Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/139793
144 GOURMET NEWS Tante Z's (Cont'd. from p. 1) good the salad dressing was and 'somebody should do something with this,' and then they'd look at me," said Peter Skrodelis. Skrodelis was working for the National Basketball Association as Vice President of Broadcast Operations at the time. So although he had the palate, he had no time for salad dressing. However, things changed when he retired. Ek Chok (Cont'd. from p. 1) a hybrid between the Trinitario and Criollo. Trinitario and Criollo are often referred to as fine cacao beans, while Forastero is considered the ordinary bean. Over 90 percent of the world's cocoa is bulk production, mostly from the Forastero bean. The remainder is fine cacao from most of the Trinitario and all of the Criollo varieties. Ek Chok uses only the finest of the cacao bean varieties, Criollo, to create a smooth, silky-soft chocolate. Each flavor also contains hazelnuts that add a hint of nutty taste to the richness of the chocolate. This careful combination of ingredients and flavors creates a distinct aroma SaltWorks (Cont'd. from p. 1) customer service. Since jumpstarting the sea salt revolution in 2001, SaltWorks has been busy growing into the largest gourmet specialty salt company in the world. After relocating in 2011 to a brand new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, SaltWorks has continued to report exponential increases, posting a 40 percent rise in sales for 2012. Always ahead of the curve and with the demand for its allnatural salts ever increasing, the company is now expanding again to add another 30,000 square feet of processing space. "From meticulous quality control to proprietary Foodland (Cont'd. from p. 1) ing their Granny's Secret (Bakina Tanja) line of products to America. Foodland chooses the best hand-picked fruits and vegetables that grow (often naturally) in the Baltic region. This assures a fresh and sweet taste. The vegetables are then brought to a very slow boil on wood burning stoves in big, opened pots (this is the traditional, "granny" way of cooking). This slow process of maintaining and slightly increasing heat over time takes hours, but preserves most of the nutrients and vitamins of the fruit or vegetable, and does not cook Dancing Deer (Cont'd. from p. 1) over the past year as consumers search for new ways to tantalize their taste buds. Not just for dessert anymore, these sophisticated cookies can also be served as hors d' oeuvres with everything from cocktails to coffee to cheese and more. Six distinctive flavors will be sold in 6ounce stackable plastic tubs for easy merchandising in the bakery department. Rosemary Sea Salt: A gentle blend of refreshing rosemary and pink sea salt infuse this all-butter shortbread. Savory enough to accompany cheese, but slightly sweet for a satisfying snack/treat/dessert. www.gourmetnews.com Peter and Liz approached marketing expert Richard Kelley, who helped get the business off the ground. A co-packer, Food for Thought in Honor, Mich., was contracted to duplicate the recipe in quantity. The products contain fresh ingredients such as garlic, lemon and honey, and have no preservatives, artificial flavorings or MSG. "We had a blind taste test and no one could tell the difference from the original," Skrodelis said. "Tante Z's original recipe was and delicacy that will change the way you enjoy chocolate forever! This eco-friendly organization is continuously contributing to the health of the planet by replanting previously deforested rain forests for the best growing conditions of Cacao Criollo. These practices restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. Ek Chok comes in five delicious flavors: Cardamom Considered as one of the most valuable spices in the world due to its rich aroma and therapeutic qualities, Cardamom is a good source of minerals, like potassium and calcium. process innovation, we take our responsibility to the gourmet salt industry quite seriously," said Mark Zoske, CEO of SaltWorks. The driving force behind much of this growth is increasingly sophisticated consumers who are seeking out a more natural, delicious and health-conscious food experience, according to Zoske. "[Consumers] want to see high-quality ingredients everywhere – from the frozen foods aisle to the spice shelf, and even the salt on the table at the restaurant where they dine. Their expectations are high, and the food industry has taken notice." In a big way, if SaltWorks' sales are any indication. From manufacturers and food processors to for the Garlic Vinaigrette, but we developed the Honey Lemon Vinaigrette and Spicy Garlic Vinaigrette to round out the product line. One thing I learned is that you have to have a complete product line to survive and to get on the shelves." The word "tante" means "aunt" in Italian, French and German, and other languages as well. As distribution of Tante Z spread, so did the way consumers use it. "It's more than a salad dressing," n JUNE 2013 n GOURMET NEWS Skrodelis observed. "People are using it as a marinade and dip and love cooking with it." "It's VerZatile with a Z!" added Liz with a laugh. Tante Z's salad dressings are now available in 14 states and more than 300 stores. For more information and a charming story about Tante Z's beloved doll, go to www.tante-z.com. Call TZ Sales at 914-2025020. Visit Tante Z at the show in booth 5192. Licorice Licorice root, with its impressive list of documented uses as an herbal medicine is regarded as one of the most beneficial herbal wonders. Vanilla The benefits of vanilla bean can be attributed to its properties like antioxidants, aphrodisiac effects and anti-carcinogenics. It also aids in relaxing and acts as an anti-depressant. Rose Rose has been known to balance female hormones, act as an aphrodisiac, boost self-esteem, confidence, hope and mental strength. For more information, visit booth 3913 at Summer Fancy Food Show, go online to www.ekchok.com, call 866-237-8688 x212 or email maggie@premierorganics.org. Strawberry The powerful antioxidants of strawberries promote good health by ridding the body of free radicals, which may help alleviate many common diseases and disorders. restaurants around the globe, the gourmet industry continues to flock to SaltWorks' salt products and expertise. Customers can now also find SaltWorks' gourmet salts in almost every grocery store in America, which is strong evidence of the magnetic draw of the sea salt movement to which Zoske alludes. From the company's retail lines and customers' private label brands to an ingredient in thousands of gourmet foods, beverages and more, SaltWorks' specialty salts are everywhere. And there's a reason – "They just taste better!" said a recent sea salt convert. "Plus, I feel better about what I'm eating when I know it's allnatural and not treated with chemicals, like them away. In doing so, Foodland Granny's Secret isn't so much of a secret as a revelation: with a little care (and a dash of love), fresh, homemade tastes are possible without artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors needed. On top of the vegetable specialties like traditional Ajvars, Lutenicas, and a wonderful Red Pepper Buschetta, Foodland has cornered the market on unique fruit preserves and specialties using the wild, naturally occurring fruits of Serbia; fruits such as Wild Blueberry, Wild Cranberry, Quince, and Wild Strawberry really need to be tasted to be believed. Aside from all that, Granny's Secret now produces fresh fruit juices, made from 100 percent fruit, using the same methods that have made their vegetable and fruit products so popular. The juices, some bottles containing hundreds of fresh squeezed fruits, have all their nutrients, vitamins, and healthy properties preserved thanks to Foodland's unique processes. The sweetness and unique flavor of each fruit is kept fresh by using white grapes as a sugar substitute. Foodland was founded in 1998, based out of Belgrade (Serbia), with the mission of providing safe, healthy, unprocessed, unique and traditional high quality foods to markets. Sun-Dried Tomato and Pine Nuts: An intense combination of sun-dried tomato and buttery pine nuts flavor this all-butter shortbread. Topped with a sprinkle of pink sea salt, this savory treat will be the hit of the party. Serve either before or after dinner, or both! Kalamata Olive with Fig: Robust Kalamata olives creamed with AA butter and blended with Turkish figs make for a surprisingly delicious combination. This indulgent sweet-savory shortbread paired with a favorite wine will truly satisfy. Indian Vanilla Bean: Pure ground Indian vanilla beans are infused into sweet AA creamery butter and pure cane sugar. An intense vanilla experience will have consumers coming back for more. Espresso Bean with Chocolate Chips: Fresh ground espresso beans and pure dark chocolate chips are baked into this rich and delicious shortbread. Served with coffee or by itself, this all-butter cookie is all the buzz. Tangerine Cream Swirl: Tangerine essence and intense vanilla are swirled and baked together to create this match made in heaven. Sprinkled in pure cane sugar, this sweet pleasure is sure to make everybody smile when it hits their tongue. Dancing Deer Baking Company is a company of people who are passionate about food, nature, aesthetics and community. Since 1994, the company has been known for All five delicious flavors are boosted with Ayurveda herbs and contain hazelnuts. The .5-ounce single-serve squeeze packs make it a convenient way to carry around chocolate without the fear of melting or making a mess. the refined salts I used to use." Manufacturers are echoing the sentiment, finding that making the switch to a high-quality sea salt makes a quantifiable difference not only in flavor improvement, but also in shoppers' perception of their products. A satisfied SaltWorks customer recently noted, "Seeing sea salt on the label is a huge draw. Our sales have increased – people are willing to pay a few extra cents to get better quality." Learn more about SaltWorks online at www.seasalt.com, or call 800-353-7258 and let one of their salt experts help. Be sure to visit booth 2374 at the Summer Fancy Food Show. Today, Foodland has over 170 employees, all of whom are dedicated to the needs and wishes of their customers. Production is situated south of Belgrade, at the foot of a mountain called Kopaonik, in an ecologically friendly facility surrounded by rich forests and farmland. Granny's Secret redesigned products won the World Packaging Organization's "Worldstar" as Best Packaging for 2013. For more information, call 201-293-4757, email mike@fastpakstore.com, visit www.fastpakstore.com, www.foodland.rs, or visit booth 2570. its delicious all-natural brownies, cookies, cakes and baking mixes, which are sold in specialty, natural food and grocery stores nationwide. Dancing Deer has won many national awards and accolades for its distinctive products and innovative business practices, was one of the first 25 Massachusetts companies to be certified as a Sustainable Business Leader, and in 2012 became one of Massachusetts' first Benefit Corporations. Visit Dancing Deer at booth 4530 at the Fancy Food Show or contact the company at 888-699-3337 x501 or via email at Wholesale@DancingDeer.com for more information.