Food & Food Equipment News

Nielsen-Massey Foundation Funds Endowment Scholarship at The Culinary Institute of America

The Nielsen-Massey Foundation has launched The Nielsen-Massey Foundation Endowed Scholarship with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), announced the foundation’s board of directors this week. The Nielsen-Massey Foundation assists disadvantaged children and adults with education and leadership development, especially in the field of culinary arts.

The Foundation’s new scholarship, funded in the amount of $100,000, will enable the CIA to award scholarships annually in perpetuity. Scholarships will be available to students enrolled at the CIA’s New York, California, or Texas campuses, particularly for those seeking bachelor’s degrees in Food Business Management and Culinary Science, associate degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts, and the Advanced Career Experience associate degree program.

“Our family has long supported CIA’s programs, and it brings us great pleasure to support a culinary institution with a history as rich as that of Nielsen-Massey,” said Beth Nielsen, Chief Culinary Officer, Third Generation Owner of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas and Board Member of The Nielsen-Massey Foundation. “It is our hope that the students who benefit from this scholarship would find a way to pay it forward as they become a part of the culinary world.”

Having funded scholarships at the CIA in the past, the Foundation has seen how this type of support directly transforms lives. CIA freshman Daejah McCormick has been burdened with much hardship in her life, including the loss of her mother during high school. Were it not for The Nielsen-Massey Foundation’s scholarship this past year, McCormick would never have been able to attend the CIA to pursue her dream of opening a restaurant uniquely designed with diabetics in mind. “The Nielsen-Massey Foundation’s scholarship has impacted my life immensely,” she said. “They made me believe in my own future and added fire to my ambition. I hope one day I am able to return this favor.”

“The Nielsen-Massey Foundation and the Nielsen family are true champions of the CIA and our students,” CIA President Tim Ryan said. “This scholarship will help launch the careers of talented, passionate, high-achieving students for years to come. We are grateful the Foundation is supporting our students in pursuing their dreams to become the next generation of leaders in the food world.”

Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes Partners With Shaw’s to Donate More Than 35,000 Pounds of Protein to Good Shepherd Food Bank

Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes^® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, joined forces with Shaw’s to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to Good Shepherd Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 140,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Maine where one in seven individuals are food insecure.

"We are very thankful to be able to partner with great companies like Smithfield and Shaw’s to fight hunger in Maine," said Matt Chin, Vice President of Supply Chain for Good Shepherd Food Bank. "This generous donation will provide many with access to a source of protein they may have gone without."

Smithfield and Shaw’s representatives presented the donation to Good Shepherd Food Bank at the event this morning. Members of all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation in helping the more than 200,000 individuals who face hunger each day in Maine.

“Shaw’s was founded here in Maine in 1860, and 157 years later we remain committed to helping create stronger communities across the State,” said Alan Martel, District Manager for Shaw’s. “Supporting hunger relief in the neighborhoods we serve and joining local and state-wide food banks, like the Good Shepherd Food Bank, is very important to us.  We are proud to partner with our friends at Smithfield Foods in the fight against hunger through their Helping Hungry Homes program.” 

Smithfield’s donation to Good Shepherd Food Bank was a part of the Helping Hungry Homes 2017 nationwide donation tour. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide large-scale protein donations to nearly 60 food banks across the country. This donation adds to the more than 65 million servings of protein donated since 2011.

“As a global food company, we recognize and appreciate our responsibility to feed our neighbors in need,” said Dennis Pittman, Senior Director of Hunger Relief for Smithfield Foods. “Along with Shaw’s, today’s donation allows us to further deliver on that promise by giving enough protein to feed thousands and help fill dinner plates for the food insecure across Maine.”

Dickey's Barbecue, Boots & Badges Foundation Provides 50 Life-Saving Vests for Local Officers

Dickey's Barbecue Pit's charitable foundation Barbecue, Boots & Badges is presenting Dallas police officers with 50 life-saving, bulletproof vests as part of its Invest in a Vest initiative. This donation is made possible by a generous contribution of $25,000 by Central Market.

"Barbecue, Boots & Badges was founded to serve those who put their lives on the line every day to protect our community," said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Inc. "These brave men and women deserve our support, and we want to make sure they are getting the best equipment possible. We thank Central Market for helping us in this endeavor."

The Invest in a Vest initiative is a partnership between Dickey's Barbecue Pit's charitable foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, and Angel Armor to provide Dallas police officers with life-saving body armor. A $500 donation provides one officer with a set of ballistic plates, which are capable of protecting them from sniper rounds and high-powered ammunition. Wearing body armor more than triples the likelihood that an officer can survive a shooting to the torso, according to a RAND Corporation study. In addition, more than 3,000 officers' lives have been saved by their body armor to date, according to the American National Institute of Justice.

"Central Market has great respect for our police officers who commit their lives to our safety each and every day.  This donation of vest plates is our way of saying 'Thank you' for their loyal and dedicated service to the city of Dallas," said Stephen Butt, President of Central Market. "These new plates will provide an added layer of state-of-the art defense for those who protect all of us."

Canby School District 4th Grader Voted National Winner in the 2017 Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge

In a cooking challenge designed to engage school students in creating and enjoying healthy eating habits, Madison Bigej of Canby, Oregon, was voted national winner in the 2017 Sodexo Future Chefs: Healthy Comfort Food Challenge. Madison, with her recipe for Cauliflower Tots, bested other student recipes in her home school district, then went on to outdo competing recipes among the top 40 entries from around the U.S. before securing the top spot as national winner.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, invited elementary school students in Sodexo-served school districts across the United States to create comfort food options that kids will enjoy. Out of nearly 2,500 entries, Madison was one of five finalists selected to create videos of their recipes, and the public was invited to vote for its favorite. By scoring the most votes for her winning Cauliflower Tots recipe, Madison will be honored with a celebratory event at her school and more than $2,000 worth of prizes.

Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes Partners With Fred Meyer to Donate More Than 25,000 Pounds of Protein

Smithfield Foods’ Helping Hungry Homes® initiative, a program focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, has joined forces with Fred Meyer to donate nearly 25,000 pounds of protein to Oregon Food Bank. The donation, equivalent to more than 100,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Oregon, Clark County and Washington where one in five individuals are food insecure.

“Each year, we provide millions of meals to the many people in need throughout our community,” said Katie Pearmine, Strategic Sourcing Manager for Oregon Food Bank. “We are grateful to Smithfield and Fred Meyer for this large protein donation, which allows us to provide high-quality protein to agencies and people throughout our service area.”

Smithfield and Fred Meyer representatives presented the donation to Oregon Food Bank at the event yesterday morning. Members from all three organizations discussed food insecurity in the local community and the significance of this donation in helping the more than 270,000 individuals who seek support from Oregon Food Bank each month.

“At Fred Meyer, we are passionate about serving those in need and helping end hunger,” said Zach Stratton, Community Affairs Manager for Fred Meyer. “We share a long-standing relationship with Feeding America, much like Smithfield, and are honored to be taking an active role in alleviating hunger and food insecurity in the communities we call home.”

Smithfield’s donation to Oregon Food Bank was a part of the Helping Hungry Homes 2017 nationwide donation tour. Throughout the annual tour, Smithfield will provide large-scale protein donations to more than 50 food banks across the country. This donation adds to the more than 65 million servings of protein donated since 2011.

“Smithfield is proud to support and provide high-quality protein to the Oregon Food Bank,” said Dennis Pittman, Senior Director of Hunger Relief for Smithfield Foods. “As a global food company, we understand the importance of proper nutrition and value our responsibility to raise awareness of and address hunger throughout the country.”

Woodford Reserve Celebrates History and Heritage in 2017 Kentucky Derby $1,000 Mint Julep Cup

Woodford Reserve today reveals its $1,000 Mint Julep Cup available at the Kentucky Derby^® benefiting the Kentucky Derby Museum. Now in its 12^th year, the 2017 Cup pays tribute to the British-inspired Kentucky Derby offering a quintessential julep crafted by Woodford Reserve Global Ambassador, Tom Vernon. This year's cup, recipe and experience is presented under the theme: The Sport of Kings… and Queen(s).

In 1872, Churchill Downs Founder Meriwether Lewis Clark traveled to England to attend the Epsom Derby - a popular horse race attended by British royalty and high society. Upon returning to the states, he modeled the Kentucky Derby after the Epsom Derby elevating horse racing to a more sophisticated affair. Inspired by this history, this one-of a kind julep features traditional British ingredients with a unique garnish of mint, baby's breath and edible, dehydrated blue cornflowers representative of both sides of the Atlantic.

Woodford Reserve^® 2017 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep 

1.5 oz Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
1/4 oz Pimm's Liqueur®
1/2 oz Elderflower Cordial
1/4 oz Woodford Reserve®Mint Julep Simple Syrup
1 dash Earl Grey bitters
Handful of mint

Rub mint around the julep cup, expressing the essential oils. Add remaining ingredients and top with crushed ice. Churn ingredients with a bar spoon distributing the flavor. Top with additional crushed ice. Garnish with a bundle of baby's breath and mint. Sprinkle with dehydrated edible blue cornflowers.

"Woodford Reserve is honored to bring together two of Kentucky's greatest traditions once again through our $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program," said Mark Bacon, Woodford Reserve Global Brand Director. "We're proud to honor the rich history of the Kentucky Derby with a premium celebration through our  $1,000 Mint Julep Cup experience."

The cups are handcrafted by Louisville-based jeweler From the Vault. Each cup is adorned with embellishments representative of this year's theme. Three horses in stride adorn the cup, inspired by British photographer Eadweard Muybridge's famous "The Horse in Motion" filmstrip which was the first proof that all four hooves leave the ground at a gallop.

"In addition to the horses, the cups also feature three additional sterling silver embellishments," said Graham Newton, From the Vault Jeweler. "A crown representing the rich history of the British inspired Derby; a rose as an ode to the "Run for the Roses™" and a horseshoe providing each cup buyer with an extra stroke of luck. Together, these details create a trilogy of flight around the cup as horse and jockey pass a crown, rose, and horseshoe on the way."

This history is brought to life through individually hand casted applications in rich sterling silver. The $1,000 cups feature 18 karat yellow gold over the sterling silver horse and riders, the crown, rose and horseshoe. The $2,500 cups are gold-plated sterling silver with a 24 karat heavy reliquary quality gold plating, with a striking contrast of high polished sterling silver detail.

Each Cup will be presented in a silk "purse" inspired by the "purse" of winnings given to the victors of a horse race.

Each year, Woodford Reserve selects a charitable organization to receive the net proceeds from the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup sales with more than $450,000 raised for equine and racing charities to-date. This year's receiving charity is not-for-profit Kentucky Derby Museum supporting the mission to preserve the rich history, tradition, hospitality and pride of the world-renowned event that is the Kentucky Derby.

"The Kentucky Derby Museum is honored by the support from Woodford Reserve and the $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program. At the heart of our mission, we are dedicated to celebrating the long-standing history and tradition of the Kentucky Derby, just as this year's special cup design exemplifies," said Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO.

How to Purchase a Cup
Beginning April 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. E.T., consumers ages 21 years and older can log on to www.woodfordreservemintjulep.com to purchase one of the Noble Cups or Royal Cups. The sale closes on May 5, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. E.T.

Any unsold cups will be available for purchase at Churchill Downs^® on Kentucky Derby Day.  Purchase of cup does not include admission to Churchill Downs. Purchased cups must be claimed by buyer or his or her proxy at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.

Renowned Chefs Serve Cereal for Culinary Charity

Kellogg's® is putting a twist on the signature dishes of world-renowned chefs Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud. For one night only, select guests experienced an exclusive six-course tasting menu of recipes recreated with cereal at Kellogg's NYC.

To entice diners and tempt their taste buds, Kellogg's NYC brought together a team of professional chefs, some of whom recently worked together to win Bocuse d'Or, the most prestigious culinary competition in the world. Chefs Mathew Peters and Travis Swikard were tasked with using Kellogg's cereal to recreate famous dishes by chefs Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud. In addition, chef Harrison Turone from Team USA was on-site to join in this culinary experience. Together, these chefs were not only the first team of Americans to win Bocuse d'Or, but they're also bonded by mutual support for ment'or, a nonprofit that inspires excellence in young culinary professionals.

"I'm excited to see my fellow ment'or chefs re-create my well-known dishes using a favorite breakfast staple, cereal. You don't have to be an award-winning chef to get creative in the kitchen and think about food in unique ways," said Boulud.

"We're celebrating the techniques and creativity of some of the world's greatest chefs," said Anthony Rudolf, co-Owner of Kellogg's NYC, founder of Journee and former director of operations at Thomas Keller Restaurant Group "We'll give guests a chance to experience cereal in a completely new way."

The participating chefs' recipe creations reflect their impeccable palates and creativity for transforming any ingredient – even cereal – into something elevated. Dishes include:

Chilled Carrot-Ginger Soup
Coconut Cream, Kaffir Lime, Kellogg's Froot Loops®

Truffle Custard
Kellogg's Corn Flakes® Infused Custard, Black Truffle and Cherry Relish, Celery, Kellogg's Special K® "Chive Chip"

Salad of Hawaiian Hearts of Peach Palm
Granny Smith Apple, Kellogg's Apple Jacks®, Belgium Endive, Toasted Walnuts, Banyuls Gastrique

Macaroni & Cheese
Butter Poached Lobster, Mascarpone Enriched Orzo, Kellogg's Rice Krispies® Tuile

Beef Duo Agrodolce
Kellogg's Raisin Bran®, Radicchio Marmalade, Taragna Polenta, Sauce Forestière

Coffee and Doughnuts
Draft Latte, Golden Chef "Doughnuts" made with Kellogg's Honey Smacks®, Kellogg's Cinnamon Frosted Flakes®, Dried Cherries, Pecans, Gold Flake

From Thursday, March 30 through Sunday, April 2, the golden chef doughnuts along with cereal bowls designed by Chefs Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, Gavin Kaysen, Harrison Turone, Mathew Peters, and Philip Tessier will be available at the café for $8. Proceeds from the bowls will benefit ment'or and will come with a numbered ticket. Two tickets will be chosen on Monday, April 3, and one winner will receive dinner for two at Restaurant Daniel and the second winner will receive dinner for two at Per Se in addition to a Kellogg's NYC gift bag. 

Church's Chicken Renews & Expands Partnership with No Kid Hungry

After successfully raising more than 3 million meals to help ensure that no child in the U.S. should have to go without a meal, Church's Chicken® announced that the company will be expanding its fundraising efforts for a second year. From March 27 through April 23 of 2017, every dollar raised from booklet sales will go directly to No Kid Hungry. Each dollar will provide a meal for 10 children. This year, however, Church's is aiming to raise $500,000 - a benchmark the brand feels confident its team members and guests will help them achieve.

"Church's has a 65-year reputation for being committed to the communities we serve," said Georgia Margeson, Senior Director of Advertising at Church's Chicken. "That commitment begins, first and foremost, with children. We're honored to continue working alongside No Kid Hungry to support their tireless efforts."

The cornerstone of the program, Church's popular coupon booklet, will be sold in participating locations while supplies last for just $1. The booklet features more than $20 in savings on Church's menu items, and 100 percent of the $1 donation goes to No Kid Hungry.

"We've got significantly more participation in 2017, which should have a huge impact on what we're able to accomplish this year," Margeson continued. "Last year we surpassed our goal early, and doubled it by the end of the fundraising period. This is a cause people care about deeply and we're eager to make a real difference in the lives of the children and families who rely on No Kid Hungry's work."

Barbecue, Boots & Badges Launches 'Invest in a Vest'

Barbecue, Boots & Badges, the charitable foundation founded by Dickey's Barbecue Pit, provides life-saving bullet proof vests for police officers.

Barbecue, Boots & Badges' newest initiative is called "Invest in a Vest." The foundation has partnered with Angel Armor to provide life-saving ballistic body armor for police officers. A donation of $500 buys a set of ballistic plates which protect the wearer from sniper rounds and high-powered ammunition. The foundation launched its Invest in a Vest program on Tuesday, February 28, with a donation of ballistic plates to Dallas Police Department's entire gang unit.

Farmer Boys Receives the Shirley N. Pettis Award

Farmer Boys® Restaurants, the brand known for cooked-to-order breakfast, burgers and more, was honored at the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital (LLUCH) 24th Annual Foundation Storybook Gala with the Shirley N. Pettis Award.

The Shirley N. Pettis Award recognizes outstanding dedication and distinguished service to children. Through volunteerism and community service, award recipients have demonstrated the desire and motivation to improve the lives of children throughout California's Inland Empire. 

For 16 years, Farmer Boys has hosted the "Give a Helping Hand" annual in-store fundraiser in support of LLUCH. Farmer Boys also sponsors Children's Day, an annual community event at Loma Linda University, designed to ease children's fear of going to the hospital, doctor or dentist.

"It makes our job so much more meaningful when we're doing something that's making a difference in the lives of people," said Karen Eadon, Chief Operating Officer, Farmer Boys.

Since 2000, Farmer Boys has donated over $655,000 to Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. Donations collected over the past 16 years have been used to purchase heart monitors for the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, vein viewers for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and fund the hospital's annual Children's Day celebration. This year, funds will go toward Vision 2020, The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow.