Fancy Food 2024 Recap
Some people say seeing is believing. I think tasting is believing. And taste is exactly what I did at this year’s Fancy Food show. I surely took advantage of the opportunity to try all different kinds of incredible foods, beverages, treats, and more at the 2024 Fancy Food Show.
There were, as always, a ton of great brands. But some really stood out as exceptional. Here are my 4 faves.
This brand was the star of the show in my opinion. If you’re in this business, you know frozen is having a moment and this frozen food brand is having a BIG moment. Jane Foodie just won the award for New Outstanding Product of the Year from the Specialty Food Association, which was no surprise to me after having tasted many of their samples at Fancy Food.
When I approached the Jane Foodie table, I didn’t realize that the sauces were flash-frozen and I’m glad I didn’t have that filter on. The first thing I tried was the Bolognese. As a self-proclaimed Italian food expert (and snob), I was skeptical. But that lasted only until the first bite. The sauce blew my mind and then I had no choice but to try everything. Although I loved it all, my absolute favorite was the roasted cauliflower. It tasted fresh and delicious and I am still thinking about it. They have canned soups and stews, roasted veggies, flash-frozen meals, breads, and desserts. And it is all high quality and great-tasting food that is a surprise to get anywhere but a restaurant or home kitchen. I highly encourage you to give Foodie Jane a try.
Their brand is focused on doing one thing and doing it well. It is the best brand of mochi I've ever tried and their flavors are incredibly unique. My personal favorite is the black sesame. It’s a little sweet and a little savory. Not necessarily what you’d expect from a dessert, but an incredibly delightful surprise. I’m praying their distribution expands as I am dying to have this on the regular. If you’re in the NY area, definitely pay a visit to their flagship store to try all of the new things. I’m personally looking forward to trying their espresso and purple sweet potato flavors.
My oh my did I fall in love with this brand. Bon Bon immediately drew me in with a line on a postcard that I especially connect with: “Growing up is a trap”. Their bright colors and youthful yet sophisticated booth, had me certain that this would be a brand that I could get around. After trying their Sour Blackberry fish candy, I was completely hooked. So, what's so special about these gummy candies? They use real sugar instead of corn syrup, and plant-based colorings, and get their bounce from air bubbles and glucose instead of gelatin. The texture and flavors are out of this world. It’s no wonder people are going crazy for them on socials.
I don’t know what made me stop at this booth, but I’m glad I did because suddenly I am using their botanical sprays to spice up my drinks (alcohol and non) and until I bumped into this brand, I had no idea this was even a thing you could do. Their sprays and tinctures transform a basic drink into an experience that starts with the scent and gives you a very subtle flavor twist. They make their products from plants that come straight from their farm in Southeastern Pennsylvania to make simple syrups containing ashwagandha, elderberry, lavender, rosemary, and many more. This feels like an incredible way to expand uses and categories for a product that might otherwise have a very niche audience. My personal favorites were the lavender and mint sprays, but I have every intention of trying their mixers and bitters as well.
Stay tuned for more on these amazing brands and some others that I’ll be watching.
