It’s that time of year when joy is shared by gifting special packages wrapped in vibrant paper and eye-catching bows, and also by serving it on festive platters. And nothing is more appreciated than appetizing foods chosen with love. This year’s selections from the warm Mediterranean (that we sampled at the Fancy Food Show) are some of our favorite new things. Our home country, Greece, starts off our sumptuous journey, then we taste our way through Italy, France, and finish with Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
Whether you choose these edibles for your holiday table or gift them, you’ll be a hit with those you graciously share them with.
KK GIFTING TIP: We suggest choosing one item (like an olive oil or a sweet) or create a themed basket with a few items customized to your recipient’s tastes. If time is short (and when isn't it these days?!) go with a prepared gift package. However you gift, it will be deliciously appreciated!
Whether you choose these edibles for your holiday table or gift them, you’ll be a hit with those you graciously share them with.
KK GIFTING TIP: We suggest choosing one item (like an olive oil or a sweet) or create a themed basket with a few items customized to your recipient’s tastes. If time is short (and when isn't it these days?!) go with a prepared gift package. However you gift, it will be deliciously appreciated!
GREECE
Kasell SA Phileos of Sparta EVOO
This lovely extra-virgin olive oil is the product of two varieties of olives, flavorful Koroneiki and aromatic/fruity Athinolia, that are harvested in Laconia from the olive groves of Molaoi, Asopos, and Monemvasia. Cold pressed with low acidity, this olive oil is ideal for dipping, cooking, and serving.
Other varieties: Phileos Organic, 9 Ultra Premium, and Dory
This lovely extra-virgin olive oil is the product of two varieties of olives, flavorful Koroneiki and aromatic/fruity Athinolia, that are harvested in Laconia from the olive groves of Molaoi, Asopos, and Monemvasia. Cold pressed with low acidity, this olive oil is ideal for dipping, cooking, and serving.
Other varieties: Phileos Organic, 9 Ultra Premium, and Dory
DownVillage Black Garlic Pearls
The caviar of garlic, these pearls are infused with honey, espresso, and spices, producing an alluring flavor. The ultimate topping for canapés, salads, garnishes, or add (in a bowl) to your charcuterie board.
Founded on Pelion Mountain in Thessaly, Greece, Black Garlic DownVillage has been a pioneer in black garlic production since 2013 using high-quality consciously-grown Greek garlic. Add sweet flavor and good health to foods with this nutrient-rich superfood that’s loaded with allicin, a powerful compound known for its health benefits (enhances muscle recovery while boosting the body's immunity against infections, supports cancer prevention, lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure), and has at least twice the antioxidants of white garlic (and no garlic breath!).
Serving suggestions: This line of black-garlic products is great for savory and sweet dishes. Pair with cheese and/or cured meats. Punch up salads, marinades, sauces, veggies, dressings, and dips. Flavor meat, fish, and pasta.
Other products: Black Garlic Cloves, Honey, Paste, Ketchup
Recipes!
The caviar of garlic, these pearls are infused with honey, espresso, and spices, producing an alluring flavor. The ultimate topping for canapés, salads, garnishes, or add (in a bowl) to your charcuterie board.
Founded on Pelion Mountain in Thessaly, Greece, Black Garlic DownVillage has been a pioneer in black garlic production since 2013 using high-quality consciously-grown Greek garlic. Add sweet flavor and good health to foods with this nutrient-rich superfood that’s loaded with allicin, a powerful compound known for its health benefits (enhances muscle recovery while boosting the body's immunity against infections, supports cancer prevention, lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure), and has at least twice the antioxidants of white garlic (and no garlic breath!).
Serving suggestions: This line of black-garlic products is great for savory and sweet dishes. Pair with cheese and/or cured meats. Punch up salads, marinades, sauces, veggies, dressings, and dips. Flavor meat, fish, and pasta.
Other products: Black Garlic Cloves, Honey, Paste, Ketchup
Recipes!
Kontos Tavern Flatbread
Make your own customized taverna-style pizza with this thin, oval flat bread that heats to a crispy bottom and a soft, golden top. Just place the flatbread on a baking sheet, add your favorite toppings (recipe links follow), and bake at 400°F for 2 to 5 minutes, until browned.
Spinach & Feta Bar Pie
Pepperoni Ricotta Bar Pie
More recipes!
Make your own customized taverna-style pizza with this thin, oval flat bread that heats to a crispy bottom and a soft, golden top. Just place the flatbread on a baking sheet, add your favorite toppings (recipe links follow), and bake at 400°F for 2 to 5 minutes, until browned.
Spinach & Feta Bar Pie
Pepperoni Ricotta Bar Pie
More recipes!
Mythology Organic Feta
This Greek sheep’s milk feta is flavorful and creamy, but not too salty. Packed in natural sea-salt brine, this versatile, traditional feta can be used on flatbread (see above), in spanakopita, added to a salad, or served with olives. It’s certified organic and will be a welcome addition to your table!
This Greek sheep’s milk feta is flavorful and creamy, but not too salty. Packed in natural sea-salt brine, this versatile, traditional feta can be used on flatbread (see above), in spanakopita, added to a salad, or served with olives. It’s certified organic and will be a welcome addition to your table!
| Haitoglou Family Foods, Tahini and Halva This is your home for premium tahini and halva. Be sure to also check out the brand’s nut/seed butters, preserves, and sweet treats! Varieties, tahini: traditional Macedonian, Organic Regular, Organic Coconut, and Organic Spicy Mango And Chili Varieties, halva (in cartons and individual bars): Espresso, Cocoa, Vanilla, Strawberry, and more |   |
Edeva Halva Spread
The Greekalicious flavor of halva now comes in a spread in three indulgent flavors, Pistachio, Chocolate, and Coffee. Made with plant-based, organic ingredients, this feel-good spread gets its sweetness from fruit and has zero added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. Spread it on toast, crackers, or fruit, add it to smoothies, or bake with it!
The Greekalicious flavor of halva now comes in a spread in three indulgent flavors, Pistachio, Chocolate, and Coffee. Made with plant-based, organic ingredients, this feel-good spread gets its sweetness from fruit and has zero added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. Spread it on toast, crackers, or fruit, add it to smoothies, or bake with it!
Athena Sweet Athena
Greece’s Athena Sweet Athena offers over 50 luxurious baklava recipes designed to delight every palate. The brand’s selection includes traditional flavors, innovative twists, health-conscious options (the Tree of Life variety is vegan), and seasonal delights. They also offer personalized combinations for special occasions.
Products
Greece’s Athena Sweet Athena offers over 50 luxurious baklava recipes designed to delight every palate. The brand’s selection includes traditional flavors, innovative twists, health-conscious options (the Tree of Life variety is vegan), and seasonal delights. They also offer personalized combinations for special occasions.
Products
ITALY
Michael’s of Brooklyn
A long-standing favorite of ours, Michael’s of Brooklyn restaurant has been family owned and operated since 1964 and offers three generations of pride and excellence. Nothing beats Italian from the heart of Brooklyn, NY, and now you can purchase Michael's favorites to serve at home. Whether you choose a dinner & dessert pack, a pasta pack, a pasta and sauce pack, a variety pack of sauces, or one particular sauce, there’s something delizioso for just about everyone.
When it comes to entertaining a crowd or gifting to dear loved ones, Michael’s Platinum Pack will make you an instant hit—which includes one jar each of Marinara Sauce, Home Style Gravy, Fresh Tomato & Basil Sauce, and Arrabbiata Sauce, as well as one pound each of Michael’s own mezzi rigatoni pasta, fusilli pasta, penne pasta, and orecchiette pasta. Also included is a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, biscotti, and a wooden spoon. It’s everything you need to serve a restaurant-quality feast without all the work or expense. Hide the jars and no one will guess you didn’t slave over a hot stove all day!
Other products: Packs of varying sizes, sauces (in Home Style Gravy, Fresh Tomato & Basil, Arrabbiata, Puttanesca, Filetto di Pomodoro, Vodka, Alfredo, and more), as well as low-sodium sauce varieties. Many of these sauces are also available in local supermarkets!
A long-standing favorite of ours, Michael’s of Brooklyn restaurant has been family owned and operated since 1964 and offers three generations of pride and excellence. Nothing beats Italian from the heart of Brooklyn, NY, and now you can purchase Michael's favorites to serve at home. Whether you choose a dinner & dessert pack, a pasta pack, a pasta and sauce pack, a variety pack of sauces, or one particular sauce, there’s something delizioso for just about everyone.
When it comes to entertaining a crowd or gifting to dear loved ones, Michael’s Platinum Pack will make you an instant hit—which includes one jar each of Marinara Sauce, Home Style Gravy, Fresh Tomato & Basil Sauce, and Arrabbiata Sauce, as well as one pound each of Michael’s own mezzi rigatoni pasta, fusilli pasta, penne pasta, and orecchiette pasta. Also included is a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, biscotti, and a wooden spoon. It’s everything you need to serve a restaurant-quality feast without all the work or expense. Hide the jars and no one will guess you didn’t slave over a hot stove all day!
Other products: Packs of varying sizes, sauces (in Home Style Gravy, Fresh Tomato & Basil, Arrabbiata, Puttanesca, Filetto di Pomodoro, Vodka, Alfredo, and more), as well as low-sodium sauce varieties. Many of these sauces are also available in local supermarkets!
Busti Formaggi di Famiglia, Pecorino Frescoverde
This soft, creamy pecorino cheese is coated with extra-virgin olive oil and aromatic Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, mint, savory, basil, and coriander). The sweet, slightly acidic taste comes from the vegetable rennet extracted from thistle flowers, which complements the edible rind. The flavor is remarkable!
Serve alongside fruit, nuts, cured meats, or on a charcuterie board.
This soft, creamy pecorino cheese is coated with extra-virgin olive oil and aromatic Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, mint, savory, basil, and coriander). The sweet, slightly acidic taste comes from the vegetable rennet extracted from thistle flowers, which complements the edible rind. The flavor is remarkable!
Serve alongside fruit, nuts, cured meats, or on a charcuterie board.
FRANCE
The following two products are extraordinary, especially so when paired together!
Chevoo (goat cheese/chevre in extra-virgin olive oil)
This marinated silky goat cheese in aromatic Herbs de Provence is lightly infused with garlic, and one taste transports you to southeastern France. Chevoo also comes in Italian Black Truffle, another wonderful way to go Mediterranean. Serve on crusty bread, crackers, or on our absolute favorite, Effie’s Homemade Biscuits (below). You can toss Chevoo in pasta as well for a gourmet treat! When you’ve enjoyed all of the cheese, reserve the remaining olive oil in the jar to flavor salads or to kick up the yumminess of other foods.
Other varieties: Original, Dill Pollen & Garlic, Urfa Chili & Lemon
Usage Suggestions!
This marinated silky goat cheese in aromatic Herbs de Provence is lightly infused with garlic, and one taste transports you to southeastern France. Chevoo also comes in Italian Black Truffle, another wonderful way to go Mediterranean. Serve on crusty bread, crackers, or on our absolute favorite, Effie’s Homemade Biscuits (below). You can toss Chevoo in pasta as well for a gourmet treat! When you’ve enjoyed all of the cheese, reserve the remaining olive oil in the jar to flavor salads or to kick up the yumminess of other foods.
Other varieties: Original, Dill Pollen & Garlic, Urfa Chili & Lemon
Usage Suggestions!
Effie’s Homemade Biscuits, Gruyère
Delightful, lightly sweet, and with a hint of salt, these biscuits will become your addiction from the first bite. They’re lovely with tea and coffee, and especially so with cheese. Serve with Chevoo (above) for the perfect pairing. “Effie’s biscuits are more refined than a cookie and more dynamic than a cracker,” states Effie’s, and we couldn’t have said it better ourselves! The love and tradition of Effie’s generations-old, family farmhouse oatcake recipe that originated in Nova Scotia is evident in each sampling.
Available in nine enchanting biscuit flavors, one for every biscuit mood, we chose crisp and buttery Gruyère for this post in keeping with our Mediterranean-flavored theme. This variety is made with aged Gruyère cheese that adds a nutty richness to the biscuit. Also perfect alongside cured meats and fruit preserves.
Recipes!
Delightful, lightly sweet, and with a hint of salt, these biscuits will become your addiction from the first bite. They’re lovely with tea and coffee, and especially so with cheese. Serve with Chevoo (above) for the perfect pairing. “Effie’s biscuits are more refined than a cookie and more dynamic than a cracker,” states Effie’s, and we couldn’t have said it better ourselves! The love and tradition of Effie’s generations-old, family farmhouse oatcake recipe that originated in Nova Scotia is evident in each sampling.
Available in nine enchanting biscuit flavors, one for every biscuit mood, we chose crisp and buttery Gruyère for this post in keeping with our Mediterranean-flavored theme. This variety is made with aged Gruyère cheese that adds a nutty richness to the biscuit. Also perfect alongside cured meats and fruit preserves.
Recipes!
Le Saunier De Camargue Sea Salt, Herbs de Provence
This fleur de sel (sea salt) is a naturally white salt, with a delicately crunchy texture, harvested from the Aïgues-Mortes salt marshes in the south of France, where the Mediterranean Sea and Carmargue meet. The jar’s ecological and natural cork lid is an essential feature that helps to preserve all the qualities of the sea salt. The aromatic herbs in Herbs de Provence make it ideal to serve with Mediterranean cuisine.
Shop Herbs de Provence: Amazon
This fleur de sel (sea salt) is a naturally white salt, with a delicately crunchy texture, harvested from the Aïgues-Mortes salt marshes in the south of France, where the Mediterranean Sea and Carmargue meet. The jar’s ecological and natural cork lid is an essential feature that helps to preserve all the qualities of the sea salt. The aromatic herbs in Herbs de Provence make it ideal to serve with Mediterranean cuisine.
Shop Herbs de Provence: Amazon
MEDITERRANEAN FLAVORS
| Runamok Maple Syrup, Blueberry + Lemon Infused, Vanilla Bean Infused Runamok has created two new syrup flavors that are prefect in recipes, on pancakes and waffles, over baklava or ice cream, in tea, and so much more! The fruity-vibrant Blueberry + Lemon Infused variety has the perfect balance of sweetness and brightness from the lemon. Vanilla Bean Infused gets its sweet, floral, and creamy caramel notes from the quintessential Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. Flecks of vanilla seeds are visible in the syrup and the vanilla bean resides in the bottle so the essence will continue to develop over time. This family owned, Vermont-based producer uses certified organic ingredients—no dyes, no corn syrup, nothing artificial—just pure, all-natural taste. Recipes! |   |
Graffeo Coffee
Established in 1935 when Italian immigrant Giovanni Graffeo traveled from Sicily to San Francisco’s Little Italy to open a shop that featured fresh-roasted coffee beans. Today, Graffeo’s custom-built fluid bed roaster, perfected over decades, guarantees each bean is evenly roasted for a clean, fresh taste.
The Light Roast (more of a light-medium) offers a well-balanced flavor that makes this coffee the ultimate everyday staple. The smooth, robust, and full-bodied Dark Roast is served in fine restaurants and hotels. Graffeo’s signature Half & Half custom blends dark and light (a Michelin-starred chef favorite) for the best of both worlds, and also offers light or dark Half Caff options for a calmer deliciousness. The Swiss-Water Decaf is chemical-free and was voted Best in California by the Global Coffee Awards. A combo box and gift sets are available. These amazing coffees can now be produced in your own coffee maker or French press!
Craving a latte? Add one of the Barista or Seasonal blends from Elmhurst (below).
Established in 1935 when Italian immigrant Giovanni Graffeo traveled from Sicily to San Francisco’s Little Italy to open a shop that featured fresh-roasted coffee beans. Today, Graffeo’s custom-built fluid bed roaster, perfected over decades, guarantees each bean is evenly roasted for a clean, fresh taste.
The Light Roast (more of a light-medium) offers a well-balanced flavor that makes this coffee the ultimate everyday staple. The smooth, robust, and full-bodied Dark Roast is served in fine restaurants and hotels. Graffeo’s signature Half & Half custom blends dark and light (a Michelin-starred chef favorite) for the best of both worlds, and also offers light or dark Half Caff options for a calmer deliciousness. The Swiss-Water Decaf is chemical-free and was voted Best in California by the Global Coffee Awards. A combo box and gift sets are available. These amazing coffees can now be produced in your own coffee maker or French press!
Craving a latte? Add one of the Barista or Seasonal blends from Elmhurst (below).
Elmhurst Barista Series and Seasonal Collection
Make the perfect latte with these smooth and creamy dairy-free flavors that foam perfectly, blend in hot or cold coffee, and perform latte art. The nutty varieties Greek up your coffee in the tastiest ways!
Barista Series: Cashew, Pistachio, Maple Walnut, Almond, Oat, Coconut
Seasonal Collection: Oat Nog, Oat & Cashew Apple Pie Spice, Oat & Cashew Vanilla Lavender.
Make the perfect latte with these smooth and creamy dairy-free flavors that foam perfectly, blend in hot or cold coffee, and perform latte art. The nutty varieties Greek up your coffee in the tastiest ways!
Barista Series: Cashew, Pistachio, Maple Walnut, Almond, Oat, Coconut
Seasonal Collection: Oat Nog, Oat & Cashew Apple Pie Spice, Oat & Cashew Vanilla Lavender.
I hope you and those at your holiday table and on your Nice list enjoy these wonderful foods! Our cookbooks Kukla’s Kouzina: Meze and Spreads & Dips can also be nice additions to gift baskets for anyone who loves to cook! Stay tuned for more amazing products from the Fancy Food Show.
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Thanks for following us!
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
Kelly
Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.
Thanks for following us!
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
Kelly
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Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos
