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What is "Fancy Food"?
More than a gift basket...
An introduction...
I came upon this term "fancy foods" when out looking for new and interesting gourmet products for the web site. It took a little research, but I think I have figured out what the term really means and more importantly, what it can mean to your culinary experience.
We've already discussed the meaning of the word "gourmet", which is the appreciation of high quality ingredients used to prepare food accurately and artistically. My understanding of fancy foods is that they are most often the specific high-quality ingredients that make up either the individual dish or the meal as a whole which are then combined with an artistic or gourmet flair in presentation.
Think component and/or end result.
The foods pictured to the right are simply scallop, macaroons, Oyster Shooters (sounds pretty nasty to me - fancy or not!), salmon bites, and chocolate souffle, but with artistic presentation, they look pretty fancy.
As further example, scrambled eggs can be scrambled eggs - with the addition of a little milk, salt and pepper. Or, scrambled eggs can become "fancy food" if you use the following recipe:
1. Combine the chopped herbs. In a medium bowl use a fork to loosely combine the eggs and cream. Stir in cream cheese, the herbs, and a little salt and pepper. Eggs do not have to be completely uniform.
2. In a 10-inch heavy non-stick skillet melt the butter over medium heat. Add the eggs and stir with a spatula for a few seconds.
3. Lower heat to medium low and keep stirring, scraping up any egg sticking to the pan, for 3 minutes, or until large curds form. Eggs can be served almost wet, moist yet approaching firm (my preference), or quite firm.
Serve hot, maybe with a salad of tart greens and orange sections for contrast.
And I thought my scrambled egg breakfast was "fancy" if I had it with an English muffin instead of toast!
As is turns out, there is an entire industry devoted to fancy or what many of us call "specialty" foods. They even have a fancy food show, with 250,000 products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural, and organics, with distributors and vendors from more than 81 countries!
You can find out if there is an annual fancy food show near you by clicking on the link in the paragraph above.
Touch of Europe has over 5000 items including European luxury imported skin care & spa items, gourmet foods & beverages, linens, décor and accessories, tableware, kitchenware, porcelain, eco and organic items in both personal care and gourmet food.
These high quality and specially selected items come from many countries, including: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Great Britain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
I'm not going to recreate their web site here, but will showcase a few items of great value to a country gourmet kitchen.
Since we're starting with gourmet olive oils and vinegars, here is a great link from What's Cooking America full of information regarding choices and uses for high-quality olive oils.
Gourmet Oils and Vinegars
14.4 oz bottle, decorative enough to live on the counter and go from counter to kitchen. Will make a good gourmet addition to your kitchen or give as a great and thoughtful gift.
Decorative with olives in the bottle, and superior quality French cold pressed Extra Virgin Olive oil. French Import.
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This is another winner, sure to please any gourmet or gourmand and comes in a sturdy corrugated box.
Inside, 2 gourmet oils, and 2 gourmet vinegars, each 16 fl oz.
Contents:
Save over the individual price and give a great gourmet gift!
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French Provence Extra Virgin Olive Oil First Cold Press from the Moulins de la Brague.
The mill of La Brague, in the South of France, is a fifth generation family owned mill producing the best extra virgin olive oil and olive related products.
This is a very high quality oil that will surely enhance all your cooking extravaganzas!
Buy Now & Get Free Shipping on all orders over $50
Some additional gourmet and seafood choices - easy shopping: Order online, delivered to your home!
Let's have a look at delectable options from a several Fancy Food categories starting with just a few fine offerings from Touch of Europe.
Pere Pelletier Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Decorative Bottle with Olives
2 Boxed French Gourmet Oils and 2 Vinegars
French Provence Extra Virgin Olive Oil First Cold Press 16 oz
This is just the beginning of a fancy food discussion. Coming up next...
