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The Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco this past January proved once again to be a premiere event for retailers eager to get a glimpse of the latest specialty and gourmet foods. As they crowded the aisles to taste samplings of everything from confections, coffees and teas, olive oils, to specialty cheeses, we assembled a panel of qualified specialty retailers to sort through the thousands of products aisle by aisle to obtain a firsthand assessment of the latest products.

Judged on their own merits for our readers who were unable to attend the show, the following winning results should prove informative, interesting, and profitable. If you would like any more information on any of the winners simply go to the Vendor Link icon on our homepage and after it opens, click on the Reader Service tab and fill in the Reader Service number that correspond to the products below.


Aisle: 500
Product: Truffle Fudge Bars
Company: John Kelly Chocolates
Address: 1506 N. Sierra Bonita Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: 323-851-3269
Company representative: Kelly P. Green
Judge: Nick Hansen
GiveChocolate.com
Ramona, CA
Comments: Great quality, good versatile packaging, and long lasting shelf-life.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 815

Aisle: 2600
Product: Chocolate Vanilla Filled Creams
Company: Neuhaus
Address: 120 Fairchild Ave.
Plainview, NY 11803
Phone: 516-576-3202
Company representative:
Judge: Frank Ward
Wicked Witch Bakery
Phoenix, AZ
Comments: The best chocolate product that I tasted at the show. Rich and creamy.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 805


Aisle: 2800
Product: Wasabi Yaki
Company: Soy Vay
Address: P.O. Box 452
Felton, CA 95018
Phone: 831-335-3824
Company representative:
Judge: Slade Grove
Wicked Witch Bakery
Phoenix, AZ
Comments: A very nice and unique blend of flavors.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 814


Aisle: 3000
Product: Artisan Flatbreads
Company: Dr. Kracker
Address: 10490 Miller Rd.
Dallas, TX 75238
Phone: 214-503-1971
Company representative: Kristin Brun
Judge: James Canepa
Mill Valley Market
Mill Valley, CA
Comments: Great package, tastes great and the price is right.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 807

Aisle: 3100
Product: Aged Cheddar
Company: New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
Address: 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1120
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 310-207-1145
Company representative: Laura Cross
Judge: Daniel Eggen
Buttercup
San Anselmo, CA
Comments: It has a great tangy taste which is expected of a good quality cheddar.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 804


Aisle: 3400
Product: Tea
Company: Two Leaves and a Bud
Address: 23400 Two Rivers Rd., Suite 45
Basalt, CO 81621
Phone: 970-927-9911
Company representative: Bess Maytham
Judge: Monika Eggen
Buttercup
San Anselmo, CA
Comments: Very fine, organic teas. The new way of brewing tea, a great concept.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 809


Aisle: 3800
Product: Cookies
Company: Too Good Gourmet
Address: 2380 Grant Avenue
San Lorenzo, CA 94580
Phone: 877-850-4663
Company representative: Jennifer Finley
Judge: Vi Schafler
Garden Harvest Farms
Terra Bella, CA
Comments: This is a great line. Packaging is wonderful, attractive and colorful. The cookies are tasty, and add a finishing touch to a gift basket for holiday themes or special occasions. The company also has other products which are attractively packaged.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 813


Aisle: 3900
Product: Pasta from Tuscany
Company: Antico Pastificio Toscano Morelli
Address: Via S. Francesco, 8
56020 San Romano (Pisa) - Italia
Phone: ++ 39-0571-459032
Company representative: Giovanna Banelli
Judge: Chris Lucas
Balducci's
Bethesda, MD
Comments: Authentic Tuscan pasta, bronze rye, uses entire wheat germ in process. Most pasta eliminates the germ from the flour. Appealing cuts and packaging.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 810

Aisle:4100
Product: Chocolates
Company: Mark Avenue Chocolates
Address: 9 Keystone Park
Dunmore, PA 18512
Phone: 800-706-6275
Company representative: James Kenny
Judge: Harriet Davidson
Passion Fruit Gourmet Foods
Solana Beach, CA
Comments: The chocolates are smooth and creamy.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 800

Aisle: 4300
Product: Tomato Fool
Company: Caramel Sin
Address: 14431 Ventura Blvd., #200
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Phone: 818-464-3722
Company representative: David Hahn
Judge: Sheila Menzies
North Coast Wine Group
Windsor, CA
Comments: This product had a delicious "clean" taste. No preserves or sugar added. I thought it would pair well with wine and cheese.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 802


Aisle: 4500
Product: Ivy Collection
Company: Picnic at Ascot
Address: 3237 131st Street
Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: 310-676-9266
Company representative: Karen Lee Burke
Judge: Jenny Helman
North Coast Wine Group
Windsor, CA
Comments: High quality, well designed, and reasonably priced.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 806

Aisle: 4500
Product: Sugars, salts, and spice blends
Company: Big Tree Farms Bali/Island Crisps
Address: 11 Bishop Ridge Road
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Phone: 914-763-2565
Company representative: Ben Ripple
Judge: Angie Quaale
Well Seasoned ~ A Gourmet Food Store
Langley, BC CANADA
Comments: Interesting, and innovative. It is fresh, appealing, and beautifully packaged.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 812

Aisle: 4800
Product: Vodka Currant
Company: Vod Gourmet
Address: P.O. Box 4922
Greenwich, CT 06830
Phone: 203-531-5172
Company representative: Ulla Nylin
Judge: Elaine Wilson
Papa's Kettle Korn
Antioch, CA
Comments: It's very "now" with the vodka in it. In addition it was tasty. This would be fun to pair with fruit, nuts and crackers. I would recommend this to my friends.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 803


Aisle: 4900
Product: O Beverages
Company: O Beverages
Address:1552 Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: 203-256-8100
Company representative: Ed Slade
Judge: Rex Howell-Smith
Central Market
Austin, TX
Comments: Eye catching packaging, wide variety of flavors, clean, bright flavor with 0 calories. Good appeal to both adults and children.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 808


Aisle: 5000
Product: Romantica Balsamic Gran Riserva
Company: Italian Foods Corp.
Address: 3640 Grand Avenue, Suite 210
Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: 510-444-9050
Company representative: Elena Lapiana
Judge: Evelyn Ignatow
Hyde Park Gourmet Food & Wine
Cincinnati, OH
Comments: Authentic vinegar from Modena. Rich, thick, complex flavor.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 811


Aisle: 5100
Product: Mean Beans
Company: Rick's Picks
Address: 195 Chrystie Street #602e
New York, NY 10002
Phone: 212-358-0428
Company representative: Rick Field
Judge: Evelyn Ignatow
Hyde Park Gourmet Food & Wine
Cincinnati, OH
Comments: Crunchy, great hot taste. Great on antipasto plates with cheese.
CLICK READER SERVICE NO. 801