Food in the News: The Sofi Award Winners

Can you spot the Savory Pantry products in the 2014 Sofi Winner's lineup?

• Olive & Sinclair Bourbon Nib Brittle has been a favorite of ours and we were so thrilled to see them accept the award for "Outstanding Confection".  It was a pleasure meeting Scott at the food show!
• We love each and every flavor of Lillie's Q sauces, but Hot Smoky took the prize yesterday for "Outstanding Cooking Sauce or Flavor Enhancer".
• Fran's Gray Salt Caramel Chocolate was recognized as an "Outstanding Classic" and will soon be arriving in our new Saratoga Springs store!

Congrats to all of the winners - we had a blast scouting new products and meeting the people who bring these products to market!

Food in the News: 2014 Sofi Award Finalists

Today the 2014 Sofi Awards will be announced.  The Savory Pantry would like to wish everyone good luck!  

The following finalists are proudly carried at The Savory Pantry:

• La Salamandra Dulce de Leche
• Bluegrass Soy Sauce (link to purchase here)
• Sir Kensington's Chipotle Mayonnaise
• Olive & Sinclair Bourbon Nib Brittle (link to purchase here)
• Lillie's Q Hot Smoky Barbecue Sauce (link to purchase here)
• Olympic Provisions Loukanika Salami (link to purchase here)
• Owl's Brew Pink & Black Tea Cocktail Mixer (link to purchase here)
• Click here for the full list of 2014 Sofi Award Finalists.

Roundup: Cooled Down Summer Foods

This week we featured original recipes for ice cream and popsicles.... noticing a trend yet?  It's HOT out there and we'll take any excuse to cool down.  Here are our favorite recipes from around the web for beating the heat!  Click the pics to get the recipes!  Follow our 'Summer Food Fun' Pinterest board for even more ideas!  >

Recipe: Grapefruit Shrub and Rosé Popsicles

The dog days of summer are quickly approaching and what better way to cool off than with a traditional treat - the popsicle.  We took this opportunity to try out some delicious cocktail mixers and make a mildly booze-infused version of this frozen summer treat.  Chilled Rosé is a great way to cool off in the summer heat and we thought the color and flavor combination of Liber Grapefruit Shrub would be a worthy pairing.  We also used the Liber Gum Syrup, as any good popsicle needs a bit of sweetening. Treat the proportions with care... too much booze and your pops won't freeze, but just the right amount and you'll be catching a cool refreshing buzz!

GRAPEFRUIT SHRUB & ROSE POPSICLES

• 1/2 cup Rosé wine
• 1/2 cup Liber & Co Texas Grapefruit Shrub
• 1/4 cup Liber & Co Gum Syrup 
• 1/2 cup frozen mango

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Pour into popsicle mold and freezer overnight. 

Recipe: Tea infused Ice Cream with Chia Cherries

Ice cream on a hot summer’s day brings out the smiles and sticky-chinned child in everyone. This spring, I have seen the trend of making ice cream at home take off, especially recipes that don’t require an ice cream maker- a non churn recipe.  I like the idea of making my own ice cream, you control the quality of ingredients and flavors. My two go-to flavors with ice cream are mint chocolate chip and anything with peanut butter.  

For my first pass at making ice cream at home I thought I would make a more sophisticated flavor ice cream, one that is popular in Japan and is harder to find in the Northeast - tea based ice cream.  

The Cherry Marzipan Green Tea from Tea Forte, gives the ice cream a overall flavor of Green Tea with the slightest hint of cherry. The Unbound Hazelnut and Chia Cherries really makes this ice cream quite sophisticated! The cherries add a spicy flavor and a refreshing bit between the cream texture of the ice cream.  

For your next tea time, try a cup of ice cream instead!

Tea infused Ice Cream with Chia Cherries

• 16oz Heavy Cream
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 2 tbsp Cherry Marzipan Tea
• Unbound Hazelnut & Chai Spiced Cherries

1. Add heavy cream to a saucepan and bring to a simmer.  
2. Once the heavy cream is simmering add the 2 tbsp of tea, letting it simmer for 2 more minutes, turn off heat and let tea steep for 15 more minutes.  
3. Strain with a fine mesh strainer (I didn't strain my until the heavy cream was cold, it adds a stronger tea flavor).
4. Put tea infused heavy cream into the refrigerator until very cold.  Once the cream is very cold, whip to soft peaks. 
5. Add ¼ can of condensed milk and fold into the whipped cream, until incorporated. Repeat until can of Evaporated milk is empty.  Pour some mixture into a metal pan, and layer your flavors, repeating this process until cream mixture is finished.
6. I added cherries but you could add shortbread bites, blueberries, toasted almonds, really anything you like.  

Freeze and enjoy with in 3 days!