To enter all you need to do is leave a coherent, somewhat-meaningful, and related comment under the original FiZ review here.  Any comment that fits the bill will qualify you for the giveaway.  To increase your odds of winning, your comment should explain in 100 words or less why you want/need/deserve the FiZ.

The contest will end at midnight eastern time on September 30th 2008.  Winning entries will be chosen in 3 different ways:

1. Completely random drawing - All comments that meet the requirements spelled out above (coherent, meaningful, and related) will be included in a random drawing with the winner receiving one canister of FiZ.
2. From the entries which include an explanation as to why you should be given a canister of FiZ, I will choose the most deserving (the one I like best).  The author gets the FiZ.
3. When the total comment count on Qwowi.com from all posts reaches a certain number (only I know that number), the FiZ will be awarded to the person who leaves the comment that hits my magic number.  
   • In the event that the so-called magic number is crossed by a non-FiZ related comment, the next FiZ comment will take the FiZ.
   • If by midnight on September 30th 2008, the comment threshold has not been crossed, the 3rd canister of FiZ will be awarded based on either of the other criteria used in this giveaway.

The Fine Print

Qwowi giveaways are open to residents of the United States of America only (it’s a shipping thing).  Contributors to Qwowi, as well as their friends and family are ineligible to participate.  For all matters related to this giveaway, I am the decider, and reserve the right to delete any comments/entries I deem as unacceptable.  Only one entry per person is allowed.  You must provide a valid email address in order to participate.

Enter Now

When our friends at Shoffee.com were prepariing our latest round of samples for the K-Cup Challenge, I asked Joe to include Twinings Earl Grey in the mix.  You may remember that I previously reviewed Timothy’s Canarino(hot lemon beverage), but this marks my first foray into the world of true teas for Keurig Brewers.

I’m, for the most part, not what you would call a “Tea Guy”.  I’m much more about the coffee, but as temperature drops and my congestion level rises, I will mix in more than the occasional cup to help loosen things up a bit.  Green tea is generally my first preference, but since this is the K-Cup Challenge, you can bet I’ll be drinking a little bit of everything.  So with that in mind, let’s drink some Earl Grey.

The Description

A light & aromatic blend of fine black tea, scented with bergamot, a citrus fruit

The Aroma

This citrus aroma is highly prevalent.  To me it’s lemon with a hint of orange, but whatever, it definitely smells like some variety of fruit grown in Florida.  I’ll also man up and admit that, for the moment at least, I have no idea what bergamot is, let alone smells like.

Drinking it Straight

I have a hard time referring to tea as black, even if it is a black tea.  So drinking it straight the citrus flavor is immediately noticeable.  It’s a little sweet, but not sugary.  It finishes with a bit of a soury tartness that definitely reminds me of the flavor of lemon peel.  While so far I wouldn’t say I’d drink it every day, it’s pretty good.

With Sugar

I may have mentioned it before, but I don’t like putting milk/cream etc. in my tea.  It just seems weird to me…a creamy tea?  Really?  So anyway, sugar, or in this case, Splenda, is how I’m rolling.

Whoops…one packet too many (I guess I should have considered the fact that I’d already downed half my cup).  On my 2nd crack at it I learned that one Splenda packet is just about the perfect amount of sweetening for me.  I’m enjoying the flavor, and my congestion is clearing up nicely.

Final Thoughts

It’s difficult to find fault with, or sing high praise for a tea mainstay such as Earl Grey.  I would anticipate that as I move into some of the more exotic blends I’ll find some I love, and some I despise.  All the same, Twinings Earl Grey is a good starting point.  It’s well-balanced and tasty-enough in a very low key, no frills kind of way.  Chances are, if you like Earl Grey, or even your average Lipton bag, I expect you’ll be more than a satisfied with this K-Cup option.

Shameless Plug

Enjoying the K-Cup Challenge?  How about you show your support by getting your virtual backside over to Shoffee.com.  Joe at Shoffee has been one of my biggest supporters and I’d like to thank him by sending as many of you as I can to Shoffee.com for all of your K-Cup needs. 

Whether you’re looking for a box of Twinings Earl Grey, or a Keurig B-Somethingto brew them in, Shoffee has you covered.

You should probably also check out the Shoffee blog, CupOfTheWeek, where you’ll find the best deals anywhere on Shoffee’s…wait for it… Cup of the Week.  See how that works?

While you’re here, check out the growing list of K-Cup coffee, and now tea reviews that are part of my K-Cup Challenge. 

I’ve collected American Airline miles for a number of years now, and been a pretty happy customer. I fly probably every other month, so I linked my debit and credit cards to American through Citi AAdvantage.

Unfortunately with all of the recent changes - charging for bags, charging for food, charging for better seating, and the biggest pain, charging to use airline miles that you already spent money to earn - I’ve had enough. Apparently airlines just don’t want to make money anymore if they can screw over loyal customers. American is one thing, don’t get me started on United who won’t let you cancel a flight online. I mean, I’ll begrudgingly pay the $150 change fee but why do I have to speak to a person to do it when I booked the flight online to begin with?! Check out a friend’s tirade on Jetblue too.

I digress…today I called Citicards to change to a cash back credit card. It was easy as pie speaking with Michael from customer service. I didn’t have to change my credit card number, lose the miles I already accumulated, or pay an annual fee. Hallelujah. Michael was courteous and extremely knowledgeable about all of the cash back options that Citi offers. He even told me about a few sites where I could earn up to 6% cash back.

Do you have a story about good customer service? If so, please share them here. Or else, feel free to complain about the airlines.

From what I can tell the folks at Diedrich are committed to making some of the best tasting coffee you can find anywhere.  I base this assumption largely on the fact that I’ve yet to find a cup of Diedrich I don’t like.  I figure since they’re committed to providing me with great coffee it’s only reasonable that I commit to spelling the company name properly.  So with apologies for all previous occurrences of “Dietrich”, and with repairs having been made, let’s just get on with review.

The Description

With light acidity, deep rich body, and a fascinating complexity, this coffee is sweet, pungent, almost syrupy, with a rich and buttery aftertaste.

The Aroma

Hints of dark ripe berries…it’s hard to describe, but Sumatrans seem to have a velvety quality to the aroma.  Diedrich is no different, and that’s a good thing because I’ve come to learn that I’m a big fan of Sumatran beans.

Drinking it Black

Thick and syrupy, with little acidity (just like the said).  The natural sweetness is similar to Green Mountain’s Kenya AA (my reference point for naturally sweet coffee), which means (at least in my mind) it’s a really good black for those of us who normally don’t take our coffee that way.  There is also a complexity of flavor (another common Sumatran trait), it’s earthy, but as I said, also very sweet, and without a trace of bitterness.  Quite enjoyable.

With Cream and Sugar

Congratulations Diedrich you’ve done it again.  Coffee like this is why I’ve committed to spelling your name correctly.   As good as Diedrich Sumatran is black, it’s doubly-good with cream and sugar.  That buttery finish they talk about makes an appearance, but rest assured, it’s good buttery, not who put the margarine in my coffee, bad hazelnut buttery.  Sweet medium-roasted deliciocity; I am a fan.

Final Thoughts

To be fair I’d need to double back and compare the Sumatrans I’ve tried so far side by side, but working off recollection alone, the Diedrich is quite possibly my favorite Sumatran to date.  All of this means Diedrich remains perfect in terms of coffee I enjoy vs. coffee I’m more inclined to spit out and then write nasty things about, and that’s perhaps the most important thing.  While Diedrich Sumatra isn’t my absolute favorite K-Cup (that distinction still belongs to Tully’s Kona), it’s a top 10 so far blend, and a must try for Sumatran lovers (with a Keurig Brewer).

Shameless Plug

It wouldn’t be a K-Cup Challenge (read more here) post without a shamless plug for my sponsor OneGreatCup.Net.  The offer an outstanding selection at great prices.  I can’t recommend them enough for your K-Cup needs, like, for example, the delicious Diedrich’s Sumatra I just finished writing about.  Get yourself a box today, or try a bunch of Diedrich coffee in one handy Variety Pack. You’ll be fine either way because it’s pretty much impossible to go wrong with Diedrich and OneGreatCup.

For many, many years I’ve shied away from the track, but within the last year I’ve become a huge fan (actually more like an addict) of the ponies, so it should come as no surprise that I circled August 23rd on my calendar sometime ago.  Going in I knew it would be crowded, but with 4 straight stakes races featuring some of the biggest-name horses running right now, it sure sounded like an event not to be missed.  Boy was I wrong.

Setting Up Shop

I have a favorite spot on the track.  Most regular attendees do.  For some it’s a “lucky spot” for me, it’s a nice place where I can sit and watch the races, and have easy access to the automated betting terminals.  Most mornings it takes a little work for me to reserve my spot, but it can be done.  Travers morning, however, Saratoga turns into Pamplona as the bulls race to find the idea spot to set up shop for the day.

Fortunately (or at least it should have been), my buddy Ted volunteered to get in line at 4:30AM to get us a table exactly where we want to be.  He executed perfectly; in fact, he claims to have been the first one through the turnstiles, and the first one to our “target area”.  Unfortunately, owners and insiders (who pretty much have free run of the place) had already taken every last table in the area, leaving poor Ted to execute plan B, and well…we didn’t really have a plan B.  Long story short, instead of being trackside we ended up as one little canopy in a sea of hundreds in an area which probably isn’t too unlike life in a refugee camp somewhere.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed spending the time with friends, but as far as a true track experience goes, the Travers was sorely lacking.

I took this picture when I was at Saratoga a couple of weeks ago (the same is true of the other photos). With the massive crowd on hand for the Travers, there was no way I was getting this close.

Betting the Races

As I mentioned, I’m an automated betting machine guy.  I have a wagering account which allows me to swipe my card, enter my bet, and be done with it.  In most cases the terminals save time and make life a lot easier.  The downside is there’s no manual, no proficiency test, nothing…any idiot is capable of walking up to the machine and trying to use it.  While plenty of people seem to do pretty well, there are more than a few who don’t have a clue (I saw a guy try to swipe his credit card), and end up causing massive lines, and delays, which in some cases result in people like me not being able to get our bets in, even if we line up 10 minutes before the race.  When money is on the line, even small amounts, one shouldn’t be rushed.

The Facilities

This year’s Travers drew about 40 thousand people, which is actually 10K below normal, which got me thinking about how miserable things must be when attendance is up.  Getting around the grounds was difficult.  Actually getting to the track or close to the paddock was practically impossible.  Imagine spending an entire afternoon at the race track and barely seeing a horse…well, that was my day.

Lines for the men’s room ran about 10 minutes long, which would have been okay, but I spent one of my waits on line with a “gentleman” who was drinking a beer, smoking a cigarette, all while he a dip in mouth (one more simultaneous vice and I would have found an award to give him).  He spent most of the time ranting about how he was going to “piss on the sidewalk” and how he didn’t care whose shoes he got wet.  It’s a reasonable assumption that if you put 40 thousand people in one place, more than a few of them are going to be pretty close to classless.

Hey, to each his own I suppose, and so long as my shoes stayed dry I probably shouldn’t care, but well, I do, and if it makes me a snob, so be it, but this is not my kind of crowd.

The Races

I didn’t actually see them.  Well, I did get to watch them on the TVs scattered throughout the grounds, but I didn’t actually watch an live races (it wasn’t worth fighting the crowds).    I ended up losing about $40 on the day, which isn’t bad considering my buddy Jon paid $30 just to park.  I seldom mind losing a little on the ponies, after all there’s an ebb and flow to it; besides, losing only makes winning that much sweeter.

As much I probably would have preferred to watch the big races at home on my 60″ Sony, there were some great races, and even better stories.  In the 7th (the race immediately preceding a run of 4 graded stakes races), 88-1 underdog Slambino bested the field rewarding dart-throwers with a $179 payout.  Of course, the real story became the 3 longshots, and 1 favorite that finished behind him leading to a Superfecta that paid an astonishing 1,523,188.00.  Yes, you’re reading that right, 1.5 million, on a $2 bet.  10 cent players walked off with over 75K.

That was pretty much how the day went with not a single favorite winning until the Travers itself.  The closest thing to can’t miss (Indyanne), missed and finished 2nd.  Mostly off the radar Shakis won his 2nd straight Bernard Baruch paying almost $15 in the process.

Colonel John, who had never won a race on dirt, somehow managed to go off as the favorite, and more strangely still, actually won the Travers (I had him as the 2nd best in the race, but didn’t bet him based on the “can’t win on dirt” thing).  My horse, Mambo in Seattle, finished 2nd and didn’t pay nearly what my wife and spent betting against each other.

My favorite race of the day had to be the NetJets King’s Bishop.  Derby runner, Visionaire , a horse I had on my short list, but bumped in favor of Kodiak Kowboy came from well back of the pack to win ($15.60).   While it wasn’t the photo finish that the Travers was, I really enjoy watching closers make a run (even if it’s on a small screen in an overcrowded back yard area).

Final Thoughts

Despite good company and great races, my first Travers may very well be my last.  Barring getting my hands on some reserved seats in the clubhouse, or some other riffraff free arrangements, I don’t see myself going back for another one.  I love the Saratoga track as much as the next guy - I go early, I stay late, I enjoying bringing friends from out of town, but there are plenty of other big races during the Saratoga meet (Curlin is running next week), and in my estimation, the Travers experience doesn’t remotely offset the hassle.

Travers day gets a very generous C-.

ESPN now carries most of the card in HD, I have wagering accounts with both NYRA and TwinSpires, so I won’t lose out on the action.  I can bet from the comfort of my own couch, and with a 60″ TV I’ll feel closer to the action than I did at the track.  Best of all, there’s only two of us in this 2.5 bath house, which means no waiting to use the bathroom, and no having to worry about getting my feet wet.

Shelly Basta, CEO of Ball Brite was kind enough to send me one of their pouches for review, and while at the onset I wasn’t sure if it was the type of product I’d actually use (my buddy The Bean though, this is right up his alley), the policy here at Qwowi is to pretty much try anything we can get our hands on, I clipped it to my bag and headed out to the links.

Why should I care if my ball is a little dirty?

It doesn’t take a genius (or marketing collateral from the folks at Ball Brite) to know that a dirty ball can hurt your golf game.  Just like a damaged ball, a ball covered in dirt, grass, or god knows what else, can rob you of distance and accuracy.  On and around the greens, a gunk covered ball will cost you some of the precision your ball needs to find the bottom of the cup.  In short, clean ball good, dirty ball bad.

Using the Ball Brite

Prepping the Ball Brite for a day on the links is simple, and here at Qwowi, as we’ve said many times over, we like simple.  What could be simpler than pouring a little bit of water into a pouch and clipping it to your golf bag?  Better still, I suppose, there’s no hard and fast rule that you have to clip the Ball Brite to anything.  Clipped or not clipped - it works either way.

Cleaning a ball with the Ball Brite, well, that’s easy too.  The Ball Brite’s rugged yet flexible neoprene outer shell stretches just enough to allow a golf ball to enter the main cleaning chamber, while remaining taught enough to prevent the ball from accidentally popping out during cleaning.  You could probably even store a ball or two in there if you were so inclined.

Once you’ve popped your filthy Titleist (or Callaway, Nike, or whatever ball you happen to be playing - personally I love the TaylorMade TP series) into the Ball Brite, all you do is spend a few second using your thumbs and fingers to rub the ball around inside the proprietary Ball Brite dirt-removing liner (your fingers stay on the outside).  After all it’s the friction and abrasive action that cleans the ball.  Yes, we are talking about a little bit of manual effort (easy and efficient as it may be).  There’s no David Copperfield style trickery at work here.

After just a few seconds of jostling your ball around inside the Ball Brite, give it a little squeeze and out pops a very clean, and almost completely dry, golf ball.  Actually, maybe there is a little bit of magic happening here.

Now I’m well aware that many golf courses have golf ball cleaners on most, if not all holes, but the Ball Brite has some pretty significant advantages over the rusty swamp buckets found on your local links.  In my mind the biggest advantage of the Ball Brite is the fact that it’s machine washable, which means it won’t develop that festering pond water smell that one commonly encounters in those less than well maintained on course models.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a greenside ball washer.  It’s really a shame too since greens are, in addition to being where a clean ball can have the most benefit, pretty much the only place you’re actually allowed to lift and clean your ball.  Depending on how well the ball washer is anchored to the ground you might be able to yank it out and take it with you, but a better idea might be to get yourself a Ball Brite, which is designed to travel much more easily.  Whether you leave it clipped to your bag, or take it with you on to the green, it’s more sanitary, and more versatile than the on course cleaner, and much more effective than a towel.

I played several rounds with the Ball Brite and have found it to be extremely effective at removing the dirt and grass that collects on your ball during the average round, but to see what the Ball Brite is really capable off, I pulled a fairly nasty looking brown ball out a swamp and popped it into the pouch.

When it when in the ball was so completely caked with mud and nasty swamp stuff that I wasn’t able to determine what brand it was.  When it came out, however; it was almost completely clean (some really stubborn grime remained in a couple of the dimples), and to my delight, I had myself an perfectly playable Pro V1.

In truth, the Ball Brite probably isn’t designed to recondition found golf balls, but given how well it performed that task, your average cleaning job shouldn’t be an issue at all.

This is what my ball looked like before going into the Ball Brite. While not completely caked with mud, it's fairly representative of why my average dirty ball looks like.

The same ball after about 10 seconds in the Ball Brite. The good news is the ball is clean. The bad news is that I just discovered it's scuffed (not Ball Brite's fault - no doubt it happened on the preceeding wedge shot).

Minor Gripes

None.  How’s that.  I can’t find the slightest thing to complain about with the Ball Brite.  Assuming you follow the instructions, it won’t leak, it will clean the gunk of your golf ball, and oddly enough, the ball comes out dry.  What can I say; the Ball Brite works 100% as advertised.

Final Thoughts

For under $20 ($16.95 is the current price), unless you really like dirty balls (sorry…), I can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t treat yourself to a Ball Brite.  I’ve carried mine with me over the last four rounds of golf I’ve played, and it’s become one of my favorite, must-carry, on course accessories, and a worthy addition to any golf bag.

As I said at the beginning of this article, I wasn’t overly excited about trying out a clip-on golf ball cleaning pouch, but damned if I don’t love the thing.  Apart from everything else I’ve said about the Ball Brite, the absolute bottom line is you won’t find me playing golf without it.

Inexpensive, simply to use, and extremely good at what it does; There simply is no better way to clean your golf ball on the course.

The Ball Brite is available in Platinum, Gold, Bronze, and for the ladies, Pink.

Buy your Ball Brite now

Shower Gel

Lush sent me The Olive Branch Shower Gel.  The fragrance is the best part. The shower gel leaves a lasting, soft scent that lasts all day for me.  I would describe it as a rich, woodsy aroma, which I’m assuming comes from the bergamot.  The smell isn’t overwhelming, and it reminds me of a pleasant, understated cologne.  Although the container is small, I’m not concerned, because a little bit goes a long way.  Usually, I just squirt a small amount into a wash cloth and the gel lathers and suds surprisingly well.  Since the shower gel is mostly comprised of olive oil, it isn’t shocking that it definitely makes my skin soft.  I would like to remind folks that the shower gel is fresh, and made with natural ingredients, so it’s pricey.  Is it worth it?  Honestly, I’m not sure.  While it certainly has its benefits, I’m not convinced it’s far better than other shower gels I’ve tried.

Deodorant

Please let me preface this entire deodorant review by honestly stating that I am simply not meant to wear natural deodorant.  I’ve read all the reports about how the aluminum contained in the average, mainstream stick of antiperspirant/deodorant can be detrimental to our health.  However, I workout everyday at the gym, and overall try to stay active, and natural deodorant just doesn’t work for me.  I’ve tried a couple of different kinds, Lush included, and I basically offended myself.  Laughing at myself, I realized that I’ve been using regular deodorant for so long (since I was a teenager), that I didn’t even know I could smell that bad!  Plus, it’s summertime!

Lush sent me the T’eo Deodorant.  If you love lemony, citrus aromas, and if you don’t sweat a lot, and just require minimal coverage, this is the deodorant for you.  I was wholeheartedly impressed with the scent, which is bright and fruity.  Unfortunately, when I applied it, it irritated my skin, and did not leave me fruity fresh the rest of the day.  For now, the T’eo rests on a shelf in my bathroom. I will say, though, that my entire bathroom has a beautiful, fresh smell because of the deodorant stick.  It works for the room, and not for me, but that’s okay.  I still reap some benefit, and I was grateful to try it.

Dusting Powder

My grandmother always used dusting powder after bathing, which for some reason, I always thought was so elegant and feminine.  Since childhood, I have enjoyed dusting myself with some powder after bathing, yet when reports came out in recent years about the dangerous side effects of talc, I tried to find good alternatives.  Lush’s Silky Underwear Dusting Powder is by far the absolute best powder I’ve ever used, which is saying  a lot, considering all of the years I’ve used powder, and all of the different brands I’ve tried.

What sets this particular Lush powder apart is how it contains cocoa butter, leaving my skin so soft and silky I couldn’t believe it.  In addition, I am struck by the rich, luxurious, lasting aroma of the cocoa butter, coupled with jasmine and vetivert.  I adore the smell, and I notice its subtlety all day.  Since the powder is made from cornstarch and china clay, it is a safe, natural, preferable alternative to traditional powder.

In conclusion…

For me, only the Silky Underwear Dusting Powder was a sincere winner in this line-up.  As I thought about it all some more, I realized that Lush’s bath products, such as Bubble Bars and Bath Bombs are an occasional luxury for me, whereas shower gel, deodorant and powder are things I use everyday.  I am willing to splurge on the occasional luxury, but not necessarily for expensive, everyday items… unless it’s truly worth it.  The Silky Underwear Dusting Powder is definitely worth it to me.  While I appreciated and enjoyed the other items, I know what I’ll buy again.  In my opinion, the Lush bath products and dusting powder are very special, unique items, made with high quality, fresh, natural ingredients.  Purchase them at the Lush website, or also at Amazon.

Having never been too much of coffee drinker before I discovered the joys of Keurig coffee makers, I was largely of the opinion that decaf coffee was pretty much pointless.  I mean, if it’s not going to wake you up in the morning, why bother?  Over the last few months, however, I’ve found myself craving coffee later and later into the day.  If I’m going to drink coffee at 9 PM, I’m left with 2 options; stay up half the night, or drink decaf.  With an alarm that goes off before 6AM, the latter seems like the way to go.

My sample of Caribou Decaf was provided by K-Cup Challenge sponsor, Shoffee.com.  For the most part, I’ve been very happy with varieties of tried from Shoffee, and as I guy solidly on board with the Caribou Blend (caffeinated), I would be plenty happy if the decaf variety amounted to more of the same.

The Description

Achieving balance in life is a challenge. Caribou Coffees signature blend meets that challenge, balancing a big-bodied, syrupy taste with a clean, snappy finish. The secret of this blends relaxed complexity is a rich hearty Indonesian bean, perfectly proportioned with Central American and South American varieties for lively fruit tones.

The Aroma

The aroma of Caribou Blend Decaf should be instantly recognizable for those who have already tried the regular variety. Most prevalent in the aroma are the velvety fruit notes.

Drinking it Black

Caribou Blend Decaf is smokey, and fairly acidic; although I didn’t notice until way after the finish. There is a slight bitterness that lingers a bit, but it’s not a deal-breaker or anything. As far as the flavor itself is concerned…it starts a bit nutty and finishes with the same touch of fruit that is present in the aroma.

While it’s certainly more than palatable black, I definitely prefer this blend with cream and sugar.

With Cream and Sugar

Just as with the caribou blend, the decaf plays very nicely with cream and sugar and makes for a very pleasant cup of coffee. It’s definitely a step above what you’ll find at your local big box coffee factory.

Final Thoughts

Fans of Caribou coffee, and more specifically the “Caribou Blend” will feel right at home with this decaf offering. I’m hard pressed to tell the difference between the two, which means there’s no need to trade a good cup of coffee for a good night’s sleep. Admittedly, this is the first decaf I’ve written a review for, but it’s among my favorites of the k-cup decaf varieties that have found their way into my B70.

Shameless Plug

I’ve running out ways to say this (which could be a problem because I’ve still got about 150 K-Cup varieties to try), but I’d really appreciate it if you’d support merchants like Shoffee.com who, through their generosity in providing samples, make the K-Cup Challenge possible.

Joe and the team at Shoffee have everything to meet your K-Cup needs, including Caribou Blend Decaf, and a complete selection of Keurig Brewers.  While browsing Shoffee.com make sure you check out their cupoftheweek blog for weekly deals on Keurig K-Cups.

While you here, check out the growing list of reviews in my K-Cup Challenge.

I’ve lived in the Saratoga are for about 5 years now, and despite numerous recommendations, my husband and I had never quite found our way to Longfellows restaurant.  My father-in-law had never been there either, and with him in town for only a few days, and better yet, picking up the check, it seemed like the right time to check out one of Saratoga’s mostly highly regarded restaurants.

Making reservations

I was able to make a reservation directly from their website through a gateway to OpenTable.com.  The process was extremely easy.  All I had to do was enter the number of people my party and select my seating time from the list of open slots  I was sent an email confirming my reservation along with instructions on how I could cancel or modify my reservation.  Of course, this being my first time at Longfellows, the notion of cancellation was the furthest thing from my mind, but it’s nice to know I could have done so online.  The entire process is seamless and I greatly prefer it to making a phone call to the restaurant.

Service

It didn’t take long before we discovered the quality of the staff at Longfellows.  Upon our arrival, the hostess greeted us and led us to our table.  She noticed that my husband’s grandmother was using a cane and moving slowly (that’s an understatement of biblical proportions).  She asked if she needed to use the restroom on this level before proceeding up a short flight of stairs to our table.  Our waiter, Mike was equally friendly.  He engaged in conversation with the diners and gave recommendations for dinner.  Each and every member of the Longfellows staff we had contact with was attentive and friendly.  While I would expect nothing less from a high-end restaurant, the Longfellows staff met my expectations across the board.

Food Quality

After we ordered, we were brought a basket of warm rolls and cornbread.  Our waiter gave us the heads-up that the cornbread is baked with jalapeño peppers inside, and might be a bit spicy.  Unlike most cornbread, it was moist and flavorful.  So much so that none of us felt the need to add butter.  The jalapeño peppers added a pleasant, but not overpowering kick to the bread.  The dinner roll was what you might expect, but not memorable.

For an appetizer, I ordered the Crab and Shrimp Bisque served with sherry ($6.99).  This soup was a great way to start my meal.  The crab and shrimp flavors were not overpowering.  The sweetness of the seafood complimented the sherry perfectly.  The bisque was very creamy; so thick that your spoon can stand up in the soup.  I enjoyed it immensely.

For my entrée, I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass ($29.99).  It was served over lobster risotto and finished with a red pepper puree.  The Sea Bass itself was seared to perfection.  It had just enough of a crust on it to give it a mild crunch.  The filet had a nice mild flavor and wonderful texture.  The lobster risotto with peas was creamy without being too heavy.  The red pepper puree enhanced the flavor of the Sea Bass nicely.  I’ve had Sea Bass prepared many different ways, but this has to be one of my favorites.

My husband started with Chef Brad’s Macaroni and Cheese ($8.99).  The recipe included cavatappi pasta with shaved black truffles tossed in a cognac cream sauce baked golden, then finished with a black truffle infused oil.  Since we just returned from Vancouver where we had an amazing pasta dish with truffle cream, his hopes were high.

He ordered it as a side and was impressed by the size of this portion.  Being somewhat of a connoisseur of Mac n’ cheese, my husband rates this one as okay.  It’s not exactly cheese, not exactly creamy, although the truffle flavor was excellent.  While I certainly wouldn’t say that he disliked it, it’s not in the same class as the Jasper’s Mac n’ Cheese served at another popular Saratoga dining destination; Hattie’s.

For his entrée, he ordered the Choice Filet Mignon crusted with fresh garlic and black peppercorns served with grilled peppers ($26.99).  As a starch, he chose the horseradish and chives mashed potatoes.  The steak was a generous, fat-free, cut cooked exactly as ordered (rare).  It was nicely seasoned, seared perfectly, with a very pink center.  My husband is a real meat and potatoes guy and he rates the Longfellow filet among the best he’s had in the Albany/Saratoga area.

When my husband took his first bite of the peppers, he said, “Wow, that is a sweet pepper”.  The flavors were fresh and clean.  This is the first occasion he’s ever considered peppers more than decorative.

The mashed potatoes also had a unique flavor.  The horseradish gives it a nice tangy, almost lemony flavor.  It’s the first time I’ve encountered horseradish in mashed potatoes, but it absolutely worked.  I have some experimenting to do at home to try and replicate the recipe.

Price

Don’t be alarmed by the price on the menu.  While you will pay more than you would at the dinner chains, you definitely get what you pay for.  The Longfellows menu boasts generous portion and they’re certainly not exaggerating (you should have seen my father-in-law’s chicken dish).  Everyone in our party had plenty to eat and each of us had leftovers to bring home.  I’ve been to many restaurants where I’ve paid as much, if not more, only to get less food and inferior service.

Overall Quality

Longellows provided our entire party with a top-notch dining experience.  The service was great and the food was wonderful.  They use fresh ingredients, which leans to great flavors.  Even at above-chain prices, Longfellows still rates as an excellent value for the money.

I’ve lived in the area for about 5 years now and this was my first time dining at Longfellows.  Now that I’ve dined there, I can’t for the life of me imagine why we waited so long.  We will definitely be back again…soon.

Please let me preface this review by stating that I am not a vegan. In fact, I am not a vegetarian.  While I will share with this audience my love and appreciation for these outstanding cookies, I would also like to share the mission of the dedicated Liz Lovely company.  This review isn’t just about cookies—it’s about life and our approach to it.

While wandering our local natural food market with my husband, I stumbled upon Liz Lovely Cookies.  More than anything, I suppose the colorful, clever packaging caught my eye—oh, and the decadent chocolate peeking through the clear wrapping.  Although I noticed that the cookies are certified vegan, I was far more entranced by the sugary coating and dark, rich cacao nibs of the Chocolate Moose Dragons.

Like many 30-something women, I am admittedly a chocoholic.  In a sense, though, I am changing.  After my recent 50 pound weight loss, my views of food have changed, and as a result, so has my perspective on life.  Now, I care more deeply about what I put in my body.  I ask myself: How does this taste?  How was it made?  What are its ingredients?  Similar to so many busy, young, career-minded women, I never used to ask myself such questions.  Rather than mindlessly shoveling junk food into my mouth as I used to do, I now put a lot of thought into my meals and snacks.  To me, it has to be worth it—worth the money, worth the calories, and even worth our impact on the environment.  Liz Lovely Cookies are worth it.

In a culture gone crazy, filled with obese people, and carbon footprints we should all be concerned about, I am wholeheartedly impressed with the mission and devotion of the Liz Lovely company.  They not only make an exceptional impression with their cookies, but also with their dedication to people and to the environment.  On their website, the folks at Liz Lovely state, “Our mission is authenticity from start to finish… That means an uncompromising commitment to perfection, and a relentless approach to social responsibility.”

As an educator, the Liz Lovely mission is striking to me.  As a university professor who prepares our future teachers, I dedicate much of my teaching passion towards promoting social justice, mostly through literacy.  Liz Lovely inspired me to see the ways I need to extend this into my personal life, beyond my teaching. In addition, on their website, Liz Lovely goes on to say, “Every day requires a level of courage and dedication above and beyond anything we’ve ever done before.”  So true!  No matter the cause—how big or small, we owe it to ourselves, to one another, and to the earth to care deeply about our approach to life… to go above and beyond in all we do, and to have the courage to do so, day after day.  Whether we are preparing meals, or educating our youth, we must be mindful of our impact.

The Cookies and Their Impact

Liz Lovely supports sustainable agriculture through Organic, Non-GMO, and Fair Trade products.  They refer to their cookies as artisan products—a name they deserve.  In a world where companies are constantly obtaining products in irresponsible ways, I am proud to support companies such as Liz Lovely because they only acquire the ingredients for their products in a responsible fashion.  The commitment of Liz Lovely is obvious in their extraordinary taste; they outshine mass-produced and co-manufactured products by miles.  I can see, taste, and feel the attention to detail that Liz Lovely brings to their cookies, and you will, too, I guarantee.

It’s difficult to believe delicious Liz Lovely cookies are vegan.  They are made without animal products, which, of course, means no milk, no butter, and no eggs.  In their concerted efforts, they are saving animals, helping the planet, and improving overall health.

Liz Lovely uses green packaging. Most, if not all, of their packaging materials are recycled, reused, recyclable, and/or compostable.

Cookie Flavors

Before I gush about individual cookie flavors, I must remind readers of my chocolate addiction.  As a result, three of the following four cookies I’m reviewing have chocolate in them.  Since I also love coconut and lemon, I was careful to allow a flavor other than chocolate into my review, however!

Perhaps what I love most about Liz Lovely cookies are their lightly baked, doughy texture, which is decadent and moist.  In short, these cookies are qwowi!

1. Out of respect to Liz, I will start with her favorite, the Cowgirl Cookies.  (While I can totally see why this is Liz’s favorite, I’ll get to my favorite next, which I think is far better in the chocolaty qwowi category!)  Cowgirl Cookies are basically chocolate chip cookies with a sharp name, and a taste and texture unlike anything you may have tried before.  As their packaging indicates, Cowgirl Cookies are just like chocolate chip cookie dough.  They are so velvety in their consistency, it is just like picking the cookie dough out of cookie dough ice cream!

2. My absolute favorites are the Chocolate Moose Dragons.  It was the first Liz Lovely Cookie I ever sampled, and I immediately fell in love.  This is decadence at its best, simply because the taste is outstanding in the ways they capture the best attributes of chocolate.  To do so, they use fudgy chocolate chips with cacao nibs.  This combination allows the bitterness of the chocolate to be present, while maintaining a sweetness with the sugary coating.  I have to admit I am moderately obsessed with these cookies, and they are my dessert of choice.  Beyond the extraordinary taste, I love the texture, which is soft and cake-like.

3. I get a special buzz from Mochadamia Mountains, probably because they contain coffee, macadamia nuts, and chocolate.  What a fabulous flavor combination!  Again, the texture is phenomenal– rich and doughy, with the crispness of the nuts, and the tang of the coffee.  Liz Lovely bakers use “Vermont-roasted fair trade organic coffee, organic macadamia nuts, a generous layer of organic dark chocolate on the bottom, and a decorative drizzle of chocolate on top.”   Trust me—this is a unique cookie, unlike anything you’ve ever had.  It’s obvious they put lots of love and attention into these special treats.

4. For you less chocolate-minded people out there, please know that Liz Lovely makes plenty of treats for you, too!  In particular, I was struck by the Macaroonies Sock-It-To-Me! They are made with coconut and lemon essence.  I am willing to forego chocolate every once in a while, especially if there’s coconut and/or lemon involved.  I must admit, I was a little skeptical of the package when I first picked it up a few days ago.  It was my first Liz Lovely voyage without chocolate, after all.  Hey—Liz didn’t disappoint.  For a chocolate lover to say she likes these Macaroonies as much as her chocolaty flavors is… well, saying a lot!  Each cookie is hand-rolled in coconut.  They are buttery without butter!  They are luxuriant and indulgent while feeling light!  Liz, I don’t understand it, but thank you!

Anxiously awaiting…

Trust me, I don’t always indulge in chocolate, although I may have led you to believe otherwise.  Cinnamon is another one of my passions.  For years, I have sought the perfect snickerdoodle, so I am anxious to try Liz Lovely’s new Snicker Dudes. I’ll be sure to let you all know what I think.

What is perhaps even more exciting is that it appears Liz Lovely is getting ready to launch their first Gluten Free (GF) products.  As some of you may know, my husband, Jason also writes reviews for Qwowi.  Jason has gluten sensitivity, and often writes about his favorite GF products.  He was thrilled today when I told him Liz Lovely now has Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge and Gluten Free Ginger Molasses.

So…

Are Liz Lovely Cookies a little expensive?  Sure, but I understand their expense, and they are worth it!  On their website, Liz Lovely offers Seconds and Gift Samplers, which are great values.

Liz Lovely products are available in many natural food markets, and of course online at Liz Lovely’s beautiful and extensive website.

You won’t be disappointed.  You’ll be loving life and loving cookies… all with a social conscience.