When culinary innovation meets local goodness, magic happens in the kitchen. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting Heather Kerner, the mastermind behind The Good Crust, in our test kitchen. Heather’s visit was nothing short of a gastronomic journey, blending creative pizza dough ideas with the goodness of locally sourced Maine Grains.

Exploring the Highlights

During her visit, Heather showcased a range of delectable creations that left our taste buds tingling with excitement. Here are just a few highlights from her inspiring session.

1. Fougasse: Heather’s take on this classic French bread was nothing short of sensational. She transformed the humble bread into an artisanal masterpiece with locally-sourced Maine Grains.
2. Rustic Tomato Galette: A rustic and savory delight that celebrates the flavors of local ingredients. The flaky, golden crust paired perfectly with Maine Grains’ wholesome goodness.
3. Breakfast Pizza: Who said pizza is just for lunch and dinner? Heather’s breakfast pizza was a revelation, featuring a perfect blend of flavors to kickstart your day.
4. Breakfast Roll: A delightful twist on traditional breakfast rolls, Heather’s creation incorporated Maine Grains’ nutritious touch, making it a breakfast worth savoring.

Maine Grains – The Heart of It All

What makes Heather’s creations truly exceptional is her commitment to using locally sourced Maine Grains. These grains add a unique, wholesome flavor to her dishes and support our local community.

Maine Grains has been a vital part of our culinary journey, ensuring that each dish crafted in our test kitchen carries the essence of our region. From artisan bread to pizza dough, these grains have become the heart and soul of our culinary creations.

With demand for Fox Family Chips on the rise, they’ve stepped up their game with the construction of a new facility that increases capacity and allows for future expansion. Get an inside look at every single step of the process that brings these rustic, small-batch potato chips to life.

Featuring straightforward ingredients and bold potato flavor, Fox Family Chips have exploded in popularity, taking the New England snack world by storm. To meet the growing demand, a brand new processing facility was recently constructed.

Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how these delectable small-batch potato chips are made. There’s no secrets behind this curtain, just a labor of love that starts with Maine-grown Russet Burbank potatoes and ends with the crunchiest, most satisfying hand-crafted potato chips you’ve ever had the pleasure of savoring.

Watch on TikTok

@dennisknowsfood See how real potato chips are made! Featuring straightforward ingredients and bold potato flavor, Fox Family Chips have exploded in popularity, taking the New England snack world by storm. To meet the growing demand, a brand new processing facility was recently constructed. Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how these delectable small-batch potato chips are made. There’s no secrets behind this curtain, just a labor of love that starts with Maine-grown Russet Burbank potatoes and ends with the crunchiest, most satisfying hand-crafted potato chips you’ve ever had the pleasure of savoring. #potatochips #howitsmade #behindthescenes #foodmanufacturing #mainepotatoes #smallbatch #handcrafted #takeatour #makingsnacks #howtomakechips #russetburbankpotatoes #mainegrown #mainemade #aroostookcounty #foxfamilychips ♬ original sound – Dennis Food Service

Yield: 1 Serving

INGREDIENTS

• 1 portioned slice Sara Lee® Angel Food 8″ Round No Fat Bundt Cake
• 1/2 cup creamy whipped cheesecake topping
• 1/4 cup blueberry compote
• Fresh mint leaves

DIRECTIONS

1. Thaw angel food cake and cut into 1-inch cubes.
2. Layer half of  the cake cubes into an individual trifle dish.
3. Top cake with 1/4 cup cheesecake topping.
4. Top with 2 tablespoons blueberry compote.
5. Repeat layers.
6. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Traditional New England staple or creative menu offering? There is no right or wrong answer, as it greatly depends on your individual preference. Personally, I tend to evaluate the classics and come up with ingredients that play well within the traditional palate. Baked haddock is a perfect example of a classic dish that can be taken down several unique avenues. By adding grilled corn and oregano, which is my favorite all-purpose herb, I was able to give this New England staple a creative twist without reinventing the wheel.

Why stop there? Push the limits of your baked stuffed haddock dish by adding alfredo sauce and torn basil leaves for an Italian twist, or bake with sliced chorizo, corn, and saffron butter for a Spanish twist.

Traditional or creatively elevated? It’s up to you!

Beans are a super cost-effective way to add both value and diversity to your menu as a side dish offering.  The addition of pickled beets adds a pop of vibrant color, a sweet and sour sass, and a hint of earthy flavor to balance things out.  A major perk of this dish is it fits in regardless of the season; refreshing in the summer and hearty enough for the winter.

We’ve even added some “Waste Not, Want Not” value and a secret weapon thickener to this dish…but you gotta watch to see for yourself.

Find more great foodservice industry articles on Operators-Edge.com!

Given the vigor in which I push “labor saving products” one might think I am getting a kickback from some of these companies. That, however, couldn’t be farther from the truth. The truth is my recent appreciation for such items comes from a desire to meet the needs of an industry experiencing labor shortages. Who can say with any certainty that the labor crunch will conclude anytime soon, or ever really subside? This, in my opinion, is enough to give labor savors valid appeal and reason for strong consideration.

Consider the fact that some labor savers can easily be taken a step or two further and used for multiple applications. One such item is Bake’n Joy muffin batter. As I like to say, what is a muffin topped with a fresh piping of frosting? A cupcake of course! What do you call muffin batter baked off in a Bundt pan? A Bundt cake of course! Bake muffin batter in a loaf pan, top with streusel, and you have a breakfast loaf cake! Perfect for buffets or as a profitable addition to your bakery case. And get this… muffin batter makes a great pancake! Who knew?! That’s at least four ways you can use one item. How’s that for cross utilization and foodservice labor saving?

Bake’n Joy Ultra Moist Pumpkin Batter
Item# 33154
1/8 lb

Given the vigor in which I push “labor saving products” one might think I am getting a kickback from some of these companies. That, however, couldn’t be farther from the truth. The truth is my recent appreciation for such items comes from a desire to meet the needs of an industry experiencing labor shortages. Who can say with any certainty that the labor crunch will conclude anytime soon, or ever really subside? This, in my opinion, is enough to give labor savors valid appeal and reason for strong consideration.

Consider the fact that some labor savers can easily be taken a step or two further and used for multiple applications. One such item is Bake’n Joy muffin batter. As I like to say, what is a muffin topped with a fresh piping of frosting? A cupcake of course! What do you call muffin batter baked off in a Bundt pan? A Bundt cake of course! Bake muffin batter in a loaf pan, top with streusel, and you have a breakfast loaf cake! Perfect for buffets or as a profitable addition to your bakery case. And get this… muffin batter makes a great pancake! Who knew?! That’s at least four ways you can use one item. How’s that for cross utilization and foodservice labor saving?

Bake’n Joy Ultra Moist Pumpkin Batter
Item# 33154
1/8 lb

Given the vigor in which I push “labor saving products” one might think I am getting a kickback from some of these companies. That, however, couldn’t be farther from the truth. The truth is my recent appreciation for such items comes from a desire to meet the needs of an industry experiencing labor shortages. Who can say with any certainty that the labor crunch will conclude anytime soon, or ever really subside? This, in my opinion, is enough to give labor savors valid appeal and reason for strong consideration.

Consider the fact that some labor savers can easily be taken a step or two further and used for multiple applications. One such item is Bake’n Joy muffin batter. As I like to say, what is a muffin topped with a fresh piping of frosting? A cupcake of course! What do you call muffin batter baked off in a Bundt pan? A Bundt cake of course! Bake muffin batter in a loaf pan, top with streusel, and you have a breakfast loaf cake! Perfect for buffets or as a profitable addition to your bakery case. And get this… muffin batter makes a great pancake! Who knew?! That’s at least four ways you can use one item. How’s that for cross utilization and foodservice labor saving?

Bake’n Joy Ultra Moist Pumpkin Batter
Item# 33154
1/8 lb