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Dole Finds its Newest Banana Honorees

Right in its Own Backyard

Charlotte’s Own Pinky’s Westside Grill and Batch House

Inducted into the Dole Banana Hall of Fame

for their legendary Banana Pudding and Banana Bread

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 30, 2024) — For the next class of banana legends to be inducted into its Banana Hall of Fame, Dole Food Company didn’t have to venture further than its hometown of Charlotte.

The produce leader, which has maintained its U.S. corporate office on South Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte since 2019, has inducted two popular Charlotte restaurants – Pinky’s Westside Grill and Batch House – into the Dole Banana Hall of Fame for their ongoing contributions to the lore, legacy and local, national or global appeal of the quintessential yellow fruit. 

Dole created its Banana Hall of Fame earlier this year as part of its year-long 125th Banana-versary (dole.com/125) celebration to honor those culinary and cultural institutions that have played a pivotal role in making the banana a universal symbol for simple nutrition, goodness, flavor and fun.

The first three inaugural Hall of Fame inductees included Brennan’s, the New Orleans French Quarter restaurant that created the world-famous Bananas Foster dessert; the City of Latrobe, Pa., birthplace of the Banana Split and home of the annual Great American Banana Split Festival; and Bobby Banana, the 7-foot banana mascot of Dole Food Company.

“After honoring banana legends around the country, we are delighted to spotlight two Hall of Fame-worthy inductees right here in Charlotte,” said Melanie Marcus, Dole’s nutrition, wellness and communications manager. “For years, many of us at Dole have been going to Pinky’s and Batch House, and absolutely loving their banana pudding and banana bread. We’ve since come to learn that each has a legacy that goes far beyond Queen City.

Dole proudly honors each inductee’s unique banana contribution:   

  • Pinky’s Westside Grill – Grandmother Nannie’s Banana Pudding.  When Greg Auten, Pinky’s chef and co-owner, first recreated his Grandma Nannie’s Banana Pudding for his first Charlotte restaurant called The Penguin Drive-In in 2001, he had no idea just how popular it would become. He eventually took the best-selling recipe to Pinky’s when he opened the restaurant nine years later – and the $5.95 treat has been considered a local legend ever since and even featured multiple times on The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” For more info, go to eatatpinkys.com

     

  • Batch House – Stuffed Banana Bread.  Batch House’s beloved Banana Bread was born out of the pandemic.  When owner Cristina Agurcia was forced to close her restaurant in 2020, she got the idea to create a new recipe for a social media video that could replace her employees’ lost tips. Her resulting creation, a banana bread filled with peanut butter, Nutella or cookie butter, immediately raised $5,000 and remains the first menu item to routinely sell-out every day. Its success even spawned an equally popular Batch House Banana Bread Cake. For details, go to https://thebatchmaker.com/.

“I come from a family that loves everything banana – so Pinky’s being inducted into the Dole Banana Hall of Fame is both a personal and professional honor,” said Auten. “I know my Grandma Nannie would be thrilled to know that her simple little dessert now has its own fan club and delights so many people in Charlotte and beyond.”

“While Batch House makes oatmeal crème pies, gooey brownies and dozens of other cakes, cookies and cheesecakes, it’s our banana bread that people know,” said Agurcia. “We take banana bread to the next level by stuffing it with some amazing fillings that give it the Batch House touch. And given the story behind its creation, it has a very special place in our hearts which makes this honor even more meaningful.”

According to Marcus, Dole will announce additional Dole Banana Hall of Fame inductees later this year. Banana lovers can nominate their own favorite banana icons – from people and places; to banana dishes, drinks and desserts; to bananas in film, TV, music and popular culture – by using the hashtag #DoleBananaVersary on any Dole social media page.

The Dole 125th Banana-versry continues throughout 2024 with in-store messaging, contests, partnerships, proclamations, recipes and appearances by Bobby Banana. A special highlight is “125 Ways to Be Bananas,” part of a web and social media series of banana hacks, tips and recipes, digital downloads, engagement opportunities and ways to share banana memories.

For continually refreshed and updated information on the Dole 125th Banana-versary, go to dole.com/125. Use hashtags #DoleBananaVersary, #DoleBananas125, #BananasForTheFuture, #BananaVersary and #Fresh4Future to join in on the conversation.

 

About Dole Food Company

Dole Food Company, part of Dole plc, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

 

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