rd Annual Wine Dinner & Chapter Awards"
Few hotels in Boston can match the elegance, service and culinary expertise of the Boston Harbor Hotel located on Rowe's Wharf. Never mind the spectacular view of Boston Harbor! That is why the New England Chapter of NACE decided to return to this fabulous location for it's 3rd Annual Wine Dinner and Chapter Awards.
The networking hour featured a World Cheese Display accompanied by crusty breads and breadsticks. Passed appetizers included Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Soy Orange Marmalade, Mint and Rhubarb Rubbed Baby Lamp Chops and my personal favorite Crepe Wrapped Asparagus and Crabmeat. A Super Premium Brand Hosted Bar, fine jazz music provided by the Andrew Stern Trio and the magic of David Hall completed the ambiance. Nothing but the best for NACE members!
NACE New England President, Michelle Minasian welcomed everyone and thanked our sponsors and our host the Boston Harbor Hotel. The local Chapter Awards were first on the agenda and the winners were:
New Member of the Year - Joe Toto, Groove Entertainment
Lifetime Achievement Award - Kathy & Marshall Berenson, Kay LaShay Florals
Clyde McCarthy Spirit of NACE Award - Tracy Kelly, Hotel @ MIT
Affiliate Member(s) of the Year - Jill Person & Lauren Killian, Person + Killian Photography
Caterer of the Year - Patrick Lockaby-Cotter, Hotel @ MIT
Congratulations to all of our award recipients! Let the wine dinner begin!
We were very honored to have Meghan Jennings and Brian McDonald from NACE National sponsor, the Gallo Family of Wineries with us this evening. Our first course featured Wood Grilled Sea Scallops which were accompanied by a Maso Canali 2005 Pinot Grigio. Meghan described this wine which has a brilliant golden color and a full ripe palate. The Maso canali vineyard is 500 meters above sea level and the soil has a special mineral concentration which adds character to the wine.
The main course was a sumptuous Red Wine Glazed Roast Beef Tenderloin with Roasted baby Vegetables and Fennel Cream. Two wines accompanied this portion and they were a Louis M. Martnii 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which is an intense flavored wine that offers complexity yet is distinguished and elegant and a Rancho Zabaco 2003 Sonoma Heritage Vines Zinfandel with deep flavors of berry pie, jam and spice. A Dark Chocolate Almond Rasberry Tart with Vanilla Nutmeg Anglaise was the perfect end to a perfect wine dinner. The raffle followed to close out our event.
Special thanks to Carrie Campbell, Director of Catering at the Boston Harbor Hotel and her staff for a wonderful evening. An extra special thanks to the Gallo Family of Wineries for sponsoring the wine for tonight's event and to Meghan Jennings and Brian McDonald for attending our event and offering their expertise. Also, thanks to our sponsors, Kay LaShay Floral Design for the centerpieces, Mary Lynne Leach of Chair Covers and Linens for the beautiful table linens, Judy Neu of Music Management for the Andrew Stern Jazz Trio, Mike Amado of Entertainment Specialists for the Magic of David Hall and Jill Person and Lauren Killian of Person + Killian Photography. Finally, thanks to our raffle sponsors, Aura Restaurant at the Seaport Hotel, Odyssey Cruise Lines, the UMass Club of Boston, the Boston Harbor Hotel and the Gallo Family of Wineries.
See you in July at the 2006 NACE Educational Conference,
John Zucco
Entertainment Specialists
Secretary
New England Chapter of NACE
