Letter from the Chairman

We would like to take this opportunity to say Happy New Year to everyone!

There are many challenges ahead for all us as we adapt to the issues that face our nation's economy and the economic situations around the world.

This is the time to pull together and network our ideas to strengthen and grow our businesses and continue to move forward. The GRI Office is working on ways to increase the activities for all of you and provide more effective ways for communication and services to the membership.

One of the first new items you will see is the launch of the electronic GRI Members Survey. This tool will assist our Corporate Members as they look for new and innovative ways to provide you with the highest quality products and services. It is through our strength collectively that we can affect change that impacts our operations every day.

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a GRI General Assembly meeting and dinner for members that will take place in Las Vegas, Feb. 16 – 18th. The dinner menu will feature Grana Padano and will be prepared for our group by Chef Giancarlo Piccarreta from the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF) in Italy. These events will be hosted on the beautiful campus of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas. Coming together for this meeting and dinner will provide each of you an opportunity to meet each other, share ideas, and network with your peers and colleagues.

In keeping with our mission to enhance the image of Italian Cuisine through education we chose for the GRI events to coincide in Las Vegas with this year's annual Foodservice Educator's Network International (FENI) Conference.

The 2009 GRI Members Trip will be to the beautiful region of Puglia, March 22nd – March 30th. GRI has been doing these trips since 1979, every year we go to a different Region, so that we can learn about new products, new dishes, and new techniques. In other words ours is an educational trip to view the evolution of the food and wine products in the region we visit. Particularly these days when Italian Cuisine is No longer strictly tied-in to its folkloric image of regionality, but making the regional products the pivotal ingredient of Italian cuisine. As we visit, View, taste we always bring back with us new ideas for ourselves and the consumer (our customers). Our Trips allow us to keep up with what is happening with Italian food and wine.... after all Italy, for us is still the SOURCE! The group will meet at Bari Airport at Noon on March 23rd and will be taken by shuttle to the hotel. We will spend 3 days in and around Bari before moving on the Lice for 4 days. As a reminder the cost for the trip includes your 2009 Restaurant Member dues.

I would also like to personally congratulate Bruno Serato and the Anaheim White House restaurant as they begin their 100 year anniversary celebration. Bravo!

Wishing you all the best with your endeavors!

Italian Cuisine Forever,

Tony May, Chairman

Corporate Members

GRI Member News:

We would like to extend our Congratulations to the Anaheim Whitehouse as they begin their 100 year celebration! This is a major milestone for any restaurant to achieve.

Bravo to Bruno Serato and his entire team! We wish you all the best!

A 1909 historical national landmark jewel that was once nestled quietly among an enormous orange grove in the early 20th century, Anaheim White House is still Anaheim's most famous hidden treasure.

Very few changes were made in the refurbishment project. The restoration was copied from original existing pieces, whenever possible. The interior of the home was restored with most rooms retaining their original size and shape. The brick fireplace in the library (now the main dining room) and many of the windows are original. Every effort has been made to retain the appearance of thehomeasitwasin1909.

In 1987, Italian immigrant Bruno Serato took over the ownership of the restaurant, which now features steak and seafood with a Northern Italian cuisine. His award-winning excellence and signature entrees befit the establishment, now Anaheim White House Restaurant, and his philosophy is simple: to treat each and every one of his patrons as a distinguished guest in his home. Simple as it may be, Anaheim's once "hidden treasure" is now recognized worldwide, and is now a "home" to many.

2009 marks the 100 year birthday of our lovely restaurant. Click here for more information.

A Special Update from our Partners:

Italian Wine and Food Institute

Lincoln Bldg - 60 East 42nd Street - Ste 1341 New York NY 10165
Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 789 New York NY 10150
Tel: 212-867-4111 - Fax: 212-867-4114
E-mail: iwfi@aol.com
www.italianwineandfoodinstitute.com

Wine, Gastronomy, Fashion and Art for a 2009 Sparkling Gala

New York, January 8 -- Fashion, wine, gastronomy, art and some of the most typical products of the "Made in Italy" , from Vespa scooters to leather goods and sport cars, will be on stage at the forthcoming edition of GALA ITALIA, the most important wine and food promotional event being held annually in the United States.

GALA ITALIA, now in its 24th edition, is a presentation of the "Made in Italy" at the highest level on the important New York stage that will give great relevance to wines and food from Italy.

GALA ITALIA will be held in the grand ballrooms of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan on February 19, 2009 under the high patronage of the Italian Ambassador in Washington, Giovanni Castellaneta, who comes to New York especially for this event.

GALA ITALIA opens with the spectacular guided Seminar-Tasting-Luncheon "The Taste of Italy" that for the first time in the United States will see thirty Italian wine producers present the best that Italy offers in the world of wine. The Seminar-Tasting-Luncheon "The Taste of Italy" comprises three sections: the first, "From Sicily with Love: The Nero d'Avola", will be dedicated to the wines of Sicily; the second, "Chianti, SuperTuscan or Brunello", to the wines of Tuscany; and the third, "My Best Wine from 2000 to Today", to the great wines of Italy from all regions. The wines are paired with a luncheon of different courses, exclusively prepared by an Italian chef, that enhances the wines presented. During the Seminar-Tasting 150 especially selected wine & food editors admitted to the event can interact with the wine producers and get an updated picture of the latest Italian wine production.

The most important part of the GALA ITALIA with a series of events follows from 2:00 to 10:00 pm with an expected participation of over 2,000 - pre-registered - American trade and press representatives.

The first event is the Italian Wine & Food Tasting with the participation of leading Italian wine producers such as Antinori, Planeta, Ruffino, Duca di Salaparuta, Rocca delle Macie, Jacopo Biondi Santi, Casale di Falchini, Castello di Fonterutoli, Castello di Querceto, La Gigognola, Cavit, Folonari, Bertani, Feudi di San Gregorio, Bottega Vinaia, Averna, Campari, Masciarelli, Teruzzi & Puthod, Da Vinci, Maso Canali, etc., to mention only a few.

An essential role at the Wine & Food Tasting will be played by the Italian restaurants in New York, that are pairing the wines with gastronomy and foods. Among the participating restaurants, are: Accademia di Vino, Aleo, Bice, Borgo Antico, Da Sandro, Gallo Nero, Gradisca, Marco Polo, La Masseria, Osteria del Circo, Osteria Moto, Paola's, Pasta Moto, Pepolino, Primavera, Salumeria Rosi, Serafina, I Tre Merli and Tuscan Oven.

Then Italian fashion takes center stage. Three renowned Italian fashion houses (their names will be announced shortly during a special press conference) will each preview their 2009 spring/summer collections for sportswear, men and women complemented by high-level fashion accessories.

The artistic background for the event is provided by an exhibition of paintings by Giovan Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino, the famous sixteenth century painter, never shown before outside of Europe. The exhibition, organized in cooperation with the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, contributes a cultural-historic perspective to the "Made in Italy".

GALA ITALIA concludes in the late evening with a "Milanese Gala Dinner", where VIPS, authorities and personalities will celebrate the Italian presence in America. Other events of the GALA ITALIA are the drawing of important prizes, including several trips to Italy, in cooperation with the Italian Tourist Office in New York and the Regional Institute of Vine and Wine of Palermo; a Vespa scooter, in cooperation with Piaggio, that will also exhibit its most recent Vespa models, very successful on the American market in the last few years.

In addition, an artistic "Gold Medal" - created for the occasion by an artisan in Vicenza - will be awarded by an independent American Jury to the participating producers for "the best wine of each winery" attracting the attention of press and trade to the chosen wines. The medals are accompanied by a certificate attesting the award and the inclusion in the "Special Selection of Top Italian Companies". A similar certificate goes to all participating restaurants, that have presented their gastronomic specialties in a ballroom area called "Via Veneto" for the occasion. An elegant catalog, distributed to all guests, gives detailed information on the GALA ITALIA.

The GALA ITALIA in New York and the subsequent Italian Wine Gala in Los Angeles, on February 23, are organized by the Italian Wine & Food Institute with the cooperation of the Italian Trade Commission and under the high patronage of the Italian Ambassador in Washington.

For further details, please contact the Italian Wine & Food Institute
Tel.: 212-867-4111 - Fax: 212-867-4114
E-mail: iwfi@aol.com
www.italianwineandfoodinstitute.com

2009 GRI-Giancomo Bologna Scholarship

2008 GRI-Giacomo Bologna Scholarship Trip to Friuli

The application process has begun for this year's GRI-Giacomo Bologna Scholarship program coordinated by our partners, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF – www.nraef.org).

Students across the United States currently enrolled in postsecondary culinary and hospitality programs are eligible to submit their completed applications by February 13th. The applications are reviewed by the NRAEF Scholarship Program Director and the Board of GRI who make the final selection to determine the 6 students who will receive the Scholarship Trip to Italy in May.

The NRAEF does an amazing job of advertising and promoting the scholarship to students and educators in the 600+ programs throughout the country.

This year there is also an NRAEF Scholarships Program page on the social networking site, Facebook providing increased visibility for GRI to the thousands of students and faculty who utilize the site. The page includes Scholarship Program photo albums featuring the 2008 GRI-Giacomo Bologna Scholarship trip to Friuli.

The GRI Annual Trip to Italy

This year Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani will visit beautiful and culturally rich Puglia as guests of the Region of Puglia. This is truly an opportunity not to be passed up.

You will find our annual member trip an ideal time to forge new friendships, discuss our industry and most importantly, come together collectively as Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani.

Contact us as soon as possible to reserve your space: thopkinsedu@verizon.net, GRI Office – 646-346-1757 Airfare is not included.