Meet the Producer: Vincent P. James

Mediterranean Snack Food CompanyFortified with years of international business experience, many years living abroad and a passion for fresh, quality cuisines, Vincent James struck out in 2005 to create the Mediterranean Snack Food Company. His goal was to develop innovative, healthy food snacks that he would feel good about serving his own children. After developing and testing numerous recipes over a two-year period, Mediterranean Snacks introduced the first-ever Baked Lentil Chips in late 2009.

“We spent two years trying to create a new snack that would be both nutritious and great tasting,” he says. “Finally, we discovered that lentils could give us the flavor, texture, protein and fiber we were looking for. Then we had to create a perfect mixture of beans that would expand in the baking process and provide delicious flavor.”

Clearly a successful recipe, Baked Lentil Chips became a sofi Silver Finalist for Outstanding Snack Food in the 2010 sofi Awards. Building on that success, James added another first-to-market product to his company’s growing portfolio: gluten-free, non-GMO Lentil Crackers, the first and only cracker made from protein-rich lentils. Since then, he has expanded his line of chips and crackers to include a variety of flavors, and added Veggie Medley Chips, Veggie Medley Straws, Multi Grain Chips, Cheddar Clouds, and Buffalo Nickel Wingers. His products sell nationwide and in Canada in more than 7,500 outlets and online.

James shares more with foodspring.com

What is your favorite product in your line and why?

What’s like asking me to choose a favorite child! I have to say that the one product I truly love is our Baked Lentil Chips.

Who is your culinary idol?

My mother is my culinary idol. She was born and raised in France, and has mastered the art of preparing extravagant meals in a simple way. Her desserts are wonderful—especially her apple tart, which is simply a golden-brown crust filled with Granny Smith apples and baked to perfection.

What’s your guilty food pleasure?

I love to snack. Even with our wonderful, low-fat snacks, I cannot help splurging and eating full-fat kettle-cooked potato chips once in a while. I especially love the darker burnt chips. They’re irresistible, but I do eat them in moderation because they are so greasy and filling!

Best meal ever?

I’ve dined everywhere from Paris to Buenos Aires, and it is so hard to pick just one favorite meal. I like simple meals best. An ideal meal would start with chunky vegetable soup and fresh crusty bread, followed by white fish sauteed with panko crumbs and herbs with crispy, green asparagus or string beans. No meal is complete without a serving of cheese—creamy goat cheese is my favorite. Add a good glass of red wine, good friends and good conversation, and it would be just about perfect.

If you weren’t making healthy chips, what would you be doing instead?

I would be traveling the world tasting and experiencing new foods and cultures.

Aside from your products, what three items can you always find in your kitchen?

Olive oil—I cook exclusively using olive oil; garlic—fresh garlic is added to almost every dish I make; and dried herbs from Provence to enhance the flavor of any dish. —Denise Shoukas

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