Winter Fancy Food Show 2011

winter fancy food show 2011

This post is way overdue. I’ve been pregnant and super busy preparing for the baby. So here it is – my experience at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco in January.

tisano cacao tea

I came across Tisano Cacao Tea, almost passing this booth. There are so many booths, it’s difficult to look at every one. The lady at the Tisano booth grabbed me and asked if I’ve ever tried cacao tea. And I was intrigued! This cacao tea (chocolate tea) isn’t artificially flavored like most other chocolate teas.

Tisano Cacao Tea is made from the cacao plant. Cacao is the raw plant which cocoa powder and chocolate comes from. It contains a lot of antioxidants and Theobromine which provides a long lasting boost of energy.

I’ve seen the product labeled both ways, as “Tisano Cacao Tea” and as “Tisano Chocolate Tea”. They are slowly renaming it to “Tisano Chocolate Tea” to avoid confusion.

What does it taste like? Add some cream and it’s a dark, smooth, rich chocolatey Continue reading

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How to Save Money Shopping for Food

Groceries
Photo Credit: Ed Welker

With everything else in the economy going up, it is no wonder grocery prices are as well. Anyone who is looking for a way to stretch their dollars when it comes to going grocery shopping should follow a few suggested tips.

Buy in season: It is always wise to buy produce when it is in season. Many newspapers and online coupons will offer discounts for produce that is in season, which often saves a few pennies that add up the more a person buys. Local farmers’ markets also sell produce in season at very reasonable prices, so always check those markets out first and contribute back to your local produce community.

Look for coupons: It is smart to check newspapers for coupons because a week’s worth of meal can be planned out around food that is one sale. Most times Sunday’s newspaper is full of the most coupons, and also provides plenty of coupons that can be applied towards staple items. A person should always stock up on staple items when they are on sale or have coupons to apply towards them; this can save a person several hundred dollars a year on groceries. The most valued coupons and sales are those that are ‘buy one get one free’, but always be careful when purchasing these items to make sure the prices are jacked up before the sale price is applied.

Think of buying frozen food to store: Buying food that is frozen, canned, or dried is always a smart move to make when trying to save money on groceries, and most importantly these types of foods are just as nutritious as fresh foods. Most produce items are frozen, canned, or dried when they are at the peak of their ripeness, which ensures they are full of nutrients. The best thing about frozen foods besides being nutritionally healthy is they can be used in amounts-needed. What is not used can be resealed and put back into the freezer; this assures there is no waste. Foods that are canned should always be rinsed before consumed because they bathe in juices, syrups, or salty water before being Continue reading

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Ito En Blueberry Green Tea

ito en blueberry green tea

My husband and I were having lunch at Delica, the Japanese deli in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, when we reached for something to quench our thirst. The Ito En Blueberry Green Tea immediately jumped off the shelf and into my hands. Wow, I’ve never seen iced blueberry green tea anywhere else before!

On the first sip, it was like heaven! The sweet, refreshing blueberry taste gently caresses your tongue, with a mild hint of green tea. And it’s made with all natural ingredients, a plus in my book. This is definitely my new Continue reading

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Ginger Cake Recipe

ginger cake recipe

My all-time favorite dessert is the warm ginger cake topped with pumpkin ice cream, caramel sauce, and whipped cream from Park Chow in San Francisco. There’s nothing like it anywhere else. Since I haven’t been to Park Chow in a really long time, I was on a mission to recreate it at home.

I used David Lebovitz’s ginger cake recipe. I think it’s the same one as Park Chow’s. I’m still searching for the right pumpkin ice cream. I’ve tried Double Rainbow’s and Trader Joe’s but they don’t taste right.

I also made my own caramel sauce and whipped cream. Yeah, I was a little ambitious because I was using my brand new, pink hand blender, which works really well for this. If you want to make your own whipped cream, use a hand blender (use whisk attachment, if you have one) to whisk heavy whipping cream in a bowl. Start with a little bit of cream, then as it thickens, add more. Add nutmeg or sugar to sweeten. Whisk until peaks form. I think it’s easier to buy ready-made whipped cream.

I didn’t have a 9″ round cake pan. Instead, I used an 8″ x 8″ pan and poured an inch of batter into a bread pan because I was afraid of overflowing the pan. It turned out fine. I also baked it with less time, 45 minutes instead, since I used 2 smaller Continue reading

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Top 12 Foodie Gifts 2010

I was inspired again to do a top foodie gift list again, although last minute. This year it’s my Top 12 Foodie Gifts.

It’s less than a week before Christmas. If you haven’t finished your gift shopping, don’t worry, you still have time to do it online.

Shipping cutoff dates:

Sun, Dec. 19th – FREE Super Saver Shipping
Mon, Dec. 20th – Standard Shipping, last full day to order
Tues, Dec. 21st – Two-Day Shipping (FREE with Amazon Prime), last full day to order
Wed, Dec. 22nd – Two-Day Shipping (FREE with Amazon Prime), order as late as 7pm PST
Thurs, Dec. 23rd – One-Day Shipping, order as late as 3:30pm PST

Gifts under $50

foodie gift hand blender

Cuisinart Hand Blender – $49.00

My husband got me this stylish, pink hand blender. No more mixing cookie batters by hand! I love it! It also comes with a whisk attachment so you can whisk up your own whipped cream for heavy whipping cream, a process that’s tricky when done by hand.

top gift chocolate fountain

Nostalgia Electrics Chocolate Fountain – $46.94

Everyone loves a chocolate fountain! We had a professional one at our wedding and people still talk about it today. Create new memories for that special person on your list.

Presto Belgian Waffle Maker$43.88

Fresh, homemade waffles are easy to make with this belgian waffle maker. The 180 degree plate helps evenly coat the batter on both plates for crisp, delicious Continue reading

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