WOOSTER, Ohio – From the front of the house to the back, restaurants across the world must be fine-tuned machines to keep the orders coming and guests returning. At this year’s Certified Angus Beef ® Annual Conference, held in Tucson, six restaurants stole the spotlight. The chefs and restaurateurs gathered with family Angus cattle ranchers and suppliers to nurture their focus on bringing premium beef to the table.
“We are proud to partner with these distinctive restaurants and congratulate them on their successes,” says John Stika, the beef brand’s president. “Nearly 10,000 restaurants across the country are whole-heartedly embracing our story and family ranching heritage every time they serve a Certified Angus Beef ® brand dish and place our logo on their menus.”
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Oak Steakhouse, of Charleston, S.C., received the Restaurant Marketer of the Year award for a Steakhouse. The restaurant serves Certified Angus Beef ® brand steaks and several on-trend beef dishes, but Chef Jeremiah Bacon also takes the brand far beyond the dining room to The James Beard House, Culinary Institute of America Greystone and South Beach Wine and Food Festival. In Charleston, Chef Jeremiah held a special dinner with a local Angus farm family and participated in the Charleston Wine and Food Festival. This summer, he “took over” the brand’s Instagram page and shared his kitchen secrets. Find more information on Oak Steakhouse.
- Caption: Chef Jeremiah Bacon received the award from Mark Polzer, left, the brand’s vice president of business development, and John Stika, right, president.
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Jonathan Sawyer Restaurant Group, of Cleveland, Ohio, received the Restaurant Marketer of the Year for plating Specialty Items. As part of the Jonathon Sawyer Restaurant Group, The Greenhouse Tavern is Chef Jonathon Sawyer’s flagship restaurant where he features innovative Certified Angus Beef ® brand menu items. Chef Sawyer also takes signature dishes to high-profile events, like the James Beard Awards Gala. The James Beard “Best Chef in the Great Lakes 2015” leads his culinary team to constantly advance their beef expertise through in-depth beef training and menu ideation at the brand’s Education & Culinary Center in Wooster, Ohio. Find more information on The Greenhouse Tavern.
- Caption: John D’Andrea and Tom Salopek, from Blue Ribbon Meats, accepted the award from Mark Polzer, left, the brand’s vice president of business development, and John Stika, right, president.
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Saltgrass Steakhouse, headquartered in Houston, Texas, was honored with the Restaurant Chain Marketer of the Year award. Saltgrass added new Certified Angus Beef ® brand dishes to the menu, and clearly identifies the brand by name in social media promotions, too. The chain’s 12 months of billboard promotions featured beef selections. Educational programs for restaurant staff continue to be a cornerstone of the chain’s 20-year success with the beef brand – from waitstaff trainings to visiting family ranchers – to experience dedication to quality. Find more information on Saltgrass Steakhouse.
- Caption: Clay Smith, from Buckhead Beef Company Houston, accepted the award for Saltgrass from Mark Polzer, left, the brand’s vice president of business development, and John Stika, right, president.
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Larkin’s Restaurants, of Greenville, S.C., received the Specialty Restaurant Group Marketer of the Year award. Through Larkin’s on the Lake, Larkin’s on the River and Grill Marks restaurants, the Larkins group regularly features Certified Angus Beef ® brand selections on the menu and in social media. Chefs collaborated with the brand’s culinary team at the Education & Culinary Center to introduce new items on the menu and dry-aged steaks. Larkins also hosted a Bourbon and Beef dinner. The Grill Marks’ signature Certified Angus Beef ® brand burgers also received acclaim in Southern Living magazine. Find more information on Larkin’s Restaurants.
- Caption: Larkin Hammond, Mark Hammond, Bob Munnich accepted the award from Mark Polzer, left, the brand’s vice president of business development, and John Stika, right, president.
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Caminito’s Costa del Este, of Panama City, Panama, received the International Restaurant Marketer of the Year award. Caminito’s was the first restaurant in Panama to introduce Certified Angus Beef ® brand Prime. Chef-owner Marcelo Contreras works with his beef supplier to introduce new menu items, plan marketing and hold monthly staff trainings. He also coordinates marketing initiatives with the beef brand’s staff, based in Ohio, to clearly identify beef items on the menu and in promotions, now at two restaurant locations.
- Caption: Chef-owner Luis Conteras accepted the award from Geof Bednar, left, the brand’s international director, and John Stika, right, president.
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Royal Host, of Tokyo, is the International Restaurant Chain Marketer of the Year. At nearly 270 Royal Host and Cowboy Family restaurants throughout Japan, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand is offered in numerous dishes and identified as top-quality American beef. The Royal Host marketing team keeps the brand’s staff involved in promotions, which this year included sirloin roast for the holiday season and a “drive across America” campaign.
- Caption: Representatives from Royal Host accepted the award from Geof Bednar, left, the brand’s international director, and John Stika, right, president.
About the Certified Angus Beef ® brand
Founded in 1978 by real Angus cattlemen, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand is the original Angus brand and the only one owned by the family farmers and ranchers of the American Angus Association®. It was created with a shared belief that still drives the brand today: that customers can taste the pride that goes into every cut. The Certified Angus Beef ® brand strictly adheres to 10 exacting quality standards that deliver incredible juiciness, unparalleled tenderness and exceptional flavor. For more information, visit www.certifiedangusbeef.com, read the brand’s blog at www.GoRare.com, or look for the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Source: Certified Angus Beef ® brand