The Deadly Tower of Monsters is released for Playstation 4! In this action/adventure game, you play as Dick Starspeed, Scarlet Nova, or THE ROBOT in a legendary Sci-Fi B-Movie directed by Dan Smith. There are 2 modes to play in: Original, which is a Film Grain effect similar to a VHS, and Post-Processing Setting, which is DVD quality.
The Deadly Tower of Monsters is framed as a 1970s sci-fi film – directed by the fictional Dan Smith and starring Jonathan Digby, Stacy Sharp, and a no name actor – that features all the charm and cheesiness of your favorite B-movie. After crash-landing onto the hostile planet of Gravoria, fearless hero Dick Starspeed must deftly navigate the treacherous landscape in order to rendezvous with his trusty sidekick Robot. They eventually meet up with the fiery Scarlet Nova, and must ascend the eponymous Deadly Tower of Monsters in order to stop the cruel Emperor of Gravoria.
The game is a throwback to early video game graphics and design. It reminds me of an 8-bit video game console type game. The Deadly Tower of Monsters is narrated as if it is a Director’s Cut of a Sci-Fi B-Movie. While the commentary is witty, at times, it is often repetitive.
As you travel up the Deadly Tower of Monsters, various Hollywood adversaries are thrown your way. You must defeat them in order to be rejoined with your team. While the game may be a little old-school for some, there are plenty of monsters to beat up along the way.
The Deadly Tower of Monsters is available digitally on PlayStation Network and Steam in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. While the game is normally priced at $14.99, it is discounted for ~33% from today until Feb. 2. For more information about the game, please visit: http://www.deadlytowerofmonsters.com/
Dine Newport Beach and the Newport Beach Restaurant Association, has announced the 10th anniversary of Newport Beach Restaurant Week, taking place January 18-31, 2016. As the longest running restaurant week in Orange County, the annual event provides special prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner at a wide variety of premier eateries such as The Ritz Prime Seafood, Sol Cocina, Slapfish, Muldoon’s Irish Pub, Provenance, Tackle Box, Fig & Olive, Sushi Roku and more.
“As the first restaurant week event in Orange County, Newport Beach Restaurant Week continues to successfully showcase the ten distinct dining neighborhoods of the city,” says Newport Beach Restaurant Association President Jim Walker, owner of The Bungalow Restaurant. “The inspiration behind the yearly event is to bring new guests to the area and support the economic growth of our community. 2015’s program generated the monumental amount of $4.6 million in consumer spending in our community of 85,000, and we look towards 2016 to make an even bigger impact.”
During the 14 days of Restaurant Week, prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus are available starting at the approachable rate of $10 for lunch and maxing out at $50 for dinner. With a plethora of options available, guests are able to feed their curiosity through the approachable price points and the variety of cuisines. Culinary roadmaps and guides can be found at www.dinenb.com.
Additionally, foodies can participate in a “Feed Your Curiosity” interactive quiz to determine their food personality. Whether they are looking to feed their inner “health nut,” “carnivore,” “sweet treat freak,” or “food critic,” they’ll be able to satisfy the appetites of their “inner circle” with the multitude of restaurants participating in restaurant week.
Newport Beach Restaurant Week menu pricing, per person, is as follows: • Lunch: $10/$15/$20/$25
• Dinner: $20/$30/$40/$50
No passes, tickets, or coupons are required for those looking to explore Newport Beach during the culinary festival. For a full list of participating restaurants and to make reservations go to www.dinenb.com.
Sample of 2016 Participating Restaurants:
• 21 Oceanfront Restaurant
• 3 Thirty 3 Waterfront
• Amelia’s Seafood & Italian Restaurant
• Andrea
• Avila’s El Ranchito – Corona del Mar
• Avila’s El Ranchito – Newport Beach
• Avo Bar + Restaurant
• Back Bay Bistro
• Back Bay Tavern
• Bayside Restaurant
• Billy’s at the Beach
• Bluefin
• Bluewater Grill
• Campus Jax
• Canaletto Ristorante Veneto
• Citrus
• Coliseum Pool & Grill
• Crow Burger Kitchen
• Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill
• Cucina Alessa
• CUCINA enoteca
• Dory Deli
• Fig & Olive
• Five Crowns Restaurant
• Fly ‘n’ Fish Oyster Bar & Grill
• Hopdoddy Burger Bar
• Lighthouse Cafe
• Malarky’s Irish Pub
• Mariposa Restaurant
• Modo Mio Rustic Italian Kitchen
• Muldoon’s Irish Pub
• Oak Grill
• Pelican Grill
• Pescadou Bistro
• PizzaBar
• Pizzeria Mozza
• Port Restaurant and Bar
• Provenance
• Red O Restaurant
• Rockin Baja Lobster Coastal Cantina
• Rothschild’s Restaurant
• Roy’s Restaurant
• Royal Thai Cuisine
• Rusty Pelican
• Sam & Harry’s Steakhouse
• Slapfish
• SOL Cocina
• Summer House
• Sushi Roku
• Tackle Box
• The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove
• The Bungalow Restaurant
• The Cannery Seafood of the Pacific
• The Crow Bar & Kitchen
• The Ritz Prime Seafood
• The Village Inn
• The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar
• Tommy Bahama Island Grille
• True Food Kitchen
• Waterline Newport Beach
• Woody’s Warf
Jelly Belly Candy Company, the candy maker long known for iconic Jelly Belly jelly beans, brings its reputation for delicious flavors and high quality to the organic snack category with the launch of Organic Jelly Beans in 10 assorted and five sour flavors, and Organic Fruit Flavored Snacks. The new line of USDA-certified organic candy and snacks hits store shelves this winter.
Organic Jelly Beans in the 10-flavor assorted mix will come in Apple, Berry, Blueberry, Cherry, Coconut, Lemon, Orange, Peach, Pear and Strawberry. The collection of five sour flavor varieties will include Apple, Cherry, Lemon, Orange and Berry. Organic Fruit Flavored Snacks are available now in bags with a mix of six favorite fruit flavors: Strawberry, Berry, Lemon, Apple, Orange and Cherry. The line will also include a charming rainforest animal design packaged in boxes with six individual serving size bags in a variety of mixes ideal for lunchboxes, travel and individual snacking.
“Consumers are interested in a wide variety of organic food products. The organic category has steadily grown for the last decade, and we are excited to meet this growing demand with organic gourmet confections and snacks.” Rob Swaigen, vice president of global marketing
All ingredients in these organic lines from Jelly Belly are USDA certified organic, and made with non-GMO ingredients with flavors and colors from natural sources. This is the company’s first organic line.
Pokkén Tournament, the upcoming game that lets players battle as prized Pokémon in fighting arenas, will launch exclusively for Wii U on March 18 at a suggested retail price of $59.99. Pokkén Tournament brings high-definition game play and over-the-top action to never-before-seen battles between some of the most recognizable Pokémon characters. People that buy the first production run version of the game will also receive a special Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card, which can be tapped to the Wii U GamePad controller to unlock the Shadow Mewtwo playable character in the game.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Japanese launch of the Pokémon franchise, the original Pokémon games (Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version, as well as Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition) will be available as digital downloads in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 27 for $9.99 each. That same day, Nintendo will also launch a New Nintendo 3DS Pokémon 20th Anniversary bundle that includes the New Nintendo 3DS system, two Pokémon-themed cover plates (one featuring Charizard and one with Blastoise), an exclusive Pokémon HOME Menu theme and both Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version pre-installed on the system. The bundle will hit stores on Feb. 27 at a suggested retail price of $199.99. That’s a lot of Pokémon goodness!
Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman — the stars of “High School Musical” — reunite to celebrate the global sensation’s 10-year anniversary during a special telecast of the movie WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 (8:00 p.m. EST) on Disney Channel. The group taped the nostalgic interstitial segments today at a high school gymnasium in suburban Los Angeles. Their fellow star Zac Efron will join the telecast in a pre-taped message to “High School Musical” fans.
Radio Disney’s Ernie D also interviewed the cast, to be seen during a “Radio Disney Insider” presented Thursday, January 21 on Disney Channel and the Radio Disney app.
Subsequent telecasts of the movie and its sequel, “High School Musical 2,” will be presented Thursday, January 21 and Sunday, January 24 on Disney Channel. Freeform will present “High School Musical” on Saturday, January 23 (4:30 p.m. EST) and Sunday, January 24 (2:00 p.m. EST).
Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “Seeing the cast of High School Musical back together again reaffirms what made it special 10 years ago. It’s their optimism, their dedication and their extraordinary talent — as a group — that made this such an exceptional movie and cultural phenomenon. Ten years later, the movie continues to delight audiences around the globe, not just for its memorable song and dance numbers, but for its universal themes that continue to resonate with fans everywhere – express yourself, believe in yourself and always follow your dreams.”
Remembered fondly by a generation of kids and families, and renowned for inspiring viewers to learn, engage, explore and participate in music, dance and theater, the now iconic Disney Channel Original Movie premiered January 20, 2006, delivering 7.7 million Total Viewers in the U.S.– at the time, the highest ratings for any telecast ever on Disney Channel. Around the world that year alone, it reached over 100 million unduplicated viewers. It also broke new ground as the first-ever TV movie soundtrack to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and went on to become the #1 album of 2006 as well as the #1 soundtrack and #1 Kids’ album of that year.
“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL” 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL – The stars of Disney Channel’s “High School Musical” – Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel – reunited in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 17, 2016 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the global sensation beloved by an entire generation of kids, tweens and parents. Their reunion will be seen during a special 10th anniversary telecast of “High School Musical” to be presented WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. (Disney Channel/Image Group LA) LUCAS GRABEEL, MONIQUE COLEMAN, VANESSA HUDGENS, ASHLEY TISDALE, CORBIN BLEU
“High School Musical,” a contemporary “break into song” production, tells the story of two high school students, Troy, a popular basketball player, and Gabriella, a shy, brainy newcomer, who share a secret passion for singing. When these two seemingly polar opposites decide to join forces and go out for the lead roles in the school musical, it wreaks havoc on East High’s rigid social order. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the school’s various cliques conspire to separate the pair and keep them from performing. But by defying expectations and pursuing their dreams, Troy and Gabriella inspire other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.
“High School Musical” received two Emmy Awards, the Television Critics Association Award, an Imagen Award (recognizing the positive portrayal of Latinos in entertainment media), a Billboard Music Award for Soundtrack of the Year, an American Music Award and a Producer’s Guild of America Award. Kenny Ortega received a career achievement honor from the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, an Imagen Award, a Diversity Award from the Multicultural Motion Picture Association, an ALMA Award and two Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Awards for the movie.
Disney Theatrical Productions licensed the script for local student theatre productions through Music Theatre International (MTI). In its first 15 months (2006-07), an estimated 2000 middle and high schools produced a licensed amateur stage production of “High School Musical” and a related grant program from Disney and NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation encouraged more kids to get involved in music and the arts. A documentary/musical from Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple followed the process of Fort Worth, Texas students producing a stage adaptation of “High School Musical.”
The movie also inspired professional touring stage productions, “High School Musical: The Ice Tour” produced by Feld Entertainment, Kenny Ortega and Disney Theatrical Productions, a best-selling junior novel, consumer products, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, and a sold-out, 52-date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America.
“High School Musical” stars Zac Efron as Troy Bolton, Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez, Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans, Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth, Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans and Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie, Alyson Reed as Ms. Darbus, Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen, Chris Warren, Jr. as Zeke Baylor and Bart Johnson as Coach Bolton.
“High School Musical” was written by Peter Barsocchini and directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega. Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush served as the executive producers. “High School Musical” is a production of First Street Films.
Available for the First Time Ever on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) this Tuesday, January 19th and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack February 2nd
Featuring In-Depth Brand New Bonus Material Including “In Walt’s Words: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Iconography,” “@DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess,” “The Fairest Facts of Them All: 7 Facts You May Not Know About Snow White,” “Snow White in Seventy Seconds,” “Alternate
Sequence: The Prince Meets Snow White”, the recently discovered and restored Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short “Hungry Hobos” (digital exclusive) and Much More!
The Walt Disney Signature Collection includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. Each release will offer special features for every member of your family plus a unique digital experience.
The Disneyland Resort is kicking off the new year with a special ticket offer for Southern California residents, just in time to enjoy the thrilling Star WarsSeason of the Force at Disneyland Park, all the nighttime excitement of the 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration and the opening of Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters at Disney California Adventure Park.
The Southern California Resident ticket offer* provides flexible options for two or three days of magic and adventure at special prices. Available for a limited time, the offer has four purchase options:
2-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $149
2-day Park Hopper ticket for $189
3-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $179
3-day Park Hopper ticket for $219.
Guests who choose to visit Disneyland will enjoy all the thrills of Star Wars Season of the Force, an exciting lineup of experiences that celebrate the Star Wars film saga. The lineup includes the Star Wars-themed transformation of Space Mountain into Hyperspace Mountain; new characters and a new adventure among the destinations at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction, and an exciting short film, “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi,” which relives highlights of the Star Wars films. In addition, Star Wars Launch Bay invites guests to encounter that favorite Star Wars pilot Chewbacca, visit a Star Wars-themed cantina, discover authentic replicas of film props, and more. And younglings will learn about conquering their fears in a new show, Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.
At Super Hero HQ, also in Tomorrowland, guests will learn more about some of their favorite Super Heroes and even encounter Spider-Man and Thor, in person.
After dark in Disneyland, the 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration comes to life with the dazzling “Paint the Night,” an all-new electrical parade, and the spectacular “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, an immersive street-to-sky experience like nothing seen before at the Disneyland Resort. The night skies light up in Disney California Adventure with the exciting “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney,” a spectacular that combines water, light, color, lasers, animation, projections and nearly 1,200 dancing fountains.
In Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters will open in early 2016. On this fun, family attraction, guests will join the exciting festivities created by Luigi, a beloved character from the Disney•Pixar blockbuster “Cars” films. Luigi has invited all his cugini (cousins) from Carsoli, Italy, to visit Cars Land and demonstrate the traditional dances of their village. Park guests will hop aboard miniature Italian roadsters – in the style of micro cars — to enjoy the dance and the upbeat singing of Luigi and his cousins. The dance is precision-choreographed across what appears to be a trackless “dance floor.” Each car has its own routine, so guests will be able to enjoy different ride experiences depending on which car they board.
Beginning Jan. 6, 2016, Southern California residents will be able to experience all these attractions and entertainment, along with other beloved experiences at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, with the special ticket offer.
The 2-day and 3-day Southern California Resident tickets are an ideal way to make unforgettable memories, and are available for a limited time. Southern California residents must purchase tickets from Jan. 6 through May 19, 2016. Tickets expire after May 26, 2016, and blockout dates apply. They can be purchased at http://Disneyland.com/flex, The Disney Stores, Vons and other retail locations, as well as any Disneyland Resort ticket booth. Guests who purchase tickets online may print their tickets at home. When purchased in advance, 3-day tickets include one Magic Morning** early entry to Disneyland Park, which provides an extra hour of play on select days before the park opens to the general public. This benefit is not available to tickets purchased at Disneyland Resort ticket booths.
For restrictions, visit http://Disneyland.com/flex. For park hours and entertainment schedules, guests may review the resort’s daily calendar at Disneyland.com.
Hotel Offers: Special hotel offers are available for guests who want to turn their Disneyland Resort visit into a getaway, including a stay in the middle of the Diamond Celebration at any of the three Disneyland Resort hotels. Guests may save up to 20 percent on premium rooms for select nights at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa or the Disneyland Hotel, and up to 10 percent at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel for travel between January 3 and March 31, 2016, if booked by March 10.*** Disneyland Resort hotel guests also may enjoy Extra Magic Hour** morning admission to a Disneyland Resort theme park on applicable days (valid Theme Park ticket and active hotel room key card required for each guest).
The Disneyland Resort is constantly evolving, with the addition of new entertainment and attractions, seasonal overlays for beloved attractions, plus new theming and regular refurbishments.
The ongoing expansion of Disneyland park includes plans for a beautiful new waterfront in Frontierland, along the north bank of the Rivers of America. An artist’s rendering, courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering, illustrates the stunning new riverbank, complete with an elevated trestle over which the iconic Disneyland Railroad will travel.
RIVERS OF AMERICA — As part of an ongoing, planned expansion at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., the Rivers of America at Disneyland Park will receive a brand-new waterfront, just outside the location of the new Star Wars-themed land. The new riverbank will also feature an elevated trestle over which the iconic Disneyland Resort Railroad will travel. (Disney Parks)
The Mark Twain Riverboat and Sailing Ship Columbia operate along the Rivers of America. Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island — a mysterious place rumored to have hidden treasure — is surrounded by the river.
The developments along the Rivers of America are in preparation for a new, 14-acare StarWars-themed land, with groundbreaking scheduled for 2016. As the expansion unfolds, Disneyland guests will have unique, limited-time opportunities to experience some of their favorite attractions in new ways.
At the Main Street and New Orleans Square Train Stations, guests will be able to get up-close to the historic steam engines that have circled Disneyland for decades, learning more about these fascinating machines firsthand from the train engineers.
The New Year is here and it is time to inventory all the exciting getaways lined-up on my 2016 calendar. Some are penciled-in and some are in ink. One trip that falls in the latter category is a return to Switzerland this spring to experience the Lake Geneva & Matterhorn Region.
This fascinating region stretches from the metropolis of Geneva to Lausanne, through the charming Montreux Riviera, across to the iconic Matterhorn and surrounding resorts of Crans-Montana, Leukerbad, Verbier, Saas-Fee and Zermatt. Featuring beautiful lakes, majestic mountains and colorful city life and countryside’s, the area is a veritable microcosm of the country.
Here at the crossroads of Europe, a visitor can find international shopping, world-class culture, famous spas, skiing, vineyards, luxury hotels and charming chalets, and much more. Travelers can also soak in Lake Geneva, the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Famous for steamships that crisscross its waters, the lake is must-see Switzerland.
One of the things I want to do on my upcoming trip is visit the new Charlie Chaplin museum (www.chaplinsworld.ch) that opens this spring in Montreux Riviera. Dedicated to the life and times of the famous American comedian, the museum will boast more than 32,000 sq-ft of Chaplin in a “symbiosis of the scenic, cinematographic, multimedia and virtual world.” The museum will take guests on a tour of Chaplin’s mythical mansion, dubbed Manoir de Ban.
Surrounded by more than 34 acres of gardens, pathways and terraces, the sprawling estate was Chaplin’s home from 1952 until his death in 1977. The entertainer and his wife sold their Beverly Hills home in 1952 and moved to Switzerland after controversy surrounded his re-entry to the US after touring abroad. And while visiting the Chaplin Museum I hope to stay a night at the Modern Times Hotel, which will be part of the museum. Situated in the town of Vevey, the 4-star hotel overlooks Lake Geneva and is scheduled to open next month.
Another interesting gallery slated to open this year in the Montreux Riviera area is the “Nest,” the new Nestlé Museum. The food industry giant is celebrating its 150th anniversary and the new educational and historical complex will stand on the site where Henri Nestlé devised his famous Farine Lactée infant cereal in 1866.
From the “Swiss Riviera” of Montreux, I would like to take a train to Lausanne and experience the renovated Royal Savoy Hotel (www.royalsavoy.ch). An iconic Swiss hotel since 1906, the 5-star hotel reopened last November. The historic structure resembles a castle and sits in the center of the city, surrounded by parks and wonderful landscape views. Later this year the hotel will open a new spa and swimming pool to compliment its luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining options and attractive location.
While staying at the Royal Savoy, I hope to take a train and then a mountain cable car to Glacier 3000 (www.glacier3000.ch/en) to experience the “Peak Walk by Tissot,” the first and only suspension bridge to connect two mountain peaks. Opened in 2014, the 107-meter-long suspension bridge connects the mountain station with the Scex Rouge’s summit at 3,000 meters above sea level. Glacier 3000 is a company that operates cable cars in the Diablerets region. The Glacier 3000 station offers memorable views of Oldenhorn, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and numerous other Swiss mountain peaks. And the “Peak Walk by Tissot” is a great, albeit scary, way to see them.
The Lake Geneva & Matterhorn Region is at the center of an efficient national network of trains, cable cars and turn-off-the-century steamers, providing seamless transportation to every corner of the region. The Swiss National Railway system provides connections to every major city in Switzerland and throughout Europe, and Swiss International Airlines, along with other major carriers depart daily from Los Angeles to Geneva. For more information on visiting Switzerland, visit: www.MySwitzerland.com
Casio America, Inc. announced today that it will release the WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch, an Android Wear wrist device with water resistance to 50 meters and built to military standard specifications.
Casio has been developing watches since the 1970s, and later developed PDAs and cellular phones from the 1990s into the 2000s. Leveraging its technology and experience with both watches and information devices, Casio continues to develop wrist devices that deliver true value to users in new ways.
The new WSD-F10 wrist device is optimal for the outdoors, boasting water resistance for use in rain and around water, and is tested to military standard specifications to ensure it can withstand a variety of rugged activities. Incorporating Casio’s tough performance and sensor technologies, the WSD-F10 delivers a polished experience as a wearable information device.
The WSD-F10 offers a wealth of useful original Casio applications for outdoor activities such as trekking, cycling, and fishing. Among these are dedicated apps designed to measure changes in the natural environment and track activity levels. The device is powered by Android Wear, and users can also load their own apps to expand the feature set for diverse outdoor activities.
The watch face features a dual layer display with monochrome and color LCDs. Users can display measurement data and apps in color, or they can extend the device’s life to more than one month by selecting to a Timepiece Mode that displays only watch data in monochrome.
The WSD-F10 also offers the ultimate in ease of use as an everyday watch, making the most of Casio’s years of experience in the timepiece business. The operating buttons are large and feature a slip-free finish so they can easily be operated with gloves on, and they are concentrated on the right side of the case. The wristband is made from soft urethane plastic that conforms to the wrist and can be comfortably worn for extended periods.
Socalthrills on Location was thrilled to participate in a sneak preview of the new Blackmarket Bakery on Broadway in downtown Santa Ana’s Artists Village. Housed in the historical Santora Building, the bakery’s 2,300 square foot space had a hip retro feel with art deco elements which harkened us back to simpler times but with a little rock & roll vibe.
We had an opportunity to catch up with culinary mastermind, Chef Rachel Klemek who was inspiring, grounded and has remained true to her roots focusing on quality, community and passion for her craft. Her inspired approach to baking sets her apart from other bakeries. Klemek, owner and chef, firmly believes honest to goodness ingredients like sugar, flour, eggs, butter (all “blackmarket” goods during WWII) is the foundation to her exceptional hand crafted baked goods.
The menu is a pleasure trip for all palates which includes family friendly favorites like mac and cheese topped with bacon soaked in apple vinegar – a party for the taste buds! The bakery also features a variety of other mouth-watering favorites like the “eggywich” as well as assorted bar bites, craft beers and hard cider floats. Additionally, the bakery features locally roasted Kean Coffee and espresso beverages.
And certainly, this sneak preview wouldn’t be complete without our little indulgence into the made-from-scratch “eggywich,” the meatball bite and a sampling of Blackmarket signature cookies and tarts. We would be remiss in not mentioning our personal experimenting with the hard cider floats and the decadent coffee drinks – as in the hand crafted “Nutella latte!”
And Klemek’s hand wasn’t the only one involved in the resurrection of the facility. Inspired by the buildings 1920’s architecture, her husband David, hand welded the apple tree, charmingly positioned in the bakery’s window front, exquisitely hand stained the tabletops and designed the striking wrought iron staircase which served as a backdrop and reminder to the uniqueness of the bakery and her creators.
Over the next several months, they will be expanding their menu and introducing additional hand crafted items as well as brunch on the weekends. For more information, visit http://www.blackmarketbakery.com
Stereophonic, the highest Tony-nominated play of all time, has finally opened in Los Angeles. I went into this one entirely blind, only having heard...
