Drinks are a growing category at the show. This year sophisticated soft drinks caught our eye. Effervé has a line of authentically flavored and artistically colored fruit soft drinks made in France. Refreshing flavors like Lemonade, Pomegranate-Blueberry, Blood Orange, Green Apple and Pear are available locally at Homegoods and TJ Max. Grown Up Soda, whose motto is, “Soda. Only Better”, are adult flavored soft drinks made with real juice, natural extracts, cane sugar and no preservatives. Authentic tasting Ginger Ale made with fresh ginger is a standout along with a less sweet Dry Cola, Dry Valencia Orange, Star Ruby Grapefruit and Dry Blackberry.

Preserves and chutneys are a palette-catching category, abundant with unique flavors: Rhubarb-Vanilla; Strawberry, Balsamic, & Pink Peppercorn, and Curried Apple & Coconut from the Preservatory in Canada; Balsamic & Red Onion, Peach, and Green Tomato Chutneys from Holmsted-Fines in Birmingham, AL; Picnic in Paris, Peachy Keen, Falling Leaves and Harvest Fair jams from Doves and Figs in Arlington, MA. These jams and preserves aren’t just for breakfast anymore. Try them with rich creamy cheeses, stirred into a sauce or on the side with a roast – yum!

Condiments are moving upmarket. Sir Kensington’s makes ketchup with 50% less sugar, mayonnaise with free range eggs that has an old fashioned vinegar tang and medal-winning mustard. Their Special Sauce was a show award winner (sirkensingtons.com). Empire Mayonnaise, made in Brooklyn, has blazed the trail for upscale mayonnaise made with pasture raised eggs and local seasonal flavors like ghost pepper, sriracha, rosemary, bacon as well as classic mayo, of course. (empiremayo.com)