Oh Joy Eats

three's company...

...because everything is better in sets of three...

{1. Grafton Village's three ages of cheddar cheese, 2. Mother in Law's kimchi, 3. Bamdino kids utensils, 4. Pigeon Toe Ceramics test tube vase, 5. Baked marshmallow set, 6. Heath Ceramics bud vase set.}

so jarring...

Pop your homemade best in these simply wonderful jars by Burgon & Ball.

{via Eat Drink Chic. Photos by Burgon & Ball.}

little sweets...

Small foods may just be my favorite thing on the planet. I love the idea of having lots and lots of dishes in tiny portions so that you can comfortably taste test them all one bite at a time! So I had to share some snippets from another Japanese cookbook I picked up recently, the Book of Little Sweets by Yuki. I will now proceed to make all dinners in tiny bite-sized portions packaged and presented in the cutest of vessels and containers...

{photos from the Book of Little Sweets}

{taste tested}: calpico

Since living on the West Coast, I've been exposed to more fun Japanese staples then I previously knew about. Calpico {known in Japan as Calpis} is a tasty and refreshing yogurt-based beverage that I now totally adore. The milky white water tastes like a very watered-down tart yogurt. While it may not sound or look too enticing, it's super refreshing and good for you with its lactobacillic components. The thirst-quencher comes in concentrate, original, or soda form. I recently had a calpico cocktail {the soda version mixed with saki}, and it was good! You can find Calpico at your local Japanese or Asian grocery store or at the online sites below.

{Photos by Taku Satoh Design Office. Purchase Calpico online stateside here and here.}

{taste tested}: chocolate editions

 
Made with natural ingredients and in small batches, Chocolate Editions by designers Mary & Matt, is inspired by pop art and their love of candy and confections. If candy could look happy, there's no question that these bars evoke the sunniest of dispositions. My favorite is the neapolitan bar – a mix of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and strawberry all in one bar – it's perfect for having a little bit of everything.

Final thoughts...4 out of 5 happy ladies!

{photo & illustrations by Mary & Matt}

{taste tested}: starbucks french macarons

Following in the mass market macaron trend, Starbucks launched a limited-edition box of French Macarons yesterday imported from Château Blanc. Available in most Starbucks locations in the refrigerated section, the box of 12 macarons comes in six flavors: chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, lemon, chocolate, and pistachio. 

hot chocolate on a stick...

I love food on sticks, so what could be even better? Chocolate on sticks, of course! Get ready to feast your eyes on these amazing bits of chocolate eye candy. Chocolate spoons by the Chocolate Company in the Netherlands make instant hot chocolate with just the dip of a spoon. Luckily for us, they ship worldwide.

{photos by Chocolate Co. Also, check out this gorgeous DIY for hot chocolate on a stick by Giver's Log...amazing!}

pep talk...

Remember my pumpkin fever from a few weeks ago? Well, peppermint fever is about to officially begin...thanks to these mini gems of peppermint perfection.

{Photo by Williams-Sonoma}

polka dotted perfection...

As Daylight Savings ends this weekend, warm and toasty things feel just right. Hold tight to your morning coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or butternut squash soup in this super cute thermos by Kate Spade.

kookie karma...

I usually cringe at the thought of a vegan or gluten free dessert as I am not vegan or gluten intolerant and have been lucky enough to be able to eat whatever I choose from the plethora of cookie options in the world. After stumbling upon Kookie Karma at the grocery store, the cute packaging called my name and convinced me to give it a shot. What I expected to be a flavorless, dry biscuit was a moist, rich, almost brownie-like cookie that I gladly devoured like I would any other. The cookies must be a godsend for those with these dietary restrictions as I would gladly enjoy one again even in my non-restricted state of cookie-loving being.

{above image indicates evidence of a quickly devoured snack. photo by Oh Joy.}