Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates…

Recipe: Delicious chocolate. Ingredients: Healthy, raw, gluten-free goodness mixed with some fabulous female entrepreneurial skills. The result: Nibmor. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Kenzie: Broadway actress, health counselor, marathon runner, and now the co-creator of Nibmor organic dark chocolates.

Ok, so why you decide to make chocolate?

 It came about when I was assistant managing at a bar. I don’t want to say I was miserable in the job, but I just wasn’t fulfilled and I decided to go take classes at The Integrative Institute Of Nutrition (IIN) because my acting was sporadic and I wanted something else. I went into it (IIN) thinking I would focus on a blog and private clients. Then, weekend four of the program, David Wolf (who’s a big raw food guy) came and spoke and was very inspirational. I went to a chocolate party event that evening with my now business partner Jennifer Love. I went to buy some raw chocolate the next day and I couldn’t believe how expensive it was… I was really shocked. And there was a lot of ingredients in there I didn’t really understand. I mean, a lot of those ingredients are great, but I was a little strapped for cash and I decided I could make it myself.

How did you know where to begin?

I found a recipe online and played around with it and ended up totally changing it. I asked Jennifer to meet me for lunch, and thought: “What have I got to lose?” I let her try it and she looked at me and she goes “We have to do this!” and that was how it all started. And we literally put Nibmor together in 6 months.

How were you able to make Nibmor different from other raw vegan chocolates on the market?

Initially it was going to be along the same lines as the expensive chocolates I found in the stores. But then Jennifer and I noticed Josh Rosenthal (founder of IIN) kept saying over and over how we live in the land of opportunity and everyone should be able to afford an organic tomato. Everyone should be able to afford vegetables. And then we thought, “Why can’t everyone afford good quality chocolate? And what’s preventing us from doing that?” So we decided to simplify the recipe and eliminate the extra “super foods” found in other raw, vegan chocolates. So we created a high quality chocolate that was affordable to the mainstream. Now people could go to the grocery store and spend less than $5 on a raw, vegan, non-GMO, dairy free, and gluten free product with no refined sugar.

How did you go from cooking in your kitchen to creating chocolate for the masses?

Google was our best friend. We talked to other small business owners. We checked out various commercial spaces. We did our research and followed through until we found what we wanted.

What’s coming up next for Nibmor?

Before the holidays we’ll launch a mint chocolate bar and in the spring we’ll have a coconut chocolate bar. We want to create products that are familiar and non-intimidating. So we’re trying to be a sort of gateway for products that regular people can relate to.

Anything else you’d like for people to know?

We are donating five percent of our profits to organizations try to prevent the top four killers of the United States: the Cancer organizations including the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society (largely because my father died of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma), the American Heart Association, the Diabetes Association, and Autism. So we’re trying to keep it home. We’re trying to get our people healthy here. It’s really important because people are not healthy in this country.

I can personally attest to the yumminess of Nibmor and the awesomeness of Miss Heather Kenzie! BEE GOOD by ordering your chocolate today from  www.nibmor.com … Happy Eating!!!

Puppy Mills In The Dog House

Check out my latest article on ecorazzi about the latest way to help stop puppy mills. I will warn you that I wrote “pure bread dogs” instead of “pure bred dogs”… oops! That’s what I get for relying on spellcheck late at night!

Feelin’ Groovy

When Abigail Rosen  took a trip to Costa Rica after college she was trying to figure out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Remembering the joy that dance and musical theater brought her in high school, she realized she had found her calling…. and the spark was ignited for Groove With Me.

Groove With Me dancers

Groove with Me is a non-profit dance studio for girls in the East Harlem and South Bronx community and provides free classes, costumes, and dance shoes for approximately 220 students per year. Along with 40 volunteer teachers and a dedicated Board of Directors, Rosen has her hands full…. and after meeting with her this week at her dance studio, I can see why she wouldn’t have it any other way:

BG: So many people have intentions of starting a non-profit, but for a variety of reasons, are never able to get it off the ground. Why do you believe Groove With Me has continued to be so successful- especially in such a difficult economic enovironment?

AR: I have always known that Groove With Me became so successful because it has drawn great people to it from the beginning. Our Board of Directors is a real working board. They are hands-on involved in every aspect including fundraisers, financial details, and marketing. Having people like Gregory Hines involved was an incredible help as well.

BG: Why do you believe it is so important to have a non-profit dance studio?

AR: First of all, the joy.  Whatever these girls are going through, they can come here and get their minds off it for an hour. Secondly, the achievements. Dance encourages teamwork, goal setting, creativity, and enhances cognitive abilities like memorization.

BG: Why just girls?

AR: I believe that girls need a place to move their hips without being sexualized. They need an environment where they don’t need to wear makeup, can be what they want to be, and not feel they have to act coy.

BG: It sounds like an amazing program. What are the requirements for participating?

AR: All we ask is that they are a member of the community and have consistent attendance.

BG: In addition to taking classes, the girls get to perform?

AR: Absolutely. This Sunday is our 7th annual end-of-the-year performance for the families. It’s a full show with a stage, lights, costumes, sound etc. We have a donation box but it’s a free show for the families of all the kids. And they always have a blast! We also have a huge benefit every year called Tap and Tapas night where New York’s hottest chefs participate and we have an auction and the students perform. We’ve been honored to have Savion Glover participate as well.

Advanced Tap Student With Savion Glover

BG: The kids are clearly enjoying themselves at Groove With Me…what part of your job brings you the most joy?

AR:  Every day the kids come in and give us hugs! I love the kids, the things they say… I can’t imagine not being with them.

BG: One last question: what does Bee Good Now mean to you?

AR: I’d have to say I think it’s making a difference to others.

I’d say that’s pretty groovy!

To donate, volunteer, or find more information go to www.groovewithme.org

Abigail Rosen And Top Chef Tom Colicchio At Tap & Tapas