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Product Review PRODUCT REVIEW www.kitchenwarenews.com ■ JULY 2014 ■ KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW 9 BY AMBER GALLEGOS The summer season of outdoor, backyard, and barbecue events is upon us, and with it comes not only the invitation to join in on the fun, but the blissful obligation to share a dish. Oh joy. Just what you wanted to do in the dead of summer: create a meal that will impress while also complementing the main course and remaining portable. It's too hot to cook, so there goes your idea of stealing the dessert spotlight with an impressive on-site flambé. Darn! I suppose second choice lobster thermidor is out of the question too. Faced with this dilemma myself over Memorial Day weekend, I decided to try out the new ICED UP Salad To Go from Prodyne. The item consists of a large 5.5 quart plastic bowl atop which sits a clip-on dome lid with a built-in ice chamber. The ice chamber has a screw-on lid with a leak proof silicone seal and also has a handle from which you can carry the entire dish once the domed lid is clipped into place. You first fill up the ice container, twist it to seal shut, place on top of the large salad bowl containing your dish and then clip the lid on and you're ready to go. For my first round of pool parties I decided to bring a simple fruit salad. After cutting up some pineapples and strawberries, I added some blueberries and was ready to go. I started out for the 5 mile drive by placing the container in the back seat of my air conditioned car. Halfway there I remembered that I forgot to bring a beverage and stopped at my local drugstore to pick up the finest box of wine they offer. Ten minutes later I was on the road again. Upon arriving at my destination, the ICED UP Salad received 'oohs' and 'aahs' of appreciation for the visual presentation. I have to admit, my quick and easy 10 minute fruit salad did look much more impressive than it should have, thanks to the clear plastic container. Spying a fridge brimming to capacity, I placed my salad outdoors with the rest of the dishes that didn't fit. With a high that day of 83 degrees, I sought out a shady place for my salad, fearing an unpleasant mouthful of hot and Ice Up Your life mushy fruit later. After about two hours had passed since leaving my house, with the salad outdoors for about an hour and a half, the time came for my contribution to be judged – I mean, enjoyed. I watched my f riends closely as they tried the salad, waiting for a face that expressed 'hot mushy fruit,' but it never came. I was pleasantly surprised to find that what I had feared the most did not happen. The f ruit was perfectly edible and actually enjoyable. Although my fruit didn't taste like I had just pulled it off the ice, it was definitely cooler than the 83 degrees outside, and I was glad to have the container rather than the alternative of no added cooling at all. Two days later, I was headed to another pool party and decided to try a more traditional salad. This time I was in less of a rush and spent a bit more time preparing an Asian salad to bring along. I thought the cabbage base with carrots, celery, almonds, wonton noodles, green onions, and cilantro would pose a different set of challenges to truly put the ICED UP Salad to the test. However, I was not expecting a miracle and set the dressing aside to add on later. This day was much hotter with a high of 95 degrees, but the 15 minute drive was a straight shot with no stops in between. I headed straight to the outdoor action and placed my salad among the other offerings underneath a tent. An hour later it was salad time. Feeling fairly confident f rom my f ruit salad experience two days before, I didn't even brace myself this time but just dove into my salad without glancing around. The salad had retained its crunch and was not soggy at all. It was not necessarily ice cold, but perhaps just above room temperature, which I considered a success considering it was outdoors. After my weekend of trials, I walked away with the seeds of my reputation as a master salad transporter firmly in place. Even if you're not faced with an abundance of outdoor events to attend, the ICED UP Salad To Go will certainly work nicely for indoor potlucks where fridge space is limited. Plus, it doubles as a portable chips and dip container, adding another layer of functionality. The smart and practical design will make you wish you had the option of an ICED UP Salad years ago. LÉKUÉ has received a design patent, PCT /ES2012 /000091, for its Citrus Spray product. The design patent protection applies to the United, States, China, Japan and Europe, which includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Spain. The product, designed for LÉKUÉ by Alberto Arza Moncunill and Jordi Olucha Soler, launched globally in mid-2012, said Xavier Costa, Managing Director of LÉKUÉ in Barcelona. "The product has received numerous awards and accolades and has been a strong selling item for us and our partnering lÉKUÉ obtains Patent Protection for Citrus Spray retailers. It is for this reason that we applied for the patent to protect some of its unique features f rom duplication. Although there are many companies trying to reproduce this product, they will be limited on what they can copy. Of course we know that 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,' coined by Charles Colton in the 19th century, but we plan to enforce this patent and limit this kind of flattery for our Citrus Spray." The LÉKUÉ Citrus Spray draws juice directly from fruit to spritz soft drinks, cocktails, salads, seafood, vegetables and more. It's easy to use, it's fun and cute and it's dishwasher safe. The Citrus Spray is sold as a set and includes two extractors. The longer unit is sized for larger fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits. The shorter unit is for smaller fruits such as limes and tangerines. The set includes a small green pedestal dish to rest the fruits on when not in use. Reduce™ presents a big idea for daily hydration: the new Hydro Tritan 40oz. This sturdy, lightweight bottle is made of premium crystal clear Tritan that is impact resistant and BPA free. Ref reshing colors and contemporary graphics add visual appeal. The Hydro Tritan 40oz. is available in turquoise, pink and yellow, with stainless steel screw-on caps that are color-coordinated. Because the bottles are clear, they are easier to fill and manage than opaque water bottles. The design is leak-proof, and a rubber grip on the lid makes them easier to open and close. This new product ties into a major consumer trend. Consumers are increasingly aware of the need to drink more fresh, pure water – to promote health and fitness, to optimize physical performance, to beautify the skin, and to reach and maintain a healthy weight. The Hydro Tritan 40oz. goes with you throughout your busy day to refresh your body with the water you need to feel and be your best. Cost savings is an additional bonus, providing the consumer with another reason New Hydro Tritan 40oz. from Reduce: one bottle Meets Your Daily Hydration to buy. A small investment in a reusable Hydro Tritan 40oz. eliminates the need to buy water in costly disposable bottles, day after day. This not only saves money, it also helps save the planet by reducing the excess packaging that can end up in landfills. The new Reduce Hydro Tritan 40oz. is available for immediate shipment, with a suggested retail price of $9.99. Reduce offers eco-f riendly products that make it easy to turn over a green leaf. For more information, visit reduceeveryday.com or contact sales@basebrands.com.