I just got back from the 2017 Winter Fancy Foods Show. It’s a specialty foods show put on by the Specialty Food Association. While not everything is gluten free – there were many gluten-free and free-from products and brands on the show floor. Many brands choose to pre-launch their products at Winter Fancy Foods show before the giant Natural Products Expo West show in March.

While it’s only three days on a show floor – Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. However, it’s still a crazy show with plenty to see. Chances are you’ll miss some booths, some products, and some new brands. Based on what I saw on the show floor, I found my top picks for several categories. Check these out to see what I thought was the best of gluten free at Winter Fancy Foods 2017.

Friends ForeverWinter Fancy Foods Show 2017 I was so happy to see familiar faces on the show floor – brands, bloggers, and press. Trade shows are where bloggers can pass each other on the show floor, catch up over product samples, and chat about food.

Tea & Beverages Winter Fancy Foods Show 2017 Tea is always amazing at Fancy Foods – something new every year. Tea Drops is a brand creating pressed tea pellets in fun shapes – with tea leaves, sugar, and spices. Simply pour water, and a full cup of tea is made. You must try the rose earl grey. Choice tea is launching reishi mushroom wellness tea. The Republic of Tea launched their 25th anniversary tea – Ginger Peach Chocolate Truffle. The Numi line of turmeric tea was a hit years ago at Expo West, so seeing the multi-serve powder was exciting to see at Fancy Foods! Turmeric Chai loose blend only needs hot water or hot milk of choice to make a golden latte. Harmless Harvest has created a coconut water-based probiotic drink that’s pretty delicious, except definitely packed with sugar. Milkadamia macadamia nut milk was a hit last year, but this year their latte blend is awesome and here’s hoping I see it at coffee shops near me soon.

Best of Chips & SnacksWinter Fancy Foods Show 2017 Dang Foods, on top of a full rebrand, launched their sticky rice chips. While the original was underwhelming, I loved the coconut flavor. It was like a sweet and crunch mini rice chip. Siete Family Foods finally showed off their grain-free tortilla chips. Saffron Road debuted their Chickbean Crisp crackers with lentils, sweet potatoes, and peas. They’re a salty collection of chips. Jilz Crackerz are grain-free, certified gluten-free crackers. Way Better Snacks launched their Thin and Crispy sprouted tortilla chips. In a few months, you must try the black bean with roasted garlic flavor! Hope Foods launched their black garlic hummus and we’re hoping it’s available ASAP! I can’t wait to see how they promote it at Expo West!

Best of MeatsWinter Fancy Foods Show 2017 Epic snack strips are the new bar – and with venison and salmon, these are definitely a unique addition to their portfolio. Vermont Smoke and Cure sausages are all gluten-free, including their hard cider. Bonafide Provisions bone broth showed off their newest Frontier Blend with bison! Mulay’s sausage is fresh, not cooked, pork and spices – nothing else. The sausage is certified gluten-free and paleo too! 4505 Chicharrones are delicious – and paleo/gluten-free. Fried pork skins are a crispy way to get in your proteins. Krave jerky sticks are made with white beans.

Best of Gluten Free EntreesWinter Fancy Foods Show 2017 Saffron Road launched new bowls, including the grilled vegetable tortilla bake, sesame ginger salmon, and lemongrass basil fish. Feel Good Foods launched their incredible new line of empanadas (one veggie one chicken – both contain dairy), and taquitos (one dairy-free, one with dairy). You’ll want to stock up on these when they launch. I can’t get enough of these! Hopefully this line will go so well and they’ll launch more dairy-free products for people like me!

Best of Gluten Free PastaWinter Fancy Foods Show 2017 Veggie-based pasta, grain-free pasta, and flavored pasta is always a hit in our gluten-free community. This year’s launch collection is no different. Tolerant showed off their new veggie legume blend that they sampled at Expo East in September of last year. House Foods launched their meal-in-a-bag tofu shirataki ramen kits – in three distinct flavors. Miracle Noodle launched their ready-to-eat meal kits for paleo noodles too. And Viviana garlic chive lasagna, while not new – is certainly new to me and I’d love to try ti!

Best of the RestWinter Fancy Foods Show 2017 There were so many fun new launches at Winter Fancy Foods show that it was hard to put them all together in a collection. Here are some stragglers that are definitely worth a look when they launch in a store near you. Arnel’s Originals new pizza crust is going to be a game changer when it launches in a few months. If you haven’t, you must tried their make-a-cake your way cake mix! It’s an unsweetened mix that you can modify to make any type of certified gluten free cake you’re like! Zellee organic is a squeezie pack, but inside is jello, not baby food. This gluten-free gelatin is vegan! Runamok Maple is a new maple syrup line already voted one of Oprah’s favorite things – and I have to say that their bourbon barrel-aged syrup is one of mine too! I thought that Suja’s new line of pressed probiotic water was going to be sweet because of the fruit puree inside, but it was actually pretty mild! If you need more probiotics in your diet, this is a great and tasty way. Nature’s Charm has launched some pretty amazing vegan products, but their new sauces, especially their coconut salted caramel sauce, is epic. Snow Monkey is a brand new superfood ice cream that’s made from bananas, apples, hemp seed, gums, and sunflower seed butter along with maple syrup and cacao, depending on the flavor! The toaster buns from Flax 4 Life are definitely worth a buy next time you see them in stores. While this product isn’t new, their packaging really calls out what they’re best used for – buns!

 

What product are you most excited about? What gluten-free product are you still looking to find? This year’s trade show season is just starting! Stay tuned to our Instagram to see what new things get delivered to the Celiac and the Beast office!

Tagged: celiac, Fancy Foods, gluten free, Specialty Food Association, WFFS17, Winter Fancy Foods