Summer Fancy Food Show 2012

This summer is the last time Washington, DC will see the Summer Fancy Food Show, at least for a while. Next year, it will return to New York City, which means mega travel expenses for everyone. So, this year, I got to enjoy it without any expenses at all!

Going into the show, I really wasn't sure what to expect. All of the ads I had seen were meat- and cheese-related so, honestly, I was a bit frightened. And frightened I should have been. The bad news was that the meat- and cheese-industry were in full effect at this show. From the Got Milk? booth to an actual whole cooked pig, every other aisle seemed to offer something slightly shocking. Several booths had pigs' legs including the hoof on display from which they carved pieces of meat off to serve to attendees. Yep, believe it. But, enough about that -- that is just my warning to you should you decide to attend this show in the future.

But, despite seeing some of the most disgusting things I've ever seen in my life, the food manufacturers that offered vegan products made it all worth it because some of their products were absolutely amazing.  I probably found over 60 great products, which you will hear more about in the coming months. For now, here is a preview of my 5 favorites.

#1 The Best of Show award by The Veracious Vegan goes to:
Rau Om's Tofu Misozuke: miso-cured tofu

#2 Black and Blanco's Sandcastle cookie

#3 Plant Based Food's Cavi-Art: vegan caviar

#4 The Czar's Pinot Sauces

#5 Average Joe's Artisan Bread Kit

Look for reviews of all of these products and more coming soon!