Who could have predicted that 98 degrees would be perfect grilling weather?
Nick Lachey is everywhere. The former boy band member currently cohosts two famous dating shots on Netflix: Love is Blind and The Ultimatum. He shares guest service with his wife, Vanessa Lachey. He is also one of the recent winners of the bizarre and entertaining series The Masked Singer. Now comes the versatile artist for your recipe book.
The former member of 98 Degrees has teamed up with leading spice brand McCormick to catapult the company – founded in 1889 – into the future.
Lachey Dishes about the art of PreBQ
A good barbecue does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of time, preparation and dedication to details. This process of preparing for the big cookout is aptly titled PreBQ.
“I’ve always been a fan of grilling,” says Lachey, who has been a heartthrob since the millennium. “What’s really special is the behind-the-scenes time when it’s just classic rock, a cold beer, close family and friends about to enjoy the afternoon and great food,” he says.
While this new partnership may seem strange to those who know Lachey from his music or dating show hosting gigs, this brand deal could be a big deal for everyone involved. “I’m excited to celebrate summer with Grill Mates. They understand PreBQ – the journey, the anticipation of a great meal and the tradition of preparing to cook over the fire for maximum flavor.” says Lachey.
Introducing the Hawaiian Burger With Grilled Pineapple
While people may be debating pineapple on pizza until the end of time, Lachey is coming out strong with his first recipe for McCormick: a Hawaiian burger with grilled pineapple.
Lachey’s recipe uses pork burgers paired with chopped red bell pepper, green onion, pineapple rings, and Hawaiian-style sweet burger buns. To spice up the recipe, Lachey relies on McCormick’s own Grill Mates Sweet and Smoky Rub.
Will this be the first in a long line of collaborations with the herbal brand? Or is Lachey venturing into unknown territory with a cookbook or cooking show? Although he tweeted a video of him preparing the Hawaiian burger, fans will just have to wait and see if the cooking world is about to get a whole lot hotter.
A modern approach to herbs
“The most important parts of grilling are what guests rarely see: preparing the dry rub and seasoning everything just right, inviting friends to help set up and stream your favorite playlist. Grill preparation is built on trust, traditions, and a love of food,” said Alia Kemet, McCormick’s Senior Vice President of Global Creative and Digital Transformation.
To accompany Lachey’s new recipe, McCormick is giving away gift bags filled with grilling accessories, including an apron, utensils, cutting board, meat thermometer and Grill Mates products. McCormick offers dozens of spice blends and dry rubs in flavors such as Brown Sugar Bourbon, Chipotle and Roasted Garlic, and Brazilian Steakhouse.
Kemet helped McCormick move into the modern age with a new app and influencer collaboration opportunity. The winning influencers get to offer their PreBQ tips and recipes. Users who download the app can vote for their favorites.
“With all sorts of grilling tips, tricks, and helpful hints from both our seasoned pros and Nick Lachey, we want grillers to share their PreBQ rituals and enjoy the whole process from preparation to plate,” she says.
Always innovate
McCormick’s recent celebrity collaborations aren’t the first time the long-standing brand has taken steps to stay current. In 2019, McCormick released a herbal line in partnership with BuzzFeed. Named Tasty Seasonings Blend, these spices came in five flavors: Fiery, Zesty, Savory, Jazzy, and Hearty, in an effort to capture some of the outlet’s youthful markets.
In addition to marketing to younger people, McCormick also partnered with IBM to use AI technology to predict future herbal trends. “The use of artificial intelligence by McCormick underlines our commitment to insight-driven innovation and the application of the most forward-looking technologies to continually improve our products and bring new flavors to market,” said Lawrence Kurzius, McCormick chairman, president and CEO. †
Founded by Willoughby M. McCormick, the company started out humbly selling root beer, flavor extracts, and fruit syrups. Today they have expanded. In addition to their seasonings, they also have brands such as Frank’s Red Hot, Cholula, French’s and Old Bay. As of June 2022, the company’s assets are worth more than $22 billion, thanks in part to its commitment to evolve with the times.
Lachey’s PreBQ video has been viewed more than 16,000 times on Instagram and 11,000 times on Twitter. We may not have seen the last of these tasty partnerships between the former 98 Degrees member and the longtime spice brand.
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This article was produced and published by Wealth of Geeks.
Featured image courtesy of McCormick.
