Food and wine festivals are a delicious way to find a new flavor for your palate and tummy. Saturday I ventured to Clearwater Beach Uncorked (Feb. 6 & 7, 2016), the hippest food and wine festival on the beach. I’ll admit, Mother Nature blew in rain and a chill (it was in the 50s!) but the big, white tents provided a lovely shelter from the elements. Plus, the body heat from other foodies jammed under the tents ensured hypothermia didn’t set in.
There were many delicious flavors to sample and here are my 10 favorite flavors from 2016 Clearwater Beach Uncorked:
Cooper’s Hawk: Rhubarb Wine
Rhubarb defined summer when I was a kid growing up in Western New York and I love anything rhubarb. When I saw Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants was serving Rhubarb Wine, I had to sample it. It was like drinking a summer of my childhood. It was refreshingly light was a light taste of rhubarb pie.
A photo posted by Jennifer Huber (@jenniferhuber) on
Duncan Hines: Strawberry Cheesecake Cake Truffles
I’m not a big dessert person but these little gems by Duncan Hines were divine! It was a flavorful bite of strawberry with a slightly chewy texture. Made from the new Duncan Hines Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake mix, it’s prepared into a dough with the cream cheese frosting (which is included in the box), and rolled in shredded coconut. I was so impressed with them that I’ll be making them for the Big Game. Here’s the recipe for Strawberry Cheesecake Cake Truffles.
Eat Well, Embrace Life: Zesty Sriracha Carrot Hummus
I’m a fan of hummus and could eat it daily. Eat Well, Embrace Life makes some tasty, other-bean hummus such as Beet, Wasabi Edamame, and Cucumber but my fave during the event was Zesty Sriracha Carrot Hummus because it has a nice kick.
Island Flavors and Tings, a Jamaican Restaurant, Caterer and Grocer: Slider
Mmm, mmm. I waited in a lengthy line for this, unsure what I was in line for but well worth the wait. I was served a delicious beef slider topped with crunchy, slightly sweet coleslaw and a spicy sauce on a soft bun from Island Flavors and Tings. I may need to head to Gulfport, Fla., for lunch someday soon to have another one of these delicious treats.
A photo posted by Jennifer Huber (@jenniferhuber) on
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale: Honey Barrel Brown Ale
Beer had a nice presence and I had a chance to taste a few brews. My top pick from Clearwater Beach Uncorked is the Honey Barrel Brown Ale by Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It’s the beer of Bourbon Country and the Honey Barrel Brown Ale is brewed with honey and ginger and aged in a bourbon barrel.
mü: Slide
“I’ll be at the mü booth,” the retro-rad celebrity chef Emily Ellyn said to me earlier in the day.
“Moo?” I thought, thinking it was somehow connected with the Dairy Council.
mü is a creamy, coffeehouse-inspired cocktail with a wine base. Flavors include Creamy Chocolate Chai, Creamy Espresso Macchiato and Creamy Coco Cappuccino. The mü booth was serving up a variety of treats including shots of frozen, creamy mud slides.
Shephard’s Ocean Flame Interactive Buffet: Shrimp and Grits
Really, do I need to explain how wonderful shrimp and grits can be? Shephard’s was a winner with this cup of goodness, officially labeled a Cajun sauté of shrimp with Tasso ham and Creole spices over Southern-style three cheese grits.
Silver Spring: (Virgin) Bloody Mary with Prepared Horseradish
What’s the best way to let foodies taste horseradish? Well, you’re not going to hand out spoonfuls of it so the (virgin) Bloody Mary with Silver Spring Prepared Horseradish was perfect. I like heat and appreciate pulp and this horseradish is the real deal with a powerful giddy up and go.
Social Enjoyments: Toasted Coconut Almond Sake Wine
U.S.-made sake? Yup, it’s becoming more common, but Toasted Coconut Almond Sake Wine by Social Enjoyments doesn’t taste like traditional sake, I found it more refreshing without an aftertaste. This sake is made with organic brown rice; each 10oz can is 88 calories; it’s certified organic, gluten, sulfite and GMO-free; contains 1g of sugar and 4g of cards; and 1 percent of sales given to charity.
Tom + Chee: Grilled Cheese
Y’all, I stood in line and let people invade my personal space for a grilled cheese sandwich about the size of my big toe, but it was pretty dang tasty. Tom + Chee are experts when it comes to perfecting grilled cheese. The bread’s grilled crust was buttery and crunchy yet soft inside. The cheese was warm, creamy, gooey and perfect for the day.
Did you attend Clearwater Beach Uncorked? What was your favorite flavor?
