Cookie Butter, Pork Dust & Sparkling Matcha: 15 Things We Tried at the 2014 Fancy Food Show

Every July the Summer Fancy Food Show descends upon the convention center in New York City, bringing in its wake floods of cookie-makers, cheese-crafters, soda-brewers, and more gourmet jerky than you can shake a stick at. This is the show for anyone who makes fun packaged food, from roasted chickpeas to handmade ice cream.

Ariel and I walked the show and after a few dizzying hours, we had some favorites, and here they are.

Dazzling and molecular gastronomy inspired, these littler pearls of oil are from Spain and would make a fancy finishing touch to a plate of tomatoes or bite of bruschetta.

Probably our favorite thing from the show, this clear green sparkling matcha beverage is barely sweet and incredibly refreshing.

Allergic to eggs? Avoiding dairy? Avèyo has the answer: a mayonnaise that tastes like a good mayo with a strong hit of vinegar, but is eggless and green thanks to avocado.

You know that cookie butter from Trader Joe’s that you’re so obsessed with? Put it away. Who needs plain cookie butter when you can have Dulce de Leche or Birthday Cake?

Little bagel bites with cream cheese inside. What more do you need to know?

I’m not a big fan of pork rinds, but these rosemary “pork clouds” won me over. Not greasy, incredibly crisp and airy, and with the taste of real herbs. The pork dust is similarly inspired — a very crunchy replacement for breadcrumbs.

We’ve talked before about Mange’s wonderful fruit vinegars. This lemon thyme variety is new, with a little extra sweetness that would make it a lovely complement to a salad dressing, or the greatest lemonade shrub.

This coconut lime cashew butter From Better Off Spread is all kinds of delicious. We have been known to also indulge in their small-batch chocolate rosemary peanut butter.

These popsicles are all very low calorie and mostly vegan, made with brewed tea. My favorite though had a little milk in it — a Root Beer Float popsicle with only 40 calories or so.

An award-winning new flavor from the Som drinking vinegars, the Thai Basil is sweet and fragrant.

These toasted chickpeas are truly delicious and very light and crispy — a great snack. We especially liked the spicier flavors.

Kombucha that wants to be Dr. Pepper, cola, or root beer? Fine by us! These lighter, fresher soda flavors have kombucha goodness and soda fun.

Delicious syrups for cocktails or cooking. We loved the Earl Grey Syrup and the seasonal Rhubarb wasn’t bad either.

Our favorite packaging at the show. Pretty watercolor labels, delicious old-school Southern pickles, and gentlemen in pink aprons.

This isn’t a new product, but we tasted it for the first time, and wow — intense roasted pistachio goodness!