Baltimore Hospitality Community Joins to benefit local NAF Academy

NAF ACADEMY ANNUAL Awards Dinner– June 2010 by Merritt Dworkin, CITYPEEK Blogette

A 100% guarantee! For the 5th year in a row…NAF will graduate 100% of the Senior Class of 2010!! I was fortunate enough to attend the NAF ACADEMY ANNUAL Awards Dinner with CityPeek Patti herself and what a “WOW” event! Taking place at the MARRIOTT WATERFRONT HOTEL in HARBOR EAST, everyone involved with the school shared stories of successful mentoring along with the passion and educating and guiding the youth of tomorrow into the world of Hospitality and Culinary Talent! Event co-chairs, JULIE BROWN EDWARDS of Baltimore's Tremonts-Tremont Plaza Hotel & The Tremont Grand and LEE JOHNSON of HARBOR MAGIC HOTELS did an amazing job coordinating the opening cocktail reception, the high energy awards ceremony AND the food finale post ceremony! True to their reputations, the event flowed nicely as 600 plus guests were treated to culinary creations and libations from some of the BEST in the business!! Special shout-out to Tyese Thornton of ROY'S for a successful silent auction.

Featured restaurants that graciously donated their time, staff and INCREDIBLE tastings were: SUSHI from Matsuri Baltimore Japanese Restaurant (BILL TIEN won CHEF of the YEAR), McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Baltimore , Vellegia's Seafood Restaurant in Baltimore served homemade GELATO, Water Street Exchange-fabulous pulled chicken and brisket, MARRIOTT INNER HARBOR at Camden Yards (Chef Mitch Cooper of Cafe Promenade at Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Camden Yards overseeing his staff) and MARRIOTT WATERFRONT (CHEF TIM MULLEN overseeing) each did a play on potatoes--mashed with lobster at the former and hints of curry at the later. HYATT REGENCY INNER HARBOR wowed us with their watermelon-te-kill-ya shooters, enough said there! Also participating were PIZZAZZ TUSCAN GRILL, LA SCALA RISTORANTE, and many more, but we got full !

Talk about an entrance!! PETRA COMPEL from FEATS,INC. entered the ballroom hidden behind large elaborate colorful paper fans and students from NAF in tropical colored outfits! The upbeat “island” music and the vibrant “fruit hat” kicked off the LIVE AUCTION portion of the evening as PETRA literally switched hats and became AUCTIONEER EXTRAORDINAIRE as only she can do! The LIVE AUCTION featured generous donations such as a trip for 2 to MEXICO donated by Amy O'Connell of the Holiday Inner Harbor, DINING packagies around town and A getaway to MONTANA!!

Always an honor to be nominated by your peers, this years’ WINNERS were: PAUL BEARD from McCORMICK & COMPANY- Finance Mentor; GERALD MARKOWITZ from HJM ASSOCIATES-

IT Mentor; LAWRENCE MANNING from TRIGGER AGENCY-Hospitality & Tourism Mentor tied with JOHN WALSH from CHEF’S EXPRESSIONS CATERING; LINDA WESTGATE from HILTON BALTIMORE –

HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR; RENEE WEST from VISIT BALTIMORE – who sat at our table with her guest of honor, Mom West!

FINANCE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR; STEPHANIE REEL from JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY & HEALTH SYTEMS –

IT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR; JUDGE MARCELLA HOLLAND from the CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE CITY.

CHEF OF THE YEAR went to BILL TIEN of Matsuri Baltimore Japanese Restaurant! Just celebrated 14 years of business.

ERIC BONARDI of V MEALS and ALICIA CROSBY of American Visionary Arts Museum -Baltimore tied for CATERING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR!

Rounding out this fantastic group of winners was DR. ANDRES ALONSO from BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS as WINNER of the FRIEND OF THE ACADEMY AWARD!! STEVEN HAYWARD ( a graduating SENIOR at NAF) has hope of opening his own restaurant/spa one day. Hopefully it will be nearby!

Also seen in the crowd for the grand event:

DENNIS DIETZ, GM and ALISON JONES of the Days Inn Inner Harbor Hotel Baltimore, ANDREW ZILL of FEATS, INC. , JERRY EDWARDS & Laura ALIMA of CHEFS EXPRESSIONS, LARRY NOTO of HARBOR MAGIC HOTELS, SLOANE BROWN of BALTIMORE SUN, JULEKHA DASH of BMORE MEDIA, LEANNE WEBER of the BBJ, NORA CAMPBELL of Maryland Science Center, ONAHLEA SHIMUNEK from MARRIOTT INNER HARBOR at Camden Yards who was also a presenter, PAUL WOLMAN of FEATS,INC/NAF Board Member., MICHAEL HAYNIE, NAF Board Member & acting GM of Baltimore's Tremonts-Tremont Plaza Hotel & The Tremont Grand, Jon Kosher General Manager Sheraton Inner Harbor Baltimore Hotel, VICKIE PRESTON of ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE,TAMMY STONE of La FAMIGLIA RESTAURANT, KAREN and JAY BUCK from the PERFECT WEDDING GUIDE & MODERN BABIES, MICHAEL THOMPSON from ZBEST LIMOUSINE, DOROTHY FUCHS of PURPLE DOT PR and yours truly, MERRITT DWORKIN from CHAMELEON MARKETING & CONSULTING :)