PRLA Spring 2019

28  • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Spring 2019 MEMBER MILESTONES Pennsylvania nabbed 19 spots on the list of 2019 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists, seven of which are PRLA members. Finalists will be announced on March 27, with the 2019 Awards Gala taking place on Monday, May 6 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Congratulations to the following PRLA members: Ì Ì Outstanding Chef Marc Vetri, Vetri Cucina (Philadelphia) Ì Ì Outstanding Restaurant Zahav (Philadelphia) Ì Ì Outstanding Restaurateur Richard DeShantz Group (Pittsburgh) Ì Ì Outstanding Restaurateur High Street Hospitality Group (Philadelphia) Ì Ì Outstanding Beer, Wine, or Spirits Producer Meredith Meyer Grelli, Wigle Whiskey (Pittsburgh) Ì Ì Best Chef—Mid-Atlantic Kristin Butterworth, Lautrec (Farmington) Ì Ì Best Chef—Mid-Atlantic Nickolas Elmi, Laurel (Philadelphia) Southern Chapter Congratulations to Laura Gurreri who was named president of the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Laura has worked at the CVB for 16 years, 12 of which were as the director of sales. Since June 2018, she has served as acting president. Last fall, the York College of Pennsylvania Hospitality Management Program celebrated 13 students who were inducted into Eta Sigma Delta, the international hospitality management honor society that is dedicated to academic, personal, and professional excellence. This was York College’s first group of ESD inductees. Western Chapter Congratulations! The Oaklander Hotel, officially opened to guests on February 28 with a ribbon-cutting. It is the first of Marriott’s Autograph Collection to open in the state. The hotel is home to brasserie Spirits & Tales. Way to go! The VisitPITTSBURGH 360 Interactive Video, a project developed by the organization’s marketing team, won a Davey Award. And, not just any Davey award, but the “Best in Show” in the Experiential & Immersive category. Other winners in other categories include Disney and Budweiser. With 3,000 entries from around the world, the Davey Awards honors the finest creative work from the best small shops, firms, and companies worldwide. The Davey Awards are judged and overseen by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, a 700+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. Isn’t it romantic? Monterrey Bay Fish Grotto also was named to Open Table’s 100 Top Most Romantic Restaurants for 2019. Congratulations to Angelo’s Restaurant on celebrating its 80th anniversary this spring!