Wednesday December 19, 2012

Ode to our Sponsors

I had every intention of writing an individual post for each, but time and writer’s block necessitates I write one big blog post.

As many of you know, I just produced and hosted my 2nd public television special – Heirloom Meals’ Christmas.  The process of conceiving, casting, filming, editing and promoting the show would not be possible without the support of my sponsors. 

Our partnership with Orvis has been amazing. I knew it made sense when I walked into their headquarters and the welcome board had the following quote:

“There is no greater gift than tradition.  It cannot be conceived in hurried afterthought, but is the living result of combined experience.  One does not create tradition, but simply adds to the living patina and embellishes that which has existed for generations._ - Paul Ferson

Orvis’ commitment to tradition, quality and their customer are the values that I respect in a company. As you watch the Christmas show, you may notice many of Orvis’ products.  Let us know if you can identify them!

Ancestry.com is a match made in heaven!  Afterall, when thinking about family lineage, food is one of the first connections we all have to our past.  It’s so fun connecting the dots of my family tree and then thinking about how my food roots evolved.  Thank you Ancestry!

Pete and Gerry’s Heirloom Eggs is a natural fit for a sponsor. They are a multigenerational family farming operation that produces heirloom eggs.  Not only are their chickens cage-free.  They are the only certified humane egg producer in the country!!  Tasting their eggs will convert you to the blue or chocolate brown colored eggshells and golden-yolked eggs forever!! 

The Inn at the Round Barn in Waitsfield, VT offers a perfect blend of classic New England charm and sophistication. The Inn was founded by Jack and Doreen Simko and their daughter, Anne Marie DeFreest.  Jack and AnneMarie are featured in the show making their Hungarian Kifli.  Great food and hospitality are the hallmarks of the Inn.

Being a cheese-aholic, Cabot Creamery Cooperative was an obvious fit to me.  It took a bit of convincing on my part to bring them on board but the combination of the family farming traditions of the co-op members and my love of their cheese tipped the scale in my favor.  I love their sharp cheddar so much it is ALWAYS in my fridge!!

I love everything about Taza Chocolate – their chocolate is the obvious reason.  But it’s their business principles that make my heart sing: company with a conscience. Taza Chocolate puts a premium on being sustainable – not just financially, but environmentally and socially too. They make 100% stone ground, organic chocolate using only the highest quality ingredients while compensating farmers fairly for their work. BRAVO!!

The Annie Selke Companies bring the lifestyle and tabletop component that complement serving an amazing family recipe!  Annie Selke’s designs are inspired by vintage fabrics and her mother’s flare. It is an honor to have Annie on board!!

When I think of cookware that represents the heirlooms of tomorrow, one company comes to mind – Le Creuset!  Their dutch ovens, roasting pans and even crockery have that made-to last-quality that all kitchenware should have. 

While Analon provides bakeware that offers easy clean-up as well being equipped with state-of-the-art Anolon SureGrip® handles for superior control.  Analon’s mission statement, in particular, resonates with my own values: “Our goal is to build public awareness about the many advantages of cooking with seasonal, locally grown food. We seek to encourage People to not only cook more frequently at home, but also to adapt a style of cooking that benefits themselves, their communities and our planet.”

And lastly, I owe a huge thanks to Centerpoint Advisors for sponsoring the closed captioning.  Closed captioning “provides a critical link to news, entertainment and other televised information for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. For individuals whose native language is not English, English language captions improve comprehension and fluency.”

Centerpoint Advisors is a wealth management firm in the Boston area.  They provide investment advice to individuals and families.  And have many multigenerational  clients.