2007 GNR Award Dinner

LTHForum,

The 2007 LTHForum Great Neighborhood Restaurant Award Dinner on the 15th at 'Little' Three Happiness was a real treat, meaningful on a number of levels and something we are going to consider doing, though on a larger scale, for the next round of GNR's. We had 9, out of 23, award winners and their nominators attend and, along with a few GNR committee members, filled the restaurant to capacity.

I put up a pictorial web page of the dinner here. There is also the full page of 2007 GNR presentations here, though it is not yet complete.

As Amata said in anotherpost " I loved, too, seeing the owners in a different role: as fans of other restaurants." In particular I got a kick out of being a fly on the wall as Mack and Barry conversed.

Mack (Uncle John's), Barry (Smoque)


I should point out that in addition to presentations for the remaining 14 GNR winners nothing is precluding nominators from having additional GNR festivities at the restaurants such as Mhays did with Wiener and Still Champion.

Our 'Little' Three Happiness menu was comprised of long time favorites, crisp Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Shrimp Toast, Crispy Skin Chicken, Clams with Black Bean Sauce, Dry Stir Fry Blue Crab w/ginger and scallion, Pea Shoots w/garlic and Beef Rib with XO sauce. We also tried Curry Chicken Puffs, which Betty, co-owner of 'L'TH, recommended as a pass around appetizer, that were delicious.

Salt and Pepper Shrimp


Clams w/Black Bean Sauce


Curry Chicken Puffs


Enjoy,
Gary

I just want to take a quick moment to thank everyone that put forth their time, effort, and...well... $ to make this dinner happen. This was certainly the most feel goody dining event of the year! (sounds like a movie review, doesn't it?) Honestly, to have the opportunity to have the folks that actually run the places we love so much all in one place and to be able to properly show them how much we appreciate it made for a great night. Good food, good booze, and good conversation... exactly what LTH is about. I hope this becomes an annual event!

As I may have said elsewhere, the funny thing about this dinner is that it was conceived primarily as an event to get some more media attention. On that level it was pretty much a flop.

From what I have been told and my own experience, it was a wild success for the attendees - both the restaurateurs and the Forum members. Based on that, I hope we will be able to do it again next year, but it will be modeled more on the other Forum events, most specifically the Christmas party and summer picnic. Announced earlier, in a larger place that can accommodate a lot more members, etc, though I am not sure how many people will be able to make it on a Monday (which is the best night for the GNRs).

The GNR voters will be getting together in a while to work on plans for 2008, so nothing is final and there are some details that would need to be worked out, but I think that is the way everyone is leaning. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome.

dicksond wrote:As I may have said elsewhere, the funny thing about this dinner is that it was conceived primarily as an event to get some more media attention. On that level it was pretty much a flop.

I know some might consider it shameless self-promotion, but maybe a press release to some of Chicago's food media outlets might have given them at least a head's up that this event was going on?

I mean, LTHforum obviously has garnered some recognition from the media, so it's not like it'd be a total cold call to send the press something.

Just my $.02.

dicksond wrote:As I may have said elsewhere, the funny thing about this dinner is that it was conceived primarily as an event to get some more media attention. On that level it was pretty much a flop.

I think the dinner was a great idea for this reason, but I think, like any other PR thing, it's going to take some time to catch on. It was an amazing event. Like Amata and GWiv, I had quite the experience talking food with restauranteurs, and hearing them talk to each other. Thank you all for your efforts in putting it together.

Press was notified, Gmonkey, I don't know what in the above implies it was kept secret.

Mhays wrote:

dicksond wrote:As I may have said elsewhere, the funny thing about this dinner is that it was conceived primarily as an event to get some more media attention. On that level it was pretty much a flop.

I think the dinner was a great idea for this reason, but I think, like any other PR thing, it's going to take some time to catch on. It was an amazing event. Like Amata and GWiv, I had quite the experience talking food with restauranteurs, and hearing them talk to each other. Thank you all for your efforts in putting it together.

I think that with just a few, relatively minor adjustments, the goal of media attention could have been met more successfully -- it was certainly brisk leading up to the event. And considering that this was a 'first ever' attempt at such an event, the organizers should be very proud of themselves. I count it as a major success in that it appeared to be quite meaningful for those who participated -- especially for the GNR recipients and those who nominated them.

I could be somewhat delusional (it's certainly been suggested before) but I believe that if it was so desired, an annual LTHForum.com GNR Award Dinner could be developed into one of the marquee food events in Chicago each and every year. I'm not sure there's a more important or relevant distinction for a Chicagoland restaurant than being designated a GNR.

There. I said it out loud. Now, throw your friggin' stones over here, if you must!

=R=