Leineken Further Clouds Galen-Ames Matters

-Chicago
-Matters involving Daved Leineken, the FF scouter fired after it was revealed he bribed former FF chef Brianna Galen-Ames to contemplate a 2012 return, he continued to cloud Galen-Ames's public image.

It was revealed late Monday that Leineken, in addition to bribing Galen-Ames in July, also sent her numerous e-mails in August offering her up to $3,000,000 if she would agree to star in her own Food Network show.

The matter is still under investigation.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Lottery CLOSED!

If you entered the Monday, October 24 kitchen pass lottery, do a check of your email to see if you've won!

150 lucky winners will win a Feast Fest Kitchen Pass, and another 50 who DO NOT win a Kitchen Pass will win a complementary Dining Hall ticket & lodging package.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Galen-Ames: "Leineken Did Not Further Encourage Me"

-Chicago
-Though Brianna Galen-Ames admitted very late Sunday to having received a bribe from FF scouter Daved Leineken in July 2011, Galen-Ames said that "Leineken's actions did not further encourage [Galen-Ames] from the way [she] already felt."

"I had been strongly considering pursuing re-joining Feast Fest in 2012 even before Leineken came to me."

Galen-Ames said she was "taken aback" when Leineken showed up at the door of her Central Illinois home on July 6, handed her a bag chock full of cash, and reportedly told her, "This is a bribe to get you to re-join Feast Fest in 2012. If you do not accept this bribe I will tell everyone that you tried to get me to bribe you."

Leineken was fired Saturday after the event was uncovered.

Galen-Ames told reporters, "I was very scared to report [the blackmail], and I am relieved to find out that Leineken has been fired."

The revelation comes on the heels of a week at Feast Fest that saw Galen-Ames booed heavily at conferences when it was announced that the formerly sixth-line-of-power chef could receive $1,500,000 per year and a Head Chef spot if she rejoins in 2012.

"We might have to think things over," said Head Scouter Jim Dall, "but Galen-Ames's integrity is pretty solid. I don't suspect anything fishy from her at the moment." He did add, however, that the incident "would not bode well in terms of getting people to accept the conditions of her return if it happens."

Event Mgr. William Vanderbilt's Approval Rating concerning the Galen-Ames matter jumped from 36% to 61% when the incident was uncovered late Saturday. His overall approval rating among FF chefs and other employees is 89%. It was 96%, but dipped sharply this past week when he sided with Brianna Galen-Ames, who, given the conditions, most of the Feast Fest chefs are against.

To Be Discussed Monday: Avoiding Another 2003

-Marina del Rey, Ca.
-Rumors are fluttering over the news announcements Sunday that meetings would be conducted this week with Event Mgr. William Vanderbilt and his advisers over a possible switch in turkey brand providers.

Butterball and Feast Fest have gone hand in hand for all but one year: 2003. That year, when the two sides failed to reach an agreement, FF appealed to Foster Farms, which provided birds that were drier than chapped skin on a hot sidewalk on Venus. The turkeys garnered an 82.8 mark in '03 and subsequently led to an overall rating of only ten points higher, at 92.8.

In the '03-'04 offseason, the FF and Butterball were quick to sign a contract, and did so successfully. Now, that contract has an expiration date: of December 31, 2011.

Now, Feast Fest officials must choose between having laborious talks with Butterball or easily signing up with several other companies that have expressed interest but risking a repeat of the 2003 scoresheet disaster in 2012. "That is our number one avoidance," said William Vanderbilt.

One issue in '03 with Foster Farms was that the turkeys failed to be tested. "We would meticulously test and check hundreds of products for a certain brand if we do not regroup with Butterball. We will refuse to sign with a different company and not know what we are going into."

Butterball and FF have had strained relations over the past few years. The contract ending date was originally set for the end of 2009, but it was dreadingly bumped back to the end of 2011 as early as 2006.

Butterball would no doubt love to keep their ties to FF, but "some of the monetary and contractual agreements are having difficulty being worked out."

So we must give a ruptured sigh at the sight of yet another business disagreement that will likely make all the headlines in the coming days. Money and contracts seems to be all we're hearing from these guys, lately, huh?

Did you know October is the Unofficial Official Feast Fest Events, Inc. "Meetings, Meetings, Meetings" Month?

Good things we're nearing the end of it!