Restaurant Association of Maryland Blog

Restaurant Association of Maryland Announces 2012 Nominees for Annual Industry Awards!

The Restaurant Association of Maryland is excited to announce the finalists for the highly anticipated 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 Industry 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 cast their votes for their favorite nominees in each category.  Competition is steep: in the past, more than 30,000 votes per year have been collected. Voting will continue until March 9, 2012.  

2012 Award Nominees

Voted on by the Dining Public:

 Maryland’s Favorite New Restaurant

• The Americana, Baltimore
• Corner BYOB, Hampden
• de Lazy Lizard, Ocean City
• Fishnet, College Park
• Havana Road Cuban Café, Towson 

Chef of the Year

• Daniel Wecker, The Elkridge Furnace Inn
• Jeff Smith, The Chameleon Café
• Jim Barrett, Azure
• John Hufnagel, The Grille at Peerce’s
• Patrick Fanning, The High Spot

Craft Brew Program of the Year

• The Brewer’s Art, Baltimore
• Franklins Restaurant, Brewery & General Store, Hyattsville
• Frisco Tap House & Brewery, Columbia
• Max’s Taphouse, Baltimore
• SoBo’s Wine Beerstro, Salisbury
• Freddie’s Lobster & Clams, Bethesda

Favorite Restaurant

• Baldwin Station, Sykesville
• Box Hill Pizzeria, Bel Air
• Houlihan’s, Columbia
• Passage to India, Bethesda
• Peter’s Inn, Baltimore
• The Red Star Bar & Grill, Baltimore  

Favorite Bar and/or Tavern

• Buffalo Wild Wings, Statewide
• Johnny Rads, Baltimore
• Pusser’s Caribbean Grille, Annapolis
• Quarry House Tavern, Silver Spring
• Shenanigan’s Irish Pub & Grille, Ocean City

Wine and Beverage Program of the Year

• AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar, Columbia
• Bistro Blanc, Glenelg
• Mr. Rain’s Fun House, Baltimore
• Red Red Wine Bar, Annapolis
• The Tasting Room, Frederick

Favorite Food Truck

• The Gypsy Queen, Baltimore
• Haute Dog Fabulous Franks, Baltimore
• IcedGems, Reisterstown
• Kooper’s Chowhound Burger Wagon, Baltimore
• Miss Shirley’s Café, Baltimore

Voted on by Association Members Only:

Allied Member of the Year – Nominations

• Coastal Sunbelt Produce, John Corso
• The Columbia Bank, Del Karfonta
• Corporate Coverage, Tim Thompson
• Meetlocalbiz.com, Todd Sachs
• MICROS, Henry Pertman

Restaurateur of the Year - Nominations

• Anthony Clarke, Galway Bay Irish Pub
• Bill Herbst, La Hacienda
• Linwood Dame, Linwoods
• Matt Milani, The Rumor Mill Fusion Bar & Restaurant
• Tammy Patrick-Cebula, Galaxy 66 Bar & Grille

Be among the first to know the 2012 Industry Award winners and celebrate the Maryland restaurant industry by attending the Awards Gala in April.  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.

Tickets are available to purchase at www.marylandrestaurants.com/gala. For more information on becoming a sponsor of this event, please contact Sarah Cunningham at 410-290-6800.

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

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.

2011 Maryland ProStart Student Invitational Winners Announced!

Washington County & Baltimore County Students to Represent Maryland in National Competition

1st Place Winners in the Culinary Competition Program: North Hagerstown High School 

 Maryland’s top culinary and hospitality management students from 22 high schools across the state competed yesterday in the Maryland ProStart Student Invitational (MPSI), hosted by the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation. Students competed for over $1,400,000 in college and continuing education scholarships and the opportunity to represent the State of Maryland at the National ProStart Invitational in Overland, KS in April 2011.

“Each of the students that competed in yesterday’s competition is to be commended for their commitment to their craft. The culinary arts and hospitality management are intense and highly skilled professions and these students took another step forward into a successful and rewarding career in the restaurant and hospitality industry,” said Marshall Weston Jr., President & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Maryland and Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation.

A panel of 40 national and local foodservice professionals judged the students in both culinary and management competitions. Students trained for months to practice the preparation and execution of an appetizer, entrée and dessert, which they created from scratch in only one hour. All food was cooked with only two butane burners as heat sources, with no electricity or battery operated equipment allowed.

Judges scored participants on proper food safety and sanitation procedures, cooking methods, food taste, teamwork and menu difficulty. In the management competition, student teams presented judges with a business proposal for a new restaurant concept, developed prior to the event. Teams prepared a comprehensive written proposal, visual display and presented their concept to a panel of judges, who acted as potential investors in their new concept.

The winners of the 7th Annual Maryland ProStart Student Invitational:

Culinary Competition Winners   
1st Place:  North Hagerstown High School (Washington County)
2nd Place:  Reservoir High School (Howard County)
3rd Place: Glenelg High School (Howard County)

Management Competition Winners
1st Place:  Carver Center for the Arts (Baltimore County)
2nd Place:  Western School of Technology (Baltimore County)
3rd Place: Howard County Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL) (Howard County)

“Thanks to the generosity of our industry and its supporters, these students will have the opportunity of a lifetime at their fingertips,” said Michael Birchenall, chairman of the RAMEF board of directors.  “This was truly a statewide competition and I couldn’t be more proud of North Hagerstown High School and the Carver Center for the Arts for coming out on top.”

Also honored at last evening’s awards dinner at the Baltimore Convention Center, was the ProStart Teacher of the Year for the State of Maryland.  Laura Safrit, Culinary Arts Teacher at the Rising Sun High School will be honored by the National Restaurant Association at their annual trade show in Chicago, IL this upcoming May in addition to being recognized at the 2011 Stars of the Industry Awards hosted by the Restaurant Association of Maryland at Martin’s West on May 16^th. 

The Maryland ProStart Student Invitational is made possible by Platinum Scholarship Sponsor: McCormick and Company, Inc., Awards Dinner Sponsor: Centerplate, Culinary Competition Sponsor: Saval Foodservice, Management Competition Sponsor: Anne Arundel Community College, Scholarship and Official Seafood Sponsor: Whole Foods Market.  Baltimore International College is the National Team Sponsor and will help pay the expenses necessary to send both teams to the National ProStart Invitational.

Restaurant Industry in Maryland Expected to Experience Strong Growth in 2011

Yesterday, the National Restaurant Association announced it's 2011 Restaurant Industry sales Forecast for 2011 revealing that restaurant industry sales are expected to reach a record $604 billion after three years of a negative outlook.

Maryland is expected to see some of the strongest growth, with a projected growth of 3.9%, totaling in at $9.4 billion. Right now, the Maryland restaurant industry employs 226,900 people. The Baltimore Business Journal  states that by 2020, the State's restaurant industry is expected to grow 8.3% and created over 18,000 new jobs.

With the release of the National Restaurant Association's forecast, we have something great to look forward to in 2011!

 

Restaurant Association of Maryland Names Marshall Weston Jr. President & CEO

The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) announced during its Winter Board Meeting on January 17th that Marshall Weston, Jr. has been named the Association’s President & CEO.  Weston has been serving as Interim President & CEO after Paul Hartgen resigned in October 2010.

"The Board of Directors is confident that Marshall will continue helping Maryland restaurants succeed, “ said Board Chairman Jeff Owens, Chief Financial Officer of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group. “Marshall’s expertise in the industry and enthusiastic leadership is a great asset to the Restaurant Association of Maryland.”

Mr. Weston has been promoted from Executive Vice President of the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation, where he was responsible for overseeing the educational programs, workforce development, corporate sponsorship and scholarship programs run through the Foundation.  As Executive Vice President, Mr. Weston developed and implemented the Foundation’s budgets, programs and fundraising while reporting to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Weston added, "I am very excited about leading RAM into the future.  We will be focused on fulfilling our members’ needs and ensuring that we are always enhancing the value of our membership."

Mr. Weston received his BS in Public Policy from Pennsylvania State University and worked in the restaurant industry in Pennsylvania and Maryland for 11 years. From 2000 to 2002, he was a legislative fellow in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and also worked for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Baltimore Selected as Host City for the 2012 and 2013 National ProStart Invitational

Baltimore has been chosen as the host for the 2012 and 2013 National ProStart Invitationals, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced today. Held each spring, this rigorous competition brings together teams of ProStart high school state champions from around the country to compete for the national title, as well as scholarships to help fund their college education.

"ProStart is a world-class career-building program that prepares nearly 90,000 students each year for rewarding careers in our industry, and we are pleased to bring the National ProStart Invitational to Baltimore," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association and NRAEF. "This competition is a superb forum for students to showcase their culinary and management skills and connect with industry leaders and mentors. The unparalleled support from the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation and local industry make Baltimore an ideal host city."

In 2010 alone, ProStart - the NRAEF's proven, high-impact program for high school students - reaches more than 88,000 students in 1,650 high schools across 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 14 U.S. military bases at home and abroad. It introduces them to the career opportunities available in the restaurant and foodservice industry, and teaches them the restaurant management and culinary arts skills needed to launch their futures.

The 11th annual National ProStart Invitational will be held April 27-29, 2012, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. This fast-paced competition features top ProStart teams from participating states who will showcase their skills before more than 800 fellow students, educators, mentors, state restaurant association executives, and board members of the National Restaurant Association and NRAEF. Currently, $1.4 million in scholarships are awarded to the top teams in both the culinary and management competitions.

"Our ProStart program has grown incredibly over the past couple of years, and we are very proud to showcase our thriving program on the national stage by acting as host state for the National ProStart Invitational," said Marshall Weston, President and CEO, Restaurant Association of Maryland and Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation. "Our local industry has been a tremendous support for the Maryland ProStart program, and we are eager to work with our industry partners to show the ProStart teams what Baltimore has to offer."

"Restaurants and tourism play a vital role in Baltimore's economy. We are thrilled to be hosting the National ProStart Invitational and excited to showcase our city to all the students and families coming in from across the United States," said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The National ProStart Invitational brings industry and academic leaders together with high school students to help fuel their passion for the industry and demonstrate the opportunities available within it.

Teams that place first at their state competition advance in two categories - culinary and management. The culinary competition highlights the creative abilities of each team through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes using only two butane burners. Management teams develop a proposal for an original restaurant concept and apply critical thinking skills to challenges restaurant managers face in day-to-day operations. The performance of teams in both the culinary and management events is observed and rated by expert judges from industry and academia.

The 2011 National ProStart Invitational will be held April 30-May 2, 2011, in Overland Park, Kan.

ProStart is a two-year program offered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in partnership with state restaurant associations. The career-building program blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce. For more information on the ProStart program and National ProStart Invitational, visit http://prostart.restaurant.org.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation:

As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) enhances the restaurant industry's service to the public through education, community engagement, and promotion of career opportunities. The restaurant and foodservice industry is comprised of 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 13 million employees, making it one of the nation's largest employers. The NRAEF is focused on working with the Association to lead America's restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence and participation by providing the valuable tools and resources needed to educate our current and incoming employees. For more information on the NRAEF, visit www.nraef.org.

About the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation:

The Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation (RAMEF) is a nonprofit organization that works with the Restaurant Association of Maryland to educate the hospitality and foodservice workforce of Maryland. RAMEF offers certifications in food safety and responsible alcohol service along with server and hospitality management training. RAMEF also supports the 103 schools in Maryland using the ProStart program, a culinary and hospitality management curriculum for high school students that is endorsed by the Maryland State Department of Education. Scholarships to students and industry professionals are also managed through the Foundation. More information on RAMEF can be found at www.ramef.org.

Restaurant Association of Maryland President & CEO Resigns

The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) today announced that Paul Hartgen will resign as President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective next month.  Marshall Weston, Jr. has been named the Association’s Interim President & CEO. 

"Paul has led the organization through our most challenging economic times and we will miss him," said Board Chairman Jeff Owens, Chief Financial Officer of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group.  “The Directors thank Paul for his energy, dedication and passion over the past three years and wish him all the best in future endeavors.”

Mr. Hartgen added, “It has been a pleasure serving this association and the restaurant industry of Maryland and I wish the association and their foundation continued success.”

"We are fortunate to have such depth of leadership at RAM,” said Owens. “Marshall will continue the important work of helping Maryland Restaurants succeed without missing a beat.”

Mr. Weston has been promoted from Executive Vice President of the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation, where he was responsible for overseeing the educational programs, workforce development, corporate sponsorship and scholarship programs run through the Foundation.  As Executive Vice President, Mr. Weston developed and implemented the Foundation’s budgets, programs and fundraising while reporting to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Weston added, "I'm honored to be selected for the position by Chairman Owens and the Board of Directors.  The Board has crafted a compelling vision to become even more valuable and relevant to our members, and I am very excited about the opportunity to work with the Board, Association members and my colleagues on staff to execute that vision."

Mr. Weston received his BS in Public Policy from Penn State University and worked in the restaurant industry in Pennsylvania and Maryland for 11 years. From 2000 to 2002, he was a legislative fellow in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and also worked for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

For seven months in 2007 & 2008 Weston served as the Interim President & CEO of RAM while the Association conducted an executive search due to the passing of their long time President & CEO, Marcia Harris.

Health Care Law Implementation Update

Form W-2 Reporting Requirement Delayed One Year
The Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have issued Notice 2010-69 regarding the implementation of the Form W-2 reporting provision of the health care law.  The notice states that the reporting of the aggregate cost of applicable employer-sponsored coverage that was set to go into effect for tax year 2011, will be delayed for another year.

The notice states that such reporting is not mandatory for Forms W-2 issued for 2011.  In addition, employers not reporting the cost of coverage for 2011 will not be subject to penalties for not reporting.  Further guidance from the Department and the IRS is anticipated before the end of 2010.

In addition, the IRS released a draft updated Form W-2 with instructions.  This form must go through further regulatory approval processes before it is finalized, which is also anticipated by the end of the year.

New DOL FAQ’s
The Department of Labor recently issued FAQ’s Part II regarding implementation of the health care law.  These cover additional questions and answers on grandfathered health plans, dental and vision benefits, rescissions, preventive health services, and a clarification on policy year implementation dates.  FAQ Part I covered group health plan compliance, grandfathered health plans, the claims, internal and external review process provision, dependent coverage, out of network emergency services, and highly compensated employees.

For additional information about the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, please visit www.restaurant.org/healthcare.

12 Maryland Restaurants Participate in Education Foundation's 11th Annual Car Raffle Fundraiser

The 11th annual Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation car raffle fundraiser to raise $50,000 for its ProStart school to career program has begun! The top prize is a 2011 Audi A3 from Valley Motors, with $10,000 and $5,000 as second and third prizes respectively.

Twelve restaurants have teamed up with the Education Foundation to make this raffle worth every penny! For every car raffle ticket you purchase, you will receive a $25 gift certificate from each of the 12 participating restaurants. Use these gift certificates as holiday gifts for friends and family, or keep them for yourself!

Only 325 raffle tickets will be sold for a price of $300 each. The 12 participating restaurants include:

1. Ruth's Chris - Baltimore
2. Sotto Sopra - Baltimore
3. Blue Hill Tavern - Baltimore
4. Lebanese Taverna - Baltimore
5. Rumor Mill - Ellicott City
6. Red Brick Station - White Marsh
7. Victoria Gastro Pub - Columbia
8. Galaxy 66 - Ocean City
9. Micky Fins - Ocean City
10. Crab Shanty - Ellicott City
11. Maggie's - Westminster
12. The Chop House/ Real Seafood Co. - Annapolis

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit ProStart and the Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation Scholarship programs. Tickets may be purchased online or by phone at 1-800-874-1313. The drawing for the raffle will be held on January 11, 2011 at Kloby's Smokehouse in West Laurel, Maryland. For more information on the Education Foundation, please visit www.ramef.org.