August 20, 2007

The Bubble Roome.

The Bubble Roome’s bath and body products are the brainchild of David E. Johnston. Pre-9/11 David spent his days (and many nights I’m guessing) designing websites and multi-media projects. After the job market took its fabled downswing, he decided to take things into his own hands and utilize the design and marketing skills he’d garnered over the years to enbark on a new adventure. To his kitchen to be exact, where The Bubble Roome was born.

Um, David, I think you’re going to need a bigger kitchen sometime soon. The TBR packaging is incredibly well-designed and right on target for us product junkies. When you have a chance, check out the site, too. I’m wondering if David designed it himself.

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August 17, 2007

Sant Ambroeus Ristorante.

The original Sant Ambroeus Ristorante opened its doors in Milan in 1936. It didn’t take long for a devoted following to emerge and for Sant Ambroeus to become the meeting place for the local intelligentsia.

The newer stateside locations brought the old-world feel of Milan’s Sant Ambroeus into modern times and imported their rich culinary traditions to three New York neighborhoods: the West Village, the Upper East Side, and Southampton.

The identity created for the pattisserie/cafeteria is beautifully executed and consistant down to the menus and takeout bags. The Sant Ambroeus site is elegant and minimal, while the fact that two fonts were created specifically for the restaurant is incredibly impressive.


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August 16, 2007

Baked.

Love the name, the packaging and the identity of this Red Hook, NYC bakery. Baked is the dream-turned-reality of a motley crew who like to think of themselves as “dessert experts; the kind of people blessed with a highly (almost holy) developed sense of taste and smell.” Their dessert obsession finally spilled over from full-time hobby to full-time profession in their ode to the perfect bakery, Baked.

Since I’m not in New York, I can only gawk and, thankfully, order online. The offical Baked diner mug is $8 and comes in either brown or orange. This too cool Tea for two teapot is $15. There’s a wide variety of gift sizes for everything. I won’t get into specifics about the baked goods because I need to eat a salad for lunch and that would just make it way too difficult to swallow.


Posted In food, packaging
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August 2, 2007

Teas’ Tea.

I tried a bottle of Tea’s Tea Green White this afternoon and it totally freaked me out. Mainly because I’d failed to notice the word unsweetened on the label, but also because it tastes like tea you would be served in an Asian restaurant. As in actual. real. tea. The packaging is why I picked up the bottle (and paid for it, don’t worry) in the first place. I like the unexpected shape and clean type. The bottle itself feels sturdier than most plastics, so it seems like you could hang on to it and put it to another, reincarnated use. (Watering plants? I don’t know.) Definitely worth a try, I think I’m headed for the Lemongrass Green next. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about the unsweetened factor!

Posted In food, packaging
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August 2, 2007

Teas' Tea.

I tried a bottle of Tea’s Tea Green White this afternoon and it totally freaked me out. Mainly because I’d failed to notice the word unsweetened on the label, but also because it tastes like tea you would be served in an Asian restaurant. As in actual. real. tea. The packaging is why I picked up the bottle (and paid for it, don’t worry) in the first place. I like the unexpected shape and clean type. The bottle itself feels sturdier than most plastics, so it seems like you could hang on to it and put it to another, reincarnated use. (Watering plants? I don’t know.) Definitely worth a try, I think I’m headed for the Lemongrass Green next. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about the unsweetened factor!

Posted In food, packaging
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August 1, 2007

Fallen Vodka.

Fallen – “prefectly imperfect” – vodka is selling the idea that imperfection is so much more interesting than perfection – and in a vodka, that equates to a much more complex taste than we’re used to. Not only that, but it’s available in three different forms: first, The Innocent – smooth, with distinct rum overtones; then The Hero – clean, powerful and rather zingy; finally, The Outlaw, which can only be described as like tequila, but actually drinkable. And when you’re finished with the bottle, you don’t want to toss it because it’s a piece of art in itself. Cheers!




Posted In cocktails, packaging, web design
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July 11, 2007

Vitamin Water.

I first started drinking Vitamin Water when I was living in New York a few years ago. Ever since then I’ve been a loyal consumer of the tasty beverage. And yeah, the clean packaging and quippy sayings on every bottle help out.


I just found a new flavor yesterday – XXX – and it’s my new favorite (sorry power-C!). The triple-X is for the triple dose of anti-oxidants you get in every bottle: acai, blueberry and pomagranite. (Not porn. Sorry.) It seriously smells and tastes like a melted Slush Puppy, but it’s actually good for you.

The web site is great, too. Not only the design, but the dialogue. More quippiness, like this for multi-V (lemonade with a-zinc): you are not an emotionless, single-minded robot (if you are an emotionless, single-minded robot, you can stop reading now). you are a human being. you wear many hats. you dance many dances. and you try many things. things like using a swiss army knife in a medievil sword fight. vitamin-packed, multi-v helps you keep your horizons broad.

Posted In food, packaging, web design
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July 10, 2007

Corzo Tequila.

I love tequila. Okay, well, I haven’t exactly been able to drink any since mid-January after an unfortunate “incident” involving my face and a patch of ice. That aside, I love it. Margarita on the rocks, no salt. Shots. Whatever, I’ll take three.


I’ve never had the pleasure of trying Corzo, but I want to buy some. Mainly because of the bottle which has an amazing design. I’m sure it would be one of those things I bought and never opened. Or maybe opened and filled with food colored water later on…

Fabien Baron had this to say about the bottle design, “Unlike the typical approach to tequila packaging we wanted to reflect the modern side of Mexican design. A more innovative and unexpected bottle was also a good complement to the traditional craftsmanship of the Corzo tequila.”

The web site is really clean and modern, like the bottle. It has sections devoted to the evolution and process of making Corzo, as well as cocktail recipes.

Posted In cocktails, packaging
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July 9, 2007

Method of Madness.

By now most people are familiar with Method, the cooly-designed, eco-friendly cleaning and personal products line most famously sold at Target. While visiting my local Target (or “Home” as I like to call it) a few weeks ago I was walking down the body wash and lotion aisle when I saw these crazy, stand out bottles. Turns out Method has a new line called Bloq. And it’s not only body wash, but lotion, shave cream and bar soap as well. Very cool, although I did wonder for just a moment how one would get all the product out of the rigid plastic, acute angled bottle. And questioned if the soap might be painful. Then I remembered how cool it looks and pushed the thoughts out of my mind.


Method is a really cool brand in general. Their products are bio-degradable, but they also work. Besides that they’re also made out of recycled materials and there’s no animal testing. Method’s products are non-toxic, so you can use them around children and pets. And the design is amazing, which makes you wonder why you’ve been hiding your cleaning products under the sink for so long. So breathe deep, knowing that you’re using a quality product – and that it also smells good.

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July 6, 2007

MOP it Up.

Another thing about me: I’m a product glutton. I seem to rarely finish a bottle of shampoo, moisturizer, etc before buying a new one. And usually a different brand. Usually because I’m just bored with the smell, not happy with the results, or because I see something that’s well designed. Right now I think I’ve got five different shampoos and conditions in my shower. It’s pathetic, I know.


But that didn’t stop me from buying MOP’s Glisten shampoo and conditioner. I have really fine hair, but I have a lot of it, so I’m always on the hunt for something that’s going to volumize without weighing it down. Color protection is also an issue since I don’t want to pay to have my hair colored any more than necessary. Glisten is all those things and more because it’s also an organic product. The shampoo is full of things like linseed, vitamin C, wheat protein, maple syrup and real honey. The conditioner is packed with jojoba, linseed and avocado oils as well as honey and maple syrup. And it all smells awesome – like orange oil.

MOP has quite a few poducts geared towards all different types of hair. It’s all organic and the packaging is modern and simple – a great reflection of the product line.

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