I was at the NYC Fancy Food Show in 2025 and this is one of the vendors that stood out to me. Cinnamom produces some of the most delicious baked goods I have tasted. The giant Cinnamon buns are ooey and gooey and topped with thick icings and then more toppings. They are a Cinnamon bun on over-drive and produces the best rush of sweetness. I had to go back three times to try all the samples and indulge in these delectable treats. It is a small company that is just starting their global shipping but watch out when they do. Everyone will want to sample these delicious treats.
The products being offered at the Fsncy Food Show
The regular Cinnamon bun with white icing on it was my favorite but the one with Chocolate and White icing was another. All the products I tried were wonderful and the owner and her daughter could not have been nicer. They let me try all the samples with a big smile on their faces. They seemed happy that I was so happy!
The History of Cinnamom:
(from the company website)
The Journey started 50 years ago:
When Shirley Welch came up with the ultimate recipe for a household favorite, cinnamon rolls. For holidays and special occasions, she would roll out these one-of-kind treats for family and friends to enjoy. Early on she had a little helper in the kitchen by her side, assisting with the baking process. This little helper would grow up to be the founder and owner of CinnaMom, Rebecca Nagy.
For years people would come up to Rebecca telling her she needed to start a cinnamon roll business, as hers were the best in the world. After happily retiring from her nursing career, in 2013 she finally listened to everybody’s encouragement and officially opened the first CinnaMom location in Lapeer, Michigan. Since then, the business has grown in size and popularity, both locally and nationally.
Over the last few years CinnaMom has doubled the size of its main bakery in Grand Blanc, Michigan and is featured on QVC. CinnaMom ships to anywhere in the United States and wholesales these CinnAmazing (TM) rolls to over 40 locations in the U.S. CinnaMom has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America and The View, along with several other TV networks. What’s next?
Soon, CinnaMom will be exporting to other countries so that more customers have the opportunity to taste these delicious, ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls. CinnaMom is still on a Roll!
I came across these delicious little sandwiches on a recent trip to Dollar Tree and had never tried them before. I figured they were a new vendor to the company.
The only ones that I saw that the store carried was the Roast Beef with Cheese and the Philly Cheesesteak. They microwave very nicely in under two minutes and make perfect snack if you need a little something to tide you over.
The Philly Cheesesteak
The sandwiches have a nice sized portion of meat in them and they are very well spiced. just add a little hot sauce to them and the taste is perfect.
The Roast Beef and Cheese sandwich
The Cheesesteak
I was very impressed by the quality of the sandwiches and their taste. The only issue I want to let people know is not to microwave them too long. Just under two minutes and then let them cool. Otherwise they come out hard.
The Company history:
(from the company’s website)
Over thirty years ago, two guys named Ray & Bernie had a delicious dream: to share their love of New York style deli sandwiches with the world. In his quest to perfect the recipes, Bernie taste-tested sauces, meats and breads on his family and friends until he got all the ingredients just right.
It took years to fully develop our bread recipe that cooks up “Bakery Soft” right from the microwave–as well as our signature Philly Cheesesteak and Pastrami recipes. Over the decades lots of things have changed, but our love of delicious, authentic deli sandwiches never has. Today, we’re proud to make millions of sandwiches a year, including the best-selling Philly Cheesesteak in America!
Two of my favorite items from the Fancy Food Show was the Gummy Cruncheez and the Gummy Worms
I had tried many candies and chocolates at the Fancy Food Show and the jelly candies from Rotten Inc. were some of the best I tasted. I loved their packaging and their wild display. The guys running the booth were really cool and I loved their approach to marketing their product.
The candy surprisingly uses less sugar than most candies and that was a real selling point to me (even though I love sugar) because I look at what parents go through in finding products that are better for their kids to eat. To me it was a combination of the taste, packaging and marketing of the product that think will make this brand a big success. I can see it being marketed in toy stores and museums very easily with it colorful monster as its mascot.
Greetings! It is I, Dr. Rotten. My clones and I have made a magnificent new discovery – there is a freak inside each and every one us, just waiting to be unleashed! Our researchs hows that with my Rotten treats – packed with good for you ingredients – you can release your freak in a flash. With your assistance we can unleash an army of freaks to build a freer, more fabulous, more freaky world! No go, my little grubby, and Feed Your Freak!
Developed in our laboratory by the infamous Dr. Rotten, our candy is made with 60% less sugar so they won’t turn your guts into goo. Did we mention these little grubs are freakishly delicious? Go on, give ‘em a slurp! We promise you’ll have one smell of a time!
The Gummy Cruncheez were my personal favorite of the samples the representatives at the show gave me
Rotten uses innovative new ingredients like monk fruit, allulose, and prebiotics to reduce the sugar. Allulose is a naturally occurring sweetener found in foods like raisins and figs that tastes sweet but doesn’t act like sugar in your body, which means no more crazy blood sugar spikes! We proudly don’t use any artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols in our products – those things are nasty.
Freaks only eat the best which is why we packed Rotten with premium, better for you ingredients. Rotten doesn’t use any artificial ingredients: no dyes, no artificial sweeteners, and no high fructose corn syrup!
I went to the Fancy Food Show in New York City in 2025 and one of the standout products I sampled was from Fancypants Cookies out of Massachutes. These delightful, crunchy cookies were pleasure in every bite. They crackle and crunch and have the sweetest taste.
The representatives at the show could not have been nicer to me and let me take a few bags home to sample on my own when the show was over. I really enjoyed the Chocolate Chip Cookies but the standout from the show that I enjoyed most were the Birthday Cake cookies with the tiny sprinkles that really caught my attention.
These tiny flavorful cookies are the perfect addition to any lucky child’s lunch box including the ‘big kids’ who work in offices. I also like the engaging packaging that the company has created. It is whimsical and child friendly. This one of my favorite products at the 2025 Fancy Food Show.
My blog on the 2025 Fancy Food Show in New York City:
We’re not shy about telling you. We are proud to make our cookies with the real, recognizable ingredients our founder, Maura, used in her own kitchen. That means bonafide butter and eggs, with zero junky or artificial ingredients to ruffle your feathers. And we do it in a way that’s deliciously sustainable—baking with upcycled oat flour and turning our food waste into renewable energy.
I got to take home samples of the cookies and the Birthday cake cookies I thought were the best.
We do all of that so you can have your own feel good, fancy moment. Whether it’s at the end of a long day or even at the beginning of one, we’re here to make your day feel just a smidge more special.
Maura Duggan graduated from Harvard with a master’s degree in Mind, Brain, and Education, but day after day she kept turning to baking to shake off the stress of working in statistical analysis. Inspired by the cookies she used to eat after school in her grandmother’s kitchen, Maura focused on real ingredients, homemade taste, and creating a delicious moment.
Seeing her passion (and tasting her cookies) her husband, Justin, quit his job as an elementary school teacher to make the other half of the amazing team that drives Fancypants today. Since 2004, they’ve made cookies that make you feel downright good, with incredible taste, great ingredients, and a positive impact baked right in.
Walking the aisles on the first day of the show is a lot of travel. The main floor of the show is almost three football fields long and there are so many vendors to stop and see that I have learned to pace myself.
You can not stop and eat every cookie, cracker and piece of cheese at every booth. I try to see that the vendor is offering a unique looking product and then I stop and take notes. If I really like the products, then I will take the literature.
If I really thought the product was innovative or tasted really good then I asked for a sample on the last day and took a picture of the booth.
The Italian Pavilion was one of the most popular at the show in 2025
The show didn’t seem as busy as it was in the past. The first day of the show, I could walk down every aisle without bumping into anyone. It also seemed to be more of a college and non-industrial crowd.
They would hover around the popular booths like the pizza and ice cream booths and then chomp away at the food. Even the vendors know not to waste their time. The issues is that you never know who you are dealing with and when you may see them again in the future. So you have to be very careful not to alienate anyone at these shows because today’s college student is tomorrow’s food executive.
The Italian Pavilion was one of most visited sections of the show
As I walked the show, there were certain vendors that just stood out. I was really impressed by the innovation from the foreign pavilions especially those in the South Korean, Italian and Vietnamese Pavilions with their colorful packaging, innovative logos and wonderful tasting products. I was very impressed with what was being made abroad.
There were many smaller American food manufacturers that I thought were really innovative as well. There were all sorts of drinks, spicy snacks and baked goods that I thought had a lot of potential for a mass market audience.
So for the next three days I sampled and snacked my way through the long aisles of the show. This show didn’t have the same number of vendors as previous years, noting that I finished walking the show in three days with plenty of time for another trip down the aisles to revisit certain vendors.
Much of the lower part of the second building was used as theater space for lectures and talks which I had not seen in previous years. Still there was a lot of innovation in the show and I wanted to point out the products that I thought stood out in the three days I was at the show.
Day One:Visiting the vendors and pavilions on the first floor
The Italian Pavilion:
The Italian Pavilion this year offered so many wonderful products from pasta to sauces and spices that there was a lot to choose from. There were so many vendors selling those types of products that they got lost in the shuffle. Where the products shined and stood out was in the Snack and Beverage category.
The first interesting product I tasted was Protein chips
These crispy chips were packed with flavor and had a nice snap to them. What made them stand out to me was not just the intensity of the flavors but the creativity of the packaging. I got to sample both the Paprika and the Salt & Vinegar and loved the flavors.
These crispy chips had a nice crunchy taste and a light hint of spices and olive oil. These chips are the perfect snack with a glass of wine or to start a meal with cheeses.
Bergotto Sodas were one of the standouts in both in the Italian Pavilion and in the Fancy Food Show
The Bergotto sodas were one of the standout beverages of the show. They were packed with fruity flavors that were refreshing and I loved the packaging. The sodas were really refreshing on this extremely hot day. I think they will do very well in the American market.
These tiny breadsticks from Italy, called ‘Grissini bites, are really addictive and you can not stop crunching your way through these cheese and pizza tasting snacks. These cheesy little bites were very addictive.
The Italian Pavilion had many standout items and was one of the biggest contributors to the show this year. I loved their packaging and their representatives could not have been nicer.
The South Korean Pavilion:
South Korean Pavilion with its colorful and tasty snacks, candies and sodas. Their selection of noodle based dishes and spices again are a standard in many companies from here and abroad.
Where the South Koreans stood out was in snacks and beverages. Outside of the French, the South Koreans had some of the most unique and creative packaging at the show. The flavors of their products burst with flavors of fruits and spices. I had to take my time to taste products later on that I would see in Asian markets in Bergen County, NJ.
This delicious line of sodas had tiny gelatin pearls at the bottom of them and came in so many wonderful flavors. The drinks were so refreshing after a long day of walking around and you have to shake the bottom of the can to get the pearls out and it is worth it.
The milk sodas Latte Pop were surprisingly sweet and refreshing and did not taste like a milk based product. They tasted like a fizzy version of Strawberry or Banana milk.
These interesting snack chips called “New Fish Pop” had an intense and interesting flavor. I found out that these are made with Alaskan Pollack and had no flour in them. The Honey Butter and the Chili flavors were delicious and I thought a pretty original product.
The Lemon curd ice cream from Bold Spoon really stood out amongst the ice cream I sampled that first day. The fresh ingredients and the creamy consistency stood out amongst the vendors trying to recreate the same flavors
These delicious flavors were dense and creamy and were the best ice creams that I tasted in the show. What stood out to me was that you could really taste the lemon and cream in every bite.
The Women’s Owned Companies Pavilion:
There were many ‘women owned and run’ businesses being showcased at the show. One of the products in the Women’s Owned set of booths on the lower level was the ‘Cinnamom’, cinnamon bun products. These sweet, chewy and decadent desserts were the brainchild of the mother/daughter team who own the company. It was the owners grandmother who had come up with the recipe for these sweet and rich desserts.
The ‘Cinnamom’ baked products were some of the best new items at the show that tasted
My favorites were the buttery regular cinnamon rolls and the ones topped with a thick butter cream icing. I had to go back all three days at the show just to try each of their flavors. These rich desserts deserved a lot of attention.
The pretzel snacks from OMG were Oh My God! These tasty little pretzel bites are excellent. They are crisp and crunchy and full of flavor. The two that stood out to me were the Salty Butterscotch and the Buffalo flavors and I enjoyed crunching on them.
The first day of the show was a trial of sampling and tasting and as usual I did not pace myself the way I should have. Too many flavors and consistencies plus add in the bad humidity outside for all three days for the show made me stuffed and tired but in a good way.
Five Boro Block Party on the first day of the show:
After the first day of the show, the Specialty Food Association sponsored the Five Boro Block Party again with free food trucks and costumed characters walking around. It was so hot and humid the first two days of the show, I did not know how people were walking around with jacket and tie let alone in costume. The woman who was our Statue of Liberty character lasted about twenty minutes in her costume before she had to go back inside.
The sign for the Five Boro Block Party outside the Javis Center after the first day of the show
All the vendors, merchants, industry people and buyers at the Five Boro Block Party
The actor who played the Statue of Liberty lasted about a half hour out in this heat in that costume
Still she had a lot of fun entertaining everyone on stilts
They had a nice assortment of food trucks to choose from and the food was really good but I was not hungry. I had covered the whole first floor and part of the second floor that morning and afternoon. While the traffic was a little lighter than it had been in the last two years, it took a lot of time to try and sample some of the newer vendors and I had completely lost my appetite. The site of food was not very appealing but I still wanted to see what the trucks were offering. Thank God it was just light bites.
Food Truck Catering Company made a Chicken Adobo that looked interesting until I realized it was thigh meat.
I was not a big fan of chicken thighs but the spices on this dish were fantastic
The Glazed and Confused Food Truck had the best doughnuts
The Fried Powered Doughnuts were delicious
I only lasted at the block party for about a half hour before I went home. The heat was so unbearable and so many of the exhibitors were in jacket or jacket and tie in that heat, I was not sure how they lasted.
I was full and exhausted and just wanted to get home and go through my notes from the first day, plus I had class the next morning and then had to run back in for the second day of the show so it was would a busy next two days. I just wanted to relax after all that walking and sampling. I took some good notes and found some excellent vendors who had wonderful product.
The Second Day of the Show:
The second day of the show I got there late after my morning class and was able to cover the whole lower level of the show.
Cork’s Gourmet Popcorn was one of the best popcorns that I tasted at the show. Not only was the popcorn well spiced and flavored. The Sweet Thai Chili and the Buffalo Ranch were two interesting flavors. The company uses a type of popcorn that is really fluffy and you do not see small kernals.
The Soup Dumplings at the Nom Wah booth I waited around for several times during the show and it was well worth the wait. These juicy and succulent dumplings were one of the best items I tasted at the show and made me want to go down to the restaurant ( but alas they STILL do not accept a Visa or Mastercard). The quality of these dumplings are excellent and the company has very high standards.
I sampled several of the soups from PGI Foods and I could not tell the difference between these and homemade soups. The quality and taste were amazing. The woman who worked the booth encouraged me to ‘try them all’. The New England Clam Chowder was rich and creamy with lots of clams in them. The Broccoli Cheddar Soup had a rich and sharp flavor and the Lobster Bisque was so well spiced. A definite winner for any restaurant not wanting to make them from scratch.
The Krispy Calamari snack was one of the best snacks that I tasted at the show and was one of the most unusual. These chewy and highly flavored snacks I thought was one of the best cross-over snacks I had seen at the show. It is easy to devour the Original and Spicy Cajun and I had to visit the booth more than once to ‘try them’.
Another favorite snack of mine from the South Korean Pavilion (I am telling you they had the most flavorful snacks at the show). These crispy little circles of rice flour and honey mixed with some spicy flavors made the perfect snack. These highly addictive snacks had such a sweet and savory taste to them. The people working the booth saw that I liked them so much they gave me several bags to take home and sample. I loved these snacks!
I took the samples home and tried them on my own and I think they have huge potential
I loved this product that was more of cheese on stick then a traditional corn dog. These pops had a crispy coated that was mixed with different spices. These were being fried constantly as everyone wanted to sample them. I loved the stringy consistency and the delightful flavors they had.
The Pollack Flavored Chips from Lotte Foods
I kept going back to the South Korean Pavilion to try more of their sweet and savory snacks. These were O-ING, which were Pollack flavored fish snacks. These highly spiced snacks were a big hit with me and I am not a big fish lover. These spicy snacks are the perfect item when you want a quick snack with a soda or general snacking. The people at the booth gave me a couple of different flavors to take home and try.
These were light and spicy and had a nice crunch to them
I had sampled many different types of cookies through the show that soft, hard and some all natural. I found that cookies or any baked product that does not have flour, sugar, butter and eggs just have not flavor or consistency to them.
The cookies from Fancy Pants Cookies really stood out as a crispy, crunchy product sweet product that would be popular at any age. I love their packaging as well.
The Fancy Pants cookies were small, crisp cookies that had a nice crunch to them. The cookies have such a nice taste to them. These tiny cookies are packed with flavor and have a nice bite to them. I was happy trying each flavor that they gave me a few bags to sample at home. The Birthday Cake flavor is hands down the best flavor.
The sample I brought home with me were the Birthday Cake flavor
Of the American beverage companies that I tried at the show, Harney & Sons Tea is a fan favorite of mine since I went to a sampling at the Cornell Club years ago (the owner is a Cornell Alumnus-Go Red!). I love these infused all natural teas.
The were closing down for the evening and they gave me a few bottles to take home. I was not too keen on the Rose flavored but the original and Orange Mango flavored were delicious. I have always loved their products when I visit the upscale bakeries and cafes in Manhattan.
Last Day of the Show:
On my last day of the show, I got in late because of early morning classes and wanted to collect samples so that I could try things at home. By 2:30pm, vendors were literally throwing samples in my canvas bag like I was going trick or treating. No one wants to take these home with them or back to the office. I really appreciated the samples that the vendors gave because it gave me the opportunity to taste and nibble on things on my own time.
These are some of the products that I highly recommend:
The Real Veggie Brussel sprouts from Woodridge Snacks were delicious when I sampled them
I am not a big fan of Brussel Sprouts but my mind and opinion on them was changed when the representative from Woodridge Snacks gave me a few bags of his product to try at home. I had been impressed by the flavors. These crunchy little snacks are different from others that I had tried at the show. These were made a real whole Brussel sprout leaves and a cheesy spicy flavoring to them. I was surprised and delighted by them.
These savory little snacks have such flavor packed into these crunchy treats
Another series of snacks I tried on my own were the brown rice puff snacks from Morihaku Confectioney LTD. These crunchy puffs were a nice alternative to the other puffy snacks that I have tried in the past. I got to try the three flavors Mild Curry, Grilled Corn and Yuzu Salt Koji when I got home.
The Brown Rice Puffs by Morihaku Confectioney LTD. from the Japan Pavilion
These potato chips were wonderful. The representative from the company at the show gave me a big bag of the Somerset Cheddar and Shallot flavors. These were crisp, savory and packed with flavor. These thick kettle chips are what the English would call ‘crisps’. That gave them their crisp bit.
Another popcorn that I always enjoy sampling at the show and have some of the most mellow representatives are Fisher’s Popcorn, a beach favorite. They have shops near my mother’s house in Delaware and I love their fresh popcorn. I always have to nudge them for samples after the show and they are always happy to oblige because I love their product so much.
The Fisher’s Popcorn with Caramel and Old Bay Seasoning are excellent
Hands down, their Caramel Old Bay seasoning popcorn is the best flavor. Sweet and savory with every bite and has the best taste to it. You will go through several handfuls with one of the bigger bags.
Heart Beats from the Peek Freens Company are these sweet little Elephant ears
These tiny little sweet and crisp cookie were like eating tiny Elephant Ear pastries. Their sugary top was caramelized and I crunched my way through the whole bag. This is the perfect snack for kids for their lunch boxes. Delightful and sweet!
The last product that I took home with me was the Rotten brand of candies. This sweet and puckery candies had the best packaging and display at the show. I thought these would be
Rotten Candy Gummies and Worms had some of the most unique packaging
Not only did I love the packing and display of this product but the taste was great. Sweet and tart with every bite and my favorite one were the Sour Gummy Cruncheez. These candy coated with sprinkles jellies have a double sweetness to them and a crunchy exterior that is colorful and fun. These are the perfect candy to market to museums like the Children’s Museum of New York and the American Museum of Natural History. Any place that kids could get their hand on them.
The sprinkler coated gummies have a nice sweet and sour pucker flavor to them
I loved these puckery little candies and I loved the creative packaging.
The worms had a same sweet consistency
These are pictures of some of the food items that I sampled at the show.
Sampling a Shrimp sandwich in the Japanese Pavilion
The savory Chinese pie with ground pork and a type of non-dairy cheese
I thought it was a very successful food show with wonderful items, a lot of creative new vendors and a lot of trusted old ones with quality products and innovative packaging. There are many items that I think will do well in the American market and I don’t think many of the foreign vendors should underestimate the American customer and what they will eat.
There is a lot that I hope to see on the shelves in the next year!
One of the highlights of my industry and my favorite amongst the big shows geared towards the hospitality field is the New York Fancy Food Show held at the Javits Center every June.
The Specialty Food Association sponsors the show every year at the Javits Center
The Fancy Food Show is aisle after aisle of the latest products that will be stocking our grocery stores, specialty shops and gift stores. From the latest cheeses and pates to snack foods, flavorful drinks and waters to the latest heat and eat prepared foods to almost anything else to stock your pantry with, they are being showcased at this show. It takes me the full three days to get through the show just to walk down the aisles and see what new products there are to sample. That is not enough time plus you get over-whelmed with all the foods to taste and flavors to experience.
My first day I concentrated on the first floor of the show. The first several aisles were dedicated to vendor after vendor of cheeses. I have learned over the years to pace myself when I start the show, or you go into system overload. You have to take your time in the first three aisles of the show or else you will not be able to enjoy all the other samples you need to experience to form an opinion.
I was funny that I felt this way because when I said this to a cheese merchant, she repeated that comment back to me. She said, “You know, I keep asking everyone to try our cheese, but they keep saying they have to pace themselves. Why do they keep saying that?” I reminded her that we have aisles and aisles of food to see and a lot of first timers start to fill themselves up on the first three aisles and then can’t handle the rest of the show. She did not seem pleased with that answer and went back to work.
I continued to take my time walking the Food Show. Traveling aisle after aisle of cheeses, crackers, cookies and olive oils. The snack foods selection was extensive this year. I guess the pandemic got people creating food items that they liked, and they want to make a cottage business out of it. The problem is that there are only so many different ways to make caramel popcorn or chocolate chip cookies.
The biggest problem with food items at the show is when vendors are trying to be too specific who they want their customers to be or catering to a niche customer who is gluten intolerant or looking for all natural foods. I have had to keep a straight face when I had to sample all natural sodas with no sugar or cookies without eggs, wheat, sugar and are dairy free that tasted like saw dust. I know what the vendor is trying to achieve but when an item has no flavor no one will want to buy it. Some products can achieve this but somewhere in the recipe they will have to put a few ingredients back.
I found a lot of successful items at the show that did not agree with judges when it came time to give awards out. Some of their choices just had no flavor, taste or appeal to a lot of customers. I judged products by a couple of standards, how different was it in product, how it tasted and was the flavoring different from other items on the market and creativity in packaging. Some of the snack foods and sodas that won awards boggled me because they had no flavor and no enticing packaging.
I found that some of the best products in the French and Korean Food Pavilions. The Asian countries really had the pulse of appealing to a younger customer or an older customer who liked things from their childhood. The French always know packaging. They are famous for it. The color schemes and the pictures just appeal to a sophisticated customer. It is also the taste of their foods. The flavors are direct and intense. Their snacks had more unusual flavors and better cooking methods. There just seemed like they wanted to bring gourmet foods to the snack masses of the United States. I was impressed by a handful of items that I highly recommend to those who want to indulge in a treat.
The following were the best products I sampled on the first day of the 2024 Fancy Food Show and I want to share them with other foodies and culinarians. These products stood out the most for their taste and packaging:
In the French Pavilion, the first brand I highly recommend is the potato chip brand Simply Gourmand brand Brets, whose crispy flavorful snacks were the best potato chips at the show. in the Snack Food category, I thought they were the best I tasted. With their unique flavors, the best being the Camembert Cheese and the Miel Moutarde, the honey Dijon mustard flavors and colorful packaging, were outstanding. I had to beg the vendor for two bags to take home to sample. The crispy fried French potatoes were perfectly flavored and salted and they filled the bag with chips and not air like American companies.
The Brets brand of potato chips by Simply Gourmand
The samples I took home were excellent. I loved the crunch and the perfect seasonings.
The other item from the French Pavilion were the cookie brands by Gozoki Deceures, both the Maison Jacquemart and the Noots. These buttery delights were a treat when I tried the different varieties.
The cookies from Maison Jacquemart were excellent
I sampled the various flavors of cookies from Maison Jacquemart and the cookies look as good as they taste. I was able to try their Les Petits Lunettes, a small type of Linder tart cookie filled with strawberry jelly and chocolate cream and their mini Almond cakes, that tasted like a Madeline. You could taste the sweet butter in the cookie dough and the fresh jelly in the cookie. The crunchiness of the cookie with the sweetness of the filling was a delectable combination.
It was the same with their tartlets as well. There was a thick layer of chocolate, strawberry and apricot jelly on the top of their cookies with a buttery cookie base that showed me that they did not skimp anywhere when producing their product.
Gozoki Douceurs products were my pick for best baked products at the show
The samples they gave me of the Strawberry Jelly and the Chocolate filled tarts were delicious
In the Canadian Pavilion, around lunch time on my first day of the show, I sampled the Chicken Nuggets by Al Safa Foods and these were impressive especially the spicy ones. They were juicy on the outside and crisp on the inside and the spicy flavor had a nice kick to it.
The Al Safa Chicken nuggets were one of the best chicken products I tasted at the show
What I like about Al Safa Chicken products is the quality and taste of the chicken. The product cooked up nicely and the taste would appeal to children and adults alike.
in the Italian Pavilion, there were many honey products being sampled at the show but the best flavored honey was from Casa Folino were stood out for flavor and packaging.
The Casa Folino flavored honey is a different alternative to jellies when topping toast or biscuits
The Casa Folino line of honeys had a zippy set of flavors and were unique to the show. Other vendors offered different flavored honeys due to the bees or the region they were produced but this company added the flavorings to the high quality honey making a unique accompaniment to biscuits an
The Asian Pavilion offered so many amazing products and these are the best of the best when I walked this part of the show:
I was very impressed with food items from both Korea and Thailand with a few vendors from Taiwan as well. What I liked about the Asian food products is the unique flavors and bright packaging of their products. They made their food products appealing to the eye and engaging to the senses and the packaging was fun. Once they reeled you in with the engaging packaging, the flavors were very intense with different tastes like Rose, Melon and Mango for sweets and peppers and cheeses for their savory products.
These Cheeseburger popcorn snack from HBAF were very impressive. The seasonings really did taste like a cheeseburger and you could taste the beef and tomato flavorings in the popcorn. Their other snacks had unusual flavors as well. I think these innovative snacks will work well in the American market. They also sampled a Cookie & Cream Malt balls and Honey Butter Almonds that were also delicious. All their products had a delicious taste and engaging packaging. The perfect stocking stuffer at the holidays.
Yummy LOL has the most interesting packaging
Yummy LOL candies had some of the most creative packaging in the candy category. The vibrant colors and the way that the company combines the use of candy as a toy makes this packaging all the more fun. The product was candy and a toy all in one package.
The quality of the candy is very good. The flavors of the candy have a high level of sweetness and I notice sometimes that the Asian made candies have a more intense flavor than their American counterparts. I think it is the use of different fruit flavors being used and the way these taste.
In the Thailand Pavilion, the Sappe products had the top beverage of the show. I have not tasted such refreshing sodas in a long time with such unique flavors. The use of unusual fruits and things like rose petal gave the sodas a bite and a flavor that I had never had before. I loved the Aloe Vera sodas, the Mogu Mogu beverages but the standout of their products was these floral Keaf sodas that were so refreshing and had such a bite to them that they were the perfect accompaniment with any spicy dish.
Keaf Sodas have an amazing and zesty taste to them
The Keaf sodas Relaxing Mood, Day Dreamer and Romantic Date Night flavors when well chilled have refreshing flavor due to all natural ingredients and just the way the tastes combine together. These sodas will not be on the market until next year but should be a huge hit in the specialty soda category. Their sodas were the best at the food show.
Of the American made products that I was most impressed with I have talked about in previous blogs on the food show such as Wein-Chuan Chinese Dim Sum products which are such high quality and taste homemade like they are made in the restaurant. Another was Goodie Girl cookies with their packaging and cookie flavors almost mimic Girl Scout cookies. I have found the high quality and consistency and packaging to be excellent.
Goodie Girl Cookies I have mentioned in past blogs as being a high quality brand of cookies and crackers. These delightful treats remind me of a version of Girl Scout cookies and even the Rep told me everyone gets confused by them. Even the packaging and flavors of the cookies are very similar to the latest versions of the scouts cookies.
The best part about Goodie Girl cookies is that you do not have to wait until once a year to buy them. Their Birthday Cake cookies have a creamy sweetness to them and the Fudge Stripped are a crisp sweet cookie and both can satisfy any sweet tooth.
I spent a lot of time visiting the Wei-Chuan booth at the show during meal times to sample all their products and I highly recommend the whole assortment.
The Wei-Chuan products of Dumplings and Spring rolls
Wei-Chuan is another American based company that makes high quality Chinese-American Dim Sum products. They were sampling two types of dumplings, the Chicken and the Pork along with their delightful crisp Spring rolls. I have always been impressed by the quality and taste of their appetizers. They are a product that are restaurant quality and you would have thought they were made in front of you.
A new standout product that I thought was fun and had a lot of promise was Sweetapolita, a specialty sprinkle set for kid’s parties.
Sweetapolita packaging of their specialty sprinkles for children’s birthday parties I think would be a huge hit with adults as well.
When I talked with the founder of the company, she said that when she used to have parties for her kids and said the best part of the party is when the kids had their own toppings. She said she created the product because she found that kids loved sprinkles and the creativity of decorating their own cakes. She found no product that fulfilled the need the way she wanted it so she imagined her own line and that was how she created her brand.
After the first day of the show, I had covered the whole first floor which is like walking four football fields of food. The SFA sponsored on the first night of the show the ‘Five Boro Block Party’ for all the attendees of the show. I was so stuffed from all the sampling that I had been doing at the show that I had no appetite whatsoever. There was a series of food trucks offering complimentary to all the vendors and attendees’ things like tacos, quesadillas, hot dogs and ice cream. Of all the times that something like this was free.
The Five Boro Block Party at the end of the first night of the show
They gave the attendees who wanted to have something to eat a generous sample of the different ethnic foods. Even though everything looked and smelled delicious, all I could manage after a day of sampling foods was a soft serve ice cream cone with a cherry dipped topping.
The variety of food trucks made for a nice light meal
This gave attendees a chance to socialize after the first long day of the show. They had a great DJ at the food truck festival and an actress walking around as the Statue of Liberty on stilts doing photo ops with all the guests. I thought that was fun evening and stayed for bit before I dragged myself back to Port Authority.
The Statue of Liberty who walked around the show greeting guests
I was so tired and stuffed with food that leaving early was no problem for me. So many of my friends imply that it must be so much fun to sample free food all day. It is a lot of work not to be tempted to try everything and to walk what is about four football fields of different types of food can really throw off your body. Too much of too many different things. I had to walk around the City for a bit before I went home that first day of the show.
I love walking around the City during the early evening
The second day of the food show I was raring to go and started the show on the bottom level of the Jarvis Center, where parts of the show was broken down by category and by country and state not just by product, so it gave me a chance to spend some more time in the country pavilions.
The dumplings or Momo’s were a Nepali dumping that were spicer than than their Chinese counterparts
The Momo’s had a spicer flavor to them due to the chilies in the dough and meats
The selection of Momos had a fiery flavor to them and reflected the colder climate where these types of dumplings originated. They are a different twist to typical Asian food. They used different spices and were hotter than most dumplings I tried at the show.
In the Chinese pavilion, one of the most popular vendors was ACC Foods LLC. The women who worked there were making everything fresh and right in front of us.
ACC Foods out of China had some of the best quality Dim Sum at the show
They had employees making fresh pork dumplings and soup dumplings as we watched and then cooking them fresh as we waited for them to come out of steamers and frying pans.
All the samples for ACC Foods were prepared right in front of us
Everything at this booth was made from scratch and then cooked and served under the heat lamps. Trust me, nothing lasted that long where food sat at this booth. The quality, consistency and taste were all excellent.
In the Taiwan Pavilion, Pocas Foods had some of the most amazing food products from the show
Pocas Foods had a fantastic display of items at the show in both the beverage and the candy categories. I was blown away by the quality of their beverages and flavors of their candies. I have not tasted products that have such a vivid taste and in such unique flavors like melon, pineapple and mango.
The Tik Tok beverages to me were some of the best in show at the Food Show. Not only were each of the flavors I tried delicious, but each had small pieces of gelatin inside the bottles to add another sweet treat to each beverage. These were made in Vietnam.
Their freeze-dried candy was so intensely sweet and crunchy. Such a delicious and unusual candy and with each bite it seems to get sweeter. I loved crunching on these and they are addictive.
Another excellent spread that I had tasted was by Trai foods. This brand of sauces were fiery and flavorful.
Their sauces had amazing taste. They gave me a sample of the Amarillo Pepper to take home and delicious hot sauce added a nice kick to chicken and hot dogs.
There were several small batch snack makers I met in the Innovation and New Products Pavilion on my last day of the show. The popcorn from Little Lad’s was delicious and had flavors that I did not see in the more commercial brands.
Little Lads is a high quality product
The representative from Little Lad’s was so impressed by my comments of his product that he sent me home with a big bag of his Sea Salt & Olive Oil Popcorn which was a delight. I loved the subtle flavor of the popcorn and their was a nice saltiness to it.
Another unique and delicious snack were the Caulipuffs snacks. These puffed snacks were made with dried cauliflower flour and then air puffed into a type of ‘doodle’ snack.
Caulipuffs were a big surprise to me at the Food Show and one of the most delicious snacks. Not only were they lighter than most of the snack foods I sampled but they were flavored so nicely. Both the honey barbecue and the white cheddar had a rich flavor and the had a nice crunch in every bite.
The Jaju Pierogi had delicious fillings and great flavor
I had tried a variety of pierogi at the show, but the brand Jaju stood out the most. These small batch dumplings had a variety of fillings, and the Sweet Potato with the Caramelized Onions had a sweet and savory flavor in every bite. They were also the perfect size for a side dish or a snack and cooked up well.
There were many frozen and fresh pizzas that I sampled at the Food Show but PiOOa Pizza stood out not just for the quality and taste but for the ethical stance they took in the company.
PiOOa pizza frozen pizzas stood out not just for their delicious flavor and consistency in the crust but the owner is deaf, and the company gives opportunities for those who are deaf employment in the company. The staff here works together to create these wonderful frozen pizzas.
One of the friendliest vendors I met were the Mother/Daughter team at Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn.
The mother/ daughter team behind Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn
One of the surprising popcorn snacks I sampled was in the New Products Pavilion were the deliciously sweet Miss Hannah’s Tutti Frutti and Caramel Popcorn. Made in small batches by hand it is right now only available online. This decadent popcorn tastes like each individual popped kernel was coated individually with a touch of sweetness in every bite. It’s delicious taste and simple but fun packaging will make a wonderful gift or host present.
The candy from UpTop Treats was very unique both in packaging, taste and in the logo. I thought this was a great product for children especially ones who were interested in the Space Age. The candies were freezes dried fruits that were sweet and crunchy and were the perfect snack for kids. Even this big kid (me), was impressed by the flavor and quality as well as the portion size of the product.
I loved the logo and the little space creature they created for the candy. I told the vendor that these would wonderful to sell in the Natural History and Children’s Museums. This is their get selling point. She had not even thought of that angle for the product. I also liked the little stuffed animal the had and said it was another good selling point.
On my last day of the show, the vendors were trying to get rid of their samples because no one wants to travel home with boxes of samples. The vendor from O Sole Mio was explaining his product to me that it was a refrigerated, fully prepared meal that just needed to be unwrapped, mixed in the enclosed container and then microwaved and served. He offered me two samples and I foolishly took only one. It was delicious and easy to prepare.
The packaging and the dinner I prepared at home
The product was delicious and so easy to to put together. Each part of the entree, the sauce, grilled chicken and the pasta were fully prepared and in their own individual bags. I just put them into the microwaveable container, mixed it up and cooked it for four minutes and dinner was done.
The quality of the entree was excellent and it had a nice creamy rich flavor
I thought the product was a nice alternative to these expensive food kits and if you are in a rush or tired after a long day at work, this is a very nice alternative to eating out.
The best for last was a vendor that I have featured a few times before in my blogs on the Food Show. Featured in the Korean Pavilion, Melona frozen desserts. These were excellent and some of the best frozen ice pops and novelties of the show. These fruit purée ice pops are the best at the Food Show but hard to find at the supermarkets.
They have about a dozen different flavors of ice pops and not your typical flavors. Melona frozen foods have some of the most original and creative flavors like honeydew melon, mango, watermelon, banana and green tea. Their ice cream products, some in the shape of fish which has symbolism in Korea, were filled with vanilla ice cream and fruit syrup wrapped in a sweet rice flower dough. Not just beautiful to look at but delicious in taste.
Melona’s version of an ice cream sandwich filled with Vanilla ice cream and sweet strawberry syrup
The selection of frozen treats by Melona products put other ice cream companies to shame with their unique flavors, beautiful packaging and delicious taste. I had to keep coming back to their booth just to try all the flavors all three days of the show. They could not have been more generous with their samples and their representatives encouraged you to try more.
The New York Fancy Food show had many other quality products to sample and purchase for stores but these were the products that really stood out to me in taste, flavor, packaging and originality in the product itself. If I owned a grocery store, these are the products that I would stock and recommend to customers. In the three days I attended the show, these were my set of winners. They were wonderful in every way.
I will be looking for them in grocery stores soon. I look forward again to the Fancy Food Show in 2025.
The one thing I suggest getting is the Sprinkle Cookie Cake Batter Vodka Martini infused Ice Cream sandwich. Words can’t describe how good this dessert is and after a long day it will give you a nice buzz.
The Sprinkle Cookie Cake Batter Vodka Martini Ice Cream sandwich I highly recommend
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