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Romance Revisited Event Inspiration
Meetings & Events

Romance Revisited: Event Inspiration for Adventurous Attendees

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You’re orchestrating an event and it’s for Valentine’s. For some, this is the most fun an event planner can have and for others, it’s the most dreaded event theme they can ask for. Well, here are some date night trends. This is romance revisited event inspiration for you. We already know about the trend where people are turning away from collecting things to collecting experiences. That is perfect, because as meeting and event professionals, that is what we already design – experiences. It wouldn’t hurt to take it up a notch and add some adventure. Break Out The Bucket List…

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Heart Health Month
Lifestyle Choices

Heart Health Month: Attendees Deserve Healthy Hearts

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Meeting Menus at Center of Heart Health Month I bet you thought wearing red in February was a way to celebrate Valentine’s and while that may be true, February is also Heart Health Month, which includes some school spirit style ‘wear red if you care’ heart disease awareness. One-fourth of men and one in three women die from cardiovascular disease in the United States. High blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, heart attack, it comes in many forms, but with few causes. Lifestyle choices is the leading indicator of heart problems, with genetics only helping it become worse in some people.…

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2017-Cutting-Edge-Food-Trends-iStock-521534856
Dietary Needs Food Service Meetings & Events

2017 Cutting Edge Food Trends

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So much can be said for the future of our industry and of food. There is too much hunger, yet food waste is a major problem. We grow field after field of crops that will feed our cars, our cattle, and ourselves, but we grow in unsustainable patterns with inefficiencies that cause massive price hikes on crops that would be affordable and environmentally friendly if they were only grown cyclically. And what about dining? We come together to celebrate, socialize, and conduct business, but the changing landscape of food laws and dietary needs has created a different environment for the…

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Slow Food
Community

Slow Food is a Fast Solution

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January is #SlowCookerMonth, and while slow cookers can be a comfort food staple at many cook-offs and potlucks, I want to use this opportunity to separate the idea of slow cookers and slow food. All around us, and in communities across the world, there are distinctive food cultures that combine locally grown foods with generations of tradition and culture to make delectable meals available for mass consumption. We make those local food cultures more vulnerable when we don’t support them in our own diets and grocery budgets. The Slow Food movement is one way we act inclusively toward food culture.…

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Food Allergies Laws & Regulations

Press Release: FARE Requests Investigation of American Airlines for Violations of Air Carrier Access Act

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This month, FARE filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation against American Airlines for violations of the Air Carrier Act. FARE is seeking to protect the rights of individuals with food allergies who travel by air. This complaint addresses American Airlines’ written policy prohibiting passengers managing food allergies from pre-boarding – a policy that is a violation of the Air Carrier Access Act, which states pre-boarding must be offered to passengers with a disability who self-identify as needing additional time or assistance to board. Through our filing of this complaint, FARE is calling on the DOT to take…

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Matza bread for passover celebration - how to Manage a Kosher event
Religious Dietary Practices

So You Are Asked to Manage a Kosher Event…What do You do?

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How to Manage A Kosher Event In October after hearing how Bonnie had to plan her daughter’s Jewish wedding last month incorporating two different kosher practices, I asked if she would write a piece on how to plan and manage a kosher event. Below is some of her guidance.  When you plan or manage a kosher event it can be overwhelming to those who have no knowledge of what kosher means and even to those who are Jewish and were raised in a kosher home. My experience in planning a 3,000 person event for the Council of Jewish Federations for their General Assembly was…

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Worldwide Food Service Safety Month chef testing Temperature of the meat
Food Safety

Worldwide Food Service Safety Month Recognizes Practices as Critical as Any Other Customer Service Standard

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Preventing Harm is Basis of Worldwide Food Service Safety Month  Every year since 1994, December marks Worldwide Food Service Safety Month. The annual observation was established to remind everyone, from the professional food service industry, to cooks at home around the world, that food safety is of supreme importance. Buying, storing, preparing, and serving food are the typical topics covered, but what does food safety really mean when it comes to serving custom eaters at our events? Hint: It’s more than remembering to wash our hands and change aprons. The Basics Let’s begin with the basics we expect to hear about:…

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multicultural holiday season
Religious Dietary Practices

A Multicultural Holiday Season Calls for a Special Feast

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December and the winter season is a time for celebration! It’s a multicultural holiday season and as we design our menus and activities, we can consider the many opportunities we have for an especially inclusive feast. Here are several reasons we often say “Happy Holidays” as a greeting and farewell during this celebratory season. In order according to the Gregorian calendar: Eid-al-Fitr More than 1,300 years ago, the prophet Muhammad received the Muslims’ holy book, the Koran. Muslims show their love for the Koran and Allah by praying and fasting during the month of Ramadan. The dates of Ramadan change…

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Food and wine pairing for the holidays
Food & Beverage

Make Your Holiday Wine Shopping Easier with These Tips

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I’m a vodka drinker. Used to drink beer. And, since I have never been a fan of wine (I know!), so I’ve asked my good friend and sommelier Don Hackett to give us (you) some hints on how to successfully pair food and wine this holiday season – or any time of the year.  When Pairing Food and Wine Decide Which is the Star: the Food or the Wine Shopping for wines for your holiday party can present a unique challenge. Holiday spreads often offer an abundant and diverse selection of dishes and trying to find a wine that will work…

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thanksgiving food allergies
Community Dietary Needs Food Allergies

Thanksgiving Dishes for Guests with Food Allergies

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Thanksgiving is such a wonderful opportunity to come together, but it can also be a bit intimidating for a number of reasons. Whether you are hosting, catering, or bringing a dish, it’s tough to make sure there will be something for everyone. Thanksgiving Food Allergies are just one of many ways to make your guests feel welcome. Chances are someone, most likely more than just one someone, will have dietary restrictions of some kind. Here are just a few recipes to consider that will help address the Big Eight allergens as well as a few other common dietary restrictions. Just…

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