All Posts By

ljones

Jun 08 2022
2

Welcome The Garden Produce of Jacksonville, FL

By | Company News

Dear Customers of The Garden, 

We are pleased to announce the merger of two great family-owned companies. The Garden Produce and Creation Gardens / What Chefs Want have joined forces to soon provide you with seven challenging product lines in the Greater Jacksonville Area.     

The Garden has been providing the First Coast and Coastal Empire with the highest quality produce at the highest level of service for over 40 years.   Since 1997, What Chefs Want has grown by servicing chefs, restaurateurs, institutions, and retail operators by offering unparalleled service and product offerings.   We focus on being the experts of seven product lines, including:  USDA inspected butchered meats, a full line of fresh, cut and frozen seafood, a huge selection of gourmet items, cheeses, dairy, to-go packaging; as well as specialty and commodity produce.   These lines will soon be brought to you with daily delivery, no minimums, portioned item offerings, 24/7 customer service, and a great web and app experience. 

“Ultimately, we believe that joining the What Chefs Want family will help our customers succeed and create greater opportunity for our employees as we move forward in a world where delivery costs need to be spread over more lines.” says Matt Wasson 

Over the next week we will be reaching out to train all on-line ordering customers on the new web and app.  For everyone else, then ordering will remain the same.  Over the next few weeks we will be announcing the build out of our product production capabilities to serve you our full lines of products. 

We look forward to the opportunity to serve you and want to thank you for your business! 

Matt Wasson & Jon Wasson – The Garden Produce, Inc

Mollie & Ron Turnier – Founders – What Chefs Want

Apr 27 2022
0

FreshFry Pods

By | Uncategorized

FreshFry pods offer the easiest way to control your fried food quality, labor, and cost. When used daily from the start of fresh, new oil, FreshFry pods removes acids, moisture, and gummy oil polymers extending the food quality and life of your frying oil by 2-3 days.

Simply put the Pod in the fryer at the end of the shift. Let the Pod soak overnight. Remove the Pod the next day and throw in the trash.

Want to see how much money you can save by using FreshFry Pods? Head here to use FreshFry’s cost calculator.

Mar 09 2022
0

Ready for St. Patrick’s Day?

By | Holiday

St. Patrick’s Day is a little over a week away. Are you ready for the party? Here’s a few must-have items for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations (minus the green beer).

Bea’s Raw Corned Beef Brisket

Item 00592 – 3/10-14 lb.

With a fantastic, distinctive, and delicious flavor, Bea’s Corned Beef Brisket has lower sodium than other product with cook-in-bag convenience, no MSG, and is soy and gluten free.

Lamb Stew Meat

Item 62625 – 10 lb. case – Frozen

Lamb chuck boned and hand cut into 1″ to 1.5″ average cubes. May include shank meat. Vacuum sealed in a 5 lb. pack. 2 packs per case.

Cod Fillet Icelandic Long Line

Item 48027 – by the lb. – Fresh

These lean and juicy cuts are boneless, skinless and easy to prepare. Great grilled, broiled, baked, or fried. Line caught in chilly Icelandic waters.

Weisenberger Mill Fish Batter Mix

Item 96662 – 5 lb. bag

Item 96661 – 6/5 lb. case

Product of Kentucky, this Weisenberger Mill is located in Scott County, KY. This fish batter mix can be used wet or dry and can be used in the oven or the deep fryer.

Haddock Fillets – 6-8 oz. Wild

Item 48383 – 10 lb. case – Frozen

This North Atlantic haddock is wild caught and is often smoked, but is great fried as well.

Monin Irish Cream Syrup

Item 99408 – 750 ml

Monin Irish Cream syrup is perfect for delicious Irish-inspired beverages without the alcohol. Made with select ingredients and pure cane sugar, Monin Irish Cream Flavored syrup is a highly concentrated, authentic flavoring offering exceptional versatility for creating specialty beverages.

Green Cabbage

Item 20296 – 50 lb.

Item 20201 – by the lb.

Yukon Gold Potatoes

Item 60207 – A size – 50 lb.

Item 60202 – B size – 50 lb.

Item 60200 – Bakers – 50 lb.

Carrots

Item 20450 – Large – 50 lb.

Item 20451 – 5 lb.

Dec 01 2021
0

Holiday desserts

By | Desserts, Holiday

Take the worry out of holiday desserts by stocking up on these delicious, premium desserts. From cakes and cheesecakes, to cookies and macarons, there’s sure to be a dessert to fit your menu.

Triple Mousse Cake

Three kinds of chocolate mousse are layered together for a sinfully rich and one of a kind treat. Moist chocolate cake base topped with dark chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate mousse.

Item 16666 – 2/16 slice case

Turtle Cheesecake

Luscious chocolate marble cheesecake topped with caramel, pecans, and semi-sweet chocolate sitting on a cookie crust.

Item 16674 – 2/16 slice case

Mini Peanut Butter Mousse Dessert

Two great tastes that taste even better in a mousse. Graham is the foundation for the tiny tour of rich chocolate and peanut butter mousse layers, decorated with a drizzle of melted chocolate.

Item 34735 – 15 ct. per case

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Smooth, textured cheesecake enhanced with real pumpkin and delicately spiced. Each slice is dolloped with cinnamon buttercream icing. Get this limited, seasonal treat while supplies last.

Item 16695 – 2/16 slice case

Chocolate Mini Cheesecake Assortment

A rich, decadent assortment of smooth, bite-size cheesecakes with mild buttery graham cracker crust. Dulce de Leche, Mocha Cappuccino, and Decadent Turtle.

Item 90603 – 177 ct. case

Citrus Mini Cheesecake Assortment

A cool tropical assortment of bite-size delectable cheesecakes with sweet graham cracker crust and colorful fruit puree swirl. Lemon Blueberry, Key Lime, and Strawberry Margarita.

Item 90604 – 177 ct. case

Bourbon Butter Cake

Three layers of buttery cake layered with bourbon ganache, studded with chocolate and pecans and frosted with a bourbon icing.

Item 16661 – 2/16 slice case

Ghyslain Flourless Chocolate Cake

A decadent chocolate flourless cake. Roughly 3″ in diameter and 1 1/2″ tall. Gluten-free. Plate as is or add your own sauce, fresh fruit, a dusting of confectioner’s sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

Item 95779 – 24 ct. case

Ghyslain Mini Flourless Chocolate Cake

The bite size version of Ghyslain’s Flourless Chocolate Cake. Plate as is or add your own sauce, fresh fruit, a dusting of confectioner’s sugar or a dollop of whipped cream.

Item 95778 – 24 ct. case

Ghyslain Vanilla Cheesecake

Undecorated vanilla cheesecake by Ghyslain. Make it your own with fruit, chocolate shavings, or whatever suits you. 3″ in diameter.

Item 95777 – 24 ct. case

Ghyslain French Macarons

Carefully hand-crafted macarons provide a welcome splash of color before they melt in your mouth. Each flavored macaron is filled with a delectable ganache. Flavors include chocolate coffee, fleur de sel bourbon, orange praline, passionfruit coconut, pistachio strawberry, and raspberry chocolate. Gluten-free.

Item 95796 – 150 ct.

Ghyslain Macaron Vive Color

Carefully hand-crafted macarons provide a welcome splash of color before they melt in your mouth. Each flavored macaron is filled with a delectable ganache. Flavors include black currant, blueberry lemon, cherry chocolate, lemon poppy seed, strawberry banana, and yuzu.

Item 95776 – 150 ct.

Kern’s Kitchen Derby Pie

My Old Kentucky Homemade. Handcrafted for over 60 years, Kern’s Derby-Pie chocolate nut pie is a true taste of Kentucky. Leaudra and Walter Kern along with their son George created the first Derby-Pie dessert in 1954 at the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky, and to this day they make each pie, one at time, according to that legendary secret
recipe. Premium chocolate and choice walnuts are folded into a
decadent filling, then baked in Grandma Leaudra’s delicate crust.

Item 16632 – 6/9″ pies

Kern’s Kitchen Derby Pie Sheets

Kern’s Derby-Pie chocolate nut pie in an 8″ x 12″ sheet perfect for banquets. Cut into 1″x1″ squares for bite size or any larger size as a dessert.

Item 02921 – 4/3# case

Christie Cookies – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Made in Nashville, TN, Christie’s Cookies has been crafting cookies using only real butter and gourmet ingredients for over 30 years. These chocolate chip cookies are portioned and ready to bake. 100% real butter provides a rich, moist taste that has a 3-5 day bake life when baked properly.

Item 02690 – 150 – 2.5 oz.

Christie Cookies – Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough

All the gourmet semi-sweet chocolate chunks Christie’s Cookies could fit in a cookie made perfect with a hint of brown sugar and pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla. A staff favorite!

Item 02691 – 252 – 1.45 oz.

Christie Cookies – Sugar/Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough

Classic, sweet and chewy butter cookie that comes with the cinnamon on the side. You can bake these off as sugar cookies or as snickerdoodles. Have fun with it! It’s the little black dress of the bakery, perfect for every occasion.

Item 02855 – 162 – 1.45 oz.

Nov 30 2021
0

Great apps for holiday caterings!

By | Holiday, Hors d'oeuvre

Short on staff for your holiday parties? Let our selection of Kabobs premium appetizers help!

Located in South Atlanta, Georgia, Kabobs is revered as the industry leader in hand-crafted gourmet hor d’oeurves. Using only the freshest premium ingredients available, Kabobs team of culinary professionals have created an expansive menu offering.

Kabob – Mini Quiche

Four delicious varieties – Three cheese, Florentine, Classic French, and Mushroom. Item 90609 – 200 ct.

Kabob – Bacon Wrapped Scallop

A mouth-watering combination of plump white sea scallops (30-40ct), wrapped in a strip of lean bacon. Served on a toothpick skewer. Item 90611 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

A large (31/35ct) tail-off shrimp wrapped in lean bacon held together with a toothpick skewer. Item 90610 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Beef Empanada

A mouth-watering mixture of shredded beef, cheddar chees, jalapenos, and exotic spices wrapped in corn masa pastry. Item 90613 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Beef Satay

A succulent strip of beef on a 6″ skewer. Perfect plain or served with your favorite sauce. Item 90637 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Chicken Potsticker

A blend of ground chicken, fresh scallions, and roasted garlic, accented with the citrusy-sweet exotic flavors of lemongrass, wrapped in a wonton wrapper. Perfect for frying or steaming. Item 90665 – 150 ct.

Kabob – Chicken Satay

Chicken tenderloin meat on a 6″ skewer. Delicious plain or with your favorite sauce. Item 90607 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Coconut Chicken

A 3/4 oz. strip of chicken breast dipped in a coconut batter and rolled in a mixture of shredded coconut and bread crumbs. Item 90621 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Coconut Shrimp

A large butterflied shrimp dipped in a mild coconut batter and rolled in a mixture of coconut and bread crumbs. Item 90619 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Corn & Jalapeno Jack Cakes

Hand formed corn cakes, capturing generations of artisan mastery; mixed with jalapenos, Monterey Jack cheese, and fresh green onions. Excellent plain or as a stepping block to a personal culinary masterpiece. Item 90639 – 128 ct

Kabob – Crab Cakes

A blend of crabmeat, risotto, peppers, and spices hand formed and lightly breaded. Item 90620 – 200 ct.

Kabob – Franks in Blanket

Miniature beef frankfurters wrapped in a blanket of puff pastry. Item 90662 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Pimento Mac & Cheese Bites

A blend of sharp and white cheddar cheese, accented with pimentos, garlic, and a hint of hot sauce, dusted in panko bread crumbs. Requires deep frying. Item 90638 – 200 ct.

Kabob – Pork Potstickers

A blend of pork, scallion, napa cabbage, and roasted garlic wrapped in a wonton wrapper. Item 90608 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Spanakopita

A flaky triangle of phyllo pastry filled with spinach, zesty feta cheese, and tantalizing spices. Item 90616 – 200 ct.

Kabob – Thai Chicken Satay

Chicken tenderloin marinated in a delicious blend of fresh peanut and Thai spices on a 6″ skewer. Item 90628 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Vegetable Empanada

Onion, eggplant, peppers, sundried tomatoes, black beans, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese in a jalapeno and cheddar cheese flavored dough. Item 90614 – 100 ct.

Kabob – Vegetable Spring Roll

A colorful mixture of Chinese Vegetables tossed with soy sauce, sesame oil, and a touch of fresh ginger wrapped in a spring wrapper. Item 90625 – 200 ct.

Nov 19 2021
0

Mushroom Market Information

By | Produce Market Report

All mushroom vendors for What Chefs Want have experienced severe cuts in supply. We will see increased short orders and unpredictability in this commodity.


For domestic mushrooms:

Expect that supply will be available some days but not others. We will be subbing different sizes and different sized slices. Even with subs, there are times when mushrooms still will be short.

For exotic mushrooms: 

These may appear as out of stock more often than before.  Supply is affected because of shortages of necessary materials coming in from Asia.

If you buy crimini mushrooms and are willing to take white mushrooms as a substitute, please let us know.
These shorts and allocations come from lack of labor and lack of critical supply for Pennsylvania mushroom growers.

This situation may become worse and is not expected to subside until January or February 2022.

Nov 19 2021
0

Thanksgiving Hours

By | Holiday

What Chefs Want will be closed Thanksgiving Day. No deliveries or will calls. Our offices will be closed.

We will resume deliveries on Friday, November 26. If your restaurant is restricted for deliveries on Fridays, please order ahead to get you through until your next delivery day.

Will calls on Wednesday, November 25 will need to be placed by 11:00 AM local time and picked up by noon local time. All will call offices will close at noon local time on Wednesday, November 25.

Our Butchery, Seafood Processing, and Prep Kitchen will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and will resume Friday, November 26.

Please order what you need ahead of time to get you through Friday lunch service as we cannot guarantee early deliveries on Friday, November 26.

For Colorado customers, orders placed for Friday delivery will need to be placed by Wednesday at 5:00 PM MST. All orders placed between 5:00 PM MST Wednesday and 5:00 PM MST Friday will be delivered on Saturday or your next available delivery day.

Our WOW Center will close at 5:00 PM Wednesday, November 24. All voicemails, texts, and emails will be monitored over the holiday and orders will be entered for Friday delivery.

What Chefs Want would like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. May you be able to spend time with your friends and family on this holiday.

Nov 04 2021
0

Scallop Market Alert!

By | Seafood

From the Bluefin Seafood Team:

I’m sure you’re all experiencing pricing increases on everything in your establishment. Labor, fuel and supply chain issues have all contributed to the increases. Hopefully you are adjusting and making changes as they happen.

Message from the dock of our scallop supplier:

“In what seems to be a trend across all facets of our industry, pricing for raw materials continues to climb at a drastic pace. It has become very difficult to increase pricing gradually as there doesn’t seem to be a plateau in pricing. With the demand for scallops still being high and “days at sea” being limited, companies are stock piling product in an attempt to carry one’s customers through the winter. The fear of running out is the driving force behind these increases. As I’ve said numerous times in the past, running out is not an option for us. We will always have product to offer our customers and are sure to ALWAYS secure the highest quality product available to us but unfortunately must secure product at these high numbers.”

There is also talk of the number of days at sea and quotas being cut more in 2022. A lot of the smaller boats tried taking advantage of the higher prices and have already maximized their days at sea. The new count doesn’t start until May. Many scallop suppliers also loaded up on their frozen and have sold them out with the fresh prices so high. Now they’re trying to restock and having the same issues as everyone else.

I hope this helps explain some of what’s going on. We’re all making less at these higher prices and just trying to keep it going.

Thanks

Joe

Oct 29 2021
0

Iceberg and Romaine Alert!

By | Produce Market Report, Uncategorized

Iceberg and Romaine Lettuce Alert!

Extreme rain in the growing areas has caused delays in harvesting iceberg and romaine lettuces. Farmers are unable to harvest when it is raining and the heavy rains led to very muddy fields. You can see in the pic below how the equipment has left deep ruts in the fields due to the muddy conditions.

lettuce fields 2.jpg

We will be extremely tight on all processed lettuce products. 
This includes:
Chopped and shredded romaine
Chopped and shredded iceberg
Tossed salad mix

We will also be tight on whole heads of both iceberg and romaine. If you have the ability to substitute spring mix or spinach for these products, we strongly advise you to do so as your orders will be allocated or shorted as we will not have product to sell. 

We expect this situation to continue for up to 3 weeks. Our orders will continue to be cut, allocated, or delayed meaning your orders will be cut or allocated as well.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and continued business. 

What Chefs Want team