Black Meetings & Tourism - Wilmington Convention Center Takes Home Three Top Awards At Epicurean Evening

Food Service Beat
Wilmington Convention Center Takes Home Three Top Awards At Epicurean Evening
Award-Winning Team Receives the Highest Honor of The Copper Kettle The culinary staff of the Wilmington Convention Center - the largest convention center on the North Carolina coast - took home three awards at the recent Epicurean Evening event. The seventh annual charity event, which was hosted by the Methodist Home for Children at the convention center, featured food, drink and competition from the area's restaurants and noted chefs. More than 500 guests wined and dined on culinary masterpieces from 30 culinary artists in and around Wilmington, N.C. The SAVOR…Wilmington Catering team was awarded the following: Gold Award: Best Taste Gold Award: Best Appetizer And the highest honor: Best in Show for The Copper Kettle Award Scott Frazzetta, the Wilmington Convention Center's Executive Chef, and his team created an award-winning appetizer consisting of a Seared Scallop with Champagne Cream Spinach and a Lemon-Saffron Risotto. Additionally, Frazzetta and the convention center took home the event's highest honor, The Copper Kettle, a prize awarded to one chef who entices event attendees with a menu of scrumptious appetizers, beverages, entrées and desserts. The Copper Kettle will remain on-site at the convention center for a year and grants the team bragging rights as "Best in Show" in the City of Wilmington. "We are both honored and thrilled to receive The Copper Kettle and the two Gold awards for Best Taste and Best Appetizer," said Wilmington Convention Center General Manager Susan Eaton. "The Wilmington Convention Center continues to better its culinary reputation for our facility. We receive wonderful feedback from every customer hosting events on the food product, quality, and presentation for our award-worthy cuisine." The annual event benefits the Methodist Home for Children to raise funds for the continuation of the home's services. This is the third year in a row the Wilmington Convention Center has brought home top honors, including winning the People's Choice Award in both 2011 and 2012. The convention center's award-winning dishes and presentation are part of SAVOR…Wilmington Catering, the full in-house catering service operated by SMG, dedicated to using the freshest foods and preserving the spirit of fine Southern cuisine. With multiple dining options, SAVOR caters to all needs and tastes while maintaining menus distinctive to any event, ranging from annual conferences to wedding receptions. "Each dish we create reflects our coastal location, and our commitment to serving only the finest, freshest local foods to be used in our savory creations. Our staff embodies a collaborative spirit of passion and innovation to create original menus for each event," added Chef Frazzetta. The Silver LEED certified Wilmington Convention Center, located along the storied Cape Fear River in Wilmington, N.C.'s historic river district, offers meeting capabilities from 20 to 2,000 people. It boasts a variety of spaces including a 30,000-sq. ft. Exhibit Hall, 12,000-sq. ft. ballroom, more than 15,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space and nearly 6,000 sq. ft. of additional meeting space. Attendees also have the opportunity to enjoy the coastal breeze on the 12,000-sq. ft. riverfront lawn or take in the sophisticated maritime design of the building and the vintage photographs located throughout that celebrate Wilmington's historic past. Convention attendees don't just experience the convention center when they come to Wilmington, but can venture out and take in the city's historic river district. It features more than 200 restaurants, shops and attractions in the downtown area alone. Attendees can also take time to explore and relax with their toes in the sand while taking advantage of the building's close proximity to three island beaches (Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach). The area is home to nearly 8,000 hotel rooms and suites with unique settings ranging from Wilmington's downtown Riverwalk to the sea. About the Wilmington Convention Center: The Wilmington Convention Center is the ideal facility for meetings and conventions offering the perfect backdrop of historic charm and waterfront views. For questions about meetings and conventions or bookings at the Wilmington Convention Center, contact John Sneed, Director of Convention Sales of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 650-9064, ext. 125 or jsneed@capefearcoast.com.

Food Service Beat

Wilmington Convention Center Takes Home Three Top Awards At Epicurean Evening

Award-Winning Team Receives the Highest Honor of The Copper Kettle

The culinary staff of the Wilmington Convention Center - the largest convention center on the North Carolina coast - took home three awards at the recent Epicurean Evening event. The seventh annual charity event, which was hosted by the Methodist Home for Children at the convention center, featured food, drink and competition from the area's restaurants and noted chefs. More than 500 guests wined and dined on culinary masterpieces from 30 culinary artists in and around Wilmington, N.C. The SAVOR…Wilmington Catering team was awarded the following:

Gold Award: Best Taste
Gold Award: Best Appetizer
And the highest honor: Best in Show for The Copper Kettle Award

Scott Frazzetta, the Wilmington Convention Center's Executive Chef, and his team created an award-winning appetizer consisting of a Seared Scallop with Champagne Cream Spinach and a Lemon-Saffron Risotto. Additionally, Frazzetta and the convention center took home the event's highest honor, The Copper Kettle, a prize awarded to one chef who entices event attendees with a menu of scrumptious appetizers, beverages, entrées and desserts. The Copper Kettle will remain on-site at the convention center for a year and grants the team bragging rights as "Best in Show" in the City of Wilmington.

"We are both honored and thrilled to receive The Copper Kettle and the two Gold awards for Best Taste and Best Appetizer," said Wilmington Convention Center General Manager Susan Eaton. "The Wilmington Convention Center continues to better its culinary reputation for our facility. We receive wonderful feedback from every customer hosting events on the food product, quality, and presentation for our award-worthy cuisine."

The annual event benefits the Methodist Home for Children to raise funds for the continuation of the home's services. This is the third year in a row the Wilmington Convention Center has brought home top honors, including winning the People's Choice Award in both 2011 and 2012.

The convention center's award-winning dishes and presentation are part of SAVOR…Wilmington Catering, the full in-house catering service operated by SMG, dedicated to using the freshest foods and preserving the spirit of fine Southern cuisine. With multiple dining options, SAVOR caters to all needs and tastes while maintaining menus distinctive to any event, ranging from annual conferences to wedding receptions.

"Each dish we create reflects our coastal location, and our commitment to serving only the finest, freshest local foods to be used in our savory creations. Our staff embodies a collaborative spirit of passion and innovation to create original menus for each event," added Chef Frazzetta.

The Silver LEED certified Wilmington Convention Center, located along the storied Cape Fear River in Wilmington, N.C.'s historic river district, offers meeting capabilities from 20 to 2,000 people. It boasts a variety of spaces including a 30,000-sq. ft. Exhibit Hall, 12,000-sq. ft. ballroom, more than 15,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space and nearly 6,000 sq. ft. of additional meeting space. Attendees also have the opportunity to enjoy the coastal breeze on the 12,000-sq. ft. riverfront lawn or take in the sophisticated maritime design of the building and the vintage photographs located throughout that celebrate Wilmington's historic past.

Convention attendees don't just experience the convention center when they come to Wilmington, but can venture out and take in the city's historic river district. It features more than 200 restaurants, shops and attractions in the downtown area alone. Attendees can also take time to explore and relax with their toes in the sand while taking advantage of the building's close proximity to three island beaches (Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach). The area is home to nearly 8,000 hotel rooms and suites with unique settings ranging from Wilmington's downtown Riverwalk to the sea.

About the Wilmington Convention Center:

The Wilmington Convention Center is the ideal facility for meetings and conventions offering the perfect backdrop of historic charm and waterfront views. For questions about meetings and conventions or bookings at the Wilmington Convention Center, contact John Sneed, Director of Convention Sales of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 650-9064, ext. 125 or jsneed@capefearcoast.com.