ARHA Now Vol. 6 Issue #2

ARHANOW

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ALABAMA RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION

Making the Most of Your

MEMBERSHIP PAGE 16 CARLE PLACE, NY PERMIT NO 35

PAID

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE

VOLUME 5 ISSUE #1

VOLUME 5 ISSUE #1

Tuesday, October 17, 2017Â Robert Trent Jones at Oxmoor Valley Birmingham, alabama Proceeds to Benefit the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association Foundation

For more info, contact Rebecca Paulk at 334.244.1320 or rebecca@arhaonline.com

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INSIDE. 2017 BARTENDER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION September

FROM THE PRESIDENT

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

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2017 LEGISLATIVE DAY RECAP

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fax: 334.244.9800

2017 ATA LEGISLATIVE BASH RECAP

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3 S. Jackson Street

WHERE DO MUSIC LICENSING FEES GO?

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BHAM NAMED ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST UNDERRATED FOOD CITIES

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ARHANOW THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ALABAMA RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION

phone: 334.244.1320

Montgomery, AL 36104 www.arhaonline.com

MINDY HANAN

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS REPORT

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President & CEO

2017 PROSTART EDUCATOR OF EXCELLENCE

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ALISON INGLE

BOB SYKES BBQ CELEBRATES 60 YEARS

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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP

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ARHA HAPPENINGS

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HEART TO TABLE

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BAMA’S BEST BEEF CONTEST WINNER

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ARHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Director of Communications

REBECCA PAULK Director of Administration & Special Events

SHEA PERKINS Director of Member Relations

SUSAN STARR Director of Education

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from the

PRESIDENT

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arlier this year, the Strategic Planning Committee of the Association met with consultant Bob Harris to chart the path forward for the Association.

The committee laid out the following goals for the Association:

MINDY HANAN President & CEO, ARHA

INFLUENCE

ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS – REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF MEMBERS AND INDUSTRY.

VALUE

MEMBER BENEFITS DELIVERING SERVICES AND VALUE TO MEMBERS.

WORKFORCE

WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING - PROMOTING AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR WORKFORCE SUSTAINABILITY.

IMAGE

INDUSTRY IMAGE IMPROVING AWARENESS OF THE INDUSTRY .

LEADERSHIP

ASSOCIATION STRENGTH LEADING A DYNAMIC INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATION.

Maintaining a thriving organization takes relentless dedication from its elected leadership, membership and staff. I would ask that every member of ARHA think about how they can make a difference at a time when your association can make more impact than ever before. If we embrace the challenges that are set before us, we can accomplish positive outcomes in all these areas. As the voice of Alabama’s restaurant and hospitality industry, we can work to affect change that will allow our industry and state to continue to grow and prosper.

This year’s legislative session was one of the most challenging in recent years. Not only did our industry have a plethora of issues that would affect us, but there was also tremendous animosity among the legislators. Please see Miller Development Group’s summary of the major issues that we addressed during this session. Thank you, to all of you who responded to our “calls to action” during the session. Nothing gets a legislator’s attention better than one of their constituents calling. I would also like to personally thank the Millers for all the work they do on behalf of our industry. I spent a tremendous amount of time at the Legislature this year and I have to say there are no lobbyists in Montgomery that work as hard as Jeff and Deborah Miller.

Member benefits is the focus of this issue. Please see the list of benefits in which ARHA members are eligible to participate. I am proud to announce that Rebecca Paulk, our Director of Administration and Special Events is licensed to write workers compensation insurance for AlaCOMP, ARHA’s self-insured fund. If you are with a traditional commercial insurer, we can likely save you money.

It is an exciting time of opportunity and growth for ARHA. We will be reaching out to members across the state as we continue to develop our chapters around the state. With your help, we can continue our mission to serve and support our members by promoting, protecting and educating Alabama’s restaurant, food service and hospitality industry.

Please let us know how we can be of service to you!

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WELCOME. New Members ALLIED Amanda B. Cook, Counselor at Law

Montgomery, AL

Omni Foods Inc.

Bessemer, AL

BAR CC’s Dacquiri

Montgomery, AL

Red Hills Brewing Company, LLc

Homewood, AL Billy’s Sports Grill, Birmingham

LODGING Baymont Inn & Suites Foley Hotel One, LLC

Eufaula, AL Foley, AL

(TownPlace Suites @ Foley)

RESTAURANT 2 Men In a Kitchen Banana Leaf, LLC (Phucket Thai Restaurant) Billy’s Sports Grill Buster’s Southern Pit BBQ, LLC dinner.

Donato’s Pizza Fairhope’s Bar & Grill Five Star Event Catering Golden Rule Goldfingers of Saraland iHop Jonellis LLC Old Bay Steamer Pizza & Pints, Inc. Rooster’s Roadhouse Grill San Marco’s Millbrook Taste, LLC The Pigeon Hole

Huntsville, AL Huntsville, AL Birmingham, AL Robertsdale, AL Birmingham, AL Huntsville, AL Daphne, AL Birmingham, AL Birmingham, AL Saraland, AL Madison, AL Mobile, AL Fairhope, AL Sylacauga, AL Pine Hill, AL Millbrook, AL Montgomery, AL Daphne, AL

Omni Foods, Bessemer

TOURISM Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports

The Pigeon Hole, Daphne

Tuscaloosa, AL

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LEGISLATIVE DAY

2017

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n Tuesday, April 18, the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association (ARHA) held its 2017 Legislative Day in Montgomery.

Approximately 65 members and guests attended a luncheon that included a briefing of ARHA activities, governmental affairs and more.

SENATOR DEL MARSH »Senate President Pro Tem

ARHA hosted a luncheon to address important industry issues such as minimum wage, healthcare, bathroom bills, OTAs, etc. Speakers included Mike Whatley of the National Restaurant Association and Chip Rogers, President of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).

In the afternoon, attendees visited the Statehouse to watch the legislative session in process and advocate for our industry and the jobs we create.

The evening concluded with the Alabama Tourism Bash, a food focused event that is marked on the calendar of every Alabama Legislator. Guests enjoyed a reception featuring some of Alabama’s finest food and drinks and had the opportunity to discuss with lawmakers the impact of the restaurant, lodging and tourism industry in our state.

MIKE WHATLEY »National Restaurant Association

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ALABAMA TOURISM PARTNERSHIP 2017 Legislative Tourism Bash The Alabama Tourism Partnership held their annual Legislative Bash on April 18 in Montgomery. ARHA is a proud partner and many of our members attended the event following the 2nd Annual ARHA Legislative Day. Many ARHA member restaurants were set up serving delicious food and beverages from around the state.

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BMI

WHERE DO MUSIC LICENSING FEES GO? SONGWRITERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS SPEAK OUT

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henever business owners or consumers pay for goods or services, it’s important for them to get their money’s worth.

On the flip side of the coin, it’s crucial for companies providing commodities to follow through on their promises in order to stay in business. One of the best ways to find out if they’re pleasing their customers is by listening to what people who have used their product are saying.

So, when someone raises the question, “Where do music licensing fees go?,” BMI routinely asks some of its more than 750,000 songwriters, as well as some of the owners of its more than 650,000 licensed businesses, for answers. When it comes to songwriters, BMI, which operates on a non-profit-making basis, provides them with income to pay their bills when their music is used publicly by businesses, per U.S. copyright law. This means that other than BMI’s operating expenses, which are approximately 12 cents on every dollar, all of the money collected from licensing fees is paid out as royalties to songwriters. These 12% operating expenses include costs associated with processing data on billions of performances, including those that are live, which cumulatively give BMI an accurate model of what is being played by all types of music users. In every quarterly statement they receive, BMI songwriters can see what sources they’re being paid from, as well as how much is being distributed per source. Along the way, many of these songwriters have talked about this process.

» Featured (L-R) before the performance are: TRA Austin Chapter President and owner of Hoovers Cooking, Hoover Alexander; BMI’s Jessica Frost; BMI songwriter Kristen Kelly; owners of Guero’s, Kathy and Rob Lippincott; and TRA President and CEO Richie Jackson.

For example: Duncan Sheik, the writer of megahit “Barely Breathing,” among others, is grateful for the licensing fees businesses pay, saying, “BMI has been fantastic, especially during those kind of leaner years in the beginning of the millennium; those quarterly checks were among the things that kept me afloat. It’s obviously an incredible resource and BMI has always been supportive of me. I’m really happy to be a part of it for, I guess, 20 years now.”

For licensed businesses, BMI provides cost-effective blanket copyright clearance to play music in order to help businesses prosper. In a very competitive environment, an enticing ambiance, as well as good food or beverages, is key, so it’s fair to say that the music licensing fees paid by business owners are going back

into their businesses as an investment to enhance their profits.

Rob Lippincott, owner of Güero’s Taco Bar in Austin, TX, and a BMI customer since 2008, says, “Eight years ago, we introduced live music in our garden area in an attempt to increase sales on Thursdays – which were traditionally the slowest night of the week for us. Thanks to the crowds that come to hear the music, Thursdays are now the busiest weekday for food and beverage sales.” For 77 years, BMI music has been among the most performed across the globe. The Company now proudly represents 12 million musical works, all of which were created by songwriters who need to pay their mortgages, feed their kids and keep a little saved for the leaner times so they can continue to do what they do best — create music for eager listeners.

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POWER TO THE

ELECTRIC KITCHEN

Š 2016 Alabama Power Company

With reduced cleanup time, lower maintenance cost, and longer equipment life, electric cooking gives you a more efficient and cooler kitchen. When you add in faster preheating, faster recovery and less product shrinkage, you’ll see how electricity gives you the power to save while giving your menu the preparation it deserves. Call 1.888.430.5787 to learn more about the benefits of electric cooking.

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Birmingham named one of America’s

MOST UNDERRATED FOOD CITIES

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e all are well aware of Birmingham’s outstanding restaurants and chefs, but now the Magic City is making waves in the foodie world as a hidden gem.

The news and entertainment website BuzzFeed has included the Magic City on its new list of 12 of the Most Underrated Food Cities in America.

Here’s what the BuzzFeed website had to say about Birmingham: “Birmingham may seem like a second-string food city next to the huge Southern culinary giants like Charleston and New Orleans -- but take a look at the city’s flourishing restaurant scene and you’ll reconsider. There are old favorites like the beloved BBQ spot Saw’s Soul Kitchen, where you can fill up on pulled pork for less than $10. There’s also Highlands Bar and Grill, with its French-inspired Southern menu, which has been a consistent nominee for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant.

But don’t overlook the newcomers, like OvenBird, where Spanish tapas meet seasonal Southern cooking, either.”

The list also includes Providence, R.I.; Asheville, N.C.; Charlottesville, Va.; Healdsburg, Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.; Traverse City, Mich.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Portland, Maine; Boulder, Colo.; Greenville, S.C.; and Catskills, N.Y. In 2015, the restaurant guide Zagat ranked Birmingham No. 1 on its list of America’s Next Hot Food Cities, and Zagat named the Magic City on the list of 26 Hottest Food Cities of 2016.

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LegislativeREPORT Stars of the 2017 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature

REP. JUANDALYNN GIVAN (D-60)

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espite impeachment hearings, the ultimate resignation of Bentley and other legislative turmoil, your ARHA defended you and your industry every step of the way. The House introduced 608 bills and the Senate introduced 422 bills during the 2017 legislative session. Of those 1,030 bills we identified more than 200 bills that affected the association members. Additionally, almost 20 local alcohol bills we worked for passed this session.

DEBORAH MILLER Miller Development Group

We were confronted with more issues than ever before and I am pleased to announce the most helpful members of the legislature and the issues that they championed on your behalf.

BRUNCH BILL PASSES-ACT NO. 2017-444

REP. BECKY NORDGREN-GADSDEN (R-29)

It’s been a long, “bloody” battle for the right to brunch in Alabama. Pull out the Bloody Marys and the pop the champagne for mimosas, it’s time to celebrate! Herculean efforts by Rep. Juandalynn Givan-Birmingham made this bill possible. Amidst filibusters and other tensions, Representative Givan worked tirelessly to get this bill passed. As everyone is aware, any bills dealing with additional alcohol are problematic and this one was no different. The bill as passed allows for a city council/county commission to pass a resolution to call for a referendum vote for counties/municipalities to allow alcohol sales before noon.

First up we want to thank Rep. Becky Nordgren-Gadsden who chairs the House Tourism and Marketing committee. When the quorum was not met, she convened a special meeting for our brunch bill so that it could get to the floor. A world of gratitude is owed to Rep. James Buskey-Mobile who sits on the powerful Rules Committee. Representative Buskey continued to put the bill on the calendar for consideration countless times. This bill and others failed to be brought up due to ongoing filibusters and if not for him, the bill would have never made it to the floor.

REP. JAMES BUSKEY (D-99)

SEN. DEL MARSH (R-12)

After passing the House, which was no easy task, the bill was assigned to the Senate Tourism committee chaired by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh-Anniston. Senator Marsh quickly called a meeting to give the bill a favorable report. The bill made it to the floor on the final legislative day and thanks to the efforts of Sen. Rodger SmithermanBirmingham the bill passed with no dissenting votes. Senator Smitherman touted the economic development and tourism boosts that the bill provides and suggested that the bill was of utmost importance to our state and the tourism community.

It should be noted that many of you made telephone calls and wrote letters in support of the legislation that certainly helped put the bill over the finish line.

Let’s finish the job! Please encourage your City or County to pass a resolution calling for a vote to change the time of Sunday sales so we can have brunch and promote more tourism and tax dollars.

GOV. KAY IVEY

Lastly, a special thank you to Gov. Kay Ivey for signing The Brunch Bill into law!

MOONEY, SANFORD CHAMPION BILL TO HALT ILLEGAL TAXES ON MEETING ROOMS

SEN. RODGER SMITHERMAN (D-18)

Once again, Rep. Arnold Mooney-Indian Springs and Sen. Paul Sanford-Huntsville worked diligently for the ARHA. Both sponsored bills that would uphold a judge’s ruling that no occupancy tax should be charged on meeting space and venues not intended as sleeping

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rooms. Since the ruling, the Department of Revenue has refused to tell hotels that no tax is due and does not need to be remitted to the state.

The ARHA backed version passed the Senate but failed to pass the House due to other filibusters. Governor Ivey appointed a new Revenue Commissioner, Vernon Barnett, and Representative Mooney has already met with him to inform him of the Judge’s decision and the failure of the Department to notify hotels that the tax is not required. We will continue to pursue every remedy available to stop this illegal tax.

LOCAL MOBILE FOOD BILL AMENDED BY ARHA –HATS OFF TO SENATOR FIGURES - ACT NO. 2017-385 While ARHA generally does not take a position on local bills, the precedent setting nature of a local Mobile bill led our team to suggest that the existing version created an unlevel playing field. Sen. Vivian Figures-Mobile noted the significance of the bill and the adverse reaction it could have to restaurateurs in Mobile. Changes in the substituted version require registering with the health department and must include sanitary hand-washing areas. Food vendors can only sell the food on a recognized day of celebration, not more than four times a year.

REP. ARNOLD MOONEY (R-43)

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT WIN FOR ALABAMA HOTELIERS - ACT NO. 2017-409 Rep. Randy Davis-Daphne helped bring a huge win to Alabama hoteliers. Currently, for state employees, in-state overnight travel per diem is limited to $75 per day unless the person is attending or assisting in hosting a convention, conference, similar, or other meeting of a national organization of which the state is a dues-paying member that is held outside of Alabama. This bill would change the exception to include state organizations where the state or individual is a dues-paying member. This is a big win for hoteliers and restaurateurs alike: keeping conference travel within the state and having conventions in Alabama will boost occupancy, tax revenue, and increase sales in Alabama restaurants.

SEN. PAUL SANFORD (R-7)

DELIVERY BILL COULD HELP RESTAURANTS- ACT NO. 2017-415 Sanford was the ring leader to pass a bill that could help those in the restaurant industry that cater. This new law creates a threshold of $10,000 before a business is required to apply for a business license in neighboring city/county.

FRANCHISE PROTECTION ACT- ACT NO. 2017-390

SEN. VIVIAN FIGURES (D-33)

This bill was filed in response to the actions at the federal level regarding the NLRB and the joint employer rules. The new law, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns-Birmingham, provides that certain categories of persons working for a franchisee or franchisor may not be deemed to be employees of each other.

HISTORIC TAX CREDIT – ACT NO. 2017-380 The new law includes the division of the $20 million in tax credits; it also sets aside 40 percent ($8 million) of the available credits for the six months of each year for projects in counties with populations of fewer than 175,000 people. The Counties of Jefferson, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Shelby and Baldwin would still be able to apply for the remaining 60 percent in the first six months. Credits not applied for in the smaller counties in the first six months could then go toward projects statewide and believed to be helpful to areas outside of the major cities. The minimum age of the structure is 60 years.

REP. RANDY DAVIS (R-96)

ATTENTION ARHA MEMBERS! JUNE 5TH MARKED THE KICK OFF SEASON FOR SOLICITING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS You can be a victim or a participant.

With the amount of legislation and regulation facing our industry we must ramp up our PAC dollars to support ARHA backed candidates. These men and women cannot fight for you in Montgomery if there are not elected or re-elected.

REP. JIM CARNS (R-48)

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2017 PROSTART NATIONAL EDUCATOR OF EXCELLENCE Kasie Hairrell of Calhoun County Career Academy

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he Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association Foundation (ARHAF) is proud to announce that Kasie Hairrell, a ProStart Culinary Arts educator from the Calhoun County Career Academy is the 2017 Alabama ProStart National Educator of Excellence.

Hairrell joined other nationally-ranked ProStart educators from around the nation in Chicago, for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) ProStart Educator of Excellence Awards Program and Dinner in May, in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association Show (NRA Show).

The NRAEF’s ProStart Educator of Excellence Award recognizes exceptional ProStart educators who are nominated by the state restaurant associations. The award honors ProStart educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and passion, commitment and creativity in all aspects of the ProStart program, helping their students make the most of the opportunities that ProStart offers to them.

In addition to the awards dinner in Chicago, Kasie enjoyed a walking food tour of historic Chicago restaurants and also attended the 2017 NRA Restaurant Show compliments of NRA.

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Bob Sykes BBQ celebrates 60 years with 8TH ANNUAL BBQ & BLUES FESTIVAL When Van Sykes was all of 12 years old, his father would drop him off at their family-run barbecue joint for an all-night vigil working the pit. And that’s how the boy grew up to became a barbecue man.

This year, the venerable Bessemer barbecue institution is celebrating its 60th year in business, a milestone that goes back to when Van’s parents, Bob and Maxine Sykes, opened their first restaurant, a hamburger and milkshake shop called the Ice Spot, in Birmingham’s Central Park neighborhood in 1957. About that same time, Bob Sykes built his first barbecue pit.

The Sykes family eventually decided to go whole hog into the barbecue business, and relocated to Bessemer, where Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q settled into its current location at 1724 Ninth Ave. North in 1977.

The 60th anniversary celebration is going on throughout the year with promotions and specials, but it was front and center on Saturday, May 20, at the eighth annual Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival in Bessemer.

Van’s father died in 1992, and his mother passed away in 2015, but Van and his nephew Jason Jewell have carried on a family tradition.

All those places have long since closed or been sold, but Bob Sykes Bar-B-Que has kept that tradition of slowcooked, hickory-smoked “real pit” barbecue alive.

Owners of Bob Sykes BBQ. Van Sykes 2nd generation with his nephew Jason Jewell who is the 3rd generation.

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Making the most of your NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION Independent restaurants and hotels with restaurants that are members of ARHA receive a free membership in the National Restaurant Association and all the benefits and industry information provided by NRA - including one free admission to the NRA Food Show in Chicago. You will also receive access to NRA’s research, insights, tools and solutions including the award-winning SmartBrief - a free daily email newsletter. In addition, members receive substantial discounts on other industry publications from NRA, including the annual Restaurant Industry Forecast, Restaurant Operations Report, and Consumer Spending in Restaurants.

POLITICAL ADVOCACY

We serve and support our members by promoting, protecting and

The Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association is your voice at the Capitol, in both Montgomery and Washington, D.C. ARHA also interacts with local government officials at city hall and closely monitors issues that affect your business.

We employ a contract lobbying firm that works diligently on behalf of the industry and is present at the state house every day the Alabama legislature is in session. Join your fellow members to help ARHA maintain its strong grassroots presence with legislators.

ARHA WEBSITE - ARHAONLINE.COM ARHA’s website is the go-to reference for the state’s restaurant and hospitality industry including government regulation, membership, news, events, foodservice training and more.

educating

ARHA NOW MAGAZINE

Alabama’s

ARHA NOW is the official publication of the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association. Published quarterly, the magazine features articles on industry trends, government affairs, association events and activities, etc.

restaurant, food service and hospitality industry.

ARHA WEEKLY UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER ARHA’s e-newsletter, “ARHA Weekly Update”, will keep you up to date on the most recent information affecting restaurateurs and hoteliers. The newsletter provides tips on improving your business, both state and federal legislative updates, and keeps you abreast of upcoming events in your local chapter and around the state.

LOCAL CHAPTERS The Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association (ARHA) has chapters throughout the state. The chapters allow members to share ideas, participate in local events and focus their energy on related issues.

MEMBERSHIP SERVSAFE ServSafe® training empowers you and your employees to protect against food-borne illness outbreaks which will minimize insurance cost, reduce liability risks, and improve food quality training throughout the state several times each month for your convenience. The ServSafe® training courses offer training for every level of your organization in a variety of methods including textbooks, videos, online and classroom settings. ARHA members receive a discount on ServSafe® products.

WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE ARHA is now an authorized agent for AlaCOMP workers compensation insurance. We offer members-only competitive pricing for workers compensation insurance and the possibility to receive annual dividends.

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MEMBER DISCOUNTS: • SERVSAFE • UNITED HEALTHCARE • ALACOMP • BMI MUSIC LICENSING • OFFICE DEPOT

HEALTH CARE COVERAGE Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association (ARHA) and the National Restaurant Association (NRA) are working with UnitedHealthcare to provide easier access to health care coverage for hospitality employers, employees and their families. ARHA members receive exclusive health insurance pricing and solutions from UnitedHealthcare.

• FISHBOWL • WELLCARD HEALTH • CAREER BUILDER • MOPRO

HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS One of the top five payment processors in the country, Heartland Payment Systems offers a range of innovative products and services to help your restaurant prosper. ​

• ATL FOODSERVICE EXPO • LRA EXPO

The food service, hospitality and tourism industry is Alabama’s second largest employermaking ARHA members the cornerstone of the state’s economy.

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ARHA Happenings

Kasie Hairrell, a ProStart Culinary Arts educator from the Calhoun County Career Academy is the 2017 Alabama ProStart Na�onal Educator of Excellence. She visited Chicago in May to receive her award and also a�ended the 2017 NRA Food Show.

The Na�onal Restaurant Associa�on and Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Associa�on held a roundtable discussion on June 1 with Congresswoman Martha Roby (AL-2) and local restaurant operators at Vintage Year in Montgomery.

In March, ARHA, the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier Interna�onal, Birmingham City Councilor Valerie A. Abbo� and the Birmingham Kitchen Cabinet celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring Birmingham’s women in restaurant and hospitality industry. Thank you to Councilor Abbo� for presen�ng a resolu�on from the City Council and to Highlands Bar and Grill for hos�ng the event.

TAG US @ARHAONLINE

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Heart To Table

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BIRMINGHAM RESTAURANTS TEAM UP TO HELP THE HUNGRY DURING WINTER

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eart To Table is a collaboration of locally owned restaurants, a source of funding for those restaurants, and community partners to support the effort of feeding those who must take shelter during extreme cold weather at the warming station in Birmingham, Alabama.

About 5 years ago, Heart To Table founder Marco Morosini and owner of Silvertron Cafe, was contacted by the Mayor’s Office of Citizen’s Assistance in Birmingham. Director Don Lupo was struggling to find a reliable source for hot meals to serve the homeless who visited the Boutwell Auditorium Warming Station that is open about 10-12 times each winter.

Marco agreed to cook and deliver dinner to the 200-250 people who were expected at the warming station the next night and his eyes were opened to a problem that was larger than city resources could handle. The city cannot buy food, but he knew he could help with one of the issues at hand because he had a kitchen.

Morosini could not afford to pay for food each time the warming station opened, so he reached out to Silvertron’s surrounding communities of Forest Park and South Avondale. Help poured in-neighbors were eager to donate money towards food and other items. With these funds, Marco was able to continue cooking meals for the station, but he knew he could rely on the community’s generosity only so many times. There had to be a better way.

The answer unfolded when Marco attended the Leadership Birmingham class of 2014-2015. The program divided the class into small focus groups with a mission to create and implement a solution for a community problem.

His group chose Marco’s idea of creating a network of restaurants ready to answer the call from the city and is a source of funding to support food purchasing. This is how Heart To Table was born.

Within a few months, sponsorships from local businesses and banks helped to create a fund held by United Way that restaurants could use for reimbursements. The shelter had a list of locally owned restaurants that were ready to provide hot and nutritious meals. The first winter of Heart To Table was a great success and a single restaurant no longer had to bear the full weight of providing meals. Each restaurant was recognized on social media and by the press, thus increasing customers at each business in return.

Morosini always keeps in mind that the restaurant owners are also businesses. “That part - about increasing customers for local businesses is a very important part of making this program work. People want to support a business which supports its community. And if a restaurant sees an increase in business, it wants to continue being part of Heart To Table, and the city receives more tax revenue. It then becomes easier for the city to provide the cots and the blankets...it is synergy at its best,” Marco says.

The current list of participating restaurants include: C&K Catering, Otey’s Tavern, Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato, Silvertron Cafe’, The Abbey, Rojo, Cantina Tortilla Grill, La Paz Restaurant & Catering, Basil Gourmet Pizza & Bar, Ted’s Restaurant, Chez Lulu, Slice Birmingham, Radical Creations Catering, Bellini Catering and Rib-it-Up. Over the past two years, Heart To Table has continued to grow its connections and has formed relationships with area food suppliers to take advantage of surplus items or any viable food about to be discarded.

Royal Cup Coffee and Tea recently came on board to provide hot coffee at the warming station and Shipt hands out protein bars to everyone as they leave the shelter as a healthy breakfast or snack. REV Birmingham’s Urban Food Project provides restaurants access to locally grown vegetables through its network of local farmers and restaurants are now able to serve sweet potatoes, eggs and satsumas from farms located in our state.

MARCO MOROSINI, FOUNDER

This program would not be Silvertron Cafe possible without the support of the local business such as First Commercial Bank, Alabama Central Credit Union, Performance Food Group, Rent Monster, Forest Park Garden Club, and BirminghamRestaurants.com.

Heart To Table has just completed its second successful winter, serving over 2,400 meals, and is set to care for those in need for years to come.

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ARHANOW

CLAY RESTAURANT WINS ALABAMA CATTLEMAN’S ASSOCIATION’S Bama’s Best Beef Contest

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arbecue Stop, Clay, has been named home to “Bama’s Best Beef” through victory in the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association’s Facebook contest.

The focus of the 2nd annual Alabama State Beef Checkoff-funded contest is to seek out a fan favorite and unique beef dish served at an Alabama restaurant.

Barbecue Stop owners and staff now hold yearlong bragging rights and will receive a plaque memorializing the accomplishment of their business.

As described by the restaurant, Brisket and Mac is, “juicy, tender, slow-smoked brisket over homemade, meltin-your-mouth mac & cheese.”

The popular beef dish earned its title by garnering “reactions” to its picture posted on the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Facebook page. Beginning on May 1 and driven by the power of social media advertising, contest committee members were made aware of unique dishes served in the state during two weeks of online nomination submissions.

Following a week of research by the committee, four dishes representing the Asian, Hispanic, All-American and other ethnic categories were named and began competing in a Facebook photo bracket challenges. The “Brisket & Mac” went against Bertolone’s Italian Café’s (Clanton) “Cannelloni,” while Old Town Stock House’s (Guntersville) “Tteok Galbi” stood in competition with Tuco’s Tex Mex Cantina’s (Auburn) “Tex Mex Lasagna.” The dish with the most Facebook reactions at the end of each photo challenge proceeded on in the hopes of being named home to Bama’s Best Beef.

After the contest’s final round, which generated over 3,900 reactions and boasted a reach of over 80,300 Facebook users, the Brisket & Mac was named the winner Saturday, June 10 at midnight over the contest’s other finalist, Old Town Stock House’s Asian cuisine.

“This contest is a fantastic way to showcase the unique beef dishes being created by Alabama restaurants,” ACA Director of Beef Checkoff Programs Erin Beasley said. “Congratulations to Barbecue Stop on this accomplishment. We look forward to visiting the restaurant to taste the Brisket & Mac that our Facebook fans put in the top spot.”

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association is a service based non-profit organization founded in 1944 and headquartered on Capitol Hill in Montgomery. Producer and member driven, the ACA’s mission is to enhance the business climate of the state’s beef cattle industry, promoting a positive image while educating consumers that beef is a safe, wholesome, nutritious and convenient food product. The Association has county chapters in all 67 counties and represents 11,500 members statewide.

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ARHANOW

Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Chairman

Tony Smith LongHorn Steakhouse, Birmingham

Vice Chairman

Hans van der Reijden The Hotel at Auburn University, Auburn

Treasurer

Eric Duggan Eastside Grille, Montgomery

Secretary

Toby Wilson Wilson Hospitality Management Company, Tuscaloosa

Immediate Past Chairman Brandt Tucker Willies Wings and Stuff, Auburn

President/CEO

Mindy Hanan ARHA, Montgomery

BOARD MEMBERS Bob Baumhower

Aloha Hospitality Intl Inc.

Pedro Mandoki

Gulf Shores Plantation

Mike Bertani

S&D Coffee

Chef Leo Maurelli III

Hotel at Auburn University

Kent Blackinton

Renaissance Riverview Plaza

Steve Miller

Sheraton & Westin Birmingham

Chase Brown

Vintage Year

Joseph Mitchell

Jefferson State Community College

Bryan Caldwell

Heartland Payment Systems

Culinary & Hospitality Institute

Yancy Carpenter

Sysco Central Alabama

Mark Nelson

Westin Hotel Huntsville

Woody Cheatham

Merchants Foodservice

Alvin Niuh

University of Alabama

David Clark

Visit Mobile

Eric Oden

Auto-Chlor Services LLC

David Conklin

Firehouse Subs

Bob Omainsky

Fried Stewed Nude Inc.

Bob Crawford

United-Johnson Brothers of Ala., LLC

Nanda Patel

Fort Payne Lodgings LLC

Patti Culp

Alabama Travel Council

Alan Patel

Comfort Inn - Homewood

Peter D’Andrea

Wind Creek Hospitality

Rikesh Patel

Microtel Inn / Tuscaloosa Hospitality

Sharon Delmar

Poarch Creek Band of Indians

Mike Powell

Royal Cup

Kim DiGilarmo

Carrabba’s Italian Grill Inc.

Wayne Reaves

Manna Enterprises

Troy Goldman

Grille 29

Tami Reist

Ala. Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

Penny Groux

Perdido Beach Resort

James Robinson

Alabama Gas Corporation

Stacy Hamilton

Visit Mobile

Bob Rogers

Huntsville/Madison County CVB

Sara Hamlin

Greater Birmingham CVB

Cynthia Shea Hart

Cyn Shea’s Complete Catering, Inc.

Todd Hansen

US Foods

Robert Smith

Alabama Power Company

Nick Hartmann

Alabama Power Company

Rick Smith

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

Craig Hillyard

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa

Gil Stiff

TSC Associates LLC

Matt Hood

Hotel Capstone

Van Sykes

Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q

Paulie Hufstedler

US Foods

Clayton Taylor

Alabama Insurance Exchange

John Krontiras

Nabeel’s Cafe & Market

Brandon Thrash

Wind Creek Hospitality

George Lane

Wood Fruitticher Food Service

Chris Townsley

Birmingham Marriott

Bill Lloyd

Wilhagan’s of Tuscaloosa

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The awards dinner that honors the “best of the best” in Alabama’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, Contact rebecca@arhaonline.com or call 334.244.1320.