Go for heat or go for sweet with Vital Eats
Vital Eats has quickly garnered a reputation for specializing in bold flavors and picture-perfect plates. Started in 2013 by Jude Goldman and his cousin, Reuben Schwartz, the mission was to introduce a gourmet, plantbased product line that tastes even better than the delicate plates look. Now, with eight signature sauces and five carefully crafted spices, Vital Eats has become a staple of the Saratoga food scene and a market favorite.
All of Vital Eats’ products are made with thoughtful ingredients, remaining entirely soy, gluten and chemical free. “The business is vegan. We are not,” said Goldman, half of Vital Eats’ team of fearless leaders. “We simply wanted to show people that you could eat healthy, gourmet food that still tastes amazing and is wholly natural.”
The pair’s best sellers include their Zombie Blood Sriracha Verde sauce and the Killa Kimchi Hot Sauce. “I got my degree in photography but I always had a passion for making original, culinary concoctions,” explained Goldman. With Vital Eats, he found a way to unleash that creativity, designing products that are anything but ordinary. For example, the latest edition of So-Cheezy, a dairyfree cheese sauce substitute, is made with chickpeas and serves as a perfect chip dip or pasta sauce. Experimenting is instrumental to the development of Vital Eats’ growing product line and the Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market serves as the perfect venue to test drive new ideas. “We offer samples of all our sauces at the market and we receive immediate feedback from our customers,” said Goldman. “If the response is positive, we run with it.”
Two sauces that originally debuted at the Troy Market will join the product line this fall: Big Apple Q, a no-sugar added BBQ sauce, and Big Hot Apple Hot Sauce. These products are made from local, New York State apples, and, like all Vital Eats products, remains entirely plantbased and additive free. “The Farmers’ Market allows us to showcase our business on such a large scale,” stated Goldman. “It has always been a huge component of our growth here at Vital Eats.”
Additionally, Vital Eats offers a selection of veganfriendly prepared foods. Jude and Reuben go to great lengths to ensure that each dish incorporates a signature sauce and spice. Market goers particularly enjoy the spiral fries served with a side of So-Cheezy or a veggie burger equipped with the King Kick Sriracha ketchup. Vital Eats has proven all-natural food doesn’t have to sacrifice bold, delicious flavor. Come by the Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market this Saturday to sample this one of a kind combination. The Farmers’ Market will be in its temporary summer home at Riverfront Park in downtown Troy from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. this week.