Gourmet News

Chile Hosts Americas Selection of World Pastry Cup

Published July 8, 2022

Team Canada

The Americas Selection of the World Pastry Cup will be held for the first time in Chile at the Metropolitan Santiago, managed by competition organizer GL Events, on July 13.

During the internationally renowned competition in the world of pastry, the candidates will have to convince a jury of prestigious chefs, including Gustavo Sáez, honorary president of this edition. Named best pastry chef of 2016 by the World’s 50 Best Restaurant in Latin America, he is also the winner of the Copa Maya in 2018, which he won alongside the Chilean team.

The top three nations will qualify to take part in the grand Finale, which will be held at Sirha Lyon in Lyon, France, in January.

The eight teams, each composed of two candidates and a coach, will compete in a five-hour technical competition, during which they will have to create two frozen desserts, 12 frozen lollipops, seven restaurant-style desserts and two 145 cm artistic pieces (one in sugar and one in chocolate).

New for the 2021 grand Finale, the restaurant dessert will be included in the tasting rounds of the continental selections. The presentation, composition and service is up to the candidates, who will be judged by a jury of renowned pastry chefs and cooks, composed specifically for this event.

To honor finger food, the candidates will also have to make frozen lollipops, in the shape, color and composition of their choice.

Through the two artistic pieces and fruit entremets, the teams will have to show their technical skills and creativity to sublimate the products and express all the sensitivities of pastry-making.

Teams:

Argentina
Chocolate Candidate: Matías Dragún, Dragún Gelato (Miami, USA)
Sugar Candidate: Lucas Carballo, Escuela de Pastelería Profesional (Buenos Aires)
Jury: Néstor Reggiani, La Nueva Muguet (Buenos Aires)

Team Brazil

Brazil
Chocolate Candidate: Alessandro Lira, Harald Chocolates (Santana de Parnaíba)
Sugar Candidate: Marcia Garbin, Gelato Boutique (São Paulo)
Jury: Lucas Corazza, Queen Bee (Curitiba)

Canada
Chocolate Candidate: Alexandrine Grégoire-Guindon, Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec (Montreal)
Sugar Candidate: Patrick Bouilly, Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec (Montreal)
Jury: Daniel Hinojosa García, Institut de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie du Québec (Montreal)

Team Chile

Chile
Chocolate Candidate: Alejandro Espinoza, Xoc Chocolate Shop (Santiago)
Sugar Candidate: Javiera Villegas, StudioPas Academy (Santiago)
Jury: Camila García Elizalde, StudioPas Academy (Santiago)

Colombia
Chocolate Candidate: Carlos de Ávila, Hôtel Marriott (Bogota)
Sugar Candidate: Daniel Martínez Cerón, Mazama Artesanos del Dulce (Medellin)
Jury: Laura Mójica Rodriguez, DLK S.A.S (Bogota)

Ecuador
Chocolate Candidate: Geovanny Puzma
Sugar Candidate: Hugo Maldonado
Jury: Christian Flores, Pastelería Flores (Quito)

Mexico
Chocolate Candidate: Gerardo Reyes Aguilar, Tout Chocolat (Mexico City)
Sugar Candidate: Anahí Martínez, Tout Chocolat (Mexico City)
Jury: Osvaldo Ortega, Tout Chocolat (Mexico City)

United States of America
Chocolate Candidate: Julie Eslinger, Country Club at Castle Pine (Castle Rock, Colo.)
Sugar Candidate: Jordan Snider, The Sanctuary Hotel (Kiawah Island, S.C.)
Jury: Christophe Feyt, Hilton Anatole Hotel (Dallas)

For updates on the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Vita Coco to Present World’s Biggest Coconut Experience

Published July 8, 2022

Coconut water brand Vita Coco will help consumers beat the heat this summer with the World’s Biggest Coconut roadside experience popping up in Dallas from July 22 through July 24. The colossal coconut pop-up will invite Texans to celebrate summer and Vita Coco’s new hydrating and refreshing Coconut Juice, which launched earlier this summer, with a new invigorating and tropical coconut experience.

Standing over three stories tall, the giant inflatable coconut will be visible throughout the neighborhood, a nod to “Everything is Bigger in Texas.” In addition to the coconut, the roadside experience will be a can’t-miss stop for Texans, featuring local food trucks, outdoor games, and the opportunity for visitors to hydrate with products from Vita Coco. The experience will highlight the brand’s first juice beverage offering, Vita Coco Coconut Juice, conveniently canned for consumers on the go.

“We know summer in Texas means two things: heat and the need for refreshing and fun summertime experiences that help you cool down. The World’s Biggest Coconut Experience offers Texans both, while introducing Vita Coco’s most tropical flavor profile yet, giving consumers the chance to enjoy all the goodness coconuts bring,” said Jane Prior, chief marketing officer at The Vita Coco Company.

“Our new Coconut Juice has a big, bold flavor, so we knew we had to celebrate the launch in a big, bold way. And what better way to do that than with the World’s Biggest Coconut in the state where everything’s bigger.”

The World’s Biggest Coconut experience in Dallas will give local friends and families a fun pit stop during their weekend plans, offering complimentary Vita Coco Coconut Juice, games, merchandise giveaways, and photo opportunities. The World’s Biggest Coconut Experience will be located in the Bishop Arts District and available to visit, free of admission, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 22-24. Guests can RSVP at events.vitacoco.com/biggestcoconut to reserve a spot and receive 10 percent off vitacoco.com.

Vita Coco Coconut Juice is available in two flavors, Original with Pulp, and Mango. A delicious blend of coconut water packed with electrolytes, nutrients, and a burst of tropical flavor, Vita Coco Coconut Juice is gluten-free and non-GMO.

It’s available for just $2.49 per 16.9 oz. can in convenience stores in select cities across the East Coast and Dallas, including select 7-Eleven stores.

Keep updated on the specialty food and beverage industries by subscribing to Gourmet News.

Cibo Vita CEO Named Entrepreneur of the Year in New Jersey

Published July 8, 2022

Emre Imamoglu CEO of Cibo Vita, right, accepts the award for New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year

Emre Imamoglu, CEO of healthy snack food maker Cibo Vita, was named Entrepreneur of the Year, 2022 New Jersey Regional Award Winner, by Ernst & Young at an awards luncheon last month.

Entrepreneur of the Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. Judging was based on commitment to excellence, category diversification and innovation. Factored in the judging were applicants’ responses to questions such as:

Identifying opportunity to innovate and create a better world
Demonstrating courage perseverance and resilience to overcoming obstacles
Inspiring purpose, vision and taking risks
Identifying strategies for a sustainable future

Forty-two companies from New Jersey vied for this coveted award. As New Jersey Award Winner, Imamoglu is entered into the Nationals. National finalists and winners will be announced in November in Palm Springs, Calif., at EY’s Strategic Growth Forum.

Founded in 2009, Cibo Vita began by producing private label healthy snack products that consisted of dried fruit and nut combinations for supermarkets nationwide. Nature’s Garden, the company’s flagship brand, launched in 2011. BeHonest low-carb, low-sugar chocolates, launched in 2021.

The company mission is to continuously create innovative products that promote functionuality, digestive wellness and heart health, as well as offer products that are energy boosting and address a ketogenic diet.

Cibo Vita features more than 2,000 SKUs with various combinations of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, trail mixes and coated pretzels and chocolates. Cibo Vita products are sold in supermarkets, big box, drug chains, health food and convenience stores as well as warehouse clubs nationwide.

The company holds certifications for Keto, RSPO, UTZ, Kosher, Organic, Paleo and Gluten-Free. Its manufacturing, distribution, product development, warehouse facilities and corporate offices are based in Totowa, N.J. Since 2018, Cibo Vita has enjoyed a compound annual growth rate of 25.4 percent.

For updates on the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.