Fine Cheese Crackers
The soft texture and complex flavours of these high-quality crackers made just for cheese complement rather than overwhelm. Pair the Olive Oil and Sea Salt with the Cheesiry’s pecorino-style cheeses or a chunk of Manchego; we love the Fig with any blue cheese. The good-looking package makes them a tasty hostess gift too. From the Fine Cheese Company in Bath, England. $6.99. Available at The Cavern.
Kitchen by Brad Devil’s Butter
Devil’s Butter is compound butter made with garlic, horseradish, hot sauce and mustard, just spicy enough to add an irresistible kick. Slather on steak or chops, toss with vegetables or brush on shrimp while grilling, $9. We’re big fans of whatever Brad has in the fridge for sale, nab the crème fraiche to go, if available. Available at Kitchen by Brad at the Friday Night Market.
Brilliant Beetroot Juice
Cawston Press Brilliant Beetroot Juice
Take fresh earthy beets, juice them, sweeten with 10 per cent apple juice, add nothing else and you have the delicious Brilliant Beetroot, chock-full of antioxidant goodness. That colour! It’s like drinking a jolt of spring. Or try the refreshing apple rhubarb blend. Made in Britain, 1 litre, $6.99. Available at Freson Bros, Stony Plain and Sandyview Farms, St Albert.
Roast Peanut Butter
Reginald’s Original Roast Peanut Butter
Trust a Virginian to come up with a toothsome peanut butter made from roasted Virginia peanuts and peanut oil. These are grown-up peanut butters to be eaten from the jar with a spoon. Two flavours, Bourbon Pecan, $9.99 and the Original Crunchy, $7.99, available at Call the Kettle Black.
Chickie Dough Dessert Hummus
Staci Fudge and Karmel Greter’s one- year-old farmers’ market business is changing minds about chickpeas. They have developed a delicious dessert-style hummus. “We wanted to make something cool, and thought, ‘what can we do that’s unique’?” said Staci. “We’re both dieticians and wanted something healthy. Karmel was recently diagnosed with celiac disease, so it had to be gluten-free and a bit of an indulgence.”
“We’ve learned a lot in a year. The concept of dessert hummus is a tough sell. We have to convince people to try it, but once they taste it, they are shocked by the flavour profile.”
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip is their best seller, and they do seasonal flavours— Pumpkin Spice in September, April was Matcha White Chocolate Chip. Surprisingly, all this indulgence rings in at under 10 grams of sugar per quarter cup serving, $5-$6 depending on flavour, available at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market and City Market Downtown.
Italian Ketchup
Mr. Organic Italian Ketchup
Each bottle contains 2.5 kg of ripe organic tomatoes grown on farms just south of Rome, sugar (30 per cent less than the standard), vinegar and salt. The result? The thickest, tomatoiest, yummiest ketchup you have ever tried. Made in Britain from Italian tomatoes, $9.99. Available at Freson Bros.
