The Republic of Tea

A Rugged Elegance Inspiration Network Exclusive by Jennifer King

San Francisco's annual Fancy Food Show has come and gone. But it left a wonderful taste in our mouths that will last a long time.

Here are a few of the best gets from this year's show:

Alexia Mashed Potatoes - come in three flavors: Northwest Russet, Country Reds, or Yukon Gold. They are made with real butter and extra virgin olive oil. No hydrogenated oils are used. Package comes in an easy to prepare microwaveable serving. Look for them in the frozen food section. (I'll have to tell my sister-in-law, who served mashed potatoes at her wedding, about these.) Available at Whole Foods at the corner of California and Franklin.

Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog Aged Goat Milk Cheese - the four-time award winner is delightful combined with red wine, sourdough bread and apples, pears, grapes or figs. If 24th Street Cheese Co. in Noe Valley or Coopers Gourmet Market in Duboce Triangle doesn't carry it currently, tell them to contact Cypress Grove Chèvre in McKinleyville, California at 707.839.3168.

Duck Bacon - available from D'artagnan
in Newark, New Jersey. This bacon has half the fat of pork bacon. An 8oz. serving size will run you $6.30.

Palapa Azul Mexican Style Frozen Fruit Bars - presented in Cucumber-Chile, Cantaloupe, Grapefruit, Mango-Chile, and Mexican Papaya. All-natural with no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors. Each bar is 70-90 calories. They retail for $1.99. Palapaazul.com

Gourmet Peanut Better - offers twelve flavors including Mixed Nuts, Smoked Hickory, Onion Parsley, Peanut Praline, Thai Ginger & Red Pepper and Vanilla Cranberry. 10 oz. will run you $5.00. This certified organic peanut butter contains no cholesterol and is 5-10% lower in fat and calories. Unfortunately, it is not available in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, if you are down in Southern California, you can find Peanut Better in over thirty markets including Whole Foods in Pasadena. To find Peanut Better in your area go to: Peanut Better Store Locator

All Natural Rice Tortilla Chips - that are low in cholesterol because they are baked. 19 Chili Lime flavored chips are 110 calories. Also comes in Classic BBQ, Sour Cream & Onion, Sea Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper, and Cheddar Salsa by MrKrispers.com

Wild Salmon - known as one of Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life thanks to a book by Dr. Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews called SuperFoods. In addition to Alaskan, Coho (aka Silvers), Sockeye (or Red Salmon), Chum, and Pink offer omega-3 oils and a healthy source of protein.

While we didn't see their exhibit, one of our all-time favorite fancy foods is:

The Republic of Tea - founded under the charter to start a "Tea Revolution," The Republic of Tea is a leading purveyor of more than 200 varieties of award-winning teas, herbs, healthy chai lattés, bottled iced teas, tea jams, tea oil and Sip by SipwareTM—a sophisticated collection of traditional and contemporary tea ware.

Our favorite flavor, which was voted "Outstanding Beverage" by the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade, is a Black Blended tea called Ginger Peach. Add a little warm milk and a sprinkle of sugar; there's nothing better when you've decided to give up coffee for a day. While Ginger Peach, also known as "Longevity" tea is not new, their Sip for the Cure Pink Lemonade, Rose and Lady Apple teas are. Also new are their Australian Outback, Mediterranean, Rainforest, Alpine Flowers, and Desert Sage teas.

Tonight, I just bought their Black Water Bead Iron Teapot (24 oz) for $52.50 at The Republic of Tea online.

Many of their teas can be found in San Francisco at Whole Foods and Cost Plus World Market.

Gaga's Original Lemon Sherbetter

One fancy food not yet discovered, except in a few gourmet markets and one restaurant in New England, is Gaga's Original Lemon Sherbetter, a recipe created by my grandmother, Jessie McRae King, and served for decades by our family with every Thanksgiving dinner.

While we have always called Gaga's decadent dessert "sherbet," it actually falls somewhere in between sherbet and ice cream.

Sherbet is defined as having 2 percent butterfat or less, and ice cream usually carries 10 percent or more (Ben & Jerry's is 16 total butterfat grams). Gaga's is 5 grams - thus the label's "Sherbetter" distinction. Down East, we call it "Sherbetta," and that it is!

This specialty dessert, now a cool confection created by my cousin, James Hollis King and my Uncle Jack (Gaga's son), has made this winter even "cooler" in Massachuetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Kennebunkport, Maine. It is available at gourmet markets throughout New England, as well as at Angelo's Restaurant in Providence. For a complete list of locations and distributors, go to: GoGagas.com.

Perhaps you will be able to find Gaga's Original Lemon Sherbetter at The Fancy Food Show in Chicago, May 2-4, or at their New York show, June 27-29. If so, I'm sure you'll go gaga over Gaga's.

Eat right, live better!

~Jennifer

Parlez vous francaise?