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GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com n JANUARY 2018 n GOURMET NEWS 5 8 Bella Sun Luci: A Tuscan Tradition A family recipe was created in the flavor-rich fields of Italy, where the Mediterranean diet is a wholesome part of everyday life. This way of eating features healthy fruits, grains and most of all, vegetables and olive oil. Bella Sun Luci sun-dried tomatoes are the premium brand – simple, healthy and delicious. In the same cooking style of countries bor- dering the Mediterranean Sea, its products inspire a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to good health and longevity. But to people living in the Mediterranean region, it's not just a diet, it's a way of life. Educating customers about the importance of a healthier diet is one of the company's goals. Olive oil has been an essential ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine for over 6,000 years. As a daily staple in the Mediterranean diet, olive oil has promoted good health through the enjoyment of simple, colorful and flavorful dishes. All of the Bella Sun Luci products are packed in 100% Pure Olive Oil for this reason. Farmed in the rich and fertile soil of Cali- fornia's Feather River Valley, the Extra Vir- gin Arbequina Olive Oil is grown on the Mooney Family estate. This Spanish varietal, an aromatic, rich and full bodied Extra Virgin Olive Oil is pressed within hours of harvest, producing the fresh- est taste. When growing and pro- cessing the olives and toma- toes, quality standards are maintained and exceeded by the family's participation. One hundred percent of its focus is on both the Sun Dried Tomatoes and Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil, guaranteeing customers a premium, high quality product every time it leaves the production plant. Mooney Farms struck gold again at the 2017 Yolo County Fair Olive Oil Competi- tion. Mooney Farms Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil was awarded a Gold Medal in the Arbe- quina – Medium In- tensity category. "The California Olive Oil Industry has set high standards for quality olive oil and we are proud to be among the top pro- ducers in California. Winning gold in the Ar- bequina Medium Intensity Category is a real honor for our family," says Mary Mooney, Owner. For more information, visit booth #4520, call 530.899.2661, email mooneyfarm@aol.com or go to www.bellasunluci.com. CocoaPlanet's Tasting Room Connects with Consumers Northern California is home to some of the world's finest food and beverage makers across a wide range of products – cheese, produce, beer and wine, just to name a few. Many of these craft producers enhance their brands through retail venues that deepen the con- sumers' connection to their products. Beyond just selling products, consumers can experience them in full context – where they are made, how they are made and how to enjoy them. Think of a winery tasting room: these ven- ues aren't just about selling bottles. You ap- proach through sloping, sun-drenched vineyards and tranquil garden-like grounds. Winery tours instruct you about the wine- making process. In the tasting room, you can sample a range of wines, learning to compare and contrast varietals, vintages and vine- yards. In many, you are invited to pair wines with cheese, charcuterie or winemaker din- ners featuring a multi course paired menu. These retail venues are not about transac- tions. They touch on all the senses to create experience and memory. They are about building a lasting connection between con- sumer and brand. CocoaPlanet takes a similar approach to building deep consumer associations with its premium dark chocolate. In the heart of the historic Sonoma sits the new CocoaPlanet Chocolate Factory and Tasting Room. Visi- tors are invited to see the gleaming craft manufacturing line, sample a flight of choco- lates and even enjoy dessert or a full meal in the completely gluten-free French café. The building exterior combines the modern, sleek lines that echo Co- coaPlanet's product pack- aging with materials that evoke the region's agricul- tural style, including natu- ral stone and wood with corrugated metal siding. Inside you'll find a modern French café featuring blue background light- ing, glass table tops and white marble coun- ters. Through glass walls, diners can observe the gleaming stainless chocolate molding and packaging machinery. In the tasting room, you can sample Co- coaPlanet chocolates, indulge in authentic French fare and gluten-free desserts such as Paris tiramisu, mandarin orange chocolate cake or enjoy a flight of wine and chocolate pairings. The menu features appetizers such as charcuterie and cheese, house-made soups, croque monsieur, cassoulet and crèpes. Knowledgeable staff guide you through the tastings, highlighting product features and suggesting pair- ings. Similar to local wineries, every aspect of the Cocoa- Planet Tasting Room invites consumers to learn about and enjoy their chocolates in a context that strengthens brand association and builds consumer loyalty. About CocoaPlanet Based in Sonoma, California, CocoaPlanet, Inc. uses ethically sourced chocolate pro- duced using sustainable practices, enabling cocoa farmers a better quality of life. CocoaPlanet is a registered trademark and "CocoaMint," "Pearls of Flavor" and "More Taste, Less Sugar" are trademarks of Cocoa- Planet, Inc. For more information, visit booth #851, go to www.cocoaplanet.com, call 707.721.1275 or email info@cocoaplanet.com. SUZIE'S Launches Lentil Thin Cakes Good Groceries Company, under its popular SUZIE'S Brand, continues to launch cate- gory-changing healthy products while im- proving its healthy natural staples. Good Groceries continues to provide healthy, nu- trient rich, unique, GMO free and delicious products. SUZIE'S Thin Cakes have added Lentil to the lineup. Lentil Thin Cakes contain 4g pro- tein, are gluten free, vegan and like the rest of the Thin Cakes lineup, are made with non- GMO organic ingredients. These puffed whole grain cakes are thin enough to be used as a bread substitute, perfect with your fa- vorite topping or simply delicious by them- selves as a favorite snack. SUZIE'S Thin Cakes are a profit center unto themselves; available in Salted or Unsalted Brown Rice, Buckwheat with Quinoa & Flax, Salted Corn, Multigrain, Corn with Quinoa & Sesame, Spelt with Flax and now Lentil. SUZIE'S Puffed Cakes are made with or- ganic spelt and kamut, providing a delicious alternative to traditional rice cakes. They are available in six delectable flavor profiles to satisfy the most discerning customer's taste buds. Introducing SUZIE'S Rice Cakes & Dip, combining its bestselling Thin Cakes cut into bite size pieces with a reservoir of peanut butter, coconut or chocolate hazelnut dip, providing a satisfyingly delicious snacking experience. Mid-morning at the office, lunch, afternoon pick me up – Suzie's Dip- pers will become the "go to" snack. SUZIE'S GMO Free Non-Dairy Shelf Stable milk alternatives are perfect by them- selves, with cereal or can be substituted any- where you use conventional milk. Black Ricemilk is added to its Tiger Nut or "Horchata" Vegetable Bever- age and Quinoa varieties – made with pure quinoa, not blended with other grains – so you get the pure, sweet, nutty taste of quinoa and all its amaz- ing health benefits. Available in three flavors: Unsweetened Original, Unsweetened Vanilla and Vanilla Sweetened. Looking to fit all the benefits of quinoa into your busy lifestyle? SUZIE'S shelf-stable ready to eat quinoa in four delicious flavor profiles: Olive Oil, Asian, Tex Mex and Indian Spice. Healthy and delicious, they warm in the mi- crowave in 60 seconds. Suzie's RTE Quinoa Meals are a perfect side dish for two or meal replacement for one. At the office, away at college, on the go or anytime, Suzie's RTE provides a welcome alternative to lunch, din- ner or as a satisfying healthy snack. SUZIE'S Black Rice Milk, 2 Peas & A Bean Snacks, Nut Butter Filled Cookies, Organic Thin Cakes, Quinoa Non-Dairy Bever- age, Quinoa RTE Meals, Organic Crackers, Organic Puffed Cakes, Ancient Grain Flat Breads and other quality, natural foods are available at fine grocery stores throughout North America. SUZIE'S – Innovation you can taste! Innovation for your health! Innovation that drives sales! For more information, visit booth #1466, go to www.goodgroceries.com, email info@good- groceries.com, call 718.768.0821; follow the company on Pinterest, Instagram or go to www.twitter.com/SuziesBrand or www .facebook.com/Suzies.Natural.Products. Murray's Cheese and Kroger Open 400th Location Murray's Cheese and Kroger opened their 400th store location in the Houston, Texas, area on October 27. New York's most iconic cheese shop, opened in 1940, offers the finest selection of cheese, meat and specialty food items to Kroger, whose family of stores includes Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Dillons, Ralphs and QFC locations across the United States. "Our mission is to continuously educate ourselves and our customers on the pleas- ures of cheese," said Nick Tranchina, Ex- ecutive Vice President at Murray's Cheese. "As we pass this milestone, it's exciting to see that every day we get to live our mis- sion in ways we would have hardly thought possible when we started this journey with Kroger 10 years ago." "This milestone highlights Kroger's nearly decade-long relationship with Murray's Cheese. Through these cheese counters, we're able to offer our customers an unparalleled ex- perience and education about artisanal cheeses and specialty foods," said Robert Clark, Kroger's Senior Vice President of Mer- chandising. "Our partnership with New York's most iconic cheese shop is just one way we are redefining the food and grocery experience for our customers and associates." Murray's Cheese shops in Kroger stores carry hundreds of cheeses, charcuterie, olives, crackers and specialty food items from all over the world. Murray's is deeply involved with product selection, staff train- ing and development, merchandising and promotions across all locations. Murray's has also trained thousands of Cheese Mon- gers and Certified Cheese Professionals since the relationship began in 2008. The 400th Murray's Cheese and Kroger shop is located at 2150 Stuebner Road in Spring, Texas.

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