Food Entrepreneurs: Sugarfina

Recently I found myself doing a little networking with an alumna from my business school, Rosie O'Neill. Turns out this former Mattel marketer has started a business that has me oh so jealous inspired. Early in their relationship, Rosie and boyfriend Josh Resnick started talking about their mutual love for candy. Fast forward three years and the couple has started a successful, globally-sourced, adult-targeted online candy business.

Sugarfina stocks candy from around the world, which means lots of scouting trips for Rosie and Josh. Yes, you read that right, these two get to travel around the world sampling candy, and oh yeah, they get to do it together, too. Yes, this truly is a dream career!

Sugarfina's packaging is gorgeous (think Tiffany's meets a bento box), so it truly feels special when it arrives. Whether you're treating yourself to a candy that you can't get anywhere else in the US or you're sending a gift to a client or loved one, Sugarfina will impress. I especially loved the details in my package like a handwritten note.

The candy selection takes familiar candy classics like gummies, caramels or malt balls to places both unexpected and sophisticated. Champagne Bears or Matcha Green Tea Caramels, anyone? Everything we tried was delicious, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I polished off this entire box of candy in just a few short days. OK, I might be a little ashamed, but I was powerless to resist such delectable treats!

Rosie and I share a favorite among Sugarfina's wide selection - the marshmallow eggs. These robin's egg blue little babies would make a heavenly Easter, or heck any time of the year, treat. I shared the candies as a whole with the Mr., but I may just have scarfed these down before he had time to have more than one or two.

I'm a chocolate fiend, so I was surprised that my other favorite was the sugar peach sweethearts. They're just so darn cute and full of peachy goodness that I couldn't resist them.

Overall, I was just so impressed with Sugarfina. Everything from product selection to packaging to brand personality suggests a true passion for candy and delighting customers. You cannot go wrong with buying a gift from Sugarfina. They even have themed selections like "Will you be my bridesmaid?" and a cocktail hour tasting of booze-inspired candies. Wondering what to get that tough to please client or your friend who fed your cat all week? They want Sugarfina candy, trust.

*Full disclosure: Although my candy was comped, I always endeavor to offer my unbiased opinion of the experience!

Ali's Cookies

When you get an invitation to visit a cookie shop to pick out any six to try, you say yes, even if said cookie shop is not especially near your office or home. Cookies are totally worth driving for, right? So with that in mind, I headed over to Ali's new(ish) location by Perimeter Mall. Ali's has had a location near my childhood home in Marietta for thirty years, although it wasn't always called Ali's. I can't say that I ever go to cookie shops, but I think I may be missing out!

With more than 20 flavors to choose from, I had my work cut out for me! My dessert default is always chocolate, so I skipped past the tasty looking snickerdoodles and the "healthy" Skinnie Minnie in favor of such delights as Chocolate Salted Caramel (chocolate filling with creamy salted caramel topping), the Turtle with pecans and caramel, and George Washington’s Revenge (dried cherries, toffee bits, semi-sweet chocolate chunks and oatmeal). 

Ali's makes everything from scratch with high end ingredients like Madagascar vanilla and Callebaut and Guittard chocolates. The cookies are even kosher, so you've got that going for you, which is nice.

Let me tell you how hard it is to have 6 delectable looking fresh cookies sitting next to you all afternoon - torture! I allowed myself just a nibble of each of them that afternoon, but surprise surprise, 2 days later, the Mr. and I had made short work of all 6 cookies.

Let me say for the record, that I would like to marry the salted caramel cookie. It's so rich and gooey and every good thing a cookie should be. I tried a fruity peach cookie for good measure, and although good, I was all about chocolatey ones. George Washington's Revenge was the best of both worlds with it's combination of cherry and chocolate. Yum, I'm getting hungry just thinking of them!

I didn't try them but the cookie cakes look rather epic. Cookie cake is always good, but these have rather elaborate decorations (imagine your face on a cookie cake), so they'd make for a great special occasion treat.

Want to try them for yourself? Head to either location on Opening Ceremonies Day - Friday, July 27, and celebrate the start of the Olympics by selecting a free cookie among five Olympic ring inspired flavors.  Choose from apple pie, George Washington’s revenge, M&M, toffee crunch and sugar. M&M, toffee crunch and sugar flavors will be specially decorated in red, white and blue. Customers are encouraged to stop by early as cookies may go quickly and are limited to one per person while supplies last.

The Ali’s Cookies Dunwoody shop is located at 4511 Olde Perimeter Way, Suite 300, Dunwoody, Ga., 30346 (770.350.2547). Regular store hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Saturdays. 

Ali’s Cookies Marietta is located at 1255-34 Johnson Ferry Rd., Marietta, GA 30068 (770.971.8566) and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Friday from 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on Saturdays.

Food Entrepreneurs: NaturAlmond Almond Butter

NaturAlmond Almond Butter is the brainchild of Atlanta entrepreneur Jaime Foster, who couldn't find a store-bought substitute for the nutritious and tasty almond butter that her grandfather used to make.  Using only almonds and sea salt, Jaime set out to re-create her grandfather's finely-honed recipe.

Jaime was kind enough to give us a sneak-peek of her creation.  I'd not tasted almond butter before and was pleasantly surprised by its rich flavor with a hint of saltiness.  Lo and behold, it turns out that its not only completely natural, but it also contains more nutrients than peanut butter.

NaturAlmond should be available soon at specialty food stores in the Atlanta area.  Check out their website or facebook page for more information.