About Little Miss Chief
Gourmet Products
The Little Miss Chief Story
Ellen Melcosky, President and CEO of Little Miss Chief Gourmet Products Inc. and a member of Esketemc First Nation, has found success in the gourmet market place with her smoked salmon; using a unique brining process from a recipe started from her grandmother and improved on by her mom. Ellen recalls: No one cooked it better than my mom. She had a unique method of brining and smoking salmon.
Ellen began experimenting with her mother’s recipe years ago, and in 1996, began distributing her salmon sensation under the Little Miss Chief label. She worked on this for five years using both hot and cold smoking techniques, and finally chose the cold.
She explains, “I decided to alter the recipe and incorporate the use of dry white wine into my brining method.”
The cooking process involves filleting and marinating the fish with wine and spices, which is later slowly smoked over natural woodchips. Using no preservatives or colours, the salmon is quickly packaged into the gold foil retort pouches and thermally processed in steam. This produces a product that requires no refrigeration until opened, while savouring the natural juices in the pouch.
History & Awards
Her Okanagan based company is starting to attract high-end consumers and recognition from the First Nations Business Association. Little Miss Chief received a Mishtapew finalist award from the First Peoples Business Association in Montreal, recognizing Aboriginal achievement. Little Miss Chief products also listed in the top ten in May issue of Food in Canada, Profit under Winners and was nominated for,
DINING CAPACITY IN THE PRIVATE ROOM
2001 – Canadian Export Award
2009 – BC Aboriginal Business award
2010 – National Aboriginal Achievement Award
2010 – Westbank Aboriginal Key Business Award
2010 National Aboriginal
Achievement Awards
Ellen Melcosky Featured
on Venturing Forth
