Greenwich Wine + Food is returning this October for its 10-year anniversary celebration. The multi-day event will feature a completely re-imagined Gala, festivities that recreate the most memorable experiences from the past decade and more. Beneficiaries include two national non-profit organizations with roots in Connecticut – The Jacques Pépin Foundation and Wholesome Wave. 

The GWF 10^th Anniversary Celebrity Chef Gala on Friday, October 7, honoring legendary chef Jacques Pépin, will include renowned chefs cooking and mingling with guests throughout the evening. The evening will begin with a 6:00pm VIP reception with Pépin, Michel Nischan (Wholesome Wave), Rocco DiSpirito, Maneet Chauhan,Bun Lai, Mary Giuliani and Spike Mendelsohn (for special ticketholders only).  A cocktail reception will follow at 6:30pm, followed by the Chef’s Table dinner at 7:30pm.  Confirmed chefs who will prepare a four-course meal in front of guests at their designated tables include:

• Carlos Baez (The Spread, El Segundo, Magic Pie);
• Jes Bengtson (Terrain Garden Café, Amis Trattoria);
• Arturo Franco-Camacho (Camacho Garage, Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, Shell & Bones Oyster Bar and Grill)
• Evans Corrales (The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood);
• Albert DeAngelis (Eastend, Meditteraneo, Terra, Sole);
• Julio Genao (Prime Stamford);
• Michael Kaphan (Purdy’s Farmer & The Fish);
• Geoff Lazlo (Geoff Lazlo Food, The Country Table);
• Stephen Lewandowski (Townhouse);
• Nick Martschenko (South End, SE Uncorked, SE Back End);
• Emily Mingrone (Tavern on State, Provisions on State, Fair Haven Oyster Company);
• Forrest Pasternak (Bailey’s Backyard Farm to Table Restaurant);
• Debra Ponzek (Aux Delices);
• Jared Sippel (L’Ostal);
• Matt Storch (Match, Match Burger Lobster);
• Bill Taibe (The Whelk, Kawa Ni, Don Memo);
• Renee Touponce (Oyster Club);
• Luke Venner (Elm);
• Chad Welch (Coterie Table One).

In addition to this multi-course dinner, the evening will feature special programming to celebrate the incredible contributions that Pépin has made to the culinary world, as well as honor the 2022 class of Serendipity’s Most Innovative Chefs:  Steven Chen (MIKU, Greenwich, CT), Will Friedman (Kawa Ni, Westport, CT), Jared Sippel (L’Ostal, Darien, CT) and Renee Touponce (Oyster Club, Mystic, CT).  The evening will be capped off with dancing and music from DJ April Larken.  Held at Abigail Kirsch The Loading Dock in Stamford, CT, this limited ticket event will allow guests to purchase pairs of seats or full tables for groups of 10 and select their preferred award-winning chef. 

In addition to the Gala, unique, one-of-a-kind events will take place throughout the week at famed local restaurants and venues, such as a Seven Course Truffle Dinner at Greenwich-based Rosina’s, Mezcal Tasting and Dinner at Fairfield-based Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, Prohibition Pairing Cocktail Class at SONO 1420, Champagne and Chocolate Master Class at Fairfield-based BE Chocolat and more. 

The 10-year anniversary celebration will continue in March 2023 with “The Big Easy,” honoring the sights, sounds and flavors of New Orleans with a mini–French Quarter at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, featuring legendary New Orleans Chef/Restaurateur Dickie Brennan as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.  Special guests in attendance will include Michel Nischan, Mary Giuliani and more.  The event will begin at 5:00pm with a private reception for special ticket holders, with doors opening to the dine-around event at 5:30pm.  Celebrity and acclaimed area chefs will be serving traditional NOLA eats from 5:30pm-8:30pm; local craft brews, wine and iconic Bourbon Street cocktails will be served from 5:00pm-10:45pm.  Adding to the evening’s celebration will be music beginning at 6:00pm from Dumpstaphunk (featuring Cyril Neville performing the music of The Meters), Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. 

For details, tickets and the full line-up of talent and events, visit https://serendipitysocial.com/greenwich-wine-food/.

I am so happy to share this week’s book club choice, Everything Will Be Ok by Dana Buckmir. It is such a wonderful book written on such an important topic that needs to be discussed more, especially among women. Share it with your daughters, sisters, friends, and everyone actually. I met Dana, a fellow influencer through friends. She is as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. Her Instagram page is fabulous, danalicious reviews. Check it out when you get a chance. Back to the powerful book, here is the story:

Grieving the death of her father, Dana decides to take a break from online dating. After a chance encounter with a medium that predicts that she’ll find love again, a message from an intriguing stranger piques her interest.

Erik Becker is the charming, witty, and charismatic stranger who messages her, challenging her to step out of her comfort zone and give love another chance. Dana thinks she’s met her soulmate but soon realizes that the man of her dreams is not who he seems. What initially begins as a whirlwind romance quickly transforms into something that could lead to dire consequences.

The picture-perfect façade begins to unravel and as the mask slips, it reveals the real Erik exposing him as a broken and sadistic monster intent on ruining everything she has created. The relationship escalates into one of physical violence and psychological warfare. Falling victim to a dangerous game of control and manipulation that could cost her everything, Dana must find a way to escape Erik’s abuse before it’s too late. – Amazon.com

To purchase this book (it’s free on Kindle BTW) or for more information on the story or Dana, click HERE.

Also, Dana will be at the Westport Library for a reading of her book with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center on October 12th at 7 pm.

In support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in partnership with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center and the Westport Domestic Violence Task Force, we are welcoming author Dana Buckmir in conversation about her new memoir, Everything Will Be Okay. Dana will be joined in conversation by Ann Rodwell-Lawton, Associate Director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

Erik Becker is the charming, witty, and charismatic stranger who messages Dana, challenging her to step out of her comfort zone and give love another chance. Dana thinks she’s met her soulmate but soon realizes that the man of her dreams is not who he seems. What initially begins as a whirlwind romance quickly transforms into something that could lead to dire consequences.

To register to attend this event IN PERSON at the library, please click here. 

To register to watch this event VIRTUALLY and receive a link from Zoom, please click here. 

About Dana:

Dana Buckmir is the author of Everything Will Be Okay and Plenty of Laughs: One Woman’s Journey Navigating the Online Dating Waters. She also contributes to a biweekly dating column called, “Oh Dana” which gives advice on relationship topics. Dana believes that storytelling not only entertains but reminds us that we are sharing a collective experience that makes us a little more connected and a little less lonely. This philosophy and her teaching background inspired her to create a workshop and coaching program, “Write your story: From Idea to Publication” where she mentors aspiring authors.

Having event planners’ services can significantly benefit you. Whether you are planning a wedding or a corporate event, they can help you create a successful event that will leave a lasting impression on your guests. They can also create a timeline to meet your deadlines, ensure professionalism, and provide a checklist for each part of the planning process.

Professionalism

Organizing events is a career that requires a combination of hard skills and soft skills. Event planners must be creative and knowledgeable about technology and business like Total Events DFW. They must also be able to meet deadlines and manage a budget.

In addition, event planners must be comfortable communicating with clients and vendors. They must be detail-oriented and have good listening skills. In addition, they should be familiar with the latest technology and be able to make quick decisions. They must also be capable of handling crises.

Event planners work for businesses, corporations, and associations. They can specialize in specific events such as conferences, weddings, and fundraisers. So, how much does an event planner cost? They can be self-employed on a project-by-project basis. They can earn $44,000 to $53,000 per year.

An event planner may start in an entry-level position in a related field. They can also move up to a senior event management role. After a few years, they may create their own event-planning business.

Having a checklist

Having a checklist when engaging the services of event planners is a great way to avoid stress at the last minute. While many companies skip over the pre-and post-event phases, planning is essential to ensure a successful outcome.

An event planning checklist is a comprehensive guide to all the tasks needed to ensure a successful event. It breaks down the event into its most essential components and helps you prioritize your homework to get all the necessary details.

The event planning checklist should be customized to the goals of the event. For instance, a significant corporate event may require a high-quality audio system. However, a more minor, family-friendly event might not. Utilizing space planning tools at this point can help you visualize the event’s arrangement and minimize any hiccups.

The event planning checklist also includes a post-event analysis. It can consist of a return on investment report. It helps you measure the results of your event and build upon your success.

Creating a timeline to meet every deadline

Creating a timeline to meet every deadline when engaging the services of event planners is a smart move. By doing so, you’ll ensure that you get it right while avoiding costly mistakes. You’ll also save yourself time and stress.

Planning an event requires having a clear understanding of what you’re doing. For instance, you’ll need to pick a venue and hire vendors. You’ll want to keep in touch with your vendors so they can give you the most up-to-date information. It can take some time, so plan on a buffer.

One of the most challenging parts of planning an event is coordinating multiple people and elements. Having a clear timeline will make this process a whole lot easier. By identifying the most critical tasks and assigning them a due date, you’ll avoid the pitfalls of a last-minute decision. You’ll also be more likely to stick to your budget.

In a nutshell, the timeline is an organizational chart of the steps involved in planning an event. It should include choosing a venue, securing an entertainment or keynote speaker, and determining the budget. For more significant events, this could span a year or more.

Having an integrated platform to plan your events

An integrated platform to plan your events is an excellent way to streamline your process. It can facilitate organizational operations and increase access to the required information. Thanks to this, you may also quickly combine your event management software with other applications. The most excellent integrations will enable you to give your attendees a smooth experience. This cloud-based event management solution offers a robust suite of tools to help you organize and manage tasks, schedule, and collaborate with colleagues. The platform allows you to control the entire event lifecycle, from registration to post-event reporting. It also includes a community of professional event organizers, various resources, and dedicated support. It is quick and easy to learn and use and offers many features.