Author: Rachel

Spotted on Shelves is showing off what was in the aisles at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show (FFS) in New York City. I scoped out new products from familiar brands and interesting things from up-and-coming companies.

As is the nature of trade shows like this, I was plied with free samples and the occasional tote bag. This did not affect what was chosen to appear in this column or my opinions of the products, but it did affect my waistline.

Are you a savory? Love anything salty, meaty, smoky or spicy? The Fancy Food Show had loads of new and future products that will push your umami button.

Bantam Bagels Egg Bites (Original, Swiss Cheddar Garden Veggie, Pepper Jack Chipotle, and Gruyere Onion Thyme)

Shark Tank alum Bantam Bagels are introducing a new line of their signature mini bagel balls with an egg & cheese filling instead of their regular cream cheese. A hearty thanks from all the cream cheese haters like myself! These came out of the toaster oven with a thick crust, the inside was soft and chewy and the filling was silky and cheesy. I had the original, so it was a simple flavor profile – bagel, egg, cheese. I will definitely be trying the other flavors when they hit shelves.

Available exclusively in Target starting in July, wider distribution to follow.

Stonewall Kitchen / Legal Sea Foods collaboration (House Tartar Sauce, House Cocktail Sauce, and Signature Salad Dressing)

I didn’t sample these, but seafood lovers might want to be on the lookout for these next year. Stonewall Kitchen is teaming up with Legal Sea Foods, the Boston-based restaurant chain / online fishmonger (had to slip that word in – it delights me) to bring their signature sauces to the home market.

Coming in 2019.

Holy Smoke Smoked Olive Oil

At first taste, this is just a good olive oil. After a few seconds, a subtle smoky aroma sneaks in. Surprising but pleasant.

Available now at select grocery stores.

Tio Gazpacho Chilled Soups (Clasico, Verde, De Sol, Maiz, and Rosado)

Cold soup in a bottle. Sounds like the beginning of an elaborate prank, but these were tasty and could be a handy (and healthy) lunch-on-the-go. I liked that this isn’t just gazpacho, it’s five different gazpachos that were all very different. The watermelon cilantro cayenne was the standout flavor for me.

Available now in select Whole Foods, Walmart, Kings and Amazon.

Field Trip Spicy Apple Buffalo Style All Natural Chicken Bites

I’ve never had Buffalo wings in my life, yet somehow I know what that sauce tastes like. These chicken jerky bites definitely tasted like Buffalo sauce, but weren’t super-hot. The apple dropped a mellowing sweetness into the mix. If you’re a wing fan, these are a good snack to keep around for when the craving hits you.

Available in the next few months at supermarkets and drugstores nationally.

Den’s Hot Dogs with Mild Chili, Pineapple Chutney, Tomato and Onions, Sweet Relish, or Sauerkraut.

I’ve always been sheepish to admit I like microwave hot dogs, but I’ve been vindicated by the Fancy Food Show! Den’s Hot Dogs are frozen and come with a bun and condiments already in place. Just nuke ‘em for a minute and you’re ready to go. Is this the end of the dreaded 10 hot dogs/ 8 buns math conundrum?

I sampled the pineapple chutney-covered dog, and it was pretty good! The bun ends up steamed and a little on the soft side for my taste (I’m a crusty bread person) but the hot dog itself was plump and had nice texture & flavor. They have novelty appeal, but would be great to have on hand when a fleeting ‘dog urge hits you.

Available now online, coming to QVC soon and testing at Walmarts in Texas & Florida this fall.

Pure Bred Idiot Hot Sauce Roulette and Hot Sauce

The most fun booth at the show was the Ass Kickin’ Hot Sauce. I love this brand’s packaging and sense of humor. Their latest product is a hot sauce roulette game. 12 hot sauces of increasingly masochistic heat levels with a spinner.

I did not sample this product, as I’m a lily-livered hot sauce coward, but if you’re a daredevil with desensitized taste buds, this could be a hoot! And if you want to cut to the chase, just buy the bottle of #12, Pure Bred Idiot Hot Sauce.

Available now at Cost Plus World Market, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Amazon and select specialty retailers and gourmet shops.

Happi Foodi Frozen Foods (Chicken & Dumplings, Barbacoa Mac & Please, Mozzarella and Green Chili Arepas, Buffalo Chicken Avocado Egg Rolls, Tostones with Fruit Salsa, Tequila Lime Chicken, Skewerless Kabobs, and Cuban Egg Rolls)

This is a brand-spanking-new frozen food line from the makers of WaffleWaffle. Their Cuban Egg Rolls were on hand for sampling. I generally don’t like hot ham & cheese, but I thought it was a solid product and the crust was well-executed. I’d like to try the other products in this line.

Exclusively available in Walmarts starting in October, wider distribution to follow.

Spotted on Shelves is showing off what was in the aisles at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show (FFS) in New York City. I scoped out new products from familiar brands and interesting things from up-and-coming companies.

As is the nature of trade shows like this, I was plied with free samples and the occasional tote bag. This did not affect what was chosen to appear in this column or my opinions of the products, but it did affect my waistline.

One of the trends at FFS was sparkling and carbonated drinks. Sodas and waters are evolving — taking on new flavors and ingredients.

Dry Zero Sugar Sodas (Cola, Peach Tea, Mountain Berry and Island Fruit)

These tasted like a cross between a flavored seltzer and a traditional soda. There are no artificial colors, so they are all clear. The cola flavor was lighter than a Coke/Pepsi and slightly spicy. Available now in grocery, big box stores and Amazon.

Gus One-Drink Cocktail Mixers (Mojito, Sparkling Cosmo, Moscow Mule and Tonic & Lime)

These are marketed as mixers to add to your alcohol of choice to make a cocktail, but I thought these were great on their own. The standout here was the Mojito – mint isn’t a common soda flavor, and it’s well-done here. Available now in select grocery stores and specialty retailers.

Töst

Töst tasted a bit like a grown-up ginger ale. It’s described as a non-alcoholic drink for celebrations – to me that means “for when you don’t feel like drinking, but don’t want to take flak from your hard-partying friends.” Handy.

Large bottles available now in gourmet, specialty shops and select Whole Foods in New England, single-serve bottles launched this week, hitting stores soon.

O.Vine Wine Grape Infused carbonated waters

I’m not a big wine drinker. I’ll take a good soda over wine any day. These wine grape infused waters were a middle ground between the two. The flavor was light and bright, but wasn’t just a watered-down wine.

Availability TBD – these were prototypes for testing at the show.

Just Craft Sodas (Pear and Vanilla, Apple and Ginger, Lemon and Lemongrass, Peach and Habanero, and Tangerine and Rhubarb)

This Canadian brand’s Peach Habanero flavor stood out to me. Hmm. Spicy soda? That’s new to me. It was an interesting experience – the heat hit fast with medium strength, but vacated the area quickly, which I liked. It was a self-contained sweet/hot with each sip.

Available now in select grocery chains and Cost Plus World Market.

Element Shrub & Club Sparkling Vinegar Drinks (Honeydew Jalapeno, Pineapple Turmeric, Lemon Mint, Blood Orange Saffron, and Cranberry Hibiscus)

Sparkling vinegar drink. I was a skeptic. Then I tried them, and I was still a skeptic. While they were pleasant, and the vinegar was much less prominent than I expected, these were just a bit too savory for my taste.

But if you remember and loved Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray (celery-flavored) soda, these vinegar drinks will be right up your alley. They’re tangy, a little sweet with a hint of earthiness/vegetables.

Available online now, regional retailers soon.

Pocas Ginger Brew (Original Ginger, Ginger Mango Turmeric, Ginger Apple Moringa, Ginger Pineapple Ginseng, and Ginger Calamansi Mojito)

I found these ginger ales ten minutes before the show closed – while boxes were being swiftly packed and subtle tasting and discussion were not on the menu. The mysterious ingredients moringa and calamansi (which I will address in later posts) drew my attention, but in general these had a good level of ginger and interesting combinations of fruits and/or “superfoods.”

Available online and Amazon soon, regional Northeast retail outlets afterwards.