Splenda ‘Chef Splendido’.

The makers of Splenda No Calorie Sweetener announce that Juan Vasquez from The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles has been selected as the 2005 “Chef Splendido” winner of its national dessert challenge. Vasquez was selected for his winning remake of Coconut Flan. As part of the grand prize, Vasquez will travel across select cities this summer in the Splenda No Calorie Sweetener mobile kitchen tour, which is designed to educate U.S. Hispanic families on how easy it is to cook great tasting, nutritious meals at home while reducing overall calories and sugar. The unique bilingual cooking tour, which debuted this spring, is a multi-faceted grassroots mobile marketing program that features a fully equipped kitchen and will visit key retail stores and major Hispanic events throughout the U.S. The “Los Momentos Mas Dulces” (“Moments of Sweetness”) tour enables consumers to learn about Splenda No Calorie Sweetener and taste free samples of great-tasting treats made with it, including freshly baked cookies, fresh fruit aguas frescas and hot coffee.

“I am very excited to be named ‘Chef Splendido’,” said Vasquez. “It is important for aspiring chefs to have choices when developing recipes for discriminating diners who demand great taste but want to avoid the extra calories that sugar can add. I look forward to sharing my Coconut Flan recipe as the Splenda No Calorie Sweetener mobile kitchen tour makes its visits at festivals this summer.”

“Through the ‘Chef Splendido’ talent search, our goal was to educate Latinos and Latin food lovers everywhere that they can still enjoy traditional Latin desserts with all the flavor and great taste they’re accustomed to, but with less calories and sugar. We are thrilled to be able to work with these very talented chefs of tomorrow,” said Nipa Shah, Hispanic Marketing Manager for the SPLENDA(R) Brand.