WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW
A LAS VEGAS DISNEYLAND FOR FOODIES
Article by Bobbie Kitto
During the last part of January in Las Vegas, NV the Winter Fancy Food Show was held. I was one of the lucky media trade who attended.
Think of a Disneyland/ Willy Wonka chocolate factory for Foodies and you have some idea what I experienced. More Than 1,200 exhibitors were in attendance and at the end of the show these generous people donated over 23,000 pounds of food to Three Square Food Bank of Nevada. Below are some of the food exhibits that really captured my attention and taste palate.
One of the most unusual businesses I saw there was LET THEM EAT CANDLES. That’s right candles. The candles are made of premium chocolate with a removable wick. Once the candles have done their job to facilitate the making of a wish, the wick is removed and the candle can be eaten.
Loree Sandler, founder, let us in on a secret, they are about to introduce balloon-shaped candles with numbers 0-9 on them. They should be available in the near future. Currently their most sought after candles are the milk chocolate with a white “circle swirl” pattern and the dark chocolate with the white “sprinkles” design.
Currently we can purchase these cuties in bakery departments at some markets like Albertson’s (Portland, OR.), some independent shops, and at Cost Plus World Markets. They can also be purchased on line at www.LetThemEatCandles.com.
Another unusual find was Magic Coco. Yes, it is made out of mushrooms. This unusual and delicious drink is made by High Country Fungus. When I asked Daniel Stewart, founder of the company how he came to create this he told me, a lot of his customers wanted to get more mushrooms in their diet, for the nutritional benefits, but the taste wasn’t doing it for them. He decided to make it more palatable by mixing in high quality chocolate ingredients. His followers were thrilled, they could get their benefits from the mushrooms and still have a great tasting drink. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised, it did taste like hot chocolate. If hot chocolate is not your drink, he does have a Magic Chai and Magic Mocha to offer as an alternative. To obtain some magic in your life contact Daniel Stewart at www.highcountryfungus.com.
While strolling around the show I ran into an old and familiar friend, Melissa’s Produce. They had one of the most beautiful displays there. These are the folks that supply some of our favorite cooking shows with the exotic and hard to find fruits and vegetables. They also supply your local grocery stores with high quality produce and pantry items.
Melissa’s had on display such items as Tasmanian Cherries, pink pineapples, baby pineapples, and Elephant Green Gold pineapples. Too many more different fruits and vegetables to name like one exhibit of a highly prized fruit by the Asian culture named Durian. It smells so bad it has to be eaten outside for most people to consume it. Contact them .
Note: The Fancy Food Shows are trade only events. They are not open to the general public, however I am happy to share what I saw, tasted and drooled over while I was there…all soon to be at a retail business near you soon.
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Review by Bobbie Kitto
Note: Roberta (Bobbie) Kitto is a freelance writer based out of Laughlin, NV. Her interests include travel, culinary pursuits and gardening. No fee was paid for this article review. Her opinions are her own.
To make the best of each recipe, use for quality ingredients! Bobbie highly recommends products from Melissa’s.