Witch Finger and Cotton Candy Grapes

Have I ever mentioned that I love grocery shopping? I love shopping for ingredients and finding unique goodies along the way. I came across these Witch Finger and Cotton Candy grapes and was amazed.

Witch Fingers are sweeter than your typical red grape and are oblong in shape. These grapes would look very attractive on a cheese platter, or even a Halloween themed one.

When I sampled Cotton Candy grapes, I was delighted. I popped it in my mouth, closed my eyes, and couldn't believe how much it tasted like cotton candy! The grapes were candy-sweet and juicy. For a refreshing treat on a hot day, I enjoy them frozen.

Have you discovered any new exciting produce lately?

Side note: Cotton Candy & Witch Finger grapes are sustainably grown and non-GMO.

The Fancy Food Show

The Fancy Food Show is like the fashion week of food. Gourmet brands and importers share their latest and award-winning, creative products with food industry professionals. It's jam-packed with deliciousness, everything from cheese to pickled vegetables to ketchup! It's a wonderful place to connect with others that share your similar passion for food. I was ecstatic to have met Cypress Grove's Mary Keehn, The Pt. Reyes Farmstead team, Karin from the Truffle Cheese shop, Natasha of Cool Haus, and Chef Nancy Silverton! While there was an abundance of tasty items, here are few of the many that caught my attention and taste buds:

Rogue Creamery's lavender cheddar

Perfectly floral and delicate.

Earl Grey rubbed cheese from Barely Buzzed

Sartori's Citrus Ginger Bellavitano

Herb Crystals

Adds texture and great flavor. I can see this used in sweet applications. 

Juicy, briny pickled figs

This on a cheese plate!

Blackberry Patch's berry ketchups.

Sooo good. It could be used to add pizazz to bbq sauces and would taste great in a grilled cheese sandwich. It's nice balance of sweet and tangy.

Yancey's Fancy's Grilled Bacon Cheeseburger Cheddar

 If you close your eyes, it's really like eating a grilled bacon cheeseburger. Flavors were spot on!

Vermont Creamery's new crème fraîche flavor, Madgascar Vanilla

A dessert on its own.

Jeni's Brown Butter Almond Brittle ice cream + fudge sauce. Pure Decadence!

Chocolate Balsamic Glaze Pairings

When it comes to flavor combinations, I love the thrill of the unexpected. Never did I think reduced balsamic and chocolate would work together. But, they do.  It may sound wrong, but it tastes sooo right. I found this treasure at a European market and knew I wanted to take it home with me. The balsamic is reduced down and enriched with chocolate.The glaze has a light acidity and a mouth coating richness. Its texture is creamy and decadent, similar to hot fudge but less runny.

The first thing that came to mind was what am I going to enjoy this with? The label offered the serving suggestion of drizzling it on gelato. Oooh. Then I thought to myself, cheeeeese! I chose two cheeses to pair the glaze with--Parmigiano Reggiano and Camembert.

Pairing the glaze with Parmigiano Reggiano seemed natural. The fruity and nutty qualities of Parm. and sweet chocolate paired wonderfully together. The effect was similar to a crunch bar; the crystalline texture of Parm provided that bite like crispy rice. This pairing is more on the sweet side, where as the Camembert was more of a savory flavor combination.

The creamy, dense interior of Camembert and the chocolaty richness of the glaze was an engaging duo. When eaten together, you notice the acidity of the glaze and then the earthy elements of the bittersweet chocolate and Camembert just fuse together and become one. It's smooth and luxurious on the palate.

photography credits:

  chocolate balsamic via la modenese, parmigiano reggiano via di bruno bros, camembert via igourmet