Kosherfest 2012

Kosherfest 2012 Standout New Products

Kosherfest 2012 was great fun this year!

I and quite a few others marveled at how the staff at Kosherfest 2012 pulled off the whole show with their hands often tied behind their backs, so soon after Hurricane Sandy, which crippled many warehouses and made transportation a nightmare. Amazing work, as always, Menachem Lubinsky!

Although I didn’t see one solitary new cheese product, there were lots of interesting new stuff.

Some of my Kosherfest 2012 Favorites:

  • Sweet Tammy’s. Artisanal Breads and Pastries. Delicious, couldn’t possibly get closer to homemade, dairy-free and natural. Their booth was mobbed. I do hope they follow several admirers’ advice (including mine) to make their cookies smaller, so we can enjoy them more often.
  • Hafla Salads.  An Israeli line of dips and salads. Delicious. They tasted very fresh and authentic, never too oily or too salty, and included a wonderful Moroccan preserved lemon spread (how ingenious is that?)
  • Matzolah. A Passover Granola tasting  absolutely like the real thing. It comes in a cool canister. Watch out that you don’t eat it year round and leave us sans Matzola on Passover! By Foodman
  • Petrini Gelato and Sorbets. Oh my gosh, we just can’t wait to have it distributed in NYC. Manufactured in Florida, they are finalizing distribution in NYC. No end of outrageous flavors, many of them pareve, all of them natural. Their booth was swamped at all times, for good reason. Can’t wait for Petrini to move closer to me!
  • Java Frozen Tuna. Beautiful, affordable and sizzling fresh vacuum-packed tuna, all cuts: steaks, cubes, strips, etc.
  • Simply7 Lentil Chips. I could use a little less salty, but if you get the munchies, this lentil treat is way up on the list and all natural. One inconvenience: It is dairy, which is often a problem, for Kosher diners as well for the Dairy-Free community.
  • Dear Coco Chocolates. The brand name comes with an apt tagline: Be Transported by Chocolate:I trust you will be! Exotic flavors from around the world, and pareve too, which I always find a major plus
  • Crystal Springs Fish Salami and Franks. I have already tinkered with the “salami” and found it fantastic. Lean and all-natural. Yum! I used it in a fish loaf, in a salad and in a sandwich, and it passed with flying colors. Can’t find their site address, but I bet the company who designed their label can help http://www.claytowne.com/beats-digging-ditches/branding-design/product-package-design/package-design-for-crystal-springs-fish-salami/ Still I recommend they make their accessibility clear, or why bother going into business?
  • Viki’s Granola. Crunchy and not too sweet. Blueberry almond was my favorite. Dairy-free and all-natural. They are currently working on a nut-free mix
  • Tastes of Asia. Vegan and natural microwaveable noodle dishes. Would be perfect if it were lower in sodium
  • Kosherfest 2012 Favs: I’m not done!

  • Bakto Natural Extracts and Flavors: I doubt you will say plain vanilla ever again after you see and taste all the wonderful stuff Bakto does with vanilla: Vanilla extract, ground vanilla, vanilla beans, vanilla sugar. A dash will take your goodies through the roof. Visit their site and see how many other fabulous flavors and extracts they offer, and enjoy the difference. Why bother with anything but the REAL thing?
  • Soy Vay: A line of marinades and condiments born the proverbial meeting of a Chinese boy and a Polish girl (or is it the other way around?), followed by the inevitable venturing in the kitchen, with all the delicious possibilities that this improbable shidduch could hold. Supposing for a minute I would ever buy a bottled marinade instead of whipping it up myself, I would have to say this delicious all-natural line, listing a very short no-nonsense list of sensible ingredients,  would win hands down. Have fun playing with these marinades: Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki, Soy Vay Island Teriyaki, Soy Vay Hoisin Garlic Asian Glaze and Marinade, Soy Vay Wasabi Teriyaki, Soy Vay Toasted Sesame Dressing and Marinade. They include a generous list of recipes too!
  • PB2. A delicious and very low fat peanut butter powder. Throwing it in my smoothies with greater abandon! The bad news is, the labels on the containers are cryptic, especially the one with chocolate added, which is impenetrably labeled “PB2 with premium chocolate”, and never bothers to describe the contents as peanut butter powder (come on people, how do you expect the public to try a brand new product if you don’t at the very least name the content?) The good news is their site is brimming with ideas for using the product, and it’s easy to use and versatile. Peanut with all the flavor and much less fat? I’m there! When reprinting your labels, NAME the product? Is PB peanut butter, please say it.
  • Last but not least, Kosher Depot, a heaven for gourmet kosher ingredients and specialty foods, until now had the least user-friendly website, but has recently made vast improvements, Any of you planning a trip there, you drive, I’ll be your guide throughout the whole warehouse: this non-drive food professional always gets lots of mileage out of this barter!

Thanks Kosherfest 2012! Keep up the beautiful work!

18 replies
  1. Morgan abby66
    Morgan abby66 says:

    Knowing about Kosher products is a grand revelation for me.I came across this article by accident and got hooked over it.Kosher food items are all which people of all age groups love to binge on. I am impressed by the innovative,fantastic and an appealing subject of this article.It is creditable that you have received such a huge response and comments for it. I enjoyed the content and the writing style of this post thoroughly.I will definitely try to get few for my wedding anniversary next month.

  2. Wright Amelia
    Wright Amelia says:

    I think nowadays Kosherfest products are getting more recognition. I have tried the Asian noodles and cannot forget the taste. It is so very delicious. I am planning to try lentil chips and Gelato and sorbets the next time. Anybody who have tasted them can you please let me know how they are?

  3. Brooklyn Couleurs
    Brooklyn Couleurs says:

    I am new to this blog and the information given here has made me very happy. I am a foodie and love to try different cuisines. I was referred to this blog by a friend and I really thank her for that, Keep updating:)

  4. Nikki Flores
    Nikki Flores says:

    We do have several social get together for my husband’s business associates and colleagues almost on every weekend.I was always find myself either perplexed or in dilemma on deciding the menu which is expected to be tasty,delicious and innovative,not repetitive of what I have catered already.I was co-coincidently came across this product surfing on net and have to admit that Kosher Products have come to my rescue at the correct time.I am planning to order Lentil Chips,Sweet Tammy’s Pastries and Hafla Salads for party on this weekend.I am sure the guests would relish the food.

  5. Rebecca normes
    Rebecca normes says:

    i had gone to one of my friends’ house for a small get together. There I tasted lentil chips and Asian noodles.I loved the taste. She told me they are Kosher products. Do the noodles come with masala? Or should we prepare it the old fashioned way, by adding different sauces?

    • Lévana
      Lévana says:

      Rebecca I assume you are referring to one of the products listed at Kosherfest. All instructions for using the products are clearly listed. If the noodles come with masala, it will be clearly written.

  6. Lopez Timothy
    Lopez Timothy says:

    Kosher Products are slowly but steadily getting recognition in market.I regularly buy lentil chips and my favourite Israeli hafla salad from them and they are of the best quality.I have heard a lot of praises about Asian noodles and Granolas from my friends and planning to try it out next time.

  7. Ashley électriques
    Ashley électriques says:

    I was searching for new food stuffs available in the market. Good thought to put up a list of them. I think I will try out the peanut butter and tuna. I also love noodles and will try these new ones mentioned here.

  8. White Gabrielle
    White Gabrielle says:

    I have noticed from last few months that kosher products are getting popular and liked by many.Few of my friends recommended me the delicious peanut butter and Hafla salads.Thanks Levana for putting up the long list of interesting food stuffs.My kids adore Coco chocolates and I am definitely going to get them.

  9. MOORE AUBREY
    MOORE AUBREY says:

    I haven’t got a chance to try any of the above mentioned products. I am soon planning to buy Tastes of Asia noodles. I really love noodles and hope this one is also tasty.

  10. lisamarie1780
    lisamarie1780 says:

    I too tried crystal Springs fish salami and was totally disappointed. As mentioned in one of the comments, there is no manufacture date or instructions to use. Worst was there was no contact information also. If anybody finds a better brand, please keep me posted:)

    • Lévana
      Lévana says:

      Hi Lisamarie, This is unfortunately a common problem with people who exhibit a new product before they are totally ready with all necessary information. They have recently contacted me, to let me know they are working on all technical stuff. The main thing is, theirs is a good product, and I hope they get the rest of their act together!

  11. Nicole Smith
    Nicole Smith says:

    I haven’t tried any of these products. I was planning to buy one of them this month, but after reading this blog, I am really worried. Can anyone give me assurance that the products are really good?

    • Lévana
      Lévana says:

      Nicole I made all my comments in all good faith. There is no assurance beyond that. After I said what I liked and didn’t like, the rest is up to you. In any case, the purchase of a new food product is a calculated risk, at just a few dollars.

  12. Yosef Chaim
    Yosef Chaim says:

    Crystal Springs product… We apologize for any inconvenience we have caused … We introduced the product prematurely. Meaning the product is ready for distribution, but we weren’t … To be candid we were surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response… Kosher Fest was simply to get a taste of the consumers reaction… It was equally positive at the Boston Seafood Show… by late spring we will be ready to introduce the product on a national level.

    We thank you for your comments.

  13. Barzilai
    Barzilai says:

    I tried the Crystal Springs fish salami too, and and annoyed that they have no contact information and no use by date, or instructions on how long it’ll stay fresh after opening. They seem to be a start up that doesn’t want to risk exposure.

    • Lévana
      Lévana says:

      Barzilai, frustrating, right? Especially because their stuff was terrific. The caviar we tasted was terrific with tiny blinis or latkas, and plain yogurt. You shouldn’t hide so well if you are launching a new line. Sheesh! Well if you do find some info, give me a holler!

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