How it All Began

Miami has needed a popsicle stand for some time now. The other night walking around Art Walk my business partner - David and I were discussing the possibilities of having a bike that we could use to sell popsicles for art walk and Art Basel. The next day, David began searching online for such a thing. This is how we found our Pop-cycle bike: fully functioning with a built in freezer. After investing in the bike we went to work creating and modifying the 5 key flavored popsicles that we would have:

• Cilantro Mango
• Frangi-Pangi Watermelon
• Jalapeno Limeade
• Guanabana Sesame 
• Tamarind Cumin

Creating the perfect recipes was a challenge. We wanted flavors that were tropical but with an interesting flair. After a couple of weeks of working away we finally had it.


Creating the logo, packaging, uniforms and bike decorations was the next hurdle. This was my all time favorite part of the creation of Pop-Cycle. The key to a successful enterprise is the ability to brand and sell it.    The look was a 1950's Pin-up and Milk delivery man combined. I sewed the outfits and found hats to suit the look. All the ground-work was laid for the kick-off party.

The Popsicle Song

We decided on using Jan & Dean's Popsicle song as our theme song that we will play from the bike as we pedal around. We just installed speakers and our testing out the sound quality. Jan and Dean have
created the perfect song for our look and product. "You wanna keep cool and it doesn't drip and it comes on a stick!"
Popsicles were very popular between the 1920's and 1970's - a time when Good Humor trucks were able to travel the streets and sell the cheap popsicles. After the 1970's Good Humor trucks could no longer afford the rising cost of fuel and ceased to sell popsicles in the streets. Pop-Cycle has found a solution to this problem - human powered vehicles: the lovely bike!

The Kick-Off Party

The Kick-Off party was a great success. We used an old warehouse in the Design District and sent out invites to everyone we knew. We created drinks based off of the popsicle recipes and gave them out all night. The Cilantro Mango martinis were a great hit. Over 500 people showed up and dressed up for the 1950's themed party. We hired the Dandy Rock Club to come and DJ. The bike community came out in full force to see the freezer bike. We plan to do regular parties to build up our customer base and continue to strengthen the bike community here in Miami. I attached some images from the party.

Food Blogs to Check Out

I often check food blogs for interesting recipes and fresh ideas.  I have compiled a list of some of my favorites for you to check out.
The Smitten Kitchen
The Smitten Kitchen is my all time favorite. Deb is an amazing chef, great writer, and the best part is that she is a spectacular photographer. I love looking at her pictures and getting very hungry in the process.
Healthy Green Kitchen
This is another great food blog that focuses on ways to make your kitchen "greener". I love her tips on composting, having your own bees, and eating local and healthy. She is also a great photographer too!
Roost
Caitlin is an artist and a food connoisseur. Her blog is beautifully designed and her photos are very earthy and delicious. I love how she incorporates her friends and food together in many of her posts. This blog is great to read when you need a break from the day to day grind.
Happyolks
This is another beautifully designed blog. Kelsey and Shaun create feasts that encourage community and happiness. I love the style of photography that Shaun does in this blog and the meals look spectacular.

These are some of my favorite blogs that keep me blogging and creating. I hope you enjoy!

Guavas are here!

Guava-Passion Fruit Popsicles!

Our guava tree just started bearing guavas, so we are in the throws of harvesting. Guava is one of our favorite fruits to use in recipes. It adds such a nice texture and flavor to all things! Today we decided on making Guava-Passion fruit Popsicles. To make your own version of this popsicle follow the recipe below. We recommend using fresh guavas and passion fruit. You can replace the passion fruit with a variety of other fruits including pineapple, apple, mango, or lychee.
Come out to Art Walk this weekend and taste the new flavor as well as the other delightful pop-cycles we have been freezing all week.

Guava-Passion Fruit Popsicles Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1/3
•  cup water
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
• 7 to 8 ripe passion fruits (about 11 ounces), halved
• 1 11.5-once can guava nectar (about 1 1/2 cups

Ingredient Info:

Choose passion fruit that is wrinkled on the outside, which indicates that the fruit is ripe.

• 

  Preparation:

Combine 1/3 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon lime juice in small bowl; stir until sugar dissolves. Using spoon, scoop flesh from passion fruits into sugar mixture. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer into small bowl; press on seeds with rubber spatula to extract as much liquid as possible (you will need 1 cup strained liquid); discard seeds in strainer.
Divide passion fruit mixture among eight 3-ounce paper cups (about 2 tablespoons for each). 

Stretch plastic wrap tightly over top of each cup, covering completely and securing each with rubber band. Insert ice pop stick or lollipop stick through plastic wrap and into mixture in each cup (taut plastic will hold stick in place). Place cups in muffin pan, tilting cups at angle. Freeze until passion fruit mixture is set, about 3 hours.

Meanwhile, stir guava nectar, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and 1 tablespoon lime juice in 2-cup measuring cup until sugar dissolves. Chill mixture until cold. Remove cups with frozen passion fruit mixture from freezer; stand cups upright in muffin pan. Peel back some of plastic wrap on each. Pour guava mixture atop frozen passion fruit mixture in cups, dividing equally. Cover with plastic wrap, secure with rubber band, and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.