Sukhi’s Named Best in Frozen Savory

Sukhi’s Samosa with Chutney from Sukhi’s Gourmet Indian Foods took top honors in the Frozen Savory category, winning a Sofi Gold Award at the 55th Summer Fancy Food Show last night, Monday, June 29, at the Javits Convention Center in New York.

Sukhi’s got the top nod in frozen savory over two other finalists: Callie’s Charleston Cocktail Ham Biscuits from Callie’s Charleston Biscuits and Greenwich Spinach Crepini from Crepinicafe.com.

The awards are presented annually at the Summer Food Show by the National Association of Specialty Food Trade (NASFT). Chef Ming Tsai, star of his own PBS television show “Simply Ming” and the owner-chef of Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Mass., presented the keynote address. He also assisted NASFT staff in presenting the 33 Gold Award winners with their Sofi statuettes.

Finalist in each of the 33 categories are awarded silver Sofi statuettes and the winner in each category is presented the coveted gold Sofi at a special awards ceremony at the annual summer gourmet food show in New York.

Other freezer case delectables that took home honors at the Sofi awards were Cia Bello’s Key Lime Graham Cracker Gelato, which won the gold award in the Perishable Foodservice Product category, and Silver Moon Ice Cream and Sorbet from Silver Moon Desserts, a silver Sofi finalist in the Product Line category. Pink Grapefruit Super Sprint from Pregel America was a silver finalist in the Dessert or Dessert Topping category.

TFFG Says: I was on hand for the reception prior to the awards ceremony and was able to enjoy some of the other finalists and gold award winners in non-frozen categories. Some standouts were:
* Wild Maine Blueberry Jam from Stonewall Kitchen.
* Wimmer Gruener Veltliner, a delicious white wine from BittnerAmeria Specialty Imports. A Bittner rep told me this wine from Wimmer in Austria retails for about $20 and is distributed from Florida and now New York.
* Grafton Duet from Grafton Village Cheese Co.
* Acai Black Currant Superfruit Syrup from Sonoma Syrup Co. is a terrific non-alcoholic beverage for summer entertaining. A Sonoma Syrup staff member told me that bartenders in Sonoma County (California) and the Bay Area are using the Acai Black Currant Superfruit Syrup as a key ingredient in their summer cocktail recipes, using it as a base for gin- and vodka-infused drinks.
* Cucina Viva Roasted Red Tomatoes from European Imports Ltd., great with an appetizer-size piece of bread or gourmet wheat cracker.
* Danielle Fruit Chips--Roasted Coconut from New England Herbal Foods, which won the coveted Sofi gold award for New Product.

Smooth Moves From Chiquita

Capitalizing on the popularity of smoothies, Old Orchard Brands, Grand Rapids, Mich., has teamed up with Chiquita Brands International to develop Chiquita Frozen Fruit Smoothies, a frozen fruit smoothie concentrate.

Chiquita Frozen Fruit Smoothies are packaged in recyclable 12-ounce plastic cans. When blended with ice and water, each can of smoothie concentrate will make three, 8-ounce servings. The smoothies are available in four flavors: Strawberry Banana, Banana Colada, Peach Mango, and Mixed Berry. Suggested retail price is $2.69.

“At retail storefronts, the average cost of a smoothie is between three and four dollars each,” says Mark Saur, president, Old Orchard Brands. “An 8-ounce serving of Chiquita Frozen Fruit Smoothie is well under a dollar and provides a full serving of fruit, so it’s a great way to integrate the health benefits of fresh fruit to your diet.”

For more information, visit www.oldorchardjuice.com.

Ahoy! High Liner's Sea Cuisine

High Liner Foods USA Inc., Danvers, Mass., has introduced the High Liner Sea Cuisine brand with a portfolio of 12 frozen seafood products that feature shrimp, salmon, tilapia and cod.
High Liner Sea Cuisine is the culmination of High Liner’s acquisition in early 2008 of the Fishery Products International (FPI) and its Sea Cuisine brand and new recipe development by Owen Tilley, executive chef and culinary director, High Liner Foods USA.

Three of the products in the new High Liner Sea Cuisine line are quick-steamed, glazed frozen fillets that are microwaveable: Lemon Pepper Tilapia, Lemon Dill Salmon and Teriyaki Salmon.

Nine products comprise the “premium encrusted” lineup: Summer Herb Crested Cod, Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, Coconut Crusted Tilapia, Lemon Dijon Crusted Tilapia, Tortilla Crusted Tilapia, Potato Crusted Cod, Mediterranean Crusted Salmon, Tuscan Parmesan Crusted Shrimp, and Coconut Crusted Shrimp.

“With High Liner Sea Cuisine, consumers can now enjoy an authentic, restaurant-style experience at home, without the expense or hassle of dining out,” says Chris Trosin, vice president of sales and marketing, High Liner Foods USA.

“We’ve taken an innovative approach to developing premium quality value-added frozen seafood by tapping into the expertise of chef Owen Tilley to create new and exciting flavors,” says Trosin.

Suggested retail price for each High Liner Sea Cuisine item is $7.99. For more information, visit www.highlinerfoods.com