Archive for September, 2008

Company Highlight: Athena of Hawaii Kona Coffee

September 17th, 2008

ATHENA of HAWAI’I, Hawaii, Kealakekua, Sept. 8, 2008: Hawaii’s “Seal of Quality” identifies the cream of the crop of Hawaii’s agricultural producers. Products with this seal are genuine, Hawaii-grown or Hawaii-made premium products; a guarantee that is enforced by the State of Hawaii. Not many quality locally grown items can be found anymore in the 50th state. Very few agricultural producers passed the stringent tests so far and ATHENA of HAWAII is proud to be the first and only single estate 100% Kona coffee farm being allowed to carry the prestigious seal.

ATHENA of HAWAII offers pure 100% Kona coffee from a traditional, authentic Kona family farm. Handpicked, fermentation processed, sun dried, state certified, free of pesticides, herbicides, GMO. Elegantly presented in handmade tapa pouches and wooden boxes, it excites celebrity clientele and coffee enthusiasts all over the world alike.

“World renowned 100% Kona coffee can easily be considered USA’s premier food product. As the French celebrate events and happy moments with their Champagne, we see more and more Americans realizing that with 100% Kona coffee national pride never tasted that good.” says the owner Joachim Oster.

“Single origin, single Kona estate coffee is what our customers demand. Cultivation, harvest, processing, storing, shipping: Till it reaches the person who drinks our coffee, every step is under our strict supervision: no middlemen, no delegated responsibilities, no one else to blame if something goes wrong.”

“Our products provide an authentic Hawaiian experience beyond offering a superior coffee from Kona. The land, our old farm has many stories to tell. Much of what we learned from the old timers is what makes our Kona coffee great. ‘Talking-story’ is a Hawaiian tradition and our coffee is ‘talking story’ to the customers about culture, history and the uniqueness of the Hawaiian islands in a contemporary, yet timeless way.”

Actually ATHENA of HAWAI’I is a real person: A young Hawaiian girl who grows up in Kona describes her life on a coffee farm in stories and pictures. On the company’s website, in a beautiful illustrated booklet and newsletters customers can partake in her world.

Pure 100% Kona Coffee for whole sale & retail sales is offered through the company’s website: www.athenaofhawaii.com

athena-of-hawaii-hsq.jpg  athena-of-hawaii.jpg

Review: VermontCountryGourmet.com

September 12th, 2008

Review - Vermont Country Gourmet
8.6.08
Who is Vermont Country Gourmet?

Vermont Country Gourmet is a woman-owned business specializing in unique, upscale products from Vermont. What started originally as a brick and mortar retail store is now a rapidly growing online business and hotspot for foodies seeking out unique, rare Vermont-made products that are not commonly available throughout the US.

Product Summary: Vermont Country Gourmet really does a great job of reminding us just how great products from Vermont are. From cheddar cheese to maple syrup, the State of Vermont truly offers a great bounty of truly fabulous gourmet and specialty food products.

Our favorite product from Vermont Country Gourmet was the Maple Rosemary Grilling Sauce, hands-down. We simmered some chicken with this sauce and were blown away by the savory-sweet combination of rich maple syrup and the perfect touch of rosemary. We even used some of the sauce poured over rice, which oddly reminded us of a sweet and savory Chinese-style dish (very good). We felt that this product would also be amazing on some pulled pork (possibly on a sandwich instead of BBQ sauce) and with salmon.

We also had a Vermont BBQ sauce from Richard’s (a Vermont producer, of course), which was cleverly packaged on top of the fact that it was excellent tasting. On the front label, there is an animated picture of some farm animals looking over a fence, and on the back, it shows them from behind - very neat!

Upon viewing the Vermont Country Gourmet website, we were blown away by the amount of products offered. We had sampled only 4 items, but there must be at least a couple hundred more - each looking as delicious as those we tried. Vermont Gift Baskets, Vermont cheese, Vermont maple syrup, dips, salsas, sweets and desserts, meats, sauces, and so much more!

The site is beautifully designed with a simple, classy, and colorful look and is very easy to navigate. Ordering from the site is very straight-forward and secure. The site even has an excellent embedded video showcasing some of their delectable offerings.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for some of the finest, gourmet artisan products from Vermont, there is NO better place online than Vermont Country Gourmet. Looking for a unique gift? Look no further, Vermont Country Gourmet has you covered with ideas that will really put a smile on your recipient’s face.

How to purchase: Consumers can order directly online at www.VermontCountryGourmet.com.

Cosmic Chocolate launches the answer to all your bar dreams

September 12th, 2008

 For Immediate Release

Contact:

Carly Baumann (925) 260-1700

carly@cosmicchocolate.com

Cosmic Chocolate launches the answer to all your bar dreams-

Not just any bar ladies and gentleman, which could include the high bar for flipping, the local corner bar for frequenting, and that overwhelmingly stressful exam, that lurks behind every soon to be lawyers existence-the Bar.  Ladies and gentlemen, Cosmic Chocolate ‘sets the bar’ as it brings you the Best Bar-a chocolate bar, wrapped in regal gold foil and packaged in a whimsically designed luminescent box.  The answer to your wildest dreams, Cosmic out does itself with six different bars to choose from-or not, as it’s not uncommon for one to indulge in each and every flavor, savoring the uniqueness of each and fulfilling the classic cliché- variety is the quintessential spice of life!

The exciting process for developing each bar was quite involved, as “each flavor was conceptualized, created, tested, tasted, and tried countless times before it became realized and true and available to you,” emphasizes Baumann ecstatically. “It’s hard to choose my favorite flavor as each ignites a different emotion, from playful, sexy, and nostalgic with the Champagne Pop Rocks, to heavenly and divine with the Cinnamon Rose.

Wrap yourself around the ring of flavor and pleasure as we present to you Cosmic Bars- ecstasy, art and flavor.

Champagne + Rocks  (64% Dark Chocolate)

Cinnamon + Roses  (38% Milk Chocolate)

Cardamom + Oranges (64% Dark Chocolate)

Dulce de Leche + Chilies (64% Dark Chocolate)

Espresso + Nibs  (64% Dark Chocolate)

Caramel + Apples  (38% Milk Chocolate)

* As you unwrap each bar, make sure to note the serving suggestions molded into each piece.

###

cosmicchocolatefront.jpg

Product Review: Heidi and Arthur Chocolatiers

September 12th, 2008

Product Review - Heidi and Arthur Chocolatiers
9.12.08
Products: Assorted chocolates boxWho is Heidi and Arthur Chocolatiers?

Heidi and Arthur Chocolatiers, located in Valley Cottage, NY is a father and daughter team of artisan Chocolatiers that have created an exquisite and beautiful line of upscale gourmet confections, chocolates, truffles and candies.

Packaging/Labeling: Heidi and Arthur don’t skimp when it comes to packaging and presentation. Our assorted box of chocolates came in a beautiful (elegant) green box neatly tied with a large dark brown bow. With the box came two mini-brochures talking about the company and products, including stunning product photography. As a gift, this product definitely has tremendous ‘wow-factor’.

Taste/Consistency/Quality: Heidi and Arthur started the business to create the highest quality, artisan gourmet chocolates and confections - and they have certainly succeeded. Each handmade product is beautifully designed, and full of mouth-watering taste. After each bit, It is quite apparent that these products were made with care and precision from top-notch ingredients. If you are looking for the Rolls-Royce of chocolates, Heidi and Arthur Chocolatiers fits the bill.

Summary: Beautiful elegant packaging and presentation coupled with unparalleled quality chocolate and ingredients, Heidi and Arthur makes for a knockout gift item or as an excellent indulgence for a tastebud reward you’ll not soon forget. A+

How to purchase: Consumers can order directly online at www.heidandarthurs.com or http://ibuygourmet.com/

Benefits of Eating Tonnino Tuna

September 9th, 2008

Tonnino is a gourmet food with superior quality, great taste and numerous benefits for your health. It is a selected premium line of yellowfin tuna fillets, hand packed in glass jars, and prepared in olive oil or spring water with a variety of innovative flavors.

The products are hand packed in glass jars because this type of packaging allows whole fillets inside, which guarantees superior quality and a more appetizing appearance of the tuna. Moreover, tuna packed in glass jars tends to have a better flavor than tuna packed in cans.

It is not only the taste and presentation of Tonnino Tuna what makes it unique; it is also the source of the tuna fillets and the rest of the ingredients used that establishes the exceptional quality. To assure sumptuous flavor and low mercury levels, only small sized tuna is used to create this premium product. Tonnino cooks and processes these top quality loins in their state of the art facility and discerningly prepares each jar of tender fillets for packaging and distribution. The company proves its low mercury levels by continuous analysis done for Tonnino products.

Perhaps, one of the most important benefits of eating Tonnino Tuna is that these products really contribute to your wellbeing. The product line is manufactured only with natural ingredients; it has no additives or artificial fillers, and no preservatives. Also, tuna fish has many benefits to your health because it is an excellent source of lean protein, vitamins and minerals, and a rich source of the omega-3 essential fats. For this reason it can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, ease the pain of arthritis, diminish asthma complications, and is essential in the growth and development of young children.

Tonnino Tuna is a certified Dolphin Safe product acquired only through environmentally responsible fishing boats that follow the appropriate dolphin safe measures. Tonnino is a brand that cares for Mother Nature as it is from Mother Nature that they obtain their most important raw material; they are aware of the value of ocean resources and also care about other species being negatively affected by tuna catches in some parts of the world. For this reason, the company made the decision that their tuna will only come from safe sources, which means that the company only buys fish from responsible boats that can guarantee through third party observers that the tuna fishing has not harmed any other species.

Available in the US, Canada, and Europe- Tonnino also maintains a strict environmental awareness program and in 2007 the company signed an agreement with the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation. This partnership is committed to the long-term management and protection of the Cocos Island National Marine Park, the World Natural Heritage Site and Wetlands of International Importance.

With their commitment to protecting the environment, and creating healthy delicious, high-quality products - Tonnino Tuna will surely tempt your taste for many years to come.

For more information about products and convenient recipes to enjoy Tonnino, please visit: www.tonninotuna.com

###

Product Review: River Bend Bakery Pralines and Biscotti

September 5th, 2008

Product Review - River Bend Bakery
8.6.08
Products: Creamy Pecan Pralines, Biscotti

Who is River Bend Bakery? River Bend Bakery, located in Kenner, Louisiana (suburb of New Orleans), is a producer of upscale gourmet biscotti and New Orleans-style confections. River Bend Bakery currently sells their products to local retailers and gift shops, online at their website, and at www.iBuyGourmet.com.Packaging/Labeling: River Bend Bakery packages their products in simple, Southern-themed boxes and bags, reflecting a classy old time New Orleans look and feel.The biscotti comes packaged in a way we had never seen before - thick, high quality paper bags rolled and sealed at the top with the biscotti standing vertically. Not only is the type of packaging unique, they really pulled it off with a classy and elegant southern design.The packaging for the gift box of pralines was also unique and impressive. Each individually shrink-wrapped praline comes nicely packed standing vertically separated by the white paper-stock dividers which are part of the box they come in. Hands-down, this was the neatest way we had seen pralines packaged!

Taste/Consistency/Quality: First, let’s start with the pralines. Now keep in mind that our business was founded in New Orleans where there are undoubtedly more praline shops than anywhere in the country - so we know pralines. Before we tried River Bend’s pralines, we were a bit skeptical; who was this little company out in the ‘burbs competing with the likes of big names like Aunt Sally’s? After our first bite, we were in disbelief. How could a company we hadn’t previously heard of be making such an amazing praline right under our nose?The first thing we noticed about River Bend’s pralines is the color, which is very light compared to most commonly caramel colored pralines - which is not a bad thing, just our first observation. After taking our first bite, we were absolutely blown away. These pralines are THE creamiest pralines on the market, period. The melt-in-your-mouth consistency is plain addictive and unlike anything out there. In addition to the amazingly smooth texture, these pralines are rich and sweet - but not overly sweet - and loaded with fresh Southern pecans. We give these pralines a definite 10/10!Next came the biscotti, which we enjoyed pulling from the unique bags in which they came packaged as much as we enjoyed eating them. Although the flavors were somewhat common, we enjoyed these southern-style biscotti immensely. In addition to a great crunchy, but not-too-hard-on-the-teeth texture, these biscotti are loaded with a liberal amount of fresh ingredients and plenty of flavor. Compared to other biscotti brands (which are usually too bland), River Bends reminded us more of a yummy sweet traditional cookie. Biscotti flavor ranking: 8/10!

Summary: River Bend Bakery makes some of the best products you’ve probably never tried - and you are missing out! For quite possibly the best praline you’ll ever have, River Bend is a must-try, and if you eat biscotti on a regular basis, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with River Bend Bakery’s delectable varieties.

How to purchase: Consumers can order directly online at www.riverbendbakery.com or http://ibuygourmet.com/