Top Chefs, Winemakers, Social Media Pros & Coffee/Tea Experts

I’m entering a very fortunate month in February, full of deep networking and village building. I’ll be enjoying dialogues and events with some of the world’s best Chefs, Winemakers, Lawyers, Online Marketers, Social Media Professionals and Coffee/Tea Experts.

If you’re looking for me in Portland Oregon this month, it’ll be tough to find me. Here’s what’s going on..

Foodportunity Seattle :: Monday January 31

On Monday, I travel to Seattle to escort the founder of PromoBomb and Beer2Buds for a night of networking at Foodportunity SEA.

Foodportunity is a networking event for food journalists, public relation professionals, restaurateurs, farmers, companies and all food passionate people. Held twice yearly in both Seattle and Portland, the event brings over 300 people out to nibble and network for the night.

Foodportunity PDX is a Chalkboarder client.

Stoel Rives LLP Wine Law Summit :: Thursday February 3

On Thursday, I head out to the Allison Inn in Newberg Oregon to speak on social media to 70+ top Oregon wineries. My presentation is during lunch at Stoel Rives law firm’s 4th Annual Wine Law Summit.

Then it’s off to the icy streets of New York City!

The Whole Hog Dinner – James Beard House, NYC :: Friday February 4

After landing around 6 am, I head over to the James Beard House for the day and night, assisting the Chefs from The Berkshire Farm & Table “Association” with live social media (what we at Chalkboarder call Social Media On Demand) as they prepare a fantastic dinner – The Whole Berkshire Hog – for 140 diners. Of course, that’s followed by a little bourbon.

NYC Street Food :: Saturday February 5

Saturday’s adventure is trying to find food trucks.. good food trucks.. in winter in New York City. This little project is benefiting Chalkboarder’s Atlanta client Urban Toile, who’s weeks away from launching what will be ATL’s hottest food truck.

La Vida Cocoa & World Chocolate Expert Clay Gordon :: Sunday February 6

I first met Clay Gordon, one of the world’s leading experts on cocoa and chocolate, at the World Pastry Chef Team competition in Phoenix Arizona last summer. Clay and I captured a lot of material for social media for Dessert Professional magazine, while pushing four Discovery Network camera teams out of the way. Clay is one of the world’s most interesting men, traveling to remote locations (literally over some of the most hazardous roads in the world) to research cocoa and maintains a great blog called La Vida Cocoa. We’ll be visiting The Meadow in West Village.

From winter’s freeze to sunny Southern California!

Online Marketing Summit/Social Media Masters :: Wed-Fri February 9-11

After three dats of remembering why I left icy roads and snow drifts, I’ll find myself in San Diego, attending the Online Marketing Summit for two days, followed by the next day of assisting Carri Bugbee in her six hour workshop on Using Twitter for Business. I get an hour to talk about using #Chats on Twitter for brand development.

It will be quite fun to see Brian Solis again; he’s already told me he doesn’t do bourbon – maybe he likes Chile Rellenoes?

Coffee Fest Chicago :: Fri-Sat February 18-20

The following week, I head to Chicago for the leading specialty coffee and tea trade show. I hired Scene Marketing Group‘s Shannon Pratuch and Laura Hedges – both top social media professionals – to come with me to provide Coffee Fest with extensive Social Media On Demand. I’m also excited to sponsor Johnbruce Haslett, of Pacific Grind Cafe in Lincoln City Oregon in the Latte Art Competition.

All said, it will be nice to get home after Coffee Fest, if only for a few days before heading off to meet Paul Barron (Digital Coco, Fast Casual) at the NY Restaurant Show….

Meet Chalkboarder's Award Winning Beverage Consultant Jabriel Donohue

One of the core services Chalkboarder offers clients is hospitality consulting. We love startups, enjoy operational consults and try to stay away from consulting hospitality businesses that are shutting down (those aren’t fun).

I’m very excited to announce the latest addition to our Consultant Roster here at Chalkboarder. Please take a moment to meet award winning bartender extroardinaire and beverage encyclopedia Jabriel Donohue.

Jabriel Donohue - pleasing guests at Acadia Bistro (PDX)

Jabriel Donohue Bio

Jabriel is a Portland, Oregon based Bar Manager with experience mixing drinks and designing profitable, quality-focused beverage programs up and down the West Coast.  His business development philosophy centers on a trinity of ongoing employee training, product quality, and employee retention.  His mantra, which you may hear him muttering to himself from behind a glass of pastis is, “The worth of an establishment is measured by its patrons.”  With several nationally published and award winning drink recipes under his belt, Jabriel is excited to focus his attention on helping business owners create exciting, unique and profitable beverage programs that will drive sales and bring patrons back again and again.

Jabriel is thrilled to join the Chalkboarder team and looks forward to assisting our clients in developing long lasting business strategies and beverage programs.

Foodportunity PDX is back at the Heathman March 7

From Broussard Hill PR:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Melissa Broussard, 503-638-1055; cell: 503-702-4620

melissa@broussardhill.com

Lisa Hill, 503-327-8328; cell: 503-730-8055

lisa@broussardhill.com

Twitter: BroussardHillPR

FOOD TALK ALL THE TIME AT FOODPORTUNITY, A NETWORKING EVENT @ THE HEATHMAN RESTAURANT & BAR — MARCH 7, 2011

Portland’s food community gathers for an evening all about food with tastes from some of the new kids in town — St. Jack and Aviary

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Editor’s Note: Photos of Foodportunity event available.

PORTLAND, Oregon (January 27, 2011) – Think of the food blogger you follow daily, but have never met. Or your favorite butcher, artisan chocolate maker or cheese guru. Portland will once again host Foodportunity, an opportunity for people from all different food careers to mix and mingle and talk about food. Meet with local chefs, food writers, photographers, publicists, artisan producers and farmers who have all contributed to Portland’s thriving independent food scene. An ongoing event in Portland, Foodportunity will be held on Monday, March 7, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at the Heathman Restaurant and Bar. Tickets are $20 in advance, $26 at a later date (w/ all handling fees) and include bites from a collection of Portland restaurants such as Accanto and Genoa, Aviary, Beaker & Flask, KOi Fusion, Lincoln PDX(Culinary Artistry and Sunshine Tavern opening Spring 2011)St. Jack, Serratto and The Heathman Restaurant and Bar. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/154180.

“Our last Portland event was a hit and food professionals love the chance to catch up with colleagues or meet someone new in the food community,” said Keren Brown, Foodportunity founder. Foodportunity is one of the few events of its kind that brings Portland’s food community together in one location on one night – a true meeting of the minds and tastebuds!

Grazing is Encouraged…

Portland restaurants will serve up some tasty bites included in the admission.  Beer and wine will be available from a cash bar, and a wide range of food products from local companies will be available to sample. Companies interested in showcasing their product may contact Keren Brown, Kerenlovestocook@gmail.com.

Down & Dirty with Social Media

New to the Portland event will be a social media panel made up of some of our favorite Portland social media stars including Mike Thelin, a local food writer, Cooking Channel contributor, and food event maven. Joining Mike on the panel will be Carrie Welch, formerly the Vice President of PR for the Food Network and Jason Neroni, Executive Chef of Saucebox.  Learn a few insider tips to starting a social media campaign in your restaurant or food business and share your personal experiences on Facebook and Twitter.

Speed Networking – for Foodies

The first 30 Foodportunity ticket-holders to send an email to infopdx@foodportunity.com will get a seat at the “speed networking” session, hosted by Byron Beck, a freelancer for national and Oregon-based publications, who also appears on television and radio, has his own blog at byronbeck.com and contributes to pdx.eater.com. What better way to meet so many foodies at one time (for 1 minute each) and hand out business cards in this intimate and fast-paced setting.

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About The Heathman Restaurant and Bar

The Heathman Restaurant exemplifies the best of the Pacific Northwest using seasonal ingredients inspired by the flavors and cuisine of France. Recipient of the James Beard Best Chef: Pacific NW award in 2001, Philippe Boulot partners with the region’s select growers, producers and vintners to find the highest quality ingredients. Boulot was honored by the Academie Culinaire de France as the Academie’s Chef of the Year. The Heathman Restaurant and Bar was chosen as one of the “Best Bars” by Portland Monthly. For more information, please call 503-790-7752 or visit www.heathmanrestaurantandbar.com. The Heathman Restaurant is located in the historic Heathman Hotel at 1001 SW Broadway in downtown Portland’s cultural district.

About Foodportunity

Keren Brown, aka Frantic Foodie, conceived of the food networking idea known as Foodportunity and has held more than a dozen food-related events last year in both Seattle and Portland. Recently recognized by MarthaStewart.com as “Doer of the Week”, Keren also organizes monthly events for Seattle food bloggers where she holds Q&A sessions with famous authors, tours of food companies and other events to help bloggers interact. Keren’s food events information can be found at Frantic Foodie in the Seattle PI, www.FranticFoodie.com and on the events page of MyNorthwest.com.  For more information, visit www.foodportunity.com/portland and follow us @foodportunityOR and #Foodprtpdx and #Foodprt.

Chalkboarder CEO assumes board presidency of Social Media Club PDX

Earlier this week the board of Social Media Club Portland (OR) handed the post of board president to me. With humility and excitement, I thank Carri Bugbee (outgoing President), for nominating this change and thank the rest of the board for placing their trust in me. Carri, it will be difficult to match the dedication and energy you have exhibited.

The international parent association of Social Media Club is launching a shift in this hot and new profession, establishing a formalization of chapters and what it means to be a social web professional.

If you are practicing social media for an organization, I strongly encourage you to seek either free or professional membership in Social Media Club.

To the board of SMC PDX, thank you for the opportunity.

Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO

Chalkboarder

Wine Law Summit – Stoel Rives LLP

I’ve been dying to share this upcoming event with everyone.

Back about Thanksgiving I received an inquiry from Stoel Rives law firm, as to availability to speak on social media for wineries, at their 4th annual Wine Law Summit in February. The Summit is being held at the gorgeous Allison Inn and Spa in Newberg, Oregon – heart of Oregon Wine Country. I just got the release today to announce this.

From their website:

Stoel Rives LLP is a business law firm providing corporate and litigation services to a wide range of clients throughout the United States. Established in 1907, the firm has nearly 400 attorneys operating out of 11 offices in seven states. Representative clients include financial institutions, public and private utilities, energy and renewable energy companies, developers, manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, universities, agribusinesses, software companies, food and beverage companies, charitable foundations, telecommunications and forestry companies, among others. We represent businesses at all stages of growth, from start-ups to internationally known public concerns.

Stoel Rives is a leader in corporate, energy, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment, land use and construction, litigation, natural resources, real estate, renewable energy and technology law. We rank among the top 30 U.S. law firms for the number of national first-tier practice areas listed in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Law Firms in America” survey. We have also forged a national reputation for client service, as evidenced by the annual BTI Consulting Group in-house counsel client satisfaction survey that rated Stoel Rives among the nation’s 30 best law firms for “exceptional” client service in 2010 and 2011. Our lawyers have distinguished themselves individually, with 90 of our lawyers rated among the best in their practice areas by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business®. The firm also ranks in the top 20 nationwide for the total number of lawyers listed in Best Lawyers in America®.

Stoel Rives has offices in Anchorage, Boise, Lake Tahoe, Minneapolis, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco and Vancouver. They’ve represented 250+ Northwest wineries for thirty years and are widely considered the experts on beverage law in the Pacific Northwest.

I’m excited to sit through all these seminars:

• Distillery operations at a winery
• Scope of permissible commercial activities – panel discussion
• Trademarks and your brand
• Siting a winery – A conditional use application case study
• Employment issues, including use of volunteers

My hour long presentation on social media best practices/risks for wineries is the last seminar of the day, during lunch. I think I’ll hold off on consuming wine until afterwards.

Jeffrey J Kingman

 

Chalkboarder Social Media On Demand at James Beard House NYC

Berkshire Chefs Bring “The Whole Berkshire Hog” to NYC’s James Beard House

I am humbled and highly satisfied to share this news with you this morning. On February 4th, I will be in NYC at the James Beard House, producing Social Media On Demand, live, for the Whole Berkshire Hog Dinner.

DINNER SHOWCASES SIX BERKSHIRE CHEFS, BERKSHIRE FARMS AND ARTISAN PRODUCTS – HIGHLIGHTS CULINARY CULTURE OF THE BERKSHIRES

On February 4, 2011, the James Beard Foundation presents The Whole Berkshire Hog, an evening showcasing the culinary talents and farm-to-table efforts of several of the most innovative chefs of the Berkshire region. The foods prepared will be raised, grown and foraged in the Berkshire region.

The Whole Berkshire Hog reception and dinner is a collaboration among a variety of Berkshire chefs, farmers and producers. The participating chefs are: Chef Brian Alberg of The Red Lion Inn (Stockbridge, MA); Chef Nicholas Moulton of Mezze Bistro/Mezze Restaurant Group (Williamstown, MA); Chef/Owner Lester Blumenthal of Route 7 Grill(Great Barrington, MA); Chef Chris Amendola, Allium/Mezze Restaurant Group (Great Barrington, MA); Sous Chef Matthew Duley of The Red Lion Inn (Stockbridge, MA), and Chef/Owner Dan Smith of John Andrews (South Egremont, MA). Red Lion Inn Sommelier Dan Thomas selected the wines that accompany the dinner’s reception and six courses.

On Twitter, we’ll be using the hashtag #BerksFarmTable and you can follow the Twitter account @BerksFarmTable.

Jeffrey J Kingman

James Beard in Oregon

A significant feather in Oregon’s culinary hat occurs this spring in Portland. On March 20th, the James Beard Foundation brings together the five James Beard Award and fourteen James Beard Nominee Chefs at the Multnomah Athletic Club to celebrate the icon of American cooking, James Beard, at an event open to the public called James Beard in Oregon.

In conjunction with this event, the James Beard Foundation will announce their 2011 National Nominees, on Monday, March 21^st, from the campus of Oregon Culinary Institute.

As a former chef who apprenticed to past Chefs de Cuisine Society of Oregon ACF Chapter President (and international competitor) David Strouts, it is with great humility that I share my company’s involvement in this event.

I have asked Chalkboarder’s closest ally, Scene Marketing Group, led by the talented and vivacious Shannon Pratuch, to partner together in our supporting role to Oregon Culinary Institute and Lane PR – in collaborative execution of an exciting social media strategy for this event. The focus here, is on James Beard’s heritage from Oregon, as America’s Master Chef.

The focus is on those nineteen Oregon Chefs who have received James Beard Awards and Nominations. This event is about their accomplishments. We are extremely excited to be part of social web coverage and promotion of this recognition of the culinary talent in, what I call, the Culinary Eden of North America, Oregon.

Following on the heels of the International Association of Culinary Professionals international conference (Spring 2010) here in Portland, numerous accolades from major media about Oregon’s culinary prowess and CNN Travel stating that Portland has the hottest street food scene in the world, we are truly blessed to live and eat well here.

Beginning today, I assume significant responsibility in co-tweeting from @BeardInOregon. The social media team, led by Oregon Culinary Institute, and in very close collaboration with Lane PR and the James Beard Foundation, have planned a dynamic social media strategy.

Please join all of us in celebrating these talented Oregon Chefs for their accomplishments. More information can be found on the James Beard in Oregon website, Facebook page and Twitter account. Stay tuned there for lots and lots of fun! Jeffrey J Kingman

Chalkboarder Sponsors Barista/Latte Art Competitor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Jeffrey J Kingman
Chalkboarder
(503) 481-2479
jkingman@chalkboarder.com
http://www.chalkboarder.com

Chalkboarder Sponsors Barista/Latte Art Competitor

Portland, OR, Jan. 10 2011 — Chalkboarder is pleased to officially sponsor Johnbruce Haslett, Owner of Pacific Grind Café in Lincoln City OR in his quest to capture first place finishes at Coffee Fest Latte Art and the SCAA Barista competitions during 2011.

Johnbruce Haslett

Chalkboarder, a diverse brand relationship agency, specializing in strategic brand/concept development, relationship engineering and social web strategies internationally, today announces its first official competitive sponsorship. Johnbruce Haslett, a classically trained chef and Owner of Pacific Grind Café in Lincoln City Oregon, is a competitor in the Latte Art competition at Coffee Fest Chicago, to be held February 18-20 at Chicago’s Navy Pier.

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Johnbruce Haslett will also be vying for entrance to the remaining two Coffee Fest Latte Art competitions (San Diego in June and Seattle in September) and the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s (SCAA) United States Barista Championship (Houston in April). JB, as he is commonly known on the beaches of Oregon, states “Competing in, and hopefully winning these competitions, not only increase my ability to teach my staff excellent barista skills, they also promote the coffeeshop. As a classically trained chef, I’m always seeking opportunity to hone my skills and pass the knowledge on. Serving great coffee drinks is much more than running a drip machine – it’s craft. It’s trade. It’s my trade as a business owner. I’m delighted that Chalkboarder believes in my competitive abilities and look forward to a long relationship with their sponsorship.”

Chalkboarder’s CEO, Jeffrey J Kingman, says “JB is pushing the envelope of providing great service and coffeeshop trade on the Oregon Coast. We believe JB has the chops and motivation to reflect extremely well in competing, not only for him and his coffeeshop, but for the Oregon Coast and the Pacific Northwest, as a passionate and talented barista and chef.”

– more –

Chalkboarder Sponsors Barista (page 2)

Chalkboarder, based in Portland OR, provides clients with

• strategic brand and concept development consulting, from startup through operations to dissolution
• relationship engineering and brand representation, locally to internationally
• social web strategies and execution, locally to internationally

Contact:
Jeffrey J Kingman
Chalkboarder
(503) 481-2479
jkingman@chalkboarder.com
http://www.chalkboarder.com

Chalkboarder.com LLC was founded in May 2009 through the dissolution of Chocorua Group. Jeffrey J Kingman, CEO and co-founder, transitioned a twenty year career as a casual fine-dining executive chef into a brand and concept development consultancy in 2006. In May 2009, after relocating back to Oregon from New England, he co-founded Chalkboarder and added relationship engineering and social media to the services provided.

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Squeaky Chalk News January 7 2011

#Crush2011

This is our slogan. We’ve made a few banners and got tattoos indicating our determination to absolutely crush 2011 in creating awesome villages for our clients and ourselves. Care to join us at the end of the day in Village Hall near the fire?

Chalkboarder is roaring into 2011 and we wanted to give you a little news from this past week.

James Beard Dinner Coverage – Berkshire Raised

Just today, we were approached by the Berkshire Chefs from around Albany, New York. In September 2009, they had been on their way to the James Beard House to prepare dinner using Berkshire raised ingredients. With a little 3000 mile collaboration, Chalkboarder was able to distribute content semi-live during the culinary preparation and dinner over social media.

They’ve asked us to do this again. I’m not sure of the date yet, but we’re very excited to become a “Social Media On Demand” producer for their benefit. It’s a challenge to coordinate social media production and distribution being 3000 miles away, but we’re pretty confident in conducting an effective campaign.

Urban Toile – Atlanta’s Hottest Food Truck (Launching Soon)

We’ve been working for the past couple months on a very exciting and challenging project – writing business plan, researching and coordinating logistics and relationships. Our client, Urban Toile, is only a couple weeks from ordering a $70,000 brand new food truck and is VERY close to signing a relationship with Atlanta’s hottest BBQ joint, Fox Barbeque. Stay tuned as we ramp up Urban Toile’s social media prior to the launch of the truck.

Northwest Foodservice Show

In partnership with Paul Paz of WaitersWorld (and longtime Oregon Restaurant Association board member), we’ve launched social media strategies that will help foodservice exhibitors and operators Raise The Bar in their social media adoption. Chalkboarder will be sharing a lot of messaging over the next few months from this source.

Foodportunity PDX

Foodportunity PDX is back! March 7th at the Heathman Hotel again. Join us that night for #nomnoms and great chat with great local restaurateurs and chefs. Chalkboarder was hired again to line up the participating restaurants and provide “Social Media On Demand” for this event.

Social Media for Pros

Over the last few months, Chalkboarder has been aligning with and working closely with The Scene Marketing Group, here in Portland. We’ve hired SMG to be part of some large “Social Media On Demand” teams for six large (10,000 to 50,000 attendee) events around the country and are very excited by all the collaboration.

We’re in last phase planning for a social media educational program to be offered in two formats, here in Portland. An attendee of this program can learn enough skill and strategy to plan and execute a strong Social Media Optimization plan. It’s still a little early to release specific details, so stay tuned for announcements in a week or two.

Well, we don’t want to tie up your Friday when we’re certain you, like us, are trying to #Crush2011. Cheers and see you at Happy Hour!

Jeffrey J Kingman