In The Pink - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Collaborations

As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off in October, several food and housewares companies have established special promotions and products designed to raise money for breast cancer awareness.  A snapshot of these wonderful partnerships includes:

The Dannon Company
The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF) announced today they are partnering with The Dannon Company to Give Hope With Every Cup™ to raise money for those affected by breast cancer.  For each under-the-lid code from specially marked packages of Dannon yogurt entered at www.cupsofhope.com before November 30, 2010, NBCF will receive a 10 cent donation from Dannon – up to $1.5 million, with a guaranteed $500,000 minimum donation, including retailer-specific programs. There is no need to mail-in lids, as Dannon shoppers can just peel off the lid of the product and enter the code, found underneath, at CupsOfHope.com.T

Activia spokesperson actress Jamie Lee Curtis has lended her support and Dannon Light & Fit's spokesperson, model and TV host, Heidi Klum will appear in the ad campaign to support Give Hope With Every Cup™.

Tossed
Tossed®, home of garden fresh salads, crepe wraps and sandwiches, has created "Strawberry Passion salad for the cure", a limited time offer that will be sold during the month of October in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One dollar from every Strawberry Passion salad sold throughout the month will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.


The Strawberry Passion salad which will be sold at every Tossed® location, combines baby field greens, freshly roasted chicken, dried cranberries, apples, cucumber, strawberries and goat cheese with tossed vinaigrette.

Tossed joined the fight against breast cancer and began its partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation last month, when it introduced two of its most popular dressings for retail sale at Gristede's grocery stores throughout Manhattan and at all participating Tossed locations. Tossed will donate 2.5% of the retail price of each bottled dressing sold, with a minimum total donation of $10,000. "

For more about Tossed's Strawberry Passion for the cure salad or details on their partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, go to http://www.tossed.com/.

Eggland's Best
Eggland's Best, Inc. will display the Komen for the Cure's running ribbon logo along with a pink version of their iconic "EB" stamp on their egg varieties during the fall of 2010.  EB will donate $50,000 to support Komen for the Cure in its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

For more information about EB's partnership with Komen for the Cure® and ideas for delicious and healthy recipes, please visit: http://www.egglandsbest.com/.

The Republic of Tea


The Republic of Tea’s Sip for the Cure Collection includes a special line of Sip for the Cure teas for sale including pink lemonade green tea, pink lady apple tea, pomegranate vanilla red and other great flavors. One dollar is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every tin sold.

Tic Tacs
The Tic Tac® brand continues its Breast Cancer Awareness program first launched in August as part of their Shake, Share & Care program.  As part of its six-year partnership with CancerCare, an organization focused on raising awareness of the affect cancer has on people with the illness, caregivers, loved ones and the bereaved, the Tic Tac® brand has made an initial donation of $100,000 to CancerCare as part of its commitment to the cause. Tic Tac® has also launched its official Facebook page to encourage fans to Shake, Share & Care by posting their kind acts in an effort to help the brand reach its goal of an additional $100,000 donation to the organization.


The Tic Tac® brand will contribute additional funds on behalf of consumers who get involved in an effort to spread CancerCare's mission of helping those affected by cancer. Fans are encouraged to visit www.facebook.com/tictacusa and share their acts of caring. For example, driving a patient to and from treatments or bringing a home cooked meal once a week to someone with cancer. For each person that shares their act of caring, the Tic Tac® brand will donate $5 to CancerCare, up to an additional $100,000.  Tic Tac also introduced limited edition Pink Grapefruit flavor Tic Tac® as part of the brand's ongoing support of CancerCare.

Proctor & Gamble and Target
Beginning this week limited-edition Procter & Gamble "pink" products will be available at Target, using money-saving coupons that will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF) and its early detection educational efforts.

A special edition of the P&G brandSAVER coupon booklet was included in newspapers delivered to over 57 million homes across the country on September 26. For every brandSAVER coupon redeemed from the booklet at any participating retailer, a two-cent donation will be made to the NCBF. A total of three billion coupons will be distributed. This uncapped donation from P&G will be solely based on the number of coupons redeemed starting September 26. The donations will be used by NBCF to fund education programs across the country. For a list of newspapers that contain the brandSAVER, please visit the following link: http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/brandsaver-coupons.jsp.


For the third year, P&G's Give Hope program serves as its kick off for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Some of the limited-edition pink products available at Target include: Tide®, Downy®, Bounce®, Swiffer®, Bounty®, Pantene®, Cover Girl®, Olay® and Venus®.


Visit http://www.mypinkplan.com/ for more information.


Duraflame
Duraflame (www.duraflame.com) is offering a limited edition pink-packaged firelog this winter to help raise breast cancer awareness. Duraflame, Inc. is partnering with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to contribute two percent of the Pink Colorlog sales – up to $75,000 – to help fund breast cancer research.

Sales of the Pink packaged Colorlogs kick off during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October and will be available through the winter at retailers nationally. Duraflame Colorlogs burn for about three hours with bright orange flames accented by soft hues of purple, blue and green. As with all Duraflame firelogs, recycled wood fiber and renewable biowax make up the product's main ingredients. Suggested retail is $25.99 to $27.99 for a for a six-log pack.

Sharpie
This October, pink is the new black in the world of celebrity autographs. Sharpie®, the preferred autograph marker of celebrities everywhere, is inviting actors, athletes, musicians, chefs and others to "ink it pink" in the fight against breast cancer. For every pink autograph signed and submitted to www.sharpieuncapped.com during the month of October, Sharpie will donate $1 to City of Hope, one of the nation's leading cancer research, treatment and education centers, up to $10,000.  Olivia Newton-John, Miley Cyrus, Football Legend Jerome Bettis are among the first to lend pink signatures to this breast cancer campaign.


Sharpie has been a City of Hope partner since 2006 through the sale of its Pink Ribbon marker; a portion of the marker's sales benefit City of Hope. Since 2006, Sharpie parent company Newell Rubbermaid has donated more than $1 million to City of Hope's lifesaving research and treatment programs.

Win-Win - World Vegetarian Day Sets Stage for $1000 Go Meatless Prize

Step aside Hillshire Farms for World Vegetarian Day, a commeration which began in 1977, that has since then celebrated the health-supporting and life-affirming benefits of vegetarianism. October 1st is World Vegetarian Day and is the annual kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month (October is also National Fire Safety Month, National Seafood Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month).  

Vegetarians are often the first to bestow the benefits of a vegetarian diet including perceived and proven health benefits, its impact on reducing meat consumption and therefore saving animals' lives and its impact on preservation efforts for the Earth.

To encourage non-vegetarians to give meatless eating a try, the North American Vegetarian Society has developed a prize-winning contest. Non-vegetarians who pledge to abstain from all meat, fish and fowl during Vegetarian Awareness Month (October) will be entered in a random drawing for cash prizes. The top winner will get $1000 in cash.

One winner will be chosen in each of the following three categories: One day $250 -- One week $500 -- One month $1,000. You can enter the "Give Vegetarianism a Try" contest at http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/contest/.

For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Win-Win - Dunkin' Donuts National Coffee Day Contest

In celebration of National Coffee Day, Dunkin' Donuts is searching for its ultimate coffee fan!  Starting today "The Ultimate Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Fan Contest," is open to all people passionate about drinking Dunkin' Donuts coffee to keep him or herself running every day.


To reward the ultimate coffee fan's passion and enthusiasm the company has brewed up its biggest coffee-related prize ever with a grand prize five-day trip for two to tropical Costa Rica , including a visit to one of the region's premier coffee farms (with a personal tour led by Dunkin' Donuts coffee excellence managers) and other exotic adventures.

Other prizes include a trip for two to Boston, Massachusetts, home of Dunkin' Donuts' world headquarters, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit with the Dunkin' Donuts coffee excellence team. The day features personal coffee education, an inside look into how the brand brews the perfect cup of coffee, and lunch featuring coffee-themed recipes prepared by Dunkin' Brands' Executive Chef, three-time James Beard Award nominee, Stan Frankenthaler.   Finally the winner will receive 5 years worth of free Dunkin' Donuts coffee, delivered directly to the winner's house.

To enter, visit the Contest Application on the Dunkin' Donuts Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dunkindonuts between September 29 and October 20 and upload a video no longer than 60 seconds that expresses your love for Dunkin' Donuts coffee and why you believe you are the most passionate and loyal fan. Videos may not include footage taken inside a Dunkin' Donuts restaurant.

Online public voting will take place from October 21 through November 4. In addition to the public vote, a panel of Dunkin' Donuts judges will score each entry based on the following criteria: passion for the brand, overall video appeal, originality and creativity. The grand prize winner will be selected based on a combination of the online vote and Dunkin' Donuts judges' scores. The contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. The grand prize winner will be announced on or about November 19. Additionally, 10 finalists will each receive 12 months of free Dunkin' Donuts coffee, delivered directly to their houses. JetBlue Airways, Boston's leading carrier, is the official airline of "The Ultimate Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Fan Contest".

Dunkin' Donuts sells 1.5 billion cups of hot and iced coffee every year. For more information about the contest including the rules and prize details, please visit www.facebook.com/dunkindonuts or visit Facebook (www.facebook.com/DunkinDonuts) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/DunkinDonuts).

Posted by cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Food Fight - FTC Issues Administrative Complaint Regarding POM Wonderful Claims

POM Wonderful Example Advertisement

Cook Like Jackie reported last month on POM Wonderful's successful bid against Ocean Spray's labeling claims regarding its pomegranate juice products.  Now it seems that POM Wonderful has a legal issue of its own to tackle.  As part of its ongoing efforts to uncover over-hyped health claims in food advertising, the Federal Trade Commission has issued an administrative complaint charging the makers of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice and POMx supplements with making false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.


The FTC complaint charges that POM Wonderful LLC, sister corporation Roll International Corp., and principals Stewart Resnick, Lynda Resnick, and Matthew Tupper violated federal law by making deceptive disease prevention and treatment claims. The ads in question appeared in national publications such as Parade, Fitness, The New York Times , and Prevention magazines; on Internet sites such as pomtruth.com, pomwonderful.com, and pompills.com; on bus stops and billboards; in newsletters to customers; and on tags attached to the product.

POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice is widely available at grocery stores nationwide, and a 16 oz. bottle retails for approximately $3.99. POMx pills and liquid extract are sold via direct mail, with a one-month supply costing approximately $30.

The Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection staunchly contested POM Wonderful's claims and the scientific data used to support them.  "Any consumer who sees POM Wonderful products as a silver bullet against disease has been misled," said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "When a company touts scientific research in its advertising, the research must squarely support the claims made. Contrary to POM Wonderful's advertising, the available scientific information does not prove that POM Juice or POMx effectively treats or prevents these illnesses."

Some of the advertising claims included statements such as "SUPER HEALTH POWERS! ... 100% PURE POMEGRANATE JUICE ... Backed by $25 million in medical research. Proven to fight for cardiovascular, prostate and erectile health." "NEW RESEARCH OFFERS FURTHER PROOF OF THE HEART-HEALTHY BENEFITS OF POM WONDERFUL JUICE. 30% DECREASE IN ARTERIAL PLAQUE ... 17% IMPROVED BLOOD FLOW ... PROMOTES HEALTHY BLOOD VESSELS … "

"Prostate health. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer. Time pill. Stable levels of prostate-specific antigens (or PSA levels) are critical for men with prostate cancer. Patients with quick PSA doubling times are more likely to die from their cancer. According to a UCLA study of 46 men age 65 to 70 with advanced prostate cancer, drinking an 8 oz glass of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice every day slowed their PSA doubling time by nearly 350%. ... 83% of those who participated in the study showed a significant decrease in their cancer regrowth rate."

"You have to be on pomegranate juice. You have a 50 percent chance of getting [prostate cancer]. Listen to me. It is the one thing that will keep your PSA normal. You have to drink pomegranate juice. There is nothing else we know of that will keep your PSA in check. … It's also 40 percent as effective as Viagra."

The FTC's administrative complaint against POM Wonderful alleges that these claims are false and unsubstantiated:

Clinical studies prove that POM Juice and POMx prevent, reduce the risk of, and treat heart disease, including by decreasing arterial plaque, lowering blood pressure, and improving blood flow to the heart;

Clinical studies prove that POM Juice and POMx prevent, reduce the risk of, and treat prostate cancer, including by prolonging prostate-specific antigen doubling time;

Clinical studies prove that POM Juice prevents, reduces the risk of, and treats, erectile dysfunction.

The FTC complaint alleges that POM Wonderful's heart disease claims are false and unsubstantiated because many of the scientific studies conducted by POM Wonderful did not show heart disease benefit from use of its products. It alleges that the prostate cancer claims are false and unsubstantiated because, among other reasons, the study POM Wonderful relied on was neither "blinded" nor controlled. Finally, it alleges that the erectile dysfunction claims are false and unsubstantiated because the study on which the company relied did not show that POM Juice was any more effective than a placebo.

The complaint sets forth a proposed order that would prevent future law violations by POM Wonderful. In part, the proposed order would require that future claims that any pomegranate-based product cures, prevents, treats, or reduces the risk of any disease not be misleading and comply with Food and Drug Administration regulations for the claim. Although FDA approval of health claims generally is not required for compliance with the FTC Act, the proposed order would require FDA pre-approval before POM Wonderful makes future claims that certain products prevent or treat serious diseases, in order to provide clearer guidance for the company, facilitate POM Wonderful's compliance with the proposed order, and make it easier to enforce. The complaint also proposes to prohibit the respondents from making any other health claim about any food, drug, or dietary supplement without competent and reliable scientific evidence.

In a related case, Mark Dreher, POM Wonderful's former head of scientific and regulatory affairs and expert endorser, has agreed to a settlement that bars him from making any disease treatment or prevention claims in advertising for a POM Wonderful product unless the claim is not misleading and comports with FDA requirements for the claim. The settlement also prohibits Dreher from making other health claims for a food, drug, or dietary supplement for human use without competent and reliable scientific evidence to support the claim. The settlement contains a cooperation clause and reporting provisions to assist the FTC in monitoring compliance with the order.

Copies of the POM Wonderful complaint and notice order, and of the Dreher complaint and consent agreement, are available from the FTC's website at http://www.ftc.gov and the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The Dreher consent agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, until October 27, 2010, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it final. Written comment should be sent to: FTC, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. To file a public comment electronically, please click on the following hyperlink: https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/markdreher.

For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

For Chocolate Lovers - Cocoa DNA Mapping Completed Ahead of Schedule

Cocoa Beans

Mars, Incorporated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and IBM released the preliminary findings of their breakthrough cacao genome sequence and made it available in the public domain earlier this week. This joint research endeavor is likely to improve the cocoa growing process and represents a successful private/public partnership for the benefit of the world's cocoa farmers, and a more sustainable world cocoa supply.


The preliminary sequencing of the cacao genome is a promising first step in advancing farmers' ability to plant more robust, higher yielding and drought and disease-resistant trees. The results of the research will be made available to the public with permanent access via the Cacao Genome Database (www.cacaogenomedb.org) to ensure that the data remains perpetually open without patent, as well as to allow scientists to begin applying the findings immediately to crop cultivation efforts.

With approximately 6.5 million farmers depending on cocoa for their livelihoods - most of them coming from small, family-run farms, cocoa is a crucial crop for their survival and the economies of their nations. However, cocoa crops have always been plagued by serious global losses from pests and diseases, and to date, there has been very little investment in scientific research to improve the cacao tree.

Decades of Mars research has led to major innovations in the areas of sustainable cocoa farming technology. The company's latest partnership - blending Mars' cocoa expertise, USDA-ARS' extensive experience with other major crops and IBM's technology - is an example of the role business can play in addressing challenging global issues.

The results of this uniquely collaborative project --which were delivered three years early due to Mars' scientific leadership, advances in genome technology and constant real-time collaboration with key partners--mark a significant scientific milestone that is already starting to benefit millions of farmers, particularly in West Africa where more than 70 percent of the world's cocoa crop is produced. By making the results publicly available, scientists will have access to key learnings to advance plant science, while plant breeders and farmers around the world will be able to develop cacao trees that are more sustainable, and can better fend off the environmental assaults that inflict $700 to $800 million in damages to farmers' crops each year. Cocoa has traditionally garnered little agricultural research especially when compared to other crops including corn, wheat and rice and therefore has earned the moniker "the orphan crop."

Mars was the primary funder of the project, investing millions into the research. Other partners in addition to the USDA-ARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, and the Jamie Whitten Research Center in Stoneville, Miss., and IBM, include: Clemson University Genomics Institute; Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture at the University of California-Davis; National Center for Genome Resources; Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics at Indiana University; HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology; and Washington State University. Moving forward, the collaboration will continue to analyze and characterize the cocoa genome in preparation for submission to peer-reviewed publications.

For more information, please visit Mars.com, cocoasustainability.com, http://www.cacaogenomedb.org/ or e-mail cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Food Fight - POM Wonderful Wins Lawsuit Against Welches Over Pomegranate Juice Claims

A federal court jury in Los Angeles recently found that juice maker Welch's intentionally misled consumers with false and deceptive labeling on its "100% Juice White Grape Pomegranate" product. In reality, each 64oz bottle contains over 63oz of inexpensive apple and white grape filler juices, plus additional color and flavor enhancers. Less than a single ounce per bottle is actually pomegranate juice.


The verdict is the culmination of a nearly two-week trial during which POM Wonderful argued that Welch's misleading labeling was a violation of the Lanham Act, which allows businesses to seek relief from competitors who are engaging in false advertising. POM Wonderful sells 100% pure pomegranate juice.

During the trial, POM successfully demonstrated that the product's labeling, which features large, prominently placed images of pomegranates on the front label, was intentionally designed to trick consumers into believing the product contained a substantial quantity of pomegranate juice.

Throughout the trial, several witnesses testified that they had bought the Welch's product believing it contained large amounts of pomegranate juice. All of these witnesses were seeking the widely documented health giving properties of pomegranate juice. When they learned that the product contained less than one ounce of pomegranate juice in a 64-ounce bottle, they were surprised and felt cheated.

During the initial phase of trial, in which the judge did not permit testimony from POM's damages expert, the jury did not find that POM sustained injury due to the deceptively labeled Welch's product.

For more information, please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Fall for Fig - Special Feature with Noire Tropical Beauty

Fall for Fig

Fall beckons the warmth of deeper tones for your home, wardrobe and cosmetics routine.  Cook Like Jackie has teamed with Noire Tropical Beauty to highlight some of the best products out there to have your Falling for Fig!

Fall for Fig in Your Kitchen

Emile Henry Flame Cassoulet in Figue

Emile Henry debuted a full line of figue colored pieces to their line including the new 2.5 quart flame cassoulet, a wonderful lightweight yet sturdy pot that is perfect for a variety of slow cooked meat dieshes, sweet cobblers, warm fruit compotes or the traditional french stew for which the pot is named.

Emile Henry Flame® ceramic cookware is the result of a new ceramic technology that can be used on all types of stovetops including gas, electric or halogen models.  The company also offers a special Emile Henry induction disk that can be used for induction stove tops and can withstand extremely high temperatures for searing.  In addition, the pots can also be used in traditional, convection or microwave ovens, as well as on gas or charcoal grills and open fire, making it one of the most versatile lines ever available.  The pots are easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.  They are designed to provide gentle even heat distribution to maximize flavors, textures and colors in various dishes.  What is most surprising is that although the flame may appear to be cast iron at first glance, it is roughly 30% lighter in weight resulting in much easier to handle.  The pots are manufactured in France from Burgundy Clay and other natural products and have a generous ten (10) year warranty for household use. 

Cassoulet, a traditional stew from Southwest France, is a slow cooked meal packed with sausage, chicken and white beans. Today, rustic inns and restaurants in every province of France consider this intimate, delightful stew their prized dish. There are many recipes and variations on the ingredients but the traditional Cassoulet stew is cooked in a pot that is shaped slightly like a cone making room for a lot of yummy crust on the top.


Cassoulet Recipe courtesy of Emile Henry

■1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

■2 carrots diced

■2 stalks celery, diced

■1 small yellow oinion, diced

■2 cloves garlic, chopped

■1/2 pound smoked sausage, sliced

■1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

■1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

■1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

■2 bay leaves

■1 teaspoon dried thyme

■1/2 teaspoon salt

■1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

■1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oil in an Emile Henry Cassoulet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for a few minutes to brown. Add the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic; cook and stir for a few minutes, until the onion is transparent.

2. Pour in the kidney beans, cannellini beans and tomatoes, and season with the bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper. Cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender.

3. Remove bay leaves and discard. Sprinkle parsley over the top, and serve.

Fig Facts
Fig (English), Higo (Spanish), Figue (French), Feige (German), Fico (Italian)

Fall Coffee Preview - DeLonghi Provides Updates on Design and Pricing for its Superautomatic Espresso Machines

DeLonghi will update some machines in its fall line of espresso machines to include the launch of the new Magnifica S in its super automatic espresso line which incorporates its patented Direct-to-Brew system that grinds beans fresh for each cup of coffee, an integrated conical burr grinder and a single boiler system with Rapid Cappuccino function that pumps cold water around the boiler to decrease the waiting time between espresso and cappucino.  This unit will be slightly higher than the introductory Magnifica which retails for $899.  The Magnifica S will retail for US $999.95 with availability in September at fine retailers.

The company has also redesigned its Magnifica Digital with a more streamlined look,

New Jura Capresso Impressa Models

Jura-Capresso has launched two new automatic coffee centers including the Jura IMPRESSA Z7 and the IMPRESSA J6.

Fall Coffee Preview - French Press Style

The French Press market has become pretty crowded lately with a number of design updates to this most utilitarian of coffee-related housewares.  The technology behind the french press is simple, place coffee bean in water to steep with the help of a plunger and you are able to make coffee that is not scalded by boiling hot water. 

Bodum Chambord French Press

BODUM earlier this year introduced the French Press Ice Coffee Maker and added Chrome and Gold to its line of CHAMBORD french presses.  Adding a bit of spunk to the design, the company has also launched the EILEEN, a french press originally created in to honor the avant-garde furniture designer and architect Eileen Grey.  Using geometric forms, the collection pays homage to her signature style.  Eileen French Press retails for US $29.95,

Fall Coffee Preview - MyPressi Twist Debuts New Color Just in Time for the Holidays

I first had a chance to see the MyPressi twist in action at the Housewares Show earlier this year.  I enjoyed a wonderful rooibos cappucino and was hooked.  The company provided me with a demo unit which at first glance appeared to be quite complicated, but once the unit was assembled I was set.  The directions could be a bit clearer, and those with little knowledge of common espresso terms like single and double-wall or tamping may want to increase their knowledge before investing in one.  The air cartridges are especially atractive as it makes the unit independent of electricity, and with the nice velvet carry case, one can take it to a party with them and bring espresso as their "dish".  The company is launching a vibrant red just in time for the holidays.  Priced at US $199 

Fall Coffee Preview - Capresso Updates its Automatic Frother With Wonderful Results

Capresso has updated its Capresso froth Pro automatic milk frother in time for the holidays.  This handy machine creates thick, rich frothes milk that is a great addition to cappucinos, hot chocolates or chai teas, and those who enjoy drinking steamed milk.  We received a unit for testing and have been thoroughly impressed by it including the three temperature settins of hot, warm and cold with an illuminated touch pad.  The unit has two patent-pending frothing disks and one heating disk that can be stored within the unit.  The milk pitcher is dishwasher safe.  It is smaller than its competitor, the Nespresso Aerocino and quite affordable at US $59.99.  The units became available in July of this year and should sell well through the holiday season especially as a gift for those who have coffee machines without an integrated milk frothing mechanism.  For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Fall Coffee Preview - New Coffee Grinders

Bodum BISTRO Electric Burr Grinder adds a colorful yet functional item to the impressive collectioin of housewares BODUM launched this year including the FYRKAT Charcoal Picnic Grill and the ETTORE Electric WaterKettle.    The coffee beans are crushed between conical burrs rather than chopping them which helps the coffee to maintain its characteristic taste and aroma much better.  By twisting the upper bean container, the variable grind settings can be adjusted froma coarse French Press setting all the way down to a fine ground for espresso.  The BISTRO grinder comes with a static-free borosilicate glass PRESSO container that nestles into the base of the unit to collect ground coffee during use.  The part also features a non-slip silicone band for secure handling.  The unit will retail for US $99.99 and will be available in many of the dynamic primary and secondary colors in the BODUM line including green, orange, yellow, purple, black and white.

For traditionalists who prefer a blade grinder, BODUM has a very affordable BISTRO Blade Grinder that uses a stainless steel blade to the cut the coffee beans quickly and efficiently.  The transparent lid allows you to see the coarseness of the coffee while grinding.  The unit will retail for US $29.95.

A great low-tech option is the Kyocera Ceramic Coffee Grinder which features a ceramic grinding mechanism that will not alter the flavor of the coffee grinds.  The grinding mechanism is made from an advanced ceramic that is close in hardness to the Diamond (10 on the Mohs scale), that is also rust-proof.  The grind adjustment allows for fine to coarse grinds with a non-slip base.  The glass container is resuable and dishwasher safe.Teh unit can store up to 100g of ground coffee and is dishwasher safe.

Fall Coffee Preview - Friis Coffee Savor

Friis Coffee Savor

Keeping your coffee beans fresh has become much easier with with Friis Coffee Savor, a specially designed container that tackles the four major factors contributing to diminished coffee bean flavor including carbon dioxide gas, light, air and moisture.  The stainless steel canisters incorporate air-tight storage with a freshness valve similar to those you see on packages of whole coffee beans.  Those valves are replacable, ensuring that you will be able to maintain your coffee freshness with a steady rotation.  The unit stores up to 1 lb. of whole or ground coffee and also has a handy dial that lets you select the day of the month your first put your coffee into the canister.  Notably, the unit does not have a handy place to label your coffee so for those of you who like to brew different varieties of beans, you will have to find a way to identify them once you have removed them from their packaging.  The units are attractive and reasonably priced at US $19.99 for one, and $38.40 for the pair at the Friis online store.  In addition the company will provide you with a package of free replacement valves to get you started.  We sampled a unit and were impressed with the freshness of the coffee beans even after 30 days of storage.  This unit provides a great storage option for whole bean fans and will be particularly helpful for those who have automatic espresso machines.  For more information, please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Fall Coffee Preview - Gaggia Introduces Accademia

Gaggia Accademia

Gaggia, the Italian coffee machine manufacturer has created a simply delightful option for those who are determined to turn their homes into the coffeehouse next door.   I had an opportunity to get up close and personal with a demo model of the Gaggia Accademia at the Housewares show earlier this year and was thoroughly impressed with this superautomatic espresso machine, not only for its design, but for its handling and the thoughtful details that seemed to address many of the oversights of superautomatic machines in other lines.  The machine is substantial and all of the parts feel sturdy.  The machine is front loading which makes removing the brewing system and cleaning out the grounds tray extremely quick and features an integrated coffee bean container and integrated grinder.  The TFT display features color and black characters and the one touch multi-beverage panel is easy to use and makes selecting your drink of choice quick and easy.  As you may expect a machine of this type allows you to customize your drinks so that each of your particular drink attributes from the body of your drink down to the amount of milk or coffee to be put into your cup are maintained in the system.  The touch button system ahs separate buttons for espresso, caffe, caffe longo, cappuccino, latte macchiato and latte.  The machine has a 15-bar pressure system and a 1.6 liter water tank along with a double boiler and a hot water and steam nozzle attached to the front of the machine.  The milk jar is removable and also integrated into the machine and includes an automatic milk circuit cleaning cycle.  The machine should reach the U.S. market later this year just in time for the holidays and will retail somewhere in the US $2500-$3500 range.  For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.
 

Fall Coffee Preview - Nespresso Opens 200th Boutique in Shanghai and Updates Lattissima

Nestlé Nespresso officially opened 200th boutique worldwide in Shanghai in mid-August. It joins new boutique locations opened this year in the international cities of Miami, Cape Town, and a new flagship boutique in Brussels as Nespresso continues to grow its global retail network to more than 220 boutiques this year. Melbourne, New York (Soho) and a new flagship in Munich are also scheduled for openings later this year.

"Shanghai is China's gateway to the world and the world's gateway to China. As a dynamic and cultured metropolis, Shanghai provides the perfect location to establish our third boutique in China and our 200th boutique worldwide. It marks a significant milestone in growing our global brand community," said Richard Girardot, CEO of Nestlé Nespresso SA.

Despite a changing competitive environment, Nespresso continues its expansion into new markets and persists with double-digit growth rates in its more established markets, such as Switzerland and France. Nespresso continues to grow capacity to meet rising demand.  The Nespresso schedule of boutique openings in 2010 underlines its commitment to grow outside Europe. New flagship boutiques in Brussels and Munich, and steady expansion in France, emphasise the Nespresso commitment to sustained category leadership in European markets. Nespresso is also on track with its plans to roll out a new customer service model in the second half of this year.

Nespresso opened its first boutique in Paris in ten years ago. Today, Nespresso Boutiques can be found from Hong Kong to New York. "Our boutiques are embassies for our brand. They enable consumers new to Nespresso to meet the brand and explore its deep coffee expertise - which is so important as Nespresso builds its presence in new markets," said Mr Girardot.

Nespresso Lattissima Premium

Nespresso in a continued partnership with DeLonghi has launched a new Lattissima Pump Espresso Maker featuring a full metal body that gives it a sleek look especially for those with stainless hardware in their kitchens. The Lattissima was first introduced by the companies in 2007 in response to demand for coffee-based milk drinks like cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos.  Although the shape remains largely the same, there are subtle design enhancements like the full metallic housing on the unit coupled with metallic buttons with text adding simplicy to its one-touch features.  The unit also has three different alert systems that signal the user when the water tank is empty, when the capsule container is full and another when the machine is in need of descaling.  Furthermore, there is a one-touch milk froth-only feature that allows the preparer to use the milk frother without sacrificing a grand cru.  Like other machines in the system, this Lattissima features a 19-bar pressure system with thermoblock for heating.  The machine will use Nespresso grand crus, and has a patented removable milk tank that can be stored in the refrigerator after use. This unit is scheduled for a September launch at select fine retailers, at Nespresso Boutiques and Boutique-in-Shop locations and through the Nespresso Club.



For more information contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Chiquita Invites you to Vote for the Best Banana Label

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. is inviting you to choose the best consumer-created designs that will grace the company's iconic blue sticker on millions of Chiquita bananas nationwide. The call for votes is a continuation of a sticker competition announced in June, when Chiquita requested design submissions.


Now through Sunday, Sept. 12th, consumers can visit the Chiquita Banana Sticker Design Contest at www.EatAChiquita.com/sticker-contest to view the 50 finalist consumer designs and link to vote. Participants can vote for a maximum of 10 sticker designs per day, but may not vote for any given design more than once per day. Voting restrictions apply; official contest rules are available online.

Chiquita will feature on its bananas nationwide the 18 designs that garner the most votes; the 18 grand-prize winners will be announced on www.EatAChiquita.com Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. Each winning sticker will be printed and placed on Chiquita bananas during the month of November.

Chiquita created the fun and interactive Web site, www.EatAChiquita.com, as a platform for consumer engagement and entertainment. Within the first six months of its October 2009 launch, more than 500,000 people visited the Web site and fans created more than 25,000 customized sticker faces using the site's sticker studio application. The site also features a Photo Customizer, allowing fans to add their custom stickers to photos, a Banana Boogie Battle video game, videos and more. The company has also launched Shop A Peel(TM) by Chiquita, an online merchandise store on Zazzle.com where diehard Chiquita fans can go to customize a wide range of items with their personalized sticker faces. For more information, please visit the following websites: www.EatAChiquita.com and http://www.chiquita.com/.

Chiquita also has a dedicated Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/OriginalChiquitaBananas) and Twitter account (http://twitter.com/ChiquitaChatter).

For more information please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Finishing Touches - Touchless Paper Towel Dispensers

As more Americans turn to the their homes as a place for entertainment there are a number of products popping up in the housewares market that mimic many of the conveniences that we see in commercial and retail settings popping up in surprising places.

Since most of us would never venture to install a hand dryer in any of our bathrooms or kitchens, we are often left with cloth and paper towels to handle spills and the drying of our hands.  Worries about cross contamination or of ways to reduce paper waste have been undertaken in many commercial and retail settings where installation of dryers has cut paper waste to a minimum and left many spaces cleaner and greener.  Not surprisingly, as those green initiatives by companies are become more prevalent, the market for touchless products that can be integrated into the home have begun to proliferate. 

One noticable place is around the paper towel roll which, for all of its convenience and utility has often been relegated to a simple rack or maybe a slightly stylish holder, but many kitchens leave them naked on a counter or atop a microwave.  Thanks to innovations that incorporate sensors to control the flow of the roll the touchless paper towel product market is growing.

CleanCut Touchless Paper Towel Dispenser

Among the innovations, is the CleanCut, a mountable touchless paper towel system that uses infrared technology while operating on a low voltage power adapter that plugs into a standard 120 volt outlet.  The dispensers are designed for under-cabinet mounting and can be placed in a variety of rooms including the kitchen, laundry room, workshop or garage.  The CleanCut units come in three colors including black, white and stainless steel and can use any variety of store-bought paper towel.  Instead of wedding you to the perforations on the roll, the clean cut will cut the paper towel based on your preference, from fine strips to a long piece without regard to those original perforations.  This is reminiscent of the introduction of the select-a-size rolls that were introduced over ten years ago to give consumers the choice of breaking off small, medium or large segments of paper towels.  The CleanCut system is very simple to use (you can watch the commercial for the product here).  Simply by placing your hand in front of one of the sensors the roll can be dispensed and are neatly cut.  The units retail for US $129.95 to US $149.95 for the stainless steel model. 

Another great option is the iTouchless Towel-Matic II which is an automatic paper towel dispenser that also runs on a sensor housed within a scanning panel that will tighten onto the towel to assist with tearing and to decrease roll unraveling.  The Towel-Matic II senses the performations on the paper towel (including full and half sheet rolls) and is ideal for one hand operation as it provides a preset length of towel. The Towel-Matic can be used on a counter space our can be mounted on a wall or undercounter with the separate purchase of brackets.  Available in three colors including a limited edition Candy Apple Red, Metallic Silver and Pearl White, the unit requires 4 C-sized batteries which should provide a year of use before they need to be changed.  The unit retails for US $99.99 to US $109.99. 

For more information on both units please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

Healthy Choice® Adds Line of Steamed Entrees to the Freezer Section

Healthy Choice®, a brand of ConAgra Foods, Inc., recently announced the introduction of a new line of steaming entrees that will raise the bar for microwavable frozen meals. The brand's new steaming entrees have a clear plastic tray that enables consumers to see the large ingredients and the vivid colors of the vegetables, which are frozen at the peak of freshness. The new meals provide an inexpensive, quick new way to enjoy a fresh-tasting lunch full of ingredients consumers can see are different, while still living up to their healthy name.


The key to the new entrees is steam, which unlocks the fresh taste and vibrant flavors of the large-cut, quality ingredients. An innovative steam-release vent in the film ensures an ultra-convenient cook time of about four minutes, with no peeling, no poking and no stirring. The vertical box stands out on shelf, while the images on the box match what's inside; the meals look and taste homemade, but without the fuss.

The variety and ingredient lists speak for themselves, as the meals feature generous cuts of white-meat chicken, vegetables frozen at the peak of freshness, and sauces that ensure a fresh-tasting, flavorful experience. The larger-cut vegetables, like whole cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas and sweet potatoes, steam fresh to maximize crispness and heighten vibrant colors, with no surprises and no compromises.

The new Healthy Choice steaming entrees will be available in grocery stores nationwide beginning in September for a suggested retail price range of US $2.00- US $2.79. The line features eight contemporary recipes including Sesame Glazed Chicken, Garlic Herb Shrimp, Lemon Herb Chicken, Honey Balsamic Chicken, Chicken Romano Fresca, Rosemary Chicken & Sweet Potatoes, Portabella Parmesan Risotto and Roasted Chicken Verde.

Healthy Choice offers a variety of meals to satisfy any taste. For more information on the various Healthy Choice product lines, visit http://www.healthychoice.com/. For special offers and up-to-the-minute information, stay in touch with the brand online: "Like" the brand on Facebook (www.facebook.com/healthychoice) and follow Healthy Choice on Twitter (www.twitter.com/Healthy_Choice).  For more information, please contact cooklikejackie@gmail.com.

An "App"le a Day - Whole Foods App Available

Whole Foods Market has launched its Missions App now available on the App store. As a part of the company's ongoing mission to promote wellness and encourage healthier lifestyles, the Whole Foods Market Missions App will help users eat better and live better.


The app revolves around more than 70 challenges known as Missions, where users engage in a series of steps to earn badges and bragging rights. Each user creates their own profile to track the badges they earn and their favorite tips, which can be shared via Facebook, Twitter, and email.

In addition to challenging customers to earn badges like Organic Avenger, Local Yokel, and Nutty Ninja, the Missions App also provides a database of more than 300 tips to help them succeed. Tips include advice on nutrition, food selection, storage, and cooking. The app also includes a store locator, which works just like Whole Foods Market Recipes, the company's first app launched in June 2009.

The Whole Foods Market Missions App is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at itunes.com/appstore.  For more information, please visit: wholefoodsmarket.com/iphone or e-mail cooklikejackie@gmail.com.