On May 18th, I made my way up to Chicago for the annual Restaurant Show.The show is sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (I enjoyed the reactions I received from people when I told them I was going to Chicago for the NRA show). My family has been going for as long as I can remember—an annual pilgrimage of sorts—so I was able to join some of them this year for the ultimate food and wine samplers’ foray.
The show is held at McCormick Place.If you have never been, it is an incredibly massive building. In years past I have attacked it all wrong: wandered in circles, sampled too much too soon, etc.This year I printed maps beforehand, highlighted all the baked goods booths that were of interest, and paced my sampling.I ran into some Charleston folks—Michael Saboe from the Culinary Institute of Charleston and David Buck and Aaron Deal of Tristan’s.
For me, this year’s highlights included the following:
Trongs. These little delights seemed like a novelty item at first, but upon further inspection I grew to love the comical idea of trongs. Trongs are these red, plastic transformer looking claws that you slide over your thumb, pointer and middle finger on both hands.Then, you use the claws to grasp greasy, saucy items such as chicken wings.While I am not a chicken wing fan, I could see how this could revolutionize life for the Wild Wings crowd.I strongly recommend you check out their Web site (www.trongs.com).The dramatic music alone is enough to keep me coming back.
The Stolzle booth. It was nice to see my clients’ familiar faces and after seeing hundreds of booths, I have to say that their booth was quite plush.I brought a friend over, who is a chef for Charlie Trotter, and it was the first time I have seen him drool over glassware. (www.stoelzle-oberglas-usa.com)
Carrying a chilled bottle of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka in my purse.In case I ran into anyone who really needed a sample (which of course, I did). Turns out that Northerners enjoy Firefly as well. (www.fireflyvodka.com)
On March 13, Clear Views Displays and Legend Oaks Golf Club hosted ‘A Day of Play.’ The event served as an opportunity for guests to learn about a growing advertising avenue–digital signage–while indulging in golf, massages, cigars, Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, and a wine tasting.
Clear View Displays is a digital advertising company that promotes the products and services of a business more effectively than traditional print, radio and television advertising.
Guest had the opportunity to experience The Inforemer by playing a free round of nine or eighteen holes before the reception, and during the reception guests sat on the golf carts and were served wine provided by Irvin House Vineyard. The Inforemer rotated ads dedicated to describing the wines provided.
The hospitality industry had a secret rendezvous at an airplane hangar at the East Cooper Airport for Flight 30 – an event on February 21st to celebrate Duvall’s name change, rebranding and 30-year anniversary .The launch of their private wine label was the inspiration behind the décor and wine bottles were used to construct an elaborate chandelier that hung from the center of hangar as well as to form a modern wine cellar.Life-size versions of the new advertising campaign were prominently displayed and shots of the new website were illuminated on one of the hangar walls.
Guests presented their Flight 30 passport and boarding pass to gain entry to the hangar.They were then provided with in-flight service and Duvall unveiled their upscale ‘Chef Bar’ food-station, complete with seating for twenty-four.International fare, such as mini osso buco with wild-mushroom risotto, prosciutto wrapped Manchego cheese with cured olives and grapes, Belgian pommes frites and Cuban sandwiches with fried plantains provided a bevy of flavors.As guests mingled they sampled hors d’oeuvres ranging from ceviche served from an ice bar, dessert sushi and mussels from the mobile kitchen in front of the hangar.The evening culminated with a champagne toast delivered by owner, Steve Wenger–via drink cart, of course.
Look for more coverage of the party in the Post and Courier, Moultrie News, West Of, Island Eye, City Paper blog and Special Events magazine.And view all pictures at Charleston Picture Company.
Another busy weekend for the third annual BB&T Charleston Food & Wine Festival which the numerous photo albums on Charleston Picture Company show. On Saturday, March 1, our client Chef Matt Bolus (Red Sky) was signing issues of his book, Simply Vanilla, in the Charleston Cooks! tent. Other authors included locals Donald Barickman of HMGI (Cypress, Magnolia’s and Blossom’s) and Bob Waggoner of Charleston Grill and Suzanne Goin (Lucques) who was in from California. I had the pleasure of sampling her food at the FIG Dine Around along with Chef Mike Lata, with his innovative dish - sunny-side ravioli - which burst with an egg yolk once you cut into it.
Coastal Cigars unveiled their new “Boss Box,” at their booth in the Culinary Village which were specially designed with the 2008 poster for the Festival.Their weekend continued at the Bubbles & Sweets party where they were rolling cigars in the outside lounge. Sales & Marketing Director, Julie Ann Oldham, was the Chair for the event and ensured that this year’s event had exciting new elements such as a woman in a bathtub covered in chocolates (which you had to eat since one lucky dessert had a prize under the gold “Willy Wonka” style wrapper), a man on stilts handing out bubbles at the entrance and a woman whose extravagant costume was built into the table topped with Di Sarrono liqueurs. And there were culinary celebrities such as Sam Talbot (Top Chef)and Michael Laiskonis (Le Bernadin).
If you are like me and find yourself in the car thinking of things you need done or that you would like to assign to someone else - put down that crackberry and keep your hands on the wheel. Now you can call Jott on your speakerphone and let him know what you need and he will take care of you. It’s like the Mr. Belvedere of technology.
All you need to do is call and set-up your account at Jott and let them know who you will be assigning tasks to most often - self, colleagues, spouse, kids, non-existent personal assistant, etc. Then when you’re on the go avoid the urge to call these people relentlessly reminding them of things that they will forget once they hang up the phone and call Jott so that he can email them a message instead. It has amazing voice recognition technology (except that time that I asked it to remind me to organize a videographer for the Duvall event and I got - organize videographer for Ball event) and will send a reminder at whichever day and time you choose.
I hesitate to call this a business book since it is just as much about adventure, relationships, travel and sex, drugs and rock and roll.While learning about the cash flow troubles of Virgin music and how they overcame it, you also get a snapshot of how much of a PR nightmare (and dream) Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols crew were.Branson is a branding genius as well as the king of entrepreneurship at the helm of over 40 thriving companies (view full list).And yet he still remains to be always smiling, completely humble, has a strong relationship with his wife and two kids, daredevil and environmentalist pioneer.Most importantly, he’s been on MTV Cribs with his amazing home – ahem, island – Necker.
Overall feeling after the reading this book:
I am an underachiever.If I do not successfully build at least one company to the point of being publicly traded, sail around the world in a hot air balloon, have my own airline, host a reality show, live on a private island and make the biggest stars in the music business my dinner companions, then what do I have to say for myself?And I must accomplish all of this before I turn 40 and still be an all-around likeable individual.
Favorite quotes:
“I never get the accountants in before I start up a business. It’s done on gut feeling, especially if I can see that they are taking the mickey out of the consumer.”
“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”
“I believe in benevolent dictatorship provided I am the dictator.”
I accompanied Shannon Odom of the Charleston Visitor’s Bureau on February 14 to the SEWE Preview Gala at Charleston Place Hotel. I knew I was in for a delightful time when I spotted a few key event ingredients: extremely large shrimp, a little boy reminiscent of Mowgli from Jungle Book sporting wild animals, and Jack Hanna, himself. Jack was quite friendly and posed like a champ for endless photos. We headed upstairs and viewed the SEWE art (my favorite, of course, was a massively bronze bunny, lovingly called Harvey–someone with $25,000 to spare went home with a wicked souvenir).
Next, I headed to the Masquerade Ball, which was held at the Hibernian and was hosted by ART Magazine. Cabaret Kiki rocked it out on stage and put on quite a show. Also noteworthy, Firefly Vodka’s newest creation, Sweet Tea Vodka, was available for sampling and I must say, it’s quite delicious. Directions of ’Just Add Water’ took on a new level of simplicity and beauty: another fantastic Lowcountry product for Charlestonians to enjoy.
On New Year’s Eve, Charleston’s biggest nightclub, Club NY, made it’s debut. The event was held at the Gaillard Auditorium Expo Hall and was transformed into a posh lounge with a Manhattan feel.
Funco, a partnership between Obviouslee Marketing and Production Design Associates (PDA) organized the event to provide a New Year’s Eve alternative for all those who didn’t want to brave the cold of Times Square yet wanted to ring in the year with an explosion. PDA outdid themselves with plasma screens featuring 3D animation, an impressive light show, and a stage built for the three battling DJs. Midnight became a lasting memory due to the big screen projections of Time Square at the countdown, a confetti blast, champagne toast and live saxophone player playing “Auld Lang Syne.”
Around 700 guests attended the event and danced all night long to hip-hop and house music provided by DJ Moo Moo, DJ Wendell and video effects by DJ Mixtrix. Two VIP areas, decorated with decor from Duvall, flanked the auditorium and provided an excellent view of–what I would venture to say was a crowd favorite–the breakdancers.
Don’t forget, Club NY will be back next year–bigger and better! If you want to see more pictures from the event, check out Charleston Picture Company and an amazing 3D view by Paul Cheney - 360 Charleston Photography.
Ah, Basecamp. How I love thee. I think that the OM office should receive shares in this company considering how often we are found promoting its benefits. Voted by Inc. Magazine as “Best for Managing Projects Remotely,” not only is it easy to use and affordable but it is also easy to collaborate with others.
We use it with our clients and have convinced the Charleston Young Professionals and Charleston Cinco de Mayo Festival Committee to use it as well in order to simplify communication amongst larger groups.
This is an example of the Dashboard - the central area used to manage all projects.
I was excited to attend the March of Dimes benefit at the North Charleston Convention Center on Thursday, December 7th and was especially looking forward to seeing the Iron Chef competition featuring Matt Bolus of Red Sky (formerly of The Ocean Room) although we completely missed it.But, at least I discovered the secret ingredient: “Battle Bourbon.”Gone is the hope to be the pompous, culinary novice judge that makes comments such as “This is too fishy” or “Yummo.”
The overall décor was lackluster but the speakers were overwhelmingly heartfelt and the best chefs in Charleston all cooked a dish on-site making it a memorable night. Richard Todd told his family’s own personal struggle with premature childbirth as did a couple who brought their twins on stage. The only people who could manage not to tear-up would be those whose eyes are devoid of saline.
Afterwards we ventured downtown to the J Paulz holiday party with Electric Company and their fake afros, Puma sweatsuits and Blues Brothers reenactment.Some of the Sienna and FIG staff joined and we all know that the food and beverage crowd can make an event into anything except boring.
