SparkBlog by The Hartman Group

Your One-Stop Shop for Hornet’s Honey and Pearl Dust

Want to be the most talked about person at the potluck? Try a sampler from Edible, the UK-based specialty store featuring such rare delicacies as Thai curry crickets and scorpion vodka (giant eight-legged arthropod included). Planning a romantic weekend picnic? Edible's aphrodisiac department has you covered with lizard wine and 24 karat gold lollipops. Tired winter skin in need of a refreshing kick? Take their Ambergris wash for a spin. From the site:

Ambergris comes from the hindgut of the Sperm Whale, it is a natural phenomenon and they spit the secretion into the sea after eating Giant Squid. The sun macerates it into a resin after it spends months floating on the oceans surface. It is then rarely found washed up on beaches in the southern hemisphere... It will most probably perfume your entire house!

While the promise of sperm whale potpourri is a bit unsettling, it will do your heart good to know that all of Edible's ingredients are ethically sourced and meet health and safety codes.

So don't fret, those giant leaf cutter ants on your plate were collected with the gentlest of hands and toasted to perfection. Although they may not be taking the place of your usual hors devours any time soon, their "nutty bacon-like taste" is sure to be a crowd pleaser for adventurous party guests.

Bon appetite!

Hip Hop: Easter Baskets for the Mature Palate

A few of us here at Tinderbox happen to be marshmallow connoisseurs. While we've been seeing (and sampling) many a gourmet marshmallow lately, there's only one true way to get our spongy sugar fix this time of year: Peeps. But what's a responsible adult to do when attempting to fill a more mature Easter basket? Do not fear, dear reader! From chocolate to glassware, we've scoured the Internet to bring you the finest in grown-up Easter treats.

Lacking a sweet tooth? Test your creativity with the Seattle Times's annual Peep diorama contest and browse the Peep-Tastic photo pool over at Flickr for inspiration.

Or treat yourself to Cascarones! Mexican confetti eggs are traditionally cracked over the heads of unsuspecting family members during Easter weekend and are now available by the dozen thanks to the glory of the Internet. Feeling creative? Make Cascarones at home with these step-by-step instructions.

Here are our top product picks for Easter weekend:

Chocolate Rabbits DO Lay Eggs: Bonnat Filled Eggshells

Faberge Never Tasted So Good: Sweet Brazil Chocolate Design

Toast the Spring: Fern and Frond Champagne Glasses

Drink Ironically: Babycham is the Cutest Retro Alcapop Going

A Nest of Invigorating Cleanliness: Spring Clean with Robin's Egg Soaps

Fresh, AmazonFresh

A few weeks ago we mentioned Amazon's foray into grocery delivery. Although we had glanced at the website and tossed a few things idly into our shopping cart, we had yet to experience AmazonFresh's delivery system firsthand. Until now.

Yesterday afternoon, with the pantry bare and the hike to the grocery store unbearable, we found ourselves ordering an assortment of food from Seattle's latest online grocer. Having been underwhelmed by other grocery delivery services in the past, we expected to encounter poor product images, odd delivery hours and extra fees. We were pleasantly surprised. In fact, AmazonFresh is pretty darn accessible and convenient from start to finish with prices that undercut many popular grocers in the area.

With products ranging in quality from your average grocery fare to local artisanal brands, AmazonFresh provides gorgeous product shots and allows customers to search for items according to their dietary restrictions. While some areas of the store, like deli, seem a little bare, keep in mind that AmazonFresh is still in its testing phase. When placing our order, we tried to choose a diverse range of items without venturing into areas we are less comfortable with. No matter how beautiful the photograph, it's difficult to relax into purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from a retailer known for their books and DVDs.

Stomachs growling, we reviewed our order and hoped for the best. Our delivery was scheduled to arrive before dawn, gently left on our stoop while we worked on our beauty sleep.

This morning, slipper-footed and in desperate need of caffeine, we opened the front door to four large plastic crates of various colors, each branded with a large lowercase "a." Like the milkman of yore, Amazon had visited in the wee hours of the morning. After dragging the crates inside, we surveyed the packing list and began sorting through our purchases, all present and accounted for. While the packaging may seem a bit excessive, each crate is fully reusable and ready for pick up by Amazon upon reorder. Our groceries were treated with care, not a single egg broken or box punctured. Also, each crate was sealed with a removable plastic zipper to ensure that no nosy neighbors had messed  with our grub.

The verdict? We'll be ordering staples from AmazonFresh in the future and look forward to them expanding their service areas. Now if only they would stock wine...