The National Restaurant Show was packed with products and equipment that interest owners of Mexican and other Latin-cuisine restaurants. If you missed the show, take a virtual tour with us!
Below are highlights from the booths visited by el Restaurante publisher Ed Avis and editor Kathy Furore. Click here for the personal observations, en Espanol, of our colleague Jorge Rennella, especially his report on the pavilions of Mexico and Ecuador.
Sysco, which has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Hispanic restaurant market over
the past four years, again showed their full line of products for the market. The biggest interest, however, came from two caricaturists hired to draw funny pix of booth attendees. Great idea to attract attention!
Avocado Products
There were all sorts of interesting avocado related products on display:
MegaMex showed off a line of avocado products designed to make life easier for restaurants, including their Wholly Avocado brand peeled avocado halves and avocado pulp sealed in
convenient restaurant-size bags; as well as Wholly Guacamole prepared guacamole, which comes in Southwest, Pico, Spicy, Classic, and Homestyle varieties. MegaMex is another company that has demonstrated deep commitment to this market, with a wide range of products and familiar brand names.
Calavo exhibited its full line of avocado products, and shared information about its #2 avocados, which have slightly more exterior blemishes and irregularities than #1 avocados, but with the same quality interior. Naturally, they cost less, so they’re perfect for guacamole.
Fresh Directions showed its Hass avocado products and mangoes from Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The company guarantees that their avocadoes contain the optimal oil content for guacamole and other recipes.
Mexican avocado grower Freshcourt demonstrated their avocado pulp and guacamole products, including halves, slices, and cubes. Their guacamole flavors include poblano and jalapeno.
Alejandrina offered their 100 percent Hass avocado products, ranging from chunky base pulp to spicy guacamole. The company also sells whole avocados in a range of sizes from 150 grams to 330 grams.
Del Monte showed their newest avocado products, guacamole and avocado pulp in foodservice packs. Their products come in chunky and smooth varieties and feature no additives or preservatives.
Produce Products
Neil Jones Food Co. offers canned tomato products that are ideal for salsas and other Mexican dishes. Their San Benito Mission’s Best brand is being used by more and more chefs preparing Latin cuisine.
La Ofrenda offers a line of foodservice produce products from Mexico, including nopalitos in brine, cut okra in brine, and Mexican style seasoned tomato sauce.
Sevillo Fine Foods offered samples of their artisan sauces and spreads that could be used on Latin menus, including Slow Roasted Tomato Sofrito and Romesco Sauce.
American Indian farmers provide produce to restaurants through the Mobile Famers Market. Products include wild rice, corn, fish, and much more.
MIC Food offered samples of their wide range of Yuca products, such as wedges, cups, and fries.
Meat Products
An easier way to make al pastor is by using the gyros-style cones. Grecian Delight Al Pastor cones feature premium pork cuts marinated in a blend of savory chilies, garlic powder and spices.
JTM’s Caramba Cantina line includes a line of Mexican meat fillings, including Beef Taco, Beef Barbacoa, Cliantro Lime Chicken, and Breakfast Burrito Filling. All are fully prepared and ready to heat and serve.
Two Rivers offers a taco meat filling under the Dos Rios brand. The filling is beef blended with seasonings and rolled oats for consistent, authentic taco flavor. It is fully cooked and comes in a boil-safe bag.
Do you have vegetarian customers? El Burrito Mexican Food Products offers organic soy chorizo that is perfect for nachos and other traditional Mexican dishes when a meatless option is desired.
Tortilla Products
Rudy’s Tortillas demonstrated the flavor and texture of their tortillas by having famed chef Geno Bahena prepare quesadillas in their booth. The crowd around their booth attested to the quality of the products! Learn more at
Solis Foods, a Canadian company, offers a growing line of tortillas, taco shells, nacho chips, seasoned chips, and other tortilla products under its MexiCasa line. New products shown this year included Dessert Tortillas in chocolate and apple cinnamon, and Grilling Tortillas that are ideal for burritos and other grilled tortilla menu items.
C.H. Guenther & Son offers flour and corn tortilla mixes for restaurants making their tortillas in-house, and frozen tortilla dough balls for restaurants that want the fresh taste of house-made tortillas without the work of preparing the dough.
Cheese
Mexican and Mexican-style cheeses were found in many places during the show. V&V Supremo, which makes a full line of authentic high-quality Mexican cheese in Chicago, displayed many of their cheeses, such as Oaxaca melting cheese and cotija. Visitors to the booth learned why good Mexican restaurants use top-quality cheese.
Another cheese vendor sampling interesting Mexican cheese was Don Francisco, which offers Queso Fresco, Queso Cotija, and Queso Oaxaca.
Beverages
Novamex’s booth, as every year, was abuzz with activity. They offered samples of their wide range of imported products, including their beverages, Jarritos, Mundet, Sangria Senorial, and more. The level of activity in the booth, and the number of products on display, showed the company’s commitment to the U.S.-Mexican restaurant industry.
Coca-Cola showed their new aguas frescas beverage, Barrilitos. A refreshing taste from a company much better known for colas and such.
Show attendees also got a taste of the well-known Topo Sabores and Topo Chico beverages at the Interex booth.
Equipment
Somerset showed off their line of equipment designed for Mexican restaurants, including a meat shredder that’s perfect for easily preparing chicken for burritos, enchiladas and tacos; their tamale making equipment, including the dough sheeter and empanada crimper.
Optimal demonstrated its vertical broilers, which originated in Greek restaurants but are perfect for the cones of meat now available in al pastor and other Mexican varieties. Optimal showed how its automatic version can prepare slices of the meat quickly and conveniently.
Robot Coupe displayed its Tex Mex food processor package, which includes five discs that are perfect for Mexican restaurants. The tool saves hours on the preparation of salsa, sliced peppers and onions, and grated cheese.
If you’re slicing a lot of limes and lemons, you might like the new Sunkist Sectionizer Jr., which quickly cuts up those fruits in various sizes. Foodservice.sunkist.com/equipment
Tomlinson’s cast iron serving pieces are perfect for Mexican restaurants that want a sturdy and attractive way to serve hot dishes such as fajitas and queso fundido.
The wireless food scale AW-WPS from Yamato is a great way to keep your portion sizes consistent. The scale includes 14” x 14” stainless stell platform and a touch-free display.