Cheese Tea is the Newest Foodie Craze & it's Delicious!

When I heard there is a drink called cheese tea I got the worst image in my head, because let's be real, it sounds so strange. But then I learned that the cheese used is whipped cream cheese and my whole perception changed!

Little Fluffy Head Cafe in Downtown Los Angeles has brought a foodie craze from Asia to the States and people are big fans. A small cafe destined to do big things, Little Fluffy Head just opened in August 2017 and The Washington Post, ABC News, Refinery 29, and many more outlets have already featured their cheese tea. In fact, they've pioneered the craze in LA are were the first ones to bring the treat to the city.

Let's cut to the chase because you're probably wondering, what is cheese tea? Little Fluffy Head makes their cheese by mixing cream cheese, whipping cream, milk, salt, and sugar to create the perfect mix of savory and sweet. That cheese is then poured over a traditional tea, like oolong and green tea, to create a uniquely delicious concoction.

During my visit I tried the Strawberry Cheese Tea that is made with real strawberries and jasmine green tea, then topped with cheese. It tasted like I was sipping strawberry cheesecake and nothing like I'd ever had before. So incredibly delicious.

My friend got the Dirty Mess Milk Tea, black milk tea with creme brûlée cream and crushed Oreo topping, and raved about it as well. It's been less than a week and both of us want to go back and indulge again!

  

We visited on a Saturday evening and there were a few other customers, so Little Fluffy Head is doing well for themselves. The staff was very friendly and explained the items on the menu and made sure we knew what we were ordering, let us customize the level of sweetness, and explained how best to consume our teas (there is a special lid that allows you to drink through a straw or lift a tab to forgo the straw and really enjoy the cheese).

Because Little Fluffy Head is located in DTLA, it was a bit rough to find the cafe. We circled a few times before spotting it. When visiting, it's probably easier to look for the CVS on the intersection of Spring and 7th then you'll find them directly across the street, just a few stores down from the corner. There is no sign on the building so keep an eye out for the Say Cheese Tea sign in the window.

Despite the difficulty of Downtown LA and finding parking, it's so worth it! Little Fluffy Head Cafe is offering something uniquely special in a market where it's destined to thrive. I won't be surprised if we see this craze sweep the nation.

Have you heard of or tried cheese tea? Let me know in the comments!

Little Fluffy Head Cafe

203 W 7th St.

Los Angeles, CA 90014

Ole Smoky Moonshine, Deliciously Authentic

Bold, yet subtle. Prominent, yet unassuming. Old, yet new.

Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine is full of wonderful juxtapositions that have catapulted the brand into the position of an industry leader while remaining true to their Appalachian roots.

All around Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you'll see people carrying newly purchased products in Ole Smoky logo-clad gift bags. And upon entering their flagship store, The Holler, you're immediately overcome by the sheer amount of moonshine choices, beautifully stacked in rows across every wall. You know that Ole Smoky has something special before you've even tasted a drop.

I stopped by the Ole Smoky Distillery and spent time with Johnny, one of the nicest, most down-to-earth guys I've had the pleasure of meeting. He took me behind the scenes to see how their moonshine is made, talked about his family history (his nephew started the company based off century-old family recipes), and took some shots with us while explaining just how special the brand is to the history of alcohol. And indeed, it is special.

Moonshine became legal in Tennessee in 2009. By 2010, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine was in business as the first federally licensed moonshine distillery in East Tennessee. In the beginning, the family made and sold moonshine to keep themselves afloat, as many early Smoky settlers did. Generations later, when Ole Smoky opened shop, seven employees sold product out of a store window. Seven years later, it has expanded into three locations with two distilleries, and they sell their moonshine jars in 50 states and over 50 countries. A feat that's wildly incredible! Adding to the list, news just broke last week that they have partnered with Yee-Haw Brewing Co. and Music City Roots to open an entertainment complex in Nashville within the next year. I imagine the venture to be huge.

Exponential growth sometimes leads to the sacrifice of product, but that's far from the case for the world's most visited distillery. As I learned firsthand, their creative concoctions are ever-growing (they've even added whiskey to their product list) and the flavors are delicious. In fact, Ole Smoky is so proud of their variety they let the customers try before they buy. For $5, visitors can sample 13 flavors. If patrons buy anything, that $5 goes toward the purchase. Can't beat that!

I partook in a sampling and was amazed at the smoothness and variety. From straight-to-the-point, 128 proof Blue Flame to 35 proof coffee-flavored Mountain Java cream liqueur moonshine, Ole Smoky has you covered whether you want a stiff drink or something to sip on. No matter what I tried, I was pleased to find that all of the shots were smooth. I imagined I'd be choking down burning liquid, but it was quite the opposite. I savored each shot and able to really appreciate the flavors. That being said, the Blue Flame was presented in a thimble-sized shot glass, so when you drink the harder stuff don't forget it's moonshine. As Johnny explained, "You don't go lookin' for the moonshine, it will find you."

What may have surprised me the most was the Ole Smoky Whiskey. I am not a fan of whiskey at all so when I saw two flavors in the tasting lineup I was hesitant to try, but ended up loving their varieties. In fact, I took a bottle of the Salty Caramel home with me it was so good. I recently spotted Caramel Apple on the Ole Smoky site and I really want to try it but it's only offered at the distillery. Seems like a great excuse for a return trip!

Between the moonshine, moonshine-soaked fruit, and whiskey, there are just about 40 flavors to choose from and I can confidently say there's something for everyone who enjoys alcohol. From now on, any time I attend a gathering I'll be bringing the Ole Smoky. Consider picking up a bottle if you're attending a New Year's Eve party. You'll quickly become everyone's favorite guest.

To locate a store selling Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine in your area, check out the Get a Jar feature on the Ole Smoky site.

Disclaimer: I was hosted at Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are accurate and my own, and not influenced by the company in any way.

Two a Tea, a Delightful Afternoon Tea Room in Glendora, CA

I found the cutest afternoon tea room! Located in Glendora, CA, Two A Tea provides a darling Victorian-inspired setting and delightful selection of teas and treats. Hidden off main roads, the location is an equally proper and inviting escape from the hustle and bustle of Southern California. For the afternoon, I enjoyed feeling like an adult playing tea party.

I'm not a big hot tea person, I stick to basics like English breakfast and Earl Grey, so I was more excited to go for the experience...and the tea sandwiches. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that maybe I am a tea person! The selection to chose from is large so I went with a pretty safe choice, maple cream (so good!) and my friend selected the more adventurous peach apricot that I loved just as much. Who knew? Oh and the rest of the food? Just wow. The warm homemade scones and jelly, curd, and clotted cream spreads were divine! From start to finish we enjoyed every bite.

You can purchase items a la carte or buy a package, which we did. We opted for the Queen's Tea that includes (per person) a pot of tea, freshly-baked scone, sorbet, assortment of finger sandwiches, and several desserts to chose from. The price for this package is a very reasonable $24.95. For $7 more you can bump up to The Royal High Tea that includes all of the aforementioned items plus salad and soup. There are also smaller packages to choose from, so there is something for everyone.

Also worth mentioning, the staff was wonderful! They helped me pick the perfect tea and made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Their service definitely added to the charm of our visit.

If you are in Southern California I highly recommend a visit to Two a Tea. You'll love the experience!

Location:

185 N. Vermont Ave.

Glendora, CA 91741

Positive Energy, the No-Guilt Juice

I LOVE juice - give me any kind and I'll drink it. The problem is that juice contains so much sugar. Did you know that some juice is even worse than soda? Such a bummer! When I heard about Positive Energy I was really excited to try it. This juice, which is in the energy drink category, is all natural. It contains no added sugar or artificial flavors, and is GMO and gluten-free. You're probably wondering how it's an energy drink as well as juice. Positive Energy is made with green coffee beans and each bottle contains as much caffeine as one premium coffee. So not only are you drinking actual fruit juice, but you can enjoy the same benefits as a cup of joe!

Wondering about the taste? I'll be honest, at first I missed the real sugar because I consume way too much of it. I don't even like diet sodas. I'm a legit sugar addict and drink Dr. Pepper and all of the really-bad-for-you Starbucks coffees. However, a few gulps in and I really liked the flavor! It felt good knowing that I was getting the same effect as my guilty pleasure drinks, minus the guilt. This is a great replacement if you're trying to stick to healthy options. I also hate energy drinks, but this tastes nothing like the norm. Another bonus in my book!

My favorite flavors are the orange juice and peach mango lemonade. But you should test them out to see which your favorites are! Currently, Positive Energy can be found in stores and gas stations throughout California, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii, Texas and the Pacific Northwest. But if you don't live in those areas - no worries! You can order online in 2, 6, or 12-packs. Be sure to use code “JoinTheGossipPositiveEnergy” for free shipping!

Cheers!

Beer & Bags

Another weekend in the books! While mine started with some afternoon beer at work, that was the height of the excitement. I didn't feel that great so I kept it casual and stayed in Saturday night. The benefit of staying in was that when the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection went live at about 2am PST I was able to snag a few bags. I was prepared to line up at Target Sunday morning but thank goodness I didn't have to!

I got the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Medium Satchel in purple.

My mom snagged the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Medium Satchel in Gray.

The bags that we selected were the ones we wanted which makes me super happy. They were both online only (currently sold out) and different from the black and taupe bags that it seems everyone else picked up. I actually didn't realize not all of the purses would be available in-store. Good thing I didn't wake up early to sit outside my local Target for nothing! The only negative about ordering online is having to wait for the shipment. And of course I go on vacation this weekend so my bag will probably show up then with my luck.

Did you pick up anything from the collection? If so, who braved the store? I wanna hear about the experience!

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