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What's New in Rice Archive

2008 Top Foodservice Trends & Products

To help keep you on the cutting-edge of menu development in 2008, the USA Rice Federation identified four key foodservice trends and examples of rice products that will meet your needs in those areas. Consider www.MenuRice.com your go-to resource for everything you need to know about U.S. rice.

1 - Ethnic/global cuisines

Top-selling global dishes in foodservice operations are consistently Asian, Italian and Mexican. But with increased consumer knowledge comes increased desire to try new flavors. So try menuing “hot” cuisines like ethnic fusion, Latin American, Mediterranean, Thai or Pan Asian. (NRA chef survey, October 2007)

To deliver these global flavors patrons crave, more chefs are discovering that the USA grows specialty rice varieties like basmati, arborio, jasmine and black japonica. One such U.S. rice supplier, Specialty Rice, Inc. (www.dellarice.com), offers Della Gourmet brand featuring U.S.-grown aromatic, specialty and japonica-style rice. Try:

  • Della Gourmet Aromatic American Basmati White Rice
  • Della Gourmet Aromatic American Basmati Brown Rice
  • Della Gourmet Jasmine Rice

Producers Rice Mill, Inc. (www.producersrice.com) also offers several U.S.-grown specialty rice products for foodservice such as:

  • Thai Orchid Jasmine Rice
  • Producers Arborio Medium Grain Rice
  • Producers Basmati Rice

2 - “Going Green” - Natural/organic/sustainability

Concern about protecting the environment is directly impacting the foodservice industry. From a desire to rely on local food supply to offering natural/organic products to using energy-efficient equipment, chefs and operators are changing the way they run their kitchens. With fresh/organic foods holding strong appeal for their customers, it’s important for chefs to incorporate these items into their menus. (Consumer Perspectives on Fresh Food study, May 2007)

Ideal for environmentally-conscious chefs is a new line of Ka Hoo organic rice products distributed by American Commodity Company (www.accrice.com). Pure snow fed water and sustainable, organic farming practices make Ka Hoo rice perfect in quality and exquisite in taste. Try:

  • Ka Hoo California Grown Organic Calrose Rice (white)
  • Ka Hoo California Grown Organic Calrose Rice (brown)
  • Ka Hoo California Grown Organic Sushi Rice (white - super premium U.S. Japanese short grain)

Since 1937 Lundberg Family Farms ( www.lundberg.com ) has been growing rice in harmony with nature. They produce and market high quality organic and Eco-Farmed rice products in a sustainable and beneficial manner.

Lundberg offers a wide assortment of U.S. aromatics like White or Brown Jasmine, Sushi Rice, White Arborio, and White or Brown Basmati. Their gourmet blends include Black Japonica™, a field blend of black & mahogany rice, and Wehani ™, an aromatic whole grain brown rice.

3 - Whole grains

Nutrition messages are everywhere these days. Americans want healthful options, with 3 out of 4 adults trying to eat more healthfully than they did two years ago. (NRA 2008 Restaurant Industry Forecast) One trend that is here to stay is whole grains, as consumers incorporate them into diets and chefs add them to menus.

USA Rice’s own proprietary research conducted with 350 chefs/operators shows a clear and growing use of brown rice and rice blends. A wide variety of USA Rice members offer whole grain rice options for foodservice. Try:

  • Riceland Wholegrain Brown Parboiled Long Grain Rice provides all the benefits of brown rice in about half the cook time (25 minutes vs. 45 minutes). Offered by Riceland Foods, Inc. (www.riceland.com)
  • SunWest Harvest Medley has a U.S. brown basmati base that delivers a rich, nutty flavor and the heirloom red and wild rice add spice and color to the dish. SunWest Rice & Bean Medley combines specialty brown, red and black U.S. rice and legumes to create a colorful and rich tasting whole grain complement to any meal. Offered by SunWest Milling Company, Inc. (www.sunwestfoods.com)
  • UNCLE BEN’S Whole Grains products are recognized by the Whole Grains Council’s stamp. Available flavors include Whole Grain Brown Rice, INFUSED Chicken & Wild Rice Pilaf and naturel™ Golden Harvest, a multigrain product blended with wheat berries and orzo that is also completely vegetarian and sodium free. Offered by Mars Foods/UNCLE BEN’S (www.marsfoodservices.com)

4 - Easy preparation/convenience

With rising food costs, every chef wants to know how to deliver quality food more quickly and efficiently. To better support chefs’ needs, USA Rice members are continuously creating new products that offer quicker cooking and built-in flavor through rice blends and seasoned mixes. A few to try:

  • ParExcellence Garden Harvest Rice is a unique blend of premium parboiled long grain rice, whole grain wild rice, carrots, leeks, celery, bell peppers, onions and garlic. It’s also 100% natural – sodium free, cholesterol free and no preservatives. Offered by Producers Rice Mill, Inc. (www.producersrice.com)
  • Instant Brown Rice and Instant Wild Rice are smart additions to any foodservice kitchen. Offered by Riviana Foods Inc. (www.riviana.com)
  • Riceland Yellow Rice, an enriched parboiled long grain rice completely seasoned, cooks up fluffy with a vibrant yellow color. Highlighted by red and green peppers, chefs can deliver instant plate appeal with every day or international dishes. Offered by Riceland Foods, Inc. (www.riceland.com)
  • Uncle Ben’s Ready Risotto can be heated and served in less than two minutes. The new product delivers improved holding time for preparation flexibility and a creamier texture and mild essence suitable for more delicate and unique flavor combinations. Offered by Mars Foods/Uncle Bens (www.marsfoodservices.com)

Looking for other U.S. rice varieties to meet your menuing needs in 2008? Use our supplier search by rice variety or view our complete list of U.S. rice suppliers. For more recipes that meet today’s trends, rely on our Culinary Center.