Introducing… CAULILINI® baby cauliflower
July 2018
It’s not often you get to introduce a vegetable variety to the country that makes people gasp.
Mann Packing did it 20 years ago with BROCCOLINI® baby broccoli, one of our most-beloved products. And look at it now: from fine dining to Chick-Fil-A to grocery stores everywhere, the name itself is so common that most people don’t realize we own the trademark to it.
Today, we’re all aflutter here at Mann’s over the newest member of the family: CAULILINI® baby cauliflower. We’ve been doing field trials with Aruba Seed Company for almost 2 years, teasing out seed spacing and other growing conditions to yield the best shape, color and flavor. The result: a cauliflower variety with blonde florets, elegant green stalks and a sweetly succulent flavor that knocks your socks off both raw and cooked.
Caulilini is similar to Broccolini in terms of its open floret structure and long edible stem. But it’s different in other ways. Unlike BROCCOLINI® baby broccoli, which is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese kale (gai lan), CAULILINI® baby cauliflower is 100% cauliflower. It also grows in heads, not single stalks. The resulting florets offer variation in shape and size that also set it apart from Broccolini. One feature that both vegetables have in common though: pure deliciousness.
Last fall, the new product team here at Mann’s brought our Chef Panel together to see what they thought of it.
We sent them CAULILINI® baby cauliflower samples to cook with beforehand, and when we met, their responses to it were pretty unanimous: “When can I put this on my menu??”
With its sweet, slightly nutty flavor and ombre coloring (the stem turns bright green when cooked while the florets stay light), CAULILINI® baby cauliflower brings the Wow Factor. One of our favorite ways to cook it is grilled, but it’s also delicious sautéed with plenty of garlic, roasted, or even raw as a unique addition to a crudité platter.
Now, before you run out to your nearest grocery store to buy it, know this. At the moment, CAULILINI® baby cauliflower is only available to our foodservice customers. So keep an eye out for it at your favorite dinning spot or watering hole, take a picture of it, and send us a note letting us know what you think.
We’re pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.
38 Comments
A I loveBroccolini so look forward to the new Caulini. Yum, yum, but no doubt ut will take ages to get to Canada.
Best regards
Hi Ruth – we’ve actually had quite a bit of buzz from Canada, so maybe it will get to you sooner than you think! All the best, Loree
I am an ex employee of Sysco in the Seattle Market and am still able to buy with my employee number. Wondering what the pack size is going to be.
Hi John – yes, Sysco is selling it! It’s available in a 3x2lb pack size. Enjoy! Loree
We love all of your products!! Especially the broccolini and the power blends as well as the broccoli slaw! Is there a chance we can get coupons?? Much appreciated!! 😊
Hi Edward – glad to hear you enjoy our products. Power Blend is also one of my favorites. Best, Loree
rush it out, and always tell us the chain that handles your products. so little time, you many choices!!! carol
We’re working on it, Carol! Hopefully you can try some soon. Best, Loree
When will Caulilini be available in New Jersey and where? Can’t wait to try it.
Hi Cay – it is available to our foodservice distributors on the East Coast, so look for it at your local restaurants. Enjoy! Loree
Where can I buy it . I live in seattle.
It’s currently only available to our foodservice customers, so check your local restaurant menus. -Loree
Illinois and Iowa want to devour it, too. Is it coming to us?
Coming soon – check your local restaurant menus as we’re only selling to our foodservice customers at the moment. -Loree
Just had some with dinner at Seasons 52 – loved it! I snapped a picture because it was just so pretty. How do I send it to you though? No way to upload a photo here.
Hi Kathi – Yes! I would love to see the photo. You can email it to me directly at . For nutritional info, click here: https://www.veggiesmadeeasy.com/foodservice/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/05/Caulilini-SweetStem-Cauliflower_FS_MANN.pdf. Cheers, Loree
I had Caulini at Seasons 52last night. It was so excellent. I took some home from other peoples dinners(family) and just ate it for lunch with leftover spinach and gorgonzola and pear salad.
YUMMY!!!!!
Thank you for a new awesome vegetable. I will look of it in the market to make at home
Ivy – we’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed it! We are very proud parents. All the best, Loree
We had this at Seasons 52 and it was fantastic! It was prepared with a light lemon taste and was so good I could’ve made a meal out of it! I was looking online to see where I could buy it, so sad that it’s not available in groceries yet. Can’t wait until it’s available locally.
Hi Lisa – I’m so glad you liked it. We’re working on a retail pack at the moment, so stay tuned. All the best, Loree
When will it be available to retail customers in the Portland, Oregon area?
Hi Mary – we’re working on a retail pack right now. It will be out some time in 2019. We’ll keep you posted! Cheers, Loree
Oh my goodness…my bf and I had it at a new local restaurant “The Blue Horse”. It looked different… pretty actually and one bite and we were hooked. Our very knowledgeable server explained what it was. Hope it’ll be available in stores soon!
Kathleen – it’s a winner, right? I’m glad to hear your server did such a good job educating you a your friend about it. All the best, Loree
We had it last night at a restaurant in DC and loved it!!! Finding now that it is not yet available in grocery or specialty markets. Do you have an ETA?
Hi Barbara – I’m so glad you liked it! We are working on a pack for retail right now. No set dates yet, but definitely some time in 2019. We’ll keep you posted. Best, Loree
Can’t wait to buy this for home use. I had it at the Magic Castle in Hollywood last night and seriously thought it was part of the magic. Couldn’t wait to come home and google it. They have a strict policy of “no photography” so couldn’t get any foodporn of it but it was gorgeous along side a gorgeous piece of salmon!
Hi Laura – we’re so glad you hear that you enjoyed it! All the best, Loree
I can’t wait to cook this at home! Going back to Seasons 52 for more. It was soooo good!
Hooray!
I had this delicious vegetable “Caulilini “ over risotto with grilled scallops at Seasons 52. It made for an elegant presentation on the plate and tasted fabulous!! I too am disappointed that my local Whole Foods doesn’t carry it. I’ll be on the lookout though!!
Hi Elizabeth – we’re so glad to hear you like it as much as we do! It should be in the prepared foods sections at Whole Foods, not the produce section. Let us know if you find it. -Loree
Just roasted some and it’s delicious! I found it at Eataly here in NYC and had to try it! Looking forward to getting more and trying it different ways.
Hi Lawrence – we’re glad to hear that you enjoyed Caulilini. We have several recipes on our foodservice website – be sure to check those out as well.
I cant wait to buy this! Any ideas on when it will hit the shelves?
Hi Nikki,
We are still currently working on the retail packaging, but we hope to get it in stores soon.
Caulilini is surely a pretty vegetable. I could see the fassy young children liking it, but could you please tell me if this is a GMO product? Thanks.
Hi Helen,
CAULILINI® baby cauliflower is 100% cauliflower, it is an Asian variety. It is not a GMO product.