• 05Jul

    In my Inbox. You have to be in the food industry to attend the show. Several DCFüd writers are covering the show.

    -JAY
    ——————————-
    D.C.-VA-MD Well Represented with 80 Exhibitors

    Washington, D.C. (July 5, 2011) – Welcoming the 57th Summer Fancy Food Show with enthusiasm, 80 specialty food makers from across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region will present their cookies, spice mixes, artisanal cheeses, meats and other innovative products at this major international culinary trade event.

    The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest marketplace for specialty foods and beverages in North America. It will take place July 10 – 12 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The show moved to Washington from its long-time home at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City due to ongoing construction. It will be held again in Washington in 2012.

    The exhibit halls will be filled with 180,000 products from 2,400 exhibitors from across the U.S. and 80 countries and regions. More than 18,000 buyers are expected to attend, all looking for new products, ideas, and trends in specialty foods to present to consumers in the year to come.

    The D.C. metro area’s inventive offerings will include Chesapeake Blue Crab Salsa from Randallstown, Md., Chocolate Coconut Curry Gelato from D.C., Tequila Lime Chocolates from Charlottesville, Va., and pasture-raised Berkshire Pork Bacon from Surry, Va.

    Among the region’s exhibitors are:

    * Dolci Gelati, Washington, D.C. – Gelato/Sorbet
    * Route 11 Potato Chips, Mount Jackson, Va. – Potato Chips
    * Fisher’s Popcorn, Ocean City, Md. – Popcorn
    * Gifford’s Wholesale Ice Cream, Silver Spring, Md. – Ice Cream
    * Dr. Lucy’s Cookies, Norfolk, Va. – Gluten-Free Cookies
    * Hubbard Peanut Company, Inc., Sedley, Va. – Peanuts
    * Gunther’s Gourmet, Richmond, Va. – Salsas and Marinades
    * Monastery Bakery at Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, Va. – Baked Goods
    * Blue Crab Bay Co., Melfa, Va. – Hors d’oeurves & Appetizers
    * Abuelita Mexican Foods, Manassas, Va. – Tortillas/Chips
    * Silence Tea, Gaithersburg, Md. – Teas
    * French Cheese Club, College Park, Md. – Cheeses
    * Pasta Valente, Charlottesville, Va. – Dried Pastas
    * Mayorga Coffee, Rockville, Md. – Coffee
    * Divine Chocolate, Washington, D.C. – Chocolate Bars
    * Red Rocker Candy, Troy, Va. – Handmade Toffees and Brittles
    * S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, Surry, Va. – Farm-Raised Meats
    * Mama Vida, Randallstown, Md. – Chutneys
    * Montebello Kitchens, Gordonsville, Va. – Baking Mixes
    * Chincoteague Seafood, Parsonsburg, Md. – Seafood/Soups

    Additionally, D.C. metropolitan area companies made a strong showing as Silver Finalists in the 2011 sofi™ Awards for the outstanding specialty foods and beverages of the year. The awards, presented by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT), owner of the Summer Fancy Food Show, are the top honor in the $70-billion specialty food industry. The Gold Winners will be announced at the show on July 11 at a red-carpet ceremony hosted by Celebrity Chef Cat Cora.

    Regional sofi Silver Finalists are:

    * La Pasta, Inc., Silver Spring, Md. – Marinara Sauce
    * Todd’s Dirt Seasonings, Severna Park, Md.– Crabby Dirt
    * Blue Bay Crab Co., Melfa, VA. – Sandbaggers™ Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Peanuts
    * Bone Doctors’ BBQ, Charlottesville, Va. – Bone Doctors’ BBQ Gift Pack
    * Route 11 Potato Chips, Mount Jackson, Va. – Dill Pickle Potato Chips

    “Metropolitan Washington and the Middle Atlantic region are strong markets for specialty foods,” says NASFT President Ann Daw. “Its vibrant food scene is adding a special dimension to our show, with great regional exhibitors at the show itself, and wonderful dining options for attendees to enjoy.”

    Fancy Food Show Exhibitor News: www.specialtyfood.com/exhibitornews

    sofi Awards Finalists: http://foodspring.com/sofiawards

    Press Registration
    The Summer Fancy Food Show is for members of the specialty food trade only. It is closed to the general public. Press registration is at www.fancyfoodshows.com/attend.

    About the NASFT
    The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,700 members in the U.S. and abroad. The NASFT’s website for consumers, www.foodspring.com provides an insider’s look at specialty foods and the companies, entrepreneurs and artisans behind them. For information on the NASFT, go to www.specialtyfood.com. For information on the NASFT’s Fancy Food Shows, go to www.fancyfoodshows.com.

  • 01Jul

    Click on this to see the details.

    In my inbox.

    -JAY

    ————————-

    “Below are the Belvedere Bloody Marys that have been entered into the competition:

    CAVA

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    Fresh Tomato Juice

    Red Wine Vinegar

    Salt/Pepper/Oregano

    Lemon/Lime Juice

    Bacon Wrapped Clam/Shrimp/Crazy Feta Stuffed Olive

    ZEST

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    Cucumber Juice

    Cava Bloody Mary Mix

    Simple Syrup

    Lime Juice

    Cava

    Basil

    24 Hour Tomato

    BELGA CAFE

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    Peppered Tomato Water

    Celery Foam

    Celery Salted Rim

    ACQUA AL 2

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    V – 8 Juice

    Flaccheraira Juice

    Horseradish

    Worchestershire Sauce

    Celery Salt

    Olive

    Cubed Buffalo Mozzarella

    One Cherry Tomato

    BULLFEATHERS

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    Tomato Juice

    Fresh Cucumbers

    Fresh Green Peppers

    Sriracha

    Pickle Juice

    Garnished with Olives and a Spicy Pickle

    CAPTIOL LOUNGE

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    Susie’s Homemade Mix

    UGLY MUG

    Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka

    Chris Glenn’s DRG Bloody Mary Mix

    Garnished upon request.”


     [ad]

  • 01Jul

    I happened to notice this deal on Wildman Steve Brill‘s 2 wild urban edibles tours (July 15th) in my email address.  It turns out to be part of Eat Local First Week. Hey, Deals For Deeds, why does that deal expire before the actual date of the tour?

    I remember Steve Brill from my days in Queens, including a demonstration he did at York College (many years ago).   I would absolutely take his tour if I was going to be available that day (which I will not).  I was even booked for one of his tours at Forest Park (way back then) which he unfortunately cancelled.

    Eat Local First Week:

    -JAY

     [ad]

  • 29Jun

    I had the opportunity to enjoy an evening of Tapas and Freixenet (pronounced fresh-eh-net) at Sutra Lounge in Adams Morgan. The Freixenet crew, with the help of their food truck, were working in conjunction with Sutra, as well as other restaurants across the country to deliver the message that sparkling wine is not just for appetizers anymore. Based on my experience, while I would say that Freixenet is still chiefly for appetizers, it is so fresh that it makes an excellent palate cleanser for any situation where you need to easily move from one subtle food flavor to another.

    The Freixenet crew was a very friendly and outgoing group of people who clearly knew their product and their business. My favorite mixed drink of the evening was called the Tara Sutra (named after one of the Sutra bartenders) and consisted of 2 parts Chambord, 2 parts peach liquor, and four parts Freixenet Cordon Negro. This was a very light and fun drink that certainly didn’t skimp on the alcohol. I happen to be a big fan of so-called “girly” drinks and this really hit the spot.

    To compliment the Freixenet tasting Sutra provided several lovely tapas dishes including small portions of lamb on the bone called Jerk Lamb Lollipops, mini mushroom burgers which they referred to as Grilled Portobella Sliders, and Summer Caprese on toasted rounds, which where my favorite for pairing with the mixed drink.

    Friexenet is currently having an online photo contest where they will be giving away two grand prizes of $250 for a night out for two. But there are also opportunities to win all sorts of other prizes from Wine Refrigerators to gift bags.

    -SEL

    Editor’s Note: We have written about Sutra Lounge previously.

  • 27Jun

    Hosted this month by Girl Meets Food.

     

  • 25Jun

    Biagio Fine Chocolate‘s next Sample Day will be Saturday, July 23, from 3pm-6pm.

    Complimentary – no R.S.V.P. needed. What is Sample Day? It is a monthly event that has been wildly successful with our customers. We will have over a dozen varieties of some of the world’s best chocolate available for tasting. Sample day is held in Studio B, the tasting room/gallery behind Biagio Fine Chocolate.

    Biagio Fine Chocolate and Studio B are located at:

    1904 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

  • 25Jun

     

    We recently attended a media event at two Sheraton Properties, the Sheraton Premiere at Tyson’s Corner, and Sheraton Hernon Dulles Airport.  Also in attendance were Anita, Daphne, Anthony, Kathy, and K Street Kate (to name a few).

    The good news is that the metro extension to Dulles will put a stop right in front of the Tyson’s Corner location.  The bad news is that this event was at 6pm on a weekday and rush hour traffic was fierce.  Knowing that traffic might be heavy, we left Arlington at 4pm, stopped at the Best Buy for a while, and were still early. 🙂  We were drinking (very tasty) Sheratinis while everyone else was stuck in traffic.  For the record, I’d like to know what goes into a Sheratini.

    We were given a tour and shown the plans that Sheraton’s owners have for the Tyson’s Corner Sheraton and the surrounding area.  Expect the Sheraton to be updated (and gorgeous) and the area to have new residential and retail properties.

    We tried some appetizers and wines.  The bacon wrapped shrimp and mini crab cakes were my favorites although some people preferred the chicken skewers with (what appears to be house-made) duck sauce.  The wines were good.

    The Tyson’s Corner Sheraton has two swimming pools (one is indoor).

    Then we were were transported to the Herndon location.  It is further out and not as ritzy as the Tyson’s corner location and has a smaller pool (which is indoor and has limited hours).

    Banquet Table at Herndon location. You can see the buffet in the background if you click on the pic.

    The wines at the Tyson’s location were very good, but Herndon’s were exceptional, and they sent us home with a great bottle of pinot.  They set up a dessert buffet, a banquet table and and special coffee machine for us. Many of the dessert items were exceptional.   It is funny that one of their items (a white chocolate cheesecake) was from cheesecake factory.  Some standouts were the molten chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, the cheesecake, and the very fresh and tasty blackberries.  They also had tiramisu, chocolate fondue,  and a good variety of fresh fruit.  We want to go back and try their restaurant some time soon.

    -JAY

    Disclaimer (yeah, I know it’s on my “about” page):  This is one of those times we were given free food, parking, and a gift bag. That said, my words are my own.

    [ad]

  • 24Jun

    I recently had the opportunity to sample some Bulleit Bourbon and BBQ at Old Glory Restaurant in Georgetown. Master of Whiskey, Ewan Morgan was on hand to introduce the Bulleit rye whiskey to the uninitiated (meaning me, of course) and to talk a little bit about how Bulleit Bourbon is made and how Bulleit products work as ingredients for fun summer cocktails. The Bulleit promoters at the event chose a mixed drink called Kentucky Buck to highlight the versatility of the Rye. Having now tried it straight, as well as in a cocktail, I have to say that I definitely preferred the cocktail. But as part of a cocktail it held up well. The Kentucky Buck was just the right amount of both sweet and spicy.

    To make a Kentucky Buck:
    • Muddle (mash well) 2 Fresh strawberries
    • Add ½ oz sugar syrup
    • Add ¾ fresh lime
    • Add 2 oz of Bulliet Rye

    Shake over ice, strain into a glass with ice and then top with ginger beer.

    Interestingly, the appetizers served in the pairing were spicy BBQ chicken wings and fried green tomatoes. I thought the drink paired well with the fried green tomatoes. Having spicy wings with a spicy drink was a little overpowering for my taste, but as a stand-alone dish the wings were very good. Also served were potato salad, ribs in bbq sauce, steak, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and cute little corn bread muffins. All were well prepared and everything you would expect from standard BBQ fair.

    SEL (Stephany)

  • 23Jun

    Today is a good day to check the Ballston Farmer’s Market out.  The market is open Thursday’s from 3-7pm.  Some highlights:

    Tommy V’s Salsa, especially the Fugosa.

    Doug The Food Dude’s lobster or shrimp wraps.

    Pleasant Pops’ Mexican cream or pineapple basil pops.

    Fertile Plains Meats has a good variety of pork, beer, and chicken.  I grilled their (2 lb.) porterhouse and smoked pork chops last year and was very impressed.  The beef was super tender.

    -JAY

  • 22Jun

    Perdue Chicken through some tickets our way for this weekend (6/25 and 6/26), both for our writers to attend, and for some of our readers.  The tickets are good for EITHER Saturday or Sunday.  Winners will be chosen randomly.

    We have a couple of pairs of tickets to give away.  To enter, send an email to  “contest@dcfud.com” before 9:00 AM on 5/24 (Friday) with the subject “BBQ Entry” and “Saturday” or “Sunday,” depending on which day you will attend.  Example: “BBQ Entry Saturday” or BBQ Entry Sunday.”

    Include your first and last name and cell number in the body of the email .  Only one entry per person (regardless of how many email addresses you have).  The above email address is only for contest entry and is not for questions or comments. When the winners are chosen, I’ll comment on this post to that effect.  If you really do have questions, email me at jay@dcfud.com.

    In order to pick up the tickets, you will meet up with one of us (Alex on Saturday or me on Sunday) at the festival entrance (probably) at noon.

    From Perdue:  “Your ticket will be your all-access pass to tasty barbecue, more than 30 bands on 3 stages with continuous music and fun activities.  On Saturday, June 25, our executive chef, Chris Moyer, will be hosting a chicken recipe demonstration at the event and we will judge the Perdue Sizzlin’ Chicken BBQ Contest.  We’ll also be serving up our delicious chicken.”

    Good luck.

    -JAY

     

     

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