MOCHI DOH

NEW IN THE WOO: MOCHI DOH

JENNIFER RUSSO

Who doesn’t love a good donut? In recent years, donuts have taken on a new cult following, with Instagram and other social platforms becoming a confetti of photos from around the world featuring…you guessed it, donuts – with every topping imaginable. But among the sweet treats plastering our pages, is a style of donut that stands out as something unique and a bit different – the Japanese-style mochi donut. But what is it and where can you get one around here? Mochi donuts typically use rice or tapioca flour which lends to a consistency that’s quite different from your average donut. This is then shaped into small donut-hole like balls and then joined together in a wreath pattern (also known as Pon de Ring) before they are fried. The result is a very light, chewy texture that will keep you coming back for more.

The shape of these donuts is perfect for pulling apart and taking your time to enjoy, or, if you are so inclined to share – it makes it easier to do that too. What’s awesome is that you don’t need to travel across the ocean to dry these delectable bites. Mochi Doh is located right here in Worcester’s Kelley Square!

We admit, the West coast has been in the “know” longer than us when it comes to mochi donuts. In fact, owners Toan Lam and Annemarie Dang were inspired by trying the unique breakfast confection on a trip to Seattle, and loved them so much that they really wanted to share their discovery with Worcester. Though we certainly wish we knew about these earlier, we are excited to now be a part of the cool crowd. After a couple years of planning and preparing, Lam and Dang had their grand opening in late July and welcomed the first 15 customers to cross their doors with a free donut. The monumental day for their business also included music and lion dance performers, and there was a line of eager customers ready to try something new. The shop offers many different rotating flavors. Favorites include matcha green tea, cookies n’ cream, churro and their latest creation, the Bischoff cookie donut. There’s even a mochi donut topped with Fruity Pebbles cereal. We are anxious to see what else they come up with.

Mochi Doh also offers several flavors of mochi ice cream, small ice cream scoops wrapped in sweet and chewy mochi dough, and delicious drinks like Vietnamese iced coffee with vanilla or ube (sweet purple yam) foam, and various iced and milk teas. Mochi Doh is located at 209 Harding Street – you can’t miss the bright red door and giant donut mural painted on the storefront. They are currently open Thursday through Monday from 11 AM to 4 PM. More information can be found on their Instagram at @mochidoh_worcester

NEW IN THE WOO: LUSH RX AESTHETICS

JENNIFER RUSSO

They say, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and though that might be true to some extent, when it comes to our own feelings about ourselves and our own beauty, what we think is the real priority. How we look should never be defined by what anyone else thinks is beautiful, but what WE consider beautiful. We should love what we see in the mirror and all self-care efforts to get to that point should be entirely based on whatever that definition is for us.

LUSH Rx Aesthetics, which recently opened in nearby Leominster, provides solutions that are tailored to each person’s individual wellness and definition of beauty. “Beauty for us is an expression of confidence, wellness, and vitality. Our goal is to have clients looking and feeling refreshed and happy in their own skin,” say owners Alyssa Sundstrom and Kia McCarthy. Alyssa and Kia consider their meeting a type of “office romance” and truly admired each other’s work ethic. They had a shared love of Disney trip planning and a passion for skin care, aesthetics and dermatology that blossomed into a professional partnership with LUSH Rx.

Both Nurse Practitioners, Kia worked in primary care for 20 years and Alyssa has 17 years of nursing experience in pediatrics and cardiology. Both developed a true passion for aesthetic nursing and wellness, leading to this venture. “Our line of work lends itself to cultivating an expertise in dealing with skin care,” they say. “From newborn skin concerns to teenage acne, it is something we deal with on a regular basis. One of the things that we both enjoy is working with adolescents that are struggling with acne and how much it can affect other areas of their life – school, self-esteem, etc. It is so rewarding to work with them and find solutions that make them feel better. You can just see their confidence growing as their skin improves!”

LUSH Rx offers other services too, like FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to improve elasticity and volume, neuromodulators which relax and soften skin, as well as body shaping technologies such as EM Slim, which can reduce fat by 30% and grow muscle by 25% and Radiofrequency Cavitation with can decrease the appearance of cellulite and tighten skin. They also offer laser hair removal for those with unwanted hair and hair follicle stimulation for those with thinning hair.

A unique service they provide is called Microneedling, which is a medical grade, state of the art procedure available only through health professionals. Also called Fractional Collagen Induction Therapy, treatment begins with a numbing agent, then multiple tiny needles then puncture the skin, increasing the production of collagen which keeps skin firm and smooth. Benefits include improved skin texture, smoothed appearance of scarring, acne and blackhead reduction, less apparent fine lines and wrinkles and other prevention of signs of aging.

“Starting around age 30, two vital components of your skin, collagen and elastin, begin to diminish,“ Alyssa and Kia share. Microneedling induces the skin’s healing response. When the microneedling device breaks into the dermis, it triggers growth factors, which allow your skin to repair itself. Your body stimulates the natural production of collagen.” Clients can expect a warm, inviting, non-intimidating environment when they walk into LUSH RX. Each client receives a personalized consultation prior to any treatment, where they can discuss their aesthetic journey. They are always happy to answer any questions and provide examples of their work and provide a personalized menu of treatment offerings. Absolutely no pressure, just a welcoming space to explore options.

“LUSH Rx is a modern, innovative space where medical aesthetics are prioritized,” say Kia and Alyssa. At LUSH we specialize in anti-aging by providing the highest quality aesthetic and wellness solutions. We use safe and effective treatments curated to your individual needs. Our 20+ years of medical expertise enable us to work together with our clients and craft individual treatment plans. Rather than augmenting and altering your appearance, we strive to restore volume loss and create a natural, refined and refreshed result.”

Lush Rx is located at 646 Central St in Leominster and more information can be found on their website at lushrx-aes.com – On October 29th, they will be hosting a special “Trick or Treatments” event to ring in the Fall. With special offerings, discounted packages, and some fun surprises, it is not to be missed!