8-Slice Variety Cake Tasting Box
Cake Bloom – Charlottesville
$80, CakeBloom.com
Upon opening this artfully arranged sampler box, Ganz couldn’t help but feel like a bride-to-be. Cake Bloom’s message is clear: “You don’t need to be engaged to enjoy a cake tasting.” Each month, the box features eight rotating cake flavors, so beautifully presented that it’s almost hard to mangle them with a fork. But as Ganz notes, “the cakes themselves are inventive and delicious.”
Must Have Munchies
Must Have Munchies – Richmond
$10, MustHaveMunchies.com
A new snacking staple comes in the form of this cracker mix, with Ganz noting, “I could eat a whole bag in one sitting.” Our staff agreed, with many taste testers returning to the product for the second, third … and tenth time. The crave-able bites live up to their “must-have” name, coming in five flavors, of which Ganz admitted partiality to the “zippy” Jalapeño Lime.
HOKIE TRACKS
Homestead Creamery – Wirtz
This flavor, developed in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Food Science and Technology department, features vanilla ice cream swirled with salted caramel and dotted with chocolate-covered pretzel pieces. “The ice cream itself has a wonderful taste, and the mix-ins add delightful contrast,” Ganz says. Staff judges ate it up (literally) too, loving the “balance of flavors—not too sweet,
not too bland.”
Virginia HONEY FLIGHT
Edgewood Apiaries – Fork Union
$50, EdgewoodApiariesAndFarm.com
Founder and beekeeper Amanda Sweeney was struck by how difficult it was to find specific nectar varieties of Virginia honey. She created a way to explore three at once. Each box includes three jars of honey, a bamboo honey dipper, and an informational brochure. Ganz emphasized the impact of knowing each flower’s effect and the “gorgeous, gift-worthy packaging.”
TATERSNAPS! Crispy-Thin Potato Chip Cookies
Taterdoodles – Falls Church
Taterdoodles aimed to create cookies as thin and crispy as potato chips themselves and came up with this blend of sweet and savory satisfaction. Our team commented on the “nice crispy texture,” and Ganz agreed the crunchy factor complemented each distinct flavor—Chocolate Chip, Sea Salt & Caramel, Espresso Brownie, Ginger Snap, and Hot Honey.
$5 for two 1-ounce cookies, Taterdoodles.com
Learn more about the Made in Virginia Awards 2024 here.
This article originally appeared in our December 2024 issue.
