Archive
| Wine for Everyone! from ONN Click for Description
Please note: Link may be time sensitive. If you have questions about this story or the Columbus Food & Wine Affair, contact events@foodandwineaffair.com
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September 23, 2009 | |
| Thank you for another successful year! Click for Description
Dear Editor:
There are a number of magnificent fundraisers in our area, but excuse us if we are a bit biased when it comes to the Columbus Food & Wine Affair. When an event like the Grand Tasting held on September 25th draws more than a thousand people to taste the best in foods and wines while benefiting a number of local charities, it is nothing less than spectacular. As co-chairs of this year’s event, we were able to see in a very up close and personal way just what it takes for an event of this magnitude to succeed not only in providing a full evening for its guests but to excel in contributing financially to very worthwhile charities.
We would be remiss not to acknowledge the vision of founders Greg Maurer of Heidelberg Distributing and David Miller of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants along with the insight of Gail Baker of the Central Ohio Restaurant Association. As a team, they helped to guide and direct our very effective Steering Committee to present an event like no other in Central Ohio. Those on the committee worked diligently for several months to secure just the right wineries, restaurants, sponsors, exhibitors, silent auction contributors and other participants that help the Columbus Food & Wine Affair to stand out among area fundraisers.
The event would not succeed without the enthusiastic participation of our outstanding restaurants and wineries. We cannot thank them enough for their willingness to display their finest for the enjoyment of our guests. We must also extend special thanks to our very generous lead sponsors including WBNS-10TV, The Columbus Dispatch and Discover Card; Reserve level sponsors including Sysco Central Ohio, S. Pellegrino and Giant Eagle; and the support of Franklin Park Conservatory, Madison & Fifth and the Marquee Club Group and many others.
Finally, a very special thank you to the more than 1,000 of you who joined us at Franklin Park Conservatory for a truly magical evening. With the collective help of all of those mentioned, we will have a positive impact on the WBNS-10TV Family Fund, the Central Ohio Restaurant Foundation, Children’s Hunger Alliance, Columbus College of Art & Design, Ian Adams Van Heyde Scholarship Fund, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Thank you to all who took part. We look forward to what 2010 will bring!
Sincerely,
Co-Chairs, 2009 Columbus Food & Wine Affair
Debbie Hamernick,
President
Sysco Central Ohio
2400 Harrison Road
Columbus, OH 43204
614-930-4188
Raj Hora, Owner
Tutto Vino Wine Bar & Bistro
7178 Muirfield Drive
Dublin, OH 43017
614-799-9222
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September 28, 2009 | |
| Kitchen Ink: If you've never indulged in an affair Click for Description Kitchen Ink: by G.A. Benton, COLUMBUS ALIVE If you've never indulged in an affair before, I think you ought to give it a shot. Because, speaking from experience, I potently believe that spending a couple of glorious hours in very special company at a spectacularly romantic meet-up spot can lend some much-needed heat to your too-often flaccid evenings. And that just might be the rejuvenating tonic that will help you face the tedium of your day-to-day life.
So I suggest you get especially dolled up this Friday night and then take your hot-looking self over to the beyond-lovely Franklin Park Conservatory and let the magic happen. Oh yeah, love will be in the air - and on plates and in glasses - that night at the seventh-annual Columbus Food and Wine Affair.
If you can't find something you absolutely love at the always-fantastic Columbus Food and Wine Affair, then you probably don't have a pulse. For one, this must-attend event lays out beautiful culinary delights from a slew of the best restaurants in town. Among the myriad gourmet tastemakers listed are: Latitude 41, M at Miranova, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, The Top Steak House, Vino Vino, newbies like Barrio, DeepWood, Vittoria and Sage American Bistro and, of course, the venerable Worthington Inn.
But as the Affair's full title suggests, there's going to be a little vino in the splendiferous park, too. How much, you might ask? Well, how does over 300 different bottles sound to you? (That's even more than I can drink in an evening - well, probably.)
You see, this Friday night's soiree is the culmination of one of the biggest wine competitions in the Midwest. The grapey contest involved over 300 fermented entrants, and each worthy label was invited to the shindig - so plan on sipping generously from around the globe. For instance, at past CF&W Affairs, glass-clinking revelers have been treated to everything from big Italians to Napa Valley stalwarts to real-deal French Champagnes.
As an added bonus, all the fun is going to benefit some great causes. Over the past half-dozen years, the CF&W Affair has raised more than $300,000 for great charities, and this year, your well-spent dollars will help out the following: Children's Hunger Alliance, Mid-Ohio FoodBank, Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Central Ohio Restaurant Association Foundation. I will see you there!
Please note: Link may be time sensitive. For further information on this story or the Columbus Food & Wine Affair, contact: events@foodandwineaffair.com http://www.columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2009/09/24/ca_fo_ink.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=108
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September 24, 2009 | |
| Alert: Columbus Food & Wine Affair Happens Friday! Click for Description
Contact: Gail A. Baker, Executive Director, Central Ohio Restaurant Association – 259 Garfield Avenue –
London, OH 43140 - Phone: 877-274-CORA - Fax: 740-852-4379
ONSITE CONTACT: Kim Tyndall 614-554-1587
MEDIA ALERT
COLUMBUS FOOD & WINE AFFAIR GRAND TASTING
Fabulous Food. Award-Winning Wines. All for Charity.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25!
Event: Columbus Food & Wine Affair Grand Tasting, now in its 7th sensational year!
When: 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Where: Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203
What to expect:
Who it benefits:
WBNS 10-TV FAMILY FUND, Central Ohio Restaurant Foundation, Children’s Hunger Alliance, Columbus College of Art & Design, Ian Adams Van Heyde Scholarship Fund, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank
Sponsors:
Founders Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Heidelberg Distributing, Central Ohio Restaurant Foundation. Lead sponsors are WBNS-10TV, The Columbus Dispatch and DISCOVER CARD. Reserve Level sponsors include Sysco Central Ohio, S. Pellegrino and Giant Eagle. Additional support is provided by Franklin Park Conservatory, Madison & Fifth and the Marquee Club Group and many others.
Tickets: TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR OR online at www.foodandwineaffair.com. $100 each.
Become a fan of the Columbus Food & Wine Affair by going to www.facebook.com then
search for Columbus Food & Wine Affair.
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September 24, 2009 | |
| It's about the food, the wine, and giving back Click for Description
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBUS FOOD & WINE AFFAIR: It’s about the food, the wine
and giving back.
Columbus, OH—“It’s about the food. It’s about the wine. It’s about giving back” is more than
just a line for the Columbus Food & Wine Affair. According to co-chairs Debbie Hamernick,
President, Sysco Central Ohio, and Raj Hora, Proprietor, Tutto Vino, it tells the story of
the event’s Grand Tasting set for 6:30 to 10 p.m., Friday, September 25 at Franklin Park
Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus 43203.
“If I had to highlight three things that tell the story of this event, that’s it,” says Hamernick.
“Food. Wine. Giving. The first two provide for the third.” Hamernick is more than enthusiastic
about the event and is ready to sample the tastings that will be on-site presented by more than
25 of Central Ohio’s finest restaurants. “We’re not talking standard fare,” Hamernick says.
“We’re talking about some of the best food you can find in our city. It’s delicious; it’s creative
and a perfect way for guests to sample food from places they might never have eaten.”
The following restaurants, along with many others, will present their finest menu selections
during the Grand Tasting:
Columbus Fish Market
Barcelona Restaurant
Barrio
DeepWood
M at Miranova
Martini’s
Ruth Chris Steakhouse
The Clarmont Restaurant
The Refectory
A longtime member of the wine industry, Hora knows his wines and has no problem endorsing
the event from a wine novice or lover’s perspective. “For this event you can know absolutely
everything or nothing about wine. If you want to learn, it’s the perfect opportunity to get an
education. At the Columbus Food & Wine Affair you’ll find experts in the wine business who
are happy to teach you the basics or explain what you want to know about wine.” He adds,
“And, if you are a true wine lover, then you’ll appreciate the chance to taste some gorgeous,
high-end wines.”
Hamernick shares, “Between the delicious food and lovely wines, you are helping some
incredible Central Ohio charities. In its short history, the Columbus Food & Wine Affair has
raised more than $300,000 for local charities.” Funds are distributed by the Central Ohio
Restaurant Association Foundation through The Columbus Foundation. The Columbus Food
& Wine Affair 2009 will support the following charitable organizations: WBNS 10-TV FAMILY
FUND, Children’s Hunger Alliance, Columbus College of Art & Design, Ian Adams Van Heyde
Scholarship Fund, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.
Lead sponsors are the Central Ohio Restaurant Association, WBNS-10TV and DISCOVER CARD.
Reserve Level sponsors include Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Heidelberg Distributing, Giant
Eagle, S. Pellegrino, Sysco Central Ohio. Additional support is provided by Franklin Park
Conservatory, Madison & Fifth and the Marquee Club Group.
Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $100 each and can be purchased online at
www.foodandwineaffair.com. Become a fan of the Columbus Food & Wine Affair by going to
www.facebook.com then search for Columbus Food & Wine Affair.
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September 4, 2009 | |
| Columbus Food & Wine Affair: An event all its own Click for Description
COLUMBUS FOOD & WINE AFFAIR AN EVENT ALL ITS OWN
Seven will indeed be a lucky number for those attending the Columbus Food & Wine Affair Grand Tasting—as this is the event’s seventh spectacular year. “This event is so unique to Central Ohio because it brings front and center an incredibly high-caliber of wines and foods. It really is extraordinary,” says event co-founder Greg Maurer, Executive Vice President, Heidelberg Distributing.
Grand Tasting has gained a reputation as a Mecca for foodies and wine enthusiasts alike. “We have combined a number of elements to grow this Set for 6:30 to 10 p.m., Friday, September 25, at Franklin Park Conservatory, Maurer says the event to what it has become. It’s really about the food, the wine, the ambience and the fact that those who benefit from this event are right here in our own community.” Maurer adds, “Those who have attended in the past know to save the date for the Columbus Food & Wine Affair. It’s that special.”
Maurer will get no argument from co-founders David Miller, Executive Vice President, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, and Gail Baker, Executive Director of the Central Ohio Restaurant Association. The three founders have worked diligently on the Columbus Food & Wine Affair since it was first held in 2003. In that span of time, the event has raised more than $300,000 for local charities.
This year’s event will again be held at Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus 43203. Funds are distributed by the Central Ohio Restaurant Association Foundation through The Columbus Foundation. The Columbus Food & Wine Affair 2009 will support the following charitable organizations: WBNS 10-TV FAMILY FUND, Children’s Hunger Alliance, Columbus College of Art & Design, Ian Adams Van Heyde Scholarship Fund and the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital
Lead sponsors the Central Ohio Restaurant Association, WBNS-10TV and DISCOVER CARD. Reserve Level sponsors include Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Heidelberg Distributing, Giant Eagle, S. Pellegrino, Sysco Central Ohio. Additional support is provided by Franklin Park Conservatory, Madison & Fifth and the Marquee Club Group.
Tickets to the Grand Tasting are $100 each and can be purchased online at www.foodandwineaffair.com. Become a fan of the Columbus Food & Wine Affair by going to www.facebook.com then search for Columbus Food & Wine Affair.
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August 20, 2009 | |
| Food & Wine Affair Nets Thousands for Charities Click for Description The spirit of giving is alive and well in Central Ohio as evidenced by funds raised through the 2008 Columbus Food & Wine Affair. In its six-year history, the event has netted nearly $300,000 for local charities. This year alone, the WBNS-10TV Family Fund will receive more than $12,500 of the proceeds.
According to Gail Baker, Executive Director of the Central Ohio Restaurant Association, that’s welcome news in these troubling economic times. “Since the number of families needing meals has increased, the funds raised through the Columbus Food & Wine Affair are more important than ever to the WBNS 10-TV Family Fund and, indeed, to all those charities that benefit.”
Baker distributed donations to all participating charities including the 10TV Family Fund, the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund, Central Ohio Restaurant Association, Adventures for Wish Kids, The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, the Columbus College of Art & Design and United Way of Central Ohio.
The Columbus Food and Wine Affair Grand Tasting was held at the Franklin Park Conservatory with founding sponsors Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Heidelberg Distributing, Central Ohio Restaurant Association, WBNS-10TV, and Mix 97.1. Reserve Level sponsors were American Express, Giant Eagle, San Pellegrino, Southwest Airlines, SYSCO Central Ohio, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Madison & Fifth. Baker adds, “We are very appreciative to all who contributed so much to our success. It is wonderful to see such generosity in Central Ohio.”
Planning for the 2009 event is underway. For details, visit www.foodandwineaffair.com.
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January 5, 2009 | |
| Chef's memory lives on through memorial fund Click for Description Memory of Aspiring Chef Lives on Through Scholarship Fund;
Proceeds Raised through Columbus Food & Wine Affair
By Kim Riley Tyndall
It’s hard to say where Ian Adams Van Heyde would be today had his young life not been cut short in a traffic accident 10 years ago. Perhaps he would have been an executive chef at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants where he was working as a line cook. Or, maybe he would have taken his culinary talent outside Central Ohio. We will never know. But, we do know his love for culinary arts and the impact he has had on the lives of young people continues through the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund is just one of the charitable organizations receiving proceeds from the e Columbus Food & Wine Affair, now in its sixth year.At the time of his death, Ian was a senior at Whetstone High School and enrolled in the culinary arts program at Northeast Career Center. At his memorial service, Barbara Sills, a friend of the family, plus three other couples stood and announced they had started a scholarship fund through the Columbus Foundation in Ian’s memory. The fund was to provide scholarships for students pursuing post-secondary education in culinary arts or food management.
In 1999, a $1,000 scholarship was awarded to one of Ian’s classmates, Michael Valentine. Valentine went on to become a chef in the Denver area. Since then, the fund has grown tremendously and, since its inception, more than $40,000 in scholarships has been awarded to a total of 38 students.
Steve Van Heyde says providing the scholarships is bittersweet. “When our committee meets each May to review the applicants, it puts Nan and I in touch with kids who are the same age Ian was and who have the same dream he did. That’s the sweet part.” He adds, “Then, we watch that dream being pursued through their eyes instead of Ian’s. That’s difficult, but we are glad to do it, and we are proud to do it.” Steve says he and his wife are “so appreciative of the tremendous support given to us by the Central Ohio Restaurant Association (CORA) because we are able to give even more scholarships.” When CORA took part in establishing the Columbus Food & Wine Affair in 2003, Ian’s fund was one of the local charities chosen to receive proceeds from the event. Since Ian’s fund operates under the umbrella of the Columbus Foundation, contributions are tax deductible and the administrative work and distribution of funds are carried out by the Columbus Foundation.
Gail Baker, CORA’s Executive Director, says, “The support of the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund is the perfect opportunity for us to encourage young people in the culinary arts because it also underscores our mission of promoting a strong and innovative restaurant industry.” She adds, “It has been a pleasure for us to work with Nan and Steve to support so many students and to honor the memory of their son in such a fitting way.”
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September 2008 | |
| Winning Design: Food, wine & a real work of art! Click for Description WINNING DESIGN: Food, wine & a work of art
By Kim Tyndall
Jared Faber was one of nearly 50 seniors at the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) last year who received a senior project assignment: create a poster for the Columbus Food & Wine Affair (CFWA). After listening to event co-founder Greg Maurer share the history, mission and photos of the gala, Jared and the many other seniors went to work. According to Maurer, “When we started the Columbus Food and Wine Affair in 2003, we took notice of how other cities doing similar of events incorporated the art community. We wanted to do something better. We have seen art and wine as a natural connection from day one.”
Faber obviously understood the relationship as well as his artwork rose to the top and was eventually chosen to represent the event on posters, signage, and electronic media. Faber says that as he listened to Maurer’s presentation, he immediately understood that the Columbus Food & Wine Affair was not your everyday wine-tasting but, rather, “a classy and elegant affair.”
In order to create a design, Faber took his own photographs of wine bottles. He looked at the lighting, and he kept going back to the shape of the bottles and the shape of a fork. “I thought the two meshed perfectly, and what came about was a very simple design where the bottle mimics the outline of the fork.” Although it sounds like it was a quick procedure, Faber said from concept to creation actually took several weeks. “I kept going back to revise it,” he said.
Maurer and his committee agreed that Faber’s work was poster-worthy. “We saw numerous presentations, and each student presented them to us as they would a client. They had to sell their project, explaining their thoughts, highlights, and themes.” While there was much talent on display, Maurer says, “We kept going back to Jared’s design. It really caught our attention.” He adds, “It’s clever and creative and you look at it twice. At first glance it’s a wine bottle, and then it’s a fork. It makes that connection between food and wine.”
Richard Aschenbrand, Dean of Visual Communications at CCAD, says this type of process is an ideal teaching tool for students. “In projects like this, we want the clients to be involved. It gives the students a different perspective and the experience of what it will be like to create for someone—getting to know their specific needs and developing their ideas as an artist/graphic designer.”
Aschenbrand adds, “When the students present their projects, the client’s review is a very true situation. That is exactly what they will encounter in a job setting, so a project like this is helpful.” Aschenbrand says that CCAD is continually approached to take part in projects like this, so “we must be very selective in what we take on. Working with the Columbus Food & Wine Affair on the logo design was the caliber of project that was right for us.”
Maurer is also enthusiastic about the CFWA-CCAD partnership. “Since the Columbus Food & Wine Affair began, we have wanted to bring in a significant Columbus partner,” he says. “CCAD is an icon in our city, and the relationship between what we do and what they offer is a natural fit. We are looking forward to a continued association with them and showcasing more talent like Jared’s.”
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September 2008 | |
| Major Wine Competition Precedes CFWA Download PDF version |
July 28, 2008 | |
| Food & Wine Affair at Newly Renovated Conservatory Download PDF version |
July 2008 | |
| Food & Wine Anticipates Sensational 6th Year! Download PDF version |
June 2008 | |
| Food and Wine Affair 2007 - Thank You Presentation Click for Description |
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| Wine and a Song! Download PDF version |
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| Pairing Food & Wine Download PDF version |
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| Storing Wine in Small Spaces Download PDF version |
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| A Guide to Toasting Download PDF version |
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| MAJOR WINE COMPETITION HELD HERE IN COLUMBUS Click for Description Winners to be announced at Columbus Food & Wine Affair Columbus, OH—One of the Midwest’s largest wine competitions was held Saturday, August 18 right here in Columbus at the Columbus Fish Market (43212). The annual competition is just one facet of the Columbus Food & Wine Affair set for Sept. 7 at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Saturday’s competition was judged by a panel comprised of 45 local retailers, restaurateurs, wine suppliers, distributor personnel, wine writers and local wine enthusiasts. They weighed in on the color, aroma, taste, texture and overall appeal of 450 wines—the same wines that will be featured at this year’s Columbus Food and Wine Affair. The Wine Competition has been an integral part of the Columbus Food & Wine Affair since it began in 2003. Rob Somers, Ohio Manager, Limestone Estates Division, Foster’s Wine Estates America’s co-chairs the competition with Ryan Valentine, Director of Beverage, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. The competition was started to add a level of excitement not only to the Columbus Food & Wine Affair but to the local wine industry itself. In its first year, just over 300 wines were tasted and judged. This year’s competition welcomed 450 wines from across the world. The competition is unique in that it is only one of two competitions in the country that require judges to be trained. Somers shares, “We want every judge to be on the same page when it comes to criteria for evaluation. The competition isn’t about personal preferences, it’s about objective standards. Objective standards can change and evolve over time; we address this in the training.” Judging was based on a modified version of the 20-point system developed in the 1950s by Maynard Amerine, a professor in viticulture at the University of California Davis. The scoring structure puts in place a system to objectively analyze the wines. Somers explains that wines were arranged into flights with an average of 10 wines per flight. Every wine was judged blind and each flight was judged by two separate tables of four judges each. When all is said and done, each judge tasted and evaluated about 100 wines in a span of about 3-1/2 hours. Categories for judging are not determined until entries are received. Basically, wines are judged in peer groups with type and style. That is, Chardonnays are judged against Chardonnays and Cabernets against Cabernets. The number of categories is based upon the number of entries and, as entries warrant, new categories are named. In 2006, the “value” category was added to include wines that are very high in their category and retail under $15. Somers expects the competition to grow each year and looks forward to adding more categories including “Best of Class.” Somers says the contest for the best wines creates a little more competition as well as exposure for those who enter. “This ensures that we get some really good wines,” he says. “And, I think one of the greatest benefits is that these wines are available at the Columbus Food & Wine Affair. Those who attend taste the wines that local experts and enthusiasts have said are great wines. They don’t have to rely on Wine Spectator or the opinion of a New York writer. These wines are favored by those who live here and they are available here.” The medalists will be announced at the Columbus Food & Wine Affair’s Hospitality Trade Sneak Preview, 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7. Approximately 150 gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded. Proceeds from the Columbus Food and Wine Affair benefit 10TV Family Fund, Adventures for Wish Kids, United Way of Central Ohio, the Ian Adams Van Heyde Scholarship Fund, Central Ohio Restaurant Association, and the Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The event is sponsored by the Central Ohio Restaurant Association, WBNS-10TV, Mix 97.1, and Time Warner Cable. Additional support by Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Heidelberg Distributing Co., American Express, S. Pellegrino, Franklin Park Conservatory, Giant Eagle and imedia. The Wine Competition and Hospitality Trade Sneak Preview lead up to the Columbus Food and Wine Affair Grand Tasting, set for Friday, Sept. 7, 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Franklin Park Conservatory at 1777 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203. Tickets for Friday evening’s Grand Tasting are available to the public for $100 each and can be purchased by going to www.foodandwineaffair.com. |
8/19/07 | |
| Hospitality Preview: an affordable education Click for Description It’s been said that receiving an education can open up a whole new world for a student. In the case of the Columbus Food and Wine Affair, the event’s Hospitality Preview can open up the world of wine for restaurant servers who know little or nothing about the multi-faceted beverage. Now in the planning stages for its fifth year, the Columbus Food and Wine Affair has grown in its reputation for showcasing the very best in wines alongside the very best in food prepared by some of Central Ohio’s best-loved restaurants. The Hospitality Preview—or “trade tasting” as it is often referred—is set for 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7 at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Tickets are just $5 per person. The event is open to hospitality professionals only and provides opportunity for anyone involved in the purchase or sale of wine to interact with winemakers and winery representatives and, of course, to sample the 2007 featured wines. Gary Callicoat, president and operating partner of Rusty Bucket Tavern, sees the event as the perfect opportunity to educate wait staff on the basics of wine that will, in turn, help them to accommodate customers and increase wine sales. Each year he brings at least 20 members of his wait staff to the event. “It’s such a great way for them to develop confidence in talking about wine,” Callicoat says. “When they are more comfortable in talking about wines, it helps them in their ability to sell it.” Callicoat says that at just $5 a person, the event offers a more-than-reasonable education. “I believe that whatever you pay for staff to attend, it will come back tenfold. Our staff loves the event. They really look forward to it.” He adds, “At the trade tasting, our staff can talk one-on-one to wine representatives and winemakers. They can ask questions and become informed. It’s very beneficial to them.” He adds, “Wine can be intimidating, but the more educated they are—whether its on food or wine—the more it gives them a comfort level in serving our customers.” Gail Baker, Executive Director of the Central Ohio Restaurant Association, is in full agreement. “I would love to see more of our restaurants take advantage of what is offered at the Hospitality Preview. I encourage them to bring their staff and show them how easy it is to learn about wines—where they come from and their characteristics.” Baker adds, “Along with giving servers basic knowledge to help them in their jobs, the event is quite fun!” Proceeds from the event benefit a number of local charities including the 10TV Family Fund, United Way of Central Ohio, Adventures for Wish Kids, and the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund. Since it began in 2003, the event has raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for these local charities. The 2007 Columbus Food & Wine Affair “Grand Tasting” is open to the public and will be held 7 to 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7 at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Tickets are $100 each. Those attending will enjoy their choice of more than 450 wines from over 200 wineries as well as generous tastings of foods from several of Ohio’s finest restaurants. For more about the Hospitality Preview or Columbus Food & Wine Affair, go to www.foodandwineaffair.com. Author: Kim Tyndall |
6/18/07 | |
| Customer Service: It’s more than attitude Click for Description Good service. We know what it involves: neat appearance, an outgoing personality, an engaging attitude, excellent etiquette, organization—all the things you train your service and wait staff to know that, hopefully, translates to your bottom line. With increased sales as a priority for any restaurant, we want to focus this article on going beyond these factors and looking at what your service and wait staff need to know to promote wine sales in order that add to overall increased sales. Adding wine to a dinner increases the check average. But you can’t add what you don’t know, says Kamal, owner of The Refectory on Bethel Road. Kamal stresses some very important elements when it comes to servers and serving wines. Those elements include: Kamal says often a guest will have an idea of the wine he wants but, if he doesn’t know the exact name or vintage, he will try to describe it. “With some basic knowledge, the wait person can determine if the guest is describing the wine accurately or if, indeed, they are looking for something different.” Kamal says that without a good, working, basic knowledge of wine and without knowing about the house wines, the server really has little to offer guests. But, he adds, more important than the knowledge is learning how to ask the right questions. He says, “Ask the guest if they are familiar with the wine they ordered or if they have a particular type they enjoyed previously. Based on their answer, the server may ask if the guest would like to enjoy that same type of wine or if they are looking to try something different. That brings us to the very important element of listening. “Really listening is so important,” Kamal says. He shares his own experience. “Years ago, I had a guest who was ordering Riesling for his table. He said to his guests, ‘You’ll really enjoy this. It’s a nice dry wine. While there are some Rieslings that are dry, it isn’t always the case. Simply by listening, I determined the best thing to do was to bring a couple of glasses of different Rieslings that could be tried.” He adds, “I made the offering and said, ‘This may not have been as dry as you’ve had in the past, but I took the liberty of bringing you a couple to try so you can make your selection.” Educating wait staff on wines does not have to be a difficult task. Many restaurants offer their own training, have a distributor who will provide education, or the restaurant may choose to bring in a wine expert to get staff up to speed. As a sponsor of the annual Columbus Food and Wine Affair (CFWA), Central Oho Restaurant Association Executive Director Gail Baker also suggests attending the event’s Hospitality Sneak Preview held prior to the public tasting. This year’s preview is set for 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7 at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Baker says she would like to see a number of restaurants take advantage of this opportunity. “There is great value in have a service and wait staff that is knowledgeable about wines,” Baker says. “The Hospitality Sneak Preview offered at the CFWA is a wonderful way to introduce your staff to a variety of wines by people who know them well, and the staff’s could tailor their participation to visiting the distributors who service their particular restaurant.” Baker says, “It’s just one more way to enhance customer service and add to the restaurant’s bottom line.” For more information on the Columbus Food and Wine Affair, go to www.foodandwineaffair.com. Author: Kim Tyndall |
6/18/07 | |
| Knowledge is key to improving wine sales Click for Description As restaurant managers and owners are aware, wine sales tend to decrease after the start of the New Year. A simple key to increasing sales in a somewhat “slumpy” season is providing proper training to the wait staff and bartenders who are minding the store. Rob Somers, Ohio Manager, Foster’s Wine Estates, says that restaurants are often the place where someone will have their first glass of wine. “As with food, the server is your tour guide when it comes to wine,” he says. “The server can have a great impact on what customers will try. The more knowledgeable they are about wine and the more comfortable they are with suggestive selling, the more impact there will be on the check average.” Somers calls wine a “non-competitive” beverage. That is, while beer and spirits are most often consumed before and after dinner, wine is usually paired with food to enhance the dining experience. He says, “Wine is made to go with food. So, when a customer gives you their order for an appetizer or entrée, the server should be able to suggest a wine that goes well with their choice. By making this connection for the guest, the bottom line is increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.” Somers is an active volunteer with the Columbus Food & Wine Affair (CWFA) and encourages restaurateurs and wait staff alike to attend the event’s hospitality event to enhance their knowledge of wine. “The hospitality tasting is the perfect opportunity for those working in restaurants to receive expert information on wines. Those representing the wineries can provide so much knowledge about the wines that will in turn help in better serving customers.” Matt Citriglia has 22 years of experience in the wine industry including retail ownership and restaurant and wholesale management. He is General Sales Manager for Vintage Wine Distributor, Inc. and Vice Chairman for the Court of Master Sommeliers, He says that while many servers understand the basics of serving, including how to work as a team, knowing the position of tables, and timing of food coming out of the kitchen, most don’t understand they are also sales people. “If you say ‘sales’ to a wait person, most think of the guy selling used cars. But sales is simply presenting the customer with options to buy. Every time a server presents the daily specials or lists the wines by the glass, they are providing purchase options; so in fact, they are selling.” And, selling is key to the bottom line. Citriglia says that by presenting options, the server creates a dialog with the customer and finds out their likes and dislikes. “When a server makes a suggestion and the customer says, ‘no,’ that shouldn’t be taken as rejection,” he says. “The ‘no’ provides the server with direction.” Citriglia adds that training staff in the knowledge of products as well as selling is crucial to satisfied guests that results in successful business. Author: Kim Tyndall
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6/18/07 |


It’s hard to say where Ian Adams Van Heyde would be today had his young life not been cut short in a traffic accident 10 years ago. Perhaps he would have been an executive chef at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants where he was working as a line cook. Or, maybe he would have taken his culinary talent outside Central Ohio. We will never know. But, we do know his love for culinary arts and the impact he has had on the lives of young people continues through the Ian Adams Van Heyde Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund is just one of the charitable organizations receiving proceeds from the e Columbus Food & Wine Affair, now in its sixth year.
Steve Van Heyde says providing the scholarships is bittersweet. “When our committee meets each May to review the applicants, it puts Nan and I in touch with kids who are the same age Ian was and who have the same dream he did. That’s the sweet part.” He adds, “Then, we watch that dream being pursued through their eyes instead of Ian’s. That’s difficult, but we are glad to do it, and we are proud to do it.” Steve says he and his wife are “so appreciative of the tremendous support given to us by the Central Ohio Restaurant Association (CORA) because we are able to give even more scholarships.”
Jared Faber was one of nearly 50 seniors at the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) last year who received a senior project assignment: create a poster for the Columbus Food & Wine Affair (CFWA). After listening to event co-founder Greg Maurer share the history, mission and photos of the gala, Jared and the many other seniors went to work.