Panama City Beach Businesses, Community Leaders, and Law Enforcement Prepare for Safe and Successful Spring Break at Hospitality Workshop

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

Panama City Beach Businesses, Community Leaders, and Law Enforcement Prepare for Safe and Successful Spring Break at Hospitality Workshop

– FRLA’s RCS to Host FREE Responsible Vendor Training in Panama City on Feb. 24^th –

(Panama City Beach, FL) – Regulatory Compliance Services (RCS), a subsidiary of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present its 2015 Spring Break Hospitality Workshop to promote a safe and successful spring break season. This free responsible vendor training session will bring together businesses, community leaders and law enforcement to promote alcohol sales best practices, raise staff awareness, and advise the local hospitality industry on recent changes to the local law. The event will be held Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Boardwalk Beach Resort in Panama City Beach.

“In preparation for spring break, we are pleased to work closely with our local hospitality community and raise awareness of recent local ordinance changes that will cultivate a more safe and enjoyable environment for our businesses and spring breakers alike,” said Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst.

Mayor Oberst is slated to speak at the event alongside Panama City Beach City Manager Mario Gisbert and Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew R. Whitman. They will be actively involved in discussion during the workshop, which will include training presented by RCS in coordination with Florida’s Division of Alcohol Beverages and Tobacco.

“As Florida’s premier provider of responsible alcohol vendor training, we are passionate about server and seller alcohol education. We are thrilled to partner with Panama City Beach government and business leaders to actively support a safe and memorable spring break season,” said FRLA Vice President of Education and Training, Geoff Luebkemann.

Responsible vendor training is a program offered to bar and restaurant staff. Instructors present state-mandated content that encourages best management practices and patron safety. Participants learn about alcohol laws, avoiding serving underage patrons, and preventing over-serving patrons. The training contributes to fewer underage alcohol sales, reduced DUIs, and increased professionalism and knowledge among those selling and serving alcohol to patrons. Alcohol beverage licensees who successfully qualify and remain responsible vendors enjoy certain protections under the law for their license, and may reduce their risk liability exposure and costs.

The media is invited to attend the workshop and if planning to be present will need to contact FRLA Communications Director Elizabeth Ray at 850.224.2250 x255 or via email at [email protected].

WHAT:

2015 Spring Break Hospitality Workshop

Includes FRLA’s RCS FREE Responsible Vendor Training

WHEN:

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

2:00 – 4:00 PM

WHERE:

Boardwalk Beach Resort

9450 South Thomas Drive

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Businesses looking to participate in the event should contact RCS Northwest Regional Manager, Caitie Mook at 850-933-3762 or [email protected]. For more information about RCS please visit http://www.regcomplianceusa.com/.

About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and nearly 1.1 million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Chef Emeril Lagasse Tours Family Owned and Operated Restaurants on Latest Episode of Emeril’s Florida

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], 850.224.2250 x255
Christina Johnson, [email protected], 850.391.5040

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to present this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida airing Sunday, March 8, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the Cooking Channel. In Sunday’s episode, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse travels to Key Largo, Daytona Beach and Homestead to visit two restaurants and a farm that are all family-owned and -operated.

“Family run restaurants create flavors that are unique to Florida and play a vital role in our state’s economy,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “FRLA is thrilled that this week’s episode of Emeril’s Florida features establishments that have become cuisine landmarks in the state through the support and loyalty of their local communities.”

Emeril’s first stop on the “Family Owned & Operated” episode is Key Largo where he visits the Conch House owned by the Dreaver Family. Ted and Laura Dreaver moved to Florida and opened a restaurant with no prior experience, and it paid off. Family is a big part of their business. All their family members work, or have worked, for the successful restaurant. Over time, the restaurant has become known for great food. The menu is classic Florida Keys cuisine, but with their own family twist. They serve plenty of conch as well as other favorites such as hogfish, yellowtail, and even the newly popular lionfish when available.

Emeril then heads to Daytona Beach to visit The Cellar, one of the best Italian restaurants in Northeast Florida. Sam and Lina Moggio purchased the historic home of President Warren G. Harding and, seeing a need for fine dining in the Daytona Beach area, transformed the basement into a beautiful cellar restaurant. It opened to the public 11 years ago. Sam, a CIA trained chef and a 31-year veteran of the industry, oversees the restaurant’s kitchen and ensures everything served at The Cellar is authentic and made from scratch. Lina manages the hand-selected wine lists and the front-of-house operations. Emeril sits down with the couple and samples some of their signature dishes including Polenta con Salsiccia e Porcini, Ravioli di Carne alla Montepertuso, and Filetto al Barolo e Porcini.

The third stop for Emeril is Teena’s Pride in Homestead. Teena Borek owns the farm and works alongside her two sons. Teena came to South Florida in the 1970s and met Steven, a Homestead vegetable farmer. The couple married and had two sons, Michael and Steven Jr. After her husband’s untimely death, she ran the 500-acre vegetable farm knowing very little about farming or farm management. For the last 35 years, Teena has been an active member of the Dade farming community, and at one time, was the only female farmer in the area. The farm grows heirloom tomatoes, arugula, spring lettuce, herbs, heritage eggplant and peppers that are supplied to area restaurants as well as more than 350 families throughout the year via their Community Supported Agriculture organization. Emeril spends time with Teena to hear their story and see the farm.

The show reruns on Monday, March 9 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Thursday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. EST. Please check local listings.

Emeril’s Florida Season Three is a 13-episode series highlighting the Sunshine State through the eyes of Emeril on-location with a focus on food, cooking, events and activities around the state. Throughout the third season, Emeril will be visiting Florida’s top restaurants and resorts. He will also prepare some of his favorite recipes which often will feature some of the best seafood Florida has to offer. The FRLA and VISIT FLORIDA sponsor the series. For additional information on the series, including links to previous episodes, please go to the Cooking Channel website here. For a preview of Sunday’s episode, click here.

Editor’s Note:
For photo and video requests of Emeril Lagasse with local chefs, photos of dishes prepared, and recipes of featured dishes, please contact Elizabeth Ray at [email protected]or 850.224.2250 x255, or Christina Johnson at [email protected] or 850.391.5040.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than one million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube.

Tallahassee Restaurants to Offer Fantastic Food at Mouth-Watering Prices During Capital Cuisine Restaurant Week and Concert Series May 14-26

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Communications Director
850.224.2250 x255
[email protected]

(Tallahassee, Fla.) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is delighted to partner with Visit Tallahassee and VISIT FLORIDA for the fourth annual Capital Cuisine Restaurant Week and Concert Series, May 14 – 26, 2015. During the 13-day event, fresh seafood, farm-to-table creations, fusion fare and tasty tapas will be showcased on multi-course prix fixe menus starting at $15 for lunch and $30 for dinner at many of the area’s local restaurants. In addition to the mouth-watering restaurant specials, Tallahassee will be the backdrop to musical performances held throughout the Week.

“Capital Cuisine Week is a great way for Tallahassee restaurants to show off what this great city has to offer to the palettes of residents and visitors alike,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Tallahassee’s culinary offerings continue to expand, and this event provides participants unique and diverse dining experiences in which to showcase our member restaurants.”

Last year, more than two dozen establishments participated in the event, and FRLA sponsored three concerts attended by hundreds of Tallahasseans. This year promises even more participation of both restaurateurs and residents who have been wanting to try local fare.

FRLA urges restaurant owners and chefs to join this unique experience. To learn how you can get involved, please contact FRLA’s Northwest Florida Regional Director Ray Green at 850-545-5901 or by e-mail at [email protected]. You may also contact Visit Tallahassee’s Marketing Communications Director Lauren Shoaf Pace at 850-606-2322 or by e-mail at [email protected].

For additional information such as participating restaurants and their menus, visit http://www.visittallahassee.com/capital-cuisine-restaurant-week-concert-series.

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About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Our mission is to ‘Protect, Educate and Promote’ Florida’s $76.1 billion hospitality industry which represents 23% of Florida’s economy, $4.6 billion in sales tax revenue, and more than one million employees – making it the state’s number one industry. We offer regulatory compliance and food safety training needs (RCS and SafeStaff®); industry developed career-building high school programs (FRLAEF); sponsor the only event in Florida exclusively serving the restaurant and foodservice industry (FR&L Show, October 6-8, 2015 in Orlando); and we safeguard the needs of the hospitality industry by providing legislative advocacy. We represent and serve more than 10,000 independent and household name members, suppliers, and theme parks. For more information, go to www.FRLA.org and find us on Twitter @FRLAnews, Facebook and YouTube. – See more at: http://frla.org/frla-news/item/1537–tallahassee-restaurants-to-offer-fantastic-food-at-mouth-watering-prices-during-capital-cuisine-restaurant-week-and-concert-series-may-14-26#sthash.Nv5bSx9p.dpuf