Specialty Foods-Fancy Food Show
Plant based foods/drinks are not just trends.
Pretty much everyone- from vegans (all the time)-to cattle steak enthusiasts-hardily devour plant based subs fairly regularly now... in this country. (Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger popular eats both- kinda proves that for meatheads).
Still a read of ingredients has many consumers looking for healthier alternatives to big consumer packaged goods offerings or genetically modified 'food'...
At the recent Fancy Food Show...a few plant subs that really taste great:
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| Good Catch-caught our eyeballs at last year's show. There was one product-and their display table was off in a far flung Javits Center hallway. There wasn't even A/C in that section. THIS YEAR-there has been bump in sales-and probably a new hire or two clearly-plus hip packaging + new products. This Chef mastered brand (plus one investor with vision) now has shelf stable-ready to eat- fish free tuna, that is non-GMO, gluten free/vegan -flavorfully chunky.Straight out of the packet-or tossed with salads it's the same texture of tuna... and the same amount of protein (14g) too. Also soon to be available-crab free cakes, fish free sliders + burgers. FYI-lentils and farmed algal oil =fish flavor. At -Thrive/Whole Foods/Fresh Direct... |
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| Texture and taste-chewy Pan's Mushroom Jerky (organic dried shitaki mushroom are the base) resembles the dead animal version...and is particularly satisfying for those that like salty leaning snacks. All versions of Pan's Jerky are vegan, soy free, gluten free and paleo friendly! 7 flavors available...online or IRL coast to coast. LOVE THIS |
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| Unisoy's Vegan Jerky's has the taste/texture of meat jerky but it's vegan, non-GMO-made from vegetable protein+isolated soy protein-plus spices. In three flavors including Hot N' Spicy with crushed red peppers + chile-that has enough heat but not enough to make our eyes water :-) a good thing vs a similar snack we once tried in Southeast Asia. |
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| Vegan Rob's just keep delivering the snack hits again and again. IMPRESSIVE track record from the founder of several iconic snack brands including Pirate's Booty. New at the SFFS show and available in a couple of weeks...their Burger Puffs. Airy bites -gluten free, vegan, non-GMO-with a distinct burger taste. FUUUNNN...including the Infinity and Beyond ref. Added plus: giving back MO. Note-their dragonfruit version (spicy) snagged a SOFI award. |
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| Veggie Burgers-in general-can be made from all sorts of things that may not entice eaters, let alone "clean' ingredient eaters. NO BULL "The True Veggie Burger"-is an interesting double entendre name in a way. No meat and no processed ingredients like pea or soy isolates, or wheat gluten. Organic lentils and grains/veggies like organic brown rice, sweet potato, quinoa--- are the base for five flavors. BONUS-the right texture = NO BULL-is like a meat burger-and one can heat up similarly grill, broil, skillet etc. Great for use in chili/tacos too. |