Muir Glen® Tomato Vine Dining Tour™ Celebrates the Vineyard’s Finest

Five award-winning American chefs have teamed with Muir Glen, a leader in organic tomatoes, soups and sauces, to launch the Muir Glen Tomato Vine Dining Tour and inspire home cooks everywhere to create culinary masterpieces in their kitchens using this year’s limited-edition 2010 Reserve Tomatoes from Muir Glen.

Just as many Napa Valley wineries bottle both their house wine and a special Reserve line that gets a bit more attention, Muir Glen also harvests and cans a very limited run of Reserve Tomatoes each year. Muir Glen started producing the annual Reserve Tomatoes in 2008 and is excited about this new tradition they’ve begun.

Grown exclusively for Muir Glen in Yolo County, Calif., under certified organic practices, the 2010 Reserve Tomatoes are hand-harvested at the peak of ripeness to guarantee exceptional quality and taste, going from vine to can in eight hours. The unique Meridian Ruby™ variety was chosen as the 2010 Muir Glen Reserve Tomato for its deep red color and delectable tomato flavor. Meridian Ruby is offered in two varieties: Meridian Ruby Diced Tomatoes and Meridian Ruby Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes. The fire roasted tomatoes are grilled and smoked over a proprietary blend of hardwoods to add the smoky depth that foodies and home cooks alike have come to expect from Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes.

Chefs Experience Reserve Harvest
Earlier this summer, the Muir Glen Tomato Vine Dining Tour chefs traveled to California to participate in the Reserve Harvest and created recipes specifically designed to showcase the limited edition Reserve Tomatoes. These creations will be unveiled to media at the Muir Glen Tomato Vine Dining Tour launch event at New York City’s Astor Center on October 20, 2010. Following the launch, the chefs will showcase their Muir Glen signature recipes at events with food aficionados and fans in their restaurants and will feature the recipes on their menus during November 2010 and January 2011.

Muir Glen Tomato Vine Dining Tour partnering chefs include:

• Chef Gerry Klaskala (Aria, Atlanta)
• Chef Will Gilson (Garden at The Cellar, Boston)
• Chef Michael Long (Opus Restaurant, Denver)
• Chef Scott Pampuch (Corner Table, Minneapolis)
• Chef Jason Stratton (Cascina Spinasse, Seattle)

"We are very excited to work with such acclaimed chefs to develop signature recipes with our 2010 Reserve Tomatoes to help us showcase what truly exceptional ingredients can bring to a dish,” said Michelle Kopp, Muir Glen marketing manager. "These chefs have access to seasonal produce most of the year for their restaurants but realize that home cooks may not have that access or time. Having Muir Glen Tomatoes on hand allows them to conveniently cook with a premium-quality ingredient anytime, without sacrificing fresh tomato flavor.”

The Muir Glen Tomato Vine Dining Tour offers a range of cuisines that are simple, delicious meal ideas for cooks to create in their own kitchens. Look for more information soon about Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis and Seattle tour dates. Reserve kits are available only online when you sign up to be a Muir Glen Tomato Connoisseurs’ Club member beginning November 15. Go to www.MuirGlen.com for more information, recipes and the latest happenings at Muir Glen.

Muir Glen is a Registered Trademark of Small Plant Foods, Inc.

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