-Your ketchup: Made in China? The world’s most feared product manufacturer is now the second-largest producer of ketchup (after California). Danger, Will Robinson!
Send a personalized snow globe holiday e-card and The Ferrero Company will contribute $1.00 on your behalf to Share Our Strength. Ferrero has partnered with Share Our Strength to help end childhood hunger in America—there are 12 million children in America who lack sufficient nutrition. Go to ShareSomethingSweet.com. While you’re there, take a look at Ferrero’s latest “something sweet,” new Ferrero Rondnoir dark chocolates. Fans of the Ferrero Rocher can now enjoy the balls of chocolate in a semisweet version: dark chocolate cream surrounding a center of dark chocolate, within a delicate, crisp wafer topped with crunchy dark chocolate morsels.
Ferrero Rocher has a new dark chocolate sibling, Ferrero Rondnoir.
Remember, all you have to do is send an e-card—the Ferrero Company donates the money to Share Our Strength. If you want to pick up some Ferrero Rondnoirs as your reward, we think you deserve it. Read more about chocolate in the Chocolate Section of THE NIBBLE online magazine. For more information about Ferrero Chocolates, visit FerreroChocolatesUSA.com.
Dagoba (pronounced duh-GO-buh, meaning “temple of the gods”) was founded in 2001 by “head alchemist” Frederick Schilling. His philosophy states, “You can deprive the body, but the soul needs chocolate.” Metaphysics aside, Dagoba creates some of the finest organic chocolate our tongues have ever encountered—28 dark chocolate and milk chocolate bars, three hot chocolates (call the Fire Department—the Xocolatl is hot, hot stuff, as is the chocolate bar by the same name), four delectable varieties of cacao nibs (the pure nibs are shown in the photo) and chocolate bricks and drops for baking—great gifts for your favorite baker. The line is certified kosher, and some of the products are Fair Trade Certified—a fact that should ease your conscience as well as feed your soul. It was tough to decide where to begin, but intrepid tasters that we are, we plowed ahead. Read our full review of this extensive line, which includes some important—though not always pretty—background information on cacao farming and the conditions of cacao workers, and what Dagoba is doing to ease the plight. This is a line of chocolate you can feel good about eating.
Read more about our favorite chocolate in the Chocolate Section of THE NIBBLE online magazine, about our favorite organic products in the NutriNibbles Section and about our favorite kosher products in Kosher Nibbles.
If you already love caviar, or would like a chance to study it more closely, The Little Pearl wants to help. A purveyor of sustainable caviars from all over the world, including those farmed in the U.S., there is no intimidation, mystery or pretentiousness here: It’s a friendly place to learn about caviar (so is THE NIBBLE’s Caviar Section).
The caviar is very fresh, with a firm texture and mild taste—no saltiness or fishiness. You can taste the species character and terroir in each bite. Each jar is packed to order. The black caviars include American Sturgeon, Bowfin, farmed Osetra from Germany, Spoonbill Paddlefish, Transmontanus Rex (our favorite!) from the U.S. and Uruguayan Baerii (runner up). There are three types of salmon caviar—Keta, King and Yukon Gold—plus Golden Whitefish and Rainbow Trout. (Read more about them in our Caviar Glossary.) While The Little Pearl has some products for high rollers (for $1,200 and up plus travel expenses, a caviar sommelier will come to you and conduct a tasting for eight to ten), the rest of us can enjoy a tasting sampler for $150 or can join the Caviar Club and get a different shipment each month ($65/month). It’s a perfect treat or luxury gift; low calorie and high protein; sustainable; and very special.
You don’t need to have deep pockets: You can buy an ounce-size taste of anything at TheLittlePearl.com.
Now, you don’t have to envy how the other half lives—you can be the other half. Equally important, you’re saving precious resources: All of The Little Pearl’s caviar is sustainably fished or farmed. Read the full review in THE NIBBLE online magazine. You can also read more about our favorite Seafood and Caviar.
Looking for a great side dish or vegetarian meal that’s ready in 90 seconds? Baji’s Rice Meals are a wonderful addition to the pantry shelf: an uber-convenient line of five international flavors of basmati rice. The pouch goes into the microwave, and Jambalaya, Lemongrass and Basil, Lentil Rice Biryani, Nasi Goreng or Paella emerges (rice and vegetables only—add your own meat, poultry or seafood). The dishes are highly seasoned. They can be enjoyed with everyday grilled meat, poultry or seafood, or incorporated into a more complex jambalaya, paella or Indian dish. The line is all natural, trans fat free, cholesterol free, wheat free, gluten free and preservative free. A 9-ounce box is $2.99 and makes two adult pportions. The line is sold at fine retailers and on Amazon.com. A portion of the company’s profits helps disadvantaged children throughout the third world. Read our full review of Baji’s Rice Meals.
