Event 1: Delaware Burger Battle.
Event details: The Kenny Family Foundation is hosting the Delaware Burger Battle. 20 restaurants are participating. Event will be held at Twin Lakes Brewery in Greenville. The restaurants will have to serve burgers to critics and the eating public.
Awards: Critic’s Choice Winner, People’s Choice Winner and Best Alternative Burger
Significant participants: Defending champion Redfire Grill + Steakhouse (Hockessin). James Beard nominee Jay Caputo of Rose & Crown (Lewes). Bryan Sikora of La Fia in Wilmington.
Local significance: an informal tradition over the years, marking the last weekend of summer before the new school year.
Main sponsor: The Kenny Family Foundation is sponsoring the event for the second year running. Proceeds go to Ministry of Caring’s Emmanuel Dining Room.
Cost of ticket : $45 for booking ahead, $55 on day of event. Teenagers $15, other children $5
Plan of action for day prior to event
Visit the site to capture the preparations
Speak to the event sponsors and participants (schedule prior)
Interviews with Jay Caputo and Bryan Sikora
What are they bringing to the table this year
Is it a double-edged sword, this type of competition. If they win its great, what happens to the others?
Is winning this competition more important than the James Beard nomination?
Interview with Executive Chef Eric Huntley of the Platinum Dining Group for Redfire Grill + Steakhouse
How hard is it defending the title?
Are they trying something new this year?
What does he think about Vegan food and the growing popularity of vegan food?
Meet Christopher L. Kenny of the Kenny Family Foundation
His impressions of this year’s lineup
Is charity the only way to address the problem of hungry people?
What can the public do?
What is his favorite burger of all time?
Day of event
Arrive early, review the preparations
Speak to event management team
Did they face any issues, if yes how did they overcome
Have they made any changes to the theme and décor compared to other years
Visit the individual outlets, speak to the participants as they prep
Are they nervous
What do they think of the competitors
What chances do they have of winning
Any secret ingredients?
Speak to David Dietz of the local participant BBC Tavern and Grill
Will the local boys win this year?
What does he find challenging the most in a competition like this?
Any specific competitor he is looking to beat?
What do they think about the offerings this year
Who, according to them, is the winner
Post event, speak with some of the judges to get their impressions on the cooking and the event in general
Was this year tastier than prior years?
Were there any recipes they would never go back to?
Were there any recipes they would be happy to pay premium price for?
Has the competition become tougher?
Fact checking
If there is any information like the origin of an ingredient, research to confirm
For opinions, fact checking can be done to the extent that I shall check if speaker has had different opinion earlier.
Draft the story
Event 2: Presentation of the Clean Water rule by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown
Event details: Philadelphia councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown will present the Clean Water resolution to the public on behalf of the city council
Who all will speak: Various participants including William Barton, Owner, Philadelphia Brewing Company
Invitees: members of the Philadelphia water department, local business owners and representatives and also invited is the Deputy Mayor, Michael DeBernardini
Background: Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a resolution to support the rule proposed by the EPA and Army Engineering Corps to clean and clarify the water bodies in and around Philadelphia under the Clean Water Act. The speakers will present how this action will benefit the local businesses and residents. Ms. Brown will present the resolution.
Plan of action
Day prior to event
Meeting with Michael DeBernardini (schedule earlier)
His impressions about the Act
What he thinks are the benefits
Meeting with one of the speakers Jamie Gauthier, Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (schedule earlier)
His impressions about the resolution
What tangible benefits are there for businesses
Meeting with Ms. Brown
Why she endorses the Act and the resolution
What positive changes does she anticipate
What challenges does she foresee
Is she prepared to handle the challenges
Day of the event
Speak with local business owners and residents as they arrive for the event
How do they think this rule changes things for them
Post event speak to Ms. Brown
How does she think the event went
What is the public telling her
Interview with John Pomponio, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Director (schedule earlier)
What is his impression of the resolution and the Act
Are they effective
What long term challenges does he perceive in general for keeping water sources clean
Fact checking
Research the literature available on the Act
Research the literature available on the impact of the Clean Water Act.
Draft the story
Works Cited
Facebook. Redfire Grill and Steakhouse. March 2016. Web. 16 April 2016 <https://www.facebook.com/RedFireGrill/>.
KFF. Kenny Family Foundation. Web. 16 April 2016 <http://www.kffde.org/about/staff-board/>.
Talorico, Patricia. "BBC Tavern, Espuma owners open Rehoboth eatery." 15 July 2015. delawareonline. Web. 16 April 2016 <http://www.delawareonline.com/story/life/food/2015/07/15/bbc-tavern-espuma-owners-team-new-rehoboth-beach-eatery/30128595/>.
