The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) hosted its annual Golf Classic at Lyman Orchards’ Golf Club in Middlefield on June 28, presented by title sponsor Sysco. Trade professionals were treated to lunch upon arrival before teeing off to play 18 holes, courtesy of US Foods. Sponsors also included Datapay Payroll Services, 85th Day Food Community, Subway, Shift4 Payments, The Russell Hall Co., The Recipe of Success and FordHarrison. Tasting stations featured Tito’s Handmade Vodka; Fishers Island Lemonade; Cleveland Whiskey through Murphy Distributors, Inc.; Bad Sons Beer Co.; Black Hog Brewing Co.; Continuum Distilling; and Counter Weight Brewing, with additional tastings from Litchfield Distillery and Up n’ Down Rock and Bourbon. The beverage cart sponsor was Brescome Barton. Additional tournament support from beverage trade included Connecticut Distributors, Inc.; Allan S. Goodman; Slocum & Sons; VerTerra; Pepsi; and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut. Later, guests enjoyed cocktails and a farm-to-table themed dinner led by a renowned lineup of local chefs, including Jess Bengtson from Terrain Cafe and Amis Trattoria in Westport, Ashley Flagg from Millwright’s in Simsbury, Emily Mingrone from Tavern on State in New Haven and Renee Touponce from Oyster Club in Mystic. ProStart program students provided food prep support for the multicourse gourmet meal, sponsored by Performance Foodservice. Approximately 248 golfers took part in the event, with dozens of additional contributors and sponsors, which supports ProStart and culinary scholarships through CRA’s Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation among charitable efforts.
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- Ann Marie Clang, Devin Sardilli, Jay Bovino and Devin Sardilli, Sardilli Produce & Dairy.
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- All of Caymus Vineyards except where indicated: Scott Randall, Slocum & Sons; Peter Curry; and Dan Campbell.
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- Ryan Corniff, Jeff Abate, Tim Mullin and Andy Roller, The Chefs’ Warehouse.
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- Mike Donovan, Tom McDowell, Jonathan Jennings and Jack McDowell, CT Wedding Group.
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- Tom Kaldy, Bryce Hardy, Mike Oliver and Brandon Korshoff, The Charles.
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- All of Allan S. Goodman except where indicated: Dave Heller; Mike Wylie, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; and Jeff Conelius.
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- Branden Hahn, Zach Hinman, Bill Tabe and Owen Wiseman for Don Memo Westport.
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- Dave Bujese, John Lyman, Steve Lipson and Andy Davis, Lyman Orchards.
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- Keith Beaulieu, Dave Sullivan, Bryan Rogers and Jesse Powers, The Main Pub.
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- Dave Smith, Bill Rosa, Fred Rosa and Kyle Little for The Russell Hall Co.
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- James Onofrio, Black Hog Brewing Co. and Steven Nardini, Lyman Orchards’ Golf Club pouring tastes from Black Hog, Continuum Distilling and Hum Hard Tea Seltzer.
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- Rachel Aronson and Gabriele Kozik, Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
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- Dave Micelli, Kevin Drake, Billy O’Brien and Chris Sexton, Hoodoo Brown BBQ.
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- Jamie Pantanella, Casey Dohme, Matt Bacco and Kevin Randall, The Blind Rhino.
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- All of Performance Food Group except where indicated: Ron Cook; Gregg DeGiacomo; Ken Lablanc; and Bob Moniz, Leo’s Restaurants.
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- Melissa Ciarleglio, MAC Photo Booth Co.; Emma Pawlak, Lyman Orchards’ Golf Club; and Robert Cordisco, Market Manager CT & RI, Cleveland Whiskey.
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- Mike Hamlin, Bryan Demers, Owen Barnett and Phil Barnett, Hartford Restaurant Group.
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- Salvatore Larocca, Jeff Spence, Ryan Ambrife and Matt Storch for Match and Little Barn.
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- Kayla Hedman and Kelsey Ferguson, Fishers Island Lemonade.
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- Colin Roberts, Bad Sons Beer Co.
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- Harold Garcia, Morgan Michette, John Nealon, Devin Michette and Sawyer Michette, Taco Daddy.
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- Chefs Emily Mingrone, Tavern on State; Jes Bengston, Terrain Cafe and Amis Trattoria; Ashley Flagg, Millwright’s; and Renee Touponce, Oyster Club.
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- Jim Stack, Hartford Distributors, Inc.; Tim Adams, J. Timothy’s Taverne;. Reed McCarey and Chris Putorti, Hartford Distributors, Inc.
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- Nick Demarasco, Nick Marchenko, Andrew Livesey and Clem Paskarele.
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- Marty Matheson, Jim Bitzonis, Matt Nord and Aaron Miller, Four M Franchising.
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- Larry Golia and Margaret Fiondella, Counter Weight Brewing.
