MSFA | Profiles

Every month or so, we help you get to know one of our members a little better. This month, we'd like to introduce:

TAZA CHOCOLATE
SOMERVILLE’S OWN CHOCOLATE FACTORY!

Taza Chocolate is as pure as chocolate can be! Our bars are intentionally less refined than European-style chocolate. The artisan chocolate-makers behind this organic, ethically traded product line preserve the natural cacao flavor of their Caribbean and Central American bean blend by using a Mexican stone-grinding production method similar to that of the earliest chocolate-makers. “Because we gently roast our beans and use stone grinders to minimally process the cacao, our bars have an intensity, texture, and flavor that is entirely unique,” explains co-founder Alex Whitmore.

Taza Chocolate seeks to demystify the world’s most beloved food by helping chocolate lovers understand what chocolate truly is, where it comes from, and how it’s made. “It all starts with the cacao trees and the farmers who tend to them,” says Larry Slotnick, co-founder of Taza Chocolate. “We want people to sense the tree, the cacao beans, and the terroir -the soil, when they taste our bars.” Taza trades directly with cacao growing cooperatives to make sure that the farmers that harvest Taza’s cacao beans receive a fair trade price. The founders of Taza Chocolate describe the ‘new/old’ style of their unique chocolate bars as truly all-American. With beans that are sourced entirely from within the Americas, a traditional production method that dates back to chocolate’s Mexican roots, and an intense taste that is unlike any other on the market. Taza chocolate is handcrafted in 300 lb. batches using Mexican stone grinding machines and stoneroller refiners. The bars are molded and wrapped by hand in a 3,300 square foot facility located in Somerville, MA.

Taza is featured in the holiday issue of Boston Common Magazine and will be having an Open House with factory tours on February 9, from 1-6pm. For more info visit
www.tazachocolate.com

Nosherei, LLC

Ex-New Yorker Dan Estridge has launched Nosherei, LLC to preserve New York’s great, endangered, deli traditions and share them with others.

Said Estridge, “As a New Yorker living in Boston, I’m noshstalgic. I miss the great taste treats of my youth. And I’ve found there are lots of people like me - all over the country - folks who miss the real thing they remember.”

Ask any New Yorker outside New York – noshstalgia involves cravings for deli meats, baked goods, smoked fish, classic sodas, and prepared specialties. Let’s face it – New Yorkers are demanding. But none more so than we are. With our Deli Arts™ brand Artisan Deli Specialties, at Nosherei, LLC, we are relentless in our pursuit of deli perfection.

2007 has been about plan and product development. In 2008, we go to market. “We tackled the deli-meats and related products first,” said Estridge. “Pastrami, corned beef, griddle-ready hash. And people go crazy when they taste the stuff. Honestly, women swoon. Men go teary eyed. And then they ask for more."

Our pastrami, corned beef, and prepared brisket products are selling well into high-end foodservice accounts already. Starting in January, 2008, retail packed Deli Arts™ Beef Pastrami will be available at Savenor’s, Cambridge and other fine retailers. Look for retail packaging of our corned beef and griddle ready hash products to be introduced in April at the Global Food and Style show in Chicago.
Deli Arts™ brand by Nosherei, LLC – Preserving the Spirit, Advancing the Art, Ignoring the geography.

Cabot’s Candy

Cabot’s Candy is owned and operated by third generation candy makers, perpetuating a tradition of quality and excellence. Located at the tip of Cape Cod, ours is a truly unique candy store. Candy Making is not only our profession, it’s our passion!

Our products include gourmet salt water taffy, sugar free taffy, honey crunch popcorn, peanut brittle and fudge.

The Country Hen

The Country Hen believes in old-fashioned egg farming.
We removed the cages and installed windows back in the 1980’s.
Unlike the mass manufactured egg producers, our hens:

• Are allowed to roam freely within a barn and outside on porches!
• Receive sunlight through windows,not constant, low–wattage artificial light which causes stress to hens;
• Are fed certified organic feed that contains absolutely no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides;
• Healthier hens mean a healthier egg for you.
• Highest in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, all three types!
• Highest in Choline
• We mill our own feed right here!

The Country Hen
P.O. Box 333, Hubbardston, Ma 01452
Jim Barry (sales manager), Bob Beauregard (farm manager)
Telephone: (978) 928-5333
Fax: (978) 928-5414

Alpine Ice

Hampshire College Pre-med Student Helps Create
Alpine Ice, a New Allergen-free Frozen Dessert

Amherst & Greenfield, MA - Sam Hoffman is a pre-med student at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts whose knowledge as a certified herbalist contributed to the new allergen-free frozen dessert called Alpine Ice.

Rather than traditional ingredients used in ice creams and sorbets, Alpine Ice's base is herbs, fruits and flowers, which eliminates lactose, cholesterol and carbohydrate issues.

Alpine Ice comes in six flavors: Bolder Berry, Green Tea Lemon Verbena, Hibiscus Rose, Lavender Sunrise, Mango Passion and Plum Lucky.

Each serving is 45 to 85 calories, certified Vegan, and free of all eight major allergens. It has been deemed a good source of dietary fiber (18 to 20 percent of the daily recommendation). In addition, the glycemic level is well below the limits established for diabetics. It is made with all natural ingredients, no artificial flavors or colors.

Alpine Ice is now in over 50 locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Food scientists, nutritionists, dieticians and doctors have provided supportive input. Dr. Barry Sears, author of The Zone, said, "I feel that Mountain Herbal Foods ushers in a new era of guiltless pleasures." These are foods that you believe you should feel guilty about eating because they have such great taste, yet they are manufactured to deliver incredibly high levels of nutrients known to improve health and wellness. Life can't get much better than that.

Contact:
Andrew Barnett, 781-639-1192
Sam L. Hoffman, slh04@hampshire.edu
Michael Hoffman, 781-639-1192

Appalachian Naturals

As specialty sauce artisans committed to helping sustain New England agriculture, we at Appalachian Naturals are proud to be new members of MSFA. We handcraft in small batches only the freshest and finest ingredients from western Massachusetts' small family farms and apiaries; all of our products contain 20-80 percent locally grown ingredients. As food producers sourcing locally, our involvement in the agricultural community give us, and hopefully our customers, a sense of connectedness to the food sources here in New England - something that is lost when ingredients come from thousands of miles away.

Simple Food Inc.

Amesbury, MA based Simple Food, Inc. was launched in May at the 2006 All Things Organic expo in Chicago, IL. The flagship product, Simple Soynut Butter, is a healthy, delicious organic and peanut-free spread. The soybeans are dark roasted and finely ground, giving the butter a taste, texture and appearance very similar to the ever-popular peanut butter.

The company launches with 5 certified organic and kosher varieties: No Sugar ~ No Salt, Sea Salted, Slightly Sweet, Cinnamon Sugar and Chocolate. Available at retail stores in 9 oz. and 16 oz. recyclable glass jars with a suggested retail price of $4.99 and $7.99. This peanut-free soynut butter can also be purchased in bulk pails for schools and institutions.

The founder, Eileen Moriarty of Newburyport, MA is no stranger to soynut butter. She co-founded Health Trip Foods, Inc. in 1996, a soynut butter company based in Concord, MA. Since the sale of Health Trip in 2000, Eileen has been working hard to bring back even better tasting, higher quality soynut butter, safely wrapped in a company that is dedicated to the peanut allergic customer and the environment.

The soynut butter can be found at Whole Foods Markets, Hannaford's Natures Place and many other terrific independent health food stores and farm stands throughout the Northeast.

Notting Hall - The Place for Tea

For 15 years, Maureen Ryan owned and operated a very successful day spa. During that time, Maureen learned that providing a place where clients could go for "a brief respite in this 'hurry-up and go' world" was as important as the quality of the spa's services. "Clients would come in just to sit with a cup of tea and relax", states Maureen. Was it the atmosphere, the friendships that were made, or was it the tea? After selling the business, Maureen decided to explore the mystique surrounding this 'the most popular beverage in the world'.

The exploration began in China, where tea originated more than 5,000 years ago. After traveling through many tea-growing nations and learning about tea, its production, traditions and health benefits, Maureen created Notting Hall, the Place for Tea, an importer, blender and purveyor of specialty loose leaf teas and accoutrements.

Now a successful online and mail order business selling specialty loose leaf teas, teapots and accoutrements, Notting Hall also wholesales its high-quality, specialty loose leaf teas to tearooms, hotels, restaurants and cafes around the country. Notting Hall recently added the Westin Hotel group to its impressive client base and credits the MSFA with providing the additional exposure a start-up company needs. In addition to retailing, wholesaling, and integrating Afternoon Tea programs into hotels and restaurants, Maureen provides lectures and tea tastings to groups, clubs and companies looking for a fun, entertaining and informational event. Recent presentations have been to MassBay Community College, World Trade Center, and many Red Hat chapters. "I love sharing my passion about the world of tea", states Maureen.

If you are interested in learning more about "the most popular beverage in the world", please contact Maureen Ryan at Notting Hall, the Place for Tea.

Boston Baking Inc.

We are a fourth generation family business with over 30 years of baking experience and contacts. Boston Baking Inc. has a reputation for quality products and a dedication to service. We embrace a commitment to three principles: Quality, Value and Innovation; QVI. Our commitment to contract baking is to provide a clean and professional production environment, to deliver products on time to specifications, and to be sensitive to pricing needs.

Boston Baking Inc. has a management team in place that supervises production, meets production goals, and maintains quality control standards. Outsourcing production allows an entrepreneur to better manage costs. Boston Baking eliminates the headaches of managing production schedules and personnel. Boston Baking offers an incubation type environment eliminating the costs of a production facility and maintenance problems. We are currently baking for several MSFA members. We would love the opportunity to partner with your company. If you need extra capacity during peak seasons, are expanding your business or just starting out, Boston Baking Inc. may be the solution to your production needs. Free from the day to day production tasks, an entrepreneur can do what you do best. Sales and Marketing! Your concerns become our responsibility.

Boston Baking, Inc. also manufactures a full line of bagels, cookies, scones and muffins.

Asian Creations by Linh & Loann

To most people, gourmet Asian food is only available in fine restaurants. With Asian Creations by Linh & Loann, one can choose from a selection of all natural, high quality sauces and spice blends to create delicious, authentic meals ranging from Thai to Chinese to Indian cuisines. Linh and Loann are two sisters of Vietnamese origin who founded the company, Asian Creations. They were inspired by their world-traveler father and envisioned a way to blend the art of cooking with the ease of creating home made meals. Asian Creations offers dry spices and rubs for various Asian dishes in addition to their sauces, which can be used in a variety of ways from marinades to dressings and dips.

The popular spice blends such as Tasty Tandoori, Sassy Satay, and Luscious Lemongrass are a few of the bestsellers among the delicious selections to choose from. Their collection of sauces includes Peanut Passion, Pad Thai Pizzazz, Tantalizing Teriyaki, and Marvelous Mango.

Asian Creations products are now featured in prestigious retail establishments such as Zabars, Eli', Grace's Marketplace, and 50 plus stores in New York City and the Hamptons. In addition, Asian Creations has an online store (www.asiancreations.net) that offers plenty of appetizing traditional and fusion recipes, such as Grilled Bacon-wrapped Chicken, Peanut Noodles, Mango Shrimp Salad and Thai Pizza. Mmmmm...Are you hungry yet?

"The Martin Family Children at Expo East in Washington, DC, September,2005".

Martin Organics

We are a family run business, offering a tasty variety of oatmeal cereals and treats.

A few years ago, we began looking for foods that would build our bodies. We couldn't find an organic, whole-grain, sugar-free cereal that tasted good, so we began to experiment. Silveira Cereal is the result. It's so yummy, we had some friends try it, and the idea of a business was born.
We had cut all sugar out of our diets, but began to miss having treats to celebrate holidays and family milestones. We wanted the option of desserts that were organic and whole-grain, free of artificial ingredients and preservatives, and again, couldn't find what we wanted in the stores. So we added the convenience of delicious, ready-made organic cookies to our line of products.

For those of you who want treats without processed sugars, we also have fabulous-tasting " Go-rounds," made from a combination of dates, almonds, cashews and coconut.

We hope you enjoy these cereals and treats in good health!

If you would like a free sample, send your name and address to email@martinorganics.com, with " free sample" as the subject.

Martin Organics
37 Langsford Street,
Gloucester, MA 01930
Contact: Heidi Martin
Tel/Fax: 978-281-0417

Email: email@martinorganics.com
http://www.martinorganics.com/

New England Brokerage Corporation

Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, NEBC is a strategic advisory firm specializing in mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, strategic consulting and recapitalizations to companies across the United States.

Established in 1984, NEBC has earned a strong reputation for their years of service assisting business owners and entrepreneurs at achieving their personal and financial goals.

NEBC operates across a broad market spectrum, targeting profitable businesses in a variety of industries with revenues ranging from $3 million to $200 million.

Among a host of professionals, MSFA member Richard Cocca leads NEBC's efforts in the food service related markets. Richard is a former Group VP of Finance for a Fortune 500 company and an entrepreneur himself. He has spent the last eight years with NEBC working side by side with business owners on an array of transactions to help them maximize their financial objectives. Assisting Richard with these efforts is MSFA member Karen Collier. Karen is also an entrepreneur and works to develop client relations and business development for NEBC.

If you are like most business owners, you have dedicated much of your time and energy to building your business. Amid the constant demands of operating a successful company, few take the time to step back and consider an exit strategy or how they will harvest their investment. If you are considering divestiture or would like to learn how to maximize your personal wealth and liquidity, NEBC can help. Call or email Richard Cocca at 401-454-2700 rcocca@nebc.com.

Mizzannye's Gourmet Bar B Que Sauce

In Anderson's old Memphis neighborhood, Bar B Que sauce was a serious business, and the restaurant where her mother worked as second cook during the Great Depression, packed in the crowds sizzling for brisket and ribs. In addition to serving her savory sauce at the restaurant, Anderson's mom catered at yard, rent, insurance and birthday parties, as well as picnics and church gatherings, in which the sauce too became extremely popular.

A legendary delicacy, the sauce has since been passed down for generations. Today, that same authentic gourmet Tennessee Bar B Que sauce is being enjoyed, not in Memphis, however, but in New England. Still brewing her mother's famous recipe, Anderson is hoping again to make the sauce the "talk of the town" in the 21^st century as it was in the 1920's, 1930's and early 1940's.

Concentrated, the sauce can be diluted for gourmet dishes such as fish, fowl and wild game. It is low carb, low sodium and fat free. Anderson grows the garlic used from 100% certified bulbs, and the spices are 100% certified organic. Local organic farmers who are members of CISA grow much of the fruits and vegetables purchased by her.

Mizzannye's Bar B Que Sauce, a high-end product, which is manufactured at the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center in Greenfield, MA, is marketed at Cornucopia, Thorne's Market, Northampton, MA, and Historic Deerfield Inn, Deerfield, MA, as well as her own farm stand on the Commons each Saturday in Amherst, MA.

Dancing Deer Baking Co., Inc. is a company of people who are passionate about food, nature, aesthetics and community. Our natural, award-winning cakes, cookies & brownies are known for straight up yummy-ness and quality ingredients. We blend artisan baking with innovative flavor ideas and fun. Dancing Deer has won many national awards and accolades. Our “green” packaging is as artful and honest as the food. All Deers are stakeholders in our company, which was founded in 1994. The Deers believe that when people are happy, it shows in the food.

With a production facility located in a rehabilitated brick factory building built in the early 1900’s, Dancing Deer draws its workforce largely from the surrounding inner city neighborhoods of Boston. The company’s location and community efforts were recognized by Inc. Magazine for a third time in 2003 when Dancing Deer was named one of the nation’s fastest growing inner-city companies. In addition, Dancing Deer also partners with the Paul and Phyllis Fireman Foundation in a non-profit venture to end family homelessness called the Sweet Home Project (www.SweetHomeProject.org).

Products are available through retailers like Whole Foods Markets, Wild Oats and Williams-Sonoma. We ship directly to consumers (www.dancingdeer.com or call 1-888-699-DEER) and offer creative employee/customer retention and corporate programs. Web orders in before 2 PM EST ship the next business day. Come see what’s baking!

Dancing Deer Baking Company
77 Shirley St.
Boston, MA 02119
T: 617-442-7300
www.dancingdeer.com
info@dancingdeer.com

Andrea Mason is the owner and chef of two companies -- Catering by Dinner is Served -- a Massachusetts-based catering company -- and The New England Baklava Company. Chef Andrea loves to cook ethnic food, and specializes in vegetarian and vegan catering.

Before she began her cooking and baking businesses, she worked in the high tech industry for 16 years, and was a professional potter for 5 years. Chef Andrea has studied cooking with Mollie Katzen (author of the original Moosewood Cookbook), and has taken classes at the Institute for Culinary Education (ICE), in New York, and Newbury College in Massachusetts.

She loves to develop new recipes. In fact, her "secret desire" is to write a cookbook. She also loves working with phyllo dough -- and breaking traditions! Shortly after Chef Andrea learned to make traditional baklava, she began to wonder what she could do to give this old-world favorite a New England twist.

"What could be more New England than Maple Syrup and Cranberries?" Chef Andrea wondered. And she went to work in the kitchen. It wasn't long before she was baking her original New England Baklava, featuring cranberries and maple syrup.

People loved it, and she began to get orders from local stores and friends who wanted to send baklavas to friends and family across the country. But Andrea couldn't let her new recipe rest. She began to think about adding new flavors of baklava. So today, The New England Baklava Company features three favors of Andrea's creation:

The Original New England Baklava, with cranberries and walnuts
Ginger Walnut Cranberry Baklava
White Chocolate Walnut Cranberry Baklava

What's next? Stay tuned! Chef Andrea is headed back to the kitchen!

Photo credit: Callaway Photo

Past profiles:

Chef Myron Becker

"Chef Myron could be the "007" of the culinary world." — Boston Business Journal.

The founder and president of Myron's Fine Foods, Inc., an Orange MA based manufacturing, product development and marketing company focused on Asian style marinades and sauces. CHEF MYRON'S brand has distribution in both the retail and food service markets. Myron's Fine Foods also develops custom and proprietary products for restaurant and retail chains and "value added" protein companies. He first learned the secrets of Japanese Sauces while serving in Yokohama in the Navy and the NSA. He used his spy consciousness hiding behind trashcans in Yokohama restaurants gathering intelligence on the preparation of their coveted recipes. Myron used this experience later as the chef/owner of a catering and Japanese style Yakitori House food concession, "Myron's No. 1 Yakitori". Presently his company is a nationally respected manufacturer of high quality Asian cooking sauces. Myron has academic degrees in clinical and counseling psychology and food service management. He has been an executive chef of several well-respected restaurants and chef/owner of a 20 year respected catering business. He recently won a nation-wide recipe contest produced by the Japanese Rice Growers Council and featured in a prime time cooking program on NHK, Japanese public TV.

As Executive Chef for the past 35 years for an annual Epicurean wild game feast and a life long avid fisherman and hunter, Myron has had the opportunity of cooking just about anything that is shot or caught. This motivated Myron to develop MYRON'S 20 GAUGE WILD GAME & FISH SAUCE which is sold internationally and is widely considered by culinary professionals and the sporting community as the most effective bottled game marinade available. Chef Myron's mission is to teach and enable folks to prepare extraordinary meals of their wild game and fish.

Silvia P. Glick,
Attorney at Law

Attorney Silvia Glick has been in private practice for over ten years, representing individuals and businesses in all types of real estate and commercial matters.

I can assist you with the formation of all types of business entities, including corporations, partnerships and limited liabilility companies, as well as with the purchase and sale of businesses. I am also available for the negotiation and drafting of independent contractor agreements, noncompetition agreements and commercial leases. Some examples of other matters which I have handled for my business clients include the defense of litigation brought by employees, the arbitration of conflicts with customers, and the litigation of disputes with commercial landlords.

My interest in working with small businesses and startup companies is complemented by a commitment to understanding each client's business and unique situation. My goal is to help my clients' businesses to grow, balancing legal and business considerations along the way. I enjoy learning about what my business clients do and how they do it, and I believe that the more I learn about my clients, the better I am able to serve them. My clients include consulting companies, service businesses, retail establishments and businesses in the food industry

Please call me at 617-876-6826 to schedule a complimentary consultation at my office or at your business. I can also be reached at attyglick@aol.com.

Dadgar Insurance Agency, Inc.

Dadgar Insurance Agency, Inc. is based in Woburn, Massachusetts. The company does business in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It was founded in 1981 and is widely recognized as a Commercial Insurance agency with expertise in Restaurant and Real Estate insurance products.

Obtaining reliable and cost effective insurance packages does not need to be a frustrating search. We represent a great number of insurance companies through which we can tailor-make a product to fit our clients' particular needs and demands. Our experience, reputation, and scope of markets are determinant factors when examining client insurance requirements.

Providing quality service to clients is our primary objective. It is our responsibility to efficiently manage their accounts so all requirements are met. We keep close contact with the rapidly changing marketplace thereby allowing us to make appropriate recommendations and changes while supporting our clients' growth. We have developed a review procedure and communication for our staff to ensure the highest standard of performance which yields great client satisfaction.

We are a member of Massachusetts Association of Independent Agents, Better Business Bureau, Massachusetts Restaurant Association, Small Property Owners Association, and Korean Dry Cleaning Association. We have been endorsed by SPOA (2,000+ Mass. landlords) and KDA (500 Mass. Korean Dry Cleaners). Please visit our website at www.dadgarinsurance.com.

Reseska Apiaries, Inc.
Andy Reseska

Reseska Apiaries, Inc. started out of curiosity as Andy Reseska, our company's president, started beekeeping as a hobby. Andy has a background in the food business and wanted to get back into something to do with food. Beekeeping was the ultimate occupation! Producing honey, enjoying the outdoors, and at the same time helping farmers pollinate their crops. It didn't take long to get his whole family involved. Our knowledge and understanding of apiculture grew with our number of colonies. Beekeeping became a sideline business, and soon after, turned into a full-time job, and truly a "labor of love". Today our business comprises of honey production, pollen collection, pollination services to area farmers, and sales of nucleus colonies.

Our company's dedication to high quality starts with maintaining healthy bee colonies without the use of antibiotics or harsh miticides. Secondly, our bees are placed in selected sites where there is adequate water and a variety of flowers that can provide continuous foraging potential throughout the season. We are blessed with having so many different floral sources such as black locust, buckthorn, basswood, purple loosestrife, and many local wildflowers, which are blended together within the hive. Our honey is raw (non-pasteurized), and roughly strained to remove the wax, retaining all the enzymes, amino acids, pollen, and propolis intended by the honeybees. We market our products under Golden Meadow Honey and Boston Honey Company labels. Our products are sold at a variety of supermarkets, independent stores, and farm stands throughout Mass.

Andy Reseska, President
Reseska Apiaries, Inc.
148 Adams Street
Holliston, MA 01746-1401
phone & fax: 508-429-6872
reseska-apiaries@verizon.net

Regenie's Crunchy Pitas
Regina Ragonese

“It was a gutsy, aggressive move, one that typifies the confident rise of Regina Ragonese. The year was 1993 and Regina purchased Ellie's Arabic and American, an established Middle Eastern restaurant in Lawrence, MA. It was a good move except for one thing: Regina had no restaurant experience. In fact, the only thing she knew about restaurants was that she wanted to own one!

Well, Regina made the mistakes any rookie would make; but she also made big improvements and gave Ellie's a huge shot of adrenaline. The result? Business boomed, customers raved, and, her homemade pita chips became house favorites. The chips were such a hit, in fact, that Regina closed Ellie's and opened the door to Regenie's Crunchy Pitas, a solid success that's surging ahead in 25 states and 3,500 stores.

So why is Regenie's such a hit? Low fat and big flavors come to mind, but the bulk of the credit needs to go to Regina herself– a restless innovator who continues to introduce new products such as Regenie's Treasure Crisp, a handy dandy little snack that diminishes the fat yet kicks up the flavor. Both the Crisps, as well as the Chips, offer a real jolt of joy to soups, salads, and anything your chip-loving heart desires.”

Member Profiles

TAZA CHOCOLATE SOMERVILLE’S OWN CHOCOLATE FACTORY!