The Best Bites and Sips from the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show | culture: the word on cheese
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The Best Bites and Sips from the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show


The summer 2025 Specialty Food Association Fancy Food Show showcased bites from around the country and globe

During a blistering heatwave in New York, the culture team came together for one sizzling Fancy Food Show. Read on for the cheesy (and cheese-adjacent) bites and sips that set our tastebuds on fire.

Mother Shrub Drinking Vinegars

 

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If you ever need a palate cleanser between cheese samples, culture‘s retail partnerships and event manager Shauna Epstein recommends Mother Shrub vinegars. “The carrot thyme was amazing,” she says.

Flouwer Co. Artisanal Crackers

 

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These edible flower-studded crackers are equally delicious and pretty, according to Epstein. No.1—her favorite—is Flouwer Co.’s signature flavor, featuring garden herbs such as rosemary, dill, and chive.

BelGioioso Cheeses

 

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BelGioioso’s latest cheeses impressed culture‘s publisher, Matt Thomas. Among the Wisconsin-based cheesemaker’s new offerings are fresh asiago with chili peppers, aged fontina, and vanilla mascarpone. Lunch options include pepperoni-fontina snacking rolls as well as fontina and provolone sandwich packs. Feeling peckish yet?

Mad Mutz Mozzarella Sticks

 

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Josie Krogh, Marketing Director of culture, describes these mozzarella sticks as providing a “truly excellent cheese pull.” Her favorite flavor at the show was the Hottie, which sports a spicy cracker crumb crust. (P.S. If this company looks familiar, that’s because it was on Shark Tank earlier this year.)

Southern Straws Cheese Straws

These spicy cheddar cheese straws from Southern Straws also captured Krogh’s attention. A bowl of these plus a Bloody Mary with some kick sounds like one decent happy hour.

CHEVOO Spreads & Cheeses

 

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CHEVOO recently launched a line of labnehs in several Mediterranean-inspired flavors. However, the original labneh with smoked sea salt is living in my head rent-free. I’m a sucker for labneh and anything smoked—this one’s giving my typical brand a run for its money. On the goat cheese side, the Urfa Chili & Lemon goat cheese cubes marinated in olive oil are now a must-have in my fridge at all times. They’re great for sharing with friends at a dinner party or as a luxurious treat to celebrate the start of the weekend.

Janet’s Finest Compotes

 

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The full range of Janet’s Finest Compotes make excellent accompaniments for cheeses, but two especially turned my head at the show: Raspberry Jalapeño and Blackberry Jalapeño. Both are rich in taste and deep in color, giving the fruits a new stage to shine on. Each packs a sweet heat I’m still craving one week later.

Alana Pedalino

Alana Pedalino serves as Managing Editor of culture. Her work has been featured in Bon Appétit, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and more. She loves to write, cook, and kayak. Find her bylines at alanapedalino.com.

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