Lifestyle/Art

Published on February 1st, 2022 | by Darren Paltrowitz

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A Look At 30 February 2022 Food, Wine, Drink & Health Discoveries Worth Ordering Online Today

With everything happening in the world, there is still a lot of uncertainty going around. But everyone needs to stay nourished and healthy, and there is no shortage of exciting food, drink or health offerings to order online. If you are searching for new food, drink and health-related discoveries, you have come to the right place as I have been monitoring the latest and greatest from online retailers. Here are 30 items you can order online today — many of which spotlighted at this week’s Winter Fancy Food Show 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada — with direct purchase links to many of them included below.

Casamara Club

Casamara Club offers a refreshing line of non-alcoholic, amaro club sodas available nationwide. Pulling inspiration from the rich history of Italian amaro, Casamara Club combines the depth of Italian aperitivo and digestivo with the lightness of a refreshing soda and bitters. Each Casamara Club soft drink — there are 4 flavors on the market — is made with minimal ingredients, specifically sparkling water, amaro bitters, herbs and spices. Thus, these drinks can make for a great non-alcoholic soft drink, a digestive and also a mixer for an alcoholic beverage. Each bottle has 15 calories and only 4 grams of sugar.

Kona Brewing Co.

Last year, I wrote about the Kona Brewing Co.’s crisp hard seltzers, which are packed with tropical tastes that aim to transport your senses. I also covered the brand’s much-beloved Pipeline Porter, which had been originally launched in 2006 as one of Kona’s first offerings; Kona had partnered with @beautifulbooze to create an original Kona Pipeline Porter coffee cocktail.

Most recently, the Kona Brewing Co. unveiled the Kona GameDay Hammock. Whether you are a football fanatic or just here for the commercials, “rest” assured you will be the most relaxed person in the living room if you have one of these. The GameDay hammock is available for purchase ($548.00) via KonaBrewingCo. website. Arguably the only reason you may need to get up from your seat during this year’s Super Bowl, should you have one of these hammocks, will be to grab an ice-cold Big Wave in between time outs.

Honolulu Fish Company

Founded in 1995 by owner and CEO Wayne Samiere, a trained marine biologist, Honolulu Fish Company is a top seafood distributor offering more than 30 varieties of eco-friendly Pacific water fish to over 3,000 customers, including top chefs across the country. It is the only direct distributor in the United States that offers more than 14 species of sashimi grade fish. In turn, Honolulu Fish Company has appeared on several national television programs and in major national food publications like the New York Times, Food & Wine and Cooking Light beyond having its products appear on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. Furthermore at Honolulu Fish Company each fish is chosen with great care by sashimi experts, and its packages of fresh seafood are intended arrive at homes and restaurant kitchens via FedEx and UPS within 24 to 48 hours; its custom box is designed to keep fish at 40 degrees or less for 48 hours.

Last year I had the pleasure of trying the Honolulu Fish Company’s Sushi Kit – Japan Nigiri Sushi Set with Hokkaido Sushi Rice set, which featured 2 pounds of unbelievable sashimi — 1 pound of Hawaiian Ultra Ahi and 1 pound of King Salmon) — and everything else needed to have an authentic and delicious sushi-oriented meal at home. More recently, I tried its also-excellent Super Poke Bowl. This one pairs marinated, freshly-seasoned raw fish with white rice and assorted vegetables. Thinking about it, this is a meal I would gladly enjoy for this year’s Super Bowl, since it happens to be simultaneously healthy, comforting and nourishing.

Oscar Mayer

Inspired by the OG “sheet mask” of our youth — we have all done it — where one bits the eye and mouth holes out of a slice of bologna, the Oscar Mayer Bologna Sheet Mask is a spa-quality sheet mask produced by premier Korean beauty and skincare company Seoul Mamas, as known for luxury clients and retailers like Ritz Carlton Spas, W Hotels and Neiman Marcus. The limited-time mask boasts hydration and moisture retention, anti-inflammatory and skin protection benefits, all while featuring a nostalgic “bologna face”
mask design.

Amazingly, these Oscar Mayer Bologna sheet masks temporarily sold out on Amazon earlier this month due to extreme demand. In just 12 hours after launching, it became Amazon’s #1 new release in the Beauty & Personal Care category, the #3 top-selling face mask and #8 on Amazon’s “Movers and Shakers” list in Beauty & Personal Care.

Christie’s Chips

For those who have followed a vegan diet for years or have had to steer clear of dairy products for health reasons, you can enjoy a delicious “cheesy” potato chip again all thanks to Christie’s Chips. Available in Sour Cream + Wild Onion, Nacho Inferno, Back Yard BBQ, and Chili Con Queso flavors, all of Christie’s Chips are made with all vegan, non-GMO, cholesterol-free, natural ingredients. I would argue that they are so good that even the most die-hard cheese fans will not realize they are munching on wholesome vegan ingredients through and through. Now available online or for delivery through Foxtrot, GoPuff and other industry-leading delivery tools.

Cavit Collection Wines

I have had the pleasure of covering offerings Cavit Collection Wines previously, and again trying the latest from the brand. Its Cavit Sweet Red is a new, lusciously sweet red wine cultivated in vineyards in Vallagrina and Veneto with pronounced cherry and raspberry notes, as pairable with red meat dishes and spicy foods. The Cavit Rosé features beautiful aromas of fresh strawberry and cherries and comes from a blend of native Trentino red grapes, while ideally served with fish dishes and white meat. The Cavit Moscato is a sweet wine featuring delicious notes of apricot, white peach and sage, and is great for pairing alongside flavorful appetizers, cheeses, spicy dishes, and fruit and chocolate. All great stuff, as expected.

The Prisoner Wine Co.

The Prisoner Wine Company’s name was inspired by the classic sketch Le Petit Prisonier by 19th century Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The sketch was part of Goya’s series entitled The Disasters Of War, as created to be a visual protest against the injustice and brutality of the Spanish War of Independence in 1808. When its first wine, The Prisoner, was released 2 decades ago as a complex blend of some of California’s best and most unusual grape varieties, it helped change the perception of what a red blend wine could be. Today, Prisoner’s Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann and her team work with over 100 growers in northern California, bringing together exceptional fruit to produce a family of intriguing wines unrestricted by tradition.

Most recently from the Prisoner label I had the pleasure of experiencing the 2019 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, which is now available nationwide. It is elegant and silky with aromas of strawberry jam, cinnamon spice, dark cherry and dried herbs. Oak barrel aging imparts hints of vanilla and toast making this dangerously good for all summer barbeques this season. Defiantly bold, this wine is sourced from a unique, unmatched variety of Russian River and Carneros AVAs to produce a supreme Sonoma Coast pinot. This is the fourth wine to join the collection of cult classics from The Prisoner, which also includes the coveted Red Blend, a Carneros Chardonnay and a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tenzo Tea

Tenzo Tea has aimed to create the perfect combination of ceremonial and organic matcha for daily drinking by partnering with a Japanese tea master to ensure every detail of their recipe was right. Known to be loved by those who are not typically fond of Matcha because of its smooth flavor, this drink offers consistent steady energy throughout the day, rather than your typical afternoon crash in response to your morning cup of coffee. In other words, I entirely recommend Tenzo Tea not only for the functionality, but also the taste and presentation.

Sugar Lab

Reportedly the world’s first digital bakery making the only 3D printed food available directly to consumers, Sugar Lab recently launched its Love Hurts Glitter Skulls — a set of 6 is currently-priced at $21.99 — which is a mind-bogglingly gorgeous collection of moody, sparkling red and pink-hued 3D sugar treats meant to plop into your cocktail, as flavored with lime. Complete with a slit so the skulls can sit firmly on the edge of your glass, once they are put into the drink they dissolve into an astral cloud of sparkles adding a touch of glamour, sweetness and tartness to your beverage.

Thinking your gift recipient may not react fondly to skulls? Luckily, Sugar Lab also makes glitter bombs in other shapes, including its Diamond Glitter Champagne Bombs (also $21.99 for a set of 6) and Love and Hex Potion Glitter Bombs (ditto). Seeking chocolate? Try a set of 3D printed sugar Strawberry Covered Chocolate Truffles (a set of 6 is priced at $27.99), which comes with 3 different ganache fillings: Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Tamarind Elderflower and Caramelized Honey Chili. All of these unique confections are available for purchase online via www.sugarlab3d.com and ship nationwide.

San Diablo Artisan Churros

San Diablo Artisan Churros specializes in creating artisan-filled churros for special events and celebrations. Its proprietary, award-winning churro dough recipe is made from scratch and fried on-demand. The fried golden brown, hollow-centered churros are filled with “happiness”—gourmet fillings of choice. In a relentless search for churro perfection, its menu has expanded to include seasonal flavors, savory churro offerings, and nationwide at-home delivery. San Diablo members enjoy outstanding quality artisanal food that is undeniably fresh, delicious, and delivered with a unique style of fun. Like their Artisan Churros, San Diablo is filled with social good: supporting local, national, and international non-profit causes.

Previously I covered its excellent Take & Bake Churro Kit for The Hype. The latest offering I have had the pleasure of trying from San Diablo Artisan Churros is the “Churro Fiesta In A Box.” The kit includes San Diablo’s gourmet churro maker kitchen gadget, just-add-water dry churro dough mix, signature cinnamon sugar, and a reusable filling bottle. A QR code provides buyers with access to a free e-book of recipes with 40 different filling flavor ideas and our made-from-scratch dough recipe in gluten-free and vegan versions. It also includes a 1-page Fiesta Planner with games, party ideas, churro challenges, fun facts and wearable party supplies like devil’s horns and angel halo to complete the fun-for-all experience. The churro maker, dry mix, sugars and fillings are also available for individual purchase or to double or triple your churro production in “refill packs.”

Sapporo Beer

Founded in 1876, Sapporo is reportedly Japan’s oldest beer brand still operating and reportedly the #1-selling Asian beer brand in the United States. Sapporo lagers have been enjoyed for almost half a century in the States, with 5 varieties — Sapporo Premium, Sapporo Premium Black, Sapporo Premium Light, Sapporo Reserve and the recently-launched Sapporo Pure — available. Sapporo beers are reportedly made from only the finest natural ingredients, and its products sold in the U.S are brewed in the U.S, Canada and Vietnam. The aforementioned Sapporo Pure is perhaps my favorite, a superior light beer that will serve the evolving tastes of the modern consumer and long-time Sapporo drinkers alike. The beer is among the lowest calorie options for beer drinkers in the superior light beer category, with only 90 calories, 2.4 grams of carbs, and 4 percent ABV. Sapporo Pure, possibly my favorite of all the Sapporo offerings, can be enjoyed in a distinctly-designed 12-ounce slim can and is available in 6-packs.

Bud Light NEXT

Bud Light is aiming to turn the beer industry on its head once again with the launch of its newest, industry-leading innovation, Bud Light NEXT, its first-ever zero carb beer. Nearly 10 years in the making, Bud Light NEXT is the result of a brewing breakthrough making the impossible possible. In addition to offering zero carbs, the new super crisp light beer boasts 80 calories, 4 percent ABV and offers a clean, and refreshing taste. In turn, Bud Light NEXT is a new type of beer brewed for today’s 21+ consumers who have long desired a beer that breaks the barriers of a traditional lager and offers the sessionability and stats of a seltzer.

To commemorate this occasion, Bud Light is launching its first-ever NFT project, “Bud Light N3XT Collection.” The new collection will feature 12,722 unique tokens which are designed with color cues from Bud Light NEXT and celebrates the passion points of today’s 21+ consumers. For those who purchase a NFT as part of the project, they will have the opportunity to vote on Bud Light NEXT merchandise, have access to Bud Light NEXT brand and partner events, and other surprises. Bud Light NEXT NFTs are available to those 21+ beginning February 6 for $399 per token. To learn more about the Bud Light NEXT NFT project or to join the community, one can visit www.budlight.com/nextnft.

Southern Comfort x Seamus Golf

For avid golfers, the cold temperatures and harsh elements that come with the winter season hardly stand in the way of getting a few swings in. With winter officially upon us and to celebrate the players who find comfort playing by their own rules, Southern Comfort and Seamus Golf recently unveiled first-ever winter golf collaboration. Inspired by Southern Comfort’s comfortably-different approach and Seamus’s artisan craftsmanship, the collaboration features club covers, a personalized bag tag, and — of course — a stylish bottle bag, perfect for fitting a 750 mL bottle of Southern Comfort, with all items boasting a unique Pendleton design. The products are now available in an extremely-limited quantity.

Golf aside, some Southern Comfort-based cocktail recipes were featured in a recipe round-up written for The Hype back in September 2021.

Lefty’s Spices

Simply put, Lefty’s delicious and legendary Fish N’ Chicken Mix fry batter adds some Southern flair to meals. Its bold flavors marry perfectly with poultry, pork, seafood and vegetables alike for a drool-worthy bite. Spice-friendly, there is need for milk or eggs when using Lefty’s finest — just add water and fry away in the oven, pan or deep fryer. Beyond its website, Lefty’s Spices’ latest and greatest are now available on Amazon and via select Sam’s Club, Kroger, Publix, and Safeway retailers in the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.

Absolutely! Gluten Free

A major innovator in gluten-free snacks, Absolutely! Gluten Free offered both new packaging and varieties in 2021. Absolutely! Gluten Free popular crackers and flatbreads are crisp, crunchy and delicious, with a wide range of flavors, including Original Variety, Toasted Onion, Everything, and Cracked Pepper. Multi-purpose by nature, these crackers and flatbreads are ideal for a cheese and charcuterie board, for dipping, topping, to accompany with soups or salads, or even just straight out of the box on their own. Meanwhile, Absolutely! Gluten Free’s recently-launched Coconut Chews are moist, soft “coconutty” sweets that now come in 2 new flavors: Key Lime and Blueberry. In the words of Laura Morris, Associate Marketing Director for the brand: “Absolutely! Gluten-Free is the must-have product line not only for people who are seeking to eliminate gluten from their diets, but for people who are looking to discover delicious snacks and treats that are also healthy and free of allergens. Absolutely! Gluten Free is ‘proof of the pudding’ that gluten-free can also mean delicious.”

Pairing especially well with those Absolutely! Gluten Free Crackers, from experience, is Mighty Sesame Tahini. For over 30 years Mighty Sesame has innovated with a superfoods-oriented sesame experience. Mighty Sesame sources its raw materials, sesame seeds, from the most reputable growing region in the worldm Ethiopia. It trades sustainably to ensure fair wages for the farmers involved. Great ethics and teamwork aside, Mighty Sesame’s ready-to-use range of products are both delicious and shelf-stable.

Applegate Farms

Founded in 1987, Applegate produces high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Its products are made without any GMO ingredients, and are reportedly-sourced from farms where animals are treated with care and respect and are allowed to grow at their natural rate, all part of its long-standing mission — “Changing The Meat We Eat.” Applegate has a wide range of craveable offerings on the market, like bacon, burgers, cheese, deli meat, snacks and traditional Italian meats. Notably, Applegate became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods in July 2015.

One of the more memorable campaigns for me within the last few years was the “Applegate Clean Meat Cleanse” program in early 2020, which aimed to “lend a helping hand to everyone in resetting their palates and meat-eating habits after their Super Bowl Sunday ‘mis-steaks.'” The “Applegate Clean Meat Cleanse” served as the first program of the mission-driven brand’s new “Go Applegatarian” movement. As Applegate wants to add a new type of “tarian” to the lexicon of eating ideologies, it defines an “Applegatarian” as someone who consciously chooses clean, craveable meat for ethical, environmentally-responsible and delicious reasons.

Coca-Cola With Coffee

Earlier this month, Coca-Cola announced a new taste, Coca-Cola with Coffee Mocha, in addition to a new look across the Coca-Cola Flavors platform. That Coca-Cola with Coffee Mocha is an extension to the beloved portfolio of Coke with Coffee beverages for those who love the great Coca-Cola taste and luxurious coffee flavors, adding to the already available Dark Blend, Vanilla, Caramel and Vanilla Zero Sugar offerings; mocha is reportedly the number one flavor in ready-to-drink coffee, per Nielsen. The new look appears across the Coca-Cola Flavors platform, with vibrantly-colored cans and a bold logo positioned at the top of the packaging, bringing a modern design to the same great taste, with a clear distinction between full sugar, zero sugar and zero calorie beverage options.

Meanwhile, earlier in the month, Coca-Cola fans located in the greater Chicago, Los Angeles and New York areas had the opportunity to receive Coca-Cola product in less than an hour. Some of these deliveries were made via robot deliveries, as made up of a fleet of self-driving robotic vehicles stocked full of Coca-Cola’s latest launches. In turn, Coca-Cola impressively continues to innovative on multiple levels all these years later.

Field + Farmer

Field + Farmer started as an urban farm in Chicago and has since blossomed into a farm fresh, plant-based producer of dressings, dips, juices and bars. As a way to reduce waste on its urban farm, Field + Farmer began using leftover basil to make salad dressing. That dressing was a huge hit, sparking an idea to use these premium, local-sourced ingredients to produce delicious, clean-label, plant-based products that directly supported farmers in its network. Since then, its product line has expanded to include more dressings (Ranch, Caesar, Apple Balsamic, Honey Mustard, Lemon Garlic Basic Vinaigrette, Roasted Garlic Italian and Sweet Basil Vinaigrette), dips (Ranch, Spinach Artichoke, Vegan Queso, Buffalo, Caramelized Onion, Basil Pesto, Curry Turmeric, Garlic Beet, Garlic Chive, and Red Pepper Spicy Party Dips), juices and refrigerated plant-bars. And dare I say, everything I have tried from Field + Farmer has been top-notch.

Great products aside, in 2021, nearly half of all the produce that went into Field + Farmer’s products were local to their Midwest facility, and the brand routinely donated to organizations that support farmers. In turn, you know wonderful people are behind those dressings, dips, juices and plant-bars.

Jelly Belly Candy Company

The Jelly Belly Candy Company is one of those great brands showcasing at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas with its Vice President of Global Marketing (Robert Swaigen) on-hand to speak with attendees. Among the new offerings from Jelly Belly I have learned about in 2022 are the new candies in its Harry Potter collection (including Gringotts Galleon Milk Chocolate Coins, a milk chocolate Butterbeer Bar and Butterbeer Chewy Candies, and a special Butterbeer Barrel Tin), Jelly Belly Belly Buttons (sweet and chewy treats molded into the shape of a bite-sized button), the BeanBoozled 6th Edition (including 2 new flavor pairings), 3 new flavors in the Cocktail Classics collection (Mimosa, Gin & Tonic and Moscow Mule), and Dark Chocolate Covered Very Cherry Jelly Beans. Nearly-impossible for me to pick a favorite as I’m practically a lifelong fan of Jelly Belly’s products.

Please note that the aforementioned products will not ship to retailers until August 2022: Milk Chocolate Butterbeer Bar, Butterbeer Chewy Candies and Special Butterbeer Barrel Tin.

Coen Malbec

The Coen Classic Malbec 2020 — carrying a suggested retail price of $24.99 — makes for an ideal wine to have in your glass. It is a classic Argentine Malbec with an elegant character, thanks to its hints of lush blackberry and red plum, tart raspberry and sweet cocoa. Yet the wine also carries a freshness that is fun, light and easy-going, thanks to notes of balsamic and mint. Its ruby and violet color and long finish mean that it is bound to impress. Meanwhile, Coen’s Classic Malbec 2019 aims to walk delicate tightrope of intense flavor and light-bodied. It is a food-friendly wine that manages to be sweet, tart and earthy.

Whiskeysmith Flavored Whiskey

The popularity of flavored whiskeys has been the signature growth among the whiskey boom that we are currently seeing, per the 2021 Liquor Handbook. In turn, what better time for Whiskeysmith Flavored Whiskey, as launched by the Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado?

As previously covered by The Hype as a top drink recommendation in late 2021, available flavors from Whiskeysmith include Chocolate, Banana, Pineapple, Blood Orange, Salted Caramel, Peach and Coconut. In turn, Whiskeysmith has created a delightful range of unique flavors, all made with real American whiskey, while keeping its “more flavor, less labor” concept in mind. Fun flavors that taste true to their source, Whiskeymsith’s Banana being my favorite of the Whiskeysmith offerings I have tried so far.

Disaronno Velvet

Disaronno Velvet, with its refreshingly smooth texture, distinctive imprinting of Disaronno Originale’s almond flavor and nuances of chocolate and vanilla, can be the perfect base for a boozy ice cream libation. The silky base allows for a unique tasting experience, especially when mixed with the sweetness found in ice cream. Adding Tia Maria Cold Brew further enhances the delight by adding a kick of coffee to the mix. Below is a cocktail recipes incorporating both of these excellent spirits.

Disaronno Velvet Frappé

Ingredients:
– 1.75 oz. Disaronno Velvet
– 0.75 oz. Tia Maria Cold Brew
– 0.25 oz. Coconut syrup
– 1 shot of Espresso
– 3 oz. Milk
– Garnish: Amaretti crumble or other cookie
– Ice

Method:
– Fill a cocktail shaker with all the ingredients and shake vigorously.
– Pour the cocktail into a large coffee glass using a strainer.
– Garnish with an Amaretti crumble or one of your favorite cookies.

Ballotin Chocolate Whiskey

Inspired by a love of bourbon whiskey, a passion for chocolate and an abiding dedication to bringing people together, Ballotin Chocolate Whiskey is said to have been founded in 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky with a single focus: To produce elegant and delicious sipping whiskeys designed for flavor-craving friends. Ballotin was created by bringing some of the subtler bourbon flavors that everyone loves, the chocolates, nuts, caramels, mints, and vanillas, into greater prominence and balance with the complementary flavors of traditional whiskeys.

I have had the pleasure of trying both the Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Whiskey and the Ballotin Original Chocolate Whiskey, and both are excellent. Hard to pick a favorite, as both can be enjoyed on their own neat, with ice, or as part of a deluxe cocktail. On second thought, the Peanut Butter Chocolate Whiskey takes the cake.

Gancia Prosecco

Founded in 1850 by Carlo Gancia, reportedly the first Italian sparkling wine creator, Gancia is an international leader in the category of sparkling wines such as Prosecco, with over 40 million bottles produced annually. Gancia is now distributed in over 60 countries. The Gancia sparkling wine portfolio ranges from sweet to dry and from Charmat method to prestige vintages of Classic Method. In addition to sparkling wines, Gancia also makes still wines, vermouths, and liqueurs. Gancia’s crisp Prosecco Rosé D.O.C. is available to purchase via retailers nationwide and online, including Drizly and Wine.com. Gancia recently unveiled a cocktail recipe incorporating the aforementioned Prosecco Rosé D.O.C. called Love Struck, which you can find by clicking here.

Whiskee Straw

Thanks to Whiskee Straw — which is now available for purchase via Amazon — you can delight in endless mixing, sipping, and drinking action with the Whiskee Straw. Reportedly the first-of-its-kind straw with a whisk at the end, the brand is aiming to change the sipping game one drink at a time. The design is perfect for protein shakes, energy packets, tea mixes, mixed drinks, chocolate milk, iced coffee, smoothies, and lemonade alike. Just whisk, mix and sip. And impress people who are seeing it for the first time, of course.

Bake Me A Wish

BakeMeAWish.com was founded in 2005, reportedly with the mission to deliver divinely-crafted birthday cakes and gourmet baked goods to anyone across the United States, wherever they are. BakeMeAWish.com features delicious gourmet dessert options including sumptuous recipes, personalized greeting cards and elegant packaging. 15 years later, Bake Me A Wish! offers a magnificent lineup of other mouthwatering bakery treats including cookies, brownies, cupcakes and pies. The brand has expanded its offerings even further with gorgeous snack and fruit baskets. In turn, Bake Me A Wish! has become a go-to source for people in need of high-quality baked goods.

Its 2022 Valentine’s Day lineup features plenty of romantic favorites, including mini and JUMBO decorative Valentine’s Day cupcakes, festive bakery towers and gift baskets filled to the brim with mouthwatering gourmet treats. These offerings include the Beloved Brownie Sampler ($42.00), the Be Mine! Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake ($60.00), the Be Mine! Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Cake ($60.00), and the Solid Gold Valentine’s Day Tower ($64.00). So if you can’t be with the one you love this year, receiving a gourmet bakery gift with overnight delivery from BakeMeAWish.com ought to serve as a unique and heartfelt way to give your special someone a fresh-baked hug with love; Bake Me A Wish! offers guaranteed next day delivery.

NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer

Anheuser-Busch recently-unveiled NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer to the U.S. market. What makes this one stand out from other “hard seltzers” is that NÜTRL is vodka-based and made with simple ingredients like vodka, seltzer and real fruit juice. It also manages to be gluten-free and carry just 100 calories per can for all of its delicious flavors, including its latest addition, Mango; its Raspberry, Watermelon and Pineapple offerings are also great. NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer is refreshingly-real, and as of last month, NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer has been rolled out nationwide. It can also be purchased on the NUTRL website via Reservebar and e-retailers (e.g. Drizly).

Cooloo

Cooloo is a line of vegan, gluten-free frozen cocktail pops aiming to deliver a refreshing and convenient introduction to the world of adult iced beverages. All Cooloo Cocktail Pops are made using natural flavors, pure cane sugar and real spirits, all of which offering a playful twist on some of the world’s most recognizable cocktails: Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Paloma, Gin & Tonic, and Cosmo. Each 100ml, 5 percent ABV Cooloo pop is packaged in a beautifully-iridescent, easy-to-grab-and-go canister containing 12 pops. Each canister sells between $18.99 to $23.99 and is available at major retailers across the country or online in select states. Eye-catching beyond the great taste and fun ABV.

Holmes Cay Rum

Holmes Cay — the “Cay” being pronounced “key” — Rum curates a continuously evolving collection of the best small-batch, limited-edition rums, distilled naturally, without additives. Single Cask editions are aged in cask, while Single Origin editions combine multiple casks and production styles to create exciting expressions from a given distillery or region. Eric Kaye founded Holmes Cay Rum in 2019 out of frustration that access to cask-strength rums without additives was limited in the United States, Kaye saw an opportunity to focus on the hard-to-obtain aged expressions that he had encountered in Europe and the Caribbean, while championing increased transparency across the category.

Its Holmes Cay Fiji Rum is a molasses-based blend of pot and column still rum from South Pacific Distilleries in Lautoka, Fiji, presented at 46 percent ABV. The spirit has grass, citrus and pepper on the nose, clove and honey on the tongue, and a pop of hay and pepper on its finish. Like all Holmes Cay offerings, the Fiji Rum blend is a natural rum made without additives and is personally chosen by Kaye with a mission to share these hard to find rum gems with discerning drinkers everywhere. The Holmes Cay Fiji Rum’ Single Origin Edition is now available for wholesale orders with a suggested retail price of $49.00 per 750ml bottle. It is currently being distributed within New York, California, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and Florida, and is also available throughout the U.S. via various online retailers.

Banzo Butter

Banzo Butter is a new plant-based healthy spread for just about anything, including bagels, breads, overnight oats, cookies, crackers and rice cakes. Banzo Butter spreads offer a unique take on classic nut butter, with a taste and texture similar to your favorite nut butters, yet they are made from beans. Both nutritious and delicious, these delightful spreads offer many — pardon the pun — “beanefits.” In addition to healthy fats, plant-based protein and fiber, Banzo Butter spreads are vegan, gluten-free, and top-14 allergen-free. They are now available in 5 tasty flavors: Original, Chocolate, Strawberry, Pumpkin Spice and Mint Chocolate Chip.

Hungry Planet

Last but definitely not least… Hungry Planet is a plant-based meat company that offers a full range of inventive products, including burger patties, chicken, Italian sausage, crab cakes, and pork Thai meatballs. Hungry Planet prioritizes health and flavor, making it simple for meat-eaters to switch from traditional animal proteins to Hungry Planet, without compromise. The company was co-founded by siblings Jody Boyman, a former wildlife photographer, and her brother Todd Boyman. Together, they recognized that while food is the most basic human requirement, we owe it to ourselves, and our community, to eat more sustainably. To make their vision of Hungry Planet come to life, Jody and Todd tapped certified master chef Ron DeSantis to develop and create the recipes for their wide range of plant based products; .Chef DeSantis actively works with chefs and restaurateurs around the country to create delicious and enticing plant-based menu options at some of the country’s most highly acclaimed restaurants, from the celebrity hot spot Craig’s in West Hollywood, to popular Indian fast-casual spot, Curry Up Now.

For those hosting folks for this year’s Super Bowl, Hungry Planet has lots of recipes available to Internet users at no cost. For ease of browsing, you can check out a few of them here, here, here and here. This brand has proven to be one of my favorite food-related discoveries of 2022.


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About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."


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