contest

No More Bland-wich

MEZZETTA MAKE THAT SANDWICH CONTEST 2009

Best sandwich recipe will win $25,000 and a trip to Napa Valley.

(Napa Valley, CA) – G.L. Mezzetta, Inc., America’s number one producer of imported and domestic peppers and olives, is challenging sandwich lovers and amateur cooks across the country to submit their recipe for “The Best Sandwich Ever” in the Second Annual Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest. The Grand Prize winner will receive $25,000 and a culinary trip and tour of the Napa Valley, home to G.L. Mezzetta, while two runners-up will each win $1,000.

“This contest officially marks the end of the bland-wich,” explains Jeff Mezzetta, President. “Mezzetta products easily add so much flavor that there’s no reason to ever eat another boring sandwich.”

Contestants can enter the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest at www.mezzetta.com in any or all of three categories: cold sandwich, hot sandwich, and vegetarian. The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the category finalists. Entries will be judged on appearance, taste, creativity, and use of Mezzetta products. Entries are being accepted from Memorial Day (May 25, 2009) to Labor Day 2009 (September 7, 2009).

The 2008 winner of the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest, Edwina Gadsby, wowed judges with her hot “Spanish-Style Grilled Cheese Sandwich, with Smoky Paprika Roasted Pepper & Tomato Topping.” Combining innovative ingredients with the complementary flavors of Mezzetta^® Brand Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil, Roasted Red Pepper Strips, Crushed Garlic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Edwina created a sumptuous sandwich and took home the $25,000 grand prize and a trip to Napa Valley.

Contestants have a time-saving weapon in their sandwich-making arsenal, with Mezzetta^® Brand Deli-Sliced products. Deli-Sliced peppers take the prep out of the process and makes sandwich-building a snap. Tailor-made fixings in the line include thinly sliced Hot or “Tamed” Jalapeños, Hot or Sweet Banana Wax Peppers, Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, Hot Cherry Peppers, and of course, Mezzetta’s signature Peperoncini.

With over 100 different specialty food products, the Mezzetta family offers a huge variety of great sandwich partners including olives, relishes, pickles, and peppers. With just a twist of a jar, Mezzetta will transform an average sandwich into a delicious masterpiece. One of their most popular sandwich classics: Mezzetta^® Brand Chicago-Style Italian Giardiniera, a savory sandwich mix of marinated cauliflower, celery, carrots, and olives is the secret ingredients in Chicago’s famous Italian Beef Sandwiches. And Mezzetta Hot Cherry Peppers have added zip to many a Philadelphia Cheese Steak.

More information on the Mezzetta Make that Sandwich contest is available at www.mezzetta.com; on-line entry begins May 25, 2009.

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ABOUT G.L. MEZZETTA: With a tradition that began in 1935 in San Francisco’s historic North Beach, G.L. Mezzetta is a specialty food producer which is best known for being America’s favorite brand of domestic and imported peppers and olives. Now based in the culinary capital of the Napa Valley, the G.L. Mezzetta family includes four distinct brands which represent a wide variety of regional culinary specialties made from wholesome, quality ingredients and authentic recipes. Based on a rich Italian-American heritage spanning four generations, G.L. Mezzetta is committed to delivering flavor, convenience, and value to today’s health-conscious consumers. www.mezzetta.com