Everyone Loves the Summer Fancy Food Show! (All Photos By Gail)

In recent weeks, I’ve enjoyed bringing you a selection of tasty appetizer posts as a preview of what tantalized my tongue and whet my appetite at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show — which took place at NYC’s Javits Center in late June. But you know, good things take time, which is my excuse for taking a minute to fully digest this spectacularly food-centric event so that I can bring you a full and satisfying meal that is my Ultimate Photo Recap of deliciousness. Let’s dig right in to my two full days of grazing like a free-range cow at SFFS 2025 — I’m sure you’ll agree it was worth the wait!


Hot Stuff!

I think the best way to break this down is to start off by showcasing some of my favorite nibbles that I stuffed into my face. Because, as much as I as I love a cool both display, cute brand mascot,  or hilarious product name — and, trust me, we’ll get to that —  it’s really all about the food.

Swelly Cream Bread is a 4 year-old’s dream snack, being a soft, fluffy  brioche bun generously  filled with a sweet whipped cream-like filling. It is literally a perfect food.

Melona is a popular South Korean ice pop brand that’s been around since 1992. They always have a huge presence at SFFS because their product is, well, so fucking delicious. Unlike typical frozen fruit pops that are icy, Melona bars have a smooth, rich, creamy consistency reminiscent of gelato.  The Honeydew Melon variety is the  brand’s most popular flavor — and my favorite — but they’re all amazing, and the Chocolate-Covered Banana pop is totally off the hook. Highly recommended!

Here is the Melona booth getting swamped by fans. Their sister brand, Samango, is known for their ice-cream sandwich with red bean ice-cream nestled inside a fish-shaped cone. Very popular!

As a fan of cheese, macaroni cheese, and ramen, I was excited to try Cheesy Ramen from Otoki. And  what a great catch phrase they have!

Mmm, so cheesy, and a tasty alternative to a sandwich for a quick lunch at your desk!

Heritage Virginia Mills Stoneground Grains offered a taste of southern cooking in a spoon, with a fried chicken bite atop a dollop of their cheesy grits and their blue corn grits, topped with a drizzle of chipotle aioli. Refined!

Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, the legendary butcher and custom burger blend specialist has partnered with Mush Foods — a startup focusing on mycelium and mushroom-root-based blends — to launch the LaFrieda 50CUT Burger, which is made with a 50:50 blend of premium ground beef and a variety of mushrooms. I enjoyed  the above sample, topped with a little bit of sauce — like a proper meatball — that tasted just like delicious meat.

Nothing  says summer quite like a salad of fresh watermelon topped with crumbed feta cheese — it’s a classic! Président feta cheese incentivized the crowd by raffling off a European cruise in their booth, but I did not win.

I certainly cannot be expected to resist a  fancy swirl of vanilla buttercream frosting looking all sexy on top of a tiny cake. Frost Buttercream was created by Liv Truesdell, who swapped a career in banking for baking after realizing there was no frosting on the market that delivered the homemade, gourmet taste she craved. Frost is crafted with simple, non-GMO ingredients like real butter, egg whites, cane sugar and real vanilla. Check it out next time you need to frost a cake!

Here’s a fun product with a lot of words in its name: Little Sesame Mexican Street Corn Hummus. This is a vibrant, chef-crafted dip that blends the creamy richness of traditional hummus with the bold flavors of elote (Mexican street corn). Developed in collaboration with Vista Hermosa, a favorite tortilla brand of Little Sesame’s co-founders, this flavor layers in caramelized corn, smoky chili, fresh lime juice, and cilantro for a summery, beachy vibe.

I was originally drawn to the Pikalo Empanadas booth by their adorable mascot (who turned to be the owner’s sister) but I was so glad I stopped in because their golden, flaky empanadas stuffed with fillings like cheese, meat, guava and cheese, and other tasty ingredients, are just insane.

Pikalo is a brick-and-mortar chain with locations all across Massachusetts, but they’ve recently expanded, offering frozen empanadas to the wholesale market, which is why they were at SFFS.  I have no doubt they will be wildly successful with their amazingly delicious and high quality product!

I spent about 20 minutes loitering  around the Sababa Foods booth so I could get a taste of this Shakshouka, freshly made with their own Saturday Sauce! It was so spicy!

This flavorful Middle Eastern “starter sauce” is a must-have staple in the kitchen off all creative home chefs!

CIBO’s Wrapped in Bacon Jam, goes well with anything!

Fresh Burrata: Serving Suggestion!

Monti Trentini Italian Cheese: Serving Suggestion!

Speaking of giant wheels of Italian cheese, Rummo,  an Italian food brand known for its high-quality pasta, had a chef in its booth who served up fresh, hot cacio e pepe created right inside a wheel of authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese!

Mangia!

There’s no such thing as too much (free) pasta. Here we have homemade gemelli with tomato pesto sauce, courtesy of Colavita!

How about a prosciutto and cheese sandwich on a ciabatta roll as a palate cleanser? Yes please! This was soo good, I’m adding the Parmacotto brand signage below, so you can investigate further on your own.

It’s time for a dessert break featuring assorted prepared mousses courtesy of Cacao Barry. Yum yum yum yum yum.

Are you full yet? Me, too. Let’s look at some fun products names, slogans, and packaging design that made me chuckle.

Rare Breed Coffee is an American specialty coffee roaster that underwent a dramatic rebrand in late 2023 to become the vibrant brand it is today. Rare Breed expertly leans into bold design. Logo elements — often styled with embossing tape and stencil-like type —speak to utility, underground culture, and punk aesthetics. It’s no surprise, based on I what saw at Fancy Food, that they’ve been finalists in packaging design awards. Well played.

Free Bird Southern Spring Water. That is all.

Pho Kit Up (say it out loud) is the playful name / slogan used by Get Cultured Box for their line of Vietnamese-style DIY pho meal kits — designed to be both authentic and accessible. These kits ship shelf-stable ingredients that let you prepare restaurant-quality pho at home in under an hour. Best brand name, ever!

“Get Weird Without Getting Wasted” is the catchy slogan for Curious Elixirs, a non-alcoholic beverage brand that crafts adaptogen-infused mocktails designed to elevate moods without the drawbacks of booze. But, what if getting wasted is the point? I ask yez.

Vegan cheese by Stockeld Dreamery isn’t just about replacing dairy —it’s about reimagining what cheese can be using cultured plant proteins. Not only does not it suck, but their sense of sassiness elevates the brand with the hilarious tiny sign on these cream cheese samples”: “SAY FKN CHEESE.”  Again, well played.

When I first glanced at the above package, I was sure it said “Air Flavored Popcorn,” but it doesn’t. It says Like Air brand puff corn (think: Cheetos) in a maple Pancake flavor. Survey says: It is quite tasty.

Undercover Quinoa — such a great name and fun logo — is a light, crispy snack made by coating crunchy quinoa with a thin layer of premium chocolate. The result is the perfect balance of nutty, toasty quinoa crunch and smooth, rich chocolate sweetness for positively addictive indulgence with (almost) zero guilt. I make sure to grab handful every time I pass by their booth.

The guys behind Two Ugly Mugs Habanero Salsa are not really ugly, but their brand name gets everyone’s attention, which is the point.

Artisan Quality Mystic Cheese (with the whimsical Narwhal —  Unicorn of the Sea — on the packaging ) has carved out a strong identity that makes it stand out in the world of cheese. The brand is known for handcrafted, small-batch cheeses that highlight local ingredients, and careful aging.

Nice Cans Sardines lives up to their cheeky name with packaging so bold and playful, you almost forget there are actual fish inside.

Dirty Virgin’s tongue-in-cheek name and sleek packaging prove that even a booze-free cocktail can stir up a little mischief.

Speaking of taglines that sound a little dirty, Chubbies ice-cream sandwiches (from Crumb’s Bakeshop) lean into playful indulgence with their suggestively witty slogan, Everyone loves a Chubbie. The brand pairs humor with nostalgia, serving gourmet ice cream served between two homemade cookies for a chunky, creamy, generously-sized treat.

Besto has cracked the code for pesto lovers who can’t do nuts, offering a smooth, flavorful sauce that doesn’t skimp on taste. It’s vegan, allergen-friendly, and just begging to be spooned over pasta or spread on sandwiches. And yes, the name is a bit on the nose — but when you’re aiming to be the Besto in the game, why not say it outright?

Making its SFFS debut this year, Whipnotic is whipped cream with a twist. Its clever name nods to the hypnotic swirl of flavored syrup that’s injected right into the cream with a patented nozzle design. The packaging is sleek, fun, and unlike anything else in the dairy aisle, making dessert topping feel more like an experience. What sets it apart is the playful fusion of visual flair and flavor innovation, turning an everyday treat into a showstopper.

Et Voila!

OK, we are finally in the home stretch of this very comprehensive, visually delightful recap, bringing us to the part where talk about . . . cute Brand Mascots! You’re welcome!

Dumpling Daughter brings big flavor with a side of charm, thanks to their lineup of savory dumplings and signature sauces. The brand’s adorable dumpling mascot steals the show, adding a playful  vibe that makes the products instantly memorable, and impossible not to smile at.

Unidentified Japanese Food Brand Mascot: here for the cuteness.

Mochi Puffs turns snacking into a moment of pure joy with its light and flavorful puffed rice treats. The packaging steals hearts with an adorable illustration of a little girl gleefully enjoying a puff.  Tear open a bag and join her in the deliciousness.

Are you noticing a trend that most of this cuteness in food comes from Asia? Because it is obvious. Case in point: Samonyu’s Salmon Biscuits, whose  booth went all out with a giant Plush Salmon Steak sporting an irresistibly cute face, perfectly capturing the fun and whimsical spirit of the product.  Remember to hug the mascot before taking a bite!

Good Valley High Quality Pork Meat supports full transparency in making sure you know that their fine products come from what was once a cute little piggy.

Are you dead yet, from the cuteness? Tok Tok is a refreshing Asian brand drink made with real fruit juice and chewy nata de coco (a coconut gel)  — and their packaging is a parade of charming little mascots that make each flavor feel like a personality of its own. From cheerful animals to playful characters, the mascots add a whimsical, collectible quality that draws the eye and sparks joy before you even take a sip. Squee.

These tiny plush keychains of a garlic bulb and a hot chili pepper were tossed casually onto a serving platter holding samples of a chili oil so spicy, there are only a  few drops in each serving. Look at the expression on the garlic bulb’s face and imagine he has just tasted it.

Dandies Vegan Marshmallows closes out our recap on a sweet note with their Maple flavor, a fall-ready twist on a classic treat. Soft, fluffy, and completely animal-free,  their packaging features an utterly heart-stealing marshmallow mascot, whose big-eyed charm makes the brand as lovable as the product itself.