Black Bean Sliders Win US Foods Next Top Product Contest

ROSEMONT, Ill.–After a thrilling cook-off at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas, Chef Jerrmy Gawthrop of Greenhouse Grille in Fayetteville, Ark. has been named the winner of the second annual US Foods Next Top Product Contest. After beating over a thousand recipe submissions, Chef Jerrmy competed against seven Next Top Product regional winners to earn the top spot. His delicious black bean slider will join the US Foods product line up for distribution to chefs everywhere in 2014. Chef Jerrmy and the Greenhouse Grille also earned $20,000 in cash and prizes.

“The black bean slider was created to fill a void I saw in the market for a healthy, vegetarian burger that also tastes delicious,” said Chef Jerrmy. “This recipe has been wildly popular among our customers at the Greenhouse Grille and I’m thrilled that soon chefs nationwide will have a chance to add it to their menus.”

Judges scored the winning dish based on set criteria. In addition to taste, US Foods was also looking for an appealing product that its customers would be excited to cook with in their own kitchens. Chef Jerrmy primarily uses the product as a slider, but the black bean cake can be used in numerous ways, such as a kid’s burger, side item, add on for a salad or a brunch dish. Its versatility will make it an ideal product for any chef to add to their pantry.

The Next Top Product contest, open to more than 250,000 foodservice professionals across the country, aimed to find the best new product for chefs by inviting US Foods customers to submit their favorite bakery, hot appetizer, sauce or dips and spreads recipe. Competitors participated in three rounds of competition, including a social media round seeking online votes from the supporters of the 54 semifinalists. The chefs whose recipes received the most votes in each of the eight regions moved on to the final head-to-head cook-off at the World Food Championships, a four-day high-stakes culinary competition.

“The Next Top Product contest allows our talented customers to share their most successful recipes and helps US Foods ensure we’re offering products that will keep our customers ahead of the trends,” said Stacie Sopinka, vice president of product development and innovation for US Foods. “Chef Jerrmy’s recipe is a delicious dish that will be ideal for kitchens across the country to have on hand.”

Chef Jerrmy has served as co-owner and executive chef of Greenhouse Grille for seven years. He plans to invest his winnings into his kitchen by updating old equipment to take the restaurant to the next level. He describes his cooking style as seasonally driven and creatively improvisational. He is known for using locally sourced ingredients to create dishes that are a “fresh fusion” of flavors.

To find out more about the US Foods Next Top Product contest and Chef’s Line products, visit: www.usfoods.com.

About US Foods

With approximately $22 billion in annual revenue, US Foods is the 10th largest privately held company in America. As one of America’s great food companies and leading distributors, US Foods is Keeping Kitchens Cooking and making life easier for more than 200,000 customers, including independent and multi-unit restaurants, healthcare and hospitality entities, government and educational institutions. The company offers more than 350,000 products, including high-quality, exclusive brands such as the innovative Chef’s Line, a time-saving, chef-inspired line of scratch-quality products, and Rykoff Sexton, a premium line of specialty ingredients sourced from around the world. The company proudly employs approximately 25,000 people in more than 60 locations nationwide. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., and jointly owned by funds managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Discover more at www.usfoods.com.

Source: US Foods