Talented winners were recognized in an array of delicious categories

DALLAS – January 28, 2011 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, recently announced the winners of the 2nd annual Dallas Gourmet Gold Awards during a cocktail party in The Gourmet Market on Friday, January 21. The Gourmet Market, the 25,000-square-foot shared showroom, features unique gourmet gifts and specialty food and beverage lines, as well as housewares, cookware, tabletop, kitchen gadgets and wine accessories from more than 150 companies. As the only gourmet showroom open daily in the United States, The Gourmet Market serves as an excellent resource to showcase the newest products from leading gourmet companies.

The Dallas Gourmet Gold Awards highlighted the best that gourmet has to offer during the Total Home & Gift Market that was held January 19-25. Participants competed in a variety of categories displaying the art of cooking. Entries were judged based on taste, originality and packaging. This year’s judges were Amy Cavanaugh, associate editor, Fancy Food & Culinary Products; Rick Wells, president, Wells Hospitality Group including Rick’s Chophouse and Sauce; and Sarah Dyer, business development manager for floral, gift baskets, card and party, Central Market.

The Dallas Gourmet Gold winners are:
Best Chocolate or Candy – Oh Chocolate Cake Rounds, La Bouchee
Best Dessert – Pecan Caramel Dessert, The Caramel Candy Co.
Best Snack or Dip – Spinach Artichoke Dip, Carmies Kitchen
Best Condiment: Jelly/Jam/Preserves – Scotch Bonnet Pepper Jelly, Suan’s
Best Condiment: Salsa/Relish/Sauces – Golden Pecan Pepper Jelly, Liz & Linda’s
Best Soup or Chili – Chili Fixins Texas Style, Truly Texas
Best Beverage – Yerba Chai Tea, Sterling Tea
Best Seasoning/Oil/Vinegar – 20-year-old Aged Balsamic Vinegar, Galli Gourmet
Most Innovative Kitchen Accessory/Kitchen Gadget – Slow Cooker Mate
Best of the Rising Stars – Margarita, Slim Ritas

Make plans now to attend the next Dallas Total Home & Gift Markets: March 24-27 and June 22-28, 2011. Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel®, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

About Dallas Market Center
Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men's, western, women's and children's apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 78 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com.