Flavor the focus at annual food trade show.

Fancy that Health, flavor the focus at annual food trade show.


By Jolene Thym, FOOD WRITER
Some of the food trends included flavored sea salts, and products made
with them, Urban Zen green tea flavored with fruit juice.

Dunk it in antioxidants, sprinkle it with salt, splash it with green tea
and pomegranate juice and there you have it ? the 2006 San Francisco
Fancy Food Show on a plate.

The annual trade show, a magnet for West Coast retailers who want to
stock their shelves with the newest and best food products, is a massive
showcase for more than 80,000 products spanning every food group, in
every imaginable flavor.

Despite the variety, there is no mistaking this year's food trends. The
buzz word for 2006 is antioxidant ? lots of foods lay claim to the
term, but the definitive antioxidant darlings are green tea, acai and
pomegranate, all of which can be found in everything from appetizers to
desserts, drinks to energy bars.

On the flip side of the health spectrum is a growing interest in gourmet
salt ? dozens of companies sell mounds of very expensive gourmet salt
flavored with everything from truffles to tea.

Many of the products on the exhibition floor will be on grocery and
supermarket shelves within coming months, but in the interest of giving
you a sneak peek at the flavors in your future, I methodically nibbled
my way through the show in search of deliciousness.

Here are details on some of the bites that gave me pause:

After sampling several flavored salts that tasted like plain salt to me,
I encountered Ritrovo Truffle Salt, ($18-$22, 3.5 ounces) an Italian
import that delivers an intoxicating hit of black truffle. The company
also makes anaromatic Saffron Salt and a Fennel Salt, both of which beg
to be sprinkled on rice, pasta, fish or eggs. The salts are available at
The Pasta Shop in Oakland, Whole Foods in Walnut Creek and Dean &
Deluca.

It's hard to compete with California's artisan cheesemakers, but
Kerrygold's new blue cheese from Ireland is outstanding. The cheese,
headed for specialty shops next month, is a rich cheddar laced with mild
blue cheese flavor. The cheese will sell for $15-$18 per pound.

Healthy treats:
I am not entirely convinced that antioxidants will change my life, but I
was happy to try some of the good-tasting anti-oxidant-laden foods on
hand. The best, no contest, was the Sharffen Berger Chocolate-flavored
gelato made by Ciao Bella. The gelato is served in shops all over the
Bay Area, and sold by the pint in some stores. It's also available
online for $33 plus shipping for four pints. Go to
http://www.ciaobellagelato.com.

Inspiring new products for the bartender or dessert chef in the family
include the dizzying lineup of Sonoma Syrups, all-natural, small-batch
syrups that deliver a big flavor punch. Keeping up with the trends, the
company just added pomegranate, which seemed a little insipid in flavor
next to other amazing flavors ? Meyer lemon, Eureka lemon, vanilla,
chocolate, lavender, black currant, cinnamon. The syrups are about $10
at Williams-Sonoma.

The intoxicating aroma of fresh mole demanded a stop at Native Kjalii
Foods, a San Francisco company that makes at least 12 salsas and dips,
eight hummus products, chips of all kinds and mole sauces that are sold
in Costco stores. The chocolate mole was incredible, but the new green
mole is the one I want to douse my next chicken with. It's fresh and
rich at the same time. The jars of sauce will be in Costco stores and
other markets within eight weeks. Prices will range from $3.49 to $5.99.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget the chocolate:
Those who consider chocolate a main food group were not disappointed.
Some of the delicious offerings included out-of-control-rich fudge and
sauces by Fudge Fatale in Los Angeles. I loved the chocolate espresso,
chocolate and caramel sauces way too much to even pay attention to the
small jars. I priced the big, 74-ouncer, the one she really, really
wants, trust me. It's $50, and the perfect Valentine's Day gift. Go to
http://www.fudgefatale.com.

If $50 is not in the budget, consider a pair of caramel-dipped,
chocolate-covered apples from V Chocolates in Salt Lake City,
http://www.vchocolates.com. They sell for $5.95 each plus shipping.
Shipping for two apples will run roughly $5. Call (801) 376-8028.

If you would prefer to drink your indulgence, get your hands on a cup of
Holy Chocolate, an intense chocolate produced by the Rev. Stan Smith of
Triumphant Christ Church in Campbell. The ultra-rich European-style
chocolate is packaged by Independent Way in Oakland, an organization
that employs people with special needs. The cocoa mixes come in a lineup
of flavors and sell for $1.75 for a single serving; or $8.75 for 5
packets. Shipping is free for orders over $35. Profits all go to support
local charities. Call (408) 374-0531 or go to
http://www.holychocolate.com.

A perfect pairing with that chocolate would be a bag of Dale & Thomas'
dessert popcorn ? in caramel, chocolate chunk, dreamy chocolate and
peanut butter drizzle flavors ($4.25 per 5-cup bag).

Each cluster of popcorn is coated in irresistible candy ? this treat
can be addictive. The popcorn is available at some specialty stores or
go to http://www.daleandthomas.com.
If your Valentine prefers slightly more traditional chocolates ? with
a twist ? don't overlook the prize-winning Smokey Salt Caramels made
by Fran's Chocolates, a Seattle-based company that specializes in
inventive flavor combinations. The smoked salt and buttery caramel
delivers a yin-yang across the palate, ultimately much more satisfying
than a basic caramel. The caramels are $22 for a 15-piece box. Call
(800) 422-FRAN or go to http://www.franschocolates.com.

Those who prefer to bake up their own treats will enjoy the canned
pastes ? called Schmears ? by Love 'N Bake. Until now, the products
were available only to commercial bakeries. My favorite is the
pistachio, mainly because I do not have the energy to shell my own when
I am in the mood to bake. But I also like the cinnamon, because the
smell of it makes me happy. The pastes are about $4 per 12-ounce can and
are available at Cost Plus and Sur La Table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Variety, the spice of life:
On the savory side, adventurous cooks may want to order up a bag full of
dried black limes from Nirmala's
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Kitchen in New York ($5 per 1.5 ounces.) The limes are used in Middle
Eastern stews. Or maybe consider the absolute latest in the salt realm
? 4-ounce crystals that come with a special grater. You grate the salt
on the food just as you would hard cheese. The product is due to be
released later this year. The price of the crystal salts is not set yet,
but Nirmala's Australian salt with bush tomato, Guerande Fleur de Sel
with Piment D'Espelette and Japanese Sea Salt with Matcha green tea are
about $20 per 4-5 ounces. Call (718) 361-7807 or go to
http://www.nirmalaskitchen.com.

Some of the fun of covering a show this size is allowing it to unfold as
an adventure, making a decision not only to taste, but to listen to the
personal stories behind those who are making and selling the products.

My adventure included a lovely conversation with Pam Kraemer from Lake
Oswego, Ore., a former flight attendant who is expanding her line of
Dulcet Cuisine sauces and dressings to include exotic dry spice mixes
that can be used as rubs or seasonings for everything from prawns to
soup.

"I decided to do this last year and it has been a lot of fun," she says.
"I started out with the sauces and people liked them a lot. But the
competition is so tough that I've expanded."

Her spice mixes come in tasteful brown paper cylinders that have recipes
hand-tied across the top. "I do all of the tying myself. I must be
crazy," she says. She hopes her mixes will be picked up by Whole Foods
in Walnut Creek. They can also be ordered online at
http://www.dulcetcuisine.com.

My favorites were the Asian Dressing and the Madras Curry spice blend
($6.50 to $7.75).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crisps to coffee:
My mouth full of I-don't-recall-what, I was stopped by a young man who
begged me to nibble the cheese crisps developed by The Kitchen Table
Bakers ? he and his father, Barry Novick.

"Try it," Novick encouraged. I tried one. The toasty Parmesan cheese
flavor convinced me to try another, this one laced with poppy seeds.
Other crisps were flavored with The Fancy Food Show at the Moscone
Center in San Francisco is a magnet for West Coast retailers, showcasing
80,000 products. Some of the food trends included flavored sea salts,
and products made with them. (D. Ross Cameron - Staff) garlic or
jalapeo.

"Until two years ago, I was a hospital administrator who hated going to
work," Novick says. "It was such a negative business that I decided to
do something new." He now oversees a growing New York business that
caters to people who love cheese and big flavor. The Parmesan crisps are
$6 for a 3-ounce package. The father and son duo are still looking for
distribution here on the West Coast. Until then, call (800) 486-4582 or
go to http://www.kitchentablebakers.com.

Seeking a libation of any kind, I stumbled across Novato's Republic of
Tea, which was pouring cups of Man Kind Tea, Blueberry Green Tea ($10,
50 bags), and the Jerry Garcia Cherry Tea, one in the line of
just-released, limited-edition J. Garcia artisan teas in tins decorated
with Garcia's art. A few aisles away, I grabbed a cup of Sweet and Sour
Orange Sencha Tea by Two Leaves and a Bud ? $8.99, 15 bags;
http://www.worldpantry.com.

The search for a mid-afternoon coffee fix led me to stop for a cup of
Caffe Sanora Organic, a Texas-based roaster that claims to roast the
coffee in such a way as to preserve the natural antioxidants in coffee.
It's a patented process that's highly secret ? and since you can't
actually taste antioxidants, it's a bit of a faith issue. Drink to your
health! Caffe Sanora Organic is $11 to $13 per pound. It is available at
some stores and health food stores and via http://www.caffesanora.com.

Funny finds include Jelly Belly's new Sport Beans, coming in two
flavors, Lemon Lime and Orange. They have added electrolytes for those
who jump around a lot. The beans are $6 for six 1-ounce bags and are
widely available.
Another product that made me smile was Hint and Hint Kids, bottles of
unsweetened water with a hint of berry, orange, mint, or cucumber.

Some children might welcome the water in their lunchbox, but the kids I
know would opt for juice, hands-down. Hint is widely available at
natural food stores. The water is about $2 for 15 ounces.
And the winner is ...

The Fancy Food Show organizers do give out awards, but if I was in
charge, the categories would be different. For example, the award for
Coolest Product would go to rick's picks, a New York company that sells
pint-sized jars of unusual pickled vegetables of every ilk for about $8.
Rick Fields' Windy City Wasa Beans and Spears of Influence are all about
flavor and crunch. You can get them at Dean & Deluca in St. Helena.

Strangest Product Award would go to Himalania Goji Berries,
pinkish-colored oblong berries that look more like incense than
something you eat. They aren't bad tasting ? slightly sweet and fruity
? and they are guaranteed to spark conversation. But exactly what else
you would do with them besides eat them out of hand, I'm not sure. Goji
Berries are $12.99 per 8 ounces. Go to http://www.drugstore.com.

The Most Heartwarming Award would go to ToteBagsDirect, a Glendale
company that imports handmade jute bags. The bags are fair trade, and
are made in India by women who would otherwise have to make their living
as prostitutes. The bags come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and can
be imprinted with a logo. For more information, talk to Raj Madhavan at
(818) 543-3238.

You can e-mail Jolene Thym, food writer at jthym@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



bbb writes:
I would love to go to a trade show like this! This sounded like a lot of
fun.
Anyone here go?



booie........





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