To promote community supported agriculture and the best practices of the slow food movement, the Central New York chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society and alumni from the Culinary Institute of America will gather for "Reap the Harvest: Celebrating the Slow Food Movement." The event, which will be held September 26 and 27 at the Beaver Hollow Conference Center in Java Center, New York, is hosted by Kathy Snyder Egan Hotel '83, CIA '85, executive vice president of sales at Beaver Hollow Conference Center and CSA owner and operator.

"This is an exciting event for our alumni," stated Michael Johnson, Dean and E. M. Statler Professor at the School of Hotel Administration. "Graduates from SHA and the CIA are at the forefront of trends in the hospitality industry, and 'Reap the Harvest' gives them the opportunity to learn more about the slow food movement's effect on consumer eating and shopping habits and quality and sustainability in the foodservice business."

The focus of the weekend is Saturday's panel discussion "Field to Fork," where experts from the agriculture, retail, manufacturing, and lodging industries will discuss how the slow food movement affects all areas of foodservice. Joining Snyder Egan on the panel will be Jake Brach, executive chef at Rich Products; Dan Oles CALS '79, Oles Family Farm & Promised Land CSA; and Don Woods, senior executive chef at Wegmans.

The slow food movement began in Europe in the 1980s as an opposition to the world's ever-growing fast food culture. Promoting the principles of taste education, sustainable practices, and the use of fresh ingredients, the slow food movement is gaining momentum throughout the world. Alice Waters, chef, author, and proprietor of Chez Panisse, is an American pioneer in this culinary philosophy.

After the panel discussion on Saturday, there will be a cocktail reception and dinner that features seasonal produce, followed by a bonfire. At Sunday's "Breakfast with the Experts," the panelists from the previous day will join guests and encourage more discussion and questions about the slow food movement. The weekend will conclude with a tour and box lunch at a local CSA farm.

Cost:

  • $195 per person – Saturday and Sunday program (includes one night at Beaver Hollow Conference Center)
  • $80 per person – Saturday panel and dinner only

For information about the event, contact Becky Burns, co-president of the CHS Central New York chapter, at [email protected].

About The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration | The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is shaping the global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in education, research and industry advancement. The school provides management instruction in the full range of hospitality disciplines, educating the next generation of leaders in the world's largest industry. Founded in 1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management, the Cornell School of Hotel Administration is recognized as the world leader in its field. For more information, visit .

Nancy Knowles
607.255.8702
Cornell