-By Sherry Hoffman

I'm the new kid at The Gourmet Retailer. And just so you know, it's the job of my dreams. One of the highlights is getting all your samples. I thank you. It's an honor and a pleasure to taste your dreams. I chose to have a little bit of fun with this column and added my own twist -- in addition to the regular Editor's Choice format, I also called on my friends and family to get into the act for some of my selections.


ALO Awaken
I love food that surprises me. Ingredients like aloe chunks and wheatgrass don't get the same reaction that, say, chocolate truffles do. It took me a few days to even taste this beverage and I'm sorry I waited, and I'm sorry I can't find it in my neighborhood. ALO Awaken (500ml/1.5-liter bottles, MSRP: $1.69/$3.99) is like drinking a honeydew melon. And the pieces of aloe vera, which may turn some people off, are the consistency of melon that's been in a fruit salad for a while. Not unpleasant at all. Since I can't find it nearby, I've tested other aloe drinks and this is still my fave. Soon to be released is ALO Elated (olive leaf and aloe). Yes, I'll be elated when I can get ALO Awaken in my neighborhood. For more information, visit www.alodrink.com or call 800-223-4438.


TASTYBABY
I'm not really into eating baby food, although I do like strained peaches. But this organic frozen product had me at "Hip 2B Pear" and sealed the deal with names like "Life's a Peach" and "Corn in the USA." But it wasn't about me or about the product being all-natural or a brilliant marketing plan, it was my 7-month-old granddaughter Kayleigh who cast the deciding vote. She adored it all -- from the Sweetie Pie (sweet potato with apples and cinnamon) to the Mama Mia (squash with zucchini, quinoa pasta and parmesan). Although these seem like sophisticated ingredients for a baby (one meal contains cumin), apparently, as the founders suggest, you must expand the baby's palate one taste at a time and they will be open to a broader range of tastes. A company creating foodies one Kickin' Chicken at a time deserves to be noticed. Check them out at www.tastybaby.com or call 866-588-8278. Available in 10 flavors in stages one, two and three. MSRP: 10.5-oz. carton with six boxes, each with three 3.3-oz. cups, $39.90.


Koppert Cress
Herbs Aromatique grown in Long Island, N.Y., blew me away. This small yet global company takes rare seeds from plants, herbs, vegetables and trees to produce "micro-vegetables" that have maxi-tastes. With a goal to inspire chefs, the tastes in the Sakura mix include Affilla Cress (peas), Borage (oyster and cucumber), Mustard (horseradish and wasabi), Shiso Green (mint and anise) and Shiso Purple (cumin). It's outrageous how much taste is contained in each of the micro-vegetables. It's a mighty cliché, but they really are bursting with flavor. Just pinch a few leaves off the Affilla Cress with your fingernail and pop it in your mouth, and the taste of peas is amazing. The Sechuan Button is a must-try for an indescribable sensation you'll never forget. These fresh plants have a refrigeration life of 10+ days. No minimum order. MSRP: individual 2" x 3" blister pots, $3. For more information, call 516-437-5700 or e-mail info.usa@koppertcress.com.


Bacon Salt
Three 20-somethings on a drunk decide, "Everything should taste like bacon." The next morning, they still think it's a good idea. Sure it's a great idea but the trio needs $5,000 to start up. One of the guys plays ball with his son and the ball hits him in the face. They get it on "American's Funniest Home Videos" and shazaam, five grand, and the rest is pork paradise. Against advice, they go ahead with the production of Bacon Salt, the no-fat, no-calories, no-bacon seasoning that makes everything, you guessed it, "Taste Like Bacon." It's kosher and perfect for vegetarians because it's made with soy. Now in four flavors: natural, hickory, original and peppered, they suggest it be put on everything from tadpoles to tequila shots. You've got to love a company with a sense of humor, a black eye and a belief in their product in spite of the odds. It really does make everything taste like bacon. I've used it on scrambled eggs, French fries and (don't tell anyone) a bagel with cream cheese. I think I'll take a pass on the tequila shots. MSRP: 4 x 2.5-oz. jars, $15.99; 3 x 2.5-oz. jars, $12.99; individual 2.5-oz. jars, $4.49. For more information, visit www.baconsalt.com or call 866-692-3980.


GNU
Fiber, although necessary, is not one of the things I pay much attention to. And I'm not a big fan of energy or snack bars. When the GNU bar hit my table, I still wasn't interested even though the packaging is adorable. But hurrying out of the house and hungry one afternoon, I grabbed a cinnamon raisin. First bite: whoa. I was surprised and delighted. It tasted like a Maida Heater health cookie that takes hours to make. A rep for the company told me she got her mother to try them and her mother thought they were not only terrific, but a life-saver. Moms never lie. Available in cinnamon raisin, banana walnut, orange cranberry, peanut butter and chocolate brownie (which got some great comments from The Table). MSRP: $1.99 per bar. For more information, visit www.gnufoods.com or call 877-703-1085.


Modmix
Three women looking for an organic, delicious, original recipe drink mixer have fished their wish. Three years after putting their heads together, they've produced five flavors, with the sixth -- and newest -- being a knock-your-socks-off Wasabi Bloody Mary. With Japanese Wasabi, a touch of ginger, and a perfect mix of spices and organic tomatoes, this is a great way to start or even end the day. No need to add alcohol (but why not), this mix stands on its own. Other varieties include Citrus Margarita, French Martini, Mojito, Pomegranate Cosmopolitan and the one that's making the biggest splash so far, Lavender Lemon Drop … it's the new Sex and the City Cosmo. MSRP: $9.99/25 oz. Visit www.modmixbeverages.com for more information.


Charles Chocolates
See that picture of the beautiful box that's marked Fleur De Sel (flower of salt) on the top? I have a box just like that sitting on my desk. It's been there for about a month. I look at it every day and often have the urge to break it open and scarf down the box and the 18 caramels hidden inside. Yes, eat the box. It's over a pound of 65% bittersweet chocolate. But if I ate the box, it would be gone. Irrational thinking but it is chocolate. Irrationality only counts in the amount you consume. It says right on their Web site, chocolate is about passion, about pleasure. So I didn't eat the box, I ate the almonds wrapped in dark chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder and packed in a silver tin. I ate the crunchy espresso beans covered with shiny chocolate. I haven't started on the signature blue and brown box of assorted chocolates. Inside is a treasure of hearts in bronze, gold and silver, and the famous peanut butterflies. Hidden in the chocolate caves, we find Meyer lemon marmalade, dark Jamaican rum, Tahitian vanilla beans and organic Straus cream. Yes, instant gratification takes too long. There goes the wrapping, the top of the box is removed and the first of the 18 caramels is eaten. It was worth the wait. And it tastes like more. I've never met owner Chuck Siegel but I think I'm in love. MSRP: 65% bittersweet chocolate box with a white chocolate lid containing 18 chocolate-covered caramels, $45. Find out more at www.charleschocolates.com.


NewTree
All samples get put on my dining room table and there I have placed a "ballot box" for my many foodie friends and family who visit. The rule is to try anything but write down what you tried and what you thought. And they have, from my best 9-year-old pal who thinks most things are "grate" to my aunt who, at 104, writes, "hard to chew." I've taken all the ballots and now you don't just have my opinion, you have the opinion of the foodies. The clear favorite among those who pass through my home was NewTree's Tranquility Belgium Milk Chocolate Bar with Lavender. Comments included: "When I opened it, it smelled like a day at the spa and how can you go wrong with that? Very good." "Love it – more." "I love the lavender taste, and it's not too strong. It's actually soothing as the packaging suggests." Other flavors with add-ins include trendy names like Sexy, Pleasure, Wish, Vigor and Blush, but none of those came close to the raves for Tranquility. This five-year-old company is based in San Anselmo, Calif. MSRP: $4.70/2.82-oz. bar, with lemon, cinnamon or apricot. For more information, visit www.newtree.com or call 415-785-1185.

Comments? shoffman@gourmetretailer.com