Image via TimeOut London

Weâ€re sure youâ€ve heard about the breast milk ice cream that one London shop has had on its menu by now, but yesterday we learned that local officials confiscated all of the supply that was on hand at the store due to health concerns. The ice cream is apparently being sent to be tested for hepatitis contamination. {Los Angeles Times}

In case you missed the news, which has been spreading around radio talk shows, newscasts and Internet blogs for about a week, an artisan shop called Icecreamists in London has been selling ice cream made from human breast milk, dubbed “Baby Gaga” and sold for $22 a scoop. Icecreamists†owners promise the ice cream, which is made with vanilla and lemon zest, tastes fantastic. {Shape} Apparently someone out there agreed, as the flavor quickly sold out. {Time Out London}

Concerns from England’s Health Protection Agency that the breast milk used to make the ice cream was not properly tested for harmful bacteria resulted in officials confiscating remaining supplies. Shape spoke with Dr. Ruth Lawrence, director of the Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center, told the health and fitness magazine: “The bigger philosophical issue is there are so many small babies and sick babies who desperately need breast milk. If women have milk to give, it would be wonderful to donate it to a milk bank…I suspect the breast milk ice cream contains only trace amounts, anyway.” For what it’s worth, the Icecreamists have maintained that the breast milk used was tested for the same diseases that blood is tested for when donated.

This may be a case where the gross factor is in our heads, but we wonâ€t be trying Baby Gaga any time soon. Sure, we know where the milk in stores comes from, and cow milk might have an ick factor for some. Still, ingesting anything that contains even a sliver of something that was secreted from another humanâ€s body is just too disgusting. Once youâ€re past a few months old, breast milk should be out of the question. Plus, $22 for a scoop of what amounts to cleverly marketed baby food exceeds our budget range.

The Icecreamists are known for clever names like Sex Bomb and the Vanilla Monologues, but we aren’t sure about this one. We first heard of the product via a tweet that said something about Baby Gaga but didnâ€t say what Baby Gaga was, so we thought Lady Gaga was pregnant or showing off pictures from when she was a child. Incorporating the name of one of the worldâ€s biggest pop stars, while good for grabbing the attention of Gaga fans via vague headlines, doesnâ€t seem like itâ€s all that great for creating a distinct brand identity. With a forthcoming Lady Gaga scent tapping blood and semen for inspiration {Fashionista} and the Lady’s propensity for outfits from the butcher, it’s probably not the kind of association that helps sell people on body fluids as ingredients anyway. On their Facebook page, the Icecreamists say they have a revamped baby formula version ready to roll. Might we suggest a re-naming party to celebrate?

This weekend Signature9 attended Diet Pepsiâ€s Style Studio event in SoHo as part of New York Fashion week, and we have to say we were a bit disappointed with the whole thing. The night promised to include designs by Jonathan Adler, a Diet Pepsi “Skinny Bar” and most importantly a window display by Barneys†Simon Doonan, who was recently moved from being their creative director to “creative ambassador at large.”

The window creation Doonan produced for Diet Pepsi was somewhat impressive. It featured a giant high heel made of the new Diet Pepsi skinny cans (which wonâ€t hit retail shelves until March) as well as an equally large Diet Pepsi skinny can, also made out of regular-sized skinny cans. Both were pretty cool by themselves and must have taken quite a lot of work, but overall we got more of a tart than art vibe from the whole setting. The models working the display were dressed in just a t-shirt, panties and fishnets, and the giant shoe was stripper-heel style, though we do have to give props to the models for being able to balance on a platform made of soda cans. A model laid out on a chaise lounge was also sprawled by the front door, but it came off as cheap rather than eccentric chic.

The interior decorating was classier, but less creative, as it consisted basically of a few white flowers stuck in Diet Pepsi skinny cans throughout the room. There were also apparently special straws by Adler in the Diet Pepsi skinny cans that were served, but we really didnâ€t notice anything special just from drinking from them. Maybe weâ€re oblivious, but we thought they were just colorful.

Most of the headlines and blog posts about the Diet Pepsi Style Studio are actually about Blake Livelyâ€s attendance at the event, not the event itself, which pretty much says it all about just how memorable the night was.

We must say though, if Diet Pepsi is angling to replace Diet Coke as the fashionistaâ€s drink of choice, as many speculated a few weeks ago, they might have more of a chance than we initially predicted. The event was buzzing with fashion types, and Gabrielle Union, Rachel Roy and Lala Vazquez made an appearance in addition to Lively. The brand also partnered with Charlotte Ronson and Betsey Johnson for promotions. Plus, as an official sponsor of Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week, Diet Pepsi was very present in the main tent at Lincoln Center where we didn’t see one Diet Coke. There is work needed on the uptown class part of the campaign, but diet drink loyalty from the fashion set does seem to be up for a Pepsi challenge.

Diet Pepsi has plenty going for it as a 0 calorie, carb and sugar drink. The marketers behind it would be better off keeping it simple and pushing the Skinny Can (which is 12 oz., the same size as a normal soda can) to those looking to lose weight or quit drinking unhealthy soda, rather than those who already have a diet soda favorite. Call us stupid, but until sampling a six-pack of the Diet Pepsi Skinny Cans, we had no idea that Diet Pepsi tastes almost exactly like regular Pepsi. We canâ€t say the same for Diet Coke, which leaves a funky after-taste. Perhaps a money-back guarantee if it doesnâ€t taste like regular Pepsi would be a better hook than sending press releases and samples to fashion bloggers.

Now, switching to diet soda does have its downsides. For one, past studies have shown that those who drink diet soda tend to actually gain more weight because they think choosing a healthier soda means they can eat more. {CBS  News} Not to mention the fact that it is still, after all, soda. Though with Starbucks introducing ever larger cups (the better to accentuate the ever more minimal logo) that not so subtly encourage you to drink more iced coffee, tea or lemonade than some adult stomachs have room for, the mind trick of a taller, skinnier can that doesn’t actually contain any more soda than normal might not be so bad.

If youâ€re looking to improve your soda habits, and you know youâ€ll be able to simply substitute in Diet Pepsi for regular Pepsi, we highly recommend the product (though, oddly enough, the new can – a.k.a. the reason we were sent a product sample in the first place – really has nothing to do with our recommendation). But if youâ€re a water-drinker or you know you like to bargain with your diet, weâ€d say skip it. And if youâ€re a member of the fashion cult, rest assured you can keep sucking down the Diet Coke. We doubt Diet Pepsi will take over the fashion world just because of the Skinny Can. The one thing fashion loves more than skinny is its comfort zone.

Maybe Harold and Kumar were busy?

This week, Stewart and Wang stopped by the White Castle in Herald Square, New York City to help promote slider-and-onion scented candles made by Nest Fragrances. {The Cut} The candles will be sold at White Castle locations nation-wide for $13 each, which The Cut notes is about how much 14 White Castle sliders cost.

The proceeds from the candles will go to Autism Speaks, which is certainly something we can support, but does anyone honestly want their house to smell like White Castle? Weâ€ve seen candles scented like other foods such as cookies, and while White Castleâ€s onion-laid sliders do smell delicious, the fragrance permeating an entire space for a long period of time would probably be a bit much – or at least make you unnecessarily hungry. Whatever happened to good old jasmine and apple-cinnamon candles?

Besides that, isnâ€t it a little strange that Martha Stewart is partnering with White Castle, even if it is for a good cause? The domestic diva gave a speech at White Castle in Herald Square about the charity and White Castle (including how this was not her first visit to the fast food chain) while greasy sliders and martinis were passed through the crowd. A Christmas tree decorated with White Castle cartons was also in attendance. {Elle} Forgive us, but Ms. home-cooked meals and crafty decorations seems a bit out of place in this situation.

In any case, along with the charitable aspect, the other good thing about the burger-scented candles is at least theyâ€re relatively inexpensive – unlike many other off-beat, IEJ-featured products.

It is a unique twist, to say the least

If you love bacon in the morning but want to avoid the unhealthy side effects of eating it for breakfast, you can now enjoy the bacon flavor fat free. How you ask?

Last week, Glamour magazine tweeted that the latest flavored syrup from Torani is bacon, so you can have bacon-flavored coffee or lattes in the morning.

A bottle of the stuff goes for $6.95 on Toraniâ€s Web site, where  it has apparently been sold for a few months now. The site also has maple flavored syrup available, so if you figure out how to drink the combination from a pancake you may be well on your way to having a balanced liquid breakfast. According to Torani’s ½ – 1 oz. of syrup should be used to flavor a 6-8 oz. beverage and they suggest adding bacon flavor to manhattans, milkshakes and bloody marys in addition to coffee. The brand even offers recipes for bacon cocktails, including the Bacon Bourbon Sour, which is made with bacon syrup, lemon juice, bourbon and a garnishing strip of real bacon. {The Consumerist}

Torani claims its bacon-flavored syrup tastes salty, sweet and just like real bacon.

Hey, we didnâ€t say this was a perfect solution to the delicious but oh-so-unhealthy bacon conundrum. Plus, we havenâ€t actually tried bacon-flavored syrup, and it may turn out to be one of those things that sounds disgusting but is actually fantastic.

The Glamour staffer who wrote about the syrup did also mention seeing a café in Seattle that was selling bacon lattes, so maybe bacon-flavored drinks are the next Pumpkin Spice latte and will end up making us look foolish for questioning their tastiness. Maybe.

Answer: Alcohol. In an experiment that USA Today says could be the model for the future of coffee shops, Starbucks†Olive Way “learning lab” store in Seattleâ€s Capitol Hill section has recently reopened and will be the first to offer craft beer and local wines for sale after 4 p.m. in addition to an expanded food menu that includes local cheeses.

Starbucks said in a statement that the experiment “is in response to our customers telling us that they want more options for relaxing in our stores in the afternoon and evenings.” It is also likely a move to steal customers from the less-expensive competition in the super tight $15 billion coffee chain business. {CNN Money}

The coffee retailer is reportedly looking to change its image from modern, cookie-cutter chain store to an older, more eclectic coffee shop as well. The Seattle store will have a different look and feel than any Starbucks store has previously, as local cheeses will be served on china and the barista bar will offer seating for customers, much like in a traditional bar. {USA Today}

Weâ€re all for moves that advance businesses into the future, especially risky ones in this economy, so we have to applaud Starbucks for taking the lead here. They will likely be successful as well, but more because of the changed image than the beer and wine sales, as Starbucks could become more appealing to those who avoid it because they dislike the corporate atmosphere. We are wondering how much beer and wine from the notoriously pricey coffee chain will cost, though. If a Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with whipped cream is $5.17, it’s hard to imagine what a craft beer or glass of local wine will run for.

These are not the younger looking, healthier cows Ben & Jerry's plans to use for their ice cream to make you younger looking and healthy

Just reading about this little tidbit makes our mouths water. Allure Magazine reports that famous ice cream duo Ben & Jerry are in the process of creating a new flavor of the frozen goodness we all love-but this new flavor has a surprising twist.

It seems the pair are hard at work on a project to produce an anti-aging ice cream treat that is touted as “healthy” and “beneficial” in the fight to looking younger and staying healthy.

U.S. scientists were called in on the project to assist Ben and Jerry in creating an antioxidant-rich desert that can prevent the development of disease. The deal was struck with Ampere Life Science last year in San Jose California, but another five years is expected before the end result could hit store freezers. {Fox 5 News}

We guess it isn’t as unexpected as it may first seem, because over the last few years everything from chips to candy to sugary cereals advertise some sort of vitamin, enzyme or nutritional benefit, even if the benefit is trivial when compared to the overall health downsides of the product. To compete with the health craze that society has been on these last few years, the Vermont-based company is looking for the potential edge to give them the advantage in the marketplace. We love Ben & Jerry and think that adding antioxidants can’t hurt – even if it still leaves their treats out of the question for dinner.

Would you buy ice cream with anti-aging claims? Tell us what you think!

The original cafe is located in the Brera Distract in Milan directly behind the Marc by Marc Jacobs retail store. Neon lights and futuristic decor set it apart from competitors.

Cafe number two is slated to open on this side of the Atlantic, more specifically in uptown Manhattan.  MJ’s business partner, Robert Duffy confirmed the plan is in the works and hinted at its uptown locale.

It is noted that there are no Marc Jacobs boutiques uptown so it’s possible they may follow not far behind. Considering the success of mega-designers like Giorgio Armani and Ralph Lauren are partially due to successes outside of fashion, branching out into new markets is a good sign for a designer like Jacobs whose aesthetic and charm make him so versatile in style choice. Even though a home collection is the usual expansion route, we’re looking forward to seeing Jacobs’ design vision expanded – whether it be the coffee shop or the fashion runway. {Racked}

Will the Marc Jacobs name be enough to make you consider a change in your normal coffee provider? If so, what venture do you want to see the growing MJ empire take on next?

Get a head start for the Fall with these yummy baked apples!

New York City got a taste of fall this week, with temperatures dropping to the low seventies and gusty winds kicking up. Since Mother Nature dropped a little fall preview on us New Yorkers, Signature9 decided to give a fall preview as well with our favorite early autumn recipes, compiled from around the net. Weâ€ve got crispy nuts, spicy apples and – of course – pie! Enjoy!

Jamieâ€s Cranberry Spinach Salad

Toasted almonds are the essential ingredient here for bringing this salad from summer to fall. Itâ€s different and perfect for a last-minute dinner. Serves 8.

1 tablespoon butter

3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces

1 cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1/2 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons minced onion

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook and stir almonds in butter until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and let cool.

In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the toasted almonds and cranberries.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, onion, paprika, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, and vegetable oil. Toss with spinach just before serving. {AllRecipes}

Baked Apples

Fall is prime apple season, and thousands of recipes that spotlight the delicious fruit can be found. Below is an easy one to prepare beforehand if youâ€re having guests. Add chopped walnuts for extra fall flavor.

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup sugar

6 same-size Granny Smith apples

2 tablespoons butter, cut into 6 teaspoon-size pieces

1 cup apple juice

6 sprigs fresh mint

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.

Core apples, making sure not to puncture the bottom of the apples so that the juices will remain. Remove skin from 1/2-inch around top of apples at the opening. Fill each cavity with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Top each apple with a teaspoon of butter. Place apples in casserole dish and pour apple juice around them. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from heat, garnish with fresh mint, and serve. {Food Network}

Grape Pie

What would fall be without pie? Take a break from the standard apple and pumpkin pies with this one of a kind.

1/2 cup  packed brown sugar

1/3 cup  all-purpose flour

2 to 3 tablespoons  snipped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon ground sage

7 cups  seedless red or black grapes, halved

1/4 cup  port wine or red grape juice

1 egg white

1 tablespoon  water

Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Prepare Pastry for Double-Crust Pie. For filling, in a large bowl stir together brown sugar, flour, and sage; stir in grapes and port wine. Transfer the filling to the pastry-lined pie plate. Roll remaining dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Cut slits to allow steam to escape. Place pastry on the filling; trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of plate. Fold top pastry under bottom pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Place pie on a baking sheet.

In a small bowl combine egg white and water. Brush top of pie with egg white mixture. Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake for 25 minutes; remove foil. Bake 30 to 35 minutes more or until top of pastry is golden brown and filling bubbles through slits in crust. Remove from oven; cool at least 6 hours. Pie can be baked up to 24 hours ahead. Loosely cover and store at room temperature. Makes 8 servings.

Pastry for Double-Crust Pie: In a medium bowl stir together 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2/3 cup shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon water at a time until all the flour mixture is moistened (about 8 to 10 tablespoons total). Divide dough in half. Form each half into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten 1 dough ball. Roll dough from center to edges into a 12-inch circle. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim pastry even with the rim of the pie plate. Fill pie and continue as directed. {Better Homes and Garden}

Grilled Peaches with Bourbon Vanilla Whipped Cream

This recipe combines two favorite summer foods: fruit and grilled anything. Perfect to throw on the grill once the hamburgers and hotdogs have been served.

1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon bourbon
6 peaches, halved (with pitts removed)
olive oil

Whip the cream in an electric mixer, adding the sugar, vanilla, and bourbon as it starts to thicken. Continue whipping until soft peaks form, about 4 or 5 minutes. Refrigerate.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush a very light layer of olive oil on the cut side of each peach half. Put the peaches face down on the pan, then cover with a medium sauce pan turned upside-down to create a dome over the peaches. Our sauce pan covered about 4 peaches, so you can cook them in batches depending on how big your grill pan and sauce pan are.

Cook peaches for about 6 to 8 minutes, until there are distinct grill marks and the peaches feel warmed through and slightly softened. Remove from pan (they may stick a tiny bit), flip over, and top with a big dollop of whipped cream. Serves up to 12. {The Kitchn}

Margarita Snow Cones

This is perhaps the most fun recipe on the list. Snow cones are the ultimate summer treat, and with a little something added, they can be a perfect barbeque delight.

3 ounces tequila
1 ounce triple sec
3 ounces sour mix
Dash of lemon or lime juice
Salt or sugar to rim the glass, if desired
2 cups shaved ice
4 lime wedges for garnish

Chill 2 margarita or wineglasses in the refrigerator. Pour tequila, triple sec, sour mix and lemon or lime juice into a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Dip the rim of a margarita glass into salt or sugar, if desired. Pack about 1 cup shaved ice into the margarita glass or wineglass. Drizzle each cone equally with margarita mixture. Garnish with lime.

Makes 2 servings. {The Arizona Republic}

Peach Amaretto Sundaes

We know – peaches again? Two times in one list? But theyâ€re just so darn delicious! This dessert is a bit more sophisticated than the last for more formal parties.

2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened slightly
5 tablespoons amaretto
2 tablespoons brandy
6 ripe peaches, peeled if desired, pitted, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup crushed amaretti cookies
mint leaves for decoration (optional)

Combine ice cream, 3 tablespoons amaretto and 1 tablespoon brandy in large bowl. Stir to blend well. Cover and freeze until firm. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep ice cream mixture frozen.)

Combine peaches, sugar, remaining 2 tablespoons amaretto and remaining 1 tablespoon brandy in another large bowl. Toss to coat. Let peach mixture stand until sugar dissolves, tossing occasionally, about 15 minutes.

Divide sliced peaches among 6 dessert bowls or wineglasses. Spoon vanilla ice cream mixture atop peaches. Sprinkle desserts with crushed amaretti cookies. Decorate with  mint  Serve immediately. Serves 6. {Lindaraxaâ€s Garden}

Spiked Watermelon

This one is the easiest of all, and what screams summer more than watermelon?

1 large, ripe watermelon

2 cups amber rum

Cut a hole 2 1/2 inches wide and 2 inches deep in the watermelon rind.
Pour rum through hole and replace rind.
Chill 24 hours.
Serve ice-cold slices. {iFood}