SQIRL Los Angeles

By Kevin Posey Published January 22, 2013

sqirl 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

We first came to know Jessica Koslow, the mastermind behind SQIRL as a producer for American Idol. How she transitioned from the role of producer to genius purveyor of jams and preserves is pretty straight forward: do what you love with integrity, pride, and talent and success will follow. SQIRL (pronounced squirrel) works with organic farmers closely located to the kitchen in the truest sense of farm to table freshness as well as sustainable happiness for the land they farm.

With jams and jellies made in small batches in flavors like wild blueberry & tarragon or blackberry & Meyer lemon, to name a few, you are bound to find something to your liking and surprise your tastebuds in the process. Our personal favorite is an apple butter that reminds us of the kind of jam grandmama used to make.

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SQIRL is the ‘jam’ (we couldn’t help it) but it isn’t only just about that – they serve up some of the greatest breakfasts and lunches in LA: poached egg on a bed of roasted brussels sprouts or a tomato rubbed prosciutto sandwich are just a sampling of the ever changing menu. Jessica personally teaches classes on the art of making preserves as well as she told us, “Everyone should know what preservation means as a craft.”

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Born in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, at the eastern most tip of the state of Kentucky, Kevin's love of music…

Food & Drink

Angel’s Envy Releases Special New Mizunara Cask Whiskey

Mizunara Cask Whiskey

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Angel's Envy's Founder's Day on August 19, the distillery released a new bourbon finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks. This blend of four-year-old and nine-year-old whiskey spent an additional two years in these new charred oak casks, made from 200-year-old trees, during which it picked up a bouquet of floral notes including sandalwood, coffee, and a bit of smoke. "We chose this release for the tenth anniversary because my dad, having taken on several consulting roles in Japan during his career, always had a deep appreciation for the country and its distilling community," said cofounder and chief innovation officer Wes Henderson in a prepared statement. "This release, finished in Mizunara casks made from this rare, 200-year-old wood, felt fitting for such a special milestone for Angel’s Envy.”

This is a first for the distillery, and it really stands out in terms of flavor from its core range that is finished in port and rum barrels. "When we set out on this project, we knew where we wanted to end up, but we also knew we might not wind up there," said Henderson in a recent Zoom meeting. His son and production manager Kyle detailed the difficult and lengthy process of getting ahold of these barrels, which he said are extremely limited and tightly controlled by the Japanese government. It took about five years in total to procure them, and 18 months of that time was spent on a waiting list.

Food & Drink

Angel’s Envy Releases Second Cellar Collection Whiskey

angels envy cellar collection tawny port wine cask finish whiskey angel s 1

Angel's Envy is known for doing basically one thing, but doing it very well -- sourcing bourbon and rye (until the new distillery has enough aged stock of its own to release) and finishing it in different cask types. So far that's included rum, sherry, and port barrels. The newest release in the distillery's Cellar Collection series is a different version of the latter type of finish. Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tawny Port Wine Barrels will be available this February in a limited release of just 5,400 bottles. The whiskey is a 10-year-old bourbon that was finished for ten months in tawny port barrels and bottled at 111.6 proof. This older bourbon packs quite a flavor punch, with notes of rye spice, maple syrup, candy lozenge, and maraschino cherry all coalescing into a hot but pleasant finish.

“My dad always used to say, ‘Taste is never an accident,’ and when we first started dreaming up what Angel’s Envy could be, we knew we wanted to explore and push the boundaries of bourbon," said chief innovation officer and co-founder Wes Henderson in a press release. "Our tawny port finish embodies exactly that. When you combine the mellow finish from the tawny port barrels with the profile of our 10-year-old bourbon, you get a richness and complexity that I think our fans will really enjoy.”

Food & Drink

Gather (most of) a pour-over coffee system for $116 at Amazon

The Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper on a white background.

Have you been looking for coffee maker deals and thinking you’d prefer to create your own full pour-over system? Right now, Amazon has the deals for you, with great discounts on a coffee dripper and an electric gooseneck kettle. We’ll take a look at how each works separately, but you can combine them to make most of a full pour-over system. All you need to do is add some filters and you can start making some great blends, like the Cafe Grumpy festive coffee that’s available right now. If you still need to learn what pour-over coffee is, we can help you with that too. Here’s a look at the deals involved.
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper -- $27 $30 12% off

If you’re learning all about how to make pour over coffee, you know how vital a coffee dripper is. The Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper is specially designed to produce an evenly brewed cup of coffee. It’s made from durable Japanese ceramic so it retains heat to ensure a balanced temperature throughout the brewing cycle. It has a minimalist look with a single large hole, which improves pour flow and provides you plenty of choice: Pour quickly for a light flavor or more slowly for a rich and deep taste. If you’ve been studying the differences between pour over and drip coffee, you’ll soon see what a world of difference a good coffee dripper makes.