Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/79798
Clockwise from right: Delicaé Gourmet Roasted Red Pepper & Goat Cheese Tapenade; FoodMatch's Divina Baby Artichokes Hearts in Oil, Stuffed Grape Leaves Quality Bakers Since 1913 BAKING CORPORATION Everyone needs this ENTERTAINING QUARTET Essential for parties and GREAT for every day Remember the Rubschlager Cocktail Breads! RYE | PUMPERNICKEL | WHOLE GRAIN | SOURDOUGH 3220 West Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60651 773/826-1245 isfying." Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) and feta-stuffed Kardoula red and green peppers, whose holiday colors are especially festive, add a note of exoticism, she says. "People eat with their eyes and are drawn to variety," says Caldwell. "And I think shoppers are much savvier about reading labels and care about the integrity of ingredients and traceability. They're not buying products full of preservatives and additives." For an impromptu buffet of antipasti, Earth & Vine Provisions' Spicy Apple Garlic Jam can spice up the table. The savory accoutre- ment was named a sofi Silver Finalist in 2012. "It works across the board with cheese and meat and bread," says Tressa Cooper, president of the Loomis, Calif., company. Of Earth & Vine's eight categories of products (including extra-virgin olive oil dippers, fruit butters and mustards), its savory jams have experienced sales "through the roof," Cooper says. The Apricot Chili Pepper Jam can be paired with goat cheese or brie and the Spicy Apple Garlic Jam matches well with melted blue cheese on crostini. "Anybody can do this in a pinch and have a beautiful presenta- tion," says Cooper. "We've done the work for you in the bottle." A few new savory dips and spreads will be rolled out in the fall for the holiday season, she adds. Retailer Kris Furniss notes that The Gracious Gourmet's Balsamic Four-Onion and Spiced Sour Cherry spreads enjoy healthy sales during the entertaining season. "Accoutrements in general have gone up for us because people are not going to spend the time mak- ing them and they can add a 'wow' factor to a fairly ordinary dish," he notes. Furniss says that as his customers' palates have become more sophisticated, they've started looking out of the box for new flavors. "Things like lingonberry chutney or gooseberry spread served with a cheese and meat platter spark conversation," he says. www.RubschlagerBaking.com perfect for lunches and snacking on the go! ® healthy and convenient snack packs made with all natural ingredients cookies crackers [[[ TEVXRIVWGVEGOIVW GSQ • *MRH YW EX &SSXL; Partners, a tasteful choice company EX XLI 2%'7 WLS[ SEPTEMBER 2012 55