Ah, beautiful Southern California – known for its sunny weather, gorgeous beaches and plentiful harvest. The Art of Food & Wine Palm Desert has invited agriculture organizations – from date and pomegranate growers to lamb farmers – to join our celebration and showcase the best in locally grown elements of cooking.
Featured Elements of Cooking in the Opening Night "Food Flight!" include:
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The California Date Administrative Committee
California Dates have been a longtime favorite holiday food enjoyed by many consumers. This delicious fruit has tremendous nutritional value and is a great addition for the everyday diet.
Dates are high in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, potassium, vitamins A1, B2, B3, B5 and contain more than 20 different amino acids. These acids help with the digestion and assimilation of carbohydrates, and they help control blood sugar levels and fatty acids content in the body. Selenium lowers the risk of cancer and heart diseases, plus helps to keep the immune system healthy.
A shaving of a California Date brings a landslide of flavor to cooking endeavors. Their sweet caramel-like flavor invites tantalizing culinary creativity. Dates have a heavy profile and delightful taste and can be used in salads, dressings, sauces, salsas, gravies, toppings, syrups and hundreds of other ways.
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The California Sheep Commission
California lamb, with its delicate flavor and succulent texture, is a versatile meat to cook with, both in terms of the number of cuts available and its affinity to a wide range of flavors. Its wonderfully mild flavor is enhanced by a myriad of herbs, spices and marinades, making it a perfect fit for today's trend toward more flavorful and healthful dishes.
Lamb contains essential nutrients, like protein, zinc and iron. One three-ounce serving of cooked lean lamb provides 48 percent of the protein, 37 percent of the Vitamin B12, 27 percent of the niacin, 30 percent of the zinc and 10 percent of the iron most people need in a day.
The California Sheep Commission began its existence in April of 1999 following an overwhelming approval from the sheep producers of the state. The founding legislation allows the commission to use producer dollars to promote sheep and sheep products, to conduct education and research that would benefit sheep producers, and to provide funding to aid in the protection of livestock.
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POM Wonderful
In case you were wondering, the "Wonderful" in our name refers to the specific variety of pomegranate that we grow, and also refers to how we feel about our product.
The intriguing pomegranate has been celebrated in mythology, featured in fine art and revered for its health benefits since the dawn of time.
Today, scientific studies confirm that the unique pomegranate is truly a medical marvel. It's a rich source of polyphenols, some of the most powerful of the antioxidants.
We believe so strongly in the benefits of pomegranates that we've planted vast orchards of the Wonderful variety of pomegranate in the San Joaquin Valley in Central California. Hand-picked and shipped ripe from us to you, pomegranates are available all over the country from October through January.
In season during the fall and winter months, Wonderful pomegranates are superb for eating, cooking and decorating. Mix them with other fruits or flowers to create a dramatic centerpiece, use them to bring life to salads, baked goods and main dishes, or just put them in a bowl by themselves. Their deep purple-red, glossy appearance and beautiful shape also make them a must-have for the holidays.
Pomegranates. Fabulous to look at. A nutritious treat to eat. You might just call them Wonderful.
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Brandt Beef
Brandt Beef – The True Natural, is a single family owned premium natural beef producer for the up-scale restaurant and retail markets. Based locally in Brawley, Calif., the Brandt family is dedicated to sustainable practices and is passionate about producing the most consistent, highest quality, 100 percent source verified natural beef on the market. Through cattle selection, natural feeding practices and humane treatment of animals, Brandt Beef produces a product that is unparalleled in taste, tenderness and consistency. Brandt Beef received the Master Chefs' Institute Seal of Excellence for its achievement in obtaining the Master Chefs' Institute standard of quality. To obtain more information, get recipe ideas from Chef Tom McAliney or purchase various cuts of Brandt's premium natural beef, please visit www.brandtbeef.com.
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