It’s summertime, and the thoughts of food industry professionals turn to the Fancy Food Show. It’s the largest specialty food industry event in the U.S., and is a great place to see what’s new in flavor, design, and product innovation. If you plan …
It’s summertime, and the thoughts of food industry professionals turn to the Fancy Food Show. It’s the largest specialty food industry event in the U.S., and is a great place to see what’s new in flavor, design, and product innovation.
If you plan to go, it’s at the Javits Center in NYC starting June 25 and running through June 27. Here are just a few features:
1) 2,200 domestic and international exhibitors, including 700+ with NEW products
2) Pavilions dedicated to hot product categories including plant-based; snacks and sweets; deli; and beverage
3) International Pavilions from 31 countries and regions
The Food Channel has covered the Fancy Food Show many years, and here is one of our favorite stories that gives you a little history, too. We especially enjoyed the year we served on one of the judging panels, too. See if these trends have held up!
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Estate offers a beautiful view of the Valley. More about the Winery to come in a future story. Economic development is on every community’s agenda right now. The impacts of the Covid lockdown on the food industry were …
Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Estate offers a beautiful view of the Valley. More about the Winery to come in a future story.
Economic development is on every community’s agenda right now. The impacts of the Covid lockdown on the food industry were massive, and many are just starting to peek out from the past and check the waters when it comes to growth and expansion.
Then there are places like the Shenandoah Valley, located in Virginia, that are bursting to tell their news. One of their major areas of focus is the food processing taking place in the region. From wine to potato chips, from major behind-the-scenes food producers, to on-trend restaurants, coffee shops and “locally grown” gaining steam—well, you take all that and you begin to see economic recovery and more.
The Food Channel recently had the opportunity to work with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to investigate one of the areas showing success in attracting food industry and business. They toured us around scenic Shenandoah Valley to visit what they call their “world-class food and beverage industry assets.” It’s a phrase aptly used. We visited some of the up and coming places, and talked with entrepreneurs as well as established business people, both eager to tell the Virginia story.
Tucked into the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains are a number of food and beverage processing businesses—the food behind the food, if you will. Some are start-ups, and their excitement is palpable. Others are global food brands that have chosen to expand in the area, in part because of its accessibility to everything from farmland to a solid workforce.
Everywhere you look the views remind you of the beauty of nature and the resilient nature of those with a great idea.
Here are a few facts:
• More than 150 food and beverage processing companies chose to locate or expand in Virginia over the last decade, creating over 7,300 new jobs and representing capital investments totaling $2.3 billion.
• Virginia’s food and beverage processing industry employs more than 42,000 people, accounts for over 17% of Virginia’s total manufacturing employment, and is the Commonwealth’s second-largest manufacturing sector and one of its fastest-growing industries.
• Employment in the food and beverage processing sector has grown by 15% over the past five years—the second-highest rate in the Southeast.
• Virginia offers a diverse ecosystem of partners and suppliers for food and beverage processors, including dozens of packagers and bottlers, 100+ transporters and warehouses (including expansive cold storage options), and 43,000 farms.
With all that said, we’ll be presenting a series of stories highlighting food businesses such as Common Wealth Crush, one of the newest winemakers in Virginia, Route 11 Potato Chips, making and distributing addictive kettle-cooked chips, and Kerry Group, a long-established company that most of our audience won’t recognize by name but, however, consumes its products.
It all makes an interesting tale, as you’ll see from the series of stories that will be appearing here over the next few weeks. We’ll include a few restaurant reviews and tourism destinations, too.
Food people are resilient. They have ideas, and are ready to unleash innovation across the industry. That’s why we’ve chosen to showcase Virginia as one area of the country that is focusing its economic development efforts on FOOD.
Chef Rick Bayless conducts a demonstration at a previous NRA show. For years The Food Channel has covered the National Restaurant Association Show. It’s one of the leading shows that helps introduce new products, connect industry personnel, and …
Chef Rick Bayless conducts a demonstration at a previous NRA show.
For years The Food Channel has covered the National Restaurant Association Show. It’s one of the leading shows that helps introduce new products, connect industry personnel, and identify the future of food and everything to do with food—the equipment, the suppliers, the services and more. If you work in the industry or just want to attend and sample some of the delicacies showcased, here’s the information.
First, the National Restaurant Association Show will be held May 20-23 in Chicago. They are promising a record-breaking 42 Food and Beverage (FABI) Awardees, including eight FABI Favorites.
While you can sample from the booths in the Exhibit Hall, there are also formal Sessions and Tastings. Plus, they are offering a new Connections space (located in The Culinary Experience) throughout the Show to learn more about the awardees.
The show slowed a bit during the pandemic, but it’s exciting to see it back to full life! Check it out and let us know what you see.
If you haven’t already, register today to celebrate and report on these 42 extraordinary food and beverage products that are breaking new ground in flavor profiles, creativity, packaging, and profit potential!
Rhubarb-and lots more-is in season. This beautiful display was found at the Harrisburg, PA Broad Street Market. Destination: Harrisburg, PA You hear the term Farmers Market and what comes to mind? Well, it depends where you live. Some towns have a …
Rhubarb–and lots more–is in season. This beautiful display was found at the Harrisburg, PA Broad Street Market.
Destination: Harrisburg, PA
You hear the term Farmers Market and what comes to mind?
Well, it depends where you live.
Some towns have a Saturday market, often set up in the downtown Square or on a picturesque street. They offer everything from clothing to fresh baked items; and, vine-ripened tomatoes to freshly picked apples. Items may be seasonal, and vendors may be your neighbor down the street or an Amish family from outside the city limits.
Some operate out of the back of a series of trucks, often on a mall parking lot, and others are seasonal roadside stands.
Well, if you want a somewhat smaller—but still excellent—version of that, try going just down the road a bit to Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market. It’s open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, perfect for winding down after a long workweek and stocking up on a few market staples.
Of course you can find fresh vegetables. This time of year the rhubarb stands out, its ruby red color taking center stage. As in the Philly market, many of the stands are run by Amish or Mennonite families, presenting the tried and true recipes that bring people back time and again. Think whoopie pies, pot pie squares, and fresh sticky buns with nuts or raisins.
At this market you can also find a couple of delightful treats, such as the Arch of Happiness offered by the Italian family running the Nonna Ilva stand. It’s essentially a phyllo dough filled with fresh whipped cream and sliced strawberries, and it is both eye-catching and scrumptious. And who doesn’t need an ARCH OF HAPPINESS in their life? Try downing it with a cappuccino from one of the market’s “we have everything” stands, where you can get a really large cup for just $2, with plenty of rich real cream included.
If you go at mealtime, stop at Let’s Pretzel and get a breakfast log or a stuffed pretzel. The steak, egg and cheese log has the same steak used in many Philly cheesesteaks, and is a nice switch-up from the usual fast food breakfast sandwich. The pizza pretzel also gets high marks, and, if you ask the people who work there, you just may find that it’s their favorite, too.
If none of that appeals, you might enjoy one of the French Toast breakfast sandwiches (with your choice of excellent pastrami or turkey) also found at Nonna Ilva. Or, perhaps you’ll choose a non-traditional chocolate chip whoopie pie, a lemon-filled doughnut or any of the myriad pastry choices scattered throughout the market.
You can also find potted flowers and, well, a variety of just about everything. There’s nothing like farmers market shopping AND eating. Find one in your area!
Just as everyone is putting away their Patrick Mahomes t-shirts and tucking away those red plates and napkins for another occasion, March Madness is sneaking up on us! Start putting together your ideas for great munchies during basketball season. …
Just as everyone is putting away their Patrick Mahomes t-shirts and tucking away those red plates and napkins for another occasion, March Madness is sneaking up on us! Start putting together your ideas for great munchies during basketball season. Dips, sliders, and mini-meatballs all come to mind, but there’s lots more to bring to the party. Go ahead, “shoot” us your recipes and photos to editor@foodchannel.com and we’ll post our favorites.
With the launch of new candles from Junior’s Cheesecake, Shake Shack and Katz’s Deli, we take a look at the whole market of scented candles.
Humans have been creating candles that smell like food for thousands of years. Some researchers say the Romans used tallow wax — derived from the meat of cows and sheep — and twine in 500 BC. Others go back farther pointing to the ancient Egyptians 5,000 years ago. Over the last few months, with the release of several new scented candles from restaurateurs, it’s safe to say we’ve hit peak smelly candles.
An article in Eater recently drew attention to the latest wave of candles, those that smell like dishes you can order at beloved restaurants and fast-food chains, including Junior’s cheesecake, Katz’s egg cream, and Shake Shack’s burger. We’ve covered the topic before (as in the White Castle burger candle from 2010), but not the big picture.
Below, we spotlight 34 food-forward candles you can buy today. We’ve also organized them into four conceptual categories: highbrow delicious, highbrow gross, lowbrow delicious and lowbrow gross (these are often gimmicks and products you give others).
Full disclosure: Just because a candle can smell like something doesn’t mean it should. We approach this topic with optimistic skepticism. And for the record; we did not purchase or test any of these products. Yes, it’s possible that, say, a canned tuna candle could actually blanket a room with an intoxicatingly pleasing fragrance. But we doubt it.
View our Food Channel Photo Tour and learn how to pour a “Black & Tan” that a Dublin bartender would be proud of. It’s a festive beverage, ideal for a St. Patrick’s Day toast.
The Black & Tan is another one of those “Irish traditions” that is consumed more often in America than in Ireland. Regardless, it’s a fine concoction to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day.
To pour a proper Black & Tan, all you need are a (dark) stout or porter, a (lighter colored) lager or ale, a clear glass and a funky bent spoon.
We’re going to do an all-Guinness Black & Tan using two Irish brews in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
First, pour the light-colored beer directly into the glass. We’re using Harp Irish Lager. Pour till the glass is about half full.
Bend a tablespoon so that the scoop part of the spoon is at a right angle to the stem. Pour the dark stout or porter (such as this Guinness Draught) slowly into the spoon and let it gently overflow into the lager. Some insist that the spoon should be concave-up, but it works either way.
Keep pouring till you reach the top of the glass.
Step back and admire the contrasting colors, then drink it down at your desired pace.
When you’re watching insanely addictive videos on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube, it’s easy to forget that a good deal of food TV is still watched on television. Major streaming services like Netflix and Hulu offer compelling shows that offer one of …
When you’re watching insanely addictive videos on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube, it’s easy to forget that a good deal of food TV is still watched on television. Major streaming services like Netflix and Hulu offer compelling shows that offer one of two things: food competitions (that help us see the look in someone’s face when they lose a cooking competition) and dramas/documentaries that look like they took months to film because… they did.
For those of you who enjoy programming longer than one minute long, we’ve compiled a list of upcoming food shows in chronological order — from soonest to latest — with network and debut date.
Chef’s Table: Pizza
Network: Netflix
Debuts: September 7
Chef’s Table, the Emmy-nominated documentary series, has already covered star chefs like Dan Barber, Grant Achatz, Francis Mallman, Enrique Olvera, Michel Troisgros, Nancy Silverton, Christina Tosi, Sean Brock and celebrity butcher Dario Cecchini. This season they focus on pizzaiolos including American pizza pioneer Chris Bianco, Rome’s Gabriele Bonci, and Minneapolis’s James Beard Award-winning Ann Kimm.
The Tiny Chef Show
Network: Nickelodeon
Debuts: September 9
The Tiny Chef took Instagram by storm in 2018 with its stop-motion oddball cuteness. It spawned children’s books and products, and now Tiny Chef has come to Nickelodeon. The theme: educating kids about vegetarian eating. Expect to see more mini kitchenware, recipes, and guest stars including Tabitha Brown, Kristen Bell, and RZA.
The Great British Baking Show
Network: Netflix
Debuts: September 13 in the UK, September 16 in the US
The Great British Baking Show returns; series 13 has a dozen new contestants across 10 episodes — a new one airing each Friday. Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood return as judges and Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas resume their hosting duties. Competitors’ ages range from 18 to 60. Look for a holiday-themed mini-season in December, too.
Best in Dough
Network: Hulu
Debuts: September 19
Everyone likes pizza, right? Well, that’s the premise of Best in Dough, which features pizza-themed challenges in each episode and a potential cash prize of $10K for the winner. LA chef Daniele Uditi (of Pizzana) is head judge, Wells Adams (from “Bachelor in Paradise”) is the host, and the judges rotate, starting with Millie Peartree (chef-restaurateur), Eunji Kim (Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University), and Bryan Ford (award-winning bread baker and author). Watch the Hulu trailer and keep an eye out for when the host tells the contestants they will be making a “pizza cupcake” and the 82-year-old just says “no.”
Bob’s Burgers
Network: Fox
Debuts: September 25
After 12 seasons — and a movie this summer (see trailer below) — this animated characters franchise is back. Bob’s Burgers is essentially a family comedy show depicting the Belchers (great name) struggling to keep the family biz alive; it’s a burger joint in New England. Listen and watch the “Floppy Waffle” song video here.
Easy-Bake Battle: The Home-Cooking Competition
Network: Netflix
Debuts: October 12
Yes, the show is basically a culinary competition focused on the Easy-Bake ovens from your youth. The Netflix show page doesn’t offer much in background, but it will be hosted by Queer Eye‘s Antoni Porowski and the first season will feature eight, 30-minute episodes. According to Variety, home chefs will compete in two rounds — a savory and a sweet challenge. The ultimate winner has a chance to win a $100,000 prize; each battle is worth $25,000.
From Scratch
Network: Netflix
Debuts: October 22
This miniseries is based on Tembi Locke’s 2019 bestselling memoirFrom Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home, which is described thusly on her website:
“[This is a] poignant and transformative cross-cultural love story set against the backdrop of the Sicilian countryside, about how one woman discovered the healing powers of food, family and unexpected grace in her darkest hour.
An incredible journey through Tembi’s life, the book tracks her relationship with her late husband, Saro through three summers spent in the Sicilian countryside. In this sweeping story, we see Tembi and Saro’s initial introduction on the streets of Florence, Italy, their move to Los Angeles as they forge a life together despite disapproval from Saro’s traditional Sicilian parents, and the rare illness that upends everything they thought they knew about family and forgiveness. Ultimately, Tembi’s tribulations lead her back to the Sicilian countryside and her mother-in-law’s table, where with the healing gifts of simple fresh food, the embrace of a close-knit community, and the power of enduring love, she finds the strength to step into a new life.”
Reese Witherspoon is one of the producers through her Hello Sunshine production company.
Drink Masters
Network: Netflix
Debuts: October 28
Eater wonders if it’s “Top Chef but for drinks?”… Here’s what we know:
1) The show stars Tone Bell (stand-up comedian and actor), Julie Reiner (legendary NYC-based bar owner), and Frankie Solarik (co-owner of Toronto’s popular bar BarChef).
2) 12 contestants from across North America complete challenges against a clock — and one person is banished every episode until there’s an “Ultimate Drink Master.”
3) The cocktails will be judged by their taste and presentation.
Expect boozy humor.
Martha Cooks
Network: Roku
Debuts: November 16
She’s baaaack. Martha Stewart will be hosting guest stars and chefs at her Bedford, New York, 153-acre estate in this Roku original show. You can get a taste of the vibe in this preview copy on Roku:
“The eggs from Martha’s chickens cooked to perfection to a delicious strawberry jam made with ripe berries from her garden, Martha welcomes us onto her Bedford farm and into her kitchen to share some of her personal favorite recipes. Learn everything from Martha’s techniques for preparing paella for a crowd to how to bake Martha’s three favorite cookies of all time. Working with world-renowned chefs and dear friends, she will share techniques and how-to instructions like only Martha can.”
Roku is also airing two companion shows this fall: Martha Holidays and Martha Gardens.
We look at the latest weird products from fast food companies, a coffee chain and a distillery. Plus: Why you should care.
Every week, new food products come to market and some of them— healthy snacks, oddball drinks, fast food experiments, and a few novelty knickknacks — are creative enough to demand attention. Below we’ve put the spotlight on recently released products that made us either smile or do a double-take. Note: we haven’t tasted them… yet.
Why you should care: This New Hampshire company hasteamed up with folks from the University of New Hampshire to create a green crab-flavored whiskey. Why green crabs? Because they’re delicious? Not really; the crustaceans are damaging New England’s coastal ecosystem. And making whiskey out of the critters is a form of sustainable population control. The final product, made with a bourbon base, is 51 percent ABV and is said to have notes of maple, vanilla, and caramel on the nose, followed by cinnamon, clove, and all-spice. Maybe a little brine too?
Why you should care: Rarely has ketchup been promoted to lead role in the culinary world. But times change. Voila: French’s is working with the Canadian ice pop brand Happy Pops to create ketchup ice pops, which is just what it sounds like: condiment frozen on stick and described as a delicious salty-sweet mashup. Currently, they’re only available as giveaways (and in Canada only). But you never know. French’s has already launched a mustard ice cream in the states. Could ketchup be next?
Price: Free if you can find it in Canada
Hey Canadian friends, your favorite condiment just got a whole lot cooler 🍅🧊
A refreshingly savoury & sweet ketchup popsicle, made from 100% Canadian tomatoes.
Why you should care: Oregon-based ice cream company Salt & Straw teamed up with Portland perfumery Imaginary Authors to release three ice cream “perfumes.” The flavors/scents include A Cloud of Cocoa (notes of Ecuadorian chocolate, malted milkshake, and Japanese whisky), A Plume of Blumes (honeysuckle and jasmine), and A Swoon of Citrus (the tartness of citrus balanced with the herbal undertones of an entire orchard). The products launch online and as a topping in shops starting July 17th, National Ice Cream Day. You can sign up for the waitlist by visiting the site. Smell ya later.
Price:$65 for a 65 mL bottle, $48 for a trio of 10 mL travel-sized bottles. Available at Salt & Straw’s scoop shops and online
Why you should care: According to the company formerly owned by Colonel Sanders, this is a “new ergonomic and gastronomic piece of tableware-tech” that will finally make KFC’s sides as finger-lickin’ good as its fried chicken. Ok, that may be a stretch, but they’re certainly the most useful culinary finger puppets we’ve seen and they will help you scoop out your mac & cheese, corn, and mashed potatoes (though this was never actually a problem). They’ve also produced a kitschy video to promote their “revolutionary eating device.” See video below.
Price:Free for anyone who orders a KFC Sides Lovers Meal in person, online, in app, or at participating locations between June 21 and July 12 (while supplies last).
Krispy Kreme Ice Cream
Full name: Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream (and Shakes)
Why you should care: For the first time ever, Krispy Kreme now offers Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream — made with ingredients from Krispy Kreme’s secret Original Glazed Doughnut recipe, including its iconic glaze flavor, as well as real whole milk. The confection’s available in waffle cones — made with Krispy Kreme’s doughnut mix and glaze flavor and cups — in three flavors: plain Original Glazed, Strawberry Iced Sprinkled, or Chocolate Iced. It’s also offering shakes designed to taste like Krispy Kreme doughnut varieties: Original Glazed, Strawberry Iced Sprinkled, Chocolate Iced, Lemon Filled, Cookies & Kreme, Birthday Batter, and Coffee & Kreme. Your summer diet plan will just have to wait.
Price: Products are available in-shop and drive-thru only (for details and to search for a store near you, check out their online store)
Photo: Krispy Kreme
Starbucks’ First Fried Chicken Sandwich
Full name: Starbucks Chicken Maple Butter and Egg Sandwich
Why you should care: Almost every other fast-food chain has introduced some kind of fried chicken sandwich — Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Popeyes, KFC, you name it. Now, finally, Starbucks jumps into the game with this breakfast item featuring breaded white meat chicken, fluffy eggs, and maple butter on a toasted oat biscuit roll. As you might expect, Youtubers have already pounced on the opportunity to review the thing.
We’ve posted a few articles this week on the latest weird, wacky and wild flavors out there in the world of ice cream. Time for a reality check. Who knew Butter Pecan gets so much love?
Dessert trends may come and go, but ice cream remains a perennial favorite. The question is: Which flavor is most popular?
We looked at data from Lexham Insurance — they cover ice cream vans — for the 2022 results. They looked at search volume around the world in 121 countries.
Below you will see what the results were back in 2008 when this article was first published. Note: Mint chocolate chip and cookie dough ice cream didn’t even crack the top 10 back then (nor did banana, toffee, or carmel). Vanilla and chocolate are in the top two spots, but vanilla took first place back then. In 2022, strawberry and cookies-and-cream ice cream were absent from the top 10.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavors Back in 2008
1. Vanilla, 29%
2. Chocolate, 8.9%
3. Butter pecan, 5.3%
4. Strawberry, 5.3%
5. Neapolitan, 4.2%
6. Chocolate chip, 3.9%
7. French vanilla, 3.8%
8. Cookies and cream, 3.6%
9. Vanilla fudge ripple, 2.6%
10. Praline pecan, 1.7%
Source: International Ice Cream Association, 888 16th St., Washington, D.C.
More Popular Ice Cream Flavors (based on sales)
Back in 2008, the NPD Group’s National Eating Trends Services published its own Top 5 List, based on share of sales in the USA. Here’s how their cone stacks up; note that Chocolate Chip Mint makes it to the top 5 whereas it was omitted by the International Ice Cream Association data.
1. Vanilla, 30%
2. Chocolate, 10%
3. Butter Pecan, 4%
4. Strawberry, 3.7%
5. Chocolate Chip Mint, 3.2%
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2008 and updated on June 9, 2022.
Try downing it with a cappuccino from one of the market’s “we have everything” stands, where you can get a really large cup for just $2, with plenty of rich real cream included.
