2009 Summer Fancy Food Show Report: highlights of the show

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW
These are product lines that really stood out

Amano Chocolate
certified kosher by Torah scroll K
Dairy


Amano chocolate is made in Utah. Amano is dedicated to reviving the art in the chocolate manufacturing process. We make our chocolate from select beans, that we import from around the world, in our own artisanal factory. We are one of only a small handful of companies in the United States who manufacture their own chocolate directly from the bean.

Using vintage European equipment and techniques, Amano strives to make the very best chocolate possible. We make our artisanal chocolate in small handcrafted batches and with only the very best ingredients. At every turn, we choose quality over quantity and develop our chocolate so that it has a robust flavor profile with both high and low notes. Our chocolate's subtle fruity flavor is prized by professional chefs who appreciate true handcrafted chocolate.

Recently they won FIVE awards from the most prestigious chocolate judging organization in the world. Each year, the top chocolate professionals, Michelin chefs, food critics, all get together to judge who makes the finest chocolate and chocolate confections. Entries come in from around the world from the very best chocolate makers and chocolatiers. What follows is a huge “taste-off”. This year, there were over 440 entries from the very best in the industry and our entries did very very well. In fact, each bar they entered won an award.

I really enjoyed this chocolate and enjoyed talking to the company’s representatives about their company and their future plans.




Aref Trading Company
Certified kosher by ou
pareve

I was clued into this company by someone I met while waiting for the bus to go from Penn Station to the Javits Center and I was not disappointed. They have a complete line of exotic items from Brazil. They have the following products: Saffron Jelly, Lemon Grass Jelly, Cinnamon Jelly, Bell Pepper Jam, Ginger Jelly, Red Pepper Jelly,
passion Fruit Jam, White Pepper Jelly, and Vanilla Jelly. I tried the vanilla jelly and cinnamon jelly and found them unusual and quite tasty.
they have pepper sauces like: Aromatic Pepper Sauce, Murupi Pepper Sauce, Murupi Pepper, Malagueta Pepper, Aromatic Pepper and Comari Pepper. I tried the small peppers and they were not too hot and quite nice. My daughter liked them with the falafel chips I picked up (more on this later)

Koppert Cress
not certified by an agency - straight herbs


I tried the company’s products for the last 2 years. This time I tried the Szechuan button. It was amazing. After biting into it a numb feeling filed my mouth followed by a mustardy feeling that lasted for 4-5 minutes. It was fantastic!

They also have a Pepquino Melon which looks lime a tiny watermelon but is really a cucumber.



I Sapori Di Sarah
Certified kosher by Star-K
Pareve

Sapori di Sarah is a small company born of the idea of two Jewish Italian women while dining at a Kosher restaurant. They could not understand why it was not possible to find typical Italian products of high quality, the kind of food they knew well from their mother's cooking and training - simple yet complicated, delicate and surprisingly bursting forth at the same time. That day an adventure began, and adventure that continues to be enriched by new challenges and gratifying experiences. The company's mission is to select products of the typical Mediterranean cuisine, while certifying the process from growth through production to packaging in order to perfect a decidedly Italian glorious gourmet to please the palate and the heart of fine connoisseurs. Caroline and Deborah have transformed their passion for the traditional Mediterranean cuisine into a family business. While paying strong attention to the laws of Kosher, they continue to research new products and perfect the existing recipes, to arouse the curiosity for those who desire to rediscover the taste and the passion in foods that have been unintentionally declassified as simply "home made" but which in reality are transformed by their production into fragrant delicacies to enjoy at any time of the day, alone or in good company. I Sapori di Sarah not only offers a variety of products on a high gastronomical level that will prevail over your table and bring your dishes to a level that will surprise you every time, but it succeeds also in promoting - throughout the world - the authentic Mediterranean flavor with the high level of quality guaranteed by Kosher certification. I had their items at Kosherfest and was pleased they gave me some samples. We recently had their bottled mushrooms and they were fantastic. Now that they have found a US distributor, their items should be making their way to US shelves.