Things We Love

Things We Love July 5, 2016

July: Culinary Arts, Blueberries, & Ice Cream, Oh My!

Things We Love July 5, 2016
Welcome to July! We’re more than halfway through 2016. Can you believe it? July is known for some pretty popular all-American menus. The fourth of July may mean barbeques and apple pie, but there is s much more that July has to offer. The Thrive! celebrations will include many special days this month, but the July themes of choice are National Culinary Arts Month, National Blueberries Month, and National Ice Cream Month. NATIONAL CULUNARY ARTS MONTH  While we love creative chefs and professional cooks, July is the designated month of recognition for leaders in culinary trends and dining excellence. Dine…

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Peaches at the market
Food Allergies Fruits & Vegetables Recipes Things We Love June 7, 2016

Peaches – Summer’s Sweet Bounty

Food Allergies Fruits & Vegetables Recipes Things We Love June 7, 2016
June is National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month. Thrive! is promoting fresh fruits and vegetables alongside the USDA to help focus attention on eating more fruits and veggies because 90% of adults and children don't include enough in their diet. The first fruit we are going to highlight this month is the fruit of my home state Georgia - the peach. HISTORY The Peach became first known in China where it got its start with the name “tao.” From China they spread to the rest of the world through the ancient silk route. The peach fruit belongs to the genus, Prunus;…

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Community Meetings & Events Things We Love Trends April 19, 2016

What Event Planners Can Learn from Ancient Rome?

Community Meetings & Events Things We Love Trends April 19, 2016

The culinary world seems to discover a new dining trend every five minutes, but when it comes down to it, banquets haven’t changed all that much. There might be some inspiration and ideas event planners can learn from ancient Rome. I recently read this very entertaining and informative piece about history’s ten greatest banquets, and I was struck by what they had in common, all the way back to the days of Nero. They were once-in-a-lifetime events full of entertainment and surprise. They were opportunities for people to show off their wealth. But most importantly, whether it was dormice sprinkled with…

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Check Lists Community Event Planning Skills Sustainability Things We Love Trends March 22, 2016

The Next Frontier is Dine-Arounds: Eating in Chefs’ Homes

Check Lists Community Event Planning Skills Sustainability Things We Love Trends March 22, 2016

Most conference planners want to plug their attendees into the vibe of the city they’re in, but when planning around a jam-packed education schedule, it can be a challenge to find the time. One tried-and-true solution is the dine-around: Send small groups to different restaurants around the city, to allow attendees to engage with their surroundings and taste what the locals eat. Recently, a dizzying number of tech startups have pushed this one step further, offering visitors a chance to eat in the homes of locals. This gives visitors the opportunity to learn, over the course of a few hours,…

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Community Things We Love March 1, 2016

A Brief History of Eating: Dining Trivia For A Shared Meal

Community Things We Love March 1, 2016

Whether it’s through lavish parties or simple snacks, the act of eating has brought humanity together since the beginning of time. Food is essential to the stories of the Judeo-Christian faith, from the fruit that cast Adam and Eve out of Eden to Christ’s Last Supper. Holidays both religious and secular are almost all organized around a meal. What would Thanksgiving be without a feast? A bunch of football games? And meals make up some of the most famous moments from literature. Think about the wild tea party in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, or the moment Oliver Twist dares to…

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Lifestyle Choices Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices Things We Love Trends February 23, 2016

Going Alcohol-Free for Your Next Big Event

Lifestyle Choices Meetings & Events Religious Dietary Practices Things We Love Trends February 23, 2016

We think of alcohol as vital for evening events, and in most cases, it probably is. It lubricates conversation and helps many people relax. But I wanted to share this recent New York Times article that inspired me to shake things up and consider going alcohol-free at my next event. “Shine” is a networking and dating event founded in Venice Beach, CA, and that recently expanded to New York City, which is notable in that no alcohol is served. Participants drink tea, juice and mocktails and eat delicious, healthy, mostly vegan meals. It results in sparkling conversation that isn’t dulled…

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