FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2009
Contact: Ashley Brenon
802-442-4570
abrenon@santemagazine.com

Bennington, Vermont— Santé magazine is proud to announce that it has won a national award from FOLIO magazine, the sponsors of the largest and most inclusive competition in the magazine publishing industry. The Eddie award recognizes the May 2009 issue for the highest standard of editorial excellence for complete issues in the business-to-business category serving full-service restaurants and hotels.

This is not the first time the publication has been honored. Santé won the silver in the same category last year and a gold award in the single-article category in 2007. The magazine won a silver award in 2003 for outstanding editorial work and a gold award in the full-issue category in 2002.

"It's a great honor for Santé to win another gold award for editorial excellence," says Mark Vaughan, editor and publisher of Santé. "It's especially significant to us, because these awards are judged by our peers in the publishing industry."

"[It's] a prestigious designation bestowed to only the best magazine editorial and creative teams," says Kelly Cingari, events coordinator for FOLIO's parent company, Red 7 Media. "Our panel of 60 expert judges sifted through more than 2,000 entries this year and have selected the most deserving entries among nearly 200 categories." Winners in other categories include popular titles, such as InStyle, Fortune, Outdoor Life, and Food & Wine.

"At Santé we have always worked hard to provide timely and relevant business information to our readers," Vaughan says. "We're happy for the recognition, and we will continue to pursue that goal."

Now in its thirteenth year of publication, Santé features award-winning editorial on food, wine, and spirits management for restaurant professionals. 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. Written primarily by professionals, Santé's editorial is uniquely pertinent to its loyal readers.

Santé magazine, the Santé Restaurant Symposium, and the annual Santé Restaurant Awards are produced by On-Premise Communications, Inc. (OPC). Founded by Mark Vaughan and Chris Costello in 1996, OPC is headquartered in Bennington, Vermont, with offices in Florida and California.

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.

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

SANTÉ RECOGNIZES RESTAURANT AWARD WINNERS

Bennington, Vermont—The annual Santé Restaurant Symposium and Awards took place at the impeccable Sagamore Resort on Lake George in New York's Adirondack region from October 18–21. This year marked the twelfth year of the Awards program, although it was the first year that the event was held in conjunction with the Symposium. Receiving recognition for excellence in food, wine, spirits, and hospitality were some of the country's most distinguished hospitality-industry professionals, including famed restaurateur Piero Selvaggio, wine educator Kevin Zraly, and cocktail maestro Ray Srp.

The glamour of the Santé Restaurant Awards Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony began with a lakeside cocktail reception featuring wines by Ribera del Duero. Apart from the winners themselves, wines from Ribera del Duero were the stars of the evening. Brand Ambassador for Drink Ribera. Drink Spain April Cullom opened the program with an introduction to the region. Diners sipped Real Sitio de Ventosilla Recorba, Hijos De Antonio Barcel— Vi–a Mayor Crianza, Bodega Matarromera Crianza, Bodegas Peñalba L—pez Finca Torremilanos Los Cantos de Torremilanos, and Bodegas Peñafiel Miros Crianza with a menu of elegant, low country-inspired dishes by Chef Bob Waggoner, formerly of The Charleston Grill and now star of the new PBS series Ucook with Chef Bob. Editor and Publisher Mark Vaughan served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Keynote Speaker and Santé's Restaurateur of the Year Piero Selvaggio, founder of Valentino Restaurant Group, delighted the audience with personal anecdotes from his decades-long hospitality career.

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

PATRICIA RICHARDS WINS IRON BAR CHEF COMPETITION
Santé Restaurant Symposium Event Identifies the Next Generation of Mixology Talent

Bolton Landing, New York—Las Vegas's Patricia Richards defeated six leading bartenders from across the country in the Santé Restaurant Symposium's two-day Iron Bar Chef competition on October 19^th and 20^th at The Sagamore on Lake George, New York. Richards oversees the creation process of hotel specialty cocktails for Wynn/Encore Las Vegas. Chris Stanley—until recently bartender at Clover Club in Brooklyn, New York—placed second. Mathias Simonis—bartender and head mixologist at Soho 7 and Decibel Deep Bar, both in Milwaukee—placed third in a close contest. Past winners have included Carlos Yturria of bacar in San Francisco and Debbie Peek, now of Bacardi USA, Chicago.

"I'm glad I pushed myself to compete in my first Iron Bar Chef Competition," Richards said after the contest. "Thank you Santé for this wonderful opportunity!"

In its third year, the Iron Bar Chef competition pits six mixology professionals against each other in a grueling 45-minute race to produce three cocktails each. William Grant & Sons, signature sponsor for the competition, provided all the spirits for the event from their portfolio of premium brands. Additional support came from The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley and KOLD-DRAFT ice machines.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2009
Contact: Penny Willette
802-442-6771
pwillette@santemagazine.com

TWELFTH ANNUAL SANTÉ RESTAURANT AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Bennington, Vermont -- Santé, the Magazine for Restaurant Professionals, is pleased to announce that 60 stellar hospitality-industry professionals are winners of 2009 Santé Restaurant Awards. Now in their twelfth year, the Santé Restaurant Awards were created to recognize excellence in restaurant food, wine, spirits, and service hospitality. The Santé Awards program is the only peer-judged restaurant and hospitality competition in North America.

Santé's 2009 Grand Award Winners are:

Culinary Hospitality Restaurant of the Year: Fair Hill Inn, Elkton, Maryland

Wine Hospitality Restaurant of the Year: PRIMA, Walnut Creek, California

Spirits Hospitality Restaurant of the Year: Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks, Boston, Massachusetts

The Santé Restaurant Awards are based on a variety of criteria, and winners represent a broad spectrum of restaurant- and hospitality-industry professionals with a common passion for their work and a commitment to excellence. Representatives from grand-award-winning establishments, those from regional-award-winning restaurants (listed below), and four Santé Professionals of the Year will be honored for their achievements at the 2009 Santé Restaurant Awards Gala Dinner and Presentation Ceremony on October 19, 2009 at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, New York. The ceremony takes place during the 2009 Santé Restaurant Symposium, a four-day education and networking event for restaurant professionals. Ribera Del Duero is the exclusive wine sponsor for the 2009 Santé Restaurant Awards.

The Santé Restaurant Awards are produced by On-Premise Communications, Inc. (OPC). OPC is headquartered 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 magazine features award-winning editorial on food, wine, and spirits management for restaurant professionals. Santé has a qualified circulation of more than 40,000 and a pass-along readership of 195,000 in full-service restaurant and hospitality establishments across the nation. Written primarily by restaurant professionals, Santé's editorial is uniquely pertinent to its loyal readers.

2009 SANTÉ RESTAURANT AWARDS WINNERS

Culinary Hospitality Awards, honoring restaurants and professionals that exhibit outstanding achievement in culinary service and hospitality:

Culinary Hospitality Restaurant of the Year: Fair Hill Inn, Elkton, Maryland

Regional Winners:

Traditional
Twenty-Two Bowen's, Newport, Rhode Island
Bricco, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Bastille, Alexandria, Virginia
Kyma, Atlanta, Georgia
Annie Gunn's, Chesterfield, Missouri
Chez Roux at La Torretta Del Lago, Montgomery, Texas
Epic Roasthouse, San Francisco, California
Azure Restaurant, Honolulu, Hawaii
Il Fornaio, Seattle, Washington

Innovative
Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Swan's Café, Boston, Massachusetts
il Buco, New York, New York
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth on 37th, Savannah, Georgia
FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Restaurant Kelly Liken, Vail, Colorado
RH Restaurant and Bar, West Hollywood, California
Alan Wong's Restaurant, Honolulu, Hawaii
Joel Robuchon Restaurant, Las Vegas, Nevada

Sustainable
Michael's on the Hill, Waterbury Center, Vermont
The Pines Tavern, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm, Lovettsville, Virginia
The Inn at Dos Brisas, Brennon, Texas
Waterbar, San Francisco, California
Washington Athletic Club, Seattle, Washington

Wine Hospitality Awards, honoring restaurants and professionals that exhibit outstanding achievement in wine service and hospitality:

Wine Hospitality Restaurant of the Year: PRIMA, Walnut Creek, California

Regional Winners:

Fine Dining
UpStairs on the Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Barbetta, New York, New York
Charley's Steak House, Orlando, Florida
Piccolo Sogno, Chicago, Illinois
Spencer's for Steaks and Chops, Salt Lake City, Utah
A16 Restaurant & Wine Bar, San Francisco, California

Bistro
Angelo's Tavola, Scotia, New York
Capsouto Freres, New York, New York
Backstreet Café, Houston, Texas
California Café, Los Gatos, California
bin on the lake restaurant & wine bar, Kirkland, Washington

Hotel/Resort Fine Dining
Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel, Ocean City, Maryland
Flying Fish Café, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
The State Room, East Lansing, Michigan
Addison at the Grand Del Mar, San Diego, California
Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop, Washington

Spirits Hospitality Awards, honoring restaurants and professionals that exhibit outstanding achievement in spirits service and hospitality:

Spirits Hospitality Restaurant of the Year: Eastern Standard Kitchen & Bar, Boston, Massachusetts

Regional Awards:

Hotel/Resort Bar
The Grille at Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, Miami Beach, Florida
Petrossian Bar, Las Vegas, Nevada

Restaurant Bar
JoeDoe, New York, New York
Enology, Washington DC
Ocean Prime, Columbus, Ohio
III Forks Steakhouse, Dallas, Texas

Service Professional Awards, honoring individuals who exhibit outstanding professional achievement in food, wine, and spirits service:

Paul Barry, Grafton Street Pub + Grill, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cheryl Holt, Tosca Restaurant, Hingham, Massachusetts
James Dixon, Artist Point, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Kenneth Pace, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, North Carolina
Robert Walsch, The Pasta Tree, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jerald Appling, Suite & Tender, San Diego, California
Lygia Bortolotti, Suite & Tender, San Diego, California