We have been working 20 hours a day to get the store ready, and it’s almost done. I wanted to post more about the experience, but every time I come home I’m so tired I go straight to sleep, or I take time to talk to Andrew about something other than cookies. So many post-worthy […]

Amai rents a space at the Artisan Baking Center in Long Island City to do our baking. It has been a wonderful way to get up and running quickly without having to sign a long term lease or invest in commercial equipment before we were ready. The Artisan Baking Center (also known as Mi Kitchen […]

One dessert bar is down for the count. It looks like Will Goldfarb’s Room 4 Dessert has been closed as a result of “ownership issues”. It seems like Goldfarb and his financial backers no longer agree, and they couldn’t come to an agreement that would keep Goldfarb as Pastry Chef at the current location. This […]

My friends and family always ask how the store is coming along, and I never really know how to answer. We’re in the middle of construction, and I know we’re making progress, but it feels like it is taking an eternity to see any real change. Even though we signed the lease on April 1, […]

Trying to open a retail store while running a wholesale operation is enough to make any baker crazy, but when you combine it with my perfectionist personality it is a recipe for a melt down. I am completely overwhelmed, and all of this stress has torn my mind and body apart. I had the flu […]

My little green tea cookies took home the Golden Scoop Award for Best Bakery Recipe! The award ceremony was held on June 18, 2007 at the French Culinary Institute. The award for Best Bakery Recipe was up first, and my fellow nominees included:
Caramelized Banana Bread Pudding
Sara Molinaro, Executive Baker and Jim Lahey, Owner
Sullivan Street Bakery
The […]

I just got back from the World Tea Expo and have many updates to give on the store, but I have to take a moment to spread the word about a new Treats Truck I learned about. Owner and baker Kim Iwa has a big, grey, “mobile bakery” truck that she will be driving around […]

My little sister is getting married! I’m so happy for her and think it is going to be so much fun to put together a wedding. I live in New York and she lives in Los Angeles, so planning will be a challenge, but luckily we have the internet. I started looking for bridesmaid dresses […]

Amai’s Green Tea Sweet recipe is a finalist in the Best Bakery Recipe category for Pastryscoop.com’s Golden Scoop Awards. The three finalists in the category will compete in a blind taste test on June 14, and the winner will be announced on June 18, 2007 in an awards ceremony at the French Culinary Institute. I […]

Two events are going on in NYC this weekend that will leave you full of good food.
The 9th Avenue International Food Festival & Street Fair
May 19-20, 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
9th Avenue from 37th Street to 57th Street
Contact: Ninth Avenue Association (212) 581-7029
www.hellskitchen.bz
Ninth avenue is closed to cars from 37th Street to 57th Street, […]