Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/624475
GOURMET NEWS n JANUARY 2016 n www.gourmetnews.com GOURMET NEWS 3 9 The 2016 Scovie Awards judging panel of top culinary experts honored Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods with a first place in the Condiments – Hot & Spicy category for its Citrus Ha- banero Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Spicy Antipasto Spread. Its winning products were applauded because of their outstanding flavor. Dave DeWitt, Founder of the Scovie Awards and the National Fiery Foods and Barbecue Show, said there were 126 total com- panies entering. There were entries from 30 states and eight coun- tries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Austria, New Zealand and Australia. "Companies from all over the world continue to recognize the Scovie Awards as the most competitive and challenging blind taste-tested event in the world," DeWitt said. "I'm thrilled that participation in the awards continues to increase year after year." The Scovie Awards is an annual competition created by Dave DeWitt that recognizes the top fiery food products in the world. The awards were named after the Scoville Scale, a measurement of the spicy heat of a chile pepper. It is one of the most compet- itive blind tasted food competitions. Hundreds of products are entered and go through rigorous tast- ings to receive the top honors. Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods is located at 2204 Cal- ifornia St., Sutter, California, 95982. It offers California extra vir- gin olive oils, infused olive oils, infused balsamic vinegars, gourmet mustards, gourmet jams, California olives, gourmet salts and spices and gourmet tape- nades. Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Com- pany pushed through the surface in 2009 and is swiftly earning a reputation for its innovative line of handcrafted gourmet products. Behind this refined harvest of dozens of gourmet accompaniments are owners Alka Kumar and Arek Kazmierczak. They have designed their condiments for the gourmet as well as for the general food lover. Their use of simple, but extraordi- nary ingredients can elevate home cooking to star status. Al- though world travel has been a major source of inspiration for Alka and Arek, being close to the harvest is an essential ingredi- ent to their success. Providing artisan products means always having access to the freshest ingredients, including the finest Cal- ifornia EVOO. It also means a continued commitment to hand- crafting each and every batch. This is the promise – and the taste – at the heart of Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Company. For more information, go to www.sutterbuttesoliveoil.com or stop by booth #632. 2015 was a banner year for Vintage Italia's Pasta Chips. It has launched a new flavor, new packaging and has new distribution – and it continues to innovate in the category. Steady growth is expected for the brand throughout 2016. Pasta Chips are now available in a 20-ounce, club-sized bag at Costco in various regions of the country. In the Midwest, Costco carries Garlic Olive Oil Pasta Chips. Other Costco regions are expected to follow shortly, including the Los Angeles marketplace. This fall, Delta Air Lines began offering Marinara Pasta Chips on domestic flights in the First Class cabin as part of their complimentary snack service. The addition of Costco as a retail store to Pasta Chips' ex- tensive distribution expands the reach of Pasta Chips to over 17,000 stores nationwide. Pasta Chips are the brainchild of Founder and Chief Execu- tive Officer Jerry Bello, whose discovery of the popular dish of fresh pasta dough lightly baked then topped with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt during a trip to the Tuscan countryside of Italy inspired him to recreate the dish into a crunchy snack for health-conscious consumers the world over. Bello honors Pasta Chips' Italian heritage by using the very same semolina flour, ancient grains and Italian herbs that were celebrated more than 800 years ago. Bello and his team continue to push the boundaries of snack inno- vation and will be expanding their pasta-based snack offerings in 2016. Stay tuned for exciting news to be announced in January at the Winter Fancy Food Show. Pasta Chips are available in-store at A&P, Chamberlin's, Du- aneReade, Harris Teeter, Hyvee, King Kullen, Kings, Mariano's Fresh Market, Meijer, Pick'n Save, Publix, Randalls, Roche Bros., Roundy's, Safeway, Schnucks, Shaws, Sendik's Food Market, The Fresh Market, Tops Friendly Markets, Vons, Wal- mart, WinCo Foods and other retailers nationwide and at www.pastachips.com. For more information, visit www.pastachips.com or stop by booth #1786. Vintage Italia Continues to Innovate with Pasta Chips Scovie Awards Honors Spicy & Savory Foods Funky Chunky LLC is announcing the launch of its new packaging and re-branding efforts. "We have a new look to better communicate our pre- mium positioning and our gourmet, artisan, hand-crafted confections. The theme was "little black dress," meaning it is simply elegant and yet perfect for many occasions. Our new upscale packaging better reflects the artisan crafted quality we put into all of our products," says Jeff Skogen, Director of Sales and Marketing. It creates each flavor with natural ingredients, such as creamy real butter, fresh brown sugar, premium nuts like roasted almonds, cashews and pecans, non-GMO popcorn and crunchy perfectly salted pretzels. Then it adds its sig- nature drizzle with the likes of sea salt caramel, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and/or white chocolate, de- pending on the variety and item. It offers many convenient packaging options as well, starting with its stand-up bags. It has two sizes: a two- ounce small bag and a five-ounce large bag. It also has canisters in the following sizes: an eight-ounce mini can- ister and a 19-ounce tall canister. It also has some limited time offer products and varieties. It offers a Sweetheart Mix for Valentine's Day and other special occasions. During the fall and Thanksgiving time, it has its new Pumpkin Cream Cheese. During the holiday season, it offers its popular Peppermint Bark Popcorn with chocolaty drizzle. About Funky Chunky LLC Funky Chunky specializes in gourmet popcorn and pretzel drizzled gourmet snacks. For more than 20 years, Funky Chunky has been carefully hand-crafted in small batches. The attention to freshness and artisan flavor combinations means it will always be quality and always remembered. Funky Chunky is available at fine retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Balducci's, Henri Bendel, Cost Plus World Market, Byerly's & Lunds, Kowalski's Mar- ket and hundreds of specialty retail shops nationally. For more information, call 952.938.6663, visit www.funkychunkyinc.com or stop by booth #1745. Funky Chunky Launches New Look for 2016