Great Lakes Kraut
11 Clark St.
Shortsville, NY 14548
585-289-4414
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for immediate release
August 2, 2006
ALABAMA MAN WINS GREAT LAKES KRAUT RECIPE CONTEST
Topel’s Sauerkraut Creation Takes Top Spot in Chef Competition
BEAR CREEK, WIS. – A recipe for Potato & Sauerkraut Latkes made Emil Topel of Phenix City,
Ala., the runaway winner during the Great Lakes Kraut Entrée to Munich Professional Chef
Recipe Contest.
The recipe contest – which ran April 1-June 30, with judging on July 20 – sought unique
sauerkraut-related recipe ideas from professional chefs nationwide. It drew entries from 35
states across the country, including Hawaii. Entrants’ positions ranged from students and sous
chefs to chefs, executive chefs, and culinary educators.
Topel, executive chef for Aramark at the Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ga., and
creator of the recipe for the sweet and tangy Potato & Sauerkraut Latkes with Caramelized
Apple & Black Forest Ham Hash, was named the recipe contest’s grand prize winner after
taste-testing sessions by a panel of eight judges. He selected a cash prize of $4,000, an
alternative to the grand prize of a trip for two to Munich, Germany. The money, he said, will help
with renovations to the home he and his wife recently purchased in Alabama.
Entering the contest was a first for Topel, whose chef career has spanned more than 18 years.
The contest – which included three recipe categories: Entrées, appetizers/soups/salads, and
side dishes – was part of an effort to raise awareness about the versatility of sauerkraut as a
tasty ingredient in professional cooking, said Ryan Downs, co-owner of Bear Creek-based Great
Lakes Kraut Co.
“We’ve seen and tasted a number of creative ways these culinary professionals have been able
to use sauerkraut,” Downs said. “We were pleasantly surprised by some of the recipes and the
various, unconventional ways they used sauerkraut. That’s the key here – to get the word out
about the versatility of this healthy and tasty ingredient.”
In addition, there were two first place recipe contest winners. Michael Byears of Mobile, Ala.,
and Diane Halferty of Corpus Christi, Texas, each won $1,000 for their recipes – Kraut Stuffed
Baked Apple with German Sausage & Roast Almonds, and Texas Brisket Bread Pudding
respectively.
For these and other delicious Sauerkraut recipes, visit www.krrrrispkraut.com.
POTATO & SAUERKRAUT LATKES WITH CARAMELIZED APPLE & BLACK FOREST HAM HASH
21⁄2 cups Krrrrisp Kraut ® or Silver Floss ® Sauerkraut
4 cups shredded potato
1 egg
1⁄4 cup dried cranberries
1⁄4 cup heavy cream
1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh chopped parsley
1 red apple
1 green apple
2 oz. butter
1⁄4 cup sugar
1 cup diced Black Forest Ham
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1⁄2 cup sour cream
2 cups Krrrrisp Kraut ® or Silver Floss ® Sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry. Deep fry until
crisp.
Latkes: In a large mixing bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Form 8 latkes. Preheat sauté
pan with vegetable oil and sauté latkes on a medium high heat. Use a spatula to smash latkes
thinner and cook until they are a crisp golden brown (about 10 minutes).
Caramelized Apple & Black Forest Ham Hash: Dice apples with skins on and sauté on medium
high heat for 6-8 minutes in the butter; add the sugar and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add
the ham and apple cider vinegar and cook for a final 3 minutes.
Presentation: Place latke on plate, top with hash, and finish with sour cream and fried
Sauerkraut. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Serving suggestions: Can also be made as a mini latke for hors d’oeuvres. Omit ham from hash
and serve with pork or chicken for a side with an entrée.
Total preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
Servings: 8 latkes
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About Great Lakes Kraut
Great Lakes Kraut is the largest Sauerkraut producer in the entire world. With manufacturing
facilities in Bear Creek and Shiocton, Wis., and Shortsville, N.Y., Great Lakes Kraut
manufactures America’s leading brands of Sauerkraut, Silver Floss and Krrrrisp Kraut – the
official Sauerkraut of Lambeau Field. For more information about Sauerkraut, visit the company
web site, www.krrrrispkraut.com. |
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