2023 Fancy Food Show

Plate of spare ribs for the 2023 Fancy Food ShowYou So Fancy
I spent the last few days in Sin City for the 2023 Fancy Food Show. Normally this show is held in San Francisco. But, for reasons beyond my knowledge, they moved it to Las Vegas. And, I am not sure if that was such a great idea. The show seemed a bit smaller to me, although that may have more to do with businesses closing than reluctance to go to a different city.

This was the first show since the height of the pandemic. So, I was looking forward to attending and hoping to see what’s new in the industry. I was also hoping that the move to Las Vegas would mean the show itself would be bigger and, frankly, more worth the expense of having to travel. To be fair, we have been spoiled by the fact that the show has been in our own backyard for decades.

In a nutshell, I was disappointed. But, that in and of itself tells me more about the state of the fancy food world than anything else. Bottom line is that while there were a few products and trends that were new, the food world is still trying to play catch up from multiple years of shutdowns, supply chain issues, and more recently, inflation. That being said, there were definite highlights.

Alcohol-Free Spirits
You may have noticed that Dry January is a thing. (Just ask Martha Stewart) The idea of not drinking during the month of January after all the revelry for the holidays is immensely popular. So popular in fact, that it has spawned a number of product lines devoted to sophisticated alcohol-free spirits and aperitifs for mixing some interesting mocktails with the thought that January doesn’t have to be the only dry month.

One such company is Abstinence Spirits. Their line of botanical non-alcoholic spirits works well with your favorite club soda but can also be a surprise addition to your favorite full-octane creations when you’re in the mood. And for the champagne lovers who want all the bubbles but not the buzz, Prima Pavé has something tasty for you to try. While their Blanc de Blanc will never fool a true champagne connoisseur, the attention to detail in their “wine-making” process produces a high-quality non-alcoholic alternative that is as good on its own as it is as a mixer.

Snacks
Snacks are always a big category for the Fancy Food Show and this version was no different. There were plenty of sweet, salty, and spicy options to satisfy any craving you could come up with—and some of them are kind of outside of the box. For instance, I am that person who loves crispy, crackling chicken skin from a roast chicken. Flock Foods has seen fit to challenge all those pork rind producers with the poultry version. And, I am here for it. My other favorite caught me by surprise. MushGarden mushroom chips aren’t necessarily new per se. But, they are new to me and I was surprised to find myself eating the sea salt version one after the other.

Asian Flavors
The flavors of Asia from Korea to India to Thailand and Malaysia were on full display across all sorts of categories proving that if you like your meals spicy, hot, and fragrant, there will be plenty of options to choose from.

Southern-style
I found my favorite flavor a little closer to home though with Chilau Foods Southern-style flavor bases. Think Better Than Bouillon but for gumbo and shrimp and grits. I’m looking forward to giving these a whirl.

All in all, I was glad we went to the 2023 Fancy Food Show if only to get the creative juices flowing again. Keep an eye out for these and other products in the coming weeks as it might take a bit of time to work out all of the logistics of adding new items.

Shrimp and Grits with Bacon
Adapted from Hoppin’ John’s Low Country Cooking

These typical shrimp and grits are served for breakfast, but they are good any time of day. We love the addition of bacon! Read more…

How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken

Photo of a whole, raw chicken on a cutting board for How to Cut Up a Whole ChickenThere you are standing in the meat department looking at all of the possible options for dinner that night. After deciding on chicken, you then have even more decisions to make. Do you need chicken breasts? Legs? Just the thighs?

Being able to purchase just a certain part of the chicken is very convenient, especially if you need a specific part of the bird in a larger quantity. If you a buying chicken for just—you or maybe just for two of you—more often than not, buying a whole chicken and cutting it up yourself is the most cost-effective option.

Learning to cut up a whole chicken will save money in the long run. First, you won’t be paying for the butcher to do it for you. Second, buying a whole chicken gives you the option to make more meals than just that one. If, for example, you only need the legs you can save the breasts for later in the week or, you can wrap them well and put them in the freezer.

Knowing how to cut up a whole chicken also gives you the ability to make your own stock with the backbone and other leftover bones. This saves you money since you won’t have to purchase chicken stock.

While some people may find the idea of wielding a knife intimidating, once you get the idea of how to do it, you may wonder why you waited so long. The most important thing for successfully cutting up a chicken is to make sure you are using a sharp knife to avoid injury.

Directions for How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken
This great New York Times video takes you through the process visually. Once you have done it a couple of times, you can refer to the step-by-step list of instructions below.
Read more…