Food Awards

Celebrating

By Amy Traverso

In The Five Years

since we launched our annual Editors’ Choice Food Awards, so many new and delicious local foods have come to market it’s become a year-round job to keep up with them all. Our perpetual search leads us to farmers’ markets, gourmet shops, festivals, supermarkets, and farm stands across New England, and we delight in finding these gems, from explosively flavorful chocolate crafted in New Hampshire from raw cacao beans to a winning Connecticut cheese made on one of the most beautiful farms we’ve ever seen. It makes us happy to shine a spotlight on these producers and bring their bounty to you—to serve at a holiday party, to give as gifts, or simply to enjoy yourself.

Early on, we decided that instead of organizing the awards around a single best-in-category approach, we would highlight foods that meet a standard of quality and deliciousness that makes them truly exceptional. Think of these as “awards of excellence,” rather than an either/or competition.

In that spirit, we hope you’ll enjoy these New England treats. Most products are available by mail, but we’ve also included a few foods from smaller producers that sell only on-site or in local markets. We like to support the little guys, too, and we promise they’re worth seeking out. Happy holidays!