And now the rest of the story …

foto: Thanks to all who worried about who would be taking a picture of me when I went on stage – including my wife Acqua who took a nice picture I will be using in the next FSM. For the Web, I love this picture – it’s got that television screen capture quality to it that some will recognize from my photo source’s own blog. Pictures of me are best when the edges are muted. That’s Jodi Lehr and Gus DiMillo on stage with me.

When Foodservice Monthly won a RAMMY on Sunday for the Joan Hisaoka Associate Member of the Year, I was stunned. I was working the area in front of the stage taking pictures of all the winners as they were steadily celebrated on stage. Finally, I realized my name had been called and I had nothing prepared.

Well, I made it to the stage and I did OK because my words came from the heart and I was able to express the emotion and pride of the moment. To be a part of what I saw as a celebration of the brilliant, beautiful Joan Hisaoka made that time especially real to me. To have her husband Marvin on stage with my friends Jodi Lehr and Gus DiMillo was powerfully motivating and a memory I will never forget. I do also remember thanking the great people of the restaurant industry I once worked directly in and now that I write about on a daily basis. And, yes I did remember my wife Acqua in the audience and I did send her a “happy anniversary” message.

But, I wish I had made a few notes in advance and then taken the next precious moments before the “hook” to thank even more people. Foodservice Monthly is also Sterling Schiffman of Silver Communications, my partner co-founder who if he hadn’t carried us at the beginning – well, I wouldn’t have been at the podium. Mike Conrad has developed the design and format of the magazine and has done the production the last four years while attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston (he graduated in May). Albina David has made a difference in sales and takes a lot of that responsibility from my shoulders. I do have to thank Bill Tye of Eden & Tye (a food brokerage firm – for my non-industry friends) who told me at the beginning to take lots of pictures. “People like to see their pictures in magazines.” Now I am known for my camera as much as for the words.

Foodservice Monthly would not exist without the relationships cultivated with commitment and love with the Maryland and Washington restaurant associations. In Maryland, the late Marcia Harris was a mentor and advisor who taught me to never settle for anything less than the best. “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” Paula Kreuzburg was always my link to Marcia and she helped to keep me in the know. In Washington, Lynne Breaux and I formed an immediate bond as we both came on the scene in our new positions at the same time. I’ve had a front row seat capturing in pictures and print the resurgence of RAMW and the Washington food scene. All you have to do is experience and reflect on the splendid and spectacular event the RAMMYS has turned into since 2002. Thank you!

And now to the writer and columnists – they have made Foodservice Monthly relevant to my readers: Linda Roth, Randi Rom, Celeste and Pete McCall, Karen Cathey and Jay Treadwell have been with me since the beginning. Most regional trade publications used canned columns and wire releases – our columns are real. Robert Wiedmaier, chef/owner of Marcel’s and Brasserie Beck told me at the Chefs on Bikes event last week that he sees us as the “BBC of magazines” – fair and newsworthy. His comment has grown on me – that’s a kind of cool way to see FSM.

We have a great relationship with the National Restaurant Association and Annika Stensson makes the back page a winner every month. Then there’s the talented regular and occasional writers that have added to our strong portfolio --- Dara Bunjon, Laura Koster, Amanda McClements, April Fulton, Alexandra Greeley, Dave McIntyre, Bob McKay, Henry Pertman, Carole Palmer and Laurie White to name those that come to mind immediately. Another big thank you.

My board of advisors is a cross-section of industry people that I have turned to make sure I’m on the right path … and Joan Hisaoka was an important sounding board as part of that group. Thank you to Veronica Battisti, Gladys Abi-Najm DeShayes, Jeff Gordon, Ellen Gray, Donna McCready, Mary Ellen Mason, Rob Mumma, Fabio Trabocchi and Jayne Wise.

I have to stop naming names because I know I am starting to leave out people which is always the problems with lists or quasi lists: All my dear PR friends, chefs, restaurateurs, vendors, advertisers (without you I don’t exist), support staff at Silver Communications, association staff in Washington and Columbia Md. as well as Susan Jones in Ocean City, Embassy friends from Chile and Iceland, many supportive friends in and out of the business, family – who did I leave out.

Do I feel the hook yet … yes, it’s time to go as I’ve just broken all the blog rules for brevity and punch. Feel free to edit and correct, I plan to use a tighter version of this in my next print edition.