2007 Tabletop Performance Awards

FE&S recognizes this year’s most effective and aesthetically pleasing tabletops in four operator categories.

By the Editors -- Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, 10/1/2007 11:00:00 PM

FE&S proudly presents its 2007 Excellence in Tabletop Performance Awards. The following pages recognize excellence in the strategic and functional application of permanentware tabletop design in four categories:

• Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of less than $30
• Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of more than $30
• On-Site Foodservice
• Club/Resort

Our panel of industry tabletop experts selects the winners based on how they:

• Support the operation's concept or theme or change in menu
• Establish a signature identity for the operation
• Refresh or update the table appearance in an existing facility
• Facilitate a change in concept
• Function in daily use

FE&S would like to thank Rita Gutekanst, principal, Limelight Catering, Chicago, and Katheryn Ruff, president, Tablescapes, Chicago, and everyone else who participated in the judging and submission processes for lending not only their time but also their expertise to this year's competition.

First Place: Rosendale’s Columbus, Ohio

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of more than $30 Specifiers: Richard Rosendale, chef, Rosendale's; Dan DeNoble, sales manager-regional group, and John Sweeney, account manager, The Wasserstrom Company, Columbus, Ohio; Cathryn Hoag, key accounts manager, Fortessa; Tom Greenwald, principal, Top of the Table Winning Elements Why It Won: The tabletop's texture and the subtle use of colors complement the room's monochromatic nature. It seems as if every tabletop item was selected based on its good design. The flatware's texture even pulls out the placemat, while the height of the bread holder adds to the overall visual appeal. Chinaware: Villeroy and Boch (Nubo and Infiniti glass plates,Dune plate), Steelite (Eclipse and Float Glass plates), Fortessa (Andromeda, Accentz, Purio, Onda) Flatware: Fortessa (Acqua, Black Laguiole) Glassware: Anchor Hocking (Luna, Carraffa's), Libbey (Z-stem, Columbus, Ohio Rosendal's Catalina Pilsners), Bodum, Schott Zwiesel (port glass and snifter) Accessories: Front of the House (placemats), Le Cruset (Cobalt Casseroles), Clipper-Mill (fry cones)

First Place: Tonto Bar & Grill, Cave Creek, Ariz.

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of less than $30 Specifiers: Eric Platt, owner, Tonto; Kyle Alford, regional account manager, and Pam Bernardi, sales manager-Southwest, The Wasserstrom Company, Columbus, Ohio Winning Elements Why It Won: This spectacular tabletop paid attention to each and every detail, allowing it to complement the entire room. The individual elements do a good job of supporting the tabletop's overall graphic appearance and the colors warm up the room. This also represents an excellent use of custom pieces. Chinaware: HF Coors Flatware: Walco Ironstone (dinner and salad forks, bouillon spoon, and teaspoon), Oneida (Pioneer steak knife) Glassware: Cardinal (Excalibur) Accessories: Diversified Ceramics (custard cups), Old Thompson (pepper mill & salt shaker), Custom (packet holders), Orion Trading Co. (patio and Maui table lamps) and Local (dining room table lamps)

First Place: Members Club at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Category: Club/Resort Specifiers: Mike Buccerone, general manager, and James Fisher, operations vice president, Members Club at Grande Dunes; David Novit, sales rep, QualServ Corp., Columbia, S.C.; Linda Perdue, Carl Perdue, manufacturers' representatives, FiveStar Associates Winning Elements Why It Won: Beautiful use of a base plate with a logo. The setting fits the room perfectly and gives a sense of elegance. Chinaware: The Homer Laughlin China Company (custom) Flatware: WMF USA (Residence Logo) Glassware: Speigelau Glassware (Soiree, VG and Classic) Accessories: Hena (Eggshell lamp base and shade, Globe top)

First Place: Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio

Category: On-Site Foodservice Specifiers: Fred Geib, general manager of dining operations, Ashland University; Bob Butler, sales representative, and Anne Ladd, merchandise and tabletop manager, TriMark S.S. Kemp, Cleveland Winning Elements Why It Won: A great use of school colors in an upbeat way. The tabletop features beautiful tray presentations and a smart use of the school logo to promote brand awareness. Lots of detail went into planning this tray, including custom china and napkin placement. The flatware texture looks nice with the entire setup. The table even features a purple laminate that ties everything together without overdoing it. Chinaware: Steelite (Monaco) Flatware: World Tableware (Sand Pebbles)

Second Place: Shooters on the Water, Cleveland, Ohio

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of less than $30 Specifiers: Claudine Aviles, general manager, Shooters; Tricia A. Lindbloom, CFSP, sales representative, TriMark S.S. Kemp, Cleveland Winning Elements Second Helpings: The chinaware complements the various menu items they serve. Placemats add a layer of texture to this tabletop, while the napkin placement dresses up the environment. Chinaware: Front of the House (Kyoto triple, square and stainless-steel bowls), Churchill (Alchemy pasta bowl), World Tableware (Slate square plates, rim soup bowl, platter, tall cup, saucer, stainless-steel cappuccino cup and saucer), G.E.T. (Red Fusion cascading bowl) Flatware: Oneida (Paradox) Glassware: Libbey (Endeavor rocks, cooler; Cosmopolitan; Michaelangelo), Anchor (Nadine cocktail), Cardinal (Ever frost footed pilsner and pub glass) Accessories: Tablecraft (Gemini olive oil bottle set), Artex (Alliance napkin), Front of the House (Holey stainless-steel basket and Metro weave placemats), Service Ideas (wine chiller)

Second Place: Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia

Category: On-Site Foodservice Specifiers: Darryl Start, executive chef, Piedmont Hospital; Ron Apple, sales rep, Edward Don & Co., Norcross, Ga. Winning Elements Second Helpings: Great use of the base plate to complement the chair's upholstery. The tabletop has an understated elegance using the glassware and top-of-the-line items across the board that are elegant, but easily replenished. Chinaware: Villeroy & Boch (Bella and Latin Motion) Flatware: Villeroy & Boch (Oscar) Glassware: Villeroy & Boch (LaDivina)

Second Place: Table 45, Intercontinental Hotel, Columbus, Ohio

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of more than $30 Specifiers: Michael Cooper, food and beverage director, Intercontinental Hotel; Kevin Dawson, sales rep, and D.J. Kourie, sales manager-North, The Wasserstrom Company, Columbus, Ohio Winning Elements Second Helpings: All of these pieces look great aside one another and the use of red ties them together. Instead of looking old fashioned, the simple logo plate looks contemporary in this setting, which is hard to accomplish. The detail put into this tabletop supports its functionality; for example, the use of an olive oil plate with a bread and butter plate. Chinaware: Steelite (Sheer Monaco signature and dessert plate, entrée bowl; Duo coffee/cappuccino/espresso), Sheer Dusk (bowl), Ola (entrée platter, side and sorbet dishes, teapot with stand, coffee/ cappuccino accessories), Narumi (Oval 3 divided plate, dessert platter and plate), Aura (rectangular bread tray), Revol (crumble tumblers) Flatware: Hepp Glassware: Steelite (Rona utility wine, red wine, Champagne), Fortessa (Pure, Ypsilon, After Hours, Pilsner), State (custom red water tumbler) Accessories: Chilewich (custom), Candlecorp (frosted glass lamps), Smartcandle (rechargeable tealights), Via Motif (bread basket), Oggi (bar trays)

Second Place: The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch, Boerne, Texas

Category: Club/Resort Specifiers: Dan Hufford, director of food and beverage, The Clubs of Cordillera Ranch; Don Roets, manufacturers' rep, Preferred Source, Austin, Texas; Sysco San Antonio Sales Team Winning Elements Second Helpings: The metal items - tabletop, silverware, salt & pepper shakers, etc. - work well together. The vase brings an element of rustic elegance to the table that complements the sugar packet holder and hammered flatware. Chinaware: Steelite (Naturals) Flatware: Bon Chef (Reflections) Glassware: Rona (5 Star) Accessories: Orion (Trading Room salt & pepper shakers, sugar packet holder) and Artex

Honorable Mention: Lola Bistro, Cleveland, Ohio

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of more than $30 Specifiers: Frank Ritz, beverage manager, Lola Bistro; Anne Ladd, merchandise and tabletop manager, TriMark S.S. Kemp, Cleveland; Marguerite Destro, sales rep, Steelite International Winning Elements Worth Mentioning: This tabletop features a couple of unique pieces, such as the frying pan plate, that work well with the other items. The community table was visually appealing, too. Chinaware: Steelite (Rene Ozorio, Montgatina, Taste) Flatware: Walco (Rustic, Tree) Glassware: Steelite (Rona, Luna)

Honorable Mention: Galaxy Restaurant Wine Room,Wadsworth, Ohio

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of less than $30 Specifiers: Sean Leatherman, owner, Galaxy Restaurant Wine Room; Earl Bailey, sales representative, and Anne Ladd, merchandise and tabletop manager, TriMark S.S. Kemp, Cleveland Winning Elements Worth Mentioning: Blue plate and wine glasses catch your eye, while the specially shaped dishes complement the food presentation. The extra detail of having a wine coaster brings both a functional and design element to the table. Chinaware: Steelite (White Coupe) Flatware: Walco (Chalet) Glassware: NOBHill (Old Fashioned glass), and Libbey (Perception Wine Glass and Inverness rocks glass) Accessories: Vollrath (teapot and creamer)

Honorable Mention: Blanco,Tucson, Ariz.

Category: Independent Restaurant with a per-person check average of less than $30 Specifiers: Christopher Cristiano, corporate executive chef, Blanco; Pam Bernardi, sales manager-Southwest, and Becki Pretzer, regional account manager, The Wasserstrom Company, Columbus, Ohio Winning Elements Worth Mentioning: This Mexican restaurant's tabletop appears more contemporary and stark than other similar operations. The tabletop does a nice job of combining individual items to tie a meal together, while keeping the ingredients separate. Chinaware: Vertex (Ventana Coupe cheese crisp platter and entrée plate; Ventana Guacamole bowl and bowl; Argyle sharing plate; Alpine stacking soup bowl) Flatware: Browne-Halco (Modena European dinner fork, serrated dinner knife, dessert spoon), Oneida (Longhorn steak knife) Glassware: Anchor Hocking (stackable tumblers), Cardinal (Cabaret), Libbey (shot glass and Grand Salud martini) Accessories: Lodge (6.5 castiron skillet), Libbey (one-liter water carafe and candle votive holder), American Metalcraft (tall salt & pepper squares), Vertex (sugar caddy, creamer and ramekin)

Honorable Mention: Mt. Carmel New Albany Surgical Center New Albany, Ohio

Category: On-Site Foodservice Specifiers: Dick E'EnBeau, chief operating officer, Mt. Carmel New Albany Surgical Center; and Anne Ladd, merchandise and tabletop manager, TriMark S.S. Kemp, Cleveland Winning Elements Worth Mentioning: Even in an institutional setting, the customized china plays well, tying into the blue tray. The creamer and sugar packet holder gives nice contrast to the contemporary look. Chinaware: Oneida (Timeless Blue and Timeless Yellow) Flatware: Walco (Windsor & Dominion) Glassware: Dinex (Turnbury) Accessories: Cambro (Glasstell tray), Dinex (Turnbury base and cover)

Honorable Mention: Hershey Country Club, Hershey,PA

Category: Club/Resort Specifiers: Renee Holloman, general manager, and Michael Collier, executive chef/food and beverage director, Hershey Country Club; Rick Snyder, account manager, Singer Equipment Co., Elverson, Pa. Winning Elements Worth Mentioning: A good use of the blue accent color in the napkin, chairs and carpet. This installation features a wooden tabletop that presents itself as a formal setting without using fancy linens - a great juxtaposition. Chinaware: Churchill (Jardin, Alchemy, Balance) Flatware: Corby Hall (Portofino) Glassware: Cardinal (Cabernet) Accessories: Turgra Glass, WMF (Avantgorde and Impressions Charisma), Churchill (Jardin) and Candlecorp