The $25,000 Sandwich Returns with Star Power

NAPA VALLEY, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Summertime means sandwich-time as once again Mezzetta, America's number one producer of imported and domestic peppers and olives, challenges home cooks across the country to enter their best sandwich recipe into the Third Annual Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Recipe Contest.  

The Grand Prize includes $25,000 and an exciting trip for two to the Napa Valley, home to Mezzetta. And, in a star-studded twist, Mezzetta enticed seven celebrity chefs to create their own inspirational sandwich recipes and compete against each other for bragging rights and a $10,000 donation to the celebrity chef's favorite charity.  The winner of the Celebrity Chef Sandwich Charity Challenge will be chosen by online voters at www.makethatsandwich.com.

"This year we asked some very accomplished chefs to throw their sandwich recipes into the ring and are so excited to see Mezzetta products used in such creative and delicious ways," says Jeff Mezzetta, President.  "It's going to be tough to pick a winner from such great entries and we're sure their ideas are going to inspire our consumers who are vying for the $25,000 Grand Prize."

There will be some fierce competition among the celebrity chefs who include:  

• Jody Adams from Cambridge, MA, Chef/Owner of Rialto Restaurant (www.rialto-restaurant.com) and competitor on this season of Bravo's "Top Chef Masters," competes for Share Our Strength (strength.org) with her "Sesame Eggplant in Pita with Peppers, Walnuts and Feta."
• Chris Cosentino from San Francisco, CA, Chef/Owner of Incanto Restaurant (www.incanto.biz) and star of Food Network's show "Chef vs. City," competes for the San Francisco Conservation Corps (www.sfcc.org) with his "Mess Piggy with Mezzetta Pepper Schmutz."
• Stephanie Izard from Chicago, IL, Chef/Owner of The Girl & The Goat Restaurant (www.stephanieizard.com) and fourth season winner of Bravo's "Top Chef," competes for Common Threads (www.commonthreads.org) with her "Crisp Pork Sandwich with Tapenade and Sweet Pepper Aioli."
• Daisy Martinez from New York, NY, Star of Food Network's show "Viva Daisy!" and author of recent cookbook "Daisy: Morning Noon and Night" (Atria, March 2010) (www.daisymartinez.com) competes for the FDNY Widows and Children's Fund (www.ufanyc.org/funds/widows_and_children.php) with her "Turkey, Bacon, and Avocado Panini with Salsa Golf."
• Jamie Oliver from London, U.K., Chef, Author and star of ABC's primetime show "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," competes for the Jamie's Food Revolution Foundation (http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution) with his "My Muffaletta."
• Adam Perry Lang from New York, NY, Chef/Owner of Daisy May's BBQ (www.daisymaysbbq.com) and author of recent cookbook "BBQ 25" (Harper Collins, May 2010) competes for Turnaround for Children (www.turnaroundusa.org) with his "Super Pressed and Toasted Panini with Fontina and Mezzetta Relish."
• Michael Symon from Cleveland, OH; Chef/Owner of Lola, Lolita, The B Spot, Roast, (www.lolabistro.com) and an Iron Chef on the Food Network's show "Iron Chef" competes for Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org) with his "Soppressata Sandwich with Mezzetta Pepper Sauce and Fried Egg."

The seven celebrity chefs each submitted a recipe using Mezzetta's products.  Favorite ingredients among the chefs ranged from sweet peppers (Roasted Bell Peppers, Banana Wax Peppers), to traditional Mediterranean (Artichoke Hearts, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Capote Capers, Calamata Olives), to fiery hot (Jalapenos, Hot Cherry Peppers).  Voters can cast their choice for their favorite sandwich once each day of the contest (which runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 2010) at www.makethatsandwich.com.

"Being from San Francisco, I've been using Mezzetta's products for a long time so knew exactly how I wanted to use them in my sandwich recipe. I am going to rock this contest and get all my followers on Twitter to vote for me.  I am not losing to Symon again," says competitor, Chris Cosentino.

Contestants can enter their own original recipes for the chance to win $25,000 in the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Recipe Contest at www.makethatsandwich.com in any or all of three categories: cold sandwich, hot sandwich, and vegetarian.  The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the category finalists.  Entries will be judged on appearance, taste, creativity, and use of Mezzetta products.  For inspiration, Mezzetta has compiled a comprehensive on-line sandwich database featuring past winner and finalist sandwich recipes along with Mezzetta sandwich favorites. Entries are being accepted until Labor Day 2010 (September 6, 2010).  

The 2009 winner of the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Recipe Contest, Ninette Holbrook, impressed judges with her vegetarian "Open-Faced Wine Braised Fig and Caramelized Onion Sandwich."  Combining both sweet and savory flavors using fresh figs, Mezzetta® Brand Calamata Olives and Marinated Sweet Roasted Yellow and Red Peppers, Ninette created a sophisticated sandwich and took home the $25,000 grand prize and a trip to Napa Valley.

With more than 100 different specialty food products, the Mezzetta family offers a huge variety of great sandwich partners including olives, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, pasta sauces and peppers.  With just a twist of a jar, Mezzetta transforms an average sandwich into a delicious masterpiece.  

More information on the Mezzetta Make that Sandwich Recipe Contest is available at www.makethatsandwich.com; on-line entry begins May 31, 2010.

ABOUT MEZZETTA:  With a tradition that began in 1935 in San Francisco's historic North Beach, Mezzetta is a specialty food producer which is best known for being America's favorite brand of domestic and imported peppers and olives. Now based in the culinary capital of Napa Valley, California, the company has been family-owned and operated for 75 years, and is directed by Jeff Mezzetta, President and CEO. The Mezzetta family of products includes three distinct brands which represent a wide variety of regional culinary specialties made from wholesome, quality ingredients and authentic recipes.  Based on a rich Italian-American, Mezzetta is committed to delivering flavor, convenience, and value to today's health-conscious consumers.  www.mezzetta.com

SOURCE Mezzetta