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Menu News

Simple Side Dishes

Simplot® introduces UpSides savory side dishes, delivering on-trend flavors and operational ease. Three innovative product lines include UpSides Multigrain Blends, UpSides Polenta Cakes, and UpSides Gourmet Pasta Blends. For more information, log on to www.simplotfoods.com.

A Sharp Idea: Sliced Sharp Provolone

Provolone holds a cherished place in BelGioioso Cheese's decades-long heritage of Italian cheesemaking. Now, the esteemed company offers Pre-Sliced Sharp Provolone Cheese. Chefs can capitalize on a wealth of menu applications that benefit from sharp Provolone's on-trend, bold flavor profile. For product information and recipe ideas, visit www.belgioioso.com or call 877-863-2123.

Ready Vegetables

Straight from the kitchens of expert chefs come the premium vegetable blends of Flav R Pac's Connoisseur Collection. Featuring the freshest vegetables, light sauces and vibrant herbs, the line is delicious, versatile and easy to prepare. Varieties include Chalet Garlic Buttersauce, Tuscan Asiago Cream Vegetables, Baja Vegetable Roast, Harbor Lemon Dill Vegetables and Bistro Carrots and Sweet Potatoes. Visit www.norpac.com.

Simple Frozen Fruit

Dole Food Service offers Chef-Ready Cuts, Dole Fresh Frozen Fruit pre-cut into cubes, dices and slices. Completely convenient and ready to use, Chef-Ready Cuts are 100-percent real fruit in Pinapple Cubes, Mango Cubes, Diced Peaches, Diced Strawberries and Sliced Strawberries. For recipes and information, go to www.dolefoodservice.com or call 800-723-9868.

Southern Classic

Add drama to your dessert menu with Red Velvet Cake from Sweet Street Desserts. Brilliant red layers are stacked four high and spread with deep chocolate truffle filling, then filled and frosted with tangy cream cheese icing. Finally, the classic cake is drizzled with a chocolate ganache and dotted with nonpareils. Visit www.sweetstreet.com.

Lower-Fat Fried Fish

Trident Seafoods introduces a new line of breaded fish portions that dramatically reduce the amount of fat and calories per serving — without sacrificing any of the taste of deep-fried fish portions. Cut from 100% pure Alaska pollock fillets, each portion has less than three grams of fat per serving. Call 800-367-6065, or e-mail [email protected].

Bundle Up For Profits

Tyson Food Service introduces “Make Bundles,” its sixth and final volume in its “Ideas @ the Heart of Value” series. In this volume, Tyson Food Service delivers creative menuing ideas to help sell multiple products and increase revenue when the guest may otherwise have purchased just one item. Visit www.attheheartofvalue.net/ideas.

Pangasius from FPI

Fishery Products International announces the first national distribution of striped pangasius in the American foodservice market. The variety has previously been sold in the U.S. in limited quantities under other names. The launch meets operator demand for a high-quality, premium, affordable alternative to other center-of-the-plate species. FPI's mild-flavored striped pangasius is farm-raised in Southern Vietnam. Visit www.fisheryproducts.com.

Sweet Potato Choices

Sweet potatoes are in demand and ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston makes them simple to serve with three new Sweet Things® products: medium-thick Crinkle Cut French Fries, Sweet Potato Chips and mildly seasoned Battered Dices. Visit www.lambweston.com or call 800-766-7783.

Bake Without Sugar

Treat guests to seasonal baked favorites without all the sugar and calories by baking with Equal® sweetener. For the convenience of large volume operations, Equal® is available in a one-pound box. For recipe ideas, visit www.equal.com or place an order by calling 888-658-1948.

Better Frying Oil

A blend of sunflower and corn oils, refined with ACH's patented ultra-purification process, Mazola ZT Deep Frying Oil offers excellent fry life and zero grams trans fat per serving. The result is light flavor, longer fry life and lower overall frying oil costs. Call 800-527-3026 or go to www.ACHzerotrans.com for more information

Shelf-Stable Coffee

Kraft Foodservice introduces Classic Select Roast by Maxwell House, a shelf-stable liquid coffee concentrate that is rich in flavor and aroma. Classic Select Roast is ideal where convenience and quality are essential. Visit www.kraftfoodservice.com.

Cheese Debut

Lactalis Foodservice announces the integration of the Mozzarella Fresca line of cheeses into the parent Lactalis family. This month, the companies will debut a new line of fresh mozzarella and other soft cheeses, including mascarpone, brie and goat cheese. Visit www.lactalis.fr.

Butter Sauce

Land O'Lakes Butter Sauce Base is a stable, versatile refrigerated liquid made with real Land O'Lakes butter. Butter Sauce Base features the rich texture of from-scratch sauces. Flavor neutral, it's the perfect start for savory or sweet applications. Visit www.landolakesfoodservice.com or call 800-328-1322.

Versatile Milk Choice

You love Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk for baking — now try it in beverages! Eagle Brand® combines a creamy blend of milk and sugar that adds sweetness, thickness and velvety smoothness to coffees, lattes, smoothies and shakes. With creations such as Thai Iced Coffee or Crème-Accino Frappe, you can create impressive speed-scratch drinks. From Smuckers. Visit www.smuckerfoodservice.com or call 330-682-3000.

Tenderloin Filets

Only the top 35 percent of a select group of cattle qualify for the Rancher's Registry® program. To learn more about how you can offer the buttery texture of Rancher's Registry tenderloin filets on your restaurant's menu, see the website at ranchersregistry.com.

Zesty Diced Tomatoes

Angela Mia® introduces Angela Mia Fire Roasted Tomatoes. These dices start with vine-ripened California tomatoes that are gently roasted over an open fire for a delicate, fresh-from-the-grill flavor. Angela Mia Fire Roasted Tomatoes from ConAgra Foodservice are steam-peeled and fresh-packed to deliver natural, robust tomato taste. Call 800-357-6543 or log on to www.conagrafoodservice.com.

Hershey's Winners

Who had the best summer? Hershey's® Food Service awarded independent ice cream shop operator Kathy Burr of Burrr Ice Cream Shop in Berlin, OH, the grand prize of a triple ice cream mixer in its Have a Hershey's Summer promotion. Thinking about next summer? Ice cream shop operators can order free ice cream kits while supplies last. Visit www.hersheyfoodservice.com or call 877-722-3556.

30 Years of Dawn®

Procter & Gamble Professional® celebrates the 30th anniversary of its Dawn® brand with recognition for its loyal users. The Dawn Shining Stars Club is an online network dedicated to recognizing successful restaurants and sharing the insights of the owners and operators who run them. Register today at www.dawncelebrations.com, or call 800-332-RSVP.

Cocktail Champs

Monin Gourmet Flavorings brought classic flavor and international flair to the 2008 International Bartenders Association (IBA) World Cocktail Competition in Puerto Rico. Monin flavorings were an essential ingredient in 40 competition recipes, two of which received medals. Visit www.monin.com or call 800-966-5225 to bring great flavor to your bar operation.

Use Ranch, Win iPod

How do you make food memorable with Marzetti Ranch Dressing? Through February, Marzetti is looking for the most creative uses of its delicious dressing. Entries will be judged on creativity, practicality and of course, taste. The winner will receive a 32GB iPod touch®. For an entry form and contest details, go to www.hybridmar.com/tmarz/contest1.pdf.

How to Get Green

The Green Restaurant Association has unveiled its most comprehensive and user-friendly certification system to date, a points-based program called Green Restaurant™ 4.0. Many guests look for Green Certification when dining out. Start by logging on to www.dinegreen.com.

New Coke Contract

Island Hospitality Management, operators of hotels under the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood flags, recently inked a multi-year beverage contract with The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola Foodservice and Hospitality will supply beverages to Island Hospitality's 65 properties. Find out what Coke offers at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

IPC Appointment

The Idaho Potato Commission has hired produce veteran Armand Lobato as Western foodservice promotion director. In this role, Lobato will distribute merchandising and educational materials and seek out promotional opportunities for Idaho Potatoes with foodservice distributors, full-line produce houses and restaurant chains in the Western U.S.

Cheese Ambassadors

Seven notable chefs from the Midwest are bringing their distinctive regional styles to the Wisconsin Cheese Chef Ambassador program. The program, sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, connects the state's legendary cheesemakers with the best chefs in the country. The program now has 35 distinguished chefs. The new ambassadors will cook with Wisconsin Cheese and develop innovative menu applications. Meet the chefs and see what they're creating at www.WisDairy.com/chef.

New Resource

Nestlé Professional has opened its 67,000 square-foot cutting-edge Nestlé Professional Customer Innovation Campus at its Solon, OH headquarters. Designed exclusively for foodservice pros, the campus is a menu development resource, and, the company hopes, a source of inspiration for the industry. Find out more at www.nestléprofessional.com.

Perfect Stemware

The Oenologue Expert Stemware Collection, the latest addition to Cardinal International's Chef & Sommelier® tabletop brand, combines the brilliance of an expert-tasting drinking vessel with the durability of its industry-ready glass material. Log on to www.cardinalglass.com or call 973-628-0900 to learn more.

Winning Ice Products

Rubbermaid's Safe Ice Handling System recently took top honors in the 11th Annnual Smallwares & Tabletop Competition. Ribbermaid's Ice Tote with bin Hook Adapter and Scovel™ Two Handed Shovel were recognized for their innovation, safety and cleanliness. For more infomration call 800-347-9800 or go to www.rubbermaidfoodservice.com.

Napkin Tower

Georgia-Pacific Food Services Solutions introduces the new EasyNap Tower Dispensing Unit, a high-capacity napkin dispenser that provides hygenic touchless delivery and easy, one-at-a-time dispensing. The system has up to five times the capacity of traditional dispensers and provides a reduced counter footprint that is easy to see. For more information, visit www.gppro.com or call 800-257-9744.

For Cleaner Hands

SCA Tissue has joined The Handwashing Leadership Forum, an alliance dedicated to advancing the science of hand hygiene to reduce foodborne illness. SCA was invited to join the forum because of the technology and research behind its Tork® brand products and dispensing systems. To learn more about SCA Tissue, visit www.torkusa.com.