Meaningful Marshmallow Experience

For the purposes of today's post, I bring you a small vignette from a conversation with a co-worker which took place in the kitchen in our office suite. If you've ever met me, you know that it is not rare for me to react very enthusiastically about unexpected things. If we haven't met, just keep this in mind as you read on. Sometimes overreaction brings free gourmet marshmallows. Here's how:

Wild and Crazy Pearlette: This weekend is my friend Meredith's bachelorette party and I am so excited to celebrate her!

Caroline S.: Really? What are the plans? Can you talk about 'em at work?

Wild and Crazy Pearlette: Oh, of course. It's not that type of party. We're surprising her with an evening working behind the counter at Mr. Yogato then we're going to the roller derby tomorrow.

Caroline S.: Oh! That sounds so fun! I love the DC Roller Girls. One of my friends is actually a member of the Daemoncats and her husband makes those really good cookies they sell at the door.

Wild and Crazy Pearlette: YOU KNOW THE PERSON WHO MAKES THOSE COOKIES?

And so... after a few moments of talking about these cookies (cookies as big as your head filled with peanuts and hazelnuts and chocolate chips) Caroline offered to connect me with her friends Karen and Ryan E.--the roller girl and her baker husband behind the cookies. I obviously jumped at the chance.

I was expecting an e-mail exchange with a few questions back and forth and maybe getting a cookie or two (and maybe a homemade marshmallow--another one of Ryan's specialty also sold at the Derby) delivered through Caroline for blogging purposes. BUT, to my surprise, Ryan and Karen invited me over for dinner and a three course dessert. Once again, I jumped at the chance.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into--firstly, I should have fasted for 24 hours before this meal. Secondly, a part of the dinner consisted of a bowl made of cheese filled with pasta. Is that part of some sort of carbohydrate/cheese fantasy you had thought up once but were never really sure how to operationalize it? Good, me too.

So the dinner happened, and as we chatted, I learned two very important things:

1. Last year, Ryan was named the DC Roller Girls volunteer of the year for all of his fundraising bake sale efforts. Here is is posing with his roller skate wheel award.
2. Ryan is actually launching a little business selling his sublime homemade marshmallows and the heavily cookies mentioned above. The name is The Karen Mary Co. and the website (still under construction) is www.karenmaryco.com. Check 'em out now. And by the time you finish reading my recap of the evening, you will surely want to "like" 'em on Facebook and maybe even place an order.

The Cheese Bowl
I wasn't lying. Here are photos to prove the presence of the bowl made of cheese. Ryan made the creation of said bowls look easy, but I am sure it takes lots of practice to get the cheese the correct amount of melty and then set properly. I just ask you to spend a second thinking about this as an actual edible item--how would you react if this was presented in front of you? I took my camera out immediately, then took a bite (obv).



The Cookies
How cute is Ryan in his crisp white apron? And his kitchen was SPOTLESS even though he was cooking up batches of cookies for us to enjoy (and then some to take home). The cookies are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. They are brimming with chocolate chips and hazelnuts, peanuts, and a hint of cinnamon. I felt like I was in the presence of cookie greatness watching Ryan whip some up...


The Marshmallows
Okay, these are obviously what Ryan loves making most. He has experimented with the some really delicious flavor combination and is doing some very unique and yummy things with the traditional white fluffy mallow creation. My favorite combination that I sampled was the strawberry marshmallow covered in chocolate with sea salt on the top. Yes, you heard me. Salty and sweet, together again... dipped in chocolate. The thin chocolate coating was the perfect compliment to the sweet and fluffy center. Ryan also presented us with a batch that were caramel favored, covered in chocolate, then sprinkled with peanuts on top. Lastly, the orange creme marshmallow is a two layer situation not to forget.


Trend Spotting
You heard it here first (maybe): marshmallows are the next cupcake in food trends. Or something. I am just glad that Ryan is now making 'em available for sale (at the Roller Derby and beyond). He mentioned something about marshmallows that were round and could fit on top of mugs of hot chocolate coming in the near future. Meaningful marshmallow experience... yes please.

So, that's the scoop. Ryan and Karen are really fun people and their company, The Karen Mary Co., is a local DC biz to check out. Why not support the folks down the street with the tricked out flavors as opposed to those factory made 'mellows in the plastic bag?