Cool Hunting

Two New Hemp Foods
As hemp steadily makes the transition from hippie health food to antioxidant du jour, two new products stand out for tasting good while also reaping the benefits of the seed. Rich with Omegas, all 10 essential Amino Acids and other vitamins and nutrients, hemp is a good alternative source of protein and, in the case of Hempmilk, it's a good stand-in for milk.Available in...

Dr. Becker's Bites dog and cat treats
CH is always on the lookout for quality, natural dog treats. These crisps are made from beef liver and kidney with garlic and vitamin E supplement. That's all. No fillers, grains or other creepy stuff. Created by Karen Becker, DVM, they are a healthy (and from the way they are satisfyingly crunched by mascots Otis and Logan) presumably quite tasty. A 5 oz. bag...

Store Wars
Remember the Store Wars, a short film by Free Range Graphics for the Organic Trade Association, spreads the word of the pro-organic movement in a humorous and timely manner. It's hard not to love TofuD2, Ham Solo and Chewbroccoli (my favorite)....

Chocolate-Pencils
Chocolate-Pencils is the product of a collaboration pairing Japanese architect and designer Oki Sato with patissier (and Iron Chef champion) Tsujiguchi Hironobu, the man behind Tokyo's boutique dessert shops Mont St. Claire and Le Chocolat de H. Subtle tableware effectively displays the gourmet chocolate and includes a special "pencil sharpener" for grating over a dessert. The pencils operate under the concept that shavings, which...

Trois Crepes Dark Chocolate Perles
Pearl-shaped and tiny, the Manhattan patisserie Trois Crepes' Dark Chocolate Pearls contain something like a buttery Rice Krispy in a coverture of bittersweet chocolate. A pleasing crunch and slight saltiness makes for a surprising experience, but the chocolate balances both the flavor and texture. The Perles are delicious sprinkled on ice cream or yogurt, but we also like pouring them directly into our mouth....

Amai Tea and Bake House
by Karen McGrane A shop combining tea, not-too-sweet baked goods and a love for the serenity of Japanese and French desserts seems like it would be a match for the Cool Hunting palate. Add in the fact that the charming shop got its start from a blog, Lovescool, and you've got a guaranteed hit around CH HQ. Amai Tea and Bake House recently opened its...