-Marina del Rey, Ca.
-With an increasing amount of power to be tackled by Feast Fest's executive hierarchy, Event Mgr. William Vanderbilt announced Sundaythat he had created a new, third Executive Assistant slot, and that Martin Bergen would fill that position.
The NCA Feast Fest lives here
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
WILKIN INKS NYCTC DEAL
-Marina del Rey, Ca.
-For the first time ever, a Feast Fest chef has defected to another Thanksgiving culinary event.
It was leaked Saturday that Hillary Wilkin had signed a four-year contract to become the Head Chef of the New York City Thanksgiving Contest, an event similar to Feast Fest but on a smaller scale.
The 37-chef event had long tried to snag chefs from Marina del Rey, but FF scouters had been able to put a stopper in such deals. However, this deal was conducted back-room, and Wilkin, who requested an "opt-out" option when she signed a two-year extension in March, is now expected to enact that part of her contract.
"Now we know why she pressed so heavily for an opt-out option," Head Scouter Jim Dall said. Dall said that everybody in the Scouting Department was "shocked."
Wilkin had been signed to a staggered deal for Feast Fests 2013 and 2014, slated to earn $377,389 in 2013 and $383,468 in 2014, respectable amounts but low compared to the $392,396 she received in 2010 and the $391,302 earned in 2011. Dall explained that the lowered amounts were part of "breathing room" needed, using a similar amount of money to have to be spread out amongst a larger number of chefs. "This has happened before, and the salary figures always rebound. Ms. Wilkin did not need to take this stunning and betraying action because of a slight decrease." He cited that Zackary Livensworth and Jacqueline Pierce-Mulleone had had salary declines of upwards of $50,000 over their FF careers, "but did they panic and back out? No." However, the NYCTC is rumored to have offered Wilkin $450,000 per year (with exact figures pending). Livensworth earned $231,367 in 2008, dipped to $172,786 in 2011, but will make $247,478 this Thanksgiving. Similarly, Pierce-Mulleone made $505,050 in 2007, $432,477 in 2010, and skyrocketed back up to $600,706 in 2012. "Salaries fluctuate wildly, especially when you sign a large amount to chefs in one offseason, as we have here in 2013," Dall explained. "Ms. Wilkin panicked way too early."
But others say she had eyed the NYCTC long before her contract came up for renewal; she lives in Connecticut, obviously much closer to New York than to California, and applied for the NYCTC in 2007 before joining Feast Fest in 2008. "Ms. Wilkin did not mean to stiff Feast Fest. She always held the NYCTC closer to her heart," said analyst Mike Vilshire, "as is evidenced by her numerous attempts to join the NYCTC before she was ever courted by Feast Fest. The only difference here is that most chefs would use an event like the NYCTC as a stepping stone to get to Feast Fest, whereas Wilkin obviously was using Feast Fest as a stepping stone to get to the NYCTC."
Wilkin has yet to make an official statement, but was rumored to have said she was "thrilled to be joining the NYCTC" and that she was "thankful to Feast Fest for getting [her] here."
Wilkin's agent claimed that she had hoped to close the deal as early as January, but due to contractual disagreements she signed on to Feast Fest for 2013 in March "as a backup." "That's why she wanted the opt-out option, because she knew that the NYCTC still had her on speed dial," the agent, who asked not to be identified, explained. The NYCTC's previous Head Chef had resigned from the event after the 2012 edition due to "old age." The previous Head Chef is 71 years old.
The NYCTC has long been viewed as the closest competitor to Feast Fest, and the two events have collaborated together to mull over the institution of a competition format whereby chefs from each event would compete for the higher NCA score on Thanksgiving, an event that would alternate between New York and Marina del Rey from one year to the next.
"We have a spirit of collaboration and friendship with the NYCTC," said Event Mgr. William Vanderbilt, "and this should not be lost today in the news that Ms. Wilkin has chosen to move on to Head Cheffing that spectacular event. If anything, we should be thanking Ms. Wilkin for her impeccable service across five Feast Fests, and we should wish her nothing but the most unencumbered success in her new position." Vamderbilt remarked that Wilkin's status had not yet been elevated enough for her to be a Head Chef contender for Feast Fest, but that the smaller scale of the NYCTC made it "a perfect fit" for her. "Personally," Vanderbilt admitted, "I hope that she can advance the event to the point where it can be comparable with ours and where our two events can compete with each other in the future, in a true test of culinary talent."
Wilkin's agent said that that was one of her goals in becoming the chef of the NYCTC. "She wants to nudge the NYCTC to the level where it is a twin event with Feast Fest. She wants to come back to the Beachview. She doesn't want to sever all ties to this event, as it was very meaningful to her and shaped her career. After all," the agent pointed out, "without Feast Fest, Wilkin wouldn't have attained the honorable position which has just been bestowed upon her."
-For the first time ever, a Feast Fest chef has defected to another Thanksgiving culinary event.
It was leaked Saturday that Hillary Wilkin had signed a four-year contract to become the Head Chef of the New York City Thanksgiving Contest, an event similar to Feast Fest but on a smaller scale.
The 37-chef event had long tried to snag chefs from Marina del Rey, but FF scouters had been able to put a stopper in such deals. However, this deal was conducted back-room, and Wilkin, who requested an "opt-out" option when she signed a two-year extension in March, is now expected to enact that part of her contract.
"Now we know why she pressed so heavily for an opt-out option," Head Scouter Jim Dall said. Dall said that everybody in the Scouting Department was "shocked."
Wilkin had been signed to a staggered deal for Feast Fests 2013 and 2014, slated to earn $377,389 in 2013 and $383,468 in 2014, respectable amounts but low compared to the $392,396 she received in 2010 and the $391,302 earned in 2011. Dall explained that the lowered amounts were part of "breathing room" needed, using a similar amount of money to have to be spread out amongst a larger number of chefs. "This has happened before, and the salary figures always rebound. Ms. Wilkin did not need to take this stunning and betraying action because of a slight decrease." He cited that Zackary Livensworth and Jacqueline Pierce-Mulleone had had salary declines of upwards of $50,000 over their FF careers, "but did they panic and back out? No." However, the NYCTC is rumored to have offered Wilkin $450,000 per year (with exact figures pending). Livensworth earned $231,367 in 2008, dipped to $172,786 in 2011, but will make $247,478 this Thanksgiving. Similarly, Pierce-Mulleone made $505,050 in 2007, $432,477 in 2010, and skyrocketed back up to $600,706 in 2012. "Salaries fluctuate wildly, especially when you sign a large amount to chefs in one offseason, as we have here in 2013," Dall explained. "Ms. Wilkin panicked way too early."
But others say she had eyed the NYCTC long before her contract came up for renewal; she lives in Connecticut, obviously much closer to New York than to California, and applied for the NYCTC in 2007 before joining Feast Fest in 2008. "Ms. Wilkin did not mean to stiff Feast Fest. She always held the NYCTC closer to her heart," said analyst Mike Vilshire, "as is evidenced by her numerous attempts to join the NYCTC before she was ever courted by Feast Fest. The only difference here is that most chefs would use an event like the NYCTC as a stepping stone to get to Feast Fest, whereas Wilkin obviously was using Feast Fest as a stepping stone to get to the NYCTC."
Wilkin has yet to make an official statement, but was rumored to have said she was "thrilled to be joining the NYCTC" and that she was "thankful to Feast Fest for getting [her] here."
Wilkin's agent claimed that she had hoped to close the deal as early as January, but due to contractual disagreements she signed on to Feast Fest for 2013 in March "as a backup." "That's why she wanted the opt-out option, because she knew that the NYCTC still had her on speed dial," the agent, who asked not to be identified, explained. The NYCTC's previous Head Chef had resigned from the event after the 2012 edition due to "old age." The previous Head Chef is 71 years old.
The NYCTC has long been viewed as the closest competitor to Feast Fest, and the two events have collaborated together to mull over the institution of a competition format whereby chefs from each event would compete for the higher NCA score on Thanksgiving, an event that would alternate between New York and Marina del Rey from one year to the next.
"We have a spirit of collaboration and friendship with the NYCTC," said Event Mgr. William Vanderbilt, "and this should not be lost today in the news that Ms. Wilkin has chosen to move on to Head Cheffing that spectacular event. If anything, we should be thanking Ms. Wilkin for her impeccable service across five Feast Fests, and we should wish her nothing but the most unencumbered success in her new position." Vamderbilt remarked that Wilkin's status had not yet been elevated enough for her to be a Head Chef contender for Feast Fest, but that the smaller scale of the NYCTC made it "a perfect fit" for her. "Personally," Vanderbilt admitted, "I hope that she can advance the event to the point where it can be comparable with ours and where our two events can compete with each other in the future, in a true test of culinary talent."
Wilkin's agent said that that was one of her goals in becoming the chef of the NYCTC. "She wants to nudge the NYCTC to the level where it is a twin event with Feast Fest. She wants to come back to the Beachview. She doesn't want to sever all ties to this event, as it was very meaningful to her and shaped her career. After all," the agent pointed out, "without Feast Fest, Wilkin wouldn't have attained the honorable position which has just been bestowed upon her."
Logo Officially Released
-Marina del Rey, Ca.
-To underwhelmed reviews, Feast Fest logo designer Remunne Tchaikov revealed the Feast Fest 2013 logo on Saturday. The logo had been planned for release on Tuesday, but technical difficulties prevented release on that date.
Tchaikov yet again crafted a logo with murky reviews in only his second year with the event, after former logo designer Andrys Petris designed thirteen acclaimed logos for the event from 1999-2011.
"The 2012 logo was no picnic, and this one's worse," said Feast Fest event analyst Mike Vilshire. "This one's almost an eyesore from where I'm standing."
However, for the first time ever, Tchaikov announced he had designed two separate logos; a different logo, which has not yet been released, will appear on the event's official programs. He said he had made the initial logo simpler for easy web release.
"Crafted using a computer program, this logo beautifully combines the colors of the Marina del Rey harbor with those of traditional Thanksgiving harvest Americana," said the official press release from Tchaikov's agent.
The logo was criticized for its heavy color contrast, simplistic fonts, and the total abandonment of any decorative processes such as embossing, engraving, or shadows; the first logo to be completely devoid of such elements since 2000.
"Feast Fest is delighted and has rejoiced at our new logo for Feast Fest XIX in 2013, and we cannot be more thankful for all the hard work that Mr. Tchaikov put into this design."
As for the event's chefs? They minced words a little less. "@FeastFest 2013 logo is terrible," tweeted Patrick Kermell, who was also overly vocal about the 2012 design. Chef Keith Wholehreh started a hashtag, "#FireTchaikov." Tchaikov's own Twitter account was shut down Saturday after it was bombarded with criticisms. Tchaikov, Tchaikov's agent, Sara Tsosmoleva, and Tchaikov's assistant, Mark Maupul, all would not answer phone calls.
-To underwhelmed reviews, Feast Fest logo designer Remunne Tchaikov revealed the Feast Fest 2013 logo on Saturday. The logo had been planned for release on Tuesday, but technical difficulties prevented release on that date.
Tchaikov yet again crafted a logo with murky reviews in only his second year with the event, after former logo designer Andrys Petris designed thirteen acclaimed logos for the event from 1999-2011.
"The 2012 logo was no picnic, and this one's worse," said Feast Fest event analyst Mike Vilshire. "This one's almost an eyesore from where I'm standing."
However, for the first time ever, Tchaikov announced he had designed two separate logos; a different logo, which has not yet been released, will appear on the event's official programs. He said he had made the initial logo simpler for easy web release.
"Crafted using a computer program, this logo beautifully combines the colors of the Marina del Rey harbor with those of traditional Thanksgiving harvest Americana," said the official press release from Tchaikov's agent.
The logo was criticized for its heavy color contrast, simplistic fonts, and the total abandonment of any decorative processes such as embossing, engraving, or shadows; the first logo to be completely devoid of such elements since 2000.
"Feast Fest is delighted and has rejoiced at our new logo for Feast Fest XIX in 2013, and we cannot be more thankful for all the hard work that Mr. Tchaikov put into this design."
As for the event's chefs? They minced words a little less. "@FeastFest 2013 logo is terrible," tweeted Patrick Kermell, who was also overly vocal about the 2012 design. Chef Keith Wholehreh started a hashtag, "#FireTchaikov." Tchaikov's own Twitter account was shut down Saturday after it was bombarded with criticisms. Tchaikov, Tchaikov's agent, Sara Tsosmoleva, and Tchaikov's assistant, Mark Maupul, all would not answer phone calls.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Ayeiy Prepares to Set Off
FF Executive Assistant Arthur Ayeiy will set off for Phoenix on Sunday in the first of twelve stops over ten days on the first of three legs of a world scouting and contract negotiation tour. All four major FF leaders--Ayeiy, Executive Mgr. William Vanderbilt, Head Scouter Jim Dall, and Executive Assistant Beryl Shady--will set off for major negotiation trips in August and September, but Ayeiy has been sent off first, often to cities Dall or Vanderbilt will be visiting, as a method of "paving the way" for their visits.
Ayeiy will meet with eight current chefs and three prospective chefs in the first leg of the journey.
Ayeiy will meet with eight current chefs and three prospective chefs in the first leg of the journey.
Maintenance Scheduled
-The Feast Fest ticketing hotline will be shut down for maintenance from 8 a.m. Pacific/11 a.m. Eastern to 12 p.m. Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern Friday. At 12 p.m., the hotline will resume service through 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern.
Apologies are issued for any inconvenience.
Apologies are issued for any inconvenience.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Jockell Making 2013 Last Year
-Chicago
-The aging Americana talents of Jane Jockell will not grace Feast Fest after 2013.
Jockell, 55, said she was aiming to "slow down" from the hurried pace of FF life and to return to full time devotion to her Chicago restaurant.
"These past seven years with Feast Fest have been absolutely amazing," Jockell said in an email, "and this decision was incredibly difficult to have to make. However, in 2012 I felt significant wear on my abilities and a significant inability to tend to my eatery," which, Jockell explained, was in murky financial waters. "While thanks to Feast Fest I could retire today, STOP was my creation that I poured my life into, and it breaks my heart to see it struggling to fight off closure." Therefore, this situation, coupled with her aging and the fact that her children have all grown up and moved on to college, reportedly motivated Jockell to "be able to return to full time service at STOP."
Jockell assured that she would participate in FF 2013 on Nov. 28, saying she would put "as much energy and vim into the enterprise as I always have." "It is my dream to help this event reach the promised land of 100," she said, but confirmed she would not be re-signing her contract when it is slated to come up for renewal in January.
Jockell signed a three-year extension for Feast Fests 2011, 2012, and 2013 on Jan. 28, 2011, after several weeks of intense negotiations. "I want to assure everybody," she said, "this does not have to do with contractual disagreements, this does not have to do with any tensions within the event. I have been thrilled with my time here and I am very saddened to leave, but this was entirely my decision."
Head Scouter Jim Dall seemed taken aback by the announcement late Thursday. "We were on good terms with Mrs. Jockell and had been prepared to re-sign her in January to another multi year contract. However, we certainly can respect and understand her decision."
"Mrs. Jockell brought Midwestern bread-basket values to the kitchen in a unique style that will be very hard to emulate without her," said Event Manager William Vanderbilt. "We are incredibly saddened to hear of her departure from our event, but this will serve as a token moment to look back on all the great things she did in her seven Feast Fests--eight by the time she will retire--and this will give us the opportunity to root for her harder than ever when she steps out onto the floor for a spectacular farewell performance this November."
-The aging Americana talents of Jane Jockell will not grace Feast Fest after 2013.
Jockell, 55, said she was aiming to "slow down" from the hurried pace of FF life and to return to full time devotion to her Chicago restaurant.
"These past seven years with Feast Fest have been absolutely amazing," Jockell said in an email, "and this decision was incredibly difficult to have to make. However, in 2012 I felt significant wear on my abilities and a significant inability to tend to my eatery," which, Jockell explained, was in murky financial waters. "While thanks to Feast Fest I could retire today, STOP was my creation that I poured my life into, and it breaks my heart to see it struggling to fight off closure." Therefore, this situation, coupled with her aging and the fact that her children have all grown up and moved on to college, reportedly motivated Jockell to "be able to return to full time service at STOP."
Jockell assured that she would participate in FF 2013 on Nov. 28, saying she would put "as much energy and vim into the enterprise as I always have." "It is my dream to help this event reach the promised land of 100," she said, but confirmed she would not be re-signing her contract when it is slated to come up for renewal in January.
Jockell signed a three-year extension for Feast Fests 2011, 2012, and 2013 on Jan. 28, 2011, after several weeks of intense negotiations. "I want to assure everybody," she said, "this does not have to do with contractual disagreements, this does not have to do with any tensions within the event. I have been thrilled with my time here and I am very saddened to leave, but this was entirely my decision."
Head Scouter Jim Dall seemed taken aback by the announcement late Thursday. "We were on good terms with Mrs. Jockell and had been prepared to re-sign her in January to another multi year contract. However, we certainly can respect and understand her decision."
"Mrs. Jockell brought Midwestern bread-basket values to the kitchen in a unique style that will be very hard to emulate without her," said Event Manager William Vanderbilt. "We are incredibly saddened to hear of her departure from our event, but this will serve as a token moment to look back on all the great things she did in her seven Feast Fests--eight by the time she will retire--and this will give us the opportunity to root for her harder than ever when she steps out onto the floor for a spectacular farewell performance this November."
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Patton Signed
-Marina del Rey, Ca.
-In an unusually late-offseason string of signings and transactions, Feast Fest scouters signed their fifth new chef of the offseason, Miranda Morimota Patton on Wednesday.
FF had been courting Patton to revamp Asian influences in the kitchen after Ai Okoworth, the Japanese master, announced his resignation from the event in June.
Morimota Patton (9/3/80) was described by Head Scouter Jim Dall as "a rising chef who will do a masterful job of filling Ai's former role as a Japanese culinary master at our event." Dall revealed that FF had secretly negotiated with Morimota Patton in 2011 but that "negotiations had broken down."
"I am without words right now," Morimota Patton said via Skype. "I have followed Feast Fest for so long, and to be a part of it? I'm so grateful to Jim Dall, Stephanie McOneguew, and everyone who was a part of the scouting team who worked so tirelessly to get this deal done."
Morimota Patton, who is an assistant head chef at a Japanese 5-star in Vancouver, B.C., will make her first Feast Fest appearance on Aug. 31 at the Kitchen Stadium exhibition in--where else?--Tokyo. Morimota Patton, who is Canadian-born but who is of Japanese descent and who trained extensively in Japan, called it "appropriate." "I'm very excited."
The deal's details haven't been disclosed, but it is a one-year contract for $212,244.
-In an unusually late-offseason string of signings and transactions, Feast Fest scouters signed their fifth new chef of the offseason, Miranda Morimota Patton on Wednesday.
FF had been courting Patton to revamp Asian influences in the kitchen after Ai Okoworth, the Japanese master, announced his resignation from the event in June.
Morimota Patton (9/3/80) was described by Head Scouter Jim Dall as "a rising chef who will do a masterful job of filling Ai's former role as a Japanese culinary master at our event." Dall revealed that FF had secretly negotiated with Morimota Patton in 2011 but that "negotiations had broken down."
"I am without words right now," Morimota Patton said via Skype. "I have followed Feast Fest for so long, and to be a part of it? I'm so grateful to Jim Dall, Stephanie McOneguew, and everyone who was a part of the scouting team who worked so tirelessly to get this deal done."
Morimota Patton, who is an assistant head chef at a Japanese 5-star in Vancouver, B.C., will make her first Feast Fest appearance on Aug. 31 at the Kitchen Stadium exhibition in--where else?--Tokyo. Morimota Patton, who is Canadian-born but who is of Japanese descent and who trained extensively in Japan, called it "appropriate." "I'm very excited."
The deal's details haven't been disclosed, but it is a one-year contract for $212,244.
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