Pili Nuts: Our Favorite Nut You’ve Never Heard of (from a VOLCANO!)

May 16th, 2013

In the health food world, specifically raw food, nuts are everywhere. So, what makes pili nuts stand out above the rest, especially when you’ve probably never even heard of them?

They’re like BUTTER.

StephenJames_PiliNuts_600x400_1024x1024 — Pili Nuts – Crazy good volcano nuts that taste like butter.

Seriously. Pop one in your mouth, and experience the buttery creaminess of the pili nut. (For real – they almost MELT in your mouth!) These nuts have become our favorites partly because of their soft, rich texture. They’re tasty, and filling, too! Perfect to take along for a long day of hiking, or shopping, since just a few will keep you sustained for quite a while!

As if the taste itself wasn’t enough to make us love these little guys, pili nuts have incredible health benefits. They’re rich in essential Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids (those are the good fats). They also have more Vitamin E than any other nut (beautifying)! They offer all eight essential amino acids, too, along with a bunch of other important vitamins and minerals (B vitamins, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, to name a few). Plus, they’re an excellent source of plant-based calcium and protein. With all of that goodness, pili nuts really are some of the healthiest and most nutritious nuts on the planet!

Oh, and they only grow in volcanos. Pili trees are only found in volcanic soil in the Philippines. How hardcore is that? Just take a second to think of how stunning and powerful volcanoes are. Now imagine all of that energy being transferred into a little nut. How could they not be amazing?

As an added benefit (wait, there’s more?!), the pili nuts we sell are soaked, pre-sprouted, and dehydrated. As with all other raw nuts, this unlocks the nutrients by breaking down natural enzyme inhibitors, making the nuts more easily digestible and, in turn, the nutrients more available. (Remember how squirrels always bury their nuts before eating them?)

cocoapilinuts_600x400_1024x1024 — Brand new CHOCOLATE Pili Nuts! Happy in a can.

If you weren’t completely convinced of the ridiculous goodness that is the pili nut, we have a surprise for you. They now come coated in CHOCOLATE. (I KNOW, RIGHT?!) Imagine the most amazing thing you’ve ever put in your mouth that wasn’t already chocolate. Now dust that with raw organic cacao and coconut palm sugar. (Mind = blown!) Besides taste, raw cacao adds tons of antioxidants and minerals. We seriously thought about not selling them and just eating them all ourselves, but then they’re too good not to share!

Now that you’ve heard of pili nuts, try some! You won’t regret it. (The only thing you might regret is getting just one container.)

Tags: cacao, chocolate, new products, pili nuts, snacks, superfoods, Vegan

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SARMA’S MOM: A Mother’s Day Interview

May 8th, 2013

Since it’s the week of Mother’s Day, we thought we’d do a little Q&A with Sarma’s Mom, Susan.

Sarma and her older sister grew up in Newton, MA and her Mom worked as a chef, which is how Sarma started her own love of food, watching Julia Child on TV and reading all her Mom’s food magazines. Her Mom now lives in Walpole, NH on a beautiful apple orchard called Alyson’s Apple Orchard. There’s a farm stand there open all summer and fall and most weekends there’s a wedding or other event going on.

What would be your ideal Mother’s Day?
Spending the day in the kitchen cooking with my two daughters! Then sitting down to a nice dinner.

What was Sarma like as a little kid?
She was very quiet, focused, and often kept a serious look on her face. Sometimes meeting new people she would just stare at them and not smile, and they’d be intimidated by her! Also, she could easily sit by herself and do something repetitive for hours. If I needed to keep her busy, I’d give her a fresh box of Kleenex and she’d sit in her crib and pull out one tissue at a time and methodically tear them into thin strips, then pull out another, until the box was empty and her crib was full of shredded tissue. She also always knew what she wanted. One time there was a blue velour track jacket she wanted. It cost something like $24 which was really expensive back in the 70’s. I gave in and got it for her and she wore it every single day. I had to wait until she was sleeping to wash it.

What things did Sarma like to eat as a kid?
She loved eating King Oscar sardines, but only the whole ones. If they were broken she wouldn’t eat them. She’d hold the whole sardine in her little fist and there’d be oil running down her arms. I also remember her eating (of all things) eggshells. She also loved cherries.

Do you think Sarma’s a good Dog Mom?
She’s an excellent adoring dog mom! Except she should train him not to jump up on people, I worry he’ll frighten someone.

What’s your favorite way to relax?
I love to read a good book.

What do you do for fun up in Walpole, NH?
My lady friends and I have dinner and movie nights, where we pick a movie and then cook a dinner that goes with the movie—like an Italian movie, Italian food and wine. Everyone brings a different dish. I also love to sit and watch the fireflies light up in the spring… springtime in Walpole is magnificent!

How did you get into cooking?
I had a degree in chemisty and microbiology and I worked in a lab for a while, but I just never loved it. I heard about a chef coming to start a cooking school in Newton where we lived, so I signed up, and got myself a job in a kitchen at a place called Le Bocage, one of the best restaurants in Boston back then. When I started cooking it was like a duck hitting water. Although I remember when I first started at the restaurant I used to have to clean boxes full of soft-shell crabs. I hated it! It was disgusting with their claws moving all around. I’ve never eaten soft shell crabs since.

What’s your favorite One Lucky Duck snack?
I love the chocolate macaroons. I keep them in the fridge and have one whenever I want something sweet. I also love the granola. I take it with me when I’m traveling, and also keep some under my bed. I wake up a lot in the middle of the night and will read until I fall back asleep. Sometimes I’m hungry, but I don’t want to go out to the kitchen because I’ll wake up Jack [dog] and then he’ll want to go outside, and it’s always in the middle of the night that he’s sprayed by a skunk!

Tags: interview, mom, Mother's Day, sarma, Sarma Melngailis

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Spring Changes to our Wine List!

April 8th, 2013

If you’re a regular at Pure Food and Wine, you definitely know Joey. Even if you’re not a regular, he very often leaves a memorable impression. Joey Repice, our beverage manager, has been with us for over eight years, and is the force that keeps our cocktails and wine menus refined and inventive. See Joey’s top wine picks in an interview from last year here.

With the weather getting warmer, dishes tend to be lighter and palates lean towards white wines. Since it’s served cold, a chilled white wine can be refreshing and perfect on a warm day even on it’s own! White wine also particularly complements the types of food we serve at the restaurant all year round, but especially during the spring and summer months when certain vibrant fruits and vegetables are in season. In keeping with this theme, Joey has introduced three new biodynamic wines to our notable wine list:

Tokaj Hetszolo Furmint 2009 - Biodynamic Wine

Furmint, Tokaj Hétszölö
2011, Tokaj, Hungary
$13|$49

This biodynamic dry wine wine made with the Furmint grape from Hungry, in a region famous for their dessert wines, is refreshing and crisp. Not extremely fruity, the wine is structured with spice and minerals.

In terms of food pairing, the Hétszölö Tokaji Furmint stands up to food with a little spice, such as our Philly Rolls and Hen of the Woods Tacos.

Riesling, Pewsey Vale
2012, Eden Valley, Australia
$11|$41

A dry biodynamic Riesling from Australia, this newcomer to our wine list is an excellent coiffing wine, meaning it doesn’t need to be paired with food to bring out the best in the wine. The flavors of the wine are vivid with intense lemon and lime notes balanced by a minerality that grounds the wine enough to leave a lingering softness and natural acidity.

This wine is great on its own or it would go wonderfully with our Salad of Bitter Greens and the Salsify Noodles with Radicchio and Fresh Figs.

Sauvignon Blanc, Urlar
2011, Wairarapa, New Zealand
$12|$45

Our latest Sauvignon Blanc, Urlar (ancient Scottish Gaelic for the Earth), is perfect for spring and summer weather. With notes of passion fruit and an elegant, long and dry finish, this tropical biodynamic white wine is versatile and goes well with many of our dishes.

An interesting pairing for this wonderful wine would be the King Oyster Mushroom Scallops or our Cauliflower Couscous with Persimmon Mint Dolmas.

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The More You GLOW: Meet Our Cleansers

April 5th, 2013

Nothing wakes you up in the morning like a refreshing splash of water, and at night, rinsing the day off your face is also somewhat therapeutic. A good organic cleanser is a vital and basic part of any healthy skin care routine.

Although sometimes you feel like you need a really strong scrub to clean your face, like after a good workout, a lot of gardening, or a NYC subway ride, facial cleansers should not contain soap or harsh ingredients. The goal is to gently remove any dirt, oil, and bacteria that have gathered on your face. Facial skin is much more sensitive! Cleansing your face the right way can help keep it vibrant and can help you avoid breakouts.

We have a few awesome organic cleansers available on our website and each one offers something a little different. With so many different skin types, it’s great to have options so you can find the one that’s perfect for you!

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser ($65)

This gentle facial cleanser, and leaves your face feeling soft even without moisturizer. It’s packed with living, organic ingredients that add life to your skin, leaving your feeling refreshed. Dr. Alkaitis’ skin care products are used my many of the top supermodels, so he must be doing something right! If you want to sample his line, try the ridiculously handy travel kit.

Ingredients: Added into Dr. Alkaitis’ Organic Castile Cleansing Base (compounded from virgin, cold pressed organic Olive*, organic Shea*, Organic Jojoba*, organic Coconut*, organic Sesame*, organic Castor* and organic Borage* oils), the following ingredients are added: Organic Aloe Vera Gel *, Organic Herbal Skin Repair Complex (made up of Chamomile*, Plantain*, Black Elder*, Greater Nettle*, Myrrhº, Bitter Orange*, Rosemary*, Marsh Mallow*, Benzoinº, Marigold*, True Lavender*, Sea Wrackº and Atlantic Seaweedº), Vegetable Glycerin, Citrus seed extract, Natural vitamin A complex, Natural vitamin C complex, Natural vitamin E complex (D-alpha, beta, gamma, delta tocopherols), 100% Pure Essential Oils.??
* – Signifies certified organically grown.?º – Signifies ethically wild-crafted.

S.W. Basics / Sprout Cleanser ($24)

Simple = beautiful is the motto with this brand. This suds-less cleanser is by far our most basic. With only three ingredients, there’s nothing hidden that can irritate or harm your skin. Tea tree oil, one of those ingredients, is an excellent defender against blemishes, rashes, and funguses, leading to clear and healthy skin. This cleanser will leave your face feeling pure, clean, soft, and smelling like roses, but not like you smashed your face with a fist full of petals.

Ingredients: Rosewater*, Vegetable Glycerin*, Tea Tree Oil*.
*Organic

Simply Divine Black Velvet Facial Cleanser ($24.95)

This foaming cleanser is a great all around face wash. It’s probably our deepest cleanser, but by no means harsh! It removes dirt and makeup, and also helps fight against blemishes, leaving your skin feeling smooth, soft, and sweet smelling. And hey, there’s love and gratitude listed in the ingredients…really.

Ingredients: Unconditional Love and Gratitude, Organic Whole-leaf Aloe Vera, Oils of: Jojoba, Avocado, Coconut, Sea Buckthorn, Almond, Palm & Carrot. Papaya, Banana, Cocoa Tree extract, Outer Body Experience, Seaweed, MSM, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium. Essential oils of: Frankincense, Myrrh, Lavender, Helichrysum, Blood Orange, Pink Grapefruit, Rosewood, Patchouli & Geranium.

Organic Cleanser Comparison Chart

Name / Brand	Cost / Size	Foam	Scent	Skin Feel	Benefits
Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser - Dr. Alkaitis	$65.00 4 oz	Light	Light, fresh, herbal	Soft, gentle	Gentle, perfect for sensitive skin; luxurious
Sprout/S.W. Basics Cleanser - S.W. Basics	$24.00 4 oz	None	Light, rosy	Clean, refreshed	Simple and gentle; perfect if you don’t want a foaming face wash; healing
Black Velvet Facial Cleanser - Simply Divine	$24.95 4 oz	Heavy	Sweet	Soft, gentle	Deep cleanser; leaves you with soft skin; healing

Check out more of our The More You GLOW series!

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RMS Beauty New Organic Lip Color

March 22nd, 2013

To celebrate RMS Beauty’s limited addition Sacred Lip Shine, we want to share a bit about the brand we’re head-over-heels with here at the Duck Office. Most of us will never go back to “normal” make-up again! Here’s why:

Most conventional make-ups are filled with unpronounceable chemicals that are extremely harmful! RMS Beauty is made with high-quality, pure, organic ingredients. (Rose Marie Swift created RMS Beauty after getting incredibly sick from working with cosmetics for years. Read her inspirational story HERE.)
Most make-up clogs your pores, causes break-outs, and leaves your skin malnourished. RMS contains real, nourishing ingredients like coconut oil that help, heal, and improve your skin!
Supermodels love RMS, like Gisele (Rose-Marie Swift does her make-up) and Miranda Kerr (Rose-Marie did her makeup here, too). They use RMS every day (just like us)!
Other make-up sits on your skin, looking cakey and not-so-great close-up. RMS soaks into your skin and works with your natural tones to create an amazing and personalized hue.
Conventional make-up has one flat shade. RMS is dynamic, and can be anything from a light hint to a dramatic look, depending on how heavily you apply.
RMS lasts way longer than conventional make-up. While most makeups run out or need to be tossed after only a few months’ usage, RMS can last you well over a year!

We are so in love with RMS Beauty, and most of us use it on a daily basis. Here are our favorite looks:

Sarma’s Favorites

RMS_Unpowder_600x401_1024x1024 — Un-Powder

Staff Favorites

We asked some of our staff to pick their favorite RMS products. Many of us use RMS every day, and can’t stop talking about how amazing it is! Here are our top picks: