Two New Menu Items Made With US Dehydrated Potatoes
Offered by Japanese Pub

DENVER—(April 11, 2008) HUB, an English-style pub operated by HUB Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan, is now offering two mashed potato items made with US dehydrated potatoes, Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Shepherd’s Pie, at its 38 shops across Japan.

HUB is an English-style pub targeting young urban professionals in their 20s and 30s. Customers have casual drinks and enjoy conversation in an atmosphere just like that of a typical English pub. The menu includes HUB’s Original Beer and Fish & Chips, a distinctive English meal.

To develop menu items using mashed potatoes, a traditional English side-dish, test products with several kinds of potato flakes were made. HUB decided to use US standard potato flakes because of the rich, deep taste and because they remain delicious over extended periods. The restaurant also found standard potato flakes to be labor-saving, easy to handle and convenient because mashed potatoes can be prepared by simply rehydrating the potato flakes in milk.

The two mashed potato meals are Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Shepherd’s Pie. To prepare an authentic English-style roast beef dinner, HUB marinates beef in a secret sauce and roasts it. The roast beef is then placed on top of smooth mustard flavored mashed potatoes, made from US dehydrated potatoes.

To prepare Shepherd’s Pie, another traditional English dish, ground meat is covered with light mashed potatoes, made from US dehydrated potatoes, and baked. This meal is distinguished by the fluffy texture of the mashed potatoes and the tenderness and satisfying flavor of the meat pie filling.

HUB was assisted by the United States Potato Board’s (USPB) Japan Representative Office in Tokyo, Japan in the sampling of US dehydrated potato products during the development of both of these new foodservice menu items.

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David Fairbourn is Manager, Industry Communications & Policy, at the United States Potato Board in Denver. The mission of the USPB is to increase demand for potatoes and potato products through an integrated promotion program, thereby providing US producers with expanding markets for their production. David can be contacted at 303-369-7783 or david.fairbourn@uspotatoes.com. For complete information about the programs, ROI results, resources and tools available to all members of the industry.