Restaurant Expo: January 27, 2025
The 3rd Annual Lake County Restaurant Expo was a huge success!
Thank you to for sponsoring Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Woodland Community College-Lake Center for hosting. Also, thank you to our partners that made the day extra special: Guy Fieri Foundation, Blue Zones Project- Lake County and Lake County Winery Association.
Curating an Experience with Food and Wine: Joaquin Martinez of The Shannon Family's The Mercantile will share how they have created excellent customer experiences. This inspirational session will present a unique story of growth and partnerships, promising to unlock new possibilities for current and future industry leaders. Video.
What's New? Updates, Updates, Updates: This session provides a concise overview of new regulations and lending programs effective in 2025. Panelists include: Craig Wetherbee, Director LC Environmental Health, Clarissa Hernlund, SBDC Advisor and Owner of Hernlund Business Solutions and Susan Seaman, NorthEdge: Business Financing and Community Development. Video. Powerpoint. Handout.
Profitability vs. Popularity. US Foods representatives, Jason Mead and Cat Lindquist, will share tools to help owners and managers distinguish between profitability and popularity, and strategies to grow both aspects of their business. Video. Powerpoint. Handouts.
Culinary Career Pathways in Lake Co and Beyond: Chef Robert Cabreros, Woodland Culinary Program Instructor, will discuss training opportunities in Lake County, explore various culinary careers, and facilitate a panel featuring local culinary success stories. Video. Powerpoint.
Trading Customer Service for True Hospitality. Michele Carson, Certified Tourism Ambassador Program and Raven Sprague with the Lake County Wine Association will discuss how hospitality is part of the dining experience and how it can bolster income (for both servers and owners) when done well and with consistency. Video. Powerpoint. CTA Handout.
Capturing Gen Z Dollars. The younger customer has found Lake County. Learn how their preferences and habits differ from previous generations, and how to deliver what they like. This panel will include: social media tips from Karen Pavone, Ink Farm Creative, healthy food and drink ideas from the Blue Zones Project Team and Brittany Romanchik, Stein and Wein. Video. Powerpoint. Handout.
Diversification within Your Footprint: Learn how to boost foot traffic by creating unique dining experiences and fostering meaningful connections with your customers. This session will provide insights on diversifying your offerings, creating new revenue streams, and developing a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that attracts and retains diners. Presented by Keith Austin and Brooks Buchanan of Sysco Foods. Video. Powerpoint.
How To Start Your Own Food Business in Lake County. Andy Lucas from Community Development Services, will guide attendees through the process of starting a business, and who to contact for compliance and assistance. Panel participants include: Craig Wetherbee, Director LC Environmental Health, and Julia Siderakis, SBDC Restaurant Advisor. Video. Powerpoint: Putting your business on the Map and Business Planning.
Make the Most of Restaurant Week. Weston Seifert, proprietor or Saw Shop Public House and Raven Sprague, Wine and Social Media Consultant, Brooks Buchanan of Sysco Foods and Chef Jay Marshall will help restauranteurs navigate the planning process for restaurant week. The session will include pricing, menu planning and utilizing social media tools to maximize traffic and sales. Video. Powerpoints: Chamber of Commerce and Sysco.
Updates from Cinthya Cisneros: What’s new for Cinthya, La Cheve and Beyond. Cinthya Cisneros, spoke during the 2024 event and inspired us with her story of La Cheve in Napa, CA. We welcome Cinthya back to share what the past year has looked like at La Cheve and her exciting plans for 2025. Her talk will include business trends she has noticed at Le Cheve, her desire to stay creative, and how business planning has allowed new adventures to take root for 2025 expansions. Video. Powerpoint.
Restaurant Week: February 24th through March 2nd.
Sign up to become a participating Restaurant Week location here.
Learn more about the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Restaurant Week!
