to the Dukale Family. It’s not charity. It’s engrained into the business.

So this is the deal, it’s Monday and you all need a cup of coffee (or several), so go stop by Laughing Man and enjoy an amazing cup of coffee brought to you by Hugh and Dukale. If you can’t make it down to Tribeca then go on the website and read about this awesome coffee shop! I mean, friends, think about it, you might catch Hugh Jackman and are contributing to a great cause while drinking a yummy cappuccino…hello!! I say that sounds like a pretty good Monday.

xoxo,

Lourdes

dukale and hugh

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The Cocktail Parlor Series: Dear, Irving

Hi Friends:

Those who know me well, know how much I LOVE trying new restaurants/bars/coffee shops in the city. So in this series I will introduce cocktail bars that you must try.

Dear, Irving  is a cocktail bar I recently went to with my husband and friends. As soon as I walked in I thought, “umm this place is freaking adorable, why haven’t I been here!?”. The space is glam yet cozy with delicious cocktails! We sat in the Mary Antoinette room where I felt like I was teleported to a living room inside a french chateau {the truth is each room’s decor is inspired by a different historical era-pretty cool}. The attention to detail is really something to rave about in this place-I mean they even have buzzers by your seat that you can press to call your waiter and hand crafted ice cubes that complement each cocktail! Talk about how to make your customers happy!! It’s the the perfect spot for pre drinks on date night or fancy night with the besties.

Go check it out and let me know how much you loved it.

xoxo,

Lourdes

my yummy cocktail ;)

my yummy cocktail 😉

Mary Antoinette Room

Mary Antoinette Room

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Wine & Pumpkins

Fall season makes me so happy. Maybe it’s the leaves changing color or the feeling I get from walking the chilly NYC streets with a cozy sweater and cappuccino in hand.

Well, on Saturday, we took a trip with our dear friends to Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm in Long Island. I mean, who doesn’t love apple cider doughnuts, hard cider and wine? Aside from all the yummy eating and drinking we did, we also managed to go pumpkin picking. Thomas and I brought home our first pumpkin-Yay! The plan is to make a pumpkin pie..haha let’s see how that turns out.

We ended our trip at Sherwood House Vineyards where we drank local wine and listened to a live band that played a couple of Lionel Richie songs-Woohoo!(yes-I am huge fan). We seriously felt like we were visiting a friends summer home in the country. It’s about an hour away from the city-I definitely recommend it! Check out the cute photos we took.

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