Drinking vinegars, smoked treats and unexpected condiments: some trends from the Summer Fancy Food Show

New York City – The Summer Fancy Food Show is over and the trends are in.

The show took place in New York from June 29 to July 1, and can include 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and regions highlighting upwards of 180,000 products.

So what sorts of trends have emerged? Here’s just a few.

Condiments have become more sophisticated, says AdAge.com, which released its top 10 trends from the show. For instance, super-spicy peppers, and exotic ingredients like black garlic, truffles and fresh herbs. Some products included a black garlic mayonnaise (Empire Mayonnaise), a black-truffle ketchup (Fine Vine) and a garlic and oregano mustard (Green Mountain).

Now you can find much more than pickles in brine. Try asparagus, carrots, green beans and okra, says AdAge.com. One product on display was Smokra from Rick’s Picks’, which is smoked okra, and chipotle carrots and whiskey sour pickles from Brooklyn Brine.

Gluten-free is still a hot trend, but products are more creative and taste has improved as well, says AdAge.com.

Beets, Korean flavours, low-sugar water drinks, flower-infused and herb-infused waters, and coconut waters, are also big trends.

Beer as a flavour is popping up, so are fancy jerky snacks, such as teriyaki turkey jerky from Perky Jerky, black cherry barbeque pork jerky from Krave, and beer-flavoured grass-fed beef jerky from Slankshack.

Smoked foods have moved beyond meat and into treats like smoked chocolate chips from Hot Cakes, reports Inc.com.

Drinking vinegars, for example from Pok Pok Som, come in apple, pineapple and honey flavours.

Inc.com also points out the gluten-free trend is still going strong. A company called Lady Fortunes unveiled its gluten-free fortune cookies.

Gold Winners

The Summer Fancy Food Show also presents its sofi Awards to the best specialty food and beverages. “sofi” stands for specialty outstanding food innovation. This year, finalists were selected from 2,734 entries.

Here are most of the Gold Award winners in several of the show’s categories. For more, visit http://www.specialtyfood.com/sofi/finalists/2014/

• Appetizer Antipasto Salsa Dip
Smokra from Rick’s Picks

• Baked Good, Baking Ingredient or Cereal
Callie’s Charleston Cheese and Chive Biscuits from Callie’s Charleston Biscuits

• Cheese or Dairy Product
Whole Milk Ricotta from Bellewether Farms and Red Witch from World’s Best Cheeses

• Chocolate
Popcorn Toffee Squares from Poco Dolce Confections

• Classic
Gray Salt Caramel from Fran’s Chocolates

• Cold Beverage
Joia All Natural Soda – Orange, Jasmine & Nutmeg from Joia All Natural Soda

• Condiment
Triple Ale Onion Savory Spread from Wozz! Kitchen Creations

• Confection
Bourbon Nib Brittle from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co.

• Cookie
Millionaire Shortbread with Smoked Hickory Sea Salt from The Sticky Toffee Pudding Company

• Cooking Sauce or Flavor Enhancer
Hot Smoky Barbecue Sauce from Lillie’s Q Barbecue Sauces & Rubs

• Cracker
Governor’s Cheddar Crackers from Castleton Crackers

• Dessert or Dessert Topping
Belle Chevre Goat Cheese Cheesecake from Fromagerie Belle Chevre

• Diet and Lifestyle Product
Gluten-Free Lobster Mac & Cheese from Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co.

• Frozen Savory
Mushroom, Garlic & Scallion from Elegant Brie

• Hot Beverage
Licorice and Peppermint from teapigs

• Jam, Preserve, Honey, Nut Butter
Oatmeal Cookie Butter from Dave’s Gourmet Inc.

• Meat, Pâté or Seafood
Fermin Ibérico de Bellota Smoked Panceta from Wagshal’s Imports

• New Product
Lentil rice Crispbread – Sesame Pink Salt from East Hampton Gourmet Foods

• Oil
Barbera Lorenzo No. 5 from Lettieri & Co.

• Pasta Sauce
Tuscany Pumpkin Pasta Sauce from Cucina Antica Foods Corp.

• Pasta, Rice or Grain
Beet, Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese Ravioli from La Pasta Inc.

• Perishable Foodservice Product
Bijou Food Service from Vermont Creamery

• Salad Dressing
Ginger Soy Infusion Dressing from Wozz! Kitchen Creations

• Salsa or Dip
Point Reyes Blue Cheese Dip – Original Blue Flavor from Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company

• Snack Food
Dang Toasted Coconut Chips from Dang Foods

• Soup, Stew, Bean or Chili
Dinner Tonight White Bean Chili Seasoning from Backyard Safari Company

• Vinegar
Thai Basil Drinking Vinegar from Pok Pok Som