Mixologist of the Year

TRENTON - The New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) hosted its annual Restaurant Operators Conference (ROC) and 2012 Mixologist of the Year Competition on Monday, April 23rd at MayFair Farms in West Orange, NJ. Keynote speaker and President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association (NRA) & National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) Dawn Sweeney truly wowed & inspired attendees with her presentation on the Hospitality Industry & kind words of remembrance for the late NJ Restaurant Association President, Deborah Dowdell. President Sweeney’s presentation included astounding statistics about the Restaurant Industry. She also revealed that more than half of America’s Adults have worked in a Restaurant. The NJRA Board voted on and approved a motion for New Jersey Restaurant Week to take place again this year, and kicked off the celebration with the 2012 Mixologist of the Year Competition sponsored by Redemption Rye. Five finalist bartenders competed in crafting a New Jersey centric cocktail that incorporated Redemption Rye and New Jersey Centric Ingredients. ...
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Deborah Dowdell

NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION MOURNS DEATH OF ITS PRESIDENT DEBORAH DOWDELL SERVED STATE RESTAURANTEURS SINCE 1990 TRENTON -- Deborah Dowdell, 46, of Highland Park, NJ, the long-time president of the New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA), died March 2nd after a long battle with cancer. Viewing is scheduled for 4:00pm to 7:00pm Wednesday, March 7, at the Gleason Funeral Home in Somerset. The funeral is set for 10:00am Thursday, March 8 at Saint Peter The Apostle Church in New Brunswick. “This is a tremendous loss for the association, its members, New Jersey’s small business community and most especially, Deborah’s family. She was strong and influential leader and advocate for the restaurant community, a great friend and mentor to her colleagues and loving wife to her husband, Phillip. Our thoughts and prayers go to him, and her entire family during this most difficult time,” said New Jersey Restaurant Association Chairman Jack Koumbis. Dowdell joined the NJRA staff in 1990 as its director of membership. She was promoted to executive vice president and then president in 2003. She was a vocal supporter of New Jersey’s restaurant and hospitality industry. ...
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Deborah Roy Dowdell

Viewing Wednesday, March 7, 2012: 4:00 – 7:00 pm Gleason Funeral Home 1360 Hamilton St. Somerset, NJ 08873 Funeral Thursday, March 8, 2012: 10:00 am Saint Peter The Apostle Church 94 Somerset St. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 If you would like to send flowers or contributions in her honor the address for contributions is below. Contributions in her memory can be sent to: St Peter The Apostle Roman Catholic Church 94 Somerset St. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Note on your check: In Memory of Deborah Dowdell

Press Contact: Laura Kalinich Inspiring Women: A Celebration of Visual & Culinary Arts Trenton- The New Jersey Restaurant Association and the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation present “Inspiring Women: A Celebration of Visual & Culinary Arts,” on Monday, March 5, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm at “Hospitality House” New Jersey Restaurant Association Headquarters (NJRA) located at 126 West State Street in Trenton in honor of Women’s History Month. This collaboration will include an exhibit of mixed media artwork, a tasting featuring top NJ restaurants and a silent auction. The reception will benefit the New Jersey Restaurant Association, the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased by calling 609.479.3377 x 305. “When we take the time to think about who has inspired us, I am clear that mostly it's the women in our lives,” said Betsy Alger of The Frog and The Peach NJRA Vice Chair/Event Chair. ...
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Honorees

NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION HOSTS ANNUAL GALA RECOGNIZING RESTAURATEURS OF THE YEAR, GOLD PLATE WINNERS, AND STAFF LEGACY AWARD WINNER, NOVEMBER 28, PLEASANTDALE CHATEAU TRENTON - The New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) hosted its Annual Gala by celebrating the State’s $13 billion restaurant and hospitality industry. The event took place on Monday, November 28, 2011 at the Pleasantdale Chateau, 757 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey. The 2011 Restaurateur of the Year has been awarded to Mark Pascal and Francis Schott of Catherine Lombardi and Stage Left in New Brunswick, NJ. The Restaurateur of the Year is the highest award bestowed by the NJRA. The 2011 Gold Plate Award has been given to Chef James & Nancy Laird of Restaurant Serenade in Chatham, NJ as well as Jeanne Cretella of Liberty House in Jersey City and Stone House at Stirling Ridge in Warren, NJ. The Gold Plate Award recognizes current outstanding service and achievement in the food service industry. The NJRA awarded the 2011 Staff Legacy Award to Judy Richards, Vice President of Events & Allied Relations at the New Jersey Restaurant Association. ...
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NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED BY HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATION, SHARE OUR STRENGTH TRENTON - The New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) was recently honored by hunger-relief organization Share Our Strength for their participation in the organization’s 2011 New Jersey Statewide Restaurant Week. The NJRA was honored for recruiting more restaurants to create partnerships with the program than any other state. The announcement was made by National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney, who recognized the winners at Share Our Strength's Conference of Leaders recently. The New Jersey Restaurant Association recruited 77 restaurants through mail, fax and email, as well as print and radio advertising. NJRA President Deborah Dowdell accepted the award for the association. "Deborah is a long-time advocate for the restaurant industry’s community involvement, and it’s no surprise to us that NJRA took the lead in getting its members involved in New Jersey’s Statewide Restaurant Week," Sweeney said. Millions of consumers dined out at participating restaurants during the Sept. 18 - 25 event. ...
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NJ Restaurant Association

NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION STATEWIDE RESTAURANT WEEK RETURNS Local Establishments Seek to Recover After Hurricane Irene Damage TRENTON, September 12, 2011 – Hundreds of restaurants across New Jersey are taking reservations for New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) Statewide Restaurant Week, proclaimed by Governor Chris Christie to be September 18-25, 2011. The official NJRA Restaurant Week website, www.DineOutNJ.com, provides information on participating restaurants and multi-course, fixed-price menus priced at $19 or less for lunch and $35 or less for dinner. A number of participating restaurants will make donations to the Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry campaign, which supports programs to eliminate childhood hunger. Hurricane Irene forced many restaurants to temporarily close due to power outages and flooding, which resulted in significant loss of revenue and hardship to employees. ...
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NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION INSTALLS GEORGE EBINGER AS 2011 CHAIRMAIN AND ANNOUNCES 2011 PROSTART COMPETITION WINNERS AT MEGA MEETING TRENTON, N.J.—The New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) recently held it’s 2011 Mega Meeting Leadership Conference, formally installing NJRA chairman of the board of directors George Ebinger, and announcing this year’s ProStart winners. First entering the business in 1969, Ebinger brings over forty years of restaurant experience to his new position as chairman. First serving in the US Air Force and earning his BA from Temple University, George later became the general manager at IHOP’s parent company in the 1980’s. “New Jersey is privileged to have George as Chairman of the board our association,” said Deborah Dowdell, President, New Jersey Restaurant Association. “He brings a wealth of experience and wisdom on behalf of New Jersey’s restaurateurs and its related industries and will do a tremendous job representing them and supporting the mission of the NJRA.” In 1991, Ebinger purchased his first IHOP on Route 37E in Toms River, NJ. By 2000 he built another IHOP in Manahawkin, NJ and opened his 3rd in 2008 on Route 37W in Toms River. ...
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NJRA Chairman George Ebinger & Congressman Elect Jon Runyan

Tuesday’s election results were highlighted by one change in the state’s Congressional Delegation, a battle of incumbents in a special state Senate race and a change of party control in the state’s largest county. Congressional races were at the top of the ticket this year with no state races except for four special state legislative district races. While all eyes were on the battle for control of the United States House of Representatives and Senate, New Jersey political experts and pundits were looking for bragging rights in several key federal and local results: Congressional Races Congressional District 3 Former Philadelphia Eagle, Jon Runyan (R), narrowly defeated incumbent John Adler (D) by a vote of 50% to 47%. The race was seen as the most hotly contested of the election season. In a race that garnered national attention, Congressman Adler lost after one term despite outspending Runyan by a 2:1 margin according to figures reported two weeks before the election. Congressional District 6 11-term incumbent Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D) won his re-election bid over challenger Anna Little (R) by 11%. ...
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NJRA President Deborah Dowdell supports eating healthy

American Heart Association to Celebrate National Start! Eating Health Day on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 October 4, 2010, Robbinsville, NJ… In a world full of frozen dinners, vending machines and too much eating on the run, it’s no surprise that obesity rates are at record highs with an estimated 66 percent of American adults classified as overweight or obese. But obesity isn’t just an adult issue--nearly one in three American kids and teens considered overweight or obese. In response to this obesity crisis, the American Heart Association is urging all Americans to Start! eating healthier. On Wednesday, November 3, 2010, the American Heart Association will celebrate the Second Annual American Heart Association National Start! Eating Healthy Day, which urges everyone to incorporate healthier food choices into their diet. Although the leading cause of death of all Americans, cardiovascular disease is largely preventable by managing certain risk factors including obesity and physical inactivity. Studies have shown that even small changes like walking more or choosing baked foods instead of fried, can lead to significant improvement in overall health. ...
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