Sun Tea …

Here’s a delightful summer treat – a glass of sun tea! It’s pretty straight forward: fill a jar of spring water, add mint leafs (your choice, however a mixture of spearmint, peppermint and wintermint is delicious), and let it sit in the sun for 1-2 hours. Longer the better. Once done, pour over a glass of ice and ta’da … a refreshing summer drink brewed naturally by the sun. Now that’s what I call “Solar Powered”. [EP]

Berry Delicious

So this fanatical craze with the Pinkberry franchise has been sweeping the state of California and now quickly hitting NYC. A-List celebs have been noted to wait a good 15 minutes in line for these delectable frozen treats in its Melrose location while the recently opened store in Chelsea has been mobbed as early as 10AM! [Sidenote: I mean, really people, frozen icecream that early in the morning?] But if you’re thinking it’s just an up-scale version of Haagen Daz, think again. Not many know but “Pinkberry” is an aged-old frozen ice dessert from Korea. It’s basic ingredients are shaved ice, frozen Korean yogurt (different from the American kind) topped with sweet mung bean and fresh fruit. It’s called “Pat-Bing-Su” and it’s a summer classic. Business saavy impresario, Sherry Hwang, took this traditional Korean dessert and stepped it up 4 notches. Her clean, Philippe Starck aesthetic combined with some very clever toppings (Cap’n Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, etc.) has transformed a regular summer dud into the biggest trend since ice cream on a stick! Now … can someone bring Pinkberry down to Miami Beach, please? (EP)

Get Juiced

The spot for juice and everything in between.  A little hidden gem in Miami that isn’t so hidden, El Palacio de Los Jugos (The Juice Palace) is the jump off if you are in search of that true Miami or even better that true Latin American experience. While the palace is popping up all over Miami, the original spot is on Flagler and 57th avenue and you can get a whole meal for like $2 and in Miami where they charge you major $$$$ just for breathing, that isn’t bad at all. If you are not feeling the best pork sandwich around (*ahem: MP*), don’t sweat it, their chicken is like no other!  Oh – and don’t be scared of the big Cuban dude with the machete, he’s there to chop up coconuts not tourists.  (JV)