Walking through the Sierra of cheeses and hams from Italy, France, and Spain, through the aisles of oils and chocolates of all imaginable origins, and tasting wines and gelatos of all colors and flavors, I asked myself one question, Why in the name of God of Good Food are we pressed to buy something much less inspirational in Safeways and Luckys of our blessed homeland? Why can’t we all enjoy this runny burrata imported by Fresca Italia; silky Hudson Valley foie gras; artisanal charcuterie from Fabrique Delices, or delicate lemon truffles from Seth Ellis? The 34th Winter Fancy Food Show at Moscone Center in SF on Jan. 18-20 presented a cornucopia of world delights and their inventors and promoters—an army of creative, industrious, and passionate about their trade people—many still looking for a distributor here… From what I’ve observed during the show, those tasty tidbits seem to seriously make people happy, and help them believe that not everything is lost in our economically depressed time. It seemed only fair that right after the exhibit floor closed, The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (the show’s organizer) sent in volunteers to collect meat, cheese, chocolate, and other super foods for the Feed the Hungry network. It might not have much to do with a steady meal plan, but it certainly has something to do with dignity... If I would be very hard pressed to make a list of 10 staples for my Everyone Deserves Some Food Happiness recipe (out of 1250 exhibiting companies) that’s what it would be: 1. Hudson Valley terrine and torchon, www.hudsonvalleyfoiegras.com. 2. Trancete al miele (goat cheese log with honey) imported by Fresca Italia, www.frescaitalia.com. 3. Boudin Blanc (white pudding sausage) by Fabrique Delices, www.fabriquedelices.com. 4. Ossetra from Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, www.tsarnicoulai.com. 5. Mint-infused olive oil by Maggiarra Impero, www.imperomaggiarra.it. 6. Confits and jams from Fleuron d’Anjou, www.fleurondanjou.fr. 7. Organic juice from blood orange by Viovi, www.viovi.it. 8. Candid lemons from Seth Ellis Chocolatier, www.sethellischocolatier.com. 9. Firecracker ChocoPod made of dark Venezuelan chocolate, chipotle chile, popping candy and sea salt by Chuao, www.chuaochocolatier.com. 10. Harrisons & Crosfield teas, www.HarrisonsandCrosfield.com. Photography by Yuri Krasov: 1. Fabrique Delices team. 2. Flavors of Lombardy presentation with a complete historical and cultural reference by Darrell Corti, and wine and cheese pairing.
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