The latest from our London-based editor, Justine Aw.

This evening I had the pleasure of attending “A Culinary Odyssey” with Bompas & Parr and KitchenAid to celebrate the launch of the new KitchenAid 6.9L Artisan Stand Mixer. The event was filled with science fiction inspired cocktails from the Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC), Kubrick inspired sets created by designer and prop stylist Rhea Thierstein, a levitating food device from Poietic Studio and futuristic menu created by Andrew Stellitano. Bioluminescent lollipops, a rum cola cloud chamber and cricket pasta were only a few of the incredible offerings. See lots of photos on the next page!

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Traditional Irish coffee, Momofuku Redeye Mayonnaise and homemade marshmallows are all part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

Bacon waffles, frozen egg whites and the story behind the Whiskey Smash are a part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

Just in from our Tasteologie editor, Jackson Stakeman, he got a taste of Kitchit, the new bespoke chef service that just expanded to Los Angeles (from SF) today. Here’s what he learned (and ate!)…

I’ve learned some things recently… dinner parties are hard. Eating and hanging out with friends is easy. The view off the roof of a condominium on Ocean Ave in Santa Monica is amazing. Especially at sunset. Having a Top Chef All Star (in this case, Marcel Vigneron) prepare you and your friends a private dinner is even more so. Kitchit, a new company which offers new ways of connecting diners with chefs, has just reached Los Angeles. They invited me up to the roof for a little get together in order to have a taste and to take a peak at what they’ve been up to.

Kitchit uses the power of the internet to illuminate the often murky world of catering and private chefs. It offers an alternative to socialite word of mouth, sketchy business cards, and random internet searches. Hosts can select from a wide variety of chefs, including some well known culinary celebrities, and book a private dinner as if they were ordering it off the internet… which they are. You can even use the site to split the bill amongst your guests. Take a peek at the adventure through pictures on the next page…

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The latest from our culinary editor, Jackson! You can find more of our delectable delights at Tasteologie.

Cupcakes are wonderful. While they have perhaps become a little over exposed in the last few years, they are certainly still a tasty treat. There are so many different kinds, different cakes, different frostings… it seems like there is one for every mood. Sprinkles has upped the ante by providing cupcakes for when you are feeling anti-social, hungry at 3am, nostalgic for automats, or for when you just want dessert handed to you from a robot with its own twitter handle. Their new Cupcake ATM has certainly captured the imagination of the Internet, Los Angeles, and now me. I too have succumbed to the siren’s call of that winning combination of fat, sugar, and machine. The Sprinkles Cupcake ATM even has its own twitter - @CupcakeATM and facebook. Take a peek at our cupcake adventure on the next page!

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Sugar! Sugar! SUGAR! I’ve been on a bit of a sugar high since this mysterious packet of mini packets of sugar samples arrived from Chambre De Sucre and i tore them all open to shoot/taste it for this post. SO much sugar. And it’s all so delicately pretty. Oh, and we also brewed quite a few cups of espresso to try them with. We’ve been buzzing over here.

These sugars from Chambre De Sucre are not just gourmet sugars… “The sugars are handcrafted by one of the oldest family-owned businesses in Japan with the highest quality sugar possible. They are over 270 years old and have provided the Royal Family in Japan with their sugar since the time of the Shogun. Japanese artisans still use traditional methods to create this luxurious sugar for your cup of tea and coffee.” Their about page tells you a heart-warming story of Lisa’s past and what these sugars mean to her through her childhood experiences in Japan. They are the first to import these sugars to the US! The assortment of sugar options are mind blowing as you browse their site, and the packaging looks beautiful for gifting as well… on the next page you can see close ups of the many little samples sent over as we tried our way through them!

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This week’s droolworthy roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious includes Boxberry cocktails, sea scallops in black tie and Cacao Bliss. To find out more about each delectable post, click on its indviidual image.

This post is coming to you from MiO. Change your water. Change your day. What do you want to change?

Our Tasteologie editor, Jackson, found a Peanut Butter & Jelly that is unlike any other… and most definitely not what you’d picture at first… here’s what he discovered!

We have seen countless variations on peanut butter and jelly, but it has never looked like this. This playful and sophisticated turn on an old favorite was concocted by pastry Chef Santanna Salas in the new Pasadena location of Haven Gastropub. Originally knowing only that she wanted to do something with peanuts, she transformed the childhood standard into a modern dessert. Its flavors are instantly recognizable but the textures and plating are all cleverly interpreted. I got to chat a bit with the chef and go back into the kitchen to see how they make peanut butter and jelly Haven style.

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What is it about artisan goods being beautifully packaged and displayed? On a quick run over to brentwood country mart to get green juice and amazing tacos… got drawn in by the adorable glow of awesomely labeled goodies at the Farmshop’s Artisan Market, and then went iPhone crazy (being camera-less at the time) while shopping through it for grilling meat, wine, TENNESSEE WHISKEY ICE CREAM, and fresh peanut butter cookie dough… it was all so pretty and filled with inspiring packaging/label design i had to share… shop with us on the next page!

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Perfect momos, Meyer lemon margaritas, and luscious, honey-sweetened blood orange curd are all part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each delicious post, click on its individual image.

Bouncing jello shots, party balloon pastry pops and succulent roasted pork belly sandwiches are all part of this week’s mouthwatering roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each delicacy, click on its individual image.

I’ve been obsessed with the adorableness of these little waters all over the hotel here in Rio. Aguas Ouro Fino ~ adorable nearly spherical little water bottles… reminiscent of the baby squid/octopi… take a peek at them on the next page!

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Chocolate margaritas, Domo-Kun heart cookies, and a goat cheese burger are all part of this week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious. To find out more about each delectable post, click on its individual image.

This week’s roundup from Tasteologie and Liqurious features killer guacamole, lasagna soup and coconut lime margaritas. To find out more about each delectable post, click on its individual image.

Black + Blum’s new Eau Good filter water bottle - the new water bottle was spotted at NYIGF by Core77 and at IDS by TreeHugger. The concept is interesting ~ the piece of Binchotan active charcoal snaps into place when the bottle is squeezed (and you do the same to release it)… made of BPA free tritan, the bottle is closed with a simple cork. See more pics on the next page…

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