Restaurant Association of Maryland Blog

Maryland Student Put Their Culinary Skills to the Test for State Competition



Students at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School in Northeast Baltimore are hard at work.  They are preparing for the Maryland ProStart Student Invitational.

It's a chance for students to put their culinary skills to the test and compete for over $600,000 in scholarships.

"I think that anytime you compete, you learn how to work together.  You learn how to communicate.  The opportunity to network with the industry professionals that are judging. We have folks from post secondary and master chefs that are judging those things are life changing," said LaDeana Wentzel, Senior Director of Development and ProStart.

High Schools across Maryland in the ProStart Program square off in the competition.  It teaches students about the restaurant and food services industry.

Students will go head to head in a culinary and management competition.  Students have one hour to prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert with two burners.

They will be judged on product check in, uniforms, knife skills and poultry fabrication, taste and presentation.

"I want them to be able to be proud that they were able to do this competition.  I want our students to be able to say that they had a good experience in High School in their Culinary Arts Program.  Some of the students are not particularly good at sports and this might be their moment to shine," said Patricia Robertson, Culinary Arts Teacher.

The whole process can be intimidating for students.

"I'm nervous and excited.  I'm excited to participate, but I'm nervous to see the different skills that we will go up against in the competition," said Jamia Boulding, a Senior.

"The hardest part for me is the nervousness of going to the competition because I have never been before and I am worrying about myself being ready for my team," said Jermaine Brown, a Senior.

Students take the competition very seriously.  The chefs will not say what they are preparing for the competition.

Jermaine Brown enjoys making desserts and looks forward to turning it into a career.

"I like working with sugar. Pastry art appeals to me and when I prepare my product, I see the expression people get on their face.  It's like pure happiness," said Brown.

Students practice weekly.  It will move to a daily practice as the competition grows closer.

The Maryland ProStart Student Invitational will be held on Tuesday March 13th at the Baltimore Convention Center.

The National Competition will also be held in Baltimore April 27th - 29th.

Original Source: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/education/students-put-their-culinary-skills-to-the-test-for-a-state-competition

Restaurant Association of Maryland & Members Push To Amend State's Alcohol Tax

The Restaurant Association of Maryland and caterers around the state are hoping to get the alcohol tax amended.

Eddie Dopkin, co-owner of the Classic Catering People tells WBAL Radio that after the legislature passed the hike in the alcohol tax, companies like his learned that it included anything related to serving the drink.

"If you serve a drink at a wedding and you had a bar on a table with a tablecloth and glasses, the law says that the 9 percent gets applied not only to the alcohol served but anything in relation to it. So the tablecloth on the bar, the table you rented for the bar, the glasses," says Dopkin. He does not think the public or legislators understood what the law meant.

Dopkin says it is unfair and not what anybody in the restaurant or catering business expected.

He says its extremely complicated when you are trying to put a bill together for a client.

Melvin Thompson with the Restaurant Association of Maryland tells WBAL Radio that the law has created a lot of confusion for customers and made it really difficult for restaurant owners at the point of sale. He says they are now working with Delegate Shelia Hixson and Senator Nancy King who have sponsored legislation to make the changes.

Thompson says his organization believes this is an unintended consequence of the law and the legislators have been extremely receptive to working with the association in correcting this problem with the law.

Original Source: WBAL Radio (http://wbal.com/article/85813/3/template-story/Push-To-Amend-States-Alcohol-Tax)

Restaurant Association of Maryland Now Taking Nominations for Annual Awards Gala!

The Restaurant Association of Maryland is excited to announce that nominations are now being taken for the 2012 Annual Awards Gala sponsored by McCormick and Company.  The awards honor the Maryland hospitality industry’s best in such categories as Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant, Chef of the Year, and more.  Winners of these prestigious awards will be revealed at the 58^th Annual Awards Gala on Monday, April 16, 2012 from 6pm to 11pm at Martin’s West in Baltimore.   

Members of the dining public are strongly encouraged to visit www.marylandrestaurants.com/gala to nominate their favorites in each category. Two NEW categories were added this year: Craft Brew Program of the Year and Favorite Food Truck. The nomination period will close on February 6, 2012.

2012 Award Categories:

 RAM Restaurateur of the Year Presented by Payce

RAM Allied Member of the Year

Chef of the Year

Favorite Restaurant

Wine & Beverage Program of the Year

Craft Brew Program of the Year

Favorite Bar or Tavern

Favorite New Restaurant

Favorite Food Truck

Be among the first to know the 2012 award winners and celebrate the Maryland restaurant industry by attending the Awards Gala in April. This year’s theme is “Pirates of the Caribbean”, so be sure to come dressed to impress in your pirate garb; eye patches are encouraged. Tickets are $175 per person and include a spectacular cocktail hour featuring food from Restaurant Association of Maryland member restaurants, an extravagant sit down dinner and dancing, all in addition to the awards ceremony.

To purchase tickets, or for more information on becoming a sponsor of this event, please contact Jennie Silver at 410-290-6800.

Wine, Dine, Speak Your Mind at the 2012 Taste of Maryland Legislative Reception!

The Restaurant Association of Maryland, in coordination with the Maryland Tourism Council (MTC), Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (MADMO) and the Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association (MHLA), will host the 22nd annual Taste of Maryland Legislative Reception on Monday, January 16, 2012 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel from 5 – 7:30 p.m.

“The Taste of Maryland Legislative Reception is a celebration of the hospitality industry and an opportunity for our members to spend time with legislators.   With the important decisions facing lawmakers this session we want to ensure that our industry’s perspective is taken into consideration,” said Marshall Weston Jr., President & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland.

The following is a full list of participating restaurants and their locations which can also be seen at www.thetasteofmd.com/restaurants.

Breeze Restaurant
C & R Pub
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
Carrol’s Creek Café
Clarence's Taste of New Orleans
Edible Arrangements
Galway Bay
Harris Crab House
Hollywood Casino Perryville
Harris Crab House
Isaac's Restaurant
Langermann’s

Main Ingredient
Maria's Italian Ristorante
Middleton Tavern
Miss Shirley’s Café
Molly Mason’s
Nespresso
O’Brien’s Oyster Bar
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse- Annapolis
Saval Foodservice
Shapiro’s Café
SoBo’s Wine Beerstro
The Melting Pot- Columbia

The evening will also feature an open bar serving MillerCoors products, wines provided by the Maryland Wineries Association. Food leftover from the evening’s event will be donated to the Maryland Food Bank.

Prior to the legislative reception, several education seminars will be held at the Loews Hotel. Seminars are included with your ticket purchase. Registration is now open at www.thetasteofmd.com. The schedule is as follows:

2:00 – 2:45 Seminar A – 3rd Floor of Powerhouse Building at Loews Hotel “Determining the Return on Investment (ROI) of using Social Media” With Speaker, Jason Cohen, RockIt Digital Marketing

                    Seminar B – 2nd Floor of Powerhouse Building at Loews Hotel “Let’s make a Deal, an effective approach to contracts and vendor agreements” With Speaker, Robert Franklin, Franklin & Prokopik

3:00 – 3:45 Seminar C – 3rd Floor of Powerhouse Building at Loews Hotel “Marketing and Branding your Restaurant” With Speaker, Randy Marriner, Victoria Gastro Pub

                  Seminar D – 2nd Floor of Powerhouse Building at Loews Hotel "Getting the Message Out that Tourism IS Economic Development" With Speaker, Maryland County Tourism Directors Panel

4:15 – 5:00 RAM Legislative Update & Preview of 2012 Session – 3rd Floor of Powerhouse Building at the Loews Hotel With Speaker, Melvin Thompson, Senior VP of Government Affairs at RAM

“Our restaurant members and sponsors understand the importance of this event and we are honored by their commitment to make this special evening possible,” added Weston.

Credentialed media interested in attending the reception should contact the Restaurant Association of Maryland directly at 410-290-6800 or jsilver@marylandrestaurants.com.

Tips for Decorating your Business for the Holidays!

• Consider hiring a contractor for unusually dangerous installations such as locations which require work over large atriums, roof tops and leading edges subject to falls greater than 6 feet from the walking surface. Be sure to obtain certificates of insurance, including a hold-harmless agreement, from a sub-contractor to verify insurance coverage for workers compensation and general liability.
• Refrain from using inappropriate substitutes for ladders, such as an unstable chair or box to reach overhead areas.  
• Electrical fixtures must be UL listed, be in good condition and not subject to damage and or overheating.
• Use caution when selecting the area to display decorative lights. Consider displaying decorations in low traffic areas and avoid creating a trip/fall hazard with light strings and/or extension cords.  
• Be sure to consult with local authorities regarding laws which prohibit the use of live trees in-doors within public places of assembly. In some jurisdictions the use of live trees for display or electrical lights is not permitted.

Questions? Contact the Maryland Restaurant & Hospitality Self-Insurance Fund @ 410-584-8412.

The 12th Annual Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation Car Raffle Fundraiser Has Begun!

The Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation announces their 12^th annual car raffle fundraiser to raise $50,000 for its ProStart^® school-to-career program.  The top prize is a 2012 Audi A3 from Valley Motors, with $10,000 and $5,000 as second and third prizes respectively. 

“This year’s car raffle is a WIN-WIN for everyone involved”, stated Michael Birchenall Chairman of the RAMEF Board of Directors.  “There’s an incentive for people to purchase a raffle ticket because they’ll receive $325 worth of restaurant gift certificates right away – just in time for the holiday shopping season. The restaurants are excited to promote themselves to a pool of potential new customers and keep people dining out in Maryland. I won the car raffle in 2006! Yes, you can win a new Audi A3.”

Thirteen restaurants have teamed up with the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation to make this raffle worth every penny and more.  For every car raffle ticket you purchase, you will receive a $25 gift certificate from each of the 13 participating restaurants – that’s $325 worth of gift certificates that you use as holiday gifts or keep for yourself!  Either way, you can’t lose.

Tickets for the raffle are $300 each and only 325 tickets will be sold.  When you purchase a ticket you will receive a $25 gift certificate from all of the following restaurants (there’s no need to choose, you get them all!):

1. Ruth's Chris Steak House – Multiple Locations
2. DaMimmo Finest Italian Cuisine– Baltimore
3. The Milton Inn - Sparks
4. Victoria Gastro Pub – Columbia
5. The Melting Pot – Columbia
6. The Iron Bridge Wine Company – Columbia
7. Second Chance Saloon – Columbia
8. Brewer’s Alley – Frederick
9. Red Brick Station – White Marsh
10. Baldwin’s Station – Sykesville
11. Galaxy 66 Bar & Grille – Ocean City
12. Sunset Grille – Ocean City
13. Phillips Seafood – Ocean City

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit ProStart^® and the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation Scholarship programs.  The ProStart^® program is a high school culinary and hospitality management curriculum that also requires 400 hours of paid industry work experience in order to receive a ProStart^® National Certificate of Achievement. Students completing the ProStart^® program are qualified to enter the workforce in positions above entry level and are on a fast track to management careers.  ProStart^® is endorsed by the Maryland State Department of Education and also prepares students for post secondary education at culinary schools and hospitality management programs. There are currently over 4,000 high school students in the program in Maryland.

The Marcia S. Harris Legacy Fund, the Letitia B Carter Scholarship Fund and the Co-Branded Scholarship with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation are also managed and awarded through the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation. 

“This raffle provides an opportunity to get 13 gift certificates that you can use as holiday gifts and donate to a charity at the same time.  The best part of all, you could even get something for yourself, a new Audi A3!” remarked Marshall Weston Jr., President & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland & the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation.

The drawing for the raffle will be held on December 19, 2011 at the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s Annual Holiday Party at the RAM Headquarters in Columbia.

Tickets may be purchased online or by phone at: 1-800-874-1313. More information on the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation and the car raffle can be found at www.ramef.org.

Restaurant Association of Maryland Members Participate in Dining Out for Life

Today only, Baltimore area restaurants are participating in Moveable Feast's Dining Out for Life event!

Moveable Feast raises money to help feed hundreds of men, women, and children right here in our community living with HIV/AIDS, and other life-challenging conditions such as breast cancer. By simply eating out for lunch or dinner today at any of the participating restaurants, at least 20% of proceeds from lunch or dinner (or both) will go towards Moveable Feast. View the complete list of participating Baltimore restaurants for full information.

Thank you to our members who have opted to participate in this event! Find the complete list of the Association's participating members below.

Breakfast:

• Bonjour French Bakery Cafe
• Marie Louise Bistro
• Miss Shirley's Cafe - Inner Harbor
• Miss Shirley's Cafe- Roland Park

Lunch:

• Bonjour French Bakery Cafe
• Clementine
• Joe Squared
• Marie Louise Bistro
• Minato Sushi Bar
• Miss Shirley's Cafe - Inner Harbor
• Miss Shirley's Cafe- Roland Park
• Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon
• The Rumor Mill Fusion Bar & Restaurant

Dinner:

• Alonso's
• The Brewer's Art
• Blue Agave
• Clementine
• Gertrude's Restaurant at the BMA
• Loco Hombre
• Cafe Gia
• Chameleon Cafe
• Giovanni's
• Joe Squared
• La Palapa Grill & Cantina
• Linwoods
• Marie Louise Bistro
• Meet 27
• Mia Carolina
• Minato Sushi Bar
• Mount Vernon Stable & Saloon
• The Rumor Mill Fusion Bar & Restaurant
• Saute Restaurant & Bar
• Sotto Sopra
• Todd Conner's

 

Barbeque Tips: Labor Day Edition

The unofficial end of summer is upon us as our days of hanging by the pool, beach vacations, and barbeques come to a close. While one third of consumers are expected to be restaurant patrons this Labor Day weekend, plenty others are preparing for barbeques and parties, it is important to keep food safety tips in mind. Below are some grilling tips so that everyone has a safe and pleasant holiday weekend.

• Wash your hands! Before you begin preparing hamburger patties and chicken, make sure that you wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before touching any meat. Your hands are the number one culprit for spreading dirt and bacteria when working with food.
• Avoid cross contamination! Make sure that you don't use the same plate to prepare hamburger patties and then cut up fruit without washing the plate in hot soapy water first. Bacteria can easily spread from raw meat or poultry to your cooked or ready-to-eat food. Make sure to use separate utensils when preparing and eating your food. Knives should also be cleaned and sanitized between uses. 
• Cook food thoroughly! When it's time to grill, be sure to have your food thermometer ready! Always use it to check that your food is cooked all the way through. Ground meats must be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 degrees Fahrenheit. Poultry must be cooked to 165 degrees F; steaks, fish and chops must be cooked to 145 degrees F.
• Don't leave food outside too long! It may be tempting to set up for your barbeque early, but would you really want to eat something that's been sitting outside for 3 or 4 hours? Hot food should be kept at a temperature of 135 degrees F or above; use an insulated container to keep food hot before serving. Cold food should be kept in the refrigerator or cooler at a temperature of 41 degrees F or below. If food has been sitting out for 4 hours or longer, it's time to discard that dish. Bacteria on food can multiply rapidly often leading to foodborne illness. Better to be safe than sorry!

The information above is taken from the ServSafe® 5th edition course book, created by the National Restaurant Association. The Restaurant Association of Maryland partners with the National Restaurant Association to teach the ServSafe food safety certification program to restaurants and other foodservice operations in Maryland. Since 1994, the Restaurant Association of Maryland has trained over 50,000 foodservice employees through its Education Foundation.

Foodservice Industry Trade Show Cancelled as Association Focuses on Value

The Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage and Lodging Expo, the annual regional trade show hosted by the Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM), has been cancelled for 2011.  In 2010, the two-day event was held at the Baltimore Convention Center and drew about 2,000 attendees.  Current economic realities and changes in how restaurants and companies conduct business were the main factors in cancelling the show. 

“Fewer exhibitors, dwindling attendance and the lack of sponsors all resulted in the show no longer being self-funding,” said Marshall Weston Jr., RAM President and CEO.

Weston also said that the cost of trade shows continues to rise and the Association can bring more value to members and the foodservice industry by no longer focusing on a single event.

RAM currently has about 2,000 members and continues to remain active in legislative affairs and offers educational programs for the foodservice industry. RAM also maintains an Endorsed Program list of companies that provide discounts and added services to members for expenses such as workers’ compensation insurance, electricity pricing, payroll services, property and casualty insurance, credit card processing and other industry needs.

RAM will be hosting an Open House at their headquarters in Columbia on October 3, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  The foodservice industry is invited to attend and meet the RAM staff and Endorsed Program representatives.

“Our Open House provides an opportunity for owners, managers and other employees to learn about RAM and network with other industry people,” said Weston.  “We are also going to talk about ways to get new customers, keep your regulars coming back, and our Endorsed Programs will be there to help restaurants lower their operating costs.”

For more information about RAM’s Open House or RAM membership, call 410.290.6800 or visit www.marylandrestaurants.com.

Restaurant Association of Maryland Invites Restaurant Operators to Participate in Foodservice Industry Survey!

 

The Restaurant Association of Maryland salutes the “Stars of the Industry” with the 2011 award winners!

The Restaurant Association of Maryland is excited to announce the winners of the awards bestowed at the 57th Annual McCormick & Company Stars of the Industry Awards Gala. The Gala Celebration and Awards presentation took place on Monday, May 16 at 6pm at Martin’s West in Baltimore, MD.  This Annual Awards Gala is a spectacular event of industry recognition that brings together over 600 of hospitality’s best and brightest to spotlight the industry’s influence as a part of the nation’s foundation of opportunity.  The public voting was intense with thousands of votes collected. Congratulations to all of our nominees, honorees and award winners!

Award Winners and Honorees

Restaurateur of the Year- Billy Carder, BJ’s on the Water (Ocean City)
2011 Chef of the Year- Chef Brian Boston, The Milton Inn (Sparks)
2011 Favorite Bar or Tavern- Fish Tales (Ocean City)
2011 Pastry Chef of the Year- Chef Isaiah Billington (Baltimore)
2011 Wine and Beverage Program of the Year- Victoria Gastro Pub (Columbia)
Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant 2011- B&O American Brasserie (Baltimore)
Maryland’s Favorite Restaurant 2011- Sunset Grille (Ocean City)
2011 Green Restaurant of the Year- The Crab Shanty Restaurant (Ellicott City)
Allied Member of the Year- Payce Payroll represented by Brian Pfeifer
The Brice & Shirley Phillips Lifetime Industry Achievement Award- Lawrence Wilhelm (Friendly Farm Family Style Restaurant)
The Schellhase Award- William King III of The Crab Shanty Restaurant
The McCormick Cornerstone Award- Galaxy 66 Bar & Grille (Ocean City); Glory Days Grill (Gaithersburg); The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille (Edgewater); Graul’s Market & Café (Lutherville); Moxie Bakery & Café (Frederick); Phillips Seafood (Baltimore); Rí Rá Irish Pub (Bethesda)
Maryland Hall of Honor Inductees– Brewer’s Alley Restaurant & Brewery (Frederick); Double T Diner (Statewide); The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille (Statewide); The Grille at Harryman House (Reisterstown); Schmankerl Stube Bavarian Restaurant (Hagerstown)
Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation ProStart Teacher of the Year- Laura Safrit (Rising Sun High School)
Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation ProStart Student of the Year- Elinn Hesse (Howard County ARL)

A special thank you to everyone that participated and helped make this event possible! Thank you to all guests and we hope to see you all again next year!