Best Food Products at the 2014 Fancy Food Show
The Best of the Best From the Winter Fancy Food Show
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After spending two mind-boggling days at the Winter Fancy Food Show, it's time to dole out our best of awards. Keep reading to learn what chocolates, cheeses, teas, condiments, and more won out over all others.
— Additional reporting by Anna Monette Roberts
Best Salty Snack: Michael Season's Unsalted Boldness Asian Bar-B-Que Potato Chips
Unsalted usually means flavorless, but these Michael Season's Unsalted Boldness Asian Bar-B-Que Potato Chips manage to pack plenty of sweet, umami flavor in every thin, crispy bite due to one key, secret ingredient: soy sauce.
Best Salty Snack (Runner-Up): Halfpops Aged White Cheddar
Take the crispiness of a chip, the buttery flavor of popcorn, and the cheesiness of Cheetos, and you have Halfpops Aged White Cheddar ($24-$48), a half-popped popcorn coated in a cheddar dust. However, less is more. A small scoop of these dense kernels will fill you up quicker than several handfuls of fluffy, fully popped popcorn.
Best Chocolate: Clairesquares Caramelized Oat Bar
Imagine combining buttery granola clusters and dark chocolate. That's what Clairesquares Caramelized Oat Bar ($8) does. Now imagine snapping a few squares into your morning yogurt . . . we're not judging.
Best Chocolate (Runner-Up): Vosges Super Dark Matcha Green Tea
Vosges Super Dark Matcha Green Tea and Spirulina ($8) packs two superfoods into a 72 percent dark chocolate bar. The bar has a grassy aftertaste (in a good way) from the matcha and spirulina and makes you think you're doing your body good.
Best Seasoning: Flav{o}ur 21 Umami Rush
From the makers of umami paste comes Flavo{u}r 21 Umami Rush, a dry seasoning full of umami-filled Mediterranean ingredients like lemon peels, garlic, balsamic vinegar, anchovies, Porcini mushrooms, and tomatoes. Also notable, the brand came out with a Japanese-inspired Umami Pepper with seaweed and sesame seeds.
Best Sweet Snack: Thinkfruit Cinnamon Apple Slices
We nearly wept when our local Whole Foods stopped stocking its chewy cinnamon-sugar-coated dried apple slices. But now we can rest easy, as we've found a similar product to fill its void: Thinkfruit Cinnamon Apple Slices.
Best Sweet Snack (Runner-Up): Stoneridge Orchards Chili Lime Cherries
Taking a cue from Mexican frutas con chile y limón, Stoneridge Orchards Chili Lime Cherries coat extra-juicy dried tart cherries in a zesty combo of chili, lime, and sea salt.
Best Condiment: Maruso Ghost Soy
Maruso Ghost Soy ($8) is unlike any soy sauce we've ever tasted. Not only is it a thicker, glaze-ready texture (thanks to the thickening powers of rice and reduction), but it's also made from extraflavorful black soy beans. The kicker: it's spiked with a solid dose of tongue-tingling ghost chili for lingering heat.
Best Condiment (Runner-Up): Olivelle French Lavender Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olivelle French Lavender Extra Virgin Olive Oil tastes exactly like the essence of lavender. Dip a bit of crusty bread into the oil and feel instantly transported to a lush French field. Try it in a roasted lavender chicken recipe or even in a salad with edible flowers.
Best Salty-Sweet Snack : Angie's Boom Chicka Pop Caramel and Cheddar Popcorn Mix
Intending to quench cravings for both things sweet and savory, Angie's Boom Chicka Pop Caramel and Cheddar Popcorn Mix ($4) may sound terrifying, but let us assure you, it's worth investigating. We couldn't help but mine for the thick caramel-coated pieces of popcorn, albeit the cheddar-dusted pieces are quite addictive too.
Best Cheese: LaClare Farms Ziege Zacke Blue
This one's a mouthful, so take a deep breath before reading on. LaClare Farms Ziege Zacke Blue ($8 for one-fourth pound) is a cave-aged, cow/goat milk blend made in a dry jack style and inoculated with a blue cheese mold. The cheesemakers say it's a "great introductory blue cheese" for those who sway toward nutty, firm, parmesan-like cheeses rather than funky ones, and (exhale) we can fully back that statement.
Best Tea: Kombucha Wonder Drink India
The distribution for Kombucha Wonder Drink India is insanely small, but keep your eye out for this darjeeling- and assam-tea-based beverage. Brewed with green cardamom, fresh ginger, Indian rose, and tulsi, it's the best chai kombucha we've tried yet.
Best Spread: Karoun Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spread Honey
Karoun debuted its Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads. Of the line, Honey is the can't-miss flavor. The subtly sweet, full-fat yogurt has a spreadable, cream-cheese-like consistency but with the probiotic benefits of yogurt. Our bagels have found their new favorite schmear.
Best Dessert: Good Pop Hibiscus Mint
Slightly tannic, tangy hibiscus tea is always stocked on our shelf. So when we spotted Good Pop Hibiscus Mint, we made a beeline to the booth to get a taste. Let's just say we know what we'll be stocking in our freezer come the next heat wave.
Best Dessert (Runner-Up): Hot Cakes Pistachio Paprika Salted Caramel Sauce
Salted caramel sauces are everywhere these days, and Hot Cakes Limited-Edition Pistachio Paprika Salted Caramel Sauce takes the cake. The silky texture, roasted butter flavor, crunchy bits of nuts, and a warming paprika finish make this caramel worth traveling to Seattle just to get our hands on a jar. We'd likely eat it straight from a spoon, but for something more civilized, pour it over ice cream or waffles.
Best Cocktail Mixer: Fever-Tree Handpicked Elderflower Tonic Water
One sip of the British Fever-Tree Handpicked Elderflower Tonic Water ($24 for eight), and you'll be hooked for life. English elderflower essential oil and Eastern Congo quinine from the fever trees come together to form a bitter sparkling beverage with a sweet, floral finish. Drink it solo for a biting refreshment, or try it in a floral-leaning gin like Hendrick's.
Best Cocktail Mixer (Runner-Up): Owl's Brew Pink & Black
Lately, tea cocktails have been popping up on the menus of many of our favorite watering holes. To bring the flavor home, we'll be experimenting with Owl's Brew, a line of concentrated teas designed for mixing 2:1 with liquors like tequila, gin, and whiskey. Our favorite: Owl's Brew Pink & Black ($16) a black tea, strawberry, and hibiscus concoction that adds juicy, elegant sweetness to cocktails.
