4 Tasty Finds that Food Fans Will Love

It’s always exciting to discover a new product, flavor, or ingredient combination. You feel like you’ve walked over a bridge and entered an entirely new realm of culinary enjoyment and creativity. What is also exciting is wanting to share those discoveries with a friend or family member. That’s how we feel right now, with these four tasty finds that food fans will love that we are sharing with you.

FABRIZIA LEMON BAKING COMPANY

For the fans of limoncello, that delicious liqueur made from fresh lemons, there is now an option to enjoy its taste in baked form. That’s right, there’s an entire line of biscuits, biscotti‘s, cookies, brownies, and other tasty items that are all flavored with limoncello.

The Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company is a family owned business which incorporates award-winning Fabrizia Limoncello into each and every one of its baked goods. After launching Fabrizia Spirits (the leading producer of limoncello in America) in 2008, brothers Phil and Nick Mastroianni longed to share another cultural aspect of their upbringing, in other words, food.

Says Phil Mastroianni, “Growing up in an Italian household, food was always a big part of our lives and we wanted to share that in a unique way…with a special Limoncello twist. We import all of our lemons directly from Sicily and they are the ONLY thing that provides our Limoncello with its flavor and color. That Limoncello is then used as the foundation to our cookies, biscotti, lemon loaves, blondies, cake jars and whoopie pies.”

The TasteTV food editors, all citrus fans, had the enviable opportunity to review some of these items and found that most of them were extremely popular among the testers. The baked goods captured the taste of a real limoncello without being overly sweet or heavy. In fact many of the options were quite light in texture, and we found that the cookies and biscottis in particular were hard to keep in stock. Everyone loved them.

If you are a person who likes the tart flavor of fresh lemons and citrus, this might not be for you. Although made from lemons, most limoncello brands by nature are not tart. In general they have a sweeter profile that is balanced with the alcohol. If you are a true limoncello fan however then the Fabrizia Limoncello product line of baked goods is perfect. You can get any of these products individually, or as an entire gift set. You can also have sets that include the actual Fabrizia Limoncello included for sipping, or to mix it with your favorite cocktail.

Visit http://www. FabriziaLemonBakingCo.com

 

MIKE D’S BBQ SAUCE

Every region and every city has its own version of barbecue sauce, kind of like everyone has their own version of chili, spaghetti, and gumbo. Mike D’s BBQ sauce comes from North Carolina and is quite delicious, regardless of the region that you prefer. It is smooth and tangy with a bit of a citrus element that goes well on any protein you can want, including chicken, beef, pork, and even fish. Not to mention on fries.

Mike D’s BBQ is an award winning family-owned line of BBQ Sauces and Dry Rubs based in Durham, NC. They say their sauces are a twist on the traditional BBQ sauce with some unique seasonings and spice levels inspired by Mike D’s African American and Latino heritage. Their BIG Sauce is the mild/medium sauce and has won many awards, such as 1st for Medium BBQ Sauce in the 2021 International Spicy Flavor Awards and 3rd place for Kid Friendly BBQ Sauces in the 2022 Scovie Awards.

One TasteTV editor remarked that it reminded them of a “high quality mumbo sauce.” If you be don’t know what that is (or “Mambo sauce”) then that is an entirely different BBQ sauce discussion.

If you prefer your barbecue with a rub, Mike D’s barbecue also has a Sweet & Spicy Rub that has won several the competitive food awards, such as 1st place in the 2021 International Artisan Flavor Awards for Rubs and 1st place in the 2022 Scovie Awards in the Dry Rub/All Purpose Category. The Sweet & Spicy Rub presents taste elements such as brown sugar, honey, and chili lime to give your recipes just the right pizazz.

Visit Mike D’s BBQ, at http://www.mikedsbbq.com

http://www.facebook.com/mikedsbbq

CHILI SAUCES FROM CHINA LIVE

Restaurateurs George Chen and Cindy Wong Chen originally conceived of China Live as a Chinese version of the multi-level and multi-location Italian food emporium known as Eataly, but they have long surpassed that vision to become a true dining destinations in the city of San Francisco and the Bay Area. China Live in San Francisco has won numerous awards for their food and their restaurant design, and they have also won many awards for their line of sauces and spices. This includes their spice and sauce sets that come with different condiments selection, all created from proprietary China Live recipes.

According to OpenTable, “When China Live opened in 2017, it was unlike anything else in San Francisco, let alone the United States. Sprawling over 30,000 square feet, the space is ambitious in its scale and offerings, with a sit-down restaurant, marketplace selling Chinese pantry items and home goods, a cocktail bar, tea counter, and more. And while much of the space remains closed, fortunately diners still have ways to sample the restaurant’s stellar Chinese menu.”

China Live’s Signature Chili Bean Sauce was a finalist in the 2022 Good Food Awards, presented by the Good Food Foundation. The sauce is mildly spicy with a rich umami flavor, and the perfect addition to your favorite dishes. Another Good Food Awards finalist Chef Chen’s Famous Chili Crisp, which George Chen says “is a delicious topping for almost anything, and a must for your Asian pantry.” It is made with carefully selected ingredients such as rice bran oil, dried chili flakes, broad bean paste, fermented soybeans, Shaoxing rice wine, and paprika. We’re sure that you’ll find a lot of uses for either of these sauces.

Visit: https://chinalivesf.com/

AUSTIN EASTCIDERS SPICED PEACH

Hard cider continues to grow in popularity every year, and each region that makes it tries to outdo the others with their creativity and product sources. Austin, Texas for example, or specifically Austin Eastciders, has a limited release of spiced peach cider that is sure to have anyone with a thirst trying to snatch them out of the refrigerator without being noticed. California, Washington State, Oregon, and New York are all well-known for their ciders, but with their new spiced peach cider that reminescent of a delicious cobbler, Austin definitely holds its own.

Brittnay Perlo, Master Cider Maker at Austin Eastciders says, “Now what is better than the perfect combination of fresh peaches, crisp apples, and mulling spices? You will taste notes of ripe juicy peaches, and undertones of orange, cinnamon and nutmeg.”

Adds Dave Rule, VP of Marketing at Austin Eastciders, “Spiced Peach tastes like we threw some of your grandmother’s Peach Cobbler in the fermentation tank. Blending mulling spices with apples and apple cider is a long-standing American tradition. It reminds us of football season, tailgating, getting together with old friends and family and huddling together to stay warm.”

Austin Eastciders’ Spiced Peach is made with real fruit, no artificial sweeteners, and is gluten-free. The Spiced Peach is available in 12-packs as part of Austin Eastciders’ Winter Variety Pack, and on draft. Visit https://www.austineastciders.com/ to learn more.

 

Music Video: Official SickMix Part 1 Features DMX, Linkin Park, Saweetie, Lil Nas X, Drake, Kanye West

When DMX passed away in 2021, most fans and musicians were shocked and surprised, and the demand for his greatest hits took off as many looked to hear once again his fantastic lyrics and rhymes. One fan in particular, Sickick, created a tribute to his greatest hits, with a super cool medley that makes you want to hit the nearest party floor.

Check it out here:  Official SickMix Part 1 Features DMX, Linkin Park, Saweetie, Lil Nas X, Drake, Kanye West

More about Sickick:
▸ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sickickmusic
▸ Instagram: https://instagram.com/sickickmusic/​​
▸ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sickickmusic​​

TasteTV Gift Guide: 3 Gourmet Spice Sets You Will Love

Happiness is the spice of life is a truism. What is also true is that spice is a source of happiness. Especially when cooking and eating your meals. If you want to give someone an ongoing source of happiness, giving them (or yourself), a few great spice sets will never steer you wrong.

Without a well stocked spice collection, the home chef is like a painter with just one color. Sounds rather bland, doesn’t it?

Fortunately, we’ve taken a look at several, and here are some of our favorites: SpiceWalla, Nielsen-Massey, and Mola Foods.

SpiceWalla 18 Pack Kitchen Essentials Spice & Seasonings Pack

This kit has everything an experienced or novice home chef could want for most meals, hence the name “essential.” Eighteen different tins contain a variety of spices and seasonings, each packaged in a nice container that looks good on its own or in your spice rack.

The kit includes: Cumin Seed – Kashmiri Chilli Powder – Granulated Garlic -Granulated Onion – Dark Chilli Powder – Ground Yellow Mustard – Crushed Red Pepper – Smoked Paprika – Green Cardamom Powder – Cinnamon Powder – Cloves – Ground Turmeric – Coriander Seed – Mediterranean Oregano – Rosemary – Herbs de Provence – Fennel Seed – Ground Ginger.

What also makes it a great gift is that it will take quite a while for someone to get through all of these ingredients, and each time they use them they will think of you.

Find it Here

Nielsen Massey Extracts: Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract, Peppermint Extract

Nielsen-Massey has long been the industry standard for high quality Pure Vanilla Extract. This is impressive, considering the competition from the artificial vanilla ‘flavoring’ brands, plus the amount of time and effort it takes to grow a real vanilla plant to fruit. Vanilla comes from an orchid vine, and the flowers produce seed pods from which the vanilla beans and essence are extracted. Anyone who has ever tried to grow orchids know that it is a labor and time intensive enterprise that gives us this fantastic taste.

Nielsen-Massey puts the same care into their other extracts, including one for Pure Almond and another for Pure Peppermint. Used together, you can imagine the feast of cookies and cakes that you can bring to the table!

Find them Here.

Mola Foods, Culture in a Bottle

Mola Foods has a range of spice blends, and each is inspired by a particular culture or region of the World. Founded by Jeannette Bryant, her spices are vegan friendly and vibrant.

One thing you will find once you start using any of these spice blends is that it doesn’t really matter what it was originally intended to elicit. It could say Indian, it could say Ethiopian, it could say Spicy or General. You are going to use it on EVERYTHING. Eggs, steak, chicken, vegetables, stews, fish… The list goes on, because it turns out that they are not just fresh, they are also extremely versatile. The basic ingredients of garlic power, onion powder, salt, perhaps some turmeric, etc., can be used as a general seasoning, and they are used in exactly that way.

Prepare for heavy duty usage and happiness.

Find it Here.

MUSIC VIDEO: Kandace Springs & Daryl Hall – Meet Me In The Sky

You can’t go wrong with a groovy ballad, and Meet Me In The Sky by Kandace Springs is definitely all that!

This song was one that helped catapult indie-singer and YouTube prodigy Kandace Springs to fame. She performs it live in studio with crooner Daryl Hall, on his television series, “Live from Daryl’s House,” for cable channel AXS TV.

About Kandace Springs

Per Wikipedia: “Kandace Springs was born in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, in 1989. Her father Scat Springs was a session singer in Nashville. She has two sisters. At the age of ten she started following piano lessons. She grew up listening to jazz and soul singers like Nina Simone. She was noted for performing Sam Smith’s Stay with Me on the internet. She moved to New York City to work with Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. She believes that music can touch people, spread a message, keep the world sane.

In 2014, she released her self-titled debut EP for the jazz label Blue Note Records. It was produced by Pop & Oak. Love Got in the Way was her first music video. She collaborated with Ghostface Killah on his 2014 single Love Don’t Live Here No More. She performed live on several TV shows: the Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Later… with Jools Holland. Prince asked her to perform with him on stage.

For her 2016 album, Soul Eyes, she kept working with Sturken and Rogers, but she also attracted producer Larry Klein, who praised her as a natural talent. On smooth ballads like Place to Hide and relaxed mid-tempo songs like Talk to Me, she accompanied herself on the piano. Collaborating artists were trumpeter Terence Blanchard, guitarists Dean Parks and Jesse Harris, and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. Her 2018 album Indigo was produced by Karriem Riggins. It combines the vocal jazz tradition with modern R&B influences and a trumpet solo by Roy Hargrove.

On January 31, 2020, Springs released the lead single, “Pearls”, off her third studio album, The Women Who Raised Me. The album was released in March 2020. The Women Who Raised Me is a covers album featuring renditions of songs made famous by some of history’s most iconic vocalists: Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Flack, Astrud Gilberto, Lauryn Hill, Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, Carmen McRae, Bonnie Raitt, Sade, Nina Simone, and Dusty Springfield.

http://www.kandacesprings.com/

About Daryl’s Restaurant & Live Music Club

The genesis of Daryl’s House came from a light-bulb moment seven years ago, when Daryl Hall first had the idea for his Webby Award-winning series, Live from Daryl’s House, which started on the Internet and has since become a fixture on MTV network Palladia.

“Why not just play music at my house and let people see what musicians are really like, when they are relaxed, and among friends,” says the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. “At the same time, although people could see me at home, there was no way to invite everybody over to have some food and watch us musicians play.”

With the opening of Daryl’s House, which officially launched with a special Daryl Hall and John Oates live Yahoo webcast this past Halloween, now, in Daryl’s own words, “We can all hang out, drink some wine, have a good time and listen to some great music.”

Formerly the Towne Crier at 130 Route 22, the new venue’s refurbishing has been personally supervised by Daryl himself, whose own passion for restoring historic homes has been well-documented on his show, Daryl’s Restoration Over-Hall on the DIY network. The venue is also the new home for Live from Daryl’s House TV show.

Hall has remodeled the venue in a similar fashion to his former 1770s home in nearby Millerton. “I’ve converted everything, from the tables and chairs, to the walls and ceiling, to an 18th-century style so it looks like a big version of my house,” Hall said. “It’s a very Early American, New England-y kind of vibe.”

The eclectic menu was also carefully overseen by Daryl, with chef Elena Angelides in charge, featuring steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches, including, naturally, Philly Cheese Steak Provolone Cheese, Daryl’s Shrimp with Tomato Basil and Half Roasted Chicken “a la Joe Walsh.” Angelides previously was the chief for Mozambique in Newport Beach, CA, among others.

Daryl says: “Welcome to my House!”

20 Fashion Designers are here in the Sustainable Designer Runway Show: Digital Cruise

Wear the Future recently produced their first Digital Cruise virtual fashion event in Los Angeles. The SS/2021 season’s runway show was dedicated to sustainable designers, and was broadcast directly on Instagram.

The Digital Cruise show solely focused on eco-friendly, sustainable and conscious designers from all around the world. The collection was made up of an outstanding selection of 20 under-the-radar fashion couture designers, with a diversity of perspectives, origins and styles.

It was also formatted as a “See Now – Buy Now” and live conscious fashion show, where viewers could purchase their favorite pieces immediately from the Cruise.

Samples from the Digital Cruise

www.matthiascarette.com

www.matthiascarette.com

www.matthiascarette.com

 

See more
https://www.instagram.com/wear_thefuture/

 

3 Black Owned Accessory Brands that Diversify Your Style

People don’t often think about the positive impact they can have by just expanding the variety of places where the shop. According to Forbes.com, although over 50% of women-owned businesses are women of color, they only brought in 422 billion dollars in revenue vs white women-owned businesses who brought in 1.4 trillion dollars in revenue.

This means that there are lot of great designers out there that you not only should find, but will be thrilled that you did. Here are three great ones to add to your list of places to get great style.

 

Brysie Lane

Brysie Lane, the black owned interchangeable handbag brand, is designed to eliminate the dreaded purse swap. Brysie Lane was founded by former Microsoft Program Manager, Seina Wedlick, to provide women with an everyday bag that can evolve with every outfit change. With the mantra “One Bag, Many Looks” the brand allows women to express their personal style through genuine leather bags and interchangeable accessories, for under $300. Brysie Lane is a reflection of Seina’s personal and professional journey. Named after her children, Bryce and Sierra, Brysie Lane was created with the desire to streamline processes and make an everyday item practical for all occasions. Brysie Lane is available for preorder on https://www.brysielane.com/.

Salone Monet

Salone Monet emphasizes the fact that “nude is not a color” – the brand makes six “nude” shades that fit a wide range of skin tones. In addition to the stunning color options, each pair of shoes is made from high-quality materials, including leather and satin, by expert cobblers in Italy. Styles come in 6 shades of different nudes and price ranges from $200 – $250. New silhouettes like the Anita, a sleek pump and Jojo, a basic flat, are now available on the website for pre-order. Salone Monet, Founder/Creative Salone Monet is the founder and creative behind the color inclusive nude shoe brand Salone Monet. Her color inclusive line has adorned the feet of Beyoncé Knowles, Gabrielle Union, and Keke Palmer. https://salonemonet.com/

Ten Wilde

Ten Wilde is an all gold jewelry line designed in Los Angeles. Always aiming for versatility through trendy yet timeless pieces, every jewel is created with the multi-faceted gem in mind. Meaning the ever-evolving, infinite, multi-faceted woman. Established in 2016 by Tenisha Wilde, Ten Wilde is a direct reflection of her personal style, which embodies her love for many styles found across the world. With a range of gold plated, gold filled, and solid gold, each Ten Wilde jewel is offered at an affordable price ranging, under $100, in the form of versatile hoops, layering chains, pendant necklaces, signature waist chains and more. A gem for every gem. https://tenwilde.com/