Let’s be clear. Nobody cooks better than Mom. Your mom, your SO’s mom, your friend’s mom, everyone’s  mom is the best cook. It’s best not to argue about this, and sometimes it’s best to just let mom be the best. Don’t try to one-up her best recipes, don’t try to replicate anything. Basically, give up now. Instead, give mom chocolate as the gift worthy of her perfect taste and culinary aesthetic. Here’s a few mom-approved bars to become the favorite child:

Amano Raspberry Rose

This bar hits all the feel good spots Mom will love. Locally made (hellloooooo Orem!), artisan, and award-winning are just the beginning. Chocolate maker Art Pollard expertly crafts his bars to the highest standards. Mix in the crunchy tartness of raspberry and the delicate floral finish to rich Ecuadorian chocolate and you have one perfect chocolate experience. Don’t believe us? Art’s multitude of awards should convince you. Amano has won more awards than any other domestic craft chocolate maker, and this bar is an exceptional introduction to Amano’s selection of bars.

Cacao Sampaka Roses & Strawberries

Are you noticing a trend here? Delicate and floral is so in for craft chocolate these days. If Mom isn’t as excited about dark chocolate as we are, this is the one for you. Creamy white chocolate envelopes crystallized bits of rose and strawberry in a lovely example of textural juxtaposition and refined flavor. No soapiness or kool-aid artificial raspberry here. Only pure flavors and and swirled yet sophisticated mold. What’s more, Mom gets two bars in one of these packages. Twice as nice for Mom and one more reason you’re winning at this year’s gifting.

You know it’s gifting crunch time, we know it too. You’re still not sure what to give, and you haven’t started shopping yet? That’s OK, we won’t tell. Here’s what some of your favorite faces from Caputo’s are giving to their friends and family this year to serve as gifting inspiration.

Don’t see your favorite monger here? Drop by before the holiday—we’re open through the afternoon of Christmas Eve—and ask them for their personal recommendations. We’re certainly never lacking in opinions around here.

So, here you have it: each of our gift picks for 2016:

Matt Caputo
President and residing ulitmate boss-man

Scaldaferro Torrone – Scaldaferro is the perfect nexus of heirloom ingredients and outlier in skill. No other nougat on Earth will taste like this. In my somewhat expansive nougat experience, it is the best out there. With our modern day food system continuously degrading what people are willing to pay for food, it is a treasure that will likely be lost to history some day. I am giving Scaldaferro as a gift, because it is a perfect example what Caputo’s is trying to achieve. We fight to protect these traditional foods by sharing our passion for them with our friends, family, and customers.

Yelena Caputo
VP and ultimatest boss who oversees said boss-man

Pump Street Bakery Father Christmas – Is there anything better than a chocolate figurine of Saint Nick stuffed into your stocking on Christmas morning. There is – said Saint Nick made out of really, really good chocolate. Father Christmas is hand poured 60% dark milk chocolate from HCP protected Ecuador cacao beans. This is one I’ll be gifting both family and friends this season. The best part – Father Christmas is a whopping $8.99!

Adri Pachelli
Director of Education and expert gift wrapper

Holiday Chocolate Trio – I know exactly how much time went in to procuring the selection for all of our gift collections this year because I got to help! This collection is my favorite, it’s a taste of each holiday flavor we all know and love, but each is encased in chocolate. Who says no to something like this?! Scrooge, that’s who. Unless you’re searching for a Scrooge gift, this is perfect for stuffing individually into stockings or gifting bundled in adorable, festive gift wrap.

Mason Mostoller
Downtown Deli Manager and widely regarded happiest deli elf

Royal Rose Naughty or Nice Moscow Mule Duo – Moscow Mule’s gained their popularity in the 50’s and 60’s. Traditionally served with Vodka and ginger beer in a copper mug, this drink has become a regularly sought after item in most drinking establishments. Royal Rose’s Naughty or Nice Moscow Mule kit adds a twist to the mix in the “Naughty” mixer with the addition of fresh jalapeno peppers. I chose to gift this to my Mother because she has always been interested in Moscow Mules and the culture surrounding the drink.

Austin Shimada
Holladay General Manager and jolliest smiler

Utah Craft Chocolate Collection – What’s better than a bar of chocolate? A whole crate of local chocolates. Our local chocolate crate is a great way to introduce someone into the world of fine chocolate. I will be gifting our local chocolate crate to not only show my love for chocolate but also to support small local companies that strive to do such an amazing job.

Sean Rorke
University Deli Manager and avid hat wearer

Fee Brother’s Grapefruit Bitters – I’ll take a hefty dose of citrus any way I can get it in these cold winter months, why not incorporate it into cocktails?! I’ll be adding to gin & tonics at gatherings all season, but these make for a great gift for anyone interested in starting a home bar.

Antonia Horne
Affineuse and general cheese whisperer

The Silver Spoon cookbook – available at our Downtown location

The Silver Spoon is an elegant book brimming with recipes for classical Italian dishes, accompanied by striking photos. There is a recipe for practically any Italian ingredient you can think of, as well as many that may be unfamiliar. The recipes are straightforward and ingredient-focused, and I find this book inspiring when I want to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. If you love a food-nerd, you can not go wrong with this book. The Silver Spoon is a great investment in the future of your table and tastebuds!

We believe wholeheartedly in flavor here at Caputo’s. We celebrate the power of flavor’s ability to tell stories about the world in which we live and eat. It shapes our senses, it holds our histories, and it gives voice to our diversity. Unfortunately, the vast chorus that sings the world’s heirloom flavor notes is under a sustained attack from the rising tides of a globalized economy, a climate in utter crisis, and industrial agriculture’s efforts to homogenize food culture.

“Ask Matt Caputo” is an ongoing feature where Matt answers commonly asked questions from the market. This week, he discusses the true meaning of bean to bar or craft chocolate.

Q: How would you define bean-to-bar chocolate and what sort of flavors can we expect from craft chocolate? Do you recommend any coffee and chocolate pairings?

A: This is an important and somewhat nebulous terminology that is often abused. My definition is fairly straight forward. To be bean to bar the chocolate bar must be produced from raw cacao beans all the way through each production step at a factory owned by the brand in question.

Q: How is it different from the mass produced chocolate we all grew up eating?

A: Bean to bar should not necessarily be equated to good. There are more bean to bar chocolate makers producing terrible product than there are making great chocolate. Sure most of the elite brands are bean to bar, but not all. Bean to bar should simply indicate you are talking to the artist in the flesh. Doesn’t mean you will like their art. Unfortunately, there are so many brands that lie or at the very least stretch the truth about their bean to bar status. So many.

What I think you are trying to get at with what makes bean to bar chocolate better than big chocolate we all grew up with is this: it should be about highlighting cacao beans of excellent provenance. Big producers do not. They use very poor beans and then use techniques (“dark” roast aka burned) and ingredients (too much extra cocoa butter and loads of vanilla) to create a flavor, rather than coaxing the flavor intrinsic to the beans out.

Just like wine is about honoring very special grapes grown in very special areas, so is chocolate with cacao beans. Most large chocolate producers make what I like to refer to as “vanilla flavored candy.” Despite meeting certain technicalities of being called dark chocolate, I think it should be illegal to call it the same as what most bean to bar chocolate makers are doing.

Q: Do you recommend any coffee and chocolate pairings?

A: Absolutely. My primary recommendation is do not pair a coffee made with specialty beans and roasted responsibly with “vanilla flavored candy.” Likewise, do not pair chocolate made with excellent cacao with coffee exhibiting symptoms of having been roasted on the surface of the sun. Beyond this, I do have some experience, but need to conduct more research! I will say since the two are such a natural fit the results of using my rule of thumb regarding matching the quality of the two have always been really enjoyable.

PSST! Want to know more? Join us at an Intro to Fine Chocolate class!

Disclaimer: While Matt Caputo is a Certified Cheese Professional and specialty food fanatic, he is not a medical professional, doctor, or certified nutritionist. Please consult with your doctor or other qualified health care professional before making any healthcare decisions, diagnostics or treatment decisions based on Matt’s answers.

Hello sunshine, hello swimming pools. Hello icy cocktails, hello sundresses, HELLOOOO SUMMER.

It’s here, finally. My most favorite season has arrived. The Downtown Farmer’s Market is just around the corner, my outdoor pool of choice is open, outdoor concerts abound across the valley, and I’ve already had my first barbecue of the season. For me, summer is the perfect time to reconnect with my favorite farmers at the market and friends from all over the world. But all these typically involve food in one way or another. And for that, we’ve got you covered. Grab that poolside chair and your favorite summer sipper and sink your teeth into these:

CHEESE: Mesa Tome

Reason #639 for loving all things Mesa Farm: Randy only milks his goats during the natural spring season. Animal husbandry, treatment, and overall well-being is incredibly important to us at Caputo’s, and Mesa excels here. Freshly formed wheels of pasteurized goat’s milk cheese (from the happiest goats in Utah, mind you) arrive from Torrey and make their way straight to our cheese caves. One month later, these are released for our happy consumption. The small size of this cheese allows for quick aging and development of flavor thanks to our very own flora of cave bacteria and TLC from affineuse, Antonia. What appears to be an unassuming nibble of cheese turns out to be full of bright, complex flavors with a rind that only adds to the overall taste experience. Get this soon, and get it often. This is stuff to nibble on while making your #summersixteen memories last forever.

***In 2023, Randy of Mesa Farm entered his beautifully earned retirement. The farm and its singular cheeses will live on in our hearts and stories for years to come.***

CHARCUTERIE: Olympia Provisions Sweetheart Ham

We’ve told you about Salumi master Elias Cairo growing up right here in Salt Lake City. We even told you Cairo’s father had a constant supply of home-cured meats, so we can only assume his passion and precision began from a very young age. Fast forward a few decades and we’re in love with his offerings being made in Portland, Oregon. Not only are we obsessing over their cured salami, their sweetheart ham is stealing our very own hearts, one employee at a time.

Pork sirloin tips are brined for ten days with juniper berries, fresh herbs, fresh garlic, and fresh onions before being smoked over applewood for 10 hours. Sweet, smoky, and savory combine forces to create an artisan ham worth forsaking all other hams. Sandwiches, croque monsieurs, omelets, and midnight snacks all beg for this kind of ham. You’ll be amazed at how often you’ll find yourself reaching for this once you bring it home. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

CHOCOLATE: Fruition Heirloom Costa Rica Coto Brus 74%

Fruition began as the brainchild of Bryan Graham, a pastry chef from New York who fell in love with making chocolate after working with Chef Peter Greweling. Committed to fair trade, organically produced, bean to bar production, and above all wonderful flavor, the company that began in 2011 has steadily excelled, becoming an example of what chocolate should be.

For those of you that have been to our annual Chocolate Festival, this bar hits close to home. All proceeds from our annual event are donated to the Heirloom Cacao Preservation, HCP for short. Our friends at the HCP funded the very farmers and beans used to make this bar. All our hard work put into our Chocolate Festival has come to fruition. See what I did there? Eh, eh?

Now, go, friends. Take your tasty nibbles and dance off into the sunset. Nosh at will, and nosh often.

Moms deserve a day of spoiling, and it is our duty to do so. After all the dirty diapers, temper tantrums, homework help, fighting over curfew, learning to live alone, and then finally realizing she was right all along, it’s fair to say she is owed more than a few indulgences. Here’s what our moms are getting this year:

Take a Class

There is nothing cliche about giving Ma the gift of continued education, especially when said education revolves around chocolate, cheese, and other delicious ways to enjoy herself. Our summer schedule is filling up quick, but there’s still plenty of time to get in on the fun. The best part about this gift is joining her for some quality family time and reaping the benefits of both chocolate education and chocolate consumption with her!

The Chocolate Box

If Mom is a busy one these days and can’t join you for a class, upscale chocolate never hurt anyone. Chocolatier Blue started in Alpine, Utah, but has since relocated to Berkeley, California. Despite the move, Chocolatier Blue uses Salt Lake made Solstice Chocolate for each filled chocolate. There is not a better filled chocolate in the country and you know your mom deserves the best there is. Select from a range of box sizes and flavors, we’ll fill them to order so you can select which flavors your mom will like best.

Dessert – Flowers & Cacao Pavlova

There’s always something incredibly satisfying about cooking for mom, and doing it well. This beautiful dessert is a welcome treat for any gathering and perfect to wow mom with. Added bonus, the hardest part can be done in advance so mom doesn’t have to see you struggle or hear any expletives that might leave your mouth during the process. You can arrive with premade components, easily assemble them, and present a treat fit for any mom.

Brunch – Baked Adelle

Any holiday is a good time for cheese.  ANY DAY is a good day for cheese, but especially Mother’s Day. Wrap our favorite bloomy rind cheese in puff pastry, douse it with your favorite jam (mine is Amour’s Apricot Rose for this recipe) and serving a warm, gooey, bubble of cheesy goodness to your mom, and the rest of your family if she decides to share it.

Bar and Bitters

Remember all those nights your mom spent worrying about you for one reason or another? No? I’m sure she remembers, and I’m sure she could use a drink to recover from those long, stressful years. If your mom appreciates a well-made cocktail, get her the ingredients to make her own at home! Luxardo cherries, countless bitters, and assorted bar syrups are a great place to start. Plus, one she hones her skills, maybe she’ll share those cocktails at the next family gathering. One can hope, right?

There you have it. Our top gifts for the best moms out there. Hey Moms, happy Mother’s Day! We hope you get showered with love and spoiled with treats!

Here it comes, the ever so strange days of April. I know I’ll be wearing a sundress one day, and my warmest sweater the next. Between the crazy weather, tax deadlines, and lust for summer, we all deserve to feast in tasty fashion. Rain or shine, we’ll be noshing on some of the very tastiest items in the market. Here are your newest cravings from the shelves of our market:

SALAMI: Olympia Provisions Loukanika

Salumi master Elias Cairo grew up right here in Salt Lake City. Cairo’s father had a constant supply of home-cured meats, so we can only assume his passion and precision began from a very young age. Fast forward a few decades and we’re in love with his offerings being made in Portland, Oregon. Our first love? Loukanika. It’s an ode to the best of Greece’s blending of sweet aromas and pungent spices. Cumin and orange zest are mixed into the highest quality pork for a salami that is balanced and fragrant with the most covetable texture. Serve slices solo or with crusty bread and milder, semifirm cheeses for a in-between season snack or the perfect no cook weeknight meal.

CHOCOLATE: Brasstown Chili

Here’s Matt with his two cents on Brasstown: “When we were sent samples from chocolate maker Rom Still, we took one look at the old packaging and assumed that what was inside could not possibly be good. However, some of the origins were fairly common among elite craft chocolate makers, so we kept the samples around for comparison. Problem is they kept beating some of the brands we already carried in blind taste tests.  You know what they say, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” So we did.”

What’s that? You like spicy chocolate? Perfect, this is for you. 70% dark chocolate melts perfectly on your tongue while giving way to a complex chocolatey finish highlighted by a spicy kick from the chili. This is the very stuff cravings are made of. This bar will disappear all too quickly and leave you craving more. So much so, in fact, that we’ll hopefully get to see your lovely faces a few times this month. Hey, we’re not complaining.

PANTRY: Viola Colleruita Extra Virgin Olive Oil

It seems every olive oil has awards to brag about these days, though none has accolades so plentiful and prestigious as Viola. Flos Olei is the most expansive international publication and rating system for olive oil. For three years in a row, Viola received or tied for the top score, including in 2015 when Viola was named “Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil” out of over 400 estate olive oils from all around the globe.

Umbria’s dry climate, poor soil, and large diurnal shift make for tough work for olive trees. What few olives are produced are potent and full of complex flavors. Condiment grade oil of this caliber can be added to any dish and will make it countless times better. When I say any dish, I mean any dish. Pasta, proteins, even ice cream are fantastic with a drizzle of Viola.

Now, for the first time, we’ve brought in a full selection of oils from Viola. Start with the Colleruita and work your way through their selection.

We’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day here at Caputo’s. We’ve got a ton of tasty new Chocolatier Blue flavors and fully stocked chocolate shelves for your gifting needs. I hope your Valentine plans on sharing, because chocolate is always better when you have someone to enjoy it with, right? Whether you’re a fan of the holiday or not, we’re going to keep your entire month delicious and crave-worthy. Here’s what we’re digging this month:

FOR YOUR VALENTINE: Chocolatier Blue

Chocolatier Blue is the Valentine staple. A better filled chocolate simply does not exist. Chris Blue uses local Solstice Chocolate for the shells and chocolate ganaches for each perfect piece along with only the highest quality ingredients for a beautiful effect and delicious taste. Fifteen new flavors have just hit our stores with an all too perfect theme: Breakfast in bed! Give your love a box filled with your favorite brunch treats like cinnamon roll, blueberry muffin, fruit loops, or chai tea. There are plenty of flavors and box sizes to choose from so your gift will be just right.

MORE CHOCOLATE: OmNom Milk of Madagascar

Can you blame us? If ever a month existed that we could select two different chocolate cravings, this would have to be it. OmNom makes their chocolate in small batches in Iceland using top quality beans and, in this case, Icelandic milk that is almost impossible to beat. We love this bar because it captures the terroir of Madagascar beans (red berries, citrus, lots of pleasant acidity) while still offering the comforting creaminess of a milk chocolate bar. If you or your valentine find yourself craving a grown up milk chocolate, look no further. I’ll be making a salted milk chocolate budino with olive oil for my Valentine this year using this bar, but any recipe that calls for milk chocolate would be lucky to have the likes of the OmNom bar incorporated into it.

PANTRY: Zursun Spanish Pardina Lentils

There are lentils, and then there are Zursun lentils. It turns out, Idaho has the perfect climate to grow some of the very best heirloom legumes and beans. Our world is infinitely tastier because of it. Zursun hit our shelves about six months ago because we knew they’d be a hit. We didn’t stop there though. Our newest salad in the deli is designed around these very lentils. Spanish pardinas are nutty and filling, they cook easily and are the perfect lentil for soups, salads, and sides. So yes, they’re the base for our new lentil salad, but you’ll see them here in soups and other specials as well. My favorite winter recipe uses these as well, and you know I’ll be sharing that this month to help spread the lentil love.

Happy early Valentine’s Day, all you beautiful people. We hope your February is filled with tasty treats and plenty of craveable fun. Oh, and chocolate.

What a year 2015 was! We had loads of fun with our ever-growing chocolate selection, we introduced the world to our amped-up array of bitters and bar goods, and we pulled out some seriously fantastic cheese from our cheese caves. It was tasty year indeed, but I can’t wait to show you what we’ve got in store for 2016. Let’s welcome the new year with our first cravings of 2016:

CHEESE: Raclette

Of course, one raclette couldn’t suffice for us at Caputo’s. You do need options, after all, when you decide to tackle a traditional, melted-alpine-cheese-themed meal. We’ve got both Swiss and French raclette to help you and your friends stay warm this January. Raclette is one of the most well-known alpine cheeses from Europe. Raw cow’s milk wheels are washed daily while maturing into the ultimate creamy, complex, and pungent cheese. It’s perfect for the table as is, but I’ve got a serious soft spot for it melted. Get thee to thy nearest Caputo’s for raclette, artisan bread, cornichons, and more for your own traditional raclette meal. Don’t worry, I’ll have a full how-to for you in the coming weeks.

PANTRY: Olio Novello – Laudemio, Olio Verde, and Capezzana

Is it too early to call 2016 the year of the condiment oil? I proclaim it so, just you wait. There are certain foods in each type of cultural cuisines that are true stalwarts. Mustard in France, ketchup here in the states—you get the idea. Italy’s is, of course, my favorite. Condiment oil is placed on the table and hopefully never leaves. This is not the stuff for sautéing and cooking. It is reserved only for drizzling over already-cooked or prepared foods right before serving or while eating. Condiment oils can be peppery, grassy, or bright—or even all three. The feeling after your first drizzle is transcendent. It makes everything more complex and even more delicious.

Now is a great time to stock up on oils because we are currently receiving the newest releases from the oil harvest of October/November 2015. This is also the ideal time to use them. I try to finish all my condiment oils before the new harvest arrives in late winter, so I always have the very best oils at their peak of deliciousness. These are three of our very best. Start by tasting them at the store and take home your favorite. You’ll be amazed at how often you reach for it at dinner. Or breakfast. Or lunch.

CHOCOLATE: Domori Milk Chocolates

I know, I know. We love our dark chocolate here more than almost anything. But these, my friends, these are a game changer. Domori is my favorite boutique chocolatier from Italy. I love their chocolates for their untouchable texture, silkiness, and delicate attention to detail. It would only make sense that they would tackle milk chocolate with the same gusto for complexity and ingenuity. Choose from goat, sheep, donkey, or camel milk bars. They’re all unique and all incredibly complex. I have never sat and pondered milk chocolate while eating it like I have with these bars. The difference in taste, texture, and finish are exciting for me and hopefully for the world of fine chocolate.

Are you a cheese geek? Here’s Matt’s two cents, “Cheese geeks will certainly appreciate tasting through these incredible offerings of ruminant and non-ruminant milks.” It’s Adri again: I Googled ruminant for you. Your non-ruminant milk that Matt speaks of is in the donkey bar. I’m sure you’ve seen other “odd milk” bars on the market from other brands. Trust me, these are by far the best. Domori obviously uses the highest quality and freshest milk possible just based on taste.

ruminant [roo-muh-nuh nt] , noun
1. any even-toed, hoofed mammal of the suborder Ruminantia, being comprised of cloven-hoofed, cud-chewing quadrupeds.

Stay tuned for tasting notes, opinions, and more about these exciting new bars.

TREAT: Scaldaferro Torrone

It pains me to even post this. Not because of anything negative, but because it will be hard to let all you lovely people buy this and not hoard it all for myself. Matt calls this a “here today, gone tomorrow” kind of item that is only briefly on our shelves for the holidays and slightly thereafter. And I hate that. I wish I could eat this torrone everyday for the rest of eternity. It’s that good. Torrone is a traditional confection made from egg whites, honey, and nuts. So simple, but so divine. There is really nothing better than the Scaldaferro Torrone selections, and I hate to admit it, but I’ve grumpily typing this since the first mention of Scaldaferro. Seriously, get this before it’s gone. You’ll miss out on a tiny piece of cloudy, sweet perfection.

If you’re ringing in the New Year with your closest friends and family, you’ll likely need a few nibbles and bubbles to help with the festivities. Here are a few quick ideas perfect for pairing and sharing on the last night of 2015:

Harbison

This lovely, little cheese comes to us from Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont. Harbison is a small-format, soft-ripened cheese wrapped in tree bark pulled from the woods surrounding Jasper Hill. The result is a creamy, sweet paste with notes of wood and herbs. Cut the top rind off and serve with a spoon at your party; scooping out this paste is a transcendent experience. PairHarbison with crackers, fruit, and champagne.

Luxardo

Take your champagne game up a notch this year with one simple addition. Drizzle a 1/2 teaspoon of Luxardo syrup into champagne flutes, top with sparkling wine, and garnish with a Luxardo cherry. Boom. Bubbly game on point.

Robiola

Is it obvious yet that I love soft-ripened cheeses and sparkling wine together? If not, let me spell it out: I LOVE SOFT-RIPENED CHEESE WITH SPARKLING WINE.

From the same Piemontese producers who brings us Rocchetta and La Tur comes a sweet, mushroomy due latte cheese called Robiola Bosina. Cow and sheep’s milks are blended to form a thin square of soft-ripened cheese. The soft rind gives way to a creamy, oozy paste that coats the mouth. Pair with Prosecco for the ultimate Italian-inspired New Year.

Chocolate

Does there really have to be a reason for eating chocolate? The answer is no.

I love a few nibbles of really exceptional chocolate once the New Year’s toast is over. Why not make your chocolate local? Our Utah Dark Chocolate Collection has some of our favorite locally-made bars for your nibbling pleasure. Want a little more? Stop by one of our locations for a few samples to help you decide on your own curated selection of fine artisan chocolate.

Lentils

Italians will traditionally eat lentils cooked with pancetta and sage and topped with cotechino on New Year’s Eve. The small round shape of both the lentils and cotechino signify wealth to Italians. Plus, it’s an incredibly tasty way to welcome 2016.

Bitters

Here’s another way to raise the bar with your average sparkling wine this year. Have fun mixing bitters and other ingredients for festive sparkling wine cocktails. Not sure where to start? Our Essential Bitters Collection will get you going with our most popular, coveted, and easy-to-use bitters.

Local Collection

Whether you need a hostess gift, a quick party pack, or tried and true treats, we’ve got ready-made collections to get your party started. Choose from any of our gift collections to give to your favorite hostess or as a starter pack for your own party. You can’t go wrong with the goodies we’ve put together for you.

There you have it, friends. I hope you’ve all had a marvelous 2015, and I hope 2016 is even better—and tastier!