A world of flavor is coming at us
	The New York Fancy Food show took place recently with more than 300,000 square feet of gourmet foods on display. This is the largest show of its kind in the world. Every nation that produces food for retail sale exhibits its new lines. I mean every nation, from Greece to Malaysia, Tunisia to the good old United States of America.
The exhibits represent the most creative flavor combinations, unique packaging and innovative food products in the world. This year, as I walk around the show, I focus on the next big flavors. There are all sorts of spices, condiments and ingredients that will hit the market this year. With the Internet and ethnic stores making these ingredients available, you can have them in your kitchen within days, if not hours. Anything Indian: This bold, intensely flavored cuisine remains hot. There are wonderful spices available that make cooking Indian food simple. These include cardamom seeds; garam masala, a spice mixture used to season many Indian dishes; and black nigella seeds, sometimes called black onion seeds or black cumin seeds. Remember, for authentic flavors, you must invest in the good stuff. Spiced chocolate: Look for upscale chocolates spiked with curry, chili, orange peel, cumin and ginger. When I was in Italy and Mexico, I enjoyed eating chili-spiced chocolate, but the curry bar I tried at the show is unsettling. Functional foods: With their sales growing in double-digit spurts, functional foods provide nutritional benefits. Look for nuts spiced with various flavors, and Amazonian super fruits such as acai and goji berries in trail mixes, juices, ice cream, cereals and candy bars. We love them because they are loaded with antioxidants and essential amino acids. Latin American fruits such as mangosteen, carica and lucuma will soon be in your supermarket, mostly preserved in jars. External Source - For the complete article click here Source - South Florida Sun-Sentinel