A Guide to Throwing a Dinner Party Featuring Fancy Food Show Finds

Every year, the culinary world converges at the prestigious Specialty Food Association 's Fancy Food Show, where food enthusiasts and industry professionals embark on a gastronomic journey to explore the pinnacle of gourmet cuisine and the latest trends in consumer brands. This epicurean extravaganza unveils a treasure trove of unique and high-quality foods from around the globe, offering a sampling experience that even retail giant Costco would envy.

In the wake of this year's Fancy Food Show, a resounding revelation echoed through the halls: dinner parties are taking on an artisanal flair. The spotlight shifted towards locally sourced small-batch condiments and exotic spices from far-off lands, signaling a paradigm shift in culinary preferences. This evolution not only promises to tantalize taste buds but also champions the cause of supporting small businesses, breathing life into the ethos of gastronomic craftsmanship.

Our expedition through the Fancy Food Show led us to unearth culinary gems that we couldn't wait to share. We couldn’t help ourselves but craft our own dream Fancy Food dinner party menu – a curated selection that encapsulates the essence of artisanal indulgence.?

Signature Drink

The cool way to kickoff the night is with a signature non-alc beverage, especially since we are all on the “Dry Jan” train. Our preference is Tilden Tandem , which has flavor notes of bitter orange, tart cherry, American oak, lapsang, rooibos, ginger and cayenne. It’s ready to serve, so all you need to do is pour over ice and garnish with an orange. It’s a must try! ?

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Last year was all about the butter boards, but nothing beats a classic charcuterie with the latest & greatest meats & cheeses to try. Our spread would include the following:

Mozzamini Cheese: Artisanal, simple ingredients, all-natural, European-quality snacking cheese with an enticing milky flavor resembling a delightful fusion of fresh mozzarella and mild provolone.

Driftless Provisions: Thoughtfully (& locally) sourced grass-fed meat, free from antibiotics, hormones, or animal byproducts.

Cowgirl Creamery - Wagon Wheel: Experience the liquid gold rush from the hills of San Francisco with Wagon Wheel, a versatile, snackable cheese.

Joyful Bakery - Parmesan Crisps: What better than a cheese-on-cheese experience? This is a 100% aged Parmesan cracker with no preservatives, no fillers, and a delicate, crispy texture.

Davina Olives: Olives can sometimes be a polarizing food, but at Interact we are fans. An essential start to any gathering. Designed to be shared or to garnish your drink. How many olives are too many olives in a martini?

Lanarval : Tin to table. There is no doubt that tin fish is trending with the younger generations and we can see why. High quality products, long shelf life, no refrigeration required, sustainable, budget friendly. And not to mention beautiful packaging. We are definitely serving up tinned fish at all our dinner parties this year.

Millsie Cashew Dips: Talk about flavorful. Millsie offers every essential dip in a plant-based format. Perfect for your dinner party or upcoming Super Bowl party. With their additional cheese offerings these are sure to start the party.?

Main Course

Myles Comfort Foods : Mac n cheese is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. And Myle’s has got the recipe down. What started as a fruit-based bbq pairings company, quickly shifted when all the consumers were raving about was the Mac n cheese. I guess you will just have to try it out yourself.

Sobo Dumplings: Inspired by their childhood dishes, Sobo created plant-based frozen dumplings. They started out with 3 flavor offerings and we can’t wait to get our hands on them.

Sabatino Truffles : A family business we definitely want to get involved in.Sabatino has been around since 1911 and has just undergone a rebrand. In the words of their CEO their “truffle journey is merely beginning” and so is ours.

Condiments?

Runamok Sparkle Syrup: Vermont maple syrup is a classic but Runamok is serving it up with a twist. They have added some sparkle to their classic recipe. Perfect to catch the eye of your dinner guest and a great talking piece. We know we will be adding it our cocktails, desserts, and just about everything we can - Buddy the Elf would be proud.

Flying Goose Siracha: If you thought there was just one flavor of sriracha, we can’t wait to introduce you to Flying Goose. With 54 sriracha products on their site, we are sure you will find the right one to spice up your taste buds.?

Tari Peruvian Hot Sauce: If you consider yourself an adventurous eater, this one's for you. This hot sauce uses unique ingredients that can only be grown in Peru. The aji rocoto (a species of pepper) has its own distinct flavor profile and cultural significance that makes this unlike other hot sauces.

Apres Meal Dessert

LeoLeo Gelato: The packaging alone is enough to make us want to try this gelato. Their 31 flavor profile is what takes this to the next level. With a local shop based in California, they can now ship them to your home on their website. The perfect sweet treat.?

Lollys Frozen Grapes : We have been all about the frozen fruit rage with our friends at Diana’s. We can’t wait to get our hands on some chocolate dipped frozen grapes. Hey! It's fruit! It's healthy!

Stay tuned for MORE of Interact’s takeaways in partnership with The Dieline, scheduled to release on Monday 1/29.