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​Trending Edibles

5/29/2023

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We’re wrapping up our month-long series on the fabulous new foods featured at the Fancy Food Show with non-Greek beverages and edibles that made a notable impression and captured our taste buds—from that morning cuppa Joe, to lobster entrees and BBQ, to snacks and treats, and everything in between. These products will get you party ready without all the fuss of making them from scratch. Shopping and recipe links included!


GOOD MORNING!
 
Civilized Coffee Company
Products: Instant Cold Brew Coffee Granules, tea powders, espresso powder, whole bean international coffee varieties (including Turkish), and more
 
The Instant Cold Brew Coffee Granules are made with 100% Arabica beans that have been cold-brew extracted and spray fried into easy to dissolve granules that result in low acidity, smooth full-bodied flavor—forget the overnight brews with messy filters and grounds in the trash. For hot or cold use.
 
The coffees and teas stand up to fresh brewed and are incredibly convenient when on-the-go, camping, traveling. All you need is a cup and a spoon.
 
About the brand: Sustainable farmers and packaging (clean & minimalistic), transparent direct trade with East African region, farmer to consumer, non-GMO & gluten-free, shelf stable (up to 1 year), 51% owned/controlled/managed by U.S. veterans
 
Civilized Coffee's focus is on specialty coffees, premium instant teas and global ingredients.
*Espresso Powder has been awarded Best Espresso Powder 2021 by America's Test Kitchen. 
*Latest product release Instant Cold Brew Coffee Powder has become a game changer in the fast growing Cold Brew Coffee category.
 
SHOP
RECIPES

Runamok Maple, Vermont-based, family-owned
Products: Maple Syrup (pure and infused with flavors like cinnamon-vanilla, salted-caramel, cardamom, coffee, and elderberry), Sparkle Maple Syrup, Sparkle Tonic (Maple Cocktail Mixer), Maple Cocktail Syrups and Bitters, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, honey, and more
 
Pancake syrup has been elevated to a new level with this reimagined line of barrel-aged, infused, and smoked maple syrups, as well as maple-based cocktail mixers and bitters, that shine in everything from entrees (grilling, too!) to desserts to beverages. Start with breakfast, then add them to whatever sparkles your taste buds.
 
SHOP
RECIPES

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ENTREES PLEASE!

Hancock Gourmet Lobster
Products: Lobsterman’s catch to lobster rolls, lobster pot pies, lobster mac n’ cheese, lobster grilled cheese sandwiches, and so much more
 
For over 20 years, Hancock Gourmet Lobster Co. has been creating and shipping legendary Maine lobster experiences nationwide. These prepared gourmet-restaurant-quality lobster meals are made from scratch using award-winning recipes featuring Maine lobster that’s delivered to your door! Eco friendly and sustainable.
 
SHOP


Ford’s Gourmet Foods Bone Suckin’ Sauce (BBQ bomb!)
Products: Bone Suckin’ Sauces and seasonings

Our favorite is Bone Suckin’ Sauce Sweet Southern, Hot—it’s award-winning, gluten-free, and non-GMO. The sweet-hot and spicy flavor makes it the ultimate sauce for grilling, caramelizing, and cooking. Full of character, this sauce makes everything taste bone-suckin’ delicious.
 
SHOP
RECIPES

Jersey Italian Gravy
Products: Italian-style pasta sauces
 
The original, all-natural, nothing artificial, family recipe. Hearty, flavorful, and as close to homemade pasta sauce you can get in a jar. Each variety has a standout personality all its own, including Sunday Dinner, Arrabbiata, Brooklyn Italian Marinara, and Holiday Dinner. Delizioso!
 
SHOP
RECIPES

Acme Smoked Fish 
Products: Smoked salmon and fish, herring, and more
 
Smoked salmon with a fresh, rich flavor that’s all-natural, with no artificial preservatives, is gluten-free, and a great protein source. We love the Acme new/Nova smoked salmon and the Everything Bagel smoked salmon!
 
SHOP
RECIPES

Truff
Products: Truffle-infused hot sauces, pasta sauces, mayonnaises, truffle oil, and more
 
This is the ultimate pantry staple—made with black and white truffles and red chili peppers—that ups your dining experience to a level of luxury.
 
SHOP
RECIPES

SNACKS & TREATS
 
Açaí Roots
Products: Superfood protein bars, frozen puree, freeze-dried powder, sorbet, juices, kombuchas, and more
 
A flavorful lifestyle brand of organic açaí berry products, sustainably sourced in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. High antioxidant count (500% more than blueberries), omega-3 -6 -9 fatty acids, dietary fiber, protein, calcium, vitamins A, E, B6. Products are non-GMO, dairy free, gluten free, 100% vegan.
 
Our favorites:
Açaí + Goji Berry Superfood Bar
Açaí + Dark Chocolate Superfood Bar
*organic plant-based protein (5g)
*freeze-dried organic açaí
*pumpkin-seed protein
*soy, grain, dairy free
*antioxidant 500 ORACs
 
SHOP
RECIPES

Zestos Seasoned Tortilla Chips
Product: Sweet Salty Spice Tortilla Chips
 
If there’s one good thing to come out of the pandemic, it’s this irresistible tortilla chip that is reminiscent of Doritos but without the fake cheese powder taste (these are dairy free, BTW). In 2020, Koeze, the 100-plus-year-old company that developed Zestos, took the original 1970’s Michigan pub-style tortilla chip and gave it a seasoned makeover. The result is a chip that tastes like loaded nachos, without the, um, load (they’re non-GMO, dairy free, gluten free, Kosher, no artificial anything)! Koeze is also well known for their all-natural peanut butters.

SHOP

Vegan Rob’s
Products: Plant-based chips and puffs
 
You don’t need to be a vegan to love these plant-based snacks. It’s easy to get addicted to the flavor-packed crisps and puffs that are nutritious, with zero trans fats, are gluten-free, and kosher.
 
Our favorites:
Chips: Cauli Crisps, Dragon Crisps (Potato & Sorghum)
Puffs: Beet Puffs, Sorghum (baked puffs, crunchy, good source of thiamin and riboflavin)
 
SHOP (also available online and in select stores)

The Saucy Ladies
Products: Gourmet-flavored kettle chips
 
Specialty old-fashioned kettle chips that come in unique flavors (arrabiata, five-cheese, marinara, sweet & salty, tomato-basil, truffle, as well as old-fashioned). For truffle lovers, try the Truffle chips—crisp and delicious made with white truffles and sea salt.

SHOP

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SWEET FINISH!
 
Cotton Blues Cheesecake Company 
Products: Southern cheesecake in four flavors (original, strawberry swirl, blueberry swirl, sea-salted caramel swirl)
 
Ready to be cheesecake spoiled? This creamy-velvety obsession has zero fillers and lusciousness in every bite. All the cheesecakes are handcrafted in small batches, packaged with love, and shipped out to various grocery stores throughout the U.S. The cheesecakes can also be shipped nationwide through Goldbelly.
 
SHOP
 
 
You can order most of the these products from the company websites or contact them for shopping info in your area.
 
Enjoy these new and trending edibles! If you missed the last three Greek-trending installments, here are the links: Trending Edibles: Meze, Trending Edibles: Pantry Staples, and Trending Edibles: Sip & Sweet.
 
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 and we’ll see you next Monday!
 
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
 
Kelly


Copyright © Kukla's Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style / Flippin’ Greek!™ / The Naked Truth About...Greek Cooking!    
 
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos
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Chana Masala by Nidhi

4/26/2015

2 Comments

 
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This classic Indian dish comes from Nidhi Raghav, the very gifted and divine foodie maven of Platter Joy, who loves the cuisine of every culture and course. The motive of her recipe blog at platterjoy.com “is to help you make the kitchen the most beautiful corner of your home, where happiness is made and served.” When happiness is on Nidhi’s menu, everyone takes a seat at her table.



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Chana Masala by Nidhi
Ask a North Indian about Chana Masala and all you will hear is “mmmm”. This vegetarian dish is a hot favorite of many of us. We team it up with rice, paratha, rotis, naans, bhatures, and possibly everything.

Prep time: 50 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
Servings: 4

Ingredients
9 ounces (250 grams) chickpeas
4 tablespoons mustard oil (use can also use vegetable oil or olive oil)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
4 cardamom seeds
4 medium onions, diced
2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
4 medium tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoons red chili powder
Sea salt, to taste
Coriander leaves or mint leaves (for garnish)

Instructions
1. 
Soak the chickpeas in water overnight. Rinse, then boil with 1 teaspoon salt for about 30 minutes, or until they turn soft. (Many would say that boiling with salt may increase the cooking time but I haven’t experienced that so far. They cook well and the salt seasons the chickpeas, which makes them taste better than those without salt.) After the chickpeas are boiled, drain and set aside.

2. 
Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cardamom seeds; cook until they turn golden brown. Now add the diced onions and cook until they turn soft. Now, in goes the ginger-garlic paste and let it cook for about 2 to 3 minutes.

3. 
After this, add the coriander, black pepper, turmeric, and the red chili powder. Stir for a minute and then add the tomatoes. Lower the heat and let the spices cook in the tomatoes for about 10 minutes. Cover the pan with the lid and keep stirring in between at an interval of 2 minutes for even cooking.

4. 
Now, after the spices are well cooked, add the boiled chickpeas and a little salt to suit your taste. Mix well and the Chana Masala is ready to be served. I avoid adding water to it as the onions and tomatoes blend well during cooking and give it a great texture. Serve hot with paranthas, Indian breads, naans, or anything of your choice. Garnish with coriander leaves or mint leaves.

© 2015 PlatterJoy. All Rights Reserved.
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Kouzina EXTRA!

5/9/2013

2 Comments

 
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Chef’s Table by Michael Mandato

Kukla’s first love affair was with Greek food but she was also a huge fan of non-Greek culinary styles—as long as they met her delectable standards. She enjoyed watching the Food Network with Joanne’s stepson Danny when he was little, and her favorite TV chef was Lidia Bastianich on PBS—both Kukla and Lidia had a free hand with food…no cups or spoons needed! Their eyes did the measuring.

In Kouzina EXTRA! we’ll report on our food adventures and news—sometimes Greek, sometimes not…but always delicious!

Our focus today is on the new Chef’s Table at REIN at The Garden City Hotel (Garden City, NY). One evening a month, chef Michael Mandato and his staff prepare a stellar 5-course dinner served in the hotel’s main “kouzina” (kitchen). 

Chef Mandato highlights seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients, including fresh summertime tomatoes and herbs from the hotel’s garden, as well as cheeses and produce from east-end Long Island farms like Catapano and Goodale. For vegetarians, vegans and those with food allergies, the chef is happy to creatively, and deliciously, customize each course to diners' needs.

Up close and personal (in the kitchen) is the perfect way to watch the action while experiencing the smells and tastes of each dish as it develops and makes its way from the stovetop and oven to your table. A wine pairing for each course complements the presentation, making this an event to be savored in all its stages.

Following a generous hors d’oeuvres (coconut shrimp in green gazpacho, tuna tartar, duck dumplings) and champagne (Veuve Clicquot-Brut NV) introduction, we were seated and watched the elaborate menu unfold. 

Here’s a view from the Chef’s Table:

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Ready to have your own deliciously intimate dining experience? 

Details for the next Chef’s Table menu on May 28 can be found on gardencityhotel.com. Call REIN at The Garden City Hotel at 516-877-9385 to make a reservation. Seating is limited so claiming your place at the Table should be done sooner rather than later.

Subscribe on our Contact Us page and we'll put you on our email list for Kukla's Kouzina updates. Did you enjoy our EXTRA blog? Please send us your comments below! 

Thanks for following us. Keep checking back to see when our next Kouzina EXTRA pops up!

Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!

Kelly

Copyright © Kukla's Kouzina: A Gourmet Journey~Greek Island Style / Kouzina EXTRA / The Naked Truth About...Greek Cooking!    
2 Comments

    about 
    Kouzina EXTRA!

    Kukla’s first love affair was with Greek food but she was also a huge fan of non-Greek culinary styles—as long as they met her delectable standards. She enjoyed watching the Food Network with Joanne’s stepson Danny when he was little, and her favorite TV chef was Lidia Bastianich on PBS—both Kukla and Lidia had a free hand with food…no cups or spoons needed! Their eyes did the measuring.

    In Kouzina EXTRA! we’ll report on our food adventures and news—sometimes Greek, sometimes not—but always delicious!


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