FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2009
Contact: Penny Willette
802-442-6771
pwillette@santemagazine.com

SANTÉ SYMPOSIUM BEAMS SUCCESS

Bennington, Vermont—If there ever was a time in recent memory to share hands-on knowledge and strategies to succeed in difficult times and also to celebrate the spirit, talent, and resiliency of the hospitality community, it was 2009. This year's Santé Restaurant Symposium proved to be a gathering of restaurant industry professionals to remember.

From October 18–21 more than 250 participants enjoyed the breathtaking scenery of autumn on Lake George, the exquisite service of the staff at The Sagamore Resort, 40-plus educational seminars and demonstrations, nearly 20 networking events, and the glamour of the 2009 Santé Restaurant Awards Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony. With support from gold sponsors Ribera del Duero, William Grant & Sons, and Wines from Spain, attendees were able to enjoy exceptional and unique libations and revel in the company of the nation's foremost restaurateurs.

The schedule of seminars included a choice of colorful educational experiences, including Gale Gand's talk on chocolate and vanilla; an exciting pairing experiment with the executive chef and sommelier from Charlie Trotter's; and Charlotte Voisey's engaging history lesson, The Evolution of the Cocktail. Attendees learned about every aspect of restaurant management. They tasted global flavors, created wine lists for the current economy, learned to save energy, planned effective promotions, listened to expert leadership training tips, finessed critics, cut food costs, discovered new cocktails, and overcame marketing challenges. Presenters included such experts as Barton Seaver, Mary Wagstaff, and spirits luminaries Tony Abou-Ganim and Adam Seger.

If education was the main goal of the Symposium, professional networking and fun were not far behind. Beginning with registration, there were plentiful opportunities to taste a bevy of food, wine, and spirits offerings and mix and mingle with peers. The Exhibit Hall provided access to tastings from a prestigious group of attending companies. Delicious themed lunches prepared by The Sagamore and sponsored by Wines of Argentina and Vibrant Rioja provided ample time for relaxing and meeting restaurateurs and industry professionals from across the country.

Attendees looked on during the excitement of the Iron Bar Chef competition, hosted by Tony Abou-Ganim, as six contestants from the United States Bartenders Guild concocted original cocktails using premium spirits from William Grant & Sons with additional support from The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley and KOLD-DRAFT. William Grant & Sons had everyone join in the festivities at the Iron Bar Chef party to celebrate winner Patricia Richards and the rest of the talented contestants.

At night, attendees enjoyed receptions sponsored by Ribera del Duero, Wines from Spain, and Moët Hennessy for splendid aperitifs. Sunday provided an opportunity to graze, taste, and meet up with old friends at the Dine Around, while the Monday and Tuesday dinners were formal affairs to remember. Monday was the Santé Restaurant Awards Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony featuring Ribera del Duero wines paired with Guest Chef Bob Waggoner's elegant Low Country-inspired menu. The evening's Keynote Speaker was Piero Selvaggio, Santé's Restaurateur of the Year and founder of the Valentino Restaurant Group. Tuesday was no less impressive with a trio of prominent members of Women Chefs & Restaurateurs—Gale Gand, Jamie Leeds, and Maureen Pothier—preparing a whimsical and refined dinner sponsored by Wines from Spain. Kevin Zraly, Santé's Wine Professional of the Year, presented a thought-provoking keynote speech.

Providing a dose of education, inspiration, and invigoration to all who attended, the first-ever combination of the 2009 Santé Symposium and Twelfth Annual Santé Awards was a resounding success. With goodbyes and plans to be in touch, attendees took one last deep breath of the Adirondack's crisp autumn air before returning to their establishments refreshed and already thinking about next year's return.

Next year's event is scheduled for October 17–20, 2010 at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, New York. To register for the event, call 802-442-6771.

The Santé Restaurant Awards are produced by On-Premise Communications, Inc. (OPC). OPC was founded in 1996 by Mark Vaughan and Chris Costello and is located in Bennington, Vermont, with offices in Florida and California. In addition to the awards, OPC also produces Santé magazine, the Santé Food & Beverage Bulletin e-newsletter, the Santé Restaurant Symposium, and isantemagazine.com. Now in its thirteenth year of publication, Santé has a qualified circulation of more than 40,000 and a pass-along readership of nearly 200,000 in full-service restaurant and hospitality establishments across the nation.