Nourishing treats come in all shapes and sizes, and these are sure to delight the palate of anyone who appreciates tasty specialty foods. And they’re all loaded with goodness!
Secrets of Cider
Anyone who loves cider, like I do, will want to know about Eden Specialty Ciders, a Vermont cider company named after the Garden of Eden and its iconic apple, because, well, it tastes like that’s where it comes from.
Eden works with Vermont and New Hampshire orchards— including its own farm in northern Vermont near the Canadian border—to source a variety of apples for its seasonally produced still, ice and fermented ciders, made from the residual sweetness of the apple without added sugar.
“A great cider, like a great wine, will have a lot of complexity to it,” says Eleanor Leger, cider maker and cofounder, with her husband Albert. “The joy is taking what we get this year, and figuring out what to do with it.” According to Leger, “We share a passion for supporting small-scale family agriculture.”
Cider has a unique history, as the first popular alcoholic beverage in the U.S. For more, check out American Cider by Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo.
Fro Avocado
Who doesn’t love avocados? And they’re so good for you. But avocados—and other delicate superfruits— can go bad fast. With its organic frozen Smoothie Packs, including bite-sized Dragon Fruit (“Pitaya”), Acai, Passion Fruit, Coconut, Acai + Guarana, Watermelon, Jackfruit and now Avocado, Pitaya Foods has made it easy to apportion a small serving—perfect for an individual smoothie or bowl. The company is headquartered in a solar-powered facility in Central America, where it is committed to renewable energy, working with local farmers to uphold high standards of sourcing and creating jobs for struggling single moms.
In a Pickle
Born and bred in New York City—the pickle portal to the world— I am something of a pickle cognoscenti. I don’t say this lightly, but Grillo’s are some of the best. Available in 11 flavors, as well as shapes like whole, spears, chips, halves and more, Grillo’s are super-crunchy, garlicky, peppery, tart and easy to find in many specialty food stores around the country. Most recently, the brand launched Pickle de Gallo, a picklicious version of salsa, which is great on sandwiches. Grillo’s has been pickling for 100 years, so if practice makes perfect, this is it.