When I attend food expos like Food Fête, I always look for what an exhibitor does to stand out from the other companies that are presenting their brand. I learned from experience that it is impossible to cover each booth when there are more than 10! I found though that at Food Fête there were a lot of innovative booths and products that were very accessible for busy New Yorkers.

The first that stood out was Delverde Pasta. Not only were they the only company to sample their product to people outside, but they use spring water and are made in Italy unlike other pasta companies. They also had really fun products like flavored instant lasagna, the only company with this product on the market. The pasta salad they prepared for attendees to taste proved how amazing the pasta was!

Sartori, a Wisconsin-based cheese company, were presenting four cheeses that are made exclusively by their company.  They won awards like Third Place Overall in the World Cheese Awards and Grand Champion at the World Dairy Expo. Their Cognac BellaVitano was my favorite of the four cheeses. Not just because it’s steeped in Remy Martin Cognac for 7-10 days, but because it’s aged at least 12 months past the classic BellaVitano variety. What was even more memorable is they sent me home with full samples of each cheese in a cute cooler bag and wine glass charms to boot!

Then there was IMUSA. They are predominantly known in the Latin markets, but since Latin and ethnic foods are currently a trend, they are launching in more mainstream markets. They had chef George Duran on hand to sample up guacamole with apples in it, which was one of the most memorable dishes of the night. Guests were sent home with a goodie bag filled to the brim with IMUSA product, including Duran’s cookbook and a tortilla warmer.

The Real California Milk booth was by far the most aesthetically pleasing with the most creative takeaway. The booth showcased their product with Tostones with Crema and Cotija in what looked like mini lounge chairs and Vanilla-Bourbon Milkshakes with mini striped straws paired with mini Pecan Tartlets. Visitors of the booth were sent home with the recipes from Rocker Oysterfeller’s restaurant in Valley Ford, CA. with 1950’s-looking striped straws to recreate the dishes at home.

Minute Rice taught people some great easy recipes to make as a healthy lunch or dinner that were quick, easy, and still delicious. The company prepared Provencal Rice Salad with the Ready to Serve Rice and the highlight, Coconut Sticky Rice with Chicken, with the brand new Minute Steamers. Attendees were treated with a recipe book to tackle the simple on-the-go menu ideas, which was perfect for any busy New Yorker.

Pinkberry was on hand to introduce the media to their most recent flavor, Strawberry, and their new topping, balsamic glaze. They were also making healthier ice cream sandwiches that can be ordered in most stores. I learned that Pinkberry’s fresh fruits are always bought locally and cut in store so they’re never frozen, pre-packaged, or pre-cut.

What I liked about 34 Degrees new Sweet Crisps is that they’re such a light easy snack that can easily be paired with so many different items like sweet cheeses, fruit, nut butter spreads, etc. As someone that throws and hosts a lot of parties, these were also a great base for appetizers, both sweet and then the savory 34 crispbreads.

Overall, although this showcase differed with content, I still left overly full and with too many bags to carry! Until next time…

– Stephanie