The Dish | A Fresh Start

A Fresh Start

ideas for success

Purpose Serve a

Green Light

For Healthy Habits

Garden Variety

Village Garden®

Sneak Peak®

of the Best Produce

from the foodies at

Look for these callouts:

Inspire Guests

to Feel (& Eat) Like New Whether we succeed or not, the start of a new year is an opportunity to try and be better — better at our overall health, better stewards of the world around us, better at eating well in general.

For restaurants, following the hectic, on-and-off holiday schedule with a new year re-start has the potential to be good business. It’s a chance to offer better service that more closely hems to what consumers are seeking from their dining experiences, and ultimately achieve better revenue as a result.

In this final Dish before the calendar turns over, we explore meals inspired by health, wellness, and sustainability trends, while chopping up forwardlooking concepts such as the small plate revolution, “swicy” applications, and mushroom fungibility.

Kick off the new year with a Peak® Cold Smoked Mushroom Salad — portabella mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients; they are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,

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and anticancer properties — or even add a delicate slab of Bay Winds® Sea Bass to the ‘shroom salad.

Share slices of a Bay Winds Grilled Rosemary Shrimp Flatbread or wrap your hands around a well-dressed Green Origin® Southwest Veggie Burger. Take it to the streets with Empire’s Treasure® Gochujang Smoked Mahi Mahi Tacos or let lump get stuck in your head with supple forkfuls of Empire’s Treasure Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, topped with bright, spicy apple salsa, and finished with a tangy green onion coulis. Seared Braveheart® Hanging Tender Medallions with smashed cucumber relish and garlicky arugula round out your new food resolutions to try this year.

With a fresh start, consumers want to feel better about the items they eat and how their food is sourced. We think these real-world ingredient applications meet those standards — giving your restaurant the chance to do even better business in 2024.

Chef Talk Get inside our chefs’ minds and find out what inspired their dishes.

ASK THE EXPERTS Learn quick tips from LTOs to seasonal trends.

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Bella

of the Ball We’re all still tired of Zoom meetings, but can we interest you in ‘shroom eatings instead? Mushrooms continue to make trend lists; just a few years ago they were named The New York Times ingredient of the year.

VILLAGE GARDEN® CHUNKY BLUE CHEESE DRESSING 157231 | FR478 Can also serve as a recipe enhancer for added versatility and value

And with good reason — not only are portabella mushrooms excellent and cost-effective alternatives to protein, they contain potential healthful properties such as protecting against cognitive impairment and improving gut function.

Try cold smoking a beefy Peak® Portabella Mushroom cap for 30 minutes, then laying the sliced ‘shrooms over a bed of Peak Spring Mix tossed in a light, but creamy Village Garden® Blue Cheese Dressing. Blend in decadent butter poached potatoes, shaved pickled red onions, crisp cucumbers, blistered grape tomatoes, and toasted Magellan® Pecans for a masterful mélange of fresh flavor and crunchy texture. To riff on the old Mazda tagline — ‘shroom, ‘shroom!

The Height of Freshness If there’s one thing consumers are looking for in the new year, it’s fresh: a fresh start, a fresh feeling, definitely fresh food. Peak Produce means premium. This pristine brand represents only the most consistent, top-quality fruits and vegetables available. We set the highest standards to ensure our produce is picked at the peak time for the best taste and color at the best value. Let your menu shine with stunning variety, more yield, and less waste.

FIND THIS RECIPE ONLINE! PEAK SMOKED MUSHROOM SALAD

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PEAK® RUSSET POTATO 908008 | FA238 Great source of fiber and vitamins, contains more potassium than a banana

9%

Portabella mushrooms are up

on salad menus in the past year Datassential 2023

PEAK® PORTABELLA MUSHROOM 272393 | 20478 Can be grilled, broiled, or roasted across daypart menus

Celebrate the Season with Roma Gourmet Gourmet the Beef & isPork Way in 2024 Meatballs!

with Romathe Celebrate Gourmet & SeasonBeef with Roma Gourmet Pork Meatballs Beef & Pork Meatballs!

Chef Talk Cold smoking is a great way to add flavor profiles that enhance a dish. And for a more upscale version of this recipe, consider using exotic alternatives such as lions mane, trumpet, or lobster mushrooms.

EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH

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Winds of

BAY WINDS® PEELED, DEVEINED TAIL-OFF SHRIMP 421098 | DV326

Change

Available year-round with consistent flavor

15%

Shrimp is up on flatbreads on menus in the past year Datassentials 2023

FIND THIS RECIPE ONLINE! GRILLED ROSEMARY SHRIMP FLATBREAD

How can You serve wholesome menu items without affecting food quality?

In today’s market, it’s important for products to have cleaner, more recognizable ingredients. For making stocks, Custom Culinary® True Foundations® Bases and Liquid Stock Concentrates work well. As far as ready-to-use sauces, explore the Custom Culinary frozen sauce line. Many of these global and classic sauces are clean label and gluten-free to help meet the needs of today’s consumers. For example, you can use the new Indian-inspired sauces in unique ways, like topping a gluten-free flatbread with chicken sautéed in Custom Culinary Tikka Masala Sauce.

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Kissed By a Rose

Heading into ’24, sharing is most definitely caring. The small plate revolution is underway, and that means it’s important to offer specials that guests can share with the whole table.

Chef Talk Grilling the shrimp adds another layer of flavor, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze could level up this flatbread. You can also infuse Alfredo with lobster base as a substitute sauce for the pesto.

Flatbreads are usually a bit healthier than thicker varieties; they can be lower in calories while offering ample amounts of B-vitamins. Consider layering a crispy Heritage Ovens® Flatbread with Bay Winds® White Shrimp, tossed in piney, aromatic rosemary. These wild-caught, all natural shrimp are harvested from the clean waters just south of Ecuador and Peru, as well as other sustainable locations near Thailand and India. Each shrimp must meet our exact specifications, including farm-raised and clean, with no added phosphate.

The Peak® Rosemary adds a woodsy element to the seasoning, with fresh tomatoes, peppery arugula, sweet red onions, kalamata olives, and hand-torn Roma® Mozzarella converging for an explosion of garden goodness. A final drizzle of Roma Extra Virgin Olive Oil bolsters this plate’s shareable Mediterranean magic.

Touch of Bass

PEAK® TOMATO 396659 | 25908 Grown for quality and always packed to order

Chilean Sea Bass may taste rich and luxurious, yet it can actually be very accessible on different menus. This phenomenal fish also provides immune system support, and the Bay Winds product is certified legally caught and sustainable by leading organizations such as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Place the fish atop our aforementioned mushroom salad and add ancho chili sauce for a splash of sweet and spicy.

Bay Winds Sea Bass 8 oz. filets

808306 | EF254

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Lump Sum

When you’re considering new year menu options, greens are always good to go. Here, a lush Peak® Arcadian Salad Mix is topped with seared, goldenbrown Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes fashioned from Empire’s Treasure® Canned Crabmeat, along with a zesty Village Garden® Tuscany Balsamic Vinaigrette.

This succulent seafood product is pasteurized and crafted with only 100% Asian Blue Swimming Crab — resulting in an 18-month shelf life to get the most out of your inventory. The jumbo lump meat is celebrated for its impressive size, bright white color, and exquisite taste.

Dollop a spoonful of spicy apple salsa on top of the cakes, starring a blend of Peak Red Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, serrano chiles, and more.

And then finish this light, airy dish with a flavor-rich green onion coulis to add a punch of vivid color.

EMPIRE’S TREASURE® JUMBO LUMP CRABMEAT 572352 | DV918 Best used in dishes where the size of the crabmeat can really shine

It Takes a Village Garden-fresh produce is enhanced with a spectrum of homemade taste. Village Garden offers a healthy selection of premium dressings with fresh flavors that also perform well as dips, sauces, and marinades. The brand can provide exclusive, custom formulas, and many of our dressings are available in single-serve pouches, convenient for takeout and delivery.

Village Garden Raspberry Vinaigrette 158915 | 13744 Village Garden Ginger Sesame Vinaigrette 158908 | 28362

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FIND THIS RECIPE ONLINE! Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes w/ Grilled Apple Salsa

Many pepper varieties like serrano & roasted red peppers are more likely to be featured on winter menus than any other season Datassential 2023

VILLAGE GARDEN® TUSCANY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE 158910 | DV620 Excellent for brushing or marinating grilled meats and seafood

m m -m, m M

My Medallions

BRAVEHEART® HANGING TENDERLOIN 404984 | NH090 Melt-in-your-mouth and tender from the prized short loin

Steak types like wagyu, London broil, and brisket are expected to grow the fastest on menus in 2024 Datassentials 2023

FIND THIS RECIPE ONLINE! SEARED BRAVEHEART MEDALLIONS W/SMASHED CUCUMBER RELISH & GARLICY ARUGULA

Get Inspired!

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Scan the QR code to sign up for our Dish eNewsletter, or check out our library of recipes and articles online!

Hang Fire PEAK® ARUGULA 601221 | GC928 Sourced from the U.S. and Mexico

One way to incorporate trending ingredients without making wholesale menu changes is by being creative around the edges. Consider this take on steak and frites: A hanging tenderloin from our industry-leading Braveheart® Black Angus Beef brand is dusted with za’atar seasoning, in a nod to buzzy international influences, and gently seared.

The melt-in-your-mouth Braveheart medallions are then plated alongside peppery, garlicky sautéed Peak® Arugula and fried russet potato ribbons tossed in Parmesan. Braveheart may be the standout, due to a proprietary PathProven® program that ensures excellence and animal wellness, but the cooling and herbaceous smashed cucumber yogurt relish has the potential to steal the show as an unexpected complement to the meat, potatoes, and greens.

The Right Path

PEAK® CUCUMBER 873914 | NH156 Packaged for freshness in poly bags, with a recyclable carton

Braveheart Beef is unquestionably a cut above.

Your chefs will appreciate the higher level of marbling, and your guests will be wowed by the juicy quality, consistency, and sourcing story. Our PathProven system includes leading standards for feeding, health, and humane treatment; and it involves a state-of-the-art DNA tracing process that confirms our product is majority Black Angus — the highest percentage in foodservice.

Braveheart Angus Beef Ribeye 234495 | HB040 Braveheart Angus Beef Tri-Tip Choice 375048 | CF360

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Fish So Nice,

That ’s My

They Named It

Gochu-JAM

As consumers are altering their preferences to get the food they crave wherever and whenever they want, handhelds and street food are continuing to grow in popularity. Time to reel in new guests with health-forward fish tacos.

South American wild-caught mahi mahi filets from Empire’s Treasure® are rich sources of protein, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Rub the fish with swicy Korean gochujang sauce and smoke it over hickory wood for 90 minutes. Then sauté poblano peppers, caramelized onions, and blistered tomatoes to play up the Asian-inspired fish flavors.

And is there anything that screams New Year’s resolution more than purple power greens? Toss the veggies in Village Garden® Sesame Ginger Dressing, add crumbles of Roma® Feta Cheese, and place the on-trend sweet and spicy smoked concoction in crispy Contigo® White Corn Tortillas.

Guests, especially younger generations, won’t be able to keep their hands off these street foodstyled treasures.

Twice

EMPIRE’S TREASURE® MAHI MAHI FILET 402887 | DV298 Plentiful to source and great for adding a signature sauce

Cast a Wide Net Foodies are a bit like culinary treasure hunters. Take them on an adventure with an expansive offering of cost-friendly seafood products, including breaded and battered options, and portions or species that fit any menu. Guests can enjoy a cache of shrimp, fish, oysters, crab, and more, so whether you grill it or fry it — they’ll be sure to dock at your place.

Super Lump Crabmeat Swai Pangasius Filet

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572352 | DV918 859755 | EB646

PEAK® PURPLE POWER GREENS 182439 | GT676 100% yield and usable product

Chef Talk For a deeper penetration of flavor, let the mahi marinate in the gochujang overnight under refrigeration. Sea bass or scallops are great fill-ins for the mahi as well.

Bold

NEW YEAR,

Bold

NEW MENU IDEAS. VILLAGE GARDEN® SESAME GINGER DRESSING 158908 | 28362 Complement the rich and bountiful harvest of the garden and sea with distinct flavors

Find This recipes Online!

Are your fries as crispy as your guests expect?

Crispy has come a long way and so have consumer expectations.

In fact, according to a study, crispiness is the #1 driver for your guests when it comes to fries — even more important than temperature! The truth is, the crispier your fries, the more your guests will love them. A few fry options, such as Lamb Weston® Extra Crispy Fries, can stand up to the challenge.

DISCOVER MEXICANINSPIRED MEATS

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©2023 Burke Corporation All rights reserved.

2024

Origin Story

As soon as the calendar turns to January, many consumers begin seeking a greener way of life, and the Green Origin® brand offers that exact path for healthier eating.

Our Green Origin Burgers deliver the sensory experience of a traditional beef burger with the cleaner properties of plant-based. These products are kosher, vegan, non-GMO, soy-free, gluten-free, and they contain zero artificial flavors. Made primarily with pea protein, Green Origin burgers have 0mg of cholesterol and limited amounts of saturated fat.

So, for your New Year’s plant-based burger special, start by spreading a green chile pinto bean puree, made with Contigo® Refried Pinto Beans, on a buttery brioche bun.

Slide the Green Origin Southwest Patty on a nest of citrus-soaked Peak® Spring Mix. Then, crown this green dream with a relish of on-trend pickled broccoli and pickled red onions for a layered stack of vibrant colors and textures. We’ve got green thumbs just thinking about holding this scrumptious burger.

Are you ready to personalize your customers' experience & boost loyalty in 2024?

Make the new year about expressing yourself. 86% of restaurant-goers are more likely to return to your restaurant if they feel they had a personalized experience. Xpress what you can offer with Tork’s digital tool, and boost your business by incorporating the Xpressnap family of dispensing systems.

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GREEN ORIGIN® SOUTHWEST VEGGIE PATTY 328713 | W9956 Cook easily from frozen or thawed

Plant based burgers are the fastest growing entrée on restaurant menus in the past 4 years, up 219% Datassentials 2023

VILLAGE GARDEN® RANCH DRESSING 157235 | 17154 Time-honored classic with a fresh, homemade taste

PEAK® SPRING MIX 907448 | GC934 Washed and ready-to-eat, right out of the bag

FIND THIS RECIPE ONLINE! GREEN ORIGIN® SOUTHWEST BURGER W/PINTO BEAN PUREE & PICKLED VEGETABLE RELISH

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RING IN 2024 WITH

classic flavors THAT ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE ON MENUS.

With every new year comes a new list of food fads, making it tricky to keep menus up to date.

That’s where our Ridgecrest® Brisket and Pulled Pork can help.

They’re slow smoked by seasoned pitmasters, delivering rich, bold flavors that never go out of style.

START THE NEW YEAR WITH PROTEINS THAT ARE ALWAYS ON TREND! Contact your Performance Foodservice rep today. Explore more Ridgecrest® products and menu inspiration.

A Fresh Start For more recipes, trends, and great ideas to inspire your menu, visit

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