Founded by Ethan Fedida and his family in honor of his grandmother Renee, Elfassy Foods makes harissa and other food products rooted in her Moroccan cooking and Maghrebi flavors. The family’s harissa is a modern take on the Moroccan condiment, with Renee’s journey from Morocco to New York City shaping the brand’s culinary story. Elfassy’s Mild Harissa won the 2024 Sauce King NYC Grand Champion award, following a 2021 startup-category win.
PSI Legacy Food LLCFounded by Marine veterans George and Claudia Botoulas, PSI Legacy Food makes chef-crafted hot sauces and seasonings under its Day of the Dead Food Products brand. The family-run company draws on more than 40 years of restaurant experience, Claudia’s Mexican heritage, and recipes carried through generations, with a focus on balanced flavor rather than heat alone. Its products bring professional-kitchen technique and family culinary traditions to home cooks and food-service customers.
Mama Lam'sFrom a homesick Malaysian immigrant’s family recipe to a Queens kitchen, Mama Lam’s makes small-batch curry pastes and sauces rooted in the flavors of Ulu Yam, Malaysia. Mama Lam and her daughter Cassandra launched the company in 2016 after decades of preparing the recipes for family gatherings, and the products are still made family-style in New York City.
Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods, IncCedar’s traces its roots to founder Abe Hanna, who perfected a traditional hommus recipe in Mediterranean kitchens before bringing it to his family’s food business. Based in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the company makes simply prepared Mediterranean foods, with its signature hommus built around steamed garbanzo beans and tahini. Its community work includes supporting local food access and youth programs, as well as a culinary training partnership with L’Arche Boston North.TARRYTOWN, NY
Cortazzo FoodsChef J. Scott Martino’s Cortazzo Foods makes small-batch specialty sauces, including pasta and barbecue sauces, using family recipes and all-natural ingredients. Inspired by a 1937 Cortazzo family wedding photo and recipes from his grandmother Marianina, the Lancaster company gives each product a family connection, while its “Everyone to the Table” mission has supported more than 17,000 donated meals.LANCASTER, PA