It’s Really Super, Mash!

Aviko’s Super Mash becomes the first frozen product to achieve an endorsement from the Craft Guild of Chefs!

Aviko’s Super Mash has just been awarded an endorsement by the Craft Guild of Chefs by passing its “Fit for Purpose and Quality Assurance” assessment. All of the chefs that tested it ‘were amazed’ by it and it is a first for the Guild – no other frozen product has ever achieved this accolade!

All varieties of Super Mash were tested rigorously by Craft Guild Chefs from a Hotel, a Pub with banqueting facilities and a B&I outlet. They made Super Mash up in small quantities and in bulk, cooked it in microwaves and combi-steamers and agreed that Super Mash would be ideal for use in many different outlets as well as their own.

Super Mash is ready to serve from frozen in under 12 minutes so can offer chefs real savings in time, as well as labour and waste, and bring consistency to a dish which can vary so much, depending on the person making it and the (variable) quality of the potato. The chefs’ comments say it all:
(On the packaging) “The beauty lies within - The product speaks for itself.”
“I have already put it on my menu.”
(Customer comment) “Are you sure this is not fresh mash?”
“Same end product as fresh – I don’t think the customer would notice the change.”
“An excellent alternative to our homemade mash, no wastage and a consistent product.”
“Very good indeed, hard to imagine it was frozen.”
“Good seasoning – spot on.”
“I would use it instead of making mash from scratch.”

To find out more on Aviko’s extensive range of potato products call 01442 239 536, email ukdesk@aviko.com or visit www.aviko.co.uk

All the best things come in three’s…

Following the launch of Aviko’s ‘Pure Mash’ at this year’s LACA Conference it has now been awarded the Craft Guild of Chefs Endorsement, making it the third Aviko product to gain the accolade this year!

‘Pure Mash’ is just for Schools
Aviko’s ‘Pure Mash’ is prepared using just potato, with no added ingredients, and is quick-frozen to ensure that all the flavour and vitamins are locked in. It can be prepared using a microwave or combi steamer and is ready to serve from frozen in less than 12 minutes!

One 2.5kg pack is sufficient for a half size Gastronorm container and since the mash is frozen in handy, easy-to-use, individual cubes, you can make any quantity you like, ensuring minimum waste, savings in time and great portion control.

Having tasted ‘Pure Mash’ on the Aviko stand at the conference, Julia Storey, Operations Manager – Catering for North Lincolnshire Council said, “Your mash is the best mash I have ever tasted… It really is excellent!”

To find out more on Aviko’s extensive range of potato products for schools call 01442 239 536, email ukdesk@aviko.com or visit www.aviko.co.uk

Major International

Kitchen-Made ‘Essentials’ Pass Ultimate Road Test

Essential Cuisine, creator of kitchen-made tasting stocks, jus, demi-glace and gravy, is on a roll with three of its products winning the stamp of approval from the leading UK chefs’ association.

Signature Beef Jus, Premier Jus, one of the leading foodservice jus brands, and its stock mix range have been endorsed by the Craft Guild of Chefs following an unbelievable year for the company.

Each one will now proudly display the coveted Product Endorsement logo on its label, reassuring professional chefs of their superior quality and taste, and that they are ‘fit for purpose’.

Managing director of Essential Cuisine Nigel Crane said: “We are not the biggest, most prolific brand out there in foodservice, which is why this endorsement is so important, demonstrating to professional chefs just how good we are.

“Over the past year, we’ve spent a lot of time in commercial kitchens, showing chefs the difference between what we do and what our competitors do and they have been genuinely surprised and impressed, resulting in many a coup for us in what has been an amazing year.”

While all three ranges received the stamp of approval, there were particular areas of sparkling praise. Essential Beef Stock, for example, was commended for its ‘excellent colour and taste, almost like consomme’, while the range’s colour coded packaging benefit in a busy kitchen was ‘good’.

Premier Jus in Lamb, Veal and Chicken, meanwhile, behaved like fresh jus ‘above expectation’, according to the high ranked judges. “They boiled without skimming or lumping and maintained flavour and consistency even after being cooled and refrigerated and then re-boiled for the next service, with excellent results,” they concluded. “It is an exceptional product,” said one.

Essential’s Signature Beef Jus was also praised for its “full body, strong flavour and nice, thick consistency”. Due to its liquid form, the taste would also be consistent “time after time”.

The Craft Guild of Chefs’ Endorsement Programme enables food manufacturers to test existing products and those under development using leading chefs from across the hospitality industry - establishing whether products are ‘fit for purpose’.

For more information, call 0870 050 1133, e-mail sales@essentialcuisine.com or visit www.essentialcuisine.com

KNORR bouillon makes the grade

The KNORR Clear Bouillon range from Unilever Foodsolutions has received the Craft Guild of Chefs’ seal of approval, following testing by high-level chefs as part of the Guild’s Product Endorsement Programme.

Results from the tests revealed that three out of three chefs stated that they found KNORR Clear Bouillon an authentic, easy to use product that meets the needs of chefs.

Claire Sullivan, marketing director, Unilever Foodsolutions says: “It is a great honour that the Craft Guild of Chefs has decided to endorse KNORR Clear Bouillon, which is a fantastic product from the KNORR Bouillon range. It also reinforces the fact that KNORR is the number one choice for chefs.”

KNORR Clear Bouillons add full flavour, without affecting the natural colour of a dish. Their authentic flavour profile makes them a perfect solution for chefs looking to create delicious white sauces, clear soups and veloutés. The Craft Guild of Chefs’ testing panel also found it ideal for poaching and braising.

There are three varieties in the KNORR Clear Bouillons range - clear chicken, clear vegetable, and clear fish – all are available in cases of 2 x 1kg.

For further information on the KNORR Bouillons range and other KNORR products, please contact the Unilever Foodsolutions careline on 0800 783 3728 (calls may be recorded) or visit www.unileverfoodsolutions.co.uk

Premium collection of freeze dried herbs

The premium collection of freeze dried herbs under the Schwartz for Chef brand from McCormick passed the Guild’s “Fit for Purpose and Quality Assurance” assessment. It says its five varieties of specially selected herbs, freeze dried for a superior strength of flavour and a bright appearance, are the closest alternative to fresh herbs and only a small amount is required to deliver maximum flavour. Tried and tested by Craft Guild chefs, the products give improved visual appearance, better shape and texture than regular dried herbs, and when added to liquids such as soups and sauces they rehydrate instantly.

Commercial director James Millward adds: “We are delighted to have achieved this endorsement as it validates the high quality of our products. For too long there has been a misunderstanding about dried herbs and we are keen to engage with chefs to demonstrate how valuable they can be in any kitchen.” All the company’s herbs and spices are heat treated for microbiological safety, making them safe to use even without cooking, and come with full traceability.

Bladen Lighter cheese range

Milk Link Foodservice’s groundbreaking Bladen Lighter cheese range got the green light from the Guild. Head of foodservice Craig Dillon comments: “Our development team and graders have worked closely with foodservice chefs across all channels to create a great tasting cheese that performs perfectly in the kitchen, while exceeding nutritional requirements,” adding that caterers could not tell the difference between its full fat and low fat cheddars in blind taste tests. It was tasted raw, as well as oven cooked, grilled and quick browned in a number of dishes from classic cheese sauces to soufflés and a Welsh rarebit. “What’s fascinating is that none of the Craft Guild chefs who tested the product had used a reduced fat cheese before the trial – and all believed that it would be tasteless, rubbery and lack any depth of flavour,” says Dillon. He adds that the product exceeded their expectations, with many of the trial chefs claiming it showed no noticeable differences from its standard mature cheddar. Bladen Lighter is available in mild and mature 5kg blocks, 1kg grated cheddar and grated mozzarella mix.

New Hellmann’s vinaigrettes

Unilever’s new Hellmann’s vinaigrettes are the latest food products to receive the Craft Guild’s endorsement. Aimed at adding a twist to the salad dressings sector, they have been described as “the perfect alternative to scratch made vinaigrettes”. The five strong range includes: balsamic vinaigrette with acacia honey and ginger; citrus vinaigrette with lemon juice from Murcia; raspberry vinaigrette with blackcurrant juice; and sesame soy vinaigrette with roasted sesame seeds.

The Craft Guild has also endorsed knives produced by Robert Welch Designs. Made from high quality stainless steel, the knives were put through their paces by Craft Guild’s chefs who rated them very highly.