Last weekend’s third annual Cherry Palooza at Hallstedt Homestead Cherries was a great success. Both seatings were sold out, with a total attendance of almost 200 people. Three-time James Beard award-winning chef Jimmy Schmidt curated an exciting menu where every dish featured the Hallstedt’s Red Truck Orchards Cherry Vinegar, showcasing its versatility from salad dressing to marinade to a delicious caramel sauce ice cream topping.
Following the lunch, attendees heard from Phil and Sarah Hallstedt about the cherry industry and their entrepreneurial ventures; from Sam Reese, the Director of Operations for Red Truck Cherry Vinegar, who was instrumental in developing the product; and from Chef Jimmy Schmidt, who described the numerous different ways in which he had used it in the lunch menu.
This new, innovative cherry product is already having positive impacts on the industry and on the region. Just a few fascinating examples of some of the attendees speaks to that.
