2014 Hospitality Ambassador Awards

The hospitality and tourism industry is in constant flux, trying to delicately balance the use of new technologies with the good old-fashioned warmth and generosity needed for success.  This past Wednesday, April 23, Buffalo State's Hospitality and Tourism Department honored three local industry professionals that provide strong models for the hospitality students striving to discover that fine balance.

Hospitality Ambassador Award winners Sue McCarthy (of Buffalo State’s Small Business Development Center), Mark Mistriner (of NCCC's Culinary Institute), and Sue Simms (of Wegmans) were each celebrated, and in turn, acknowledged the various hospitality institutions that helped them on their journey.  The night’t theme was Partners in Progress, and the honorees did not hesitate to invite others to share in their success.

 

Buffalo State Hospitality students were also awarded scholarships at the ceremony for their academic excellence and extracurricular contributions. Hospitality Department Award recipients were Alex Davis, Bonnie Lambert-Hall, and Raven Owusu.  In addition, the following students received scholarship awards from Pano’s – Courtney Anderson, Jaret Bebe, Troy Benson, Jamie Blumrick, Christine Marcusa, and Brian Dechenes.  Matthew Pfieffer was awareded the Hart Award – Congratulations to all!

Professor Kathleen O'Brien congratulates student winners

To extend the night’s festive atmosphere, Hospitality students, assisted by department faculty, displayed their knowledge and talents by sharing delicious international cuisine and drink pairings with award winners and guests alike at Campus House.  The student event planners chose to showcase areas in Buffalo that are also showing signs of progress, to mirror the event theme.   Each dish served was paired with a Buffalo landmark or locale, giving the event a historical, informative, and very relevant feel.

Buffalo's story told in pictures

Photos depict Downtown Buffalo in days gone by

Canalside was represented by Buffalo-style calamari with Maytag blue cheese dipping sauce, paired with Southern Tier Eurotrash Pils beer.

Campus House students man the eastside-themed station

The eastside’s venerable institutions, Central Terminal and the Broadway Market, were highlighted with Golabkis (Polish beef, rice, and cabbage rolls), paired with a housemade bloody mary, dubbed the “Broadway Market Mary.”

Student server Solandra pours an Italian red

Hertel Avenue’s growth was exhibited through a live pasta creation station, manned by student cooks, featuring a variety of sauces, proteins, and veggies for a very personalized experience.  Depending on the sauce choice, guests could select either a Montepulciano or Verdicchio wine to enjoy alongside.

Students Denise and Yasmin create Hertel Avenue-worthy pasta dishes

Buffalo is aggressively “carving up Downtown,” so to demonstrate Downtown’s deconstruction and new construction, students offered a carved prime rib station, paired with a Hess Collection wine.

Carver extraordinaire -- student Kenny Armstrong 

The Electric Tower has seen renovation and renewed interest, so in the top floor of Campus House, the building was celebrated through desserts, including chocolate dipped strawberries, various cheesecakes, loganberry sorbet, and a live crepe station.  A selection of dessert wines accompanied the sweet finales to the evening.

 

In addition to the aforementioned feast, a variety of hors d’oeuvres were passed, including goat cheese, date & fig crostinis, mini crab cakes with lobster corn aioli, and lamb lollypops with mint pesto.

Campus House was the proud host of the awards reception.  The students working to plan the event put in many hours creating the food and decorations, and planning the logistical details necessary to make the 20^th anniversary Ambassador Awards memorable for all.   Students responsible for planning and creating the 2014 Ambassador Awards were Paula Pazyck (student manager), Rose Syso, Katie Zwara, Joanna Boutin, Claire Perrot, Ilyana Feliz, Kristina Burley, Solandra Payamps, and Jacqueline Frost.

The Campus House foyer gets re-mapped

We hope to see you soon at Campus House, where you will receive world class service.