Who's News in Catering for March 26, 2022

Hot Off the Presses

D’Amico & Partners, a leading restaurant and catering operator in the Twin Cities and Naples, Florida, today announced the return of D’Amico Catering to Walker Art Center. D’Amico Catering managed Walker Art Center’s special events and food service from 2011-2016. The company has resumed exclusive catering and planning services for all private events.

Products on the Market

RoboBurger is an artificially intelligent, self-operating, patented kitchen designed to include all the processes of a restaurant at a fraction of the size. It measures 12 square feet, plugs into a traditional wall socket, has a refrigerator, an automated griddle and cleaning system. The robot uses a five-step cooking process similar to what chefs use in quick service restaurants. The robo-chef grills the patty, toasts the bun, dispenses the selected condiments, assembles the burger, and delivers it piping hot in about six minutes. 

Spring is in the air, and Dorot Gardens has the goods to celebrate. With March being Frozen Food Month and April being National Garlic Month, Dorot Gardens has a variety of products perfect for each occasion. Dorot Gardens offers innovative frozen packages of fresh, pre-portioned herbs and garlic that eliminate the process of peeling, chopping, and measuring. All it takes to season and flavor a dish is a cube of the right spice. Dorot Gardens’ current lineup of frozen products consists of Garlic, Ginger, Basil, Onions, Cilantro, Turmeric, Parsley, and Dill.  Dorot Gardens’ products are free of gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, and artificial preservatives and ingredients. They are proudly vegan, OU kosher, halal, and non-GMO verified. 

As more consumers seek out plant-based foods, General Mills Foodservice introduces a new product to help foodservice operations meet demand and round out their menus with more plant-based offerings. New Yoplait® ParfaitPro® Dairy Free Vanilla Coconut Based Yogurt Alternative is the first and only dairy-free yogurt alternative in a bulk bag format, allowing operators to prepare vegan and dairy-free recipes in less time, with less labor and less mess and waste. The new coconut-based yogurt alternative features a smooth and creamy texture that makes it a versatile, non-dairy option for applications where yogurt is used, from parfaits and smoothies to dips, dressings, desserts and much more. Yoplait® ParfaitPro® Dairy Free Vanilla is crafted from simple, non-GMO ingredients and is also gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, Kosher dairy, and made without gelatin and artificial flavors.

Royal Hollandia superior quality imported Dutch cheeses announce their debut in the United States. Offering a full lineup of wheels, wedges, snacks, slices, and a new entry pack size cheese line. A combination of traditional Dutch cheeses from Mild & Aged Gouda, Maasdam, and Edam to Chili Pepper and Mediterranean Herb are offered in different formats to meet the needs of consumers.                                                                                                                                                        

ChargerGoGo, the world’s leading network of on-demand, portable phone charging systems for commercial venues of all kinds, will exhibit at Booth No. 1351 during the Bar & Restaurant Expo held at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 21 – 23. ChargerGogo offers benefits for bars, lounges and restaurants, including boosted foot traffic, elevated customer experiences, increased sales and earned passive income through the company’s revenue-sharing model. Unlike static charging stations, ChargerGoGo allows customers to pick up a portable battery, charge their phones and then return the battery to any nearby ChargerGoGo kiosk, a first-of-its-kind service to debut at this scale. Ideal for installation at restaurants, bars, nightclubs and coffee shops as well stadiums, convention centers, hotels, hospitals and retail centers, ChargerGoGo allows users to charge their phones on the go, without wasting time or missing important notifications. Emerging as an essential amenity at a fast-growing number of businesses, ChargerGoGo’s kiosks may be found in Las Vegas at the Miracle Mile Shops, The Shoppes at the Palazzo, Las Vegas Convention Center, MGM Grand Garden Arena and AREA15 and in Southern California at Westfield Century City and Westfield Santa Anita among hundreds of others.

Mighty Sesame Co., the only creator of organic tahini in a handy squeeze bottle, honors  April Earth Month 2022 by maintaining its commitment to creating sustainable, plant-based products. The theme of this year’s Earth Month is ‘Invest in Our Planet’ which is a principle that Mighty Sesame® Co. exemplifies every day, and one of the many reasons fans continue to love and trust the brand and its products. Mighty Sesame’s famous tahini is produced using only the finest sustainably grown sesame seeds, which are exclusively sourced from the most reputable growing region in the world: Ethiopia. This equates to a low carbon footprint and a moderate water footprint, as well as investment into fair wages for Ethiopian farmers. Mighty Sesame brings customers a one-of-a-kind, shelf-stable, ready-to-use, squeezable superfood experience that no other Tahini brand can offer. Mighty Sesame’s products are high in nutritional value, and are made with little to no processing, in a peanut- and tree nut-free environment. They are all proudly all-natural, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, halal, and keto friendly, making them safe for almost any diet or lifestyle. 

People on the Move

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa – situated on the largest stretch of privately owned beach in South Florida – proudly announces the promotion of Jesse Demmers to Executive Chef and the appointment of Damoriae Graham as the resort’s Senior Sous Chef and Executive Chef of 3030 Ocean. The beachfront resort continues to add industry-leading talent aiming to blend the unique culinary styles of the Caribbean and Cuba, as well as flavors from across the Atlantic. Newly promoted to Executive Chef, Jesse Demmers oversees the culinary team for the 650-room iconic resort and its on-site dining outlets 3030 Ocean Restaurant, Sea Level Restaurant and Ocean Bar, Riva and Loggerhead Sand Bar. Demmers takes over the new position after joining Marriott Harbor Beach in 2019 as Executive Sous Chef, where he helped generate more than $43 million in food revenue. After attending school at Orlando Culinary Academy, he began his cooking career at Timpano Italian Chop House in Orlando, Florida, before transitioning to JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, where he worked from Restaurant Supervisor to Senior Sous Chef.  

Windsor Court Hotel, an elegant escape in the heart of New Orleans, proudly announces new General Manager of The Grill Room, Jonathan Sanders. Presenting seasonal menus of modern, American cuisine featuring incomparable ingredients from around the world, elevated glassware and stemware, and heightened, classic programming, Sanders is now leading operations of the iconic establishment. Regarded as one of New Orleans’ ultimate fine dining destinations, The Grill Room at Windsor Court Hotel combines elegance, an intimate ambiance and unparalleled service and the most extensive wine collection in the city. Sanders’ expansive background in beverage along with his French-influenced upbringing, drew him to the elite wine program at The Grill Room. With more than 17 years in the upscale New Orleans culinary scene, Sanders has been educated and groomed to lead at a high level of service and standards, making him an excellent addition to The Grill Room team. 

Upcoming Events

Join the foodservice industry at New England Food Show taking place April 3-5, 2022 at the BCEC in Boston, MA. New England Food Show is the region's largest restaurant and foodservice event serving both the foodservice and retail sectors. The latest products, services, and technologies will be showcased for the industry, along with a comprehensive and leading-edge program of education that will provide restaurants and foodservice establishments from New England with the best tools to grow and improve their business. Register Now

A first-of-its-kind partnership with the iconic James Beard Foundation, Texas and San Antonio's unique culinary draws are coming to the forefront of national attention with the launch of Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival. The four-day festival "with a purpose" will showcase renowned and up-and-coming chefs from Texas and the city of San Antonio, as well as national all-stars. Debuting October 27-30, 2022, Tasting Texas will entice foodies from around the globe to experience the vast culinary offerings of Texas and the festival's hometown, San Antonio.  he festival's highlight will be the "big-as-Texas" Culinary Market October 28-30, featuring more than 100 award-winning chefs at the historic Travis Park, in the heart of colorful downtown San Antonio. The three-day event, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, will have mouths watering at the tastes to be had. On October 29, Tasting Texas will feature a made-for-San Antonio top-shelf tequila tasting on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk. The festival continues nightly with a variety of curated collaborations by visiting chefs in San Antonio's top restaurants. These ticketed experiences will showcase the chefs' creativity and delight guests' palates with combinations that can only happen in Texas.