Editor's Choice: Byron Bay Cookies

It may only be the end of July, but I think I may have found the ideal autumn cookie. I received samples of Australia-based Byron Bay Cookies’ (www.cookie.com.au) Sticky Date & Ginger Cookies, and they could not be a more perfect fall gourmet gift.

The cookies contain dates, which, in my opinion, are an underused ingredient in the U.S. I find dates to be earthy and naturally sweet all at once, which is really pleasing to my palate. If you have customers who are unfamiliar with the flavor profile of dates, these cookies are a great introduction.

The cookies also contain chopped walnuts and ginger pieces, both of which complement the dates well. These flavors meld together into an unexpected, subtly spiced treat that I could see being served with tea or warm apple cider in the fall.

I also was surprised at how soft the cookie was, despite its relatively dense ingredients. To my surprise, it was moist and flavorful rather than dry and tasteless as some comparable cookies are. Overall, Sticky Date & Ginger Cookies are cookies with substance; just one is fulfilling and goes a long way in satisfying a sweet tooth. Try these cookies in your store this fall; they’d be great in gift baskets and would also be a fun item to sample.

-Ashley

Editor's Choice: Bob's Red Mill

Everyone who knows I have a vegan diet asks, without fail, “is it hard?” And I always have the same response: No. Having not eaten diary, eggs or meat for so long, I take for granted how simple it is to create nutritional and delicious vegan meals. Sometimes, it’s easy because I’ve already figured out what works, but sometimes cooking vegan is easy because I find a great product. Bob’s Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten is one of those easy-to-be-vegan products.

After more than a year of buying pre-made seitan at Whole Foods, I picked up a bag of Bob’s Vital Wheat Gluten to make seitan from scratch, and I promptly let it sit in my pantry for months. Talk about shelf-stable, when I was finally prepared to make my own seitan, Bob’s was patiently waiting for me. Making seitan isn’t difficult, but it’s intimidating and time consuming, so finding the best ingredient is a must.

The Vital Wheat Gluten package has a seitan recipe and tips for incorporating the protein-rich wheat byproduct in baked goods. Bob’s suggests adding a few tablespoons to homemade bread for a elastic texture, and the package offers a recipe for Honey Oatmeal Bread too. Vital Wheat Gluten is so beneficial, health-conscious omnivores will love it too. For gluten-free diets, Bob’s offers myriad gluten-free products and continuously receives praise for its celiac-disease-friendly products.

I don’t just use Bob’s Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten either. I just made homemade corn dogs with the company’s cornmeal, sprinkle the flaxseed on my salads, add bulgur to vegetarian chili and use its flour in just about everything I bake. Delicious, pure, organic ingredients are so important for a delicious meal, and I know I can rely on Bob’s Red Mill to help me make yummy treats.

Read more about Bob’s Red Mill in the baking ingredients article in the August issue of Fancy Food & Culinary Products, or take a tour of the factory with Bob himself in the video below.

- Mary

Editor's Choice: Sahale Snacks

Ever since I was allowed to have a little coffee (with lots of milk) as a kid, I have loved the taste of coffee. Actually looking back, maybe that was my first latte. For me, there’s nothing better than coffee after a meal or as a midday treat (especially surrounded by a charming café). And maybe a cookie or two served with it to complete the picture.

So I was happy to try one of our latest arrivals, Sahale Snacks Almond Vanilla Latte Biscotti Crisps (www.sahalesnacks.com). The crisps are thin like a cookie or cracker. They have a rich vanilla taste, along with a nice crunch from both the crisp and almonds. And, of course, they offer the great taste of coffee. It was like having a latte without the cup. The crisps would, of course, be great with a cup of coffee, tea, with ice cream or even with a glass of wine.

And bonus points—it turns out they are made from whole grains, so they are actually healthy. The crisps are also offered in Cranberry Pecan, Pomegranate Cashew and Banana Walnut Chocolate. All sound good just on their own or maybe even with cheese.

They are packaged in a 5.5-oz. resealable bag.

-Barbara

Editor's Choice: Wonka

Although Nestle’s Wonka brand (www.wonka.com) may not classify as gourmet, I couldn’t resist choosing the Wonka Exceptionals Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Bar for my Editor’s Choice pick this week. Say what you will about big-brand chocolate, but this creamy candy bar is absolutely irresistible.

We received samples of an array of Wonka bars in the office last week, and I immediately tried the Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Bar because, well, how could you not want to eat candy with a ridiculous name, especially one that was featured in one of the greatest films of all time? (Ok, maybe not the greatest film of all time, but certainly one of my childhood favorites. And I may or may not have the entire film memorized, including those catchy Oompa Loompa songs.)

The Scrumdiddlyumptious bar comes in a shiny, metallic purple wrapper that is as eye-catching and imaginative as the scenes from “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” film. The bar itself combines all my favorite candy elements: milk chocolate, toffee bits, crispy cookie pieces and crunchy peanuts. The chocolate is surprisingly rich and smooth, and the toffee bits add a caramel undertone that creates depth.

The arrival of these bars got me thinking about in-store merchandising. Have you ever considered creating a display of candy and foods inspired by films and books? Or merchandising classic candies alongside books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl? The artwork in children’s picture books is so colorful and could be used as inspiration for displays. What’s more, it gives you the opportunity to tap into peoples’ childhood memories and love for nostalgic treats.

-Ashley

Editor's Choice: Sea Stones

Last winter, I was roaming the aisles of the New York International Gift Fair’s Handmade division, when the owner of Sea Stones stopped me. It was early in the show, so I had plenty of time to ask questions about the wine accessories (my favorite gift to buy myself).

Capturing the beauty of the Northeast coastline, the New Hampshire-based company uses rocks smoothed and shaped by the waters they come from. With stones gathered from private rivers and beaches, Sea Stones turns the stones into wine bottle stoppers and my new favorite, On the Rocks, a set of granite drink chillers. Think of them as more sophisticated versions of the plastic ice cubes popular for picnics.

I adore the natural aesthetic of the entire line, and the beauty of the product is only furthered by its functioned. Chilled stones gently cool spirits, so the flavors aren’t lost as they would be when ice is added. The chilled stones also prevent melting water from altering the taste. The set of six stones come with a hardwood tray to store and freeze in the freezer.

The handcrafted items are also one-of-a-kind finds. The items are designed by Mother Nature rather than a team of artists, so the stones’ grain and coloring is as natural as it gets. Sea Stone also makes wine glasses with recycled glass and stone, and the company provides merchandising displays for large orders.

For more information about Sea Stones’ products and its stone-replacement program, visit www.sea-stones.com, and look for the company again at the NYIGF in booth #9340.

- Mary

Editor's Choice: Dave's Gourmet

Growing up in an Italian household, pasta and sauce was always part of our Sunday meal. This week’s choice, Dave’s Gourmet Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce (www.davesgourmet.com), however, takes the concept in a new direction, and I was looking forward to trying it. It turns out I wasn’t the only one intrigued by the concept, and since the sauce is in a family-friendly size jar (25.5 oz.), I decided to take the tasting on the road — actually down the block. I also had a bag of some good-size, tubular, ridged pasta that I figured would be perfect for capturing the sauce.

In the interest of good reporting, I let one of my dinner companions take the first taste of the al dente-cooked pasta and sauce. An audible “ooh” followed by a "this is really good” was the reaction. Taking my first bite, I agreed, as I was greeted by the creamy texture and sweet taste of the butternut squash as it blended with garlic (of course) and the taste of roasted red pepper. It was delicious and made the pasta choice, which captured the sauce so well, such a good idea. In fact, our other companion used some bread to soak up the last bit of sauce before going back for seconds.

I could also see the sauce on cheese ravioli and tortellini. The company also suggests using it for lasagna. All sound like delightful meals to try really soon.

-Barbara

Editor’s Choice: Earth & Vine

Mustard, in my opinion, is one of the most versatile condiments available. I use it on sandwiches, dip French fries in it and mix it with olive oil and vinegar for quick, fresh vinaigrettes.

So when I received a sample of Earth & Vine’s (www.earthnvine.com) Tangerine Habanero Mustard, I was excited to try it, especially because the flavors seemed so perfect for summertime.

The first thing I noticed about the mustard was its bright, tangy, citrus flavor. It balanced well with the classic, earthy undertones of the mustard, and was enhanced even further with a pleasant kick of habanero.

With summer barbecues on my mind, I can’t wait to try marinating pork tenderloin with the Tangerine Habanero Mustard and throwing it on the grill. The company offers a variety of other suggested uses, too: blending it with roasted potatoes, using it as a dipping sauce for fried zucchini and more.

Earth & Vine’s Tangerine Habanero Mustard is gluten-free and 100-percent natural. And if you’re looking for proof that this mustard is a winner, take into consideration the fact that Earth & Vine received a gold medal at the Napa Valley Mustard Festival for this flavor.

-Ashley