The November Issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor is Now Available

Dear GGD Reader,

Welcome to the November digital issue of Gift, Gourmet & Decor Magazine.


This Month's Featured Content:
• Enliven Sales
• Winter Markets Update
• Valentine's Day
• Greeting Card Gazette

• Industry Speaks
• Calendar

New Feature:
Enchanced Page Zooming Feature Now Available-Zooming is now easier then ever!

Please Note:
GGD Digital requires NO special downloads or applications to view in its entirety.

Please click HERE to begin reading now!

We hope you enjoy this issue and all future digital issues of GGD. Feel free to contact us with your thoughts and feedback at gwnplus@talcott.com.

Sincerely,
The GGD Team

Editor's Choice: Mexicali Blues

 In the effort of full editorial disclosure, there was one major reason I wanted to review the samples of Mexicali Blues salsas that arrived in our office last week. I'm not a particular salsa aficionado, nor am I keen on eating foods so hot my taste buds never forgive me. But the restaurant that bottles its salsas of the same name is a local institution... from my home town. Mexicali Blues is a mom-and-pop type of establishment in the heart of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. I remember it fondly from family get-togethers and teenage birthday parties made special by off-key renditions of "Feliz Cumpleanos a Ti" and heaping mounds of fried ice cream. And while it's been years since I've stepped into the restaurant for a plate of enchiladas or an icy margarita, I was happy to have a little local flavor at arm's length in our staff fridge.

Paired with my favorite brand of tortilla chips — La Preferida, made locally here in Chicago —the original Mexicali Blues salsa made a perfect accompaniment. While I prefer a more chunky, vegetable-studded salsa, the smooth consistency was a refreshing change. It took me a full minute to work up the courage to dip a chip into the Mexicali Blues XXX salsa, and as it turns out, I was rightfully fearful. The XXX salsa isn't for spice wimps like me.

It's always a good sign when local establishments start manufacturing their own product for wholesale. Maybe I'll make a special trip to visit the Mexicali Blues salsas at the restaurant during my Thanksgiving visit back home.

—Melody

Editor's Choice: Dandelion

Although I have never personally used this week’s Editor’s Choice, we also like to use this space to tell you about some neat products we have seen. The feeding items for baby and kids from Dandelion (www.dandelionforbaby.com) I saw at the recent ABC Kids Expo fit into that category. 

The bowls, divided plates and utensils are all made from corn, a renewable source. They are designed for small hands. The bowls have deep sides to keep food where it belongs. The divided plates keep food items apart — an important concern for many kids. There is even an infant feeding set, consisting of a bowl and slim spoon for the littlest members of the green team. All the pieces are yellow, just like the corn. In addition, all the pieces are hand washable.  

These pieces are a great way to introduce kids into thinking eco-friendly and a fine choice for parents who think green. And for retailers, carrying kid products in your store, especially eco-friendly ones, could be a good way to distinguish your store in the community.  

—Barbara

The Oct/Nov Issue of Fancy Food Digital is Now Available

Dear Fancy Food Reader,

Welcome to the October/November digital edition of Fancy Food & Culinary Products Magazine.

The Fancy Food digital magazine includes all the same great content as found in the print edition.

This Month's Featured Content:
• Gourmet Gift Guide
• Superbowl Snacks
• Gourmet Pasta Sauces
• Covering Our Cover

New Feature:
Enhanced Page Zooming Feature Now Available-Zooming is now easier then ever!

Please Note:
Not all ads will have a yellow link icon; however, you may still access their websites by clicking either on their company logo or embedded web address.

Please click HERE to begin reading now!

We hope you enjoy this issue and all future digital issues of Fancy Food Digital. Feel free to contact us with your thoughts and feedback at fancyfood@talcott.com.

Sincerely,
The Fancy Food Team

Editor's Choice: Two Leaves and a Bud

I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for cute packaging. So when we received a box of adorably packaged tea by Two Leaves and a Bud, I couldn’t help but grab a few packets. Not wanting to immediately ruin the cute wrapper that encased the tea bags, I kept the packets in my pantry for the perfect time to savor a mug of tea. It turns out I didn’t have to wait very long. The minute I felt myself coming down with a case of the sniffles, I knew a steamy cup of tea would be the perfect antidote.

I could barely wait the recommended four-minute steeping time before taking my first sip of the Organic White Peony blend. The taste was delicate and sweet, but with enough flavor to take the tea a step above my usual Earl Grey. I added a splash of honey to soothe my throat, and as it turns out, the tea was just what the doctor ordered.

I had intended to save my second packet of tea for a later use, but I found myself steeping another cup. This time, an organic chamomile, which was a more gentle, balanced tea that would be a great non-caffeinated nightcap or the perfect addition to an evening spent snuggled with a book and oversized armchair.

—Melody

Editor's Choice: Royal Hawaiian Honey

One of the best things for me about working on Fancy Food is getting to sample an array of interesting products. This week’s Editor’s Choice certainly falls into that category. It’s Royal Hawaiian Honey Organic Christmas Berry (www.tropicaltradersfoods.com). I brought it home a few weeks ago and decided Sunday morning was a good time to try it.

The first thing you notice when you open the jar is the amber color and thick texture. I dipped a spoon into the jar. I had decided to try it on my French toast and the combination was delightful. The texture is a little grainy, a rich taste of brown sugar with some molasses and then, at the end, some spices. I look forward to trying it with cheese
and other types of bread.

Incidentally, honey is rich in antioxidants. So it is not only great tasting, but it’s good for you. Another great find. And for retailers, it would be a great treat in gift baskets, and since it is from bees from the Christmas Berry shrub, a great tie-in for a holiday season.

—Barbara

Editor’s Choice: New York Tabletop Market

This week’s Editor’s Choice is a bit out of the ordinary; rather than focusing on a product, I want to highlight a valuable resource for tabletop and kitchen goods.

Today is the first day of New York Tabletop Week, which runs through October 15 at three amazing venues in New York City: Forty One Madison, 7 W New York and 230 Fifth Avenue. In these buildings, you’ll find the latest designs in dinnerware, glassware, textiles, gadgets and more.

A variety of special events are taking place, too. Tomorrow, Forty One Madison will host a special breakfast seminar, “New Womenomics: What Women Want & How To Reach Them, Teach Them & Speak Their Language,” presented by Dannielle Kyrillos, editor-at-large for DailyCandy.

At 7 W, be sure to check out the Color & Cuisine Lobby Display, which consists of four vignettes designed by style experts who will use products pulled from 7 W showrooms.

230 Fifth Avenue will also offer an array of new products and special amenities, including complimentary breakfast and lunch for buyers.

If you’re not in New York this week, make a point to visit the spring 2011 Tabletop Market, which runs April 12-15.

-Ashley