Cosmopolitan Wins First Annual Del Monte Square Cioppino Contest

    SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Del Monte Foods and THE CANNERY,
 today announced Cosmopolitan the official winner of Del Monte Square's First
 Annual Cioppino Contest.  A culinary native to San Francisco, cioppino is a
 tomato-based seafood stew prepared with tomatoes, wine, spices and a variety
 of fresh seafood, and was first introduced to the City by the Bay by Italian
 fishermen in the early 1900s.
     The contest was held as part of the ceremonies surrounding the official
 dedication of Del Monte Square at the historic site of Del Monte Foods' former
 Plant No. 1. The contest hosted entries from several of San Francisco's
 premier restaurants and chefs, including Gary Danko, Scoma's, Alioto's # 8,
 The Blue Mermaid, Cosmopolitan, Tre Fratelli, Cioppino's on the Wharf,
 Cozmo's, Fish, McCormick-Kuleto's, Rose Pistola's, Cafe Pescatore and Jack's.
     For a small donation, San Franciscans and other visitors were encouraged
 to sample contestants' cioppino served with fresh baked bread.  Proceeds from
 the sales went to the San Francisco Food Bank to help the fight against
 hunger.  Judges from around San Francisco included Sara Schneider, senior food
 editor of Sunset Magazine; Paul Ash, executive director of the San Francisco
 Food Bank, Camille Cusumano, senior editor of VIA magazine and Jackie Curtis,
 Senior Scientist, Food Product Development at Del Monte Foods.
     "It was extremely tough to choose just one winner," said judge Camille
 Cusumano of VIA magazine.  "All of the contestants created richly flavorful
 cioppinos.  One can expect nothing but the best in San Francisco."
     Cosmopolitan has served San Francisco for nearly five years and is located
 just off the Embarcadero.  Executive Chef Steven Levine created the award
 winning cioppino recipe.
     "It's an honor to be recognized for our interpretation of such a great San
 Francisco tradition," said Mick Suverkrubbe, owner of Cosmopolitan.  "We are
 pleased to be part of the first annual contest, and look forward to another
 challenging competition next year."
     Together with THE CANNERY, Kimpton Hotel Group and The National Parks
 Service, Del Monte Foods has revitalized the historic waterfront area of San
 Francisco by bringing its name back to the area.  Committed to enriching the
 lives of both locals and visitors to the city of San Francisco, Del Monte
 Square will continue to serve as a destination where people can detach
 themselves from everyday hustle and bustle to enjoy fine restaurants, shops,
 hotels, museums and entertainment, while enjoying the unique representation of
 both the Old World and the New World.
 
     About Del Monte Square
     Del Monte Square is located at the foot of Columbus Avenue, overlooking
 the Bay, and is home to THE CANNERY's 35 shops, restaurants and nightclubs,
 The Argonaut Hotel, a Certified Organic Farmers Market, and much more. For
 more information about Del Monte Square, please visit www.delmontesquare.com
 or call 415-441-3112.
 
     About Del Monte Foods
     Del Monte Foods Company is one of the country's largest and well-known
 producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded and
 private-label food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating
 over $3 billion in net sales in fiscal 2004.  With a powerful portfolio of
 brands including Del Monte(R), Contadina(R), StarKist(R), S&W(R), Nature's
 Goodness(TM), College Inn(R), 9Lives(R), Kibbles 'n Bits(R), Pup-Peroni(R),
 Snausages(R), and NawSomes!(R), Del Monte products are found in 9 out of 10
 American households.  For more information on Del Monte Foods Company, visit
 the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.
 
 

SOURCE  Del Monte Foods