Top 5 Foodie Finds: The Next Big Thing in Specialty Foods and Gourmet Products

1. Trendy New Gourmet Food: Butter. Familiar with Himalayan pink salt? Fleur de Sel? Introducing fancy butter: Organic Valley Pasture Butter, produced only in summer when cows create the most flavorful, nutrient-rich milk. As if you needed another reason to reach for the bread basket.

2. Must-Have Gourmet Product: SousVide Supreme. Top Chef addicts who “plate food” know about cooking “sous vide”. Now, home cooks have a water oven at an “affordable” price. Truly for gourmands.

3. Great Food Find: John & Kira’s Urban Garden Bars. These new chocolate bars use ingredients from urban gardens for flavors like Tangy Orange + Garden Rosemary. A portion of profits goes to the gardens.

4. Our Favorite Wine for Fall: Dusted Valley Boomtown 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington. My new favorite wine under $15, unbelievable richness for the price. Make it your “house” wine.

5. Diet Conscious Specialty Food: Galaxy Desserts Mousse Duos. Guaranteed to be the best 110 calories of your day. Lap up its rich decadence without fear, thanks to built-in portion control.

Anu Karwa, Epicurean Contributing Editor

Anu Karwa has been called a no-nonsense walking 411 for a new generation of female wine drinkers and home entertainers since she launched Swirl Events, an in-home and corporate wine tasting events company with a fresh, hip spin. For anyone who thinks Perez Hilton should be required reading . . . Read more of Anu’s top epicurean tips, tricks & product picks.