By Baileigh Rebowe

L’Observateur

NORCO – Edible Enterprises food incubator in Norco celebrated its second anniversary Wednesday with members of the community, entrepreneurs and local politicians.

Attendees were able to meet the tenants and sample different products from the kitchens.

Samples included rosemary marinade chicken, bananas foster cupcakes, olive spreads, dips, breads, cheese, cocktail mixers and more.

Tenants seemed thrilled to share their variety of products, product recipes and product background with those who went. Most explanations began with a story or two about the product history.

Don Militello, tenant and owner of Militello’s Gourmet Specialties, has been manufacturing antipasta/olive mix at the incubator for three years.

The product may be new to the market, but it has been in Militello’s family for over a century.

“My great grandmother brought it here in 1897 from Sicily. My mother began making it, and 30 years ago I started to make it,” said Militello.

Stacy Greco of Omi’s Gourmet Foods displayed her Creole remoulade sauce on a bed of cream cheese and crackers for surveyors. She said the sauce is an old recipe of her mother’s.

Husband and wife Tyrone and Esailama Henry are the most recent additions to Enterprises. They showcased a tea called “Bissap Breeze,” which can be used in a spritzer, a cocktail or served plain.

The beverage is a blend of hibiscus flowers, nectar and special spices.

Other tenants that participated in the event include Louisiana Sisters olives, Fromage Circa cheese balls, Cake N’ Cups cupcakes, Billy Bites banana bread and Webster Group cupcakes.

Gaye Sandoz, marketing and tenant services director, said the event was a huge success.

“We had a great reception. More people came than we ever thought,” she said.

The products are currently in more than 170 stores, including Rouses, Mathernes, the Destrehan Plantation store and Breaux Mart.

Edible Enterprises is the only food incubator in the state. It provides culinary entrepreneurs with the facilities, marketing tools and storage to start their businesses.

For more information, call Edible Enterprises at 985-764-1504 or visit www.edibleenterprises.org/index.html.