Life is too short and too delicious not to try something new at least once a month. Check out this month's CN Essentials for products we discovered and now love and think you will too.
Fancy Food Show Picks – We stopped by the Fancy Food Show in last month and was once again amazed by the variety of products represented by companies from around the world. Although there are more products that we will recommend throughout the year, below you will find our top 10 picks from the show that really caught our eye and fancied our taste buds.
- Healthy Snack Chips
We are always looking for healthy snack alternatives, so when we walked down the aisle and into the booth of Yogavive®, we knew we would have another great product to add to our list. Certified kosher, halal and vegan, these organic popped Fiji apples chips are naturally sweetened with lots of great flavor and nutrients. Snack pack flavors include caramel, strawberry, peach and garlic and not only are they good for you but for the planet too. Yogavive®'s apple chips are available online in 2 sizes, .35 oz. and 1.76 oz. with a purchase price starting at $25.00 for master case of 20. yogavive.com - Tea Comfort
With so many tea brands to choose from these days, some may get caught in the circle of competition, but there are usually a few things about a brand that can stand out from the rest. With Harney & Sons, it was the varieties from green, herbals and iced to the sachets placed in the beautiful tins. Yes, they taste as good as they look as we sampled a few on a brisk Monday afternoon in San Francisco. Delicious and very affordable for such a classy product. Samples can start as low as $2 and sachets in a box or tin are as low as $6.20. harney.com - Sheep Yogurt
Since the buzz these days seems to be all about Greek yogurt, we got a little excited to see something new, at least to us. Bellwether's Sheep Yogurt was a pleasant surprise with its rich and creamy texture. We tried the vanilla flavor that is a blend of Madagascar, Bourbon and Indonesian beans. In general, sheep yogurt is naturally thicker and one added health benefit is that it is perfect for anyone who is lactose intolerant. Sold at supermarkets across the country. Purchase price is $2.29. bellwetherfarms.com - Blosm of Flavors
Okay so we went from healthy snack alternatives to being naughty with Blosm's flavored whipped creams. Immediately our minds went to that slice of apple pie or hot fudge brownie that would arrive topped with a few swirls of French Vanilla or Holiday Peppermint. What a way to indulge in a guilty pleasure. Other flavors include Blackberry Amaretto and Dark Chocolate Mocha. Blosm is gluten free and made with all kosher ingredients. Best of all, the purchase price is only $3.99. myblosm.com - Slap Ya Mama
You'll be doing just that once you use these Cajun seasoning to add some zing to your favorite meats and vegetables. I thought it was a joke when I heard a chef say he added some "Slay Ya Mama" to his dish during a challenge last year and what he meant was that he added some of the Walker family's famous blends and mild to spicy seasonings that will have you thinking about slapping your aunt, grandmother and sister too. Purchase price for 8 oz. canisters is $3.50. slapyamama.com - Creamy Gourmet
In our book, when it comes to a great sandwich or hamburger, it is the bread, meat and fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles that make it an American classic. Now throw in your choice of gourmet mayos and these classics just got a little tastier. Want a little spice, add the Kickin Buffalo. Want to keep it on the chill side, try the Cool Dill. Add them as a condiment on sliders or as a dipping sauce for your favorite veggies. Versatility is what definitely won us over. Purchase price is $2.10 per bottle. woebermustard.com - Mom's Originals
Ah, who can resist a salty pretzel stick wrapped in chocolate and nuts? Not us. They were really love at first sight and bite. These gourmet pretzel rods have a layer of caramel that is mixed with dark and milk chocolate and rolled in pecans or walnuts. The fact that they come individually wrapped allows for a little bit of indulgence control but best of all they are perfect for an on-the-go snack. Purchase price is $3.50. momsoriginals.com - A Taste of France
We were really surprised by Victoria's Kitchen Almond Water. Although we are a fan of almonds, we didn't expect the flavor to be so smooth and natural tasting. We can really see this family recipe from France gaining a lot of momentum in years to come as it catches the eyes of savvy consumers who thrive on starting trends with products that are unique and have a great story to go along. Purchase price is $26.90 for a case of 12. victoriaskitchenrecipes.com - Sassy Pops
What do we love more than a slice of cheesecake? Cheesecake on a stick. We couldn't believe our eyes when Sasapops pulled out an assortment of fruit and dessert pops and handed us the Blueberry Cheesecake (our choice by the way) that is make with a cheesecake custard base, real blueberries and chunks of graham crackers. Other pops include Carrot Cake and Salted Peanut Butter Caramel and the sad part is that they are not for sale just yet but we'll be sure to let you know when they are. sasapops.com - French Fry Seasonings
Our last show pick can be very addictive. Now we have a reason to make our own fries at home so we can play around with all of the various French fry seasonings by Chef's Fun Foods that include Wild Buffalo, Sour Cream & Onion, and Salt & Garlic Pepper. The seasonings can also add some extra flavor to your meats, chips, and baked potatoes. Purchase price is $6.95. chefsfunfoods.com
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