market basket 2010-11-01

edited by Diane Ridge

Diamond Crystal salt is offering a free cookbook promotion aimed at encouraging professional chefs and cooks to discover the unique benefits of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt and Natural Sea Salt. The combination autographed cookbook and rebate promotion offers operators a signed hardcover edition of Alton Brown's “Good Eats: The Early Years” plus a bonus $2 per case rebate with a minimum five case purchase. The promotion runs through November 30th, 2010. For more information, call 1-888-385-SALT.

Nestlé Professional has a great offer for foodservice operators with its new TRIO promotion, “Trust. Taste. Serve.” which runs through December 31, 2010. Current customers will get a $3 case rebate or 150 Foodservice Rewards bonus points per case when they purchase any case of Trio (maximum 10 cases) or get free samples of Trio Brown Gravy and Trio Cheese Sauce. New customers will get free samples — plus a $3 per case rebate (up to $30) or up to 1,500 Foodservice Rewards bonus points, on qualifying cases. For all the details, call 1-800-288-8682 or visit www.nestleprofessional.com.

Deliver the hearty, healthy flavor your customers crave with new Truitt Bros. All Natural Shredded Beef Chili. High in protein and fiber, low in fat, and free of additives and preservatives, this all natural beef chili contains tender morsels of shredded beef, tangy spices, and a fresh medley of black, white, pinto and kidney beans. The chili is prepared using Food Alliance certified sustainable food handling techniques and ingredients. Clear, flexible shelf-stable pouch packaging provides a variety of operational benefits. Call 800- 547-8712 or visit www.truittbros.com, for more.

Zoo Crew chicken nuggets from Brakebush Brothers are made from 100% breast meat and are CN labeled, so they can be served in schools, as well as restaurants and other venues. Brakebush Brothers offers environmental-based curriculum to help teachers educate students about the different animals and their habitat. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Zoo Crew chicken nuggets benefits the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Visit www.brakebush.com or call 800-933-2121 for more.

ConAgra Foodservice is proud to introduce the exclusive new Loaded Potato Strips from The Max, offering a mouthwatering combination of blended cheeses, creamy mashed potatoes, hint of onion and bacon flavored topping on a thin crust made with 25% whole grain, meeting nutritional requirements schools demand. Operators can easily serve the 2" × 6" pre-portioned potato strips any time of day as a main entrée or side. For more, visit www.conagrafoodservice.com or call 800-357-6543.

Blue Bunny from Wells Dairy, Inc. introduces NUTRIplus Supplemental Ice Cream, the real ice cream loaded with 17 nutrients to give your patients a boost. Serve frozen or melted — it melts to pudding consistency. Available in vanilla or orange crème flavors. Visit foodservice.bluebunny.com or call 800-807-8221 for details and rebate information.

New to the Steve Phillips World Cuisine product line are two vegetarian dim sum varieties: Vegetarian Shiitake Mushroom Pot Stickers and Vegetarian Roasted Red Pepper Spring Rolls. Handmade in Asia by Asian chefs, the line showcases the freshest local ingredients to deliver authentic Asian flavors. The new vegetarian dim sum items cook from frozen in just minutes, offering labor saving convenience. Call 888-234-CRAB or visit www.phillipsfoodservice.com.

Kraft Foodservice is increasing its efforts to help operators add on-trend flavor to salads without adding a lot of fat or calories. Kraft now offers 10 varieties of fat-free and reduced-fat dressings. Plus, Kraft Foodservice is giving operators free access to an online database featuring nearly 300 easy-to-prepare recipes for Kraft Light Dressings and Kraft Free Dressings. On-trend, better-for-you recipes and information can be found at kraftfoodservice.com.

Spicy chicken sandwiches are hot. Operators can get their share of this popular category with Tyson Red Label Hot 'N Spicy Breaded Filets and Patties. Made with 100% chicken breast meat, the bold flavor of cayenne and smoky notes of black pepper are balanced by the savory foundations of garlic and onion to produce a mouthwatering filet with just the right amount of heat. Created with a dense flour-based breading, the Hot 'N Spicy filet delivers a plate-enhancing made-from-scratch appearance. For product specs and the no-risk, free-case rebate offer, visit www.TysonRedLabel.com or call 800-248-9766.

Tomlinson announces that both the Deluxe Frontier Kettle and the Frontier II Kettle have a Two-Year Warranty. This guarantees to the original purchaser that if any part proves to be defective in material or workmanship within two years of the date of shipment it will be repaired or a replacement part furnished. Tomlinson's soup kettle will cook, heat, hold and warm soup and other hot food specialties. Each kettle is shipped with an 8 or 12 quart (7.6 or 11.4 liter) stainless steel food insert, hinged lid and product cards. Call 800-945-4589, ext. 112, for more info.

Smucker's PlateScapers dessert toppings are the perfect way to transform your desserts and beverages into custom, memorable creations with minimal effort. Create a delicious Chocolate & Banana Caramel Turtle Dessert Pizza, or serve a cool Berry Smoothie — the possibilities for creating unique designs with a variety of great flavors are endless. Available in seven delicious flavors Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, Caramel, Raspberry, Strawberry and Lime. Visit www.smuckerfoodservice.com.

Simple-to-prepare Oregon Chai Tea Latte Dry Mixes from Kerry Beverage provide a satisfying alternative to coffee and a unique beverage option for customers seeking something a little different. With just-add-water or steamed milk prep, the mixes make it extremely easy to prepare delicious chai drinks. For added ease, each package includes a serving scoop and come in re-closable stand up bags. With great shelf life and no refrigeration required, Oregon Chai Tea Latte Dry Mixes provide convenience and also work well in automatic beverage dispensers. Visit sellchai.com for samples and recipe ideas.

Celebrate the catering holidays with a festive red and green appetizer — Tuna Tartare with Avocados, Scallions and Organic Soya. The smooth, creamy texture and nutty, buttery flavor of the Fresh Hass Avocado complements the tender bits of tuna and diced, crisp English cucumbers, to make this the perfect dish to offer customers. Take advantage of the year-round supply of fresh Hass avocados and visit www.avocadocentral.com for more winter menu ideas.

With five varieties to choose from, Fresh Gourmet Crunchy Toppings from Sugar Foods add appealing texture and exciting crunch to your burger menu, without additional labor or waste. Whether you use Crispy Onions, Crispy Jalapeños, Wonton Strips or Tortilla Strips, each of the toppings will allow you to take your burger menu to the next level. The menu possibilities are endless — Fresh Gourmet Crunchy Toppings are the ready-to-use answer to avoiding burger boredom! Visit www.sugarfoods.com for recipe ideas.

Hoshizaki America, Inc. introduces the HNC Series, Stainless Steel Refrigerated Counter Top Display Case which is ideal for food display. Features include: Top glass angles down for maximum view of contents; NSF approved thermometer; four models provide a wide selection of sizes available from approximately 4ft. to 7 ft. with a right or left hand door opening; and the self-contained refrigeration unit is easy to install, to name a few. Visit www.hoshizaki.com for more.

Give customers the holiday beverage flavor they absolutely love from Starbucks/Seattle's Best. New Pumpkin Pie Latte is made with Fontana Pumpkin Sauce, Henry's Blend espresso and a touch of holiday joy. Promotional counter cards are available to help you engage and entice customers again and again. To learn more, visit www.starbucks.com.

Non-Skid Versa Camtrays from Cambro provide a better grip for safer meal delivery. And operators can save over 50% each year switching from paper tray mats. Non-Skid Trays withstand temperatures up to 210°F (100°C). All trays are available in 14"×18" (36 × 46 cm) and 15" × 20" (38 × 51,5 cm) sizes. All Non-Skid Trays have a 2 Year Warranty. Call 800-833-3003, or visit www.cambro.com/savemoney.

BelGioioso Cheese announces its newest product for foodservice and retail: Shaved Caesar Blend. This savory trio combines sweet and slightly sharp Asiago, with a robust Romano and rich, nutty Parmesan. The result is a cheese blend that lends a sophisticated touch to any dish. In addition to a classic Caesar salad, it is also delicious served over pastas, vegetables and melted into sauces. Add to bread dough, and bake to create gourmet cheese bread. Visit www.belgioioso.com for more.

Kellogg's Food Away From Home introduces a quick and easy online Nutrition Search Tool especially beneficial for K-12 foodservice operators. In just two simple steps, you can point and click your way to a list of Kellogg's products that meet your specific nutrition and allergen requirements. To access the tool, visit www.fafh.com. Click the “Products and Brands” link in the menu bar and select “Nutrition Search” from the dropdown menu. Then follow the prompts. It's really that easy!

Desserts are some of the most profitable menu items, and tempting mini desserts allow customers a few satisfying bites without overindulging. Because customers say a brand name positively influences their choice of menu items, MARS Foodservices offers chopped and mini candies perfect for mini dessert concepts on the menu in some of the most popular varieties — M&M'S, Snickers and Twix brands. To learn more about the profitability of branded desserts or on-trend recipes, call 1-800-432-2331 or visit www.MARSFoodservices.com.

With Dole Chef-Ready Cuts — Mango Cubes, Pineapple Cubes, Diced Peaches, and Diced and Sliced Strawberries — chefs can change a menu standard into a menu signature. To create a proprietary salsa recipe, use the Dole Fruit Pairings Wheel to match your fruit of choice with proteins, dairy, aromatics and complementary fruits and vegetables. For more information about Chef-Ready Cuts, a chart that compares the yield and cost savings of Chef-Ready Cuts to fresh fruit, a recipe database and to order a free fruit pairings wheel, visit www.dolefoodservice.com or call 800-723-9868.

Capitalize on the trend of cupcakes with savory recipe ideas from Basic American Foods. Meatloaf “cupcakes” are novel, fun, convenient to eat and easy to prepare. Hold them in a steam table in the serving line or “frost” and top them to order at an action station. Perfect as a grab-and-go item, a savory “cupcake” is a meal in one on the run. Display prominently in a warmer at point of sale for easy reach in and purchase. And “minis” are ideal as passed hors d'oeuvres. Visit www.baf.com for recipe ideas.

New Otis Spunkmeyer Pumpkin Spice Supreme Muffins capture the classic flavors of fall with a new twist. They're packed with real pumpkin and hints of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, and then topped with sweet praline pumpkin seeds. Boost breakfast menus by bundling the Pumpkin Spice Supreme Muffin with hot seasonal beverages. Free downloadable point-of-sale materials are offered through Dec. 31, 2010.To learn more, call 1-888-ASK-OTIS or visit www.spunkmeyer.com.

Made from top-shelf ingredients, Farmland Gold Medal Smoked Sausage is BIG on flavor. The new sausage is made from only USDA-inspected cuts of pork and beef, which give it a rich taste and delicious, even texture. It's also smoked, offering a delectable, authentic smokehouse flavor. The sausage measures up at a whopping eight inches, so your average bun can barely contain it, making for an eye-catching plate presentation. Visit www.farmlandfoodservice.com for more details.