Wildflower Press Kit PDF

press kit
july, 2011
above
The marque announcing Chef Ayinde
at NYC’s LTO (Limited Time Only)
171 East Broadway, New York, NY.
left
Menu, opening night supper.
below
Selling out all three nights Wildflower
was both a culinary and social
phenomenon for both foodies and the
vegan community alike.
Like the beauty of blossoming annuals in the field, Wildflower is a
phenomenon that is here today and gone tomorrow. The latest in
a wide array of food trends, Pop-Up Restaurants are proving to be
breakout venues for culinary artisans and emerging chefs.
Wildflower is a one-of-a-kind crowd-funded pop-up restaurant
that brings the finest plant-based cuisine to discerning foodies and
tastemakers.
Wildflower New York popped-up in Downtown Manhattan’s
exclusive LTO (Limited Time Only) Restaurant. For three days,
patrons were taken on a 28-course journey across a diverse
landscape of vegan cuisine ranging from Soul Food to Raw Fusion
to Chef Ayinde’s own “Street Food” Tasting Menu. The Opening
Night reception featured celebrity guests, style icons, and giveaways
from Vaute Couture, The Ethical Man, and Evolve Jewelry. For
the weekend, Chef Ayinde drew from his wildly successful monthly
event, The Brooklyn Petit Dejeuner, and crafted an eclectic
interpretation of the Waffle Brunch.
Crowd-funded through kickstarter.com, Wildflower is a direct
response to the demand for fun, delicious gourmet Vegan dining in
an upscale atmosphere.
Following the success of Wildflower’s NYC opening Chef Ayinde
Howell will be taking his seeds on the road planting Wildflower
pop-ups in new cities.
For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at andy@sparrowmedia.net or 631.291.3010
above left
Grilled quinoa & polenta cake
with radish slaw and cashew dill aioli
above
Poached pear Manhattan
Rhubarb Mimosa
left
Mac & Yease
below
Biscuit topped cherry cobbler
with organic cashew ice cream
“Vegan food that is remarkably tasty and robust”
—elane louie, The New York Times
http://nytimes.com/2011/06/08/dining/dining-calendar-from-june-9.html
“The pop-up trend (with its largely set meals)
is one realm that’s generally not too friendly to the meatless.
That’ll change next weekend”
—grub street, New York Magazine
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/06/lto_to_host_nycs_first_vegan_p.html
“A very vegan pop-up ...will serve everything from a
‘contemporary American supper’ to a Saturday Cajun brunch
to a raw fusion dinner to a street food tasting menu.”
—rebbecca marx, The Village Voice
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2011/06/lto_vegan_pop-u.php
For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at andy@sparrowmedia.net or 631.291.3010
wildflower
collected
press&
reviews
2011
june
Veg News Magazine, feature & advance review
http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=3200&catId=8
Gothamist, feature
http://gothamist.com/2011/06/06/pop-up_trend_now_accommodating_vega.php
The Lo-Down NYC, feature
http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2011/06/russ-daughters-rhong-tiam-smac.html
Food Republic Magazine, feature
http://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/06/08/wildflower-my-vegan-pop-restaurant
Eater NY, feature
http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/06/12_cant_miss_popup_dinners_to_check_out_this_month.php
The Discerning Brute, feature & advance review
http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2011/05/05/la-jolla-seals-wildflower/
http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2011/06/03/wildflower-pops-up-in-new-york/
New York Examiner, feature
http://examiner.com/vegan-in-new-york/vegan-pop-up-restaurant-nyc-this-weekend-only
Daily Globe, feature
http://vegetarian.thedailyglobe.com/2011/06/06/nyc-vegan-pop-up-opens/
POMP Magazine, feature
http://pomponline.com/?p=1612
Our Hen House, feature
http://www.ourhenhouse.org/2011/06/crowd-funded-vegan-pop-up-restaurant-inspires/
NYC, PointsLocal, feature
http://nyc.pointslocal.com/news/2011/06/03/nyc/287424/at-lto-ayinde-howell-will-stage-a-very-vegan-pop-up
For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at andy@sparrowmedia.net or 631.291.3010
Friends Eat, interview with chef ayinde
http://blog.friendseat.com/interview-chef-ayinde-howell-wildflower
SuperVegan, mention
http://supervegan.com/blog/entry.php?id=1740
HFM Group, listing
http://thehfmgroup.blogspot.com/2011/05/introducing-wildflower-plant-based-pop.html
Sexy Tofu, feature
http://sexytofu.com/2011/04/30/new-yorks-first-pop-up-vegan-restaurant/
Capture + Rapture, feature
http://capture-rapture.com/2011/05/17/chef-ayinde-opens-wildflower-restaurant/
Remembering God, feature
http://www.remembergod.org/en/vegetarian-news.aspx?id=1394964386
Yum Veggie Burgers, listing
http://www.yumveggieburger.com/2011/06/wildflower-pop-up.html
The Whelming, review & photo feature
http://www.thewhelming.com/2011/05/wildflower/
http://www.thewhelming.com/2011/06/wildflower-2/
Vegan Apatite, feature
http://www.veganappetite.com/2011/06/food-network-friday-chicken-and.html
Veganism & Stuff, feature
top
Amuse: Spinach, Avocado & Watermelon
with balsamic Grand Mariner glaze
http://veganismandstuff.tumblr.com/post/6180621050/crowd-funded-pop-up-wildflowerserves-28-courses-of
Secret Cooking Recipes, listing
http://secretcookingrecipes.net/at-lto-ayinde-howell-will-stage-a-very-vegan-pop-up/
bottom
Brunch: The closest I’ll come to “Chicken
& Waffles” Waffle.
Chef ’s Connection, listing
http://thechefsconnection.com/2011/06/04/wildflower-a-vegan-pop-up-at-lto/
Kris Karragan Blog, mention
http://kriscarrigan.com/vegan/latest-news-183/
For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at andy@sparrowmedia.net or 631.291.3010
Eco-Sex, feature
http://ecosex.net/hungry-take-your-veggie-lover-for-the-meal-of-a-lifetime-at-wildflower/
Inhabitat, feature
http://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-york-citys-first-vegan-pop-up-restaurant-opening-this-friday-in-the-les/
Cri De Coeur, feature
http://cri-de-coeur.com/events/wildflower-vegan-pop-up-restaurant-opening-party/
Raw Clarity, feature
http://blogg.aftonbladet.se/rawclarity/2011/06/lto-limited-time-only-presents-a-vegan-menu
On Our Sleeve, feature
http://onoursleeve.com/?p=2521
Organized Wisdom, feature
http://organizedwisdom.com/nyc-vegan-popup-opens/5021485/nxi/med
Big City Vegan, feature
http://bigcityvegan.com/blog/2011/06/10/new-vegan-restaurant-in-nyc-wildflower-blooms-for-three-days-only/
Girlie Girl Army, feature & editorial by chef ayinde
http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20110609/a-wildflower-grows-on-the-lower-east-side/
http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20110606/400-years-later-and-still-slaves-to-soul-food/
I8 NYC, feature
http://i8nyc.com/2011/06/10/event-–-lto-nyc-presents-ayinde-howell-wildflower-popup-dinner-jun10-12/
Gluten Free Faces, feature
http://www.glutenfreefaces.com/forum/topics/gluten-free-wildflower-vegan
Meet the Shannons Blog, feature & review
http://meettheshannons.net/2011/06/summer-in-city.html
http://meettheshannons.net/2011/06/restaurant-review-wildflower.html
The Ethical Bella, feature
http://ethicalbella.com/post/6459817035/wildflower
Andrew Hur Photography, review & photo feature
http://www.andrewhur.com/portfolio/events/wildflower/
For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at andy@sparrowmedia.net or 631.291.3010
About Chef Ayinde Howell
Ayinde Howell is a 4th generation entrepreneur, Executive Vegan
Chef and Founder of the food and lifestyle blog, ieatgrass.com. He
specializes in a variety of Vegan fare including Soul Food, Raw,
and New American cuisines. His recipes have been featured in the
New York Times, Time Out and BET’s top-rated show, ‘106 & Park’.
Ayinde started creating signature dishes in Seattle, as co-owner of
Hillside Quickies Vegan Sandwich Shop, an offshoot of his family’s
business. Hillside Quickies became a popular restaurant known
for blasting hip-hop music during crowded lunch rushes and being
a favorite for artists like The Roots, Saul Williams, Common and
Erykah Badu. Now based in New York City, Ayinde has served as
Executive Chef at Jivamukti Yoga School and as a Personal Health
Consultant and Personal Chef for celebrities like Russell Simmons
and clients from various walks of life and culinary palates.
To arrange an interview with Chef Ayinde Howell, to arrange a tasting,
or to obtain high-resolution images of his culinary creations please contact
Andy Stepanian at 631.291.3010 or email press@sparrowmedia.net
Photo credit: Kate Echle http://Katherinekellyphoto.com
sparrowmedia.net
a grassroots publicity agency
For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at andy@sparrowmedia.net or 631.291.3010