ORLANDO, Fla. (August 7) – A first-ever promotional initiative between Red Lobster and Food Network was termed “very successful” by restaurant brand executives. In its most extensive integrated partnership to date, the company participated in season four of Food Network’s hit reality series, “The Next Food Network Star.” As part of the promotion, Senior Executive Chef Michael LaDuke appeared as a guest judge on this season’s fourth episode, helping select the winner of a fresh fish challenge that resulted in a unique and hot-selling new selection on Red Lobster’s “Today’s Fresh Fish” menu.
In the promotion’s first week, more than 680 Red Lobster restaurants in North America collectively sold 31,820 of contestant Kelsey Nixon’s Macadamia Crusted Tilapia with White Chocolate Beurre Blanc, surpassing projections for the company’s first partnership of this kind.
“For the first week after the episode aired, Kelsey’s dish immediately exceeded our expectations,” said Red Lobster President Kim Lopdrup. “Six weeks later, the dish continues to drive preference consistent with the other selections on Red Lobster’s chef-inspired ‘Today’s Fresh Fish’ menu.”
Kelsey’s innovative fresh fish dish has landed her a spot on Red Lobster menus until Sept. 1, and FoodNetwork.com announced this week that Kelsey was also voted the “Season 4 Fan Favorite,” with 37 percent of the fan vote.
Kelsey’s Macadamia Crusted Tilapia with White Chocolate Beurre Blanc has not only been a big seller on Red Lobster menus, but it is also receiving rave reviews from food writers, bloggers and guests alike.
“This was a huge success from a culinary perspective,” said Red Lobster Senior Executive Chef Michael LaDuke. “Working with Kelsey and Food Network exemplifies our passion for translating innovative ideas into exceptional menu items for our guests as we continue to enhance our menu with a renewed emphasis on freshness and culinary expertise.”
In addition to featuring Kelsey’s dish in more than 680 restaurants, Redlobster.com featured behind-the-scenes video from “The Next Food Network Star” Episode 4 and blog entries about Chef LaDuke’s experience as a guest judge. The site also featured a consumer recipe for Kelsey’s Macadamia Crusted Tilapia with White Chocolate Beurre Blanc and a video demonstration of Kelsey and Chef LaDuke preparing the dish.
Here’s a list once more compiled from the data at foodreference.com. This is a particularly good weekend for you sweet corn fans. And the coolest festival name so far goes to the good folks in Crystal Falls, Michigan with the Humungous Fungus Fest.
August 7-9, 2008 Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits FestivalBeaver Creek, Colorado
This annual festival features culinary demonstrations from nationally acclaimed chefs, a wine auction that benefits local charities and a variety of opportunities to indulge in the finer things in life.
August 7-10, 2008 Annual Hope Watermelon Festival Hope, Arkansas
Melon Judging & Auction, Watermelon Eating Contest, Seed Spitting Contest, Big Bass Classic, antique engine show, arts & crafts, entertainment.
August 7-10, 2008 Mendota Sweet Corn Festival
Mendota, Illinois
Tons of free, hot, buttered, delicious Del Monte sweet corn will be the highlight of the 61st annual Sweet Corn Festival. 60,000 visitors, who consume nearly 50 tons of sweet corn during the festival weekend.
August 8-10, 2008 2008 Humungous Fungus Fest
Crystal Falls, Michigan
Crystal Falls is ‘Home of the Humungous Fungus’, perhaps the world’s largest and oldest living organism. It covers 38 acres beneath an Iron County forest near the Wisconsin border. It is believed to be 1,500 to 10,000 years old and weigh about 100 tons – about the same as an adult blue whale. It is the species called Armillaria Bulbosa and the mushrooms it produces are commonly called ‘honey mushroom.’
So who watched the Redskins and Colts the other night? I know I did. I don’t care if Peyton Manning didn’t play and Jason Campbell was only in for two series – I watched it. Every boring, meaningless play of it. Why? Because the lamest football game out there is still better than most of the stuff on TV right now. The Saints play tonight against the Cardinals and just in case you were going to have the dregs over for a little ultra violence in the form of Karlos Dansby crushing Reggie Bush then I have a tailgate recipe for you. Bacon, Mushroom Burgers, but not just any bacon, mushroom burger – the most incredible burger you have ever seen. This burger is bound for the Hall of Fame.
Stuart Reb Donald is the executive chef at Mars Hill Cafe and a freelance food writer whose work has appeared both online and in print. Donald performs live cooking demonstrations and has penned the cookbook Amigeauxs - Mexican/Creole Fusion Cuisine. He is also the publisher of WannabeTVchef.com and hosts two Internet cooking shows.
