wildflower press kit

press kitjuly, 2011

aboveThe marque announcing Chef Ayinde at NYC’s LTO (Limited Time Only) 171 East Broadway, New York, NY.

leftMenu, opening night supper.

belowSelling out all three nights Wildflower was both a culinary and social phenomenon for both foodies and the vegan community alike.

Like the beauty of blossoming annuals in the field, Wildflower is a phenomenon that is here today and gone tomorrow. The latest in a wide array of food trends, Pop-Up Restaurants are proving to be breakout venues for culinary artisans and emerging chefs.

Wildflower is a one-of-a-kind crowd-funded pop-up restaurant that brings the finest plant-based cuisine to discerning foodies and tastemakers. Wildflower New York popped-up in Downtown Manhattan’s exclusive LTO (Limited Time Only) Restaurant. For three days, patrons were taken on a 28-course journey across a diverse landscape of vegan cuisine ranging from Soul Food to Raw Fusion to Chef Ayinde’s own “Street Food” Tasting Menu. The Opening Night reception featured celebrity guests, style icons, and giveaways from Vaute Couture, The Ethical Man, and Evolve Jewelry. For the weekend, Chef Ayinde drew from his wildly successful monthly event, The Brooklyn Petit Dejeuner, and crafted an eclectic interpretation of the Waffle Brunch.

Crowd-funded through kickstarter.com, Wildflower is a direct response to the demand for fun, delicious gourmet Vegan dining in an upscale atmosphere.

Following the success of Wildflower’s NYC opening Chef Ayinde Howell will be taking his seeds on the road planting Wildflower pop-ups in new cities.

For press inquiries please contact Andy Stepanian at [email protected] or 631.291.3010

above leftGrilled quinoa & polenta cakewith radish slaw and cashew dill aioli

abovePoached pear Manhattan Rhubarb Mimosa

leftMac & Yease

belowBiscuit topped cherry cobbler with organic cashew ice cream

“Vegan food that is remarkably tasty and robust”

—elane louie, The New York Timeshttp://nytimes.com/2011/06/08/dining/dining-calendar-from-june-9.html

“The pop-up trend (with its largely set meals) is one realm that’s generally not too friendly to the meatless.

That’ll change next weekend”

—grub street, New York Magazinehttp://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/06/lto_to_host_nycs_first_vegan_p.html

“A very vegan pop-up ...will serve everything from a ‘contemporary American supper’ to a Saturday Cajun brunch

to a raw fusion dinner to a street food tasting menu.”

—rebbecca marx, The Village Voicehttp://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2011/06/lto_vegan_pop-u.php


wildflowercollected press& reviewsjune2011


Veg News Magazine, feature & advance review http://www.vegnews.com/web/articles/page.do?pageId=3200&catId=8

Gothamist, feature http://gothamist.com/2011/06/06/pop-up_trend_now_accommodating_vega.php

The Lo-Down NYC, feature http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2011/06/russ-daughters-rhong-tiam-smac.html

Food Republic Magazine, featurehttp://www.foodrepublic.com/2011/06/08/wildflower-my-vegan-pop-restaurant

Eater NY, featurehttp://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/06/12_cant_miss_popup_dinners_to_check_out_this_month.php

The Discerning Brute, feature & advance reviewhttp://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2011/05/05/la-jolla-seals-wildflower/http://www.thediscerningbrute.com/2011/06/03/wildflower-pops-up-in-new-york/

New York Examiner, featurehttp://examiner.com/vegan-in-new-york/vegan-pop-up-restaurant-nyc-this-weekend-only

Daily Globe, featurehttp://vegetarian.thedailyglobe.com/2011/06/06/nyc-vegan-pop-up-opens/

POMP Magazine, feature http://pomponline.com/?p=1612

Our Hen House, feature http://www.ourhenhouse.org/2011/06/crowd-funded-vegan-pop-up-restaurant-inspires/

NYC, PointsLocal, featurehttp://nyc.pointslocal.com/news/2011/06/03/nyc/287424/at-lto-ayinde-howell-will-stage-a-very-vegan-pop-up

wildflowercollected press& reviewsjune2011


Friends Eat, interview with chef ayindehttp://blog.friendseat.com/interview-chef-ayinde-howell-wildflower

SuperVegan, mentionhttp://supervegan.com/blog/entry.php?id=1740

HFM Group, listinghttp://thehfmgroup.blogspot.com/2011/05/introducing-wildflower-plant-based-pop.html

Sexy Tofu, featurehttp://sexytofu.com/2011/04/30/new-yorks-first-pop-up-vegan-restaurant/

Capture + Rapture, featurehttp://capture-rapture.com/2011/05/17/chef-ayinde-opens-wildflower-restaurant/

Remembering God, featurehttp://www.remembergod.org/en/vegetarian-news.aspx?id=1394964386

Yum Veggie Burgers, listinghttp://www.yumveggieburger.com/2011/06/wildflower-pop-up.html

The Whelming, review & photo featurehttp://www.thewhelming.com/2011/05/wildflower/http://www.thewhelming.com/2011/06/wildflower-2/

Vegan Apatite, featurehttp://www.veganappetite.com/2011/06/food-network-friday-chicken-and.html

Veganism & Stuff, feature http://veganismandstuff.tumblr.com/post/6180621050/crowd-funded-pop-up-wildflower-serves-28-courses-of

Secret Cooking Recipes, listing http://secretcookingrecipes.net/at-lto-ayinde-howell-will-stage-a-very-vegan-pop-up/

Chef ’s Connection, listing http://thechefsconnection.com/2011/06/04/wildflower-a-vegan-pop-up-at-lto/

Kris Karragan Blog, mentionhttp://kriscarrigan.com/vegan/latest-news-183/

topAmuse: Spinach, Avocado & Watermelon with balsamic Grand Mariner glaze

bottomBrunch: The closest I’ ll come to “Chicken & Waffles” Waffle.


Eco-Sex, featurehttp://ecosex.net/hungry-take-your-veggie-lover-for-the-meal-of-a-lifetime-at-wildflower/

Inhabitat, featurehttp://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-york-citys-first-vegan-pop-up-restaurant-opening-this-friday-in-the-les/

Cri De Coeur, featurehttp://cri-de-coeur.com/events/wildflower-vegan-pop-up-restaurant-opening-party/

Raw Clarity, featurehttp://blogg.aftonbladet.se/rawclarity/2011/06/lto-limited-time-only-presents-a-vegan-menu

On Our Sleeve, featurehttp://onoursleeve.com/?p=2521

Organized Wisdom, featurehttp://organizedwisdom.com/nyc-vegan-popup-opens/5021485/nxi/med

Big City Vegan, featurehttp://bigcityvegan.com/blog/2011/06/10/new-vegan-restaurant-in-nyc-wildflower-blooms-for-three-days-only/

Girlie Girl Army, feature & editorial by chef ayindehttp://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20110609/a-wildflower-grows-on-the-lower-east-side/http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20110606/400-years-later-and-still-slaves-to-soul-food/

I8 NYC, featurehttp://i8nyc.com/2011/06/10/event-–-lto-nyc-presents-ayinde-howell-wildflower-popup-dinner-jun10-12/

Gluten Free Faces, featurehttp://www.glutenfreefaces.com/forum/topics/gluten-free-wildflower-vegan

Meet the Shannons Blog, feature & reviewhttp://meettheshannons.net/2011/06/summer-in-city.htmlhttp://meettheshannons.net/2011/06/restaurant-review-wildflower.html

The Ethical Bella, featurehttp://ethicalbella.com/post/6459817035/wildflower

Andrew Hur Photography, review & photo featurehttp://www.andrewhur.com/portfolio/events/wildflower/


About Chef Ayinde Howell

Ayinde Howell is a 4th generation entrepreneur, Executive Vegan Chef and Founder of the food and lifestyle blog, ieatgrass.com. He specializes in a variety of Vegan fare including Soul Food, Raw, and New American cuisines. His recipes have been featured in the New York Times, Time Out and BET’s top-rated show, ‘106 & Park’. Ayinde started creating signature dishes in Seattle, as co-owner of Hillside Quickies Vegan Sandwich Shop, an offshoot of his family’s business. Hillside Quickies became a popular restaurant known for blasting hip-hop music during crowded lunch rushes and being a favorite for artists like The Roots, Saul Williams, Common and Erykah Badu. Now based in New York City, Ayinde has served as Executive Chef at Jivamukti Yoga School and as a Personal Health Consultant and Personal Chef for celebrities like Russell Simmons and clients from various walks of life and culinary palates.

To arrange an interview with Chef Ayinde Howell, to arrange a tasting, or to obtain high-resolution images of his culinary creations please contact Andy Stepanian at 631.291.3010 or email [email protected]

Photo credit: Kate Echle http://Katherinekellyphoto.com

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wildflower press kit

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