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GENERAL NEWS KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW n AUGUST 2018 n www.kitchenwarenews.com 10 Las Vegas Market will host the 8th annual "Up on the Roof " gala charity event benefiting Gift For Life, the sole charitable organization for the gift, stationery and home décor industries, on Monday, July 30, 2018, during the Summer 2018 Las Vegas Market, running July 29 to August 2, 2018. The 2018 fundraiser will be themed "ERASE HATE: A Celebration of Love," in connection with the 20th anniversary of the death of murder victim Matthew Shepard, an event that shocked the nation and galvanized support for the gay and lesbian community. "Las Vegas Market is deeply committed to the industry's chosen charity, Gift For Life, and its critical mission to raise funds for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, education and advocacy," said Esther Ossei- Anto, Senior Marketing Manager, International Market Centers and a newly- appointed Gift For Life board member. "This year, our supportive efforts take on a new dimension, with the theme of 'ERASE HATE: A Celebration of Love,' memorializing the 20th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder, a turning point in the American conversation about hate and how we as a people address our fears around things we do not know or understand. Las Vegas Market is proud to lend our voices to this dialogue and to demonstrate our continuing dedication to the industry charity." Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother, will be attending the Summer 2018 Las Vegas Market and the Up on the Roof benefit. Leading multi-line sales agency Fine Lines will host a special "meet-and-greet" with Shepard on Monday, July 30 from 12 to 4p.m., in its showroom on C10, including a special signing of her book, "The Meaning of Matthew, My Son's Murder in Laramie and A World Transformed." "In today's environment, more than ever, it is important that we remember Matthew, the impact of his murder and the tremendous work, love and passion that resulted," said Matt Katzenson, Fine Lines Chief Executive and Vice-Chair of Gift for Life. Fine Lines is the sales and marketing representative for Chavez for Charity, a supplier of signature colorful bracelets, necklaces and earrings that are sold to raise awareness and funds for critical causes worldwide, including a special Matthew Shepard 20th anniversary commemorative bracelet to be introduced at the Summer Market. "Supporting The Matthew Shepard Foundation has been a key part of Chavez for Charity's DNA from day one," said Julie Chavez, Founder/Chief Creative Officer of Chavez for Charity. "Years later, the impact of Matthew's story continues to be an emotional topic and a catalyst for opening dialogues on fear, love and acceptance. We are grateful to The Matthew Shepard Foundation for being a true partner, and could not be more proud to stand behind such an important cause. The 20th anniversary of Matthew's murder has certainly been a meaningful reminder of why we do what we do. In 2018, our primary focus is the 'Erase Hate' initiative and sharing Matthew's story with the world." Judy Shepard, President of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, said, "Chavez for Charity has been a longtime supporter of the Matthew Shepard Foundation's work towards erasing hate, and for that we are very thankful. I'm excited to be at the Las Vegas Market and to finally be meeting folks in the gift industry family." The 2018 Up On the Roof event will be held on Monday, July 30, f rom 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in the WorldView Ballroom on the 16th Floor of Building B. Party-goers will enjoy a full bar, hors d'oeuvres, dancing, a silent auction, entertainment and an opportunity to purchase The Chavez for Charity Matthew Shepard 20th anniversary commemorative bracelets and "ERASE HATE" t-shirts. Up on the Roof tickets, which cost $25 each, or five for $100, are available online at https://splashthat.com/sites/view/uponther oof2018.splashthat.com and at specially- designated kiosks onsite in the Grand Plaza, C10 and in the Pavilions during Las Vegas Market. Proceeds from the 2018 event will benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS and The Matthew Shepard Foundation. Held annually at the Summer Market, the popular Up on the Roof fundraiser typically draws a crowd of some 300 to 500 industry executives, who join together to eat, drink, dance, network and raise funds for the industry's chosen charity in a spectacular setting. In 2017, Las Vegas Market's "Up on the Roof " raised more than $15,000 to benefit Gift For Life. Las Vegas Market is the nation's fastest growing gift and home décor market and the leading furniture marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 4,300-plus gift, home décor and furniture resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. The Summer 2018 Las Vegas Market runs July 29 to August 2, 2018. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com. KN Las Vegas Market Hosts Eighth Gift for Life Fundraiser Today, at the Summer Fancy Food Show at the Jacob Javits Center, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) announced that the Bitter Housewife Cardamom Bitters f rom Improper Goods, LLC has been awarded the 2018 sofi™ Award for product of the year. "For 46 years, we've presented sofi Awards to the best of the best in the specialty food industry," said Phil Kafarakis, President of the SFA. "Our product of the year winner comes f rom an amazing field of competitive products in 39 categories. It's exciting to recognize Improper Goods and have the Bitter Housewife Cardamom Bitters named 2018 product of the year. They truly embody the passion and innovation that our industry stands for, and we predict great things ahead for them." The Bitter Housewife Cardamom Bitters are surprisingly savory bitters that lead a duplicitous life adding depth to sweeter drinks based on apple, pear, or orange, but also blending right in with the smoky characteristics of an añejo tequila or scotch. " We are honored that our Bitter Housewife Cardamom Bitters have won not only a coveted gold sofi Award, but also product of the year," said Dylan Myers, Vice President of Operations, Improper Goods. "Improper Goods is all about making cocktails fun and approachable. Each of our flavors is made with real ingredients to make cocktails taste better. We're excited to continue our journey leveraging this incredible recognition." The Specialty Food Association has been presenting sofi Awards since 1972, celebrating culinary excellence and creativity worldwide through honoring the outstanding work of its members. The sofi is recognized across the food industry as a symbol of extraordinary quality. This is the second time that a product of the year award has been presented. In 2017, the award went to Anastasia Coconut Cashew Crunch with Chocolate Drizzle f rom Las Olas Brands. KN The Bitter Housewife Cardamom Bitters Honored by Specialty Food Association BY LORRIE BAUMANN Chinese Southern Belle, based in Smyrna, Georgia, produces Asian-inspired cooking sauces with just a hint of a Southern accent. The three all-natural sauces: My Sweet Hottie, You Saucy Thing and Wild Wild East, work well as condiments as well as cooking bases. "We call them recipes-in- a-bottle because they're authentic family recipes with f resh ingredients and taste so much better than other pre-made sauces out there," said Natalie Keng, Owner and Founder of Chinese Southern Belle. The sauces are based on what they eat and cook at home. Keng said. Her mother and father immigrated to the United States on graduate school scholarships and stayed to pursue professional careers in education and science, respectively– her mother as a public school teacher and her father as a research scientist at Georgia Tech University. In addition to their teaching, the couple opened a Chinese restaurant so that they could provide jobs to other family members who wanted to come to the United States. Eventually, Margaret was asked to teach Chinese cooking classes for adult education, the first in the area. Natalie grew up working in the family restaurant, then went off to college, eventually earning a master's degree in social policy at the Kennedy School of Government. Back in Atlanta, she started Chinese Southern Belle, a small business with a big vision of using food and culture as a gateway: f rom connecting communities and supporting local farmers to improving access to f resh, healthier food, Chinese Southern Belle wants to "cook and eat together for a better world." Keng said. My Sweet Hottie is a sweet chili peach sauce that can be used as a salad dressing, marinade or dipping sauce. You Saucy Thing is a soy-ginger-Vidalia, a great all- in-one sauce for instant stir-f ry, and Wild Wild East is an Asian-style teriyaki barbecue sauce with f resh pineapple. They 're natural, made with f resh ingredients, and contain no MSG or high- f ructose corn syrup. The three Asian- inspired chef-quality sauce blends are sold locally in Georgia ( Whole Foods and Kroger), through a direct-ship specialty food program with Sysco and online. Gourmet Foods International is the national distributor to the retail trade. They retail for $8-10 per bottle. KN Asian-Inspired "Recipes in a Bottle" from the American South

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