I am at the Fancy Food show in New York City this week, wandering through miles of aisles, inspecting cheese and yogurt, gawking at the incredible variety of vinegars on display this year, and tasting a "relaxation drink" called Slow Cow. (More on that to come).
This show is the primary place for all makers of gourmet foods (sauce, oil, cheese, dairy, pastry, chocolate...) to show off their wares to potential distributors and retailers. It's quite a zoo of food, but there are some gems to be found in the packed, crowded halls.
One such gem that intrigued me is this organic ghee, made from organic, grass-fed milk in upstate New York. I love cooking with ghee, and having a local and organic source of this clarified butter is wonderful.
They also just released a line of infused and flavored ghees — like one infused with cardamom and other spices, and another infused with garlic. They have one flavored with Italian herbs that looks very intriguing.
• Find it: Organic Ghee, $8.95 to $14.95 at Pure Indian Foods
Here's a look at our top ten finds at last year's Fancy Food Show. We'll be bringing you a few of our favorites from this year throughout the week.
Related: Good Question: How Do I Use Ghee?
(Images: Faith Durand)
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I make ghee every few weeks and it's as easy as falling off a log. Plus I can make it from exactly the dairy source I choose. I always make it from organic, local butter. And while it's very nice to see this healthful product available - it (like any processed food) is "whaaaaaa?" expensive. It's way cheaper to make your own.
I agree with DCarl1 - I see jars of this and wonder why people don't just make it themselves. It's so easy!
Agreed!
I saw and spoke to her as well - and I asked where it's made - it's in NJ! (cows in PA). nice woman, interesting flavored ghee products. Agreed, you can make it yourself. But you can make a lot of things yourself that 'you' don't.
I need to go look at my notes, but there is a British man with some cheese that was amazing - one toffee and another cheddar that was just eye popping. There are two woman from Vermont with a caramelized goat spread that was delicious.
But one of my favorite samples was in the France section, they are 5th generation bee keepers, but that also had toothpicks with an amazing brie and gingerbread. Stop everything you are doing right now, make fresh gingerbread and pair it with a mild brie. Oh... my...
Another good note to the British family and their selection of beets. They do not have a US distributor, but were doing a little market research and of course, hoping to find a distributor.
There are a number of international exhibitors lacking US representation, with some great products. It just makes the show so amazing (and I'm going to miss it when it's in DC for the ext two years).
I would really like to see a Hudson Valley section there. Black locust honey from Beacon Bee perhaps?