Fancy Food Show Fun!

What a great day at the show!

It is too large a show to visit all the booths in one day. I visited as many of  the companies that currently support me in my sampling and made contacts with other companies that will provide me with sampling support.  So many recipes and recipe ideas.  This was a success.  Not to mention FUN!

I did not attend this alone.  My daughter Sarah was with me, my sister Lori, niece Alli, and cousin Elizabeth.  They all helped me find what I needed on this mission.

My trusty TFM photographer Bruce wasn't with me, but I still have pictures to share.  However, Bruce takes a MUCH better picture than I do.

Stonewall Kitchen ... I had a great visit with Becky (my rep from this company) and AnneMarie (from Stonewall Kitchens).  They gave me great party food ideas and told me some of the new products that TFM will be carrying.  I even sampled them.  Not telling you what's in store. But let me just say, YUM!  

Earth & Vine Provisions is another customer favorite when I sample (I'm sampling out their Red Bell Pepper & Ancho Chili Jam this coming week - Thursday (July 3rd) and Friday (July 4th).  A product TFM Midlothian is always selling out of).  My rep, Mona, wasn't at the show this year, but I did find out what new products TFM will be carrying.  It will be exciting and delicious!

I sample out a lot of Robert Rothschild Farms and their products are a customer favorite.  I wasn't able to go to their booth. It was located in a hall I never made it too.  Disappointed.  I'll just have to keep an eye on TFM's shelves to see if new products arrive and go to their website for recipe ideas.  In the end, all's good.

Salem Baking is interested in supporting me.  Stonewall Kitchen gave me some tasty recipe ideas and Salem Baking has put me in touch with their chef for pairings.  I cannot wait! (Every holiday season I use their Ginger Spice cookies with Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Cheese.  A customer favorite.)

I enjoy (as do my customers) quick, easy, fun, tasty party ideas and Wickles had some of their products ... over cream cheese!  (Over cream cheese is right up my ally when TFM doesn't give me hours to prepare food.)  Aside from being over cream cheese it was enjoyable.  Something I know customers will love.  What products will I sample out?  You'll have to wait and see.

I have sampled out Bronco Bob's before.  I'm looking forward to sampling them again.

What else do my customers have to look forward to ... Other companies I spoke with who said they would support me are Stirrings, Sable & Rosenfeld, Bone Sucking Sauce, and ... you'll just have to wait and see.

Sarah and Alli sampled Cheribundi. There's a Cheribundi 7 day challenge which supports restful sleep and promotes healthy inflamation response.  Sarah is going to do this and I am too.  I think it would be fun to do with my customers and we can post/follow on my blog.  TFM has Cheribundi Light.  I have to check with Grocery to see if they can get Cheribundi Regular.  Of course I'll check with Cheribundi and hopefully they'll support me at the store and send me the information I need to give to my customers (along with coupons - if I can be so greedy).  If Cheribundi will help me do the challenge at TFM I will post it.  This would be exciting!

While at the show I had my picture taken with Bob Moore from Bob's Red Mill.  I did receive a signed copy of his cookbook and cannot wait to read it and see what recipes I can prepare for sampling at the store.

Whew!  With all the walking at the show, sampling, and searching for recipes and party ideas, I needed a break.  I headed to Mexico for TEQUILA!  

No, I didn't stop at every Tequila booth, but I did stop at every Tequila booth that was offering a  mixed drink.  What can I say?!  I do have my limits.

After 7 hours at the show it was time to leave (and that was only because the show was closing for the day).  It was good to get off my feet and relax on the train ride from Grand Central back to Mom and Dad's (where I was staying).  

Sarah (my baby) and I with our Stonewall Kitchen hats and bags full of samples and recipes.

After opening a bottle of Pinot Noir and spreading out on Mom and Dad's living room floor, it was time for Sarah and I to go through our bags and sort out samples, swag, and recipes.  After that ... the Pinot was gone.

When I get home to Virginia I'll read the recipes and plan for my future TFM tastings.  I have to go to TFM and see what products are on the shelves for my new supporters and contact them with what I need/would like.  After that ... it's on to you to sample and enjoy!  

What I won't do for my wonderful customers! 

P.S.  I'm already making plans to attend the show all 3 days next year.  I'm making my list of booths that I have to visit. And I WILL visit Mexico each day.

Recipes: Over Cream Cheese and Cheese AND I have a favor to ask.

(Favor - Updated 6/24/14)

Friday night was like another cocktail party.  It's so much fun to sample, sip wine, and share recipes.  My customers are getting to know each other, and I met new customers. 

Not having hours to prepare food I resorted to "over cream cheese".  However, I needed a change from cream cheese and was thinking Brie when Nicole suggested Fromage d'Affinois. Great idea.

Simple. Simple. Simple!

First was Stonewall Kitchen's Hot Pepper Peach Jam over Fromage d'Affinois.  I garnished this with a rough chop of smoked almonds. 

SOLD OUT of cheese, jam, and crackers!

My other quick party food was Robert Rothschild's Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip over Cream Cheese.  

SOLD OUT of the dip.

Now for my favor ...  When you shop at The Fresh Market upon checking out there will be a code at the bottom of your receipt. (It does not print on every receipt.  It appears to be random.) This is for an online survey.  If you have the time please take the survey.  Aside from the customer service, please mention that you enjoy the food samplings in the store.  This would hopefully help me to get hours for my food sampling.  Plus the survey would help everyone else in the store.  THANK YOU!

Recipes: Ginger Wasabi Tuna Canapes - Roasted Pineapple and Habanero Cole Slaw - Cheese Spread with Raspberry Salsa and Apple Chips - Hot Pepper Peach Preserves over Cream Cheese - Raspberry Mustard Pretzel Dip with Pretzel Crisps - Baked Salmon Recipe

As I said in yesterdays post - Saturday was like a cocktail party and everyone was chit-chatting with me and each other.  Customers enjoyed the wine and food sampling.  I was busy.  Product and wine sold.  It was great!


This first recipe is from Robert Rothschild Farms.  

NO!  These are NOT eyes.

Ginger Wasabi Tuna Canapes

¾ lb. TFM Fancy Tuna Salad

¼ c. Robert Rothschild Farm 
     Ginger Wasabi Sauce

1 English cucumber, sliced thin

TFM Nonpareil Capers

Pickled ginger, preferably pink in color

Baguette slices for serving

Blend tuna and Robert Rothschild Farm Ginger Wasabi Sauce. Spread Ginger Wasabi Sauce on each baguette slice. Top with a thin cucumber slice and spoonful of tuna mixture. Garnish with capers and pickled ginger.

Yields: 52 canapes 

This was a TFM Taste Tester and customer favorite.  But, I'll fess up now.  I did (slightly) modify Robert Rothschild's recipe. (For the original recipe go to Robert Rothschild Farm website.)

     1. I only had 3 hours to prepare food so I took a short cut and used TFM's Fancy Tuna Salad. 

     2.  I only used ¾ lb. TFM Fancy Tuna Salad and ¼ c. Ginger Wasabi Sauce as this was just a sampling. This was  half the amount in the original recipe. If you want more tuna on the canape I suggest doubling these two ingredients.   

     3. I wanted a little more of a kick from the Ginger Wasabi Sauce and decided to spread some on each baguette. 

     4. I use English cucumbers as they are not as watery and have fewer seeds.

     5. I used pink pickled ginger because the color gives the canape more eye appeal (remember you eat with your eyes first).  

Speaking of eyes ... Lastly, almost everyone that came to the table said, "oh, look at the cute eyes".  AGH!  They weren't eyes.  (But, I cannot lie, it did remind me of Cookie Monster on Sesame Street. UGH!)  I typically do everything in odd numbers.  But, flavorwise, 3 capers were too many and 1 caper too few.  That leaves 2 capers and obviously "eyes". (Coookie!)

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This next recipe also comes from Robert Rothschild Farms.

Roasted Pineapple and Habanero Cole Slaw

1 bag store-bought shredded slaw mix

1 c. Mayonnaise

1 Tbl. Dijon mustard

3 Tbl. Robert Rothschild Farms
     Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip

2 Tbl. Lemon juice

1 Tbl. red wine vinegar

Extra virgin olive oil, drizzled

In a large bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients.  Add shredded slaw mix and toss until combined. Season with salt to taste.

This is a nice side dish and a nice change from your basic mayonnaise cole slaw.  Seal of approval from my TFM Taste Testers.  Customers enjoyed.

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With only 3 hours to cook I need another easy party food.  So, I went with something that you do over cream cheese or cheese spread.  Don't let the name "Raspberry Salsa" fool you.  This is not fruity, but is very smoky. I think I'd enjoy this salsa on hamburgers.

Cheese Spread with Raspberry Salsa

1 lb. Adams Reserve Cheddar, 
     shredded

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

½ c. mayonnaise

1 jar Robert Rothschild Farm 
     Raspberry Salsa

TFM Apple Chips

Mix cheddar, cream cheese and mayonnaise together until thoroughly blended.  Place on a serving dish (form into a square or ball).  Top with Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Salsa.  Serve with TFM Apple Chips.

I was shocked with how many customers enjoyed this.  A favorite recipe. I SOLD OUT (I love those words) of Raspberry Salsa! I do get tired of crackers so decided on apple chips.  It was a nice hint of fruit with the smoky salsa.  Not to mention apple chips are a gluten free alternative. Customers love this idea.

I do wine tastings at TFM Parham on Tuesdays so I took this for a "test drive" to see if it was well received and needed tweeking, before preparing this at the Midlo store. All I did at Parham was put it over cream cheese.  Customers and employees enjoyed it.  Honestly, I prefer it over cream cheese.  I did try this with pecans and smoked almonds (for texture). Also using TFM's Lemon Chili Crackers.  None of those did anything for the recipe.  I thought about chopped scallions too - texture, color and flavor.  But, forgot to give that a try.  Oh, well.

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Hot Pepper Peach Spread (recipe posted March 2, 2014) is always a favorite.  Again my favorite words - SOLD OUT - of Hot Pepper Peach Preserves. 

What can I say.  EASY to prepare.  My taste testers enjoy.  Customers LOVE.  A sure hit!

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Last, a nice casual party food or snack.

Robert Rothschild Farm Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip and Pretzel Crisps.  YUM!

Customers enjoyed.

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The Copper River salmon I prepared last night was delicious.  Thought I'd share the recipe.

Baked Salmon

6 to 7 oz. piece salmon

2 Tbl. butter

2 Tbl. panko bread crumbs

1 scallion, sliced

1/8 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning

1 clove garlic, minced

¼ tsp. salt

1 Tbl. chopped flat leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 350^o.

Place salmon on a baking sheet coated with oil.  

Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl.  Top salmon with mixture.  Bake in oven for 18 to 20 minutes.  ENJOY!

Yields: 1 serving

Fetzer Sundial Charonnay was a perfect pairing!

Recipes for June 13th & 14th

What a busy, crazy day for me today.  Here I sit with a glass of Fetzer Sundial Chard writing this post.

Saturday I tried to make the best of the 4 hours I was given to prepare food.  Glad to say it was a success.  Driving to work Saturday was exciting because I was getting back into the swing of things if only for one day.  I had so much fun cooking.  I think my TFM Taste Testers enjoyed sampling and helping me out.

CHEERS!

Customers enjoyed all the samplings.  My friend Pat texted me after she got home, "It was like a cocktail party in there 2day."  I was busy during my tasting and didn't give it much thought until I recieved her text.  She was right.  Customers were chit-chatting with me and with each other.  It was fantastic.

And ... that's all I have for now.  I'm going to grill some Copper River Salmon that I purchased at TFM today.  Also prepare a couple lobster tails (yup, TFM special).  I even had to try the Jalapeno & Crab Hush Puppies they  had on sale.  With that said, I'll post the recipes tomorrow.

XOXO!