CHICAGO —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Attendees mingled, sipped cocktails and sampled the award-winning dishes at the reception-style event, which was held at the Drake Hotel during the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
The MenuMasters awards, which honor excellence in research and development, are presented by Nation’s Restaurant News and sponsored by Ventura Foods LLC. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Roger Berkowitz, president and chief executive of Boston-based Legal Sea Foods, was inducted into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame, an honor previously given to such industry veterans as Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse and the late Colonel Harland Sanders. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Paul Carr, senior director of culinary for Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp., was singled out for the Chef/Innovator award for his work guiding menu development at the contract foodservice company, which serves approximately 15 million meals each day. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
The other six awards, which are given to chains for specific offerings, went to: —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Red Lobster of Orlando, Fla., for its fresh fish menu, in the category of best menu/line extension. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. Maggiano’s Little Italy of Dallas for its braised beef cannelloni, in the category of best single product rollout. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. O’Charley’s, of Nashville, Tenn., for its Flavor Road initiative, in the category of best menu revamp. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. Burger King of Miami for its Homestyle Melt Sandwiches, in the category of best limited-time offer. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. University of Connecticut Department of Dining Services, located in Storrs, Conn., for its Spa Foods offerings, in the category of best healthful innovation. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. Commander’s Palace in New Orleans for its “haute Creole cuisine,” in the category of best independent-operator menu. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Before receiving their trophies on stage, each winner was introduced through a video that chronicled the honoree’s path to victory. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Additionally, scholarship checks were presented to Daniel Camerota, a student at Johnson & Wales University, based in Providence, R.I., and Richard Stewart, a student at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
Following the reception and awards ceremony, guests continued to celebrate during an after-party that stretched late into the evening. In addition, artist Guy Buffet, who had created an original, limited-edition poster for the event, was on hand to autograph prints for guests. —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.
2008 MenuMasters Honorees HALL OF FAME: Roger Berkowitz —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. CHEF/INNOVATOR: Paul Carr —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. HEALTHFUL INNOVATION: University of Connecticut Dept. of Dining Services —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. INDEPENDENT OPERATOR MENU: Commander’s Palace —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Burger King —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. MENU/LINE EXTENSION: Red Lobster —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. MENU REVAMP: O’Charley’s —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. SINGLE PRODUCT ROLLOUT: Maggiano’s Little Italy —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently. Speeches, soirees highlight NRA confab —Award-winning operators and hundreds of guests toasted culinary innovation throughout the industry at the annual MenuMasters awards ceremony held here recently.