LYRA MAG.

Part 1 Leaving  aside  Karl Lagerfeld's opine '...trendy if the last stage before trashy...' In the ready to eat world here-food trends are supposed to be the opposite- turning convenient eats into better for you- products. Consumer demands for plant based eats ( like these )-and the popular dietary restrictions of Keto, Whole30, Atkins, Mediterranean and Paleo-have launched loads of products for tastebud believers. In regards to those aforementioned -all eschew processed foods and limit added sugars/limited carbs. For a more detailed analysis- this USA Today article nicely sums up the differences. What's New For Keto adherers...(high fat really really low carbs)...Slim Fast has an entire new division Slim Fast Keto -with rte snacks . Cat approved-the Fat Bomb is a tasty peanut butter chocolate KETO snack-that in a way resembles Reeses peanut butter cup There is a mixed blend oil feel  on the chocolate-but it's not annoying. Nor surpris...

Fancy Food Show 2018 Stroll enough aisles at the massive Fancy Food tradeshow-and food themes jump out... Below-are some of the new 2018 trends we picked up on. via GIPHY Part One. Thin Is In -small bites - crispy sweets The name is apt...Rich Chocolate COOKIE THINS  are crispy melt in your mouth good-now available in snack size (90 calories). If you're the type that separates your Oreo cookies-and eat the wafer part, separately ...you'll love these Mandy's Cookie Thins. (Available by the case-  Fusion Gourmet , Amazon)  These mini graham crackers= Chortles - are so cookie cute small-lends itself to tossing a few atop an ice cream scoop-or yogurt. And as sweet indulgent as these are-there's a cleaner ingredient list-than others in this category. No high fructose corn syrup no hydrogenated oils, no palm oil (YAY), no trans fat, no cholesterol or saturated fats, and made in a nut free facility. The snack sizes above contain 110-120 calories-and they're...

(... we're  buzzing in it) COFFEE Trends-Fancy Food Show 2017 via GIPHY source hiltonvision.com Cold brew saturation????  We saw a lot less of those kinds of offerings than anticipated (and how come no decaf versions???)... Seen-coffee as a flavoring, more name dropped sourcing- of single bean origins-like premium chocolates, new bottled drinks, and a clear winner judging by the retail interest-a 'healthier' powdered creamer. puzzling-the lengthy line for Starbucks in the Davits lobby-when inside the aisles of Italy's offerings...some of the smoothest coffee/espresso/cappuccino we ever had. Our first daily destination... grazie.   Cold Brew brags about its smooth taste-we'd say Ottobono -Italian coffee-roasted just so via a 1950's Petroncini machine  -tastes even more aromatically... deliciously satisfying-a true full hot sip---we even considered getting a Nepresso machine just to use its single serve capsules they had at the booth to de...

Specialty Fancy Foods Show 2017 Trends  Italian purveyor Selektia Tartufi maybe had the most expensive gourmet food item on display...pictured above their truffle products  When we think of truffles-thoughts leans towards the deeply aromatic kind that can sell at auction for thousands of dollars. For consumers-oils and butters with hints of the black or white  (there's also whitish + burgundy)- still find favor (flavor)...but we also noticed new product categories for the fungi fans.  Also note worthy-the lucious sweet chocolate kind-now available in cookie/candy bar flavors as well as truffle truffle kind.  Prediction-cannabis edibles -truffles-probably coming soon to a store near you. Highlights: From Barça... Torres Select Black Truffle potato chips A SOFI award winner Kilchurn Estate Black Truffle Cheddar-full flavor sweetish cheddar with a bold truffle addition..produced by hand in southern England using locally sourced past...

Part 2 Besides boasting of a Senator who can still hit a jump (sorta) shot via GIPHY source bostonmagazine.com -the beautiful green state of Vermont offers up outdoor destinations for all budgets and desired experiences (alpine -nordic skiing, ice skating, snow shoe adventures, antiquing,  shopping, reviving spa treatments)  ..and tasty culinary choices too. For going with a crowd of party hearty friends ( Killington Resort ,   Mad River Glen ),  active kids ( Okemo , Sugarbush , Bromley , Smugglers Notch ), independent minded teens ( Mt. Snow , Stratton , Magic Mountain ), going solo-or with a special someone-( Stowe Mountain Resort, The Hermitage Club  Suicide Six Ski Area/ Woodstock Inn )...the variety of mountain resorts packed with serious snow making trails, plus daring or relaxing off trail fun...beckon all- with sweetened up enticements of mid week bargains, learn to ski/ride options, and night-time on slopes activities. Some ideas: ...

Healthy Eating-Smart Indulgences In A Traditionally Modern Restaurant FOUR CUTS STEAKHOUSE -  a swank and comfy-fairly new restaurant-offers American 'classic'  cuisine for lunch and dinner- that can EASILY accommodate  fussy diners. Since we're all about the healthy eating with an occasional indulgence. ..the success of our dining experience-- hinged on fresh succulent seafood that is reason enough to visit -this 1076 First Avenue  /NYC (Sutton Place neighborhood (between 58th/59th Streets).  FYI-an easy walk from subways/Bloomingdales/midtown. Owner:  Mirso Lekic and  General Manager:  Rodolphe Siffredi greet guests like welcomed family-whether 20 something- first timers looking for a quick cocktail at the solid wood bar (with tempting homemade potato chips-you've been warned!)-or local patrons who regularly drop in for " ...steak that's better than Peter Lugers "----as one fellow diner put it-to his congenial gr...

TRENDS: NYC: Frozen foods (including tantalizing seasonings-like  Darégal Herbs )...are modern day forms of culinary achievement---certainly waaay improved since so last century's TV Dinners. Ditto -packaged meals-mixes-requiring adding a few basics. At the Fancy Foods Show-there was lots of frozen foods and mixes-readily available-that are gourmet delicious-entreés and side dishes, (and desserts+breads-later post), --- made with real ingredients and happily-serving up ethnic, spicy, exotic international flavors-and often-gluten-non-GMO, organic eats-  that Americans love...and buy. Always key . Some Appetizer, Main+Side Dish Highlights: LUMPIA-similar to a Chinese spring rolls filled with chicken and/or vegetables---from Kusina-gluten-free selections. Asian flavors are huge---from Ramar Foods: Kusina - Filipino style frozen appetizers are crispy  flavorful bites of signature Philippine  tastes-which are wonderful fusions of cuisines -reflecting w...

 NYC 2888 Broadway-112/113th Streets (#1 train - Cathedral Parkway or Columbia Univ. 116th Street stops) WHERE: A stretch of Manhattan's Broadway has blossomed into a destination for accessible price point eateries including  the festive....and filled even on a Monday night-Mexican/Cowboy aka MEX-I and QUE themed AMIGOS Restaurant . Makes sense to us- the locale...near St. John the Divine, Riverside Church, Grant's Tomb and Columbia University... looking back THE SET-UP: Great for summery temps---out front there's two layers of sidewalk eating...inside a celebratory lit bar area with-symbolic Mexican decorations hanging from the ceiling, a few flat panel tv screens broadcasting futbol (men's friendlies and YAYYY women's FIFA World Cup)-  a sound system pumping out trendy music but mercifully not at ear splitting levels...and where we sat-in the spacious elevated- back area which is more quiet---tricked out with festive art on the wall,  a bright wh...