Sep 24, 2012

Husband-Wife Team Grab Two Best of Atlanta Awards for Gourmet Excellence

Those who create together, stay together? Seems like it.

The husband-wife team of Jody and Debbie Chidester of Plentiful Pantry grabbed TWO Best of Atlanta awards during The Atlanta Gourmet Market®, Sept. 21-23, at AmericasMart®. The Chidesters have been owner-operators of Plentiful Pantry since 1992.

Plentiful Pantry’s two wins were for the White Bean Soup, judged Best Soup, and for the Mint Dark Chocolate De Chocolat Mix with Mint Rimmer, selected Best Beverage.

The Best of Atlanta awards represent the top food items in 10 categories among all exhibitors at AmericasMart’s The Atlanta Gourmet Market. Winners are selected by an independent group of judges and were announced at a Reveal Breakfast on Sept. 22 at AmericasMart.

Judges called the Chidester’s White Bean Chili, “full of flavor with a nice kick of spice.” Plentiful Pantry’s Mint Dark Chocolate De Chocolat Mix with Mint Rimmer was described “as a hot chocolate, this is a smooth and cozy beverage. The hint of mint offers a cooling sensation that lightens the drink.”

“The only thing better than our packaging is the food inside,” said Debbie Chidester, “because you can get average at the grocery store.”

The other eight Best of Atlanta winners exhibiting gourmet excellence, with judges’ comments, are:
· Best Chocolate: The Orchards, Deluxe Milk Chocolate Pecans
o “The layer of chocolate mixed with the pecans creates the perfect sweet bite.”

· Best Salsa: Raven’s Original, Mango Salsa
o “A tasty sweet heat taste.”

· Best Condiment: Galli, 20 Years Balsamic Vinegar
o “Very smooth, right level of tanginess, would be perfect to cook with or dip a great bread into.”

· Best Dessert: Columbia Empire Farms, Cow Pies Chocolate Nut Toffee
o “Amazing! Best chocolate and toffee combination I have ever tasted.”

· Best Pickled Product {New Category!}: Lauri Jo’s, Southern Dill Cucumber Pickles
o “Great crunch! Perfect amount of salt, the dill brings a fresh tasty flavor.”

· Best Jam/Preserve: Gracie’s Garden, Spicy Ginger Savory Jelly
o “Unique taste! Can instantly imagine all of the uses for cooking or serving at a party. The best savory flavor ever found in a jelly!”

· Best Snack: Laurie’s Kitchen, Sweet Pepper Jelly Cheeseball Mix
o “Great tangy, sweet heat flavor. Complex and appealing taste. Can’t stop tasting this!”

· Best Candy (Non-Chocolate): Toffee-to-Go, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Toffee
o “Great packaging, would make lovely gifts.”

About AmericasMart
AmericasMart Atlanta is the nation’s only global wholesale marketplace housing the world’s single-largest collection of home, gift, area rug and apparel merchandise. The largest of AmericasMart’s 14 annual Markets and shows, The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and The Atlanta International Area Rug Market in January and July are the ignition switch for global retailing with buyers from every U.S. state and more than 90 countries discovering product in more than 1,400 showrooms and more than 2,500 temporary exhibiting companies. Located in downtown Atlanta, the AmericasMart complex contains more than seven million square feet of space. It’s a huge global stage on which manufacturers, designers and sales representatives unveil new lines, launch new designs and introduce new categories – all for the benefit of buyers seeking all that is fresh and first in the home, rug, gift and apparel arenas. Follow AmericasMart Atlanta at #AmericasMartATL or #ATLApparel. For more information, please visitwww.AmericasMart.com.