Recipes for Success: In conversation with Pam Tannourji

Simplot Foodservice has launched a one-stop shop to provide chefs working in a range of venues with recipes for success. As part of the Culinary Team, Pam Tannourji has leveraged all the recipes they have created to create an easily navigable webpage with recipes that are searchable using filters for venue, meal type, brands, cuisine and ingredients.

‘Our Culinary Team of highly experienced development chefs, food stylists and recipe content creators have developed recipes over a period of many years,’ Pam says. ‘Some of our development chefs have worked in commercial kitchens internationally and have an implicit understanding of our customer and consumer needs. We boast state-of-the-art culinary facilities that enable us to be agile and flexible when it comes to creating inspiring recipes for the end user.’

A passion and familiarity with Simplot’s products has made it easier for the team to create delicious recipes that start with a base ingredient. The easy-to-use recipes are accompanied by stunning visuals and have been designed to meet the needs of various establishments, from cafes, sit-down restaurants, takeaway establishments, QSRs and health and aged care facilities, to function or catering venues. The team is fortunate to have a large stable of iconic brands to work with, that cover shelf stable as well as frozen products. The product range includes frozen and shelf seafood, frozen vegetables, chicken snacks, the Plant Based range, frozen Edgell potato range, John West Tuna pouches, Leggo’s Sauces and Pastes, and Edgell canned legume range.

'We have an array of quality products that are perfect for school canteens and healthcare facilities. Our diverse range of offerings make preparing nutritious meals easy and convenient, without sacrificing taste or flavour.’ A scratch cook herself, Pam has been inspired to change her home cooking after being exposed to Simplot’s range.

‘I'm time poor so I'm looking for convenience, but also deliciousness, so I do use a lot of these recipes at home. Asking for a favourite is a bit like choosing your favourite child,’ she laughs.

‘For example, we’ve got an incredible recipe using an I&J Battered Hoki with a pomegranate and grain salad that elevates this beautiful piece of battered fish by adding a few extra elements and serving it in an inspirational way.‘

Then we have this amazing recipe that is Lentil Meatballs with Roast Carrot Sauce packed with frozen Edgell Vegetables both in the meatballs and the accompanying fragrant carrot and tomato-based sauce. It’s so good!‘

We also have the Edgell Plant Based range that is continuously growing in popularity. The Edgell Plant Based Lamb Strips are totally delicious. If you were to close your eyes and taste this product, you wouldn't even know you were tasting a plant-based product because the texture is incredible and the Mediterranean flavours are very reminiscent of a traditional souvlaki.’

Searching for recipes by ingredients provides a great way for chefs to reduce food waste as they can find recipe ideas using already-prepared Simplot products in interesting, innovative recipes.

Pam suggests chefs use it as their first port of call when revising their menu.

‘If you've got your range of products and ingredients and you are looking at some new ideas for your venue, it really is a terrific starting point.’ Whilst the database currently features 181 recipes, that number is set to grow. ‘We're constantly developing recipes with cross-functional teams that are working on various product innovations, so we'll be continually adding to it as time goes on,’ Pam says. What won't change is the focus on convenience, ease of preparation, maximum flavour, and results.

‘The Culinary Team can, hand on heart, say that it does deliver on a “wow factor”, maximum flavour, and customer satisfaction. We conduct numerous internal taste testing panels and cross-collaboration tastings with various product teams to ensure that what we are delivering speaks to customer and consumer needs.’

Click here to check out the recipes.