November 18, 2005

Meatloaf Revolution

Popular southwest Florida chain Mel's Diner prides itself on its home cooking, and its acclaimed -- and recently updated -- meatloaf recipe.

Bonita Springs, FL - You either love it or hate it.  Your grandmother's recipe has been in the family for ages.  It's meatloaf and it's been a regular on dining room tables and in home-style restaurants for ages.  The Mel's Diner kitchen has recently revisited their traditional style of preparing meatloaf and has added some pizzazz to their updated version.

The popular southwest Florida chain has been dishing out familiar favorites, like roasted turkey and barbecue ribs, and of course meatloaf, for 15 years and makes all of its items from scratch.  Mel's meatloaf has always been a popular dish from the menu, however, Mel's management teams has new goals to improve all food quality and ingredients.

"When I came aboard at Mel's I wanted to revamp some of our signature dishes," says Fred Scherger, Director of Culinary Operations for Mel's Diner. "Meatloaf is a staple comfort food and our new version of it really hits home."

And that's exactly what Scherger has done at Mel's.  As Director of Culinary Operations, his duties include training the kitchen staff in efficiency and food preparation, creating new recipes, and, of course, honing existing recipes with gourmet flair.

"The key to my meatloaf is vegetables," says Scherger. "I caramelize vegetables with the meat and put sautéed mushrooms and onions into it, which add a lot flavor.  When it gets reconstituted, it adds moisture.  You won't find another like it."

The results, appropriately enough, have been stellar.

"The meatloaf is 100% better," says Scherger. "It was night and day with what we had before, and we get compliments all the time."

Scherger is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has worked in the kitchens of such celebrated establishments as Tampa's mis en place and Miami's Mark's Place and has overseen the corporate kitchens of such mammoth companies as The Compass Group and Whitsons Food Service.  He joined the Mel's Diner staff in July of 2005.

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Media Contact:
Ashley H. Hallmark
Quantified Marketing Group
407.936.1010
321.663.1209 c.
ahallmark@quantifiedmarketing.com


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