Foodies Vie for Chance to Win $25,000
Contestants Whip-up Cranberry Creations for Chef Tyler Florence at
Live Cook-Off
LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, MASS. (August 26, 2009) – The sweet smell of
victory will be cranberry scented for the winners of Ocean Spray's
2009 Ultimate Cranberry Recipe Contest. A winner from each category –
foodservice professionals and home cooks – will receive $25,000 cash
and a year supply of Ocean Spray products. Contest judge and Food
Network Star Tyler Florence, host of "Tyler's Ultimate," will announce
the winners on Oct. 6 following a live cook-off in New York City.
The contest attracted more than 2,000 new cranberry culinary creations
in the professional and home cook divisions. Innovative cranberry
concepts included everything from Panini sandwiches and Panna Cotta
desserts to chutneys, salads, hearty stews and flavorful main dishes.
Many of the cranberry items in this year's entries were accentuated
with a mix of slightly more exotic influences, inspiring ingredients
such as Fleur de sel and smoked salt, black rice, chipotle and ancho
chile powders. As seen in a number of the finalist recipes, dishes
also reflected a trend toward Asian-inspired flavors. Hoisin sauce,
fish sauce, Chinese five-spice powder, star anise, lemongrass and
sesame oil were common choices.
"Most people think about cranberries during the holidays but they are
versatile and can be used year-round," said Tyler Florence.
"Cranberries can add a new dimension to almost any dish or drink, so
I'm looking forward to seeing how they are showcased at the cook-off."
The Finalists
Finalist recipes in the consumer category include Sweet-n-Savory
Haricot Verts from Kara Adanalian of Fresno, Calif.; Savory Blue
Cranberry Shortbread with Caramelized Onion Cranberry Jam from Laureen
Pittman of Riverside, Calif.; Cranberry Bacon Brunch Scones with
Cranberry Pecan Cream Cheese from Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minn.;
Cranberry Monte Cristo Strata of Janice Elder, from Charlotte, N.C.
The foodservice finalist recipes included a Tropical Summer Sling from
Lewis Thompson of DNC/MFS Food Group at Richmond International Airport
in Richmond, Va.; Trail Mix Tortoni from Bryan Buffington of Lanier
Village Estates in Gainesville, Ga.; Asian Shrimp and Scallops with
Ginger Cranberry Syrup from Katsuto Sandifer of Homestead Resort in
Warm Springs, Va.; and Cranberry Wontons with Cranberry Jalapeno Jelly
Dipping Sauce from Chris Wright of Saz's in Waukesha, Wis.
"Cranberries can add a festive flavor to any occasion – from
traditional Thanksgiving menus to New Year's Eve cocktails and every
day in between," said Larry Martin, vice president of marketing at
Ocean Spray. "The sheer creativity and variety of recipes submitted
prove that this little, red wonderberry is truly the unofficial
official fruit of the holidays."
Finalists receive a trip for two to New York City to compete in a live
cook-off on Oct. 5. In addition to Chef Tyler Florence, the esteemed
judging panel includes Executive Chef Chris Gatto of UNO Chicago
Grill® and Woman's Day Food Director Jackie Plant.
The event coincides with the debut of Ocean Spray's 2009 "Bogs Across
America" tour in New York City where more than 2,000 pounds of
glimmering cranberries will be on display in a 1,500 square foot free-
standing urban cranberry bog in Rockefeller Center®. Visitors are
encouraged to visit the bog between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Oct. 6-8.
About the Contest
Johnson & Wales University and Tadware & Company, Inc. tested the
recipes based on creativity, use of product, taste, overall appearance
and ease of preparation to decide the top four finalists from each
category. The finalist recipes are featured on www.oceanspray.com
andwww.oceansprayfoodservice.com.
About Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 600
cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon,
Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as
more than 50 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed over
75 years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New
Jersey. Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976.
Ocean Spray is North America's leading producer of canned and bottled
juices and juice drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in
the canned and bottled juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted
fiscal 2008 sales of $1.9 billion.
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