Upper Midwest Gourmet

Thanks to all that visited our booth in Chicago, from all of us at Upper Midwest Gourmet.

We had an awesome time meeting so many great people from all over the U.S., not to mention the World. The show was a definite success for us and we look forward to making the Gelato business a reality for many of you. Please Contact Us if you have further questions or would like to get your new Gelato business going so that you can start making some incredible profits soon!

Comments are open on this blog post, so if you were at the Chicago Coffeefest please leave any comments, questions, or advice you may have for us to better assist you in the future. Thanks again.

Wow, what a blast Bethany and I had in Columbus. We arrived nice and early all set to make gelato only to find out that the freight company had destroyed our $26,000 Technogel Batch Freezer. Fortunately we had a spare machine available but it wasn’t hooked up and ready to roll out gelato just yet. So rather than making all the product on Saturday as originally planned and enjoying some sites in Columbus on Sunday morning, we spent all day getting our new Hot Process Technogel wired and plumbed and ready to go. Sunday morning we were off to Krogers at 7am to start batching product right before the show. I churned out 16 pans in about 3 hours on the Technogel Hot Process machine and set the last pan of Chocolate Chip Gelato Sandwiches into the case at 10:30 am right as the show floor opened. As seems to be the case lately, we were one of the most popular booths at the show. It’s always great to hear all the kind comments from people about our products and our display. Bethany did a wonderful job of decorating the pans and served up gelato for two days with her signature smile. Here are a few pics of our gal serving the hoards of hungry folks. If you missed NAPICS you have one more chance to see us in Milwaukee for the WI Restaurant Expo mid March. Thanks again to everyone from the show and to all the attendees who stopped by the booth. Good luck and good sales to all. Get ready, the Big Thaw is coming.

Cheers, David Chief Beanhead and Batchmaster

Comments are open on this blog post, so if you were at NAPICS please leave any comments, questions, or advice you may have for us to better assist you in the future. Thanks again.

Upper Midwest Gourmet is Ecstatic to now offer Sambazon Acai!

Sambazon Acai (ah-sigh-ee) is an all natural energy fruit from Amazon palmberries. Wild Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, açai tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature’s perfect energy fruit. Açai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential omegas (the good-for-you fatty acids). Using a traditional recipe, Sambazon adds a touch of pure Brazilian guarana, for increased stamina, focus and vitality.

This fair traded organic product makes an awesome tasting smoothie or can even be used as a Gelato ingredient.

We had a great time at the UP Show in Minneapolis last week. We want to thank all the folks who stopped by our booth and tried all our new products. We had 3 gelato demonstrations on the show stage and made all the gelato for our booth as well as TSBL’s booth and the feedback was fantastic. Our newest products from Sambazon Acai, Xpress Nap and Castellino we’re huge hits too and people were ordering them right out of our booth. We have 1 Vita Mix Bar Boss Advance that we displayed in the Vita Mix booth that is an open box unit that we’re selling at a discount and 2 Gelato Batch freezers from the demo stage as well that we’ll offer great deals on. All the other show equipment has been picked up and is happily making product in there new homes.

We didn’t get long to rest. One day back in the shop then Michael and Kevin loaded up the Van and headed off to setup Coffeefest Chicago. Day 1 of the show has completed and the phone calls we’ve received so far say our booth was the biggest hit at the show. If you’re going to Coffeefest today or tomorrow stop by and say hi to them and don’t miss out on the Acai gelato.

Bethany and I are hoping a flight to Columbus Ohio in about 45 minutes to set up another booth at the NAPIC show. We’ll be dishing out over 20 different gelato flavors and some fun alternative gelato treats so come on by and see us also.

If you come to the shows or order any gelato equipment by the end of the month and mention this blog post I’ll take another $500 off your gelato package. Deposits must be received by the end of February.

Don’t forget, if you can’t make one of these shows, we’ve got another coming up in 2 weeks in Milwaukee.

Look for some cool pictures of the show here soon. Hoping to see and hear from you all soon.

Cheers, David….Token Beanhead

As many of you know Upper Midwest Gourmet installed Solar panels on our building last summer and I believe in supporting environmentally friendly products and issues as much as possible. From Fair Trade Organic Coffee, Recycled Paper Products and Plastic Cups made with Corn Oil instead of petrolium, I work hard to find you products that support our industry while causing as little envirnmental impact possible. Vote Solar is working to bring solar energy into the mainstream. I want a clean energy future, I want to fight global warming, and I want to build energy independence–hard to think of anything more important. So I took action to support the biggest bit of solar legislation this country has ever seen, and I think maybe you should to.

Check it out at:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/votesolar/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6766&t=ActionAlert.dwt

Take action now at http://www.democracyinaction.org/votesolar/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6766&t=ActionAlert.dwt

Thanks for all your support

David Chall – Chief Organic Fair Trade Beanhead

Who wants to try some gelato? See our newest Organic Super Product? Meet all the friendly Upper Midwest Gourmet Staff? Me you say? Well, ok, I got a free pass for ya. Go to www.upshowonline.com and use this free VIP code ( UPVIP07 ) and you’ll get a free entry to the largest show in the 5 state area. Besides all the great stuff I already mentioned you can come see our Gelato Demo at Noon on Sunday and our Gelato / Semifreddo demos at Noon on Monday and Tuesday. We hope to see you at the show!

The Organic Fair Trade Beanheads

Well if these three shows weren’t enough:

UP Show - Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN – Feb. 18th-20th, 2007

Coffee Fest Chicago – Navy Pier, Chicago, IL – Feb. 23rd-25th, 2007

WI Restaurant Expo – Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee, WI – March 12th-14th

We’ve now decided to do the North American Pizza & Ice Cream Show in Columbus Ohio February 25th and 26th. Will have double coverage with Upper Midwest Gourmet running Technogel equipment in one booth and Fabbri North America running Carpigiani in another booth. Come try all the great Gelato, Pastry and Coffee products available from Fabbri, the number one ingrediant company in Italy.

For information on the NAPICS show please go to: www.napics.com

These units are perfect for Gelato shops that have limited space!

JOF 23 Blast Chiller/Blast Freezer

JOF ONE Blast Chiller/Blast Freezer

Big Train’s newest Fruit Tea Blast Smoothie flavor is now available!

Order today to join the many people that already know about the great health and flavor benefits of Acai (pronounced ah-sci-ee).