There were so many cold drinks but the one that stood out to me was Alo drink. This refreshing drink is made with real aloe vera extract with aloe pulp, not from aloe gel or powder like other brands. Aloe vera contains vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, which help to improve your skin, hair, and digestion. Alo’s flavors include Exposed (aloe), Awaken (aloe + wheatgrass), Elated (aloe + olive leaf), Enliven (aloe + 12 fruits and vegetables). Alo is based in South San Francisco. You can find their products in Panaderia Y Mercado Hernandez, a Mexican supermarket on Grand Ave. in South San Francisco, and KukJe Korean Supermarket in Daly City. Alo drink is so good that my husband and I regularly buy this. They come in 2 sizes, the 16.9 fl. oz. ($1.59) and the 50.7 fl. oz. ($2.99). As you can see, the bigger size is more economical.

An interesting product at the show was J & D’s Baconnaise, which is a bacon-flavored mayonnaise. I would describe it as “man-food” because my husband loves this. He puts it on almost everything like crackers and chips, but there are more possibilities here. At the Baconnaise booth, my husband commented that Baconnaise would be perfect for the SuperBowl and they gave us a jar to take home and even a Baconnaise chapstick. =) Thanks, J & D!

O.N.E. (One Natural Experience) coconut water was at the Fancy Food Show again, this time with more exciting flavors like Amazon Acai, Coffee Fruit, and Cashew Fruit. If you are looking for something to replace your usual soda, this is it. O.N.E. cocount water is all natural, made from young green coconuts, has five essential electrolytes (calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and sodium), and more potassium than a banana. Coconut water is also great for aiding in detoxification. If you have ever tried to open a coconut, you’ll know that this product is a much more convenient way to drink coconut water. Buy O.N.E. Coconut Water on Amazon and get free shipping.

Popping Boba is a brand new product, distributed by Union City-based Sogo USA, for the boba or bubble tea (tapioca pearl) market. Wow, once I bit into these tiny juice-filled, tapioca balls, it was like an explosion of flavor in my mouth! All I can say is, look out for Popping Boba in your local bubble tea shop.

North Dakota-based Flax USA featured a wide range of flax products like cold-milled flax, roasted flax seeds (which are addictive), FlaxyCat (flax for cats), FlaxyDog (flax for dogs). Flax is rich in dietary fiber, high in essential omega 3 fatty acids, alpha-linoleni acid (ALA), and high in vitamins and mineral.

We got to meet Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa again. She wouldn’t let us stand next to her, behind the counter, so that’s why she looks so little compared to me and my friend. Are we that intimidating? Here is the picture of us meeting Ina Garten at the Fancy Food Show 2007. She has a new line of soaps and lotions.

That’s me on the left. What a dream come true if I get to meet one food celebrity! But getting to meet 2 wonderful Food Network chefs was amazing! Paula Deen is beautiful in person, funny, and her personality lights up the room, just like you see on her show. My best friend Annie and I were at the Fancy Food Show 2007 in San Francisco to find out the newest food products and food industry trends for YummySF readers.

While we were meeting Paula Deen, Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) dropped by Paula’s booth to say hi. Isn’t she sweet? She is just as sweet and warm as you see on her show. Her recipes are fantastic! Throughout the week, I will share more about the wonderful new food products we saw at the show.