The Winner's Circle 2006
The initial round of Part 1 of the 34th annual Product
Awards Competition took place last week at the NASFT offices
in New York City. Seven specialty food retailers—Jamie Brent,
Wild Oats Market, Boulder, CO; Ken Blanchette, Fresh Direct, Long Island
City, NY; Maren Ammerman, West Point Market, Akron, OH; Sam Mogannam,
Bi-Rite Market, San Francisco; Emilio Mignucci, Di Bruno Bros., Philadelphia;
and Chuck and Pam Richards, Reid's Fine Foods, Charlotte, NC—analyzed and/or
tasted 2,800 specialty food items from more than1,342 total entries in 19 categories.
Part 2 will consist of the 20th Product
Awards category—Outstanding New Product 2006. Entries
will be accepted from June 8 -14. NASFT members will be able
to submit new products (introduced to the market since July 15,
2005) and Finalists will be chosen in
June. Participation packets will be mailed to all NASFT members by May 1.
If you don’t receive your packet by then, call the Product Awards
Hotline at 800-627-3869, ext. 305.
And the Finalists of Part 1 of the Product
Awards Competition are…
Outstanding Product Line
ALEXIA Foods: ALEXIA Foods
Bella Cucina Artful Food: Bella Cucina Artful Food
The Cheese Works, Ltd.: Ortiz Tuna and Anchovies
Christopher Brooks Distinctive Foods: The Fine Cheese Co. Cheese
Accompaniments
Ciao Bella Gelato Company: Ciao Bella Gelato & Sorbet
Cyprus Grove Chevre: Cyprus Grove Chevre
Rogue Creamery: Rogue Creamery
Outstanding Best Seller 2005
Adina For Life: Cali-Kiss
Chocolove: Chocolove Toffee and Almonds in Milk Chocolate
Frontera Foods, Inc.: Frontera Chipotle Black Bean Chili
Outstanding Classic
Cabot Creamery: Cabot Vintage Choice Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Guittard Chocolate Company: Guittard Semisweet Chocolate Chips
John Wm. Macy's CheeseSticks: Original Cheddar CheeseSticks
Sarabeth's Kitchen: Sarabeth's Plum Cherry Legendary
Spreadable Fruit
Vermont Butter & Cheese Company: Vermont Butter & Cheese
Company Vermont, Crème Fraîche
Outstanding Packaging or Design
Bella Cucina Artful Food: Pane Rustico
Ineeka Inc.: Tréleela Hibiscus Ginger Orange/Captivation
SaltWorks, Inc.: Artisan Salt Company Alaea Coarse Hawaiian Sea Salt
The Rogers Collection: Saporina Malpighi Balsamic Jelly
Outstanding Baked Good, Bread, Grain or Cereal
ALEXIA Foods: ALEXIA Garlic Baguette
Gagné Foods: Michael Gagne's Robinhood Free Meetinghouse Cream Cheese
Biscuits
Olivia's Crouton Co., Inc.: Parmesan Pepper Crouton
The King's Cupboard: Rich and Dreamy Molten Chocolate
Cake Mix
Outstanding Beverage
Crystal Food Imports Corporation: Organic Grape Juice
Dufflet Small Indulgences: Luxury Hot Chocolate
Ineeka Inc.: Tréleela Spearmint Lavender/Charm
Schokinag Chocolate: Extreme Dark Drinking Chocolate
Outstanding Cheese or Dairy Product
Cabot Creamery: Cabot Clothbound Cheddar
Coach Farm: Triple Cream Goat Cheese
Crystal Food Import Corporation: Ciabot
Rogue Creamery: Smokey Blue
The Cheese Works, Ltd.: Rocchetta
Outstanding Confection
Béquet Confections: Béquet Gourmet Celtic Sea Salt Caramels
Dufflet Small Indulgences: Crunchy Caramel Coated Pistachios Enrobed in Pure Milk Chocolate
Fusion Gourmet, Inc.: Bali's Best Coffee Candies -
Coffee Flavor
Miguel & Valentino: Rabitos Royale Bombón de Bigo Fig Bonbon
Outstanding Cookie or Cracker
Alice's Stick Cookies: Alice's Stick Cookies
Di Camillo Bakery: Chocolate Covered Chocolate
Biscotti DiPrato
Elki Corporation: Elki Spring Onion Crackers
Mary's Gone Crackers: Mary's Gone Crackers – Original
Tate's Bake Shop: Chocolate Chip Cookies
Outstanding Dessert
Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts Inc.: Bubbies Premium
Strawberry & Dark Chocolate Chip Mochi Ice Cream
Ciao Bella Gelato Company: Blood Orange Sorbet
Power-Selles Imports: Matiz Torta De Aceite (Olive Oil Crisp Bread Sugared with Almonds)
The Great San Saba River Pecan Company: Pecan
Pie In-A-Jar
Outstanding Food Gift
Bella Cucina Artful Food: Artichoke Baking Dish Gift
Béquet Confections: Béquet Gourmet Soft Caramels 8-ounce Gift Box
Grapevine Trading Co., Inc.: Travel Spice Kit
Mighty Leaf Tea Company: Mini Loose Tea Collection
Outstanding Foodservice Product
Ciao Bella Gelato Company: Triple Espresso
Culver Duck Farms, Inc.: Cajun Duck Breast Fillet
Good Wives, Inc.: Spanakopita
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: Madagascar Bourbon Pure
Vanilla Paste
Schokinag Chocolate: Extreme Dark Drinking Chocolate - 5-Kilo Tub
Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Spread or Sweet Topping
Di Camillo Bakery: Peaches Niagara
Harvest Song Ventures, LLC: Harvest Song Artisanal Preserve Apricot
Koeze Company: Cream-Nut Natural Peanut Butter
The King's Cupboard: Triple Chocolate Frosting
Thinkavocado.com dba Pacifica Culinaria: Pacifica Culinaria Black Currant Agave Syrup
Outstanding Meat, Pâté or Seafood
D'Artagnan: Duck Confit
Nueske's Applewood Smoked Meats: Applewood Smoked Bacon
Power-Selles Imports: Arroyabe Bonito Tuna
Sid Wainer & Son Specialty Produce and Specialty Foods: White Anchovies
The Cheese Works, Ltd.: La Querica Proscuitto Americano
Outstanding Non-Food Specialty Item
Adagio Teas: ingenuiTEA Teapot
Niman Ranch, Inc.: Niman Ranch Cookbook
Source Atlantique, Inc.: If You Care 100% Recycled
Aluminum Foil
Outstanding Oil, Vinegar or Salad
Dressing
Argo Century Inc.: Tonton Ginger Dressing
B.R. Cohn Olive Oil Company: Picholine California Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Elena's: Elena's Insalata della Casa House Salad Dressing
La Tourangelle, Inc.: Roasted Walnut Oil
Outstanding Pasta, Rice, Bean or Soup
Comida Loca, Inc.: Green Chile Chicken Soup
Elena's: Mediterranean Stew
Nuovo Pasta Productions Ltd.: Crab & Lobster Striped
Ravioli Classico
Prima Pasta, Inc.: Prima Whole Wheat Linguine
Source Atlantique, Inc.: De La Estancia Polenta
Outstanding Savory Condiment, Pasta Sauce, Salsa,
Cooking Enhancer or Spice
Chelsea Market Baskets: Anglesey Smoked Sea Salt
Desert Pepper Trading Company: Corn, Black Bean, Roasted Red Pepper Salsa
Doral International: La Favorita Sugo Rosso al Tartufo (Truffled Red Sauce)
Dulcet Cuisine: Dulcet Moroccan Cooking Spice & Rub
K.L. Keller Imports: Sal Marina aux Deux Piments
Restaurant Lulu Gourmet Products: Lulu Garlic Aioli
Outstanding Snack Food or Hors d'Oeuvres
D'Artagnan: French Kisses
Garden Fresh Gourmet Salsa Company: Garden Fresh Gourmet Zesty Guacamole
Kettle Foods: Kettle Brand Bakes Aged White Cheddar
Potato Chips
Lärabar: Lärabar Lemon Bar
Peaceworks, LLC: Kind Fruit + Nut Delight Bar
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