Tasting Notes

This year, skip Black Friday madness, and order your holiday gifts online. Here are a few delicious ideas:

Les Macarons from Luxe Sweets: The perfect holiday gift, these tender, fresh French cookies from a small Austin, Texas business come in a variety of tempting flavors. I tried, and loved, the peppermint and chocolate. Can’t wait to taste the lavender with white chocolate ganache.

Sing Buri Cashews from Sahale Snacks: In an innovative combo, cashews meet sweet dried pineapple, salty peanuts, exotic lemongrass, and spicy Chinese chili. (The company makes other delicious combos, such as Valdosta Pecans, with sweet dried cranberries, black pepper, and orange zest.) Pour into a bowl and set out, along with some cheeses, before Thanksgiving dinner.

Nutorious Nut Confections in Cranberry Orange Tango: And while we’re on the subject of nut mixes, you must pick up a bag of this sweet, addictive, tangerine-scented snack (which, the company points out, can also be sprinkled over salads and entrees). You won’t regret it. To whet your appetite, here’s the ingredient list: walnuts, almonds, pecans, sugar, dried cranberries, egg whites, butter, cream, salt, orange oil, and salt.

Fever Tree Ginger Beer: I’m a huge fan of ginger–and this ginger beer impresses with a true depth of flavor. Made from three different types of ginger, the sophisticated, fizzy beverage is delicious straight and mixed into drinks.

For other ideas, check out descriptions of food and beverage products that won sofiTM awards from the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade. Among these, some of my favorites include:

• Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company Linekin Bay Lobster Corn Chowder
• The Sticky Toffee Pudding Company Sticky Toffee Pudding
• Lucero Olive Oil Peach Balsamic Vinegar
• Lucini Italia Delicate Cucumber Shallot Vinaigrette

Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!

Each month, I’ll post noteworthy food and drink finds. Here are a few exceptional products I’ve enjoyed recently:

1. Mary Louise Butters Brownies: Last night, I swooned over the Zen brownies  from this Austin, Texas-based company. Gorgeous, their tops are speckled with tiny shards of crystallized ginger. The brownies themselves are the perfect blend of cake-y and fudgy. I can’t wait to try the company’s 19 (and growing) other creative flavors, especially the Seriously Stout (great idea!), Kona Buzz (with hazelnuts and coffee–who would have thought?),  Grand L’Orange (with orange zest and Grand Marnier), Ruby Port (with Port and espresso), and Madeline (gluten-free and vegan, with coconut and agave nectar). In another example of innovation, the company sells Brownie Butts, the crisp edges from its pans of tender brownies. Friends and family, don’t be surprised if you receive a box of these as a gift from me sometime soon.

2. Rhythm Chips: I was beyond impressed when I tried these air-crisped kale chips. Few foods sound less sexy than kale chips, yet these are among the most addictive, delicious snacks I’ve ever tried. To produce each two-ounce bag, one pound of fresh kale is used. You already know all of the nutritional benefits of kale, but it’s easy to forget them when you’re enjoying the chips’ crispy texture and intense flavors, including Kool Ranch, Bombay Curry (my favorite), and Zesty Nacho.

3. Revolution Tea 3D Iced White Teas: The five flavors of these iced teas–featuring white tea, fruit juice, and just a hint of sweetener–are intensely flavorful and not too sweet (I find most packaged iced teas way too sugary). I’m especially fond of the Pink Grapefruit and Mango flavors (as an added bonus, sales of the former benefit breast cancer research).

4. Danielle Chips: These 11 “exotic fruit snacks” are dangerously addictive. It’s a good thing they’re vacuum-fried with non-hydrogenated oil, so I don’t feel too guilty ever time I indulge in a bag. My favorite flavors, so far, are the pineapple and jackfruit.

5. Early Bird Granola: This Brooklyn, New York-based company has received a lot of press–for good reason. Put simply, it turns out the best granola I’ve ever tried. I’m especially enamored with the Choc-a-Doodle-Do variety, with organic rolled oats, toasted organic coconut, organic sunflower seeds, extra-virgin olive oil (yes, and it works beautifully here!), organic brown sugar, 65% dark chocolate, real maple syrup, and salt. The combo of extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate, and salt is especially delicious.