News Business Sports Entertainment Life Obituaries Opinion
Jobs Homes Cars Classifieds Shopping
Local Bloggers Cheap Tech Eco-Confessions Faceoff Furst Draft Kiger's Notebook Med City Movie Guy Pulse on Health Political Party

Search PB Blogs

Loading

« February 2011 | Main | April 2011 »

29 posts from March 2011

03/31/2011

You'll have to go overseas to find Spammy, though

Ballcap Interesting followup from Hormel on the Spammy news release: That product can't be sold in the U.S. "The Department of Agriculture does not currently allow fortified protein in the United States, so we cannot distribute Spammy domestically," Hormel spokesman Bill McLain wrote in an email to the P-B. "However, we donate thousands of pounds of food to U.S. charitable organizations each year as part of our ongoing commitment to ending hunger. We are also exploring other ways to help end hunger in the United States."

Make room for Spammy

Ballcap If you're a Spam fan, you have yet another Spam-branded product to try, according to news from Austin headquarters -- not sure about the connection to Spam, however, since it's a "fortified turkey product."

To Hormel's credit, the shelf-stable food was developed to assist in dealing with childhood malnutrition, especially abroad.

Here's the news release:

 

Hormel Foods Develops Innovative Protein Product to Address Childhood
Malnutrition

Spammy™, a fortified turkey spread, nourishes families in Guatemala

AUSTIN, MINN. (March 31, 2011) — Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), one
of the nation’s largest manufacturers and marketers of consumer-branded
meat and food products, has introduced Spammy™, a fortified, shelf-stable
turkey spread to help address childhood malnutrition throughout the world.

"Hormel Foods sought to create a product high in protein to help serve
malnourished and poverty-stricken communities worldwide," said Jeffrey M.
Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at
Hormel Foods. “Our company has years of experience in creating shelf-stable
proteins, so we employed our expertise to create this new product.”

Spammy™ is a shelf-stable turkey spread that has been fortified with zinc,
iron, B vitamins, and other essential vitamins and minerals.

Hormel Foods has made an initial three-year commitment to deliver 1 million
cans of Spammy™ to in-need families in Guatemala through partners Food For
The Poor and Caritas Arquidiocesana in 2011. Guatemala was selected because
its poverty rate is more than 50 percent and the chronic malnutrition rate
is the highest in the Western hemisphere.

Food For The Poor is a relief and development organization that raises
funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor in Latin America
and the Caribbean, and Caritas Arquidiocesana is a charity committed to
combating poverty.

“Through our partnership with Hormel Foods, we are able to provide
much-needed protein to the women and children of Guatemala, and we are
already seeing progress,” said Robin Mahfood, president and chief executive
officer for Food For The Poor. “The children who eat Spammy™ are more
active, their grades are improving, and overall, they are happier and
healthier.”

Hormel Foods has been distributing Spammy™ in Guatemala for about 18 months
to family centers and orphanages. In addition, Hormel Foods worked with
Food For The Poor and donated more than 100,000 cans of Spammy™ to Haiti
after the earthquake in January 2010.

Silgan Containers and Smyth Companies, two long-time suppliers of Hormel
Foods, are supporting the cause by donating all of the cans and labels for
Spammy™.

Hormel Foods and Food For The Poor created a website to allow individuals
to contribute to the Spammy™ program. All donations through the website
will go directly and fully to Food For The Poor to purchase Spammy™
fortified turkey spread at cost from Hormel Foods. The product then will be
shipped by Food For The Poor to Guatemala and distributed at the
orphanages, day care centers, nutritional centers and family centers within
the Caritas Arquidiocesana network.

To make a donation or learn more about Spammy™ or Food For The Poor, please
visit: http://www.hormelfoods.com/responsibility/hunger.


About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational
manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many
of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The
company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies
in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added
products to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard
& Poor's 500 Index, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Maplecroft Climate
Innovation Indexes, Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders and was
named one of "The 100 Most Trustworthy Companies" by Forbes in 2010. The
company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers,
foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for
quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information,
visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.

About Food For The Poor

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development
organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry
poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This
interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance,
clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans
and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance,
with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that
help the poor.

03/25/2011

Say cheese....And make some this Saturday!

GourmetChef Jodi Ohlsen Read of Shepherd's Way Farms, Nerstrand,will hold a class on home cheesemaking this Saturday at Egg/Plant Urban Farm Supply, 1771 Selby Avenue, St. Paul (http://www.eggplantsupply.com/).  The class,1:30 to 3 pm, will focus on fresh cheesemaking, including a ricotta demonstration.
 
Shepherd's Way Farms makes some of the finest artisan cheeses in Minnesota, including Big Woods Blue--one of GG's fave domestic blues. Class registration is $25; call 651-645-0818 or email audrey@eggplantsupply.com. For more on Shepard's Way Farms cheeses, visit http://www.shepherdswayfarms.com/

03/24/2011

Skip the corny jokes--Des Moines has great food

GourmetChef

Metro Des Moines has become a genuine culinary destination. Baru 66 is on the national foodie radar.   

Check out this blog: http://traveliowa.blogspot.com/2011/03/food-wine-and-conversation-at-baru-66.html

 

03/23/2011

Trade in your mac and cheese

Ballcap My wife and I are big fans of the cheap, belly-filling mac and cheese at Noodles & Co...in fact, we like just about everything at Noodles & Co., including the 3.2 beer.

On Sunday and Monday, the Rochester restaurants have a special deal for you, as a promotion for their new versions of "grown-up" macaroni and cheese:


            Guests are encouraged to bring in three boxes of macaroni and cheese (you know, the kind with the neon, powdered cheese sauce) to be donated to the Channel One Food Bank and in return, they will receive a  FREE bowl of one of Noodles’ new grownup Mac & Cheese dishes.
 
Noodles’ three new Mac & Cheese dishes are available through April, and include: Truffle Mac with Baby Portabellas; Bacon, Mac & Cheeseburger; and Southwestern Chili Mac. Here are the details of the new Mac & Cheese entrées:
·      Truffle Mac with Baby Portabellas – Noodles’ signature Wisconsin Mac & Cheese sauce, enhanced with white truffle oil, sautéed baby portabella mushrooms, and topped off with shredded Parmesan cheese, house-made toasted breadcrumbs and parsley
·      Bacon, Mac & Cheeseburger – Crumbled oven-roasted meatballs, crispy chopped bacon, diced Roma tomatoes and chopped green onions mixed into Noodles’ famous Mac & Cheese and topped with house-made toasted breadcrumbs and cheddar-jack cheese
·      Southwestern Chili Mac – Noodles’ signature Wisconsin Mac & Cheese smothered in spicy red chili, crumbled oven-roasted meatballs and topped with diced green onion and shredded cheddar-jack cheese

03/22/2011

Chocoholics will hop for joy

Easter-bunnies-MFP "In Wisconsin, cheese is part of every holiday celebration, including Easter," says this news release for goodies made in the Badger State.

Dear Editor,

The personal shoppers at Wisconsinmade.com are pleased to announce the annual release of the Wisconsin Easter Shopping Guide.  The 2011 guide features experts' top five picks for Easter foods and gifts, chosen from thousands of made in Wisconsin items.  Food and gifts ship nationwide, so you readers can send their friends and family a taste of the Badger State. Please view the attached news release for images and details.

Smoked Boneless Honey Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham- A beautiful Easter ham by the smoked meat experts at Nueske will make your Easter dinner one to remember.  The ham comes fully cooked and cut into neat, even slices so preparation and serving could not be easier. A 3-4 pound ham is $39.95 plus shipping at Wisconsinmade.com. Larger sizes are available for an additional cost.
Chocolate Bunnies with a Bow Gift Box - This tasty Easter treat will have chocoholics hopping for joy.  Available in your choice of white, dark, or milk chocolate, these bunnies with hand decorated bows will be a welcomed addition to any Easter basket. A box of four bunnies is $7.98 plus shipping at Wisconsinmade.com.

Easter Bunnies and Carrots Cookie Gift Tin - Delicious, colorful sugar cookies are baked and decorated to order for maximum freshness. The bunnies and carrots design continues to be the most popular Easter cookie gift tin, but many additional shapes and designs are available. Each tin contains 20 cookies for $39.95 plus shipping at Wisconsinmade.com.

Daffodil Delight Flower Bulb Gift Basket -  Daffodils are the perfect representation of spring and flower bulb baskets make a cheerful Easter gift by bringing nature indoors. This vibrant daffodil basket is $22.45 plus shipping at Wisconsinmade.com . A variety of flowers are available for a limited time only so shop for your favorites today.  Flowers are not in bloom upon delivery.

Lamb Sheer Delights Cheese and Sausage Gift Box- In Wisconsin, cheese is part of every holiday celebration, including Easter.  This gift box contains tasty foods that are perfect Easter basket fillers for someone who prefers savory treats over sweet ones.  The box comes with sharp cheddar cheese spread, all beef summer sausage, mixed nuts, and an adorable lamb shaped cheddar cheese for $23.85 plus shipping from Wisconsinmade.com.

 

 

Q: What Minnesota chefs are nominated for 2011 James Beard Awards?

GourmetChef The A: Lenny Russo Of Heartland Restaurant, St. Paul., and Isaac Becker, 112 Eatery, Minneapolis, are both nominated in the category "Best Chef: Midwest."   

For Great Taste's impressions of dining out at Heartland not long ago, click here.

For more on the James Beard Foundation Awards--no less than the restaurant business's equivalent of the Oscars--visit http://www.jbfawards.com/2011/nominees.php#restaurant-chef

03/21/2011

Wine and art aficionados, mark your calendars

GourmetChef Tickets are on sale for "Palette to Palate, A Unique Local Art, Fine Wine and Gourmet Beer Tasting Experience," 6 to 9 pm, June 16, at Rochester Art Center.  

Tessa Leung, sommelier and co-owner of Sontes, one of Roch's top restaurants, will present a global selection of more than 30 wines and microbrews. The evening will also feature a group exhibition of new work by local artists. Proceeds benefit the art center; all attendees must be 21 or over.  

03/20/2011

Minnesota home cook website to love

GourmetChef Visit Food for My Family

Here is that idiosyncratic Minnesota mom recipe site that has the elusive combination of writing, photography, and cultural cooking panache to make it the "one we've been longing for."

Check out Shaina Olmanson's recipe for her grandmother's kugelhopf.  And watch husband Ole's how-to video on smoking barbecued ribs!       

03/18/2011

Do review websites work for Roch restaurants?

GourmetChef If you have fallen into the habit of clicking your way to restaurant choices, Great Taste can relate.

But Great Taste offers special advice when it comes to the subject of southeast Minnesota: Take the consumer-driven review sites with a grain of salt. (Pun  there.) Also be wary of sites in which subjective editorial information is limited or incomplete.  

Why the words of caution?

Great Taste has seen the best restaurants in the area rated below simple take-out joints. She has noted terrific spots that don't make the "top" lists and are nowhere to be found. Many of the so-called reviews do not seem to reflect any relative knowledge of expectations for style of restaurant and/or price range. 

This writer humbly suggests Great Taste Picks for assistance with dining selections. Great Taste Picks is a category you can click to on this blog. Great Taste encourages you to write with questions, comments, and feedback.

Southeast Minnesota has a surprising number and variety of food options....And Great Taste's two foodie contributors want to provide plenty of recommendations for your tastes and budget.   

PS--GG is happy to share her food writing/culinary bio on request. 

Local events heading