Call for foodservice entries in the 2011 National Beef Backer Awards

By

The Beef Checkoff Program has issued the call for entries for the fifth annual National Foodservice Beef Backer Awards, a national awards program designed to honor independent restaurants and chains that creatively promote and menu beef. 


Now through Oct. 3, 2011 foodservice operators can enter to win in one of three categories:
  • Chain Operator (10+ units, commercial or noncommercial) 
  • Independent Operator (commercial or noncommercial)
  • Innovator of the Year (chain or independent, commercial or noncommercial)
A panel of foodservice industry professionals will select winners based on submission criteria and awards will be presented at the 2012 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Tradeshow in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to industry recognition, winners receive national promotion via a public relations campaign targeting local and national print and online media and national foodservice trade outlets.

The 2010 National Foodservice Beef Backer winners included: The Hitching Post I & II in the “Independent Restaurant” category, Home Style Dining LLC, the parent of Ponderosa® Steakhouses and Bonanza® Steakhouses in the “Chain Restaurant” category, and Red The Steakhouse as the “Innovator of the Year.”

The 2011 entry form and contest details can be found by visiting www.BeefFoodservice.com, or by contacting your local State Beef Council.
0 comments
Labels: , ,

Cambro offers foodservice operators a chance to win a complete food storage makeover

By

Cambro is offering food service operators the chance to win a Free Storage Makeover. The contest can be entered by clicking here and is open to all food service operators. One recipient will win a commercial-grade restaurant storage makeover valued at $10,000.

Contest runs from May 21, 2011 until July 31, 2011. Entries can be made online at www.cambro.com/makeover.

 
0 comments
Labels: ,

King & Prince Seafood launches new foodservice website

By

Seafood supplier King & Prince Seafood launches its new website, designed to support the culinary and information needs of foodservice professionals. Kpseafood.com provides chefs and operators with product information, menu solutions, promotional offers, trend insights and more.
 

The new King & Prince foodservice website features:

  • Recipes – A comprehensive resource with menu ideas, searchable recipe database, cooking video demos, seafood trend information and more. 
  • Our Products – See the extensive line of shrimp, fish, calamari, crab, Surimi, oysters, scallops, crawfish and seafood blends. Includes details such as product codes, ingredients, nutrition facts and cooking instructions. 
  • Promotions – Download seasonal materials with menu application ideas or current rebate offers on key products. 
  • About Us – Learn how King & Prince is committed to sustainability and environmental best practices overview as well as about the company’s history.
  • The site also includes an interactive homepage, broker & site searches, e-newsletter sign up & news room.
 Visit www.kpseafood.com.
0 comments
Labels: , ,

Celebrity chef Kathleen Daelemans to guest judge Association for Healthcare Foodservice Culinary Competition

By

Top culinary professionals from the healthcare industry will compete in the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) 2011 Culinary Competition held in conjunction with its annual conference in Phoenix, on June 7 at the Arizona Biltmore. Five competing teams will demonstrate their exceptional culinary talent and creativity, representative of the healthcare industry. Each team will have the challenge to utilize two ingredients provided by conference sponsor Tyson™ Food Service and create an appealing and nutritious entrée complete with side dishes, sauces and garnishes.
 
Kathleen Daelemans, host of "Cooking Thin" on Food Network, author of Cooking Thin with Chef Kathleen, 200 Easy Recipes for Healthy Weight Loss and Getting Thin and Loving Food, 200 Easy Recipes to Take You Where You Want to Be! said, “It is truly my pleasure to participate in an event that raises the bar for healthcare foodservice. AHF’s culinary competition is a perfect illustration of healthcare foodservice having a positive impact and making a statement about the entire facility.”

Each of the five selected culinary teams will be composed of a healthcare chef and their facility director. The actual competition has a format similar to Food Network challenges. There is a time limit of 75 minutes to prepare, cook and present the entrée and sides.

The winning dish must fit within the stated nutritional guidelines — cost under $5 to produce, and of course be delicious. These teams and their dishes will be judged on use of texture and color; originality; and plate presentation. The top three winners will be awarded prizes by Tyson™ Food Service and medals from AHF. 

Visit www.healthcarefoodservice.org.
0 comments
Labels: , ,

Two ACF chefs receive International Culinary Academy Awards at 2011 Cordon d’ Or - Gold Ribbon presentation

By

Two American Culinary Federation (ACF) members received International Culinary Academy Awards at the 2011 Cordon d’ Or - Gold Ribbon awards presentation, held at The Don CeSar, St. Pete Beach, Fla., May 15.

In the Academy of Culinary Arts category, Thomas Macrina, CEC, CCA, HGT, AAC, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., executive chef at Desmond Great Valley Hotel and Conference Center, Malvern, Pa., received the Chef Educator/Executive Chef award. Macrina is chair of the American Academy of Chefs, ACF’s honor society, and is a member of ACF Philadelphia Chapter. 

Also in the Academy of Culinary Arts category, Charles Carroll, CEC, AAC, executive chef at River Oaks Country Club, Houston, received the Culinary Life Achievement Award. Carroll is a seven-time “culinary Olympian,” an inspirational speaker and a member of ACF Professional Chefs Association of Houston. In addition, he received a Cookbook Award in the Culinary Literature category for Tasting Success: Your Guide to Becoming a Professional Chef (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010).

 Visit www.cordondorcuisine.com.
0 comments
Labels: , ,

Application process underway for Team USA for Bocuse d'Or 2013

By

The opportunity to represent the U.S. and compete against the world’s top culinary talent at the Bocuse d’Or 2013 is beckoning all young American professional chefs. The Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation is now accepting applications for this prestigious international culinary competition which will be held in Lyon, France on January 29-30, 2013. From the qualifying applicants, 12 chefs will be invited to an audition in September 2011, where they will be interviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, comprised of renowned chefs Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jerome Bocuse. In addition, they will be asked to prepare one dish, which will be judged by an esteemed panel of chefs, selected from the Foundation’s Culinary Council Members. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three candidates during the September auditions.

The Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation will provide Team USA, comprised of the winning chef and his or her commis (assistant), with an extensive training program under the supervision of the Foundation’s Board and a Head Coach. In addition, all expenses associated with the international competition will be taken care of by the Foundation. 
 
Auditions for the 12 finalists will be held September 26-27, 2011. A fundraising cocktail party will be held on September 27th to announce the results. Further information on the cocktail event and how to purchase public tickets will be available on the Foundation’s website as of July 15, 2011. 

The application and guidelines can be downloaded from the Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation’s website, www.bocusedorusa.org. All applications must be received by May 30, 2011 at midnight EST. 
0 comments
Labels: , ,

Vulcan FEG named SEFA Outstanding Supplier in Cooking Equipment

By

Vulcan FEG, based in Baltimore, Md., was named the SEFA Outstanding Supplier in Cooking Equipment at the SEFA 25th Annual Awards Banquet on April 13, 2011 at The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii. 

Winners of SEFA’s Outstanding Supplier Awards are selected by secret ballot of the total membership. These awards are based on support of SEFA members and marketing & training programs, customer service in the field, innovation and market leadership within each category.

L to R: Jim Reid, owner & CFO, SEFA; Jim Cullinane, vice president, Vulcan Food Equipment Group; Larry Lyons, general manager, Vulcan Steam
This year to commemorate SEFA’s 25th Anniversary celebration in Hawaii, the award itself included a Ka Makau fish hook made of native Hawaiian koa wood, an ancient Hawaiian symbol of responsibility, honor, hard work and success.  

Visit www.sefa.com, www.vulcanequipment.com, www.wolfequipment.com or www.berkelequipment.com.
 
0 comments
Labels: , , ,

Barilla Foodservice launches www.barillafoodservicerecipes.com

By

Barilla Foodservice has launched a new online resource for foodservice professionals. The site features chef tips, detailed instructions for cooking pasta in commercial volumes, and over 100 recipes developed by and for foodservice chefs. It is updated quarterly with new recipes, a featured chef and trend analysis. All of the recipes include complete nutrition information.

  
The site also includes an innovative search function, allowing visitors to search the database with a number of different criteria to find recipes that are exactly what they’re looking for. Recipes are currently searchable by operation type (e.g. school foodservice, restaurant), nutrition criteria (low-sodium, whole grain), pasta cut, or by what’s in the pantry.

Visit www.barillafoodservicerecipes.com.
1 comments
Labels: , ,

United Fresh 2011 attendees honor best new products

By


Attendees to the United Fresh Produce Association’s annual convention and expo in New Orleans cast their votes Wednesday and recognized this year’s New Product Awards in six categories. A record 34 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations competed in the categories of Best New Packaging Product, Best New Food Safety Solution, Best New Processing Equipment, Best New Fruit Product, Best New Packing and Packaging Equipment, and Best Vegetable Product.
 
The 2011 New Product Award winners are:
  • Best New Packaging: MIXIM Classic 5x5 6oz. Bushberry Packaging System, Sambrailo Packaging 
  • Best New Food Safety Solution: SmartWashTM, New Leaf Food Safety Solutions 
  • Best New Processing Equipment: Primus Gemini – New and Improved Fresh Berry Sorter, Best Sorting 
  • Best New Fruit Product: Sun DropsTM Grape Tomatoes, Mucci Farms AND Naturipe® Berry Quick Blueberry Snacks, Naturipe Farms, LLC 
  • Best New Packing/Packaging Equipment: Volmpack Ultrek 320 Vertical-Form-Fill-Seal Bagger, Volm Companies, Inc. 
  • Best New Vegetable Product: Pure Flavor Grill Ready Vegetable Mix, Pure Hot House Foods Inc.
In the Best New Fruit Product category, two winners were selected. Sun Drops Grape Tomatoes from Mucci Farms and Naturipe Farms’ Berry Quick Blueberry Snacks were both honored as best products.

“Because there was some confusion among voters about tomatoes being judged in the fruit category, both of these outstanding products are recognized as category winners due to the widespread voting support they received in the balloting,” Toner said.

The finalists in each category were on display for the two days of the United Fresh 2011 trade show, and the winners were selected by votes cast from show attendees. 
 
Visit www.unitedfresh.org.


0 comments
Labels: , , , , ,