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Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Maker The Cuisinart EasyPop ® Popcorn Maker (model number CPM-700) makes it easier than ever to pop crunchy homemade popcorn. The Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Maker pops up to 16 cups and has special vents in the popping bowl to let moisture escape. Popcorn lovers can select the desired amount of oil and salt to make popcorn just the way they like it. When popping is com- plete, they can serve right from the popping bowl. The Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Maker operates with the simple flip of a switch. Cleanup is easy too. All removable parts are dishwasher safe. The MSRP for the Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Maker is $49.95. For more information on Cuisinart, call 203.975.4600, or visit the company online at www.cuisinart.com. West Bend Air Crazy Popper West Bend's Air Crazy Popcorn Popper will pop four quarts of fresh popcorn in less than two minutes, and the measuring cup allows for sin- gle portion and family size. Unlike spinning air poppers of the past, the innovative Air Crazy utilizes bubbling kernel action to allow popped kernels to quickly escape. The revamped sys- tem uses less air flow and lower motor power, which saves energy and reduces noise. The precision heating plate and mesh vent optimize power, air speed and thorough popping. And the angled chute cleanly directs kernels to your bowl. For extra ease, the measuring cup dou- bles as a butter warmer, the base stays cool-to- the-touch during operation, and the cord stores inside the unit. The MSRP for the Air Crazy Pop- per is $29.99. For more information on the West Bend Air Crazy Popper, contact Focus Products Group International, LLC by phone at 224.513.2007, or visit www.westbend.com. Waring Kettle Popcorn Maker This classic-style popcorn maker (model num- ber WPM28) holds four ounces of kernels and can make up to 10 cups of popcorn in three minutes. Waring's one-switch operation re- quires no heat-up time and makes popping corn easier than ever. The popcorn maker also fea- tures a nonstick aluminum kettle and a tilt ac- cess door for easy serving, along with everything consumers need to easily make pop- corn at home: a scoop, oil measuring spoon and kernel measuring cup. The MSRP for the Waring Kettle Popcorn Maker is $119. For more information on Waring Consumer Products, call 800.269.6640, or visit the com- pany online at www.waringpro.com. Dress My Cupcake Chevron and Striped Popcorn Boxes Dress My Cupcake ® has introduced a new line of 3-inch by 3-inch by 4-inch popcorn boxes that are available in 12 colors: bubblegum pink, fuchsia, red, orange, yellow, green, diamond, aqua, royal, navy, gray and black. Serve popcorn, candy, chocolate, cookies and other party goodies, and personalize with a label, baker's twine and a gift tag. Combine with matching treat bags, favor bags, candy cups and stamped wooden cutlery to com- plete your dessert table. The boxes are offered by Koyal Wholesale and retail for $6 per 12-pack. For more information, contact Koyal Wholesale by phone at 951.734.3888, or visit the company online at www.dressmycupcake.com. GOURMET NEWS DECEMBER 2014 www.gourmetnews.com Small Electrics SMALL ELECTRICS 2 1 Exotic Flavors, Convenient New Machines Open Up Home Cooks to a Whole New World of Popcorn BY AMBER GALLEGOS Wasabi, pesto, chipotle, Vietnamese cinna- mon, dill pickle and smoked Gouda pop- corns are all culinary takes on the humble snack staple that are increasingly likely to be found on grocery store shelves. With the ex- plosion of unexpected flavors and an appar- ent renewed interest in the long-standing treat comes the opportunity for home cooks to put their own twist on a classic food. For those wishing to partake in the ex- otic flavors that are on-trend in the food in- dustry, popcorn is a familiar way to do so. "Popcorn is in and of itself a wholesome, delicious snack. But it's also a blank canvas ripe for culinary imagination," said Victoria Ho, Creative Director and co-owner of Pop- salot Gourmet Popcorn. "It is a convenient, affordable and accessible way to enjoy the flavors they are hearing about." The nature of the hyper-connected soci- ety we now live in translates into a demand for new and previously unthought-of tastes. "I think it has a lot to do with the growing global influence on culture and food, which provides even more places to draw inspiration from," said Dakota-Rae Westveer of Quinn Popcorn. "Plus, pop- corn is a familiar classic snack with lots of room for reinvention." The recent sriracha flavor phenomenon is an example of the growing trend of cooks introducing global flavors to popcorn. Al- though the flavored hot sauce is not a new product, as more Americans discover it, they want it on everything. Rather than in- vesting the time and money to go to a restaurant featuring dishes with trendy fla- vors, consumers are experimenting with this flavor at home, introducing it to pop- corn. "Familiarity with popcorn encour- ages people to experiment with fresh, adventurous flavors that might otherwise seem intimidating," said Ho. "Popcorn is fun!" While recognizing that there has recently been an increased interest in non-tradi- tional popcorn flavors, industry insiders say the demand has always been there. "Popcorn has always been around, but new products waken them up again," said William Hall, Delaware General Manager for Fisher's Popcorn. Fisher's Popcorn has been specializing in caramel popcorn since 1937. "These things go in cycles," Hall said. "We may be going through a cycle again." "Every year since Popsalot was born, we hear popcorn is the new trend. That's eight years of trending," echoed Ho. "We have noticed an uptake in business but also an influx of really diverse competitors." And it is not just exotic flavors that are driving more and more consumers to chow down on popcorn. Another factor con- tributing to the current popularity of pop- corn is the fact that it is a simple, wholesome food. One cup of air-popped popcorn contains over one gram of fiber, one gram of protein and only six grams of carbohydrates with no cholesterol. The USDA recommends popcorn, with little or no added butter or salt, as a healthy snack option for those looking to get more whole grains in their diets. "There is an increased demand, because it's a healthier alternative," said Westveer. "Popcorn can have a lot of health benefits depending on how it's prepared, while at the same time remaining a fun and easy snack you can feel good about sharing with friends and family." Also attracting consumers to popcorn is the explosion in gluten-free dieting. Pop- corn is a whole grain, which is naturally gluten-free, and thus it fits right in with this trend. American consumers are increasingly drawn to popcorn, as it is one of the easiest snacks to prepare oneself and eat at home. Americans consume 16 billion quarts of popped popcorn every year with 70 percent eaten in the home, according to the Pop- corn Board, a non-profit research program funded by U.S. popcorn processors and en- acted by Congress in 1998. With the recent explosion of at-home popcorn poppers showing up at kitchenwares stores nation- wide, more and more home cooks are get- ting in on the action. Of course, while not all gourmet pop- corn offerings are simple to produce at home, new machines that make popping corn a breeze are inspiring home chefs to kick up their snack time creations and put something truly unique in the bucket. "People are so busy these days that it's hard to carve out an extra hour or two to make a batch of traditional caramel corn at home," said Ho. "But the fact that they can imagine doing it or remember their grandma having done it makes popcorn a really special treat." GN Sponsored by

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