Ritz teams with celeb chef Samuelsson to take stress out of holiday meal prep

Kimberly Redmond//November 2, 2022//

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Ritz, the iconic cracker brand owned by Mondelez Global LLC in East Hanover, is teaming up with celebrity chef and restauranteur Marcus Samuelsson to make the Thanksgiving season as stress-free as possible.

As part of a new, multifaceted holiday campaign, Samuelsson created a curated Friendsgiving Chef Service meal kit that will ship starting Nov. 14 via online marketplace Goldbelly.com.

The meal kits provide everything needed to whip up some of Samuelsson’s favorite seasonal recipes, including chicken meatballs and berbere honey brussels with Ritz cracker crumble, candied root veggies with spice pecans, Marcus’ cornbread stuffing, and dirty gravy.

RITZ and Chef Marcus Samuelsson are teaming up to take the stress out of holiday meal prep, with the RITZ “Friendsgiving Chef Service” sweepstakes and Goldbelly holiday meal kits. – MONDELEZ GLOBAL

Ritz also launched a Friendsgiving Chef Service sweepstakes that will afford one winner with the chance to host a Friendsgiving dinner for 10 that is expertly prepared by Samuelsson at his newest restaurant in New York City, Hav & Mar.

The dining experience will take place Nov. 14 and include an exclusive preview of Samuelsson’s recipes from the upcoming Ritz cookbook, “A Taste of Welcome: A Celebration of Food and Culture.” The publication, which was created in collaboration with Samuelsson and Bon Appetit magazine, is scheduled for release in December.

“Friendsgiving has become its own holiday, with hosts welcoming their chosen families and guests contributing dishes that often reflect their diverse cuisines and cultures,” said Mayte Killeen, senior brand manager, Ritz. “Food is a powerful connector and is a pivotal vehicle for welcoming others in to share a piece of who we are and where we come from, so it was natural for us to leverage our Taste of Welcome values to shine a light on the diversity that defines this special time of year for friends and families across America.”

Samuelsson said he is proud to partner with Ritz and “be part of a brand campaign that recognizes and celebrates culturally diverse families and holidays and the importance of diverse cuisine, tastes and flavors.”

The chef, who was born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden before moving to the United States, recalled that when he first celebrated Thanksgiving, it was with roommates and restaurant co-workers in New York City.

“I was a young cook and new to this country and I remember making some Swedish herring. To me, there is nothing more satisfying or joyful than sitting down at a table full of friends and great food that represents who we all are,” Samuelsson said. “Now, my wife and I welcome 12 to 15 friends and family to our house in Harlem and our table is a mash-up of great food; everyone brings something: Filipino adobo, Peruvian ceviche, Nigerian suya. I didn’t grow up with Thanksgiving, but it has become one of the holidays I’ve learned to love the most and I’m excited to relive a little of that first Friendsgiving.”