Joint Chocolatier of the Year and Thorntons’ Master Chocolatier – Keith Hurdman
Thorntons recruited Keith Hurdman to join their staff in 2008. Decades of experience and numerous awards made Keith extremely appealing to the popular, high-end British chocolate maker. Keith Hurdman now holds the title of Master Chocolatier at Thorntons.
Keith is responsible for managing a team of chocolatiers and developing products for the company. Keith also works on promotional campaigns such as the launch of the Continental City Boxes chocolates, themed after the major French cities of Paris and Milan. As part of this campaign, a giant replica of the Eiffel Tower was constructed entirely of chocolate for public display.
Since his arrival at Thorntons, Keith has won two gold medals for his chocolate art, one at the Salon Culinaire at the British Open Culinary Championship and the second at the Scottish Culinary Championship, where he also won best in class.
In 2010 Thorntons won three medals at the Academy of Chocolate awards ? one silver for its Venezuela milk chocolate with tonka bean and two bronzes for its Venezuela milk chocolate and its Dominican Republic dark chocolate with lightly salted macadamias. Just months later, the chocolatiers won two further awards at the Great Taste Awards, this time two golds for their Madagascar milk chocolate with strawberry and Madagascar milk chocolate with salted pistachios.
TableFare Owner Spices up the New Year Teaching Spice 101 Class
For being such common items found in most every kitchen, spices bewilder and intimidate many cooks. Spice 101: Spice Basics is an introductory class to explore the flavor and uses of common spices. The class is offered by World Spice Merchants in Seattle, WA and will be taught by TableFare owner, Carol Peterman.
?Once you have a sense for the flavors of different spices, it?s easy to use them to add your own creative twist to the dishes you cook. Seasoning dishes to your palate is not only fun, but the end results are better because it reflects your own culinary style,? says Carol Peterman, owner of TableFare. Peterman describes herself as having a spice fetish. Her extensive collection of spices along with frustration over how to keep them organized and accessible was the impetus behind designing TableFare?s flagship product, SpiceCare spice storage.
?It was experimentation and practice that helped me breakthrough my spice intimidation. The more I cooked with quality spices that had their full range of flavors and aromas intact, the more I began to understand how to put those flavors together with other spices and foods.?Carol Peterman goes on to explain, ?The flavors and aromas of basic spices is the focus of the Spice 101 class.?
Global Million Dollar Match propels Mercy Ships through End of Year Giving
Garden Valley, Texas (PRWEB) December 12, 2011
Global partners of Mercy Ships have come together, uniting resources and support, to continue their mission of helping the world?s forgotten poor. Mercy Ships? 16 national offices located in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia have secured a matching grant in which all general donations, up to $ 1 million, will be doubled if received by December 31, 2011.
?The success of this grant has one purpose,? says Jeff Kramer, Vice President of Resource Development at Mercy Ships. ?To serve more people in need through our state-of-the-art hospital ship, the Africa Mercy. I am excited that our global offices have worked together to secure this match. Because of our generous partners, more people in West Africa will receive life-saving surgeries?and that is something to celebrate this holiday season!?
Mercy Ships has been serving the forgotten poor through the use of hospital ships since 1978. A faith-based health care organization, Mercy Ships follows biblical principals in their treatment of individuals: helping the blind to see and the lame to walk.
Gingerbread Lane Returns for 21st Consecutive Year: Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Believe in Making Wishes Come True
Vancouver, British Columbia (PRWEB) November 29, 2011
The most decadent lane in the city returns for the 21st year to the lobby of Hyatt Regency Vancouver from now thru December 27, 2011. Previously recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the tallest gingerbread man, Gingerbread Lane welcomes more than 20,000 visitors each year. Recognized as much more than a holiday attraction, Gingerbread Lane has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation over the years. “We are proud to be associated with Hyatt and Gingerbread Lane again this year. It?s a fun event for the entire family,” says Ross Hetherington, Executive Director of Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC & Yukon.
Kids of all ages have enjoyed the meticulously designed masterpieces on display for the past twenty one years and have supported the partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation by making a donation when voting for their favourite gingerbread house. “We are ecstatic to again participate in this iconic Vancouver tradition and support a great cause,” says Ulrich Samietz, General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Vancouver hotel. “As in the past, we look forward to again contribute in granting a wish that will have a positive impact in the life of a very special child.”
Annual Winter Victorian Sreetwalk Celebrates its 25th Year with Special Silver Anniversary Events
Saratoga Srings, New York (PRWEB) November 18, 2011
Saratoga Springs, New York is host to major events in the upcoming months including the Victorian Streetwalk, the Festival of Trees, Saratoga Restaurant Week and First Night Saratoga. Visitors can also take advantage of the many lodging packages that have been created for the winter and holiday season.
Visitors can marvel at the uniquely decorated, themed trees at the Festival of Trees, November 30th through December 4th, 2011. Saturday is Family Day where kids of all ages can enjoy Breakfast with Santa, Santa?s Workshop and Sundaes with Santa. All trees, wreaths, centerpieces and other holiday items are for sale and benefit the local chapter of Catholic Charities. For more information, visit http://www.saratogafestivaloftrees.com or call 518-587-5000.
Saratoga will step back in time and be ?dressed? in silver for the 25th Annual Victorian Streetwalk, Thursday, December 1st, 2011 in downtown Saratoga Springs. The event features numerous entertainment sites, including a 40-piece marching band, carolers, music, entertainment for children, plus Santa, Mrs. Claus and live reindeer. Visitors can come the night before to the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday for hot chocolate and cookies. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.saratogadowntown.com. Visitors can purchase a Saratoga Victorian Streetwalk Events Package by calling 1-800-653-0231 or going online to http://www.saratoga.org.