Walking the Annual Summer Fancy Food Show

Walking the Food Show in New York

Every summer thousands of people, buyers, food critics, bloggers, and the curious attend the Annual Fancy Food Show in New York City in search of the next great food item. I have been attending the show for over a decade and nothing ceases to amaze me when walking miles of aisles tasting and looking at the latest foods available for sale.

The biggest problem in the industry is the sameness of some of the categories. It used to be that there were only a few vendors making gluten-free, sugar-free and nut-free items, now there are dozens. If you want gourmet popcorn, ice cream or chocolate, there are now dozens of vendors offering farm to table, GMO, organic, gluten free foods to the point that it became annoying. The ‘in’ flavor at the show seemed to be ‘salted caramel’ this and that, from ice cream to popcorn to snacks. I felt that too many people were following the trends and not putting their own stamp on a product. One caramel corn tasted the same as another even though one was homemade caramel with organic corn kernels and the other was with commercial popcorn and caramels that come in those little squares.

There were so many great products that it took me two days to walk the show and I still could not finish it. Another problem with the show is that you are tasting so many great products in the period of two days that it plays a number on your digestive system. You can really throw yourself off if you indulge too much. Drink plenty of water when visiting the show and take a break and sit down in one of the scarce benches when you have a chance.

There were several standout items that I found unique either in their packaging, taste, product design or all three. Some just stood out in flavor or taste-feel and there were no other products like them at the show. These were the true standouts and if I were buying for a company like Whole Foods (the gold standard at the show and the company whose buyers bypass everyone at the show) would stock the shelves with these items.

I tasted so many ice creams at the show that some just blended into one another with the sameness in their exotic flavors and their mouth feel. One that stood out for me in the sugar free category was ‘I Skream’ ice cream. I tasted their ‘BerryGood’ and ‘Banana’ flavors at the show and they had a nice consistency and flavor for a naturally sweetened ice cream. The banana really stood out in flavor. ‘Blue Marble’ ice cream has been all the buzz in Brooklyn over the last few months as the trend setters have flocked to another borough for  their favorite frozen treat. No artificial ingredients, GMO’s or corn syrup are in their products and their vanilla ice cream has a nice creamy consistency and you can taste the vanilla, which is a standout. Their strawberry had a nice sweetness to it taste in each bite. It is worth taking the subway over to try their products and their owners could not have been nicer people to talk to at the show.

The best ice cream at the show by far I thought was ‘Graeter’s Ice Cream’. Their handcrafted ice cream is made in small batches as they have been making it since 1870 and now the fourth generation is making it the same way. Their ice cream is such a standout for its dense richness and use of cream and eggs which so many ice creams did not have in their ingredients at the show. I’m sorry but ice cream should have cream, eggs and sugar in it to be considered ‘ice cream’. Their video on how they make the product in small batches and package it by hand each pint I thought showed a lot of care and pride. Their taste is such a standout out I tried most of the flavors offered almost all standing out on their own especially the vanilla and peach. Coming from college in the Midwest, I had never heard of their chain of stores but as for the supermarkets watch out Ben & Jerry’s ! Graeter’s Ice Cream is wonderfully addictive. Also meeting many of the family members at the show made it even more special to talk to the people who make this special ice cream. They really care about quality standards.

In the beverage area, I tried more all natural sodas, ice teas, coffees and hot chocolates than I care to remember. Again they seemed to blend into each other following the same patterns and tasting the same. A few really stood out to me. ‘Sipp’ is an all-natural organic, caffeine free and nothing artificial soda that had a very pleasant flavor to it. Their ‘Mojo Berry’ and ‘Ginger Blossom’ were real standouts in flavor and overall taste and would be welcome at any fine meal when soda is to be served. I took a second taste of the Mojo Berry just to be on the safe side. As with many products at the show, old is new again as products from the colonial era are starting to be the new trend. ‘CideRoad’ makes an organic ‘Switchel’, an original drink of the Colonial era that the creator found in old recipes and made right here in New Jersey. Certified organic and coming in three flavors original, cherry and blueberry (I had tried the blueberry at the show). The owner of the company was right when he said it was a ‘thirst quencher’ as it gives the drinks a unique and flavorful experience with each sip. Not quite a soda and not quite a juice I would match this with any Thanksgiving dinner.

Another delicious drink was the hot cocoa from a new vendor and was available in the “New Vendors/Products” available at the show, ‘Cocoa Sante’. Their hot chocolate was amazing in flavor and in mouth feel. Their ‘Nor’Easter’ was rich and dense and had a true chocolaty flavor to it. Their standout was the ‘Azteca’, which is a very traditional and the original way the chocolate drinks were served by the Aztec Indians. Made with vanilla, cinnamon and chipotle pepper, this outstanding flavor bursts in your mouth and has a real zest to it that is perfect with brunch foods or as a stand-alone. I raved so much about this to the owner that he gave me a sample to take home. It is one of my favorite products from the show.

There were so many snack foods at the show that they all started to look alike. There were dozens of vendors for chips, pretzels, cookies and other snacks that were GMO, Gluten free and salt free again whose concepts blended into one another. There were a few great standouts.

I loved the popcorn at both ‘Fisher’s Popcorn’ and the ‘Popcorn Factory’. The Popcorn Factory has the most amazing tasting cheese popcorn that I munched on through the show. Fisher’s has a caramel dusted with Crab Spice that had a unique taste and their original caramel was good as well. The most unique popcorn that I tasted which had the greatest selling point was a new product from ‘Petite Maize’. They use a kernel that is ‘open pollinated’ and ‘has been carefully cultivated by a family of farmers for more than five generations giving it a clean and crunchy taste’ as their advertising states. This flavorful snack does stand out for its flavor and mouth feel. It really shows care on where they source their product.

Other standouts are ‘Pork Clouds’ by ‘Bacon’s Heir’ are pork rinds with a kick. They were really crunchy and full of flavor and were a hit with many at the show. Many of us went back for seconds. I talked with the owners of ‘Gharana Foods’ on their delicious traditional Indian snack, ‘Chakri’, a light crispy rice flour snack that is popular in India and has a chance to be huge in the mainstream in this country as well. These flavorful light snacks have a nice snap to them and their crisp crunch will make you want to devour the whole bag at once. New product vendor,  ‘Jan’s Farmhouse Crisps’ have a distinct sweetness in each crunchy bite. When I talked to Jan herself on the product, she said she started to sell them after many successful dinner parties when guests raved about them.

My top pick in the cookie category is still the ‘Croquat from Cordes’, a crunchy puffed almond biscuit from ‘Maison Bruyere’ that was featured in the booths from France. These light crispy and chewy cookies are a combination of sweetness and tanginess due to the sugary almond taste and were highly addictive. I had to go back twice to taste these wonderful little cookies that according to the representative are an old-line traditional treat in France that are not seen anymore. Packaged beautifully these little gems are the next popular trend to the ‘Cronut’. Dig deep to find these delicious little treats in a local store.

My top snack pick is the ‘Rock Rice Cracker’ made by ‘Hesco’ that were shown in the Thailand booths. This standout snack offers a light spicy crunch in every bite. They are made from 100% glutinous rice seasoned that are fried for the crispiness and seasoned with extra strong spices. Their ‘Spicy’ cracker is a true standout and will be a must for any child who likes the hot foods. This is another snack to search for in your local store.

Of the many entrée and side dishes that I tried at the show, a few really stood out to their counterparts. ‘Sable & Rosenfeld’, whose products are perfect for a cocktail party, were sampling their olives and dips that were spicy and tangy with each bite. Beautifully packaged they make a great gift at the holidays. Another standout was available by ‘Massimiliano Ferranti’ foods in the Italian booths. A favorable dipping oil that was packaged in what looked like a perfume bottle. Wonderful to taste and beautiful to look at this would be a special gift for any party during the holidays. New vendor “Chinese Southern Belle’ by founder Natalie Keng gives a new twist to dipping sauces. With her southern twang and big smile, Natalie’s company offers her spicy Chinese sauces with a Southern twist. Try ‘My Sweet Hottie’ as a condiment to you next spring roll.

The perogies from ‘Pelmen Foods’ melted in my mouth. I had to try a few more just to be sure. Their potatoes with cheddar cheese perogies are addictive.  The dumplings from ‘Spring Street Kitchen’ and from “TMI’ warranted second trips.

The most unique and different product I tasted was the ‘Mac-N-Cheezy Fun Rays’(fish shaped) ravioli from ‘Nuovo Pasta Productions Ltd’. These were a burst of traditional cheesy goodness in each bite. It gives a new spin to the regular Mac & Cheese with the flavor on the inside.

Handcrafted chocolate bars seemed to be featured throughout the food show. Candies, caramels and sweet treats with ingredients from exotic lands seem to be all the rage. Some of the standouts were by ‘Bixby & Company’. Founder Kate McAleer’s ‘Bixby Bars’ are a real treat!! The Strawberry Ceylon Cinnamon Almond was sweet and tart in the same delicious bite. ‘CCmade’ by founder Cassandra Chen was the star of the California booth that was filled with small businesses offering fun and unique foods. Her popcorn was a standout. Candy by ‘Moonstruck Chocolate Company’, ‘V Chocolates’ and ‘Sweet Lee Homemade Treats’ were enjoyable as well. ‘Carousel Candies’ made the richest caramels that you ever tasted. ‘Enjoy Life Natural Brands’ offers a delicious snack bar named ‘Cherry Cobbler’ that I munched on while walking the show. ‘Cornelia Confections’ makes a ‘Coconut Ginger Nut Brittle’ that is crunchy and has tangy buttery sweetness.

Two great standouts tailored for the younger set were ‘Buddy Fruits’, a pure blended fruit mix that would convince any child to eat their fruits and vegetable. ‘Buddy Fruits’ has a whimsical packaging geared to children with smiling faces and colorful pictures. Their smooth blended fruits in the twist open package is a great item for any lunchbox and their ‘FruitBites’ are a perfect snack for the adult set as well. Small jelly like bites in fruity flavors are a great snacking item.

Another company that gears their unique line of candies to the younger set is ‘Premium Candies’. Their company tries to cater to customers who might have dietary restrictions and want candies without milk, nuts, eggs and gluten. Standout products from the company are the ‘Milkless Chocolate Bars’ that have a rich, dense creaminess, the ‘Peanot Cups’ are a good substitute to peanut butter cups. Made with ‘Wowbutter’, these little treats would have ‘ET’ running for more. Their ‘No No’s’ are a new spin to the ‘M & M’, these colorful chocolate candies have a mini marshmallow center with a chocolate coated center. The best part is for any child who has allergies these treats are free of all milk, peanut/tree nuts, eggs and gluten and have not artificial colors or flavors.

The nicest thrill of the show was meeting local celebrity baker, Angela Logan of Teaneck, NJ, of ‘Mortgage Apple Cakes’. I remember reading the article on her in the Record when the threat of losing her home loomed in the distance she used a friend’s recipe for apple cake to save her home from foreclosure. Featured on “Oprah” and many other shows, Angela turned a nightmare into a success story and saved her home. She is now continuing the renovations and baking away and yes, the apple cake is delicious and is the perfect dessert for any dinner party. Hats off to Angela for showing the true spirit of business and success to someone who deserves it!

The Annual Fancy Food Show is held annually every Summer in New York City and is a must to any foodie looking for the latest trends in foods and to see new spins on the classics. The ones mentioned are just a tiny handful of what was featured at the show but these were the ones that really stood out to me and I wanted to give many of these small businesses the credit they deserve on their way to making their products a success.