It’s July in New York City and along with the sweltering heat comes the annual Fancy Food Show. For four days every year in July buyers and sellers from the entire world converge on Manhattan to see and taste the latest gourmet trends. This year, “Today” contributor Phil Lempert took a sneak peek and found lots of chocolate, lots of indulgences, and lots of healthier foods. He discusses some of those items below.
EACH YEAR over 30,000 food products are introduced — but only about 1,500 actually make it. Here’s our selection of some of the most unusual and interesting:
White Coffee Christmas Selections:
This is 100 percent Columbian coffee with rich festive flavors for the holidays. Packaged in clear two-pound bags, each variety of coffee is lightly dusted with colored powder: Eve of Eggnog with white powder, Garland of Cinnamon & Hazelnut with green powder and Candy Cane with red powder. It makes a perfect holiday gift!
White Coffee Corp., Long Island City, NY 718-204-7900
www.whitecoffee.com
Imperial Republic Tea Oil:
Gourmet tea oil has just been introduced to the American marketplace. It has been a part of Asian culinary fare for generations. Tea seeds are meticulously cold-pressed to produce this light, aromatic tea oil that has a yellow jade hue and soft, slightly sweet finish. It contains less saturated fat than olive oil and is rich in Vitamin E and other natural antioxidants. Use it to sauté seafood, poultry or meat, or in marinades, dips or sauces. Drizzle it into stir-fry, toss into pasta or over veggies.
Republic of Tea, Novato, CA 800-354-5530
www.republicoftea.com
Blue and Wild Berry Soup:
You may not be thinking about having soup this time of year, but a bowl of this chilled fruit soup just might hit the spot. This soup mix contains dry fruit, which makes the product shelf stable and easy to prepare at any time. It can be served as an appetizer or a dessert, like a smoothie. Available in Orange Cranberry — with a hint of Mango, too. Sells for about $5.99.
North Aire Market, Shakopee, MN 800-662-3781
www.northairemarket.com
Captain Rodney’s Lime Ginger Glaze:
This all-natural glaze is said to be perfect for dipping, grilling or as a marinade on everything from beef, pork, and chicken to shrimp and fish. It is the newest addition to the Captain Rodney’s family of grilling and dipping glazes, which are all slow-cooked in small batches using the finest ingredients. A 9 oz. bottle sells for $6.49.
Bell Buckle Country Store, Bell Buckle, TN 800-707-0483
www.bellbuckle.com
Lollipop Tree Summer Berry Bread Mix:
This bread mix combines the wonderful flavors of summer — strawberries, red raspberries and wild blueberries. Just add eggs, butter and water and bake for a delicious, moist bread that is all natural and made with the freshest ingredients. Other flavors in the Bread Mix line are: Banana Bread with Maple Walnuts, Cranberry Bread with Crystallized Ginger, Lemon Bread with Crystallized Lemon Peel, Pear Spice Bread and Pumpkin Bread. Sells for about $6-$7.
The Lollipop Tree, Inc., Portsmouth, NH 800-842-6691
www.lollipoptree.com
Hachez Strawberry Pepper Bar:
Definitely a new taste experience! Fresh strawberries combined with fresh ground pepper in a chocolate bar. All natural with a high cocoa content of 77 percent.
Niche Import Co., Cedar Knolls, NJ 973-993-8450
www.ourniche.com
JavaPops — Chocolate Raspberry:
Need a cup of coffee? Try a JavaPop instead. These caffeinated lollipops are hand-made in copper kettles and have a natural coffee flavor. The pops come on real wooden “stir sticks.” Available in four other gourmet coffee flavors: French Vanilla, Chocolate Almond, Irish Crème and Cappuccino.
McJak Candy Company, Medina, OH 330-722-3531
www.mcjakcandy.com/new.htm
Mini Vegan Terrine:
Pate for vegetarians! Mini Vegan Terrine is made with tofu, soymilk, no meat, no eggs, and no dairy, three layers of cauliflower, carrots, spinach and green beans. It’s cholesterol free and saturated fat free. Sells for $6.
Trois Petites Cochons (three little pigs), New York, NY 1-800-Les-Pates
www.3pigs.com
Christian Brothers Brandy Flavored Salad Dressing:
Looking for a new way to dress your summer salads? These attractively packaged, brandy flavored salad dressings come in three varieties: Oriental, Honey Mustard, and Raspberry all made with Christian Brothers Brandy. Sells for between $3.49 - $3.69/ bottle.
Inclan Enterprises/Bourbon Country Products, Louisville, KY 502-452-9966
Email: Bourboncty@aol.com
Pappy’s Green Tea Concentrate:
You can enjoy green tea with five times the amount of antioxidants as some of the other leading brands of green tea — and no messy tea bags! Just add 1 oz. of Pappy’s Green Tea Concentrate to a cup of water. Comes in a 12 oz. bottle that sells for $2.19.
H&K Products, Inc., Columbus Grove, Oh
419-659-5110 or toll free at 1-877-659-5110
www.sassafrastea.com
Email: pappy@ql.net
Al-Bee Grahams — White Chocolate Chai Grahams:
This is no ordinary chocolate-covered graham cracker. This white chocolate version is made with exotic chai spices of cinnamon, cardamom and clove. A 5 oz. box retails for $4.95 and is available at upscale retailers nationwide.
Grand Avenue Chocolates, Concord, CA 800-798-4322
www.grandavenuechocolates.com
Orange Lavender Horseradish Sauce with French Herbs:
This unique blend of flavors is said to be a perfect accompaniment to roast beef, prime rib, London Broil, salmon and poultry. Also great over mixed green salads with crumbled goat or blue cheese. Use as a dip for spring rolls or blend with sour cream to create a sensational dip. Sold in 10 oz. bottles for $6.50.
Delicae Gourmet, Tarpon Springs, FL 727-942-2502
www.delicaegourmet.com
Coyote Cocino Tequila Habanero Grilling Sauce:
This intense, yet distinctive grilling sauce is said to be an easy barbeque glaze for every culinary (expert or novice). Made with Patron Tequila and comes packaged with a pastry brush and apron. Retails for $4.99
Coyote Cocina, Sante Fe, NM 1-800-988-0005
www.coyotecafe.com
Bag Ladies Tea — “Well, Helloooo 40’s! Tea”:
This is just one of the 10 themes in this line of English Breakfast Tea. Each brightly colored, whimsical tin contains 20 tea bags all tagged with insightful and humorous quotes to brighten your day. Suggested retail is $9.99/tin. Some other themes are: Girlfriends, Working Girls, I Do, I Think? Forget Him!, Oh, Baby! and more.
Bag Ladies Tea, Boston, MA 617-232-4056
www.bagladiestea.com
Chipotle Double Fudge Chunk Cookie:
These cookies are described as” the perfect blend of sweet and heat!” They’re made with all-natural ingredients, organic flour and Chipotle paste, which adds the kick to this decadent chocolate chunk cookie. Packages of four cookies sell for $2.45.
Austin Special Foods Company, Austin, TX 512-372-8665
Email: austinspec@aol.com
Spot’s Stew For Cats — Chicken & Clams Variety:
This is homemade food for… your pet, however, it is the only pet food that is USDA approved for human consumption! Cats can enjoy this healthy stew that is pureed for better texture. It contains no chemicals, fillers, by-products or artificial preservatives. This variety is for cats, other varieties for dogs as well — all natural and made from USDA approved chicken, carrots, zucchini, squash, green beans, celery and other nutrients for a healthy pet. A seven-ounce can retails for $1.95; 15oz. can retails for $3.20.
Halo Purely For Pets, Palm Harbor, FL 813-854-2214
www.halopets.com
Phil Lempert, the Supermarket Guru®, analyzes the food marketing industry to keep consumers up-to-date about cutting-edge marketing trends. He is a regular “Today” show contributor, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and host of Shopping Smart of the WOR Radio Network. For more food and health information, you can check out Phil’s Web site at: Supermarketguru.com.