no, no? nunu!

Oh, #heyboo & Happy Thursday! Today was an inspirational day. I had lunch with a friend whom I met through one of my clients while working for the Nets. He filled me with so much wisdom, and reminded me that I will attract everything I need just by the energy I exude. Sometimes I just need reinforcement for that extra confidence booster. I had some extra time in between meetings, so I decided to pop in to Nunu Chocolates on 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Andy, one of my former clients, and his wife own this cute coffee/chocolate/beer/wine shop. They also have a second location on Atlantic Avenue, but the 5th Avenue location is more of the hang out spot. I love coming here for the interesting beer selection, the dairy-free chocolate and muffin options, and the cute coffee-shop vibe. They have 10 beers on tap and 10 wine options, including 3 sparkling wines. Andy and his wife also invested in a pressurized growler system, meaning that the tap is custom made with a special filtration formula that makes for a more smooth and crisp beer. This also helps to keep the body of the beer intact in order to mitigate excessive carbonation. If you are a beer connoisseur like I like to call myself [this self-proclaimed title has yet to be confirmed by a third party, FYI], then you know how critical it is to have a fresh tap for an exceptional beer experience. I once had Blue Moon from a bad tap, and it was literally sour. That was no concern at Nunu's! Today, I enjoyed the Pull Brewing Tricerahopter IPA, brewed somewhere in upstate New York. It was EXCELLENT! As you may or may not know, IPA's are rather aggressive in taste, and some people don't prefer them. However, this one was rather tasty and not too bitter. It paired well with the dairy-free banana chocolate-chip muffin. Nunu's uses local venders mostly for their craft beer and wine selection, so don't go there looking for a Bud Light. You won't find it, and YUCK! In regards to their chocolate selection, they sell handmade specialty chocolates, with dairy-free options, that come from a family owned farm in Columbia. However, the chocolates are processed right here in Brooklyn. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are on the menu as well. There's more than enough seating, all made from wood scraps that Andy creatively repurposed from construction site scraps. As we say in Jamaica, "Spoil mek style!". Another fun fact: I am a sucker for recycled and repurposed materials [I just LOVE hearing those stories!] and exposed brick walls. Nunu's has both, so from a decor standpoint, I feel right at home [well, right at my DREAM HOME I should say since I lack exposed brick and repurposed, recycled anything in my current room]. Now that the weather is picking up, the outdoor patio is also opening up out back, and it's so romantic! Overall, this spot is great to get work done, catch up with friends, and also for dates! Another reason I personally love this place is because the food options are minimal, which means I can only spend so much money on food I don't need! If you didn't already get this by now, food is to Shanelle as kryptonite is to Superman. At Nunu Chocolates, the distractions are minimal and the focus is on your alone time, your work, or quality time with your guest - plus awesome beer, or whatever you like. Over the next few weeks, they will also begin testing out a live music component, so be on the lookout! It would be awesome to have Steeve perform here and gain some new Brooklyn fans. There - I put it out into the universe. Let's see if we attract that!

Peace, Kings & Queens

xoxo

Shanelle Julia Rosita Campbell