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Gourmet Food

Raybern’s Rebrands Packaging, Revamping Deli Sandwich Line

Raybern’s, a brand known for offering authentic deli-style Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, kicks off a rebrand not only in package design, but in terms of quality, quantity and variety of sandwich ingredients. Beginning Q1, 2024, Raybern’s will introduce a revamp of its entire line, offering unique flavors and formats that are designed and created to thrill discerning sandwich lovers everywhere.

Five delicious Raybern’s varieties will be available in 2-ct packs to consumers at an SRP of $5.79, and sold in freezer cases everywhere. 

Raybern’s introduces new and innovative recipes to their full line of mouthwateringly savory sandwiches. Notably, the Roast Beef & Cheddar sandwich is now complemented with a soft, poppy seed roll. In addition, Raybern’s is relaunching their Ham & Cheese sandwich, enhanced by a sweet deli roll. 

The rest of the line has been upgraded with delectable meats, cheeses and sauces, including the Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Bacon Ranch and Barbecue Pulled Pork. In this complete brand overhaul, Raybern’s is ensuring that frozen food consumers don’t have to compromise when they walk down the freezer aisle.

“Our new sandwich line up is a totally delicious innovation on sandwiches of the past,” shares Doug Hall, director of marketing at Raybern’s. “We have the bakery-soft bun covered, but we’ve completely amped up the meats, cheeses and sauces on our favorite frozen deli-style sandwiches! My personal favorite is the Roast Beef & Cheddar now on a fresh poppy seed roll.” 

When it comes to sandwiches, Raybern’s has proven to be a brand that knows how to bring amazing flavor from the freezer to the microwave. Over 30 years ago, the founders Ray and Bernie envisioned sharing their love of New York-style deli sandwiches with the world. It took years to fully develop the Raybern’s bread recipe that cooks up “Bakery Soft” right from the microwave – as well as their signature Philly Cheesesteak recipe.

Today, Raybern’s is proud to make millions of sandwiches each year, including the best-selling Philly Cheesesteak in America, according to 2023 Nielsen Scan Data. Now, the brand introduces bigger and better sandwiches to continue giving consumers what they crave.

Raybern’s believes that the New York-style deli sandwich reigns supreme. Since 1978, they have been crafting incredibly delicious sandwiches with bakery-soft bread, slow-roasted meats and chef-created sauces. Now, consumers can enjoy authentic deli goodness at home or while on-the-go. It is Raybern’s mission to share its love of great sandwiches with as many people as possible and ensure that sandwich lovers don’t need to compromise in the freezer aisle.

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Yam or Sweetpotato? Sweetpotato or Sweet Potato? Answers Here

It happens every Thanksgiving. You head to the grocery store to shop for the big day. Of course, you’ll need to buy yams for the family’s favorite casserole. But when you get to the produce department, the display sign says “sweetpotato.” Or perhaps some are labeled as “yams” and others are “sweetpotatoes.” Which should you buy? And what’s the difference between a sweetpotato and a yam anyway?

This Thanksgiving, California sweetpotato farmers are on a mission to end this confusion once and for all. Their message is really very simple: Yam = Sweetpotato

“Sweetpotatoes come in all kinds of colors – red, orange, white, and, even purple. You may see them labeled as yams in the grocery store, but they’re actually sweetpotatoes,” explains Sarah Alvernaz, who farms sweetpotatoes in the heart of California’s sweetpotato growing region.

Alvernaz and other California growers who make up the California Sweetpotato Council are working to educate consumers and put an end to all the confusion about sweetpotatoes versus yams, particularly for younger consumers who may not be interested in eating yams but have heard that sweetpotatoes are a superfood.

“True yams are very different from sweetpotatoes and are a starchy, tuberous vegetable mostly grown in Africa,” explains Alvernaz. “You are unlikely to find true yams at a U.S. supermarket, despite what you might see on display signs.”

Unlike yams, sweetpotatoes are native to the Americas. The United States produces approximately 1.7 million tons of sweetpotatoes each year. California is the second largest producing state for sweetpotatoes because the warm dry climate and sandy soils of California’s Central Valley provide the optimum growing environment for quality roots. Some 90 percent of California’s sweetpotatoes are grown within a 20-mile radius of the small town of Livingston and the remaining 10 percent are grown near Bakersfield.

Alvernaz also explains that it’s common to see some sweetpotatoes at your grocery store labeled by varietal names such as Covington, Garnet or Jewell. But growers actually produce dozens of different varieties.

“We’re encouraging retailers to label sweetpotatoes according to color,” notes Alvernaz. “Most varieties we grow can be accurately categorized as either red, orange, white or purple sweetpotatoes. All four types have similar cooking times and can be used pretty much interchangeably in recipes.”

“We just want people to know that sweetpotato is a modern, more accurate term than yam,” says Alvernaz. “Even if they’re labeled as yams in the store, they are sweetpotatoes! Whether they’re red, orange, white or purple – all can be used in any recipe that calls for yams. Sweetpotatoes are a versatile, delicious superfood available every day of the year.”

To help support this message, the California Sweetpotato Council is working with retailers to correctly label sweetpotatoes in their stores. Shoppers can find simplified, updated information about sweetpotatoes here.

“Rest assured the Thanksgiving yam dish that’s been in your family for generations has always been made with sweetpotatoes,” says Alvernaz. “Probably with red or orange varieties but go ahead and buy whatever color you find in your store. And don’t forget that sweetpotatoes can be used in a variety of recipes not just for the holidays.”

Alvernaz adds that sweetpotatoes are, in fact, a superfood with each containing over 80 nutrients. They’re high in vitamin B6, vitamin A, carotene, and potassium, they’re rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E and are a great source of manganese and dietary fiber.

More information about sweetpotato nutrition, cooking facts and delicious recipes can be found at the California Sweetpotato Council website here.

For the record, the council says it’s sweetpotato, not sweet potato: On this one we admit there’s not a lot of agreement. But we believe that “sweetpotato” is correct because our product is not, in fact, a sweet potato. It’s not a potato at all, but botanically an entirely different vegetable, gifted with a totally different set of better-for-you nutrients, amazing taste, and incredible versatility. So sweetpotatoes—one word—is not only grammatically correct, but it helps make the distinction.

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Gordon Ramsay Burger Moving Into Flamingo Las Vegas

Flamingo Las Vegas just got hotter. Flavor and flames are coming to the resort this summer with the addition of Gordon Ramsay Burger.

The debut of Gordon Ramsay Burger at Flamingo Las Vegas follows the success of the restaurant’s first Las Vegas location, which opened at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in December 2012. It is the celebrated chef’s seventh restaurant at Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas Resorts and the fifth Gordon Ramsay Burger location.

“We are incredibly fortunate to celebrate the popularity of Burger inside Planet Hollywood,” said Gordon Ramsay. “So much, in fact, that we expanded the space a few years ago to meet the demand and accommodate more guests. Now, to add another location inside one of the most iconic resorts in Las Vegas is truly a dream come true.”

Gordon Ramsay Burger continues to push the traditional burger, fries and milkshake combination to the limit. Guests can expect some of their favorites on the menu at the Flamingo location, such as the Hell’s Kitchen Burger, Farmhouse Burger and Hellfire Chicken Wings. To achieve a complex flavor, all burgers are cooked over an open flame fueled by hardwoods. Sides include Just Fries with house ketchup and chipotle ketchup, Truffle Parmesan Fries with truffle aioli and house ketchup, and Sweet Potato Fries with vanilla powdered sugar and honey jalapeño aioli. Those with a sweet tooth can choose from a variety of milkshakes.

“Adding Chef Ramsay to our culinary roster creates a whole new dynamic at the Flamingo,” said Dan Walsh, SVP and general manager of Flamingo Las Vegas. “From delicious burgers and signature sides, Gordon Ramsay Burger will be a fun dining destination for family and friends to enjoy at our resort.”

The 8,000-square-foot space was designed by DEZMOTIF Studios and features a large exhibition kitchen, island-style bar as the restaurant’s social hub, expansive storefront windows, multiple dining zones, a nod to Britannia with Union Jack accents and dynamic flame displays throughout. Casual and inviting, the main dining room space has a warm and comfortable feel and offers views of the exhibition kitchen. The spectacular, open-air patio overlooks the bustling Las Vegas Strip and is anchored by a 25-foot-tall LED column showcasing Gordon Ramsay Burger imagery underneath the famous Flamingo neon.

Gordon Ramsay Burger at Flamingo Las Vegas will occupy the former Bird Bar space along Las Vegas Boulevard.

Gordon Ramsay North America comprises the United States and Canada restaurant business of acclaimed chef, restaurateur, TV personality and author Gordon Ramsay. In 2019, Gordon Ramsay inked a deal with private equity firm Lion Capital to expand Gordon Ramsay restaurant concepts across the U.S. and Canada. The company currently has 27 restaurants across Las Vegas, New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, Orlando, North Carolina, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe, Kansas City, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Lake Charles, several of which are in partnership with Caesars Entertainment.

The group is scaling dining concepts as the company taps into several of Gordon Ramsay’s successful U.S. and international key brands including Gordon Ramsay HELL’S KITCHEN, Ramsay’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay Steak, Gordon Ramsay Burger, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza, and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips.

In addition to the Gordon Ramsay North America restaurants, there are 52 international restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants portfolio worldwide, where Gordon Ramsay holds a total of 7 Michelin stars. In total, the company is on track to open its 100th location by the end of 2024.

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