Endorsed Products
Demi glace, marinades, stocks – both pastes and powders
Demi glace was a good product, in particular when used with roast onion stock.
Marinades were considered good and the chefs who tested these products would use them. In the stock pastes, testers rated the highest for overall flavour and consistency: roast chicken, roast beef and roast onion.
Others were rated highly too. In powders, lamb was rated highest.
The programme, exclusively available to business partners, involves a panel of working Craft Guild chefs who assess the product including completing a ‘fit for purpose’ analysis questionnaire.
The market sector of the panel can be specified, but not the individual: cost sector, profit sector, or both, and can be tailored to pub, restaurant, banqueting, contract, ethnic and education sectors.
Once the products have achieved a pass rate, companies can use a specific Craft Guild logo and the wording ‘approved product’ on any packaging and literature for the tested product.
Kavis
EcoFuel XB
Environmentally friendly chafing fuel product that burns exceptionally well in all tests. Rigorously tested under both burn and non-burn states and for health and safety, that is, punch holes in the can to see if leakage occurs, which it did not; tip can over while burning – no leakage or spillage.
Knorr bouillon makes the grade
Knorr bouillon
Understanding the time and expense involved when making stocks from scratch, Unilever Foodsolutions has developed the Knorr Clear Bouillon and Knorr Concentrated Finishing Bouillon ranges for chefs of all levels.
The Craft Guild of Chefs panel that tested the ranges as part of its product endorsement programme stated that it found both products authentic and easy to use, meeting the needs of busy chefs.
Knorr Clear Bouillons are said to add full flavour without affecting the natural colour of a dish. This makes them perfect for chefs looking to create white sauces, clear soups and veloutés, and the Craft Guild panel also found the product ideal for poaching and braising.
There are three varieties in the range – clear chicken, clear vegetable, and clear fish – available in cases of 2 x 1kg and each variety contains less than 0.6g of salt per 100ml of prepared product, meeting Government 2010 Salt Reduction Targets. They also contain no added MSG and no colourings or artificial preservatives and are suitable for both gluten free and lactose free diets.
Knorr Concentrated Finishing Bouillon is said to be a convenient product that can be used to add and enhance flavour towards the end of the cooking process. Highly flexible and quick to use, the product makes delicious soups, sauces and gravies as well as adding a final dash of flavour and colour to any savoury dish, says the company.
A choice of six varieties allows chefs to work with contemporary flavours that can often be expensive to find – roasted shallot, shellfish, sweet red pepper, porcini mushroom, beef and chicken. Available in 2 x 500ml case sizes the range contains no added MSG, artificial colours or preservatives and meets Government salt targets.
Knorr stocks get stamp of approval
Knorr stocks
A new range of Knorr stock reductions from Unilever Foodsolutions has been approved in the Craft Guild of Chefs’ product endorsement programme.
The range is available in beef, chicken and vegetable varieties in a 2 x 800g case size and Unilever says it has achieved the closest taste, look and aroma to scratch made stock. Made from carefully selected quality ingredients, the stock reduction contains reduced meat stock or vegetable juice to create a homemade style jelly product that spoons easily, dissolving quickly into boiling water or straight to the pan.
The Craft Guild’s panel of chefs that tested the range said they found the products easy to use, authentic and suitable for making soups, sauces and risotto.
The results for the Knorr stock reduction, using the Craft Guild of Chefs “Quality Assurance” questionnaire, showed an above average rating by the panel of chef testers and the overall rating given to the product was “grade B”.
Ray Lorimer, executive chef and culinary controller at Unilever Foodsolutions, says: “In creating this breakthrough product we have achieved an industry first for Knorr – a stock that tastes, looks and smells similar to one made from scratch by a professional chef.
“We have selected only the finest ingredients to achieve a genuine taste and aroma and all products follow our ‘clean label’ approach, in line with Unilever Foodsolutions’ ongoing commitment to healthy and vitality.”
Essential Cuisine
Premier jus range – Lamb, Veal, Chicken
Stocks rated extremely well for all three, particularly chicken and veal.
Testers said all three jus were excellent.
They maintained flavour without having to skim and without lumping after boiling as well as flavour and consistency even after cooling and reboiling.
Colour was excellent.
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