The Best of Connecticut

THE CONNECTICUT SPECIALTY FOOD ASSOCIATION
2010 PRODUCT AWARDS COMPETITION WINNERS

As promised, here are the results from last weeks annual Connecticut Specialty Food Association Awards. Two hundred thirty-seven specialty food items from Connecticut-based manufacturers were entered into 20 categories. And, the prestigious honor of CSFA Product Award Winner 2010 goes to:

2010 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
The Purple Pear by Tina, Willington, CT
Buttered Almond Cream

OUTSTANDING BARBECUE SAUCE
1^st Place
Gourmet Conveniences, Ltd., Litchfield, CT
Sweet Sunshine Sauce – Sweet

2^nd Place
RGN Sales, Inc., Coventry, CT
Rich’s Sweet Heat

3^rd Place
The Gracious Gourmet, Bridgewater, CT
Sweet Tomato Grilling Sauce

OUTSTANDING BEVERAGE
1^st Place
Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, Branford, CT
Sumatra Mandheling French Roast Organic Coffee

2^nd Place
Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, Branford, CT
Super Keemun Hao Ya “A” Tea

3^rd Place
Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, Branford, CT
English Breakfast Tea

OUTSTANDING BREAD
1^st Place
Michele’s Pies, Norwalk, CT
Zucchini Nut Bread

2^nd Place
Wave Hill Breads (New England Bread Company, LLC), Wilton, CT
Three Grain Pain du Campagne – Country Bread

3^rd Place
Wave Hill Breads (New England Bread Company, LLC), Wilton, CT
Three Grain Petit EPI

OUTSTANDING CONFECTION, BAKED FOOD, COOKIE or CRACKER
1^st Place
Michele’s Pies, Norwalk, CT
Pear Cranberry with Walnut Crumb Pie

2^nd Place
Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, Branford, CT
Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

3^rd Place
Kathie’s Kitchen, LLC, Newtown, CT
Mucha Superseedz

OUTSTANDING DAIRY
1^st Place
Cato Corner Farm, LLC, Colchester, CT
Black Ledge Blue Cheese

2^nd Place
Cato Corner Farm, LLC, Colchester, CT
Bridgid’s Abbey Cheese

3^rd Place
Cato Corner Farm, LLC, Colchester, CT
Bloomsday Cheese

OUTSTANDING FROZEN FOOD
1^st Place
Michele’s Pies, Norwalk, CT
Australian Beef Pie

2^nd Place
Michele’s Pies, Norwalk, CT
Quiche Lorraine

3^rd Place
Michele’s Pies, Norwalk, CT
Chicken Pot Pie

OUTSTANDING GLUTEN FREE
1^st Place
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies, Sandy Hook, CT
Apple Crumb Pie

2^nd Place
Can’t Beet It, LLC, South Windsor, CT
Can’t Beet It – Medium Beet Horseradish

3^rd Place
Can’t Beet It, LLC, South Windsor, CT
Can’t Beet It – Hot Beet Horseradish

OUTSTANDING GIFT PACK
1^st Place
The Purple Pear by Tina, Willington, CT
Two & Four Box Dessert Topping Gift Pack

2^nd Place
Sweet Maven’s, LLC, East Hartford, CT
Biscotti Jar (Valentine’s Day)

3^rd Place
Ola! Foods, LLC, Redding, CT
Ola! Granola Gift Jars

OUTSTANDING HERB, SEASONING or SPICE BLEND
1^st Place
Passage Foods, Collinsville, CT
Pad Thai

2^nd Place
El’s Kitchen, Inc., Weston, CT
Moroccan Lamb Spice Rub

3^rd Place
Passage Foods, Collinsville, CT
Red Thai Curry

OUTSTANDING HORS D’OEUVRE
1^st Place
Can’t Beet It, LLC, South Windsor, CT
Can’t Beet It – Hot Beet Horseradish

2^nd Place
Artisan C.S.F., Colchester, CT
Lobster Lover’s Dip

3^rd Place
Can’t Beet It, LLC, South Windsor, CT
Can’t Beet It – Medium Beet Horseradish

OUTSTANDING JAM, HONEY or SWEET TOPPING
1^st Place
The Purple Pear By Tina, Willington, CT
Buttered Almond Cream

2^nd Place
Twin Pines Farm, Thomaston, CT
Raspberry Rhubarb Jam

3^rd Place
Twin Pines Farm, Thomaston, CT
Raspberry Peach Jam

OUTSTANDING OIL, VINEGAR or SALAD DRESSING
1^st Place
Capa di Roma, East Hartford, CT
Aged Balsamic Vinegar

2^nd Place
Stark Naked, Inc., Monroe, CT
Japanese Ginger Dressing

3^rd Place
Ariston Specialties, LLC, New Britain, CT
Ariston Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar

OUTSTANDING PACKAGING or DESIGN
1^st Place
May Cookie Company, Newington, CT
Hearty & Wholesome Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Mix
Rich & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Triple Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Mix

2^nd Place
Bridgewater Chocolate, Brookfield, CT
Cherry Hearts

3^rd Place
Cookie Wishes, LLC/Les Oliviers, LLC, Newtown, CT
Winton Farms Wildflower Honey

OUTSTANDING PASTA SAUCE
1^st Place
Frank’s Marinara, Amston, CT
NY Style Sicilian Gravy

2^nd Place
Frank’s Marinara, Amston, CT
Original Marinara Sauce

3^rd Place
Chef Silvio’s of Wooster Street/New Med Foods, LLC, Guilford, CT
FraDiavolo Sauce

OUTSTANDING PASTA, RICE or SOUP
1^st Place
Boxed Goodes, LLC, Litchfield, CT
Sunny Dahl

2^nd Place
Artisan C.S.F., Colchester, CT
Jambalaya Soup

3^rd Place
Artisan C.S.F., Colchester, CT
Tortilla Soup

OUTSTANDING PICKLE, RELISH or TAPENADE
1^st Place
The Gracious Gourmet, Bridgewater, CT
Artichoke Parmesan Tapenade

2^nd Place
The Gracious Gourmet, Bridgewater, CT
Dilled Carrot Tomato Tapenade

3^rd Place
The Gracious Gourmet, Bridgewater, CT
Roasted Vegetable Tapenade

OUTSTANDING PRODUCT LINE
1^st Place: TIE!
Boxed Goodes, LLC, Litchfield, CT
Herbs, Rice, Snacks & Soup

Twin Pines Farm, Thomaston, CT
Jams, Pickles, Relish & Vinegar

2^nd Place
The Olive Oil Factory, LLC, Watertown, CT
Flavored Oils

3^rd Place
Gourmet Conveniences, Ltd., Litchfield, CT
Sweet Sunshine Sauce

OUTSTANDING SALSA or HOT SAUCE
1^st Place
Mama Manju’s Salsa, Chester, CT
Fandango Mango Salsa

2^nd Place: TIE!
Fresh Trak Foods, LLC, East Granby, CT
Salsa Loca – Just Right

Giff’s Original, LLC, Cheshire, CT
Mango Spice Salsa

3^rd Place
Gourmet Conveniences, Ltd., Litchfield, CT
Sweet Sunshine Sauce – Atomic

OUTSTANDING SAVORY CONDIMENT
1^st Place
The Gracious Gourmet, Bridgewater, CT
Gingered Peach Apricot Spread

2^nd Place
Can’t Beet It, LLC, South Windsor, CT
Can’t Beet It – Medium Beet Horseradish

3^rd Place
Can’t Beet It, LLC, South Windsor, CT
Can’t Beet It – Hot Beet Horseradish

OUTSTANDING SNACK FOOD
1^st Place
Aurora Products, Inc., Stratford, CT
Wizard’s Mix

2^nd Place
Michele’s Pies, Norwalk, CT
Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

3^rd Place
Aurora Products, Inc., Stratford, CT
Spicy Pub Mix

For more information or to find any of these foods at stores near you, contact the Connecticut Food Association or the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

EAT CLEAN, LIVE WELL!

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