I’m really excited about our Day at the Races Expo on November 21 – and I hope you can be there! If you are a restaurant or foodservice Chef, Owner or Manager you are invited to be our guest for the day, or as long as you can stay. We’ll have high quality exhibitors and sponsors who want to meet you, a delicious buffet lunch prepared by Executive Chef David Danielson and his team at Levy Restaurants and Jockey Suites to watch the horses race. This year, we’ve added some speakers. First up, working in conjunction with MCM Advisors, during lunch we’ll have Bruce Drake and Brian McCarty, Bluegrass Hospitality Group founders, discussing the culture they’ve created and all the variables that work together to maintain that culture. Up next will be a panel on HR topics moderated by Chef Josh Moore. The panel will take audience questions, so you’ll have a chance to participate! A few other reasons to attend, in no particular order: you can enjoy a more peaceful day away from the triage atmosphere of your restaurant; you’ll see friends and restaurant “family;” you may win some money! Please mark your calendar for November 21 – and do me a favor, don’t go to work first because if you do you probably won’t leave! I need you there with us. Register here: https://kyra.org/day-at-the-races-registration-form/ Don’t want to register in case you can’t attend at the last minute? Register anyway! We need to get you arrival and dress code information.
This is last call for Gala award nominations. I know you have rock stars you work with, and you know some peers who are nomination-worthy! Please, get those nominations to me so they can be celebrated on January 20, 2020. Our group will be one of the first to experience Savor, the brand new event space at River House. We will have an outstanding reception, multi-course meal, award presentation and dancing! It’s always a fun night to celebrate the industry, so call the office (502-400-3736) for tickets. They’re a steal at $75, two for $125 or a table of 8 for $600.
Get ready – it’s almost legislative session time. The General Assembly convenes in Frankfort on January 7, 2020. We continue to strongly encourage members to contact state legislators with the “Stop the Restaurant Tax” message, and watch for legislators in your restaurant. They are looking for ways to raise revenue, and a tax singling out our industry seems appealing to them – but we disagree and don’t want to collect and turn over money your customers will pay to shore up what cities cannot balance. If you could up your prices 3%, wouldn’t you already be doing that? We’re reading pre-filed bills and preparing for the session, so watch your email for alerts.
If I can help you, answer questions about KRA or sign you up as a member (I live for that), please connect with me at [email protected] or 502-400-3736. Let’s keep growing!