chicago, il // the drake hotel

menumasters

Listen, when I say I was excited for this event, I mean I was entirely unable to focus on anything else the week leading up to it.

I worked in the Service industry for many years as a server and bartender, so this was my own special kind of nerd out. I was always fascinated by the marketing science behind many of the menu, décor, and music decisions, but I never imagined there were entire events dedicated to the details. It makes sense that there are organizations that honor industry leaders in various categories, but it’s not something I was ever privy to even as a manager. Turns out, I was just the wrong kind of manager!

I took point on social media this time around, which made me the official Social Media Manager with an exclusive invitation to attend. I was absolutely thrilled when Monique asked if Steph Grant Studios offered it, honestly, so I was out of control when they booked. My job was to share the spirit of their event with their followers on their channels, and I knew I wouldn’t have any issues. Their team was detail oriented and determined to celebrate one another in the industry, so I was going to have plenty to work with. They totally delivered, too.

Each guest was greeted at the entrance by a chef in full regalia welcoming them to the event and showing them to registration. They grabbed their assigned badge, picked some quirky flair they could add to it, and then got their official light-up notification bracelet. As an aside, I personally was a huge fan of the flair. I’m also a sucker for anything that lets me yassify historically heteronormative spaces, so there really wasn’t any doubt with “yaaaaasss” and other sassy stickers available that I’d be on board. Anyway, regardless of a guest’s choice to flair out or not, they were ushered to the pre-party where they could sip champagne and have unique appetizers whilst mingling with others. Many came with groups and many of the groups were actually in town for multiple events, so everyone seemed to at least be familiar with each other. It made my job capturing the fun pretty easy since I didn’t have to create any of the moments. Everyone was there for a good time.

The celebration itself was phenomenal. All of the award winners had booths inside the ballroom with signature dishes and cocktails, and the tables available were impeccably decorated with floral arrangements that accented the lighting. There were a lot of people, but it definitely didn’t feel crowded. It was a big enough event that I had plenty to work with, but small enough that I recognized faces and could jump right into conversations. Ideal, honestly. Although I did keep running into a fellow gay that was convinced I was following him. It probably didn’t help that I jokingly told him I was hired to take photos of him and only him.

Once the awards were handed out, the event moved into after-party mode. Do not be mistaken, “after party” is NOT synonymous with wind down. The live jazz cover band kept the party going, trust. When people weren’t dancing, they were checking out the ring of desserts and light bites in the center of the space. I’ve never seen a more elaborate display of small foods or wedding dancing. If you don’t know what wedding dancing is, just think back to a wedding you’ve been to and what the dance floor looked like. It’s a bunch of people having a great time moving their bodies in whatever way feels right in the moment, usually in some kind of circle. Is it loosely based on dance steps? Who knows! Have I ever moved my body like this before? Doesn’t matter! No one really concerns themselves with anything but having fun, which is why those songs with steps spelled out in the lyrics are so popular. I don’t need to figure out steps when someone is literally telling me how to do it as it happens. It’s great.

Working with Monique and the team was an absolute dream. Their attention to detail made my job so easy, and each of them were just genuinely great people to connect with. I loved seeing them enjoy the after party, because I just know it was well-deserved.

- Josh Miller // SGS Studio Manager

How was it planning and coordinating the first MenuMasters in-person event after the pandemic?

After a two year pause for in-person events, we were excited to finally plan a celebration. The restaurant industry has been through a lot over the past 2 years, so it’s high time we celebrate, together.

There are always so many amazing moments, but what’s one thing that stood out to you during this year’s celebration?

Everyone was just so happy to see each other. The vibe in the room was full of joy and celebration!

What’s next for MenuMasters? Any other events people should know about?

We start planning the 2023 event right away. We try to keep the event fresh each year, and add new experiences.

The next event for Nation’s Restaurant News is the CREATE Experience, September 19-21 in Denver. It’s where the leaders of the foodservice industry gather to learn, connect and advance. In addition to an all-star line-up of speakers, we have a bunch of unique experiences planned that will give attendees the opportunity to have meaningful connections with their peers. For more info, visit create.nrn.com

What’s one piece of advice you would give to anyone planning or managing a large-scale event?

Break the rules! What you did last year is old news. Always look to change things up each year and keep it fresh and unpredictable. It doesn’t have to be big changes, sometimes a series of small special touches adds up to a great experience.

What made you choose Steph Grant Studios? How was it working with us again after a few years?

The quality of the photography is superior. I had a fantastic experience, and was at ease with knowing that you would conduct yourself with the utmost professionalism and the outcome would exceed my expectations!