Dairy, the unsung hero of every kitchen, takes the spotlight, and we’re dishing out some cool tidbits, tips, and tricks, courtesy of our friends at Dairy Direct! Fresh off a chat with the Dairy Direct squad, it’s clear they’re on a mission to deliver dairy beyond the ordinary. Their emphasis on freshness, efficiency, and high standards ensures that our chefs receive top-tier products.

So, grab your apron and let’s whisk our way through some fun facts and eggstraordinary uses that’ll make you say, “Holy cow, who knew dairy could be this udderly fantastic?”

Cottage Cheese is a powerful secret ingredient

Cottage cheese has been having kind of a moment the past couple of years, with TikTok trends showing cottage cheese added to EVERYTHING. While TikTok trends aren’t always great, they’re not wrong here. You can enhance the creaminess and richness of any dish without the need for excessive calories and fat. As a bonus, incorporate cottage cheese as an excellent protein source to sustain energy levels over extended periods. Your health-conscious patrons will thank you and your regular patrons will just appreciate the upgraded taste! Add it to scrambled eggs for lighter, fluffier eggs. Add it to meatballs to keep them moist when working with leaner meats. Add it to mashed potatoes for an undeniably smooth and velvety texture.

• Cottage Cheese – 5 pound tub (item #93009)
• Cottage Cheese – 4/ 5 pound tubs (item #93008)

Buttermilk used beyond breakfast

Move over buttermilk pancakes. In search of a simple method to tenderize your chicken or pork before cooking? Harness the acidic power of buttermilk as an excellent choice for a marinade ingredient. Enhance the flavor with ground spices such as paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne. Allow your protein to rest in this buttermilk-based marinade for a minimum of one hour, or for up to 24 hours.

• Buttermilk – half gallon (item #02550)
• Buttermilk – 9 / half gallon (item #93037)

Leverage Liquid Eggs to Make it Easy

No need to walk on eggshells, liquid eggs are a lifesaver in the kitchen. They have a longer shelf life, lasting up to three weeks. They are pasteurized to destroy Salmonella and other bacteria. Liquid whole eggs are simple to use, consistent in measurement, safe, and are high-quality. Regular eggs differ in sizes, so measurements aren’t always consistent. Perfect for batch cooking, custards, or as a base for delicate quiches, liquid eggs provide a streamlined approach to egg-based dishes. They are a perfect solution for high-volume kitchens.

• Eggs – Liquid Whole – 2 pound (item #80007)
• Eggs – Liquid Whole – 15/2 pound (item #80006)

Dairy Direct serves as the direct link to top-tier dairy, connecting consumers with products from local dairy farms predominantly in Northern Ohio, Southern Michigan, and Western Pennsylvania. Since 2007, Dairy Direct has championed freshness and quality, specializing in a range of dairy products available through What Chefs Want including, buttermilk, half & half, chocolate milk, eggs, sour cream, heavy cream, varieties of milk, peeled hard-boiled eggs, liquid eggs, and cheese. Their commitment to excellence goes beyond products, aligning with farmers and producers who uphold the highest standards of quality. Dairy Direct delivers dairy beyond the ordinary.

What Was That Tagline? “Milk, Does a Body Good.”

Milk stands as a nutritional powerhouse, contributing approximately 73% of the calcium available in our food supply. Packed with essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamin D, one 8-ounce glass of milk offers the calcium equivalent of 4.5 servings of broccoli, 16 servings of spinach, or 5.8 servings of whole wheat bread. Additionally, chocolate milk emerges as a post-workout hero, combining fluids, carbs, and protein to effectively rehydrate and refuel muscles.

Tailor your recipes with precision by selecting the right milk variety. Utilize whole milk for indulgent dishes like mashed potatoes, 2% for lighter soups, and skim milk for calorie-conscious additions to coffee-based sauces.

• Chocolate Milk 1% – Half Pint (item #02587)
• Chocolate Milk 1% – 12/16 oz (item #15907)
• Milk Whole – 4 / 1 gallon (item #93024)
• Milk Whole – 1 gallon (item #93025)
• Milk Whole – 50 / half pint (item #93032)
• Milk 2% – 12/ 1 pint (item #23306)
• Milk 2% – 1 gallon (item #93014)
• Milk 2% – 4 / 1 gallon (item #93013)
• Milk 2% – 50 / half pints (item #93031)
• Milk 1% – 50 / half pints (item #99754)
• Milk Skim – 4 / 1 gallon (item #93022)
• Milk Skim – 1 gallon (item #93023)
• Milk Skim – 50 half pints (item #93030)

Not to Be Cheesy, But…

Did you know that the average American eats around 23 pounds of cheese every year? Now that’s what we call a grate love affair! Cheddar is the most popular natural cheese in the U.S.! Cheddar has even made it to the moon. In 1962, NASA sent a specially crafted cheddar wheel on the spacecraft Ranger 7 to study how vacuum conditions affect food.

Swiss cheese comes in at a strong fourth place in popularity, in the US, but its number one in our hearts. Did you know that the holes in Swiss cheese are called “eyes,” and larger eyes are associated with a more robust and nutty flavor. So if the holes in swiss are called eyes, what do you call swiss cheese varieties without eyes? Blind. (No really, that’s a real thing! Look it up!)

• Cheddar Cheese – Tillamook – 2 / 5pounds (item #02338)
• Cheddar Cheese – Extra Sharp – Tillamook – 10 pounds (item #33573)
• Swiss Cheese – Cut – 8 pound – (item #91453)

Sour Cream – Beyond the Baked Potato

Sour cream is a versatile kitchen ally, finding its way into baking, cooking, and condiments. With its rich and acidic profile, sour cream imparts a moist and tender texture to baked goods. It serves as the foundation for numerous dips and dressings, graces baked potatoes as a popular topping, and brings its tangy, smooth charm to soups and sauces. Some of our favorite sour cream swaps? Make a quick and tangy frozen yogurt by mixing sour cream with honey and your favorite fruit puree. Or give your potato salad a creamy kick by swapping some of the mayo with sour cream. It adds a delightful tanginess to this classic dish.

Sour Cream Tub – 32 pound case (item #16406)

Dairy, the unsung hero of every kitchen! Now, with What Chefs Want and our partners at Dairy Direct, we’re handing you the golden ticket to the dairy wonderland—think the highest quality and freshest dairy imaginable. Whether you’re spicing up your menu with cottage cheese creations or pondering the cosmic freshness of cheddar on the moon, we’re here, excited and ready to be your dairy dream team.

You can find these products from Dairy Direct at What Chefs Want:

• Buttermilk – half gallon (item #02550)
• Buttermilk – 9 / half gallon (item #93037)
• Cheddar Cheese – Tillamook – 2 / 5pounds (item #02338)
• Cheddar Cheese – Extra Sharp – Tillamook – 10 pounds (item #33573)
• Chocolate Milk 1% – half pint (item #02587)
• Chocolate Milk 1% – 12/16 oz (item #15907)
• Chocolate Milk – 50 / half pint (item #93033)
• Cottage Cheese – 5 pound tub (item #93009)
• Cottage Cheese – 4/ 5 pound tubs (item #93008)
• Eggs – Brown – Cage Free – 15 dozen (item #03979)
• Eggs – Large – 1 dozen (item #04730)
• Eggs – Large – 30 dozen (item #56800)
• Eggs – XL – 30 dozen (item #04910)
• Eggs – Liquid Whole – 2 pound (item #80007)
• Eggs – Liquid Whole – 15/2 pound (item #80006)
• Eggs – Hard Boiled – Peeled – 20 pound (item #80003)
• Half & Half – 1 quart (item #02606)
• Half & Half – 12/1 quart (item #02757)
• Half & Half – 12/1 quart (item #29039)
• Half & Half – 402 count portions (item #93021)
• Heavy Cream 36% – quart (item #16407)
• Heavy Cream 36% – 12/ 1 quart (item #26967)
• Heavy Cream 40% – 12/ 1 quart (item #93017)
• Heavy Cream 40% – 1 quart (item #93018)
• Milk Whole – 4 / 1 gallon (item #93024)
• Milk Whole – 1 gallon (item #93025)
• Milk Whole – 50 / half pint (item #93032)
• Milk 2% – 12/ 1 pint (item #23306)
• Milk 2% – 1 gallon (item #93014)
• Milk 2% – 4 / 1 gallon (item #93013)
• Milk 2% – 50 / half pints (item #93031)
• Milk 1% – 50 / half pints (item #99754)
• Milk Skim – 4 / 1 gallon (item #93022)
• Milk Skim – 1 gallon (item #93023)
• Milk Skim – 50 half pints (item #93030)
• Orange Juice –1 gallon (item #14462)
• Orange Juice – 4/1 gallon (item #14461)
• Sour Cream Tub – 32 pound case (item #16406)
• Swiss Cheese – Cut – 8 pound – (item #91453)

* Some featured items may not be available in all regions. Please contact your customer advocate for substitutions or new fresh, healthy menu ideas.