I just adore the Fancy Food Show and have been going to the summer edition for about 40 years now! Under one roof, you get to munch on all your favorites and discover new food items that are downright space age! Of course, as time goes on, healthier items appear in the hundreds of booth on the Javits floor but the spirit of indulgence will never go away! Let me add that one of the most wonderful things about the show is that not only can you can sample your your heart’s content but you can take items home for midnight snack attacks!
One of my top picks at the show to spend time at was Melissa’s Produce. Their best sellers are the bags of small potatoes that are available in Aldi stores, but they are also famous for the world’s most luxurious pineapples (some of which cost over $200). This year the Melissa’s folks were promoting their Hatch Chile Peppers and I love that they made sauces out of them that are perfect for dipping chips into. Of course they have fresh Hatch peppers so you can roast them in the oven at home or make your own Hatch Pepper sauces!
My favorite candy booth is the one by Gerrit J. Verburg Co. because they have all the retro brands that we baby boomers love—including my beloved Black Jack and Teaberry chewing gums! Pictured above are their Satellite Wafers—these are the company’s current rock star product and they can be purchased at Five Below! I love to stop at this booth and grab my favorite wine gums of all time (Jumbilees) and red licorice pinwheels. I love to look at all the colorful and creative packaging as I love sampling all the confections available! They have the nicest staff as well. Always make a point of stopping at the Gerrit booth if you are going to the Fancy Food Show.
I love Zucker’s Bagels and was excited to see that they had a booth at the show—I quickly made a bee line for a hot bagel with cream cheese! Legendary chef and restaurateur Marc Forgione in tow. Check out Zucker’s Par Baked Bagels which are a convenient way to enjoy the bakery’s classic New York–style bagels at home. These packaged bagels are made using traditional methods that give them a chewy interior and a lightly crisp, golden crust. Available in popular varieties such as plain, everything, sesame, and poppy seed, they’re ideal for breakfast, sandwiches, or a quick snack. Simply toast and top them with cream cheese, butter, smoked salmon, or your favorite spread for an authentic New York bagel experience.
When I learned that St Pierre Premium Brioche would be showcasing their wide range of premium brioche and authentic French treats, including Belgian Waffles, Brioche Burger Buns, Brioche Hot Dog Rolls, Brioche Loaves, I ran over to their booth. Their waffles are actually their rock star product of the moment and anyone would love to get an individually wrapped one in their brown bag lunch! They are filling and sweet. These people are coming up with new products all the time, one better than the other. No BBQ is complete without their Brioche Burger Buns—they automatically upgrade any BBQ or picnic and I think that they should have made them the official burger buns for the US’s big 250th birthday!
I was lucky enough to attend some special events at the Fancy Food Show and one of the best was a breakfast in the Spanish Pavilion called Start the Day the Spanish Way: An Authentic Spanish Breakfast Experience. It featured orange marmalade and goat cheese toast, pan con tomate with jamón Serrano, and brioche with cocoa cream and fresh fruit, highlighting the versatility of Spanish extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil replaces butter on toast and other types of breakfast breads in Spain! I discovered so many great items at the Spanish booths from olives to olive oil to nuts to paella! I got full fast, needless to say. One particular item that caught my eye were spices in retro style tins by El Avion! I also fell in love with the 1880 brand of Torta Torronde which is a round torrone in flavors like lavender and mint & basil!
Yet another amazing event that I attended during the Food Show was the Greatest Tomatoes From Europe dinner held at Armani Restaurant on Madison Avenue. It was presented by ANICAV (the Association of Italian Canned Tomato Industries) as part of the EU-funded Greatest Tomatoes From Europe campaign. I dined on an exceptional menu showcasing the incredible depth, richness and versatility of Italy’s world-renowned tomato products—pictured are Zuppeto di Pomodoro with quail eggs and herbed croutons (you could also get it with shrimp added), Branzino Carnaroli al Pomodoro e Miso with grilled eggplant, and Meringata Armani with coconut, forest berries and tomato powder. (This was my first ever “tomato dessert”!) The dinner was also a rare opportunity to connect with fellow food and lifestyle tastemakers and experience firsthand why Italian tomatoes are considered the gold standard of the culinary world.
Some of the best olive oil available come from Sicily and are bottled and sold by Bona Furtuna; this creative company always have beautiful sets for gifting, some of which you can find at Neiman Marcus. To give you a little more detail, Bona Furtuna olive oils are premium organic extra virgin olive oils produced on the company’s La Furtuna Estate in the Sicani Mountains of Sicily. Made from hand-harvested native Sicilian olive varieties, the olives are cold-pressed within hours of picking to preserve their fresh flavor, aroma, and natural antioxidants. The collection includes the balanced Heritage Blend, the bold Forte, and the rare Biancolilla Centinara, each offering distinctive tasting notes that pair well with everything from salads and grilled vegetables to fresh bread and roasted meats. Bona Furtuna also emphasizes sustainable farming, biodiversity, and support for local Sicilian communities, making its olive oils a favorite among home cooks and gourmet food enthusiasts alike.
There are always many different types of tomato sauce at the Fancy Food Show and I have always been partial to Carmine’s—both their sauces and their restaurants! That just give you that warm, homey feeling! Made in small batches with high-quality ingredients such as vine-ripened tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, onions, and fresh herbs, the sauces are designed to deliver authentic, slow-simmered flavor without artificial preservatives. Popular varieties include Marinara, Vodka, Roasted Garlic, Tomato Basil, and Fra Diavolo, making it easy to recreate Carmine’s signature Italian meals at home. The sauces pair well with pasta, meatballs, chicken Parmesan, lasagna, or as a flavorful base for homemade pizzas and other Italian-inspired recipes.
There always is a little celebrity culture at the Fancy Food Show and before yesterday, I did not know that Jessica Simpson had a line of macarons! Ms. Simpson’s line of gourmet macarons is officially named the Jessica Simpson x Macaron Queen Collection. Created in partnership with the women-owned artisan brand Macaron Queen, the fashion-inspired line includes a variety of nostalgic, indulgent flavors, with popular selections including Strawberry Shortcake, Raspberry Dark Chocolate and Red Velvet. To find out where to purchase the collection or to view the flavor lineup, you can visit the Macaron Queen Official Website.
The Matzo Project always has one of the most creative displays as you can see above and they celebrate Jewish grandmas as part of their schtick. That is a classic grandma purse and her red push button phone is there as well (you can hear her talking on the other end when you pick up the phone, LOL)! The Matzo Project is a Brooklyn-based food company that has reimagined traditional matzo as a flavorful, everyday pantry staple rather than a product reserved only for Passover. Founded by childhood friends Ashley Albert and Kevin Rodriguez, the brand combines classic Jewish culinary traditions with modern recipes, playful packaging, and clean ingredients to create products that appeal to a wide audience. Its lineup includes Matzo Flats, Matzo Chips, matzo ball soup kits, matzo crumbs, and gluten-free baking mixes, with many products being vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, and kosher. The company has earned praise for transforming matzo into a versatile snack while honoring its cultural roots, and it continues to expand its offerings with new specialty products and seasonal releases.
