20 Hot California Snacks from the Fancy Food Show
BY TAMARA PALMER
Every January, I look forward to the frenzy of checking out 80,000 specialty food products over three days at the Winter Fancy Food Show at Moscone Center in San Francisco. I always use this time as a tool to identify what’s coming in mainstream food trends for the year, and I spent many years publishing photo galleries of new local products and emerging businesses on the NBC Bay Area website (here’s last year's, if you’re curious).
Tackling a trade show as vast as this one takes some smart strategizing — you can’t just taste and drink everything you see right when you come across it, or you might actually die — especially if you happen to be in the cheese aisles or near any spirits booths.
This year, I’m giving myself the gift of focusing more on my self-publishing efforts and saving the bulk of my passionate food reporting for California Eating, my own media project that includes this website, a podcast and a quarterly print magazine. It was a real treat to attend this year and focus on the entire state instead of just the Bay Area.
I’m still basking in the snack afterglow, but these are the 20 California-made snacks and drinks that made the biggest positive impressions on me at the Winter Fancy Food Show. Some are so new, they’re not quite available in stores yet, while other selections are a little more seasoned.
Hatch Chile Chocolate Peanut Drops by SunRidge Farms sound shocking, but are surprisingly subtle.
SunRidge Farms also unveiled these Sea Salt and Apple Cider Vinegar Cashews that I could eat in serious quantities.
Miyoko’s Creamery’s vegan products are a staple in my refrigerator, and I loved this new Garlic Parm Butter made with oat milk.
Patagonia Provisions keeps upping the gourmet camping food game with its product line — the new mackerel trio is a great example.
Issue 2 cover star Charles Chocolates debuted three new ruby cacao bars at the show. The company was one of the first in the country to use the new pink-hued chocolate, and owner Chuck Siegel kindly let me experiment with it as well.
Boba Guys started their own U.S. Boba Company to make high-quality boba available to wholesale customers, but hopefully they’ll consider a consumer package one day. Pretty please?
The Clif Family’s marmalade and preserves need nothing more than a spoon as accompaniment.
I enjoyed the debut of San Diego’s Kween last year, but couldn’t include it in Bay Area coverage. This year, they returned with a new vanilla variety.
Purely has nailed the right balance for a drinking vinegar — the Pineapple Thai Chili is especially good.
Farmhouse Lab’s organic “real food dressings” were the only ones that I’m still thinking about days later — particularly this Green Pumpkin one.
Tea Crush’s organic sparkling tea tonics stood out amongst many ready-to-drink tea blends.
The crown jewel of the Gowan’s heirloom cider collection is the Sierra Beauty, a type of apple that originated on the company’s Anderson Valley farm.
Black Bow Sweets’ rosemary truffle candied almonds would not last long in my clutches.
Alexa’s Jala Mango granola by AtheenOats showed me that I’m here for spicy granola.
Alice’s Sweet Tooth is about to corner the market for organic flavored meringues.
The Republic of Tea introduced many new solid offerings that I’m still sipping through, including this new beauty-focused Iced Tea collection.
West Hollywood’s Makabi & Sons Oaxaca Chocolate Cinnamon Cayenne cookies might make your eyes roll back.
It’s a tie for which of these Ocean’s Halo seaweed snacks I’m probably going to buy more.
Saint Ivy is representing well for those of us who love a mocktail.
Straight from Mani’s Test Kitchen is this new line of drinking chocolates for Numi. I am not sure which is my favorite yet, but the Shroom Power is winning right now.