LYRA MAG.

Javits Center/NYC Staple foods from other countries have increasingly been incorporated into American cuisine. Whether exotic grains, beans, spices, fruits, vegetables etc...typical international eats are gracing hometown plates everywhere. Some highlights: Quinoa a higher protein grain -is sourced directly from Ecuadorian Highlands' farmers by Highland Farm Foods -a company with the mission to provide high quality products that are nutritious, natural and have great taste.  A member of 1% For The Planet. FYI what we like-Quinoameal can be cooked/eaten like oatmeal  Salt Water Taffy is childhood staple just about...spots like Atlantic City and Salt Lake City---serve up their own sweet versions of this, chewy candy-while rum flavored treats from the Caribbean island of Tortuga conjures up sandy white beaches underneath clear blue skies...and of course, umbrella drinks. Tortuga Salt Water Taffy -from the company that offers moist rich rum cakes from a four gener

The best visual display of hometown love belongs to the Fannie May Chicago Collection launched this past Spring-but we didn't eyeball the winning bunch of delectable sweets till the Fancy Food Show. P Chicago Assorted Chocolates Mug $14.95-in the back-new addition Chicago Skyline Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Bar $2.95  This magnificent collection of chocolates-that appropriately enough depicts the Magnificent Mile and other Chicago highlights-is some of the best packaging styled to honor any town, anywhere. Chicago Caramels Gift Tin $5.95 We hope those who conjured up this vintage inspired travel portraits of  the Windy City sites-got salary pops---for these one of a kind designs rendering iconic landmarks- beautifully- truly celebrates Fannie May's 95 year relationship with their hometown! Mint Meltaway Chicago Skyline Box $1.95, Mini Pixies-Chicago Skyline Box $1.95 Whether rich dark chocolates in a beautiful skyline tin, the best selling creamy mint

Part 3 Feeling in an Empire state of mind...there was plenty from the hosting state that caught or eyes-and tastebuds... via GIPHY Some Highlights: SWEET SAM' S hails from the Soundview section of the BRONX...a hometown success story...making sweet indulgent treats using fresh eggs and  real butte r-for fresh bakery freshness-that are so much better than those mass brands-practically no comparison.  Pictured- gone in a New York minute cupcakes...large size Chocolate Coconut and Chocolate Peanut Butter. Crumbling piled high  buttery topped coffee crumb cake and streusel with walnut filling are both classics - grandmothers would approve of. OPRAH anointed-sweet, creamy crisp perfection- and sinfully indulgent  Aunt Butchies   crisp almond cone with slurge worthy cheesecake filling-are the most  textured heavenly divine sample we tried AND the only one we went back for seconds the next day. YES THAT GOOD. As soon as we saw these-we thought gotta be from Staten Isla

Fancy Food Show/NYC Certain foods, beverages and packaging-captured a sense of place-and made for some unique offerings-tasty treats or just catchy products ... U S A These probably foresaw a disaster in the making??? A positive spin on the nominees for sure...Trumppuccino "The Right Combination of Bold, Common Sense, and Smart Ingredients...HILLARY HOT CHOCOLATE "An inclusive Recipe For A Better More Fulfilling Drink" ...forgot to add barrier breaking to that. Sweet Shoppe USA ...chocolate covered OREOS!

Part 1 Fancy Food Show/NYC Consumers are well traveled and informed ---and open to culinary adventures experienced or watched on some screen----feeding  into consumption of exotic gourmet foods, flavors and ingredients. Even with their own home eating habits. While there was plenty of European products as expected-at the Fancy Food Show -there was also more  maybe not so familiar  items from far flung lands-that USA consumer palates are ready to explore. HTTP://JAEFUL.TUMBLR.COM Featured aisles of dedicated by country and USA state exhibitors...included African nation Tunisia. FYI:Tunisia ranks 2 nd  in the world in olive oil production  just behind Spain with a production of approximately 340 thousand tons.  Its unique taste and flavor, plus health benefits allow Tunisian olive oil, a trademark of Tunisian land, to attract consumers from further away countries. With f ood processing the third largest manufacturing sector-Tunisia's  products are sold and distributed

Fancy Food Show/NYC Our childhood cracker 'experience' was pretty limited to saltines, oyster crackers for chowders, Triscuits (or Wheat Thins), mom's Melba Toast and an occasional plain ole' English imported water cracker-which was considered rather posh eats back then. NOW-crackers are its own gourmet category-not an accessory to the main gigs of cheese, canapés, and things to crunch up in soups. via GIPHY source imgur.com Some highlights from the most recent Fancy Foods Show we grabbed a sample of these on our way out-the O.T.C.(Original Trenton Cracker) Oyster&Soup crackers are so much better than the standard grocery outlet ones hard to explain why- but apparently the dough is given hours to rise naturally, and kneaded/layered over and over before being shaped. Def.these 'artisan style' bites have more flavor, airy texture, super crisp and the shape allows for it to float better in soups without getting soggy. Us-we devoured without anythi

Fancy Food Show/NYC Finally hauling it over to our local Chipotle-courtesy of a free coupon mailed out to consumers post the food illness mess ...didn't convince us to join the usual lines waiting up.. as we live in  a multi-ethnic city where better, yummy inexpensive eats abound. Including authentic and interpretations of Mexican tortillas...which like many utensil -free eats -is a wrap for 'stuffings" of plants, beans, meats etc. NEW: Gourmet takes on this cheap eat staple give a tasty and healthier new twist to the pedestrian corn meal-grain based tortilla... Siete Family Foods -  purveyor of delicious, grain-free Mexican-food, showed off two innovative grain-free tortillas - the Almond Flour (a SOFI award finalist) and Coconut & Cassava varieties, both of which are gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free, and preservative-free. Ideal for cooking or snacking, the tortillas taste, fold, and hold like a tortilla should and actually our bite felt they tasted great!.

The Rossignol hard/soft goods...high performance skis/d\snowboards and sport chic apparel-are sold world wide. For Fall 2016-a collection of high end, designed in Italy, made in Romania waterproof  SPORT CHIC boots that are stylish and waterproof-that are après ski worthy of the most fashionable ski resorts and sophisticated cities. Very impressive!

Outdoor Retailer/SLC Casual - Technical Mids+Lows featuring 'hot' Energy Returning proprietary Boost™ Technology Adidas footwear is selling these days-the YEEZY is blowing out... via GIPHY source wifflegif.com But it's not just the kicks for the street savvy getting the nod.... adidas OUTDOORS -sports performance offerings- smartly incorporate the iconic three stripes... and are embedded with tech features that imo the adventure types that expect functionality- will give their approving nods to too . Some Highlights: THE Terrex Agravic -is  light, fast and stabile...available  in a waterproof  GTX (Gore-Tex) and non Gore-Tex versions...weighs in at  12.5oz for men and 10.8oz for women.  On board= adidas’ proprietary Boost™   technology for superior energy return and stability, protection and flexibility during trail runs. A 2015 Industry Award at the Outdoor Fair in Friedrichshafen. TERREX AGRAVIC- Lining : GORE-TEX®   Extended Comfort membrane to keep

Whisky and Beer... Joining Sea Salt, Pickled, Spicy Peppers and Sriracha as the 'hot' accent trends at Fancy Food Show. Some Show Highlights: We've never seen this before-but it works-the slightly bitter nutty espresso atop full ripe blue cheese-y -from Italy's award winning  Luigi Guffanti 1876 -a family owned maker of a slew of delish cheeses-hopefully will be found across the POND-Fab gift baskets for sale too but in Euro Europe only (for now) Hamptons Salt Company ’s  all-natural-additive free flavor infused or smoked salts are the chemical free alternative way to add hints of flavor to a wide variety of dishes...including the giftable  Grill Master Collection  that includes the three most popular salts for grilling: the smoky  Hickory , flavorful smokey  Mesquite  & the very nifty  Espresso  salt-which can add a buzzy distinct accent to baked goods like cookies-or atop ice cream-for  salty-sweet sweet spot. Other smoked options-Chardonnay,

New Jackets, Tops, Pants, Coats For Climbers, Hikers, and Anyone Taking A Stroll... Outdoor Retailer/SLC adidas OUTDOORS shares the same DNA as it's snazzier fashion-lifestyle collections less the ONLY FIRST NAMES NECESSARY (Pharrell! Kanye! Stella!) brethren. Meaning-good looking 'modern progressive' pieces - that multi-task--- with a performance outdoorsy athletic slant-ready for ANY ADVENTURE.  via GIPHY theodysseyonline.com Expect all tops, jackets, pants to be super durable, well made-using the latest in tech fabrics -for example- weather wet tough   Pertex Quantum , Primaloft Gold - primo synthetic insulation , Gore-Tex Active -engineered to vaporize moisture/breath for the fast aerobic activities, Polartec Power Wool  a moisture wicking-anti-odor merino wool/synthetic blend ).

29 Spring Street/NYC WHERE: Westerlind Retail Store -a curated urban outdoor emporium (sea, mountain and home goods)... sells some of our fav apparel/accessories brands-including their own, Grundens rainwear, Snow Peak and Japan's hard to find here Ficouture... Ficouture Tool Bag $300 ....hosted Teva's Arrowood WP launch-a stylish boot (mid $160 and low $120-$140 W/M versions) with the comfort of the acclaimed sandals-with FloatLite™ technology-new foam construction that's both light and durable, with PU sockliner (removable), full grain leather uppers, waterproof, and rubber outsole inserts...multi-tasks as a good traveling, easy hiking kick.