pekingese distributions: Ohio Cook Chosen as a Finalist in the Seattle's Best Coffee ?Red ...

SEATTLE (BUSINESS WIRE), August 01, 2012 - Ohioans duked it out in the Buckeye edition of the Red Cup Showdown at the Ohio State Fair this weekend as participants blended, muddled and whipped up their most creative coffee recipes. Karen Haldeman of Cincinnati, Ohio took home the first place blue ribbon for her coffee drink idea, ?Orange Blossom Morning,? on the second stop of Seattle?s Best Coffee?s state fair tour across the country and on Facebook to find the most imaginative new coffee drink.

?The Ohio Red Cup Showdown cooks really shook things up and turned them upside down,? said TV Chef Jeff Mauro. ?From the land of the Butter Cow Sculpture and Deep Fried Buckeyes, unique flavors and coffee drink ideas were not at a shortage with inspiration drawn from waffles and bacon ingredients to ?Pineapple Upside Down Coffee.? After four intense heats Karen Haldeman?s ?Orange Blossom Morning? combined the perfect zesty kick with Seattle?s Best Coffee to put her over the edge to win the blue ribbon.?

Haldeman prepared her drink live for the ?Red Cup Showdown? Ohio State Fair judging team comprised of TV Chef Jeff Mauro, The Ohio State University Food Science and Technology Faculty Lecturer Kyle Kent and Michelle Van Harmelen of Seattle?s Best Coffee. Amy Kent of Centerburg, Ohio claimed second place with ?Caramel Corn Latte,? and Brad Berg of Springfield, Ohio came in third with ?PB & Java.?

Haldeman will travel to New York City to compete in a live coffee-making battle against finalists from the California, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa state fairs as well as one Facebook finalist for the $10,000 grand prize and the chance to have their drink featured at Seattle?s Best Coffee locations nationwide. In addition to a trip to the Big Apple in late August, Haldeman received $500 and free coffee for a year.

Ohioans can show their support of their hometown winner by participating in public voting on the Seattle?s Best Coffee Facebook page Aug. 18-22. The grand-prize winning coffee drink will be selected based on the vote of the judging panel at the New York finale, as well as Facebook votes.

This summer, creative cooks from across the country are entering their ideas into the Red Cup Showdown by submitting a recipe on the Seattle?s Best Coffee Facebook page or participating in one of the live coffee competitions that Seattle?s Best Coffee is hosting at the California, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa state fairs.

About Seattle?s Best Coffee

Seattle?s Best Coffee LLC has been roasting premium coffee since 1970 and today roasts more than 20 million pounds of coffee every year and millions of cups of our coffee are served every day. A freshly-brewed cup of Seattle?s Best Coffee is currently available in more than 50,000 locations including cafes, college campuses, restaurants, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, grocery stores and movie theatres. Seattle?s Best Coffee is a featured brand within Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX). For more information, please visit Seattle?s Best Coffee online at www.seattlesbest.com<http://www.seattlesbest.com>, become a member of the coffee community at www.facebook.com/SeattlesBestCoffee or follow Seattle?s Best Coffee on Pinterest for unique coffee inspiration at www.pinterest.com/seattlesbest. For information about our retail franchise opportunity, please visit www.seattlesbest.com.

About Jeff Mauro

Jeff Mauro, winner of the seventh season of Food Network Star, graduated from California?s Hollywood Kitchen Academy, and has worked in the food industry since high school in various roles, including line cook, caterer and chef instructor. After pursuing a career as an entertainer and comedian in Los Angeles, Jeff returned to Chicago to spend time doing what he loves: cooking. His down-to-earth personality coupled with his comic skills make a great combination in the kitchen. In his Food Network cooking show, Sandwich King, Jeff proves you can turn any meal into a sandwich and any sandwich into a delicious meal.

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