Food & Drinks

Food and drinks that we have tried and recommend

Cypress Grove Meyer Lemon & Honey Cheese

I've been a Cypress Grove fan since I first tasted their Humboldt Fog goat cheese in the 80s. I really like their newest flavor, the Meyer Lemon & Honey Cheese. The 3-ounce disk ($8) of goat cheese has a slightly sweetened Meyer lemon and delicate alfalfa honey flavor.  One ounce has 70 calories and 4.5 grams of fat, 3 of which is saturated. Like all cheese, it's best to remove it from the refrigerator at least one hour before serving for the best flavor. Cypress Grove suggests serving the goat cheese in a tart, crumbled on a salad or stuffed in Medjool dates with chopped pistachios. I also like it [...]

By |2024-08-19T17:07:15-04:00August 31st, 2024|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Serendipity3 Original Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Mix

With my grandnieces visiting for the holidays, I took out my sample of Serendipity3 Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Mix I received from the company after a recent Fancy Food show. I wanted them to try this product made from a secret blend of 14 exotic cocoas. But before doing so, we headed to the legendary eponymous New York City restaurant, founded in 1954, to sample it where it started, learning that the restaurant had just served the 30 millionth one to Cher during her appearance at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. At the restaurant, the three of us finished every last drop of the tasty dessert served in a goblet, [...]

By |2023-12-31T20:56:39-05:00December 31st, 2023|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|3 Comments
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Stan Donuts

Stan's donuts publicist sent their special edition Olive Oil Le Stan in a press package with enough to share with neighbors. Most enjoyed the flaky croissant texture and the rich orange zabaglione (Italian custard) filling. One family disagreed, thinking they were too fatty and sweet. These donuts ($4.95 each) are so decadent that I could only eat a quarter. I froze the rest, and when I wanted a treat, I'd bake a quarter in a 450-degree toaster oven for about 3 to 4 minutes. The company had no nutritional information for these special ones. I  asked. If you're not familiar (I wasn't until they ended up on my doorstep!), Stan's [...]

By |2023-02-24T17:13:23-05:00February 16th, 2023|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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City Saucery Calabrian Chili Spread

I always made my own until I sampled City Saucery's Spicy Calabrian all-purpose tomato sauce, Same with other friends I gave jars to try. Yes, it's that good. If you're unfamiliar with the Brooklyn-based company, they source local fresh, overripe tomatoes and oddly shaped carrots that would go to waste and turn them into their sauces, one called Ugly Tomato Sauce. City Saucery makes the Spicy Calabrian sauce from tomatoes, onions, olives, carrots, scallions, EVOO, basil, sea salt and wild oregano with a kick from Calabrian chilies.  When I stopped by the booth to return an empty jar to receive $1 off my next one, I noticed their Calabrian chili [...]

By |2022-07-11T13:24:42-04:00July 15th, 2022|Food & Drinks, Just For Fun, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Quri the Quinoa Peruvian Vodka

Just arriving on our shelves is Quri, an award-winning Peruvian vodka made from quinoa sourced from a single-family farm and ancient Andean glacier water filtered through volcanic stone. It's one of two vodkas in the world made from the locally originated grain, with Quri the only one produced in the Andes. If you're not familiar with this nutritious grain, quinoa seeds are richer in protein, dietary fiber, B vitamins and dietary minerals than many grains. Quinoa has been farmed for over 5000 years by the Incas. And now, it's the base for this vodka, one with a mission to better the lives of the Andes people. The distinct slightly grain [...]

By |2022-05-24T06:47:49-04:00May 14th, 2022|Food & Drinks, Products|0 Comments
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Spiribam Rum Tasting from Martinique and St. Lucia

    Recently,  at a virtual Spiribam Rum Tasting, I learned how wonderfully decadent sipping rum could be! Some at the tasting compared it to cognac. The umbrella company, Spiribam represents, markets and distributes rums from Martinique and Saint Lucia. We sampled Chairman’s from St Lucia; Rhum J. M. from Martinique and Clement from Martinique. With the holidays around the corner do treat yourself to one or more of these or purchase one as a hostess gift. Prices for a 750 ml bottle of what we tasted and photos of the actual rum! Chairman's Vintage 2009 $70 Chairman's 1931 $100 Rhum JM XO $75 Rhum JM 10 Year $130 Rhum [...]

By |2021-11-21T11:21:45-05:00November 12th, 2021|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Le Grand Verre Single-serve Bottled French Wines: Stocking Stuffer Idea

I know it's a bit early to be talking stocking stuffers, but I may have discovered a perfect one for your favorite oenophile. The publicist for Le Grand Verre offered to send samples for a virtual wine tasting of some of their premium French wines that we'd try during a wine tasting led by some of the French wine-makers. These wines, solely from boutique winemakers, are bottled in slim, single-serve recycled, double-coated PET packaging. The collection represents France’s best styles, varieties and terroir from regions such as Bordeaux, Languedoc and Provence. In addition, the majority of the wines in the portfolio are helmed by women or crafted by female winemakers. [...]

By |2021-10-10T10:17:22-04:00October 9th, 2021|Food & Drinks, Recommended|0 Comments
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Broken Shed: The Vodka of Tomorrow

As a vodka-lover, I looked forward to sampling Broken Shed Vodka, New Zealand’s award-winning, super-premium. And, I found their creative “The Vodka of Tomorrow” campaign amusing. It pays tribute to New Zealand, highlighting that, thanks to time zone differences, it’s already tomorrow there. Hence the name. Cute. As of this writing, Broken Shed is available in 24 states not including New York. Click here for their product locator. The alcohol by volume is 40% / 80 Proof; the suggested retail price of a  750ml bottle is $30. I do recommend this vodka, and enjoying it neat! It's that good.  

By |2021-10-06T08:03:23-04:00September 29th, 2021|Food & Drinks, Products|0 Comments
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Saco Chocolate Chunks, A Favorite

I've had a love affair with Saco real semi-sweet chocolate chunks since I discovered them early in my career as a food editor. Actually, my affaire de cœur was with the company and its products.  I used only their  Cultured Buttermilk Blend for making pancakes as the boys were growing up. To this date, I won't make pancakes without the blend. Yes, that good. My memory has faded on how I met Ray Sanna (the son of Bartel Sanna, the founder of Saco), but I do recall what a gentleman he also was. I hear that at 74, he's still on the floor every day fixing things.  With the resurgence [...]

By |2023-03-02T10:55:21-05:00June 7th, 2020|Food & Drinks, Recommended|9 Comments
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Shy Brothers Cloumage, A Versatile Tangy Cheese

Cloumage is made from Shy Brothers' coastal Massachusetts farm's cows' milk plus three ingredients. According to the company, their Ayrshire cows enjoy seasons of grasses and herbs influenced by the salty, foggy ocean air. They batch-pasteurize their milk to preserve its natural enzyme. In recipes, use this tangy cheese in place of sour cream, yogurt, crème fraîche, buttermilk or mascarpone. Cloumage keeps for 12 months refrigerated and one month after it’s opened. It can be baked, frozen or both. Two tablespoons contain 20 calories, 1 gram fat of which 0.5 grams is saturated and 110 mg sodium. Cloumage is available in 7 -ounce packages, plain and flavored with an average [...]

By |2020-05-24T11:11:09-04:00May 17th, 2020|Food & Drinks, Recommended|2 Comments
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Pressels Compared to Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps

Oddly when the person promoting these new Pressels emailed us, she knew nothing about  — nor seemed interested in learning about — the competition. Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps, a company that we've written about many times, also offers crunchy and flavorful crisps strong enough for dipping that are also lower in both sodium and fat than traditional pretzels, which is a claim made by Pressels. Specifically, one ounce (about 20 quarter-sized) of the everything variety Pressel  has 120 calories, 2 grams fat (of which 1 gram is saturated) and 210 milligrams sodium compared to the everything variety of Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps (of about eleven  2-x-2 1/2-inch crisps) that have [...]

By |2019-05-13T14:08:03-04:00June 22nd, 2019|Food & Drinks, Of Interest, Products|0 Comments
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Not Just For Tacos: Organic Red Duck Taco Sauce

Earlier this year, Red Duck foods, an Oregon condiment company, introduced a line of three organic sauces. The company is a Certified B Corporation, meeting the highest standards of social and environmental impact. It took me a while to sample these, as I don't often make tacos. I decided to try these certified organic, gluten-free and vegan sauces on chicken, fish, veggies, egg dishes and sandwiches and where I was looking for a bit of spice. Unlike many other condiments, these are extremely low in sodium and calories. One tablespoon of the mild and spicy one contains a mere 5 calories and 50 milligrams of sodium; 15 calories and 15 milligrams [...]

By |2018-12-02T16:12:58-05:00December 1st, 2018|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Bubble Tea at Ten Ren Tea, Chinatown, NYC

While waiting in the seemingly interminable line outside a restaurant on Elizabeth Street, we decided to quench our thirst with some bubble tea around the corner on Mott Street. Ten Ren named one of the best Bubble Tea places in NYC in Time Out, The Gothamist and Yelp. I had tried it a few years ago and wasn't wild about it. Thought I'd give the Taiwanese drink invented in the 1980s another chance. Don't go if you have trouble making decisions. After picking the type of tea and flavor, you select both your sweetness and ice levels. One friend chose 100 percent sweetness for his black milk tea ($5.05 large), the other 50 for her [...]

By |2018-10-06T08:16:31-04:00October 5th, 2018|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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TrüCup low acid coffee

To say I'm skeptical about food claims is an understatement, especially after reviewing products for most of my life. Trücup's claim is that their coffee is a stomach-friendly alternative to traditional coffee. Java for Americans who either avoid coffee or cannot drink as much as they like, due to stomach irritation (GERD or acid reflux) caused by acid. The company says, "trücup Born To Be Mild (Light Roast) clocked in at an impressive 5.74 pH level – making it up to 4.6 times less acidic than roasts from leading national coffee brands." The coffee is made using South American Arabica beans using a proprietary steam process to remove the acids that can irritate your stomach [...]

By |2018-09-15T15:24:30-04:00September 17th, 2018|Food & Drinks|0 Comments
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Acme Fish Fridays, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

If you — like me — are catatonic over the high price of smoked fish in Manhattan, you need to know about Acme Fish's Fridays. Zabar's website offers hand-sliced Nova salmon for $32 - $64 a pound. On Friday's from 8 am to 1 pm, you can buy the same smoked salmon, pre-sliced for $9 a pound. That's not a typo! Zabar's whole whitefish is $64, at Acme a 2-pound whole one is $16 ($8 a pound). Acme probably supplies the smoked fish to most places you shop. Every Friday morning, they open their factory located at 30 Gem Street, just off North 15th N Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and sell [...]

By |2018-06-11T09:30:09-04:00May 25th, 2018|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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Breads Bakery, Union Square, NYC — Chocolate Babka

One of the stops I need to make before heading to visit one of my sons is Breads Bakery (on 16th just off Union Square) for their incredibly decadent chocolate babka ($14.95 or 2 for $22). Theirs has rightfully been voted the best in New York City. Babka — the braided, chocolate-veined interior — was made mainstream by Seinfeld in the '90s, babka. It's a half-yeasted-bread, half-cake irresistible treat to eat anytime. Breads makes theirs using butter and spreads the dough with a blend of Nutella and dark chocolate chips. They bake it several times a day, so it's always fresh. If you've never tried this crisp crust, moist babka, [...]

By |2018-04-08T19:02:05-04:00May 20th, 2018|Food & Drinks, NYC Best Bites, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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City Bakery’s Pretzel Croissant, Gramercy-Flatiron, NYC

An out of town friend emailed to meet at City Bakery. She wrote, "Gotta have one pretzel croissant per visit." I was looking forward to both seeing her and also trying my first pretzel croissant ($4.50). It has a crisp, salty slightly crunchy crust sprinkled with sesame seeds — the inside is pure flaky croissant. An absolute treat. If you've never had one, be sure to stop in on 18th Street when in the hood. City Bakery Gramercy-Flatiron 3 W 18th Street New York, NY 10011 (212) 366-1414

By |2018-04-04T10:43:42-04:00May 11th, 2018|Food & Drinks, NYC Best Bites, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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The Donut Pub, Chelsea, NYC

I go to The Donut Pub but don't eat donuts. Instead, I stop by this 14th Street establishment only for their Black & White cookies ($3.25 each) served with a smile. When I moved to the city, I learned theirs are the best; as I learned Breads Bakery has the best chocolate babka. I stop in at The Donut Pub when I'm running around the city picking up bagels, whitefish salad, chocolate babka and black & white cookies to pack when I'm boarding a plane to bring these goodies to family. When I'm heading to Paris, I purchase one all white (Yup! they make all whites, but not all blacks!), for [...]

By |2018-04-26T06:20:11-04:00April 26th, 2018|Food & Drinks, Products|1 Comment
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Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog Dill Remix

I've always been a fan of Cypress Grove's signature soft, surface-ripened, award-winning buttermilk and fresh cream Humboldt Fog cheese. I was thrilled when a publicist emailed me about this new Dill Remix limited edition (only available through April), offering a sample. This is  not to be missed. It's filled with a distinctive ribbon of dill, ash and hand-harvested dill pollen giving a citrus finish to this creamy goat cheese. Uncut, it has a white cake-like appearance; once cut, you’ll notice the ribbon in the center. One ounce contains about 100 calories, 7 grams of fat (of which 4 are saturated) and 200 milligrams sodium A three-pound wheel is available for $70 on their site, while cheese [...]

By |2018-03-01T13:48:48-05:00March 2nd, 2018|Food & Drinks, Recommended|1 Comment
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Li-Lac Chocolates

A publicist asked if he could send me some Li-Lac Chocolates from Manhattan's oldest chocolate house. How could I say no? He mentioned that for nearly 100 years, the company has been handcrafting gourmet, small-batch chocolate and confections using the same old-world cooking methods and time-honored recipes. I luckily had friend visiting when the chocolate arrived  - otherwise would have been a disaster for my waistline. The bark ($36 per pound) had freshly roasted almonds enrobed in white, milk — and my favorite — dark chocolate.   The butter crunch are addictive squares of almond toffee coated in milk chocolate and sprinkled with almond dust ($36 per pound). I sliced the almost [...]

By |2018-02-05T15:43:49-05:00February 14th, 2018|Food & Drinks, Products, Recommended|0 Comments
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