Winning Flavors

Celebrate awards season with these noteworthy snacks and sips.

And the award goes to…

The glitz, the glamour, the fancy cocktails—what’s not to love about awards season? We’re helping you celebrate like a celebrity with award-winning items, from rich blue cheese and crisp crackers to party-worthy bottles of bubbly. Bring them to your next soiree or be the host(ess) with the most and serve them at your own gathering.

The show is about to begin, so grab a glass, don your finest (or most comfortable) attire and discover what makes these winners so special.

Super Star Starters

Add these notable cheeses, crackers and toppings to your viewing party spread. They’re all recipients of various food awards, including Good Food Awards (recognizing superior taste and responsible practices) and sofi™ (Specialty Food Association) Awards. Both conduct blind taste tests to find the most delicious, exceptional foods available.

Point Reyes Original Blue + Bloom Honey + Rustic Bakery Crackers

Love bold blue cheeses? Try Point Reyes Original Blue, winner of the 2019 Good Food Award. Produced on a family farm since 2000, this cheese is made from raw, rBST-free cows’ milk and has a rich, bold flavor with a hint of sweetness and a distinct, peppery finish. It’s ultra-creamy and extra decadent.

Pungent cheese are best complemented by something sweet. We recommend adding a drizzle of smooth, delicate sage flavored Bloom Honey. Another 2019 Good Food Award winner, this raw honey is unfiltered, unpasteurized and prized for its delicate flavor and smooth finish. Its floral characteristics come from purple sage, black sage and California wildflowers.

Rustic Bakery Crackers These crackers are an entertaining essential. Plus, they pair perfectly with the cheeses and toppings mentioned above and below. Their Olive Oil and Sel Gris Flatbread crackers won a 2019 Good Food Award in the snack category. They’re designed to complement fine cheeses and are light, flaky and oh-so versatile.

Pleasant Ridge Reserve + Date Lady Organic Syrup + Rustic Bakery Crackers

Sweet, savory and perfectly complex, Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese is a must-try. Winner of a 2019 Good Food Award, this aged, alpine-style cheese is rich and salty, with a long, fruity finish. Its sweetness comes from grass-fed milk, while savory flavors stem from the cheese’s natural, washed rind.

Enhance the flavors of this distinctive cheese with a light drizzle of date syrup. We love Date Lady Organic Syrup, silver winner of the 2018 sofi™ Award for dessert sauce or topping. Crafted from 100% organic dates, this syrup has a unique flavor well suited for sweet and savory dishes alike. When you’re not pairing it with an award-winning cheese and cracker, you can also use it as a replacement for processed sugar or honey when cooking or baking.

Cocktails, anyone?

Try Bittermilk No. 2, silver winner of a 2017 sofi™ Award for drink and cocktail mix. We love to use this mixer in our recipe for The Weekender. Handmade with minimal ingredients, Bittermilk mixers make it easy to enjoy simple, delicious cocktails with minimal effort.

A Toast to Bubbles

You can’t have a proper party without a glass of something sparkly. If you’re serving alcohol*, we recommend these celebrated sips.

1Domaine Chandon Brut

For a rich, Chardonnay-led sparkling wine, try Domaine Chandon Brut, winner of the Best Australian Sparkling Wine at the 2018 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships. Grown in the cool climate of Victoria, Australia, it’s complex and intense, with aromas of pear, ginger, apple and spice. It also undergoes two separate fermentations, so the bubbles are exceptionally fine.

2Gruet Brut

For a crisp, full-bodied sparkler, try Gruet Brut. “Cooking Light Magazine” named it “Thanksgiving Value 2016,” while Wine Spectator and Wine & Spirits named it a “Best Buy” in 2012 and 2015. Flavors of apple and citrus lead to an alluring, toasty finish. Perfect on its own, it also pairs well with starters and simple entrées, like grilled chicken.

3Anna De Codorníu Blanc De Blancs Heart

If you’re looking for something a little more romantic, try limited-edition Anna De Codorníu Blanc De Blancs Heart, silver winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2015. This bottle celebrates romance, beauty and love with a gorgeous heart design. It’s delicate, elegant and fresh, and is sure to make an impression.

*Wine cannot be sold from stores in CT, DE, KY, MD, MS, NJ and PA.

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