Remember when green kiwifruit was among the trendiest items on the menu? Its journey from popular dessert garnish to fruit salad staple is a true culinary success story. Kiwifruit may never have gone mainstream without the help of food service professionals, like you.

Innovative chefs and mixologists find inspiration in premium ingredients, like ZESPRI® GREEN and GOLD Kiwifruit. The novel flavors and appearance started the trend. And the superb quality will keep you inspired throughout New Zealand’s peak season – June through November.

Featured Chef: Jet Tila, Los Angeles

Jet Tila is a nationally renowned chef specializing in all styles of Asian cuisine. Educated at Le Cordon Bleu and extremely knowledgeable about Asian gastronomy, Jet possesses a broad framework of experience and ideas from which to draw inspiration to create his incomparable and innovative cuisine.

His passion for Asian cuisine began at an early age in his native Bangkok, Thailand, where he began to explore the deep connections between history, tradition and food. In culinary school, Jet began to develop his style by seeking novel and inventive ways to approach Eastern ingredients with classical French techniques. Jet has also completed an intensive study program at the California Sushi Academy.

He has appeared on television programs such as Food TV’s “The Best Of Food Finds,” and “The Secret Life Of” and is also a frequent contributor to National Public Radio’s “Good Food” with Evan Kleiman. Currently, Jet is highly sought after to consult, teach cooking classes, cater meals, serve as a private chef and is the Asian Food Consultant to the Bon Appétit Management Company.

ZESPRI® Kiwifruit was fortunate to have Chef Jet develop seven kiwifruit-inspired recipes for the Culinary Institute of America’s 2007 World of Flavors Show, “The Rise of Asia.” Click on the recipes below to experience his genius yourself!

• Galbi Shortribs with ZESPRI® Kiwifruit Marinade
• Tuna and ZESPRI® Kiwifruit Poke
• ZESPRI® GREEN and GOLD Kiwifruit Papaya Salad
• Grilled Chicken Skewers with ZESPRI® Kiwifruit Sambal
• ZESPRI® Kiwifruit and Shrimp Salad with Thai Roasted Chili Paste Dressing
• Vietnamese Spring Rolls with ZESPRI Kiwifruit Nuoc Cham

Would you like to be our next featured chef?

Click here to submit your own kiwifruit creation.