Restaurant Trade Turns Out for Annual Golf Tournament

The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) hosted its annual Golf Classic at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield on June 27, presented by title sponsor Sysco. Participants were treated to lunch before teeing off to play 18 holes, courtesy of US Foods. Sponsors also included Datapay Payroll Services, Morgan Stanley, The Jorgensen Group at Morgan Stanley, Tanda Hospitality and FordHarrison. Tasting stations featured Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Lenny’s Lemonade through Murphy Distributors, Bad Sons Beer Co., Alvarium Beer Co., Litchfield Distillery, The Cocktail Chemist canned cocktail line and Cylinder Vodka. The beverage cart sponsor was Brescome Barton. Additional tournament support from the beverage trade included Connecticut Distributors, Inc.; Allan S. Goodman; Brown-Forman; Slocum & Sons; VerTerra; Pepsi; and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut. Cocktails and a farm-to-table-themed dinner followed the day of golf, led by a renowned lineup of local chefs, including Kristin Eddy from Millwright’s Restaurant in Simsbury, Jared Falco from Rosina’s in Greenwich, Lou Fiore from Zohara Mediterranean Kitchen in West Hartford, Manuel Romero from Olea in New Haven and David Standridge from The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic. Approximately 252 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.

: All of CRA: Elizabeth Barry, Operations Assistant; Scott Dolch, President and CEO; Yvette Tavares, Vice President of Sales and Operations; Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, Foundation Director; and Sophia Kammerman, Public Policy Intern.

: Lawrence Cafero, Executive Director and General Counsel, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut; Tracy Persico, Director, Government Law and Strategies, Brown Rudnick; Lori Samele-Bates, Government Relations Specialist, Brown Rudnick; and Franklin Perry, Chief of Staff, CT House Democrats.

: Team Brown-Forman: Jon Capodi, Field Marketing Manager; Akie Smythe, CT Market Manager; and Kyle Ligon.

: David Heller, President, Allan S. Goodman; Mark Wylie; Tom Kachmark, CT State Manager, Brown-Forman; and Jeff Conelius, Craft Spirit Specialist, Allan S. Goodman.

: Team Hartford Restaurant Group: Bryan Demers, Director; Mike Hamlin, Co-founder, Wood-n-Tap; Phil Barnett, Co-founder, Wood-n-Tap; and Owen Barnett.

: Jennifer Caulfield, Marketing Manager, Eder Bros., Inc.; Geoff Troup, Marketing Manager, Eder Bros., Inc.; and Will Longo, Field Sales Manager, Constellation Brands.

: Team Max Hospitality: Steve Michalewicz, Executive Chef, Max Catering & Events; Doug Kelly, Managing Partner, Max Burger; Brian Costa, Managing Partner, Max Fish; and John Thomas, General Manager, Max’s Tavern.