Arora Creations showed off their Authentic Indian Spice Blends that include the first and only selection of organic Indian products. The handsomely packaged organic line includes chicken tikka masala, goan fish curry, tandoori chicken, and rajmah. All of their products come with complete instructions for creating authentic Indian meals at home. Call 718-623-5501, or visit www.aroracreations.com.
Peaceworks is a company that believes it can foster peace in the world by running a business that promotes people of various backgrounds, religions, and cultures working and trading together. This idea is very well illustrated by their Bali Spice line, which is made in Indonesia by Muslims, Christians, and Buddhist workers in a woman-owned and -managed factory. Similar projects are active in Israel where Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs all work together. Bali Spice is probably the first full line of Indonesian foods. They are all natural, authentic, and easy to prepare. The added benefit is that 100 percent of their profits will go to the massive Tsunami Relief for the entire year of 2005 (money goes to the American Red Cross, UNICEF, or Oxfam). Call 212-616-3006, send e-mail to Rebecca@peaceworks.net, or visit www.peaceworks.com.
Busha Browne's Company Ltd. debuted a new gift selection of preboxed jellies and condiments that makes for a perfect party pack. Includes four 4-ounce jars, one each of Jerk Seasoning, Hot Pepper Jelly, Guava Jelly, and Banana Chutney. For more information, call INFOOD at 845-246-0194, or visit www.BushaBrowne.com.
Melissa's "Good Life Food" from World Variety Produce is a completely new category of organic foods created to complement Melissa's full line of fruits and vegetables. The new Good Life Food products consist of Salad Dressings, Stir-Fry Sauces, Marinades, Tofu, Tofu Sauces, Grilling Sauces, Dip Mixes, Wrapping Dressings, Salad Kits, and Pasta Sauces. All of these products are organic; there are no additives or preservatives. Good Life Food products have only good carbs — no sugars, no MSG, and a minimal use of white flour. Most of the products in the line are lower in fat and calories in comparison to traditional grocery-branded products. For more information, call Melissa's at 800-468-7111, visit their web site at www.melissas.com, or send e-mail to hotline@melissas.com.
O Olive Oil created a new port vinegar, O porto, made in Napa Valley from Cabernet port wine aged four years. It's smooth and sweet, with just a hint of berries. One taste and we were looking for a bowl of strawberries to share. Visit www.ooliveoil.com.
A new tapenade pulled us into the Crystal Food Import booth. There we were delightfully surprised by the entire line from Didier Goubet, a producer from Provence that in addition to the Black Tapenade made from olives, capers, salt, and herbs de Provence produces some lovely olive oil in a ceramic cruet set, Nougat that is not hard and sticky but chewy and delicious, and various honeys, fruit pastes, soaps, and sachets. Call 800-732-3949, or visit www.didiergoubet.com.
Golden West Specialty Foods introduced Tophe Rice Bran Oil that is made and bottled in the United States from domestic rice. Rice bran oil has a much higher smoke point than other cooking oils and has always been the preferred cooking oil in Japan where they tout the oil's health benefits. This is the only flavored rice bran oil (made incidentally from the bran that normally would be waste). They also were showing their brand-new all-natural line of Chinese cooking sauces, including Oyster Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, and Plum Sauce. They contain no MSG, refined sugars, preservatives, or modified starches. Call 800-584-4481, write e-mail to goldenwest@sfo.com, or visit www.goldenwestsf.com.
The biggest and best surprise at the Golden West booth was the presence of Kitty Keller, owner of K.L. Keller Imports, who had been severely ill for most of 2004. Back on her feet, she is now healthy, and is working hard to revive her small company that suffered from her absence. Keller imports a broad selection of traditionally made artisanal products from France and Spain, including olive oils, vinegars, sea salts, nougat, and assorted condiments, all of superb quality and flavor. If you are a former customer, call her and get reacquainted, and if you've not seen her line, call to learn about these exquisite foods at 510-839-7890, or write to her at klkeller@ix.netcom.com.
His move from being Tina Turner's lead guitarist and bandleader to a manufacturer of a line of gourmet condiments is one that Lenny Macaluso has handled quite well, and his Delicae Gourmet line is, well, rocking. It includes his Bruschetta Toppers, such as Sun-dried Tomato and Olive. The newest addition to that line is his Roasted Red Pepper and Parmesan Bruschetta Topper. Also new are three wonderful tapenades: Truffled Artichoke, Black and Green Olive, and Artichoke Lemon Tapenade. Macaluso sources the finest ingredients, many of which come from his own orchards in Florida. The result is that his sauces, jams, glazes, salad dressings, and assorted chutneys, relishes, mustards, and marinades all taste fresh and homemade. Well worth a look. Call 800-942-2502, or contact them at sales@delicaegourmet.com.
Victoria Gourmet introduced two new product lines, tabletop gift items, and new jar packaging at the show. Victoria Taylor's Gourmet Ingredients include three essential ingredients that deliver outstanding flavor. The line includes Shallots, Fire-roasted Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers. The Victoria Taylor's Pepper Flakes line includes Red Pepper Flakes, Jalapeno Flakes, and Chipotle Flakes. For more information, call 781-935-2100, or send e-mail to vtaylor@vgourmet.com.
At the Nielsen-Massey booth, the principals were delighted to announce that after years of skyrocketing prices, the wholesale prices of vanilla are expected to plummet up to 50 percent in the coming weeks. Harvests of high-quality vanilla beans after years of devastation from cyclones and other natural causes that ravished the crops are returning to normal. The company is pleased to offer their customers relief from recent high prices and will continue to offer their pure vanillas and vanilla blends. For more information, call 800-525-7873, or visit www.NielsenMassey.com.
Brand new to the Fancy Food Show was Sweet Mama Janisse's Bless My Soul Foods. Her line of Southern-inspired sauces (Sweet Mama originally came from Louisiana) includes Sticky Love Sauce (a fruit-laced mustard for dipping or glazing), Soul-Q-Sauce (Sweet Mama calls this her Magnum Opus with 200 years of tradition behind it), Soy-Gin Sauce, and Mint to Love Sauce (a mint-infused nectar great on all kinds of foods from pork chops to ice cream). She also sells a Chili Pepper Paste. Call 707-445-8502, or visit www.sweetmamajanisse.com.
The name might confuse you but the flavors won't. Aloha From Oregon introduced their new Smokey Red Jalapeno Pepper Jelly that gives you a sweet, spicy start with a soft, smoky finish, and a Raspberry-Jalapeno Pepper Jelly. The latter is a two-toned jelly, red on one side and green on the other, that was a big hit at Christmastime. Call 800-241-0300, or send e-mail to office@alohafromoregon.com.
At Katz and Company in the Napa Valley, they have perfected a new line of traditionally made (Orleans method) vinegars that are carefully aged in small oak barrels. They are part of the Kitchen Line and include Champagne Barrel-Aged Vinegar, Cabernet Barrel-Aged Vinegar, and Sonoma Trio Barrel-Aged Vinegar, the last one a blend, or Meritage as they call it in the wine trade, of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel wines. These are extraordinary vinegars that will do more to transform the flavor and character of your food than almost any other condiment you can think of. Call 888-898-9881, or send e-mail to info@katzandco.com.
Texas Sassy Foods launched a unique line of salad dressings and sauces made with pickle juice, including a new Vinaigrette, a Salsa Marinade, and a Mustard Sauce. Recipes were developed for each product, as well as new packaging for the entire line that's bright, bold, and yes, we have to say it . . . sassy. For more information, send e-mail to info@texas-sassy.com, or visit the web site at www.texas-sassy.com.
We first saw ArteOliva with their wonderful extra-virgin olive oil in Europe at Anuga. This was their debut at the Fancy Food Show and we wish them luck. They were the first to pack their oil in a Tetra pak, which keeps out olive oil's two natural enemies, light and air, both of which can not only compromise the oil's flavor but also damage the nutrients as well. In other words, they make great-tasting oil that is packed to stay that way. E-mail them at arteoliva@arteoliva.com.
Moosewood Hollow believes, like all good New Englanders, that maple syrup is a great way to complement and enhance all sorts of foods beyond one's breakfast pancakes. With that in mind, they have created a line of infused maple syrups to be used in cooking. With products bearing names like Sweet Autumn, Sweet Chai, and Sweet Ginger and their newest syrup — Sweet Lavender, they offer great ways to enliven grilled duck, vinaigrettes, shortbread, and scones. They have also come out with a little six pack of syrups, a taster or gift set in which all have the same elegant and understated package design as the big bottles. Call 802-479-7999, or write to them at info@moosewoodhollow.com.
Mt. Vikos has created an intriguing new condiment that is perfect for their many traditional Greek cheeses. Their Sweet Olive Jam is great on their Olive Oil Toasts, grilled Manouri, or feta. It wonderfully combines sweet and savory in an unusual condiment. Call 781-834-0828, or send e-mail to info@mtvikos.com.
BrandStorm, Inc. hit the mark with a line of authentic dressings, oils, and vinegars that both taste great and stand out on the shelf. ORIGINE products are made from French traditional recipes with natural and top-quality ingredients and are packed in vintage French-style bottles. Each ORIGINE exclusive product is made from traditional French recipes that were collected in an historic book. The list includes ORIGINE Balsamic and Shallots Vinaigrette, ORIGINE Lime Cilantro Dressing, ORIGINE Raspberry and Lavender Vinegar, and ORIGINE Bouquet Garni Oil. Visit www.origine.us or www.brandstormus.com.
