The 2013 Good Food Awards Marketplace took place at the Ferry Building in San Francisco on January 19th on a perfect 50 degree "winter" day. I love that our winters here in the Bay Area entail blue Spring-like skies. I had the delicious fortune to enjoy nibbles and sips from these award winning food and drink makers. Here were some of my highlights from the marketplace.
There were four main sections of the marketplace. One was pickled, preserves, and confections. Another section contained chocolates and coffee. A third section featured charcuterie and cheese, and lastly there were beer and spirits.
Let's start with pickled, preserves, and confections.
I was impressed with how Jarred SF Brine got creative with their display using an old typewriter to show off a jar of their Oven Roasted Pickled Golden Beets and Shaved Shallots.
I've been reading in several 2013 food trends lists that pickled foods are big this year. I'm really digging all the Kimchi I've been seeing.
In the chocolate and coffee section, I thought it was cool to see sample sizes of Raaka Chocolate Bourbon Cask Aged Bolivia hacked with a butcher knife.
There was a plethora of coffee vendors. Did I say a plethora? Yes, I meant a cornucopia of coffee. On the Good Food Awards website, you can find a list of all the 2013 winners.
In the cheese and charcuterie section, I tried samples of this goat cheddar by Avalanche Cheese Company from Colorado. Delish!
And while we are talking about goats, how about some goat salami by Underground Meats from Wisconsin.
This Finocchiona which is a fennel flavored salami by Columbus Foods from California was by far my favorite charcuterie. I want to make cute little tea sandwiches with this salami.
And of course, I had to finish up the day in the last section, booze! ...er I mean beer and spirits. I spent more time in the spirits section. Time ran out before I could get to the beer. Bummer.
The organic vodka and gin by Cascade Peak Spirits from Oregon was so crisp and clean. I could easily get carried away on vacation with this vodka. Besides, the vodka is organic so that means it's healthier, right? Yeah, that's what I keep telling myself.
The Walnut Spice Rum by Dancing Pines Distillery from Colorado is one of the best rums I've had in a long time. They made all kinds of fun cocktails. My drink had some of fresh OJ in it so again it's healthy, right? (You get that I'm being sarcastic? Besides, fresh OJ is healthier than Tang :)
And to end, say hello to Marko Karakasevic, the master distiller of Charbay Winery & Distillery, in California. I enjoyed hearing him tell the story of his Charbay R5 Aged Whiskey.
A good time was definitely had! I love supporting small, artisan food and beverage makers. You can literally taste the love poured into their creations.
