Posted on 11th Jun 2010 @ 9:51 AM

With BBQ season in full swing, we thought it would be a good time to sit down and talk with our friend, Sandi Ford, President of Ford’s Gourmet Foods, master distributors of the acclaimed line of Bone Suckin’ Sauces.  Sandi, you know our first question is going to be what’s new this BBQ season from Bone Suckin’ Sauce?  “We’re really excited about our latest product – Bone Suckin’ Jerky.  This product allows you to take the flavor of Bone Suckin’ Sauce with you wherever you go!”

Is it actually made with Bone Suckin Sauce?  “It’s made with the same great flavors found in Bone Suckin’ Sauce – hardwood smoked, sweetened with honey and molasses.  There’s no other jerky like it on the market.”

What made you decide to do beef jerky?  “It’s a product we’ve always wanted, but were waiting to find the right partner to do it with.  We definitely found that partner in the Umpqua Indian Tribe of Oregon.  Their experience in making jerky for generations helped us to create the best all natural jerky available.  They also share our belief in creating products that are all natural and gluten free, and contain no preservatives or nitrites.”

We got to try it…now we want to buy it!  When we get it and where can we find it?  “We are still in the preview stages right now.  We’ll be introducing it at the NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.  So stay tuned…more to come!”

What else do you have on the horizon from a new product perspective?  “Well, we’ve already introduced our new Bone Suckin’ Poultry Season & Rub.  This has just the right mix of some of the original flavors of our Bone Suckin’ Seasoning & Rub plus the added hint of garlic and sage.  Our customers use it on everything from turkey to chicken to fish and much more.

And we have GREAT news for fans of our Fire Dancer Jalapeno Nuts.  We now have Fire Dancer Honey Roasted Jalapeno Nuts.  This twist on a customer favorite starts with the sweetness of honey and then finishes with the great tasting jalapeno flavor that is the core of our original secret recipe.”

Both the Poultry Seasoning & Rub and our Fire Dancer Honey Roasted Jalapeno Nuts are available on line at www.BoneSuckin.com.  
 
What trends are you seeing right now in the world of BBQ? “Innovation and experimentation seem to be the order of the day for our customers.  They’re trying different cooking methods and different cuts of meat.  They’re also putting things on the grill they’ve not tried before from vegetables to pizza…even grilled fruit for dessert.

Customers are even being creative in the way they use our products.  They might start by seasoning a chicken breast with the Bone Suckin’ Poultry Seasoning & Rub and then finish it on the grill with a healthy brush full of Bone Suckin’ Sauce.  Or they might add the Habanero Sauce to the Yaki to create a spicy teriyaki flavor for kebabs.
There are no limits to imagination when it comes to barbecue season.”

Any words of wisdom for amateur grillers?  “Low and slow…it’s an old adage, but is so true.  Most barbecue sauces, including ours, include brown sugar, molasses, or some ingredient that caramelizes as it cooks, bringing out the sweetness of the sauce and adding the gorgeous color that is synonymous with great barbecue.  However, if you start too high, the same elements that give you that great color will cause your food to burn.  With a little patience and some great sauce, you’re sure to have a perfect meal every time.”

Ford's Gourmet Foods is a fourth generation, Raleigh, North Carolina-based family business that creates some of the world's greatest tasting all-natural, gluten free foods including Wine Nuts and Fire Dancer Jalapeño Peanuts, Earth Family Organics and Naturals, and the master distributors of the internationally acclaimed Bone Suckin' Sauces – the ONLY barbecue sauces rated #1 by Newsweek, Food & Wine and many others.  For more mouth watering recipes and information, visit Ford’s Gourmet Foods online at www.BoneSuckin.com or Visit Booth #5100 at the NASFT New York Show.