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GOURMET NEWS SEPTEMBER 2013 SFF WRAP UP 33 Fire & Flavor Liquid Brines Based in Athens, Ga., Fire and Flavor is a leading marketer and producer of innovative products and concepts for preparing fresh, flavorful food. Founded by husbandand-wife team Davis and Gena Knox, Fire and Flavor offers unique and easy-to-use products for at-home cooking. Fire & Flavor is putting a gourmet spin on gluten-free with a new line of liquid brines that make standing over a hot stove a thing of the past. Three new flavors of brine concentrates are available to add flavor and juiciness to meats and seafood in a short period of time. Fire & Flavor's brines consist of salts, sugars, spices and herbs that create mouthwatering combinations without any harmful preservatives. Each of the chicken, beef and pork brines can be used on multiple proteins for deliciously tender results. Cooking with these brines is effortless. Simply add water and allow the meat to brine for the listed amount of time. Whether roasting, smoking or grilling, enjoy healthy and convenient meals at home with Fire & Flavor's all-natural, gluten-free liquid brines. In addition, Fire & Flavor's liquid brines are a great complement to the John Wayne grilling sets the company introduced earlier this year. Fire & Flavor products are currently available throughout the United States and beyond. The company's products are always all-natural. For more information, visit the company online at www.fireandflavor.com. MarDona Black Truffle Marinara Sauce MarDona Specialty Foods has a great addition to the array of Italian foods it offers: the Black Truffle Marinara Sauce. MarDona uses only pure, natural ingredients in the making of gourmet sauce. The company uses the best crushed tomatoes, fresh spices, pure truffle infused olive oil and the finest black truffles. Then that sauce is slow-cooked over a low heat for hours to give the sauce its well-balanced thickness and great taste. MarDona also keeps the sodium and calorie levels as low as possible. And it is, of course, gluten-free. MarDona prides itself on having the finest gourmet products and providing them at affordable prices. The team at MarDona is certain that your gift basket will be a hit when you add the new MarDona Black Truffle Marinara sauce today. For more information, visit www. mardonaspecialtyfoods.com or www .mardonausa.com. Looking to Spice Things Up? Vanns Has It All When it comes to fragrant, flavorful and consistently performing spices, spice blends, flavors and extracts, you will find everything you need from Vanns Spices. Professional chefs and home cooks alike rely upon Vanns for their encyclopedic selection of flavorful ingredients that add unmistakable appeal to their recipes, culinary creations and packaged products. While Vanns enjoys an enduring reputation for consistency, integrity and quality, it is also recognized for its incredible depth and variety of spice and flavor options. While pantry standards such kosher salt, black Tellicherry peppercorns, onion and garlic are available, Vanns offers dozens of salt varieties and peppercorns, as well as numerous configurations of both garlic and onion from which to choose. If that is not enough, you will also find a dizzying assortment of exotic spices and spice blends from Vanns. Some of the more intriguing include Ultimate French Fry Seasoning, Urfa Chili Pepper, Zahtar, African Bird Pepper, Trim Tabb's Pig Powder and Espresso Rub. Vanns also works with su- permarkets and specialty food retailers, helping them develop proprietary spice assortments and house-branded private label offerings. In these situations, brand owners have the opportunity to enhance brand image and offer spices that rival national brands in terms of flavor, performance and overall quality, delivering ultimate value. "It's all about value and performance," says Mick Whitlock, President of Vanns Spices. "With your own spice brand, the equity and trust that has been established with customers in other parts of the store can be reinforced on the spice shelf." Packaging also plays an enormous role in the success of Vanns' private label solutions. From glass and plastic to folding cartons and self-contained grinders, the number and variety of appealing packaging considerations is significant. For additional information, buyers are invited to visit Vanns Spices at the Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Booth 646. Alternatively, contact Vanns by email at orders@vannsspices.com or by phone at 800.583.1693. Wind & Willow Cider Mixes Be ready for the changing seasons with Wind & Willow Cider Mixes. With three flavors to choose from, each mix will make you feel like it is Christmas morning. Wind & Willow's Original Mulled Cider Mix will take you back to your childhood. Sugar, cinnamon, cloves and other natural flavors make this the perfect treat to share as you snuggle in front of the fireplace. Caramel Apple Cider Mix combines two fall favorites: caramel apples and cider. Try topping it with whipped cream and caramel to create a new favorite autumn tradition. Finally, English Wassail Cider Mix is a balanced blend of cinnamon and spices with a hint of orange, the perfect component of a Christmas gift basket. Making these mixes even more versatile, each box has an alternate recipe printed on the back. Try delicious Orange Spice Cookies, Incredible Apple Cake or a Caramel Apple Smoothie. The simplicity of the recipes and the decadent results produced make Wind & Willow mixes a must for any kitchen pantry. For more information on these and other products from Wind & Willow, contact 888.427.3235, or visit www .windandwillow.com.