Our editors spent time at the Fancy Bodega during the Summer Fancy Food Show. It’s a chaotic mess of samples in NYC this June. They tried everything. Most of it was noise. Six items stuck. These made the cut for The Kitchn.
No fluff. Just food worth buying.
Dip That Lies
“Don’t be fooled” says Ali Domrongchai.
The texture is velvety. It feels rich. There isn’t a single drop of cream in the Oolie Foods Yellow Curry Dip. You can schmear it on sandwiches. Or dip chips. Ali eats it straight from the tub with a spoon. We don’t judge. It’s creamy without the dairy.
Buy it at H-E-B for $5.98 (8 ounces).
Crackers With Bite
Kristina Razon keeps a stash hidden in the kitchen. Firehook Artisan Bakers makes thin, snappy crackers. The shape is weird, but that works. They look better on a board. Classic Sea Salt is her go-to. She eats them with cheese, cured meat, dips. Once, she put chicken salad on one. Called it lunch. It worked.
Garlic Thyme exists, though. Don’t sleep on it.
Amazon has the Sea Salt pack for $7.69 (5.5 ounces).
Jarred Sauce That Smells Like Labor
It smells like someone stood over a stove for four hours. Hoboken Farms marinara is made from New Jersey tomatoes only. Bright. Zesty. The depth comes from fresh onion and garlic. Alex, the assistant editor, thinks it tastes stewed. Even though it came out of a jar. That’s the point, right?
A bit pricey at $24.99. You get two 25-ounce jars. Amazon sells it.
Peanut Butter From Before the Shop Closed
Mara Weinraub found Peanut Butter & Co at a sandwich shop years ago. The shop is gone. The jar remains. It’s the Old Fashioned Smooth version. Most store-bought PB tastes like sugar water. This is thick. Nutty. Spreadable.
It’s rich without trying too hard. You pay $13.99 on Amazon. For two 16-ounce jars. Worth the shelf space.
The Only Goat Cheese You Need
Jan Valdez returns to LaClare. It’s a log of goat cheese. Creamy. Tangy. Smooth enough to fold into scrambled eggs. Sharp enough to steal the show on a cheese board. Versatility wins here.
Direct from the creamery in LaClare County, MI. Six bucks for four ounces.
Chips That Demand Nachos
Ali doesn’t just like these. They changed her life. Ancient Crunch uses beef tallow for frying. The result is a deep savory flavor and a crunch that actually snaps. Masa tortilla chips usually lack substance. Not these.
They make the best nachos she’s ever had. She claims no other chip comes close.
Two 5-ounce bags for $29.99 on Amazon. The price tag looks high per bag. But you don’t buy chips for the price per ounce alone. You buy them because the flavor doesn’t quit halfway through the bag.
Final Thoughts
Did we miss your favorite? Probably. The list is small. Taste is subjective. Leave a comment if something else deserves the spotlight. Or just go make a grocery list.
