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Event
Showcases Culinary Excellence; Honors Restaurateur of the Year
October
16, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa—The
Iowa Restaurant Association announced today Celebrating Excellence, the
Association’s Annual Culinary Competition and Awards Gala, will be open to the
public for the first time. The event, which will take place on Sunday, November
4, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. at the Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona,
gives those in attendance the opportunity to sample dishes created by eight of
Iowa’s best chefs and cast a vote for a People’s Choice Award. Attendees will
also enjoy the live entertainment of “Iowa’s Favorite Piano Man” Mick Staebell
while they sample the latest in wine, beer and spirits. The evening will
culminate with a dessert salon featuring creations from five of Iowa’s best
dessert specialists. The cost per person is $50 and tickets can be purchased by
calling the IRA at 515-276-1454.
Cast a Vote for
“People’s Choice”
Eight Iowa chefs will
compete in the Celebrating Excellence Culinary Competition, presented by the
Iowa Restaurant Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the SoyFoods
Council. Chefs will choose between three cuts of beef and present their entrée
with soyfoods side dish. In addition to a private blind tasting competition with
a panel of expert judges in the afternoon, the chefs will be competing for the
coveted “People’s Choice” award which is determined by the votes of those in
attendance at the evening tasting event.
Wine, Beer, and
Spirits Tastings
Gala attendees will also
have the opportunity to sample the latest brews, wines and spirits from Iowa’s
leading distributors. Tastings are sponsored by Glazer’s Distributors of Iowa,
DIAGEO, Boulevard Brewing, and Johnson Brothers of Iowa. Samples will stand
alone or be paired with dishes and desserts being presented.
Iowa’s Favorite Piano
Man
Throughout the evening,
attendees will enjoy the music and musings of Mick Staebell, “Iowa’s Favorite
Piano Man.” Staebell will play classic songs from The Beatles, Elton John, James
Taylor, Cat Stevens, Billy Joel, Van Morrison and more. Staebell will perform
while attendees visit the tasting tables, participate in a “wine and dine”
silent auction, and cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award.
Dessert Salon Features
Creations of Five Local Artists
At 8:30 p.m., the gala
will culminate with the presentation of a Dessert Salon sponsored by the Iowa
Egg Council. The salon will feature the dessert creations of five Iowa dessert
specialists. At that time, the People’s Choice and other culinary competition
awards will be announced and the 2007 Iowa Restaurateur of the Year will be
introduced.
$50
Covers Entire Evening
Tickets for Celebrating
Excellence are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance. All tastings and
entertainment are included in the ticket price. Seating is limited. To purchase
tickets call the Iowa Restaurant Association at 515-276-1454 or 800-747-1453.
About the Iowa Restaurant Association
Headquartered in Des Moines, the Iowa Restaurant Association is the professional
association of the restaurant and retail beverage industries in Iowa. In
addition to representing the industries’ legislative concerns, the Iowa
Restaurant Association provides industry training programs, and works to help
its members to operate efficiently, safely, and profitably and to promote
quality and professionalism in the industry. For more information, visit our Web
site at
www.restaurantiowa.com.
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Restaurants Participating in Celebrating Excellence Culinary Competition and
Tastings
Celebrating
Excellence Dessert Salon Participants
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Media Contacts:
Doni DeNucci, CAE
Iowa Restaurant Association
515- 276-1454
ddenucci@restaurantiowa.com
Jessica Dunker
Iowa Restaurant Association
515-
202-6786
jessica@dunker.com
© Copyright Iowa Restaurant Association 2006
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