FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Cara Clinton, Kellen Communications
212-297-2109
cclinton@kellencompany.com

Victoria Livadas
212-297-2129
vlivadas@kellencompany.com

RESTAURANT INDUSTRY EXPERTS HEADLINE 2007 DiRōNA CONFERENCE

Atlanta (August 2006) - The Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) is proud to announce an inspiring lineup of speakers and award recipients scheduled to attend the annual Gala & Educational Conference, at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta later this month.  The event, taking place October 22-24, 2006, will feature a keynote address from National Restaurant Association (NRA) president, Steve Anderson, and the induction of Richard Melman, chairman and founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc., into DiRoNA’s Hall of Fame.   Educational panels featuring industry greats Michael Batterberry, editor-in-chief and publisher of Food Arts magazine, Jim Doherty, executive vice president, Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. (publisher of Nation’s Restaurant News), and famed master of wine/master sommelier Ronn Wiegand, round out this exclusive lineup.

Mr. Anderson will deliver the keynote address at the Welcome Breakfast on Monday, October 23rd.  Mr. Anderson serves as president and chief executive officer of the NRA, a position he has held since 1999.  He represents, and is the chief spokesman for, the nation’s restaurant industry, and has been recognized by Fortune Small Business as one of the magazine’s “Power 30” in American small business.

Richard Melman, chairman and founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc., a Chicago-based corporation that owns over 70 restaurants nationwide, will receive DiRōNA’s distinguished Hall of Fame Award, at the Grand Gala on Tuesday, October 24, 2006, at the Legendary Fox Theater in Atlanta.  DiRōNA’s Hall of Fame was established in 1993 with the induction of 14 members.  Candidates qualify by having given at least 25 years of dedicated service and having made significant contributions to the distinguished dining industry. 

DiRōNA is pleased to welcome back moderator Michael Batterberry for the panel discussion, “The Glories of Southern Cuisine: Past and Present.”  Mr. Batterberry, with his wife Ariane, founded two milestone national food magazines: Food Arts, the publication by and for the country’s leading food professionals, and Food & Wine, a leading consumer magazine.  Also returning to moderate a panel discussion this year is Jim Doherty.  Mr. Doherty is the past publisher and editor of Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN), the leading publication serving the foodservice and hospitality industries.  Mr. Doherty currently serves as the executive vice president of NRN’s publisher, Lebhar Friedman.

First-time panelist Ronn Wiegand, master of wine/master sommelier, was the first person in the world to hold both titles.  Mr. Wiegand currently publishes the online newsletter Restaurant Wine, now in its’ eighteenth year of publication.  He will moderate an educational panel entitled, “Training: Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs,” a discussion on how to develop a great staff. 

“DiRōNA is proud to have such esteemed members of the restaurant industry joining us this year in Atlanta,” said Charles “Chick” Marshall, chairman of DiRōNA and co-founder of Mr. Stox restaurant in Anaheim, CA.  “Our honored guests exemplify what it means to be an industry legend, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to learn from them, as they share their expertise and experience at this year’s Annual Gala and Conference.”

The Grand Gala is held to formally induct new restaurants into the DiRōNA family.  This year, 26 new restaurants join the ranks of this elite organization.  The evening concludes a three-day educational conference and series of fine dining and consumer events. 

For further information about DiRōNA’s Annual Gala and Conference, visit DiRōNA’s Web site, www.dirona.org, or contact executive director Deborah Collins at (212) 297-2144.

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 distinction is bestowed upon only the most distinguished fine dining establishments. To be eligible, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership and theme, for a minimum of three years. The rigorous, anonymous inspection process scrutinizes every aspect of the dining experience—food, wine, service, physical property and décor. To date, approximately 800 restaurants have earned the DiRōNA distinction.

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