Latest news with #Sunkist
New York Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
When Kristen Kish, ‘Top Chef' Host, Hits the Mute Button
In her new memoir, 'Accidentally on Purpose,' Kristen Kish reflects on her childhood as a Korean adoptee in Michigan, coming out as gay in her late 20s, winning Season 10 of 'Top Chef' and struggling with anxiety. Yet Kish, who now hosts the Bravo competition series, is known for her laid-back interactions with contestants. 'If my anxiety level was at a million growing up and being a young adult, it is certainly now in the hundreds,' she said. 'It has drastically reduced because I've given time and energy to managing it in the best way I can.' Kish, 41, in her book recounts an upbringing filled with meatloaf, casseroles and Sunkist candies. Such down-to-earth predilections have stuck with her despite her upscale culinary career. 'People ask what my guilty pleasure food is,' she said. 'I don't feel any guilt around anything. I want it, I like it, it's delicious — I have no shame.' In a phone interview last month, the globe-trotting restaurateur shared her favorite travel snacks, how she keeps in touch with her parents and the thing you'll probably see her doing while she's cooking. These are edited excerpts. One of my favorite airplane snacks. The honey mustard flavor is specifically glorious, especially when you're flying — you know how they say your taste buds go a bit muted. These are salty, there's enough sweetness from the mustard, and the crunch is exceptional. I would rather eat five little packs of these over one meal they're offering. I can't live without my evening WhatsApp. That can last two minutes or 45, it depends on the day and how much we have to say. Sometimes we're not saying anything at all. I worry about them. They're fine, they're healthy, they live their life, they probably have a busier social calendar than I do. But when I go to bed, I need to know that I saw their faces. I always travel with a backward flat brim and a forward dad hat. I'll wear one and have another hanging off my backpack. The backward hat's for walking around. The forward hat's for airplanes and cars (I can't lean back with the backward). It's purely mental stability, like a security blanket. You know when you're watching something and all of a sudden you're like, 'Oh my God, the noise is just too much'? I will sit there and mute the TV and keep watching it. It's not that I need 10 minutes of quiet, I just need a few seconds of relief. I also definitely mute during commercials. There was a point when I wore kitchen clogs, which I found uncomfortable. Then, Birkenstocks, but your heel's exposed. Your sock's going to get soaked, especially when you're flooding the floors to clean at the end of the night. Blundstones are waterproof and they look good. I can go from the airplane to out in the wild, right into the kitchen and I feel like they fit all those scenarios. When I opened my restaurant in the Line hotel in Austin, it was in every single room. My wife had to tell me what it was because I was like, 'What are these wooden sticks in here for?' I travel with it and when I'm in dressing rooms, studios and hotels, it just makes everything smell familiar to me, regardless of where I am. When I'm eating different flavors throughout the day — snacking on things or trying 15 dishes on 'Top Chef' — at a certain point, my mouth starts to just feel gross. Brushing my teeth, tongue scraping and flossing help me reset a little bit. A lot of women's pants have little pockets that go down maybe three inches. I need them to touch my thigh. Because I'm not a purse kind of person, I like to fit my wallet, keys and mints all in my pocket if I can. I have a stylist for any clothes that I wear in public or on television. When fending for myself, I'm going to wear pants that are two times too big, comfortable and with deep pockets. Lululemon dance studio relaxed fit mid-rise cargo pants are so comfortable. Not only do they have deep pockets, they also have cargo and back pockets. My preference is the stick. I always carry it in my left pocket; that's just where it lives. I don't leave home without it and it's stashed in random places in our house — on my desk, in the junk drawer downstairs, two in our bedroom. I buy them in bulk and take great pride in finishing them. My mom used to tell me, 'You look like I look like a cow chewing gum.' But it keeps cadence and there's something in the rhythm of chewing where if I'm doing a task, especially if I'm cooking for hours, it's a place for the anxiety to go. You know, how people relax with knee bouncing.
Wall Street Journal
03-04-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The Best Juicers to Buy Now, According to the Pros
When you shop for an electric juicer, you'll find a few different types, including citrus, masticating and centrifugal. We polled top bartenders on the models they rely on now to produce fresh juices on demand. While Sunkist's citrus juicers have an undeniable and devoted following among bar pros, we focused on testing masticating and centrifugal juicers. You can use both to juice peeled citrus, and they have broader applications, too, processing everything from cucumbers and ginger to fresh herbs and peak summer peaches into juice you can use in cocktails and non-alcoholic mixed drinks–or just guzzle on its own. Many of today's juicers can also be used to make nut milks—which certainly seems virtuous but can also be a pathway to homemade orgeat syrup for your Mai Tais. Our list of standouts came down to these three juicers, each at a different price point. This masticating juicer has many parts, but it's relatively easy to clean—much of it can go in the dishwasher. And since it's blade-less, you won't risk slicing your hand. Of the juicers we tested, this was the quietest and slowest, an important trait when it comes to cold-pressing. The yield impressed us, especially with ingredients like apples and cucumbers. This is the machine used at New York's Le Veau d'Or and the key to its Trou Normand cocktail, made with Granny Smith apple juice and freezer-cold Blanche Armagnac. Breville cold-press juicers have found a following among bartenders both for their speed and the way they aerate juices. At Public Parking in Madison, Wis., co-owner JR Mocanu swears by this one for juicing limes for daiquiris, among many other uses. 'We peel the fruit and throw the whole lime in. It gets a little bitterness from the pith and adds a ton of air to give the cocktail a frothy, pillowy texture,' he said. While most juicers require you to do a lot of chopping, this one's chute is so wide we found we could drop in whole beets, apples and even a quartered pineapple. Available in a variety of different colors, it lives up to its XL name with a 70-ounce pitcher, nice for entertaining. Produced by a family-run company in Buffalo, N.Y., the Hummingbird is an appliance to keep on the countertop. Large, heavy and incredibly efficient, this computer-run machine has found its way into many top juice bars around the country. 'I'm convinced [it] could even juice a rock,' said Natasha Bermudez, bar director for the new Printemps in New York City. She's relying on custom-made Hummingbirds to create both healthy 'elixirs' and cocktail syrups made from pineapple, celery, ginger and more. Its two-step process—grinding, then cold pressing—results in very fresh, flavorful juices and nut milks, too. Since all the pulp is pressed into a compostable, disposable bag, clean-up is simple.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Empire Freezing & Drying Secures Exclusive Sunkist® License for Freeze-Dried Products
Empire Freezing & Drying has secured exclusive licensing rights for Sunkist®-branded freeze-dried products, bringing premium, U.S.-grown Sunkist freeze-dried fruit slices and Sunkist freeze-dried fruit purees with chocolate-flavored coating to thousands of retail locations nationwide starting in Q3 2025. NEWARK, N.J., March 20, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Empire Freezing & Drying has secured exclusive licensing rights for Sunkist®-branded freeze-dried products, bringing premium, U.S.-grown freeze-dried fruit to thousands of retail locations across the country. Consumers can expect to see these products begin rolling out in stores starting Q3 2025. "We anticipate our products being available in thousands of stores across the United States, strategically placed wherever premium food products are offered," said David Rosenberg, CEO of Empire Freezing & Drying. "Sunkist is a brand synonymous with exceptional quality and high standards, making this partnership a natural fit for our commitment to delivering top-tier freeze-dried products to consumers." "Empire Freezing & Drying's expertise in freeze-dried products aligns perfectly with Sunkist's dedication to quality and innovation," said Mark Madden, VP of Licensing & Marketing at Sunkist Growers, Inc. "We are excited to partner on this endeavor and look forward to delighting consumers with a new range of premium fruit products." The company's state-of-the-art Newark facility and advanced freeze-drying technology enable it to offer high-quality, U.S.-grown fruit at competitive prices—a key differentiator in a market previously dominated by imported brands. "We recognized that launching a freeze-dried fruit brand under the Sunkist name would align with the highest standards of quality and consumer trust," Rosenberg explained. "As a direct manufacturer rather than an intermediary, we have the unique ability to offer superior products while maintaining competitive pricing." Beyond traditional Sunkist freeze-dried fruit slices, Empire is also introducing Sunkist freeze-dried fruit purees with chocolate-flavored coating, a first-of-its-kind innovation in the category. By utilizing advanced freeze-drying techniques, the company preserves the natural flavors and nutrients, offering a unique alternative to conventional coated fruit snacks. As consumer demand for freeze-dried products continues to grow, Empire is strategically positioned to expand its industry footprint. "Consumers increasingly recognize freeze-dried foods as premium, convenient, and health-conscious options," Rosenberg noted. "We are proud to lead this evolution alongside Sunkist." To learn more about Empire Freezing & Drying's innovative new Sunkist-branded freeze-dried products, visit or reach out to info@ About Empire Freezing & Drying Empire Freezing & Drying is a leading innovator in the freeze-dried and quick-freezing industry, specializing in individual quick freezing (IQF), freeze drying, chocolate enrobing, and powder processing. Established in 2018, the company brings over 35 years of expertise in delivering high-quality, innovative food solutions. Operating out of a 25,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility in Newark, NJ, Empire has pioneered a range of unique freeze-dried products. With a commitment to premium quality, sustainability, and cutting-edge R&D, Empire holds multiple industry certifications, including USDA Organic, FDA, SQF, COR, and OU Kosher. About Sunkist Sunkist Growers is a citrus marketing cooperative, founded in 1893, which is owned by and operated for thousands of family farmers growing citrus in California and Arizona. For more information, visit Media Contact Jordan Lee, Empire Freezing & Drying, 7279778887, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Empire Freezing & Drying Sign in to access your portfolio
