Around Town: Mary’s Milk Bar – Edinburgh, Scotland

There’s no better way to conclude a castle exploration than with creamy, delicious gelato. After roaming around Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, I descended the hundreds of stairs to the historic market place (Grassmarket) where Mary’s Milk Bar welcomes visitors with open doors.

Mary’s Milk Bar is incredibly cozy and old-fashioned. Milk Bars, which promoted wholesome milky products, were popular in Britain between the 20s and 60s. Mary, who trained at Carpigiani Gelato University, makes sure all of her products are fresh. The chocolate she sells have a shelf life of no more than six months, and each week she offers new gelato flavors.

I loved the Dark Chocolate gelato. It’s smooth and rich and tastes even better in a crunchy waffle cone. The best part about indulging in gelato at Mary’s Milk Bar? The insane view of Edinburgh Castle (which you can see in the background of the first photo).

There are only a few tables at Mary’s Milk Bar, so if there isn’t room to sit, take your gelato to go and explore Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, and the other many winding streets in Edinburgh. It’s a gorgeous and historic city.

Mary’s Milk Bar
19 Grassmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2HS, United Kingdom

Images by Lauren Jessen

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That’s a Wrap!

It’s always nice to have productive weeks – this was one of them. It was also filled with lots of good food, mainly ice cream (and banana splits from Oddfellows). Maybe it was the long holiday weekend that kick-started a week of focus and inspiration. If only every other work week could be four days long. I’m looking forward to an eventful weekend, starting with the Taylor Swift concert. Until then, though, lets wrap up the week with a recap…

BEHIND THE SCENES: I love glimpses into people’s days, and Gayle King’s hustle is inspiring.

GIADA: Giada de Laurentiis has a restaurant in Vegas with the best chocolate lava cake I’ve ever had. This is a great inside look at the restaurant.

FOOD PROPS: The food stylist from The Astronaut Wives Club tells all.

STEP ASIDE, WAFFLE CONES: There’s a new cone in town.

FEMALE FILMMAKERS: And how Hollywood discriminates against them.

FAST FOOD: How McDonalds started in China.

ASIAN IMMIGRANTS: Starting to (very slowly) get some respect on TV?

MARIE CURIE: Production has started on a movie about this two-time Nobel prize winning scientist. Can’t wait to see the final feature!

MOVIES TO ADD TO YOUR LIST: The best films of 2015 so far.

DRINK UP: Tea may be strengthening your bones. Cheers to that!

VERY CREATIVE: A cake with wallpaper print. How cool.

LOCATION SCOUT: Secret filming locations in Paris.

Image by Lauren

That’s a Wrap!

It’s a short week for many, and it’s likely that your holiday weekend is packed with BBQs, sunshine, and time spent with family and friends. June was a good month – new movies, new adventures, new experiences (including seeing Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett live at Radio City Hall – pictured above).

July holds even more great adventures and experiences, and I’m making it a point to attempt more challenging recipes and see movies I might not normally watch on a Friday night. It’s always fun that July starts off with a (firework) bang – it really sets the tempo for the rest of the month. For now, though, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

40TH ANNIVERSARY: Last week marked the 40th anniversary for the summer classic, Jaws.

SEINFELD: You can now watch all 180 episodes of Seinfeld on Hulu. If you don’t want to start watching from the beginning, watch in this ranked order.

MAKE: Fresh pasta. This recipe looks like a winner.

TO READ: Judd Apatow’s new book.

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN: Though this food is way too much.

ICE CREAM: 15 great ice cream-making tips from cookbooks.

MILKSHAKES: Roasted fruit in a milkshake? Yes, please.

THINK BIG: The secret to Walt Disney’s corporate strategy.

ASTROWIVES: I loved reading The Astronaut Wives Club, and I can’t wait to watch the series on ABC.

Have a wonderful July 4th!

Image by Lauren

That’s a Wrap!

It was a shorter week, and yet so much still happened. Next week we’ll be in June! Summer is rapidly approaching. I don’t know how we zipped through spring, but I’m not ready for the heat (or humidity). I’m already dreaming of the recipes to make this summer, many of which involve pies and fruity frozen treats.

This weekend I’ll be surrounded by books and book lovers at BookCon – I can’t wait! Until then, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

WILL TRAVEL FOR: Ice cream.

HEALTH MATTERS: Great health tips and a personal background from an Instagram food superstar.

FOOD TRUCKS: That are picture-perfect. Why are these food trucks not in my life?

CLASS ACT: All hail Audrey Hepburn.

NEW ON NETFLIX: All of the movies that you can look forward to in June.

SLEEP IN & EAT WELL: 35 make-ahead breakfasts – I can’t wait to try these.

FAMILY DINNERS: They are a treat – make time for them.

MORE IN ICE CREAM NEWS: The recent listeria outbreak has had a profound effect on Blue Bell ice cream and the Texas town of Brenham.

SUPERHEROES: The secret history of Ultimate Marvel.

DESSERT FOR THE WIN: A family of refugees turned a bakery into a major business.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Image by Lauren

Around Town: Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, New York City

Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream is a contemporary twist on the traditional ice cream parlor, which is clear in their shop design, delicious ice cream, and the overall vibe of the place. I first enjoyed Morgenstern’s ice cream last month, and when I was in the neighborhood recently, I couldn’t resist going again.

I’ve enjoyed the Chocolate and Cafe Latte so far, but I can’t wait to try some of their other flavors such as Green Tea Pistachio, Black Strap Rum, and Maple Syrup Vanilla. Pro tip: get a couple of flavors with toppings (a few include honey, pickled pineapple, and toasted coconut) in the Monster (waffle) cone for a well-rounded treat. Also, they only take cash.

Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream
2 Rivington Street / NY, NY 10002

Images by Lauren

That’s a Wrap!

Happy May! I’m back from last week’s adventure where I experienced very warm and humid weather (photo above). However, I most definitely prefer rain to humidity and admittedly missed the April showers. I crossed a few movies off my list in April, and I’m excited to watch a few new ones this month. I will get myself to the theaters. It’s been way too long since I watched a movie in a big dark room with complete strangers. In disappointing T.V. news, Revenge has been canceled – if anything I feel old because I remember watching the show when it first started when I was in college. On a positive note, there are still a lot of great shows to watch. It’s all about turning lemons into lemonade. Now, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

INTERVIEW: Cinematographer Alexander Chinnici discusses what it’s like being a Director of Photography and shares the films that shaped him.

HEAL YOURSELF: Bone broth is great for doing just that – it has nutrients that rebuild and rejuvenate your system. Can’t wait to try this recipe.

PUNNY FOOD: This father and son created an awesome way to teach geography with food. So clever!

WRITE: These sushi memo blocks are an adorable addition to any desk.

EAT: 10 famous foods from Seinfeld and where to eat them in New York City.

BAKE: Homemade pretzels aren’t the easiest to make, but I’m willing to try (again!).

KEEP STOCK: 20 foods you should always have in your kitchen.

ICE CREAM: Thanks to this guide, I’ll be eating ice cream sandwiches all season (okay, all year) long.

Enjoy your weekend!

Image by Lauren

That’s a Wrap!

I usually have some sort of sweet every day, but my treat of the moment are these chocolate covered grahams from Russ & Daughters. The chocolate is decadent, the grahams are crunchy…it’s the perfect combination. Needless to say, I’ll be going back for a whole lot more than .27 lbs worth (about 4 grahams). This week involved a lot of catching up on work and sleep due to last week’s major deadlines, and this weekend I look forward to escaping NYC for a short while (follow me here for behind-the-scenes of all things food and film). Until then, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

* In honor of the Tribeca Film Festival kicking off on Wednesday (and film festival season starting!), here are 15 travel-worthy film festivals around the world.

* Orange is the New Black has (already) been renewed for Season 4!

* Even astronauts need espresso.

* 10 wedding cake trends.

* The state of ramen.

* I love that there’s going to be a Wonder Woman movie. A new director was just announced for the film.

* Ice cream innovations for spring. Yum!

* HBO to Netflix: bring it on. Oh boy.

Have a relaxing weekend!

Photo by Lauren

That’s a Wrap!

This weekend I’m hoping to catch up on a few movies that have just been released to rent – The Imitation Game, Big Eyes, and Wild. I didn’t have a chance to see them in theaters, but now I have the perfect excuse to load up on snacks and have a movie marathon. The photo above is from a couple of weeks ago when I went to see the Mad Men exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image – these are Matthew Weiner’s show notes. I was particularly fond of: “Thank you for letting us all see a smile usually reserved for clients.” And with that, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

* This article is great. But…if I ever saw Louis C.K., I would really want to say hi.

* Love this advice about growing a business from the ground up from a chef, a baker, and a chocolate maker.

* Bring me to London now please.

* This tweet though…

* These food cinemagraphs are captivating.

* ‘Lumiere! Inventing Cinema’ celebrates the birth of movies in Paris.

* Jeni Britton Bauer is awesome.

Have a wonderful weekend!

{Photo by Lauren}

That’s a Wrap!

I’m back! That hiatus was a little longer than expected, but completely necessary. In that time, I’ve enjoyed a lot of good food and watched many movies, and I can’t wait to share! For example: how great is this plate of succulents, which are actually candies in disguise. They’re small, intricate, and really quite beautiful. I love discovering fun food creations; they are often found in random places and are great sources of inspiration. Now, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

* Daily discussions of food from National Geographic.

* In-depth behind-the-scenes footage for the new movie Lucy.

* Juicy secrets from Mean Girls.

* How menus at restaurants trick you into spending more money.

* Celebrities and dinner parties. Take a listen.

* An amazing and seriously gorgeous magazine.

* This ombre donut layer cake is a cute idea.

* An ice cream that changes colors when you lick it? Cool!

* Rest in peace, Elaine Stritch. A true talent.

Have a wonderful weekend!

{Photo by Lauren}

Around Town: Hello Robin Cookies

When I found out about Hello Robin Cookies in Seattle, it shot to the top of my list. The chocolate chip and Mackles’more cookies are insanely delicious. The chocolate chip cookies are perfectly crunchy on the bottom while remaining soft on top. The Mackles’more has the flavor combinations of chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow. I’ve already been twice, and it has quickly become a go-to place when I am in need of something sweet. Plus, Hello Robin serves Molly Moon’s Ice Cream, so if you are looking for a tasty ice cream sandwich, look no further. The shop itself is clean, fun, and spacious, with a large wooden table for baking demonstrations and for a quick sit down to enjoy the freshly baked cookies with milk. If you’re a cookie lover, this is your place.

{Photos by Lauren}