market basket 2009-04-01

Edited by Diane Ridge

Put a unique spin on popular protein appetizers with new Brew City Buffalo Chicken Bites from McCain Foods. The bites feature whole muscle chicken breast pieces dipped in Buffalo hot sauce and coated with crispy beer batter. Poppable and profitable, Buffalo Chicken Bites are a good way to drive appetizer sales and increase beverage sales. To receive a special limited-time trial offer, call McCain Foods USA at 1-866-427-3924 or visit www.brewcityusa.com.

Through June 15^th, Cargill Meat Solutions' Operator Stimulus Promotion offers new customers a buy-one, get-one-free case on each of Cargill's four ground beef brands — Cedar Canyon Prime Rib Burgers, TNT Beef Patties, Jobe's Tavern Patties and Maverick 100% Pure Beef Patties. (Existing customers can receive up to $200 in rebates on case purchases.) Full size promotional posters are also available. For program details and a list contact a local Cargill Meat Solutions distributor or call 800-373-6515.

Filta is re-branding itself as the Environmental Kitchen Solutions partner. The business consists of FiltaFry, a market leader in oil-filtration & deep fryer management, and FiltaCool a unique natural filter for moisture control. Both products are proven to save clients money and increase sustainability. Visit the new website, www.gofilta.com, for more information.

New cooking modes available on the Rational SelfCooking Center enable easier, more efficient dessert preparation. Using the “Egg/Dishes/Desserts” and “Baking” processes, an infinite number of desserts can be prepared with little more than the push of a button. Optimum climate control and automatically adjusting fan speed produce high-quality results. Visit www.rationalusa.com for more.

There's nothing humdrum about a breakfast item featuring Fresh California Avocados. From simple California-style scrambles to spicy Huevos Rancheros, versatile avocados brighten egg dishes with seasonal color and an irresistibly creamy texture and taste. Beyond brunch, mix avocados and eggs to create sophisticated quiches and tarts, composed salads, emulsified sauces and delicate mousses. Visit www.CaliforniaAvocado.com/foodservice, or call 800-370-3782 for more.

Hoshizaki America, Inc. announces the KM-1301_H (3) energy efficient ice cube machine. It produces up to 1,353 lbs. of ice per 24 hours. The unit contains HoshiGuard Antimicrobial Agent in the ice making zone to prohibit bacteria, mold and other microorganisms. It also houses the EverCheck control board, which sounds an audible warning when service is needed. For more information, visit www.hoshizaki.com.

Made with whole grains, bread, and vegetables, Uncle Ben's new Savory Herb Stuffing Mix with Whole Grains has a bolder taste and a hint of lime and cilantro. Take stuffing beyond the traditional holiday bird and wow customers by menuing new comfort foods with a twist year round. For on-trend recipe ideas like Tahoe Breakfast Strata or the Stuffed Chipolte Crusted Pork Chop, visit www.MARSfoodservices.com or call 800-432-2331.

Clear Springs Foods introduces Splash! Crusted Lemon Herb Rainbow Trout Fillets to its Glazed & Crusted Fillet Rainbow Trout line. The fillets are specially marinated with a lemon herb butter sauce and crusted with tangy breading. They are ready to bake or sauté. Log onto www.clearsprings.com or phone 800-635-8211.

For all your guacamole needs look to Simplot's unique Culinary Fresh ultra-high pressure (UHP) products. Ready to use straight from the refrigerator, UHP Supreme Pulp, UHP Western Guacamole and UHP Extreme Supreme Guacamole, require no peeling, pitting or thawing. All are made with 100% Hass avocados without artificial ingredients, thickeners or twangy citrus flavors. Visit www.simplotfoods.com for information.

El Monterey introduces a new Breakfast Quesadilla. It wraps fluffy eggs, real cheese and savory sausage inside an oven-baked flour tortilla to make a delicious and satisfying 4-oz. breakfast-on-the-go. Simply heat in the microwave or oven and serve in provided sleeves. For more information visit www.ruizfoodservice.com/welcome or email [email protected].

Add sizzle to your summer beverage menu with DOLE single-serve Smoothie Starters. Available in three popular flavors — Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana and Mango Peach — the starters deliver 100% real fruit that's diced, pre-mixed and individually quick frozen in convenient 7 oz. pouches. Consistently perfect smoothies can be served by mixing the starter with 6 oz. of juice, or drinks can be customized by adding tea, yogurt, ice cream or sorbet, to name a few. Call 800-723-9868 or visit www.dolefoodservice.com for more information.

It's the next great white fish — new Striped Pangasius from Fishery Products International (FPI). Its light texture, large flake (similar to cod and haddock) and fresh, naturally mild flavor carries sauces and seasonings particularly well. It's produced in a sustainable aquaculture environment and is available at an attractive price point. FPI also offers three unique value-added items — Southern Style, Blazin' and Ale House Battered — as well as easy-to-fix recipe ideas. Visit www.fisheryproducts.com for information.

Dreyers/Edy's introduces a new soft serve program for foodservice. The full line includes tart yogurt, low fat and non-fat frozen yogurt, ice cream and frozen custard — all backed with traffic-driving branded POS materials. The “Custom Flavor System” enables operators to serve a wide variety of frozen yogurt flavors, by simply adding any one of 15 flavorings to a single yogurt base. The shelf-stable flavorings are packed in unique, portion-controlled bottles so there's no waste, spill or mess. For more information, call 800-531-CONE.

New Otis Spunkmeyer Mini Supreme Indulgence cookies are small in size at 0.7 oz., but big on super premium inclusions and unique flavors. They can serve as stand alone impulse items or command higher price points by incorporating these cookies into indulgent desserts. Flavors include Belgian Chocolate Chunk, Raspberry Cheesecake, Rum Raisin Pecan and Chocolate Paradise. Visit www.spunkmeyer.com or call 888-ask-otis, for more information.

Ultra Pan Carriers from Cambro keep food hot, fresh and safe for hours. Gentle heat warms but does not cook food while maintaining moisture. The units are said to use less energy than three standard 100-watt light bulbs. The transporters can hold a wide variety of food types and textures, such as pasta, bone-in fried chicken and double-crusted pies. Call 800-854-7631 to learn more.

Shoes for Crews' most popular style has a new look! The Pro-Classic III features the exclusive SFC III slip-resistant outsole, leather and man-made uppers and removable cushioned insoles, ballistic knit accents, padded collar, and reinforced lateral heel support. For information call 1-877-NO-SLIPS, or visit www.shoesforcrews.com.

Seattle's Best Coffee/Starbucks announces that their 10% post-consumer recycled fiber (PCF) hot cups are now available to foodservice operators. Cups are made using recycled materials, which helps reduce the number of virgin trees cut and processed. This innovative, food-safe material helps reduce the company's collective impact on the environment. Visit www.seattlesbestcoffee.com/business for information.

The new Lemon Cherry Mini Loaf from Sweet Streets is a flavorful giant in a spritely size, a fabulous loaf full of tart, extra flavorful, antioxidant-loaded cherries held in a tender lemon cake and topped with buttery crumbs. This versatile item is packaged in individual portions easy for operators — no slicing, waste or fuss. Visit www.sweetstreet.com, for more information.

Whole Earth Sweetener Company has begun shipping PureVia, an all-natural alternative to sugar that can be placed in tabletop caddies for use in both hot and cold beverages, as well as sprinkled on cereal, fruit and yogurt. PureVia is the blend of pure Reb A, the sweetest/best tasting part of the stevia leaf, and other natural flavors and ingredients to create a great tasting zero-calorie sweetener. Visit www.purevia.com, for more.

Tyson K-12 now offers Tyson Shaved Steak — savory seasoned beef steak sliced for serving everything from pizza to salads to sandwiches. Shaved steak is fully cooked for quick and easy prep and available with or without sauce, onions and peppers. For menuing ideas and merchandising materials visit www.tysonk12.com of call 800-24-tyson.

Peach Fresh Bakes is the latest flavor to join Bake‘n Joy's full line of freezer to oven ready-to-bake predeposited muffin batters. The Ultra Moist base formula guarantees great volume, excellent shelf-life and delicious flavor. These muffins are pre-measured batter units (6.25 oz.) deposited into paper-lined plastic carrier trays and flash frozen for fresh-out-of-the-kitchen taste and performance. For more information, visit www.bakenjoy.com, or call 800-666-4937.