By Christina Najjar By Christina Najjar | July 19, 2019 | Food & Drink,
With National Ice Cream Day around the corner, it is time to get creative about where you’ll be getting your scoop, (or two). We have a suggestion and its brand new. This is not your average soft serve. As of this week, Seed + Mill will be serving up vegan soft serve at their Chelsea Market outpost. With a drizzle of delicious tahini, this is not to be missed.
Seed + Mill is the “it” tahini and although that may sound ridiculous, it only takes a scroll on Instagram to see that every chic wellness influencer, famous chef and health-conscious blogger is downing it by the spoonful. The incredible brand is the product of three friends, Lisa Mendelson, Monica Molenaar and Rachel Simons, united by a shared passion for food, cooking and high quality, healthy ingredients.
Inspired to create something unique, they experimented in their kitchens with version after version of halva and tahini recipes, dreaming up surprising combinations of these traditional foods. Now with an always-bustling stall in Chelsea Market, the brand is going from strength to strength.
What was the original inspiration behind your brand?
RACHEL SIMONS: Seed + Mill was founded by three health-conscious moms who all love to cook, travel and each have a sense of adventure when it comes to food and trying new things. We wanted to take products like halva and tahini, which have been eaten around the Mediterranean and Middle East for thousands of years, but give them a new lease on life by creating innovative flavors, a cleaner ingredient label and beautiful gift-able packaging! It is exciting to bring something to the market that is unique and watch people create new and inspiring dishes.
What’s your favorite recipe using tahini?
RS: Very hard to answer this question! But, I don't think I could ever make chocolate brownies again without adding the tahini swirl at the end! It adds so much complexity to the flavor and balances really well with the sweetness of the chocolate. Our favorite tahini chocolate brownie recipe in on our website, as well as a bunch of other great sesame-inspired recipes.
What’s been the most rewarding part about building the brand?
RS: Probably the part I love the most is building a team and giving others the opportunity to grow and develop their skills and experience. I hate saying goodbye to a great team member, but I am always proud to see them taking the next step in their careers and knowing that Seed + Mill has helped them get there. On the other hand, some of the team members who were there with us the day we opened our store in Chelsea Market are still working with us today and I hope never leave!
Tell us about the new vegan soft serve!
RS: Our tahini and most of our halva is vegan, so over the years, we have built a loyal vegan following. We are thrilled to finally be able to share our tahini soft-serve with the vegan or dairy-free community! The ice-cream is made with a cashew and dark chocolate base and we then add the tahini, which gives it a richer flavor and texture. We then add halva crumbles and an extra drizzle of tahini to make it even more indulgent!
What’s next for Seed + Mill?
RS: We are launching a new retail halva line in three of our best selling flavors that will be available outside of Chelsea Market in grocery and specialty stores around the country. Check our website and Instagram for where to buy starting in the Fall.
What are you loving this summer?
RS: Eating the sun-ripened cherry tomatoes I have been growing in the little planter box on my terrace, drizzled with tahini, of course!
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