"NewProducts" news and stories

Starbucks VIA Photo: Starbucks

Starbucks is now ready on demand. The coffee giant expanded its empire Tuesday with VIA, its version of "Ready Brew" instant coffee. Available in Colombian roast or bolder Italian roast, the packets of powdered coffee are sold in packages of three for $2.95.

After two decades of development, Starbucks is so certain consumers will like it that it's pitting VIA up against its whole-bean coffee, asking consumers if they can taste the difference.

"I think it takes great courage for us to take our brand name -- which we value more than anything in the world -- and put it on an instant coffee," CEO Howard Schultz said at a Starbucks VIA Ready Brew launch event Tuesday. "That's not a move of desperation, that's a move of confidence and the fact that we know this coffee will pass the test of time."

Back in March, Slashfood did a taste test and we were "pleasantly surprised" by the flavor. More recently, we did a side-by-side comparison and found the results to be similar. There's no doubt that a freshly brewed cup of coffee takes the cake, but after a recent instant coffee taste test (that we're still recovering from), we would be more than happy to sip VIA.

Find out where VIA is available and how you can get a free sample after the jump.

The Vio family of fizzy milk drinks. Photo: Vio.

Coca-Cola is getting into the milk business.

The soft-drink maker is currently test marketing a sweetened fizzy milk beverage called Vio. Made with sparkling water, a hint of skim milk and cane sugar, the 8-ounce beverages come in four fruit flavors: Citrus Burst, Peach Mango, Very Berry and Tropical Colada.

Ray Crockett, a spokesman for the brand, told Slashfood on Tuesday that the drink is currently in "very limited distribution and only in New York City."

Mo's Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix. Photo: Vosges

Day three of the Fancy Food Show was just as big and bold as Sunday and Monday, with some extra swag to take home. Even after spending three days there, we still feel like we missed a bunch of things.

As Slashfood staffers strolled the aisles on Tueday afternoon, we discovered Key Lime Graham Cracker Gelato, stuffed our faces full of Lobster Mac and Cheese and topped our day off with cultured butter with sea salt crystals.

After the jump, learn about some of our favorites from Tuesday's walk through the show.

Why yes that flower does taste like a battery. Photo: Sara Bonisteel

Day Two of the Fancy Food Show didn't disappoint. With hundreds of thousands of products on display, you're bound to miss a few items on your first walk through of the show at the Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side.

As Slashfood strolled the aisles on Monday afternoon, we discovered a better bacon candy bar, pondered the correct way to grow a shallot and finally tried a pepquiño (and another edible oddity, the above pictured Sechuan button).

After the jump, learn about some of our favorites from Monday's walk through the show. Sundays's favorites can be found here.

As a matter of fact, yes. That is pizza in a cone. Thanks for asking. Photo: Kat Kinsman

"Pleasant and acceptable taste and smell"

If that's the best your copywriters can cook up for a brochure blurb, take that as a sign that your microwavable pizza cones might not be a standout at the Fancy Food Show. At least not in the way you'd hoped.

Luckily for our increasingly overtaxed palates, there were more than a few swoon-inducing nibbles amongst the 250,000 edible products available for sampling at the Javits Center from June 28-30.

After the jump, learn about some of our favorites from Sunday's stroll through the aisles. Mondays's favorites can be found here.