Category Archives: New Products

New Premium Licorice, Giant See’s Lollypop To Be Unveiled & Food Gal Contest Winner Plus Bonus

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New licorice products by the makers of Red Vines. (Photo by Carolyn Jung)

Premium Licorice and How To Get A Free Bag

Union City’s American Licorice Company — makers of everyone’s favorite Red Vines — has brought out a new licorice product: Natural Vines.

Made without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, the Natural Vines are sweetened with only cane syrup and molasses. They contain real licorice extract, too.

Natural Vines come in two varieties: Strawberry and Black. The strawberry has an actual vivid berry flavor, while the black licorice tastes of anise and almost black coffee. Both types come not in your traditional long strands of licorice, but fat nubbins, about an inch long. They’re softer to chew than Red Vines, too. Each piece has 17 calories.

Eight-ounce bags are $3.49 each in select grocery stores.

They come in handy, resealable bags. (Photo by Carolyn Jung)

If you’re a film buff, you’ll get a chance to try the licorice. The American Licorice Company will be giving out thousands of full-sized bags of both the Strawberry and Black Natural Vines throughout the summer at San Francisco’s Film Night in the Park, Movies on the Square in Redwood City, and the Starlight Cinema Series in San Jose.

The licorice will be given out at the Aug. 4 and Sept. 29 showings in San Francisco; the July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 6, Aug. 23 and Aug 30 showings in Redwood City; and at the July 19, July 26, Aug. 16, Aug. 23, and Aug. 31 showings in San Jose.

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Auberge du Soleil Sweets, Foie Gras News, Yigit Pura’s New Bakery & More

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Auberge du Soleil's new Gianduia confections. (Photo courtesy of the resort)

Two New Sweets From Auberge du Soleil

Rutherford’s luxe Auberge du Soleil resort offers a pampering experience that just got a little sweeter.

Its chefs have come up with two new confections sure to satisfy any posh sweet tooth.

First, “Gianduia,” dainty hazelnut-chocolate squares made with both dark and milk chocolates, as well as organic nuts. A box is $24.50.

Sticky caramels with the surprise of pistachios. (Photo courtesy of Auberge du Soleil)

Next, California pistachios star in hand-wrapped pieces of rich caramel made with organic butter and cream. Fifteen pieces of “Carmel a la Pistache” come in a decorative box for $19.50.

The treats are available for purchase at the resort or through its online store.

Presidio Social Club Exempt From California Foie Gras Ban

Yes, the new state law that took effect July 1 may have bumped foie gras off menus everywhere else in California, but not at Presidio Social Club in San Francisco.

You see, it’s on federal land, thus, making it exempt from the California ban.

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Puff Pastry Part I: Savory Sun-Dried Tomato and Onion Tart

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Mustard cream, sweet onions, Gruyere cheese and sun-dried tomatoes crown this buttery, flaky tart.

This tart is red and white, and sure to chase away any blues.

Perfect for the Fourth of July, isn’t it?

“Sun-Dried Tomato and Onion Tart” is an explosion of flavors on a crisp, buttery foundation of puff pastry. The recipe, which appeared in the Wall Street Journal in March of this year, is by that Quebecois madman, Chef Martin Picard. He’s best known for his outsized personality, his over-the-top interpretations of classic Canadian dishes (poutine with foie gras, anyone?) and for foisting a litany of rich foie dishes on Anthony Bourdain at his Au Pied de Cochon restaurant in Montreal until the “No Reservations” host practically had to cry, “uncle!”

Picard’s tart won’t cause you to do that. Instead, it’s layered with flavors: onions caramelized until they’re nearly as sweet as candy, fragrant thyme, nutty Gruyere, a dash of sharp Dijon, and sun-dried tomatoes to add just enough acid so you don’t feel too weighed down.

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Mango Habanero Potato Chips — and A Food Gal Giveaway

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Chips that have some heat.

Potato chips flavored with tropical mango and blistering habanero?

Oh, yes.

Of course, it’s the newest flavor by Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips.

I recently had a chance to sample the new ”Mango Habanero!” (don’t forget that exclamation mark) chips.

They’re thin and crisp to be sure. They have a kick of heat — not nearly as potent as an actual fresh habanero, but you’ll definitely notice a warm burn on the palate. The mango is more elusive. There’s a very faint back-note of something fruity. But if I didn’t know it was supposed to be mango, I’m not sure I would have detected it.

The chips are available in a range of different sized bags at your local grocery stores.

Contest: One lucky Food Gal reader will get a chance to win four small (1-ounce each) bags of the new “Hawaiian Kettle Style Mango Habanero!” chips. It’s the perfect size for tucking into a lunch bag.

Entries, open only to those in the continental United States, will be accepted through midnight PST July 7. Winner will be announced July 9.

How to win your chips?

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Full Circle Now Delivers to the Bay Area

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A typical small box of produce box from the new Full Circle delivery service.

Once a week for the past couple of weeks, a box just like the one above has landed on my front porch bright and early in the morning.

Besides organic fruits and veggies, its contents have also included this:

Artisan strawberry jam by Inna Jam.

And this:

Organic firm tofu from Oakland's Hodo Soy Beanery.

And this:

Raw milk Italian farmstead cheese.

All thanks to Full Circle, an organic produce delivery service, which started in Carnation, WA, and just launched in the Bay Area.

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