Kite Hill | A Whole Foods Market Exclusive Brand

COMPANY: Kite Hill

PRODUCT: As many as I can get my hands on!

COST: Varies item to item, and I assume store to store.

DESCRIPTION: Kite Hill began with a vision for a plant-based food that would have all the qualities relished in the best artisan dairy cheeses. As they believe the best part of eating is inviting everyone to the table for a convivial meal, these products had to entice the full range of food lovers, from those dedicated to a plant-based diet to others simply curious about a healthier lifestyle. Kite Hill stands for the very best tasting alternative dairy products made with the simplest ingredients using traditional methods — from artisanal delicacies, nut milk yogurts, and cream cheese style spreads to entrées and even deserts.

ARTISANAL DELICACIES:

» Soft Fresh Truffle Dill & Chive «
Their description: Soft Fresh Truffle, Dill & Chive is supple and creamy with earthy, black truffle overtones. The almond milk curds are mixed by hand with fresh truffle oil and a mixture of herbs, and then shaped and pressed immediately before packaging to ensure ultimate freshness. This fragrant delicacy is best served right out of the refrigerator.

My review: Thanks to the truffle and dill, this actually gave it a more egg-like taste. I used it on my morning breakfast scramble and it took it to a whole new level!  

» RICOTTA « 
Their description: Our ricotta has sweet, and cultured overtones, and a buttery, smooth finish. It is moist and incredibly versatile. Its silky texture makes for a great mascarpone substitute and is ideal for desserts.

My review: Holy smokes! I want more of this right now. And... I now want them to make cottage cheese. I can't wait to create some Italian dishes with this! My only complaint is that the packaging isn't resealable. I happened to have a lid from one of the others that I used, luckily.


YOGURTS:

» Vanilla «

Their description: Our plain almond milk yogurt is produced exclusively with the highest quality, local almonds that provide a smooth and delicate mouthfeel and flavor. The natural flavor of our almond milk is balanced with acidity produced by Probiotic cultures that are aged with the milk during production.

My review: I don't like it as much as the peach one, but it's a great base. Perfect for yogurt or smoothies. Still a winner in my book!

» Peach «  

Their description: Carefully picked peaches from Sunny California orchards are first tossed with citrus and organic cane sugar and allowed to ripen for several hours. They are then mixed into the yogurt to add bright flavors that thrive in our yogurts over time.

My review: Peach is my favorite of all yogurt flavors — so I had high expectations for this one after have the artisanal options above. I will say, it's nice to have yogurt back in the mix (I do not like soy-based at all and almond-based options aren't always available). It's good, but it's not blowing my socks off like the ricotta did. 

CREAM CHEESE STYLE SPREADS: 

» Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread « Their description: Our cream cheese style spreads are made with all natural ingredients to create a complex flavor and a velvety smooth texture. Each batch is cultured to add depth, sweetness, and a subtle tang. Our spread is great smeared on a bagel, or served alongside fresh fruit or grilled vegetables.

My review: I've tried so many different types of cream cheese — never satisfied, chalking it up to being gone from my grocery list for good. Then Kite Hill came along. This is amazing! It tastes exactly like the cream cheese you use to love before you realized what it really meant to consume dairy. Bagels, spreads, baking, jalapeño poppers... watch out!  

» Chive Cream Cheese Style Spread « Their description: Our cream cheeses style spreads are made with all natural ingredients to create a spread with complex flavor and velvety smooth texture. Each batch is cultured to add depth, sweetness, and a subtle tang. Chives and white pepper add a pop of freshness and spice. It is great smeared on a bagel, or served alongside fresh fruit or grilled vegetables.

My review: Because, heaven-forbid, you only make awesome plain cream cheese. Show offs! :) 

CHEESECAKES: 

 

» Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart « Their description: Kite Hill fresh Ricotta is whipped with pumpkin puree, fall spices and brown sugar to give a vibrant, welcoming flavor and texture. The filling is then poured into a ginger snap tart shell and slow baked to perfection. Serve with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream to accent the fall spices and ginger.

My review: This was the perfect Thanksgiving dessert! Before you even cut into it, such a beautiful presentation. But let's dig in... Soft, chewy crust. Rich, creamy cheese cake. Traditional, fall-spiced pumpkin pie. All in one tart. It's not very thick, which is nice — you feel less guilty about having a second piece! 

There are more I haven't been able to find at the Whole Foods Markets I hit up when I'm near one — so I'll add to this review as I find them. They're absolutely amazing! Thank you, Kite Hill!

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Ynomrah Studios | Madrid, IA

LOCATION: Beautiful, beautiful, green Iowa. I couldn't find a weekend class in Ames, but did find one in Madrid (pronounced mædrɪd... think someone from Boston saying Madrid, with the accent on meh...). It was a half hour drive of nothing but gorgeous farmland until I came upon this town of 2500-ish. Free street parking. 

COST: Drop-in fee was $8 (they have a nice little yogi shop in there, so I imagine they take cards... I paid in cash, so I'm not sure).

STUDIO: The front entrance (or the side the address puts you at) is not the entrance, but there is easy signage taking you around the corner to the door you enter through. It's an old building—think exposed brick, high ceilings, old hardwood floors... I love old buildings. They updated it nicely with paint, hanging lights, and curtains. The actual yoga space is a nice size... could easily fit a class of 20, but we had four today. 

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Yoga 1 For all levels A REQUIREMENT FOR BEGINNERS. This vinyasa style class is a perfect place to discover your strength, flexibility, alignment and form. Learn basic breathing techniques & hatha postures that will help you de-stress and build core strength.

INSTRUCTOR: Lisa I couldn't find a bio for her... sorry.

CONTACT: Ynomrah Studios 

I. Am. Mortified. Back story? Ok... we had a rehearsal wedding/dinner to attend last night, and they were kind enough to make me a special vegetarian meal (I don't eat meat or dairy). When they brought me a plate of cheese stuffed raviolis covered in cheese & mushrooms... I thought, uh oh. But I'm not completely strict with my dairy and know that when we travel I may not be able to have food my way. So, I politely ate half my meal. It was really good. Then when dessert was cheese cake,  I figured I'd done the damage already, why not? This... this is why not. 

I should give you the heads up, people who are trying yoga for the first time, it is VERY common for you to show up 15 minutes before a class starts and no one to be there... the yoga studio locked, no one in sight. Sit tight, my friends, two or three students will show up and then the instructor. It's so easy to set up the yoga studio for class (turn on lights, lay out mat, done!) that it's normal for class to start two minutes after the doors are unlocked (unless you are going to hot yoga/bikram... they usually recommend you show up a half hour early to adjust to the temperature). 

When I entered the studio Lisa asked me if I had any yoga experience. Yep. And then we went into the room to get ready... waiting a few minutes in case anyone else showed up, the ladies chatted about a new place in Madrid (I forgot the name, sorry), where the food is supplied by The Radish out of Grimes. They all love the food there, so we may have to go this weekend. If not, when we return.

Then Lisa had us get started. She moved things along a little bit faster than I'm use to, more flow-like (which she confirmed, she does like flow). So it was good to work up the sweat a little quicker... until the sweat was the result of a cheese demon waking in my stomach. With every crunch and twist I slowly started realizing I wasn't going to be able to casually get through this class with out possibly getting sick... what do I do? Do I leave all together? I can't, I haven't paid yet... ok, I'm just going to go to the bathroom mid-class, that isn't unusual... so I started to walk towards the door when Lisa looked up, and I asked "Where is the bathroom?" She pointed back to the inside of the classroom to the small room that I thought was a dressing room... nope, bathroom. I now get to go to the bathroom with an entire yoga class listening on. Seriously?! And now that I've asked where the bathroom is... I can't continue out the front door seeing if there was a bank near by or anything. Ok... just go in there and splash some cold water on your face. Pull it together, Poppen, this is ridiculous. To avoid embarrassing details and ruining your possibly less disgusting view of me... I exercised the cheese demon. I had no choice. I hate myself. Maybe I can just stay in this room until everyone leaves. Maybe there's an escape route, a trap door, a candle stick that I move and the wall rotates me to safety. Nope. Nothing. 

Head down, I went back to the class, joined back in... fearful of everyone knowing my dirty, little secret. I tried to just get back into my practice, because Lisa was really leading a wonderful class. Working our core by holding boat pose longer than I have before, flowing in and out of forward folds. It really was a great starter class for anyone interested in getting to know yoga. Meanwhile, my brain is analyzing every horrible reaction... is that lady coughing because she has a dry throat? or is she gagging? everyone is staring at me, I know it! why is my yoga mat the only mat making farting noises when I go into downward dog. sigh. Where is the silver-lining in this story? If I tell you this story, you have no excuse to not check out a class... because you will never be as horrible as that one time (today) a new girl (me) came into our little class and changed our view of people from Illinois forever (sorry Illinois). 

After class I apologized to Lisa for interrupting the class, probably over-explaining myself as one does when they're embarrassed or self-conscious. If Lisa finds my little card and discovers this review... I'm so sorry your review was shadowed by my cheese demon. I really do recommend everyone else enjoy one of her classes... I, however, may never step foot in Madrid again. 

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