Latest news with #MollyBaz
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
When cooks lose their dream kitchens
Their custom-built homes, each with kitchens tailored for their specific cooking needs, burned in the Eaton Fire. But through the loss, cookbook author Molly Baz and novelist/food writer Michelle Huneven have found renewed appreciation for friends and family.
Time Magazine
26-06-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Bobbie
When American parents began ordering infant formula from Europe, where regulations against additives like corn syrup are more strict than in the U.S., a new American company called Bobbie met the demand. The 'European-style' formula has been marketed with slogans like, 'I like it shaken, not stirred' and created viral moments like buying a giant ad in Times Square featuring cookbook author Molly Baz breastfeeding with a can of Bobbie in her hand. Good deeds also helped boost the company's profile: They have provided formula for families impacted by the California wildfires and moms who have had mastectomies. Within 18 months of launching in 2021, Bobbie surpassed $100 million in revenue. Co-founder and CEO Laura Modi, mother of four, recently raised eyebrows with many of her customers when she joined a group that will consult with controversial HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on updating nutrition guidelines for formula. But Modi, who emphasizes the importance of bringing a mother's perspective to the male-dominated group consulting with Kennedy, has long asserted that nutritional standards are a non-partisan issue and wants to impose restrictions on ingredients like sucrose in U.S.-made formulas to make sure the first food that many babies feed on, regardless of cost, are healthful. 'I feel like we've become experts in navigating politics, politicians, the lobbying world,' she told TIME earlier this year on Bobbie's political advocacy work more generally. 'We have an opportunity to really question the status quo to give needed support to parents.'
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
Molly Baz launches new miso mayonnaise right in time for tomato sandwich season
Molly Baz is back with a zippy new flavor launch from her hit specialty mayonnaise line that could be the perfect summer sandwich condiment: Miso Mayo. The two-time New York Times bestselling cookbook author, known for her flavor-packed recipes and quirky culinary lingo -- like " Cae Sal" for "Caesar salad" -- launched the new umami-forward white miso Ayoh flavor on Wednesday. "It's the latest and the greatest, my new obsession," she said in a video on Instagram, discussing the "years in the making" "magical flavor" she saved specifically for summer. The salty and sweet condiment is made with a blend of white miso, toasted sesame seeds, and a touch of brown sugar, which Baz said is "acidic and a little roasty, toasty." "It can be a marinade, it can be a dressing," she said -- or her personal favorite, the saucy base for a summer tomato sandwich. Ayoh is available online, as well as hitting shelves nationwide in July at Whole Foods Market, following Baz's recent $4.5 million deal that helped secure the LA-based entrepreneur a spot in the popular grocery chain. Check out Baz's recipe below for an taste of the hit summer condiment. Miso Mayo Tomato Sando Ingredients 2 slices of bread, classic white or a crusty sourdough 1 juicy summer tomato (heirloom if you're feelin' fancy) A fat squirt of Ayoh Miso Mayo Flaky salt (don't be shy) Black pepper (lots) Optional zhuzh-ups: fresh basil, sesame seeds, a drizzle of olive oil, a swipe of butter if you're extra Directions Butter up the bread and toast it up. Give that bread a nice golden tan. Just toast 1 side only. The toasted side becomes the inner part of the sando. Slice your toms. Thick slabs of tomato only. None of that paper-thin nonsense. Lay them out, super generously season with salt & pepper, and give 'em a minute to drip their little hearts out. Sauce it up. Take your Ayoh Miso Mayo and slather it on both slices. Top. Bottom. Maybe even the sides. Miso's got toasted sesame + brown sug', and that nutty-savory-sweet combo deserves full coverage. Assemble the sando. Layer on your tomatoes. Crack over some more black pep. Shower with flaky salt. Maybe a leaf of basil if you're feeling herby. Maybe a little olive oil glisten if you wanna go full glossy. Smush it gently to let the juices mingle. Then bite. Smile. Sauce your chin. Repeat.
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Molly Baz's Ayoh! Sauces Enter Whole Foods Market For Its First National Retail Partner
Ayoh! Foods cofounder chef Molly Baz Ayoh! Foods Seven short months of globbing onto countless sandwiches, and now one of the most notable CPG launches of the past year is making its strongest squeeze yet. Ayoh! Foods, the flavor-focused condiment company from chef Molly Baz, enters Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. '[Ayoh!] is a colossal project,' Baz tells me. 'I am so grateful that people are chasing the product, recognizing its quality, and helping us get there so quickly.' Ayoh! Foods also reveals that it has raised a $4.5 million seed round, $3.3 million of which is new cash, led by Imaginary Ventures. In addition to its Dill Pickle, Hot Giardinayo and Tango Dijonayo varieties, Ayoh! will launch its flavored products on Whole Foods shelves with an exclusive flavor to the natural grocer, a brand new umami-rich flavor. 'I saw a white space in the marketplace,' Baz adds. 'I am committed to solving problems in the food industry and delivering deliciousness at all costs.' Molly Baz Ayoh! Foods Sandwich Shop To Countertop Jeff Mauro better make some room on the throne, because Baz keeps a close eye on each and every sandwich accoutrement possible. The venture for her particularly started during the pandemic. 'I became very sandwich obsessed,' she says. On her social media accounts, she's practically made condiments her entire personality, even starting a sandwich podcast where she would dissect the necessary minutia of the likes of tuna melts, BLTs and PB&Js. Ayoh! Hot Giardinayo sando sauce Ayoh! Foods From a Philly cheesesteak to a Chicago hoagie to a reuben at a New York deli, there's personal pride in each corner of the country that makes people feel at home with their sandwich of choice. Ayoh! capitalizes on that. 'I'm a huge fan of Chicago style giardiniera,' Baz says about her inspiration behind her punchy pepper Hot Giardinayo sauce. 'When I stir this giardiniera into the mayo, all of a sudden the mayo becomes so much more dynamic.' Ayoh! is a practical extension of those beloved staples. 'We're really trying to bring that sandwich shop to countertop moment at home,' says Ayoh! Foods cofounder and CEO David McCormick. That intention that the brand was founded on is working in real time. Baz has found that Ayoh! customers are not only using it in their homemade sandwiches, but they're bringing their deli-bought sandwiches home so that they can specifically squeeze Ayoh! onto it. 'For me,' she says, 'that's the ultimate success story of Ayoh!' Not Just Another Celebrity Brand Her pulsecheck that there was a vacuum specifically in 'dialed up, super bold-flavored, textured sando sauces,' as Baz puts it, seems to have been accurate, because consumers from the coasts to middle America are making it a staple in their homes. 'We sold out four months worth of inventory in two weeks,' says McCormick. 'It was almost 100,000 pounds of Mayo.' More than 170,000 bottles of Ayoh! have been sold since launch. Ayoh! Tangy Dijonayo sando sauce Ayoh! Foods And Ayoh! has proven that it's not some coastal craze. 'Early indicators when we launched showed there's plenty of momentum in the Midwest…that's really important to us,' McCormick says. 'We'll win the day if we can actually be just as popular in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee. The great thing is there's a lot of affinity for mayo throughout the US.' That's something rarely seen in celebrity brands, but Baz and McCormick have managed to unlock genuine authenticity. 'Nobody sat down in a room and looked at categories and thought about the gaps…Molly was like, 'some people I know make boring sandwiches.' It's just that easy.' Ayoh's timely resonance also allowed the brand to raise a relatively quick seed round, the capital of which will go towards expanding the Ayoh! team, broadening brand presence, and facilitating wider distribution. '[Imaginary Ventures has] Flavor And Format While Ayoh! sells an original mayo, it will not be present on Whole Foods shelves, which already has a substantial assortment of original mayos. The flavors are at the core of the brand, and as Whole Foods Market's category merchant for shelf-stable condiments Juliana Bandin tells me, the retailer does not see any direct competitors. 'It fills a need for our shelves,' she says. [Flavored mayo] 'We are seeing double-digit growth since our most recent reset in March,' she adds. 'Brand launches like Ayoh! are going to help us continue the momentum.' That momentum includes a brand new flavor in the Ayoh! lineup, which Baz calls a sweet and salty 'umami bomb.' It will be exclusive to Whole Foods through September. Ayoh! Dill Pickle Mayo sando sauce Ayoh! Foods Between the squeezable, convenient format and flavors like Dill Pickle, Baz and McCormick have created a product that glides with the pace of culture. '[The Dill Pickle flavor] has this paradoxical moment of something that's so funky and strange, but also so certainly has clout and its own cult following,' McCormick says. 'We don't take ourselves too seriously.' Whole Foods Market has a keen finger on that same pulse, and it resonated with the grocer too–format now becoming a priority for the products they start to carry. 'I don't think the jar would have done it justice,' Bandin says. '[Whole Foods is] seeing growth substantially in dipping sauces…Going forward, that's going to be really big, but again that is for squeeze bottles. It all kind of ties back together to that same trend' Ayoh!'s presence thus far has been limited to d2c, Amazon, and several hundred independent grocers. 'D2C has been tremendous,' McCormick says. 'We sold out four months worth of inventory in two weeks. It was almost 100,000 pounds of mayo…people will buy mayo online, much to my surprise,' McCormick says. The strategy here was to first activate Baz's fanbase before those who may not know her would discover it during a grocery outing. It's a homecoming of sorts for McCormick as well; he started his career at Whole Foods at the store level and worked his way up to become Grocery Director in the Rocky Mountain region. 'I couldn't think of a more meaningful, fun place to bring that completely full circle,' he says. He and Baz even met through a mutual friend from Whole Foods before starting Ayoh! together. The line of sando sauces is just the first of many that Ayoh! plans to penetrate the breadth of grocery stores with. 'Right now, Ayoh! is synonymous with our mayonnaises, but I think that there's a really bright, big ecosystem of food products that we build,' Baz says. 'I'm hoping that Ayoh's future looks like Heinz or Kraft Foods.'
Buzz Feed
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
What's The Best Mayo? A Taste Test Of 8 Brands
Breaking mayo news from BuzzFeed Tasty office in New York City!!! After a multi-pronged evaluation and spirited debate that left several employees with mild stomach distress, we've officially crowned the MOST GOOD MAYO of them all. It's big. It's creamy. It's. So. Real. We know that all condiments are not created equal, so we set out to rank eight popular mayos from worst to best. Mayonnaise typically only needs three ingredients: oil, eggs, and an acid like vinegar or lemon juice. Seems simple — how much variation could there be?! We are about to find out... Before we dig in, let's define the gold standard: The ideal mayo is silky, creamy (not greasy), thick enough for dipping, and smooth enough to spread. Flavor-wise, it's all about balance — rich and eggy with a bright, tangy lift. Clean, craveable, and just indulgent enough. Now it's time to meet the contestants: We rounded up a mix of the iconic and the intriguing for our mayo taste test. First, the classics: Hellmann's (the undisputed staple), Duke's (a Southern favorite), Kewpie (the umami-packed Japanese import that's taken the world's pantry by storm), and Miracle Whip (the depression-era imitation mayo that is too iconic and chaotic to leave out). Then came the new wave of creamy contenders: Sir Kensington's (the artisanal disruptor), Molly Baz's Ayoh! (the it-girl, aesthetic newcomer), Generic (the no-frills wildcard), and Glen Powell's Smash Kitchen (the buzzy new celebrity entry we couldn't ignore). When stars start slinging mayo, you know Tasty has to taste test. Mayo, the ever-divisive condiment, is critical for three things: sandwiches, creamy salad dressings, and as a sauce for dipping! So it was vital we tried each mayonnaise in these three culinary situations: First, in a classic potato salad... Second, slathered on a simple tomato and white bread sandwich... And finally — because we are brave and this is for science — we tasted each mayonnaise on its own... To keep things as fair as possible, we did a blind taste test. To keep each brand a secret that only I would know, I gave them alphabetical aliases. I had probably too much fun naming each of them and got emotionally attached, only to devour them Yellowjackets style. Yikes. After turning our office kitchen into a potluck that was almost as pale as I am, it was time to taste. We rated each mayo for taste and texture, and gave our very honest opinions for each one. Turns out Google Forms are good for more than just HR surveys and event sign-ins; they're perfect for an in-depth condiment taste test, too! Another key factor in our ranking was cost. While price didn't influence the taste test, it absolutely matters when deciding which mayo to actually buy. I calculated the cost per ounce for each brand and included it in the rankings — and some of the results might surprise you. Quick note on pricing: These costs are based on what I paid here in NYC. For example, Molly Baz's mayo was only available at a specialty health store, so there was a slight markup. Prices may vary depending on your location and where you shop, but this breakdown should give a solid sense of overall affordability. And with that, here were the top four BEST mayos, ranked from "good" to "exceptional": 4. MIRACLE WHIP — You either love this nostalgic depression-era dupe for the actual condiment or you're deeply confused by it. In our tasting, most of us landed somewhere in between. Texture-wise, it fared surprisingly well: 'Very good texture! Rich and creamy without being gloopy,' said Ross. Raven praised its smooth spreadability, saying it 'mixes well with the flavors of the sandwiches and the potato salads.' One thing I will say is that this sauce is so gray compared to the others. The color reeeaally threw us off, TBH. Also, the sweetness. Nearly every taster commented on how sugary this stuff is, Sarah comparing it to 'a gummy candy but… mayo.' Ross put it bluntly: 'It's not gross, but this isn't mayo?? It's sugar sauce.' Megan said it reminded her of 'bread and butter pickles — and [she hates] bread and butter pickles,' while Sarah was ruthless, dubbing it 'sweet, but in a bland way. Like Tate McRae.' There were hints of vinegar, maybe mustard, maybe… who knows? It's definitely unique, and has its place, but mostly that place is in '50s-style ambrosia salad or in a very specific kind of chicken salad (i.e., Nicholas Sparks' Splenda one). OVERALL SCORE: 2.9/5 3. DUKE'S — Duke's is like the Dolly Parton of condiments — Southern, blonde, has a little bite, and a LOT of devoted fans. Even tasting it blind, Megan picked up on the "nostalgic" quality of it — it's a true classic mayo. When I tasted it blind, I called it "a good blank canvas for sauces or salads" and Claudia was into its signature punch: 'I actually love the saltiness of this one… it definitely has a STRONG vinegar taste. She gave it a 4/5 and admitted, 'this one lingers for sure.' One thing to note is that this was the most affordable mayo of the bunch, and even cheaper than the generic brand. We liked the tang, but when it came to texture, Duke's fell short. Sarah said it was 'thick, but not creamy. Very... goopy,' and Raven doubled down: 'It's really thick and not creamy in a good way. When you lick it on its own, it covers the whole tongue.' Ross described it as having a 'tannic quality that sticks on your tongue,' and Claudia just summed it up with: 'I can't get over the goopiness of this one.' OVERALL: 3/5 2. HELLMAN'S — If mayonnaise had a starter pack, Hellmann's would be in it — and in our taste test, this classic came very close to the top. It's got a creamy, familiar vibe that just feels right. Megan only had two words for the texture of this one, and she summed it up perfectly: 'So creamy!' Ross added, 'Very tasty! Perfect amount of salt and a little hit of acid without feeling overly rich or creamy. I liked this one a lot!' Some of us thought it was a bit underseasoned. Raven noted it was "not salty at all," and Sarah called it "bland." Still, the mild flavor profile worked in its favor — Megan 'didn't notice the flavor in the sandwich or the potato salad," but she conceded: "I feel like for mayo, that's the point.' Claudia liked the level of acidity in this sauce, saying: "I weirdly like the taste of this one better on the tomato sandwich than on the potato salad, maybe because it's a little more vinegary and acidic than some of the others we tasted. Overall, pretty average mayo! If I had to guess, I'd say this is the generic one."A few tasters did wish for a bit more oomph, though. I thought it was 'a little too fatty," arguing it 'needs more vinegar or something.' So, while it didn't wow across the board, it also didn't offend, which is kind of Hellmann's whole thing. Dependable, versatile, and hard to hate. If mayo were a boyfriend, this would be the nice guy your parents love. OVERALL SCORE: 3.8/5 Now it's time for the moment of truth... I only have one mayo in my (metaphorical) hands, and this condiment is the winner of America's Next Top Mayo... 1. KEWPIE — This Japanese import slayed the competition, with multiple testers giving it perfect 5's across the board. Megan didn't hold back: 'This is everything a mayo should be, IMO… I would serve this mayo to the queen.' Sarah went even further saying, 'I would die for this mayo in battle.' Texture-wise, Kewpie nailed that creamy-meets-luxurious sweet spot. 'The perfect texture — thick, but not TOO thick,' said Sarah. Ross agreed: 'SO THICK! So rich!' but added it wasn't gloopy, which is key. Claudia was also on board: 'Creamy and thick without being GOOPY. I hate goop!!' (Relatable. Sorry, Gwenyth.) Taste-wise, Kewpie delivered a complex flavor profile that stood out in every dish. 'Perfect level of acidity and umami,' I wrote, giving it a 5/5 for taste, concluding: 'Honestly, no notes.' Sarah praised the sweetness, while Claudia noted it was 'well-balanced,' even if she 'could use more salt (but [she's] a salty gal).' Ross thought the oil was sliiiightly stale, but still gave it a perfect score thanks to its 'eggy (not in a bad way!) and luxurious' flavor. OVERALL SCORE: 4.6/5 If you want a mayo that goes beyond background noise and brings star power to your sandwiches, salads, and even spoon-licking moments, this is the one. And even though it is slightly more expensive than Duke's or Hellman's, our score cards might convince you it's worth the extra cents. Long live KEWPIE. Kewpie stands out by using only egg yolks, which gives it a rich, custardy taste and silky texture — and clearly, we're obsessed. FINAL THOUGHTS: I asked my tasters which condiment worked best on a sandwich, in a salad, and as a sauce for dipping on its own. Most of us chose Kewpie mayo for all three, but a few chose Hellman's as their favorite dipping sauce and salad dressing. Claudia caused a small upset when she chose generic (*gasp*) as her preferred sandwich condiment! When I asked: "If you were being sent to a deserted island and could only take one stable emulsified sauce with you, which would you choose? What's your ultimate mayo?" the choice was almost unanimous: KEWPIE! So there you have it, folks. your favorite mayos, and our unfiltered thoughts. Eight sandwiches, four pounds of potato salad, and one too many spoonfuls of straight mayo later, we can say with confidence: Kewpie is the definition of elite. As for me, I'm officially on a creamy condiment cleanse starting… right now. Seriously, after this tasting, we were stuffed — and struggling to waddle back to our desks. And if you're suddenly craving a dish with that creamy goodness only mayo can supply, download the free Tasty app and search "mayonnaise" for hundreds of mayo-y recipes.
