FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cara Clinton, The Kellen Company
Telephone: (212) 297-2109
Email: cclinton@kellencommunications.com

Distinguished Restaurants of North America and Nationals Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Award $24,000 in Scholarships

New York (April 10, 2006) - The Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA), the authority for recognizing and promoting excellence in fine dining, is pleased to announce its 15th Annual DiRōNA/NRAEF Scholarship Luncheon will be held on May 23, 2006, at Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Chicago. Since 1989, DiRōNA and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) have awarded over $275,000 in scholarships to more than 145 deserving students pursuing restaurant and foodservice careers.  This year, 12 more outstanding students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship.

“As an important part of its continuing support of the restaurant and foodservice industry, DiRōNA believes that it is essential to support our future workforce through the NRAEF’s Scholarship program,” said Mary Adolf, NRAEF president and chief operating officer.

The Scholarships will be given in honor of American Express Company, Coca-Cola Foodservice and Hospitality, E & J Gallo Winery, SYSCO Corporation, Food Arts Magazine, Nation’s Restaurant News and past DiRōNA Chairman, Larry Work of Sam and Harry’s
Management Company in Washington, DC.

The luncheon will be sponsored by Cervenaâ Natural Tender Venison, premium farmed venison from New Zealand. Cervena is the venison of choice at many of the finest restaurants nationwide and will be a featured dish on this year's menu.

Undergraduate students preparing for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry with at least 750 hours of working experience are encouraged to apply for the scholarships. Information on the program is available online at www.dirona.com and www.nraef.org.

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About DiRōNA

DiRōNA was established in 1990 to promote the fine dining industry. This non-profit organization conducts independent restaurant inspections and offers the only fine-dining guarantee in North America. The DiRōNA Award of Excellence is bestowed upon only the most distinguished fine dining establishments. To be eligible, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership, for a minimum of three years. The rigorous, anonymous 75-point inspection process scrutinizes every aspect of the dining experience—food, wine, service, physical property and décor. To date, approximately 800 restaurants have received the DiRōNA Award.

About the NRAEF

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. As the nation's largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the American economy, of career-and-employment opportunities, and of local communities. Focusing on three key strategies of risk management, recruitment, and retention, the NRAEF is the premier provider of educational resources, materials, and programs, which address attracting, developing and retaining the industry’s workforce. Sales from all NRAEF products and services benefit the industry by directly supporting the NRAEF's educational initiatives. For more information on the NRAEF, visit www.nraef.org

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