THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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GOURMET GIVEAWAY: Enter To Win Amella Caramels

Love caramels? Enter to win some of the best!

This week’s gourmet prize sponsor is Amella Cocoa Butter Caramels. Available in three mouth-watering flavors, the gourmet caramels are all made with butter, cream and real fruits and vegetables. (Yes, vegetables: They made a delicious Carrot Cake caramel in addition to their equally delightful Black Forest and Passion Fruit caramels.) The addition of cocoa butter adds the silkiness to chocolate for these candies, which are all hand-cut and individually hand-dipped so no two are exactly identical.

In addition to an indulgent treat for you, indulge your guests by serving these with after-dinner coffee. They also make wonderful gifts and stocking stuffers for foodies.

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Black Forest Caramels: Chocolate, cherries,
creamy topping and shaved black chocolate—
just like Black Forest cake. Photography by
Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE.

 

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TIP OF THE DAY: Vitamin C Juice Jolt

If you turn to orange juice for vitamin C, you should know that tropical fruit juices like guava and mango have even more vitamin C per serving. They also have more layers of flavor. Natural food markets and chains like Whole Foods are one source to find tropical juices; international supermarkets catering to Latino, Indian and Pac Rim customers are also great sources. Don’t overlook frozen juice concentrates—they’re generally just as delicious and less expensive (many bottled juices are reconstituted from concentrate, too—read the labels). Grown in the U.S., currant juice has four times the vitamin C of O.J. and twice the antioxidants of blueberries. The best juice you can drink is Montmorency cherry juice, with the highest antioxidants of all fruits.

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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Olympic Granola Bars

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They may look like other granola bars, but
Olympic Granola Bars taste like dense nut
tortes. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky |
THE NIBBLE.

Whether or not you’ve ever eaten a granola bar, Olympic Granola Bars are a bar of different color…and flavor…and thrill. Although they call themselves “gourmet granola bars,” we’d go a few steps further. Put a scoop of ice cream atop these 2-1/2-inch squares and the experience is tantamount to eating a dense nut torte.

On the other hand, you can pop one of these individually-wrapped wonders into your pocket, gym bag or desk drawer and have a more-than-pleasing snack. One of the flavors approximates a very nutty chocolate brownie; there are lemon, mint and flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth. Add a cup of coffee or tea for a very filling snack: chewy, all-natural and healthy.

And surprise: This is raw food, very nutritious and good for you, with 10g of protein per bar. We love that something this delicious is also healthy sustenance with nothing refined and good fats and sweeteners. It’s everything your nutritionist would encourage you to eat and that you feel good about giving to your kids, with enough flavors to keep them interested (the line is also (wheat- and dairy-free). The only problem is, we can’t stop eating them.

What else can we say: We’re in love. In full disclosure, we’re also publishing an extensive review of every artisan granola bar in America that the writer was able to uncover. But they’re just granola bars. Olympic Granola Bars belong in a different category entirely. We suggest “happiness bars,” for what could be happier than finding something so delectable yet good for you.

  • Read the full review and order some. We promise, you’ll be happy.
  • Find more of our favorite snacks in THE NIBBLE’s Snacks Section.

 

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TIP OF THE DAY: Caesar Twist

Try new approaches with salad favorites. Instead of tearing up romaine to toss a Caesar salad, for example, cut hearts of romaine in half and give each person an elongated romaine “boat.” Shave large curls of parmesan on top, and spoon the Caesar dressing over it. Replace croutons with slices of baguette garlic toast on the side. And since not everyone loves anchovies as much as we do, offer the more mild bottarga (dried cod roe), pancetta or prosciutto as an alternative. It’s a handsome presentation that tastes as good (or better!) than the original.

 

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GOURMET TRAVEL: Oregon Truffle Festival

You don’t have to travel to France for a truffle fix. Just head to Eugene, Oregon for the fifth annual Oregon Truffle Festival this January. You’ll be able to join in on the truffle hunting, cooking demonstrations and, best of all, dining on fabulous truffle dishes. Mark your calendar for the weekend of January 29 through January 31, 2010. Consider it a late holiday gift or an early Valentine’s celebration—but do consider it!

This will be the fifth Oregon assembly of truffle enthusiasts, truffle hunters, truffle growers and the chefs who make magic of it all. Imagine three days of tastings, tours and workshops that celebrate Oregon’s prized native fungus: black, white and brown truffles. The only truffle festival in North America, it will also feature experts from France, who will bring some of their famed French truffles to share.

Is it just coincidence that Oregon truffles pair perfectly with Oregon’s fine wines? You’ll have to go to the festival and develop your own informed opinion. For information and tickets, visit OregonTruffleFestival.com. And please, take us with you!

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The interior, or glebe, of a beautiful brown
Oregon truffle. Photo courtesy of Oregon Truffle Festival.

  • Learn all about truffles, and see more fabulous photos in our Truffle Glossary.

 

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