syrups

California-based Olli Salumeria, known for its high-quality, artisanal salami, recently announced that it’s launching the first preservative-free salami in the North American market. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the company’s history of tradition, its products and the new preservative-free salami. Nitrates and nitrites serve several purposes in food preservation since they inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, help to maintain the pink or red color of cured meats and contribute to the distinctive flavor of cured meats. However, there are concerns about the consumption of nitrates and nitrites, since they can form nitrosamines, some of which have been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies. The company’s new curing process relies on a simplified salt cure and naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds, which are beneficial antioxidants commonly found in foods like berries, dark chocolate and red wine. The team wonders whether salt should still be considered a preservative but praises the company for catering to consumers looking for clean label ingredients and products.

Also in this episode, Sydney talks about a recent phenomenon making waves on social media: water recipes. Water recipes refer to a variety of methods to enhance plain water by adding flavorings, typically sugar-free syrups, powdered flavorings or a combination of the two. The popular trend of sharing these water recipes on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, has been dubbed as #WaterTok. However, what began as a fun, quirky way for individuals to increase their water intake has also given rise to controversy. The line between water and juice seems to be blurring, causing many to question whether these enhanced beverages should still be classified as water. In addition, there is a debate around the excessive use of sweeteners in water recipes, with some nutritionists and dieticians cautioning against the use of artificially colored and flavored syrups. The team analyzes this trend from several angles, including from a business perspective and a sustainability point of view, but points out that, as with any viral food and beverage trend, moderation is key.

Read the full article here:

Olli Salumeria Pioneers First Preservative-Free Salami in North America

Water Recipes: The Rise and Controversy of the WaterTok Trend

For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.

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In the world of cocktails, it's usually the spirits and the liqueurs that tend to get all the love. 

But as anyone who has made drinks knows, it's the syrups and mixes that are often the true stars of the show. But taking the flavour profile of your drinks up to the next level with a flavoured syrup is often more difficult than that sounds. 

Going through the rigamarole of having to find the ingredients and ensure consistency means that it's simply easier to turn to a pre-made syrup. 

One business that is sweetening the experience is Cocktails & Sons. Started by award-winning bartenders, and husband and wife duo,  Max Messier, and Lauren Myerscough, the brand aims to bring simplicity to your bar. 

To find out more, we talked to Lauren about flavours, simplifying syrups, and of course the drinks that you can make with them. 

As we welcome the Christmas season, there’s an excited buzz in the air as we prep for all the parties and gatherings. What better way to bring on the holiday cheer than the perfect cocktail or mocktail to enjoy with your family, friends, loved ones, and peers.

In this episode, I’m bringing back Megan and Bill Miller of Crescent Simples, a craft food company that aims to elevate the home bartender experience through accessible high-quality cocktail products made from fresh ingredients. 

As former bartenders from New Orleans, Bill and Megan were inspired by their passion for creating great gatherings to create a brand that allows people to re-create great cocktails at home. Their vision to elevate the home bartending experience for everyone brought Crescent Simples to life. Their story of how they took this startup business and partnered with other businesses and then expanded production to a new location is truly encouraging. It’s noteworthy that they have managed to grow their brand and business in just a few years despite the pandemic.

Listen to learn about what bartending tips and essentials you should always have in your home, the importance of packaging and branding in a business, and how their commitment to stay under five ingredients has led to their growth. 

Virginia Foodie Essentials:

• Our philosophy was that we want to help people do the things that they do in restaurants at home and our simple syrups are a way to bridge that gap, especially with them being all fresh fruit, raw herbs and no preservatives. - Bill Miller
• The biggest way that I create those relationships with the farmers and make sure that they have enough to provide for us is just by meeting people at the farmer's market. - Megan Miller
• Design really is a function of business. - Georgiana Dearing

Key Points From This Episode:

• The vision of Crescent Simples
• Working with a commercial kitchen
• Crescent Simples flavors inspiration
• How the pandemic affected their business
• Sourcing local ingredients 
• What inspired them to be a food creator
• Why design is an important function of a business
• The importance of building relationships with farmers and providers
• Their process of finding and experimenting with new flavors

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Crescent Simples Recipes
• Hatch
• Virginia Food Works
• 4P Foods
• Cavalier Produce

More about the Guest:

Megan and Bill Miller are the owners of Crescent Simples, a craft food brand that's on a mission to elevate the experience of the home bartender to accessible high-quality cocktail products made from fresh ingredients.

You can now find Crescent Simples in more than 80 stores across 14 states, and they are currently located in Richmond, Virginia.

Connect with Crescent Simples:

• Instagram
• Website

Follow The Virginia Foodie here:

• VA Foodie website
• The Virginia Foodie on Instagram
• VA Foodie Instagram
• VA Foodie on Twitter

In this episode we got Ted Breaux (chemist, absinthe specialist & creator of Lucid) on the phone to school us about the history of absinthe, the Lucid brand, and exactly how he got the absinthe ban overturned in the U.S. You DO NOT want to miss this episode.

In this episode we talk with Caleb Deno about combining flavors and coming up with original cocktails. If you've been wanting to spice up your cocktail game, here's how to do it.

Jen Ross and Cristina Ros Blankfein, are co-founders of Swoon, zero sugar cocktail mixers and syrups, and now!, ready-to-drink sugar free lemonades. On this episode of ITS, Jen and Cristina talk Ali through rebranding to expand into the ready-to-drink set, how it all comes down to relationships, and why listening to your super fans can be your super power.

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Christa Cotton is the owner of El Guapo Bitters in New Orleans. She stopped by the HRN tent at Slow Food Nations with her dog, Winston, to talk about the history of El Guapo and share how her team's getting ready for the upcoming Tales of the Cocktail.

Prohibition era cocktail ingredients made by hand with love in New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally founded by a local bartender at a popular upscale (but since shuttered) restaurant in the French Quarter, El Guapo began commercial production in 2014. All ingredients are locally sourced and traceable to the farm level, or third party certified organic. The entire line is non-GMO and vegetarian, too. Winners of two 2018 Good Food Awards; El Guapo products can be found behind upscale bars and restaurants across the US and abroad, as well as on store shelves at fine independent retailers and national partners like Whole Foods. Recently featured in Coastal Living, Southern Living, Cooking Light and Edible, El Guapo is growing beyond its roots in the Gulf South region.

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This week, Damon and Sother are joined in studio by Lauren Myerscough, co-founder of Cocktail & Sons. The company has a line of all-natural hand-crafted syrups, cordials, and tea concentrates for a variety of bars and restaurants in New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and more!

Also joining them is Valerie Franco, satellite regular at Amor y Amargo and drummer extraordinaire, who appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers last night (and will be again in the near future)!

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