LYRA MAG.

GO GLOBAL Americans embrace of 'hot' spices and global cuisines-merges nicely in a nifty gift-worthy collection of Artisan Pepper Sauces by Clark + Hopkins. ..featuring unique peppers and native flavorings from around the world. A SOFI award winner to pour on...! We had a laugh when we saw this at the Fancy Food Show-being from UWS- NYC-where the tap drinking water is blessedly terrific so why 'enhance' it. WELL-if you are missing that unique taste from far flung locales...these Tap Drops...in dropper bottles-will cure that ...aka 'water well traveled.'  Tempting mix of savory+sweet spices-our fav instant hot chocolate mix SOFI AWARD WINNER We never really thought of instant hot chocolate powders as having gourmet food status potential till now... COCOA SANTÉ by Harbor Sweets has a winning assortment of natural+ organic cocoa ingredients combined for lush  flavor blends for  this classic cold weather beverage that is also heavenly over ic...

A  BETTER SWEET THING So...what's old is NEW AGAIN. Again. A childhood in a rural area-had farms 'nearby' aka w/i 30 miles-selling  fresh produce and raw honey- straight outta the beekeepers' hives. Hyper Local ! And in a NYC domicile-the original Dean+Deluca and Zabars-had high quality condiments (mostly international origins) - as the first 'specialty food stores'-so it seems-in this country. Added pluses-Arthur Avenue, Hunts Point (Bronx), Chinatown-Little Italy-LES and the Meatpacking district all sold fresh everything else. Pretty much. It wasn't until college-that America's love for processed foods became apparent-as some classmates meal preferences went way beyond the occasional Cheese Whiz-Marshmallow Fluff diet, and Captain Crunch cereal as dinner. Now-the pendulum has swung back, food wise and is better yet . Urban farmers' markets sell straight off the land goods... everywhere there are humans (IRL and online options )......

FANCY FOODS SHOW, NYC Declared the flavor of the year ( FIRMENICH )...honey -and we think-maple- are more in demand as a sweetners by consumers seeking more 'natural' ingredients-in everything they eat---and what gets put on their faces/bodies too (personal beauty/grooming products). Honey and maple products-artisanally made, and uniquely flavored depending on geographic location, soil composition, and the weather-(like wine actually )---from smaller producers based in the USA, France and New Zealand- really caught our eyes (and tastebuds) -at the recent 2015 Fancy Foods show. Notably-everyone we spoke with in the honey world-remarked on- sadly- stressed and rapidly disappearing honey bee colonies around the world. Factors like use of insecticides/pesticides, hybrid plants,  and environmental-climate changes greatly impact these wonders of the insect world. AND what this means for many MANY agricultural produce =talking serious $ damage too -for those deny-er types only...